My Lord Immortality (Immortal Rogues #3)(44)

She was not about to be so easily soothed. Sebastian had been commanded to protect the Medallion She did not doubt for a moment that he would sacrifice himself to fulfill that duty.

She settled her hands upon her hips, her expression stern.

"But you said yourself that this Drake possesses powers that you do not have."

"True enough, but I was given a dagger blessed by the most powerful of vampires. If necessary, I will use it to destroy Drake."

His features remained set in determined lines, but Amelia did not miss the sudden darkening of his eyes. For the first time, she considered more than just the danger to Sebastian.

"It would be difficult for you, would it not?" she demanded.

The elegant features tightened. "The most difficult thing I have ever done."

Her expression softened in sympathy. "You were close to this vampire?"

There was a long pause before he shrugged his shoulder. "The relationships between vampires are rather different from those of humans. We are all of one family and connected by more than mere blood. When one of my brothers is lost it leaves a wound that cannot be healed."

"Oh, Sebastian." She closed the small space between them to lay her hand upon his arm. She could physically feel the dread that filled his heart. And the unmistakable sadness at the thought of harming a brother. "Is there no other way?"

He drew in a deep breath. "Who is to say? The future is not yet established. Not even a vampire is capable of peering into such murky depths."

Amelia sighed, well aware that his hope was fragile, indeed. "I am sorry, Sebastian. I did not realize how very difficult all this must be for you."

A silence descended as he regarded her with an odd expression. "You are a most astonishing maiden, Miss Hadwell," he murmured.

She lifted her brows in confusion. "Astonishing?"

"Most mortals would be mindless with terror at the realization that they were surrounded by vampires. If they were capable of believing it at all."

A most ridiculous blush threatened to rise to her cheeks. She could only wish that she deserved the obvious admiration in the silver eyes.

"To be truthful, this has all happened so swiftly I have not had proper time to think clearly,"

she admitted with grudging honesty.

His hand gently brushed her face. "You are not even furious you were put at risk by being bonded with the Medallion?"

"How could I be?" She offered an unconsciously wistful smile.

His fingers tightened. "What do you mean?"

"If not for the Medallion, we should never have met."

"Amelia..."

Whatever he was about to say was interrupted as Mrs. Benson bustled back into the room, her attention so consumed with her duties that she did not even note the couple who were standing far too close for propriety.

"All right, then, be off with you," she muttered, flapping her hands in their direction. "I can't be making proper muffins with a crowded kitchen."

Amelia sighed.

She could think of any number of things that she desired at this moment.

Unfortunately, muffins were not one of them.

Chapter Eleven

Amelia stood at the entrance to her brother's chamber. With her arms folded across her waist, she attempted to appear stern, but she could not prevent her lips from trembling with suppressed amusement.

Tucked in his bed, William had his eyes tightly squeezed shut in an effort to convince her that he was soundly asleep. It was an effort that was bound to fail. Not only did he ruin the effect by frequently opening one eye to determine if she were still there, but he had pulled the heavy blanket up to his chin.

On a night such as this, no one could desire to smother themselves in covers. Thick, stifling heat had choked London for the past two days; long after the sun had set, the unpleasant warmth remained.

She suspected that poor William must be roasting beneath his blanket.

"Already asleep, William?" she asked softly, crossing the room toward the bed.

The eyes squeezed tighter as William clutched the blanket higher.

"Sleeping," he muttered.

"Ah, that is too bad. I had thought perhaps you would like a story before bed."

His nose wrinkled as he considered the delightful treat. There were few things he preferred more than a thrilling story of knights and dragons before bed.

"Sleeping," he retorted reluctantly.

She moved ever closer to the bed. "Mmm. I suppose I can wait until tomorrow to tell you of Sir William and the magic sword."

One eye popped open. "Magic?"

"Oh, yes. A very, very powerful magical sword. And a fortunate thing, too, since he had to defeat a wicked wizard."

The other eye opened as her brother wavered. "Magic."

"Of course, you probably aren't interested in how Sir William rode upon the black dragon to attack the wizard's tower."

William wiggled, clearly torn between the danger of revealing his secret or missing the story of the brave knight.

At last he heaved a sigh. "No."

Coming to a halt at the edge of the bed, she peered down at his decidedly guilty countenance.

"William, is it not too warm for such a heavy cover?"

He clutched the blanket even tighter. "No."

She swallowed the laughter that bubbled from within. "You are not, perchance, attempting to hide anything from me, are you?"