How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying)

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  Freya gasped. “He has the same gift that I do!”

  Another son who had inherited a gift. Zoltan glanced over at the queen, who was scowling. Did she realize the world she’d controlled for centuries was changing? Hopefully, she’d learn to trust him someday. He intended to do all he could to safeguard the valley.

  “And my family keeps me busy,” Frankie continued. “I have a wife, three children, and five grandchildren.”

  Freddie grinned. “We have family there.”

  “Look!” Freya pointed. “He’s showing pictures of them!”

  “Angus says he could teleport me back to Papa’s cabin if that’s all right with you. Vampires, can you believe it?” Frankie laughed. “Now I have another secret to keep.”

  “Oh, yes!” Freya clasped her hands together.

  “That would be wonderful!” Freddie gave Emma a beseeching look. “When can you bring him here?”

  With a smile, Emma retrieved the tablet. “As soon as the situation is safe.”

  “Thank you! Thank you!” Freddie and Freya jumped to their feet. With a grin, Neona hugged them.

  Zoltan noticed the queen’s hands had clenched in silent anger. No one had asked her permission for Frankie to visit.

  Emma’s phone buzzed and she answered it. “All right.” She pocketed the phone and rose to her feet, swinging her backpack over a shoulder. “Angus says they’re ready.”

  Nima stood stiffly. “I will show you the way.” She frowned at Winifred. “Check on the cave before you come.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” Freddie dashed toward the cave.

  Emma watched her go, then gave Zoltan a questioning look. He nodded to let her know he’d explain it to her.

  They followed the queen to the rock wall. When they reached the top, he noted the next valley was now bustling with people.

  Freya surveyed the crowd. “Are the were-tigers here?”

  Emma pointed to three men who were examining supply boxes. “The Grand Tiger and two of his companions.”

  “How interesting.” Freya tossed the rope ladder over the wall.

  Winifred ran to catch up with them. “Everything’s fine,” she whispered to the queen. “If they need you, they’ll send the owl. Zhan is guarding the entrance. If anyone approaches, he’ll let us know.”

  Nima nodded. “Good.”

  “Your majesty,” Zoltan addressed her. “You and the other women will need to get used to being teleported, so I’ll show you how easy it is.” He grabbed Neona and materialized in the valley below.

  Neona waved at the other women to let them know she was okay. They waved back, then started down the rope ladder one by one. Tashi, who was already in the valley, ran to the base of the wall to hold the ladder steady.

  Emma materialized beside him. “Okay. What’s in the bloody cave?”

  “It’s the reason they drink the Living Water,” Zoltan whispered. “They’re staying alive for millennia so they can protect what is probably the last remaining group of were-dragons on the planet.”

  Emma gasped. “Are you kidding me? Dragons?”

  “Yes. Fire-breathing dragons.” He turned to Neona. “I assume they’re able to fly? Is that how you managed to get to Transylvania so quickly when my mother was in danger?”

  “Yes.” Neona stepped closer. “As soon as the villagers captured your mother, she sent the news to us by an eagle. Then we rode the dragons there.”

  “So it was the dragons who burned down the village?” Zoltan asked.

  “Yes.” Neona sighed. “They’re extremely fast and fierce when fully mature, but now we’re at the beginning of a cycle, so they’re defenseless. We have three children and three remaining nests of eggs. We must keep them safe.”

  Emma’s expression was still stunned. “You say they’re fast and fierce?”

  “They destroyed my village,” Zoltan muttered.

  “And they can fly incredibly fast,” Neona added. “I suppose that’s one of the reasons why we’ve always enjoyed being their guardians. You cannot imagine how exhilarating it is to soar through the sky on the back of a dragon.”

  “It does sound exciting.” Emma nodded slowly. “Could it be the dragons that Liao is after? Are there rumors that he might have heard?”

  Neona winced. “That is possible. The dragons are hunters by nature. We always urge them to hunt in the wild, but over the years, there have been a few occasions when they’ve stolen cows or sheep from farmers. Fortunately, they know to do that only if they’re hundreds of miles away, so that it’s hard to trace them back here.”

  Emma’s eyes narrowed. “Imagine Master Han’s supersoldiers attacking villages on fire-breathing dragons. I have to let Angus know about this.” She ran off to find her husband.

  Neona glanced at her mother, who was still at the top of the rock wall, waiting to climb down the rope ladder. “I’m going to have to tell her that the secret is out. She will not be happy.”

  Zoltan wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Come on, let me introduce you to some of the guys.”

  He led her to the nearest group.

  “Way to go, Zoltan!” Phineas waved at him. “When I heard you’d found some Amazon women, I wasn’t expecting them to be hot.”

  Gregori gave Zoltan a thumbs-up. “J.L. was betting us that they would look like abominable snowwomen. Big, mean, and hairy.”

  “Aye.” Dougal nudged J.L. “Ye owe me ten pounds.”

  J.L. Wang didn’t respond. With his mouth dropped open, he focused on the women climbing down the rope ladder.

  “J.L.?” Howard waved a hand in front of his face. “Wangster, are you still with us?”

  Dougal snorted. “I think he’s smitten.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Phineas agreed. “Trapped in a tractor beam of hotness. Quick!” He spun J.L. around. “We’ve got to break the connection before he’s a goner.”

  Dougal opened a flask of Blissky and waved it under J.L.’s nose. “Come back to us, lad.”

  J.L. blinked, then whispered, “She’s a goddess.”

  Zoltan glanced back at the warrior women, wondering which one had affected J.L. “Let me introduce you to Neona, my future wife.”

  She gave him a wry look. “When did I agree to that?”

  The guys laughed and shook hands with her.

  Howard smirked at Zoltan. “No wonder you were letting her beat the crap out of you.”

  Zoltan laughed, then led Neona away so they could talk in private. “We’d better go to the monastery before practice begins.”

  She nodded. “As soon as it’s safe, I want to bring Minerva’s son back here so I can be his mother.”

  Zoltan took her in his arms. “Then he’ll gain a father, too.”

  Her eyes gleamed with tears. “Have I told you that I love you?”

  “Yes. Climax number five, I believe it was.”

  She snorted. “You’re always thinking about sex.”

  “And you.” He kissed her brow. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Neona peered inside the open gate of the monastery. The courtyard was empty. The soothing sound of chanting male voices drifted from the small temple in the center. A stone wall topped with clay shingles ran along all four sides of the square-shaped compound. A line of one-story buildings ran along the wall to the right. Private rooms, she figured, by the number of doors. To the left, there was a row of low tables with baskets containing rice and vegetables. A few chickens pecked at the ground.

  Zoltan gave the chain by the gate a yank, and the bell overhead clanged. The chanting in the temple stopped.

  Neona winced. The monks might think they were rude to interrupt.

  Two monks, bald and dressed in dark red robes, emerged from the temple. They pressed their hands together and bowed.

  Neona bowed back.


  The eldest-looking monk descended the two steps and slid his feet into slides made of woven reeds. As he approached, his sharp gaze shifted between her and Zoltan. The chanting began once again in the temple.

  “How may I help you?” he asked in Tibetan.

  Neona bowed once again. “Venerable Father, I apologize for interrupting your meditations.”

  The monk smiled gently. “We are usually asleep by now, but one of our younger brothers is gifted with the sight and has had a vision.” He glanced back, his smile fading. “A vision of evil approaching.”

  Neona wondered if the younger monk had sensed that Lord Liao was coming. She gave Zoltan a worried glance, then realized he had no idea what was being said in Tibetan. She’d have to fill him in later.

  The elderly monk tilted his head, studying her, then Zoltan. “I do not sense any evil in you.” His gaze returned to her. “But there is a great sadness in your heart.”

  Was it that easy to see? Neona steeled her nerves so she wouldn’t cry. “Yes. I lost my twin sister three weeks ago. And she lost her son seven years ago. It was a terrible blow to her, and she never truly recovered. The boy was brought here . . .”

  “Ah.” The monk nodded. “You speak of Norjee.”

  His name was Norjee. In spite of her best effort, Neona’s eyes still filled with tears. “Is he all right? May I see him?”

  “Of course.” The elderly monk gestured to the buildings on the right. “Come this way.” Halfway to the buildings, he paused to speak to the second monk, who still stood on the temple steps. “Will you bring us tea and the child Norjee?”

  The second monk bowed, then descended the steps.

  The first monk led them to the first door of the buildings, left his slides on the first step, then ascended a second step to open the door.

  Neona removed her slippers. Zoltan, who was watching everything, kicked off his shoes and followed her inside.

  It was a small room with a pallet rolled up and stashed against the wall next to a bookcase holding old scrolls. In the center was a short table. The monk sat cross-legged behind the table and motioned for them to join him.

  After they sat, the monk took a deep breath. “Am I to understand that the boy’s mother did not wish to give him to our care?”

  Neona shook her head. “It was our mother who brought the baby here.”

  The monk glanced at Zoltan. “Is this man the boy’s father?”

  “No.” Neona took Zoltan’s hand in hers. “He is my betrothed. When I told him I wanted to find my sister’s son and raise him as my own, he agreed to help me.”

  The monk nodded approvingly.

  The second monk entered with a tray containing a teapot and three small cups. He set the tray on the table. “I will bring the boy now.” He bowed and left.

  The elderly monk poured three cups of tea. “I will not lie to you. Raising Norjee has been . . . a bit of a challenge.” He smiled. “There are only a dozen of us brothers here, and there are times when Norjee seems to have more energy than all of us put together.”

  Neona winced inwardly. “Has he been difficult?”

  The monk gave her a sympathetic look. “Please do not misunderstand. We love the boy. And he loves us. But we are a group of old men. We spend our days working our small rice field or tending the animals. In our free time, we like to read, meditate, or pray. These are not interesting pastimes for a boy like Norjee, who is so full of life.”

  “I see.” Neona drank some tea.

  The monk took a sip. “He has been both a challenge and a blessing. A challenge, for we have trouble convincing him to do his chores. But a blessing, for he sees the world as a wondrous place, as if every small event is a miracle to behold, and we have treasured those moments. He is a joy to us.” The monk sighed. “A joy we do not know how to control. Indeed, it seemed wrong to even attempt it. For he is a child with a special gift.”

  Neona’s heart stilled. “What kind of gift?”

  “He can communicate with the birds of the air.”

  She inhaled sharply. He’d inherited Minerva’s gift! He’d be able to communicate with the dragons.

  “Even when he was a baby, birds would come to his windowsill and chirp,” the monk continued. “It wasn’t until he was older and could talk to us that we understood what was happening. He was only three years old the first time he tried to run away. He claimed the birds were free to fly away, and he should be like them. We had a terrible time convincing him to stay here. When it was time to do his chores, he’d run off to spend the afternoon talking to a family of eagles. The mother eagle would ask him about his parents, and then he would return to question us. Why was he not living with a mother and father like the baby eagles?”

  The door opened, and the second monk announced, “He’s not in his room. We cannot find him in the compound.”

  Neona jumped to her feet. “He’s run away?”

  “Do not worry.” The first monk stood slowly. “Norjee does this at least once a week. He will come back when he’s hungry.”

  “He’s wandering the forest by himself?” Neona asked. “He’s only seven years old!”

  Zoltan stood and whispered, “What’s wrong?”

  “He’s in the forest somewhere,” she replied in English.

  “He is never alone,” the monk assured her. “Not when he can talk to the birds. Come. We will call him.”

  They hurried to the gate, and the monk rang the bell.

  She looked around. Beyond the rice field, the woods appeared ominously dark. “I don’t like this. There are wolves, bears, and wildcats.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Zoltan told her.

  The clanging of the bell brought more monks to the gate. When they learned Norjee was missing, they returned to the temple to pray.

  After a few agonizing minutes, Neona spotted movement at the edge of the forest.

  “That’s him.” Zoltan pointed.

  Soon she could see him in the moonlight. A family of foxes was leading him back, while several small birds circled overhead. Every now and then, a bird would dive down to peck at a fox’s head, and the furry red creature would jump and hiss. The boy laughed as he skipped along beside them.

  Neona turned to Zoltan. “Did you contact the foxes?”

  He nodded, smiling.

  The monk stepped forward. “Norjee, you left again without permission.”

  The boy bowed. “I am sorry, Venerable Father. The birds were calling to me.” His gaze landed on Neona and Zoltan, and his eyes widened.

  Neona blinked away tears. He looked so much like her sister. And he had her golden eyes.

  The monk motioned to her. “She has come for you, Norjee.”

  The boy approached her slowly, a hopeful look on his face. “Are you . . . ?”

  It made her heart ache to disappoint him. “I’m your aunt. Your mother was my twin sister.”

  His chin trembled. “Was?”

  “She passed away.” A tear rolled down Neona’s cheek. “But she always loved you.”

  “I-I always wondered.” Norjee sniffed. “The eagle mama told me I had to have a mother and father. She says I must have fallen out of the nest.”

  Neona smiled through her tears. “I’m afraid you did. But I’d like to take you back.” She hunched down. “If you’ll accept me, I would be honored to be your mother.”

  He ran toward her and threw his arms around her neck. She held him tight as more tears flowed. I’ll be a good mother to him, Minerva, I promise.

  Norjee glanced up at Zoltan. “Will he be my papa?”

  “Yes.” Neona brushed the boy’s long hair back from his brow. “He doesn’t know Tibetan, so it will be a while before you can talk to each other. But he can talk to animals. He’s the one who sent the foxes after you.”

  Norjee’s eyes lit
up and he grinned. “That’s great!”

  Zoltan smiled and said in English, “I guess I’ve been accepted.” He leaned over and tousled the boy’s hair.

  “We will have his belongings packed for you,” the monk said.

  Neona stood. “I’m afraid it’s not safe for us to take him tonight. Our valley may come under attack soon.”

  The monk nodded. “We know the evil ones are coming. We’ve been praying that the boy would be delivered from danger. You must take Norjee tonight.”

  “But—”

  The monk held up a hand to stop her. “Our brother’s visions are never wrong. The evil is coming here. I will try to convince my brothers to evacuate tomorrow.”

  The second monk arrived with a canvas bag. With a bow, he handed it to Neona.

  “What’s happening?” Zoltan asked.

  “They want us to take Norjee tonight.” She cast a worried look at the boy. “I guess he would be safe with the young ones in the cave.”

  “All right. I’ll teleport him to Beyul-La, then come right back for you.” Zoltan reached for Norjee, but the boy slipped past him and ran toward the monks.

  With tears in their eyes, they held him tight, then nudged him toward Zoltan. “Peace be with you, Norjee.”

  “And you, Venerable Fathers,” he whispered.

  Zoltan took hold of the boy’s shoulders and vanished.

  The monks gasped.

  “What manner of man is he?” The elderly monk shook his head in disbelief. “I could tell he was different, but I never sensed anything unholy about him.”

  “He’s a vampire, but a good man,” Neona explained. “He and some other good vampires are helping us. There’s an evil vampire, Lord Liao, who is marching this way with an army of two hundred men.”

  The monks exchanged grim, resigned looks.

  “Our Venerable Brother warned us there is great evil approaching,” the elderly monk said. “We feared we would not be able to protect Norjee. You have answered our prayers by coming tonight.”

  Neona sighed. “I’m afraid I’m still taking him into danger.”