Drop Dead Single: Vampire Romance (A Monstrana Paranormal Romance Book 1)

by Lacy Andersen

  He resisted the urge to smack a hand to his forehead. “I’m not kidding, this isn’t going to happen.”

  “Don’t be coy, darling.” She lay down and rested her head on her elbow.

  Her dark hair spilled out onto the silky sheets around her like a deadly siren in the water. From the extended angle of her neck, he could see the lovely hollow at the base of her throat. Like drugs to a vampire. She was beautiful — that he had no problem admitting. But she would never make his dead, cold heart beat again. Not like it had with Cate.

  “Alright, that’s enough.” He pointed at the cameraman. “You. Leave.”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” Jezebel purred, “I don’t mind if the camera stays.”

  “And that means you, too,” he responded. She hissed and flashed her fangs as he pulled her off the bed. Despite her protests, he maintained his composure and directed her back to the hallway. “Have a pleasant night.”

  The glower she sent him could’ve burned him up like the sun without his ring. But he stood strong, his hand ready to close the door to this embarrassment.

  “You’ll regret turning me down,” she said with a toss of her long hair over her shoulders. He thought he saw hurt flash in her brown eyes, but just as quickly, it was replaced by a condescending sneer. “When you come crawling back to my door, I’ll remember this moment.”

  He raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips into a thin line before shutting the door. Her prediction was highly unlikely. Someone would have to poison his blood supply with some heavy drugs before he’d find himself knocking on her door. She was no different than the other vampires he had dated over the centuries.

  Focused on everything he stood for, except for him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  STASIA WOKE CATE UP bright and early for the next date with a twinkle in her eye. She rushed her through breakfast with the hint that today’s date with the prince was a special treat for the ladies. Despite the perky attitude of her host, Cate couldn’t shake the hangover effect of yesterday’s date. Part of her still thrilled at the thought of Viktor’s lips on hers and his hands roaming over her body. It had been the most perfect kiss. Sweet and seductive all at the same time.

  But another huge part of her felt guilt-ridden. She’d failed miserably on conducting the plan and now, her life was in more danger than ever. Every step closer she got to the prince was another step closer to being caught and joining the ranks of the undead. And of course, there was Miranda to think about. She couldn’t destroy her life. Not when everything was finally perfect for her best friend.

  Why was Viktor being so impossible? She’d done everything she could to make him think she was crazy. He wouldn’t take the hint. Instead, he’d been kind, charming, and attentive. Exactly everything he shouldn’t have been. Why was he so irresistible?

  Cate moped as Stasia shuffled her and Jezebel into a heavily tinted limousine and drove them off to another surprise destination. Rather than watch Jezebel glare at her, she stared out the window at the passing shops. It was her first up close view of Monstrana. The quaint cobblestone streets were narrow and lined on both sides by generous sidewalks that gave room for outside cafes and street vendors.

  Now that she knew the secrets of the mysterious country, she could see the signs of paranormal life everywhere. They passed a Witchy Potions shop, a Paranormal Investigations office, a dentist who specialized in canine teeth, and a sweets shop that sold a Bloody Mary Chocolate bar that was to die for. Still, the citizens of Monstrana didn’t appear to be any different than the people of her hometown. They strolled down the sidewalks in modern clothing, no fangs or claws in sight. Cate would be hard pressed to point out which were supernatural and which were humans.

  Surprisingly, the thought calmed her. She was learning more and more that the paranormal creatures of this place were kind and caring, not the monsters she’d imagined. Stasia, Joy, and Prince Viktor — all had treated her well. Of course, the skinny vamp staring at her right now was the exception. But there had to be one in every crowd, she supposed.

  “How are you doing it?” Jezebel finally spoke, spooking Cate.

  She shook off her surprise and pursed her lips. “Doing what?”

  “Controlling Prince Viktor.” She sucked in her cheeks and glowered. “I don’t understand what spell you have him under. Is it a love potion?”

  Cate sighed and folded her hands in her lap. She could feel an argument coming on. “I don’t control anyone. People are free to make their own decisions. You should learn that.”

  Jezebel bit her lower lip. Her eyes shone with angry tears and she wiped them hastily away before turning to look out the window again. In a voice so quiet, Cate could barely hear, she whispered, “Not all of us are free.”

  She didn’t get a chance to consider Jezebel’s surprising admission. They pulled over to a modern looking building with white washed walls and warm pine accents. The limo driver shuffled them inside where the lobby opened up into a large room filled with sweet floral scents and calming music. A woman stood behind a large countertop, a serene smile on her face. Next to her, stood the camera crew and an overly excited Stasia.

  “It’s a spa date!” she yelled as if she couldn’t take the anticipation any longer. “You’ll each be getting a separate spa treatment with Vik. Today is all about the ladies. Cate, you’re up first.”

  She did her best to return Stasia’s smile and followed the serene lobby worker to a locker room filled with wooden cubbyholes and a private sauna. Left with just a fluffy white towel and a pair of sandals, she was instructed to disrobe completely and come to the adjoining room when she was ready.

  “Not happening today, Prince Viktor,” Cate swore beneath her breath. No way was she going in there nude. Taking off her shirt and pants, she left on her undergarments and wrapped the towel tightly around her waist.

  Pacing the room, she wrung her hands and thought about her current predicament. The last time she’d been face to face with Viktor, they’d had an Earth-shattering kiss. But that kiss was a mistake. They had no possible future together. She wasn’t ready to give up her mortal life and he certainly wouldn’t want someone who could hurt him like his mother. If she let this go on, she would be guilty of leading him on. And Cate wasn’t that type of girl.

  She had to tell him it was all a mistake. Right now. Before she chickened out.

  Heading toward the appointed door, Cate paused when she heard the rumble of voices on the other side. Someone was having an argument. Pressing her ear against the wood grain, she recognized the speakers. The higher one was Stasia’s. She sounded distressed. And the second, much lower voice made her heart jump. Prince Viktor.

  “I can’t believe you would sanction yesterday’s activities,” he was saying. “I thought better of you, Stasia.”

  “I already told you, I didn’t know anything about it. I never would’ve allowed her to trespass upon your privacy and get so close to you.”

  Cate strained her ear to hear better. Viktor was clearly upset about something. Was he also regretting their date yesterday? Part of her bristled at the idea. He hadn’t been upset when he’d kissed her soundly in that mud puddle.

  “This has gotten out of control,” he continued. His tone was sharp. “I will not indulge that woman any longer. I can’t stand the sight of her. Send her home.”

  Cate clenched her teeth and blood rushed to her cheeks.

  “You can’t do that.” Stasia was pleading. “Your grandmother intends to see this through. She wants you settled. ”

  “It’s a farce. A sick little show to get the public to know their prince. Well, this isn’t me. None of this is me.”

  Stasia grew quieter. Cate really had to press on the door to hear her. “You’ve only got a couple more days. Then, it’ll be all over. It hasn’t been a complete loss, has it?”

  She didn’t hear a reply. Just heavy silence.

  “Just make it through to the end,” Stasia said, “for your grandmother’s sake. And the
n, you’ll never have to do this again.”

  Viktor sighed loudly. “Fine. But, only because if I don’t, I’ll never hear the end of it. This has been enough torture for several lifetimes.”

  “I get that.” Stasia giggled. “I”m glad I’m not you.”

  “Just you wait.” Viktor’s voice took a warning tone. “Werewolf mating rituals aren’t exactly picnics either. It’ll be your turn before you know it.”

  She cursed and there was the loud thump of someone getting smacked on the shoulder, followed by a dramatic groan of pain. Cate pulled away from the door, her knees weak. She’d completely misread the situation. Here she thought the prince had been madly attracted to her and he was just phoning it in the entire time. She felt cheated, no matter how stupid that sounded. But most of all, embarrassment colored her emotions. How wrong she’d been about that kiss.

  Once again, her guy radar turned out to be completely on the fritz. She would die an old lady surrounded by a dozen cats, jobless and friendless. Better to do that than be pulled in by another jerk masquerading as a gentleman.

  The sound of swift footsteps behind her made her jump in surprise. The spa worker was back.

  She waved her hands at her. “No loitering, my lady. The treatment is ready for you. Prince Viktor awaits.”

  Cate swallowed, hoping Viktor and Stasia hadn’t heard that. The last thing she needed was them to think she was eavesdropping. Even if she had.

  She walked into the next room. It was a cozy little space with a wooden bench and a gray stone bathing pool set into the floor. The dark liquid in the pool shimmered with a multitude of colors and petals floated on its surface. Scents of lavender and frankincense filled the air. Beads of sweat popped up on her neck as the humidity hit her.

  Viktor was sitting on the bench, his head in his hands. Stasia must have left. He looked up at her when she entered, a smile lighting up his face and reaching his eyes. Cate marveled at his acting skills. Despite her knowledge of the facade, her stomach still did a little jump when his gaze locked onto hers.

  “Oil treatment,” the staff member explained, pointing to the tub. “Disrobe and descend into the tub. The oils will soften your skin. I will return in a half hour. Enjoy.”

  The woman was gone before Cate could blink. She glanced at the cozy little tub, suddenly thankful she’d left on her undergarments. There was no way she was getting into that pool naked with him.

  “I suppose we’d better get in,” Viktor said, staring at the pool with concern wrinkling his forehead.

  “I guess...” She eyed his white fluffy robe. Was he naked underneath that thin layer of cloth? Her blood pulsed at the thought.

  “Don’t worry.” He saw how she was looking at him and untied his robe. “I brought a swimming suit. I figured Stasia would do something like this.”

  He revealed a black pair of swimming trunks with a white stripe on the leg. Relieved at his thoughtfulness, her gaze traveled up his torso. He had a perfect v-shape with plenty of muscles lining his abdomen. A thin trail of black hair started at his belly button and disappeared beneath his shorts. She forced her gaze away and felt her cheeks turn pink.

  “I’ll look this way,” he said, turning to face the bench, “so that you may get in first. I won’t look, I swear to you.”

  She felt the muscles in her neck strain. He was still being the gentleman. The farce was laughable. Shaking off her disappointment, she dropped the robe. She wasn’t worried about him seeing her in her matching pink lacy bra and underwear. It was no more risque than her bathing suit. Still, she walked toward the pool and dipped in a toe. It was the perfect soothing warm temperature, the kind of relaxation she could use at that moment. Descending the steps, she settled on the stone bench, the water and oils swirling around her chest.

  “Okay, I’m in.” She pulled her hair up, careful not to let it get wet.

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever intentionally dipped my body in grease,” Viktor said with a smile.

  “Hmmm...”

  He was all smiles and small talk. If he was phoning it in, she wasn’t going to return the effort.

  Settling in beside her, the water reaching the midpoint of his chest, he rested his arms across the edge of the tub. They sat in silence, Cate avoiding his eyes. She could feel him watching her. Sweat was beginning to trickle down her neck. She hiked her hair up further, trying to cool off.

  “Is it too warm?” The concern in his voice made her want to scowl. “We can get out.”

  She shook her head. “It’s fine.”

  “Cate, I have to tell you...”

  The sudden depth of his voice caused her to look at him. He was watching her intently, his eyes clouded with emotion. She felt suddenly naked under his gaze.

  “Yes?” Her chest rose in a sharp intake of breath.

  “I...” He bit his lower lip and wrinkled his brow. “Yesterday was...”

  She waited for him to get his thoughts together.

  He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say.

  It seemed that he was going to make a confession. She could feel it. But that moment had fled, along with her senses. She pressed her hand to her chest, willing her skipping heart to cut it out. She didn’t need it to misbehave.

  He watched her put her hand on her chest and frowned. “You’ll want to take that off.”

  She grimaced and looked down at her bra. No way was she taking it off. He was crazy.

  “You don’t want to get it oily.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. Before she could stop him, he slipped her magical ring off her finger and dropped it into an empty dish next to the tub. “There, safe and sound.”

  Cate couldn’t breathe. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart in her chest as their gaze locked. Prince Viktor’s liquid amber eyes grew wide. His jaw dropped and he released her hand as if it had burned him.

  He knew.

  Chapter Fourteen

  VIKTOR SPRANG FROM the bath. The essential oils had coated his skin in a slick layer of grease, so as soon as he stepped foot on the tile floor, his legs went out from underneath him. He landed with a thump on his rear, cursing loudly. Scrambling back up, he slid across the room and yanked his robe over his shoulders.

  Why did he always end up losing his poise around that...that human?

  The word felt dirty in his head. He glared at Cate as she sat stock still in the bath, her eyes the size of dinner plates. As soon as the ring had left her hand, he’d smelled it. Fresh blood, coursing through her veins. And then there was the sound. The drumming of a live heart, quickening under his direct stare.

  “You’re not a vampire,” he spat. So much for his grandmother’s carefully vetted selection process.

  “No.” Her face was white and red splotches dotted her chest. “I’m not.”

  He raked his hands through his hair, his mouth distorted in a panicked grimace. Just seconds ago, he had been this close to confessing his feelings for her. He’d wanted to kiss those pink lips again, feel her smooth skin under his fingertips. But now, all he could do was stare at the pulsing of the vein in her neck.

  “Why?” he demanded. It was an open-ended question, one that left room for many others. But more than anything, he wanted to know why she was there, messing with his feelings. Stomping on his heart. She was so obviously a liar.

  She gave him a wry frown and sank lower into the water until it reached her chin. “Not all of us can be ancient vampire royalty.”

  So that was it. She wanted immortality and riches. He’d dated plenty of vampires over the years and he’d come to expect the greedy, selfish nature that seemed inherent in most of his kind. Face it enough, and it became predictable. But in a human, it was deplorable.

  He wanted to throw the decorative jar of sea shells sitting on a shelf at the wall, but he kept his fist in tight to his side. Pacing back and forth, he simmered with rage. He wasn’t the only one who would be hurt by this betrayal. His grandmother had been counting on him find
ing a match. Stasia’s show would be turned upside down. And there was the entire country to think about. She’d lied to them all.

  “It was all a mistake,” Cate said, interrupting his fuming. Her heartbeat had slowed back to a normal rate and the blood had returned to her pink cheeks. “Things got out of hand. I never meant to hurt anybody.”

  “We’re too deep into this for you to brush this off as a mistake.” He growled and tore open the door to his locker room. He couldn’t face her any longer. “You willingly deceived me. No one deceives a prince of Monstrana.”

  Escaping through the door, he raged in the locker room, clenching his fists so tight his fingernails cut into the palms of his hands. Red clouded his vision as emotions took over. There was no turning back. He’d been duped by yet another woman in his life. She wasn’t even real.

  All those hours spent gazing up at the dark ceiling of his bedroom, wondering about the life she’d lived and how he fit into it, wasted. And those sob stories she’d fed him. Her parents were probably still alive, retired in some community in Arizona. He’d bet anything she was an actress who read one too many stories about sparkling vampires. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard of a vamp-chaser, a mortal in love with the idea of immortality and eternal youth. He’d fallen for her charm and wit, hook, line, and sinker. He was a sucker of the ultimate variety — and not the vampire kind.

  The door swung open behind him. In stormed Cate, still in her pink bra and panties, her skin glistening from the oil. Her face had transformed into an angry tomato red and she clenched her fists at her sides. She slid to a stop in front of him and pointed her finger at him.

  “You...” Her finger shook and her eyes narrowed. It would’ve been a hilarious picture, with her blushed face and oily undergarments, had he not been so furious at her.

  “What?” He snarled, flashing his fangs.

  She took a sudden step backwards, hitting one of the lockers. Her face didn’t give her away, but he could hear the uptick in her heart rate. She was afraid of him. Good. She needed to be afraid. Not all vampires would treat her kindly. There were plenty just out for themselves, living life as they had centuries before, taking advantage of naive humans.