Kiss of the Sun Read online

  He looked at her with understanding. Darius bowed his head and released the clasp to his most precious possession. Over her protests Darius worked the clasp to his medallion around her slim neck.

  He eyed the captured mortals. “This is my personal sign of protection. Any foul deed done to she who wears it is also a foul deed done to me. Roman."

  "Yes, my King?"

  "Tell these children what the consequences are for an act against one such as me."

  "Death."

  Marsha looked at him with a speculative smile. “And what of our punishment, dear Darius?"

  Water forced its way into her throat. “You will address him with respect, mortal.” Bethany ordered.

  "Our punishment, sir.” Marsha choked the words out.

  Darius thought for a moment. “All vampires in my city are being informed of what the five of you did tonight. You will find it quite hard to get a decent job in the best areas of Vampire City. No vampire will help any of you unless I say otherwise.

  "Luckily the mortals of this city can choose what they want. Now get out of my sight."

  Darius turned to Rosalind, dismissing the mortals from his mind. He put his arms under her body to lift her, but she could not smother her sudden cry.

  Bethany stepped forward. “My King. She cannot handle being touched. The pain is too great."

  "Thank you, Bethany. For your kindness to Rosalind I will give you whatever you desire."

  Bethany's eyes widened, but only for a moment. “I do not need to be rewarded for being kind, Darius. I just want to be Rosalind's friend."

  Rosalind opened her eyes to Bethany. “I would like a female friend, thank you, Bethany.” Rosalind took a deep breath and had to concentrate to levitate her body from the ground.

  "Will you stop that!” Darius shouted.

  She grabbed her suddenly aching head. Whenever she inadvertently angered Darius a headache was her reward. “Sorry, oh great one,” she whispered with light sarcasm.

  "Insults sound better when you actually try, Rozzy.” Darius stood and lifted Rosalind's injured form gracefully from the ground.

  The smoothness of his energy around her was always impressive. “I'm hungry."

  "So am I. I was getting ready to feed when Bethany called Roman,” Darius informed her with a smile of anticipation.

  Rosalind managed a look of disgust as he deposited her in the back of his vehicle. “Trust me, I know. I always know."

  All three vampires looked at her with surprise. “How do you know when I am going to feed?"

  "How should I know? All I can tell you is the closer I am to you the better the reception.” She tapped her own temple. “Knowing when you are having a female for...” She stopped herself from completing that sentence. She rubbed her still aching head. The pain was getting worse.

  "Is that why you were so far away form the mansion?” he asked coldly.

  "Do you think I like knowing when you are bucking your lovers? Feeding from them at the height of your orgasms?” She grabbed her head. A scream formed in her throat.

  "Damn it, Darius! Shield now. You are hurting her,” Roman ordered his friend.

  Darius automatically lifted all of his mental shields. Instantly he noticed some of her color returning. “I don't want this. She is only seventeen years old,” he whispered his plea over and over.

  Rosalind lay back in confusion. Only the vampires heard Darius’ plea and understood the implications.

  Three days later when Rosalind Kincaid was able to move without pain Bethany, her new bodyguard, friend, and roommate, took her house hunting.

  Rosalind, age 26

  Rosalind pushed the overflowing cart further down the empty aisle. Working in the Library gave her the peace she craved. Her own company, old books, and dusty video discs. They didn't look at her with contempt or fear. They didn't treat her with kid gloves or indifference.

  "With thoughts like that I would think you did not like me, Roz."

  Rosalind didn't jump in surprise anymore when she heard her mentor and friend behind her. “I don't put you in those categories, Niko, and you know it.” She turned to him as she spoke. She had to raise her neck to see into his familiar green eyes. His black hair hung past his shoulders. He looked like a high school delinquent ready for trouble. If Rosalind had not been raised by him she would never had thought him to be a vampire, let alone an elder. She knew that put him over three thousand years old, but no one exactly knew how old the vampire was.

  "Of course I know. Otherwise you wouldn't be running the Library."

  "Which you own,” she finished for him.

  He gave her one of his genuine smiles. “Where is Beth today?"

  Rosalind couldn't help but laugh. “Roman caught her sending him,” she wriggled her brows, “mental pictures of herself missing specific articles of clothing."

  "Poor Roman,” was all the elder said.

  "Excuse me, Rosalind,” a woman whispered from the end of the aisle.

  Rosalind turned. “Yes, Mrs. Wilson?"

  "I wanted to bring you this card my grandson wanted you to have."

  "A card?"

  "As a thank you for the party in the park last week."

  "Party in the park?” Niko inquired.

  "Something I do for the children.” She gave him a slight smile. “The children don't judge me by my abilities."

  "Got it, Roz.” Niko knew all about how judgmental humans could be.

  Roz made her way around the cart to get to Mrs. Wilson's side. She was an elder mortal whom Roz couldn't believe was out by herself. “Come, Mrs. Wilson. Let's sit down.” Rosalind laid her hand on the woman's arm to lead her away.

  Rosalind swayed from the woman. Dizzying flashes went through her head. One then another, then another, and another, then more until all she could feel was stinging pain in her eyes and through her brain. She heard voices but couldn't tell if they were real or imagined. The images began to clear: she could see Mrs. Wilson cooking in a kitchen. Rosalind assumed it was the woman's kitchen. She stirred and tasted with a finesse Rosalind could only imagine.

  The images darken around the edges as Mrs. Wilson's right hand flew to her chest. Rosalind could feel her own chest constrict in pain, and her own lungs cease working as the woman fell to the floor.

  "I'm sorry.” Rosalind fell to the darkness.

  "Rosalind! Rosalind, wake up, kid!"

  Rosalind felt an annoying tug on her hair. She swiped it away. “Go away."

  "Roz, if you don't wake up I am getting Darius.” The threat was real.

  She bolted upright. “I need him like I need another headache."

  "Is she okay, Mr. Richman?"

  Rosalind looked toward the voice. Mrs. Wilson. “Oh, dear lord.” She whispered in dismay. “It was real.” She looked at Niko. “It was real, Niko,” she whispered again through her tears.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. I'll take it from here.” When the mortal was gone he sat next to Rosalind. “Talk to me. Tell me what you saw."

  Rosalind looked at him with sorrow. “Her death."

  Niko closed his eyes in sympathy. For all the talents this woman could receive he would not wish the Touch of Death on anyone. “I'm sorry, Rosalind."

  Despite the shaking of her body, Roz stood from the couch. “I have to go. I need to think."

  "Come back whenever you are ready, Roz.” He couldn't stop her. Niko knew this was something else she would have to deal with in her own way, even if he wished it differently. Her life would never be easy. Never be quiet. Never be normal, no matter how many times she wished differently.

  Roz didn't stop to think of why he was being so accepting, when he couldn't possibly understand what this could mean for her future. She left the Library and ran until she found the one place she could forget for a few hours.

  "Rosalind, you should not be here,” a voice said from behind the long bar.

  That's what I like about you, Will Thompson. You always say what is on your mind."
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br />   "Then why don't you ever listen?"

  "Will, if I wanted to listen I would still be living in the mansion."

  "What can I get you then, Roz?"

  "The closest to this you can get.” She threw him a small disk with a recipe on it.

  He quickly scanned it, “Damn, Roz."

  "Just do it, Will. I need something.” She laid her head on the table as she watched her mortal friend mix the merchandise. Finding good vodka was getting harder to do.

  Within minutes her ingredients were put together in his self made blender. Will had never trusted the upgrades that blended by order. He preferred doing everything with his own hands. At least that way no one could kill him quicker. She rolled her eyes. He had always been an oddball. Even to her. When he went for a glass she grabbed the container from his hands and walked to the darkest corner of the bar, missing Will's mad dash to the phone.

  * * * *

  "This is the mansion,” a voice informed him.

  "This is about Rosalind,” Was all Will had to say.

  "One moment."

  Will waited barely five seconds before he was on the line. “Is she there?"

  "With her own list of ingredients."

  "I just bet you gave it to her as well."

  "Disappointing Roz is your job.” After a moment of terse silence he finished the sentence, “Sir."

  "Where is she?"

  Will turned toward the crowd and almost dropped the phone. “She skipped out.” He barely suppressed a shudder when the phone slammed in his ear.

  * * * *

  "Roman, find Rosalind!"

  "Sorry, boss. The woman recognizes my touch now. Pretty impressive how quickly she can build physic walls when she isn't even one of us.” His blue eyes stared into the wall over Darius’ shoulder.

  "She is telepathic. So, Niko must have shown her how to block trespassers.

  "What about Bethany?” Roman asked.

  Darius shook his head. “Bethany and I agreed I would not order her to speak with Rosalind telepathically for me unless there was imminent danger."

  "Why would Rosalind be at Will's Tavern when she is supposed to be at work?"

  "That woman drives me nuts. Where is Niko?"

  "Right here,” Niko answered from the doorway. “You aren't going to like this."

  "What did she do now?"

  "It isn't what she had done, Darius. It is what she has gained."

  Darius tensed. “Another power,” he guessed.

  "A mortal came into the Library earlier tonight. Rosalind touched her. She saw visions of this human's death just by a single touch, Darius. Rosalind has been given the Touch of Death. I have never seen a mortal with this power."

  "Jesus,” Roman whispered from his perch on the chair.

  "I saw it once,” Darius said, almost to himself. “The man could barely stand to touch of others without going mad."

  "What happened to him?” Niko asked.

  Darius turned to him with a sad expression. “He threw himself off of a cliff."

  Roman stood. “Rosalind's getting drunk as we speak."

  "Where is Bethany?” Niko demanded of Roman.

  Roman looked at his King. “Imminent danger, my King?"

  Darius stared out the window, willing it to rain softly. “Yes, Roman. Imminent danger."

  * * * *

  Roman ran for the stairs, climbing them five at a time until he came to the first door. “Bethany!” he yelled even as she was opening it.

  She was pale and shaky. “Rosalind, what happened to Rosalind!'

  Roman picked her up and was back in the gathering room within seconds. “Link,” he ordered as second in command next to the King.

  She closed her eyes and led him to her link with Rosalind. Her mental psi connection to Rosalind was their own personal communication between one another. Not even the King could override it. Only in the direst of circumstances were others allowed into a personal psi link between two vampires.

  "Bloody hell.” He pulled off immediately and closed the link so it no longer affected Bethany.

  "No, Roman! Open it back up."

  "She is killing you, Beth."

  No, I did it myself. She can't handle it all."

  "What do you mean?"

  "She is in a mortal area."

  "Drunk,” Niko added.

  Roman got the picture. “With a fragile hold on her powers and trying to control a new and potentially dangerous power."

  "Oh, shit.” Four vampires spoke as one.

  The door flew open, letting in the rain and a woman followed by a man carrying a sleeping Rosalind in his arms. “Oh, shit is right, boys and girl."

  "The Historians.” Bethany said in awe.

  "Veronica,” The extremely tall woman corrected.

  "Mason,” the male said as he transferred Rosalind from his arms to Darius, who had jumped across the room to get to her.

  Without a word he took her to her old room and laid her gently across the bed. “Is she sleeping?"

  "Short circuit more likely,” Veronica informed him.

  "What?"

  "Too much data at once. The Death Touch usually only works on skin to skin contact, but since she is also telepathic, and then decided to get drunk on some serious moonshine, she was receiving more data than her brain could process,” Veronica explained.

  "Leaves a hell of a headache,” Mason added.

  "Tell me about it,” Rosalind whispered as she rubbed the grime from her eyes.

  "You might want to get out of the way, Darius,” Roman cautioned.

  "Why?"

  "You domineering asshole!” Rosalind used what strength she had to punch him in the jaw.

  "That is why,” Roman said sympathetically.

  He glared at Roman as he rubbed his jaw and lifted himself from the floor. “You are supposed to make sure things like that don't happen to me."

  "Not when it is Rosalind."

  "Hello! I am right here. Darius, I cannot believe you commanded Will to call you whenever I showed up at the bar."

  He just looked at her. “How do you know I commanded him?"

  "Oh, please. If you had requested it Will would have said no."

  "Why is that, Rosalind?” he asked coldly.

  "Getting off of subject, Darius. You kicked me out of here when you found out I knew who you fucked regularly. That means you have no say in my life."

  He ignored the pain in his chest just has he ignored the venom in her eyes. “Then why do you still wear my necklace?” he demanded.

  "It isn't because I like you!” she lied smoothly.

  "Rosalind,” he warned.

  "Like you don't know,” she muttered.

  "Bethany, what is she talking about?"

  "I can't say, my King."

  "Excuse me?” He looked at her with fire in his eyes.

  Bethany spoke first. “Anything spoken in confidence with Rosalind stays in confidence and between friends.” She defended her position.

  "Leave her alone, Darius,” Rosalind spoke, her burst of strength gone. “She is one of the few friends that I have."

  "Rozzy, why do you still wear the charm?” he whispered.

  Rosalind slowly opened her eyes. “When you gave it to me mortals stopped tormenting me. I am afraid if I take it off it will give them permission to start again.” With that confession she fell into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.

  The Next Evening

  Darius awoke from his slumber to the sounds of hysterical screaming. Rosalind, it had to be Rosalind. By the time he dressed and made it to her room it was filled with vampires. Bethany was trying to comfort Rosalind. Niko and Roman were trying to empty out the room.

  "Get out,” he ordered.

  When the room was emptied by all but Roman, himself, Niko and Bethany, he spoke. “What happened, Bethany?"

  "I don't know, Darius. She was walking around the room. She complained of a head ache then collapsed."

  "What about the screaming?"
>
  Bethany looked down. “I am sorry, my King. This is beyond my knowledge."

  The doors to the terrace opened, and Veronica entered the mansion alongside Mason.

  "One day you will tell me how you know when to come,” Niko muttered.

  "One day.” Mason stopped beside Darius and watched as Veronica sat with Rosalind.

  She placed a hand on her shivering shoulder. “Rosalind.” Veronica closed her eyes and let herself be surrounded by Rosalind's torment. “How many mortals are in the house?"

  "Dozens."

  "Get them out until she can protect herself from them."

  "Niko. Bethany."

  They bowed their head in respect. “Yes, my King.” The two vampires went to fulfill their King's demand.

  "Roman, you are the King's second, are you not?” Mason asked.

  "I am."

  "We will need your King's presence for a few days. Can you handle that?"

  "I can."

  "Good."

  Roman looked to Darius for confirmation. He waited for Darius’ slight nod before bowing and leaving the room.

  "You are a strong Link, Darius. We taught you well. Now it is your turn to teach your mortal how to safeguard her own mind from mortals and vampires."

  Darius did not bother to correct them about whose mortal she was. They would think whatever they wanted to anyway.

  Darius knelt next to Rosalind's still form. He braced himself for the torment flowing through her body. With one touch he was sucked into her hell. Still frames of mortals he knew passed before his eyes. There was pain and happiness, but mostly there was Rosalind's confusion. She couldn't separate her senses.

  He closed his eyes and concentrated on her confusion. Slowly, minute by minute he helped her build the wall guarding her confused mind. Piece by piece they worked, frame by frame they built her wall. Higher and higher it went until the only voice he heard was Rosalind's. The only voice she heard was Darius.

  If only he could tell her about the Link they now shared, the connection that would forever connect their two minds together with a simple thought. But he knew for her safety, for her happiness, they would both be better off if she never knew.

  It was a Link only for mates, vampire couples destined to be mates forever. But, he was the King. Always in danger. Too much responsibility for such a beautiful mortal woman. His Chosen Mate. No one would know but him. He carefully pulled from her mind. Careful not to show her more.