He’d once told me that would make him jealous to a murderous degree.
Closing my eyes, I thought of a gentle tide on a summer day and nudged soothing thoughts toward my mate. True mate, I thought at him, knowing the endearment would help.
Don’t worry, my beauty. The prize is having you by my side forever. I’m not capable of jeopardising that.
There’s no doubt in my mind about that, I answered.
Not one shred of it.
I cleared my throat. “On a scale of one to ten, how much will this hurt?” I only had movies to go off, and if they were to be believed, the coming moments would be excruciating.
Kyros towered over my prone form, and I was torn between checking out his junk or his face.
“I’d be happy with either,” he answered, lips twitching.
“I hate when they do that,” Gerome complained from where he and the other siblings—barring Rory and Safina—waited as spectators. Tommy wanted to come, but I wasn’t at the point where I felt comfortable with her around the royals.
Kyros held my gaze, and I felt my mind cloud, a heavy languidness filling my body.
“You will not feel pain through the transition,” he ordered, leaning down to brush my cheek.
He straightened and blinked, but the heaviness filling my limbs didn’t dissipate.
“You compelled me,” I slurred, my eyelids heavy.
He smirked. “Last time I’ll be able to.”
Yeah, right. You’re a freakin’ powerful Vissimo.
My mate studied the gathered vampires, his mouth twisting into a wry smile. You’re about to be a powerful Vissimo, too, Basilia. Believe me.
I wouldn’t be a weakling one?
Cool.
“Eldest son,” King Julius said, gripping his shoulder. “Are you ready?”
That was my cue to ramp up the soothing vibes for my mate—easy with the warmth weighing down my body.
“I am, Father,” Kyros answered, his meadow-green eyes on mine.
King Julius crouched on the ground by my head. He had a sarong on, and I wasn’t cool with the position change. The queen’s nipples deserved a Twitter page, yes, but that’s where I drew the line when it came to the swinging bits of Kyros’s parents.
My mate blanched.
“Daughter,” the king said loudly, reminding me this was a big deal. “Are you certain you wish to join our family forever?”
I needed Kyros in the same way I needed shelter, food, and air. Family, I wanted with every fibre of my being.
My eyes stung at his daughter bomb, and I really hoped his question wasn’t rhetorical.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
The king stood again. I wrinkled my nose, my eyes flicking to Laurel. She was smirking.
Bitch.
I smiled at her though, and then the others.
“Thank you all for helping me,” I said softly.
Gina cocked her hip. Safina didn’t outwardly react. Vladymir winked, and Laurel’s smirk faded. King Julius arched a brow. And my mate…
He flooded my system with every ounce of love he carried for me.
“We drain and then fill,” King Julius growled, crouching again. I barely managed to avert my eyes in time.
Jesus! Give a girl some fucking warning.
Kyros smoothed my hair away from my neck, and my heartbeat thundered for all to hear. The other vampires bent over my limbs while Laurel curled over my stomach.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Focus on me, mate, Kyros whispered in my mind.
His eyes captured mine before he brushed his lips against my forehead.
Soothe Kyros.
Inhaling, I focused on the gentle tide and the sunshine again, blanketing him with it as he kissed the pulse in my neck.
“We’ll see each other soon, vixen,” Kyros murmured against my skin.
“I’ll be the one in a blood-splattered white nightgown,” I replied mildly.
Fangs sliced into my flesh.
Epilogue
“Open your eyes, my beauty.”
Through thick lashes, I gazed up at the other half of me.
“Such beautiful eyes,” Kyros whispered.
The transition left my skin flawless and glowing, my hair lighter and silky smooth, and my body was effortlessly toned and lithe. My topaz eye colour also remained, which made my mate ecstatic.
His prediction wasn’t wrong. At twenty-two years of age—or a six-month-old Vissimo—my power was strong. Stronger than Gina and Safina’s powers combined. Because I was made and not born a vampire, my powers wouldn’t ever mature and grow like theirs, but that was fine by me.
After six months, lapses in dialling down my strength and speed to human norms were still a regular occurrence—particularly when my mate’s body distracted me. He’d made it into a game that I had no objections playing.
I stretched, basking in his avid attention to my body. “I’m glad you think so.”
“I have a goddess for a mate,” he said, leaning to kiss the swell of my breast.
Because being a multi-billionaire wasn’t enough in life, my ties to Kyros technically made me a princess. Tommy said she’d make it her life’s work to prevent it going to my head, so I wasn’t too worried.
I moaned as his hands swept up my torso. He inhaled from my neck to my temple, and settled on top of me, lowering his mouth to mine.
I shifted to give him better access and let my knees fall apart so our bodies were aligned.
He was hard.
If I had a dick, it’d be in the same state.
Kyros laughed into my mouth.
“Don’t like that visual?” I asked innocently.
He responded by kissing me until I was breathless.
A knock sounded.
“Enter, Laurel,” Kyros said.
My friend obeyed, her stomach entering before the rest of her. Turned out Vladymir was in possession of powerful seed—Queen Titania’s words, not mine. Laurel was five months along, and definitely showing.
I pursed my lips, eyeing the stretch of her leather top. Someday soon, she’d have to stop wearing leather.
And when she did, I’d never let her hear the end of it. Because Jessica Alba.
Which is why she hadn’t taken the stuff off yet.
Laurel’s eyes narrowed on me. “Queen Titania called to remind you of the clan gathering.”
Oh, man. That was today?
Kyros groaned into my chest.
“We need to go,” I said, trying to convince myself. “It’s kind of a big deal.”
King Julius had declared an official event to celebrate the merging of the two clans. He was also introducing me for the first time as his heir’s mate, so we were kind of the guests of honour.
Our two thousand and thirty-two guards didn’t belong to Sundulus, but they were invited after I stomped my foot and tossed my hair a few times.
“I had other plans,” he grumbled, inching his mouth closer to my nipple.
“What’s the time, Laurel?”
“Ten o’clock,” she answered, leaving the room.
Our routine had settled halfway between human and Vissimo hours. We went to sleep at one or two and woke late morning.
Though Julius no longer had power over his son’s decisions, we decided to enter into business with the clan across every industry. Kyros had made it his personal mission to regain every cent of the money I spent saving Sundulus from Ingenium.
This game didn’t hurt anyone. Business was a game I was okay with.
That I loved.
We managed the Le Spyre estate together. We lived under the same roof—going between the estate and his Lyall Bay property. We’d fallen into a rhythm that felt free and safe—and that allowed for ample play.
I’d worried that Kyros would find life boring after Ingenium, but the international scale of estate business genuinely excited him. As did the notion of having time off and enjoying other important things.
Like every episode of
Truth Ranges in existence.
That’s how I knew we were true mates.
But some things had been harder for him. We were still part of Clan Sundulus, but he no longer directed thousands of Vissimo each night.
I knew the presence of my guards was soothing to him on an intrinsic level. He made it his business to enquire about their finances and ambitions to guide them where possible. If they’d been hesitant to accept his help at the start, six months of continued interest had rid them of lingering animosity.
Meanwhile, for the foreseeable future, it was my goal to lobby the clans and abolish the act of enslaving the family members of criminals.
That was between our efforts to expand the Le Spyre accounts to fund my life’s work. The world contained too much corruption—particularly within large corporations, in many industries, and in government. Immortality made changing that less of an impossibility and more of an ultimate challenge. The work had to be done under an alias—with the whole I’ll never die thing—but now I had eternity to take the evil fuckers in this world down.
They had no chance.
Kyros’s phone blared. He stared at the screen.
“It’s the finance guy. What’s his name again?”
“I don’t know. Did you sack Roger or not?” I asked.
A menacing smirk widened his lips. “No. I simply reminded him why this job was so important to him.”
I snorted. He made the poor guy shit his pants in other words. “Go and answer then. I have a meeting with Clan Gugi soon.”
He hummed, kissing me soft and deep. We pulled apart long after the phone had stopped.
He gave me a hot look that warmed every inch of my skin before striding out of the suite. We’d moved down the hall to Grandmother’s old room when I became Vissimo. Moving into a new space made the room feel like ours instead of just mine.
I didn’t want Kyros to feel this house wasn’t as much his as mine.
“Kyros Le Spyre,” he snapped, moving away down the hall. “This better be good.”
His amusement rose in answer to mine.
Pretty sure our human staff thought we were crazy for swapping last names seemingly at a whim. But no, we just had two different races to juggle and it was easiest to use the mortal last name for the mortal world and our immortal last name for the immortal world.
Not that we were married or anything. Marriage seemed like a quaint joke after merging my blood, mind, and soul with another, and my mate agreed.
The call with Clan Gugi came and went without incident. I had a feeling their professionalism and help would disappear the second they learned I was researching how best to shut down their clan’s cause for good. If there weren’t any slaves, there was no need for a clan to handle the registration of slaves either.
Tommy was in our room when I returned from the call.
Her jaw dropped.
“What’s up?” I said, hugging her from behind.
“Uhm, nothing really. Just that there are two fucking crowns here. That kind of thing.”
No way.
I peeked over her shoulder. “Shit. There are. Who do you think they belong to? Bet they’re bastards.”
“Probably some rich bitch. And a balding middle-age man. Total buttholes.”
“Most likely.”
Seriously though. The thought of a naked Kyros in a crown was doing things to me.
“Lover,” a man called from the hall.
Males never entered this suite because they wanted to survive.
“Hey, yourself,” my friend purred, untangling from my embrace.
Dang.
I didn’t even know this one’s name, but I could assume that my friend’s harem was now at five vampires.
She kissed my cheek. “Send me a photo of you in the ballgown and crown, lovely.”
I checked my phone. “I don’t leave for an hour.”
Tommy glanced at the man. “Yeah, I know.” She grinned at me and then leaped for lover number five.
Should I be happy or worried? Six months and I constantly bounced between the two.
I hid the two crowns as Rosie entered to help me into my dress. I listened to her frantic heartbeat now that I was a predator. Her poker face had been severely tested in the last six months, but she hadn’t left. None of my human staff had left, actually. They got on with their jobs in the same brisk manner as always.
My grandmother had only hired the best.
Kyros entered as Rosie was twitching the royal-blue velvet gown into place.
He swallowed audibly.
The head maid smiled at me and made scarce.
“Mate,” he said thickly, like the words were stuck in his throat. “There aren’t words for your radiance.”
My cheeks flushed. “You’re great for my ego.”
My breasts were pushed up and displayed atop the sweetheart neckline of the floor-length gown. The corset cinched my waist—and the pockets would hold my phone. It was a more severe cut and colour than I usually wore, but it seemed to suit the person I was now.
He bowed over my hand, kissing the back. “You take my breath away daily. Dressed like this, I won’t be able to breathe all night.”
Guess I’d better keep my mouth glued to his then.
For safety reasons.
“Two crowns arrived,” I said as he stared at me.
He didn’t blink. “Where?”
I crouched, sending my dress billowing up around me. Drawing out the box, I set it on the bed.
Both crowns were gold, but one was noticeably larger—both for a bigger head and in the thickness and number of sapphires inlaid in the ornate settings.
It was beautiful.
Taking hold of it, I turned to Kyros.
Rising on tiptoes even in heels, I watched my mate, holding the crown aloft.
“Crown Prince Kyros Nicholai Atagio,” I said grandly, lowering the heavy gold circlet onto his head.
Meadow-green eyes held me captive. They were impossible to resist and I hadn’t done anything that silly in six months. I leaned in to kiss him, but Kyros sidestepped me.
I stumbled forward, whirling with a frown.
He picked up the smaller crown. A large sapphire occupied the front peak, diamonds and sapphires formed flowers around each side.
The smile faded from his lips as he returned.
He held the crown over my head. “You bring my life meaning, mate.”
I rested a hand on his heart, waiting for the once-a-minute beat.
Thud.
I smiled.
“Princess Basilia Atagio,” he said, arching a brow. “You belong to me for the rest of eternity. Best get comfortable.”
My true mate lowered the crown onto my head.
The End
Coming in 2020
Supernatural Battle: Werewolf Dens
Acknowledgments
The lifestyle of an author requires a very specific type of support from our loved ones.
To my husband, for understanding my whims
To my family, for understanding my whims
To my friends, for understanding my whims
Mostly, I’d just like to thank those close to me for understanding my whims.
My beta readers for this series were so enthusiastic, and they deserve an extra big thank you for their dedication to this series in the early draft stages and throughout.
A large thank you to the Vampire Towers launch team for your time, excitement, laughter, tears, and slight book aggression. I enjoyed it all.
To the readers of this series, I greatly appreciate your effort leaving reviews to help me smash some long-held personal goals. It’s truly motivating to hear of you talking about Basi and Kyros in the community and beyond.
As Basi would say: <3 <3 <3
This series is dedicated to one of the most important people of my life. My nan passed away during the first draft of Blood Trial, and Basi’s grief throughout the series is certainly my own.
Many parts of
Agatha Le Spyre were inspired by my lovely nan - not the billionaire part (lol) - but certainly her wisdom, capability, loyalty, kindness, iron will, sharp wit, and love of Tom Hanks. I wish you could have known her.
We shared a great love for books, travel, and the craft of writing, and immortalising parts of her in Vampire Towers is something I’ll cherish forever.
Happy reading,
Books By Kelly St. Clare
Supernatural Battle
Vampire Towers (Paranormal urban romance)
Blood Trial
Vampire Debt
Death Game
The Darkest Drae (Dragon shifter romance)
with Raye Wagner
Blood Oath
Shadow Wings
Black Crown
The Tainted Accords (Royal fantasy romance):
Fantasy of Frost
Fantasy of Flight
Fantasy of Fire
Fantasy of Freedom
Novellas:
Sin
Olandon
Rhone
Shard
Pirates of Felicity (Pirate fantasy romance):
Immortal Plunder
Stolen Princess
Pillars of Six
Dynami’s Wrath
Veritas
Eternal Gambit
Mortal Trinity
The After Trilogy (Dystopian romance):
The Retreat
The Return
The Reprisal
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Death Game: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers Book 3) Page 30
