Darkness Revealed (Guardians of Eternity #4)(111)

His beautiful features tightened. “It was forbidden.”

“Typical.” She rolled her eyes. “You know, they might be all-powerful but they’re way too fond of playing cloak-and-dagger games. Not everything has to be some mysterious secret. And don’t get me started on their manners. I intend to make some changes now that I’m an Oracle.”

Cezar stilled, his dark eyes smoldering with a fierce, aching regret. “You’ve already taken your place on the Commission?”

Her breath caught as his grief slammed into her with the force of a speeding truck. Dear God. She knew that he would be upset by her promotion to the Commission, but this wrenching sadness nearly sent her to her knees.

“Officially I’m a member, but unofficially my duties won’t begin for a while,” she told him softly.

He shuddered with longing as she stroked her fingers through his hair.

“How long is a while?” he rasped, his eyes darkening with something other than pain.

“Oh…a century or so.”

He hissed in sharp surprise. “What?”

“Well, I’m very young, you know.”

“Anna, you’re making me crazy,” he growled. “Will you just tell me what happened?”

Not about to torment a dangerous vampire when he was so obviously suffering, Anna swiftly related her encounter with the Oracles, skimming over the attempts to browbeat her and emphasizing their grudging agreement that they wouldn’t interfere in her mating with Cezar.

Not that she needed to bother.

Cezar had spent two centuries bound to the ruthless Commission. Which explained his horrified expression by the time she was done.

“Dios.” She was once again hauled against his chest, his arms so tight she had to struggle to breathe. “Only you would dare to barter with the Commission. Do you know what they could have done to you?”

Anna smiled as she snuggled her face against his shoulder. This was it. What she’d waited her entire life to feel.

“Nothing that would be any worse than being forced to give you up,” she said, so softly only a vampire could hear her words. “They could threaten and bluster all they wanted, but there was no way in hell that I was giving in. We’re in this together or they can find a new Oracle.”

“Querida.” Turning his head, Cezar pressed his lips to the sensitive hollow behind her ear.

Anna allowed a low moan of pleasure to escape her parted lips. Her fingers tightened in the lush black hair in silent encouragement.

“Of course, I haven’t asked you yet how you feel about being stuck with an Oracle,” she said, struggling to concentrate on their unfinished conversation. A task that would be considerably easier if he wasn’t kissing a delicious path down the line of her jaw. “You could walk away and never have to deal with the Commission again. That’s got to be tempting after the way they treated you over the past few centuries.”

Pressing a rough, hungry kiss to her lips, Cezar pulled back to regard her with a burning gaze.

“I would live in the pits of hell if that was the only way I could be with you, Anna Randal. You are mine.”

She gave a tug on his hair. “Not exactly. At least not yet. You still have to make an honest woman of me.”

“Anna…”

She slapped her hand over his mouth. She knew that tone. It meant he was going to say something she didn’t like.

“No. If you tell me there’s still some mysterious destiny I’ve yet to fulfill I’ll pick up that sword you dropped and stick it through your heart.”

She felt his lips curve into a smile as he spoke against her palm. “That won’t kill me, you know.”

Dropping her hand she gave him the evil eye. “Maybe not, but it’ll hurt like a bitch.”

“There’s that.” His amusement faded as he ran a tender hand up the curve of her back. “I just want you to be certain, querida. There’s no going back once the ceremony is completed.”

Anna lifted herself to her toes, pressing her lips to his with all the love that flowed through her heart.

“Conde Cezar, there was no going back from the moment I followed you through that London townhouse and was hauled into the bedroom by a wickedly beautiful vampire,” she whispered against his lips.

A groan was wrenched from his throat. “Wickedly beautiful?”

“Absolutely.”

With one smooth motion Cezar had swept her off her feet and cradled her against his chest as he headed for the door. A sinful smile touched his lips as he held her gaze with a dark intensity.

“I like the wicked part.”

Anna looped her arms around his neck, her heart racing with the excitement this man would always inspire.

“I’m kind of fond of it myself.”

Epilogue

Two months later

The exclusive nightclub near Lake Michigan was filled to the rafters with a combination of vampires, demons, and at least one goddess enjoying a performance by the rare dew fairies, who fluttered on delicate wings in a complicated dance.

Viper’s newest establishment was a beautiful testament to refined elegance that catered to a more sophisticated clientele than many of his others. There were no open orgies, no blood battles, no public feedings. Instead there were elegantly attired guests who were seated at small tables and bathed in light from the massive chandeliers.