After she had tucked her mother into bed after the plane had taken off, she went back and sat down next to Victoria.
“So what’s the game plan?”
“We can’t land directly in the Island of Elders, so we’ll be landing at another island about forty miles offshore. Then we’ll take a ferry over. This is going to be the hard part. They’re going to recognize that you’re not a vampire, so I’m going to use my psychic abilities to cloak you and your mother. But it will only last a couple of hours or so. We’ll need to try to get you to Bryce as quickly as possible.”
“And Bryce knows we’re coming?”
Victoria shook her head. “I haven’t been able to contact him.” She put her fingers to her temples. “I’ve been trying to send a psychic message to him for the past few days, but I haven’t got a response.”
Harper bit her lip. “That doesn’t sound good.”
Victoria sighed softly. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m worried. I think we’re almost at the point of being in over our heads.”
“But I have to make sure my mother is healed. That’s the whole point of this trip.”
“I thought it was for you to reconnect with Bryce.”
“If something happens, then it happens. But that’s not important right now. What’s important is making sure my mom is okay.”
“They’ll be able to heal her…if we can get her to the proper person.”
“What do you mean?”
“Bryce has the authority to give direction to the royal court’s most notable healers. Human cancer will be nothing to them, but usually the healers are so busy dealing with other issues that they wouldn’t have time to help.”
“Do humans often go to them for help?”
“They did in the past when our presence was more well known. But over the past hundred years, Bryce’s father has been doing his best to erase us from their memories.”
“That’s exactly what Roman said.”
“Roman said what?” Harper said through narrowed eyes. “You talked to him?”
“He came to my last night. He heard everything. He knows I’m going.”
Victoria shook her head ruefully. “And you waited to tell me this now because?”
“It slipped my mind. I’m sorry.”
“We’re experiencing some turbulence. Please fasten your safety belt until we let you know it’s over.” The pilot said over the intercom.
“My least favorite part of flying.” Harper said as she buckled up.
“Now that Roman knows we’re going, this puts a whole different spin on the situation.” Victoria said. “God damn it.”
Harper said nothing.
“I’m risking my life to help you. You know that, right?” Victoria said coldly.
“I do and I appreciate it. And when I can, I’ll pay you back.”
“I’m sure.” Victoria said coldly. Harper was surprised how her mood could flip in an instant. One moment she was warm and friendly, the next she was acting rude and cold to her. “I’ve got some work to do.” She said as she flipped open a laptop.
Harper looked out the window. They were now high up in the sky, so far from what was known and familiar to her.
Before she knew it, she fell asleep.
Hours later, she woke up and looked out the window as she yawned. It was completely black outside.
“Where are we?” Harper said to Victoria, who was typing on her laptop.
“We’ll be there in a couple of hours. We already refueled in Paris.”
“What?” Harper said. “I slept through that?”
“Let’s just say you had a little help.” Victoria said with a wink.
Harper rolled her eyes. She didn’t like how the vampires were so eager to mess with human’s minds without a second thought. But on the other hand, she did enjoy the peaceful shut-eye. It had been many nights since she slept peacefully. The nap had done her some good.
Harper felt her stomach flip as the plane started rocking back and forth. Her hands clenched the the armrests of the chair as her back stiffened as a result of her nervousness.
“Shit, I hate this.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be over soon.” Victoria said calmly.
But the turbulence got worse and worse. Harper heard her mother screaming from her cabin.
“Mom, just stay put!” Harper shouted back.
“I’ll go see to her.” Victoria said as she unbuckled her safety belt and walked carefully as the plane swooped up and down.
“Shit!” Harper screamed as the plane started descending rapidly. She felt like she was on a roller-coaster, but not in a fun way.
“Hold tight everyone. We’re making an emergency landing.” The pilot said.
“Oh my God.” Harper screamed. In her mind, she could just see Bryce’s face. So reassuring and kind. She was going to him − that was basically the purpose of the trip, but at this moment in time, she had never felt so far away form him.
The plane seemed to be pointed straight down. Harper screamed out as one of the windows shattered only few feet away from her.
“We’re under fire.” Victoria shouted out. Despite the turbulence, she was able to race over to one of her bags and pull out a gun.
Victoria went to the busted out window and opened fire on the plane that Harper realized was trailing them.
“Shit, it’s Roman.” She said as she reloaded the weapon. “Harper, get me the silver bullets in my bag. These normal ones won’t do a damn thing.”
Harper ran over and threw the contents of the Gucci briefcase onto the ground of the floor of the plane. She heard her mother hollering in the background, but her mind was focused solely on finding the silver bullets.
“Here you go.” She said after she found them, throwing them up to Victoria who swiftly caught them and loaded them into her pistol.
“It’s no good. They’re putting up psychic shields that are stronger than what I’m used to.” Victoria huffed.
“We’re descending, people.” The pilot said. His voice sounded stressed even though Harper could tell he was trying to sound calm.
But just then, everything went dark in the plane. The electricity was shut off, or something. The oxygen masks deployed from the ceiling.
“Hold on, everyone!” Victoria screamed out.
But then Harper fell to the ground. Her eyes shut as she felt herself spinning down to the ground.
She lost consciousness.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Good morning, sweetheart.” A deep yet familiar voice said.
Harper’s eyes fluttered open.
To her delight, Bryce was standing above her. She realized she was in some sort of bed. But her interest in figuring out her surroundings was surpassed by her innate desire to feast her eyes on Bryce - her object of affection.
“Bryce,” she said, her voice croaking. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
He smiled slightly as he bent down and kissed her on the forehead. “It does seem that way, doesn’t it.”
She loved the feeling of his soft lips on her skin. She craved to put her lips to his. To feel that sensation. To taste him.
Even if he was a vampire.
“Bryce, there’s so much…there’s so much you need to explain to me.” She said.
“I know, Harper.” He said calmly. “But there will be a time for that. Right now, we need to focus on getting out of here.”
“What do you mean?” She said.
“Right now we’re in your mind. Well, both of our minds. This isn’t real, per se.”
“But it feels real. I can feel your touch. Hear your voice.”
“We’re communicating psychically.” He said as he took his hand in hers. “And I don’t know how much longer the link will hold out. Your powers are growing, but you’re still so weak from the crash.”
“What happened? Is everyone alright?”
“Yes. Your mom is fine. They’re taking good care of her.”
“Thank God.” Harper said with a sigh of relief.
“But they’re not happy about you coming here. My father, especially. Roman has been filling his mind with outrageous stories about how you intend to let humans know about the location of the Elder Island. About how vampires still walk the Earth.”
“I haven’t. I wouldn’t.” She said softly. “Not if you didn’t want me to.”
“My father is intent on keeping our existence a secret. I’m not sure if I agree with it, but it’s what it is.”
“I won’t tell, then.” She said huskily.
Her eyes looked into his. They were the deepest blue she had ever seen. Like the ocean. And she wanted to swim in them, forever.
“Bryce, Victoria told me that you…marked me.”
“I did.” He said with a slight smile.
“Does that mean that you like me?”
“Something like that.” He said with a smile.
His hand brushed against her cheek and she put her hands gently around his wrist, holding it there.
“I felt so scared when you were gone. Why did you leave?”
“I had to go back home. To take care of some things.”
“You should’ve told me. You should’ve let me know.” She said. “I missed you terribly.”
“I’m a vampire. I was getting the hunger. I had to feed.” He said softly. “I didn’t want to scare you. I don’t need to feed that often, but when I do, I become something else. You wouldn’t have recognized me.”
“I think I would have. Who could forget those beautiful eyes you have?”
He bit his lip and pulled her hands up to his face, then covered them with soft kisses.
“When we are back on the earth plane, you’ll know everything. My life will be dedicated only to you. But right now, we have to work to defeat Roman. My father has become sick, but I believe Roman is behind it. When we feed, we are basically ‘out of it’ for about a week. With my father sick and me out of commission, he was able to seize the throne.”
“Oh my God,” she exclaimed.
“It’s bad. He was able to turn the Royal Court against my father’s plane to keep us separate from the humans. He’s been able to convince them that the vampires should enslave the human race and have them serve us.”
“Can’t you just live in peace?” Harper asked.
“That’s my goal. I don’t see why humans and vampires can’t live peacefully side by side. We neither need to be invisible to them or control them. We’re not that different. We all want the same things. Happiness. Health. Hope.”
“Yes…” Harper said. She put her hand on his strong shoulder. Even though he said that this was all in her mind, it felt so real. Would a kiss feel real, too? She had to find out.
She gently pulled him down until their lips touched. She opened her mouth slightly, allowing his tongue to enter her mouth and explore. She moaned as he sucked on her lower lip, his hands running over her chest, feeling her…making her feel so good.
She pulled him down on top of him, feeling his full weight. She couldn’t help but feel his large erection in his pants rub against her thighs.
“Yes, baby.” She moaned as he kissed her neck passionately.
“I’ve wanted you so bad, Harper.” He said. He continued kissing and licking her ever so passionately.
“I’ve wanted you, too.” She grunted as his hands swiftly pulled down her top. His mouth quickly went to her right nipple and gently sucked on it, much to her delight.
His other hand went down between her legs and begin massaging her slightly. She spread them reflexively for him, wanting him to touch her even more.
He flipped her over until he was on top of her and released his manhood from his pants. She moaned as she saw how large he was. He smirked slightly as he pushed into her core, feeling her body envelop his member.
“God damn.” He moaned as he began thrusting against her, in and out so methodically. She ran her hands over his bare back, then couldn’t help but ran her hands over his muscular ass.
It felt so good having him inside of her. It seemed as though he was meant to be there, forever. She never wanted him to leave. It just felt way too right.
“You have no idea how turned on I am right now.” He whispered to her as he continued going in and out of her. “It’s what I’ve always wanted.” He bent over and kissed her collarbone and then couldn’t help but to kiss her bare breast.
“Mmm.” She moaned so softly as she continued feeling him fill her up.
Then his thrusting increased in intensity as he suddenly let out a deep, husky moan and filled her with his seed. At that point, she lost all control and whimpered as she orgasmed harder than she ever had before in her life.
He collapsed on top of her and cradled her in his arms. She smiled, leaning her head on his strong chest as she felt comforted by his muscular arm draped around her.
He seemed calmer than he had earlier. And she felt the same. All the tension in her body had melted away as the result of the magic he had worked on her. All that stress was gone.
“I want to do that again…and again…and again.” He said with a smile before kissing her savagely on the lips.
“I think we can work something out.” As she covered her nude body with the sheet.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
She had drifted off to sleep, calmed and resolute after making love to Bryce for the first time. Even if it was just psychically, she felt as fulfilled as she would have been had they made love in real life.
And she couldn’t wait until that happened for the first time.
But a bright lit woke her up.
“Just a few more minutes.” She murmured. She wanted to sleep a little while longer.
“Wake up, Harper.” A cruel masculine voice said.
She opened her eyes suddenly and saw that she was in a dank dungeon. Yes, she had been sleeping on a bed, but it wasn’t the one from her psychic vision. It was dirty looking. Unpleasant. Not like the bed she had been love with Bryce.
“It’s you.” She said as she woke up, seeing that it was Roman standing in front of her.
“Who else would it be?” He said with a snarl. “I told you not to come here.”
“I had to come and you know that.” She insisted. She tried to sit up, but realized that there were ties around her hand that were strapping her down to the bed. “Now get these things off of me.”
He walked over to her and took a key out of his pocket and began unlocking the tiny locks that were fastened to the ties. “I apologize if my guards were a little rough with you.”
She sat up, rubbing her wrist. “Where’s Bryce?”
“He’s not doing well.” Roman said softly. He turned and looked out the window onto a dark night sky.
“But he came to me…last night.” Harper insisted as she sat up. “And my mother? Where is she?”
“She’s fine. We removed the cancer and sent her back.”
“What!?” Harper exclaimed, running forward, putting her hand on his shoulder and turning him around. “You can’t send her traveling alone?”
“Don’t worry. Victoria is with her.”
“Victoria? But she didn’t tell me that was part of the plan.”
“It’s what I told her to do. Don’t hold it against her. She’s a good girl, even though she’s insanely jealous that Bryce wants you and not her.”
Harper wiped her brow.
“That’s between her and Bryce. Now what’s wrong with Roman?”
“The woman who fed him…their blood wasn’t compatible.”
“Not compatible? What do you mean?”
“Some vampires can only feed from specific blood types. We thought Bryce was the type that could feed from all. That’s why he’s the prince, after all. He's pureblooded. Pureblooded royals have that ability to drink blood from any source. Turns out, he’s not as royal as he’s letting on.”
Harper gasped. “What exactly are you implying, Roman?”
“I
’m implying that I think Bryce is a fraud. All of the royals are supposed to have that skill. If he doesn’t have it, he must not be royal.”
“I need to see him.”
“You can’t. He’s in isolation. The vampire witches are working on him, trying to heal them. He was cognizant enough to allow them to take a break to heal your mother, although his father wasn’t too pleased. Bryce could’ve died without their presence.”
ROMANCE: His Ebony Blood Jewel - A Novel (BWWM, Paranormal, Vampire, Billionaire New Adult Romance) Page 11
