The Red Lily (Vampire Blood #2)(27)

"As you wish, my lady." He swept her up, noting her gasp.

There was no mistaking the palpable desire ever-present and growing between them. He would wait as long as possible, but there would be no getting around the absolute fact that they were going to be lovers. He needed her in his bed, beneath him, to assuage this restless, burgeoning passion.

"Hold on," he told her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, which he found strangely comforting, then he flashed down the road. He passed an ambling cart with a farmer and his load of winter squash and stopped at the blacksmith shop, the first on the lane entering town. He set her on her feet. She gripped his shoulders and steadied herself.

"Are you all right?"

She gazed up at him, and he willed himself not to pull her into his arms. The need to hold her and care for her was as strong as his need to lay her down and bed her. This woman was certainly a witch, for she beguiled him every step of the way.

"I'm fine," she said, pulling away. But the press of her palm on her stomach told him otherwise. "Where's the butchery?"

"Of that, I'm not sure." He glanced around, the distinct ping of hammer and anvil at work in the smithy shop. "But this is a small town. Let's keep moving."



       
         
       
        

A peasant woman with a child on her hip disappeared into the bakery when she caught sight of Nikolai. It wasn't as if he could hide who or what he was. Some vampires blended in, especially those that had been made. But he was a born vampire from a long line of blue bloods. His height, his sharp features and fair hair denoted him as one of the old ones. No one needed to see fangs in his mouth to know he was a vampire.

"Perhaps you need a black cloak as well," said Sienna, her teeth chattering.

Always so perceptive, this woman. He smiled. "Perhaps so."

The rain poured down, making the cold colder. Sienna shivered underneath her wet cloak. And the thought galled him to no end, especially after knowing her heart ached for her forest and her wolves. A sign up ahead, hanging outside an inn's door, gave him an idea.

"There is no reason for us to wander around in the rain together." He took her arm and guided her through the inn door.

"I don't mind the rain," she protested, her temper still up, even while her teeth chattered together.

"Right. But your lips are turning blue, so perhaps a respite might do you some good."

She said no more as Nikolai stepped forward where a kind-faced woman stood behind a tall reception desk, greeting them with wide eyes. He'd better show his purse quickly to wipe the fear from her expression.

"Greetings. We seem to have gotten caught in a nasty storm," he said amiably, taking Sienna's hand and guiding her closer. She didn't pull away, thankfully.

The woman gave him a wobbly smile. "Yes, sir. That storm's been brewing all morning. Finally let us have it."

"We've been traveling a good ways, and I saw your sign outside. I wondered if you might have a hot bath for my lady." He pulled out a pouch of coin, sovereigns jingling.

Her smile broadened. "Why, yes, sir. We most certainly can manage that. And a good meal to go with it."

"Perfect."

"Would you and your wife be needing a room for the night as well?"

Sienna shot him a look. Nikolai smiled, sidling closer to her with a hand on her back. "That would be wonderful. Thank you." He dropped a few more coins on the reception desk, then turned to Sienna, who stared up at him in bewilderment. "Now, darling. You get a warm bath. I'll return shortly and we'll have tea together."

She said nothing as he stole the opportunity to sweep an innocent kiss upon her lips. But the flare of heat with that simple act sent not-so-innocent thoughts through his head.

"She's in good hands, my lord."

He'd not been called my lord for many years, not since before he'd joined the Legionnaires. As the superior species, vampires were either of noble birth and therefore lords or ladies, or they were soldiers in the Crown's Legionnaires. Since he wasn't in uniform, she'd assumed he was a lord, which he was. But the thought struck something dark inside him, that humans who were unfortunately born into the peasantry never had a chance of coming into their own, seen as lesser simply by their birth. In that single moment, he understood why Marius's wife Arabelle had started the Black Lily. And for the first time, it truly hit home that there was justice in their cause. 

"Are you all right?" asked Sienna beside him, her teeth still chattering together.

"Fine. I'll be back in an hour."