Vampire Girl 7: Fallen Star

by Karpov Kinrade

  Alex Stone, an Epilogue

  "This feels serious," I say, applying a coat of red lipstick to match my dress.

  Dean comes up behind me and slides his hands around my waist, pulling me against his chest. He drops his mouth to my neck and bare shoulders, leaving hot kisses in his wake. His lips are close to my earlobe, sending shivers up my spine. "It's not that serious."

  I twist to face him, our mouths inches apart. "Meeting your whole family for the holidays? That's serious."

  I don't have a family. Haven't had one for so long I've forgotten what it feels like. Dean has a huge family, and they're royalty. It's a bit much.

  "My brother owes you his life and already adores you. Ari knows you saved Fen, so she's been dying to meet you. Asher and Varis are coming back from the island just for this, and they're bringing Kayla, Tavian and Arias, Elias's twin brother. Iris and Elias will be there. You've been wanting to meet him, right?"

  I nod. "That's true. But you just listed a lot of names I'm likely to forget." My nerves don't usually get the better of me, but this time they have. After everything we went through in stopping Levi and my mother, after losing her again, and losing any chance of seeing my father one last time, after destroying the Star of Nirandel and finding out the truth about myself… I needed time. Dean invited me to stay in his Pleasure Palace. Even offered to rename it, which made me laugh. It was a tempting offer, what with my mansion totally destroyed and all. But I wasn't ready to relocate to an entirely new world.

  Iris's Uncle Sly offered to let me stay at The Black Lotus for as long as I wanted. I took him up on the offer, and I did a lot of thinking and sleeping and soul searching. I also spent time with Dean, but in normal ways. We went to eat and took in some shows. We discovered a similar taste in movies and plays. I spent time with Iris, though never got to see her fiancé since he was busy being a prince and all. Seems there are a lot of those to go around—princes that is. I'm still a bit in awe that I've found mine.

  I know his family has been wanting to meet me, and I've put them off for months. Until now.

  Now it's the holidays, and I'm ready to figure out the next chapter of my life. Apparently that includes meeting Dean's whole royal family at High Castle for a Winter Solstice celebration.

  I step back and spin, showing off my new dress, hand sewn by his tailors, to conform to Inferna dress code. "How do I look?"

  His eyes fill with desire, and I push him away playfully. "You'll ruin my makeup," I warn.

  "Later, I plan to ruin that dress too," he threatens, and a thrill runs through my body in anticipation.

  He is definitely a lover I have not grown bored of. But no wonder, given he is the Prince of Lust. It's a title well-earned, but doesn't do him justice, to be honest. There's so much more to him than desire. I've fallen in love with his mind, his heart, his very soul.

  And yes, I now believe vampires have souls. I've met too many good ones to think otherwise. I still have the memories of what happened to my parents, of course, and they still sting, but that wound is finally healing after all these years.

  I guess I can thank my mother for that, despite everything. And Dean.

  I hold his hand as we cross over to the mirror Sly gave me for my room in the Black Lotus. He places a hand on it, and we transport into High Castle, a lavish medieval style estate that includes touches of modern life. A strange mix, but one I appreciate, as they use magic to replicate plumbing and some modern comforts.

  I clutch his hand as we make our way to the banquet hall, and when we enter, I suck in a breath, transfixed. A huge table carved from stone edges the large room, with the king and queen at the head and chairs placed around facing the center, where a fire burns in a hearth and a live orchestra performs a haunting song.

  The king has a large white wolf at his feet and is wearing a crown and red velvet robes. He smiles when he sees us, waving. His wife, Queen Arianna, sits beside him with a small dragon perched on her shoulder, dressed in similar style to him, her dark hair gleaming under the candlelight. The table and walls are strewn with holly and candles, the bright red berries contrasting with the forest green leaves. Red and green satin bows hold it all together, and in the corner the largest Christmas tree I've ever seen is set up and decorated with crystal balls of silver, and white candles that seem magicked to not melt.

  Dean's other brothers are sitting around the table, and other members of their households I've not yet met are milling about talking, laughing and partaking of the massive feast. Every kind of cooked meat, fruit pies, vegetable casseroles, loaves of freshly baked bread, and candied dishes adorn the space, as well as bottles of wine and, I presume, blood. I'll have to make sure Dean steers me toward the wine. I made the mistake once of grabbing a glass I thought was wine and turned out to be blood. Not a mistake I want to repeat. Like…. Ever.

  Fen stands when we approach, hugging Dean first, then me. "I'm so glad you both could make it."

  "Thank you for inviting me," I say, unsure if I should curtsy or what? I look to Dean for guidance but he's no help.

  "Alex, this is my wife, Ari."

  The queen smiles and her baby dragon chirps and then hops over to me, sniffing my hand. "Yami likes you," she says. "That's a good sign. And we owe you so much."

  Ari is beautiful, and clearly happy to be reunited with her husband at last. Fen offers us the seats near him, and we join them. Dean fills a plate for me and offers me wine with a wink, as if he's reading my mind. Then he leans over and points out all his relatives, telling me their names and reminding me about stories he's told to help me put faces to all them.

  When Iris and Elias arrive, I breathe a sigh of relief. She smiles and heads straight for us, taking a seat at my side and hugging me. "I knew you'd come."

  She introduces me to Elias, who is just as handsome as she described, and he and Dean share a meaningful look.

  The festivities continue, and I meet other uncles—Ace the inventor, Zeb, Prince of Gluttony, Asher and his Druid partner Varis, and important members of the family. Too many names to remember, too much family to track, but it occurs to me this could be my family someday. Dean and I have talked about it, about where our future might lay, and neither of us imagines being with anyone else, but we're in no rush. There's time. Especially if what Queen Sky said is true, that I won't age, nor will I need to be turned to enjoy an immortal life.

  Iris and I have more in common than one would have thought, each with our mysterious genesis into this world.

  As we feast, drink and enjoy the entertainment, I settle into this feeling of being surrounded by a new kind of family and friends.

  At one point Elias stands and pulls something out of his pocket. A sprig of mistletoe. He holds it over Iris's head and prepares to kiss her when all hell breaks loose. Literally.

  She jumps back, toppling her chair in the process and spilling wine everywhere, then pulls out one of her daggers from… I'm not even sure where, and proceeds to slash the poor green sprig apart.

  Elias stands, dumbfounded, staring at his fiancé. "What the hell was that?" he asks, though he doesn't look mad, just amused.

  Iris squints her face as the music falls silent. All eyes are on her.

  She looks around and sighs. "Oh, alright. If you must know. This," she says, gesturing to the bits of mistletoe scattered on the rugs, "is my third fear."

  Elias nearly doubles over laughing. "This? A bit of a plant? This is what the greatest Hunter that ever lived is scared of? Oh come now, you must tell us why. This is too rich."

  "Yes," Ari says, having laughed so hard tears are streaming down her face. "Please, Iris. Share. This must be good."

  Iris rolls her eyes, tugging her emerald green dress into place and tucking her dagger back into its secret spot, then sits back down. "Very well. As some of you know, I fear only three things. Spiders," she says, shivering. I knew this of course, after her reaction to my story about the spiders in the tomb. "Being buried alive," she continues, and this is n
ews to me, but come on, who wouldn't be terrified by that?

  "And mistletoe toe," she concludes, to a few hushed snickers from her audience. "The reason for my first two fears are fairly obvious and are associated with traumatic experiences. Well, so too is this. Allow me to set the stage. It was the winter of my thirteenth year. I was a socially awkward newly minted teen who was more interested in swordplay and ways to kill and maim than in boys. But my best friend was a gorgeous succubus who couldn't help but attract all manner of creature to her. Male or female, it didn't matter. Everyone loved Callie. That year, Uncle Sly hired a decorator to deck the Black Lotus in the most spectacular holiday trim, and that included copious amounts of mistletoe hanging from every bloody doorway. It was really overkill if you ask me."

  Iris pauses to sip from her refreshed wine glass, then continues. "At any rate, I was not interested in partaking of the mistletoe kiss. But Callie collected her share and more that season, and seemed hell-bent and determined that I too experience the wonders of said kiss. Since I had no desire to attract a male for this experience, she decided to use her charms for evil, and attract one for me. It was the night of the Solstice, and the Lotus was packed with revelers getting drunk on expensive liquor and enjoying the entertainment my uncle provided. On that fated night, a boy about my age approached me, and seeing that I was not, in fact, standing under the mistletoe, but was rather studying the room for emergency exits in case shit hit the proverbial fan, he deliberately bumped into me, thus knocking me under the doorframe. Now that I was standing under the mistletoe, he then proceeded to jam his tongue so far down my throat I was convinced he was going for my tonsils. I froze, initially paralyzed by the experience, the shock of it all, as his drool ran down my lips and face, and bits of his undigested dinner made its way into my mouth."

  This elicits a few groans from everyone listening, and Iris crinkles her face and takes another drink. The rest of the table does as well. I'm sensing a new drinking game coming on.

  "It gets worse, my friends," Iris says, grimacing. "So much worse. Once my instincts kicked back in, I freaked the hell out and kneed the kid in the groin, then prepared to body slam him into the wall, only when he doubled over from pain, he also bit down. Hard. So hard in fact, that he bit the tip of my tongue clean off."

  I wince at the image and take another drink. So does Iris. So does everyone. Elias isn't laughing anymore and looks rather nauseous at this story.

  "So, there I am, my tongue gone, blood gushing out of my mouth, as this prick rolls around on the floor crying, my tongue still between his teeth, when Uncle Sly runs over and is about to eviscerate the boy, until Callie intervenes and explains what she did. I was sent to the healer and spent Christmas regrowing my tongue by drinking the most vile potion you can imagine four times a day for four weeks. Callie was grounded for the same duration, and no underage boys were allowed in the Black Lotus for a good six months."

  "What happened to the boy?" Elias asks.

  Iris shrugs. "Never saw him again. He was either banished or too traumatized to ever return."

  Elias takes Iris's hand and squeezes it. "You've had shit luck with men my love. Lucky I came along when I did."

  She laughs and swats at him, but I can see the love in her eyes. In fact, there is so much love in this room. Ari and Fen are talking quietly together, their faces pressed close, hands in each other's. Asher and Varis laugh at a joke I'm not privy to, they're affection for each other clear. Kayla and Tavian have stolen more than one kiss that I've seen so far.

  It feels good to be surrounded by this energy, and I reach for Dean's hand, giving it a squeeze. His piercing blue eyes land on mine, melting me to the core. A flush of heat surges in me and thoughts of what we will do later burn in my mind.

  I realize then I've had enough time to myself. "Hey," I say, scooting closer to him.

  "Hey yourself," he says with a grin.

  "Is that offer still open?" I ask.

  "Which offer might that be?"

  "To live with you."

  His eyes widen, and as an answer he pulls me into a kiss that makes all other kisses pale in comparison.

  It takes all my self-control not to grab his hand and retreat to somewhere more private to see where else that kiss might go. "Is that a yes?" I ask, my lips still touching his.

  "That's a yes."

  I lean into him, and he holds me as we watch acrobats perform where the orchestra had been, enjoying the rest of the evening with our friends and family.

  Later that night, while the candles burn low, we all crowd around the Christmas tree and exchange gifts. As we do, Iris comes to sit with us. "So, what does the future hold for you two lovebirds?"

  I glance at Dean and shrug. "I'm not sure. But I'll be spending more time in Inferna, it appears. Since it looks like I'm moving here."

  "And I've got a lead on a new dig site in Egypt," Dean says. "Where Akhenaten's staff might be. It's said to contain the power of the sun god, Aten, and has been attributed with powerful magic. What do you think? Want to partner up and find some hidden treasure?"

  I smile. "Only if you'll reconsider your stance on museums."

  He rolls his eyes. "We'll talk about it."

  Indeed we will, I think, as the gift giving continues. I don't know what our future will hold, but I feel certain we'll face it together. Whatever it is.

  **THE END**

  Want more of Nirandel, the world of dragons? Pick up the standalone fantasy, Of Dreams and Dragons today.

  Also enjoy these books coming soon:

  Vampire Girl: Christmas Cognac

  River of Dreams (from the Nightfall Chronicles)

  Ellabelle: A Moonstone Academy Prequel Novella (from our new Moonstone Academy series)

  If you to connect with us more, join our KK Coven group on Facebook where we interact daily, do giveaways, and will be starting a book club. We hope to see you there!

  Afterword

  Thank you for committing to this journey with us. We have been writing in this world for a few years now, with seven core books, a very long fantasy standalone (Of Dreams and Dragons) and several novellas, and we love it. These last two books were created during a very challenging time for us. Lux’s brother took his life while we were working on Unseen Lord, and Dmytry became very ill around the same time and was unable to work for a few months. After many tests we think we have gotten to the bottom of the illness—a serious gut bacteria we both ended up with—and we are on the mend with heavy doses of antibiotics and a lot of doctor visits.

  Through it all, these stories kept us going. They might not be as long as the first five Vampire Girl books, but they are packed with just as much love, adventure and heart. This last book was especially poignant as we wanted to capture the sense of love, family and friendship that has sustained us during these hard time as we gear up for the holidays. Thus, we wrote a few extra epilogues to take you into the lives of other characters you’ve grown to love on this journey. We hope you enjoyed how this ended.

  This isn’t the end of Vampire Girl, but it is a pause. We have big plans for 2019, including working on more Nightfall stories, and bringing you a new world in Moonstone Academy. We hope you fall in love with these new characters and new stories. In the meantime, we are still committed to bringing Vampire Girl to tv or movies, and are working toward that end.

  This series wouldn’t be possible without you, our dear readers. And we love you for it. Thank you. And thanks for sticking with us through it all.

  If you to connect with us more, join our KK Coven group on Facebook where we interact daily, do giveaways, and will be starting a book club. We hope to see you there!

  Love, Lux & Dmytry Karpov Kinrade

  PS, keep reading to learn about a new adventure that awaits!

  Ellabelle

  I live in the forest of the fairies and frolic with the nymphs. I talk with the owls and hear the rumors spread by ravens. But it is within the walls of the old stone castle that I hear that which
is worth knowing. The lies and secrets, the human willy-nillys. Normally it is all just bubbles in the sunlight. Nothing more or less. Nothing bigger or smaller.

  But things are changing.

  I just need medicine for my owl. He is my home and my friend and the person who listens the most. He speaks in the voice of the ancients and knows my heart. But he is sick, and the robed ones in the castle have potions and liquids and vials of magic they steal from the earth and the sky and the water and fire, and so I will steal it back from them to make my friend better.

  That is when I hear it.

  That is when I know.

  The still waters will be still no more.

  ***

  Welcome to a world of magic. A world of mystery. A world of adventure. Welcome to Moonstone Academy, a new series from USA Today bestselling author Karpov Kinrade. Enjoy a peek into the mystical island of Moonstone, where nothing is at it seems, in this novella prequel.

  About the Author

  Karpov Kinrade is the pen name for the husband and wife writing duo of USA TODAY bestselling, award-winning authors Lux Karpov-Kinrade and Dmytry Karpov-Kinrade.

  Together, they write fantasy and science fiction novels and screenplays, make music and direct movies.

  Look for more from Karpov Kinrade in Vampire Girl, Of Dreams and Dragons, The Nightfall Chronicles and The Forbidden Trilogy. If you’re looking for their suspense and romance titles, you’ll now find those under Alex Lux.

  They live with their three mostly teens who share a genius for all things creative, and six cats who think they rule the world (spoiler, they do.)