Dying to Date (13 page)

Chapter Thirteen

“Maybe I should face him alone.”

Tarian arched a brow. “You think he’s not going to open the door the second he hears the elevator?”

“You can stay inside.”

“Or I can face your father and try to stop him from going after my people.”

Melissa shifted from foot to foot, staring at the rising numbers above the door. “Promise not to use your voodoo on him?”

“No.”

She hadn’t been nervous in years, but the moment they crossed into the city limits, her blood pressure had shot through the roof. Well…if she had blood pressure. But the feeling had been similar. Introducing her father to the man that was indirectly responsible for her kidnapping was not going to be an easy ride. Especially when said man was also her lover. The last time she’d brought a partner home had been in the early thirties, and watching him run as fast as he could from her door had been great incentive not to repeat the experience.

“Remember,” Tarian said as the numbers climbed toward the top floor. “What happens from here on out is not about us.”

“We just have to calm the waters,” she agreed. Even so, she stepped into his arms and inhaled his scent. After the night they’d shared, she couldn’t imagine letting him walk away from her. If she had to fight her father to keep him, she would.

A small ding signaled the end of their journey.

Rolling her shoulders back, she stepped into the tasteful hallway that boasted an apartment at each end.

Just as Tarian predicted, the door to her father’s penthouse was open.

“Thank you,” she whispered to Tarian. “No matter what happens.”

He caught her arm and pressed his lips to hers. “All’s not lost yet, sweetheart.”

Giving him a last smile, she strode through the open door.

Inside was exactly as she’d expected. Lucian paced the length of the living room while Abbey sat curled up on the sofa looking worried.

“Hi,” she called, feeling both uncertainty and longing at the same time.

Both Lucian and Abbey swung toward her. Abbey’s face drained of blood before a wide grin curved her lips.

“Melissa,” she said like a prayer, pushing from her seat.

Lucian was faster. Using vampire speed, he crossed the room to her in an instant.

“You’re safe?” he demanded, looking her up and down.

“I’m fine,” she replied.

“Good.”

She was pulled into a tight hug before she could get out another word. Instead of protesting, she closed her eyes and hugged her father back. How many times since her ordeal began had she wanted to simply wrap her arms around him and listen to him promise that everything would be all right?

It was lucky she didn’t need to breathe or Lucian’s grip would have crushed her. She was only saved when Abbey caught up with them and elbowed Lucian out of the way.

“Abbey, it’s good to—
oomph
.” Her words were cut off as her friend wrapped her in an equally tight embrace.

“We thought we’d never see you again,” Abbey babbled in her ear. “Those first two days were torture.”

She wrapped her arms carefully around the human and returned the hug. Abbey had not been in her life as long as Lucian, but she’d become equally as dear. Though the woman would one day technically be her stepmother, Melissa had waited decades for a friend like her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I would never have left you of my own volition.”

“Precisely,” Lucian said. “Which is why we will crush whoever took you.”

Melissa shook free of Abbey and faced off against her father. “You need to listen to me first.”

“All I need to do is get the relevant details before I contact the council,” he replied. “We’ll bring those who took you to justice.”

“That’s where I come in.” Tarian stepped through the door, hands in his pockets.

Lucian bared his teeth as he lunged for the necromancer.

“No,” Melissa shouted, jumping in front of Tarian. “You will sit and you will listen, Father, or I will march out the door with Tarian.”

“I knew it,” Abbey murmured.

“I can smell the necromancer blood in him,” Lucian growled. “You brought one of his kind into my home.”

“I did,” she agreed. “Because he saved my life, and you need to listen to what he has to say.”

Lucian’s gaze flicked from her to Tarian. “Saved your life how?”

“He wasn’t among the group who kidnapped me.”

“The date—”

“Look,” she said. “Let’s not stand here in the entryway like scrabbling children. At the very least we can talk about this like civilized adults.”

Civilized adults that have been trying to kill each other for most of the millennia,
she amended, as she shooed them down the few stairs into the open concept living room. Abbey followed her directions by plopping down into an overstuffed armchair while Lucian stood over her. Given the vampire’s refusal to sit, Tarian also stayed on his feet, moving so the wide windows were at his back.

Melissa sighed, running a hand down her face. “Okay, here’s the deal. Yes, I was kidnapped by necromancers but they are a small faction that do not represent the majority of their kind.” Lucian snorted but she talked over him. “Tarian risked both his life and his family ties to come get me. He snuck me out of the necromancer property and kept us off their radar as we drove home. Right from the start, his only goal was to get me back here, safe and sound.”

“Why?” Lucian demanded. “What was his motive?”

“To keep an innocent from harm,” Tarian snapped.

“Even if that innocent has fangs? I very much doubt it.”

“Just because you are blinded by your own prejudice doesn’t mean I am.”

Lucian snarled. “You will show me some respect, boy.”

“Only when you earn it, leech,” Tarian said with a derisive laugh.

Before Melissa could diffuse the situation, her father launched himself at Tarian. With a cry she rushed forward only to pause when her lover threw out a hand.

Lucian stopped in midstep, his clawed hands raised, fangs glistening.

Tarian’s eyes were cold as he stepped toward the immobile man. “You might do well to remember you’re not the top of the evolutionary chain, vampire,” he hissed. “I am.”

“Tarian, let my father go,” Melissa ordered.

His gaze flicked her way before returning to Lucian. “You, I promised immunity,” he said to her. “No one else.”

“You can’t kept that up forever. Please.”

The entire room waited in silence to see how he would respond to her entreaty. Finally he flicked his fingers. Lucian stumbled forward a step as control returned to his body.

The vampire bared his fangs, which had Tarian raising his hand in warning.

A soft chuckle broke the tension.

“They always say girls date their fathers,” Abbey laughed. “My god, Melissa. You didn’t branch out much.”

Three sets of incredulous eyes swung to her.

“Abbey,” Lucian reproved.

Ignoring him, Abbey focused on Melissa and ticked off her points on her fingers. “Old as the hills. Powerful. Has a temper. Ruthless in defense of those he loves. Hot, and, forgive me, but I’m assuming one hell of a lover, if you brought him here.”

“Aw…ick,” Melissa said, pressing her hands over her ears. “Abbey, really.”

The human shrugged. “Am I wrong?”

Tarian and Lucian eyed each other.

“I do not see your basis for comparison,” Lucian said.

“Ah, honey. I know you don’t.” Abbey grinned up at him.

In typical Lucian fashion, her father chose to focus on the one fact in Abbey’s speech she’d rather he not.

“Are you lovers?” he demanded.

Tarian drew up in affront even as Melissa sprang to the rescue. “That is not your business.”

“Given his bloodline, it most certainly is.” He caught her arm and pulled her to the side. “Our kind are vulnerable to his. How do you know he did not take advantage of the situation?”

“That’s it,” Tarian said, shaking out his hands. “I haven’t killed a vampire in decades, but this seems as good a time as any to dust off old skills.”

“Stop,” she growled at him in exasperation. “Lucian, I spent four nights with this man and he did nothing but keep me safe. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“He knew the exact best way to get into your pants?” her friend piped up.

Melissa shot a death glare at Abbey. “Not helpful.”

The other woman shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not sure what side I should be on.”

“Not all necromancers are evil,” she said, facing Lucian. “This one group that kidnapped me, sure. But Tarian risked a lot to come to my rescue. Are you going to vilify him for that?”

“He could have had you call me the second you were safe,” Lucian replied. “Drake knew what he was about when he kept you by his side for these past nights.”

“It would have put her in danger,” Tarian said. “My grandfather’s reach is wide. He would have stopped her from boarding a plane.”

“I have resources your grandfather doesn’t,” Lucian snapped. “Melissa would have been perfectly safe.”

“Are you willing to bet her life on it? Because I wasn’t.”

Lucian leveled an icy glare at him. “I would have kept her from harm.”

“I
did
,” he argued.

“And what do you want for it, hmm? What’s your price for returning Melissa unharmed?”

“It’s not like that,” she tried, even as Tarian spoke.

“Clemency for the necromancer community,” he said. “We are not all in support of violence to settle our score. I propose we meet with the council and review the terms of the necromancer ban. My people are suffering, and yours are the cause.”

Melissa flinched. This had always been the plan, but even so, it hurt to hear him claim that protecting her was just to achieve his goals, not because he cared.

“There we are,” Lucian said, tension leaving his shoulders. “The heart of the matter.” He glanced at Abbey before shaking his head. “Because my daughter obviously cares for you—just as I’m sure you guaranteed would be the case—I will make you a deal.” When he turned back to Tarian, Melissa flinched at his intractable expression. “I will vow no vengeance for Melissa’s abduction against any part of the necromancer community, provided you return to your shadows. There is no room for you here in New York.”

“That is not enough. If you don’t at least think about making changes, this unrest will never end.”

“This is all I’m offering. Refuse and I will happily tear your head from your shoulders before hunting down every last necromancer I can find.”

“Lucian,” Melissa tried to protest.

“No.” He silenced her with a wave of his hand. “This is about more than you and your boyfriend. I will not endanger the vampires of this city.”

“We only want peace,” Tarian growled.

“And you have nothing to bargain with. Take my offer, and leave my home.”

Tarian’s shoulders stiffened. “You swear neither you, nor the council, will come after any faction of our society?”

“My word,” Lucian agreed.

Tarian’s eyes met hers, and she read the resignation in them. No matter that he was in the right, the vampire community held all the cards.

“Father, that’s not fair,” she tried to cut in.

“I’ll deal with you later, Melissa,” Lucian replied. “But right now I am speaking as the elder of the vampire race, not as your father.”

“Lucian…” Abbey tried. “Think carefully about this. Is Tarian’s request so out of bounds?”

“Take it or leave it,” he told Tarian. “With one phone call I can rally an army against your people. And the first place I’ll start is with the woman in your home.”

Tarian’s shoulders bowed. “I accept,” he said, disdain dripping from his words.

“Good. Then there is just one more condition you need to agree to in order to ensure immunity for your people.” Lucian’s gaze turned to her. “You will say goodbye to my daughter and never contact her again. If you do so, I will retract my promise to leave the necromancers alone.”

“No,” Melissa cried. “You can’t do this. I’m not a child you need to save anymore.”

“You will always be my child,” he replied. “And I will always protect you. Even if it’s from yourself.”

Abbey pushed to her feet. “Lucian, this is exactly what I was talking about. You can’t control who she cares about.”

“Perhaps not. But I can keep the damned necromancer away from her, where he can’t continue to blind her with infatuation.” He looked back to Tarian. “Do we have a deal, or should I make my call?”

Melissa met Tarian’s tortured gaze and knew how this night would end. They’d suspected, of course, but planning for a lonely future and facing it were two different things.

“Please don’t do this,” she said to Lucian, without taking her eyes off her lover.

“I have no other choice,” he replied. “Not when it comes to your safety.”

Tarian’s expression blanked. “I accept. I will leave New York at once and never come back.”

“And what if I go with him?” Melissa demanded, rounding on her father. “What if I give up my life here and follow him?”

“Then I will consider his bargain null and void and go after the necromancers who took you.”

“Melissa.”

She turned to find Tarian at her side. He took her hands and pulled her close, ignoring the growl that rumbled from Lucian’s chest. “We knew it would turn out this way.”

“No,” she denied. “We can reason with him. I can change his mind.”

A tiny smile curved his lips. “You are a powerful, capable woman, sweetheart. But I doubt even you are capable of that.”

Her hands tightened on his. “I can’t say goodbye to you.”

Tarian closed his eyes as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Thank you,” he whispered.

A sob caught in her throat. “I did nothing. Less than nothing.”

“I didn’t lie when I said I no longer hated your kind, but neither did I exactly care for the vampire population.” His hands transferred to her waist, pulling her close. “But you changed all that.”

“How?” she asked, her voice little more than a breathless sigh.

“When I look at you, sweetheart, I see the woman behind the fangs. One who I will never forget. One who matters more than you will ever know.”

She closed her eyes, feeling a suspicious moisture gather behind her lids. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”