Melanie.”
She kissed the skin over his heart before turning her head and resting her cheek against his chest, “Happy New Year, Vaughn.”
Four
At three in the morning, Vaughn leaned against the door jam, his arms crossed over his broad chest as he frowned at his brother Armand, who sat on the floor, his long legs folded beneath his butt. The black haired bastard was wearing the silk ceremonial robes in order to cast the spell that would erase Melanie’s memory. Had he been thinking, he would have cast the spell after her had made love to her, when she was open and vulnerable; what he had planned on doing. But then she told him she wanted a gargoyle and his brain blanked as surprised joy slammed him upside his head, piercing his heart.
Even if he had cast the spell, he doubted it would have worked; his heart wouldn’t have been in it. He had no choice but to allow Armand to do what needed to be done, for her sake. It was too dangerous for a human to live in such close proximity to the creatures of their world, no matter how infatuated with her he was, not unless he was willing to give up his night and he wasn’t. Yet. At least his brother wouldn’t be able to erase his memory; he’d be able to relive his time with Melanie and no one could take that away.
“I told you it had to be taken care of; she has proven impervious to our other, less invasive methods; this is the only way.” Armand opened an eye and looked at Vaughn, “Every moment she spends in this building the risks increase; what if she sees something that her human brain cannot comprehend? Given enough time this place will drive her mad.”
“It is not necessary to explain it to me,” Vaughn growled. “I know the reasons and I agree with you, it is necessary to keep her safe. I just wish there were another way.”
Armand’s teeth ground together as he bit out, “I will not allow you to give up your nights for a human; they are fickle and treacherous.”
Vaughn’s brows drew together as he shook his head no in automatic denial, even if he briefly weighed the possibility. “If I made that choice you wouldn’t have a say in the matter.”
“You’re too optimistic for your own good, Vaughn,” Armand said calmly, which only emphasized the seriousness of his words. “You’ll lose fifty, sixty years of your life just when things are starting to get interesting.”
“I know,” Vaughn swallowed, not wanting to consider the probable outcome of giving up his nights. But how could he convince Armand that Melanie was different based on nothing more than a… a feeling? He knew the dangers, and there were many, yet he was willing to risk it all because he was captivated by a human. It was madness and yet, he didn’t care. He wanted Melanie.
Armand arched a perfect brow, “Are you prepared to give up everything for her?” At Vaughn’s marked hesitation, he smiled, “I thought not.”
“I didn’t say no,” Vaughn growled. “I barely know the girl; I’m not going to act rashly only to regret my decision for two hundred years like you did.”
Armand’s lips lifted in a rueful smile, “I was young and impetuous; you don’t have the same excuse.”
Vaughn looked away, regretting the spiteful words he uttered as they hit the mark. But as Armand shrugged out of the silk robes, revealing his naked body, Vaughn growled and pushed himself off the wall. It took everything in him to stop himself from walking over and grabbing Armand by the short hairs. “Is it necessary to cast the spell using sex?”
“She is resilient,” Armand said coolly, the flame of the candle bathing his hard body in golden light. “In orgasm, she will be vulnerable and the spell will be more… effective. Besides, there will be no actual intercourse; it is in the spiritual plane.”
“Then it’s even more insidious,” Vaughn sneered, not wanting
She kissed the skin over his heart before turning her head and resting her cheek against his chest, “Happy New Year, Vaughn.”
Four
At three in the morning, Vaughn leaned against the door jam, his arms crossed over his broad chest as he frowned at his brother Armand, who sat on the floor, his long legs folded beneath his butt. The black haired bastard was wearing the silk ceremonial robes in order to cast the spell that would erase Melanie’s memory. Had he been thinking, he would have cast the spell after her had made love to her, when she was open and vulnerable; what he had planned on doing. But then she told him she wanted a gargoyle and his brain blanked as surprised joy slammed him upside his head, piercing his heart.
Even if he had cast the spell, he doubted it would have worked; his heart wouldn’t have been in it. He had no choice but to allow Armand to do what needed to be done, for her sake. It was too dangerous for a human to live in such close proximity to the creatures of their world, no matter how infatuated with her he was, not unless he was willing to give up his night and he wasn’t. Yet. At least his brother wouldn’t be able to erase his memory; he’d be able to relive his time with Melanie and no one could take that away.
“I told you it had to be taken care of; she has proven impervious to our other, less invasive methods; this is the only way.” Armand opened an eye and looked at Vaughn, “Every moment she spends in this building the risks increase; what if she sees something that her human brain cannot comprehend? Given enough time this place will drive her mad.”
“It is not necessary to explain it to me,” Vaughn growled. “I know the reasons and I agree with you, it is necessary to keep her safe. I just wish there were another way.”
Armand’s teeth ground together as he bit out, “I will not allow you to give up your nights for a human; they are fickle and treacherous.”
Vaughn’s brows drew together as he shook his head no in automatic denial, even if he briefly weighed the possibility. “If I made that choice you wouldn’t have a say in the matter.”
“You’re too optimistic for your own good, Vaughn,” Armand said calmly, which only emphasized the seriousness of his words. “You’ll lose fifty, sixty years of your life just when things are starting to get interesting.”
“I know,” Vaughn swallowed, not wanting to consider the probable outcome of giving up his nights. But how could he convince Armand that Melanie was different based on nothing more than a… a feeling? He knew the dangers, and there were many, yet he was willing to risk it all because he was captivated by a human. It was madness and yet, he didn’t care. He wanted Melanie.
Armand arched a perfect brow, “Are you prepared to give up everything for her?” At Vaughn’s marked hesitation, he smiled, “I thought not.”
“I didn’t say no,” Vaughn growled. “I barely know the girl; I’m not going to act rashly only to regret my decision for two hundred years like you did.”
Armand’s lips lifted in a rueful smile, “I was young and impetuous; you don’t have the same excuse.”
Vaughn looked away, regretting the spiteful words he uttered as they hit the mark. But as Armand shrugged out of the silk robes, revealing his naked body, Vaughn growled and pushed himself off the wall. It took everything in him to stop himself from walking over and grabbing Armand by the short hairs. “Is it necessary to cast the spell using sex?”
“She is resilient,” Armand said coolly, the flame of the candle bathing his hard body in golden light. “In orgasm, she will be vulnerable and the spell will be more… effective. Besides, there will be no actual intercourse; it is in the spiritual plane.”
“Then it’s even more insidious,” Vaughn sneered, not wanting
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