by Renea Mason
“Your lord, as I said, I believe there was a mistake. Wrong place at the wrong time, I suppose.” Eli gestured toward me.
The mysterious stranger strode to the glass. With a tilt of his head, he seemed to analyze me. “Come here, little one, let me see you.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t see what’s in it for me. I think I’ll stay right here.” I bounced lightly on the bed frame and shot him an indigent stare.
A wicked grin crossed the man’s face. “Ah, a negotiator, that’s something I can respect. My name is Baron McCaffrey, and yours?”
“None of your business.” I pursed my lips, not giving in.
He nodded, his perusal of me becoming more acute, almost as though he were trying to look into my soul. “See, we have a bit of a situation and perhaps we can help each other.”
I stared straight ahead and pretended to ignore him.
“Eli, here, was contracted to apprehend a saboteur. The New Orleans covens paid a hefty price for you, but Eli seems to think he got the wrong witch. Is he right?”
I snapped my head in his direction. “I didn’t curse the covens if that’s what you’re asking. There was another witch. That’s all you need to know.”
“Need to know, yes, but there is more I desire to know.” The dashing bloodsucker stepped up to the glass. “I’ll make you a deal. You join my family for dinner, and we see if we can come to an arrangement.”
“And if I decline?”
He stared down at his fingers unamused with my question. “I can tell my client we caught the perpetrator, collect my fee and let you try to convince them not to kill you. Or you can accept my hospitality, be forthcoming with the information I need and we can perhaps come to a less fatal arrangement.” He raised an eyebrow with his inquisitive glance. “Might I remind you that my contract does not stipulate I surrender you alive, so if you are to join my dinner table, I expect you to keep your magic contained. Or you’ll find I have a few tricks of my own.” He stared at me awaiting my response. “What shall it be?”
“What time is dinner?”
“Six sharp. Eli will accompany you.”
They all turned and headed for the door.
I swallowed hard, wringing my hands while praying I wouldn’t be the main course.
5
Family
Every one of them, a fucking vampire. Baron McCaffrey sat at the head of the large dining table when I entered the room with Eli clutching my elbow as though I might run away. I had thought about it, but escaping would have taken considerably more planning. I needed intel. Something to exploit.
The long black dress they supplied me flowed around my ankles. The rich woodwork, artisan furniture, and expensive table settings spoke of my host’s extravagant tastes.
Baron stood and motioned to the chair to his left of him. “Please have a seat.”
Eli pulled the chair out for me like a gentleman, not the bloodsucking parasite he was. I’d play their game for now.
“This is my wife, Lillie.” Baron rubbed his hand over her shoulder. “This is our partner, Colin.” He nodded to the handsome man with long, dark hair seated next to Baron’s wife. “This is our son. He’ll be joining us soon.” Baron’s fingers danced over his wife’s distended belly.
My eyes narrowed on the trio. “Wait… You’re a vampire, right?” Were the legends true? With the right woman, a mate, the fiends could reproduce. Or was that the partner’s role—sperm donor? Maybe I was wrong about them all being vampires.
Baron nodded. “If you’re going to ask questions of me, shouldn’t I at least get the courtesy of knowing your name?”
“Clancy.” It was my nickname. They didn’t need my real one.
Baron lifted his glass from the table and took a sip of the red liquid. I prayed it wasn’t blood. “That’s an unusual name for a young woman.”
Placing the napkin in my lap, I snorted. “Yes, of course, my name… That’s the strangest thing in this room.” I lifted my glass and sniffed the liquid. Relieved to discover it was wine, I allowed the liquid to coat my tongue and savored it. As a soft hum of delight left my throat. I couldn’t help myself. I had never tasted anything so delightful. “This is superb.”
Baron smiled. “Thank you. It’s from my homeland. Very few realize Romania is one of the world’s largest producers of wine. They produce this vintage in my village.”
I started to choke and covered my mouth with a napkin, capturing the droplets of red that spewed from my lips onto the white cloth.
Eli’s hand spread over my back. His face stopped inches from mine. “Are you OK?” His soothing fingers traced the ridge of my spine.
I cleared my throat and managed a weak, “I’m fine.” Swallowing hard, I stared at the intimidating vampire. “You’re from Romania?” I tried to hide my dismay.
Setting his glass on the table, he leaned back to allow the servant to place his meal in front of him. I was relieved to see it was real food. With vampires, it was hard to tell.
Baron raised an eyebrow. “Yes, as are Colin and Eli.”
I began to laugh, a tinge of amusement lacing the rumbles. “Romanian vampires. I got captured by Romanian vampires, by accident. This is absolutely priceless.”
Lillie rested her hand on her stomach. Her brows pinched in the middle. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand.”
I inhaled deeply. “Well… I came to New Orleans to teach the covens here a lesson, but as we discussed earlier, someone beat me to it. The irony is that I was here to destroy them because they betrayed my coven. They handed us over to Romanian vampires.” Another strangled chuckle left my throat. “Well, I guess I can stop looking for you. And as if dinner wasn’t already awkward enough with you kidnapping me and all, now my vow to destroy you, well, it’s really going to put a damper on dessert.” I clasped the body of my wineglass and lifted it in my outstretched hand. “Perhaps we should make a toast.” I stood, waited a moment for the others to join in and then tossed my wine into the air. Mumbling ancient syllables under my breath, I cast a blinding rain spell to get far enough away before they could sink their dirty fangs into me.
Kicking the chair out behind me, I darted for the door. A large guard stood in my path. Panic caused me to look behind me to assess another way out. When I pivoted on my heels, I came to a screeching halt. Eli stood beside the table. His hand raised above his head. The wine hung suspended in midair.
“What the…”
Eli laughed. “Did you think you were the only one who could perform magic?”
“But you’re a…”
Eli finished my sentence. “Vampire… Yes, thank you for reminding me. Now, why don’t you come back here? Have a seat. I’ll ignore your broken promise and we can have a dignified conversation.”
Colin swiped his hand through the air and wine refilled the glass.
“Impossible. How are you able to use magic? It’s against the law for witches to become vampires and any self-respecting witch would never continue your existence.”
Eli ushered me back into my seat.
Lillie smiled. “You’ll find Baron isn’t much for following rules. He makes his own.”
Baron bent at the waist and kissed his wife softly on the lips. “Rules are for people who need to feel in control. I am in control, so I need not tether people to reassure me. Clancy, if you’re from the Romanian coven, I fear someone has misled you.” Baron’s soothing voice almost made me believe his sincerity.
Clasping my hand in his, Eli tried to reassure me. “The arrangement between the vampires and your coven did not happen because the vampires subjugated your coven. It was a deal brokered by the witches for your protection.”
“We don’t need protecting from anyone but you. You steal the firstborn of our families. How can you do that? Those poor mothers.”
Colin tilted his head. “Clancy, where did you grow up in Romania?”
“I didn’t. My mother took me away after vampires stole my brother. I was very young. She has
been training me for a day like today.”
Baron tilted his head and stared quizzically at me. “It upset your mother?”
I scoffed and fixed my eyes on Lillie. “How would you feel if someone took your son as soon as he was born?”
“Terrible, if I didn’t go with him, but what you don’t understand is that centuries ago, Baron stepped in and changed the practice. Yes, your coven was bound by an obligation, but he ensures they don’t separate families.” She gazed into Colin’s eyes.
Colin raised Lillie’s hand to his lips. “Clancy, I was one of those children. They placed me with a new family because my mother and father died when I was a toddler. That family’s duty and mine were to look after a specific human—a human capable of mating with vampires. I spent my life with her as her constant companion. The vampires refer to me as a human familiar. There is not a day of my life I regret.”
“But when she found her mate?”
“They gave me a choice to go or stay. I love Lillie, so the choice was easy. We are a family, the three… I mean, the four of us.” He rubbed his hand over Lillie’s stomach.
“You willingly became a vampire?”
“Yes. It was an easy choice.”
My mouth hung open. “But your magic?”
“What about it? I didn’t know how to use it as a witch, but Baron has taught me many things and when we visited the coven, the Godmother blessed me.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “You’re saying they knew you intended to be a vampire and still allowed you to keep your magic. They should have executed you.”
Colin shot me an inquisitive stare. “They not only supported it, the coven leader ensured it. You were misled about our people. Since Baron became involved, the Romanian vampires and witches have been allies. Now, the New Orleans covens… That’s another story.”
Baron smiled at Colin. “Since Colin joined our family, he’s really taken an active part in my business. He understands and helps me with negotiations. Eli, who has been a confidant for centuries, finds answers and people for me. My personal detective, if you will. There isn’t a mystery he can’t solve. If you’re from the Romanian coven, then you’re family too.”
I palmed my head trying to will away reality. “No, it can’t be.” This was my worst fear come true. I dedicated my life to destroying those responsible for stealing my brother and causing my mother’s exile. My mother wouldn’t have misled me.
Eli caressed my shoulder. “Clancy, it’s OK. Look at me.”
I stared into his eyes between the openings in my widespread fingers. “What?”
“We’ll find out what happened, you and I. We need to find out why your mother lied, why you didn’t stay with the coven, and what type of curse was unleashed. I’ll help you find the truth if you help me. Will you?”
I wanted to say no, to run, but there was something enchanting in his gaze. Curiosity got the better of me. “OK,” I said with reluctance.
Baron picked up his knife and fork. “Well, now that’s settled, shall we return to dinner?”
I nodded.
Baron focused on Eli. “I wish I could help you, old friend, but I need to be here, as does Colin. Lillie could go into labor at any moment. Vampire children present difficult births and I can’t risk being away. You and Clancy head to Romania and get to the bottom of everything.”
6
Fate
Baron's private jet was so comfortable; I slept for most of the trip. I woke to the sound of someone calling my name.
“Clancy, wake up. We’re about to land.” A hand smoothed over my shoulder. “Clancy.”
“Huh? Oh…” I opened my eyes and stared into deep pools of dark, almost black sapphire. So mesmerizing, the faint patterns in his irises seemed to swirl. His mouth lingered only a breath away.
“There you are.” He smiled. “I’m afraid your beauty rest is over.”
I inhaled and stretched my arms above my head, loosening the muscles. As the air flowed through my nostrils again the usually nauseatingly sweet smell of vampire had morphed into something different. There was still a touch of that sugary, almost floral scent, but mixed with something earthy, like the forest floor or light musk. I breathed in again, savoring the aroma. What was it?
Eli hovered nearby, awaiting my acknowledgment. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to me, more forcefully than I had intended. He stumbled and dropped to his knees on the floor before me.
“Come here…” I buried my nose in his neck and inhaled his scent.
“What are you…?” He sighed when I clutched him tighter. The tip of my nose gliding over the curvature of his throat.
“Why do you smell different? Are you wearing aftershave or cologne?”
He scooted closer, pressing himself between my legs, forcing them wider. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You smell so good.” What was happening to me? Surely, the altitude must have been playing tricks on my senses. “What did you do?” My breath caressing to the soft skin behind his ear.
“Well, this is certainly unexpected.” A shiver caused his muscles to quake in my embrace.
Feeling almost intoxicated by his presence, I nuzzled against the stubble of his five o’clock shadow. “Eli…” I breathed his name.
He sighed. “Yes...” He ran his tongue up the side of my neck. His fingers gripped my thighs.
“God… What is…” The absence of his heat was the first thing I noticed. I blinked trying to make sense of what had happened. Eli sat panting, his back plastered against the seat opposite me. His fangs protruded over his bottom lip. His chest rose and fell with deliberate breaths. The sizable bulge in his pants left my mind whirling. Holy fuck. He almost… We almost… I would have let him…
He used deep inhalations to calm himself. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to do that. I wasn’t thinking.”
“You weren’t the only one. I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“I wish I could tell you, but I didn’t change anything, I assure you.” He righted himself in the seat. “You don’t have to worry about me. I promise I’ll never hurt you. I might joke, but I’d never take advantage of you.”
“Thank you.” It’s all I could think to say. What the fuck was wrong with me?
Things were quiet between Eli and me as we made our way to the small Romanian village in the mountains. The scenery was breathtaking and the excursion easy, since Eli knew the way and spoke the language. We sat quietly in the back seat of an old Fiat.
He finally broke the silence. “Does any of this seem familiar?”
“No. But it’s beautiful.” I would have remembered the majestic peaks and the dense forest that surrounded us.
He leaned to look down over the cliff outside my window. His hair tickled my nose and that scent again filled my nostrils. “It really is. It’s been a long time since I’ve been home.”
I shook my head trying to clear my head of the effect he had on me to focus on what he was saying. “How long has it been?”
He shrugged. “At least a hundred years.”
“How old are you?” Being a vampire, his youthful skin was an illusion.
He leaned back and stared deep into my eyes. “I’ve been a vampire for a little over three hundred years.”
I panicked, wondering if the driver could understand him. My eyes darted to take in the older gentleman’s reaction.
Eli cupped my cheek. “Don’t worry, he can’t understand us.”
I swallowed hard. “Three hundred years?”
“Yes, does that bother you?” He stroked his thumb over the skin on my hand. “I was kinda hoping you had a thing for older men.” He grinned.
His age didn’t bother me, but the feel of his skin touching mine sure did and the feelings brewing in me from taking in his scent. “It doesn’t bother me, there’s older and then there is old.”
A sly smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “Well, perhaps you should consider what centuries of experience can brin
g to a relationship.”
I scoffed, but his eyes lingering on my lips caused my voice to shake. “If you and I were considering a relationship, your age might bother me, but since we’re…”
“We’re what, Clancy?” His fingers trailed over my throat. “Trapped in a car, nearly delirious with hunger for each other, that's what you were going to say?”
I sighed. “No. I was going to say that we’re just working together.”
“You’re right. A bit of professionalism might be advisable here.” He sat up and tugged on his sleeves. “But in case you were wondering, many describe a vampire’s bite as the most erotic thing they’ve ever experienced. And since we’re all business... I’ll do away with the thoughts I have of spreading your legs, to demonstrate the techniques I’ve developed over three hundred years, but not before sinking my fangs into the soft flesh of your inner thigh until you drown me in a puddle of your desire. You’ll beg me to stop. But that would cross a line and you can’t have that, so…”
I shivered with the thought of what he might make me feel. “Eli…”
“No. I get it.” He shot me a quick sexy glance then stared straight ahead. “That would most certainly be unprofessional. Just forget I said anything.”
I grasped my knees with my shaking hands. He didn’t play fair. What the fuck was wrong with me? He was a vampire. A stranger. But damn if I didn’t want to climb him like a tree.
I spent the next thirty minutes trying not to stare at Eli. The car tossed from side to side as we turned onto a cobblestone road.
I gasped when his hand rested on mine.
His thumb caressed the top of my hand. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to let you know. We’ll be home soon. Well… at my home soon.”
Trying to calm my nerves, all I could manage was a soft, “OK.”
“Are you all right?” His dark eyes searched my face.
“Yeah, I’m… I don’t know… it must have been the flight. Just tired.”
