Moonshade (Vampire Conclave: Book 1)

by S. J. West

  “I wouldn’t know,” I reply, desperately wracking my brain for a way to quickly change the subject. Thankfully the pizza deliveryman knocks on the door, promptly solving my dilemma.

  I limited myself to only ordering three pizzas. In actuality I probably could have eaten at least six by myself, but I knew Kaylee would start to ask too many questions, and I hated lying to her. Perhaps one day soon I’ll be able to share what’s going on in my life with her, but now is not the time.

  I don’t leave Kaylee’s house until Ben comes home from work at five. I decide not to stick around so the two of them can have some alone time together. I go directly to my apartment afterwards.

  Once we’re inside, Viktor transforms into his human form.

  He stands in the middle of my apartment, stark naked, looking around the small living room.

  “I completely agree with the vampire. This apartment is far too small for you, especially considering who you are,” he says, peering at my lovely little apartment as if it’s a hovel.

  “I like it,” I defend, walking to the hall closet to find Viktor a sheet to wear. I definitely need to go buy him some clothes soon.

  I hand him the sheet, keeping my eyes averted until he has it draped over his long frame.

  “So I take it the vampire will be gone for a little while?” Viktor sits down on the cream-colored sofa in the middle of the room and props his feet up on the espresso- stained coffee table. I don’t have the heart to admonish him for his bad manners since I’m prone to do the same thing while watching TV.

  “That’s what the note said,” I tell him, flopping down beside him on the couch.

  “From your reaction this morning, that isn’t the only thing the note said. What else did the boor write?”

  “He suggested that I think about spending more time with either Gage or Daniel.”

  “He suggested what?” Viktor is furious. He quickly stands up from the couch, and starts to pace back and forth along the small open space between my coffee table and TV stand.

  “I cannot believe he’s trying to pawn you off onto a human warlock and another vampire’s companion. Has he lost his mind? Doesn’t he realize there are bloodlines to consider? You’re the future Queen of the Alfar. You can’t simply have a child with just anyone.”

  My heart sinks even deeper inside my chest. I thought I would at least have Viktor on my side, but all he seems to be concerned about is an heir, too. It makes me not even want to have a child. What sort of life will I be bringing her or him into? Julian will want my child as a companion, and the alfar will want it as their future king or queen. It makes the decision my parents made for me even more poignant and understandable.

  My mother wanted me to have a normal life while I could, but she knew the bond between companion and vampire was too strong to ignore and could never be erased without death being involved. My father completely abandoned his people to be with my mom and me, knowing his decision would leave the alfar without an heir. It must have been why my mother never let Julian or my grandfather meet my dad. They would have known who he was and understood the alfar would want me to lead their people if they ever discovered I existed. Without knowing my father’s identity, Julian inadvertently revealed my existence to Queen Shael by taking me to Mira’s party.

  “Isn’t there someone else who can assume the throne?” I ask. “I don’t want it.”

  Viktor immediately stops pacing, and stares at me like I just hit him across the head with a baseball bat a few times.

  “Don’t want it? It’s not a matter of what you want, Sarah. It’s who you are. You are the last descendant of a noble bloodline who can still give birth to an heir. You have to carry on the tradition of your family, which is why you’ll be expected to marry someone of alfar blood.”

  “What?” This time it’s my turn to be furious. I stand from the couch and place my fists on my hips. “I can’t even choose my own husband?”

  “Well, of course you can.” Viktor finally seems to realize that he’s upset me and is now going to attempt to mollify my ire. “He just has to be an alfar.”

  “But why?”

  “Your father was supposed to marry an alfar woman, but he disappeared with your mother to have you. The bloodline of the alfar has been so diluted over the years, a pureblooded one barely exists anymore. Tara is one of the last pureblooded royals left. As it is, there are only a handful who can claim pureblood status. Since she can’t have any children, you are the next purest member of House Moonshade. If you dilute the bloodline any more than it already is, your children might as well just call themselves human.”

  Viktor said ‘human’ like it was a dirty word. I understand his reasons for wanting to keep the royal alfar bloodline as pure as possible, but logic doesn’t stop the heart from yearning to find true love and the happily ever after ending everyone dreams of having in their life.

  “Would I necessarily have to marry an alfar? Could I just be artificially inseminated with an alfar donor’s sperm?” It was how I had intended to have an heir for Julian anyway. What did it matter if it was human or alfar sperm that I used?

  “That’s not the proper way to conceive a child,” Viktor says rather adamantly. I know he’s disappointed by my proposal, but he doesn’t say it can’t be done my way.

  “But there’s no alfar law that says I can’t do it that way, correct?” I push.

  He sighs heavily with disapproval. “If that’s what you want to do, I suppose it can be done in such a barbaric manner. But don’t your children deserve a father?”

  “They’ll have one, but he’ll be one of my own choosing. I won’t be dictated to on who I can and cannot marry! I’ve already been forced to give up enough. I won’t give up my freedom to choose a husband, too.”

  The corner of Viktor’s mouth lifts in a sardonic grin. “You are most definitely your father’s daughter. He was just as stubborn as you are.”

  “Well, I’m glad he was. Otherwise, I wouldn’t exist.”

  “Quite true, Sarah. Quite true.”

  I become increasingly uncomfortable with the way Viktor begins to look at me. I know he’s sexually aroused for some reason, and I attempt to think of a way to stop it.

  “You know, Sarah,” Viktor saunters over to me with his eyelids slightly lowered and an intimate tone in his voice. “If you don’t want to look for a male companion to help you raise your children, I would be more than willing to stay in my human form for as long as you need me. I could be a good father. I know a great deal about alfar life, and I know I could be a satisfying lover to you. All you have to do is tell me what you want and I’ll do it.”

  For me, Viktor’s offer comes off sounding like he’s applying for a job.

  “Thank you for the kind offer, but I don’t think that will be necessary.”

  Viktor smiles. “That doesn’t sound like a firm no.”

  “It’s not. I have no idea what’s in store for me in the future. You may end up being my last resort.”

  He places his hands over his heart like I’ve wounded him. “So, I am to be your last option. I can’t pretend that doesn’t smart just a bit, Sarah.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s not the way I meant for you to take it. I just don’t like closing doors until I know what’s in each room. I want to spend my life with someone who loves me and who I can love in return. I won’t give up on finding true happiness that easily.”

  “I understand. You just want me to be your friend for the moment. I just wanted to make sure you knew what I had to offer to help with your dilemma.”

  “I’ll keep your proposition in mind. Thank you for making it.”

  Viktor places his hands down by his sides. “Did you happen to bring along any of that scrumptious cat food in a can? I’m famished.”

  Viktor changes back into his cat form. I feed him two cans of Fancy Feast and half a bowl of milk. After he eats, he promptly crawls up onto my lap and watches TV with me. It isn’t the most exciting night of my life but a
t least I get to spend it in my own home, surrounded by my own things.

  All day I tried to keep the words of Julian’s letter out of my mind. Sitting alone in the darkness of my living room with only the light of the TV shining on my face, I begin to feel the tears I’ve been holding back burst through the dam of my resolve to protect myself from Julian’s cold indifference. Viktor changes form and takes me into his arms, not saying a word, just providing me with what I need most in that moment… comfort. He lets me cry my heartache and confusion out until I fall asleep in his embrace.

  The next morning I get up bright and early. My feelings about Julian are still a jumbled mess, but I decide to push all of that to the back of my mind and heart for now. All I want is a day or two spent somewhere else besides the place where my problems dwell. This need blossoms into a brilliant plan to do just that.

  Thankfully, Gage and I exchanged cell phone numbers before he left Julian’s house the other night. I call him, praying he answers before I lose my nerve to go through with my genius idea. I sigh in relief when I hear him pick up on the third ring.

  “Sarah?” he says, his voice filled with surprise.

  “Hey,” I chirp, doing my best to sound casual and cool. “How are you doing this morning?”

  “I’m doing fine,” he says hesitantly. “Are you calling to cancel our plans for today? I was just about to jump in my car and drive up there.”

  “Actually, I thought I would come down to you instead if that’s all right. I could really use a day away from things around here.”

  “That sounds great! There are a lot of things we can do here on the coast. In fact, why don’t you bring an overnight bag?” he suggests. “I’m not sure how late we’ll be out, and I would rather you didn’t drive home alone in the dark. I make a solemn oath, as a former Eagle Scout, that I will be a perfect gentleman while you’re my guest. So don’t worry about me taking advantage of the situation. I promise you I won’t.”

  “Ok, I’ll plan to stay the night,” I say. Even though I’m not physically close enough to read his true intentions, I can hear the sincerity in his voice clear enough. “Can you suggest a hotel close to your house so I can make a reservation?”

  “Why don’t you just stay at my place? I have a guesthouse out by the pool you can use tonight. It’s unnecessary for you to waste your money on a hotel room when I have so much space here. I promise I don’t bite.”

  I’m not sure if his pun is intentional or not but it makes me laugh anyway.

  “Ok, sounds good. Text me your address, and I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

  When I get off the phone with Gage, I feel happy and excited. I decide then and there that I will concentrate on having fun with him that day, and not give a certain vampire, who shall not be named, a second thought. Am I completely deluding myself? Perhaps, but a girl’s gotta dream sometimes just to keep her sanity.

  Since I wasn’t sure what all Gage might have planned for us to do that day, I pack a one-piece swimsuit, a nice dress, and a couple of pairs of jeans, shorts, and T-shirts, plus my toiletries and a pair of pajamas.

  “I don’t like the idea of you spending the night with a stranger,” Viktor tells me, lounging on my bed dressed in his sheet while I pack my overnight bag.

  “I plan to take you with me so you can be our chaperone,” I inform him as I try to decide whether I need to bring a bathrobe or not. I decide against it. It would just take up too much space in a bag that is already running out of room.

  “Well at least you’re being sensible. Human warlocks are cagey creatures. Are you positive you can trust him?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “How can you be so confident in your assessment of this man? You’ve only met him a couple of times.”

  I stop packing and look at Viktor. Should I tell him about my empathic abilities? If I do, he will be only one of three people in the world with whom I’ve shared my secret. Will he be all right with me knowing everything he feels all the time? I suppose there’s only one way to find out.

  “I’m an empath, Viktor. Trust me. Gage can’t hide his true nature from me.”

  Viktor sits up straighter. “We haven’t had an empath in the family for a long time!” I can feel his growing excitement at my revelation.

  “Gage mentioned that alfar magic relies on mental abilities. Is my being an empath because I’m half-alfar?”

  “Yes,” Viktor says resoundingly without even needing to pause to consider his answer. “I would be interested in knowing if you have any other skills. Have you ever done something out of the ordinary that you couldn’t explain?”

  “No, not that I can think of.”

  Viktor shrugs. “It could be that you simply haven’t had the need to call on the magic within you for anything else. I really wish you had told me about this sooner, Sarah.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if you have the ability to manipulate things with your mind, like I suspect you can, it can be a dangerous power to wield if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

  “I doubt I can do something like that…”

  “I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the possibility. The last empath in the royal family made me.”

  “Really?” That changes things completely. Do I have the ability to manipulate matter with my mind? The possibility is kind of cool and scary at the same time.

  “Well, like I said, I’ve never been able to do anything but read people’s feelings. If I can do any other type of magic, it hasn’t presented itself.”

  “Still, we may need to get you a tutor to see just how powerful you are.”

  Viktor leans back on the headboard of my bed and smiles, feeling somewhat smug about something.

  “You know,” he says, “I had a feeling there was something special about you the moment I saw you, but I never could have imagined that the next alfar heir would possess magic and the powers gained by being a vampire companion. You’re quite extraordinary, Sarah.”

  “Thanks.” What else was I supposed to say to that? It didn’t make me view myself any differently. The only thing that’s extraordinary about me right now is my hunger.

  I make myself some breakfast before I hop into my Camry to make the hour-trip over to Gulfport. I hope Gage remembers my eating habits as a vampire companion and has the fridge in his guesthouse fully stocked. If not, that may end up being one of the errands he and I get to run this afternoon.

  At around eleven o’clock, Viktor and I arrive at Gage’s house. It’s located just off Beach Drive. Considering the fact that almost everyone I’ve met so far in Julian’s world lives in a mansion, I begin to understand why he and Viktor think my apartment is too small. The front gate to the property is open. I assume Gage left it that way in anticipation of my arrival. The cobblestone circular drive loops in front of the house, around a grouping of four palm trees surrounding a large three-tier water fountain. The home itself is gorgeous. It’s a two-story mansion with pale yellow stucco and white trim. Two white columns mark the entryway and anchor the small front porch. Gage must have been keeping an eye out for my arrival because he walks out of one of the wood and cut- glass front doors just as I put my car in park. When I step out, Viktor meows and jumps into my arms as if to ensure I don’t leave him behind.

  “Hey, glad to see you made it safely,” Gage says as he comes to stand beside us. “Where’s your bag?”

  “Right there in the backseat,” I tell him.

  “Is it ok if I get it for you?” he asks, looking at Viktor. “It looks like your hands are a little full right now.”

  “I would appreciate that. Thanks.”

  Gage pulls the car door open and picks up my black overnight bag from the back seat.

  I can tell he’s genuinely happy to see me. I have to say it’s a nice, uncluttered feeling.

  “Well, let’s put your bag in the house and grab the basket of food I have for us so we can head on out to our first destination.”

  “Where are
we going?” I ask as I follow Gage into his house.

  “I thought we might take the ferry boat that goes out to Ship Island. Have you ever been there before?”

  “No, I always meant to go but never seemed to find the time.”

  I know a little about Ship Island. Kaylee and I had planned a senior class trip there but never made it. Ship Island is one of the five barrier islands located about 11 miles off the coast of Mississippi. The water on the south side of the island isn’t the normal murky brown water you see along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but a pristine blue, more like the water along the panhandle of Florida.

  “Did you happen to bring a swimsuit?” he asks.

  “Yes, I brought one just in case.”

  “Great! Then we’re all set.”

  When we reach the front door of his house, he lets me precede him inside. His house has a definite Southern charm about it. There are glossy walnut-colored floors running throughout the house. A carpeted staircase leads from the foyer to the second floor.

  Gage leaves my bag next to the wall by the front doors.

  “Come on, let me show you the rest of the place before we head out.”

  Gage’s home seems a bit big for one person. There are seven bedrooms, eight full baths, a living room, dining room, large kitchen with a breakfast nook, and a granite swimming pool in the middle of the back patio. An outdoor stone fireplace is located on one side of the pool, while a deck with a large built in barbecue is located on the opposite side.

  Once Gage shows me all there is to see in the main house, he retrieves my bag from near the front door and escorts me to the guesthouse by the pool that I’ll be spending the night in. The guesthouse is immaculately decorated and bigger than my apartment. It has a large living room area with a fireplace, kitchen, bedroom, and full-size bathroom.

  “I stocked the kitchen in here with some food just in case you happened to get hungry this evening. I’m not quite sure how much companions eat, and I didn’t want you to go hungry.”

  “That was very thoughtful. Thank you.”