Alexandra Ivy: My Lord Vampire

Moving with unearthly silence Gideon opened the door and slid into the ivory and gilded room. For a moment he merely watched the woman as she paced across the carpet, appreciating the manner the brilliant sapphire gown drifted about her slender curves, and the play of the afternoon sunlight in the flowing golden curls. There was a vibrant spirit about her that called to the stirring passions deep within him.

With a stern warning at his tenuous restraint he cloaked himself in the cool arrogance that had once seemed so effortless.

He was a superior being with powers beyond the comprehensions of a mere mortal.

No mere maiden was going to disrupt his equanimity. Or at least he would never reveal such weakness.

“Good day, Lady Gilbert,” he greeted in tones as smooth as black velvet.

He watched the slender body stiffen and her hands clench at her side before Simone slowly turned to regard him with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“You. How ... ?” She bit off her words as she noted the expectant glint in his dark eyes. With an obvious effort she attempted to appear unconcerned by his sudden arrival. “What are you doing here?”

He waved a negligent hand, refusing to allow his gaze to linger on the translucent perfection of the satin skin revealed by the low bodice. Or to notice the musky scent of rosewater that filled the air.

“What any gentleman would be doing when he has been captivated by a beautiful woman,” he retorted as he strolled toward the center of the room. “I have come to pay homage.”

The emerald eyes flared but surprisingly she did not accept his calculated words with the ease he had hoped.

“Fah.”

“Fah?”

“You are not captivated.” Her expression was one of stubborn suspicion. “And you are not here to pay homage. I have had enough time to consider your odd arrival at my home last evening.”

A ripple of impatience threatened his calm demeanor. There was an unmistakable air of challenge about her that threatened to touch his more primitive nature.

“Indeed?” He stepped closer, hoping to intimidate her by his mere presence. “And what have you concluded ?”

She fiercely held her ground, although he did not miss the manner her fingers clutched at the folds of her skirt.

“That you are not whom you seem to be.”

Gideon regarded her a moment in silence, quite certain that she could not possibly have guessed the truth. Humans never desired to believe that there were powers beyond their comprehension.

“You still believe me to be an encroacher?” he demanded with a lift of his brow. “Shall I cut myself to prove my blue blood?”

Her features tightened, but Gideon suddenly sensed there was more than irritation behind her prickly unease. Despite all her bluff and bravado there was an unmistakable scent of fear in the air. Not a fear of her physical being, he carefully concluded, but a fear that he could harm her in some elusive fashion.

“What do you seek from me?” she demanded in tones that were not quite steady. “Is it money?”

Gideon regarded her with an arrested expression. The fear was now nearly palpable in the air.

She thought he desired money from her?

Why?

“Interesting.” He studied the guarded features that held enough stubborn pride to do a vampire proud. What could possibly force such a woman to harbor such anxiety? “You think I have come to blackmail you?”

A shiver raced through her stiff form but she faced him squarely.

“Have you?”

“I wonder what dark secret you possess,” he murmured softly. “It must be dark indeed to fear blackmail.”

Her gaze narrowed with impatience. “I am in no humor to play these absurd games, sir. What is it that you want?”

He briefly considered the wisdom of using her unwitting weapon to hold her in his power, before he was thrusting it aside. Perhaps he could force her to obey his commands, but he oddly disliked the notion of allowing her to believe he was a cowardly buffoon who would abuse her secrets for his own gain.

What he desired was her trust, he realized with a flare of surprise.

“It is really quite simple,” he informed her in silky tones. “I have come to protect you.”

“Protect me?” Her golden brows pleated in a disbelieving frown. “That is ridiculous. I need no protection.”

Foolish chit.

He briefly thought of Tristan standing upon the terrace last evening. With a single word he could have cloaked himself in mist and entered her home. She would have been dead before she ever realized she was in danger. Only the fact that she possessed the Medallion had thus far saved her. The renegade could not lure her with a spell, nor simply kill her. The Medallion had been bonded to her with a Soul Weave. Unless she gave it freely it could not be taken.

“That is because you do not yet realize your danger,” he informed darkly.

“Danger from whom?”

“That is all I am willing to tell you.”

“This is absurd.” She folded her arms about her waist, unconsciously making the full curve of her bosom all the more visible. Gideon could almost taste the sweet heat of her skin. “I am not about to allow some arrogant stranger to thrust his way into my home under the pretext of a mythical danger you will not even reveal.”

He gazed down the length of his thin nose. “Actually you have little choice in the matter.”

The absolute authority in his tone made a tiny muscle in her jaw pulse. “I was right last night. You are mad.”

Gideon shrugged, not about to indulge her in a futile argument. Protecting the Medallion was his entire purpose in being within the world of mortals. He would do whatever necessary.

Stepping close enough to be bathed in her rose scent, he allowed his gaze to lower toward the shimmering golden Medallion that lay against her white skin.

Although disguised as a simple amulet, his sensitive gaze could easily discern the power that pulsed within. He felt a small tingle of awe at the tangible symbol of Nefri and her glory.

“Tell me, Lady Gilbert, where did you buy that unusual necklace?”

She blinked in bewilderment at his sudden shift in conversation. “What?”

“It is a most interesting design.”

Her lips thinned at his obvious ploy. “We were discussing your unwelcome presence in my home, not my necklace.”

“You have a reason not to discuss the necklace?” he challenged smoothly. “You perhaps stole it?”

Predictably she bristled at his words. “Certainly not. If you must know it was given to me by an old gypsy.”

He wondered what she would do if he were to tell her that it was a priceless relic that possessed untold power. And that the old gypsy had been the mightiest of all vampires.

No doubt she would truly label him mad.

Or run into the streets screaming with fear.

“That would explain the inscription,” he murmured instead.

“You know what it means?” she said in surprise.

Unable to resist temptation Gideon lifted his hand to grasp the Medallion in his fingers.

Whether the temptation was to feel the shimmering power within the amulet or to have an excuse to allow his fingers to rest against the pearly softness of her skin he did not bother to ponder.

“‘Those who search for peace have already discovered wisdom,’” he quoted in low tones.

“Oh,” she breathed, her heart beating frantically at the light touch of his fingers.

“Did this gypsy tell you anything of this amulet?”

“Only some foolishness about never removing it at the risk of a terrible curse and that it can never be stolen, only freely given to another. The usual gypsy nonsense.”

His eyes bored deep within her own, willing her to comprehend just how dangerous it would be to remove the Medallion.