“So, is the ability to read minds one of your vampire powers? You didn’t go into details of what you can do. And, can you please put on some clothes? I find it impossible to have a conversation with so much of you on display.”
He chuckled and stepped into his pants. She silently amended her statement. She liked it better when his clothes were off. She prayed he didn’t read her mind and remove them. If he did, she would find out what he felt like to be inside her.
“Aye, I can read the minds of mortals, and I can communicate telepathically with supernaturals,” he offered and walked out of the bedroom.
Elsie followed him out of the room and noticed a gorgeous Celtic cross branded on his back, reminding her of the one on her phone. Something fluttered in her chest as she stared at the beautiful image. She’d heard from fraternity guys that being branded was painful and had to guess that something that big must’ve been excruciating.
She sighed when he turned back to face her. “So, you can hear everything I think. I must say, that is disturbing. Can you not do that? There are thoughts I’d like to keep private. What made you get a brand on your back rather than a tattoo? Are vampires able to be tattooed?” She sat down on the couch, pulling her legs up under her.
He sat on the couch a few feet away from her. “I could stop reading your thoughts, but I doona want to. You are loyal, brave, and passionate. The cross is a family mark. I didna have this branded into my back. The Goddess had a hand in its appearance. And, to answer your question, vampires can be tattooed, but we need to use a special ink infused with silver dust. ‘Tis the only way for the ink to remain in the skin,” Zander explained.
“It is odd to think of a Goddess interacting with her subjects like that. For me, God is a spiritual element, nothing so tangible. Why do you use silver?”
“Silver is one of the substances that leaves scars on our skin. Silver can be lethal to supernaturals. In fact, it only takes a thin silver chain to immobilize us. Skirm venom is the only other substance that leaves marks.”
“I’m not surprised skirm venom does that. I remember how much it hurt, burning into my skin,” she responded and became distracted by the way he played with her fingers. She loved what he could do with those strong hands.
“‘Tis getting close to dawn, lass, and I doona want to be caught in the sun. I will see you soon.”
Zander leaned down and softly kissed her lips. Elsie was a deer caught in headlights, paralyzed by glowing blue passion.
“Verra soon,” he murmured against her mouth.
*****
Elsie sat in the large SUV, relaxing after the hellaciously-long graduation ceremony. It had been a long, extremely difficult road leading to this day, and it was bittersweet. She started this journey with Dalton four years earlier, but he wouldn’t see her finish it.
She was a phoenix rising from the ashes of grief. A new life awaited her. One she never imagined, with new and exciting friends.
For weeks, she fought the love affair she knew Zander wanted. Yet, she let down her guard, gave into the insistent demand of her body, and ended up in bed with the vampire. He consumed her thoughts, and she couldn’t wait to see him. She hated that the graduation was held during the day and he couldn’t attend.
Elsie focused on her surroundings as they headed to Zeum to celebrate the end to her college career. She forced her jaw shut as Orlando drove through the iron gates to their compound. It was massive. She craned her neck this way and that, taking in the twenty-foot stone wall. The various trees and shrubs were perfectly manicured. They had to have several full-time gardeners to take care of it, and Elsie couldn’t fathom that type of wealth.
When the enormous home came into view, it reminded her of the English countryside. The house was grey stone and stucco with massive columns flanking the entrance and countless windows. She spotted several other buildings on the property, each bigger than most homes in the area. Orlando had told her they lived together, and she wondered who lived in which house.
These people had more money than God. Then again, one could accumulate that kind of wealth over a period of seven hundred years.
“Why do you guys call this place Zeum?” Elsie asked.
“Breslin named it after her favorite carousel in San Francisco,” Orlando replied and smiled as he met her gaze in the rearview mirror.
“This place is incredible. You would never know this was back here,” Elsie stated.
“That’s the idea. We don’t want anyone being able to see it. We have strong cloaking and protection spells. It appears to others, both human and supernatural, like fifty heavily-wooded acres along Wolf Bay,” Orlando relayed as he parked next to the massive entry of the home.
Massive double-doors grabbed her attention. Elsie’s gaze traveled over the massive black doors, taking in the intricate Celtic symbols carved into the wood surface.
Within moments, they were greeted by a handsome, young-looking man, dressed in a tailored suit. Elsie recalled Orlando referring to their majordomo, saying he was the one who took care of the house and staff.
“Angus at your service, lass. Anything you need, doona hesitate to ring me,” he said as he bowed deeply.
Angus’s black hair shone in the sunlight and his pale-green eyes sparkled with mystery. She liked him immediately.
Elsie wasn’t sure what etiquette dictated in this situation, and realized she was in way over her head. “Thank you,” she muttered with a slight bow of her head.
She felt like she was at a five-star hotel and was slightly intimidated as Orlando led her through the door. She glanced back and saw that Santiago was leading a shocked Cailyn into the house. Their eyes met and she knew that Cailyn agreed that they were two ducks out of water amongst her friends. The wealth they possessed was simply beyond her comprehension.
“This place is unreal,” Elsie murmured to Cailyn as they entered the home.
The luxury was breath-taking with the brown, marble flooring in the entryway and rich wood covering the walls.
“Look at that crystal chandelier, Cai. I feel like I’m inside Buckingham Palace,” Elsie added.
Cailyn turned in circles, taking it all in and replied, “I know, right. It’s breathtaking. Can you imagine how long it would take to clean this place?” Elsie found that Zeum was warm and inviting, despite its opulence and grandeur.
Angus chuckled, “The chores never end, but it helps to have a little magic up your sleeve,” he said with a wink, and Elsie wondered if there was more to his remark.
She scanned her surroundings until her gaze snagged on the gorgeous specimen on the grand staircase. Zander was scrumptious in his white tank top and navy-blue sweatpants. She noticed he had a tattoo on his right forearm that matched the one she had seen on Orlando. How had she missed that before? Probably because she spent most of her time admiring his fine ass.
She blushed at the bent of her thoughts. Needing a distraction, she glanced over and saw that Bhric and Kyran were dressed similarly to Zander. All three were covered in sweat like they’d just run a marathon. They also had the same tattoo on their right forearm. In fact, all of Zander’s Dark Warriors, including Breslin, had identical tattoos and Elsie wondered the meaning behind the mark. It was a tribal design merged with druid symbols and she made a mental note to ask Zander about it later.
For now, she was fixated on Zander, and the sweat running down his shoulders. She wanted to lick every bead from his chest and abdomen, following the trail below his pants. She recalled his large endowment. What would he feel like when he took her? She did a mental head shake, reminding herself that he could read her thoughts.
“Och ‘tis good to see you. I have missed you, a ghra,” he said and descended the stairs to embrace her. “And, I would love for you to lick the sweat from my body,” he whispered before meshing their lips in a tender kiss.
Elsie flamed with embarrassment. “Stop reading my mind, Mr. Bossy Pants.” Helpless to resist touching him, she placed her hands on his chest
. “It’s good to see you, too. Your home is beautiful,” she said as she craned her neck to look up to him.
“You call this a house? This is more like a hotel. I can’t believe Orlando has stayed at your crappy apartment as much as he has the past couple months,” Cailyn observed. “If I were him, I would’ve made you stay here.”
“Who’s up for some champagne?” Rhys interrupted, winking at Cailyn. “You haven’t had my hey juice, sweetcakes, but that’ll come later.”
As Rhys led her sister down a hall, Zander placed his hand at the small of Elsie’s back and followed suit.
“Oh, my,” Elsie breathed, as she entered a gourmet-kitchen that could’ve been taken from her dreams. “The meals I could fix in here. You have two refrigerators, and I think your pantry is bigger than my apartment,” she sighed as she walked around, touching every surface with reverence.
She didn’t need to see the rest of the home. This was, hands down, her favorite room in the house.
She rounded on Zander. “How could you guys make me cook for you in my cramped apartment? It took me all day using the two working burners I have, but to cook in your kitchen would’ve been heaven.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and murmured against her ear, “I like your apartment, especially your bedroom.”
Her core clenched with need as Elsie recalled what they’d done on her bed, and she swatted his arm. She stepped away as heat coursed through her body, suddenly needing a repeat.
She crossed the room and peered over the long, granite countertops to an enclosed patio. She spotted a Celtic design embedded in the tile floor. A sense of home, belonging, and loyalty surged through her system. It felt right being here.
The pop of a cork had her turning around as Breslin shoved a crystal flute filled with bubbly in her hand.
“To Elsie,” Breslin announced and held her glass in the air. Everyone followed suit and cheers resounded.
“Okay, ’tis time to get ready. C’mon, I want to be the first to give you your present,” Breslin told Elsie, grabbing her free hand.
Gerrick grumbled, “What makes you so special that you get to give Elsie her present now? Shouldn’t her mate go first?”
Elsie wondered about his comment but had no time to consider it because Breslin interjected. “Stop your pouting, and get ready. All of you need to be ready to leave as soon as we’re done,” Breslin retorted, herding Elsie and her sister to the main staircase.
Her head swiveled this way and that as she absorbed each and every detail of the house on her way upstairs. Her jaw dropped when she walked into Breslin’s lavish suite of rooms. Yeah, these people had money. Except, they weren’t people. They were supernatural creatures. And, she was in their home with her sister, completely vulnerable to them.
The blade strapped to her thigh seemed paltry. She shook her head at her actions. It was difficult to unlearn nearly two years of training, but she reminded herself that these beings were nothing like the ones she hunted and killed.
“Breslin, I think your room is bigger than my apartment. Every piece of furniture I own would fit in here. Do you get lost on your way to the bathroom?” Elsie asked as she sat down on one of the couches and sighed.
Breslin waved off her comments and picked up a large box from an antique coffee-table. “A house is a house, no matter the size. What makes a home truly magnificent is the family that fills it. And, you are both members of this motley crew of ours. And, by the way, I expect us to take a shopping spree soon. I’ve always wanted a puithar,” she winked at Elsie who couldn’t help but respond by grinning broadly.
“Now, I didna know what you wanted for graduation, so I bought you something that I would have chosen for myself,” Breslin said as she crossed to Elsie and handed her the gift, sitting beside her.
Feeling overwhelmed, Elsie met her sister’s eyes. Cailyn nodded and smiled at her reassuringly as she sipped from the crystal flute of champagne.
Elsie excitedly tugged the end of the gold, loopy bow and lifted the top. “Oh, wow! It’s so beautiful, thank you.”
She pulled out the fabric and held it up, taking in the entire dress. It was stunning. It wasn’t anything she would ever buy herself because it was way out of her price zone, but she absolutely loved it.
“Are you sure this is me? It’s strapless and well,” Elsie stated as she took stock of her chest, “I have no boobs to hold this up.” Breslin had given her another dress made for a supermodel. A very busty supermodel, at that.
“El, you have a great body. I’ve told you this for years. I would give up my boobs to be fifteen pounds lighter,” Cailyn quipped as she cupped her breasts and smirked.
“Doona fash over such silly worries. The dress will fit perfectly. This bandage style is made for a thinner build. I couldna wear this myself, because I am too curvy. And, Cailyn, you doona need to lose any weight. You’re both like wee faeries compared to me. Put in on, Elsie, you’ll see. And, I have a great dress that will accent your figure nicely, Cai. We will drive the males crazy tonight,” Breslin boasted.
Her bubbly personality was infectious. And, the woman was crazy if she thought she was too big. She had the most perfect body. She reminded Elsie of a personal fitness trainer. There wasn’t one ounce of fat on her muscled body.
Elsie met her sister’s excited gaze as they watched Breslin rifle through a closet that was the size of a bedroom. Cailyn hopped up and went to join Breslin. She was astonished that her sister was so comfortable with this new world. Then again, Cailyn could read thoughts. That was reassuring and Elsie relaxed. It was her night, and she was having fun.
Suddenly eager to drive Zander crazy, she focused on the strapless dress. It was a pewter color and fitted. Embellished with bands of sequins across the bust, it would enhance what she didn’t have. Would he find her lacking? She wanted him to see her as sexy and alluring.
Cailyn’s squeal of excitement startled Elsie and she looked up to see her sister run out of Breslin’s closet. “Oh my God, I love it! I wish John could see me in this dress. I wouldn’t make it out of the house. He’d rip it off and we’d be going to town. Maybe I’ll send him a selfie.”
Elsie noticed her sister was holding up a skimpy red dress that she swore had to be a shirt on Breslin’s tall frame. No way was that covering any of the important bits.
“Can I wear your black heels tonight? “ Cailyn asked as she bounced over to her.
Elsie contemplated the shoes she had on, as well as, the new pair Breslin had given her with the dress. The new heels were only about four-and-a-half inches so she had no problem giving her sister the six-inch torture chambers she was wearing.
“Sure,” she replied and happily slipped them off and handed them to Cailyn.
“Now, time for makeup. You need smoky, sexy eyes and Zander would love your hair up,” Breslin declared, opening containers on her dressing table.
Who needed this much make-up? She’d not seen so much in one place outside of a department store. She felt like the customer and Breslin the makeup artist as she sat obediently and Breslin went to work.
She blushed at the thought of Zander liking her hair up, wondering what it would feel like for him to sink his fangs into her throat. The thought wasn’t the least bit repulsive, as she had expected. Rather, she found it titillating and exciting. She needed to stop thinking risqué thoughts as familiar heat stole over her body.
“Cai, that dress looks fabulous on you. Very sexy. Good thing you have that diamond ring on, or men would be all over you. I still can’t believe you agreed to marry him. I remember when you said you’d never be tied down. I’m so happy for you,” Elsie stated and smiled at her sister.
“Tonight, we’re also celebrating your engagement to John,” Elsie said as she held up her crystal flute. “To a night we’ll never forget.”
Elegant chiming filled the room as Elsie, Breslin, and Cailyn inaugurated the night.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
Elsie lost her footing as she de
scended the stairs, and tumbled into strong, sexy arms. Apparently, she was unable to ogle Zander and descend stairs simultaneously. Her embarrassment died quickly when she realized she was in the arms of the most gorgeous creature she had ever seen. She stepped out of his arms before she lost all decorum and fell on him like a slavering dog.
He wore a charcoal-grey, cashmere suit that was tailored to perfection. The pants cupped him nicely and she gaped at his obvious erection. She remembered what that felt like rubbing against her. She dragged her eyes from his groin and the entire world came to a stand-still when their eyes locked. She felt a zing barrel through her body.
The way his eyes widened and took on a glow told her that he also felt the magnetic pull. He grabbed her hand, tugging her flush against his chest. She melted when he placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her head back. His lips hovered a scant breath away from hers, teasing her mercilessly.
“You look enchanting. I want verra much to divest you of that dress and explore every inch of you,” he murmured before he captured her lips and ravaged them. The kiss started slow but quickly turned to a boil. He nibbled at her lips, eliciting a gasp. He took advantage when her lips parted, and plundered her depths. The feeling of his tongue stroking across hers caused her sex to heat and clench. As their tongues tangled, she concluded that in his seven hundred years, he perfected his kissing skills. Jealousy reared its head as she imagined the countless women used to achieve such mastery.
Zander suddenly broke the kiss. “There is no other for me, a ghra. There never has been,” he said, kissing her lightly one more time before turning her around so her back was against his chest.
He leaned into her ear and his hot breath tickled as he spoke. “Congratulations, my Lady E. You are a remarkable female and the most beautiful in the realm. I have something for you, to recognize your achievement.”
He reached around her body and held out several small wrapped boxes.
“Zander, what have you done,” she whispered and looked over her shoulder into his eyes. The tender emotions she saw there chipped away at more of the wall around her heart. “These look like jewelry boxes, and I can’t accept them.”
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