Seduce(54)

Part of Antoine needed to see Sera, wanted to touch her and kiss her and chase away his lingering doubts by losing himself in her, but he wouldn’t leave his brother. Snow needed the company.

“You will listen to your heart, Brother?” Snow stared at him, pale icy eyes dark and intense, as though he wouldn’t accept anything other than a positive answer to his question.

Antoine nodded. “I will. Come, let us speak about better things.”

“You have met the new males?” Snow said and Antoine was thankful for the change of subject.

He nodded again and told his brother about the two new vampires they would welcome into their ranks tonight, and talked about life at the theatre and how crazy the females had made the place. Positive things that chased the darkness from Snow’s mind and gave him peace, and erased the shadow of Anya from his own mind. He lost track of time as they talked and he endured Snow’s lectures about Sera and not running from his feelings, not flinching when Snow cut close to the bone with his comments and observations, and his pressing him to remain with her and give her a chance. When he glanced at the small digital clock on Snow’s bedside table, it was close to midnight.

“Will you attend tonight?” Antoine said, hopeful that his brother would come down from his room to socialise with the others. Snow needed more than just his company. He needed to see with his own eyes that he could function in society still and that he didn’t need to fear that his bloodlust would slip its tethers and place everyone in danger. “I am sure that everyone would like to see you, and you can continue lecturing me, or perhaps Sera. She would probably enjoy hearing all of my sordid secrets.”

Snow grinned to reveal slightly extended canines, his pale eyes lighting up at the prospect of embarrassing him. “I could tell her that you wet the bed until you were in your thirties.”

Antoine frowned. “We both know that thirty for a pureblood is like a human toddler. You would be giving her misinformation.”

“It would still be funny to see her face.” Snow shrugged his broad shoulders, his grin holding. He picked up his book from the bedside table and waved towards the door. “Go, spend some time with your female and leave me to my book.”

Antoine rose, settled one knee on the bed and cupped the nape of his brother’s neck. He leaned over Snow and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“Get some rest and think about coming down to the party when it starts. Even a short time would be good for you.” He rested his forehead against Snow’s. “I will find a way to bring you peace, Brother, so hold on. Promise me you will hold on. I cannot lose you.”

Snow wrapped one strong arm around him, cradling the back of his head, and pressed their foreheads harder together.

“You drive a hard bargain, Antoine. I will not give in because I know it would hurt you. I will keep fighting it. I promise.”

Antoine placed another brief kiss on his brother’s forehead and then released him and turned away in one swift movement so Snow didn’t see the tears in his eyes. He cursed them and scrubbed them away with the heel of his right hand as he headed for the door. He wouldn’t fail his brother. There was a way to defeat bloodlust and he would find it before it was too late and he lost the person he loved the most in his dark world.

He closed the door behind him and crossed the hall to his own door. He paused with his hand on the brass knob and leaned against the doorframe, battling his emotions as they threatened to overwhelm him. He wouldn’t lose his brother. He had sworn to do all in his power to save him and he would.

The door opened and Sera was there, her eyebrows furrowed and concern shining in her beautiful green eyes. She raised her arms, opening them to him, and he bit his lower lip, fighting back the tears. He stepped into her arms and gave up his own fight. Sera wrapped him in her soft embrace, pressing kisses to his cheek and neck, whispering comforting words as he nestled his face against the crook of her neck.

Snow was right.

Sera wasn’t something he should be turning his back on. She was something beautiful, magical, more wonderful than Anya had ever been, and he should be holding her closer, letting her into his heart. She gave him happiness and laughter. She gave him peace and love. She was his light that chased away the darkness.

He couldn’t let her go.

Not now. Not ever.

She had changed him and he would never be the same. She had breathed life back into him and given him hope that a future with her would be one free of bloodlust, full of happiness and love.

He would never walk away from her.

He prayed she would never walk away from him.





CHAPTER 14




Sera felt more than a little self-conscious in the black cocktail dress that she had borrowed from Lilah. The slender brunette stood beside her, chatting animatedly to her lover, Javier, who was apparently her sire too. Lilah had told her the whole amazing story behind their coming together while they had been getting ready in her apartment. Sera had to admit that she was new enough to the vampire world that she hadn’t heard about owned humans. She was glad that Elizabeth had chosen to bring her into her world as a vampire rather than a human slave though.