himself.”
Elizabeth hardly noticed Amelia stroking her arm in a comforting manner. She felt a pain in the pit of her stomach grow until it reached up and clutched her heart. How could she live with herself if anything happened to him?
Chapter 5
Evening came on silent cat-like feet. Inside her bedroom, Elizabeth paced. “I can’t go, Amelia.” She turned and confronted her friend. “I won’t go.”
“You must. We’re having this reception especially so you can meet the king.”
“I can’t go anywhere until we know what’s become of Darius. I can’t leave here without being certain he’s all right.”
“John’s searching everywhere for him. He’s gone back to the ruins of St. Paul’s, but, so far, he’s had no luck. I don’t believe the psychic vampire demons will destroy him.”
“How do you know? How can you be sure they haven’t already killed him?”
“Common sense says they haven’t. Those demons need Darius. He’s their connection with the immortal vampires. There’s no advantage in destroying him.”
“If they haven’t killed him, then where is he? Why hasn’t he returned?” Elizabeth put her hands on her hips, and her lower lip trembled. “We can’t lie to ourselves. If he isn’t dead, then he’s in mortal danger. We’ve got to find him soon, or he won’t survive until morning.”
Amelia’s small face fell into lines of sympathy, but her bright eyes showed self-discipline and strength. She placed her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “We aren’t deceiving ourselves, but we have to face the situation in a practical light. There’s no reason for the psychic vampires to destroy Darius, and John hasn’t found his body. This suggests he’s still alive. What we need to do is get you into Whitehall so you can protect the king from the demons. Isn’t that what Darius wanted you to do?”
Elizabeth’s eyes stung with unshed tears. “What if he’s dead?”
“The man is an eight-hundred-year-old vampire. It’s not like he doesn’t have survival skills.” Amelia released her and took two steps back. “You’re in love with him.”
“What?” Elizabeth shook her head. “No, of course I’m not. Why would I be? He’s important to the vampire community, and I admire and respect him for all he’s done. I owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Amelia looked skeptical. “You’re in love.”
“How dare you suggest such a thing to me? I’m worried the man is dead. He risked his life for us. Love has nothing to do with the way I feel, but I’ve not forgotten how he took me in when I had nowhere else to go. It’s called gratitude, not love.”
Amelia lifted her right hand, palm facing out. “Never try to deny what is true, anymore than waste time looking back at the past with regret. Remember your life is out in front of you and never behind you. It’s time to move forward.”
“Do you want me to forget about Darius out there suffering, even though captured while trying to rescue me? I’m sorry, but I can’t be that cruel and unfeeling, Amelia.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t be concerned, but you need to have faith he’s going to be all right.”
Knowing there was no arguing with Amelia when her mind was set, Elizabeth shrugged and sighed. “What would you have me do?”
“Come to our reception tonight at ten. The king will be there. I’ve already told him you are my titled, unmarried cousin visiting from the country. I’ve spoken of your beauty, so don’t be surprised if he offers you apartments at Whitehall straight away. Darius was right when he said King Charles has a strong weakness for women of beauty and charm. And you, my dear Elizabeth, have an extraordinary combination of both.”
“Both beauty and charm?” she said, raising a skeptical eyebrow. “Are you sure I should do this while Darius is still missing?”
“He’s not actually missing. We just don’t know where he is right now. You have to do everything you can to protect the kingdom
Elizabeth hardly noticed Amelia stroking her arm in a comforting manner. She felt a pain in the pit of her stomach grow until it reached up and clutched her heart. How could she live with herself if anything happened to him?
Chapter 5
Evening came on silent cat-like feet. Inside her bedroom, Elizabeth paced. “I can’t go, Amelia.” She turned and confronted her friend. “I won’t go.”
“You must. We’re having this reception especially so you can meet the king.”
“I can’t go anywhere until we know what’s become of Darius. I can’t leave here without being certain he’s all right.”
“John’s searching everywhere for him. He’s gone back to the ruins of St. Paul’s, but, so far, he’s had no luck. I don’t believe the psychic vampire demons will destroy him.”
“How do you know? How can you be sure they haven’t already killed him?”
“Common sense says they haven’t. Those demons need Darius. He’s their connection with the immortal vampires. There’s no advantage in destroying him.”
“If they haven’t killed him, then where is he? Why hasn’t he returned?” Elizabeth put her hands on her hips, and her lower lip trembled. “We can’t lie to ourselves. If he isn’t dead, then he’s in mortal danger. We’ve got to find him soon, or he won’t survive until morning.”
Amelia’s small face fell into lines of sympathy, but her bright eyes showed self-discipline and strength. She placed her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “We aren’t deceiving ourselves, but we have to face the situation in a practical light. There’s no reason for the psychic vampires to destroy Darius, and John hasn’t found his body. This suggests he’s still alive. What we need to do is get you into Whitehall so you can protect the king from the demons. Isn’t that what Darius wanted you to do?”
Elizabeth’s eyes stung with unshed tears. “What if he’s dead?”
“The man is an eight-hundred-year-old vampire. It’s not like he doesn’t have survival skills.” Amelia released her and took two steps back. “You’re in love with him.”
“What?” Elizabeth shook her head. “No, of course I’m not. Why would I be? He’s important to the vampire community, and I admire and respect him for all he’s done. I owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Amelia looked skeptical. “You’re in love.”
“How dare you suggest such a thing to me? I’m worried the man is dead. He risked his life for us. Love has nothing to do with the way I feel, but I’ve not forgotten how he took me in when I had nowhere else to go. It’s called gratitude, not love.”
Amelia lifted her right hand, palm facing out. “Never try to deny what is true, anymore than waste time looking back at the past with regret. Remember your life is out in front of you and never behind you. It’s time to move forward.”
“Do you want me to forget about Darius out there suffering, even though captured while trying to rescue me? I’m sorry, but I can’t be that cruel and unfeeling, Amelia.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t be concerned, but you need to have faith he’s going to be all right.”
Knowing there was no arguing with Amelia when her mind was set, Elizabeth shrugged and sighed. “What would you have me do?”
“Come to our reception tonight at ten. The king will be there. I’ve already told him you are my titled, unmarried cousin visiting from the country. I’ve spoken of your beauty, so don’t be surprised if he offers you apartments at Whitehall straight away. Darius was right when he said King Charles has a strong weakness for women of beauty and charm. And you, my dear Elizabeth, have an extraordinary combination of both.”
“Both beauty and charm?” she said, raising a skeptical eyebrow. “Are you sure I should do this while Darius is still missing?”
“He’s not actually missing. We just don’t know where he is right now. You have to do everything you can to protect the kingdom
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