“Do you think I give a damn if you hurt him?” The demonic guffaw chilled the blood that rushed through Markus’s veins. “I’ve never understood your taste for male blood, boy.”
“You don’t understand my taste for blood period, Da.”
“Aye. ’Twas your mother’s curse, the bloodlust.”
“’Twas your curse, Da. Mum lives on sheep’s blood. But the demon in me craves it fresh, from humans.”
“Don’t blame me. I can’t stand the stuff. It’s thick and sticky and cakes my throat.” Samael twisted his full lips into a churlish grin as his evil slithered over Markus, starting at his toes and snaking all the way to the top of his head.
“For someone who hates blood, you’ve shed your share of it.”
“Aye.” Samael leered. “As have you, son.”
“’Twasn’t my fault. ’Twas the bloodlust. I lost control.”
“You shouldn’t feel remorse. That’s your mother’s influence.” Samael’s lips curved upward again.
Markus shuddered. Evil. Pure evil.
“How is dear Viveca?”
“Mum’s fine. You stay away from her.”
“Still a beauty, I bet.”
“I said stay away.”
“There’s never been another like her, you know. She was one in a million. And I do mean a million. The only one worthy to nurture my seed. You’re my only progeny, lad. You should be proud.”
“Proud that I’m half demon? Proud that I need to drink blood from living humans to survive? I’m nothing like you.”
“Ah, you’re more like me than you want to admit. You suffer not only the bloodlust, but the lust for the kill. You’ve killed before.”
The icy coldness of Samael’s voice slid over Markus’s body like freezing rain.
“They were accidents.” Markus shook his head. “I took too much, is all.”
“And ’twas only a few weeks ago that you desired to kill a man, was it not?”
Markus’s blood froze. “How did you know that?”
“You’re part of me. I feel what you feel.”
Markus couldn’t deny it. “Aye, Da. I wanted to kill.”
“What was it about this man that inspired the lust, lad?”
“He was Voldlak.”
“Ah.” Samael’s long pale hair snaked in coils as he nodded his head. “A blood wolf. A vampire’s worst nightmare. So they do exist after all.”
“Aye.”
“Then let’s get him, lad. Let’s get him.”
36
“Damian,” Suzanne said. “Come see it. It’s gorgeous.”
Damian smiled and peeked under her blouse in the back. “Aye, mo leannan. Very nice.” His eyes smiled into hers. “Do you want to see mine?”
“Yours?”
“Aye.” He rolled up the sleep of his shirt. Suzanne gasped, her eyes wide. On his upper arm, in old English script, was her name entwined around a vermillion heart.
“Damian?”
“Do you like it, mo leannan?”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you like it.” Damian wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. “Say you’ll get one like it someday. For me.”
Suzanne shrugged out of his hold. She was leaving in less than a week. He knew that. “Damian, let’s take care of the bill, okay? Then we’ll talk. What do I owe you, Seamus?”
“I took care of it.”
“Oh.” Of course, he would have. He was richer than God. And domineering. “I guess we’re done here.”
She walked out the door and headed for the Harley, which was parked in the back. Damian placed a hand on her shoulder, and she turned around to face him. His green eyes were shadowed.
“Hey,” she said.
“I thought you’d like it, mo leannan. I wanted you to know that I’m yours. Forever.”
“You’re so sweet, Damian. So wonderful.”
His face brightened. “You do like it, then?”
“I love it. Really. I just… It’s too soon for forever. We both know that.”
“Just what did you think I meant when I said you’re mine, Suzanne?”
“I—”
“And what exactly did you mean when you said I was yours? Did you mean for the next few weeks? Because you know damn well that’s not what I meant.”
“Let’s not snipe at each other.”
“Snipe?”
“Argue. Fight.”
“Fine. No arguing. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and that’s that.”
“Damian, I leave in less than a week.”
“You’re staying.”
“Nothing has changed. I have a job. A family. A life back home.”
“You’re life is here now. With me.”
“I care very much for you, but—”
“I love you. You know that.”
“You think you love me.”
“Don’t ever tell me what I think,” he said through clenched teeth. “I know damn well that I love you.”
Suzanne shook her head. “I’m sorry. It’s too soon for me. I care for you very deeply. But love? I’m not sure I even know what love is anymore.”
“So these past weeks have meant nothing to you? Our time together? Our lovemaking?”
“Oh Damian, it’s meant everything to me. But nothing has changed.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because. Oh, I don’t know.”
“I love you. I won’t let you leave me.”
“Let’s not argue here.” She reached for his cheek. His skin was icy to her touch. “Are you hungry? Shall we have lunch?”
He handed her helmet to her. “I can’t eat right now. Let’s head back to Padraig.”
“But I thought we were going to visit the docks after lunch.”