The Dark Prince(The Dark Light Series #2)(11)

"Be careful what you wish for, little girl," a silky baritone mutters.

Startled, I look up instantly, my eyes searching for the source of the phantom voice. There, in the corner of my bedroom, shrouded in the shadows, stands my love. Dorian. Dissipating wisps of dark vapors surround him, and I can see his azure eyes gleaming brightly in the midst of the darkness. He is here. He has heard my cry. Has felt my yearn for him.

"Dorian," I breathe. My eyes are wide with excitement and my heart beats furiously in anticipation.

In the next instant, he's beside me, sitting on my childhood bed. Having him here arouses me. I've never had a guy in my room, supernatural or not. I can't resist; I crush my body against his, practically straddling his lap in my oversized t-shirt and pink panties. Dorian instantly reciprocates, palming my behind as our mouths and tongues unite. God, I've missed him. It's more than that; I've ached for him.

"How did you get here? What about the wards?" I ask suddenly.

"Yes, those," he smirks. "They only ward off those who wish to hurt you. I must admit, I could not penetrate them at first, not until I was certain that I would not kill you."

I stare at him questioningly, the hint of a frown on my face. "So when did you decide that?"

"I think a part of me always knew I couldn't. But I wouldn't admit it to myself. I still fought against the unknown emotions because I didn't understand them. But now … I can't fight anymore. I want you- all of you. I want to own every part of you."

I look up at the man I love, the Warlock who has risked everything for me. I just want to give him all of me. I want him to know just how deep my love flows. I rejoin our mouths, pressing my aching breasts against his chest and grind my sex into his lap. In turn, Dorian grips handfuls of my backside, pulling me deeper into his erection restricted only by his dark grey slacks. I grip the hard mounds of muscle of his shoulders as I begin a slow, erotic dance, the lace of my panties causing delicious friction.

"Do you think you can be quiet?" he asks breathlessly, pulling his head up from mine momentarily. I give him a doubtful expression. I lose all control when I am with him. That kind of pleasure cannot be muted. "I can fix that," he says raising his index finger.

"No!" I whisper loudly. "No, I don't want you to. I want the thrill of feeling you with the chance of getting caught," I say slyly.

Dorian chuckles and shakes his head. "You naughty little girl. I believe I've created a monster."

"Or just unleashed the one that's always been there."

And with that, I push him back onto my bed and show him just how incredibly much I've craved him until the wee hours of the morning.                       
       
           



       Chapter Five


Graduation


Three months ago, it was the only thing I had to look forward to. It would be considered the most monumental event of my life thus far. But now as I walk across the makeshift stage to collect my degree, it all seems so miniscule. To some, an Associate's degree would be viewed as a stepping stone to higher education. A great accomplishment in which I should be proud. To me, it's just a piece of paper; something Chris and Donna can hang up amongst the countless class photos displayed throughout the house. I will never use it. It will not define me.

Despite the turmoil brewing in my parents' home at my moving out, and the fact that no one has been able to track the Warlock that has claimed several lives of innocent girls in search of me, I am happy. Incredibly happy. I have more than just some measly degree; I have love. I have Dorian. That in itself is a reason to live.

As I look out into the crowd, towards the very last row, I see him grinning back at me proudly. He's come here to support me, despite my parents' reservations. And even though Aurora sits beside him, scowling with contempt, I don't care. He's here for me.

After the commencement speeches and ceremonial fanfare, I weave through the crowd in search of my love, my Dorian. Still, he stands towards the back, concentrating furiously as he scans the room. He's watching for any sign of trouble. I notice the rapid changes in his expressions, as if he's in deep conversation. He's communicating with Aurora, who has probably gone off to find Jared. They are here to protect us, suspecting my would-be killer would try to strike and slip into the crowd undetected.

"Everything ok?" I mutter when I approach him.

Dorian looks down and smiles at me warmly. "It is now," he breathes. "There's been movement. Someone has been here but we don't know who."

"You can't sense them?"

"Not if they don't want me to. But I know something was here. I just can't tell who." He takes a moment of thoughtful silence and I know he's speaking to Aurora. "Aurora can't pick up the trail. Shit. I should have been more careful with you."

I pull Dorian's face down to mine and look him in his crystal blue eyes. "You did nothing wrong. It's because you are here that I've even made it this far. Whoever it is probably sensed your presence and got scared. Just you being here protects me enough."

Inching closer, Dorian joins his mouth with mine. When he pulls away a bit, I notice that his expression has transformed into something I can't quite comprehend.

"I can't wait until you ascend. Then I can have you all the time without fear of hurting you. And whoever this is, we could hunt them together," he seethes. "And you would like it. You would love tearing him apart. It would make you feel so good. We would slaughter him together and then fuck like animals."

Startled, and maybe even a bit repulsed, I study Dorian's intimidating leer. His eyes have darkened and his mouth is twisted into a menacing grin. This is the hunter in him- the assassin that sought out to slay my mother. The killer that grew angry with my father, his best friend, for sparing her life. He wants to kill. It's been so long since he has. But the Dark in him craves it. He needs it to feed the beast.

"Uh, Gabriella?" my mom says from behind us. Dorian instantly stiffens, recovering his cool demeanor as I turn around to face them.

"Hey, Mom. Dad." I give them each a warm embrace.

"Congratulations, Kiddo," Chris mutters. I can see his tense jaw flexing as he glares at Dorian. "Dorian. It's been a while."

"Twenty years," Dorian notes in a level voice. He turns to Donna and gently bows his head. "Donna, you're looking well. You haven't aged a day."

"And neither have you," she replies tersely. "It's good to see you, Dorian."

"Why the hell are you here?" Chris snaps, clearly over the pleasantries.

"Dad!" I screech.

Dorian looks to me and gives me a reassuring half-smile. He's in control. "For her. For Gabriella."

"I know that. But we both know what that entails. We know why you were sent." I can see Chris's hands form giant fists at his sides. Don't do it, Dad.

"I'm here to protect her. I love Gabriella. I would never hurt her." I reflexively smile at his admission, despite the tense moment, because I know he's being honest.

"So the rumors, they are true?" Donna asks quietly.

Dorian shakes his head. "I am not sure. But I know what I feel." He looks down at me lovingly. "I've given her me. I've bonded with her. We made the link."

"What?!" Donna shrieks. I look at my mother's bewildered expression. Even Chris looks confused at her outburst. "Dorian, you know what that means, don't you? Why would you do that?"

"To show her how much I love her. No matter the circumstances. She has my heart."

"But if it is true, then what? What will you do then?" Ok, now I'm confused.

Dorian furrows his brow, mulling over her question. "That is for Gabriella to decide. My life is in her hands."

We stand in silence, glaring at each other with apprehensive eyes. "We'll meet you at the car, Kiddo. Don't take too long," Chris finally says to break the tension.

"What was that about?" I ask Dorian once my parents are out of earshot.

"What have you done to him?" Aurora interjects before I get my answer. I roll my eyes at her rude interruption.

"Stay out of it, Aurora," Dorian says between gritted teeth.

"No, I won't stay out of it. She's draining you. You look like you're going to drop at any moment!" Aurora puts her hands on her hips and glares at me fiercely. "Gabriella, you have to see what you're doing to him. Someone is going to end up dead."

I look between my visibly annoyed lover and his painfully gorgeous ex as they exchange menacing stares. "What is she talking about, Dorian? Have I hurt you in some way?"

Dorian sighs and shakes his head, turning his gaze to me. "No, you haven't. We have just been spending too much time together. I've been giving you so much of me just to ensure I don't weaken you. It isn't your fault."

I digest what he's telling me. Dorian has given me too much of himself and now he is suffering. Aurora is obviously seeing his true self, the part of him that he's keeping from me. My poor Dorian is deteriorating right before my eyes, all because we can't stay away from each other, and I can't even see the damage I've caused. Ever since we discovered that he could penetrate the wards around my house, I've demanded to see him every night. That was only a little over a week ago yet he is already perishing.