Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

gone. Her tears continued
     to fall as Dax walked them away from behind the dais.
    Clouds formed unnaturally fast, dark and mean. Lightning raced from one side of the
     sky to the other. The electricity was palpable in the air, but it was Dax being so
     closed off that truly unnerved her. For the first time she felt him mentally slipping
     away, and she let him go. She understood the need to distance oneself when faced with
     such horrors.
    “Marty was here to study ruins with his professor and Todd, his friend,” Dax said,
     staring at the gathering storm. “He had a love for history and especially the study
     of how myths and gods were created. Mitro spent a lot of time in this part of his
     brain. I believe the vampire may be considering making his own cult, using the volcano
     and the dragons and local legend.” His voice was neutral, but even without the connection
     she thought she detected shame.
    “This is not your fault, Dax.”
    He went on as if he didn’t hear her. “Mitro used Marty to learn about the modern world,
     or at least as much of it as he could. He took his time while he made the village
     people sacrifice each other in his name. Pedro was one of the first to die.”
    “Dax . . .”
    Dax cut her off. “Yes, Riley, this is my fault. Every child, every man, every woman . . . their deaths are my fault.” Dax
     raised his hand and lightning sprang to his fingertips, gathering into another ball
     of light and fire.
    “Do we know where he is?”
    “Before coming here Marty and Todd spent time in a city, filled with people. Mitro
     spent time reviewing those memories. I think the city appealed to his latest aspirations.”
    Dax threw the ball of flame straight down at their feet. Waves of lightning and fire
     in every color spread in an instant, burning everything but them. Dax took her arm
     and guided her back toward their camp. The fire retreated from their every step. “I
     believe he wants to go to a place where there are young people that will worship him
     as he believes he deserves.”
    When the village was out of sight, Riley looked up at Dax. Otherworldly and beautiful,
     his expression looked carved from stone.
    Riley had had enough of his stoicism. She could feel how much he was suffering. She
     reached up, grabbed the back of his hair and kissed him hard. At first, he held firm
     and then their world turned to a fire as hot and wild as the one they’d just left
     as he let her take him to someplace far, far different.

12
    R iley knew she wasn’t alone the moment she woke. She was surrounded by Dax’s scent.
     Warm. Masculine. Wild. Dangerous—which was strange because she instantly felt safe.
    “Open your eyes.”
    Her body responded to that soft, hypnotic voice, melting, turning liquid. She lifted
     her lashes and looked into his face. Desire, raw and electric, sizzled through her
     body until heat pooled low. He looked sinfully beautiful, the most beautiful man she’d
     ever seen. There was nobility in that carefully carved face. Each feature was distinct
     and etched with an artistic hand. His short, spiked hair, obsidian black, nearly sparkled,
     giving her palms a tingly feeling and forcing her to curl her fingers tightly into
     fists to prevent her from running them through that thick pelt. God, he was gorgeous.
    Her breath caught in her throat. He was lying beside her on his side, his body curved
     protectively around hers, on one elbow, his head propped up by his hand, his eyes
     drifting possessively over her. The look in his eyes stole her sanity. There was desire,
     stark and raw that set her blood surging hotly, bringing every single nerve ending
     in her body alive.
    Riley was reluctant to sit up, savoring the feel of his hard muscles, the impressive
     length and thickness of his heavy erection lying tight against her bottom and the
     heat from his body warming her. He smiled at her, a flash of white teeth, his strange
     eyes claiming her. The multifaceted eyes glowed at her with small orange-red flames
     illuminating the colors of diamonds. His free hand was in her hair, as if he couldn’t
     resist the feel of it. His long fingers massaged her scalp, sending the most delicious
     sensation through her.
    She blinked up at him. “Hello.”
    He inclined his head. “Good evening. I brought you something.”
    His hand reluctantly slipped from her hair, and she actually followed the descent
     of that warm touch with her head, wanting to rub against him