The Dark-Hunters (274 page)
Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Paranormal, #Vampires, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy, #Paranormal & Urban
Her Aunt Sophie grabbed her and pulled her away from Valerius.
Tabitha promised her return before the women surrounded her.
Valerius smiled at the sight, then turned to go get them both a glass of champagne. Laughter echoed in the backyard, amidst the strains of the orchestra they’d hired. Tabitha had wanted a Goth band to play, but her mother had put her foot down and insisted Tabitha not make the ears of their guests bleed.
He looked around the crowd where people were laughing together and talking. Ash, Otto, and even Gilbert were standing off to the side with the other groomsmen. He longed to go over and join them, but knew from experience that though Kyrian and Julian tolerated his presence, they didn’t like it.
How odd that he felt alienated even at his own wedding.
Taking a drink of champagne, he scanned the crowd until he found his wife with her sisters.
He smiled at the sight. Tabitha was absolutely lovely with her auburn hair down around her shoulders. Someone had placed little sprigs of flowers all through her hair and sprayed glitter in it. She looked like some ethereal fey out to seduce him.
The wedding director came up to inform him that dinner was ready to be served.
Inclining his head to her, Valerius went to tell Tabitha that they needed everyone to be seated.
He claimed his bride and led her to the bridal table.
Tabitha laughed under her breath as she sat in the chair and they actually got her scooted up without incident. She was finally learning how to do this properly. The first time Valerius had held a chair out for her had been a complete fiasco.
He took a seat on her right as Gilbert sat to her left.
The waiters started bringing out plates and filling the wineglasses.
Valerius took her hand into his, then kissed her knuckles. The sensation of his lips on her hand set fire to her. She’d never known a human being could be so happy and yet terrified at the same time.
Once everyone was served, Gilbert stood up to toast them.
The band stopped playing.
Gilbert opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a deep, accented voice interrupted him.
“I know that it’s typical for the best man to toast the couple, but I think Gilbert might forgive me for usurping his place for a minute.”
Tabitha had to force herself not to gape as Zarek approached their table from out in the crowd.
Valerius’s grip tightened on her hand.
Zarek paused directly in front of them and stared meaningfully at his brother.
“Weddings have always been a fascinating thing to me,” he said, his voice ringing out. “A time when two people look into each other’s eyes and promise each other that they will never allow anyone or anything to divide them.
“Out of two families, they come together to form a separate branch that links back to their roots. It’s a time when two families are joined together because of the hearts of two people. A time when ill will and bad feelings should be put to rest along with the past.”
Zarek’s gaze went down the table, stopping at each of the current and former Dark-Hunters. “Weddings signify a new beginning. After all, no human alive has ever been able to choose his family … God knows, I would never have chosen mine.” He quirked a smile at Valerius. “But as the Roman playwright Terence once wrote, ‘From many a bad beginning great friendships have formed.’”
Zarek lifted a glass to them. “Here’s to my brother, Valerius, and his wife Tabitha. May you both come to enjoy the happiness I have known with my own wife. And may you give one another all the love you both deserve.”
Tabitha wasn’t sure which of them was the most stunned by Zarek’s words. Her family, unaware of what an unexpected moment this was, cheered Zarek’s toast.
Shocked beyond comprehension, neither of them took a drink.
Zarek walked over and gave them a wry, almost mocking grin. “You’re supposed to take a drink now.”
They did, but Valerius choked on his. He sniffed the glass suspiciously.
“Did you poison me?” he asked Zarek in a low tone.
Zarek rubbed his eyebrow with his middle finger. “No, Valerius. Even I’m not that cruel.”
“It’s nectar,” a woman’s voice said.
Tabitha turned to see a beautiful blonde pregnant woman behind her.
The woman placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, then kissed her on the cheek. “I’m Zarek’s wife, Astrid,” she said in a low tone that only the two of them could hear. She turned to Valerius and gave him a kiss as well. “We couldn’t decide what to give the two of you for a wedding gift, so Zarek thought the best gift would be eternity together.”
“Yeah,” Zarek said in a surly tone. “That’s the polite version of what I said.”
Astrid gave him a playfully mean look before she looked back at them. “Congratulations to you both.”
She handed Valerius a small bowl of something that reminded Tabitha of Jell-O. “It’s ambrosia,” she said to Valerius. “Eat it and you’ll be able to hurl lightning bolts back at Zarek whenever he gets playful with you.”
“Hey!” Zarek snapped. “I never agreed to that.”
Astrid gave him an innocent stare. “This way, I figure you’ll play nicer in the future with your brother.”
Tabitha laughed. “You know, I think I like my new sister-in-law.”
Astrid left them to join Zarek, who looked less than pleased. “Don’t worry, hon, I’ll make sure you have plenty of other things to occupy your time with than harassing Valerius.”
Zarek’s gaze softened the instant she touched him.
Valerius rose to his feet and walked around the table until he stood before Astrid and Zarek. “Thank you,” he said.
He held his hand out to Zarek, who looked at it suspiciously. Tabitha half-expected him to turn away.
He didn’t.
Taking Valerius’s hand, he clapped him on the back, then released him. “Your woman loves you more than you know. She’s a hell of a fire-cat. I probably should have given you something in Kevlar.”
Valerius laughed at that. “I hope you two will stay for the reception.”
“We’d love to,” Astrid said before Zarek could answer.
The two of them took a seat at the table with Selena and Bill while Valerius came back to her.
“Bon appétit,” Tabitha said as she held the ambrosia out to him.
He ate it, then kissed her.
“Mmm,” Tabitha breathed, inhaling the scent of her husband.
“Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo.”
I intend to have my way with you upstairs and down.
Valerius smiled. “And I intend to let you.” His face turned serious as he stared at her and his love for her consumed him. “
Amo,
Tabitha.
Amo.
”
Epilogue
One year later
“Look at the poor bastard,” Kyrian said as he sat inside the Café Pontalba with Amanda, Grace, Julian, Bill, and Selena having dinner. “I should have been kind and killed him when I had the chance.”
Through the doorway on their right, they could see Tabitha and Valerius walking toward the St. Louis Cathedral.
The women frowned as they watched them.
“What?” Amanda asked.
“He’s so screwed,” Bill said before taking a drink of his beer. “I wonder what he did wrong this time.”
“What are you two talking about?” Selena asked.
“I know that Devereaux walk,” Kyrian said, shaking his head. “It’s the ‘You’re not going to get any tonight, pal, so don’t even ask’ walk.”
“Oh, hell yeah,” Bill agreed. “Be glad you married the only one of the sisters who won’t rack you in a fit of anger, Kyrian. You seriously lucked out.”
“I beg your pardon?” Selena glared at her husband.
Kyrian laughed.
“I wouldn’t laugh if I were you,” Amanda said, her voice tense as they saw Tabitha tell Valerius to “talk to the hand.”
Then she continued to walk in front of him as Valerius followed and made placating gestures.
“I really hate that walk,” Bill muttered.
“I think you’re both going to see that walk up close and personal tonight,” Julian said before he pulled out his Nextel phone. He scrolled through the names before he clicked the talk button. “Hey, Otto? Where are you?”
“Café Du Monde. Why?”
“Can you see Valerius and Tabitha? They look like they’re heading down the Pedestrian Mall toward you.”
Otto made a sound of disgust. “Yeah, the two of them need to go get a room.”
“Pardon?” Julian asked.
“They’re lip-locked like two horny teenagers.”
Amanda and Selena gave their husbands indignant glares.
“No way.” Kyrian got up and dashed out the doorway with Bill one step behind him.
He walked the block over to see Tabitha and Valerius stopped in front of Selena’s store.
Sure enough, the two of them were necking.
“Excuse me?” Bill said. “You know, there are public decency laws here?”
Tabitha scoffed at Bill. “Do you remember what happened to you the last time you tried to tell a Devereaux what the city laws were?”
Bill went pale.
Tabitha laughed, then returned to what she’d been doing before Bill so rudely interrupted her.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SEIZE THE NIGHT
Copyright © 2005 by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Excerpt from
Acheron
copyright © 2008 by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / January 2005
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
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SINS OF THE NIGHT
SHERRILYN KENYON
Contents
As always, a big thank-you to Kim, Julie, and Nancy for all the hard work you ladies do on my behalf. I have no idea what I would do without you.
For my fans, the LOS and the RBLs, who add so much pleasure and support to my world. Thank you!! You have no idea how much you all mean to me. To my family, who is forever understanding of why Mom has to spend so many hours locked in her small office. To my friends, who are always there through the good times and the bad.
To my baby brother, for all the laughter you give me when I need it, and to his wife, who takes such good care of him for me.
And most of all to my mother. Thank you so much, Mom, for giving me the love of vampires and of all things paranormal. I owe you more than can ever be repaid and there’s not a day in my life that goes by where I don’t feel the loss of you deep inside my heart. I miss you, Mom. I always will.
All my love to all of you. Thank you so much for taking these trips into the unknown with me.
Prologue
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, Mississippi
She was dead.
Melissa’s heart was pounding from her rushing adrenaline as she scrambled to reach the safety of Grossnickle Hall. Two hours ago, she’d foolishly told her friends to leave her at the library while she finished researching her English paper.
Lost in the misadventures of Christopher Marlowe’s life, she’d spent more time there than she’d meant to. The next thing she’d known, it was late and time for her to head back to her apartment-style residence hall. She’d briefly considered calling her boyfriend to come get her, but since he was working tonight on the stocking crew, that seemed a moot issue.
Without another thought about the stupidity of a twenty-one-year-old woman walking alone, she’d gathered her books and headed home. But now as she ran across campus being chased by four unknown men, she realized just how idiotic she’d been.
How could someone lose their life over one bad decision?
And yet it happened to people every day.
It wasn’t supposed to happen to me!
“Please help me,” she screamed as she ran as fast as she could. Surely there was someone who saw her? Someone who would call security out to help her.
She rounded a hedge and ran straight into something. She looked up at the man in front of her.
“Please—” The words died as she realized he was one of the four blond men chasing her.
He laughed evilly, showing her a set of fangs.
Screaming, Melissa fought his hold. She threw her books against him, and shoved with every ounce of strength she possessed.
He let go.
She darted toward the street only to find another blond man waiting there. She drew up short, looking for somewhere else to run to.
But there was nowhere to go that one of them couldn’t catch her.
Dressed all in black, the newcomer stood as if completely nonchalant to the danger or her terror. His long blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He wore a pair of dark sunglasses that completely shielded his eyes from her and it made her wonder how he could even see in the darkness.