A Diamond at Midnight Read Online Free Page A

filling the spot where she stood with warmth.
     
    Diamonique was gone, and he hadn’t told her about the Dark Dominion. He hadn’t been able to tell her why her life was in danger. But he would find her. She might be able to hide her presence from others, but never him. Even though he’d left her alone these last one hundred years, he’d never truly been far away.
     
    Cain closed his eyes and let his soul seek hers. It was easy enough, considering how many times he’d done it over the years. Her life essence was a sparkling light inside his dark soul. It only took seconds to see that she’d gone to her townhouse.
     
    Predictable. He would go to her, explain the peril she was in and then he would take her somewhere safe. Once he knew for certain he’d eliminated the threat to her life; he would take his time in coaxing out the Diamond he’d known so well. He’d show her immeasurable pleasure. Cain would bathe her in it, and once again, she would lower those damned walls and let him in.
     
    When he dematerialized and reappeared outside her apartment building, Cain closed his eyes and sought his beautiful Diamond. Their blood bond brought her image to him with ease. She was standing in her living room, her mind a flurry of activity. Her thoughts were on fleeing the city. Damn good idea, but she’d be leaving with him, not alone.
     
    He’d lost her for too long already. Suddenly, he no longer cared about his enemies. All he wanted was to feast on her body. To seal their bond further.
     
    Cain allowed his body to dissolve into a thousand particles of mist. He soared upwards and slipped inside her apartment, unnoticed. Once again solid muscle and flesh, he cleared his throat.
     
    Diamonique swung around, startled.
     
    “You do not take proper precautions, love. It’s too dangerous for you to let down your defenses so completely. I taught you better than that.”
     
    “Get out! You aren’t welcome here, Cain.”
     
    Anger and passion warred inside his body. He flew across the room until he stood directly in front of her, grabbed her arms, then growled, “I go where you go. You are in danger, Diamond. You may not realize it, but you are no longer safe alone.”
     
    “I’m not safe with you !” She flung back, rage showing in her gorgeous features, as she attempted to yank herself out of his arms.
     
    In a calmer tone, he murmured, “I have enemies who know of you. They wish to hurt me by killing you. So, from now on, I am your shadow. Like it or not, I don’t really give a damn. I go where you go.”
     
    Diamonique rolled her eyes. “What are you talking about? You aren’t making any sense.”
     
    Cain released her and sighed. “Sit down. I have a story to tell you.” She was hesitant, but in the end, she sat quietly and waited for him to continue. “ Sareena knew about you, Diamond. She knew I cared for you, and she sought to make me pay by going to the Dark Dominion. They tortured her, after she told them all about the ancient blood that flows in your veins. My ancient blood. They killed her.”
     
    “Go on.”
     
    “The Dominion will do anything for power. They’re twisted and depraved and believe that an ancient’s life force gives them immeasurable power, makes them stronger. It’s nonsense, of course, but there’s no reasoning with them. Their leader, Rafael, is deranged. He takes innocents and turns them immortal against their will. Crazy as it sounds Rafael thinks the stronger a person’s willpower the more potent the blood. He learned very quickly that I have a very strong will and he’ll do anything to harness that power for himself. I turned out to be the perfect prey because I had no ties. No family. My father had already tossed me to the street and forgotten about me. A nobody . More importantly, I was tough, determined. Rafael gets a real high off of forcing the stronger ones to their knees. It’s a form of pleasure to him. With me he had a lot of time to play because I