Part 1 (1/2)
BLOODl.u.s.t:.
MIDNIGHT SHADOWS.
Marilyn Lee.
Prologue.
Full-blood vampire fem Deoctra Diniti paced the length of the darkened living room of the house she had shared with her late lover, Leon de la Rocque. They had rented it with the understanding that it would be temporary, but now she found it difficult to leave the last place they had shared.
A dull ache echoed in her chest as she thought of all the half-formed hopes and dreams that had died with him. She gave an angry shake of her head, sending her long, dark hair flying around her shoulders. There would be time to grieve for him later- after he had been avenged.
The plan she had set in motion was dangerous-which was why she had to rely on the help of others. The thought that she could not do it on her own galled her. If she had only herself to consider, she might very well attempt to go solo. But with the lives of her two remaining sisters at stake, she didn't dare act without a.s.sistance.
She stopped pacing and turned to face the group sitting on the various sofas in the room. There were two women, both blonde and slim, and one man. The man was tall, heavily built, with green eyes and long, wavy hair. In the weeks since Leon's death, Tucker Falcone's chiseled features had become very familiar. Sometimes, when he took her with a ferocity only a non-human male could achieve, she almost forgot her grief and her need for revenge. Almost...but not quite.
He, with the two women, would ensure her plan had a better chance of succeeding. Although Falcone was far stronger and much older than the two fems, all three had reasons for helping her. Falcone's motivation was l.u.s.t-for her. The other two fems, like herself, were motivated by a thirst for revenge. Finally, the Dumont family of vampires would face four powerful beings determined to make them suffer for past wrongs.
She took a deep breath. ”That's the plan.”
Silence greeted her words.
”So?” She rested her gaze on each face. ”Are you all with me?”
Tucker inclined his head slightly. For a price.
I know your price.
I'll be wanting a down payment-very soon.
She nodded, turning her attention to the two blonde fems. The older of the fems, who liked to be called different names at different times and with different people, would bear watching. There was something about her that Deoctra neither trusted nor liked.
Deoctra looked at her. ”Lina?”
”I'm in, but remember, Andrei belongs to me and I do not share.”
There was something unnatural about Lina's interest in Andrei Forester, especially considering her newly acquired interest in another, almost equally dangerous male. However, as long as Lina's interest didn't interfere with their plans, it was no concern of Deoctra's. She smiled as she met the gaze of the younger fem. Bella was very young, only having been brought across two years earlier. As one of her converts, Bella was fiercely loyal to her. Unlike some of the others, Deoctra felt certain her loyalty would never be in question.
”And you, my Bellamonte? Are you with me?”
The baby fem nodded. ”'Til death.”
Deoctra crossed the room and stroked her fingers down the younger female's cheek. ”You are like another little sister to me. I will do my best to ensure it does not come to that. Now go, little one... I know the urge to take your rightful revenge is strong, but for now, continue to hide who you truly are.”
Bella nodded and left the living room.
Deoctra turned her attention back to Lina. ”It's time to put our plan in motion.”
”I'm ready...if you're sure you want to do this.”
On the point of nodding, she hesitated, buffeted by almost forgotten memories of an all-too-brief few years when she had imagined herself and Mikhel Dumont to be in bloodl.u.s.t with each other. The entire world had been hers for the taking...until Mikhel had betrayed her for the human b.i.t.c.h he later married. Nothing in her life had gone right since. Nothing would ever go right again-until she got a measure of justice... for herself, her dead sisters and for Leon.
She bristled at having her resolve questioned. ”Have I done or said anything to make you think I might not be sure?”
Lina shrugged. ”I sense a certain... hesitancy in you.”
”You must be imagining things, Lina. Perhaps you'd better take some time to get laid. A fem in need is of very little use to anyone.”
Lina's dark eyes narrowed. ”My needs are being met.”
”Are they? By whom? Forester or your other male of interest?”
”Andrei is...sweet...almost sweet enough to take my mind off my real goal. But I've waited and plotted too long to allow that to happen.”
Deoctra gave a small shake of her head. She'd hate to be the other fem's real goal. Even as vampires went, Lina was downright unnatural. ”Then let us hope we both get what we want.”
”Oh, I intend to get everything I want.” She gave Deoctra a cool look. ”So it's a go, then?”
”Yes.”
”Good, because I've been studying her and I have a firm handle on her. He won't know what hit him.”
Deoctra frowned. ”This is my show, Lina. Don't forget that. You have your goals and I have mine. See that you do not damage him.”
Lina laughed. ”What's the matter? Even after all he's put you through, you don't want him really hurt?”
Deoctra narrowed her gaze. ”What I plan for him is no concern of yours. We do this my way and then we go after your objective. Is that clear?”
Lina gave her a long, cold look. ”Very. If there's no other... instructions, I'm on it,” she said and flashed from the room.
Tucker spoke. ”I know you thirst for revenge, but do you really think it's wise to trust a nocturene? They aren't exactly the creatures you think of first when you require loyalty. Besides which, she's crazy as h.e.l.l and I don't trust her.”
She grimaced. ”Tell me something I don't already know. I have to work with what I have available. As long as she does what I need, what difference does her mental state make?”
”Just so you know who and what you're dealing with... Someone with whom it would not be wise to turn your back.”
”Why should I worry about my back? Don't you have it?” she challenged, tossing her head so that her long, dark hair cascaded around her shoulders.
He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. ”You know it, baby.”
Baby. She brushed a hand over her flat belly and gave a small, satisfied nod.
A pair of big hands descended on her shoulders. ”And then there were two.”
She felt Falcone's lips caress the back of her ear. A wave of warmth washed over her. She shook her head. ”We don't have time for this.”