Page 108 of Immortal Rogue

He realized that, at Rubey’s advice, he’d changed. And that the angel had given him that chance.

Voss wondered how many other chances he’d had in the past that he’d ignored. He had a sense there had been more.

You don’t remember me, but we’ve met before.

“You never saw that little girl again? The one that you saved? You never found out what happened?” Angelica asked.

“No.”

“How odd. One would expect the parents to look for you, and express their gratitude.”

But Voss shook his head, a little smile curving his lips. He would explain it to her, about his visitation from an angel who wasnotfallen…but later. When they were private and had plenty of time to talk about it. “I’m not about to question the event, Angelica.”

No, indeed, he wasn’t. After all, he’d asked for help, he’d begged and pleaded for it while writhing in agony…and the angel had heard him. She’d known he was ready to change, at last.

Looking down at Angelica, he saw worry in her beautiful face. “What is it?”

“Do you think Chas will ever give us his blessing?”

Voss fully intended to make certain the man did, if he ever saw him again. But instead of saying that, he replied, “Corvindale, albeit reluctantly, has agreed to help make our case. Now that I am no longer Dracule, he has no reason to deny us permission. But regardless, Angelica, we’re going to wed, with or without your brother’s consent. Now that it’s been shortened, I’m not about to live the rest of my life without you.”

“Thank you for coming back to me, Voss.”

“Thank you for throwing away that necklace, Angelica. But there is one more request I’d like to make of you.”

“And what is that?”

“You know I love you, Iadoreyou, my dear…but when we were in Paris, and you were bathing…you were humming.”

“I was trying to keep from hearing you splashing about and wondering…imagining…what you were doing.”

He smiled. “Ah. Well, now that you don’t have to imagine any longer, my love…would you mind…not humming so much? You tend to be terribly off-key. Usually flat.”

“Is that so?” She smiled, her eyes lighting with humor. “So now I know precisely how to get whatever I want from you. I shall hum, or sing—which I’m even worse at—until you give in to me to silence me.”

Voss laughed with deep, filling pleasure. He’d had no idea that his life had been so bleak and dark—but now it was filled with light and humor. “My dear, you don’t have to resort to that. I’ve given everything to have you…and I would give anything for you. Just…don’t sing.”

Only a few blocksfrom where Voss and Angelica were bathed in the glorious warmth of sunlight, Dimitri stood near the window of his study.

He positioned himself so he could look out into the bright summer day, but away from the dangerous beam of light.

As always.

As he’d been forced to do forever.

His expression, perpetually gloomy and brooding, was even darker and more dangerous than usual. Anyone who might have seen him—and, fortunately, there was no one about—might have perceived an element of self-loathing and dejection.

Perhaps a bit of madness.

Dimitri glared through the glass, sneering at the lush, green garden in which he would never walk during the day. His eyes fired red as he sent loathing and fury onto the innocent rose bushes just beyond, and lifted his arrogant nose at the trailing flowers that he couldn’t namebecause he couldn’t ever walk among them.

How?

How did Voss do it?

And why…whycould Dimitri not do the same?

He spun from the window, fury and despair arcing through him. His eyes burned with irate tears and his mouth twisted, his fangs digging unpleasantly into his lower lip.

He flung away the glass he’d been holding, and it soared across the room, crashing into the wall and shattering with a dull thud. Whisky trailed down the wall from the dent in the paneling.

What the bloody Hell do I have to do?

Suddenly weak, suddenly shaking uncontrollably, Dimitri allowed his legs to give away.

He sank to the ground, buried his head in his hands, and wept furious, desperate, defeated tears.