Her stiff spine relaxed, not needing to hold itself separate. His familiar scent seeped into her nostrils and she sighed, happy again. It had been too long since she’d been close to him.
His voice deepened and dropped, settling into a note barely discernible from the music. “One-two-three, one-two-three, one-two-three . . .”
She danced with him in their little square, one step on each side, humming the count. Her eyes closed and her spine loosened even more. Their breath seemed to pass in a continuous loop from his lungs to her lungs and back again. He sped up a bit but she didn’t need to grip his shoulder harder, since she was perfectly poised between his hands. His legs brushed hers and she adjusted her movements accordingly, until their cores were once again balanced, allowing their feet to be only a few inches apart.
She was dancing a real dance, waltzing like a princess.
Their feet were moving easily together, her dark red pumps a delightful contrast to his shiny black boots. His hands were warm but no hotter than the steam bellows of their breath passing from their lungs through their mouths, back down again to leap between their ribs. Perfect, absolutely perfect.
She closed her eyes, humming a little, building the joyous bubble brighter and brighter insider her.
He extended his stride, moving out a little faster. They dipped and glided more, her skirts dancing with them like a third partner now . . .
Metal thudding down both legs with the music’s beat.
They were flying across the floor like birds, laughing for the pure joy of it. The music repeated itself but who cared about that? She could have done this for days.
Ethan tightened his grip on her waist and they reversed direction, sending fabric into a dizzying swirl but changing his trousers’ silver coins to a syncopated rhythm.
“Da-dum.” She thumped his shoulder, marking the exact instant they settled into the older, more predictable beat.
Ethan broke stride for a moment and she stepped on his feet. His eyes flashed open, as vividly gold and possessive as any hunting cat’s.
She shivered, but not from cold. She couldn’t imagine what had triggered it but she was more than eager to satisfy her creador’s hunger.
“Just a few minutes more, darling,” he purred, his grip subtly tighter.
She leaned a little closer, her skin suddenly crackling with heat.
A few bars later, the orchestra swept to a triumphant close. Ethan twirled her out before him and she curtsied, while he bowed—and the room erupted in cheers. Only three couples had finished the dance—Don Rafael and Grania, Jean-Marie and Hélène, Ethan and herself. All the guests had unanimously withdrawn to sidelines to watch and now they heartily applauded the wedding party.
Steve blushed and moved closer to Ethan.
The throng advanced fast and hard on the bride and groom, giving her a chance to escape with Ethan. He cut his way out using more efficiency than politeness, never stopping to apologize for any feet he might have stepped on. Steve simply gripped his hand and stayed close.
He yanked open the door to a withdrawing room, Hélène’s succinct description for a small chamber containing a chair, sofa, table, and vivid picture of the Calatrava golf course. It had probably been originally designed for assignations but was now used just as often for phone calls, hence its guarantee of privacy from all the security forces here.
He slammed the door shut behind them and stared at her. “When you hummed ‘da-dum,’ what were you listening to?” he asked very carefully. His face was almost terrifyingly calm.
She frowned. Why was he asking the obvious?
“The botonaduras, the coins along your legs, Ethan. When we changed direction, they sort of shimmied before they settled back down.”
“You couldn’t have felt that on your own, Steve, because your dress’s fabric is so thick. Only I could.” He was completely pale, his eyes brilliantly green. “But I could feel the velvet flirting with my ankles, which my wool trousers and boots should have prevented.”
She gaped at him. “How could we feel each other’s sensations? Isn’t that only for cónyuges, something that takes years and years to create between two people?”
“It means we are cónyuges,” he corrected. He caught her by the waist and drew her up to him.
She rested her hands on his biceps, uncertain how much she should agree with his explanation.
“What was I thinking on the dance floor, hmm?”
“You were happy,” she stated with complete certainty.
“Why?”
She hesitated, unable to voice the only explanation which came to mind.
“Come on, darling, why?” He chucked her under the chin.
“Because I was so relaxed? But that’s silly!” she wailed.
“Two people can’t dance a fast waltz well together unless every muscle is completely relaxed—which means full trust, something cónyuges must also share. Could you have given me that before you went to Gilbert’s Crossing four years ago?”
“No.” She worried her lower lip, gaining his fixed attention. Heat hummed through her skin.
“We’ve had more than sixteen years together,” he pointed out.
“True.” She cocked her head to one side. “Tonight I could have counted all of your buttons with my eyes shut, which should mean something. But—cónyuges?”
The implications were dazzling and wonderful. Ethan as a part of her soul forever?
“Loving you forever has never seemed long enough to me. Even when you pulled me over for speeding, I knew you were special. I hated it when you said good-bye and went off to Gilbert’s Crossing to find a husband.”
“Fred was nothing,” she protested, “and he’s guarding Chihuahuas now.”
“Fred could give you more than I ever could—children. I wanted to kill him.”
Her heart turned over at his anguish, even though its source had been years ago. She kissed his chin. “I love you. I’ll always love you.”
He pulled back to meet her eyes. “You’ve never said that before.”
He was right and she’d hurt him because of it. “I’ve thought about it,” she offered, sliding her arms around his neck and openly yielding her heart to him for the first time.
“But we’ve never had the words before.” He tilted her chin up with his finger. “I love you, Stephanie Amanda.”
For the first time, she truly identified with that name.
“And I love you, Ethan.”
Their lips met in a long, sweet kiss, sharing everything between them. Lip to lip, their arms locked their bodies together until their hearts beat. Everything that she was, everything she could be—would be better with him. They’d have forever to share, while working to make Texas better.
Grania wiggled again, probably seeking a position which didn’t put any strain on her bruises. El pobre pequeña, Rafael had enjoyed her long and hard—although she’d enthusiastically participated and, in fact, encouraged him. Even so, she was barely more than a cachorra and a vampira mayora could have claimed fatigue after their wedding night.
Their bedroom had been spectacularly transformed into a white and gold bower of roses and silk. He’d selfishly given her little time to admire it before he pounced. Now it was closer to sunset than to noon.
He lifted her up on top of him, offering his own body for her comfort rather than the crushed sheets. She yawned and slithered over his chest, settling herself more comfortably. Even his cock was so sated it barely twitched at the delectable caress of her silken thighs.
She pillowed her head on his shoulder and he gently stroked her back. He could do this for centuries and still enjoy naming her every vertebra, every muscle, every ligament . . .
“Have I told you recently how much I love you?” she asked sleepily.
“Not in the past”—he craned his neck to look at the clock—“ten minutes, sonrisa de mi corazón.”
“Giving your vampiros a loophole is wonderful.” She kissed his shoulder. “You’re a gr
eat man, Rafael.”
“Loophole?” His wife’s adoration was delicious but the sound of this particular reason made him uneasy.
“Oh, you know, what you said when Ethan brought Steve home. If a fellow’s got an intended who’s good for Texas, he can introduce her to you and ask for your blessing.”
Had he truly left that impression? A suitable novia plus his blessing would allow one of his vampiros to give El Abrazo? Of course, the creador would still pay with his own life for his hija’s misdeeds—but still!
“This will make your men so happy and help Texas, too.” Her breath was warm, barely stirring his skin. “You just keep coming up with new ways to make me love you. Amarte para siempre no sería suficiente.”
“Loving you forever doesn’t seem like long enough,” he agreed, and kissed the top of her head. Perhaps he could live with the loophole. After all, it wasn’t likely to be tackled anytime soon. “Te adoro, Grania.”
“And I adore you, my vampiro.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
My deepest thanks go to Darlene Dunn of the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office for providing a detailed summary of their caseload. These statistics gave me a vivid picture of the Travis County ME’s office and helped me “flesh out” my killers’ modi operandi.
Like many books, Bond of Darkness needed many people’s knowledge to come alive. Special thanks go to Camille Anthony, Raven McKnight, Susan Millard of the Dallas Police Department, Rae Monet (Federal Bureau of Investigation, retired), Margaret Riley, the fabulous experts on Yahoo!’s Weapons Info loop, Karen Woods, Lt. Michael Woodcock of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Viki, and Willy—the warrior from many millennia—who helped me in so many arenas.
GLOSSARY
Terminology used in the Texas Vampire universe is taken whenever possible from medieval Spanish, supplemented by modern Spanish. The only exception is that patrones are given an honorific appropriate to their or their esfera’s ethnicity, for example, don in Texas, madame in New Orleans, lord in England.
Adalid. “Leader; champion.” The leader of a commandery and its compañía. Usage based on medieval Spain, where an adalid had to be sponsored by his fellows before he could be appointed by the king to command a mounted troop. Adalid comes from the Arabic al-dalīl, or guide.
Adoro. Adore, as in “te adoro.” (The statement uses the second person, informal form of address.)
Alferez mayor. al-FEH-reth. Military commande in chief, overseeing all warriors in an esfera. Usage based on medieval Spain. For example, Rodrigo Diaz, the Cid, was named as alferez by Sancho II and commanded the Castilian army. Alferez comes from the Arabic al-faāris, or knight.
Alferez menor. The alferez mayor’s second in command.
Alma. Soul.
Amante. Lover.
Amigo/amiga. Friend.
Amor. Love.
Arcángel. Archangel.
Bandolerismo. “Banditry.” Vampiros owing allegiance to no patrón and living outside any esfera’s laws. (Note: This refers to a single group of vampiros, for example, Robin Hood’s band of merry men.)
Bandolero/bandoleros. “Brigand.” A single vampiro owing allegiance to no patrón and living outside any esfera’s laws.
Bien. Good. (French and Spanish)
Bonsoir. Good evening. (French)
Botonaduras. Shiny metal buttons for charro suits. They are generally made of a nickel alloy called alpaca but can also be made of solid silver or gold.
Buenas noches. Good evening.
Bueno. Good.
Caballero. Knight.
Cachorro/cachorra/cachorros/cachorras. “Cub.” Immature vampiro, who is unable to shapeshift except to feed.
Calatrava. One of the three great orders of medieval Spanish warrior monks.
Cariño. Love, honey. A term of affection.
Certainement. Certainly.
Cher/chère. Dear. (French) However, cher is a common term of endearment in Cajun French, meaning sweet, and is pronounced “sha.”
Chéri/chérie. Beloved, dearest. (French)
Chingado. Fucker. (Strong.)
Chou. Cabbage. Frequently used as a term of endearment. (French)
Coeur. Heart. (French)
Comitiva. “Retinue.” Assemblage of prosaicos attached to a single esfera, patrón, or vampiro.
Commandery/commanderies. Garrison of vampiro warriors. A large, stable esfera has a commandery in every major city (e.g., Dallas, Houston, Austin, etc.) and also at every major strategic point, such as border crossings. They are rarely staffed by mesnaderos, since those are always concentrated near the patrón. A commandery contains at least one compañía, which is named for that commandery. Usage primarily taken from medieval Spanish military orders.
Compañero/compañera/compañeros. “Companion.” Someone who drinks vampiro blood regularly but has not become a vampiro. A compañero always has greater strength, speed, senses, and healing powers than a prosaico. The anticipated life span is a century, while surviving two centuries is extremely rare.
Compañía/compañías. “Company.” A squad or group of warriors, usually approximately a dozen. Following traditional customs, they are named according to their leader or the commandery they come from.
Compostela. “Field of Stars.”
¿Comprendes? “Do you understand?” (The question uses the second personal, informal form of address.)
Concubino compañero. A compañero who needs both blood and sexual congress with a specific vampiro in order to survive.
Coño. Damn. (Very strong.)
Cónyuge/cónyuges. CON-yuh-heh. “Spouse” or “partner.” Life mate, to whom a vampiro is linked by a psychic bond of total trust. The creation of this bond cannot be forced in any way.
Corazón. Heart.
Creador. “Creator.” Sire of a vampiro.
De nada. You’re welcome.
Dios. God.
Don/doña. Sir/lady. (A formal title of respect.)
Dulce. Sweet.
El Abrazo. “The embrace.” The entire process of becoming a vampiro. La Lujuria is only one stage of this.
Encantado. Enchanted or charmed.
Esfera/esferas. “Sphere,” as in “sphere of influence.” A vampiro territory, which does not necessarily exactly coincide with a present-day geophysical territory. Its size is based on the amount of land needed to support a patrón or that a patrón can manage to hold. Esferas’ boundaries are fluid and frequently fought over. The basic concept is adapted from gangster territories during Prohibition Chicago and New York.
Excelente. Excellent.
Felicitaciones. Congratulations.
Gallinazo. Turkey buzzard. Buzzard. (Latin American)
Gracias. Thanks.
Gran. Big/great.
Heraldo. “Herald.” One who is also a diplomat and a spy. Usage is taken from medieval and Renaissance Europe.
Hermano. “Brother.” A vampiro’s sibling.
Hijo/hija/hijos. E-hoh. “Son/daughter/sons.” A vampiro sired by a specific creador.
Hijo de chingada madre. Asshole. (Strong.)
Imbécile. Idiot. (French)
Inundación. Flood (of water).
La Lujuria. “Lechery.” The Rut. Upon awakening as a vampiro, every cachorro will undergo weeks or months of insanity during which their only goal is to obtain blood and emotion. It is a very early stage of El Abrazo.
Luz. Light.
Madre. Mother.
Merde. Shit. (French)
Mesnadero/mesnaderos. A vampiro warrior who’s a member of a patrón’s personal guard. A mesnadero can be a vampiro, compañero, or prosaico. Taken from medieval Spanish, for a member of the royal household guard.
Mierda. Shit.
Nom de dieu. In God’s name. (French)
Novio/novia. Fiancé/fiancée.
Oso. Bear.
Patrón/patrona/patrones. The ruler—who is an absolute monarch—of an esfera. He is also usually the creador of all the esfera’s vampiros.
&nb
sp; Pendejo. Fuckup.
Pobre. Poor.
Por favor. Please.
Precisamente. Precisely.
Prosaico/prosaica/prosaicos. “Prosaic” or “mundane,” similar to the Society for Creative Anachronism’s usage. A mortal human, neither vampiro nor compañero. If he has drunk vampiro blood, it has happened so rarely and in such small quantities that it has not affected his everyday life in any noticeable manner.
Puta. Whore.
Querida. Dear.
Quinceañera. A party celebrating a girl’s fifteenth birthday and her transition from childhood to womanhood. A large number of regional and culturally specific customs are associated with it. In south Texas, it’s a very large celebration, which starts in the early evening and lasts until after midnight.
Rio. River.
Sabe Dios. God knows.
Salopard. Bastard or swine. (French)
Santísima. Most holy.
Señorita. Miss. Traditionally, young (or little) lady; the equivalent señorito means young lord. (Spanish)
Sí. Yes.
Siniscal. Seneschal. Responsible for the patrón’s entire household and its accounts. The siniscal can also call out the esfera’s warriors. Taken from fourteenth-century Spanish usage, but rooted in ninth-century Visigothic customs. Vampiro/vampira/vampiros. Vampire. Someone who survives on emotional energy carried through human blood. Mature vampiros can shapeshift to at least one other form (if only mist) and are resistant to telepathic suggestions.
Vampiro mayor/vampira mayor/vampiros mayores. “Elder vampire.” A vampiro who has lived for at least three hundred years, can walk in full daylight, and drinks less than a quarter cup of blood per day (except in times of great physical need). He also becomes more and more difficult to detect, even with the heightened senses of other vampiros mayores.
Vampiro primero/vampira primera. “Primary vampire.” The vampiro that a compañero is principally interested in drinking blood from. The compañero becomes utterly loyal to that vampiro, when fed from him long enough. The amount of time needed to form this bond is extremely varied, ranging from hours to months, even years.
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