The Peacekkeeper Journals: The Joining [Book 1] Read online

  "He is not for you, human,” she spat. “He is mine.” She leaned against Gallegar, stroking his arm with fingers tipped in scarlet. Her eyes glowed red with anger.

  Kira didn't spare the women a glance. She kept her stare fastened on Gallegar. “I am Peacekeeper,” she repeated to him. “I am for you."

  "Enough of this!” Gallegar commanded.

  The guards backed away toward their stations and most of the vampires settled back down at the table, watching Kira curiously. The redhead squeezed Gallegar's arm possessively and glaring at Kira, sent a spiral of power stabbing toward her.

  "No, Charlotte.” The words were spoken softly, yet with absolute command in them. Charlotte hissed angrily and hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to obey.

  "Charlotte.” His voice was irritated now and Charlotte's face went very pale. She withdrew the power immediately.

  Gallegar turned and looked at her, his eyes hard and angry.

  Charlotte let go of his arm and moved away from him. There was silence at the table before Gallegar rose to his feet. He stood there, studying Kira.

  Kira looked up at him. She had thought him attractive in her visions, but in person he was devastating. Six feet tall with curling black hair that fell to his shoulders, he looked as Black Irish as his voice sounded. His face was darker than most vampires and strong, with deep green eyes and firm sensuous lips. His nose was straight; his jaw powerful.

  He was dressed in a pair of black slacks that hugged his body, showing his muscled thighs and rear. His shirt was also black, tight fitting and unbuttoned so his well-built chest showed through.

  Wow, Kira thought as she moistened suddenly dry lips. Her heart beat a little faster. She wondered if being captivated by Gallegar was part of the deal. Her attention was dragged back to his words when he spoke. His power rolled out to her.

  "Come to me,” Gallegar intoned. His voice flowed smoothly over her and wrapped itself around her body. “Come to me, Peacekeeper."

  He is trying to hypnotize me. Kira felt the effect of his power on her. She smiled and walked toward him, but gently used her own power to push his away as she climbed the stairs. Her eyes glowed as she made her way around the table and stood before him.

  She saw in his eyes he knew what she had done and her gaze flicked to the other vampires at the table. They all were watching intently, wondering.

  "I come before you on my own. You need no power to summon me.” She put her hand on his chest. “I am Peacekeeper. You are for me. I am for you."

  His body felt warm and she was surprised. Somewhere in her mind, she thought he would be cool to the touch. After all, wasn't he dead? She wondered at the need she felt to run her hand over his chest.

  Gallegar stared down at her. She wasn't affected by his voice and she wasn't afraid of him. He glanced down the table and found the other lesser vampires watching closely. If they thought he couldn't handle this woman, there could be problems down the line. A king remained a king only by showing his strength.

  This Kira knew the Words of Death. That alone made her a threat. The fact he couldn't control her made her much more dangerous. Knowing he was attracted to her was another problem. He would deal with this in another way.

  "Peacekeeper...” Gallegar bowed and smiled at Kira. “You come to me with great understanding of our ways. Obviously you have something of importance to tell me. Let us retire to a more private place so we may speak of this more freely.” So he could remove her as a danger to his people.

  "As you wish, King Gallegar.” Kira trustingly removed her hand from his chest and he tucked it into the crook of his arm.

  "My office is just over here,” Gallegar gestured. He led her down the steps and through the tables. He telepathically told the vampires to continue without him; he would take care of the woman himself.

  He threw Charlotte a warning glance, but she wasn't looking at him. Her red lips were thrust out in a pout. He grimaced to himself. She was getting too possessive for his liking.

  * * * *

  The office was not what Kira expected. It was a comfortable room, done in wood with green accents. A large antique wooden desk sat almost dead center with a comfortable green cushioned chair behind it. The desk was covered in neat piles of papers and a glass of red wine sat forgotten on the blotter. There were paintings on the walls, all landscapes, and Kira had the feeling she was seeing bits of Ireland in the art. A comfortable couch and chairs were placed to the left of the desk.

  Gallegar led Kira to the couch, seated her, and then moved to the opposite wall where a bar stood.

  "Do you wish a drink?” Gallegar inquired, his brow arching in question. “My hospitality has not been at its best for you."

  Kira shook her head. It was hard to think now that they were alone. She hadn't expected him to be such a distraction or so handsome. He was a vampire. Could she be attracted to a vampire? She hadn't been warned of this feeling.

  She wasn't sure exactly what she needed to do next. She hoped it would come to her as the rest had. Kira watched as Gallegar poured clear amber liquid into a crystal glass and then moved toward her. He glided rather than walked and she wondered if this was an otherworldly, vampire thing. He was so virile her palms began to sweat as she watched him. She tore her gaze away and looked appreciatively around the room.

  Gallegar saw the barely perceptible frown on her smooth forehead. “Looking for my coffin?” He quirked his lips with amusement as Kira blushed. “My resting place is kept in darkness. It wouldn't do well for me to have it opened accidentally in the daytime light."

  "Vampires cannot go outside in the daytime.” She saw his nod of agreement. “Do you have to go into a coffin?"

  "All feel safer there. Lesser vampires must rest during the daytime hours to regain their strength. Vampires like myself who have more power do not have to sleep away the day unless we choose to. I, myself, find coffins ... confining."

  "So what do you use?"

  Gallegar leaned toward Kira and smiled at her seductively. Her head started to swim.

  "I use what every red-blooded American male uses. A king-size bed.” He ran a long finger down her cheek, making her shiver. “Why all the questions, Peacekeeper?"

  Kira frowned again, not sure she was comfortable with him so close to her. His touch made her forget what she wanted to say. She blinked a few times, before capturing the thought.

  "Ummm ... I am curious about you. Your kind is the first I have spoken to. I wish to learn more about them. And I must learn what I can about you."

  "Why me?"

  "You are their leader, their king. If I am to join with you, I must understand you."

  "So you can destroy us?” Gallegar's eyes narrowed and his voice grew harsh.

  "No!” Kira answered sharply. “I am here to help your people. To protect them. I am Peacekeeper."

  Gallegar rushed to his feet in a smooth motion that brought a gasp to Kira's lips. “What is this Peacekeeper you keep speaking of? What do you want with us?"

  "I am Peacekeeper.” Kira stated, her heart in her mouth. He towered over her. He was angry and she could feel his power stirring under his skin. She wanted him to understand, but since she did not have all the facts herself, she didn't quite know how.

  "How can you protect my people? You, who know the Words of Death to kill them.” Gallegar's emerald eyes glowed angrily at her.

  Kira gazed up at him. Her visions brought her to him. She knew exactly where to find him and how to introduce herself to him, but now that it was time for full explanations, she was at a loss as to how to start. If only his eyes weren't so green. If only just looking at him didn't make her tremble. She closed her eyes a moment to regroup.

  "I could have killed the vampire outside if I had wanted to, but I did not.” Kira looked up at him. “I am not here to hurt your people. I am here for you."

  Gallegar stared down at the small woman before him. Her scent was doing strange things to his brain. All he could think of was w
rapping her in his arms and ... He shook his head to clear it. She still looked at him, her brow furrowed. He cleared his throat.

  "You wish to kill me?"

  She shook her head. “I come from a past I do not remember. Sent on a mission I do not yet fully understand. All I know is that I was sent to you. You are for me. I am for you. I do not know what more to say to you!"

  Angry now at herself and tired of having to stare up at him, she reached up and took Gallegar's wrist in both hands to tug him back down on the couch beside her. Off balance he dropped his glass and fell half on top of her. Kira released his wrist and put her hands on his chest to push him off, but froze as she felt his body against hers.

  The long sleek lines of him rested heavily on her, forcing her to lie back on the couch. His scent was all male and Kira's body softened and trembled in response. Gulping, she wriggled, trying to get out from under him but stopped instantly when he groaned softly.

  Peering up at him, she saw his eyes were closed and his lips had tightened. His arms had come down on each side of her, trapping her beneath him, and she could see the muscles had corded in them in an effort not to move.

  Then she noticed something else.

  Where his hips lay half on her, she could feel his male arousal pressing hard against her soft thigh.

  Gallegar couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He felt her softness beneath him. He sensed the very life that flowed through her veins. He wanted to press himself fully against her. Move his hips between the junction of her thighs and find his release. He wanted to sink his teeth into the pulsing vein at her neck and drink the freshness of her life.

  He had never wanted so fast ... so ferociously.

  "Peacekeeper,” he growled, moving his lips so they rested on her throat. It was all he could do to control the emotions sweeping over him. Passion, need, and something more. It felt so familiar, her lying here with him. Who was this woman? He kissed her neck.

  "If you have come for me ... give yourself to me.” He ground his hips intimately, softly against hers. “Give all of yourself to me."

  Kira gasped at the feeling of their bodies moving together. Her femininity instinctively took command over her. Her bones became languid and the trembling grew stronger. Desire flooded her newly awakened body. The tenseness slipped away. She felt his knee slipping gently between her legs, but she wasn't afraid of him. She wanted the closeness. She wanted ... something. Something more than what he spoke of. Her brain shut down, but Kira didn't care. It felt so right laying there in his arms. This was what she had come here for. His lips at her throat ... kissing her ... nibbling. A vampire nibbling at her throat.

  Kira's head cleared and she tensed. A vampire at her throat! What was she doing? Had she allowed him this close because he had enthralled her? Was it the feelings of familiarity and need that had caused this?

  She struggled. “No! King Gallegar, stop! I ... I do not want this!"

  "It is too late to stop.” Gallegar rasped. “You are here with me. I will have you, and my people will be safe.” He ignored the wonderful way she felt pressed against him. His first duty was to his flock.

  "Please!” Kira struggled harder. “I do not want to hurt you. You must let me go! This is not what was meant."

  Gallegar fisted his hand into Kira's hair and raised her head so she could look at him. His eyes glowed greenly in his face. “It is too late,” he whispered. Jerking her head to the right, he sank his teeth into the vein in her throat that beat with life.

  Kira stiffened and screamed in pain.

  "No! No! No!” she screamed. “Stop! Please...” Her words grew disjointed and breathy as she continued to struggle.

  Gallegar tasted her blood as it flowed into his mouth. Fresh, innocent, with a spice that told of enormous power. He felt the strength of that power moving from her to him. He had never had anything like it. It energized him. He wanted more. He wanted all. God ... how he wanted her. Wanted to be in her.

  He didn't hear her screaming. He was concentrating on her taste and the feel of her beneath him. He didn't hear her began to speak the words of power until they shot into him with the pain of a burning stake.

  "Emshaw dre kadeck

  Morelaw non vobesce."

  Gallegar gasped and took his teeth from Kira's throat. The burning was horrible. It captured his entire body and licked it with flame. He heard Kira crying, telling him to let her go, but the taste of her blood magick was so strong he couldn't make himself release her. Instead, he buried his teeth back into her neck and sucked down the power-giving blood.

  "Emshaw dre kadeck

  Morelaw non vobesce."

  The pain of the burning stabbed through his body a second time, leaving him writhing in its wake. His blood lust was hard to tame. Though he stopped drinking, he would not, could not remove his fangs from her throat. He was being consumed from the inside out with fire, but even that wasn't enough to make him pull away.

  Kira knew she was moving toward unconsciousness. She was failing. Failing whoever had sent her here, failing herself, and failing Gallegar. If she died, then her cause was lost. If he died, her cause was lost as well. He was the one she had been sent to. He was the one she needed. Something about him drew her heart.

  With her last gleam of consciousness, she made her decision. “I cannot kill you,” she whispered in his ear. “I am for you. You are for me. Please, Gallegar, be at peace."

  She sent a soothing beam of power into Gallegar's body and then slumped against him, unconscious.

  Gallegar groaned as the burning disappeared. His body felt strong and able again. Even more so, because he was drunk with the blood of great power. He heard her words and somehow he knew the truth in them. He wanted desperately to believe her, but what of his people? Could he take that chance?

  When Kira fluttered back to consciousness, she knew Gallegar had stopped feeding, but his fangs were still pressed against her neck. She felt exhausted and weepy. What would he do? What more could she do to prove herself to him?

  Kira sighed. She was already so tired.

  Suddenly, a soft breeze flowed over the room and with it came a Power both strong and gentle at the same time.

  Gallegar raised his head from Kira's throat. He tested the Power as it moved toward them. It had the same flavor as Kira's, yet it was somewhat different. Somewhat like the taste of the blood of a mother and a child.

  "Oh, thank you.” Kira's voice was broken. “I am so glad you are here. I do not know what to do. I have failed you.” She suddenly began weeping.

  Gallegar wanted to put his arms around her protectively. The Power moved into his head.

  "Good, good,” he heard it croon softly to him. “You are to protect her. That is why she was sent to you. Let go of your fear. She is not here to harm you."

  "Who are you?” Gallegar spoke as softly as the voice. He didn't move yet. Didn't touch Kira any differently. “Who is she?"

  The Power chuckled. “So cautious, so careful. Do you not remember this woman? Do you not yet remember where you have seen her?"

  Gallegar shook his head and, as soon as he did so, his mind filled with a vision. It was familiar to him. The night sky filled his mind. Stars twinkled and the smell of a stream came from nearby. He looked around and saw a huge oak tree standing before him, its branches spread out over his head. Beneath it stretched a carpet of moon flowers, sacred to the vampire since the beginning of time, for they are one of the few flowers that bloom by the light of the moon.

  "I have been here before,” Gallegar stated quietly. “I have been here in my dreams."

  Chapter 2

  "I have sent this dream to you for over a century, trying to prepare you. Let the dream flow. Remember what you have forgotten."

  Gallegar focused on the flowers under the tree. He smelled their sweet fragrance as he walked toward the base of the tree. He heard the soft call of an owl and the answering trill of the night birds. When he reached his goal, he saw, caught in the shadows, a figure lea
ning against the tree.

  "Come out from there,” Gallegar called. “Who are you?” He paused, waiting tensely in the center of the moon flowers as the person came into the light. He caught his breath as he recognized Kira emerging from the shadows.

  She wore a long, flowing, white dress. Her hair was down and fell gently against her swaying hips. A crown of moon flowers topped her head. Her eyes glowed gold. A smile curved her lips as she looked at him.

  "I am for you ... Gallegar, King of the Vampires. You are for me."

  She moved toward him and he was caught, frozen in the moment. As she neared, he held out his arms and sighed with pleasure as she walked into them.

  He held her tightly. “I am for you, A Ghra ... You are for me."

  With a rush, Gallegar pulled back into himself, and he found he was still lying on the couch, but now he held Kira gently in his arms. How many times had he seen her there in the moonlight? It was a dream he'd had over and over again.

  He sighed and hugged Kira to him. “I remember now."

  "The rest will come to you as you need it. Be strong for her, Gallegar, Vampire King. She has a long, hard duty that lies ahead of her.” The Power moved over Gallegar like a cool cloth, soothing him. “You can either make it more difficult, or give her ease."

  "Kira, my daughter. Be strong and listen to counsel. All will be well. Listen for my voice when you are confused. I will always be with you."

  Kira felt a kiss press to her brow.

  The Power spoke with command in its voice. “Now it is time for you to join with each other. Nothing more can be done without joining."

  Kira opened her mouth to ask how to join, but was interrupted by the Power's soft laugh.

  "You will know how when the time comes. Learn to listen to your heart, for it is there I will speak to you."

  "Wait,” Gallegar said, his eyes moving around the room as if trying to find the essence of the Power. “Tell us who you are."

  "I am one who has always been. I have many names. But who I am is not important. Why I have sent Kira to you ... is. Her mission will help save your world. Treat her well, Vampire King, and you will have all of forever together. Remember this ... her strength will come out of your love for each other. Farewell..."