His Ruthless Bite | Historical Paranormal Romance: Vampires (Scandals With Bite Book 4) Read Free Page A

departed as unobtrusively as he had appeared.
    After Cecil departed, Gavin lingered in the garden. He wondered how Lenore had reacted to his calling in her debt, and how she would respond to his reason for it.
    Although he’d known exactly what he wanted from her the night he’d joined his forces with the Lord of London’s to do battle with a usurper, he’d waited.
    She’d been through an unfathomable nightmare, and he wanted to give her time to recover. His spies kept him informed, and he was pleased to hear that Villar had displayed proper gratitude for Lenore’s service to him and leased a townhouse for her. Apparently before that, she slept in a crypt with London’s poorest vampires.
    Villar’s physician wife also saw her regularly, though his informants were unable to see or hear what transpired during those visits.
    But it wasn’t nearly enough. Gavin clenched his fists. After everything Lenore endured and accomplished in service of her Lord Vampire, she deserved far better recompense. And far more effort to ensure that her inner wounds healed.
    He would easily accomplish the former.
    Unfortunately, he was less confident in regards to the latter.
    ***
     
    Lenore peered out the window at the full moon nestled in a ring of silver clouds. The tranquil sight was at odds with the hammering of her heart and the jolts of the carriage on the rutted country road. In mere minutes, she would see the Lord of Rochester again… and be relinquished to him. He’d handily trapped her in this arrangement, knowing she would have no choice but to obey Lord Villar. And she mustn’t forget that she owed Rochester a debt as well. Would her moving to his lands pay her debt as well as Villar’s? Or would he want something further from her?
    In mere minutes she might learn why they called him ruthless.
    Thankfully, Lord Villar and his wife remained silent throughout the journey, as if they sensed that even mild conversation would take a toll on her jangled nerves.
    But when the carriage trundled down the driveway of a vast estate, Cassandra reached forward and patted her hand. “Breathe, Lenore.”
    Swallowing, she nodded, knotting her fists in her skirts as the conveyance rolled to a halt. Rafael exited first, helping his bride with one hand while gripping his jeweled walking stick with the other. The cane concealed a narrow, but deadly blade.
    Courage bolstered by their determination to protect her, Lenore accepted the footman’s assistance out of the carriage.
    Instead of being greeted at the door by the butler, Rochester himself met them in the drive. Somehow he looked even larger than he had when they’d first met. His eyes, black as sin, roved over her, searing her body with awareness of his danger. Quickly, she curtsied.
    His lips curved in a smile that looked oddly triumphant before he addressed them all. “Miss Graves, Lord Villar, Lady Villar. I am happy you arrived. I trust you had a pleasant journey?”
    Rafael’s eyes widened at Rochester’s greeting Lenore before a fellow Lord. Lenore met his stunned gaze and shook her head in confusion as Cassandra answered curtly, “Indeed, my lord.”
    Rochester ignored Cassandra’s suspicious tone and kept his smiling gaze on Lenore. “Splendid. Now if you’ll follow me inside, I have refreshments waiting.”
    Lenore started forward, but Rafael gripped her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.
    “First I want your oath that no harm will come to her under your care.” A thread of steel underlined Villar’s soft voice.
    For a moment Rochester’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he stared down the Lord of London, then he inclined his head. “Very well, I swear upon my honor as Lord Vampire of Rochester, that no harm will come to Lenore under my care…” His countenance darkened once more. “…unless she does something to merit punishment.”
    “Of course,” Rafael spoke through clenched teeth.
    Rochester turned to Lenore and smiled. “But I know I won’t have to