by V. Vaughn
“Nice?” Robert laughs. “My dear, you aren’t very good for the ego.”
“Surely you don’t need me for compliments, Robert.” I brought him Lyndsey, after all.
“No. But I do need you, Maggie.” He strokes my cheek with his finger, and I pull back. He smiles at me. “Do you know the Dutch painter Vermeer?”
“Yes.”
“Did you notice his painting in the hallway earlier? The Concert?”
I frown in confusion as I recall my art history class and the fact that that painting is one of the most valuable stolen artifacts still unrecovered. He says, “As you walk to the front door, it’s the third one on the left. It depicts a young girl playing the piano and another singing for a gentleman.”
“I know what it looks like,” I snap.
“It’s time to pay the piper, Maggie. After the band returns from their upcoming break, you’ll need to use the powder room. Bring Lyndsey, and go to the painting. Push the panel it is hanging on, and you’ll find a secret staircase. Follow it to the top.”
“But—” I shake my head because I want to tell him our bargain didn’t cover all of that, only I can’t get the words out. Instead, I feel myself nodding yes, and my stomach tightens with dread. It’s the same feeling I get around Alexander when I want to be with him but can’t. “Why am I doing this?”
“Because you have to,” says Robert as he moves us closer to Victoria and the king.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice is screaming at me to grab Lyndsey and run. To tell Tadhg and Des that Robert is about to kidnap Lyndsey. But it’s drowned out by a strong need to complete the task Robert has given me.
Robert gets the king’s attention, and Victoria and I switch dance partners. Robert sweeps Victoria away, and the king asks, “Are you having a good time, Maggie?”
As if I’m on autopilot, I smile and sweetly say, “Yes.”
“Good.” Lyndsey’s laughter rings out, and he glances over my shoulder. “Lyndsey seems to have relaxed a bit. I’m glad.” The song ends, and we step apart as the band announces it’s going to take a break.
Our core group gathers as I notice Alexander and Sebastian heading our way. Alexander smiles at me and doesn’t bother to hide the way his gaze moves up and down my body. I tease him right back by checking him out too, but as I do, I feel hollow. I push the thought away and turn my attention to Lyndsey as we greet the Hart brothers. I lean in close to her. “Do you need some blood? Water?”
She grabs my arm and squeezes it. “Blood would be good.”
I nod and slip away to get it for her. Alexander comes along with me. “Hey, beautiful,” he says. “How are you holding up?”
“Me? I’m fine. Lyndsey’s who you should be worried about.”
“Glad to hear it. But can’t your boyfriend worry about you instead? Being the princess’s assistant has to be demanding. How’s it going?”
“Oh.” I force a smile. “It’s been a dream so far. You know how I like to run things.”
He chuckles. “Yes, I do recall we discovered that about you once you became a vampire.” We’ve reached the bar, and Alexander orders us three glasses of blood.
“You’re not drinking tonight?” I ask.
He leans in as if he’s nuzzling my neck and says, “I’m on high alert too. Sebastian and I think Robert is up to something.”
I nod and smile at the bartender as our drinks thud on the bar. My hand trembles when I reach out to grab mine, and my entire being is buzzing with anticipation as Robert’s earlier words replay in my head. I open my mouth because I need to warn Alexander, but words won’t come out. Inside, I scream with frustration as Alexander takes the other two drinks, and we walk toward our group. I say, “I’m with you on that. I’ve had an uneasy feeling in my stomach all night.” My internal scream makes me grab Alexander’s arm and stop walking as I fight to tell him to keep Lyndsey away from me. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
“Maggie?” Alexander gazes at me intently. “What is it?”
My body trembles as I shake with my struggle to speak. Tears burn in my eyes with my frustration, and I swallow hard.
Alexander tugs me behind a Christmas tree. My concern for Lyndsey ramps up, but no matter how hard I try to fight Robert’s control over me, I can’t win. I gaze at Alexander, and words I really don’t want to say come out. “It’s nothing.”
“No, Maggie. I don’t think it is.”
Oh god. Alexander knows something is up. Fear sends ice through my veins, and I force myself to calm down and come up with a good reason for my odd behavior. I give him a half-truth. “I’m just worried about Lyndsey. I feel”—you need to get Lyndsey out of here!—“I feel out of control.” I let out a nervous chuckle. “I guess this is what it must feel like to be a parent and worry about your child.”
Alexander smiles at me with so much compassion that it hurts to know my feelings for him aren’t as strong. Guilt on top of my growing panic makes me nauseated as he says, “You’re an amazing woman, Maggie Evans. How did I get so lucky?”
“You’re pretty amazing yourself, Alexander Hart,” I say with as much love as I can push into my voice, and I even reach up and place my palm on his cheek to give it more meaning. “But Lyndsey needs her drink.”
“Right.” Alexander wipes the sappy look off his face and starts walking.
When we get back to our friends, I notice the band has returned and they’re adjusting their equipment. Victoria has her back to us and is in a conversation with an older vampire. I know this is my chance to get Lyndsey away. I down my drink and turn to the princess to say, “Drink up and then come with me to the ladies’ room.”
“Sure.” She lets out a sigh. “I could use a break from smiling so much.”
“Right?” I giggle and grab her now-empty glass to deposit along with mine as a waiter with a tray goes by. I place my hand on Alexander’s arm and speak softly to him. “Lyndsey and I are going to the powder room. Be right back.”
He gives me a quick nod, and I move quickly to navigate us through the crowd before Victoria notices and tries to join us.
“There’s a bathroom down this way,” I say as we return down the hall toward the front door, and as we approach the painting, I slow down, pretending to look at them. “You know,” I say, “do you get the feeling some of these are stolen?”
“Oh my god,” says Lyndsey. “I totally thought that same thing when we went by them the first time.”
We’ve reached the Vermeer, and words I don’t seem to be making happen to come out. “This one looks like Vermeer, don’t you think?”
I lean in close and press on the panel at the same time. The hidden door creaks open, and I turn to Lyndsey with mock surprise on my face. Run, Lyndsey! RUN! It’s as if I’m a puppet because I actually say, “Hey, Princess,” as a mischievous grin covers my face. “Let’s explore.”
She glances around the empty hallway and gives me a sly smile of her own. “Why the hell not?”
We both slip into the secret passageway and suppress our laughter as we begin to climb the narrow staircase in front of us. As Lyndsey leads the way, my heart leaps with joy. I did it! But with each step we climb, darkness creeps back in, and dread is like a lead ball in my stomach. Sheer terror grips my heart. I did it.
“This is kind of creepy,” says Lyndsey when we’re at the top and staring at the only door on the right. She places her hand on the knob but stops before turning it. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
“Probably not. I—”
The door creaks open, and in a flash, a hand grabs Lyndsey and yanks her inside. I rush in behind her before the door slams shut behind us.
Lyndsey gasps at the same time I do, and she begins to struggle to get away from the vampire who pulled her inside. The urge to help her is strong, but I’m frozen in place as I watch her try to fight.
Robert calls out from across the room, “Welcome, ladies.”
Chapter 10
Ly
ndsey
There have been times in my human life that, deep in my gut, I knew I shouldn’t do something, but the temptation was so great I’d ignore the voice of reason in my head. As Maggie and I climb the steps of the secret passageway, I realize what we’re doing is foolish, but then I remember the time I snuck out of the house past curfew to drink with Matt Cooper and how I’d managed to get away with it. I tell myself we’re just doing a bit of harmless snooping as I reach out for the handle of the door before me. The metal is warm under my fingers as another memory comes to me. I think about when I went surfing during a hurricane and got caught in an undertow that nearly drowned me. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” I say.
Maggie begins to speak, but I don’t hear what she says, because the door suddenly opens, and I’m yanked inside. I immediately try to release myself as I look at the vampire who’s holding my hand. I gasp, because what I see can’t be real. Every alarm in me goes off as I morph into my vampire, and adrenaline floods me as it’s released by the fear that rushes through me. Liam. I pull back harder so I can turn and run, but Liam tugs me in close as if we’re lovers. My body betrays me as it trembles against his with desire, and my skin tingles from the contact. I begin to struggle as vivid-blue eyes trap me in their gaze. Robert must be in the room too because he says, “Welcome, ladies.”
I ignore him as I stare at the vampire before me, who should no longer exist. “Liam? How— You— I don’t understand.” Liam twists me around in an instant, and he presses the sharp edge of what I think is a knife against my throat. He leans in and inhales my scent before he lets out a low moan that makes my insides melt. Something is seriously wrong with me if I’m turned on by a guy holding a knife to my neck.
“Magic,” says Robert. I look over at the man, who is in full vampire form, and he shrugs. “Really.” He walks toward me. “Liam is here because of black magic that would make our friend Sebastian Hart clutch his pearls.”
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” asks Liam in a sexy growl that makes me shiver.
I ignore him as I glance at Maggie to see she’s frozen in place with a look of fear on her face. Crap! I bet she was mind controlled to bring me here. Probably so Robert could kill me. I ask, “What did you do to Maggie?”
“Poor girl. She can’t help herself around me.” He chuckles. “So easily controlled.”
His words make anger spike in me. “Let me guess. You brought Liam back so he could get revenge.”
Robert laughs before he says, “No.” He takes his time studying me. “You gave me a much better idea.”
Liam leans in close and nibbles at my neck as though we’re lovers. The heat of his breath makes me begin to tremble, and my body reacts to his kiss with physical desire as I stiffen with denial. “Don’t you like my kiss, Lyndsey?” asks Liam.
Yes. I recall kissing Liam just before I cut his head off. I was definitely attracted to him when I was human, and that chemistry is still there when I’m a vampire. But I say, “No.”
Robert tsks at me. “Nice try, but I don’t believe you, Princess.” He glances down at his chest and flicks off imaginary dirt. “The passionate kiss you and Liam shared in front of your loyal subjects got me thinking.” He trains his gaze on me. “I believe you and Liam are soul mates.”
Maggie lets out a strangled noise of surprise, and I frown as I wonder if it’s true—and what Robert plans to do because of it.
Robert walks over to Maggie, and he steps behind her as he strokes her cheek. “Maggie, I’m releasing you.” Her vampire rushes to the surface, and she snarls in anger. But Robert covers her mouth with his hand as she snaps. “Save your vitriol and tell Lyndsey what being soul mates means.”
A pained expression covers her face. “I’m not entirely sure.” Maggie places her hand on her chest over her heart. “But the bond is pretty strong. Sebastian had it with the girl who gave me her heart, and that’s how I ended up in Port Porpoise.” She glances at Liam then back to me, and she scowls. “It’s going to be hard for you to be away from Liam, let alone be with someone else.”
“More than hard, Maggie,” says Robert. “Almost impossible.”
The urge to smack the smirk off of Robert’s face is strong, and I pull against Liam to escape his grasp. But his knife digs deeper, making me stop. I ask, “What do you want, Robert?”
He spreads his arms and holds out his palms. “To let love blossom.”
I glare at him, because it’s not love he’s after. He wants to insert his right-hand man into the O’Kellys’ inner circle. A man like Robert has only one reason to do such a thing, and I’m not helping him oust our family from power. I jerk away as I growl out, “No.”
Liam’s knife slices into my neck with my movements. The pain is sharp before he leans in and licks my wound, then it’s replaced with the heat of sexual desire. I let out a small moan before I manage to control it.
“Okay,” says Robert, and he lets out a sigh. “But it would be a shame if I had to let the guests at our party enjoy the special feast I so thoughtfully put to a halt when I heard about your problem.”
My chest tightens painfully, and I swallow hard. How does he know I’m a shredder? I look at Maggie as it hits me. Robert probably got the information from her. She shakes her head. “I swear I didn’t tell him.”
“She didn’t,” says Robert. “It really is a shame she couldn’t help you out, though. Isn’t it?”
My anger turns to rage I can’t do anything about as Maggie says, “I’m so sorry, Princess. I couldn’t.” She glares at Robert and pokes at his chest. I’m not sure why she isn’t afraid of him, and I expect him to snap her finger off when she says, “But you can.”
He smiles. “Yes. Given the right motivation.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
Maggie says, “The reason I was good at feeding so quickly is because Robert used his powers over my mind to teach me.” She turns to him. “Help her! How long would it take to tame a shredder?”
He smiles with what I think is a mix of amusement and pride as he shrugs. “One session and she’d master complete control.”
“You have to do it, Robert. Do you have any idea how awful it is for Lyndsey to be a shredder? Please,” begs Maggie.
Oh god, just one time, and I’d be cured? I quickly shut down my excitement, because I don’t believe for one second that Robert’s help would come without a hefty price attached. “No,” I say. “There are other ways.”
Robert chuckles. “You are a brave one, Princess Lyndsey. But I’m afraid there are no other ways.” He steps so close to me I can see tiny flecks of silver in his black eyes. He lets out a small noise. “It’s a pity such a beautiful woman has such an ugly problem.” He looks over my head at Liam. “You’re going to have your hands full with this one.”
“Robert, please! You can fix her.” Maggie grabs at his arm. “Tell me what you want.” She lets out a small gasp as an idea comes to her, and then she smiles with satisfaction. “Don’t you want me?”
“Hmmm,” he says as he twists a loose strand of Maggie’s hair around his finger. He puts an arm around her waist, and she presses herself against him and gazes up into his face. He leans down as if he’s going to kiss her, and my stomach turns as he says, “I do.”
“Maggie, no!” I cry out.
Maggie pushes Robert away with one hand and throws her shoulder back. “The only way you can have me is if you train Lyndsey to have complete control over her bloodlust.”
“No!” I look at Maggie as I wonder if she’s considered the dangerous game she’s playing. I imagine the horrors someone like Robert would make her endure, and I command, “No! I will not allow it.”
“My, my. Look at the two of you.” Robert raises his eyebrows and glances between me and Maggie. “And they say young women these days are selfish.”
He takes a moment to consider Liam and me before he touches his neck and says, “That looks so uncomfortable. Liam, release the princess. I trust she’ll be goo
d as we come to an agreement.”
Liam lets me go, and I reach up to rub my neck where he held the knife. I notice it’s already healing as he steps to my side. Pain stabs my heart as he moves away, and I wonder how I can want to be with a vampire who doesn’t really exist. I immediately look at Liam’s neck as I recall the way my saber sliced through the flesh so easily, but I don’t see any signs of how it was reattached.
“Thank you,” I say to Robert. At first, I think he’s stupid for letting me move freely, and my mind races with how to get out of here without losing Maggie in the process. But Robert is no fool. Maggie doesn’t know the first thing about fighting, and I don’t think I can take Robert and Liam while protecting her too. I set my jaw with determination, because it’s time to negotiate.
Chapter 11
Maggie
Lyndsey and I are in what appears to be a guest room in the Kearns mansion. As Liam removes the knife from her neck and releases her, I notice the door we came through is hidden in the wall as if it never existed, and I realize nobody knows we’re here. As Lyndsey rubs at her tender skin, Robert pulls a phone out of his pocket and says, “Excuse me for a moment.” He taps on the screen and then he clicks the cell off and looks at me. “As tempting as your offer to be my lover in exchange for me taming Lyndsey’s bloodlust is, I don’t want you.” I squint at him, because his rejection is hardly upsetting personally. “See, I happen to know that you and Alexander are soul mates, and what good would you do me if all you could think about was the man you really wanted to be with?”
For a split second, that news makes my heart leap with joy, but then I remember how my feelings have faded, and I’m sure he’s wrong. “I—”
Robert puts a finger on my lips to stop me from talking. “You’re loyal to the princess, and I must say, I’m impressed that you’d sacrifice yourself so easily. Oh.” He chuckles. “I almost forgot. Your overwhelming love for Alexander can return now that you’ve completed your task.”
