Caressed by Moonlight by Amanda J. Greene Page B

that gorgeous, powerful man all to herself. But she knew that it would never be so. She knew that he would not be faithful, that he would still go about as if he did not have a wife.
    He did desire her, but he did not love her.
    “I swore I would never marry a whoremonger.”
    He growled and snatched up her hands.
    “You are a stubborn woman, Victoria Kingston. I am willing to give you everything you want, yet you spite yourself by refusing my match and for some reason that is based on speculation. I could surprise you, I could be the best husband in the history of the world, but you wouldn't give me the chance.”
    He could give her all that she wanted. Margaret would be taken care of and that was what was really truly important. She was willing to sacrifice her happiness to a stranger for her sister, so why could she not sacrifice it to the one man in all of London that she knew best? Did it matter that he didn’t love her? He was the answer to all her problems. He would take care of her and Margaret. They would have a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and that’s what mattered.
    Swallowing her pride was hard, but she managed to say,
    “You are right. I am being foolish. I realize that this marriage is not for me, but for my sister and you meet all my requirements for a husband.”
    “You will not regret your decision.”
    His smile promised ecstasy.
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Chapter Thirteen
    Dorian mounted the steps of his home, the storm still raged and the rain pounded down. He reached for the knob and found an envelope tucked neatly above it. He plucked the paper from its resting place and continued into the house. He removed his drenched over coat and placed it on a hook to dry.
    “Good morning, sir,” Ophelia said as she brushed past him, on her way to the kitchen.
    He nodded in greeting before pushing open the doors of his study. He emptied his pockets on the desk and sighed as he went to the fire. It was madness, pure madness. That was the only way to explain his actions.
    He glanced over to the marriage license that now sat on his desk.
    Raphael had been right; he had gone insane. Dorian sighed and rubbed his temples. In his panic he asked a mortal woman to bind herself to him, a vampire. His lust had driven him to this, but he would never go back on his word.
    Dorian unseeingly gazed into the flames. He was no mortal man; he had nothing to offer a wife. He could not give her children or a love to last throughout her lifetime. She would grow old and die and he would live forever. He had to keep their time together short and that reality hurt.
    Deciding that no good could come from his thoughts, he turned his attention to the issue of home. Dorian went to his desk, opened the drawer, and pulled out the letter he had received and ripped the night before. He tossed it into the fire and watched as it shriveled and turned to ash. Then, his thoughts shifted to the envelope that he had found on his door. Dorian broke the wax seal.
    His eyes turned black as he read. Mark had nerve and it was going to get him killed. The witch taunted him with the announcement of more of his clansmen’s deaths and more threats on Victoria’s life.
    “Damn it,” he whispered, crumbling the paper in his fist.
    What was he to do now? She is human and humans are easily killed . He had no doubt that Mark and the other hunters of the Red Order would go after her. The witch had plainly stated that he was willing to harm Victoria to get to him.
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    His eyes glistened with a deadly light as he calmly fed the note to the flames. He wished he had killed more hunters this morning; maybe the dwindling number of witches would humble Mark.
    “Vlakhos?” Victoria's sweet voice called from the doorway.
    He took in a deep soothing breath while he tried to force his rage back in its cage. He could never allow her to see the monster in him. She could never know who or what he is. Dorian ran a hand through his hair and fixed his lips in the most