Allure of the Vampire King: A paranormal romance (Blood Fire Saga Book 1)

by Bella Klaus

  She walked around Kain and stepped up to the low iron fence that made up the property’s boundary. “Father, unknown.”

  I raised my chin, meeting her gunmetal-gray eyes. “Since you know so much about me, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

  “Captain Zella, shadow mage enforcer of the Supernatural Council.” She stiffened, as though the mention of her title was a source of intense pride. “Please step out of the wards and surrender yourself for testing.”

  My brows drew together. “Why would you be so interested in a Neutral? Since you’ve already delved into my records, you’ll see that I failed every test for magical talent. All I can do is sense power.”

  The captain’s lips thinned. “We need you to come in once more.”

  “I’m not going back to Logris,” I said from between clenched teeth. “Not after…” A rush of pain strangled my words, and I jerked my head to the side. Even though Valentine had uncovered the tampering with my memories, those humiliating words he’d uttered still hurt.

  Her gaze wandered to the villa behind me. “Why are you not in your registered domicile?”

  Now it was my turn to purse my lips. She had no right to ask me what I did or who I consorted with. The Witch Queen had given me authorization to leave Logris, apprentice myself to Istabelle, and live in the Natural World. As long as I didn’t inform humans that the Supernatural World and all its inhabitants were real, I could do whatever I pleased.

  Instead of answering her question, I raised the leg of my jeans, exposing the black mark around my ankle. It had grown an inch thicker and now wound up my leg like a snake.

  “Is this your doing?” I asked.

  Captain Zella’s brows furrowed, and she dropped into a crouch. “This is dark magic.”

  Valentine’s employees gathered around her to take a better look. My cheeks heated. Weren’t vampires supposed to have impeccable vision?

  “I stepped out of a taxi just like yours,” I said, filling my voice with accusation. “And a shadow just like yours wrapped around my ankle.”

  She tilted her head up, meeting my gaze with wide eyes that telegraphed her surprise. “You encountered another shadow mage?”

  “It wasn’t you?” I asked.

  Captain Zella shook her head. “We’re not authorized to curse suspects.”

  Suspects. The word made the muscles of my stomach tighten. Somehow, they knew I’d come into my powers. It turned out that Valentine’s precautions were correct. I really was in trouble, but if the enforcers weren’t the ones sneaking around trying to curse me, then who?

  My gaze darted across the crowd of vampires. Perhaps they didn’t approve of their king consorting with a Neutral? Each of them except Kain would have purchased blood from a being like me at some point.

  “Will you step outside so I may take a better look?” Captain Zella asked, sounding perfectly reasonable.

  “There’s something wrong with the wards,” I murmured.

  She rose, her gaze darting down to the ground and then up to the villa’s roof. “Please try to step out of the wards.”

  I swallowed back a laugh. Even if Aunt Arianna’s magic was what had kept me trapped, there was absolutely no way I would get within ten feet of the enforcer and have her drag me back to the Supernatural Council for testing and a swift execution.

  “You still haven’t explained why you’re here.” Her lips parted, presumably to repeat that crap about needing to conduct a few tests, but I spoke first. “The real reason why.”

  She nodded. “We have reason to believe you’re harboring fire magic. Further inquiries indicated that before your mother disappeared, she had been searching for information related to the tyrant named Kresnik.”

  A bolt of alarm shot through my chest. Behind the enforcer, Valentine’s staff exchanged nervous glances. Valentine had told me Kresnik died five hundred years ago. What if he was still alive?

  Captain Zella stepped forward, trying to cross the villa’s open fence, but she stopped at the invisible ward. “Miss Griffin. Are you resisting my order?”

  My survival instincts kicked me in the ass and told me to get the hell out before she really did issue an order for me to disobey. I took another step toward the house. “You can’t talk to me like I’m one of your subordinates.”

  Her gloved hands pressed against the invisible barrier. “Have you experienced sparks, raised temperatures, unexplained bouts of fire? Have you set anything alight?”

  Valentine’s employees stepped forward, creating a small crowd around the enforcer. Kain stared at me through wide eyes.

  “No.” I took another step back to the house, crossing its threshold and engulfing myself in its warmth. “And I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  I bumped into a hard body, and Captain Zella dropped to one knee. “Your Majesty.”

  “Why is an enforcer of the Supernatural Council harassing my guest?” he asked in a voice of steel.

  “It was a routine enquiry, sire,” she murmured, her voice reverent. “I did not mean any offense.”

  Valentine placed a hand on my shoulder, offering me a comforting squeeze. He stepped forward, forming a barrier between myself and Captain Zella. “Mera, go upstairs.”

  I hurried through the hallway, not wanting to wait around to hear the rest of his conversation with the enforcer. The Supernatural Council had already accurately guessed what I was.

  My throat spasmed. If I didn’t develop my fire magic soon, either Valentine would kill me or Captain Zella would drag me to Logris for an execution.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I was halfway up the stairs when the front door clicked shut, and my heart jumped with a spike of alarm. Focusing on the magic that now swelled in my chest, I pushed it out into my hands, ready to fend off Valentine in case the curse’s development caused him to attack.

  Nothing happened, not even a spark. Perhaps I wasn’t channeling enough emotion.

  “Continue to the attic,” Valentine said from the doorway. “Your aunt and I have provided you with everything we thought might help you develop your power.”

  “Alright.” I took the stairs two at a time, my heart pumping with a rush of adrenaline from my encounter with Captain Zella.

  Valentine was only one member out of a Council of seven. The enforcer would most certainly report what she saw—one of the monarchs consorting with a possible fire wielder—and then what? I quickened my pace, now taking the stairs three at a time.

  I passed the living room, passed the level above it with the bedrooms, and reached the top, where a pale wood door stood, secured with glowing light around its seam. Maybe it was a ward or an enchantment to bring out my innate power. All I knew was that if I didn’t develop my magic before reinforcements arrived with a team of ward-breakers, I wouldn’t leave this house alive.

  Worse, Valentine might get hurt trying to defend me or ostracized as a traitor.

  With a soft crack of sound, Valentine stood in front of the door. His handsome features were grave, and he stared down at me with violet eyes. I gulped. They were the same shade as usual, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it also wasn’t good. Hadn’t he just told me that I always smelled nice?

  My hand gripped the rail, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t do anything but stare into the patches of red deepening the blue in his eyes.

  Shit. By checking his irises for signs of bloodlust, I’d let the wretched vampire mesmerize me into staying still. That, or the thrall in his saliva was still affecting my judgement. I was sure this inaction was the result of some sort of nefarious vampire power.

  Valentine’s nostrils flared. “You are so powerful. So beautiful. My perfect mate.”

  Annoyance flickered through my insides at the implication that we hadn’t been completely right for each other when I was just a Neutral.

  Shoving that aside, I raised a palm and tried to push my magic into my hand. “Out of my—”

  Valentine wrapped his hand a
round my wrist and pinned me to the door. His muscular body forming an inescapable cage. He stared down at me with glazed eyes, making my nerve endings tingle with terror and anticipation. He leaned down, his hot breaths fanning against the side of my face. His smoky masculine scent filled my nostrils, making my knees buckle.

  “Inamorata.” His deep voice was a caress that curled beneath my clothes, over my bare skin, and settled between my legs. “Just let me kiss you.”

  “It’s the curse,” I said from between clenched teeth. “It’s making you crazy.”

  “I’ve wanted you for three years, I can wait no longer.” He pressed his hardness against my thigh. It was long and thick and pulsing with need.

  My core pulsed back, the wretched thing not realizing we were both in mortal peril. “Go downstairs.”

  “Not until you give me a kiss.” His lips ghosted against the shell of my ear.

  A wave of desire shuddered through my body, making me clench my thighs together. Valentine always had this effect on me. Seduction was part of a vampire’s modus operandi. But while we were courting, he always exercised control, never going further than what he thought was appropriate. Now, with the curse addling his senses, he was willing to take everything, including my blood.

  “Let go of me so I can get into the attic.” I reached behind me with my free hand, fumbling for a door handle. The wood was grainy and smooth, but with no sign of metal. Focussing my gaze away from his mesmerizing eyes and on the beauty spot on his cheekbone, I added, “Once I’ve gotten control of my powers, I’ll let you kiss me anywhere you want.”

  His deep chuckle resounded through my chest, making me squirm with arousal. “I do not negotiate.”

  “Valentine.” I clenched my teeth. “If you don’t release me right now—”

  “You’ll what?” he said with a harsh laugh.

  A snarl tore from my lips. Damn the shadow mage who cursed my blood. Damn whoever trapped me in this house with a ravenous and horny vampire, and damn the Supernatural Council for posting Captain Zella outside the door so I couldn’t even escape.

  Valentine’s lips grazed my earlobe, sending sparks of excitement down to my nipples.

  Damn Valentine for falling prey to the curse and being so seductive.

  “Tell me to stop,” he murmured.

  “Stop,” I snarled.

  With a chuckle, he sucked my lobe between his lips, laving it with his tongue. “I can smell your excitement. You don’t mean a word you’re saying.”

  “Yes, I bloody do.” I stopped fumbling at the door, slipped my free hand into my jeans pocket, and pulled out a pinch of Dharma salt. “This is your last warning.”

  Valentine pressed a soft kiss on my cheek and chuckled. “Or what, Inamorata?”

  I threw the salt into his face.

  With a pained roar, Valentine released my wrist and fell to his knees.

  My heart jumped. “Are you al—”

  “Get into that attic before this salt wears off,” he snarled.

  I spun around and ran my fingers against the door’s glowing seal. Eventually, it clicked open, and I stumbled inside, spun around, and threw my weight against the door, slamming it shut.

  The seal flared with bright white light. Right then, I didn’t care if it was keeping me trapped inside the attic or keeping Valentine out. At least I had a chance to finish my magical development.

  I laid my head against the door, breathing hard. As far as vampire attacks went, that was pretty mild. But I knew three things. One, the curse was worsening by the minute. Two, I would soon run out of salt. Three, this was Valentine’s house. A vampire as powerful and as determined as him would find a way through the seal and get at my blood.

  “Mera,” he said through panting breaths.

  “What?” I snapped.

  “Thank you.”

  My heart clenched, and I swallowed hard. If Valentine had engineered any part of this bloodlust, he wouldn’t have thanked me for the injury that had caused me to break free. I struggled for words of apology, explanation, gratitude. Without his and Aunt Arianna’s intervention, either that shadow assassin would have murdered me in my apartment or Captain Zella would have dragged me to the Supernatural Council.

  “I want you to listen carefully,” he said. “The more exposure I have to the scent of your blood, the less I can resist feeding from you. This curse has brought forward base instincts I am struggling to control.”

  I pressed my hand against the wood. “Valentine—”

  “Listen to me.” His voice was as hard as rock. “A time may come when I break through those wards and take what I want. Do you have the dagger?”

  “Yes?” I whispered.

  “Use it before it’s too late.”

  “But you’ll—.”

  Valentine’s fist reverberated against the door, making me stagger back. “I would rather die a dozen deaths than be responsible for yours.”

  My throat thickened, and all doubts about Valentine drifted into the ether. He truly cared for me. This entire house he’d prepared, this beautiful attic, and the fact that he, as a member of the Supernatural Council, was going against the edicts of his fellow monarchs proved the depths of his love.

  “Mera,” he snapped.

  “I’m listening,” I replied. “But let’s hope it doesn’t come to such a desperate situation.”

  “If you can’t get a handle on your magic by then…” Valentine didn’t need to complete the sentence. The memory of him pinning me to the living room rug and drinking from my neck had seared itself into my mind.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  Valentine didn’t speak again, so I turned and took in my surroundings. The attic spanned the entire length and width of the house and was three times as large as the bedroom. A six-foot-high fireplace stood in the middle of the left wall, filled with wood and crackling with orange flames.

  I walked across the wooden floorboards, taking in a kitchenette similar to the one in my studio. Its cupboards were fully stocked with canned and dry foods, with both an under-counter refrigerator and a separate freezer filled with the kinds of foods I liked to eat. I swallowed down a lump in my throat, remembering all the conversations I’d had with Aunt Arianna about the wealth of dishes available to regular people in the human world.

  On the other side of the fireplace stood three wide bookshelves containing tomes on every species of supernatural suspected to be capable of wielding fire. Most supernaturals didn’t come into their powers until they were in their teens, and their extended families provided spaces where they could undergo their transitions. Sometimes, a supernatural would develop their magic overnight. Other times, it would take a matter of days or weeks or months.

  I guess Valentine and Aunt Arianna researched every possible transformation and wanted this place to reflect what other families provided. For my sake, I hoped my maturity came within the next few hours. It was doubtful after three years of consuming nullweed disguised as chocolates.

  Pushing those thoughts away, I turned to the leather tomes, finding that some of them were ring-bound folders containing documents. I pulled one out, flipped it open, and frowned at its contents. Someone had printed out all my records—Aunt Arianna’s certificate of guardianship, my first magical test, academy reports, my official certificate of classification, and every magical test I’d ever failed. There was also my permit to leave Logris and an official document of apprenticeship signed by Istabelle.

  Behind these papers was information on Mom, who according to her magic tests barely had enough power to qualify as a witch. My mouth dropped open. Everyone I grew up around had told me she excelled at light magic. Had they lied to me or had Mom falsified her test results?

  I slipped the folder back onto the shelf and took another that contained records of every child executed on suspicion of wielding fire magic. Some had been demons, others mages, a few of them shifters. I worried at my bottom lip with my teeth. How on earth did so many supernatural citizens a
llow their children to die? It was just so unfair.

  The beginnings of a migraine pounded through my head. With a weary sigh, I slipped the folder back onto the bookshelf and continued exploring the attic.

  At the end of the space was a raised mattress large enough to accommodate an elephant. Apprehension rippled through my insides. The last thing I wanted to become was a dragon shifter, even though the thought of flying through the skies was awesome.

  My gaze wandered to the right side of the room, where five-foot-tall geodes stood among crystals as large as watermelons. Amethyst for emotional balance and spiritual awareness, agate for balance and harmony, and black tourmaline to cleanse my energy and reach my higher consciousness. In the middle of the geodes lay a nest of cushions, beckoning at me to sit. I gazed at the tattoo on my wrist, which no longer glowed, and walked over to the array of crystals.

  I lowered myself to the cushions, crossed my legs, and surveyed the smaller stone. Several large pieces of clear quartz sat among the geodes. They were all-purpose crystals that I preferred to use for concentration. Among them was a cannon-ball-sized piece of firestone I suspected the Supernatural Council could use as a bomb.

  Each thrummed with power, making me wonder if Aunt Arianna had obtained the crystal from a talented master like Istabelle. Perhaps my boss knew my problem all along and had been trying to help me keep my magic under control. I sat and picked up a foot-long quartz with both hands and concentrated.

  Exercises at the academy with grovers were fine in theory. Earlier, when I’d tried to defend myself against Valentine, I hadn’t been able to express my fire. I needed to focus on the emotions that got me to reach that power in the first place.

  I couldn’t remember exactly when I had boiled the jacuzzi but it was probably when Valentine strode toward us wearing a pair of tight-fitting trunks. My eyes fluttered shut, and the image of those rippling bronzed muscles filled my mind. Even though I’d wanted to be immune to his beautiful body, I’d felt an attraction to him that had heated my blood.

  It was the same downstairs, when we had been having sex and I’d noticed that he was drinking more than the usual amount of blood. Despite needing him to stop, somewhere deep down, my traitorous body yearned for him to take me. I had wanted more.