Always

Amanda Sidhe

ALWAYS BY AMANDA SIDHE Venus Press LLC

2

ALWAYS

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALWAYS Copyright © 2006 by Amanda Sidhe Cover Art © 2006 by Dan Skinner All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without permission, except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. Printed and bound in the United States of America. For information, you can find us on the web at www.VenusPress.com

3

Amanda Sidhe

Dedication:

For Lori Balster: fellow writer, good friend and my personal cheerleader.

4

ALWAYS

Chapter One

Ignoring the blood-covered vampires dancing around him, Troy patrolled the perimeter of the gymnasium that had been temporarily transformed into a party room. It was the last place in the world he would expect to find a woman like Bethany, but he knew she would show. Troy surveyed the spectacle with mild distaste. As an Offspring, over a hundred and fifty years ago, he had attended vampire parties that resembled those he’d frequented as a human during the height of the pre-Civil War South. As he recalled, the only display of the vampiric nature of the affair had been the large blood fountain in the center of the buffet table. Recently the parties had been reinvented into raves. In his opinion, the garish display of blood worship and gore that characterized the event was better suited to werewolves and other less civilized species. The thumping noise ceaselessly blaring from the coffin-sized speakers and the endless jumping and banging mindlessly in each other, made no sense to him whatsoever. But these parties had their purposes. The Kinsmen sired many Offspring. In order to keep the population of vampires from becoming too large and attracting the notice of the mortals, the Kinsmen culled the number of Offspring each year. While Troy had judged and carried out his own sentence of death on many Offspring, this year was the first time he’d ever decided to defend one from judgment. Troy spotted Bethany hovering near the exit. She hugged herself in her thin cotton dress that covered her ankles. Her dark curtain of hair spilled down the sides of her face while she kept her attention focused on her feet rather than watching, much less participating, in the festivities. Troy's gut clenched in anger. Bethany didn’t belong here. She belonged some place soft, quiet and above all safe. Maneuvering through the crowd toward her, Troy noticed he wasn’t the only one watching Bethany. Two other Kinsmen, Ripper and Gideon, regarded the yearling Offspring with disdain. Troy knew what those looks meant and picked up speed. As if 5

Amanda Sidhe

Bethany sensed the malevolence directed toward her, she rubbed her hands over her arms as though suddenly chilled and slipped out the exit. Troy followed her out and caught a glimpse of the door to the roof closing. He’d started to follow when Ripper stuck his head out of the gymnasium. “Troy, you got that one?” He’d meant that to ask if Troy intended to kill Bethany. “Yeah,” Troy replied. “I’ll take care of her.”

*** Troy and Bethany looked down through the open skylight on the gymnasium’s roof at the party below. Some wise-ass had drained the kiddy pool and hung four mortals by their feet from the ceiling. Blood dribbled from the victims’ slashed arteries and a dozen or so vampires frolicked in the blood bath. By tomorrow all would be cleaned up and humans would bring their children to play here as the vampires did now, but with no idea of tonight’s horror. “I think I’m going to be sick.” Bethany covered her mouth and hurried to the roof’s edge. She didn’t vomit, which surprised her. Instead, she dropped to her knees and sucked deep, shaking breaths. The rolling queasiness inside surged like a storm-tossed sea. Troy joined her and patted her back. His hand was large and strong and Bethany felt steadied by it. “A vampire who can’t stand the sight of blood isn’t natural,” he said, unable to hide the amusement in his voice. “Ugh, don’t remind me.” She held her stomach. “I can’t get the image out of my brain.” “Doesn’t this kind of thing come with the fangs?” “They don’t make me some kind of sadistic…psychopathic…serial killer.” She spat out the words. Her own sire epitomized those words. The Kinsman known as Aphrodite was nothing like the goddess whose name she’d claimed. She forced or cajoled Bethany and her other younger Offspring into committing horrendous and violent acts. Some of the others became accustomed to the lifestyle or even began to enjoy it. But not Bethany and she swore she never would. “I don’t see how you can stand it.” Standing over her, tall and lean, Troy tried not to smile at her predicament, but failed. She could see laughter danced in his bright blue eyes. Not the cold or crass amusement she usually associated with Kinsmen, but genuine pleasure. His flowing scarlet shirt rippled with each stirring of the breeze, the fabric enticing danced against his 6

ALWAYS

muscled chest. Lights from the parking lot below cast blue highlights in his midnight-black hair. Troy was casually handsome and could easily install trust in a woman, which probably made him an efficient hunter, Bethany mussed. Since she was already a vampire herself, she didn’t need to fear him as the skilled predator he certainly was. He cocked his head, studying her. “You still drink blood though.” “But I don’t look at it. It’s just an oral fixation kind of thing.” “You know this shindig is supposed to be a bonding experience.” “I’d rather be a loner than bond with those…creatures,” she shuttered. “You don’t mean that. The night’s too fraught with dangers to go in it alone.” He stroked her dark hair and tucked it behind her ear. A gesture that in itself was very unvampire-like. Troy found her hands and massaged them comfortingly. Yes, he certainly had large, strong hands, she thought. She marveled at the secure feeling they gave her when they were wrapped safely around her own. “This isn’t the place for you. You are so sensitive.” His voice faltered on the last word. Troy cleared his throat and continued, “Wait here and get some air. I’ll be right back.” Bethany felt him leave with a stirring of the wind. He’d moved fast, like all Kinsmen. So fast that to her young vampire eyes he seemed to vanish. The sound of the air rustling as he crossed the roof and leapt down through the skylight reminded her of the activities going on below her feet and she groaned with nausea. Once alone, she peered out into the indifferent darkness that cloaked evils like vampire raves and trapped Bethany in that demented company. The public recreation center crouched next to the taller buildings along the outer edge of Springfield’s city proper. Only a few blocks to the south, she could see the lights from the old, rundown homes that had once belonged to the city’s elite and were now subdivided into duplexes and rented to underprivileged families. Unfortunately, these poor souls made the perfect prey for vampires since they could disappear and the police would only make the standard, cursory inquires before giving up on them. The four mortals below would most likely fall into that category, with only the thin folders slipped into the missing persons ‘unsolved cases’ filing cabinets to remember them. She was probably memorialized in such a folder, she thoughT. Of course, that was assuming someone noticed she was missing. She had been as much of a cipher and out of 7

Amanda Sidhe

place in the world of humans as she was among vampires. She’d never met the unwed mother who had given her up at birth. Her grandparents had raised her, out of a sense of Christian duty rather than love. When she left home after high school, they hadn’t asked her to keep in touch, so she hadn’t. In the city she hadn’t found a niche for herself. Her rented room over Mrs. Glenwood’s garage had been on a weekly basis and certainly her few possessions had been moved to the curb on the first day her rent was delinquent. Bethany had never known who she was, or rather who she should be, and had always felt she lived outside the life everyone else seemed to lead. Even her so-called career as a stenographer had been just another example of how she was on the outside, watching while others went about their lives. As unsuited to the life of a mortal as she had been, she definitely wasn’t cut out to be a vampire. She was certain that was why Aphrodite had selected her, having seen her as a challenge. After all, how great of a Kinsman must Aphrodite be if she could snatch a wallflower from the realms of mortals and transform her into a gloriously, blood lusting monster. However, she had proven to be a spectacular disappointment to Aphrodite. That left Bethany living on the fringes of the night, caught between the world of humans and the world of vampires and not a part of either. She tucked the skirt of her lightweight dress under her, feeling ridiculously like a kindergarten teacher at a gang rally. If Aphrodite hadn’t threatened her, she would never have come. All clan Offspring were required to attend or punishment of death. From the looks of it, no one but she, required such motivation. The rest of them appeared to be having the time of their undead lives. In a moment, Troy was beside her again. The depths of his personality and his casual kindness drove back her melancholy. He handed her a disposable cup from a fast food restaurant, complete with plastic lid and straw. From the warmth and smell of the liquid, she knew it wasn’t a soft drink. She smiled at him, “Thanks.” “My pleasure.” He watched her sip blood through the straw with an amused expression on his face that made him look like a gentle, trustworthy human. If she didn’t know better, she would have guessed he was in his thirties, and only that old because of the confidence and mystique that wrapped like a cloak around him. But even with all that, he felt genuine and close and put her at ease in a way she’d never felt around a vampire before. 8

ALWAYS

“Don’t laugh at me,” Bethany giggled. “I’m not laughing.” But he was. Troy had the look of someone who didn’t find many occasions to smile and laughter was something he didn’t appear to get much practice at, but with Bethany he had an easy and friendly manner. She offered him the cup and he took a long drag. She liked Troy. Besides being very handsome, he was the only Kinsman in the clan that didn’t act as if he belonged in the high security wing of a mental hospital. Nevertheless, he was still a vampire and was therefore inherently dangerous. Treading among Kinsmen was like walking among lions. They might not choose to attack you from one moment to the next, but they should never be underestimated nor completely trusted not to revert to their violent animalistic nature. He passed the cup back. “You must have killed humans before. Why are you still squeamish?” “I don’t kill people,” she shrugged. “Some of them just died, that’s all.” If only it were truly that simple. Memories flooded back of her sire forcing her to drink beyond her need, to drain her victims completely, for the sheer joy Aphrodite received from Bethany’s horror and distress at the murderous act. She quickly suppressed those thoughts and composed her face in a neutral expression. “It’s not like I go out with that intention.” As he glanced past her into the night, his smiled faded. For a second Bethany feared she may have said something wrong. One could never tell what would send a Kinsman into a fury. Troy stiffened with alertness, like a cat that just spotted an approaching dog. “Let’s get out of here.” He clasped her hard to his chest, snatching Bethany off her feet and dove off the roof with her in his arms. She lost the grip on her drink as they sailed through the air and it toppled end over end before splattering on the parking lot far below. With a leap so powerful as to make it seem as if they flew, Troy soared to the roof across the street. A billboard balanced near the edge and Troy tucked Bethany behind it and followed close behind. He shoved her back against the billboard, sandwiching her forcefully between it and himself. Her body molded to his. Each desperate gasp she stole pressed her breasts more firmly against his hard chest. He surrounded her--his arms, his heat, his power. His scent, a powerful and masculine musk, ensnared her like a spell. He was awakening desires in her she thought long dead, but this was too sudden and too soon. She needed some space. “Troy--” 9

Amanda Sidhe

Troy covered her mouth with his palm, silencing her. Listening intensely to more than the whispering night breeze, he practically vibrated. His skin, as white as moonstone, stretched taut over his sinuous muscles. Suddenly glistening silver eclipsed all color from his eyes. Curling his lips back, he bared his pearlescent fangs in predatory anger. With the strength he possessed he could crush me on a whim, she thought. Indeed, more than once she’d witnessed Kinsmen murder Offspring with no provocation and no warning. Bethany felt the growl rumble deep in Troy’s chest. Her initial attraction to Troy had now completely transformed into fear. Squirming uselessly beneath his power, she struggled to shout against the barrier of his palm. Before she knew what was happening, Troy shoved her down behind the electrical box that powered the billboard lights. He flipped backward, twisting away just as an attacking vampire lunged for him. Troy snagged a handful of wooly, dark curls and snapped his opponent’s head back with decapitating force. Troy barely found his feet before two more leather-clad vampires tackled him. Roars like battling lions shook the night. In a blur of punches, they tumbled over each other and toward the far edge of the roof. “No!” Bethany grabbed a loose pipe for a weapon and rushed to aid Troy. A fourth vampire tackled her from above, and she hit the gravel-covered roof hard. Her attacker flipped her onto her back with one hand. Before she could fight free, he crawled onto her. Silver gleamed in his eyes, a reflective effect that always occurred whenever a vampire embraced his anger or hunger. His claw-like fingers gouged into Bethany’s flesh, pinning her. With mouth agape, engulfing her in foul breath, he plunged for her throat. Bethany barely raised the pipe in time to catch the brunt of his bite. She stabbed it into the back of his mouth. Wrenching his head from side to side, he tried to dislodge the obstruction, but she kept it wedged in his jaws. “Enough.” The vampire froze then gazed upward. With obvious reluctance, he backed off. He slapped Bethany’s wrist, which knocked the pipe free and it skittered across the roof and out of reach. “Bring her.” A blonde woman swayed across the roof, dressed in a cyan sundress with spaghetti straps and matching pumps. Aphrodite regarded Bethany with a snarl of contempt. 10

ALWAYS

The vampire who’d attacked Bethany clutched her throat, his sharp nails ripping into her skin. He dragged her to Aphrodite’s and forced Bethany to kneel. Troy tossed down the bodies of the two biker-vampires who he’d dispatched to their Final Deaths and faced the scene before him. “Aphrodite! Leave her alone! She’s mine!” Aphrodite raised her sculpted eyebrows. “Why do you care? I sired this pathetic creature and I’m correcting that mistake.” “She’s mine,” Troy repeated. “I’m claiming her.” “This?” She pointed angrily at Bethany. “You save her, while you destroy three of my more powerful and promising Offspring?” Not answering, Troy strode menacingly toward the vampire that subdued Bethany. She recognized her captor as one of her Siblings, another vampire sired by Aphrodite. He was older and stronger than most Offspring, but not yet a Kinsman himself. Even at the risk of suffering Aphrodite’ wrath, he cringed from Troy, but he did not release her. If by some miracle she survived the night, Bethany decided, she would flee this town. Even if it meant traveling in dangerous daylight. Her sire had sentenced her to death, and the sentence would eventually be carried out. Aphrodite sneered, twisting her classic features into a mask of cruelty. “She bares my mark, Troy, not yours.” Her voice, low and seductive was edged with steel. He met her gaze. “I am claiming her and she will bare my mark.” Troy stormed up to the vampire choking Bethany. “Move.” At the mercy of the stronger vampire who roughly gripped her throat, Bethany remained on her knees until he flung her down on her side. Bethany massaged the wounds on her neck, knowing that if given some time it would heal, but she didn’t hold out much chance of surviving that long. With no emotion betrayed on his handsome face, Troy held out a hand to her. “Come to me, Offspring.” Bethany glanced from one vampire to the next. Escape was not an option. If she fought, she would surely perish. They outnumbered her and possessed a strength that had increased with the centuries. She looked into Troy’s eyes. Was it just her imagination or did she see something there? As frightening as the Final Death was, could she risk trusting a vampire? Unable to stop her hand from trembling, Bethany reached up. 11

Amanda Sidhe

Troy gripped her wrist and yanked Bethany to her feet. He tangled his hand into her hair and jerked her head back, exposing her delicate throat. Grabbing her about the waist, he violently smashed her against him. Uselessly, Bethany shoved against his muscled chest. “Troy,” she whispered. How could she be so stupid? Trust was always a fatal mistake. She should have taken her chances and tried to run while she could. A tear escaped down her cheek. His gaze met hers and she could see a glimmer of silver rimming his eyes just before he plunged his fangs deep in her flesh with an inhuman snarl. Troy fed voraciously, and as Bethany lost the ability to stand, he held her easily against him. She felt the world spinning, blurring. Her only foothold to reality was Troy’s scent and presence. And his blood. He cradled her head to his chest so her mouth covered a gash he’d made there. She drank because the blood was life. As she drew his life and his blood into her, she could feel it seeping through her skin and muscles, marking every fiber of her with the essence that was Troy. He hugged her to him and whispered into her hair, “You are mine. I will keep you, always.” In her delirium from the blood loss, she began to comprehend that she’d just lost her freedom. As if from a great distance, she heard Aphrodite vow, “This isn’t over.”

12

ALWAYS

Chapter Two

Bethany didn’t need to check to know that sunset had finally arrived. With Troy just out of reach beside her on the bed, she’d dozed lightly all day, determined to be ready the moment the lengthening shadows permitted an escape. For the past few hours, she’d remained as still as possible while taking in her surroundings. The apartment Troy occupied was far nicer than the abandoned buildings in which she had been holing up. She hadn’t minded sharing space with the homeless drunks and crazies, they made passable snacks in a pinch, but she hadn’t shed her dislike of bugs. On top of the lush velvet blanket, Troy slept as still as the dead, which was appropriate in his case. He had apparently mastered his finances over his many undead years. Heavy baroque furniture pressed deeply into the thickly padded carpet. The few furnishings in the spacious bedroom were carved out of heavy, dark wood and upholstered in sensuous embroidered fabrics in dark hues, giving the environment a stylish yet masculine flair. Gauzy, black curtains draped from the four posts of the bed and were tied back with twisted black cords. A concoction of sandalwood, sage and vanilla scented essential oils simmered in a diffuser, purifying the air from the stale odor many haunts of the undead acquired. Bethany wondered if perhaps that daily tonic explained why Troy was so unlike other Kinsmen. He had accepted her readily enough, which many vampires seemed loathed to do. After siring Bethany, Aphrodite had kept her close for several months, tormenting her and trying to reshape her into a wanton killer. When her efforts failed and she lost interest in Bethany, Aphrodite kicked her out of her lair. Bethany hadn’t intended to become better acquainted with the city’s clan at all, but Troy had discovered her soon after she was on her own. With chivalry and understanding, he accepted her many residual human tendencies and she had begun to trust him. No Kinsmen had ever made such an effort to reach out to her before. Even as she felt the precursors of a smile forming, she remembered the vicious way he’d attacked her the night before and retracted her initial 13

Amanda Sidhe

good opinions of him. She would not allow herself to be trapped again. Not like before. As soon as the searing sun retreated, she would flee the city and the clan, praying they would not care enough to follow. Bethany quietly slipped from the bed and tiptoed around it to the window. Her canvas sneakers made no sound on the thick carpet, and the swish of her skirt would have been imperceptible to humans. The entire time she kept a close watch on Troy for any sign of awakening. Troy slept on his back. His tall frame stretched out on the bed, nearly spanning the length of the mattress. With his hands resting, one on top of the other on his stomach, and the restful expression on his handsome face, he appeared meditative and even kind. Apparently appearances could be deceiving even among the undead, she thought. Bethany turned to the window. The side-hinged pane swung silently open at her touch. Eleven stories below her, the night traffic moved with the changing of the traffic lights, sending a hum of activity into the bedroom. A Kinsman such as Troy, with the strength of centuries in his bones, could easily leap down to the street below. He had, in fact, probably the ability to leap up to this window. The finger-shaped gouge marks on the brick façade seemed to evidence her assumption. Although it might not kill her, as a mere Offspring she could not hope to walk away from such a fall. With the nimble and careful handholds the bricks provided, she could climb down to the second or third floor and jump from there. In a few minutes she’d be on the streets where she could steal a car and be out of town before full sunset. “You are not leaving are you?” Like the vibration of a deep base note, she felt the power vibrate in her chest. He’d marked her and now her very blood obeyed Troy’s will. Bethany turned from the window and faced Troy. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. A rakish grin lightened his handsome face, but the hunger in his eyes betrayed his true thoughts. Even after the deep sleep of the day, not a wrinkle marred his midnight-blue silk shirt as it hung open to reveal his muscled chest, nor a lock of his dark hair strayed out of place. Troy reached a hand toward her. Her own hand returned the gesture and to her surprise, it had done so of its own accord and not by any coercion. The speeding of her pulse resulted from her own traitorous heart’s yearning, with no regard to her fear. 14

ALWAYS

Troy slipped the length of his fingers between hers, interlacing them. With a gentle tug he drew her toward him. He smiled fully, showing his gleaming, white teeth and then bit his lower lip, softly at first, merely dimpling the flesh, then puncturing it so a skim of blood slicked his lip. With a sharp intake of breath, one caused by both shock and desire, Bethany allowed Troy to guide her into a kiss. He tasted fresh and hot and unlike any vampire blood she’d ever had. Spicier even than the healthiest human male she’d ever feasted upon. Deeply drinking in his kiss, their tongues teased and caressed in a slow, sensual and hypnotic rhythm. Her desire rolled like a fog in her mind, wrapping her in forgetfulness. Surrendering to it, she felt as though she could go on kissing Troy and sipping the bold liqueur from his lips forever in a satiating trance. Bethany gasped when Troy’s fang raked a thin scratch in her full and passion-swollen lip. The shock of it shattered her fugue, bringing her back to her senses. Troy groaned hungrily and rolled back onto the bed, carrying Bethany with him so she lay full upon him and could feel completely the masculine hunger that throbbed hard against her thigh. His hands clenched her hips and ground her forcefully to him. “Troy,” Bethany arched away, breathless and pleading. It was too soon after the terror of the night before. “Please.” He released her and rolled her aside. In a smooth twist, he sat up on the side of the bed and composed himself. “That was…not my intention. I didn’t mean to rush you.” After a moment he crossed to the window and peered out into the chilly night. The shudder that ran through him had nothing to do with the temperature outside. A twilight breeze stroked his hair and billowed his shirttail, giving Bethany quick and tantalizing glimpses of his firm backside. He glanced back at her, noticing the focus of her gaze and permitting a shadow of a smile to soften the tension. “The next time you beg ‘Troy, please’ I want it to be for a much different reason.” His gaze so full of power and lust, overwhelmed Bethany and she shied away. She could feel his desire and her own wild side struggled to rise and meet the challenge, but she forced it back down. “Are you hungry?” Troy asked.

*** Under the stadium lights, the college football team finally concluded their evening practice. Troy and Bethany watched the players donning jackets and gathering up their 15

Amanda Sidhe

equipment in gym bags. The pair sat on the roof of the announcer’s booth, their legs dangling over the edge. With a smirk Troy slid his gaze to Bethany. “So, this is your favorite hunting ground?” “Look how strong and healthy they are. So young and full of life.” “And I’m sure those football breeches have nothing to do with it.” “Absolutely not.” Bethany lied but couldn’t hide her smile of confession. “Very well, my lady. You see what’s on the menu,” he gestured to the field below where the athletes were straggling off toward the parking lot. “Which would you prefer?” She considered the question, and then replied, “The quarterback looks scrumptious.” A flicker of jealousy flared in Troy’s dark eyes. His tone deepened as he inquired, “And which one is he?” “You don’t watch football?” Bethany shook her head, “No, you probably haven’t seen it. Elder Kinsmen don’t follow the whims of humans.” “I am not as old as all that,” Troy laughed. “Now tell me which one is your quarterback.” “The one in the red jersey.” Troy leapt off the rooftop and disappeared in a blur of speed too quick for her young Offspring eyes to follow. Moments later he landed lightly on the metal rooftop and dropped the young man unceremoniously in a heap at his feet. “Troy!” Bethany rushed to the teenager. “You didn’t kill him, did you?” “Of course not. We want the blood to be fresh.” “Did you hurt him? You didn’t break his neck did you?” She gently turned the boy’s face toward her. The peaceful expression of unconsciousness denied the brutality of a vampire attack. Irregular stubble growing on his face proved he was younger than she’d first guessed. At most he might be nineteen, but certainly not old enough to drink. With a darkening expression tightening the sculpted lines of his face, Troy growled, “He is only unconscious.” “Thank goodness.” She unfolded the crumpled form and arranged him more comfortably. “Do you know him?” The new depth in Troy’s voice betrayed his displeasure. “Why do you care about him so?” A throb pulled in Bethany’s blood, compelling her to speak the truth. Without 16

ALWAYS

realizing it, she touched the bite mark he’d left on her throat. Vampires tended not to feed off each other. It marked them. Bound them. Through this blood connection, Troy could impose his will on her until she finally became a Kinsman herself. So, Troy didn’t trust her that was why he invoked his control, she thought, and didn’t bother to struggle against his power because she did not intend to lie. “I have never met him, but I do know him.” “How is that possible?” Troy knelt beside the boy’s head. With one hand he easily hoisted the quarterback to a half seated position and draped the body back against him so the head lulled to one side, exposing the vein in the neck. Bethany raised the boy’s strong hand and turned the wrist to face her. She traced the lines of the arteries with a fingertip. “I know him, as I know his type. He is young and the world is at his feet. He is a master of his sport and feels the power of command when his team obeys his directions. Pitting his will against his opponents, he fights for glory and fame not only for himself, but also for his team, his school and his community. To kill one such as he is criminal.” Troy softened, looking at Bethany as though seeing her truly for the first time. Tenderly he cupped her cheek. His thumb caressed her ivory flesh. “I wish you could have known me before I was reborn.” Bethany leaned into the touch, closed her eyes and sighed. “I wish so many things were different.” Stroking his fingertips down her neck and arm, Troy left a trail of electrified chills that caused her nipples to tighten in response. She trembled, remembering their kiss and longing to return to that moment. The sharply sweet voice of Aphrodite interrupted Bethany’s fantasy. “A cozy dinner for two? How romantic.” Troy rose and crossed between Aphrodite and Bethany in a flash of movement. From behind Troy’s legs, Bethany saw Aphrodite sneering down at her with her hands on her hips. This time Aphrodite was alone. “Troy, you are vexing me.” Aphrodite leveled her icy stare at him. “Why haven’t you eliminated this creature yet? I expected you to take care of her once you’d had your way with her.” “This is none of your affair,” Troy growled dangerously. “I’m making it my affair.” While the Kinsmen argued, Bethany carefully sat on her heals and leaned backward 17

Amanda Sidhe

over the unconscious football player. In his jacket pocket, her fingers closed on a set of car keys, which she extracted. Making sure no one was watching her, she glanced at the security key chain and touched a button. In the parking lot far below, a soft chirp replied. The quick flash of headlights pinpointed which vehicle the keys would operate. If she could reach the car before either Kinsmen knew what was happening, she had a slim chance to escape. She slowly worked one foot under her, ready to leap from the rooftop in the next breath. “Any Kinsman may dispatch any inappropriate Offspring.” Aphrodite slinked up to Troy until their faces were only a few inches apart and examined him closely. Her beautiful face drew tight. “I sired this one and tried to educate her. She failed.” Troy snarled, “Find your entertainment elsewhere.” Aphrodite cast a disdainful look at Bethany. “I will see this mistake destroyed. You can’t guard her all the time.” Bethany swallowed a gasp. If Aphrodite meant for her to die, she would not stop hunting her. Even Troy, who stood between her and her Final Death, may change his mind. Or was Aphrodite right? Did Troy intend to have his way with her and then murder her himself? Aphrodite left as quickly as she came, moving so swiftly that the air was not disturbed and to Bethany she appeared to simply vanish. For a long moment Troy watched and listened, making sure Aphrodite had truly left them alone. Taking her chance, Bethany sprang from the rooftop. The long drop to the parking lot jolted her. The impact rocketed up her legs and pitched her forward. She sprawled on the ground and scraped her elbows on the cement. The keys knocked free from her grasp and skittered a few feet ahead of her. She scrambled forward and reached for them. Troy picked them up before Bethany could claim them. He towered over her, unfazed by her escape attempt and considered the keys he held as if he wasn’t exactly sure what they were. “Just let me go,” Bethany whispered. “I’ll leave town. I’ll leave the country. You will never hear from me again. Just please, don’t kill me.” He knelt before her, gripping her shoulders tightly. “Stay close to me if you want to live.” Bethany shook her head. “Just let me leave.” Troy jerked her fiercely. “You won’t leave my side, ever. Do you understand? 18

ALWAYS

Aphrodite will watch for her chance.” Her blood surged, compelling her to Troy’s will. His intense blue eyes pried into her soul. “I…will stay with you.” Troy released her. “You are as tenderhearted as any vampire I have ever known and being with Aphrodite must have been torture to one such as yourself.” Unable to stop herself, she confessed, “I’m a disappointment to her.” Troy rose and stomped away from her, raking his hands through his hair. For a long while he stared into the night, watching, listening, thinking. Suddenly he stormed back and yanked Bethany to her feet. “You know how to operate that contraption?” When she nodded, he continued, “We’ll leave tonight.”

19

Amanda Sidhe

Chapter Three

Vampires generally didn’t bother with cars and many of the techno-trappings of a modern human society. This was particularly true of the older Kinsmen who press their Offspring to use their skills on their sire’s behalf on the few occasions when they were forced to resort to human innovations. Troy watched closely as Bethany inserted and turned the key in the ignition. Bethany headed straight for the highway. Too many night hours had already ticked away. “Where are we going?” “I have a house in a remote area up north. Just follow the highway for now.” For a while they rode in silence. Bethany watched the headlights sweep away the darkness before them and tried to ignore the fact that Troy watched her intently. When she snuck a peek in his direction, she gasped at his hungry stare. “What are you planning to do with me?” “Are you scared?” “A little.” She slipped him a sideways glance, and then quickly returned her attention to the road. “A lot, actually.” Troy slouched against the door and settled one foot on the seat between them so he could watch her without turning his head. He crossed his arms and cocking his head to one side, he asked, “So, what would you like me to do with you?” Softly he added, “Or to you.” Her mouth went dry. She had to clear her throat before answering. “I’m not sure.” He laughed to himself. Flexing her hands on the steering wheel, Bethany considered her situation. Troy was playing with her, even now when every other Kinsman apparently wanted to dispatch her and be done with it. And damn it, he was getting her hot when she needed to concentrate on ways to escape and survive. “It is not fair for you to tease me right now. I may not have been much of a vampire, but I was holding my own before you came along with your dangerous good looks, wicked charm and toe-curling kisses.” 20

ALWAYS

“Your toes curled?” “Uh huh.” His voice deepened with hunger. “You had a different effect on me.” “Yeah, I noticed.” “Good. Just so we’re on the same page.” Troy settled back, a playful grin tugged the corners of his mouth. “And for the record, my interest in you is what has kept you alive this long.” Unsettled, Bethany checked her mirror but no one seemed to be following them. “So it’s just a matter of time really. I might as well surrender to it and save myself the agony of suspense.” “No one will touch you,” Troy assured her. “Except me.” She wasn’t sure if she should feel comforted or worried by that. “Do you know how a vampire becomes a Kinsman?” She blinked at the question. “I assumed it was based on age.” He shook his head. “It’s based on skill. Once we have reached my sanctuary, I’ll begin training you.” “Why are you doing this for me?” “I have my reasons.”

21

Amanda Sidhe

Chapter Four

Troy directed her to a wooded valley shaded by hills to the east and west. A thick canopy of trees protected the antebellum mansion. Wide covered verandas provided outdoor living space, safe even in the daylight for sensitive vampire skin. Following Troy’s instructions, Bethany parked the stolen car behind the mansion. She turned off the engine and palmed the keys. When Troy held open his hand and glared meaningfully at her, she relented and turned the keys over to him. They got out of the sports car and up the porch steps. Once he unlocked the backdoor, he joined Bethany on the porch. She rested her elbows on the porch rail and inhaled the country air. “It’s beautiful out here,” she said. The twinkling of fireflies danced in the moonlight and the heady fragrance of pine, grass and honeysuckle swirled in the gentle night breeze. Not caring that night creatures such as vampires shared their woodland home, a chorus of frogs chirped merrily. “Bethany…” Troy whispered in her hair. She turned to him and their eyes locked. He leaned forward, resting his hands on the porch rail on either side of her waist, fencing her in. Just a breath away from her lips, he stopped and searched her eyes. He surrounded her, encapsulated her in his presence without touching her. Quivering in response, she sensed his desire. And she wanted him, too. She had wanted him since they met. He’d saved her and brought her here, to this perfect place of beauty and solitude. Now that he was so close, she couldn’t stand to have even the smallest space between them. She pressed forward. Their mouths joined, molding perfectly together. Her lips parted, welcoming him. Troy framed her face gently in his hands, turning her slightly and deepening the kiss. Bethany surrendered to it, letting the passion carry her until she felt as if only Troy’s touch kept her from floating away. A wolf howl echoed in the valley. Others of its pack joined in a long lament to the unseen moon passing behind the trees. Troy drew back. His gaze lingered on her face before drifting to scan the dark depths of the woods. “Shall I quote Dracula and wax poetic 22

ALWAYS

about the songs of wolves?” Bethany licked her lips, still feeling the kiss. “You can do anything you want.” He slid his hand into hers. “Then, I will do this.” To her surprise, Troy led her to the woods instead of the house. “We have a few hours until dawn. That is time enough to work in a few lessons.” “Lessons?”

*** Troy guided Bethany into his woods. He’d never before brought anyone to his valley, but he wanted Bethany here. He wanted to show her his treasured slice of wilderness. To share the spacious mansion that, until now, ached with loneliness. To invite her to the soft depths of his mammoth bed and lose himself in her, in more ways than one. They had an eternity to do all those things and more, but only if Bethany could fully embrace her vampire nature. She would never be strong enough or fast enough to survive without training. What other Offspring learned in decades of trial and error, he would endeavor to teach her. The deer path they followed led to a deep pool beneath a narrow waterfall. A gurgling brook that overflowed from the pool trailed away into the thick woods along the base of the steep hill. A cool mist wavered over the pool like the sheen of magic. Everywhere around them the music of crickets chirped like tiny violins. Troy guided Bethany to the shore of the pool, slid behind her and wrapped his strong arms around her waist. He hugged her to him until his cheek pressed tenderly against hers. The roundness of her rear snuggled erotically against his groin, but he controlled his physical response to her. This was serious business. Her survival outweighed his personal needs. “Listen to my voice,” he murmured. “Listen to the night. This is your native element.” He felt her stiffen as he adjusted his embrace to mold himself around her so her back fit completely against his chest. He continued, “Relax. Breathe it all in.” She obeyed and after several breaths, she relaxed. Her body softened against his, warm and pliable. “Good. Stay relaxed.” Troy gently stroked his hands up her sides and under her arms. Cupping her wrists, he spread her arms wide. “Open yourself.” 23

Amanda Sidhe

She trembled slightly, but he kept his voice hypnotically slow. “Open from your heart,” he timed his words to her rhythmic breathing, “open from your throat, open from your mind.” A gasp escaped her lips. “Now you are feeling it.” Troy played his fingers along the length of her outstretched arms. “You are the night. You are part of everything around you.” “I feel it,” Bethany whispered. Smiling at the awe in her voice, Troy said, “Good. Now look to the top of the waterfall.” As she glanced up, her head rested back against his shoulder. Her dark hair spilled back in a cascade. She’d exposed her neck to him in the process, and he fought the urge to bury his fangs in her softness. He’d marked her the night before and treasured the memory of her taste. He wanted her again, right now, but forced himself to close his eyes until he regained his composure. When he spoke again, a tremor of need colored his voice. “Do you see the firefly blinking just by the shoulder of the fall?” “I--yes, I see it,” she whispered. The firefly, just a simple pinprick of light from this distance, would have been invisible to a human and even to Bethany only moments before. A small change only, but an important step. “You are the night wind. You can soar to the firefly and catch it before its light winks out.” “I can?” “You can. When it flashed its light again, go to it.” The light ignited again and Bethany jumped. She flew away from Troy in a seemingly effortless leap, up a hundred feet to the top of the waterfall. Smiling, he saw her scoop the firefly from the air just before it blinked out again. After examining and releasing the insect, Bethany glanced back at Troy. Her squeak of shock sent him into a fit of laughter. “You tricked me!” she called to him. “You tricked yourself.” Troy sprang easily to the top of the waterfall to join her. “You are a vampire, Bethany. You are just now beginning to realize what that truly means.” He scooped her hands into his and pressed them against his chest. “We are not monsters. No more than the wolf or the owl or any other predator. We are hunters, yes. Carnivores, certainly. But there is beauty in all aspects of nature. We feed to live, but there is more to being a vampire than feeding.” 24

ALWAYS

“So I am beginning to see.” A shy smile played along her lips. He tilted his head down, toward the pool below. “Do you want to take a swim?” “You first.” She pushed him, but he remained firmly on his feet. “Ladies first, I insist.” And he tipped her off the edge. She yelped but recovered on the drop, and managed a decent swan dive. Feeling the urge to show off, Troy executed a reversed layout as he dived in after her.

*** As the glow of false dawn colored the horizon, Troy and Bethany abandoned their swim. Holding hands, they jogged and laughed through the forest like wood-elves as they hurried back to the mansion. Bethany felt her jaw drop open when she entered the historic home. The entire place was furnished in antiques. On second thought, she realized, the home had probably been decorated in the height of current fashion when Troy acquired it. He didn’t wait for her to take it all in, but pulled her after him up the grand staircase. “Come on. I have towels in the master bathroom.” Troy’s bedroom was larger than Bethany’s first apartment. A huge bed dominated one side of the room and a plush sitting area lead to a wide, covered veranda. After drawing close the shades, Troy tossed Bethany a towel from the bathroom and they dried themselves off. Troy kicked off his shoes and stretched out on one side of the bed. He closing his eyes, and folded his hands on his chest. Bethany slipped out of her shoes, curled up on her side next to him. “Are you sleepy?” “No. Just thinking.” He reached out, scooped his arm around her back and pulled her closer so her head rested on his shoulder. As she cuddled to him, he draped his arms protectively around her. His scent surrounded her, filling her senses. “I’ve never met a Kinsman like you, Troy.” She shifted to watch his face, and then she traced his self-satisfied smirk with her fingertip. He gazed into her eyes with a dark intensity that sent a shiver through her. “I’ve never met anyone as special as you, either.” Absently, Bethany rubbed her hand on Troy’s stomach. The silk of his shirt ran like water under her touch. She felt the ripple of his abs and then continued upward to explore the cut of his pecks. He stilled. His breath became shallow. The arm around Bethany 25

Amanda Sidhe

stiffened, but did not encourage nor impede her. She slipped her fingertips through the gap between the buttons, finding hot flesh. Amazingly hot for a vampire. With a flick of her fingers, she unfastened a button and pulled it open to reveal a small patch of Troy’s stomach. He was pale, but not ghostly so, like most Kinsmen. Following the desire that welled in her, she lowered her mouth to his skin. Troy gasped and she paused to glance up at his face. His lips parted, revealing a glint of his fangs as he sucked air through his teeth. Bethany grinned, and then kissed his stomach. She tasted him. Flicked her tongue over his skin. She licked, sucked and nipped her teeth against him, but she did not bite. Troy let her indulge herself as he tensely watched her. Enjoying her play, Bethany slowly caressed his stomach as her hand rose and unbuttoned his shirt to his collar. With a calculated pace, she trailed her hand down his body again to completely open his shirt. She could see his physical response to her straining at his slacks. Teasingly, she hooked a finger in the waistband and dragged it across, making Troy shiver. In a ragged voice, he asked, “Are you sure this is what you want?” For her answer, Bethany unfastened his slacks. He raised his hips as she dragged his pants down and he kicked them onto the floor. Bethany circled his hot, hard flesh with her hand, feeling him throb with need. She stroked him, and then lowered her head and took him into her mouth. Troy moaned and arched, pressing deeper into her hot, wet mouth. Her tongue flicker over him and her fangs grazed on either side of his rigid flesh. He fisted his hands in her hair, guiding her pace until he shuddered with desire. “Not yet.” He pulled her up and laid her back onto the bed. “My turn,” he growled. With the quick rip of fabric he striped her dress off. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered against her breast before taking a nipple into his mouth. He teased and nibbled until she squealed. With a seductive trail of kisses, he slid lower and lower, down her stomach, her hip and to the inside of her thigh. When his searing mouth finally claimed her, Bethany moaned and shuddered with need. Responding to his every whim, Bethany’s passion rose. She felt as if she was flying on a volcanic cloud that was Troy. He carried her away, making her forget everything but the rhythm of his mouth and his desperate, but gentle arms raising her to him. 26

ALWAYS

“Troy,” she gasped, on the verge of melting from the fire inside her, “please!” “This is how you’ve made me feel since I met you.” Troy whispered, and rose above her. Her breasts pressed against his chest. His hands massaged her hips. His mouth brushed against her ear. “Your blood has made you mine,” he murmured. “Your heart,” he nibbled her earlobe sending new tremors through her, “and your body has made me yours.” He plunged himself deep inside her. A feral growl escaped as he filled her. Bethany clutched desperately at his back and laced her legs around his. Only a thin film of sweat separated them. Troy seized her mouth with his. Each thrust surged through Bethany like electricity, carrying her beyond the limits of sensation until she shattered with an explosion of pleasure. Troy reared back and bit Bethany’s shoulder. She swooned from the piercing love bite and the deep draughts as Troy drank her in. His cry of release muffled against Bethany’s skin as he emptied himself inside her. Exhausted, they fell asleep still tangled with each other and the sheets.

27

Amanda Sidhe

Chapter Five

As a new night approached, Bethany awoke with Troy spooning against her. The arm around her waist cuddled her to him. He kissed her neck, “Evening, Beautiful.” Troy turned Bethany to him so they lay face to face. He combed his fingers through her mussed hair and brushed it back over her shoulder. Then he stroked her arm, caught her hand in his and pressed it to his chest. “Bethany, I need to tell you something.” His intense blue eyes penetrated her as he spoke. “I don’t ever want to be without you.” “Troy…” Bethany hesitated, not knowing what to say. Everything was happening so fast. He kissed her long and tenderly until her hesitation melted and she softened to his gentle touch. When he pulled away, he said matter-of-factly, “Come. The night approaches.” Bethany hadn’t brought any clothing of her own and so dressed in a teal, silk shirt and black jeans that belonged to Troy. She had to roll up the sleeves, cuff the pant legs and wear a belt to make the clothes fit. As the lengthening shadows of evening cast the valley in protective darkness, Troy guided Bethany outside by the hand. “We’ll go hunting later,” he told her. “First, we’ll work on your speed.” With no warning, a whip of wind tugged the leaves on the path ahead of her. Just as she realized Troy no longer stood by her side, she spotted him waiting at the twist in the path several feet further down the forest trail, his arms crossed smugly over his chest. “Well, what are you waiting for? Keep up!” Bethany jogged after him and he zipped further along before she could reach him. “You’ll have to do better than that,” he called. Running as fast as she could, Bethany chased Troy. He easily remained out of her reach. “You run like a human,” he taunted. “Run like a vampire. Tap into the power within you.” 28

ALWAYS

After fifteen minutes, Bethany gave up and dropped down on her butt to catch her breath. In a rush of air, Troy appeared beside her. Holding the stitch in her side, she gasped, “I’m just not powerful enough to keep up.” “You’re a vampire. You already have the power.” Troy took her hands and pulled her to her feet. “You just have to learn to tap into it. You did it last night.” “I don’t know how I did that.” “Of course you do.” Troy hugged her to him and stared down in to her eyes. “You don’t need to make it happen; you just have to let it happen. Stop thinking of yourself as a human in the world of vampires and start thinking of yourself as a vampire in your element.” “I don’t think I can fit in as a vampire.” “Of course you can.” Troy bent down and kissed her. “Now, see if you can find me.” The wind lifted Bethany’s hair forward and when she’d brushed it from her face, Troy was gone. She stepped forward, looking for the telltale sign of silver eyes reflecting from the distance. He was not further up the trail like before. Bethany took one more step, and then heard the sound of a twig snap to her right. She ran to where she judged the sound had come from. No one was there. A rustle of branches vibrated almost imperceptibly further ahead. Bethany speed forward. The wind carried the fragrance of the lake as she drew closer to it. And then she sensed something else. The faintest tickle of warm copper tinged the breeze. Blood. Bethany smiled. Troy hadn’t waited to hunt and was teasing her with the mouthwatering scent. She followed the trail of blood droplets further and further into the depths of the woods, moving faster and faster as she knew Troy would try and outpace her. She wanted to catch him. In moments she broke into a clearing. The smell of blood was fierce. A dead wolf had been strung up from a tree and gutted. Its entrails were splattered all over the ground. Bethany covered her mouth and spun away, unable to endure the sight of the majestic creature so brutally treated, and found herself face to face with Aphrodite. Bethany staggered back. Aphrodite raised a bloody tree branch covered in the wolf’s blood over her head threateningly. The drips of blood streaked raspberry stains in her blonde hair and white dress. She opened her mouth wide, showing her teeth and hissing like a cat. 29

Amanda Sidhe

“Stay away from me!” Bethany screamed. “You are so easy to play with,” Aphrodite cooed. “So easy to lure away. And you thought you could track a vampire without all the clues I left? Pitiful.” She swung wide with the branch, missing Bethany on purpose and flicking a spray of the wolf’s blood on her. “I would toy with you some more, only I can already hear Troy coming, so I’ll just kill you now.” Bethany backed away. Embrace the night, she ordered herself. Open to it. She tried to control her breathing. Tried to focus. When Aphrodite lunged at her, Bethany dived aside and fled. Each pounding footfall seemed to catapult her more quickly between the clutching tree branches. Where was Troy? Had Aphrodite killed him? The wind whistled in her ears. Before she knew where she was headed, Bethany skittered to a stop by the pool where she and Troy swam the night before. Taking a deep breath, she leaped toward the top of the waterfall. A clawed hand wrapped around her ankle and slung Bethany back to the ground. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of her. As the speckles of light dancing before her eyes cleared, Bethany saw Aphrodite lording over her. “Caught you, little rabbit,” Aphrodite gloated. “That trick you learned won’t be enough to save you.” “I’ve improved,” Bethany assured her. Holding her hands up defensively, she eased herself to her feet. “If you just give me more time, I know I can prove my worth.” “You grovel like a human.” Aphrodite hissed. She sauntered toward Bethany, the club raised to strike. “Beg for your life, human.” This was it. Game over. Everything she had with Troy would be stolen from her. Troy, who’d rescued her and brought her to this perfect place. Troy, who had showed her what it meant to be a vampire and a true night creature. Troy, who had shared his body and his blood with her. He was hers and she was his. This bitch wasn’t going to steal that away from her. “I’m not a human,” Bethany growled. “I’m a vampire.” Everything in her vision shimmered with a silver edge. She felt as if she’d opened her senses for the first time. She could see things more sharply. Hear things more clearly. Smell everything around her. Aphrodite stank of fury. The rapid pulse of her blood whooshed through her veins. 30

ALWAYS

When she attacked, it came as if in slow motion. Bethany dodged beneath the blow and punched Aphrodite in the stomach as hard as she could. Once the branch cleared her head, Bethany straightened and clipped Aphrodite on the jaw. Aphrodite stumbled backward into Troy. She managed to glance back over her shoulder at him just before he squeezed her head between his hands and twisted it off. Her decapitated body dropped at his feet and Troy tossed the head aside. He rushed to Bethany, gathered her in his arms and checked her quickly for injuries. “I’m fine,” she assured him. “Better than fine,” he said and guided her to the water’s edge. She gazed into the clear water and saw her eyes glimmer pure silver, until she blinked and the color faded back to its usually walnut hue. She turned to Troy. “I never wanted anything for myself before. I thought she would kill me before I could claim you.” He hugged her tightly. “You already have. I will be yours, always.” Troy bent forward and captured her mouth with his in a long, deep, predatory kiss.

31

Amanda Sidhe

About the Author

Amanda is a practicing witch and paranormal investigator, a side from that she is a fairly normal person. In addition to erotic romances, Amanda writes romantic suspense, mysteries, game books and articles for pagan magazines.

32