by V. Vaughn
We say our good nights, and as I climb the stairs, guilt fills me with its heavy weight. I hate lying to the Harts, but I’m sure nothing good would come from telling them I’ve been with Robert. The secret I’m holding is like acid in my stomach. While Robert said he doesn’t want anything from me, I find it hard to believe it’s really true.
When I get to my room, I walk over to the windows and gaze out. Snow has left a thin veil of white on the lawn, but it’s not enough to cover up what really lies below. I turn away to get ready for bed, and I hope that tomorrow night I don’t come to regret what I’ve done.
Chapter 11
Maggie
When I enter the study, ready to hunt, I find Alexander alone. He licks his lips as he scans my body with his gaze. I’m in a tight black turtleneck and black jeans so I’ll blend into the dark. “Wow, Maggie. You’re one silhouette of sexy.”
I chuckle and make a show of checking him out too. His dark hair, black clothing, and pale skin make his green eyes jump out at me. “Black is definitely a vampire’s color.” I step over to him and place my hand on his chest. “Because I could say the same about you.”
He lets out a little groan before capturing my mouth in a hungry kiss—one that I’m faking with the hope that whatever is wrong with my sex drive will go away.
“Ahem!” says Adly as he enters the study. “Des is here.”
Alexander and I step apart, and I recognize Des as the vampire who flirted with me the night of Lyndsey’s hunt. He gives me the once-over. “Damn. I should have known Alexander would snatch you up before I had a chance.”
I am not so blatant with my perusal of his body, but I definitely check him out. He’s got to be the fittest male I’ve ever seen. His eight-pack abs look as hard as a rock beneath his snug shirt, and I swear his sleeves couldn’t be any tighter around his biceps without splitting. I smile at him and hold out my hand. “I don’t think we were properly introduced. Maggie.”
He takes my hand between his. “Des. Any chance you need a fight trainer? Because I’d love to take you to the island for a few months.” He throws a taunting glance at Alexander. “Or years.”
Sebastian steps into the room and says, “Maggie does need to learn to fight, but I think Alexander has claimed that task.”
“Uh-oh,” says Des. “Not a good idea. Boyfriends should never teach a girlfriend anything, because that’s a sure way to—” His mouth turns up in a big grin. “On second thought, maybe you should teach her.” Des winks at me. “Then when Maggie hates you, she can come to me.”
I laugh along with everyone, and I say, “Let’s get through training me to feed responsibly, and I’ll let you know.”
Sebastian says, “Shall we, then?”
Our group makes its way out of the mansion, and I see the limo parked out front. Alexander walks next to me. “It’s Saturday night, and there are usually parties in the woods around here, but since we hit Port Porpoise with Lyndsey and—” He shakes his head. “We’re going to lie low for a while and take you a few towns over.”
Des climbs up front with Adly, and I sit next to Alexander while Sebastian seats himself across from us. As we ride, Alexander and Sebastian explain the process of feeding, and I hear a review of what Robert already taught me.
We end up at a high school, and when we drive through the entryway, we go by a marquee that’s announcing a formal. Des says, “Winter formal. Smart. You’re going to love strapless dresses, Maggie.”
I frown in confusion, and Alexander says, “You’ll be messy at first, but it’s easy to lick blood off skin.”
I nod as I imagine keeping a tux shirt white requires finesse. As we drive to a parking lot, the bass of dance music thuds from the gym. We see a few other limos, but Adly takes our car farther away from the group and along the wooded area.
Sebastian and Adly open their doors quietly, and I understand we’re not to be seen running off into the woods. We all crouch behind the cover of the limo while the guys shut the doors again, then in a flash, we race to the forest.
We don’t have to travel far before I hear the crackle of a fire and the excited voices of drunken teens. I inhale the intoxicating scent of blood and let out a moan. While I’m actually fine, I need to pretend I’m struggling with my bloodlust.
Alexander grabs my arm. “We’re going to wait here,” he says. “Des and Adly will scout the area.”
Sebastian joins us, and he grips my other arm lightly. “Focus on breathing in and out slowly.”
As vampires, we don’t need to fill our lungs with air, but the human action still relaxes us, so I do as Sebastian instructed. Des and Adly return, and we discover that there are too many kids for a group attack. Especially since Sebastian and Alexander both want to help me. I’m sure one of them would be enough, but apparently, after Lyndsey, they don’t dare take any chances.
Adly says, “Some girl is going to need to pee any moment now. They’ve got a keg.”
As if on cue, we hear twigs snapping, and a girl exclaims, “Crap! Stupid heels.”
Des disappears and in seconds returns with a limp girl in his arms. There’s a drop of blood on his lips, and I know it’s because the moment a vampire sinks his teeth into a human’s neck, they lose the ability to recall what happens until they wake later.
I force a struggle as if I can’t keep myself from her, and Des says, “She’s delicious, Maggie. Come taste.”
He tilts her head back, and I move forward. I sink my teeth into her neck and try to suck with insatiable desire, but I can’t. Richard’s voice is in my head, telling me to treat her with care, and I slow down to be gentle. I savor the warmth of the life she’s giving me, and it makes me grow giddy with the high.
“Good, Margaret. Very good,” says Sebastian. The moment the girl goes unconscious, he says, “Stop,” and he tugs at me.
I don’t fight him and let out a small moan of satisfaction before I realize I’m supposed to be out of control.
“Maggie?” asks Adly. I look up at him as shame adds to the flush of my euphoric state. “You can stop?”
Since it’s too late to pretend I can’t, I speak in a small voice. “Yes.”
“Amazing,” says Des as he stares at me in awe.
Alexander grins with pride. “She sure is.”
Even Sebastian looks proud of himself, as if they all had something to do with my control. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he says. “Let’s try another.”
“Bailey?” calls out a girl from the woods.
Adly says, “On it,” before he disappears.
Neither Hart brother holds on to me this time, although they’re close enough to act if necessary. And when Adly returns to present me with another girl, Sebastian says, “You’re on your own, Margaret.”
I take the teen from Adly and cradle her in my arms. A slight tremble shakes my limbs as I latch on to drink sweet nectar. When it’s time to stop, I lay her down gently on the ground next to her friend.
“My god,” says Des. “You’ve got a gift, girl. I could watch you all night.” He turns to Adly. “She’s better at this than you are.”
Adly punches his arm, and Sebastian says, “We should all feed while we’ve got the chance.”
“There’s six left,” says Adly. “Des and I can double up on the attack.”
“Can I grab one?” I ask. “I mean, I should learn to do that too, don’t you think?”
Des chuckles softly. “I love this girl.”
“Yes,” says Sebastian. “I’ll watch in case you run into trouble.”
The five of us descend on the kids quickly, but since I’ve fed on four humans in the last two days as well as had bagged blood, I’m full. So after I taste my teen, I hand her off to Sebastian. “Two is plenty for me.”
He blinks at me for a moment in surprise before he enjoys his meal. When he’s done, we bring the two girls I fed on earlier back to the group and leave the kids to wake later, wondering how they missed their prom.
Aft
er we get back in the limo, Des turns around in his seat to look at me. “That has to be the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever witnessed. Who are you? A reincarnated vampire or something?”
“Do those exist?” I ask.
Alexander puts his arm around me and pulls me close. “They do, but you’re something far more amazing.”
“That she is,” says Sebastian.
My stomach churns with my guilt, and I shrug. “It’s about time something came easy for me.”
“Margaret.” Sebastian stares intently at me. “It’s nice to see you haven’t lost your humility, but you have many gifts. You’re as talented a vampire as you were a human.”
Alexander leans his head against mine. “It’s true, my love.”
I notice Sebastian pull his phone out and text someone as I lean into Alexander, and I assume it’s the boat for Des to get back to the island. The warmth of blood fills me and makes me sleepy. I let out a yawn, and Alexander tucks me in tighter. “Sleep, Maggie. You’ve had a long night.”
“Okay.” I close my eyes to let exhaustion take over, because it’s easier than facing the fact the Harts don’t know the truth about what I did with Robert. Or that I’m sure something evil would happen to them if I told them. I snuggle into Alexander’s embrace, wondering if all vampires can sense danger the way I do, before I fall asleep.
Chapter 12
Maggie
“Maggie,” says Alexander in a soft voice. I open my eyes to see him when I wake, and I smile. He says, “We’re home, my love. And someone is here to see you.”
“Who?” I ask as he steps out of the limo and offers me his hand.
Sebastian climbs out after me. “I texted King Daniel about what happened tonight, and he hopped on a speedboat to meet us here.”
“You’re kidding.” I sigh because I’m afraid of what this means.
“He’s very interested in hearing about your technique,” says Sebastian.
“I barely know how I do it. And there has to be plenty of other vampires with more control than I have. Why would he care?”
Alexander says, “Princess Lyndsey.”
“Oh.” Damn it. I bet the king has false hope that I’ll have a trick they can use. Unfortunately, the only trick I have is their mortal enemy.
“King Daniel!” exclaims Alexander as we walk into the study, where he must have let himself in to wait.
The king has a drink in his hand and is sitting on a sofa. He ignores the greeting and looks at me. “I hear you’re quite the marvel. Come.” He pats the cushion next to him. “Tell me all about it.”
I know King Daniel is someone I should treat as if he’s the highest power, but he’s so friendly that I find it disarming, and I sit with a leg tucked under me as if I’m chatting with one of the Harts. “I’m not sure I know what I do that’s so amazing.”
Ice cubes clink into glasses as Adly makes drinks, and Alexander presses a snifter of my favorite brandy into my hand. “Start from the beginning,” says the king. “I want to hear it all, starting with the night you lost your memory.”
“Wow. Um. Okay.” I take a moment to collect my thoughts. “The first time I fed, I don’t really remember. I was in the middle of the suicide cycle and had run off to a beach with the plan to die in sunlight.”
King Daniel grimaces. “You’ve never felt it. Have you?” I shake my head. “Me either, but I’ve seen it. Gruesome way to go. First the skin bubbles up, then—” He chuckles, and it makes me wonder how much he drank before we got here. “Sorry,” he says. “Go on.”
“The cycle ended just before the sun rose, and I was suddenly starving. And I—” My brow knits. “Well, I tried to eat a seagull.”
“Brilliant!” says the king. “Did you ever hear about Adly’s turkey?”
Des suppresses a laugh with his hand as Adly’s face flushes red. I feel bad for my friend and say, “Yes. He found me that morning. Anyway, after trying to eat the bird, I blacked out, and the next thing I knew, I was walking through town and Adly picked me up in the limo.”
“So how did you know you’d fed?” asks the king.
“I had flashes of it, and there was blood on my face.”
Alexander says, “We attributed it to Robert Kearns, but the flashbacks don’t add up. He wipes memories clean.”
“Yes,” says Sebastian. “It’s possible the first time Margaret fed, she didn’t need anyone to keep her from killing.”
King Daniel nods. “Tell me about tonight.”
Des cuts in to brag about how amazing I am and relays the night’s events.
When he’s done, the king says, “That does sound incredible. I agree. I’ve never heard of anyone being that good right away.”
“Listen to how she does it,” says Sebastian. He looks at me like a test subject, which I suppose, at the moment, I am. “Explain what you’re thinking when you feed. How are you exercising the control to be gentle?”
“Well…” I gaze up as I recall what goes through my mind. “I imagine wrapping a heavy blanket around my lust to muffle the intensity. Then I look at the person and remember being human. I see them as someone who needs to be treated with care. They’re providing me with life, and it’s important to respect them. Especially if they’re going to be fed on again.”
“Somebody’s gotten the sustainability speech,” says Des.
“Quiet,” says the king as he shifts on the couch to put his elbows on his knees as if I’m telling a fascinating story. “Go on, my dear.”
“I savor the blood as if I want it to last forever. But when the person goes unconscious, I know I have to stop. It’s not an option, because—” I shudder as I recall how devastated I was when I thought I’d murdered two innocent people. “Because I don’t ever want to be a killer.”
Adly lets out a low whistle.
“What?” I ask.
“You sound like you think control is simple,” says Adly. “And I guess for you it is.”
“Too bad you couldn’t give some of your control to the princess,” says Des.
“Yes,” says the king as he frowns with obvious pain.
I imagine how difficult Lyndsey being a shredder must be for him as a parent, and I reach out to touch his arm. “I wish I could do something to help.”
He takes my hand between his. “Perhaps you can.”
“How? I get the impression what I do isn’t what works for other vampires.”
“Do we know anything about her bloodline?” asks the king.
Sebastian says, “I did check her ancestry, but I can definitely dig deeper.”
“Whoa. Mind control?” asks Adly.
“Perhaps,” says Alexander.
I shake my head. I’ve got to stop this before it goes any further. “No.” I open my mouth to tell them about Robert, but the words won’t come out. My emotions are screaming at me to keep the secret, and they’re more powerful than anything Elizabeth ever did. It’s as though I’m frozen with a knife to my neck. Only I don’t think I’d be the one who would suffer if I reveal my secret. I spit out the first thing that comes to me. ”You don’t think I’m related to the Kearnses, do you?”
“No,” says Sebastian, “but you could have vampire traits from another family we don’t know about.”
“Whatever you’ve got,” says Des, “Princess Lyndsey needs it. Badly.”
“He’s right,” says Alexander. “I know you don’t think you can help, but being a shredder is a serious problem, and we’re all desperate to get a handle on it.”
I frown as I rack my brain, trying to figure out how to get myself out of this mess. I can’t help Lyndsey, and I’m not even going to pretend I can. I say, “I’m barely a vampire. And if I really had strong mental abilities, why wasn’t I able to tame all the things I went through when I changed?”
“Cycling is a completely different process,” says Sebastian. “Now that you’ve completed it, your true traits can come out.” He smiles at me as if he’s my father and I just came home from scho
ol with straight As. “You have special powers, Margaret. We just need to figure out how to hone them.”
“Okay.” I think Sebastian just gave me a solution. If I spend time trying to learn to use my supposed mind-control power, they’ll figure out I don’t have any special abilities, and this whole thing can be chalked up as a fluke. I look around the room at everyone. “I’m happy to try.”
“Excellent,” says the king. “Thank you for agreeing to save my Lyndsey.”
Now the guilt of disappointing him fills me, and I wish I could squash his expectations. I say, “I hope I can.”
He stands up. “How do you feel about fast boats?”
“What?”
King Daniel holds out his arm, and it hits me that he’s taking me to the island. Tonight. He says, “Sebastian, Alexander. I’ll take good care of your girl.”
I take the king’s arm, and Des winks at me. “We most certainly will.”
I look at Alexander with fear in my eyes because this has gotten way bigger than I ever imagined. I’m about to disappoint a king because of the lies that came from my secret. One I can’t seem to reveal no matter how much I want to. But it’s going to come out, and I have a feeling I’m not the only one who’s going to pay the price when it does.
Maggie takes on a new role in the King’s court and leads Lyndsey to Robert and sets a dangerous plan into motion that can’t be reversed in Called by the Vampire Part 9.
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V. also writes about werewolves, bears and aliens. Find out more at www.violetvaughn.com.
About the Author
V. Vaughn lives on an island in Maine with her three Portuguese Water dogs.
V. Vaughn also writes Contemporary Romance as Violet Vaughn and Cozy Mysteries with her bestie as Lucy Quinn.
