Carpathian 06 - Dark Fire

Tempest repeated softly, almost to herself.
    The sound of a knock on the door made her heart pound. Inside she was turning over their revelations.
    Could she do it? Chance it? Did she have that kind of courage? The words deranged vampiress did not conjure up a pretty picture. She didn't like the sound of that at all. But the thought of Darius losing his great strength, growing old when he did not have to, was a heavy weight on her heart.
    Did she believe in the fairy tale? Darius might believe he would grow old with her, but perhaps he would soon tire of her as men often did of their women. No man could really devote himself to one woman for all time. Certainly not for an eternity. She was a loner. Solitary by nature. Yet the thought of an eternity of Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    solitude wasn't all that appealing. Tempest didn't mind going around once in life, but over and over didn't sound all that great. And then there was the blood thing.
    Tempest made a face. Sucking the blood out of somebody's neck was a sickening thought.
    Baby, you think the most depressing thoughts. Just put the whole thing out of your head. I will be fine, I will not tire of you, and you will never be allowed to suck anyone's blood. I, however, will have the pleasure of sucking on your neck and other parts of your anatomy as often as possible.
    After I strangle my two little sisters, everything will be fine.
    You don't have to strangle them. I was the one who asked.
    I will not leave you, my love. His voice was a soft caress, but it carried total conviction. As their minds wen merged, she could clearly see his thoughts, his beliefs even his memories of the time before he met her. Hi had been a bleak, barren existence. She was his world She would always be his world. He believed that implicitly.
    "I need to find the courage," she whispered aloud to herself.
    Desari leaned into her. "You are our sister, beloved for: what you have given Darius. You already have shown great courage, just to brave being with him. Do not let us make you fret. Darius has chosen. So be it."
    And you think this will relieve you of the responsibilityfor making my lifemate fear for me, little sister? Darius demanded.
    Desari shook her head as if he could see her. The knock came again, signaling that it was time for the band to make an appearance on stage. "Come with us Rusti," she invited.
    Tempest stepped back, suddenly shy. She had never liked crowds, and she definitely preferred to be anonymous. "I'll listen from a distance. Good luck, you two."
    Syndil was appearing with the band for the first time since the trauma of her rape. Out in the hall, Barack and Dayan were waiting, along with several security and event staff, to escort them on stage. Julian and Darius were at the entrances. Security would remain tight for the duration of the concert, and there would be little chance for patrons to wander about the auditorium unobserved.
    Tempest followed the band from a short distance, looking around for Darius. When she couldn't find him, she stayed just outside the door and listened. A roar went up, signaling that Desari was on stage.
    The band began a slow, moody ballad, one particularly suited to Desari's beautiful voice. It filled the hall and spilled out, dreamy, sexy, mystical.
    Tempest touched the door with reverent fingers. No one had a voice like Desari. Once heard, it was impossible to forget. It conjured up dreams, fantasies, evoked intense emotions in all who heard her.
    Tempest felt a surge of pride in her. Somehow she had become part of them all. Accepted. Respected.
    A member of their peculiar family.
    Cullen hurried up, obviously out of breath, his heart loud enough for Tempest to hear. "Where is he?
    Where's Darius?"
    "At the entrance to the balcony, I think," she replied.

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    "The riverboat party. The bachelor thing. I saw Brady Grand among the passengers boarding the boat, but I don't think he got on. If he's the one who booked that boat, then it's a set-up. He's got a crew here."
    "Who's Brady Grand?" Tempest was pacing alongside Cullen as he raced toward the stairs to find Darius.
    "He's someone you don't want to meet. He heads up the society here on the West Coast. Damn it, where's Darius?" Cullen started up the stairs but was stopped by a uniformed security guard. He pointed impatiently to his tag and pushed past the