The Wishing Stone (12 page)

After eleven bodies lay pale and lifeless, Lucien straightened over the last. Heat flooded his normally cool face, proof that he had had his fill. The grim reminder of Marissa and her evil had him turning his back on the room as he traced to the farmhouse in Paris.

The crowd of vampires mingled with their unwary human guests. The room swelled with noise. At the far corner, Lucien surveyed the layout, searching for a glimpse of his wife. She was still alive; her thoughts rang in his head. And right now he knew she was afraid. Her terror almost had him tearing the place apart, but that would be folly.

No doubt Marissa was planning on that as her lackeys kept him always in their sights. Calmly, he drifted among the people, exchanging pleasantries while inside he was exploding with rage.

Chapter Fourteen

In the small cell, Lara felt as if the walls were closing in on her. The sound of the lock turning brought her head up, straining to see who was there. Steven stood in the doorway. His hard eyes travelled over her as he approached. He halted with his feet splayed and stared down on her.

She valiantly scrambled to her feet, brushing the wrinkles and dirt from her dress and legs. She lifted her chin, silently challenging him.

A smile curved his lips, but his eyes never softened. His hands went to her breasts, squeezing their fullness, eliciting a whimper from her. She beat ineffectively at his chest.

Laughing, Steven cruelly dug his hand under her dress between her thighs. With no time the previous night to slip undergarments on, his goal was unhampered. His fingers wound ruthlessly in the thatch of curls that covered her womanhood as Lara bit her lip to keep from crying out. Just as brutally, he shoved his fingers up her dry passage and ground his mouth into hers. He wanted her to beg him for mercy, but she refused to give him the satisfaction.

Gagging when he shoved his tongue into her mouth, Lara futilely fought to push him away. The nails on his fingers cut into her tender flesh as he pushed his fingers further up into her tight opening. Salty tears fell from her eyes, and Lara prayed for this torture to end soon, but Steven wasn’t finished yet.

Grasping her hand, he held it against the front of his pants. His heavy arousal pushed against the restraining material, making her angrier and more desperate as she pummeled her fists until she was free of his embrace.

Calmly lifting the hand that violated her, Steven began to undo his trousers while stalking Lara.

The purring voice from the opened doorway halted him in midstride. “Darling, you know I can’t let you have your fun yet.”

Folding her arms across her chest, Lara backed into the corner of the room, glad that Steven had stopped but uncertain of what they had planned to do next. After a few private words with Steven, Marissa left them and Lara waited for his next move, her hand hovering protectively over her baby’s nest.

Refastening his trousers, he walked toward Lara with a hand outstretched. “Take my hand and we’ll leave this place,” he coaxed, softly.

Ignoring his words and his hand, Lara started to back away but the solid wall stopped her. A cunning smile wreathed Steven’s face as his hand clasped hers. She closed her eyes in despair.

****

As he strode a second time through the room, Lucien still found no sign of Lara’s presence. For that matter, he hadn’t noticed Marissa or Steven either. The volume in the room suddenly died down, alerting Lucien to scan the area for the cause of that silence.

On a platform high above everyone’s head, he saw the slim form of Marissa. Dressed in a bright red sheath, she smiled at her audience and waited for their full attention.

“I am happy to see you came tonight, my friends. I want you to join me in celebrating a dream that has finally come true. This evening you will witness the high and mighty Lord Lucien Saint become what he was truly meant to be, mine.

“In fact, to insure this binding contract, I have taken the liberty of requesting the presence of a judge to perform our marriage vows.” She smiled at the somberly dressed vampire at her side. “I don’t believe there is any problem with the judge being one of us?” Marissa directed the question to the austere man.

“There are none at all,” the Supreme Court judge answered.

Several men clapped Lucien on the back with words of encouragement. Ignoring them, he again searched the room, still with no results.

“To celebrate this great turn of events, I have invited a special guest.” Marissa purred as Steven appeared with a blindfolded Lara on the platform. Walking to their captive, Marissa snatched the black cloth from her eyes.

Lara’s eyes blinked against the bright lights of the room. She stepped backward, and her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a cry when she looked down on the crowd.

Lucien stared at her until finally their eyes met. He took comfort in the faith and trust in her eyes. Her hand lowered to her stomach and she sent him a thought across the connection they shared.

I carry your child.

His eyes narrowed as the news washed over him. No one was going to harm either his wife or his child. Pushing through the crowd, Lucien advanced to the platform.

“Let her go,” he coldly stated. “This was not part of our agreement.”

Laughter bubbled from Marissa’s lips as she stared down at Lucien. “I want her to realize you will no longer have need of her.”

With a slight nod of her head, Steven tied Lara’s hands to the rope that was attached above the platform, keeping her securely in place.

****

The rough rope tore into Lara’s wrists as she tried to escape its bonds. Thankfully, Steven was somewhat inept at tying knots, so she concentrated on loosening it. As she worked, Lara kept her attention on her hands, ignoring the murmuring throng of people.

A collective gasp arose when a drop of blood fell from her wrists. At the sound, she lifted her head. Several people licked their lips in anticipation. Deciding this was definitely not to her benefit, she held still, hoping her abraded skin would cease bleeding.

To distract the vampires from his wife, Lucien materialized upon the platform. Approaching Marissa, he didn’t spare a glance at Lara. “I will not honor my word if you cannot honor yours.”

Smugly, Marissa met his stare. “Would you have me set her free now?” Her arms spread out, indicating their anticipative audience.

Cursing Lara’s and his own vulnerability, the muscle in his jaw flexed while his mind sought an answer to his dilemma. As he was about to capitulate, his long-time friend, Damien, appeared beside him on the platform.

Amid the gasps from the mortals and retreating vampires, the tall dark man glared in contempt at all who were present. “I take it that you hold yourself above all others.” Damien silkily addressed Marissa.

The older man’s powers forced her to hold her tongue and her scathing remarks as she backed away from him, in a form of respect.

Moving to Lara’s side, Lucien untied her hands and held her close as Damien’s deep voice fairly shook the walls. Marissa bowed her head in submission, but the curve of her lips belied her pose. Lucien knew this was not the end but simply a reprieve.

While everyone’s attention was centered on Damien, Lucien and Lara faded away.

****

The sand beneath her feet signaled to Lara she could release her pent-up breath. Her husband still held her tightly. The sound of waves crashing and the glitter of stars in the sky verified that she was still very much alive.

Taking Lucien’s hand, she settled it on her stomach and smiled up at his loving eyes. “Your child is waiting to meet its father.”

Lucien’s mouth descended on her lips briefly. “I want you to stay in your old apartment. Better yet, I’ll have my solicitor purchase you a home where you and our child will be safe.” He closed his eyes and rested his chin on the top of her head.

“No!” Lara shoved away from Lucien’s tenacious hold. “I’m staying here with you.”

“You will indeed leave. I can’t have you underfoot here.” Tears filled his eyes. “Lara, if you can’t think of the baby, then it just wasn’t meant to be with us.”

Horror swept through Lara as his words sank in. He had sworn that, for better or worse, they would be together. Now, at the first sign of trouble, he was breaking his vows.

Slipping his hand into his pocket, Lucien withdrew the small black wishing stone she had given him. Placing it in her palm, he instructed her, “Take this and give it to our child. He’ll need it more than I will.” Turning, Lucien headed around the bend of the beach and out of sight.

At last the tears fell, but Lara wouldn’t give up. In a dead run, she went after Lucien. There had to be a solution to this problem. No matter what he thought, they would find the answer—together.

Spying him up ahead near the same driftwood log with the up thrust branch where they had first sat and kissed had Lara grinding to a halt. He wasn’t alone. Flanked on either side of Lucien were Marissa and Steven.

Each with deadly intent on their face while looking at the other.

Chapter Fifteen

“You thought you could just slip away unnoticed with your whore?” Blue sparks shot from Marissa’s eyes as she glared up at Lucien.

Steven circled him.

Lucien didn’t say a word, just stood waiting for his chance while she spilled her wrath.

“That old man is going to slip up one of these days, and when he does, I’ll be there to snap up the control,” she promised.

“Where is she? Or are you hiding her again?”

When Lucien still wouldn’t answer, Marissa signaled to Steven.

Steven pulled Lucien’s arms behind his back, and Marissa advanced on him. Her fingernails trailed down his chest until they rested on the fly to his pants. Cupping her hand over his loins, Marissa licked her lips and stroked him with her palm.

A vicious grin replaced Marissa’s sultry expression as she peered over his shoulder. Taking a couple steps back from Lucien, she gleefully informed him, “It seems your little slut has returned. You have no control over your woman, Lucien.”

Turning his head, Lucien watched as Lara ran closer, the black stone held tightly in her fist. The fire in her eyes fairly seared him. This would surely be their end. He had tried to spare her. Now he would not only have to fight for his life, but also for hers and that of his unborn child.

Coming to a halt next to Lucien, Lara’s voice shook with ire, her fist tightly grasping the black stone as she shook it at Marissa. “What do you want with my husband? Can’t you find a man of your own?”

Lucien’s eyes closed. Marissa was barely holding on to her sanity as it was. Now Lara wanted to provoke her and send her careening over the edge.

“Husband?” Marissa screeched.
“Husband?”

As Marissa faltered, Lara held up her left hand. The Saint crest glittered on her finger in the remaining moonlight.

Recognizing the family crest emblazoned on the other woman’s hand, only one of the many heirlooms owned by Lucien’s family, sent Marissa completely over the brink of sanity.

“They are mine!” she exploded. “I’ve waited centuries to own them and you will not stop me!”

The sense of impending doom broke the hold Steven had on Lucien’s arms. Pushing the younger man away as if he were merely a nuisance, Lucien started for the two women, intent on protecting his spitfire wife.

Steven leaped on Lucien’s back, knocking him to the sandy beach.

****

As Marissa closed the gap between them, Lara took note of her surroundings, seeking an escape route for herself and Lucien. Water gently lapped the shore on one side while the dense foliage covered the other side. The log she and Lucien had sat upon in the quiet moonlight rested off to the side with a jungle of ferns.

Her adversary bared her lethal fangs, and Lara faltered but the child in her womb urged her to fight.

Marissa lunged toward Lara, gripping her shoulders firmly. Her mouth descended to Lara’s unprotected neck.

Realizing Marissa’s deadly intent, Lara curled her fingers around the black stone, creating a hard fist. Rage and jealousy worked through her, lending her strength, as she swung her fist up and into Marissa’s jaw, taking the vampire completely by surprise.

Staggering backward, her arms flaying about as she frantically searched for balance, Marissa tripped over the edge of the log behind her. Her screams tore through the night as the dead branch tore through the center of Marissa’s chest.

Lara froze at the shock of seeing the piece of wood protrude through Marissa’s flesh, and then made to move to the other woman’s side, expecting to see blood pouring from the horrendous wound. Strong arms stopped her. With horror mirrored in her eyes, Lara watched as Marissa began to rapidly decompose, exposing areas of raw bone until only a skele
ton
remained on the log, impaled by the branch.

“Leave her.” Lucien turned Lara away from the morbid sight. “When the sun rises, it will take care of her remains.” The sky was already beginning to lighten with the first blush of dawn.

“I’ll kill you both for that,” Steven raged. They turned to see him struggle to his feet, fangs bared, eyes glowing.

Lucien set Lara away from him. “Go back to the house!”

“I won’t leave you.”

Digging his fingers into Lara’s soft shoulders, Lucien ordered, “If you can’t think of yourself or the baby, then think of me. Your presence here will distract me, and I don’t need that with what I have to do.”

Pressing a firm kiss on her parted lips, he stalked to the rising man.

Lara turned and ran up the beach toward the house and any help within. As she rounded the bend, daylight’s fingers peeked over the rise. It was too late. She fell to her knees, sobbing.

Opening her palm, she stared down at the black stone and shouted at it. “If you do have any power at all then please save Lucien!”

Knowing he would die with the first ray of sunlight, Lara sank back on her heels, watching the sky and praying for all she was worth. Her prayers didn’t stop the sun as it rose over the island, lighting the sparkling blue waters.

An agonized scream sounded from far behind her.

“No!” she screamed up at the heavens.

Collapsing in the sand, Lara cried as the pain of losing Lucien swallowed her whole. Sobs wracked her body, and her hands ground into the sand.

Strong hands lifted Lara, and Ethan’s gentle voice barely penetrated the sound of her cries as he carried her toward the house. “Shush, now. You have to be strong.”

Kicking open the bedroom doors, Ethan gently deposited Lara on the large bed she shared with Lucien. She curled into a tight ball, her mind retreating in shock.

She sensed Ethan’s hand hovered over her shoulder, but he hesitantly withdrew it. There were no words he could offer that would ease her pain. Soundlessly, he left the room, closing the doors behind him.

Blessed numbness closed in on Lara, sucking her into a welcome darkness. Her fingers loosened their tight grip, and the stone fell from her hand to the floor.