A Night of Secrets (42 page)

Mr. Smith dropped his hand, freeing Meg’s mouth. “Where is she?” Meg’s voice quivered.

William quirked a golden brow. “My daughter?”

She didn’t react to his statement. Hanna had never been his true daughter. A real father wouldn’t want to murder his own child. Wouldn’t murder the woman he had married.

He smirked, stopping close to her, so close his scent swirled around her. Mint, a smell that made her sick, a smell that would always make her sick. He was even taller, even more handsome, than she’d realized. A veritable angel of death. She understood why Grayson’s sister had fallen in love with the man. But there, in his eyes, she could see the truth. The man was missing a soul.

“I’m touched you cared so much about my child,” he said strolling toward the windows and gazing out into the dark night as if he had all the time in the world. “Cared so much that you stole her from me.”

Anger overtook any common sense. Meg surged toward the man. “I was protecting her!”

Strong hands bit into her upper arms and jerked her back.

William faced her. “From me?” He released a harsh laugh. “Protecting a monster from me, a harmless human?”

“A monster? She’s a child!”

His face turned furious for the briefest of moments as he lost control of his emotions. “And what do you think that child will turn into a month from now?”

Meg froze. What did he mean? Her mind swirled with the possibilities. She’d been right. Hanna was a vampire . But she sure as hell hadn’t realized the child would turn completely a month from now. She needed to tell Grayson. Damn it all, why hadn’t she told him from the beginning!

“Her mother was a monster,” he seethed. “The man you married is a monster. That child will grow up to be a monster.” He started toward her, his face flushed red.

She had to resist the urge to step back, to quiver under his wrath.

“Do you realize, my dear, what you married? Are you shocked to find that your husband is a demon who feeds on the blood of humans? Are you shocked as I was? Only to uncover the truth after we were already married?”

His words angered and sickened her. She struggled against the man holding her. “Grayson is no demon. The only demon in this home is you.”

He nodded slowly, his gaze flickering over her form in a curious manner. “You let him feed off you, is that it?” His voice was deceptively soft. But there was something there, in his eyes that warned Meg to keep her mouth shut. She wouldn’t discuss her life with Grayson in front of this man. She wouldn’t allow her life with Grayson to become tainted by his judgment.

“Where is Hanna?” she demanded.

He surged forward and gripped her shoulders so tight she yelped. “You tell me.”

She fought to understand his words over the pain. He didn’t have Hanna? But who did? Lord, she could barely think for the panic that was rushing through her. She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

His grip tightened. “Your maid left a note.” He released his hold and snatched a piece of paper from the bedside table. Holding it to the lamp light, he read, “Hanna has decided to sleep in her secret place. The moonlight is bothering her.”

He lowered the paper, his jaw clenched with anger.

“You know why the light is bothering her, of course. Because she’s turning into one of them.” He crumpled the paper in his fist and tossed it to the fireplace where it settled in the cold hearth. “Have you not noticed how they avoid light? Because light is pure, and they burn under the holy rays.”

But that wasn’t true, Grayson had taken her out plenty of times… when it was dull and gray. Millie, too, always wore large hats and rarely went outside during the day. Oh God, Hanna was turning into a vampire? She’d become a vampire in a month and Meg might not be here to protect the child.

He released a wry chuckle. “Do you think he married you because he loved you? They can’t love. Grayson was searching for my child. He knew you had her. He’s using you.”

The words stung even though she knew they weren’t true. They couldn’t be true. She wouldn’t believe them.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

She looked directly into his eyes and lied. “I don’t know.”

He swung his arm forward, the back of his hand connecting with her mouth. Her head snapped back. “You lie!” Pain radiated up and down her skull. She tasted the salt of her blood and stumbled back. Meg would have fallen to the ground, if the man behind hadn’t captured her, holding her tight.

“Tell me,” William hissed.

Meg ignored the ache that had settled in jaw, thrumming in time to her heart beat. Instead, she focused on her anger, the deep burning anger she felt for this man. She might not be here for Hanna. William might kill her. But Grayson would protect the child.

“Do you think I’d tell you?” Meg lifted her lips into a smirk as blood trailed down her chin and dropped to the floor. “She’s safe and she’ll stay that way. Grayson will protect her. And when he realizes what you have done, he’ll kill you.”

William was silent for a moment, the only sound was his harsh breath coming in and out of his flared nostrils. “You think we won’t find her? I will.” He walked away, as if trying to regain control. “You know, I actually felt sorry for you at one time. I thought you’d been fooled, like me. But you’re worse than they are because you choose this life. And because of your sin, you will suffer as they will.”

He turned toward her again.

Meg didn’t have time to avoid his fist. His knuckles hit her jaw and her head jerked back, stars bursting before her eyes. Pain exploded within her skull. The room spun, blackness taunting her vision as blood roared to her ears. Her lashes drifted down and then there was nothing but blessed darkness.

Chapter 23

Grayson scanned the room, looking for signs of Meg. He hadn’t seen her in an hour and he was starting to grow anxious. He couldn’t sense her. Couldn’t detect her scent and when he discreetly asked a maid, she hadn’t seen the new Mrs. Bellamont. Yet, every time he attempted to break free of the crowd to search for her, he was waylaid by someone with supposedly important news.

“You see,” Lord Watkins said, “This is why I need your investment.”

“Not now,” Grayson snapped, in no mood for mindless discussion. Meg had had enough time to cool her temper. He wanted answers now, more importantly, he wanted Meg.

“But, Bellamont,” Watkins continued.

Grayson pushed past the man. He’d angered Meg, he knew that, demanding answers. And Lady Winters hadn’t helped.
Merde
, he hadn’t meant to be such an arse. He’d wanted tonight to be special. He’d wanted Meg to enjoy being the belle of the ball. Instead, he’d let his emotions rule him.

He spotted one of the maids standing near the doors and headed that way. “Did you find her?”

“No, Sir,” the maid fidgeted next to him, her gaze going to the crowds. “She’s not in your chambers nor Miss Hanna’s.”

“She must be here somewhere. And Hanna, was she in her bed?”

The maid shook her head. “Shall I find Catherine or Anna and ask them?”

“Yes, immediately.”

The maid curtsied and rushed into the hall. Grayson’s body hummed with unease. He’d begged Meg to tell him Hanna’s true identity. Had she fled with the child because of him? Did she race to London to find comfort with her family? Damn her! Didn’t she know the danger a woman could face alone at night? Ignoring those who called to him, he shoved his way through the guests and into the hall. Surely Meg wouldn’t do something so silly. Even as he told himself not to worry, panic settled like an icy ball of anxiety in his gut.

Something was wrong.

“Grayson,” Nate called out.

He didn’t pause but continued up the steps. In no mood to chat about the bloody weather or shipping or anything else his friend had in mind.

“Is anything wrong?” Nathan fell into step beside him.

“Hanna and Meg are missing.” Merely saying the words sent his panic flaring to life, fear swept through his blood.

Nate was silent as they raced up the steps. “Something’s off,” he said, as they reached the second story, “I didn’t want to mention it before, but…”

“Your senses.”

Nate nodded. “My senses flared the moment I arrived.”

“I know,” Grayson admitted, barely able to hear over the roar of blood through his body. The beast within was lifting its head, preparing for battle. “I haven’t been able to pinpoint what, but I’ve known all along something was wrong.” He started down the hall. “Three people have been murdered since I arrived. Humans.”

“Any indication of death?” Nate asked.

Grayson pushed open Meg’s bedchamber door, the panel bouncing against the wall. A fire burned in the fireplace, kept to life by the maid who was sitting in a chair darning stockings. Startled, she jumped to her feet and curtsied.

“Meg,” Grayson demanded. “Mrs. Bellamont. Is she here?”

The maid shook her head. “No, my lord, although I just got in, meself.”

Grayson spun around and rushed into the hall. Fear pulsed beneath his skin. “No marks. Bruises at the necks, as if they’d been strangled. Certainly it happens with humans, when they turn on each other. But odd…three.” He started for Hanna’s room.

“Yes, strange indeed,” Nate agreed. “But no scent of anything otherworldly?”

Grayson shook his head. He read the indecision on Nate’s face. “What is it, what do you sense?”

Nate sighed, raking his hands through his overly long hair. “A bitter scent. Something’s off. I noticed it the moment my carriage arrived. Fear, blood, death. I can smell it here, now.”

Fear, blood, death.

The words roared through Grayson. But his mind, his heart, would not believe that Meg was dead. Grayson paused outside Hanna’s room. His hands were trembling, the animal inside gathering strength. “Something’s wrong. I knew it the moment I entered this town, I was just too caught up in other things.” In Meg. Always Meg.

He pushed open the bedroom door. No fire burned in the hearth. No lantern was lit, but someone had been here. A male human. He could sense the intruders lingering presence.

Grayson paused in the middle of the room. A room of innocence, childhood sweetness. He breathed deep through his nose. There it was… the unmistakable scent.

The animal inside him roared in protest, accepting what his human emotions could not.

“Do you smell it?” Nate whispered.

He didn’t need to say the word. It was there, hovering in the air. The scent of blood. Not much, but enough for him to notice.

He could feel his teeth lengthening, his eyes starting to glow. “She’s gone,” Grayson hissed. “She was taken.” He would find the man responsible. He would find him and he would kill him.

Grayson spun around, intending to leave when Nate reached out, resting his hand on his arm.

“I smell a child. Innocence.”

Grayson froze, his body trembling with pent up rage. He breathed in deeply, focusing his senses.
Merde,
Nate was right. Hanna’s scent was here, not old, but fresh. Hope welled within him, temporarily blinding the anger.

“Hanna?” No response. His heart hammered madly. “Hanna, love, please, come out.” He needed to concentrate. Needed to turn his senses inward and find her before someone else did.

Nate walked the room, breathing deeply. As he made his way near the bookshelves, Grayson realized where the child was hidden. Time was of the essence. He pushed past Nate and grasped onto the bookshelf. It pulled open easily under his hands.

Hanna was curled into a tiny ball in the small servant’s room. Her whimpers broke his heart. “Hanna?” Grayson dropped to his knees, reaching for her.

At his touch, she cried out and dove into his arms, quickly, much more quickly than a normal child. “He took her.”

The words were like a knife to his heart. Her voice was muffled against his shoulder, but he understood every word. He would not let his fear overtake his common sense. He would find Meg and kill the man who had dared to touch her. “Who took her?”

Hanna tilted her head back, a wild and terrified look in her innocent eyes. “Father. My father took her.”

Grayson shook his head, confused, his patience wearing thin. Damn it, he didn’t have time for riddles. He needed answers now. “I don’t understand.”

“He’s here.” She was trembling, her shivers growing more pronounced the more she talked. “He’s here and he took her. He said she was evil, he said you were evil.”

Grayson felt sick.

Nate lowered on his haunches, resting his hand gently on Hanna’s shoulder. “The man who took Meg, he’s here, as a guest at the party?”

Hanna snuggled closer to Grayson and nodded.

“And this man, he’s your father?” Grayson asked, his voice deceptively calm. Things were clicking. Memories flashing. Instinct roaring. The rage inside him was close to exploding. He curled his fingers, forcing himself to remain still.

Hanna nodded, tears running down her pale cheeks. “He killed
Mere
. He killed her and he wants to kill me next.”