by Liddie Cain
Table of Contents
Copyright
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
About Author
Copyright © 2020 by Liddie Cain
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form on by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
ISBN: 9798643773351
Cover and title art designed by Emily’s World of Design
Connect with Liddie Cain:
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To Micah
Because home is wherever you are
Because you let me ignore you and our child for hours so I could follow this dream
Because my favorite part of every single day is when you hold me before we go to sleep
Because we have been together for over half of our lives now, and I still want you with me every second of every day
You are my everlasting.
There wasn’t anything unusual about the way he came through the door of my small town spa, The Rejuvenate Shop, in Steiner, Alabama. The bell dinged. I turned to greet the customer as usual. Yet, as soon as my gaze found his, the greeting stalled in the back of my throat. A part of my brain registered that I was not looking at a human no matter how much he looked like one. He was handsome. His green eyes even warmed with his friendly smile. But the coolness of his aura slid across my skin and I knew I was looking at a vampire for the first time. It was a face I recognized and the last time I had seen him he had definitely been human--and dumping me.
It had been less than two years since the vampires had made their existence known. There had been fear and turmoil at first, demands that they be segregated from the human population to some remote wilderness compound. There was no end to the rumors of their abilities or kill counts. But slowly, they had begun to integrate into mainstream life. They were able to retain their human rights. It gave them access to their human identities and the ability to own property and open businesses. They no longer had to build an existence off of the grid and could maintain their personal wealth in legal ways.
Some businesses, such as spas, had also started offering vampire-specific services. It was why he was here. My eyes never wavered from his as he stepped up to the counter. For a moment, it felt like I was being pulled back into the past. My heart remembered the almost forgotten flutter it had given any time his body was close to mine.
“Hello, Mac.” I said, finding my voice.
“Hi, Roz. You look good.”
“Thanks.” I self consciously smoothed my hair, tucking it behind my ears. The last time we had seen each other had been the summer that I was nineteen and he had ended our high school romance. “Sorry, Mac, I haven’t started offering any donation services or anything like that. I’ve not had any requests for it.”
His eyebrows lifted. “You already know what I am?”
“Yes.”
“How did you know?”
“I…” I hesitated, “I’m not sure how to explain that. I’ve always been able to sense odd things. I just knew. I never talked about it when we were together because I always thought people would think I was crazy.”
His expression grew thoughtful. “It makes sense now that I look back. A lot of sense.”
The doorbell sounded again as someone else entered, someone of the human persuasion.
“One moment,” I requested of the vampire, who inclined his head in agreement.
I stepped to the other end of the counter to check the new customer in, giving them instructions of where to wait for their massage. The vampire waited patiently, his eyes following me the whole time. When I walked back over to him, he said softly, “I’m sorry I hurt you when I ended it.”
“Thanks, Mac, but it was almost a decade ago and we’ve both gotten over it now.”
“Maybe.”
I lifted my eyebrows at that but didn’t take the bait. “It is nice to see you again. And interestingly enough, you’re the first vampire I’ve met since vampires went public.”
“Yeah, I’m the first one in town in a few hundred years, I believe.”
He shifted his weight and leaned forward against the waist-high counter that stood between us. “There will be others. I am here to colonize this district.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “You’re a magistrate?”
Mac smiled. I went soft with sentiment and almost didn’t catch his response. “Well, you’ve paid attention to some vampire politics, haven’t you? Yes, I am a magistrate for this district. And so far, this district had no capital, allowing me to pick our hometown.”
“You know Dad. He’s been thrilled with the vampire news. We will be a vampire capital?”
“A small one. There aren’t any huge cities in this district so there will only be six residencies to begin with.”
“Oh, even just a few vampires in the area will definitely be noticed.”
“Yes, they will. That is why I need your help.”
I nodded, straightening up the already organized work space in front of me while I thought about it. When I realized that he was watching me closely, I dropped my hands back to my sides. “Okay, but it will be discreet. Some of my established clients won’t like it and I won’t hurt my business. What services are you wanting me to carry?”
He smiled again. I berated my brain not to go soft again, but it did not fully comply. “Let’s meet for dinner to discuss it. Business only, of course.”
“You don’t eat dinner.”
“True. Why don’t I just pick you up when you are leaving?”
I glanced at the clock. “My regular receptionist will be back from lunch in a few minutes. I can leave at two.”
He nodded, turning and heading toward the door with a wave and calling over his shoulder, “See you then.”
I stood in silence, watching him walk towards the small parking lot. I relaxed, not realizing how tense I had become. My heart thudded now that I no longer had to keep my cool. Had I really just agreed to a date with the man who had left me broken hearted and alone at nineteen? I had dated others since then but none had come close to how much I had loved Mac.
Meg, my receptionist, walked in through the front door, grinning. “Hey. Who was the hot guy? And was he single?” She laughed as she came around behind the counter, putting her things away.
I blinked. “Uhh, not sure if he’s single. His name is Mac. He just moved back here.”
I glanced over to find her looking at me with a knowing grin. “So you know him.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, but he isn’t my type.”
“Oh sure. Tall dark and gorgeous is so overdone.”
I laughed. “Okay, he is good looking. But aside from looks, he isn’t my type.”
She sighed dramatically. “Fine. Stay single forever.” She bumped her hip against mine then turned to log herself back into the system.
I wadded up a Post-it note and threw it at her playfully, making her laugh, before I walked back to my office.
I told myself I would sit down and go through my accounting logs like a responsible business owner. A few minutes later, I was standing in the ladies’ locker room freshening up my hair and makeup. Two o’clock arrived in a blink. The door chimed precisely as the hour turned on the clock. I left my office to find Mac standing at the counter again and Meg grinning.
“Oh! She didn’t tell me she was expecting you. Let me just…” She turned to find me standing there. “Never mind, there she is!”
Mac held his hand out toward me. “Shall we?”
I nodded, closing the distance between us and briefly laying my hand in his. He tugged me toward the door and once I started to follow, he dropped it.
Outside, he opened the passenger door on a dark grey F-150. “Nice truck.” I commented.
“Thanks, but I didn’t pick it.”
I raised my eyebrows in question, but he just waited for me to get in. I put my purse in the floor board then slid into the passenger seat. Once we were on the road, he handed me a folder.
“What’s this?”
“Some information on different spa services that are popular among the vampire clientele. There is a committee of the Imperium that will provide incentives to add some of these services.” The Imperium was the vampire version of Congress.
“Oh, thanks.” I glanced back up to the road. “Where are we headed?”
“To look at the house the Imperium provided for me here.”
I fell silent, flipping through the folder. There was information on donation programs, steam therapy and moisture massage. When not in a humid climate, vampires could have some uncomfortable dry skin. It wouldn’t be as much of a problem in the south, but there were some times of the year that could cause discomfort. Then, of course, the need for blood…
“How often do you need to...” I searched for a polite way to put it. “You know, drink?”
“Lifestyle is a factor. The more active, the more often. But generally, once every three days.”
“I’m not sure I’m comfortable having donations happen in my spa.”
He shook his head, “No, most of the time other arrangements are made.”
“Such as?”
He turned into a tree lined driveway. “Tell me what you think of this house first?” He gestured in front of him.
I turned to see a very modern and large home in front of me. It was sleek, with clean lines and expansive windows. The outside was a mix of wood board siding and rock masonry. It suited the wooded lot it was nestled in. “It’s lovely.”
He smiled. “Good. It has some space to work with inside. There is even a pool in the back. And it’s private.”
He stopped the truck and hopped out, walking around and opening my door. He held out his hand. “It was designed for my duties as a magistrate.”
“You will live here?” I asked as I walked up to the front door with him.
“Yes.” The door was opened right before we got to it. An older gentleman nodded toward us before walking back into the house again.
Mac closed the door behind us and gestured for me to follow him. We passed through the entryway, a formal sitting room and the kitchen. It was all tastefully furnished. Nothing was very overdone. The kitchen was open with seating at the kitchen island as well as a large table with chairs like it was meant for entertaining.
He opened a back door and led us out into a back court yard where the pool glistened in the sunlight. The entire area was enclosed by a high stone fence and covered by a glass ceiling. There were curtained bungalows against the fence, eight all together. Deeply cushioned deck chairs meant for hours of sunbathing circled the pool. There was even a covered outdoor kitchen and bar designed for catering. It very much looked like a resort.
“Wow.”
“Even in winter, this area can be heated and used for recreation. My future vampire residents will come here for donations. Such arrangements protect the public from desperation hunting. I hope you will be the one that provides this service.”
“Lining up the donations?”
“Yes. It makes the most sense that a human runs the program. We call them the blood medium. They are human donors; they will trust a fellow human more. You will look out for their wellbeing. And it is a state requirement for your spa to comply with donation seminars if it is requested of you by the magistrate.”
I turned and nodded at him. “Yes, and I have already done the initial paperwork when it was sent out last year. I registered with the state and the Imperium. You already know that, though. It is how you found me, correct?”
“Yes. But are you willing?”
“Being honest, it is a lot.” I walked over to one of the patio tables and sat down, looking out over the pool while I considered it all. “Especially with some of the side effects of being bitten. It feels like the title should be blood pimp instead of blood medium.”
He tried to hide his laugh, covering his mouth with his hand as he walked over to sit at the table with me, and responded, “It is true. All bites are meant to be enticing. Some can be more pleasurable than others.”
“You mean that people, you know, reach completion while being fed on.” I made it a statement, not a question.
I could see him trying to hide his amusement. “It happens, yes. But not all experiences are that kind of intimate. Most are just relaxing, like a drug.”
I shook my head, smiling at him. “You realize the kind of clients it will attract though, right? Bored housewives. Junkies. Young adults looking for a thrill.”
“There will be appropriate testing. For some, there is even financial compensation.”
“How is that determined?”
“You and I will discuss it. There will be some donors that I wish to keep on retainer. It is usually heritage that makes the blood more potent. Somewhere in their ancestry, they have an immortal or celestial being. And there is most definitely compensation for you. The money will be good. And you will have the good graces of the vampire community, which can provide many benefits.”
“Mac, I’m in. You don’t have to sell it anymore.”
He reached his hand out to shake mine. “Thank you, Rozalyn.”
I shook his hand. “I mean the least you could do after breaking my heart and leaving me lonely is make me rich now.”
He inclined his head, still holding my hand. “Among other things, yes.”
I met his gaze in the silence. His green eyes clashed against my brown. One heart beat in between us. “Let’s just keep it professional.”
“If you wish, Dove.”
I jerked my hand from his and stood when that old endearment crossed his lips. “Mac--“
“I’m sorry, Roz. I shouldn’t have, I know.”
The apology did not smooth over my irritation. “You can’t show back up and act like things haven’t changed and you didn’t leave.”
“You’re right.” He backed up away from me, his face sincere and my anger receded a few degrees. “I mean it. I’m sorry. Being back here and seeing you again is making me sentimental.”
“I know we were kids, but it took a long time to get over you. So please, this will just be professional.”
He nodded. “Yes.”
If I had ever gotten over him in the first place. The way my heart rate responded to his every move had me doubting it. It felt so comfortable to be there with him. I think that was what I had missed so much. From the moment we met each other, we just clicked. I never had to try to behave a certain way with him. He was happy with who I was.
He cleared his throat and gestured back inside. “I have some paperwork for you to fill out for your license.”
I nodded, following him, finding amusement even after the last few moments of tension. “At least I’ll be running a legal blood brothel.”
“And high class,” he shot back over his shoulder with a laugh.
My small to
wn life flipped the day the advertisement went up in the window one week before the first seminar.
Live Donor Seminar
Friday, August 20th
Information will be provided on benefits and compensations for services
Q&A Panel with current live donors
Demonstration will be held
Contact Roz for reservation
It took exactly fifty-three minutes for my mother to march through the front door of the Rejuvenate Shop. Evelyn Hunt was fierce, supportive, unrelenting, tall, lovely and concerned. I could see the worry on her face before she even spoke.
“Mom.” I quietly waved her over to come sit in my office with me.
There was already a small crowd of locals “shopping” around the selection of hair and skin care we offered in the lobby. They had been steadily trickling in once word had gotten out that Evelyn was headed to speak to her daughter, and they all stopped to watch her walk toward me. She, knowing that we had an audience, grasped my hand when she got close enough.
“Roz, my baby, do you have a moment?”
“Always, Momma.”
She walked with me into the office and firmly closed the door behind us. I could tell she was searching for calm before she dove into the conversation.
“I guess you heard?” I couldn’t help but prod.
“Roz.” She smoothed her cream-colored dress down over her hips, shifted how she was standing, and started again with a more resolute tone, “Roz…”
She searched for how to put her thoughts politely into words for a moment more before finally giving up, letting out an exasperated huff and saying quietly, “What in the hell, Rozalyn Jane?”
I grasped her hands and squeezed. “Remember Mac?”
Her perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted. “Macory Jacobs?”
“Yes. He is the new district magistrate for the vampire Imperium.”
“Mac is a vampire?”
I nodded, and she took a moment to process, “Oh,” she said. “Wait until your dad knows about that.”
“He has made Steiner the district capital. He asked me to serve as the local live donation coordinator.”
