The Vampire's Bride--A Paranormal Romance Novel

by Gena Showalter

  “Very good, my child. Very, very good. And so a winner has been declared,” a laughing voice whispered through the trees. “Ah, but do not fear, vampire, nymph and dragon. No one need die this day. The losers shall be spared, as each of you proved useful in some way. And I know what you are thinking, vampire. I told you otherwise before. But how could you have faced your worst fear if there were no consequences for your actions?”

  With the words, the monster disappeared, though its roar continued to echo throughout the mountain. Tagart and Broderick whipped around, confused, searching. “Where did it go?” they panted in unison.

  Each of the five gods appeared in a blazing cascade of lights. As Layel blinked against their brilliance, he saw that only Hestia was smiling.

  The goddess faced Delilah. “Amazon, you have surpassed my expectations. Of all the warriors, you have displayed the most strength, courage, endurance and wit. At any point, you could have given up, yet you persevered, determination your beloved companion.”

  “Not true! My dragon displayed the most strength. You cheated,” Poseidon growled at the goddess.

  “As did you,” she replied smugly. “Do you honestly believe none of us heard your meeting with the dragon last eve? You told him exactly what his greatest fear was, and still he failed to understand. The Amazon is unquestionably the winner of this game. And that means I have won our game, as well.”

  Ares clenched his fists so tightly blood ran from his palms.

  Artemis regarded them coldly, as if the outcome didn’t affect her one way or another.

  Apollo was popping his jaw, the glow around him more diminished than before.

  Then they each nodded in reluctant acknowledgment.

  War cries abounding, an army of nymphs suddenly burst past the trees, and stopped. The roars became gasps and snarls. Layel raced forward, his goal to protect the nymphs, his friends, from the gods. But before he reached them, the gods repositioned themselves, beside him one moment, blocking his path in the next. Layel ground to a halt.

  “Valerian,” he called.

  “Layel,” the nymph king responded. “What’s been going on? How can we—”

  Hestia waved her hand at them and they disappeared as quickly as they’d arrived. “Good riddance.”

  “You,” Apollo said to Broderick, as though there had never been a disruption. “I have a task for you, nymph. As I am no longer welcome inside Atlantis, I feel the need to return to the surface world. And there is something you can do for me there. The least you can do, really, since you did not win me this contest.” The two vanished. At least Broderick had appeared amenable.

  “And, you,” Poseidon added, pointing to Tagart, eyes narrowed. “You cost me sole claim to Atlantis. For that, you will be punished. And then you will exist simply to amuse me.” They, too, disappeared.

  “And then there’s you,” Ares said to Layel. “Victory could have been ours, but you chose to put love first.” Despite his words, there was no anger in his voice. “I would punish you, but you seem to have saddled yourself with a permanent mate. That is punishment enough, I’m thinking.”

  A mate was not punishment, Layel thought. A mate was a reward. But he gave no protest as Ares, too, vanished.

  For several heartbeats, there was silence. Then a female sigh echoed. “Enough distractions. I will now award Delilah’s prize.” Hestia merely blinked at them and they were suddenly standing in front of the Amazon camp, a cliff rising in front of them. The women obviously couldn’t see them, for they were readying for war, unconcerned by the vampire in their midst.

  There was the young girl, the one who had been locked in the dragon cage what seemed an eternity ago. To Layel’s delight, she was leading a scowling Brand by a chain, as though he were nothing more than a pet.

  “Lily,” Delilah said. She reached out stiffly, as though the action were automatic rather than heartfelt.

  “Delilah,” the goddess said, stopping her in her tracks. “As you know, my precious, you have earned a boon. What would you like? Name it, and it’s yours. Remember, your sister Nola is out there, perhaps in pain.”

  Layel’s jaw clenched. Low blow, he thought. Remember your promises, he projected to Delilah. Remember my promises. Please remember. During their night of passion, he had vowed to help her search for Nola, and he would. However long it took. He would not rest until her sister was safe. The boon wasn’t needed for that. Would she remember? Would she care?

  “Or I could give Layel back his mate,” the goddess continued. “That would please him, I think.”

  Layel locked gazes with Delilah, letting all of his love pour from him.

  “May I ask a few questions first?”

  “Of course,” the goddess replied magnanimously.

  “What happened to the nymph army?”

  “The army was returned to Atlantis, healthy and whole. If your fellow competitors Broderick and Tagart are lucky, they will someday follow suit.”

  Delilah nodded, satisfied. “Since you have already agreed to spare Layel’s life, I ask for my emotions,” she said, and Layel sank to his knees in relief. “I want my emotions returned. My love for him.”

  “I planned to return them anyway,” the goddess surprised Layel by saying. “After you chose your prize. Logic aids us so much more than sentiment, after all. Besides, mere emotions don’t seem a large enough reward for your efforts. Is there nothing else you would like?”

  “Loving Layel, being with him, is what I desire most. But as you are giving me that, as well, I ask for Nola’s safe return.”

  Hestia studied her a moment, then nodded. “Very well. All that you have named, you shall have. But not all at the same time. Nola has much to learn first.”

  A moment later, Delilah’s body jerked and she screamed in pain, just as she’d done the night before. All Layel could do was gather her close and hold on to her until the throbbing subsided. Finally she collapsed, panting, sweating.

  “Thank you, thank you,” he said, raining kisses all over her face. “Thank you for remembering. Thank you for loving me.”

  Her violet gaze lifted, piercing him. “Does some part of you wish I’d asked for your mate’s return?”

  “Ah, but you did ask for exactly that. You are my mate. My greatest prize.”

  Slowly she grinned. “A prize,” she said with wonder. “Me. It’s what I’ve always wanted to be, what I secretly dreamed of each night in camp and every time I saw other creatures holding hands and basking in each other.”

  “It’s what you’ve always been, what you will always be.” He kissed her forehead, her nose and then her precious lips. “We will never be parted again, I vow it. We can live in my palace or I will be your eternal slave at the Amazon camp.”

  Her eyes widened. “You would be my slave?”

  “I am your slave, love.”

  Now those widened eyes filled with happy tears, her smile brighter than the sun. “I would love to live in your palace. To have you all to myself, no war or battle-training to distract us. Maybe, though, we can visit my tribe upon occasion.” She looked down, as if it was too much to hope for.

  “Anytime you wish. The girl, Lily, can even stay with us when we return, if your queen will allow it. Perhaps she can help us practice our parenting skills.”

  “Oh, Layel.” She kissed and nipped at his face. “I would like that. And I think Lily would, too.” Her head fell back and she laughed, a sound of true joy. “We’ll have to deal with her new slave, though. Are you sure—”

  “My quest to kill the dragons is over.” He shrugged sheepishly. “But perhaps I will torture Brand a wee bit. Or perhaps he will prove useful as we rescue Zane and Nola. Because if I know my Amazon, you will not be content to wait for Hestia to send the girl to us, just as I am not content to leave my soldier in torment.”

  “You, Layel, are a wonderful man. My dark and passionate king.” She cupped his face, her thumbs tenderly brushing his lips. “So…now that you have me, what are you going to do
with me?”

  “That’s easy, love,” he said, holding her tight. “Cherish you, all the days of my life.”

  * * * * *

  ATLANTIS

  Glossary of Characters and Terms

  Alyssa—half-vampire, half-demon, second-in-command of the vampire army

  Amazon—Atlantean race of female warrioresses known for their thirst for war

  Apollo—god of the sun

  Ares—god of war

  Artemis—goddess of the hunt

  Atlantis—a hidden city under the sea, populated by creatures mistakenly created as the gods attempted to form man

  Brand—second-in-command of the dragon army

  Brenna—human; mate of Joachim

  Broderick—elite nymph warrior

  Cassandra—siren formerly enslaved by the demons

  Centaur—Atlantean race defined by half-man, half-horse features

  Darius—king of the dragons

  Delilah—Amazon warrioress

  Demon—Atlantean race of horned, scaled flesh-eaters; most reviled of the creatures

  Dorian—nymph warrior

  Dragon—Atlantean race of men able to shift into fire-breathers

  Forest of Dragons—land surrounding the Inner City; property of the dragon king

  Formorian—Atlantean race with one arm and one leg; wings are their great strength

  Gorgon—Atlantean race with snakes for hair, able to turn men to stone with a glance

  Grace—human; queen of the dragons

  Hestia—goddess of hearth and home

  Inner City—center of Atlantean commerce

  Irren—formorian warrior

  Jada—female nymph warrior

  Joachim—elite nymph warrior

  Kreja—queen of the Amazons

  Layel—king of the vampires

  Lily—Amazon child; daughter of Kreja

  Marina—slain queen of the demons

  Minotaur—Atlantean race with the head of a bull and the body of a human

  Mists—portals from the surface world to Atlantis

  Nola—Amazon warrioress

  Nymph—Atlantean race so sensual, no one can resist them; they need sex to survive

  Outer City—home to Atlantis’s criminals and assorted unwanted races

  Poseidon—god of the sea

  Renard—dragon warrior

  Shaye—human; queen of the nymphs

  Shivawn—elite nymph warrior

  Susan—slain human mate to Layel

  Tagart—dragon warrior

  Valerian—king of the nymphs

  Vampire—Atlantean race of blood-drinkers; most can fly and teleport

  Vorik—dragon warrior

  Zane—vampire warrior

  If you enjoyed this story by New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter, you’ll adore her Lords of the Underworld series, about immortal warriors plagued by demons, and the loves that heal their broken souls.

  Don’t miss the next sizzling Lords of the Underworld tale, THE DARKEST PROMISE. Read on for a sneak peek!

  Cameo’s head canted to the side. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Like what?” Like you are the reason I breathe? “Like I’m hungry, and you are a smorgasbord of desserts?”

  “Yes,” she hissed.

  “Because you are a smorgasbord of desserts.” Lazarus chucked her under the chin. “You wanted to know your worth. You are a prize worthy of any man.”

  “I never said I wanted—” She shook a fist in his face, an action he adored. Her anger always thrilled him. “Stop reading my mind.”

  “Stop projecting.” He stalked down the cobblestone path, calling over his shoulder, “This way.”

  Cameo raced to catch up with him. They walked side by side, the close proximity an agony and a pleasure. Torches lined the path, soft golden lights painting her with irresistible radiance.

  Her eyes were molten, a sea of silvery fire. The night’s warmth brushed her cheeks with an exquisite pink flush. Her bloodred lips were lush and lickable, a temptation like no other and a special kind of torture. One kiss, they said. Satisfaction awaits.

  “Just so you know,” she grated. “I might have desired you before, but I resent you now.”

  “Might?” He laughed with smug assurance. “Your passion nearly burned me alive.”

  She sputtered, her memory loss making her unable to refute his claim.

  Hoping to encourage her irritation and displace what remained of the misery that her demon always spread throughout her mind, he took the lead and pushed a flowering branch out of the way…only to release the branch just before she passed by. The soft flower petals slapped her in the chest.

  She glared at him. “You did that on purpose.”

  “No need to punish me.” Do not smile. “Your voice is punishment enough.”

  “That’s it!” She hooked her hands around his neck and jerked, using the full force of her body. A body she then coiled around him, as deftly as a sky serpent. Her weight and momentum toppled him.

  The action was unexpected. The only reason it worked—of course.

  Upon impact, she maintained her hold and rolled, forcing him to his back. He had no time to react. She straddled his chest, unsheathed one of her diamond daggers and pressed the tip into his carotid.

  Instant hard-on. No one else had ever taken him to ground.

  Proof she would only ever weaken him?

  Instant soft-on.

  One of her midnight brows arched, her usual misery edged with smug satisfaction. “You were saying?”

  Such confidence. Such cunning. Was there any woman more beautiful?

  With her hands otherwise occupied, she wouldn’t be able to stop what he did with his own…

  He should resist. A man didn’t play with temptation; temptation played with him. Their association could not end well.

  In that moment, he simply didn’t care.

  Lazarus gripped her by the waist, grunting as skin met heated skin. “So soft,” he intoned. “So perfect.”

  A tremor rocked her against him. His hard-on returned with a vengeance.

  With a hiss, she pressed the tip of her dagger deeper, drawing a bead of blood. Her jaw dropped. “You’re bleeding.”

  Lazarus caressed his thumbs up and down Cameo’s quivering belly and circled her navel. “I still bleed, yes,” he said. His voice dipped. “I’m capable of spilling another fluid, too.”

  “Stop,” she demanded, breathless.

  “Stop giving you pleasure?” He traced his fingertips up, up, and met the undersides of her breasts.

  Beneath the fabric of her bra, her nipples hardened into tight little buds.

  “Yes. No.” She covered her breasts with her free arm. “Stop screwing with my mind.”

  “How about I just screw you?”

  “No?” she replied, a question when she’d probably intended to make a statement.

  Up…up… He slid his hands underneath her arm and cupped her breasts. “Exquisite.” His mind steamed with lust. “Look how responsive you are to me.” Only to me.

  Goose bumps broke out over her arms, and the flush in her cheeks deepened. The pressure of the blade eased. “Did you know 21 percent of women are unable to achieve an orgasm?”

  “Must be the 21 percent I haven’t slept with. I’m an orgasm donor.”

  “You admit to being a he-slut?”

  “I admit to a misspent youth, when anyone in a skirt…or pants…or shorts…or bare skin…would do the trick.”

  She licked her lips, the epitome of wanton. “And you pleased them all?”

  “Multiple times.”

  “You’re sure? Every single woman could have faked it.”

  “You forget, it’s impossible to hide the truth from me. I can read minds.” He arched his back, causing the blade to slice into his skin again. He didn’t care, because the motion also caused her to slide down and straddle his hips. “Want to test me out, sunshine?”

  “I wa
nt…” She leaned down, and her breasts smashed against his chest, her nipples still hard little buds. Her heartbeat drummed against his in a too-fast rhythm.Her lips hovered over his, close but not close enough. Their breath mingled. He inhaled her essence as though he’d just received his last hit of oxygen. “Lazarus,” she whispered.

  “I want Lazarus. That’s what you said. No take backs.”

  “Take backs.” Even as her pupils spilled over her irises, reminding him of a storm being chased away by the sun, she said, “I will never sleep with a man who dislikes me. I don’t need another reason to hate myself.”

  For more of Cameo and Lazarus’s story, don’t miss THE DARKEST PROMISE, available soon from Gena Showalter and HQN Books!

  New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with a sizzling Lords of the Underworld story about an iron-willed sovereign and the somber beauty who melts him with a glance…don’t miss Cameo and Lazarus’s story in

  The Darkest Promise

  Order your copy now!

  For more spellbinding tales full of passion and peril, don’t miss any of the irresistible titles in the Lords of the Underworld series!

  The Darkest Torment

  The Darkest Touch

  The Darkest Craving

  The Darkest Seduction

  The Darkest Surrender

  The Darkest Secret

  The Darkest Lie

  The Darkest Passion

  The Darkest Angel (novella)

  The Darkest Whisper

  The Darkest Prison (novella)

  The Darkest Pleasure

  The Darkest Kiss

  The Darkest Night

  The Darkest Fire (digital prequel)

  Complete your collection!

  “The Showalter name on a book means guaranteed entertainment.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes a scorching series featuring not-quite-reformed bad boys and the women who bring them to their knees. Don’t miss the Original Heartbreakers series!

  The Harder You Fall

  The Hotter You Burn