Free The Vampire's Love by Ramona Gray Page B

you. 
Otherwise, we’re all dead.”
    “Faren - “
    “Shut it,
Val.”  Faren said harshly.  “I didn’t know Joven but I’ve heard the
rumours.  He’s not known for his kindness to his slaves.  If I’ve
heard the rumours, then so has Darius and if you do anything out of character,
it’s going to make him suspicious.  The only way this is going to work is
if Darius believes you’re Joven, so be Joven for God’s sake!”
    He said the
last of this in a soft little mutter as voices were heard outside the carriage
door.  It was pulled open and a dark-haired vampire with light blue eyes
and a large, red birthmark covering the entirety of his left cheek, peered in.
    “My name is
Tavien.  Welcome, Joven.”
    “Thank
you.”  Val nodded.  He pointed to Faren.  “This is Faren. 
He is a close friend.”
    “Welcome,
Faren.”  Tavien’s gaze swept over Abby before he stepped back. 
“Come, Darius is anxious to meet you.”
    He glanced
up at Wesley and Evan who were standing next to the horses.  “Your men may
drive your carriage to the stables.  They will be fed and shown to the
slave quarters, and our slaves will bring your things to your room.”
    Val stood
and taking Abby roughly by the wrist, led her out of the carriage.  She
blinked in surprise at the large stone castle that loomed in front of
them.  It towered into the night sky and she strained to see the top of it
in the dark.  The yard and surrounding areas were lit with torches, and
she followed Val in the flickering light to the entrance of the castle. 
    Without
speaking, Tavien led the three of them into the castle.  The walls were
covered in bright tapestries and as they moved down the corridor, Abby peeked
into the rooms they passed.  They were filled with large and heavy-looking
pieces of wooden furniture, their surfaces gleaming dully in the torchlight,
and she could feel a touch of claustrophobia setting in despite the wideness of
the corridor.
    She took a
deep breath and Val gave her a quick look as they stopped in front of a large
door.  He squeezed her wrist, whether it was meant to be reassuring or a
warning she wasn’t sure, as Tavien opened the thick wooden door.
    They
followed him into the dimly-lit room and Abigail glanced around
curiously.  Like the others, this room was filled with furniture but it
was mostly heavy, plush couches and chaises.  Vampires were reclining on
most of them and nearly every one of them had a slave or two reclining on the
floor beside them.  She glanced upward.  The large room was in the
very center of the castle, and she could see some of the human slaves wandering
through the open hallways of the upper level.
    A female vampire,
her upper half completely bare except for thick gold chains layered carefully
around her neck, smiled at Val and Faren as they walked by.  Her slave, a
short, blond man, was staring worshipfully at her and she tugged absentmindedly
at his collar as they passed.  He ducked his head eagerly under her skirt
and buried his face between her legs.  Abby, her eyes wide, stared in
shock and the female vampire grinned at her before Val tugged her forward.
    They were
nearly to the middle of the room now and she watched as a tall, lean vampire
rose languidly from a large couch and moved toward them.  He almost seemed
to float and she took a calming breath as he stopped in front of them.
    He had long
black hair and light green eyes and he was, she admitted to herself, absolutely
gorgeous.  His features were delicate, almost feminine and his pale skin
was a startling contrast to his black hair.
    Val’s hand
tightened on her wrist before he spoke, “Good evening, Darius.  It is a
pleasure to finally meet you.”
    Darius studied
him for a moment.  “You are Joven?”  His voice was low and musical
and a shiver went down Abigail’s back.  Violet was hidden deep within her
hair and she could feel the pixie’s wings fluttering lightly against her scalp.
    “I
am.”