Now Comes the Night (41 page)

“So you say.” Conrad sighed. “Still, and much as it pains me to have to admit it, he doesn’t seem especially lacking in sense. So how has it never occurred to him to wonder why you haven’t aged at all in almost a decade?”

“Why should it have? A decade is not all that long. Besides, I think he was too drunk on the first two occasions to even notice. Since then…it hasn’t become an issue yet.”

“And
yet
is exactly the right word, is it not? It will eventually, if you keep seeing him. I can promise you that. Sooner or later, something will occur to give you away. You’ve lived long enough to see that for yourself. You
know
this.”

“I do know it.” Damian nodded. “And I confess I never meant for things to go this far, or for it to go on this long. But, it wasn’t until this past weekend that I, I…” his voice trailed off as though he were reluctant to continue.

Conrad grimaced. He, too, had no great desire for Damian to finish that particular sentence. “I understand.” And he did. He understood perfectly. He’d pushed Damian away, pushed him right into someone else’s arms, into someone else’s bed. It was not the first time he’d made that mistake. “But, be that as it may, I still must put the children’s needs first. I must consider the danger to them if anyone were to discover our nature. Or, heaven forfend,
their
nature.”

“So what are you saying?” Damian’s voice was bleak. Conrad was certain they both already knew the answer to his question.

Conrad sighed as he turned back toward the window and contemplated the view once again. The grounds were really quite beautiful in the moonlight, and vaguely reminiscent of the gardens in Sevilla, where he first found Damian. Perhaps he could prevail upon Damian to find him something similar in the next house, as a final gesture of goodwill. “What I’m saying, my dear, is that occasionally I
do
learn something from my mistakes. This state of affairs cannot continue. But, there again, I’m sure you already know that.”

“But… Conrad, no! Please. I’ve already sent Paul away. I won’t be seeing him again. You can’t—”

“Stop!” Conrad shook his head. “Please. Allow me to finish. This is difficult for me too, you know. I’m not unmindful of your feelings for the twins or all the invaluable assistance you’ve given me these past years. I doubt any of us would have survived very long without you. But, that’s all beside the point. Contrary to what your young man believes, it was never my intention to make a slave of you, Damian. And while it’s true I’m sworn to protect the children with my life, and so must keep them away from anyone likely to endanger them, it doesn’t follow that we must both make that sacrifice. I won’t ask you to stay, if that’s no longer what you want. I won’t make that choice for you. You’ve always been free to go, if it was your wish.”

“Was I?” Damian’s voice held a note of disdain. “
Ay, Dios mio
. Free? Is that what you think?”

The bitter edge to Damian’s words had the beast within Conrad’s heart raging.
How dare he question me
?
How dare he complain
, it growled, demanding Conrad take up the challenge, that he turn on Damian and bring him to heel—at once! Conrad ignored it, but not without an effort, and his tone, as a result, was sharper than he would have liked. “Yes, Damian, you were. I’m sorry if I hadn’t ever made that clear enough to you before. You’re free to do so now as well, if that’s what makes you happy. I
do
care somewhat for your happiness, you know, however little you might think so. Besides, what else am I to do? You’ve always been exceptionally headstrong and, frankly, I’ve grown tired of fighting it. It’s clear you’ll do as you wish, whether I want you to or not. If you’ve made up your mind to have this young man, it hardly seems worth my while to try and reason you out of it.”

“But, Conrad, th-the children…”

“Will get over it!” Conrad bit back a growl, still struggling for control. “Do you think I’ve given no thought at all to how this will affect them? Trust me, my friend, it’s the children with whom I’m most concerned, at the moment. I know you too well, I suppose. And, I’m far too acquainted with my own shortcomings as they relate to you. It’s for the children’s sake that I cannot risk letting you stay if you’re only going to try and convince me to do what we both know will put them in harm’s way. I dare say it will be hard on them at first, getting used to your absence, but that would be the case whenever you left, would it not? If it’s your choice to leave them now, then they must learn to accept it. After all, is that not part of life, accepting things you don’t particularly like?”

“
My
choice? It’s
my
choice to make?”

Conrad shrugged. “As I’ve said. I will not make it for you.” There were a few rules Conrad had set for himself and mostly adhered to. He did not compel those he cared about, except as a last resort. He did not make slaves of his family or his friends or accept anything from anyone that was not freely offered. And, most important of all, no matter how much he was tempted to do so, he never forced his love—or his attentions—on anyone. “Make no mistake, I still intend to leave here with the children as soon as a new home can be found for us. The sooner the better, for that. But I will not ask you to accompany us. It’s up to you whether or not you do so. You are welcome to stay on here, if you prefer. This house is yours to use for as long as you want it.”

“But… No, that’s
not
what I want. Not at all. Please, Conrad, won’t you let me come with you? You
need
me.”

“Yes, well, as I’ve said before, you’ve been quite invaluable. I don’t believe I’ve ever suggested otherwise. But you must be certain that it’s what
you
want as well. I will not be held responsible for any more of your unhappiness.” His score in that regard was already quite high enough.

“I
am
certain. Very certain.”

“Are you?” Surprise and relief flooded Conrad in so vast a wave, he felt positively faint with it. It was a feeling he’d not known in far too long. He hadn’t lost him then. Not yet. Or, at least, not completely. Even so, Conrad was determined not to appear too gleeful in the face of what had to be a very painful decision on Damian’s part. He shrugged and said matter-of-factly, “Very well then. If that’s your decision, so be it. We need say no more on the subject.” Maybe someday they could move beyond this awkward distance, this rigid dance. Maybe someday Conrad could find a way to bring them back to where they once had been, where they were always meant to be. Together. For now, this would have to be enough.

Damian was quiet for a moment. Finally, “I’ll just go back to my packing then, shall I?” There was a hard edge to the words and, even as quiet as his voice was, the pain was still apparent.

Conrad’s heart ached for him. He had to resist the urge to go to him, to take Damian in his arms, to remind him that Paul was not the only one who loved him, that he did too, and always, always would. What comfort would that offer? Since when had knowing you were loved by someone else ever soften the pain of losing the one your heart cried out for?

So he simply nodded again and turned back to the window. “Yes. Thank you, my dear. That would be most helpful.”

About the Author

When she’s not pestering her husband to help her research scenes for upcoming books, or being amused by her two vastly entertaining children, P.G. Forte can usually be found serving the needs and whims of her characters…or her cats. It’s a difficult job, but someone’s got to do it.

Originally a Jersey girl, P.G. now resides with her family on the extreme left coast where she writes rule-bending, genre-blending romance and paranormal stories.

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Look for these titles by P.G. Forte

Now Available:

Children of Night

In the Dark

Old Sins, Long Shadows

Coming Soon:

Children of Night

Ashes of the Day

Living forever is hard. Loving forever? Damn near impossible.

Old Sins, Long Shadows

© 2011 P.G. Forte

Children of Night, Book 2

1856, New York City.
Moments after Conrad Quintano drives his life-mate away, heartache and guilt descend around his heart like a pall. Convinced that Damian’s hatred is as permanent as the scars Conrad has inflicted on him, Conrad steels himself for an eternity of emotional torture.

Present day, San Francisco.
For the sake of vampire twins Marc and Julie Fischer, Conrad and Damian present a united parental front. In reality, their truce is a sham. Conrad, weakened by his recent ordeal, struggles against the urge to bring his mate back to his bed. And Damian misinterprets Conrad’s explosive temper as proof their relationship is irreparably broken.

When an old enemy’s quest to create a dangerous new breed of vampire threatens the twins’ lives—and the precarious state of vampire peace—it’s imperative the estranged lovers put the past behind them. Or the shadows of the past will tear apart everything they hold dear.

Warning: This book may not be suitable for readers with an aversion to emotionally damaged vampire heroes. Caution is advised if you have experienced prior sensitivity to any of the following: costume parties, fencing lessons, interspecies, inter-generational or intra-gender dating, occasional mild violence, and/or recreational blood-drinking.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Old Sins, Long Shadow:

Skulking unseen in the upstairs corridor, Conrad watched as Damian rounded the corner and headed his way. It had taken very little time for the duke to succumb to the drugs Conrad had slipped into his wine; but it appeared to have taken Damian even less time to settle the seemingly inebriated duke in his bedchamber. Now, as he hurried along the hallway, he had the look about him of a man who’d just been let off on holiday, the look of a man speeding toward his lover’s bed, rather than away from it. Conrad wondered briefly where Damian thought he was going. Wherever it was, he was almost certainly not going to reach his destination tonight.

Conrad stepped from the shadows and placed himself in the nobleman’s path. “My lord. I would have a word with you, sir.”

Damian stopped short, surprise giving way to delight—or so it would have appeared, if the gleam in his eyes or the sudden smile that wreathed his lips had been something in which Conrad still believed. He had to stop himself from scowling. No one should be allowed to smile in such a fashion and not have it mean something.

“Why, my dear
Señor
Quintano,” Damian purred as he gracefully essayed a deep bow. “But of course you may.
El placer es mío
. I am at your complete disposal. Only, please, tell me, in what way might I be of assistance to your esteemed self this evening?”

“You are too kind,” Conrad replied, pleased to note the boy had finally resolved his doubts as to Conrad’s identity. That was good. After all, where would be the lesson learned if Damian could not properly recall the name of the man who was about to ruin him? “But, on the contrary, it is I who wish to be of assistance to you.”

“Do you?” A small smile played over Damian’s lips. “Well, then I am indeed honored. Pray, do continue.”

“I’m afraid I could not help but overhear part of your conversation this evening, with His Excellency, the duke,” Conrad said as he moved closer. Close enough that Damian was all but caged within one of the deep doorways that lined the corridor. Close enough that the boy’s heartbeat was clearly audible and the scent of his blood an almost overpowering lure. “You appear to be laboring under a small but rather grave misconception and I thought, if you would but allow it, I might be able to correct your thinking?”

“
Sí
. By all means.” Damian’s eyes gleamed and Conrad could all but feel his anticipation. “I look forward to your correction.”

Holding his own anticipation in check, Conrad shrugged. “Perhaps not, my friend. For I am afraid what I have to say to you will not come as a happy surprise. Speaking as one who has had a great deal of experience with…certain elements of society, I must tell you that most of the peasants with whom I’ve been acquainted have been sadly lacking in skill when it comes to the subtle art of pleasuring a man, and not nearly as proficient as you seem to think.”

At that, Damian’s smile flickered and went out. Color suffused his face. “You read lips,” he said, his voice dull. “I had not realized you numbered that among your talents. What a very…useful skill to possess.”

Conrad sighed. “Alas, no. I fear you are once again mistaken. I do not read lips. I do, however, possess very excellent hearing. Right now, for example, I can hear the pounding of your heart. It is kicking so fiercely against your ribs that it calls to mind a young buck that’s been pulled down by wolves and knows it’s about to have its throat ripped out.”