Every Witch Demon but Mine (Maeren Series Book 1)

by Mercedes Jade

  “Hey,” Elizabeth protested.

  She’d barely had any yet. It wasn’t her fault she was a cheap drunk. She still wanted to sip another cup or two, while she tried to convince her bite-shy sister to let another vampire near her neck. More alcohol might help.

  Victor ignored her. “Jill, right?” he asked over his twin’s shoulder.

  Jill could do the math.

  Victor was standing there, with the teapot in one hand and the other held a box just like Victoria’s tattoo kit.

  He was a fire prince.

  He had also stood up to William today and he didn’t seem afraid of George.

  Victoria had tricked them good. Wanted her brother to keep watch outside while they drank? Sneaky witch.

  “Come in,” welcomed Jill.

  Victoria stepped back.

  Victor was a little taller than Jill, but not by much. Jill didn’t have to strain her neck to look up at him like William, Phillip, and Daemon. It was a better fit.

  Victoria grabbed her teapot back from her brother.

  “I’m sorry it has to be forced on you like this so quickly,” Victor said.

  His scraped knuckles held the box awkwardly. One of his eyes was blackening and another bruise was blossoming on his jaw, visible now that he’d stepped into the room’s light.

  Elizabeth wasn’t sure if the wounds were acquired during the fight with Daemon, out in the woods, or if Victor had tried to settle the score once the witches had left the practice room.

  His twin had been threatened along with Jill.

  Elizabeth didn’t even bother to think that she had also been threatened. She was used to being the most dangerous monster of all.

  “This isn’t necessary,” Jill said, gently turning Victor down.

  “It’s my choice,” he insisted.

  “Will the other witches in your harem object?” Elizabeth asked, feeling like it was important to bring up.

  Victoria closed the door. “I told you, Liz. He’s not married to them.”

  “If a witch needs help and I can do something, I will,” he said. “Let me help you.”

  Jill touched him. Her fingers brushed his jaw and swept away his bruise. She trailed them up to his eye. He gently shut it under her fingers, the swelling disappearing.

  His golden eyes opened again when she was done, looking at Jill with such sincerity that even Elizabeth was tempted to tell her sister to give in.

  It was like kicking a puppy dog to refuse him.

  “I’m sorry, but no,” Jill said, quiet but firm. “I’m not risking someone else’s life for my own.”

  That was Elizabeth’s job, risking it all to keep them safe. No more failures were acceptable.

  “It’s the witch’s choice,” Victor said, surprising her with his acceptance of the rejection.

  He reached up and clasped his hand around Jill’s fingers, touching him, pulling her hand closer to his mouth. His lips pressed to her wrist for a butterfly kiss. He released her in seconds, his knuckles healed.

  “You’ve bought yourself a knight, my lady,” he said and bowed to her.

  Jill opened her mouth and closed it, speechless at the romantic, old-fashioned gesture and promise.

  “I’ll guard outside,” Victor told them.

  “No wonder your brother is so popular with the castle witches,” Elizabeth said after Victor left them alone in the room.

  “He’s kind,” Jill said.

  “To a fault,” Victoria admitted. She poured Jill and Elizabeth another drink. “Every witch he’s claimed has been for protection from other vampires. Even the pregnant witch is carrying another vampire’s baby.”

  Elizabeth peeked into Victoria’s thoughts. Her twin’s harem was full of misfits and runaways. Those who were vulnerable and in need of protection.

  She hadn’t known. They never looked into Victor because he was considered such a long shot contender for the throne. They had been uncertain if he and Victoria even lived in the royal castle, proper, or instead resided with their mother’s clan.

  “Your brother risks dividing his power with all those claims. How does he even manage to protect them all?” Elizabeth asked.

  “He is a fire prince, Liz. Power isn’t something he’s lacking. He has a harem and he uses it to feed. Trust me, when Victor offers Jill a claim, then he does so knowing he can protect her.”

  “I believe you,” Jill said. “But at what cost? I won’t be another witch that burdens him.”

  “Then, don’t be foolish. He won’t let George trap another witch. When my twin says he is going to be your knight, it isn’t pretty words. He will protect you.”

  Victoria poured herself another cup that finished the pot.

  “He’s free to do what he wishes, as am I. Don’t think I’m ungrateful, but my sister and I will have to leave at some point. It is better to stick with a claim that is temporary and safe, even if William may not reinforce it after today,” Jill said.

  Her sister set her empty cup down, then laid across the foot of the bed.

  “Put a fork in her, she’s done,” Elizabeth announced.

  Jill could sleep anywhere, anytime. It was an important skill with long nursing shifts and less than ideal accommodations at the hospital, when her sister had to work a double.

  In the few minutes it took them to finish their cups, Jill was quietly snoring.

  “So, you really are planning on leaving. Does Daemon know?” Victoria asked.

  “We haven’t discussed long-term plans,” Elizabeth said. “Besides, we have a life outside of the castle that has been put on hold.”

  Victoria gathered the teapot and empty cups onto a tray for the servants to collect for cleaning. She rubbed a hand over her new tattoo through her robes.

  “Why are you here?” she asked.

  That was the important question. It was finally time to answer it.

  “The library,” Elizabeth hinted.

  She headed for the bed, leaving enough space for Victoria to join them.

  Victoria sighed. “I knew it. Nobody goes looking for a book to read when she has a demon like my brother in her bed.”

  “We are not sleeping together.”

  Elizabeth handed Victoria a pillow as she sat down on top of the blankets.

  “Does anyone else believe you when you tell them that or do you think I’m particularly naive?” the princess asked.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?” Elizabeth deflected.

  “I already told you that I’ve never been claimed. My blood-oath with George had precluded any suitors he didn’t deem suitable and that was pretty much everyone because his plans for me weren’t ready yet.”

  “Tell me about the blood-oath you had with him.”

  Victoria fluffed her pillow, turning to lie on her back. “Another time. It’s a story that makes me look foolish.”

  “Fine then,” Elizabeth said. “Have you ever watched television before?”

  “A few times, when I’ve been on the human side. Usually, I don’t have the time, although it can be entertaining. Mostly, I’ve seen movies. I love romance movies.”

  “Well, then you have missed out on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, probably.”

  “Never heard of it. Most human movies about vampires are completely inaccurate, Liz.”

  “There is always a grain of truth to those tales if you look hard,” Elizabeth said. “Let me tell you some bedtime stories,” she offered.

  Victoria eagerly accepted.

  Elizabeth told her all about her family, the hell mouth, the slayings, and the fight against the demons, disguised as her mother’s favourite television series.

  As they both got sleepier, the stories flowed slower and the details became more truth than fiction.

  “A lightning witch? Those humans are crazy. Such imaginations.”

  “I know, crazy.”

  Ripping Off the Bandage

  Jill

  Victor woke them only hours after they finally went to sleep.

/>   It was quiet. He was standing over Jill, but thankfully, he didn’t try to shake her awake. She knew he was there and had tensed. He called her name, letting her blink a couple of times.

  Jill didn’t snooze in bed. She either was sleeping or fully awake, but not a vulnerable, in-between state.

  “How can you sleep in that position?” Victor asked, looking at her upside-down, from her sideways position at the end of the bed.

  “There are no peas under the mattress,” Jill said, sitting up.

  Victor didn't get her joke.

  “I’ll carry you to your room if this bed is not comfortable,” he offered.

  “I’m too heavy,” Jill protested.

  Victor wasn’t that much taller than her. She didn't want him to hurt himself by trying to lug her around.

  “Try not to insult me with such weak excuses,” he told her, calling her on her judgement.

  He gave her his back and waited.

  She wasn’t really dressed for walking the halls, so with a reluctant sigh, she climbed onto his back, holding onto his shoulders.

  He looped orange around her back to keep her tightly bound. It felt pleasantly warm and comfortable.

  The real princess was sleeping in a worse position than her. She had her little body sprawled out, taking up as much physical space as possible.

  It still left more than half of the big bed for Elizabeth. Her sister was a much neater sleeper, on her side, with her knees and hips flexed.

  “Should we wake them?” Jill asked.

  “No point,” Victor said.

  “I’m awake,” Elizabeth said, not opening her eyes.

  Her sleepy tone also said unless the world was ending, she was not going to be awake much longer.

  “I’m taking Jill to her room.”

  “What about George?” Elizabeth sleepily asked.

  “He’s not in the castle. He and Daemon were sent out to hunt.”

  “Hunt what in the middle of the night?” Jill asked.

  “And why?” Elizabeth asked.

  “You didn’t think that squabble was going to be ignored by our father? They were reprimanded and ordered to bring a dragon’s head, each, by the third morning.”

  “Did you say dragons?” Jill asked.

  “Dragon shifters. I’ll tell you about it after you rest a bit more and eat. Sake is not a substitute for supper.”

  “I could stand to miss a few suppers anyway,” Jill commented, aware her muscled thighs were probably a lot heavier than his dainty sister’s petite legs.

  She ate healthily, but the food went into her Amazon physique. She didn’t have one dainty bone in her body. She squirmed against his hold, but the fire held.

  “I can walk,” she said, changing her mind.

  “Settle down,” he told her. “I could carry you all day like this and still have the energy to teach you respect for your body. What kind of earth witch would want to be skinny and weak? You have learned too many human ideas,” he said.

  “Does Victoria know about dragon shifters?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Yes, now go back to sleep.”

  Jill could feel hard lumps under Victor’s clothes as he carried her to her room.

  His sword was sheathed on his back, under his robe. It was much longer than either of the ones George had carried. It felt like he had a few sheathed daggers, and other, smaller offensive hardware across his chest, as she patted discreetly, pretending to be changing her grip on his robes.

  “Are you a virgin?” Victor asked.

  Jill blushed. “Uh, no,” she said, not letting herself stammer it.

  “Then, you know what your soft, little hands do to a male’s body when you touch him like that,” he said, his silky voice deepening in warning.

  “I was assessing your weapons,” Jill informed him primly. “You are loaded to take down a bear,” she said. “Is the castle really that dangerous?”

  “I’m prepared,” he said, opening the door to her room.

  She noticed he hadn’t asked for directions, although there were a lot of guest rooms.

  He didn’t put her down right away, carrying her to the bed and depositing her there.

  He turned when she dropped. He leaned over her, hands planting on either side of her and one knee up to rest on the edge of the bed.

  “Do you need something?” Jill asked, not able to hide her blush.

  He was incredibly close.

  His eyes were a very light brown, almost amber. The planes of his face were Asian as were the shape of his eyes. His mouth was generous, so very kissable, and a dimple popped up in his chin as he smirked at her.

  “I think you are a liar, Jill,” he said staring at her red cheeks. “If some male has already loved your body, then he did a terrible job. You should be as confident in your beauty and strength as your magic.”

  Jill shifted back a few inches. “Well, I didn’t say it was good sex,” she said, feeling the lie burn her cheeks more.

  How did this vampire figure out she still had her V-card?

  “Lie down in the bed,” Victor ordered, his voice dropping an octave that got her attention.

  He pulled her blankets from the top, leaving room for her to snuggle in.

  It was her bed. She could damn well lie in it if she wanted to and pull her blankets up to her chin before he got any ideas.

  He smiled at her covered with blankets, then got off the bed and gave her a strip show.

  She had underestimated the number of weapons he had sequestered on his body as they piled up on her side table.

  The sword was a monstrosity with a leathered hilt as thick as her wrist. He leaned it against the table and pulled off its leather sheath next, revealing a faint red mark from where the weight of the sword had embedded itself in his chest.

  His tightly muscled upper body was hairless, but no less masculine, abdominals cutting a hard line to his lean hips and the promise of a fantastic ass, barely covered by his pants.

  She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes. He must have left his pants on because he quickly crawled back into bed with her, lying on top of the blankets.

  “I thought the point was for me to be in my own bed, alone, so I had more space,” Jill complained.

  He was like a furnace lying beside her, typical fire Lord. The scent of misty highlands and the barest hint of smoke teased her nose as she pulled the blankets up another inch.

  “I changed my mind. You don’t need that much space,” Victor said. “You’ve been given too much room for too long. Tell me why you don’t like to be touched.”

  What did he just say to her? He had only known her for a few hours.

  “I have no clue where you got that idea.”

  That had come out icy. She would show him frigid.

  “Why did you attack George?”

  “He was going to hurt me.”

  “Did he?”

  “He grabbed me.”

  “Who used magic first?”

  “What the hell is this about? Don’t worry, I didn’t hurt George, much.”

  Victor turned on his side to face her, making the bed dip. She kept her eyes glued shut.

  “George says you looked frightened and you struck immediately with blue. Any weaker vampire would have been toasted.”

  That was it.

  She opened her eyes, but only to glare at him. She let her fire glow in her eyes as a warning to back off.

  “He’s mad that a bunch of witches beat him,” she derided.

  Victor chuckled. “Yes, he was upset. I’m sure Victoria especially enjoyed the chance to show George her power.”

  “Anyway, tell me about the dragon shifters. Is that really a thing?” Her mother sure hadn’t mentioned dragons.

  “We are not finished discussing why you dislike being touched,” Victor reminded her.

  His golden eyes caressed her fiery blue ones with his own heated look. He was a total control freak. It took one to recognize it so easily in another.

&nbs
p; “I’m finished,” Jill said. “If you think I have a problem with touching, then you should ask Phillip and William about how they fed on me, together.” She touched her neck and then her wrist. “Here and here,” she said as she touched herself where she’d permitted them to feed.

  She unconsciously bared her neck to Victor.

  He growled at her. It turned her on.

  “Keep yourself covered up,” he ordered in his deeper voice again.

  “What happened to your nice-guy attitude?” Jill asked, bringing the blanket back up to her neck.

  She tried not to squirm under his stare. He couldn’t see beneath the blanket to her wet panties.

  “You didn’t want the nice,” Victor said. “I told you that if a witch needs me, then I try to meet that need. What you need isn’t niceness.”

  “I’m tired of vampires who think they know what I need and what I should do,” Jill said. “You are particularly bossy.”

  “Dominant is the word you are looking for, Jill. When you fed my brothers, did you let them pet you to prepare you? Phillip loves to kiss his witches.”

  Victor touched her. Well, not her, but the blanket, over the top of her belly. She felt the heat of his fingers trailing over her as if there were no barriers.

  “My sister called it a sixty-nine,” Jill said, swallowing as nervous energy buzzed under her skin.

  She didn’t tell him that her sister had misunderstood.

  “Another lie,” he determined, tapping his fingers on her blanket. “I’m keeping track of all your untruths. When I prove you lied, then you will owe me a boon.”

  “I never agreed to that.”

  “I’m not asking.”

  “I guess taking without asking runs in the family,” Jill bitterly complained.

  She turned onto her side, facing away from him. It would probably be too much to put the pillow over her head when he had offered so nicely to try to help her.

  “I’m not forcing you to lie,” he said. She felt his fingers trail up her spine and the blanket was awfully thin. “You choose to lie deliberately to me, just like you chose to deny yourself the protection of my claim, even though you knew it would leave you open to George’s advances.”

  “I can take care of myself,” Jill said.