Read Online When Passion Lies: A Shadow Keepers Novel by J. K. Beck - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J. K. Beck
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painful.
Horatius had stood then, and he’d looked into the sun as if praying. Tiberius never learned what he’d asked, but the old man hunched over and hoisted Tiberius gently into his cart. As Tiberius slipped in and out of consciousness, they made the long trek to the village where Horatius left Tiberius in the care of the one creature on all the earth who could save him—Magnus, a vampire.
The vampire did not change him right away, but he fed Tiberius his blood and restored him to health even as Horatius watched. And that very night, Tiberius swore an oath to protect Horatius and his family, for he owed the old man a debt that could never truly be repaid.
Throughout the years, Magnus continued to feed him blood, strengthening him. And at the end of five years, he told Tiberius what he’d learned about Tiberius’s heritage. About his royal blood, and about the cousin who had betrayed him. He offered Tiberius a choice—Magnus could either help Tiberius return to the life from which he’d been banished, or he could grant Tiberius the gift of immortality.
Tiberius had accepted the latter without hesitation. The human world had almost destroyed him. He had no desire to return. Within the shadow world, however, he wanted power. And revenge.
“Kill Claudius,” Magnus said calmly. “I have no objection to that plan. But do not build your future on vengeance. The blood of leaders flows in your veins, but you are stepping into a new world where such things do not matter. It is your character and not your blood that will see you rise. Lead them, Tiberius. You have suffered much, and that is your gift to the masses. You can lead because you understand what it is like to have no voice. It is your privilege and your duty. Lead the vampires, and then lead the world.”
And so Magnus had changed him. And exactly one year later, he’d walked off into the desert, and Tiberius had never heard from him again.
Magnus had saved him, fueled his purpose, given him the strength to find his destiny. Horatius had shared his own strength, had shown him common kindness, and had ultimately led Tiberius into love’s embrace.
How ironic that it was ultimately the clash of duty and love that had lost him that which he’d valued most in all the world.
Caris
.
A sharp knock sounded at his door, fast and urgent, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Come in!”
The door burst open and Mrs. Todd bustled in. “Are you all right, sir? I’ve been knocking and knocking.”
“I’m fine. What is it?”
“It’s Caris, sir. The guard just buzzed from the gate. She’s entered the grounds.”
For hours he’d been waiting, and yet now that she was here the thought of seeing her again weighed heavily on him. It pained his heart to look upon her. To remember what they once had—and the reasons why she was no longer part of his life.
But that was the man in him talking.
The politician needed to know why she’d killed Cyrus Reinholt.
And the man?
The man curled his hand around the photograph, and counted the seconds until he saw her again.
CHAPTER 7
The mansion looked the same as it always had. Sprawling. Stodgy. English.
It was massive, containing both residential and office wings, not to mention the ballrooms for entertaining and the recreation and workout facilities. A self-contained little paradise populated by more than three hundred vampires including guests and permanent staff.
There’d been a time when Caris had walked the halls freely. When she’d been the one eyeing strangers and wondering if they might be bringing mayhem into their world.
She didn’t want to spread mayhem. She just wanted the hell out of this place that once upon a time she couldn’t have imagined leaving.
“This is our home now,” Tiberius had said back when they’d walked in triumph through the doors after his victorious return to London following the death of the hybrid. Tomas had conceded his position, and Tiberius and Caris had moved
Horatius had stood then, and he’d looked into the sun as if praying. Tiberius never learned what he’d asked, but the old man hunched over and hoisted Tiberius gently into his cart. As Tiberius slipped in and out of consciousness, they made the long trek to the village where Horatius left Tiberius in the care of the one creature on all the earth who could save him—Magnus, a vampire.
The vampire did not change him right away, but he fed Tiberius his blood and restored him to health even as Horatius watched. And that very night, Tiberius swore an oath to protect Horatius and his family, for he owed the old man a debt that could never truly be repaid.
Throughout the years, Magnus continued to feed him blood, strengthening him. And at the end of five years, he told Tiberius what he’d learned about Tiberius’s heritage. About his royal blood, and about the cousin who had betrayed him. He offered Tiberius a choice—Magnus could either help Tiberius return to the life from which he’d been banished, or he could grant Tiberius the gift of immortality.
Tiberius had accepted the latter without hesitation. The human world had almost destroyed him. He had no desire to return. Within the shadow world, however, he wanted power. And revenge.
“Kill Claudius,” Magnus said calmly. “I have no objection to that plan. But do not build your future on vengeance. The blood of leaders flows in your veins, but you are stepping into a new world where such things do not matter. It is your character and not your blood that will see you rise. Lead them, Tiberius. You have suffered much, and that is your gift to the masses. You can lead because you understand what it is like to have no voice. It is your privilege and your duty. Lead the vampires, and then lead the world.”
And so Magnus had changed him. And exactly one year later, he’d walked off into the desert, and Tiberius had never heard from him again.
Magnus had saved him, fueled his purpose, given him the strength to find his destiny. Horatius had shared his own strength, had shown him common kindness, and had ultimately led Tiberius into love’s embrace.
How ironic that it was ultimately the clash of duty and love that had lost him that which he’d valued most in all the world.
Caris
.
A sharp knock sounded at his door, fast and urgent, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Come in!”
The door burst open and Mrs. Todd bustled in. “Are you all right, sir? I’ve been knocking and knocking.”
“I’m fine. What is it?”
“It’s Caris, sir. The guard just buzzed from the gate. She’s entered the grounds.”
For hours he’d been waiting, and yet now that she was here the thought of seeing her again weighed heavily on him. It pained his heart to look upon her. To remember what they once had—and the reasons why she was no longer part of his life.
But that was the man in him talking.
The politician needed to know why she’d killed Cyrus Reinholt.
And the man?
The man curled his hand around the photograph, and counted the seconds until he saw her again.
CHAPTER 7
The mansion looked the same as it always had. Sprawling. Stodgy. English.
It was massive, containing both residential and office wings, not to mention the ballrooms for entertaining and the recreation and workout facilities. A self-contained little paradise populated by more than three hundred vampires including guests and permanent staff.
There’d been a time when Caris had walked the halls freely. When she’d been the one eyeing strangers and wondering if they might be bringing mayhem into their world.
She didn’t want to spread mayhem. She just wanted the hell out of this place that once upon a time she couldn’t have imagined leaving.
“This is our home now,” Tiberius had said back when they’d walked in triumph through the doors after his victorious return to London following the death of the hybrid. Tomas had conceded his position, and Tiberius and Caris had moved
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