Princesses of the Night (Royal Blood Book 1)

by Tich Brewster

  Dannika reached out for Tanya’s hand. “Please be careful.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth she immediately bit her lip.

  Tanya thought the warning combined with the action curious and almost questioned her about it when Regina ceased walking. She stood unmoving, her eyes focused straight ahead.

  “You okay, Regina?” Panic began to bubble up in Tanya when her friend didn’t respond.

  “Regina.” Dannika shook their unresponsive friend.

  Like a robot, Regina remained unblinking and slowly lifted her arm, pointing to the alley that ran behind their apartment. Everyone turned to look at what had her so mesmerized, and that’s when Tanya saw him.

  It was him. The mystery man from the party. Tanya gasped, he was here. Leaning against the side of their neighbor’s brick house, he wore black jeans and an unbuttoned, white dress shirt that showed off his chiseled chest. Since leaving the party he’d pulled his gorgeous long brown hair into a neat ponytail.

  Tanya. His voice invaded her mind just like it had at the party. Come to me, my child.

  Okay, so she hadn’t imagined it? This man had spoken telepathically to her at the party? Either she was going crazy or the unnatural had found her.

  Come, Tanya. I will not harm you.

  Unable to stop herself, her feet moved of their own accord. Glancing at her friends, she saw they followed closely behind. Were the others being controlled as well or were they simply following her into the unknown?

  You are all my children. All worry within her melted at those words. His whispered voice was a drug, easing her mind and body. For the first time in a very long time she felt carefree. She didn’t want this feeling to ever end.

  In a few short moments, she stood in the dark alley with this stranger. A small piece of her brain screamed for her to stop. It warned her she should be afraid of entering a dark alley with a man she’d never met, but her heart spoke otherwise. Her heart told her she could completely trust this man.

  Tanya’s eyes traveled the length of the man before her. Earlier that night she hadn’t had a chance to appreciate his ancient warrior-like physique. Now, standing toe-to-toe with him, she couldn’t help but stare.

  His pale face lifted, his emerald eyes immediately locking with hers. As if he were studying her, his brow raised. At his intense expression, she feared they’d made a fatal mistake. She sent a mental command to her feet to move backward, but they failed to obey.

  Squaring her shoulders, she willed him to flee. You may be gorgeous, but I will not allow you to harm my friends. Do you understand me?

  The corner of his lips turned upward. “Yes.” He circled her, slowly. Meeting her gaze again, he said, “You are indeed most extraordinary.”

  With her heart racing, she swallowed hard. What had he meant by that statement?

  He reached out to her, caressing her shoulder. “My name is Lazarith. Please do not be afraid. I mean you no harm.” Motioning further down the alley, he said, “Come, I wish to talk with you.”

  He ran his finger across Tanya’s forehead. That one small act eased all her fears, replacing them with curiosity and trust she couldn’t explain. Mesmerized by his captivating eyes, she followed him deeper into the shadows. The only thought forming in her mind right then was the fact that he smelled of coconut.

  One by one, he lifted each of their hands to his lips, kissing the soft skin on the backs of their knuckles. “I’ve been watching you for a very long time now.” The chilly air blew his opened shirt, further exposing his ripped abs. “You are all very remarkable. I see a bright and momentous future for you all.”

  A flirtatious smile pulled on Tanya’s face but died when he looked away.

  Pointing in the direction opposite of their home, Lazarith motioned for them to follow. “Please come with me. My car is parked at the end of the alley.” When they made no attempt to move, he beckoned them with a soft flicking of his finger.

  They followed him slowly at first, taking one step then pausing before taking another. Could they trust him? How did they know that he wasn’t some psycho killer looking for his next thrill? Then he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes meeting Tanya’s, and she knew they could entrust their life to this man. Some part of her inner being knew he was meant to find them.

  He didn’t need to coax them anymore. She felt the truth in his eyes and would no longer deny him the thing he sought. Her friends must have felt it too because they smiled at her and nodded. In unison, the five of them followed this stranger into the darkest part of the alley.

  As they came to his car, he opened the passenger door. Tanya watched as her best friends crawled into the back seat. It was a tight fit, and Dannika ended up sitting on Regina’s lap. Pushing the passenger seat back into place, he held his hand out to take hers. Like a puppet on a string, she watched in amazement as her hand moved of its own accord and slid right into his. Honestly, was there any part of her body she had control over?

  Leaning into the car, he buckled her seatbelt before taking his place in the driver’s seat. Smiling, he turned the key dangling from the ignition and began driving out of the alley. This was by far the strangest night of her life, and as she remembered the date, it was also a fitting night for Halloween.

  Tanya didn’t care that Lazarith drove fast on the residential roads, she was focused on his scent. He smelled of coconuts and a familiar cologne of spices, citrus, and lavender.

  Once he’d reached the highway, he began blowing a sweet-smelling fragrance toward each of them. The smell reminded Tanya of her mother’s baking. It smelled of strawberries, sugar, and pound cake. What an odd odor to come from a man’s breath in the dead of night.

  There was something about that fragrance that was hypnotic. Tanya felt her whole body begin to relax, her mind focused on only one thing — obeying Lazarith.

  Chapter Seven

  Unaware of how long they’d been on the road, Tanya tried to shake the fog from her mind. A weird sensation overwhelmed her body, like suddenly waking from a deep sleep. Looking out the window, she took in her surroundings.

  A narrow driveway stretched out behind them for what seemed like miles. Directly in front of them set a large home — a mansion. Trees lined the entire property for as far as she could see.

  Tanya swallowed as her mind replayed the night’s events. “Where are we?” Shuffling from the backseat had her turning in the seat to find her friends looking around at their surroundings with puzzled looks on their faces.

  Lazarith unbuckled his seatbelt, turning his dazzling smile to Tanya. “My darling child, this is my home.” Glancing at the backseat, he offered a smile to her friends. “I have something to share with you, all of you. Please come inside with me.” It wasn’t a plea so much as a soft command.

  It wasn’t like she could refuse; her body was still under his control. Tanya nodded. “Of course.”

  Exiting his vehicle, he came to the passenger side. Opening the door, he held his hand out to her. For a man in his early twenties, he sure was a gentleman. That gesture is a rare thing in today’s world.

  Placing her hand in his, Tanya allowed him to help her from the vehicle. Moving her behind him, he pushed the front seat forward and offered a hand to her four friends.

  Gesturing to the tall, three-story mansion, he said, “This is my home.” The car beeped as he pressed the lock button on the key fob.

  The building was stunning and almost identical to the Luthor mansion from her favorite television show. Tanya gasped at its beauty. Blood-red roses lined the front of the home, their tips a silver color. Oh, they’re so pretty.

  The front door was thick and heavy; it reminded Tanya of a castle door. A metal doorknocker caught her eye. The centerpiece was in the shape of a vampire with the ring in his teeth. The plate the vampire rested on stretched out on either side and each end had a bat
stamped into the metal.

  To her surprise, his front door had been unlocked. He pushed the door open and gestured for them to enter. They stepped into a large entry room filled with expensive chairs and shelves full of crystal vases. It was the most remarkable room Tanya had ever had the privilege of walking through.

  “Come ladies.” He closed the door behind him and led the way down the hall. “The sitting room is this way.”

  The carpet was navy blue. It was so thick and fluffy; it was like walking on a cloud. Tanya wanted to take her shoes off and let the fabric squish between her toes. She cast a glance at the gorgeous stranger. He must be loaded to be able to afford a home this phenomenal.

  At the end of the hallway it opened into a massive room. Hanging from the center of the ceiling was a chandelier made of crystal. Each of the eight lights rested on a plate full of diamonds.

  He pointed to a U-shaped sofa to the right of the room. “Please, have a seat.” The cushions of this exquisite white sofa were three times as thick as a normal cushion.

  Tanya was the first to sit. The fabric was velvet under her fingertips. She ran her hands along the cushion, enjoying the softness. Feeling a dip on her left, she turned and smiled at Dannika who had sat down next to her. Next to Dannika were Serienna, Makinzee, and Regina.

  What happened next took Tanya by surprise.

  Lazarith stood before them, leaned forward and blew his sweet-smelling breath toward each of them. As that hypnotic fragrance swept over Tanya, her body relaxed further, and she sighed in contentment. Leaning back, she let the euphoria overtake her.

  Sitting next to her, Lazarith picked up her hand, kissing her knuckles in a very gentlemanly fashion. Her eyes drifted down toward his lips. A part of her wanted to place her arms around his neck and kiss those plump, smooth lips. No matter how badly that part of her wanted to kiss him, she couldn’t move — couldn’t even open her mouth to speak.

  Cupping her face in his hands, he looked deeply into her eyes. “My child, I long to make you mine.”

  I want to be yours, she tried to say.

  He smiled as if he’d read her thoughts.

  That action had her momentarily curious, but the curiosity died as her gaze traveled down his unbuttoned shirt. She wanted to press her body close to his, to embrace in a passionate kiss. The thoughts coursing through her mind surprised her. What was she thinking? Casual sex, or sex at all for that matter, was not something she did. She believed in saving oneself for that special person you give your heart and soul to. So why were these thoughts invading her mind?

  Lazarith tapped her on the nose with his fingertip. “It is perfectly natural to be attracted to another being, there is nothing wrong with you.” Straightening his shoulders, he added, “There is one that awaits you, but I am not he.”

  Her mouth fell open. How could he possibly know what she was thinking? Surely, he wasn’t psychic. Then he brushed her hair off her neck, placing a tender kiss on the exposed skin. She sighed. It’s about dang time.

  “Do not fear. You are in no danger, and the pain will not last.”

  The pain will not last? What?

  A sharpness pierced the skin above her carotid artery as he sank his teeth into her neck. Even in the euphoric state she was in, a surge of pure terror coursed through her veins. A chill ran up her spine, and the hairs on the back of her neck and arms stood on end.

  The sting from the bite had faded, but a new pain followed. The venom that now flowed through her burned her from the inside out. She felt like she had been dowsed in gasoline and set on fire. There was no part of her that didn’t burn. It continued to flow through her body until it reached her heart.

  The pain intensified, her internal organs felt like they were melting inside of her. A high-pitched scream filled her head, and she realized it was her own scream. She tried to open her mouth to beg him to stop, to let him know that she was in agonizing pain, but no matter how hard she tried, her lips would not move.

  Tanya had never felt pain like this before — couldn’t even fathom it. What had he done to her? How could a gorgeous, godlike creature torture her like this? She closed her eyes, wishing death would come and claim her.

  “It’s almost over, Tanya.” He brushed her sweaty hair away from her face.

  All at once the pain left her body and darkness overcame her.

  Chapter Eight

  The sound of water splashing on the shore stirred Tanya from her sleepy state. Forcing her eyes open, she found herself laying in the sand. It was warm, the sun shone brightly, and there were birds chirping in the distance. She stretched her tired limbs and sat up. The most dazzling set of brown eyes stared back at her.

  Curious, she took in the beauty around her. To her left, water lapped the shoreline, and the sun reflected off it like twinkling lights. This had to be a dream, she didn’t remember taking a trip to the beach.

  “Hey, sugar, miss me?”

  Looking back, she saw the guy with gorgeous brown eyes and cappuccino complexion. “Where am I?” Did he just call me, sugar? She thought the statement strange since she’d never seen him before.

  The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. “Babe, you must have been sleeping good if you don’t remember. Look around, we’re at your favorite spot.”

  She had a favorite spot? A favorite beach? Her head swam with questions. “Oh.” Sifting sand through her fingers, she asked. “What tribe are you?”

  His laugh echoed along the empty beach. “Babe, what is with you today?” He stood, took her by the hand, and lifted her to her feet. “I’m Hispanic, remember?”

  His hands were warm on her hips as he tugged her body close to his. The exposed skin on her back tingled when his fingers ran up and down her spine. No words could describe the way her body came to life at his touch.

  Her eyes were drawn to his lips. To her satisfaction, he ran his tongue along his bottom lip. The motion caused her to intake a sharp breath. Goosebumps broke out on her arms, and she shivered in his embrace. Smiling, he leaned in for a kiss.

  His lips were soft and warm against hers. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him back. The feel of his tongue caressing her lips lit a fire in the depths of her belly. Opening her mouth, she granted him the access he sought.

  This hottie kissed her like no other had ever dared. His touched awakened parts of her that she didn’t know existed. She pulled back, breathless. A fire burned in his eyes that matched the one burning in her core.

  His fingers traveled up her back and tangled in her hair. Tilting her head back, he gave her hair a gentle tug before placing his warm, wet lips on her neck. Butterflies danced in her belly, and her breathing hitched. Lifting her leg, she wrapped it around his waist.

  If this was a dream, she never wanted it to end.

  Just as the thought entered her mind, the beach began to fade into darkness. She clung to her hottie, but he also faded into nothing. Darkness surrounded her, and a vacuum pulled at her from behind. She didn’t want to leave her paradise. “Why?” she cried out to whatever being was out there listening.

  Chapter Nine

  Waking was the last thing Tanya wanted to do. Squeezing her eyes tight, she prayed her mind would go back to that dream. Seconds turned into minutes and she growled in frustration. She wanted to go back into her dream and make out with Mr. Hotstuff.

  Life was so unfair.

  Cracking her eyes open, bright light burned her tired eyes. Blinking repeatedly didn’t help the sensitivity, either. Looking anywhere but where the light source came from, things started to come into focus. Her vision was a little blurry at first, and a loud creaking noise just about tore her eardrum in two.

  As her vision cleared, a fear crept into her. This wasn’t her room. In fact, she’d never been in this room before. Where was she? Her head hurt, but she had to remember what
took place before she passed out.

  One by one, visions of Mark’s Halloween party invaded her mind. That’s where she’d been. The sound of shuffling papers drew her attention to the right. A man smiled at her, stuffing papers into a folder and setting it on the floor. He stood and walked over to the bed, sitting down beside her.

  Her memory was a little fuzzy, but she did recall seeing him in the alley behind their apartment. “I remember you.”

  He took her hand, holding it in his lap and nodded.

  “Where am I?” Her voice was rough, throat dry.

  His emerald eyes bore into hers. Oh yes. She remembered those gorgeous eyes. They were such a unique color. “My darling child.” He gestured around the room. “This is my home. Please do not be alarmed, but you have been asleep for two days.”

  “For two…?” Had the man just said she’d been asleep for two days? Thinking back to the party, she tried to remember if she’d drank anything. Did someone slip something into her punch when she wasn’t looking?

  “Child, please do not be concerned.” He shifted next to her. “What I’m about to share with you is very important.”

  Do not be concerned? Well, that raises a red flag. Tanya felt her heartrate skyrocket. “Ohmigod, I knew it. Someone drugged me, didn’t they?”

  He furrowed his brows. “No, you were not drugged.”

  Relief washed over her. Thank God. When she woke up feeling like the walking dead and finding out she’d been asleep for days, she figured someone had slipped a little something in her drink. “Then explain to me how I could have slept for two days.”

  “It was not drugs, I assure you.” She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand to silence her. “You have been awakened into a new life. You and your friends are now a part of my world.”