kiss. Despite every internal warning that told him he must avoid the lure of a mortal woman, he wanted to see her again and again. No use denying–even to himself–he wanted to make love to her, to feel her heart beat next to his, to hear her love sighs in his ears, feel her fingers on his skin. But more than that, he was attracted to her spunk, her bright personality in the face of all the obstacles that challenged her, to her ability to rise above these hindrances and make the most of her situation.
But what if she guessed what he was? When she had scried for him, she'd spoken of rivers of blood and asked him if he'd had a recent wound. He should have lied to her, told her, that yes, he had received a severe wound that had caused much bleeding. Her very essence, her loveliness had interfered with his thinking, causing him to miss the chance to mislead her.
As he headed for the main city stable at the southern entrance to the city, he tried to think of other matters, to drive Fianna from his thoughts. The bandregas remained an ever-present and deadly danger, a threat he must defeat. But how? Possibly he would talk to Queen Keriam, he considered on a wild flight of imagination. Could he convince the queen that it was the bandregas and not the vampires who posed a danger to the country? For sure, Orrick, the current leader of the undead, was feckless, unable to mount a challenge to these fiends. The dilemma cried out for leadership, but Orrick had done nothing about the threat, as if he didn't care. And maybe he doesn't, Gaderian agonized.
For once in his life, Gaderian yearned for fortitude, to prove himself a leader. In his mortal years, centuries ago, he had considered himself a failure, one who could never attain his goals. As if it were yesterday, he recalled how he'd longed to practice medicine, to heal others. He swallowed, the pain still fresh in his mind and heart. His father had refused him permission to study medicine, telling him he needed help in his apothecary shop.
"You are my only son," his father had said, "and for years, I have waited for you to grow to manhood, to help me here in the shop and carry on after I leave for the Otherworld. Best that you don't attempt to rise above your station, for I fear you will suffer nothing but disappointment if you do. My father was an apothecary and his father before him. You will gain enough useful medicinal information working with me." His father nodded. "And at sixteen, 'tis time you assisted me in my work. Forget about studying medicine."
Returned to the present, Gaderian absently glanced in the window of a jewelry shop as his mind switched back to Fianna, she of the lustrous auburn hair and green eyes. He spied an emerald pendant in the window, an adornment that would surely enhance Fianna's beauty. If only she cared for him, too, he would buy the gem for her. Foolish thought. As if he would wed a mortal! Or she would marry a vampire!
What if her father came after her, or if the man she was to marry pursued her to Moytura? What would happen to her then? No need to ask. She'd be dragged back to Ros Creda, forced to marry a man she didn't love, nay, didn't even respect. Gritting his teeth, he determined he would not permit that to happen. Even had he cared nothing for her–and he did, no use denying his attraction–he would hate to see an innocent lady dragged back home and forced to marry a man she loathed.
He stopped walking, his mind in turmoil. He would not permit any harm to come to her. In the short time since he'd met her in the cave, she had worked her way into his heart. He must protect her, even if nothing ever came of his fascination for her. And nothing would come of this sweet temptation, for he and Fianna could never have a future together.
* * *
"Madam."
Outside the Snow Leopard, Fianna glanced around, her heart jumping, but she quickly realized the voice didn't belong to Gaderian, although the greeting was the same. Fierce
But what if she guessed what he was? When she had scried for him, she'd spoken of rivers of blood and asked him if he'd had a recent wound. He should have lied to her, told her, that yes, he had received a severe wound that had caused much bleeding. Her very essence, her loveliness had interfered with his thinking, causing him to miss the chance to mislead her.
As he headed for the main city stable at the southern entrance to the city, he tried to think of other matters, to drive Fianna from his thoughts. The bandregas remained an ever-present and deadly danger, a threat he must defeat. But how? Possibly he would talk to Queen Keriam, he considered on a wild flight of imagination. Could he convince the queen that it was the bandregas and not the vampires who posed a danger to the country? For sure, Orrick, the current leader of the undead, was feckless, unable to mount a challenge to these fiends. The dilemma cried out for leadership, but Orrick had done nothing about the threat, as if he didn't care. And maybe he doesn't, Gaderian agonized.
For once in his life, Gaderian yearned for fortitude, to prove himself a leader. In his mortal years, centuries ago, he had considered himself a failure, one who could never attain his goals. As if it were yesterday, he recalled how he'd longed to practice medicine, to heal others. He swallowed, the pain still fresh in his mind and heart. His father had refused him permission to study medicine, telling him he needed help in his apothecary shop.
"You are my only son," his father had said, "and for years, I have waited for you to grow to manhood, to help me here in the shop and carry on after I leave for the Otherworld. Best that you don't attempt to rise above your station, for I fear you will suffer nothing but disappointment if you do. My father was an apothecary and his father before him. You will gain enough useful medicinal information working with me." His father nodded. "And at sixteen, 'tis time you assisted me in my work. Forget about studying medicine."
Returned to the present, Gaderian absently glanced in the window of a jewelry shop as his mind switched back to Fianna, she of the lustrous auburn hair and green eyes. He spied an emerald pendant in the window, an adornment that would surely enhance Fianna's beauty. If only she cared for him, too, he would buy the gem for her. Foolish thought. As if he would wed a mortal! Or she would marry a vampire!
What if her father came after her, or if the man she was to marry pursued her to Moytura? What would happen to her then? No need to ask. She'd be dragged back to Ros Creda, forced to marry a man she didn't love, nay, didn't even respect. Gritting his teeth, he determined he would not permit that to happen. Even had he cared nothing for her–and he did, no use denying his attraction–he would hate to see an innocent lady dragged back home and forced to marry a man she loathed.
He stopped walking, his mind in turmoil. He would not permit any harm to come to her. In the short time since he'd met her in the cave, she had worked her way into his heart. He must protect her, even if nothing ever came of his fascination for her. And nothing would come of this sweet temptation, for he and Fianna could never have a future together.
* * *
"Madam."
Outside the Snow Leopard, Fianna glanced around, her heart jumping, but she quickly realized the voice didn't belong to Gaderian, although the greeting was the same. Fierce
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