Carpathian 13 - Dark Destiny

frail and sunken in. "You know you will never have anything to fear from me. I have come to this place to help you and your friends. You believe that."
    Velda nodded solemnly. "Yes, I know," she murmured.
    She knew too much. Nicolae suddenly realized that nothing was what it appeared to be in this quiet neighborhood. The ground shifted and rolled beneath his feet. Destiny! Come to me now . The command was made by an ancient in full power; it was a compulsion impossible to resist. He didn't even think about the repercussions of bending her to his will. He couldn't think about it. There was a strand of evil woven into the very fabric of the neighborhood, and he needed to find its root. The preservation of his race could very well be at stake.
    Nicolae released Velda from his enthrallment and watched as Inez helped her sister into their home, leaving him alone with Martin.
    "She looked ill," Martin said with genuine concern. "Do you think we should call Dr. Arnold? He supervises the clinic, and I know he'd make a house call for Velda or Inez. They're sort of an institution here."
    "I think she just needed to rest." Nicolae's glittering gaze moved broodingly over the man sprawled out in his chair. "Where did you have dinner that night, Martin? You never said."
    Martin frowned and rubbed his head as if it pained him. "I always go to the bar. I must have gone there.
    I knew Tim wasn't going to be home, and I always go to the bar for company when he has classes. I don't remember. How could I lose an entire night?"

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    "We will figure it out, Martin," Nicolae assured him, using a soothing voice. At once, some of the anxiety eased from the man's face. "It will be easy enough to ask at the bar if you were seen that night. Everyone knows you."
    "Tim is upset. He doesn't know what to think or believe, and I can't reassure him," Martin said wistfully.
    "Velda and Inez seem to know what they're talking about when they give advice, Martin, and so does MaryAnn. Maybe you should talk it over with someone you trust and see what they have to say."
    He could feel the surge of power as Destiny flew swiftly through the night sky toward him. Destiny .
    Martin pushed himself up out of the chair and thrust out his hand toward Nicolae. "I was feeling pretty hopeless until I talked with you. Thanks, man. I think you're right. I saw MaryAnn going in the direction of her office. Maybe I'll go hash this out with her."
    You summoned me? The words were bit out. Destiny wasn't happy with the way he had drawn her to him. Or the fact that he could draw her. His blood ran in her body, yet he was the one who commanded her.
    "Excellent idea, Martin." Nicolae lifted a hand in farewell and sauntered around the corner out of sight.
    He knew exactly where she waited for him, seething and determined to pick a fight.
    Destiny glared at him when Nicolae appeared next to her, shimmering into solid form on the highest rooftop above the neighborhood. "Would you like to explain your arrogant behavior to me?"
    Her eyes were smoky green, with turbulence swirling in their depths. She looked wild and unpredictable.
    Her body was poised and ready to fight, coiled like a spring, yet as still and as watchful as a tigress. The wind was ruffling her hair like the touch of fingers and her mouth was… tempting. His gaze dropped to her full lower lip. Its slight pout didn't mean she was sulking. It meant trouble for someone.
    His entire being reacted to the sight of that pouty lower lip. His arousal was swift and hard, accompanied by a punishing ache that wouldn't quite leave him even when he was away from her.
    Destiny was furious. Not just furious. She was frustrated and restless and strung tighter than a bow.
    Anger roiled in the pit of her stomach, mixed with an age-old excitement she couldn't contain. It was a reaction to the way he was looking at her, his hooded gaze hot with desire and an intensity of need and hunger he didn't bother to try to hide.
    "Was my behavior arrogant?" His gaze never lifted from her mouth.
    The power of his voice sizzled in her stomach, throbbed lower. She recognized need for what it was, and it frightened her that she could be so caught up in the force of his power. His voice stroked her skin like a velvet glove, making her intensely aware of every inch of her skin.
    "Are we going to talk about this?" Her own voice sounded husky, strangled, as if she couldn't catch