Authors: Imogene Nix
Hesparia's Tears (25 page)
It seemed almost surreal, that many of the titles she had perused as a child still existed in this room. On some level she knew they weren’t the same books, for they had been lost in the manor when it burned to the ground, of course. Yet it was obvious that time and effort had gone into finding and replacing the titles with the same—a fact that continued to fill her with wonder.
The subtle creak of old hinges pulled her from the reverie, telling her that she was no longer alone. The frisson of power, though, would have done the same, and she shook slightly, feeling a pull as she turned.
In the doorway stood the most exquisite man she had ever seen. Piercing green eyes had captured hers before she looked beyond them to the planes of his face. Lean and olive-skinned, a slight shadow existed even though she could tell he’d recently shaved
.
She even detected the hint of aftershave.
He was tall. Very tall. She would hazard at least six foot four. Muscular. His well-fitted suit did nothing to hide the rippling muscles the material covered. He had a presence that captured her instantly. Her breath caught. The scent that filled the air called to something deep within her, and her insides quaked.
Dear Gods, if this was the Master, then she had a problem. The thought slammed into her. He moved with a determined stride, displaying his innate grace as both a man and a hunter.
He strode around the room, as if holding his inner predator at bay. His eyes widened and his nostrils flared as he watched her. All these things she saw in bare seconds, but time stood still for her, while she gazed upon him. Her stomach clenched and breathing shortened as a primal thrill sang through her veins.
“Master Xavier?” The words slipped out while her heart beat a rapid tattoo as he neared. The air in her lungs felt as if it had disappeared, and she knew she breathed heavily. Heard it and knew he did too, in the narrowing of his eyes.
“Yes. You would be Miss Hope? Please sit down.” He gestured towards a winged chair, and she noted his fingers, long and tapered. “We have important matters to discuss.”
Hope stumbled slightly, gaining the leather chair and gripping the wings, looking away briefly, seeking something as she battled to control her reaction to this man.
Vampire
, her mind screamed. Once more, Hope breathed in, expanding her chest and inhaling the deeply masculine scent of him that in turn made her pulse react again. Hope lowered herself, as if her legs were boneless, into the seat. She hadn’t felt this ungainly in many years, yet with him any sense of confidence frittered away.
Hope had considered herself quite reserved and contained until this man…this Master…had made himself known to her. Now she felt like the gawky child she had once been. Her mind thick and full of nonsense, or at least resembling no more than a jumbled mess, was unable to clutch and hold onto any thoughts without scattering. Hope twisted her fingers in her lap seeking something to bring her back to reality.
“You have settled into your suite, I take it?” He reclined in the chair opposite her, watching her intently, as she focused on him again.
“Yes, thank you, Master, I… All my items arrived safely and I plan to take the next few days to unpack everything.” He sat waiting and she ploughed on, even though she knew he wasn’t really interested in her packing or unpacking. After all, it was small talk, filling the quiet. Wasn’t it?
“However, I would like to ask permission to find employment…and perhaps to be situated in the city, perhaps in one of the nest apartments?” She stopped as his face tightened, and she felt a stab of apprehension at the change that overcame him.
The urbane sophisticate was replaced with an icy cold visage, and the deep green pools hardened before her shocked gaze. “No.”
Searching his face, she sat forward hoping she could somehow change his mind. Her own churned, looking for a way to explain her feelings and need. Hoping she could salvage the meeting and make him agree.
“But I have skills. I have my degree and I need to use it…” Surely, he would see that? But his face remained closed as the words died away, and a suffocating feeling filled her chest. The same one she had experienced several times since returning home.
“No.” His words were clear in the sudden silence. “You may find employment within the household, but you will not be allowed to move from the manor without the necessary guards.”
Inside her chest something shuddered and cracked before rebellion, hot and acidic, rose within her. “Look, all I want is a chance to find my future. I can continue to work to the greater good of the nest.” She gripped the plush velvet at the arms of the chair, and she leant farther forward. Seeking something, some crumb of understanding and, for now, uncaring of the possible danger of arguing with a Master vampire. “I am more than happy to move into the apartments where Lisi and her family reside, if that makes it easier. They are guarded there.” But the cold of his eyes only seemed to deepen, while her skin tightened and the pressure within her built.
Hope controlled herself with an effort and her words died away. She wanted to scream her frustration to this man who controlled her as effectively as her parents. The yearning in her chest filling her up, a lump formed in her throat and she struggled to swallow, and with burning eyes she accepted that she would find no ally. She wanted freedom. She wanted a life—her life. Not the world her brother David had, where he was happy to live at home with his bride, where his life was determined by hereditary roles.
The bands around her lungs constricted as she tried to explain her need one last time, even though she now knew the answer would remain negative, while the driving desire to be something more battered at her. But he watched in silence.
“I need to do something useful. I need to be able to leave these walls, and do things with people I choose to be with.”
His eyes were now shadowed, with gold ringing those green irises and she stopped. She had learnt very early on, the golden glaze meant a building anger. She had seen that before in Cressida’s eyes, the night she had come and saved her.
“Miss Hope, I will tell you this once. You are a member of the nest. I am your Master. It is for a good reason that I say no, for your protection and that of all your kind and mine.” The careful words cooled her fevered body, turning it to ice. “Now, I am not unkind and uncaring. I can understand your need and may be able to find you some employment utilising your skills…within one of our companies. However, you will reside here until such time as I see fit.” He stopped and Hope had the uncanny feeling that he waited for an outburst, but she was spent—exhausted by the brief, but impassioned outburst.
“You are also forbidden to make any attempts to seek employment either within, or outside the household, until I say otherwise.”
Gracefully, the Master rose and extended his hand, gesturing to the door while all she wanted was to shrink away, even as she accepted the implicit dismissal with a feeling of anger. The cold feeling that invaded her body left her feeling brittle. “I will see you tomorrow and I am sure I will have some further news.”
Hope swallowed her argument. There was nothing to be achieved right now. No matter how much she hated this truth and his words, the argument had been lost—for now, anyway.
A swift move and he had turned his back to her. She knew there was no choice but to leave his presence. Defeated, she stepped slowly across the plush carpeting, while she curled her fingers into claw-like talons. Her eyes burnt with frustrated tears and she blinked rapidly, holding them at bay while she stalked from the room.
Perhaps her brother was comfortable with his life and situation, but it would never be the one she would choose for herself. She stood beyond the door as it closed behind her. Shutting her out of any chance to make the decisions for herself.
The story of her life.
She waited with eyes closed for just a moment while she regained her composure, then opened her eyes. No one had seen her and for that she was thankful. Hope turned and headed towards the ornate staircase that would take her back to the floor where her suite awaited her.
Maybe it was time to think outside the box, she told herself, as she placed a foot on the tread. Maybe that was the key.
It was only when she arrived back in her suite that she realised she hadn’t taken her oath of fealty, but even so, for her there was no escaping. She would need to talk to him again, see him. Perhaps next time he would listen and understand. For once, though, she felt no assurance that any outcome, even marginally positive, was to be had and that thought brought her no comfort.
About the Author
Wife, mother and nutty bookstore owner all describe Imogene Nix, but the real secret is Science Fiction, Paranormal Romance with a hefty dose of Romantic Suspense is what she adores. Dedicated to high quality romance, with a dollop of erotic interactions, Imogene has dipped her toes into Science Fiction, Contemporary Rural Romance and Paranormal Romance featuring feisty headstrong female leads.
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