My Lord Eternity (Immortal Rogues #2)(40)

Jocelyn was thrusting herself to her feet without realizing that she had moved, nearly toppling Lu-cien over as she glared down at him with blazing eyes.

"That is not amusing, Lucien."

With a slow, hesitant motion he straightened, warily regarding her sharp frown.

"No one knows that better than I."

She grappled to make sense of his absurd words. "Do you mean that someone is ridiculous enough to believe that this Medallion has the power to make them into a vampire?"

An odd expression rippled over the lean countenance. "Lately I wonder if it is so ridiculous.

It has altered you in a very profound manner. I can feel it." He stabbed her with a shimmering glance. "Can you not?"

She stilled in fear. She wanted to laugh hysterically at his obvious insanity.

Vampires?

Magical amulets?

Ludicrous.

Somehow, however, the laughter froze in her throat. In her fingers the Medallion glowed with unnatural warmth, as if to warn her that it was indeed altering her to suit its purpose.

She instinctively backed away, her heart thundering so loud that she thought it might explode.

"Stop this, Lucien, you are frightening me."

"Trust me, that is the last thing I desire." His hands clenched at his sides, a searing pain upon his face. "I need you to listen to me, Jocelyn. The Medallion is a powerful artifact, and it belongs to the vampires."

"There are no such things as vampires," she ridiculously whispered.

"They are very real. And they have returned to the world of mortals. They stalk the streets of London."

Ten

Lucien watched the shocked horror ripple over her face. "Why are you saying this?" she choked out in thick tones.

He heaved a sigh. "Because it is the truth. The truth you claimed you desired to know."

"Vampires killed Molly and those other women?" she demanded.

"Yes."

"Vampires?"

"Yes."

A heavy silence filled the room, allowing Lucien to hear the harsh rasp of her breath.

"And . . . how do you know this?" She at last forced herself to ask the question that Lucien had dreaded.

He stepped forward, holding out his hand in an unconscious plea for understanding.

"Jocelyn."

"No," she abruptly cried, backing from him in instinctive fear. "I do not want to hear."

Lucien's heart broke as he regarded Jocelyn's shattered expression.

He had known this moment would be difficult. He had steeled himself for her anger and disbelief. Even her fear. But now that it had arrived, he realized that it was not difficult. It was bloody impossible.

Great Nefri. She had never appeared more vulnerable. Her eyes were darkened with fractured pain and her features pale with the strain. Worse, there was an air of wounded betrayal shrouded about her taut form.

She did not want to believe he was a monster from her worst nightmare. Not when she had opened her home to him. And her heart.

Lucien longed to tug her into his arms and assure her that all would be well. He wanted to soothe her fears and return the enchanting smile to her face.

Unfortunately he realized that he was the last soul in the world who could offer her comfort.

Until he could somehow reach past the fear that currently filled her heart, he was the enemy.

Instead, he could only watch in pained frustration as she struggled to accept the unacceptable.

"I attempted to tell you earlier," he said gently. "Before we were interrupted by Mr. Ryan."

She gave a shake of her head. "Dear heavens, you cannot believe that you are a vampire?"

He swallowed a rueful laugh. "This is not a delusion of an unstable mind, Jocelyn. I am avampire."

"This is insanity," she whispered.

Lucien stepped forward, uncertain how to convince her of the truth without sending her fleeing in terror. He attempted to take heart from the fact that she had not bolted already. Surely he could reach her if only she would give him the opportunity.

"Please, if you would just listen to me—"

"No." She raised a hasty hand, her eyes wide with fright. "Just stay away."

His heart twisted in agony. "I will not harm you. I would never harm you. I was sent here to protect you."

"Protect me? From what?"

Lucien paused, his hands lifting to run through his thick hair. How was he possibly to tell this maiden that she was not only harboring a vampire beneath her roof, but that another was ruthlessly stalking her? And that she currently carried a powerful amulet that could very well decide the fate of all vampires.

She would think him craved.

Or, worse, blame him for the danger that now haunted her.

"This is very difficult," he muttered. "Will you at least have a seat?"

"No, I—"

"Jocelyn," he interrupted in commanding tones, his gaze catching and holding her own. "At least hear me out."

Amazingly her face paled an even more shocking shade of white, but she managed to move to a nearby chair and sat stiffly upon the edge of the cushion.

"If you insist."

Lucien briefly closed his eyes and attempted to clear his rattled thoughts. It was utterly imperative that he find the words to warn her of her impending danger without further thrusting her away. A fine balance that he was not at all certain he could discover.