Bound by Night (27 page)

Authors: Amanda Ashley

BOOK: Bound by Night

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Chapter 29

Katiya’s face lit up with a smile of welcome when Andrei materialized in Drake’s apartment. Cupping her face in his hands, Andrei kissed her once, twice, three times before acknowledging Elena’s presence.

“Where’s Drake?” Elena asked anxiously. “Is everything all right?”

Andrei wrapped his arm around Katiya’s shoulders. “My brother is not particularly happy just now. Liliana demanded the Council name him as Master of the Coven. It is a position he never wanted.”

“So, where is he?” Elena asked again.

“I cannot say for sure, but I think he has left the Fortress to meditate.”

“Left?”

“Only to go outside,” Andrei said. “I believe he needs some time alone to come to terms with all that has happened.” He shook his head. “Although why he needs to think about it is beyond me. He must have known there was a chance, however slim, that Rodin would one day be defeated in battle. As the eldest son, he should have known he would be first in line to take our sire’s place.”

Elena nodded. She didn’t know what to think, what to say. Couldn’t begin to imagine how this would affect her relationship with Drake. Would he be expected to stay here now? Permanently? What of Katiya? And Andrei? What of their child? She hadn’t seen any vampire children in the Fortress, nor had Drake ever mentioned them. Were they that rare?

“I need to go home,” Elena said.

Katiya and Andrei stared at her.

“I can’t stay here,” Elena said. Rising from the chair beside the sofa, she began to pace the floor. She didn’t belong in this place, and she never would. “And if Liliana finds out I’m here. . . .” She shook her head. “I don’t even want to think about that.”

Suddenly nauseous, she sat down again.

“Elena, are you ill?” Katiya asked.

“I’m fine. It’s just all this stress,” she said with a shrug, “plus I haven’t had anything to eat.”

“Of course,” Katiya said. “How thoughtless of us, not to offer anything. Andrei, please find her some nourishment.”

With a nod, he left the room, only to return moments later with a tray bearing a roast beef sandwich, a bowl of sliced fruit, and a cup of tea.

Murmuring, “Thank you,” Elena picked up the sandwich.

Katiya and Andrei sat side by side on the sofa, trying not to stare at her as she ate.

Elena did her best to ignore them, but she couldn’t help wondering if they ever missed solid food. She loved malts and chocolate milk and orange juice, but she wouldn’t be happy living on a liquid diet, especially one as stringent as theirs. Malts were good, but so was chicken and French fries and steak, not to mention pie and ice cream.

Katiya cleared her throat. “Andrei, what do you think Drake will do now?”

“I have no idea, but I would not be surprised if he turned the Fortress upside down.”

Elena was trying to figure out what he meant by that when Drake entered the room.

“Not now, Andrei,” he said, seeing the curiosity in his brother’s eyes. “I am in no mood to answer questions. All I want is to spend what’s left of the night with Elena.” Taking her by the hand, he drew her to her feet. “If that is all right with you?”

“It is more than all right, my lord,” she murmured.

“Andrei, we will need to use your apartment.”

“As you wish. My lord,” he added with a grin.

Drake glared at his brother; then, wrapping his arm around Elena, he transported the two of them to Andrei’s quarters.

“What now?” Elena asked. She glanced around the living room. It was sparsely furnished with a brown leather sofa and matching chair, a pair of glass-topped ebony end tables, and a large, wall-mounted TV. Through an open doorway, she saw a king-sized bed covered with a brown velvet spread.

“What now?” Drake repeated. “I wish I knew.” He paced away from her, then stood staring at the pair of paintings over the sofa. Both pictures depicted an ocean—one by day with the sun shining brightly on an expanse of clear blue-green water; the other by night, with the moon’s silver light reflected on troubled black waves.

Elena stood in the center of the room, not knowing if she should follow her heart and put her arms around him, or leave him alone.

“I will take control of the Fortress tomorrow night,” he said at last.

“Oh?”

He turned to face her. “You need to decide what you want to do.”

“Do?” She frowned at him. “About what?”

“About us.”

“I thought I had already made that decision.”

“Things are different now. I am not sure how what I have planned will be received.”

“Whatever happens, I want to be with you.”

He didn’t say anything, just wrapped her in his embrace. He sighed, and she felt the tension drain out of him.

“Did you think I would leave you?”

“I cannot think of a single reason why you would want to stay. Your life has been anything but peaceful since the night we met.”

“And I’ve loved every minute we’ve spent together,” she said. “Well, almost every minute. So, are you through being the master for the night?”

He arched one brow. “That depends. Is there something you desire?”

“You,” she whispered. “Only you.”

“Granted. Do with me what you will.”

“So, it’s okay for me to do this?” Rising on her tiptoes, she pressed herself against him. “And this?” Cupping her hand around his nape, she kissed him, long and slow, then drew back so she could see his face. “Any complaints?”

“None so far. What else have you got?”

She ran her tongue across his lips, then kissed him again.

“And if I was to sweep you into my arms and carry you to bed, do you think you could find something for us to do there?” he asked with a wicked grin.

“I can guarantee it.”

“Show me,” he said, his voice low and husky with de - sire as he swung her into his arms and carried her swiftly to bed.

Elena awoke slowly; then, remembering where she was, she turned to study the man sleeping soundly beside her. Whatever else might happen, after last night she had no doubt that Drake loved her completely and that he would do everything in his power to ensure that they could be together.

Rising, she showered, then dressed. Last night, Drake had warned her not to leave Andrei’s apartment, then told her that one of the drones would bring her something to eat at 10
A.M.
A glance at her watch told her the drone would be there any minute. A moment later, there was a knock at the door.

Though it was unnecessary, Elena thanked the drone, then locked the door after him, though she doubted it would keep the vampires out. It was sure to arouse suspicion if any of the vampires learned food had been delivered to Andrei’s quarters, especially during the day, when he was supposed to be sleeping. But she was too hungry to worry about that now.

After a meal of French toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon, she wandered around the apartment, which consisted of four large rooms—bedroom, bathroom, living room, and library. The library was stocked with books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and newspapers in several languages, and an assortment of crossword puzzle books. A desk held a computer with a large monitor. There was also a state-of-the-art stereo system.

Elena turned the stereo on low, found the latest Frankenstein novel by Dean Koontz, and lost herself in another world.

When she tired of reading, she went in search of a movie, surprised to find that Andrei had what looked like every movie John Wayne had ever made. She was watching
Hondo
when the drone delivered her lunch.

She was browsing through Andrei’s CD collection when a whisper of power flowed through the room, making the short hairs on her arms stand at attention.

“Drake.” She knew he was there even before she turned around.

She sighed when he drew her into his arms, closed her eyes as his mouth covered hers, whispered “more” when he would have let her go.

He kissed her again, longer, deeper, then brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “I need to go,” he said. “I have business to attend to. One of the drones will come for you in an hour or so.”

“What are you going to do?”

“You will be there when it happens.” He cupped her cheek in his palm. “Say a prayer for me.”

“What should I pray for?”

“Success.” He kissed her again, quickly, and then he was gone.

A short time later, Katiya and Andrei appeared in the apartment.

“I brought you something to wear,” Katiya said. “I think it will fit.”

“It’s lovely,” Elena said. “Thank you.” The dress, of dark mauve, had a velvet bodice and a long satin skirt.

Katiya reached into her pocket. “I brought a brush for your hair, as well.”

“Thank you.”

“I will see you soon,” Katiya said, and vanished from sight.

Elena looked at Andrei, who had taken a seat on the sofa. “Do you know what’s going on?” she asked as she ran the brush through her hair.

“Knowing how Drake feels about this place, I have a fair idea.”

“He seemed worried earlier.”

“I would be surprised to hear otherwise.”

Elena found little comfort in his words.

The gown Katiya had lent her fit Elena as if it had been made for her. She had barely finished changing clothes when a drone knocked at the door. Elena ducked out of sight when Andrei went to answer it.

“Lord Drake requests your presence in the Council chamber immediately,” the drone said.

Andrei blew out a breath. “Here we go.”

A million nervous butterflies took wing in Elena’s stomach as she followed Andrei down the hall toward the Council meeting room. When they reached the door, Elena grabbed his hand. “Are you sure he wants me here?”

“Very sure,” Andrei said, and opened the door.

Elena’s gaze swept the chamber in a single glance. Drake, dressed all in black, sat in Rodin’s chair on the dais. Liliana, also dressed in black, sat on his right. Katiya, looking young and lovely in pale blue, sat on his left. The Council members were seated.

Drake rose when he saw her. “Please, come in.”

Taking a deep breath, Elena entered the chamber at Andrei’s side.

Liliana rose. “What is this outrage?” she demanded, her voice as cold and brittle as arctic ice.

“Liliana, sit down,” Drake said, his voice equally cold. “She is here at my request.”

Liliana glared daggers at her son, but she did as he said.

Impressive, Elena thought.

“As you all know,” Drake said, “Rodin has been destroyed. As the new Master of the Carpathian Coven, I have decided there are changes that need to be made.”

He cast a warning glance at Liliana, who had started to rise. Fury radiated from her eyes but she remained silent and seated.

“Katiya,” Drake said. “Come forward.”

Rising, she stood beside him. She looked cool and unruffled, her face serene, making Elena think that Katiya was well aware of whatever change Drake was about to make. Aware and in agreement.

“As Master of the Coven, I hereby renounce my marriage vows to Katiya Belova. How say you, Katiya? Yea or nay?”

“Yea, my lord.”

“So let it be recorded,” Drake said. “So let it be done.”

“So let it be recorded,” the Council members said. “Done and done.”

Leaving the dais, Katiya took a seat in the back of the room.

“Elena Knightsbridge, come forward.”

Heart pounding, she moved toward the foot of the dais.

Drake smiled at her. “Come, stand beside me.”