The Vampire’s Kiss(32)
Author: Cynthia Eden

«Why did he kill his own father?” Savannah shook her head. “Why would he do that?»

«Because Guy de Montfort wasn’t his father. Geoffrey was my half-brother, Savannah. We had the same mother, but our fathers were different.»

«Who was his father?»

He rose from the bed and began to stalk around the room, barely aware of his nudity. “Guy’s brother. A year after I was born, my mother became pregnant with his child. Guy killed his brother as soon as he found out. My mother died of a fever shortly after the baby was born.” William had always secretly thought her death was an act of kindness from God. She had been spared from facing Guy’s deadly wrath.

«So your father took Geoffrey in and raised him?»

«At that time, a man couldn’t have too many sons. All leaders needed men to follow them, sons to lead their armies. He told the world that Geoffrey was his, and he used him, just as he used Henry and me.” He stopped, gripping the bedpost. “I don’t know why Geoffrey finally killed him. Maybe it was because of what Guy did to Henry. Geoffrey always seemed to … care for Henry. At least in his own, sick, twisted way. I think my father’s attack just drove him over the edge.»

«And he sought out the vampire.” He could almost see the wheels turning in her mind as she explored possibilities. “And you returned home.” She paused a beat, and then she said, “And you found Henry.»

«Henry knew what I’d become. I saw it in his eyes.” He could still remember the fear he’d seen in his brother’s gaze. “He was barely hanging on. He’d been attacked again, and left to die. He was choking on his blood.” He clenched his teeth, wanting to finish the dark tale and be done with the past.

Savannah stared at him, an uncanny knowledge in her emerald gaze. “You tried to change him anyway, didn’t you?»

He nodded. “He was my brother,” he said simply, knowing she, of all people, would understand. “He’d known that I’d gone for the dark gift. I tried to convert him, to give him my blood. And, I think, I think it had begun to work—»

«What happened?»

«We were attacked. Word of my father’s death had reached his enemies. They stormed our holding, killing everyone in their path. Knights, servants. It made no difference. They showed my people the same cruelty that my father had so often shown them.” The screams echoed in his mind. He could hear the sound of shattering wood. See the swords swinging toward him. “Soldiers found Henry and me. They attacked us. I fought them, killed them. But when I turned back to Henry—»

Sorrow flashed across her expressive face. “He was dead.»

He nodded and swallowed against the painful memory. Pain that was trying to choke him. “One of the swords hit him in the chest. There was blood everywhere.” He’d pulled the sword from Henry’s chest and stood, numb, staring down at the still form of his brother. “I waited too long to transform him. He died, because of me.»

She jumped from the bed, dropping the sheet and running to his side. “Don’t say that, William! It’s not true. You did everything that you could to save Henry.»

«If I’d only gotten back to him sooner, if I’d only transformed him sooner—” The past had haunted him for so long. If only things had been different…

She grabbed his arms, forcing him to turn and face her. “Listen to me! It wasn’t your fault. You did everything in your power to help Henry. You can’t keep blaming yourself for his death! You can’t!” She paused then softly said, “Henry wouldn’t blame you.»

Wouldn’t he? “Geoffrey blames me.»

«What?»

He opened his mouth to reply, then frowned, feeling the slight change in the atmosphere. A chill of warning skated down his spine. Dawn was coming.

He pulled away from her, ignoring her questioning stare and padded to the bookcase.

«William?” Savannah stared blankly after him. “What are you doing?” Surely he wasn’t just going to drop a bombshell like that on her and walk away!

He pulled a black box from the top shelf. He opened the lid and removed a silver key, a key exactly like the one he’d used to unlock all of the metal doors in the tunnels.

He walked back to her. “I want you to keep this,” he said. “It will allow you to come and go as you please from the tunnels.»

She took the key from him. It felt cold, heavy, in her hand. “But what about Geoffrey—»

He touched her cheek gently. “That’s another story. One that will have to be saved for another time. Dawn is coming.” He pointed to the key. “I want you to feel free to explore the house during the day. No room is blocked to you. I only ask that you stay inside.” His eyes were deep, swirling pools. “It’s safer inside.»

She was touched by his concern. “I won’t leave,” she promised, curling her fingers around the key.

«You’ll be safe during the day,” he told her. “Geoffrey will have to rest then. He won’t be able to touch you.»

«What about my dreams?” She asked softly, with a shiver of remembered apprehension. “It was during the day when he entered my dreams before.»

He touched her cheek. A light, fleeting touch. “I’ll guard you. Now that you’ve had the second bite, I can link with you. I’ll make certain he doesn’t slip into your mind.»

Relief swept through her.

William’s head lifted, his eyes narrowing. “The sun is rising.” His voice was clipped. “You must go.»

«No, I want to stay with you.” And she did. She didn’t want to return to an empty room. She wanted to stay with William.

A muscle flexed along the plane of his jaw.

She touched his shoulder. “What is it?»

He didn’t look at her. “When the dawn comes, the change will come.»

«The change?»

His fingers clenched. “My body will shut down. I won’t breathe. My heart won’t beat.” He finally glanced at her tense features. “It will be as if I’m dead.»

«I know what happens when you sleep, William,” she told him gently. “I know you have to conserve your strength during the daylight hours.” She’d read about the vampire’s need for complete stillness. The sun was fierce, draining to a creature of the night. During the day, all vampires shut down their physical bodies. Their minds remained strong, tangled in the dream world, but their bodies were forced to lay motionless.

«Then you know why you must leave.»

Savannah shook her head. “No, I don’t. I want to stay with you.” She knew she was being stubborn, but she didn’t really care. She wanted to prove to him that she wasn’t afraid. She could handle him, all of him.