by S. L. Knight
“No. Not until recently. I never knew my parents. My grandmother Alice told me they died in a car accident.”
“Mavelan Alice Dineaora Oisinar,” the narrow-faced man breathed, his eyes darkening. “She lives?”
I assumed this was my grandmother’s name in the fae world. I expelled a tense breath.
“No. She died a year ago. And she never told me I was fae or that this world existed.”
“Enough,” Gabriel snarled, glaring at them. “Liana is still adjusting. Why are you interrogating her? She needs our protection, not our suspicion. Have you forgotten Edelnar came for her in the human gateway city?”
“That is why we are taking precautions,” the blonde woman replied, though her eyes still glittered with suspicion. “We need to know precisely which side she’s on.”
Which side I was on? It sounded like they were talking about some kind of war.
“I’m not on any side,” I said, trying to keep my tone even. “I’m just trying to take this all in.”
“I understand,” a dark-skinned woman with silver eyes said, settling kind eyes on me before glaring at the other Council members. “Her parents and grandmother are the ones at fault, not Liana. It’s best she stays here with us as we help her adjust to—“
“No.” Adrian had spoken. He glared at them, his fists clenched at his sides. “She’s our mate. She stays with us.”
“Has she formally accepted the bond? Has the ceremony been performed?” the blonde woman asked.
“Not yet,” I said. “I wanted to get to know them before making my decision about bonding with them and remaining in Velar.”
“Choice?” the narrow-faced man snapped. “Why do you assume you’d be allowed to return to the human world?”
“I—I know I can’t leave Velar,” I lied, “but I think it’s best I stay with them until I make my decision about the bond.”
“Most don’t have a choice, but we will allow it,” the blonde woman said, after a long pause. “But we will want to send more guards with you back to the estate. For your protection, of course.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Gabriel said tightly. “We already have a secure retinue of guards there.”
“We insist—“ she began again, her eyes flashing.
“That won’t be—“ Gabriel snarled.
“We will of course accept your guards, Rinela,” Xavier interrupted, with a forced smile. “Can we have the night to prepare our household? How many will you be sending?”
“Fifty,” the blonde woman said, looking pleased at Xavier’s acquiescence. “Led by Draker. Our most trusted guard.”
“Very well,” Gabriel said through clenched teeth. I could tell there was no love lost between him and members of the Council.
“You are dismissed,” Rinela said, her gaze settling on me. “But we will want to have you back for more questioning.”
“Alright,” I said, nodding my agreement. I could see what my vampires meant about the Council. There was an undercurrent of danger here. It was best to play along.
“We need to get Liana out of here, tonight,” Xavier said. “And then we need to leave. Those guards are meant to be our jailers. I only agreed so we could get out of there.”
We were in the carriage racing away from the capital. I looked at Xavier in surprise as the others nodded in agreement.
“What do you mean—get me out of here?” I asked.
“We should not have brought you here, cherie,” Noel said, looking regretful. “The danger for you here may be even greater than in your world. It may be safer for you there.”
“But what about the bond?” I asked.
They all looked pained, but resolute.
“Your safety is more important,” Xavier said quietly.
I fell silent as the carriage continued to race through the grasslands, my heart in my throat. Tears filled my eyes at the thought of leaving them behind—and possibly never seeing them again.
But were they right? Would it be safer for me back in my world?
To my surprise, the carriage flew past the estate, and dread coiled in my stomach. They were taking me back to the gateway.
“Wait—“ I protested.
“It is for the best, cherie,” Noel said, though his silver eyes glistened with tears.
It didn’t take us long to reach the stretch of river adjacent to the gateway. Noel and Adrian helped me down from the carriage.
“When you return to your world, find a place to hide. We will send someone we trust to help—“ Gabriel began.
“Noel, Xavier, Gabriel, and Adrian,” I barked, pulling myself to my full height. “You cannot order me around.”
“Liana, this is for—“
“You didn’t let me finish,” I said, wiping away my tears. “I accept our mating bond. I am yours, and you are mine. I will not let you stay behind to face danger without me. We are in this together.”
They froze, their gazes settling on me in disbelief.
“Liana,” Adrian whispered, “are you saying—“
“You heard me,” I said firmly.
Deep down, I had known since I spotted them back in New Orleans. My connection to them went beyond this supernatural bond; my feelings for them were real. There was still so much to learn about them, so much to experience with them. If I returned to my world without them; I would never feel complete, never feel the sense of home I only experienced with them. I desired them, I cared for them . . . I loved them. I wasn’t going to deny my feelings any longer.
“You are my mates, and I’m not going anywhere without you,” I said, blinking back tears.
“Are you certain?” Gabriel asked, his voice husky. “We will protect you no matter what.”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything,” I whispered. “And if you’re going on the run from the Council—I’m coming with you.”
They finally seemed to accept the truth of my words, and broad smiles appeared on their faces. I stood on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to each of theirs in brief but searing kisses.
“Now,” I said, approaching the carriage. “Let’s go back to the estate to get Berenzi, Nya, and whoever we can take with us.”
My vampire mates settled into the carriage with me.
“As you wish,” Gabriel replied, beaming.
As the carriage clattered back towards the estate, I reached out to link hands with Gabriel and Adrian, who sat at my side, whole locking eyes with Xavier and Noel, whose smiles widened.
A sense of completion filled me. Though there were dangers for us ahead, we would face them together.
TO BE CONTINUED
Liana’s journey continues in HER VAMPIRE FATE, available for preorder HERE
Her Vampire Fate
Liana’s journey continues in Episode Three, HER VAMPIRE FATE, available for preorder HERE
A Message from the Author
I hope you enjoyed HER VAMPIRE VOW, the second episode of Her Vampire Bond serial. Her journey continues in HER VAMPIRE FATE, available for preorder HERE.
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About the Author
S.L. Knight enjoys writing romantic paranormal fantasy novels with fierce, intelligent heroines and strong, handsome heroes. When not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, watching old movies. . . and perhaps fantasizing about her very own harem. Perhaps.
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