Free Sophia by D. B. Reynolds Page A

was one of those she recognized from a photo the efficient Larissa had included in her file. There were three others, none of whom she knew, but all of them, including Wei Chen were watching her closely, their power simmering just below the point of challenge, ready to defend their Sire. Letting her gaze travel farther, she saw Duncan crossing to the far side of the room, toward a huge bank of glass overlooking the valley below. As she entered, he turned to take up a position next to a vampire who could only be Raphael.
    Sophia couldn’t help it. She sucked in a breath, her gaze riveted on the big vampire sitting in the place of honor. Why had no one warned her of his sheer presence ? He fairly vibrated with power. It distorted the air around him and zinged painfully along her nerve endings as she fought to keep up a cool front. She’d thought her master Lucien was powerful, and he was. But he’d never had power like this, had never sought to hone his strength to anything beyond what it took for the loose governance of his territory, spending most of his time and energy on pleasure and foolish games. Sophia wasted a few precious seconds regretting her own foolishness in spending so many years dancing through the hot, humid streets of Rio , instead of cultivating her power. And she cursed Lucien yet again for encouraging his children to do nothing but play during their long lives.
    Raphael, she knew instantly, did not play at life. He was power in its truest form, power whetted to the finest edge and knowing no equal.
    But while the vampire part of her took note of his power—and kept her own carefully tamped down to avoid even a breath of offense—the woman she still was took note of his beauty. Even as a human, he must have been formidable, well over six feet and broad of shoulder, with short cut black hair and unusual black eyes. There was the slightest flicker of silver in those eyes, evidence of his ready power. As if he’d need it, surrounded as he was by so many of his own powerful children.
    Sophia was abruptly thankful she’d taken care with her appearance. Knowing her figure-hugging sweater and black leggings highlighted what were very feminine curves, and that the knee-high boots with their stiletto heels added attractive length to her legs. She swept her long coat behind her and dropped into the graceful curtsey she’d learned hundreds of years ago at her nanny’s knee.
    “Lord Raphael,” she said, pitching her voice deliberately into a low, sensuous purr. “Sophia Micaela Angelina de Sandoval y Rojas, in loyal service to my Sire, Lucien Guiscard, Lord of the Canadian Territories .”
    She looked up, meeting his gaze intentionally. “But between us, my lord,” she said. “Sophia will suffice.”
    Raphael eyed her dispassionately, giving no indication that he considered her anything but a nuisance. The skinny human woman draped over his shoulder was another matter. She was studying Sophia with undisguised dislike, her right hand dipping briefly beneath her short leather jacket where . . . Meu Deus , the woman was carrying a weapon! Sophia shifted her gaze back to Raphael, who had clearly noticed the human’s reaction and would no doubt chastise her for it.
    But instead, the vampire lord slid his hand off the chair arm and onto the woman’s leg in a clear signal that was not lost on Sophia. Nor was the smug look in the human’s green gaze or her tiny smile of victory. Bitch.
    Sophia shifted her attention away from the human, meeting Raphael’s eyes and letting her own register a polite disappointment, even as she bowed her head in respect.
    “Where is Lucien, Sophia?” Raphael asked, his voice a burr of velvet-sheathed power against her skin.
    Sophia’s head came up, her gaze meeting his once again. “My lord, I had hoped to find him here.”
    She saw Duncan shift slightly, heard the intake of breath from the vampires behind her, and knew with cold certainty that her Sire was not in Seattle . Or