Carpathian 06 - Dark Fire

his face. "My name is Dayan. Any friend of Rusti's is a friend of ours." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes shifting from Cullen to Tempest and back again. "Does Darius know you're here? Have you met him?"
    Cullen glanced uneasily at Tempest. "I'm beginning to think coming here wasn't such a great idea. Just how jealous is this bodyguard?"
    Dayan laughed softly. "Darius has this thing about his little darling."
    "I am not his 'little darling'!" Tempest denied hotly. "I'm not his anything." I know you can hear every Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    word being said. You're deliberately making Cullen squirm. Come out here right now! she groused to Darius.
    It is not only Cullen Tucker who appears to be nervous. Darius responded complacently. And you are mine, my everything.
    You really need to get out of fantasy land, Darius.
    Dayan had the audacity to ruffle Tempest's hair as if they were old family friends. "You are definitely Darius's only love, and he does not share well."
    Syndil nodded solemnly. "He really does not. I don't think he learned how to as a child." Her dark eyes were lit with mischief, something those around her were grateful to see. "Really, Mr. Tucker-or may I call you Cullen-I will protect you."
    Cullen again ran a hand through his hair. "No man is willing to share the woman he loves, Syndil. But Tempest and I met only a few hours ago in town. I brought some news she thought all of you should hear. But the bodyguard doesn't have anything to worry about. I wasn't hitting on her."
    Dayan's eyes were suddenly hard and cold. "I hope we did not give you a false impression of Darius. He would never worry. That is not his way." The voice, even more than the words, supplied the threat.
    Tempest groaned out loud, wishing she knew Dayan well enough to hit him over the head. She reached out to reassure Cullen, who was looking as if he'd stumbled into a nest of vipers. Dayan moved subtly, deliberately inserting his solid frame between Tempest and the human. Syndil took Cullen's arm and walked him toward some lounge chairs set up beneath a shade tree.
    Darkness was falling fast. Bats began their nightly ritual, assaulting the insects, performing their acrobatics in the sky. A cool breeze had come up, gently rustling the leaves in the trees. Desari and Julian, complete with hiking boots and backpacks, walked hand in hand into the circle. Both looked surprised to see a visitor, but Tempest knew by their appearance that the surprise was feigned.
    Julian moved his body protectively in front of Desari even as he offered his hand to Cullen as they were introduced. Cullen looked uneasy as he murmured a greeting. This was the man the society absolutely believed was a vampire. Cullen studied him closely, receiving an immediate impression of sheer power.
    Julian Savage was enormously strong, although careful not to crush Cullen's bones when they shook hands. It was impossible to tell his age; his face looked timeless.
    Physically he was almost beautiful, in a purely masculine way, like the Greek statues of their gods.
    "You are a fan of my wife's singing?" Julian ventured.
    "He came here with Rusti," Dayan offered with a grin.
    Julian's eyebrows shot up. "With Rusti? Then you have not met Darius as of yet, Mr. Tucker."
    "Don't start," Tempest said. "I mean it, Julian. We've gone through this already. Darius is hardly the ogre you're all making him out to be. He could care less if I had a dozen men here to visit."
    Do not ever risk that one, my love, Darius said softly in her mind, the snap of his white teeth audible.

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    "Do you want a mass murder taking place?" Dayan teased.
    Tempest tilted her chin in a challenge. "Darius isn't like that at all."
    Darius came striding out of the woods, tall, elegant, power personified. Cullen actually came to his feet.
    The bodyguard was the most impressive man he had ever seen. His body rippled with leashed strength.
    Power oozed from his every pore. His midnight-black hair was pulled back and held with a tie at the nape of his neck. The harsh planes and angles of his face seemed carved of granite. His mouth held latent sensuality and a hint of cruelty. His black eyes took in everything, the smallest detail, yet never left Tempest's face.
    Darius moved silently, like a stalking panther, straight to Tempest's side, his arm curving around her possessively,