Eventually, in the long, cold silence that followed, she’d fallen asleep, and he’d escaped to the den at the other side of the penthouse, determined to burn off his anger with a bottle of scotch and a reminder of his own terrible past.
But now, all he wanted to do was slip back between the sheets and draw her close, as if by kissing her and bringing her to ecstasy, he could transform himself from a monster into the man she deserved—a man who wouldalwaysprotect and cherish her, no matter how many secrets she kept.
He flipped to another page in the scrapbook.
city marks one year since last ‘crimson city devil’ murder; killer who terrorized new yorkers never found.
The buzz of his cell phone yanked him out of the past, and Dorian picked up on the first ring.
“Colin? Is everything all right?”
“I have news,” Colin replied.
Dorian braced himself. Although Colin was the most forgiving of his siblings, they hadn’t spoken more than a handful of times since his arrival. After the fundraiser, Colin had all but sequestered himself in the crypts with their father’s journals, and Dorian had scuttled off to his penthouse in the city, eager for a break. The combined, prolonged presence of his estranged family at Ravenswood had created an atmosphere more oppressive than he could bear.
“I’ve just spoken with Malcolm,” Colin continued, “and it seems the established vampire families are becoming more outspoken.”
“About?” Dorian could hear the awkward pause in his brother’s voice, the silent tension gathering. “Don’t stand on ceremony, Colin. What are they saying?”
“Some don’t believe you’re fit for the crown.”
“That’s nothing new.”
“Perhaps not, but the vocal majority is growing louder by the day. There are rumors—spurned on by House Duchanes—that House Redthorne framed Renault for the attack, murdered two innocent vampires, and possibly even murdered Renault himself, all as retaliation for his interest in Armitage Holdings.”
“That’s ridiculous. Renault disappeared from Ravenswood the moment his bloodsucking sycophants attacked Charlotte.”
“Which only lends credence to their theory. House Duchanes and their bonded witch are claiming Renault hasn’t resurfaced. They fear he’s dead, Dorian.”
“I don’t buy it. If they truly believed he’d died at my hand, they’d be banging down my door with torches and pitchforks.”
“Yes, well. At the very least, they’re putting on a good show of it, and it’s riling up the other families. Many of them remained loyal to our line only out of their abject fear of Father’s retribution. With him gone…”
Colin didn’t need to complete the sentence.
With their father dead, what cause did the others have to support House Redthorne? Nothing but memory and tradition, Dorian feared. And in a world that valued money and power above all else, memory and tradition were little more than the dusty relics of a time long past.
“They’re reaching out to all the vampires and witches who attended the fundraiser,” Colin said, “asking for anyone who witnessed the attack to step forward.”
Dorian seethed. “The only witness to the attack was the victim herself, and I’m not going to put her in any more danger than she’s already in, nor expose her to the cutthroat world of supernatural political maneuvering.”
“Of course not,” he said softly. “I just thought you should know. HowisCharlotte, by the way?”
The kindness and authenticity in his question took Dorian by surprise, and he didn’t know how to answer.
“She’s… well. Sleeping in the bedroom.” Despite his dour mood, Dorian’s lips curved into a smile as he pictured her in his bed, her auburn hair fanned out across his pillow, her rosy lips parted. He reached for his drink, eager to finish it off and get back to his woman. “Thank you for the update, Colin. I should—”
“Dorian, wait. There’s more. It’s… it’s about Father’s work.”
Dorian’s hand stilled on the glass, his heart thudding. “Have you deciphered the mysterious illness?”
“That’s just it. Therewasno illness.”
“But he was searching for a cure. I’m certain of it.”
“Yes, but not for any ailment.” Colin sighed, his voice dropping so low, Dorian had to strain to hear him. “He was searching for a cure for vampirism. And I believe he found it.”
“What are you saying?” Dorian’s own words were a whisper now too, the pounding of his heart nearly drowning them out.
