Page 4 of Deceived By a Warrior

“Youronlyleader,” Artem didn’t hesitate to correct him.

Having no need to continue their pointless banter, Darius asked, “Why have you called on me?”

Artem grinned, leaning back in his throne and tapping his nails against the bones that surrounded him. “Always straight to the point - one of the many things I like about you.”

Darius impatiently crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you need me to do?”

Artem sighed. “I too often forget what a serious man you are. I suppose I only have myself to blame for that.” He was right, though Darius knew better than to agree with him. “I plan on sending you someplace you know very well.”

“And where’s that?”

“Miami.” Artem’s scrutinizing expression didn’t faze Darius. He wouldn’t allow it to. Because Darius knew Artem wanted to see how he would react when Artem told him he would be going to Miami - a city Darius wanted etched from his memory and a city he could never forget.

So Darius didn’t react at all, despite how much he was screaming inside.

Darius was sent to Miami several years ago. It was there that he noticed a vibrant woman with lush dark curls sitting in the distance. He immediately recognized that woman as his lifeblood - someone a vampire was destined to be with for eternity.She was his.He knew it immediately.

He never spoke to the woman, he knew better than to. If he had, someone would have reported her whereabouts to Artem, and Artem would have been able to use her against him.

Whenever a vampire laid eyes on their lifeblood, the color of their eyes changed.Immediately. When Darius saw that woman, the red in his eyes dissipated - the soft blue color of his human eyes returning.

After that trip Darius returned to this fortress without red eyes. It didn’t matter that he didn’t speak to the woman, his eyes gave everything away.

At least,he had thought,no one knows who she is.

When Artem realized Darius had denied any temptation to spend time with the woman, he was beyond impressed. Vampires sometimes walked away from their lifeblood, but never prior to the initial claiming.

Yet Darius didn’t even approach the woman, a true testament to his willpower.

Artem didn’t realize what little choice Darius had in the matter. If Darius had decided to pursue that woman, he would have damned her to a miserable existence, unable to ever escape Artem and the Voivod.

Worse than damning his lifeblood to this wretched existence? Artem would despise him for finding his woman, and he would punish Karina for it.

Darius tried everything in his power to forget that woman, though the image of her thick chocolate curls, high cheekbones, bright coral lips, and knowing pecan shaped eyes - all resting above a slim body meant for a goddess - was not one he’d soon forget. She was the last person Darius wanted to think about and it took everything in his power tonotthink about her. To think of her meant to lose control of himself and put Karina in jeopardy.

“And why do you want me to go to Miami?” He asked a question he was sure he already knew the answer to. Darius was trying to maintain a calm composure as he spoke. More importantly, he was trying to ignore the unfamiliar thrill that stirred within him.

“Is that really a question?” Artem snickered. When Darius didn’t laugh Artem coughed into his mouth and said, “I suppose it is. Very well, I’ll tell you. I want you to find your woman and bring her back to me.”

Fuck.

Chapter Three

Darius Fischer

Darius’ mind was thrown into turmoil, but he refused to allow anyone around him to know that. Despite the upheaval that plagued his mind, he kept a straight face.Too many eyes on me.

Throughout the years, Artem appointed an endless number of tasks to Darius that most would consider impossible. Despite the impossibility of each task, Darius never failed.

Henever failed.

But locating his lifeblood, presumably to deliver her to Artem so she could suffer from whatever torturous tactics he planned on inflicting upon her, went against every instinct he had. He would have to give this woman up to the vilest creature he ever knew to exist.

Impossible.

Darius had been doing just fine denying his lifeblood - the woman he desperately craved over all others - to protect her from Artem’s atrocities.

But now Artem wanted her?

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