Vampires of Noctra(27)

Skye almost mirrored his actions, feeling the phantom marks on his own neck, and then thought better of it. He looked at Donté, who stared back at

him. Skye could almost feel the blood pumping through his veins. Why hadn't Donté fed from him? Skye's guard had been down and he'd actually

begged for him to do so. He had to wonder if he'd ever know the answer or feel the puncture of the vampire's fangs.

"There's blood on your face, Cap'n. Are you hurt?" Velvet asked. And then he peered closer at Skye. "And yours as well. Did something happen?"

He brushed a hand across his face. "How long was I out?"

Skye realized he must look peculiar, but for some reason he was proud of the evidence of what had occurred between himself and the captain.

Strangely, it made him feel possessive of the vampire.

He wanted to deny the attraction he felt toward the captain. But the longer he was on the ship, the sharper the enchantment. He could not fall in

love with this vampire.

"I don't need help getting to my quarters, Cap'n. I'm just fine."

"Those are my orders, Velvet. You always do have a hard time following orders. But this time you'll obey me."

"Yes, Cap'n." Velvet hung his head.

Donté handed him his clothing. "Get dressed."

As Velvet began to dress, Donté poured out a glass of wine. He stepped around the table and handed it to Skye. A tremor passed through Skye as

he accepted the glass from the ice-cold hand.

Donté didn't let go. His other hand cupped Skye's neck and drew him close until their lips almost touched.

"You won't leave me," he whispered. "You need me." Their gazes clashed and then surprisingly Skye was the first to look away. Something about

this undead pulled at his heart, at his body.

"For now I'll stay," he agreed.

"We shall see. Why I want you, I don't know. Maybe it's the thrill of keeping a vampire hunter close. The tingle of danger."

"But you have that. Every time you battle the zombies."

"Maybe. But not the way it is with you." Donté's lips caressed Skye's until Skye opened his mouth and Donté slipped his tongue inside. It was

fast and deep and possessive. And then he pulled away, releasing his hold on the wine glass.

"I'm ready, Cap'n."

Skye turned to look at Velvet, almost forgetting he was in the room. Quickly, he downed the wine and set the glass on the table.

"I'll take him down."

Donté dipped a cloth into the pitcher and then slowly wiped the blood from Skye's face. "The others will question. It would be best to keep this

between us."

When he was done, Skye took the pink-tinged cloth from Donté's hand and did the same for the captain.

"As you say, there would be questions."

Donté looked at Skye, their eyes again dueling. Hot passion that surpassed the need for words. Donté's gaze slid to Skye's neck and Skye felt the

thunder of his blood.

"Send Margan to me," Donté said and then turned away.

Unexpected jealousy erupted to the surface and Skye swallowed it. He wanted to tell Donté he would provide. But something told him Donté

would refuse him yet again.

"Aye, Captain. I'll find him and tell him you want to see him."

What would happen if he stayed on this ship? How much longer before he succumbed completely to the vampire's spell? Already, he was so

close. He could still smell the dried blood that Donté had wiped away, a glimmer of power racing through his veins that hadn't been there before.

He watched Donté with Velvet. And he knew he'd already made his decision to become a part of the vampirate's crew.





Chapter 9




It was a clear night. Donté looked up at the sky and checked the position of the stars. Soon, they would be home, back on the island of Noctra,

safely within the protective vortex. It was not going to be easy explaining about Skye to Sterling, Donté's sire. Donté wasn't even certain that he

understood the relationship himself.

The night was quiet, all still except for the comforting creak of the ship and the flapping of the wind-filled sails. Onyx had come to his quarters

earlier and now Donté was well fed and looking forward to a night of solitude. Just him and the sea.

"So we're headed for Noctra?"

Donté turned to see Skye standing behind him. "You're learning to approach like a vampire. I didn't hear you."

He tied off the wheel. The seas were quiet and they were on course. Erik, a sailor of particularly keen eyesight even without the vampire blood

flowing through his veins, and who climbed like a monkey, was in the crow's nest at the top of the main mast. He would alert them to any signs of