You are hearing him as he wishes you to do so. He can manipulate with his voice alone.
It was Lucian’s voice that allowed her to unmask the undead and his illusion of soft gentleness. Lucian’s voice was purity itself, the sound so perfect it was almost not of the world. Now, in contrast, the vampire’s tone grated like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Jaxon tilted her head a bit coquettishly. “I happen to like the peace of the mountains. Even in the storm, it is beautiful up here. Where did you come from? Is there a town nearby?”
The vampire moved slightly, a stirring of strength, his eyes glittering and red-rimmed. “Where is the one who would protect you?”
Jaxon shrugged. “He often leaves for long absences. One of power challenged him, and Lucian doesn’t like to be challenged.”
An elegant eyebrow shot up. “Lucian? You have named one long thought dead. This cannot be. Lucian is vampire. All Carpathians know this.”
“I know only that he calls himself Lucian and says I am to stay with him always. He doesn’t treat me the way I thought he would.”
“Tell me what your name is.”
“Jaxon.” She moved away from him, shifting to one side and back to maintain distance as he glided forward. She moved with grace, with feminine, sensuous gestures that kept the vampire’s attention centered directly on her. Her stomach was knotting, clenching and unclenching. She made a concentrated effort to keep her hands at her sides. She felt Lucian in her mind, strong and powerful and completely confident. There was no way she could be anything but confident herself. They were one being, one mind, and one heart and soul.
“Who are you?” Jaxon sounded excessively flirty. She felt Lucian wince and stopped herself from smiling.
The vampire bowed again, his manner as courtly as ever. “I am Sir Robert Townsend.”
Jaxon widened her eyes to stare up at him in feigned awe. “You’re a knight? For real?”
Overhead, the tree branches shook and trembled. From the top of the trees a second male descended. This one was as tall and thin and pasty as the legendary Dracula had been described. When he smiled, his teeth appeared jagged and stained. His eyes were flat and cold yet glowed a fiery red. His gaze was on the other vampire. “Good evening, Robbie. I hope you are not regaling the young lady with your lies, trying to impress her with false titles.”
A slow hiss escaped Townsend’s throat. Red flames began to dance in the depths of his eyes. “Leave this place, Phillipe. You are not wanted here. The lady and I are talking. Go and find yourself your own woman.”
The newcomer smiled, a grim challenge, very clearly a warning. “I have tolerated your presence, Robbie, only because you could be of use. But now I have what I have searched for, and you are more trouble than you are worth. I say to you, be gone.”
Townsend hissed again, a growl rumbling deep within his throat. He took a step closer to Jaxon. She was careful not to be caught between them. It would be difficult to defend herself against two of them; she would much rather face one at a time. Her insides were trembling with the realization of the monsters she was facing. Not human. They were evil, two of them stalking her and a third somewhere unseen. Close. She could feel he was close.
“The woman has come here to be with me, Phillipe, not with you. I have put up with your ridiculous ego for far too long.”
Jaxon sent Sir Robert Townsend a dynamite smile, lashes sweeping down. The tip of her tongue came out to moisten her bottom lip, calling attention to its lush fullness.
Phillipe snarled and leaped at the younger vampire, flying through the air with incredible speed, faster than Jaxon expected. She had seen the memories in Lucian’s mind, but the real thing was terrifying. The two vampires came together in a clash of fangs and claws. The sight was horrifying. As they fought each other, they continually shifted shape, one animal after another, hideous growls issuing from their throats.