"Sebastian?" she prompted as the silence stretched.
He grimaced at her expectant expression. "You can be very stubborn."
"Yes."
"And far too persistent."
"Yes."
A reluctant smile twitched at his lips. "Ah, Amelia, what am I to do with you?"
"What is it you desire to do with me?"
Stillness cloaked him at her unwitting words, the silver eyes darkening with a dangerous awareness.
"That is a very intriguing question, my dear."
Amelia did not miss the sudden tension that crackled in the air. Hell's bells, she would have to be dead not to have noticed. It seared over her skin and raced through her blood. Still, she grimly refused to be distracted upon this occasion.
"Sebastian, tell me of the binding," she said in a determined tone.
Just for a moment he hesitated, as if debating whether or not to deny her request; then, with a faint sigh, he loosened his grip on her hands and took a step backward. Amelia instantly felt the loss of his comforting touch.
"It is what I suppose mortals would consider falling in love," he grudgingly explained. "Unlike mortals, however, such love is not mere emotion that may well fade over time. Instead, vampires become a part of one another."
"A part of one another..."
Amelia slowly nodded her head. Yes. That was precisely what she felt.
"That is why I sense you even when you are not near? And why I can feel the very beat of your heart?"
His gaze briefly strayed to where her own heart beat a rapid tattoo against her chest.
"That is a part of the bonding."
"Only a part?" she prompted.
The slender fingers rose, to thrust through the bronze thickness of his hair. His movement caused the muscles of his chest to bunch and flex in a most fascinating manner. Amelia ruthlessly bit the side of her tongue to keep her thoughts from straying down unwelcome paths.
"When a vampire discovers his true mate they share what is known as the Immortal Kiss," he continued at last. "It is the sharing of blood that creates an unbreakable connection. They become one heart, one soul, one mind."
"Oh, that is beautiful," she murmured softly, oddly not at all disturbed by the thought of such an intimate joining. Perhaps it was because she had already experienced the tentative edges of binding. Or perhaps it was simply the realization that being eternally connected with this gentleman was something to be cherished, not feared. "Is there a vampire that you have shared this Immortal Kiss with?"
His lips twitched. "No. It happens but once and lasts for all eternity."
"Oh." Her brows drew together. "But..."
"What?"
Her wistful imaginings were suddenly shadowed by a prosaically human fear. "I am not a vampire. How could I feel such things?"
He paused a long moment, his gaze lowering to the golden amulet that glowed with unnatural light in the dark room.
"I believe that the Medallion has made you far more sensitive than most mortals." His smile was tender. "In truth, I often forget that you are human."
She briefly touched the warm Medallion, her frown remaining intact. Yes, the Medallion had altered her. Perhaps in more ways than she knew. Yet, her concern remained firmly focused upon Sebastian rather than herself.
Whatever happened in the future, she had no regrets for having allowed Sebastian into her heart. It did not matter that he was a vampire, or even that he might very well leave her alone and unable ever to love again. He had opened her heart to the beauty and the wonder of truly joining her soul with another. He had taught her the perilous excitement of passion. What he had given her was a gift beyond price and one she would cherish forever. Or for as long as she had, she wryly amended.
Unfortunately, she feared that Sebastian was not nearly so accepting of the sudden, fierce whirlwind that had drawn them together.
"What will happen?" she asked softly.
The silver gaze moved over her pale features. "What do you mean?"
She stepped closer to him. "What will happen when you return to the Veil? Will you be able to resume the life you had before you came to London?"
"No." His expression was somber as he slowly reached to take her hand. Keeping her gaze firmly locked with his own, he pressed her hand to the center of his chest. "The Veil protects us from bloodlust, but not from our own foolishness. You shall be a part of me no matter where I am."
She felt the beat of his heart beneath her fingers, but more than that, she felt it deep within her.
That steady, relentless beat that was now a part of her own pulse."I am sorry."
He appeared startled by her words. "Why do you apologize?"
"This binding—it does not please you."
His breath rasped sharply through his teeth. "No, Amelia. You are mistaken. It pleases me very much."
It pleased him? He certainly had a strange way of showing it.
"Then why do you avoid me?"
Beneath her fingers she could feel the sudden jerk of his heart.
"Because I do not trust myself when I am alone with you, Amelia. Without the Veil, my passions are ... difficult to manage."
She was once again forced to remind herself to breathe. Odd. She had never forgotten to breathe before she met Sebastian. But then, before Sebastian she had never felt as if she were drowning in a gentleman's gaze, or battled the urge to rub against bare male skin.
"Oh. I thought that you must not share my feelings. Or if you did, that you must regret them."
A hint of amusement flashed through his eyes. "I have attempted to make myself feel regret. I was, after all, quite content with my peaceful, scholarly existence."
"And did you succeed?"
"Not even for a moment." Gently he lifted her fingers to press them to his warm lips. "I thought I could rationally choose what would bring me contentment. Fate, however, has decided otherwise."
Amelia gave up on her attempts to catch her breath. Instead, she gazed deep into his eyes with a sense of wonderment. She wished she could capture and hold this moment forever.
"Sebastian ..." Her words froze upon her lips. The giddy delight that filled her was abruptly stabbed with a malevolent sense of impending danger. Her eyes widened as she felt Sebastian stiffen in similar awareness. "What is that?"
"Drake." With blinding speed, Sebastian had reached down to slip the dagger from his high boots.
Amelia lifted her hands to her throat. Just for a moment she had been able to forget about the ruthless killer who stalked her. Now she was brought firmly back to earth and a shudder raced through her.
"He is close."
"Remain here," he commanded as he turned to move toward the door.
She bit her lip as a powerful fear clutched at her stomach. "Sebastian, be careful."
He took only two steps before coming to a reluctant halt. "Bloody hell. It is too late." Spinning toward her, Sebastian pointed toward the heavy desk that dominated the room. "Get over there."
Amelia did not hesitate to obey. The mere thought of facing the bloodthirsty vampire was enough to make her tremble in terror.
As fast as she moved, however, she had barely reached the desk when a bone-deep chill entered the room. With wide eyes she watched Drake Ramone step into the library with slow, deliberate motions.
Almost inanely, she noted the perfect cut of his black coat and ivory breeches. Even his curls had been carefully crimped and brushed toward the thin face.
A perfect gentleman, she grimly acknowledged, unless one looked close enough to perceive the flat deadness of his eyes and the cold cruelty of his mouth.
A cruelty made even worse when a sneering smile curved the thin lips.
"Well, well, Sebastian," he drawled as he deliberately regarded the taller gentleman's bare chest. "It appears that you are not entirely the eunuch that I feared. Of course, I cannot approve of your taste. Mortals are so utterly repulsive to discriminating vampires."
Sebastian's expression remained stoically indifferent to the insult. "What are you doing here, Drake?"
"I wished to speak with Miss Hadwell." Slightly turning, the intruder performed a mocking bow toward the desk. "Good evening, my dear."
Although consumed with a choking fear, Amelia managed to tilt her chin to what she hoped was an imperious angle.
"I have no desire to speak with you."
Lethal fury flashed through the pale eyes before the taunting smile was forcibly returned to his lips.
"What you desire matters little, my dear. I have given you the opportunity to be sensible. Now, I fear I must be more direct."
Her hands instinctively shifted to grasp the amulet about her neck. "I will not give you the Medallion."
"Oh, I believe you will."
Across the room, Sebastian abruptly stepped toward his brother vampire, his expression set in determined lines.
"It will never belong to you, Drake."
"My words are for Miss Hadwell," the intruder snarled, his hands clenched at his side. "And after this evening I doubt your bothersome interference will be welcome."