The King's Vampire

by Brenda Stinnett

  He gave a gasp and tangled his hands into her silken curls, moaning when she kissed and licked him, taking him gently into her small palms while her mouth went ever deeper over his hardened shaft.

  “My darling, you don’t have to do this,” he managed to say before another moan of pleasure escaped him.

  She loved the taste of him—the musky scent—the wonder of being in control. She loved this man, and she wanted nothing more than to spend eternity with him. Now that she once again possessed a soul, it was all possible.

  “You must stop now,” he said, his voice thick with passion. “I want to feel you inside me and if you continue . . .”

  He raised her hips and angled her onto his powerful erection and she slid down onto him, slippery and wet, slowly letting him fill up her entire being. She wrapped herself around him, tighter and wetter, feeling every thrust deep inside her, driving her frantic with pleasure. Her nipples rose and hardened as his large hands cupped her breasts and his tongue licked and suckled her. They came together in an explosive climax that left them both shuddering, weak and spent.

  At last she rolled off of him, ready to collapse with exhaustion, but Darius pulled her to him again with his lips pressed to the base of her throat, seeming to listen to the rhythm of her pulse. He entangled his large hands into her tumbled mass of auburn hair, drawing near enough to feather" kisses onto her eyebrows, her cheeks, her lips. “I’ll love you to the end of time my darling.”

  “And I will love you even longer,” Elizabeth said, wrapping her arms around him, intending to never let him go. She knew now this was the man she was destined to spend all of eternity with. Together, they could conquer all the demons of the abyss.

  Epilogue

  February, 1685

  Elizabeth laid her head on Darius’s shoulder while they cuddled together on an icy cold February morning. There had been a wonderful ebb and flow to her life since she’d become his wife. She felt a flutter from the new life that grew within her body. Darius pressed his hand against her stomach, smiling when the child kicked.

  He arose and pulled on his breeches and shirt. Beth knocked at the door. Entering, she brought them a tray with eggs, bread, and ham. Tenderly, Darius fed Elizabeth bits of ham and bread from his own hands. Amazed, she could hardly believe this fierce warrior could be such a tender lover.

  Lazily, she slipped into a dressing gown. Darius tangled his hands into her hair and nuzzled her neck, causing shivers of passion to ripple down her spine. With great reluctance, she opened her eyes when he released her. He continued with his dressing, buckling on his sword and pulling on his boots.

  “Where are you going, darling?” A yearning tenderness swept over her when she watched him dress and she longed to keep him by her side.

  “I’ve heard there’s been some unrest at the palace. I need to check on Buckingham to make sure he’s not up to more trouble.”

  Before Darius left, there was another knock at the door. Beth reappeared, this time delivering two messages, handing one to Darius, and the other to Elizabeth. He opened his message first. Elizabeth felt her heart beat faster at the way his face tightened and his lips narrowed when he read the missive.

  “It’s from Amelia. The vampires are living in Sighisoara, Transylvania, now. She suspects the psychic vampire demons are preparing to attack. She says Lance and the shape-shifters have come to their aid, but she feels she’s going to need our help as well. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you once the baby is born.”

  “You’ll not leave me.” She gripped his arm. “We’re demon slayers together. Once I have this baby and we can possibly leave, then we’ll go together—as a proper family should.”

  “I can’t allow you to endanger yourself or our child.”

  “You can’t allow me?”

  “It’s my duty to protect you and our son and keep you both safe.”

  “What makes you so certain it’s a son?” Elizabeth asked teasingly.

  Before he had time to answer, she said, “Remember, together we are stronger than we can ever be apart, and with this child, we’ll be even stronger as a family.”

  He knelt down at her feet and pressed his lips to her swollen belly. “This is why I love you so much. You have the courage and strength of ten thousand.” He rose up and playfully kissed the tip of her nose, her forehead, and her cheeks.

  They laughed together, clasping hands, so much in love that it went far beyond any spoken words. Elizabeth looked down at the letter in her lap, and a sense of dread washed over her. “Go on and find out what Buckingham is up to.”

  Still clutching the letter, she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, but he grabbed her and pressed her hard against him. Then he kissed her again. He kissed her long and hard as though he never wanted to stop. She didn’t want him to stop, but at last, they had to come up to breathe. “I love you, too, my darling.” She gently stroked his face.

  After he left, she felt more alone than she’d have imagined possible. With trembling fingers, she picked up the letter and used her thumbnails to break the sealing wax of the king’s royal seal. She read the letter once, and then she reread it aloud, just to make sure she hadn’t misunderstood.

  My dearest Elizabeth,

  The archbishop of Canterbury has informed me that I’m about to appear before a judge who is no respecter of persons. So, my precious demon slayer, you must realize I am dying.

  How am I to explain this all to you? I don’t understand it myself. Only six days ago, I was at court, enamored of my loves, while the courtiers were playing cards, and a young French boy was singing love songs. And now, only six days later, all is dust for me.

  The light of my life grows dim, and my heart goes out to my wife Catherine. She asked my pardon because she couldn’t bear to watch me die. How could she ask my pardon when it was I who should have begged hers with all my heart? I’m also so terribly sorry if I hurt or betrayed my beloved people in any way. I always intended to be a good king.

  But if all this makes you too sad, I have good news. Father John Huddleston, the very priest who saved my life when I hid in the oak tree as a young man, has come to me. That kind priest, who once saved my life, has also now saved my soul by giving me Extreme Unction.

  So yes, my beloved Elizabeth, you’ll be pleased to know I kept my promise and confessed and received communion from the Holy Roman Catholic Church. I am at peace. So you see life does come full circle. Blessings on you and all of your children, and please God, may I see you again one day in heaven. I’ll love you through all eternity.

  With all my love, Charles

  Elizabeth sat for a short time, folding and refolding the letter. The life inside her womb moved, and she placed her hand over her stomach. The baby within her was her child—hers and Darius’s—a child of demon slayers. This child would be capable of helping bring salvation to the world and protect others from the psychic vampire demons. After all, with faith, nothing was impossible . . . and through faith . . . the abyss would surely remain shut for the rest of eternity.