My Lord Immortality (Immortal Rogues #3)(31)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

Whether it had been the stress of the night, or the soul-deep knowledge that she was safe within Sebastian’s home, was impossible to say. All she did know for certain was that when she awoke to discover the late morning sunlight shafting through the chamber, she felt considerably stronger.

Rising into a seated position, she gazed about the room Sebastian had carried her to only a few hours before. It was nicely situated with a bay window overlooking the front street. The furnishings were typically English with yellow satin wall panels adding a lovely brightness. But as with most of the house, there was a decided air of neglect.

With the careful eye of a woman already in control of her own household, she took disapproving note of the dust clinging to the tall armoire and the dullness of the mahogany chairs and tables. It was only when she was debating the effort of polisling the delicate crystal chandelier overhead that she at last realized the absurdity of her thoughts.

What did she care if the entire house could use good scrubbing? Or that there was a dampness in the air? Such things were meaningless nuisances that she was using to hide her true troubled thoughts.

Perhaps not surprising, she acknowledged wryly.

Who would not prefer to dwell upon spider webs and dust rather than face the brutal truth that her en-tire world had been thrust upside down?

Unwittingly she clutched the blankets up to her chin. Vampires. Was it even possible? Until yesterday she would have thought anyone mad to claim that such monsters existed, let alone walked the streets or London. But, on the other hand, how could she deny what she had witnessed?

She had seen Mr. Ramone with blood shimmering on his lips. She had seen him shift into nothing more than shadows before her very eyes.

And there was that. .. tingling awareness within herself that she could no longer deny.

Her fingers lightly touched the Medallion about her neck. Whatever the powers of the amulet, she feared that they were affecting her. Perhaps even altering her. She could see the world more clearly, her senses heightened to an aching sensitivity. It was in the heavy warmth of the air, the faint scratch of the linen sheets against her skin, and the scent of dust and old wax.

More astonishing, if she were to close her eyes she knew she would be capable of knowing the precise location of Sebastian, and, to a lesser extent, her brother. She even feared she might be able to sense the distant presence of Mr. Ramone.

As if to prove her point, a sudden rash of goose bumps tightened her skin. Turning her head, she watched as the door to her chamber was opened and Sebastian stepped in.

Beneath the cover, her body trembled. Not from fear. As she had admitted last night, she could not bring herself to believe this man would harm her. No matter what he was. But that did not stop the stark realization that he was not the person she had presumed him to be.

He was mysterious, dangerous, and intent upon ful-lulling his duties. Duties that she must force herself to acknowledge were far more important than her or her happiness.

The silver gaze was guarded as he studied her sleep-flushed face. Then, with slow steps, he crossed to settle upon the edge of the mattress.

Amelia was immediately conscious of his male heat. Vampire or not, he was still compellingly beautiful, his burnished hair framing the pale, finely chiseled features and his muscular body attired in a golden coat and ivory breeches.

And he still managed to send a thrill of sensuous awareness searing through her blood.

Warily she forced herself to meet the piercing gaze, futilely hoping that he couldn’t read the wicked direction of her thoughts.

"Good morning, Sebastian," she managed to croak.

"Amelia." He continued to search her countenance, as if seeking reassurance that she was not about to plummet into hysterics. "How are you this morning?"

She suppressed an absurd desire to laugh. How was she?

Confused, terrified, and wishing that she could convince herself that this was all some horrible nightmare.

She clutched the covers closer to her chin. "I am well. Have you seen William?"

"Yes. He is eating his breakfast in the kitchen."

"Oh." It took a moment before her brows abruptly drew together and the terrible memory struck at her heart. "But your housekeeper…"

The elegant features hardened with a dangerous anger before he began to ease the tension from his body. It was not gone. Amelia could still feel the frustrated heat smoldering, but it was more under control.

"Thankfully I am capable of producing a passable meal when called upon." He gave a faint grimace. "Well, perhaps passable is a rather generous choice of words, but it is edible."

With a faint pang, Amelia realized that she had not even considered Sebastian’s own loss. He would no doubt blame himself for the death of his servant.

"Thank you for caring for William," she said softly.

" ‘Tis nothing, my dear."

"It is far more than most gentlemen would do," she uttered unthinkingly before abruptly blushing in confusion.

Swiftly realizing the cause of her discomfort, Sebastian offered her a wry smile.

"I may be a vampire, Amelia, but I also hope that I am a gentleman."

Her blush only deepened at his words. "Of course you are. I am sorry."

Regret, and something that might have been pain, flashed through the silver eyes as he studied her bewildered unease. Reaching out, he lightly touched a curl that lay against her cheek, his touch sending a poignant sweetness through her body.

"Perhaps we should finish our conversation," he murmured.

She bit her lip. A cowardly part of her wanted to close her ears and pretend that none of this was occurring. Perhaps if she ignored it all, it would simply go away.

But the greater part of her rebelled at such foolishness. She had always faced the world as it was, not as she desired it to be. Even this.

"Yes."

His fingers continued to toy with the stray curl, but a distant quality entered the silver eyes, as if he were looking within himself.

"I will not bore you with a long history of vampires, any more than to say that once my brothers roamed freely among humans. Unfortunately, the tales of our savagery were not a myth.

A vampire is both blessed and cursed by bloodlust."

She shivered in spite of herself. "Bloodlust?"

"It is a vampire’s hunger to consume the warm blood of mortals. By taking the life and soul of a human, we are granted many powers. We possess great strength and are capable of changing our form."

Her breath caught in her throat. She had to distance herself from his words to keep the horror at bay.

"Such as becoming a shadow?" she demanded, anxious to keep talking.