My Lord Vampire (Immortal Rogues #1)(46)

Reluctantly waiting until they had managed to make their way toward the edge of town, she at last gave in to the anxiety that was beginning to form in the pit of her stomach.

“Has something occurred?” she demanded as they turned onto the side path that led to the meadow where they had so recently shared their picnic.

He paused before giving a small nod of his head. “I had a visit from a mutual friend this morning.”

Her heart gave an uncomfortable leap. “Mr. Soltern?”

“No. An old gypsy woman.”

“Oh.” Simone considered his revelation. She had already discovered that the gypsy was acquainted with Gideon, but she had never sensed anything to fear in the old woman. In fact, she had always been oddly at peace when she was in her company. “What did she desire?”

“She has commanded that I tell you the truth of myself,” he said in abrupt tones.

Simone stilled, not at all certain she was prepared to hear the truth. Once he spoke the words she realized that there would be no going back to the way her life had been before.

“She commanded you?” she asked, desperate to keep the conversation from coming to its inevitable conclusion.

“When Nefri speaks a wise ... gentleman listens.”

“Nefri? That is her name?”

“Yes.”

“And she has some authority over you?”

Gideon gave a strained chuckle. “Over all of us. She is not only powerful, she is a scholar of the ancient arts.”

“You ... you are a gypsy?” she demanded, even as she knew that she was being a fool.

“No.” Bringing the horses to a halt, Gideon vaulted to the ground and tied off the reins. Then, rounding the tilbury he helped her to alight. “Shall we take a stroll?”

Hesitating for a moment, Simone at last gave a reluctant nod of her head. Clearly Gideon was determined that she would hear his confession whether she wished to or not.

“Very well.”

Pulling her arm through his own he led her across the lovely meadow, his features tight with inner emotion.

“This is very difficult,” he at last admitted in low tones. “I do not wish to frighten you.”

“Then perhaps it would be best to keep your secrets for now,” Simone cowardly urged.

He flashed her a wry smile, as if perfectly aware of her unease. “No, it is too important that you trust me,” he said, slowly coming to a halt and grasping her shoulders so that she was forced to face him. “Simone, you must have guessed by now that I am not a mortal.”

She was shaking her head even before he finished, her stomach churning with fear.

“No, Gideon, I ...”

“I am a vampire.” He overrode her desperate words with a firm tone.

“What?” The world jerked to a halt as she regarded him in shock. He was mad. Or she was. “No. There is no such thing.”

His fingers tightened upon her shoulders as if sensing how close she was to fleeing in anguish.

“They are very real, although we left the world of humans nearly two centuries ago. Now we live in peace behind the Veil. Or at least we did until three renegades fled to London with the intention of destroying our world.”

Simone could barely comprehend his words.

A vampire.

They were the stuff of gothic novels and children’s nightmares. Horrifying monsters that sucked the blood of the unwary and lived in the shadows.

They were not handsome, elegant gentlemen who lived in London and stole the hearts of susceptible women.

“No,” she whispered in denial.

The dark eyes softened with regret as he regarded her barely restrained panic.

“Simone, there is no reason to fear me. I will not harm you.”

She shook her head at his calming words. “I do not believe you. You must be out of your wits.”

“Listen to me,” he urged softly. “The old gypsy is in fact the most powerful of vampires. Long ago she used an ancient artifact to produce the Veil. When the renegades escaped they came in search of the artifact to bring an end to the Veil and to use the power for their own glory. I was sent to halt them.”

Pressing a hand to her stomach she attempted to catch her elusive breath. It helped to assure herself that this was all a terrible dream and that soon she would awaken to discover she was safely tucked in her bed.

“Mr. Soltern?” she demanded in oddly thick tones.

He gave a slow nod of his head. “Yes, he is one of the traitors.”

Which, of course, meant that he was also a vampire. Simone shuddered in horror. The man had been in her home. He had touched her.

“And the artifact?”

“It was a Medallion that Nefri wisely divided and offered to three mortal women. She bound them with a spell that ensures that they cannot be taken by force, only freely given.”

Simone’s hand lifted to the gold amulet that lay against her skin.

“My necklace.”

“Yes.”

A heavy silence descended as Simone’s thoughts whirled through her head too swiftly to follow. It was all so impossible. Vampires and Medallions and strange veils. That did not even include gypsies and traitors.

No sane woman would believe it for a moment.

“You are a vampire,” she said in dull tones, as if saying the words would somehow waken her from the wretched dream.