too much to her these past months. But Ashwin… She’d clung to thoughts of him for so long. It was too heavenly being with him now.
Her gaze still at the floor, she turned to Ashwin and looked at his fashionable shoes. It just didn’t make sense. When she brought her gaze to meet him, she saw the love in his eyes, but was too concerned with Keegan to really take it in. “Why did you help Keegan?” she asked in a voice that was barely audible.
If he loved her so, why should he care about Keegan at all?
He cupped her cheek and thumbed the tender skin of her cheek. “Did you see how your eyes lit up when I mentioned his name? Have you heard the tremble in your voice since you’ve spoken his name? I would have to be quite a fool not to see how much you care for him. Should anything happen to him you would no doubt be devastated. I couldn’t let that happen.”
She smiled, touched by his sacrifice and selflessness.
“See that?” he said, his thumb running over her lower lip. “That smile. That perfectly angelic smile. That’s why I did it.”
Chapter 7
K eegan ran hard, eager to get out of Skars’ realm. Freedom felt good, as did the cool air of the night. Only when he reached the city limits did he slow the pace to a quick jog and finally to a brisk walk.
The church, his sanctuary, was just around the corner. He’d escaped Skars by proving himself stronger than that inept pansy. How Ashwin had come to be Skars’ trusted assistant was beyond him. The man was obviously ill equipped to tend to any adversary Skars could possibly face.
This brought about the question of Sadie and Alexis’ attraction to the silly little man. Could it be Ashwin’s distant ties to royalty? Were the girls even aware their chosen dandy was once a prince?
He doubted it. Just as much as he doubted their knowledge of Ashwin’s ties to Dracule. They probably didn’t know Ashwin was Dracule’s progeny, as was Delilah. They would surely be devastated were they to find out.
Sadie… He stopped walking a moment as his mind caught on a vision of her. Beautiful, wise, serene and so seemingly innocent. Yes, she seemed innocent enough, but… How did she come to be involved in such a miserable story?
Keegan had fought Ashwin off with such ease. Too much ease. Surely Sadie had not been attracted to the Lord’s strength and power, for he was sadly lacking in that department.
Ashwin had not even been smart enough to outwit him, yet Keegan knew how Sadie was drawn to those who showed intelligence. She’d allowed that man to turn her into a vampire… there had to be something that drew her to him.
That fight had been so easy, he mused, smiling as he took up his stride again. Almost as if Ashwin had deliberately allowed him to run. But no. With Skars undoubtedly breathing down that seedy little man’s neck, Ashwin wouldn’t be that foolish.
No, he’d gotten away from him based on his own ability to fight strong. Ashwin was simply growing old, showing signs of no longer being the fierce fighter that once kept him at Dracule’s side.
Keegan walked up the narrow steps that led to the side entrance of the church. His hand on the door handle, he stopped to take in one last cool breath of air. For the moment he had to set all thought of Sadie aside. For whatever reason, she’d fallen for Ashwin, and for now Keegan had to concentrate on the battle that was sure to come.
He pulled back the door and stepped inside, now completely safe in the one place a vampire would never transpire. The scent of candles and incense gave him that sense of comfort he’d always enjoyed. After spending a few hours bond to a chair and awaiting an unpleasant fate, it was good to know he was now back on his own turf.
A few long strides had him standing in the side aisle. Pews were empty and the only sound was the echo of his own steps. With reverence and a deep sense of gratitude he turned to the crucifix, crossed himself and turned back to
Her gaze still at the floor, she turned to Ashwin and looked at his fashionable shoes. It just didn’t make sense. When she brought her gaze to meet him, she saw the love in his eyes, but was too concerned with Keegan to really take it in. “Why did you help Keegan?” she asked in a voice that was barely audible.
If he loved her so, why should he care about Keegan at all?
He cupped her cheek and thumbed the tender skin of her cheek. “Did you see how your eyes lit up when I mentioned his name? Have you heard the tremble in your voice since you’ve spoken his name? I would have to be quite a fool not to see how much you care for him. Should anything happen to him you would no doubt be devastated. I couldn’t let that happen.”
She smiled, touched by his sacrifice and selflessness.
“See that?” he said, his thumb running over her lower lip. “That smile. That perfectly angelic smile. That’s why I did it.”
Chapter 7
K eegan ran hard, eager to get out of Skars’ realm. Freedom felt good, as did the cool air of the night. Only when he reached the city limits did he slow the pace to a quick jog and finally to a brisk walk.
The church, his sanctuary, was just around the corner. He’d escaped Skars by proving himself stronger than that inept pansy. How Ashwin had come to be Skars’ trusted assistant was beyond him. The man was obviously ill equipped to tend to any adversary Skars could possibly face.
This brought about the question of Sadie and Alexis’ attraction to the silly little man. Could it be Ashwin’s distant ties to royalty? Were the girls even aware their chosen dandy was once a prince?
He doubted it. Just as much as he doubted their knowledge of Ashwin’s ties to Dracule. They probably didn’t know Ashwin was Dracule’s progeny, as was Delilah. They would surely be devastated were they to find out.
Sadie… He stopped walking a moment as his mind caught on a vision of her. Beautiful, wise, serene and so seemingly innocent. Yes, she seemed innocent enough, but… How did she come to be involved in such a miserable story?
Keegan had fought Ashwin off with such ease. Too much ease. Surely Sadie had not been attracted to the Lord’s strength and power, for he was sadly lacking in that department.
Ashwin had not even been smart enough to outwit him, yet Keegan knew how Sadie was drawn to those who showed intelligence. She’d allowed that man to turn her into a vampire… there had to be something that drew her to him.
That fight had been so easy, he mused, smiling as he took up his stride again. Almost as if Ashwin had deliberately allowed him to run. But no. With Skars undoubtedly breathing down that seedy little man’s neck, Ashwin wouldn’t be that foolish.
No, he’d gotten away from him based on his own ability to fight strong. Ashwin was simply growing old, showing signs of no longer being the fierce fighter that once kept him at Dracule’s side.
Keegan walked up the narrow steps that led to the side entrance of the church. His hand on the door handle, he stopped to take in one last cool breath of air. For the moment he had to set all thought of Sadie aside. For whatever reason, she’d fallen for Ashwin, and for now Keegan had to concentrate on the battle that was sure to come.
He pulled back the door and stepped inside, now completely safe in the one place a vampire would never transpire. The scent of candles and incense gave him that sense of comfort he’d always enjoyed. After spending a few hours bond to a chair and awaiting an unpleasant fate, it was good to know he was now back on his own turf.
A few long strides had him standing in the side aisle. Pews were empty and the only sound was the echo of his own steps. With reverence and a deep sense of gratitude he turned to the crucifix, crossed himself and turned back to
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