Arielle Immortal Fury (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 6)

  Arielle Immortal Fury

  The Immortal

  Rapture Series

  Volume 6

  Lilian Roberts

  Booktrope Editions

  Seattle, WA 2014

  COPYRIGHT 2014 LILIAN ROBERTS

  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

  Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

  Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

  No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

  Inquiries about additional permissions

  should be directed to: info@booktrope.com

  Cover Design by Shari Ryan

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.

  PRINT ISBN 978-1-62015-510-3

  EPUB ISBN 978-1-62015-526-4

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2014915877

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Sneak Peek: Arielle Immortal Struggle

  About the Author

  More from Lilian Roberts & Booktrope

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank the people that supported my efforts to get through the sixth book in the Immortal Rapture Series.

  Thank you to my husband, for his patience and encouragement to continue on. He has never complained about the long hours I have spent in front of the computer, working on this series.

  Many thanks once again to my amazing editor Jacy Mackin, for guiding me through the challenging parts of the manuscript.

  Thank you to my Booktrope proofreader Lydia Johnson and cover designer, Shari Ryan.

  Thanks to Sarka-Jonae Miller for her ongoing, tireless support.

  I want to thank my beautiful daughter Christy, for believing in me and supporting my ideas. I truly appreciate her great suggestion, which improved the MS.

  A huge thanks to my lovely niece Jiolanda, who never stopped believing in me, and my ideas.

  Kat Sheridan, for taking a manuscript of more than 70,000 words, and crafting a brief synopsis that would give readers a vivid peek into the story.

  And finally, sincere thanks to all the friends and fans who enthusiastically supported me, motivating me to get the next volume ready for publication.

  For my granddaughter Corina,

  There are no riches beyond your existence and no joy bigger than that of your smile.

  Chapter 1

  GASTON ENTERED THROUGH the balcony doors and strode purposely across the room. Arielle watched him, worrying that the shiver his reappearance caused was apparent. The crowd parted in Gaston’s wake, and then he was standing in front of Sebastian, holding him with a hard glare. She didn’t like the expression on his face or the anger that shimmered in his blue eyes. Her jaw tightened, and she moved closer to Eva. Sebastian’s expression was impassive. She looked at his brothers. Anton and Marcus were engaged in deep conversation and never saw Gaston approach. Gabrielle’s gaze flipped from Eva to Arielle, pinning them with a questioning look.

  The tense moment stretched and held, making the girls quite uncomfortable. No words had been exchanged, just silence thick enough to be sliced with a knife. The sudden quietness brought Anton's and Marcus’s attention back to the group. They appeared surprised by the obvious intensity between Gaston and Sebastian. After sharing a quick glance, they moved closer to their brother’s side.

  “What’s wrong?” Marcus asked.

  Despite his commanding tone, neither Sebastian nor Gaston turned to look at him or reply to his question. Sebastian seemed unmoved, a dispassionate smile on his beautiful face. Fuming emotions emanated from Gaston's eyes. Marcus’ eyebrows furrowed in surprise, and he turned his quizzical gaze to Anton. He too looked stunned, as if unable to understand this type of behavior between the two best friends. His shrug admitted that he had absolutely no idea what was going on between Gaston and Sebastian.

  “I’m not going to back down on this!” Gaston finally spat out, taking everyone by surprise. The icy tone of his voice made Arielle swallow hard. Fear of Gaston’s immortal powers was rooted deep inside her. She was afraid for Sebastian and his brothers, because they were unaware of the horrible strengths that Gaston possessed.

  Suddenly, her stomach heaved violently, and for a second, she thought she was going to throw up. She drew in a shaky breath and lost her footing. Before anyone had a chance to say another word, she started to collapse. Both Gaston and Sebastian instantly turned and reached for her, but Marcus was already there, holding her steady and stopping her fall. The relief in their faces was palpable, and their differences seemed to disappear.

  Gaston’s eyes swept quickly over Arielle’s face, and his anger vanished. “Are you all right?” he asked, his voice tender. His words washed over her like icy tidal waves.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” Arielle said.

  Sebastian and Gaston leaned closer to Arielle. The move didn’t seem to escape anyone.

  “What on God’s earth is this all about?” Marcus asked again, staring hard at the two men.

  No one listened to Marcus. Sebastian and Gaston once again boldly faced each other.

  Gaston clenched his teeth and firmly stated, “Like I said, I am not backing off this time, Sebastian.”

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to,” Sebastian replied dispassionately.

  Anton moved closer to the two men. He grabbed Sebastian’s arm, making him face him. “We have no idea what is going on between you two, but it has to stop right here, right now,” he said through gritted teeth. “This is Mother’s annual affair, and it means the world to her. I’m not going to let you spoil it.” Frost coated Anton’s voice. He shook Sebastian firmly, getting his complete attention. “Do you understand me?” he asked, pinning him with a cold stare. Sebastian blinked. His brother’s tone took him aback. He sighed mightily and nodded.

  “You’ve been best friends your entire lives, so you need to get over this...this…whatever this is,” he said again, waving his arm aimlessly. “Nothing is important enough to destroy this kind of friendship.”

  As if a conductor waved a baton, both heads turned and stared at Arielle intently. Her eyes widened.

  Why in bloody hell are they staring at me? Pursing her lips, she refrained from getting involved or asking any questions. She shifted from one leg to the other, and reaching over, she clasped Gabrielle’s hand.

  Anton followed the move of Arielle’s hand with a frown. The girls linked their hands, and there was a guarded look on their faces. He allowed himself a short moment to attempt to grasp the situation. Realization sank in his
brain quickly, and his attention turned to Sebastian and Gaston.

  He cleared his throat and, gripping their shoulders, he leaned closer. “I have no idea what’s going on between you two, but I’m warning you both to take this outside!” He spit the words out, voice cold as ice.

  Gaston’s jaw clenched and his fists curled to his side, but both men nodded in agreement. Gaston turned to Arielle, and his eyes met hers. “You owe me a dance, Miss Young,” he said with a soft smile. He took her hand, pulling her towards the dance floor. Arielle followed, seeking to avoid an incident. Sebastian didn’t try to stop Gaston; he just stood still, watching them walk away.

  Looking back, Arielle noticed a smile that spoke volumes playing at the corners of his lovely lips. She dropped her eyes and frowned at the thought of her emotions being exposed unconsciously.

  Can it be possible that he knows even in this century how quickly he turns my world upside down? A wave of anxiety stirred through her, making her quiver. She swallowed hard. Eva’s words flashed through her mind. You can’t let him know who you are.

  Gaston’s voice broke through her reverie, startling her. “Arielle, I don’t want you to believe a word that Sebastian tells you. He plays a dirty game when it comes to girls, and I don’t want you to be one of those girls.”

  “He didn’t say anything to me. But even if he had, I’m an adult. I can take care of myself, and I’m not going to play your silly games. I already have a serious suitor back home.” Arielle was aware of the firmness in her voice. She wanted him to understand that she wasn’t interested in him.

  He glanced at her, not taking her reply well. His fingers pinched the tip of his nose, a sign of extraordinary frustration among immortals.

  The music lingered, frustrating Arielle. She wanted to get as far away from Gaston as possible. As soon as the music stopped, she pulled away. Turning on her heel, she walked toward Gabby and Eva at a brisk pace. His voice made her stop in her tracks.

  “Arielle, I always get what I want, and you are what I want forever forward.”

  How strange! She spun around toward the dance floor and yelp inwardly, shocked to find him standing right in front of her. She had left him in the middle of the dance floor, but there he was, practically nose-to-nose with her. She couldn’t believe that he would use his speed in front of this crowd, but looking around, she realized nobody was paying attention to them. Her body was throbbing now, and her hands were shaking with anger. A multitude of thoughts swirled in her head. She racked her brain trying to remember where she’d heard those words before, and why, upon hearing them, she ached in a painful way. Suddenly, her body tensed. Matt’s face appeared vividly in her mind, and she gasped quietly.

  “I mean it, Arielle. I’m not joking.” Gaston’s voice was hard. He tried to lock their gaze, a mocking look on his face.

  She felt uneasy, dragging in a deep breath and pretending to be unaffected. She was worried about the word “forever,” as she knew that to be a true statement for an immortal. She wondered how this would affect her when she returned to her time. Would he appear in her century and try to disturb her life with Sebastian? No, that was crazy! She chuckled at the thought. He had no idea who she was and where she came from. She had enough trouble from people in Sebastian’s past. She didn’t need another undying immortal trying to ruin her life.

  She was deep in thought when she heard the voice that she loved more than life itself. She spun around and fell into his beautiful emerald eyes. Sebastian was smiling as he took her hand and tried to draw her slowly away from Gaston, ignoring the vigorous objections.

  “Sebastian, she’s not part of the game.” Gaston’s voice was hard, filled with frustration.

  Sebastian chuckled. He looked smug, and she felt a little pang. Was he playing a game? Was he bargaining with Gaston for her? Why the smug face? she wondered. Instinct told her she had to say something.

  “I’m not going to be part of either of your silly games. I told you that before, and I detest everything about this.” She jerked her hand free from Sebastian. Giving both a harsh look, she turned around and moved away, picking up pace once again.

  She drew a brisk breath as she made her way through the crowd. She had covered the short distance to her friends, who were still talking with Sebastian’s brothers, when strong fingers encircled her wrist. She recoiled. Gaston, she thought and inwardly cursed. Tension gripped every muscle, and she braced herself to reject him.

  “Arielle, please wait.” Sebastian’s voice was soft but insistent. Warmth coursed through her body, and she stopped. She spun around and came face to face with him. God, he was gorgeous, she thought. It was hard to appear unruffled while her body ached with desire.

  Sebastian pinned her with his warm gaze. The memory of the kiss in the garden surfaced, disturbing him. He couldn’t understand the strong pull he was experiencing with this girl; he just wanted to be with her, next to her, part of her. She smelled like fresh flowers. Her skin was soft, her smile mesmerizing, and her eyes were like magnets.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “I want to be with you,” he said.

  She shrugged indifferently and added, “I’m not part of the game between you and Gaston.”

  “I am not playing any games; you don’t understand,” he said tensely.

  “Enlighten me.”

  “I am not going to deny that the games Gaston and I play are reckless and thoughtless, but it is different with you. We seem to have a common attraction and neither one of us is willing to back off. I know it sounds shocking, but my fascination with you is beyond my control.” He paused and stood silently, an uncompromising expression covering his face.

  She pretended nonchalance, which piqued his curiosity. They were currently standing next to Eva, Anton, Marcus, and Gabrielle.

  “Sebastian, what in the world is going on between you and Gaston?” Marcus asked.

  “Nothing really, Marcus; just a small misunderstanding.”

  Marcus clapped him on his shoulder affectionately and turned to continue his conversation with Anton.

  His brothers appeared affectionate toward the youngest of the brood. Arielle was truly impressed. Anton was attracted to her, but when he saw that Sebastian was paying unusual attention to Arielle, he immediately backed off. They seemed satisfied watching their little brother enjoy life to the fullest.

  “Would you like to meet some of our guests?” Marcus asked, glancing between the girls.

  Eva, Gabrielle, and Arielle exchanged enthusiastic looks. They accepted gratefully.

  The ladies moved slowly around the room and were presented gracefully to their guests. Some of the introductions left them astonished. They curtsied and made small talk with people like Gaston De Foix the current Duke of Valois, Louis XII of France, Joanne of Valois daughter of Louis the XI and Anne, Duchess of Brittany, widow of his predecessor, Charles VIII of France. There is no way in bloody hell that anyone is going to believe that we met these incredible people in the flesh, thought Arielle. Her telepathic skills allowed her to read similar thoughts in Gabby's head. She saw them reflected as well on Eva's face. Too bad this must remain our secret.

  The excitement was overwhelming. The girls could hardly speak as they exchanged looks of exhilaration. Monsieur and Mademoiselle Gaulle approached their sons and spent a little time chatting with the group. They all enjoyed each other's company. Arielle thought that this was a fairy tale, an absolutely wonderful fairy tale.

  It was almost three in the morning when they decided to leave.

  “I think we have to go,” Arielle said, glancing up at Sebastian. They were on the dance floor. He seemed unwilling to release her.

  “Where are you staying?”

  “We are staying in town at the inn,” she said quickly, not remembering the fantasy they had chosen before the ball.

  “You should stay here. There are many empty rooms, and many guests who travelled a great distance are residing here.”

  “I don’
t think that would be the right thing to do.”

  “Please say you’ll stay,” he murmured. She was still in his arms as his eyes pierced through her very soul. It was hard to say no.

  “I must ask Eva.”

  “No, please, let me ask Eva,” he said chuckling, trying to mimic her voice.

  Arielle laughed out loud. Sebastian squeezed her hand tightly. When the music stopped, he walked over to where his brothers, his parents, and her friends were still engaged in conversation. Gaston was nowhere to be found. As they approached the group, they heard laughter. Everyone appeared amused by Gabrielle and Eva.

  “There you are, dear,” Sebastian’s mother said, resting her eyes on his beautiful face. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Yes, Mother, I’m having a wonderful time,” he replied.

  Arielle lifted her head slowly until their gazes locked. The warmth in his eyes wrapped around her like a warm blanket on a cold night; a soft smile was on his lovely lips. A thrill shimmered across her skin.

  Leaning closer, his warm breath brushed against her ear. He lowered his voice to a mere whisper. “Are you enjoying yourself, Arielle?”

  She struggled to breathe, and her knees almost buckled. His words washed over her like a warm wave and sank deep into the core of her soul. The floor shifted beneath her feet, and she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. Her thoughts whirled wildly.

  Oh my God, he’s making me fall apart. Five centuries separating the mortal from the immortal man, but he affects me exactly the same.

  Clearing her throat, she opened her eyes slowly and fell into his smoldering gaze once again. She smiled and answered softly. “Yes, thank you, I’m having a wonderful time.” From the corner of her eye, she saw his mother watching them intently.