Enraptured: Immortal Chronicles Book IV Read online

  She frowned. Did he think she was going to invite him to visit or something?

  Brian did not notice her discomfort. Or, if he did, he chose to ignore it. “You say you came to the party with King Alexander, correct?”

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “You said you do not belong to him, but do you have any other lovers in attendance?”

  Darcie spat out the wine she’d just sipped. Her eyes were wide as she choked out, “Excuse me?”

  “Are any of your previous lovers here?”

  Des’ face fluttered into her mind, but Darcie shook the image away. “No.”

  His gaze turned skeptical. “Not even your shadow back there? The king’s second has not let you out of his sight since I asked you to dance.”

  Darcie turned her neck to look at Gregory. His cheeks blushed scarlet; he had heard Brian. The knowledge made her own face burn bright pink.

  She looked back at Brian. “No. We are friends.”

  Brian’s eyes glittered in triumph. “Glad to hear it, love.”

  He returned his hand to the small of her back and took a drink from his glass. An odd feeling emanated from his fingertips. Curious, Darcie looked over her shoulder and was shocked to see a faint glow spreading across her back.

  “NO!” Gregory’s voice carried to her ears, but they sounded farther away than the other side of the room.

  Darcie realized a moment too late that Brian was transporting them out of the library.

  Not this again.

  13

  A tall grandfather clock ticked loudly in the corner. Darcie wanted to remove one of her emerald heels and throw it at the glass face. She was locked inside yet another immaculately decorated bedroom, and she had been chastising herself for the last hour.

  How do I always end up in this kind of situation?

  Darcie kicked the fancy oriental rug covering the dark cherry wood floor. She wanted to scream. She wanted to hit something. She settled for grabbing a nearby pillow and throwing it at the bedroom door. It was locked from the outside.

  Brian had deposited her in the fire lit room after transporting her away from the party. The moment she was whole, Darcie had swung at the abductor. The vampire evaded her arms with ease. Using his supernatural speed, he appeared beside the door. He recommended she “freshen up” while he checked on their dinner. In response, she threw obscenities at him as he locked the door.

  At first, Darcie had paced the room, searching for any means of escape. She was an immortal now, and she should be able to use her speed or strength for something. However, when she tried to break open the thick glass window, she failed. She had charged the door, only to land roughly on her backside when she bounced off. She cursed herself for choosing to delay working with her new physical abilities. Aside from her enhanced senses, she would never have known she was no longer mortal.

  Darcie sat down on the bed and leaned back until she was flat and staring at the ceiling. There was no way out of the room. She resigned herself to wait until Brian returned. Once she figured out what, exactly, he wanted with her, she could work on developing a plan to escape.

  The seconds continued to tick by, and troublesome thoughts threatened to overwhelm her. Whenever Darcie felt her anxiety rise, she forced it back down. The last thing she needed was Des sensing she was in distress.

  The immortal had revealed his ability to sense Darcie’s heightened emotions not too long ago. It was a side-effect of being soulmates, or something like that.

  While Des’ ability had saved her from harm on more than one occasion, the last thing she or The Alliance needed was him coming to the rescue. Revealing her location could put both of them in danger.

  Besides, Darcie felt confident she could find a way out of her current predicament on her own.

  If only Brian would come back already.

  Darcie had too many thoughts flying around her head to relax on the bed.

  Pushing herself up, she kicked off the evening heels and walked around the room. She picked up a silver hairbrush and matching comb, examining their decorated handles before putting them back down. Glancing at the walls, Darcie suspected she was in an older home. The architecture and low doorframe revealed as much.

  Walking to the invincible window, she stared out into the dimly lit courtyard below. The shrubbery and trees bordering the concrete space were well-kept. The sight looked like something she might see in a British period drama. It seemed English vampires enjoyed living in places of the past.

  “Miss?” a timid voice called from across the room.

  Darcie yelped and spun around, bracing herself for an attack. Imagine her surprise when she saw a young woman standing in the doorway, avoiding eye contact. The newcomer wore a simple white shirt tucked into a black skirt. Her brown hair was pulled back in a pretty braid.

  Still staring at the floor, the girl tried again, “Miss?”

  “Yes?” Darcie found her voice.

  “Lord Brian asked me to fetch you. I-I am to bring you to dinner.” She sounded terrified. Darcie wasn’t sure if the young woman was scared of Brian or her.

  “You work for him?”

  “Yes, Miss.”

  “My name is D– … Jennifer,” Darcie quickly fixed her blunder. “Please, call me Jennifer.”

  The girl curtsied. “Miss Jennifer, please follow me.” Without waiting to see if she listened, the young woman departed.

  A part of Darcie wondered if she should follow her or stay put.

  What if she was walking into a trap? Should she take more time to contemplate what might meet her on the other side of the door?

  Immediately, she dismissed the thoughts. She would not be able to find a way to escape if she remained locked in the room.

  So, Darcie followed the path the girl had taken. She walked into the long, narrow hallway just as the girl’s black skirt disappeared to the right. Picking up her pace, she followed. It was only when she felt the rug beneath her that Darcie realized she was still barefoot.

  Oh well. There was nothing she could do. If she turned back, she would lose sight of the girl for sure.

  Darcie turned the corner and lifted the green chiffon and silk dress to walk down the stairs. After another lengthy hallway with some sharp turns, she saw her escort standing outside an ordinary-looking door.

  The girl curtsied, again. “Lord Brian is waiting for you inside, Miss Jennifer.”

  “Thank you.” Darcie approached and reached out for the handle, but it swung open before she could make contact. A baby-faced young man greeted her with a bow. He gestured for her to enter. She complied and heard the door close behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she realized the young man had left her alone.

  Not alone, Darcie corrected. She felt a pair of eyes focus on her. She turned slowly and observed the room’s other occupant.

  Brian sat at a modestly-sized dining room table, smiling brightly. “Please forgive the delay,” he stated sincerely. “Dinner was not quite ready when we arrived. I hope you did not mind waiting.”

  Darcie kept her mouth shut. For all she knew, she was dealing with a mad-man. The last thing she wanted to do was provoke him with a passive-aggressive reply.

  Brian stared at her, waiting for a response. When he realized she did not plan to give one, he gestured to the chair opposite of his. “Will you sit?”

  She complied and sat on the velvet cushion.

  “Comfortable?” he asked.

  She avoided his question and his gaze. Instead, she fixated on the center of the table. Dishes were filled with piles of food, garnished with colorful strands of vegetables and fruit peels. Steam rose from a pot of soup, and a chilled cheesecake sat on an elevated serving dish.

  The aroma and sight were enticing, but for the first time, Darcie realized she did not have an appetite. When she thought about it, she recognized her appetite for food had essentially vanished since she changed to an immortal. Sure, she consumed food, but she acknowledged the sustenance was no longer requ
ired for her to survive.

  Darcie leaned into the high-backed chair and returned her attention to the vampire across from her. “Why am I here?”

  “Because I want to know what King Alexander was doing at Victor’s party, and you are pleasant enough to look at that I decided I wanted to get the information from you.”

  Darcie wasn’t sure if Brian asked about Alex searching for the book of magic or something else entirely. Regardless, she was not going to give him anything.

  She tried to appear confused. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

  His eyebrows turned down slightly. “I sincerely doubt that, love.”

  The door behind Brian opened, saving her from the need to reply. Two young women entered and began serving the meal. Neither of them spoke. Darcie noticed they wore the same outfit as the woman who retrieved her from the locked bedroom. She leaned further into the chair to avoid their touch as the women moved food from the serving dishes to her plate. Both women’s spines were rigid, and their movements were mechanical.

  Once finished, Brian’s servants straightened and looked to their employer. He clapped his hands together once and said, “Thank you, Laura and Bethany. That will be all.” Both women dipped down in respect before turning to leave. One of them shot Darcie an annoyed glare before closing the door behind them.

  Caught off guard, Darcie made the mistake of looking back towards Brian. Intelligent eyes met hers. “You should try the roast. My chef is an artist. In all of my years, I have yet to encounter a better one.”

  Darcie did not say a word. She watched Brian shrug and pick up his silverware. Using his fork, he separated the meat on his plate. His face filled with appreciation as he took a bite. Darcie wondered if she ever saw Alex or Gregory eat real food. She didn’t think so.

  Brian continued eating. In between bites, he continued their conversation, “Have I told you how stunning that dress is on you? Truly, it brings out the stunning color in your eyes.”

  He had told her at least two times while they danced.

  Darcie shifted slightly. “Thank you.” It would be better for her to play nice.

  “You are welcome.” Brian picked up a crystal goblet. It contained a dark red substance. Darcie was too focused on the impending interrogation to feel nauseous.

  “So,” he continued after taking a drink, “tell me about our shadow–King Alexander’s second in command.”

  “Gregory?” she asked. “He is my friend. He looks out for me.”

  Brian circled the goblet with his index finger. “The half-blood seems rather fond of you,” he observed.

  Darcie’s back straightened. Brian knew Gregory was the child of a vampire and human relationship. She noted the vampire seemed to know quite a lot.

  “I am fond of him, too,” she replied.

  The vampire smirked. “I do not believe it is in the same way.”

  Refusing to let him take them off topic, she steered the conversation back the way she wanted. “What am I doing here?” she asked for the second time. “Why are you asking me about King Alexander?”

  Brian’s stare became scrutinizing. “Surely, you know my questions stem from his association with the Original Immortal currently endeavoring to change the world as we know it.” His cool demeanor cracked. A muscle in his jaw twitched.

  “Adir,” she stated, knowing Brian could mean no one else. “What about him?”

  He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, swirling the crystal goblet in his hand. “I want to know if the rumors are true. Has King Alexander turned against his father and sided with The Alliance?”

  Common sense screamed at Darcie to deny the accusation. But something in Brian’s expression made her pause. She could not tell which answer the vampire most wanted to hear. “I did not take you for someone to be swayed by rumors.” She held her breath, waiting to see his reaction.

  He took another sip and put the goblet back on the table. He rested his chin on his laced fingers and observed her, once again. “You do not trust me.”

  “I do not know you well enough to trust you.”

  Brian tilted his forehead. “Fair enough. Allow me to be of assistance. My name is Brian Rothschild. I am the oldest vampire in this region, and I have been estranged from my immortal ancestor for centuries.”

  “You do not like Adir?”

  “It is not a matter of like,” he replied. “Adir has never wronged me, but I see how he treats those he believes are below him. He and I do not share the same values. As a result, he will have my respect but never my loyalty.”

  His words sounded genuine, but they were careful–almost political. Brian made sure to not blatantly condemn one side while making clear which perspective he shared. He was waiting to see what Darcie’s own side would be.

  She exhaled slowly. “What makes you question King Alexander’s loyalty to his father?”

  “I have always believed the king to be an intelligent and ethical leader. Though it has never been revealed to me, I always suspected he did not condone his father’s ambition. Seeing him at Victor’s party, however, has led me to question my assumptions.”

  “What is wrong with Victor?” Aside from his creepy and dominating treatment of those he’s turned.

  Brian’s eyes hardened. “He is a bastard. Like Adir, he does not treat those under him with dignity. Unsurprisingly, he supports Adir’s cause. My question is, why would King Alexander subject himself to such a vile creature’s company?”

  Darcie realized Brian did not know about the book. If he did, he would know why Alex had crashed Victor’s party.

  She continued to proceed with caution. “I do not believe Victor knew he was coming.”

  Brian pulled back his hands, leaning into the chair behind him. “Then why did he attend?”

  Underneath the table, she twisted her fingers together. She did not want to say the wrong thing. She did not know Brian. He could be working for Adir, trying to get evidence of his son’s betrayal.

  Darcie turned her attention to her lap. “Why do you want to know?” she whispered. “What does it matter?”

  Brian let silence fall between them. She did not dare look up. His next words could either reveal his intentions or continue to walk the fine-line of truth. She waited to know which they would be.

  “The king has been the obedient son for millennia,” he began. His tone drew her eyes back up. “However, I have suspected it was all an act. Does Alexander share my opinion of our father’s deplorable behavior? Is he acting against him? If so, I am intrigued to know what could have motivated the king to finally take a stand.”

  Was it Darcie’s imagination, or did Brian give her a meaningful look with his last statement?

  She squeezed her fingers together. “You might betray me.”

  “I might.” He nodded. “But that is a chance you will have to take if you desire to ever return to your home.”

  It was her turn to scrutinize the vampire. His face showed determination, but she could detect no deceit. There was something about him… his posture? His words? His expression made Darcie believe he was telling the truth. Brian was not an ally of the rebellion, but that did not necessarily make him a friend of The Alliance.

  Darcie made the decision to lay it all on the table. She did not know if Brian would use the information against her, but if he did, she would figure out a way to deal with the consequences.

  So, with a fortifying breath, she asked, “Do you know about the human Adir is searching for? The one rumored to be the soulmate of an Original?”

  Brian’s body went rigid. She had his attention.

  “Yes,” his voice was low. “What about her?”

  “Well, for one, she isn’t human anymore.” His jaw fell open. Darcie continued before she lost the nerve.

  “And two,” she paused and gestured to herself. “You’re looking right at her.”

  14

  “Astonishing,” Brian uttered the word on an exhale. He leaned back again
st the soft cushion of the lounge chair next to the fireplace. “You have had quite a time of it.”

  Following her epic reveal in the dining room, Brian had suggested they move to a more comfortable setting to hear the rest of her explanation. Darcie had just finished relaying all that happened to her since she was introduced to the immortal world. She included Alex’s involvement, and she highlighted the fact that he opposed his father long before she came into the picture. He might have increased the risk of discovery when she was in jeopardy, but Alex had been working against his father for years.

  Brian remained slouched in his chair, staring at the flames in front of them. “Alexander risks much in helping you.”

  It was a fact which added to Darcie’s guilt. “He is my mom’s friend.” It was the only explanation she could offer.

  The vampire sighed. “Ah yes. Jennifer. It was risky to use her name as your own.”

  She stiffened. “How did you–”

  “You look just like her,” Brian interrupted. He glanced back at her. “I should have seen the resemblance at the gala. My only excuse is I was too blinded by your beauty to make the connection.”

  It was not lost on Darcie just how well-known her mother seemed to be. First Cassandra. Now, Brian…

  Darcie wondered how many of her mother’s adventures had continued after leaving her family in Maine. For once, the thought did not ignite resentment. It seemed her mother played important roles in various supernatural groups.

  “My beauty? Or did your plan to use me for intel on Alexander distract you?”

  Brian grinned. “Can’t it be both?”

  Darcie shook her head, biting back her smile. Now that Brian did not view her as a potential enemy, he had resumed his flirtatious ways. She was finding it hard not to be charmed by him.

  “How long have you opposed Adir?”

  “I do not openly oppose my ancestor,” Brian said, “but I easily see how he will cause more harm than good if he gets his way. Knowing Alexander stands against Adir gives me the strength to do the same.”