Forbidden Blood (Vampire Venators Romance Series) (15 page)

Amber was right though. He couldn’t pass up this chance. They had to take the risk and attend. He would do his best to keep his focus and keep her safe. If the ball became dangerous, or anyone threatened her, they would leave.

He wouldn’t risk her to catch this man.

She was more important to him than his duty.

CHAPTER 9

S
he must be crazy.

Amber sat in the passenger seat of Kearn’s Audi, heading to a ball full of vampires, with a chance of one of them attempting to capture her and bleed her.

The words had sounded good at the time, the right thing to say to make her appear strong to Kearn, even when she had been on the verge of breaking inside. The things the man had done to her with only his mind, the dark thoughts he had placed inside her, terrified her, and now they were heading into dangerous territory just for the chance of meeting him again.

Even Kearn thought she was crazy for suggesting they go to the masquerade. That had to be the reason he hadn’t said a word all evening. He hadn’t even complimented her when she had walked out of his bedroom in her ball gown. His eyes had remained cold and impassive. She had mentioned how handsome he looked and he had merely holstered his gun at his hip, covered it with his black mid-thigh length military-style jacket, and turned away towards the door.

He did look handsome though. No. He was gorgeous.

The black jacket had a double set of bright silver buttons down the breast, and silver-blue embroidery around the hem, cuffs and the tall collar. The thick material didn’t conceal his physique. It stretched tight across his chest, emphasising his muscles. The finger-length silver strands of his hair brushed the collar at the back and by his ears, almost white against the contrast of black.

She looked across at him as he drove. They were heading out of central London, towards the suburbs. He changed gear and her gaze fell to his legs. They looked lithe but powerful in his tight black trousers that were tucked into black over-knee riding boots with bright shiny buckles.

The woman at the club had worn something similar. Was this Kearn’s uniform? If human police wore such a thing, even more women would be falling over each other to get to them.

The car slowed and she faced front. Her heart pounded at the sight of the huge black wrought iron gates opening ahead of her and the massive sandstone house beyond. It was beautiful, impressive with the façade lit and every window on all three storeys emanating a warm glow. With the long corseted black dress she wore, Kearn in his uniform, and this house, she felt as though she had fallen back in time to a period when the rich threw balls full of ladies and gentlemen, like the romantic dramas on the television.

Kearn parked the car at the end of a row of sombre-coloured Bentleys and Rolls-Royces and flashy black sports cars.

Amber followed him out of the car. The golden gravel crunched under her black heeled shoes. She stood with her black gloved arm on the roof of Kearn’s car and tried to take it all in. A large fountain stood in the centre of the courtyard, the water lit with the same warm lights as the house and flowing like molten gold. She had never felt so out of place. She had never imagined that vampires would live in a place like this. She had always thought they would live wherever they could, hiding in the shadows and stalking humans, like monsters, not that they would lead grand lives and be rich and powerful.

A couple walked past them.

And beautiful.

They both wore black and were talking and laughing just like people, only she could see a difference in them. The way they held themselves, tall and proud, posture perfect, set them apart from anyone she knew. They emanated a sense of nobility, of grace and power.

The brunette smiled at the man, her dark eyes melting into red, and placed a slim black mask across them. He smiled back at her, adjusting the mask so it settled over her eyes and tightly fitted her delicate features. He slipped his own mask on and preened his short sandy hair back.

“Countess Huntingdon and Marquess Pendragon.” Kearn’s voice was pure darkness.

Countess Huntingdon? Amber knew that name from Kearn’s book. Could someone so beautiful really be so bloodthirsty?

When she turned to ask Kearn, he was staring at her dress. He had chosen well this time. She had expected him to buy her another ridiculous outfit, but it was glamorous and refined, elegant enough to make her feel as though she might fit in at the ball. The straps of the black satin corset were ribbon, tied at her shoulders, with tails that flowed down her back, tickling her. The long skirt almost reached the floor, cut in such a way that it didn’t cling to her legs but still gave away their shape.

She had tied her hair up, twisting the lengths into a messy gathering at the back of her head, and had surrounded her eyes in dark make-up while painting her lips red.

When she had stepped in front of the mirror in Kearn’s bathroom, her reflection had been exactly how she imagined a vampire looked—all sensual and seductive. She felt that way, especially now that Kearn’s eyes were roaming over her body and leaving a hot trail in their wake. She kept still, not wanting his attention to leave her.

“You should take your hair down.” His gaze touched on her throat and red ringed his irises.

Amber shook her head. Her neck wasn’t on show to get the vampire’s attention, or anyone’s at the ball. It was to get Kearn’s attention and it was working. She wanted him to want her. She wanted to lure him to her and have him kiss her again. She wanted his eyes on her and her alone tonight.

With so many vampires around, he would be distracted from her and would perhaps speak with some of them. It was selfish and childish of her, but she wanted him all to herself.

Kearn turned away and started towards the house. Amber hastened after him and fell into step beside him. Had she upset him by refusing his suggestion? No. He had been quiet since last night.

Amber tried to feel his emotions but wasn’t sure how it worked. Before, she had felt things without even trying. Now, she was trying her hardest but she couldn’t detect anything. Had the strange connection between their blood ended, or was he somehow blocking her attempts?

The bright foyer of the mansion was stunning. Gold candelabras lined the twin white marble staircases curving up in front of her towards a balcony and a massive crystal chandelier hung in the open space above her.

“Sir, I will need to see your licence.”

Amber looked over at Kearn. He was with a man at the bottom of the left staircase. The vampire couple were near the top. The woman was walking very delicately, lifting the skirt of her dress with one hand and holding the man’s arm with the other. He was still smiling and talking.

Kearn reached into the collar of his jacket and pulled out something on a silver chain. Amber couldn’t see it clearly. The man blocking his way nodded and stepped aside. Amber hurried over to Kearn and glanced at the man. He wore a black tailcoat like a butler. There had been men outside in similar outfits. Staff? She supposed a house this big would need staff. Was he human or did some vampires work for other ones? That completely shattered her image of vampires. Did some of them have jobs? She supposed that Kearn did, although it seemed more like a calling than a profession. Before she had met him, she had thought that vampires would all be out for themselves, looking after number one, rather than serving others or caring for them. The idea that they had families would have seemed ridiculous. She had so much to learn about Kearn’s world. Every moment she spent in it challenged her perspective of things and changed her forever.

She followed Kearn up the stairs. There was so much to take in and think about that it pushed her fear to the back of her mind, leaving only excitement filling her.

The vampire couple stopped at the top of the stairs. Another couple in front of them walked through a wide arch and disappeared from view on the other side. The sound of the orchestra and choir sent a shiver over Amber’s skin and made her fine hairs stand on end. It was beautiful. Amber ran her black gloved hand up the bright brass railing of the staircase and looked into the foyer below. More vampires were following them, all wearing black. Laughter rang out from one group and she recognised one of the vampires from the club. Her heart beat quicker at the reminder that any of the men here could be the one after her blood. It snapped her back to reality. Her fascination with this new world and her breathtaking surroundings had made her forget why she was here.

Kearn’s stern look said that he hadn’t forgotten. His green gaze was on the group below them. The man was staring back at him, an equally dark expression on his face.

Amber moved closer to Kearn. He stopped at the top of the stairs and glanced at her. There was a flicker of something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite interpret. Nerves? Fear? Worry? All she could feel were her own anxiety and excitement.

“Is it tradition for everyone to wear black?” She hadn’t seen one person wearing another colour.

“Duke Montagu declared that his ball this year would be a midnight masquerade.” Kearn adjusted the collar of his black military-style jacket. “Every year has a colour.”

“Marquess Pendragon and Countess Huntingdon.” A loud voice echoed up from the other room and the vampire couple at the top walked forwards. The man held his hand out, palm down, and the woman laid hers on top of it.

They were announcing the guests?

Amber swallowed. They didn’t know her name. Would they even announce someone like her? Everyone would probably stare if they did.

“What happened back there with the servant?” she whispered to Kearn, remembering the licence the man had asked for.

“My appearance is not enough to confirm me as a Venator.” He unclipped the stand-up collar of his black jacket and pulled out a small silver medal on a chain. She didn’t have a chance to see it properly before he was putting it away again. “I need to show my licence to prove my status and to allow me entrance to this sort of affair where so many important people are gathered.”

No emotion touched his voice and he didn’t look at her. His green gaze remained focused on the entrance to the other room.

For a brief moment, she caught a glimmer of his feelings.

Nerves.

For some reason, that unsettled her.

Why was he nervous?

She forced herself to focus on something else. Would his family be on the other side? He had said he was of noble blood. Kyran was sure to be there. She couldn’t imagine him missing something like this.

Amber looked back down the stairs. The group she had seen enter were all masked now. She didn’t have a mask and neither did Kearn. He had said they wouldn’t need one but everyone else was wearing them.

She turned to see Kearn standing near the arch glaring at her and hurried forwards, almost tripping on her dress.

“Do not say a word,” he said when she reached him and she heard the nerves in his voice now. “Do not speak unless spoken to, do not stare, control your emotions as much as possible and remain close to me.”

Amber glanced through the arch at the room beyond and her breath left her. Golden tones lit the expansive rectangular room stretching out below her, warming the dark red walls and reflecting off the ceiling height mirrors that lined the walls between equally tall windows. The choir rose with the orchestra and her heart fluttered. It was incredible. In the centre of the room, a river of black dancers moved at a swift pace, all of them in perfect synchronisation as though choreographed. More people lined the edges of the room, some walking around and others gathered in groups. She had never seen anything like it.

Kearn grabbed her arm and yanked her forwards.

“Pay attention,” he hissed beneath his breath and she fell into line beside him at the top of the wide red-carpeted staircase that swept down into the ballroom. He let go of her arm and straightened his jacket out.

He wasn’t the only one nervous now. Her heart jumped around all over the place and she tried to calm it but couldn’t. Her throat was parched. She needed a drink. Something alcoholic, and strong.

The servant at the top of the stairs raised an eyebrow at her and then turned to face the room. She glanced to her right, at Kearn, and he titled his chin up. He looked so noble and handsome, proud and powerful like the Marquess Pendragon. She wanted to look that way too so the vampires would see they weren’t the only ones who could do beautiful and graceful.

She raised her head, faced forwards, and took a deep breath.

Kearn’s words echoed in her head like a mantra. Don’t speak unless spoken to. Don’t stare. Don’t let her feelings get the better of her.

“Venator Savernake!” the man to her left announced.

Amber expected Kearn to offer his arm. He didn’t. He walked down the stairs at a slow pace and she followed unsteadily on trembling legs, her ankles wobbling in the heeled shoes. It was impossible to calm her nerves.

The entire room had stopped.

A sea of red eyes stared at her from behind black masks and she felt their hatred deep within her.

She held it together and kept walking. Vampires waited at the bottom of the stairs, their eyes boring into her. Her hand twitched, tempted to touch her bare throat and cover it. She felt exposed and vulnerable. This was the craziest idea she’d ever had and something said that she was going to pay for it with her own blood.

“You said they wouldn’t stare at me,” she whispered.

“They are not looking at you.”

CHAPTER 10

A
mber looked at Kearn and then at the vampires. He was right. They were all staring at him with murder in their eyes and she could feel their hatred. Why hadn’t he told her they would treat him this way? She wouldn’t have insisted they come if she had known.

They reached the bottom of the stairs and Kearn stopped. A blond man stood in his path. Marquess Pendragon.

Kearn bowed his head and the man grinned, revealing the sharp points of his canines. His flinty gaze shifted to her. Amber bowed too, afraid of making the situation worse, and the marquess walked away.