Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 36

"I have a question I've been dying to ask," Dawn said, as she and Nikolas left the massive dining room and headed towards the library. They walked hand in hand. Their pace was slow as they ended their tour of Wyndemere.

"Yes?"

"Is there a reason why he always wears black?" Dawn asked.

"None, that I know of," Nikolas replied, subconsciously stiffening at the mention of Stefan. On their second day under Wyndemere's roof, they had finally gotten around to what Nikolas had wanted to do the day before. Now that he was able to share this time with Dawn and show her Wyndemere on his own terms, he didn't want any thoughts of Stefan to intrude on them.

"What's wrong?" Dawn asked, displaying her uncanny ability to distinguish Nikolas' many moods. She'd felt him react oddly whenever she inadvertently mentioned Stefan and this time, she wanted to know why.

"Nothing," Nikolas said, as they entered the library, and he closed the door behind them.

"I don't believe you," Dawn said as she turned to face him.

"Well, believe this," Nikolas said, dramatically pulling her into his arms. He bent his head to kiss her, but was stopped by a firm hand, placed squarely on his chest, pushing him away.

"You think you can distract me with those luscious lips of yours, don't you?" Dawn asked, with a small smile hinting around the corner of her lips. When Nikolas playfully puckered his lips, she laughed softly and continued in all seriousness. "Baby, what's wrong? Did Stefan say something? You can tell me. I promise to not lose it, if he did. Scouts' honor."

"Dawn..." Nikolas began. As he looked into her trusting brown eyes, he found that the words refused to come. He couldn't tell her that his uncle made unfounded comments about his feelings for her. He knew that, even though she hadn't complained or said one negative word, she still had many misgivings about life at Wyndemere. He had watched her when she wasn't aware of him. He saw how she wrapped her arms protectively around herself as she moved from room to room. He saw how uncomfortable she felt whenever the servants approached her. He also saw the light in her eyes which refused to diminish, and he would die before he caused that light to die out. And somehow, he knew that if she learned of Stefan's ideas, the light would flicker and quite possibly, the love she felt for him would disappear, as well. He couldn't let any of that happen.

"I'm waiting," she said as she moved out of his arms and placed her hands on her hips.

"Darling, nothing happened between Uncle and me. I just had a little talk with him to clarify a few things, that's all."

"Clarify what things?" Dawn asked, moving to cross her arms. Her eyes held his as she wondered for the first time, if he was telling her the truth.

"About us," he said, pulling her into his arms. He smiled when the tension left her body, and she wrapped arms around him. Holding her close, he said, "I told him that our stay at Wyndemere would be a temporary one, and that sooner or later, we would leave. Is that okay with you?"

"Oh, Nikky, that's perfect with me." She cupped his face between her hands and stood on tiptoe as she brought her lips to his.

Their tender kisses were brought to an end when a light tap interrupted them. Nikolas raised his head and called, "Come in."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you have a visitor," Mrs. Landsbury said, her eyes moving from Dawn to rest on Nikolas. As long as she lived, she doubted if she would ever fully accept that her little Nikky was old enough to marry, let alone soon be a father himself. Where did the time go, she wondered.

"Who's the visitor, Mrs. Landsbury? Do you think you could send whoever it is away?" Nikolas asked with a teasing smile. He looked at Dawn who was doing her best to stifle a giggle as Mrs. Landsbury beamed from Nikolas' playfulness. She could see that Mrs. Landsbury and Nikolas shared a special relationship. She was confident that in time, she and Mrs. Landsbury would forge their own relationship as well.