by Chloe Adler
“Yes sir,” I reply, looking back down at my lap.
“Stand up,” he growls.
I do as he asks, tugging my plaid mini skirt down and looking at my feet.
“Name?”
“Amaya.”
“Surname.” It’s a statement, not a question.
“Reynolds.”
“I knew it,” his finger is under my chin, lifting it up. “One of the founding human families. You were born here.”
How does he know that? It’s true, my family moved to Distant Edge when it was first created. And they were one of the first human families to do so.
“Do you know who I am?” his voice is low and rumbling.
“No sir.”
“My name is Vasil” His finger is still crooked under my chin. It’s long and cold. I force myself to look up at him. Penetrating eyes, so dark they look almost black. Framed by long black lashes. The man-vampire-is gorgeous. My breath catches as my gaze wanders over his features. His dark, dark skin looks airbrushed without a blemish. Shortly cropped curly black hair is shaved on the sides, drawing attention back to his ruggedly handsome face. He’s so put together that the five o’clock shadow seems out of character on him, like he rushed to get here and didn’t bother to shave. But it perfectly frames his square jaw and those lips remind me of black cherries.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he says, pulling me out of my daze.
“What? Me? Why?”
“Your mother is black.” Again a statement and not a question.
“How do you know that? Who are you?” I ask.
He drops his finger and I pitch forward, shocked at the absence I feel from his touch. And the surprise at myself. Apparently I’d been leaning on him.
“Have you seen things?” Finally, not a statement.
“What things?” I have absolutely no idea what he’s talking about.
“Later,” his voice thickens. “For now, may I drink?” Those dark lids droop.
The vampire’s voice lulls me and even though every conscious thought left in my head says ‘run’, my body betrays me. Surely it’s safe to be with him here. This is why I’m here after all. I tilt my head to the side and his laughter is deep and booming.
“Not here, pretty one. I have a room.”
I stiffen. “I’m not allowed upstairs.”
“You’re allowed anywhere I wish to bring you. I’m one of the oldest patrons here. Come.” He takes my hand, gently and leads me toward the grand staircase. The red carpeting that runs throughout the main floor also runs up the stairs. There are polished mahogany banisters, each one looking individually carved. I stop at the bottom. He mounts the first step and tugs at my hand but I look around desperately for Miss Cheryl.
“Come little one,” he coos. “You won’t get in trouble as long as you’re with me. I promise.”
But still my feet stay firmly planted.
“Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asks.
“No sir,” I answer honestly. I’m not sure why he doesn’t though. He’s a complete and total stranger. A vampire at that. Tall, broad, gorgeous and intimidating. “But I don’t want to go upstairs with you.”
He nods, dropping my hand. “Alright. I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t want to do Amaya.”
I look up at him, he’s even taller and more commanding, standing on the stair above me.
“Ever.” He adds. “Not for me or anyone else. Is that understood?”
“Okay.” I’m confused. Is he trying to use reverse psychology? “Do you still want to drink from me?”
“I don’t drink in public,” he waves a hand around the the main room and I follow it with my eyes. Some girls are sitting and others are laying down on couches with vampires drinking from them. I can’t not hear the moaning and sighs, both from the patrons and their donors. “It’s an intimate exchange, as you can see.”
He’s right.
“Have you had a vampire drink from you before or would I be your first?”
Without looking back at him I mumble, “you’d be my first.”
He reaches for my hand again, stepping off the stair. “In that case, I’d like to pay you for your time and ask that you don’t let anyone else partake.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want you to be mine here, exclusively.”
“But why?”
“Because I think you’re special.”
What was he talking about? I’m not special. I’m just an ordinary human.
“I’m going to talk to Miss Cheryl and though I don’t want to, I may have to find another donor to drink from tonight.” He pulls my hand up and places a single kiss on the back of it. The warmth of his lips sparks a memory.
I’m about five and playing outside in my backyard. There’s a flash of movement in my periphery and I turn toward it. A little fairy flutters in the tree next to me, flitting around the leaves. She doesn’t look completely solid and is dressed in colorful fabric that flits and moves with her. I reach my hand out to touch and she disappears. I always had an overactive imagination.
He lets go of my hand and like his finger under my chin, there’s a feeling of loss and cold. The dim lights in the Vectum look brighter and I bring my hand up to shield my eyes.
“You stay here for now, sweet one. I’ll pay the proprietor for your full time. Promise me you won’t let another vampire drink from you tonight. Yes?”
I blink at him several times and the lights mellow once more.
“I’ll be back tomorrow night with some friends who I know will want to meet you.”
About the Author
Chloe Adler is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy author. A Witch’s Mortal Desire is the first book in the series Love on the Edge. Chloe is currently working on two more series in the Distant Edge Universe.
Chloe is an avid reader of PNR and UF herself. When not reading or writing she is happily sipping tea with friends, hiking with her dog and performing circus tricks.
Chloe welcomes reader interaction and would love to hear from you.
Thank you so much for reading!
Connect with Chloe
www.ChloeAdler.com
[email protected]
Also by Chloe Adler
Love on the Edge Series
Book 1 - A Witch’s Mortal Desire - Sadie’s Book
Book 2 - A Witch’s Dark Craving - Chrys’s Book
Book 3 - A Shifter’s Fevered Heart - Jared’s Book
Book 4 - A Vampire’s Wicked Hunger - Burgundy’s Book
Author Musings
Right this moment is one of the few times I want to tear out all of my hair and run for the hills. I want to quit writing altogether and become an off-the-grid hermit.
This book in particular was a difficult one to write but I also think it was an important one. Burgundy’s story was different from the other characters. She is older, more experienced and she is their rock. But they never considered what she may need. They didn’t “take” from her exactly, she freely gave - but in the eyes of Sadie, Chrys and Jared - Burgundy was the one who “knew it all”. But no-one “knows it all”, even the person you think is your rock.
Burgundy wanted something from life that was beyond the “norm”. And she encouraged her friends to go after their dreams. Burg was their den mother, their cheerleader. The one who tells you that, against all odds, you can do whatever you set your mind to doing. Quite often those types of people don’t have their own cheerleaders, only an inner compass. With nurturing that compass can lead us directly where we need to go.
And as we all know (too well) it’s much easier to give advice to others and to see what they may be lacking or even what their qualities are - but when it comes to ourselves - forget it! Burgundy needed her very own lovers to help her with that. To be her mirror, reflecting back the strength that was momentarily lost.
No one can get through this life alone and even with our support groups, no one gets through it unscathed.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Burgundy’s story more than I enjoyed writing it! :)
XXOOXX ~ Chloe
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chloe Adler
Preface
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
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Afterword
About the Author
Also by Chloe Adler
Author Musings
