Kindling Flames: Burning Nights (The Ancient Fire Series Book 6) (15 page)

Darien stared at her, still stunned by the experience. His skin stung from the short time in the sun, but that took second place to the feelings swirling in him. There was joy and relief, but there was also fear and shock. It made it hard for him to speak. Pulling her into his arm, he leaned back against the wall where she had pushed him. “You were dead,” he said again, still unsure how to explain what had just happened.

“What?” Vicky asked, leaning back just far enough to meet his eyes.

“I saw you. In the chair.” He glanced back out to the patio, but couldn’t see the chair Vicky had been sitting in. “You were dead.”

“I’m not dead,” she said pulling his attention back to her. “I’m fine.”

Darien looked back at her still unable to comprehend what happened. “But I saw you,” he said trying to explain. “I touched you. Someone had bashed your head in.”

Vicky studied his eyes for a moment before stepping away from him. “Come on.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards the lobby.

Darien followed her. His mind was starting to recover from the shock. Drawing in a deep breath, he backed away from the feelings overwhelming him. With a clearer mind, he squeezed Vicky’s hand, making sure she was real.

Vicky squeezed his fingers back.

As they stopped to wait for the elevator, Darien stepped up behind her and folded his arms around her. “I thought I lost you,” he whispered into the side of her neck.

Tilting her head, she gave him better access to her neck. “I’m here.” Resting her arms over his, she leaned into him. When the elevator opened, Vicky stepped from his arms, but caught his hand and pulled him along behind her.

Darien punched the button for their floor and spun around to stand in the corner. He pulled Vicky back into his arms, closed his eyes, and buried his nose in her damp hair. The strong smell of chlorine made his nose itch, but he kept it buried in her hair, drawing in her scent. He opened his eyes at the sounds of laughter. A young couple giggled their way onto the elevator. They were slightly sun burnt and full of joy. Upon seeing Darien and Vicky in the corner, the girl tried to get her man to be more respectable, but he growled and latched onto her in a way that made her laugh more. Their joy made Darien smile, and he relaxed a bit. He couldn’t help but envy their moment of carefree joy. He had come to the islands with the hope of finding a moment of such delight, but so far, things hadn’t gone as he would have liked. He was stressed. And it was probably that stress that caused his weird hallucination.

As the young couple apologized and giggled their way off the elevator. Darien relaxed around Vicky.

“Are you better?” she asked as the door slid shut.

“Yes,” he said. “I’m stressed about the Council, and I think I had a bad dream that hung around.”

Vicky turned in his grasp and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I see.” She considered him for a moment. “Let’s not worry about the Council for the moment. We’re here to relax, so let’s make the best of it while we can. Besides,” she pressed her body into his as she spoke. “I think I’m ready to take you up on that threat now.” Lifting her face to meet his, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

Darien made an appreciative noise as he held her tighter and deepened the kiss. He was going to have to deal with the Council soon, but Vicky was right. There was no need to worry about them at the moment and loving her would go a long way to reassuring himself that she was okay.

When the elevator stopped on their floor, Vicky started to pull away, but Darien caught her lips again and pulled her back. She giggled when the door closed and the elevator started down again. When it stopped a few floors down, she pulled away from his lips and teased him. “We missed our floor.”

He smiled at her. “It will come by again,” he reassured her.

Laughing, she turned her head and rested it on his chest.

He sighed contently as the door slid open and an elderly couple came in. The lady smiled at them while her husband punched the button for the ground floor.

“Could you hit twelve for me, please?” Darien asked.

The man punched the higher number, but his wife’s smile went from sweet to knowing.

“To be young and in love,” she said as she took her husband’s hand for the ride down.

They all rode down in silence, but the old woman turned to them as the elevator stopped. “You kids have a good day. And make sure to get out and see the rest of Hawaii. I’m sure the view from the hotel is nice, but the island has much more to offer.”

“
Fran
,” her husband chided her. He turned to Darien. “Have a nice day,” he added as he pulled his wife from the elevator. Thankfully, no one got back on before the door closed and the car started back up.

“
Kids
,” Darien scoffed in amusement.

Vicky laughed. Looking up, she pecked him on the lips again. “You know, to them we do look like kids making out in the corner of the elevator. I’m soaking wet and you’re still in your pajamas.” She tugged on the shoulder of his shirt for emphasis.

Darien rumbled in desire. “Then, how about we go take care of that.”

She giggled again. “Yes.” Meeting his lips, she kissed him once more.

This time, when the elevator stopped on their floor, Darien released her and moved her back a step so he could lead the way to their door. When he got there, he stopped in front of the locked door. Realization washed over him and he turned to Vicky. “I forgot the key,” he admitted.

Vicky laughed and reached into her bag. “Good thing I brought mine.”

Pulling her to his side, he kissed her hair. “Have I told you how amazing you are?” he asked.

“Not today,” she answered, slipping the card into the lock and opening the door. The door clicked open and she pushed it wide. “After you, my husband.”

Darien growled and pulled her into the suite with him. Once clear of the door, he shut it and pushed her up against it, making her drop her bag. “You are the most amazing thing in the world,” he said before he pressed his lips over hers and kissed her until she was breathless. Once he was done showing his appreciation, he backed off and pecked at her lips one last time. “Come on, let’s get you warm.” He stepped back and let her head towards the bedroom. Grabbing her bag from the floor, he dropped it on the desk. The sounds of the shower coming on made him smile and he was just turning to join her when someone rapped on the door.

Stopping, he stared at the closed door. A hint of the anxiety he’d put down earlier crawled up his spine. Who would be knocking at his door at this time of day? The rapping sounded again and he walked towards the door slowly. It couldn’t be any of his people. Hawaii was too far way. They would have called him before hopping a plane to come down. But he couldn’t see the Hawaiian Council calling on him. Not only was it the middle of the day, it was horribly rude to call on a master when they were resting. Well, unless it was important or you were trying to make a point. Whoever this was, it had better be important. Pulling the door open, he was surprised to find Shuri standing in the hall. “Hello.”

“My lord!” she exclaimed, surprised to see him.

Darien raised an eyebrow in question.

“I didn’t expect you to be awake,” Shuri said. Her eyes ran over him. “Am I interrupting?”

Shuri’s quick glance made him consider her outfit. The crisp white shirt and flowing skirt were immaculate compared to his rumpled and damp sleeping clothes. An odd sense of self-consciousness came over him, and he stood up straighter. “As a matter of fact, you are.”

“Forgive me, my lord,” Shuri said with a bow. “But, I’ve come on Council business and need to speak with you for a moment. May we come in?”

Darien froze. Something in her words sent a warning racing through him. Glancing past Shuri into the hallway, he saw another woman standing behind her. She was beautiful. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in a braid, and the familiar red dress showed off an almost obscene amount of tan skin. He drew in a deep breath, waffling on his decision. After yesterday’s attack, he didn’t want to let them inside, but he couldn’t conduct vampire business in the hallway of a hotel. Stepping back, he opened the door wide. “Enter.”

“Thank you,” Shuri said as she straightened and led the way in. The young woman followed with her hands folded and her face pointed down.

Darien watched as they passed, reading the girl’s mood from her body language. She held the submissive pose that went with the blood red silk of the revealing dress, but there was a tension in her shoulders that was out of place. She wasn’t here by choice and that angered him. He disliked the very notion of tribute and blood slaves, especially when they were forced into it. The idea of one person owning another had never sat well with him. “What do you want?” he asked tartly.

Both of the women tuned to face him.

Shuri bowed deeply from the waist. “I’ve come to offer my master’s deepest apologies. He is truly sorry for the attack on your lady and sends you a gift.” Rising just slightly, she held her hand out towards the other young woman. “He hopes that it appeases you.”

The girl nodded her head but did not otherwise move.

Darien crossed his arms over his chest unhappily. “And he sent you at a time when I should be resting?” he asked, letting his displeasure show.

Shuri stood and met his eyes. “He bid me to come as quickly as possible to inform you that he’s found the would-be assassin and to assure you that their death will be swift and final.”

Anger washed over Darien as he dropped his arms. “No!” he roared. “I want this person alive.”

Both women flinched at his outburst.

“But it’s too late,” Shuri said in an apologetic and pleading tone. “My master is questioning them as we speak. He will deal his justice once he’s satisfied.” She explained, “He’s been steadfast in this quest since you left and will not stop until it is finished.”

This news inflamed Darien’s anger more. “Call him!” he demanded. There was no way he was going to leave the trial and punishment of Vicky’s attacker to the Hawaiian Council.

“I cannot,” she said. “He will not answer and my master has a short temper. No one will interrupt him while he works.”

“I will.” Darien growled as he turned from the woman and stormed from the room. Aggravated, he yanked his damp shirt off and threw it down on the floor. He wanted this attacker alive. There was something about Kusanagi that Darien didn’t trust. He wanted to know why someone tried to poison Vicky, but he didn’t trust Kusanagi to give him the whole truth. The only way he was sure to get the answers he needed was to question the attacker personally. Choosing a shirt, he pulled it on and sat on the bed to change his pants.

“Darien?” Vicky called from the bathroom area.

Darien looked up to find her wrapped in the hotel bathrobe.

“Is everything all right?” she asked, coming over to his side.

Blowing out a breath, Darien shook his head as he finished getting dressed. “No,” he said softly. “Shuri is here on behalf of the Council with an apology and tribute.”

“Tribute?” Vicky asked, stiffening in surprise.

Darien nodded. “It’s not uncommon. But she also told me Kusanagi has found your poisoner and is about to kill them.”

“
What?”
Vicky said. Reaching up, she clutched the top of her robe and held it tight in fear. Slowly, she sank on the bed next to Darien.

“You’re safe,” Darien said as he reached out and pulled her into his side. “But I’ve got to go and stop this. I need this person alive to find out exactly what happened.”

Shocked, Vicky nodded and leaned against him. “I don’t want to go back there,” she said weakly.

Turing, Darien laid a kiss on the side of her head. “And I don’t want you to go back. But I have to get this straightened out.” He squeezed her to his side before releasing her and standing up. “Stay here. When I get back, I’ll call the Great Council and we’ll get the hell out of here.”

Vicky nodded and stood up. “Be careful.”

Darien smiled at her and took her hands. “Always.” He leaned in and kissed her gently. “I’ll be back soon,” he promised, released her hands, and turned back to the problems waiting for him. Storming through the door, he pointed at the two women waiting for him. “You, come with me. We’re going back.”

A tear rolled down the blood slave’s cheek as her knees gave way.

Darien watched in shock as she dropped to the floor and sat there in despair. He turned to meet Shuri’s eyes.

“He’ll kill them if you send her back,” she said softly, a hint of animosity glowed in her eyes.

The fallen woman sniffed softly as she wept.

Darien closed his eyes and drew in a deep calming breath. How could he have forgotten so many of the subtle nuances of vampire culture? The girl was his now. If he refused her, she would go back disgraced. Few masters would tolerate such an insult, but since they couldn’t take it out on the Elder offering the slight, they took it out on the person they felt failed them—the servant. And from the sounds of it, her fate was tied to another’s. Running his fingers up over his head, Darien turned away from the girls and ruffled his hair, rethinking his position. He couldn’t send the girl back to the Council until he was ready to leave. Then, if he did call the Great Council for an inquisition, her safety wasn’t necessarily guaranteed. He turned to find Vicky standing in the doorway, listening to the conversation. There was disbelief mixed with horror in her eyes.