Page 58 of Dark Embrace

“Sarah, my darling, I would not have left you alone had I a choice,” her father said. “But it was better for me to die, to remove myself from your life. I have watched you from the shadows. Guarded you as best I could. I dared not be near you, for I was afraid both of what I might do to you, and of what you might think of the aberration I have become. But...you already know. You—” His gaze shot toKillian.

“Mr. Lowell,” Killian interjected. “You have been killing patients at King’sCollege.”

With a gasp, Sarah shook her head, reminding herself exactly why they had lured him to this place. Because of the murders.Murders.And Killian meant to end the string of deaths by terminating thekiller.

“What? King’s College?” Her father scrubbed his palms over his face. Dropping his hands, he glanced first at Sarah, then Killian. He seemed to sink into himself as he made a gesture of futility. “Yes. I saw no other course, no way to slake the hunger. I took only those who were suffering. Only those who would die regardless. You know, I can sense that now. I can feel death clinging to every breath. I know who will not survive, no matter what medical machinations areoffered.”

Sarah glanced at Killian. That was how he knew which patients would not benefit from any intervention. He, too, could sensedeath.

“So you chose with care.” Killian’s lips turned in a faint smile, and his tone was one of understanding. “I admire both your restraint and your compassion. It is common for the newly turned to feed in a mad frenzy without thought or care. That you held yourself from that isadmirable.”

Something in his tone made Sarah’s breath catch.Somethingdark.

Admirable or not, he would kill herfather.

She could not let him. But, oh God, her father was himself amurderer.

Her gaze jerked to Killian’s, and she found him studying her, his eyes flat, his expression ruthlessly neutral. There was a sinister side to what he was. He had warned herofthat.

“Killian,” she whispered, even as her father said, “Sarah—”

Killian’s gray eyes gleamed in the darkness, holding her trapped, breathless. He had told her this. He had told her of the murderers and thieves that he had fed from. Was her father to be his nextvictim?

“No, love. That is not the way of it,” Killian said with a shake ofhishead.

Love. She drew a sharp breath, stunned by the term. Killian would not use itlightly.

“For five centuries I have been alone.” He cast a sidelong glance at her father. “And now I go from being completely alone, to having a complete family, including a father-in-law who is a fledgling I must needs tutor.” He made a wry smile. “There is a certain dark ironyinthat.”

Her thoughts whirling, Sarah could only gape at him, trying to understand hismeaning.

Killian inclined his head to her father, and said, “If you would afford us a moment ofprivacy,sir?”

Without waiting for a reply, he took her hand and drew her off into theshadows.

“You called him your father-in-law,”Sarahsaid.

“I did. I’ll marry you if you’llhaveme.”

Sarah lifted her brows and pressed her lips together. “Was that meant to be aproposal?”

Killian laughed softly. “The first I’ve ever made to any woman. And the last.” His gaze grew somber, and the teasing glint disappeared. “Do not answer me right away, love, only listen to what I offer. I want toturnyou.”

“Turn me?” Even as she echoed the words, his meaning became clear. He wanted her to be as he was. “Killian—”

“Please—” he pressed his fingers to her lips “—hear me out.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “You asked me if I loved you. I knew I wanted you. I knew I respected you. I knew I treasured you. I did not believe I loved you because I did not believe myself capableoflove.”

She swallowed, staring up at him, her heart thudding a painfulrhythm.

“But in this alley when faced with the need to terminate the interloper, I could not because of the pain it would cause you. When faced with the instinct to stop the creature that could expose us all, I could not because of the pain it would cause you. When I realized that he was your father, the joy that swelled inside me on your behalf was brighter than a sunrise. What I feel for you is deeper than instinct, stronger than my hunger, greater than any need I have ever known. If it would benefit you in some way, I would walk into the sun. So it appears that the monster is capable of loveafterall.”

“Killian,” she whispered, choking on her tears. He leaned in and kissed them where they traced down hercheek.

“I want to share eternity with you,” he said. “To show you the world. To never see you grow a day older than you are now. To watch civilizations evolve and change until there are women who are physicians and surgeons and you are one of them.” His expression grew solemn. “But there is a price. Both your father and I were turned without knowing the full extent of what we would become. If you choose this, love, if you choose me, I need you to make that choice with fullunderstanding.

“So say nothing yet, my love. Make no hasty decision.” He pulled her against him, and brushed his lips across hers. “Stay with me, Sarah. Be my light, my love. And when you are ready, only then give me youranswer.”

Her heart swelled and she could only offer a mute nod. It was too much, too much. Killian loved her. He loved her and he wanted her for exactly who she was. And he offered her theworld.