Crimson Born Excerpt
Ruark pushed off the railing to slide his arm around her and draw her close. "Because ye've done what others have not in years." How could he explain she was the first person in two centuries to be seen with him? "Come...let us walk in the garden and talk more privately."
Brett curled under his arm, sliding one of hers around his waist as she leaned into the hard wall of his chest. How had he done this to her? Was she cracking under the strain? She nuzzled lightly into him as he moved her down the steps. "Give me what you have, Ruark."
"I offer ye everything I have, Brett. All ye need do is accept." He led her to the garden scented with night blooms. She couldn't know the full implication of what she asked. All he had? Could he do that to her? His fingers caressed her side softly as he wandered along familiar garden paths, enjoying their time together.
She made the place more beautiful just by being there. Ruark hadn't really noticed much before, but wished the hedges were flowering so he could pluck a blood red rose and tuck it into her hair. He longed to sit with her on the edge of a fountain, talking of nothing and everything.
"All I want is your self assurance; your cool confidence. Who else would offer to completely change a girl's life in the blink of an eye? It's an amazing offer but not a possible one."
Looking over the area, he frowned as he suddenly knew they were followed by at least two young males. Sense of duty welled in his chest. How dare anyone hunt his woman? It hit him like a punch to the gut. He couldn't worry about maybe falling for the girl. In the few short hours they'd shared she'd stolen his aged heart without him even realizing.
"Anything is possible if ye truly want it," he chuckled. Walking with her down the gravel path, he kept his demeanor light, his senses tuned to the two stalking them despite his nonchalant air. It was obvious they were testing their skills and that of the Punisher to see if he was as good as they'd heard.
Pausing in the middle of the path, she tugged on his coat to stop him. "You're serious? You would change my life on what little you know of me? What if you grew to hate my little idiosyncrasies?"
"I have infinite patience, trust me." He smiled softly as fingers caressed her cheek before he removed his coat to drape over her shoulders. "There are things ye must know. But ye must swear once I tell you ye'll ne'er utter them to another soul."
Brett blanched at the ominous warning, pulling his big coat closed. "I promise not to tell about the men. Why would I spoil your fun, or mine?" Her eyes twinkled, lips curling in a wicked grin.
His smile was light and disarming. "That's nae exactly what I was referring..."
He turned quickly as the younger men sprang out of the hedges lining the white gravel path. The young ones growled, baring fangs as they charged Ruark. Moving faster than any of them could see, he twisted the first one's neck violently as the body dropped paralyzed.
Brett's scream pierced the night as the attack came out of nowhere. And Ruark! How had he done that? Her deep blue eyes paled in fear as the first body twitched on the ground.
Ruark turned as the second leapt at him roaring in rage. Moving as if it were an intricate dance, he grabbed the young one and threw him deep into the garden where he slammed through trees and hit the ground. Standing still for a moment Ruark listened for a return attack. When none came he turned to Brett. "There is much I need to tell ye."
Scrambling back when he turned his attention to her, Brett fell over a bench; crab crawling she stared up in shock and immense fear. Rolling to her feet she rushed down the garden path. Skirt flying open over her pumping legs, it snagged on bushes as she rushed madly away, losing her way in the dark.
He cursed softly in Gaelic before following the sounds of her retreat, allowing her to run until she exhausted herself in the hopes then she would listen.
Reaching the outer wall after her blind dash down the path, she felt along it looking for a gate. "Come on, please!" She slumped behind a full bush, pulling her knees up incase the two who attacked Ruark came after her. Her breath roared in her ears, blood pounding.
Ruark followed her unmistakable scent, wild heather forever locked in his mind as Brettnee now. He made a short cut through the garden to cut her off as she walked the wall, appearing from the hidden path to look at her behind the bush. "I'll nae hurt ye, Brett. Allow me to explain."
Brett yelped, eyes wide in a mix of fear and relief it was him. "What in God's name just happened?"
He took a deep breath looking heavenward as if for divine intervention before dropping his gaze back to her cowering form. "We were attacked by two young ones of my kind, the lanshan. Vampire as ye would name them." He kept his voice soft as he stood some distance from her not wanting to scare her any more. His hands slid into his pockets, fists clenching that he had to tell her like this.
"Vampires aren't real, Ruark! They're a fairy tale to scare children. Good reading and fun to play at with the Goth clothes like at your club. But it's not real! I could almost believe when you said you wanted to help me, but vampires?" She trembled in frustration. She'd trusted him and this was how he played her?
"We are real, Brett. Very real. What would ye have me do to prove it?" His head tilted.
Brett's eyes flashed, a cruel smile curling her lips as she clambered to her feet. "Bite me. If you're a blood drinker then prove it in the carnality of what you are!"
He sighed sadly, lips parting so she could witness the fangs lengthening. He reached out to touch her cheek. She bit her lip to keep from passing out in shock and fear as she took a half step back, eyes widening. "You're serious. I...I..." She almost swooned despite the self inflicted pain to keep her conscious.
"I'm very serious." He spoke without problem despite the fangs. Looking into her eyes, he tried to touch her again. "I pledge to you my protection."
Brett stopped the backward retreat as she came up against the wall. Her gaze lifted from the fangs to his beautiful eyes again, her breath tight in her throat.
Ruark retracted his fangs on a sigh. "I'll take you to yer cousin's, but I must beg that ye dunnae reveal us." He turned to head back up the path to the house, eyes dark with sadness.
Brett grabbed his wrist, pulling his attention back to her. "No. I can't promise that. Take me with you. Take me back. Take me forward. Just please don't leave me alone or I'm afraid I'll run like so many times before and never feel again like I felt in your arms."
He looked to her hand on his, tan against the pale, and slowly shifted his gaze to her face. "Ye'll have to give me yer complete trust. I'll do my best to explain what we are, our ways." Dark eyes searched hers as he stepped closer.
"I'm tired of being alone, Ruark. I'll give you all the time you need." Her fingers clenched around his wrist, afraid he was pushing her away with his reluctance. Had she already failed him so?
Ruark slid his arms around her, pulling her to his chest, lips brushing her hair softly as he held her. "Let's go home so we may talk in peace."
"Home," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist, nodding into his chest. The fairy tale had taken a dark turn.