by ML Guida
She still wore the agate medallion around her neck. Angelica suspected that Mariah had cast a spell on it to keep Zuto from finding her, but why all the secrecy? Zuto would know she was on board the Phoenix.
Hannah reached Kane and took her place next to Mariah. William stood on the other side of Ronan. Despite their differences, Ronan had asked him to be his best man.
Doc patted her forearm. “’Tis time.”
She nodded, keeping her eyes straight ahead, focusing on her chosen mate. Ronan puffed out his chest like a proud eagle and didn’t take his gaze off her. He seemed so far away. Doc took small steps, allowing her to catch her breath. She wished she wasn’t so damn tired, but even doing the smallest tasks robbed her of her energy. Doc said she needed plenty of rest to not hurt the babe, something she planned to abide. Her son was powerful, powerful enough to fight a demon, but he was so small and needed time to replenish.
“Take your time,” Doc whispered in her ear.
She nodded. He didn’t have to worry about it. If they moved any faster, she’d become dizzy and pass out.
Waves caressed the ship and the setting sun turned the clouds overhead purple, pink, and orange, a perfect picture for a wedding. Hannah stood next to Mariah and beamed. She held a bouquet of red roses that matched her gown. Hannah usually insisted on wearing a shirt and trousers, but today, she looked like a lady. Mariah held a similar bouquet and wore a red gown, too. They had become more like sisters to Angelica than friends. Both of them winked at her and smiled.
Mariah had asked if she could invite her grand-parents—Morgana and Pierre Fey. Morgana sat in a chair, but her husband, a grumpy weathered old man, refused. He had a pistol jammed into his belt buckle and held a musket in his hand as if he didn’t trust the vampire pirates. But the full moon was several weeks away, and unlike the Fiery Damsel’s crew, these vampire pirates only transformed under a full moon.
Morgana’s reputation as a powerful witch was known among the mermaids. She watched Angelica with her keen violet eyes. Her white hair hung over her bent shoulders. Angelica broke out in goose flesh as she walked past her.
When Doc and Hannah reached Ronan, Doc patted her hand.
“Who gives this woman away?” Kane asked. His deep voice was commanding as always.
“I do,” Doc said. He wasn’t her father, but he was the man who’d saved her son and the one she chose to give her away.
Ronan gave her a melting smile and took her shaking hand. He pulled her close to his side and put his arm around her waist.
Kane nodded at her. “I have to admit I’ve never done this before, but I am honored this scoundrel asked me to marry him to such a lovely lass.”
Heat rushed over Angelica’s cheeks at his compliment. Ronan leaned close to her ear. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Mariah had gone to Saint Mary’s on the island and obtained the wedding vows. Kane looked at the bible in his hands. He cleared his throat. “Friends, we are on this ship to join these two in matrimony. May the Lord seal your love in the presence of the crew. Christian marriage is a sacred union which enriches natural love. This will bind you together. Is this your understanding, mates?”
“Aye,” Ronan said.
Angelica stared up at Ronan’s handsome, rugged face. “I do.”
Kane looked at Ronan. “Repeat after me.”
Ronan nodded.
“I, Ronan, take you, Angelica, for my lawful wife,” Kane said. “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health until death do us part.”
Love formed in Ronan’s eyes as he repeated the words.
When Kane turned to her, Angelica’s heart beat fast. The Captain said, “ I, Angelica, take you, Ronan, to be my husband. I promise to be true in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”
As Angelica followed Kane’s lead, the baby fluttered in her womb as if excited to see her and Ronan to be joined. “Our son just leapt.”
“He’s got my patience,” he teased.
Lifting his eyebrow, Kane cleared his throat. “Shall I proceed?”
“Get on with it, man,” Ronan said.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
The crew cheered. Ronan took her in his arms and gave her a domineering kiss that stole her breath and branded her as his woman. Her tongue sought the silky heat of his mouth, exploring it with a new vigor, knowing his kiss was only for her. It seemed to win a similar reaction with him since he crushed her body to his hard chest. Her knees wobbled and she clutched his shoulders to keep from sprawling out onto the deck.
“Ronan.” Doc’s paternal voice broke through their feverish embrace.
Ronan groaned, but slowly released her. Concern chased the passion in his eyes. “Angelica, did I hurt you?”
She gasped for breath. “No.” But her voice sounded small and dizziness swept over her. She fought it, refusing to collapse on the day of her wedding.
Ronan lifted her into his arms.
“Garçon, bring her here.”
Angelica didn’t recognize the strong, French, but edgy feminine voice. ’Twas not Mariah. She leaned her head against Ronan’s chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart.
“But...,” Ronan said.
“Don’t argue with me.”
Ronan lowered her onto the chair. “Angelica.” Fear echoed in his voice and his warmth breath brought her out of the dizziness.
“I’m fine. Really.”
Morgana Fey flashed a steady gaze. “Écoute moi, she needs rest, not sailing around on a pirate ship hunting a wayward demon.”
“No!” Angelica’s heart raced. She clutched Ronan’s hand. “Don’t send me away. Please.”
He met her gaze, but determination flashed in his eyes. She looked at the concerned faces around her. Mariah had pity in her eyes. Hannah looked down at her shuffling feet. Kane didn’t turn away, and he had the same hard face as Ronan. Not one of them gave her any hope. She looked at Ronan. “You’re sending me away, aren’t you?”
“I pledged to keep you and our son safe. I intend to do this.” He kissed her knuckles. “Will you trust me on this?”
“Where will I go? I can’t return to my father’s home. I’m human. I—” She looked at Morgana. “This is why you are here, isn’t it?”
“Oui, chére. You’re not strong enough to travel. You’ll put your bébés in danger. You’ll stay with me. I know a thing or two about keeping bébés.”
Angelica sucked in her breath. “Babies? You think I’m having twins?”
His face pinched, Ronan sat on his ass and William snickered under his breath. Mariah kneaded him in the ribs. “Hush!”
Morgana laughed. “I have the gift of sight. Oui, you’ll give birth to a garçon and fille.” She lowered her voice. “But if you stay on this ship, you’ll miscarry.”
“How can this be true? I’m a mermaid and know the sex of my baby.”
“Vrai.” Morgana wagged her gnarled finger. “But your daughter has the gift of sight and knew of the demon’s plans. She kept herself hidden.” She lowered her voice. “Even from here chére mére.”
She grasped Ronan’s arm. “That’s why Zuto couldn’t get our babies. Their power was too strong.”
Mariah crossed her hands together. “S’il vous plaît, Angelica. Grand-mére’s visions are never wrong.”
“Ronan.” Angelica’s voice cracked and a tear slid down her cheek. How could the happiest day of her life be the saddest?
“They need time alone,” Morgana said. “Cap’n, I need to have a word with you.”
Men left them alone. Hannah squeezed Angelica’s shoulder before she left, sending a wave of reassurance. How could you go through this without Hannah or Mariah?
“I don’t want to leave, Ronan. I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“I canna yield on this, Angelica. My heart wouldn
a survive if anything happened to you.”
Angelica swallowed the hurt and fear in her throat. “I don’t know anyone here.”
He lifted her chin and brushed her pouting lips with his. “There you’re wrong. Morgana has contacted your sister, Penelope. She’s developed a spell so she can remain with you here.”
“Angelica?”
The sweet voice erased some of the pain. Angelica whirled around. Her sister, Penelope, ran toward her, lifting her purple gown. Her face was flushed and her curly white hair escaped the loose bun. She wrapped her arms around her neck. “I’m sorry I missed the wedding, but I had to slip away from Father and outwit his guard.”
Angelica released her. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Of course, I’ve never lived among humans before and not just any humans—Morgana Fey. Even among our people, she’s legendary.” She smiled. “You must be Ronan. I promise I’ll take care of my sister.”
“I know,” Ronan said. “If you don’t mind...”
“Penelope,” Mariah motioned with her hand. “Come here.”
“Of course, of course.” Penelope loosed her grip and left them.
As Penelope went to go talk to Mariah and William, Angelica tapped Ronan’s broad chest. “You’ve been planning all this while I was sleeping, haven’t you?”
“Aye. You recited vows that you would obey me, I plan to hold you to this.”
“You don’t play fair.” Angelica wanted to argue to beat against his chest, but she couldn’t brush aside Morgana’s vision. Her visions were legendary. Her body still ached and the thought of being below in a damp cabin or hammock wearied her.
He waited, watching her closely. Tension tightened in his handsome face.
She cupped his twitching cheek. “You’ll come back for me?”
Before he answered, he wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her close. He tilted his head. She curled her hands around his as he opened her mouth with his tongue, probing deeper, urging she do the same. Not caring if the other’s watched, ignoring Doc’s glowering glare, or Morgana’s foresight, she kissed her new husband. Pleasure swept over her, promising her of passion to come. She kissed him like a dying woman, not wanting him to forget her. She needed to remember his taste, his smell, his touch when he abandoned her at sea. Even though he was a vampire, he’d come close to dying.
“You promise to come back before the babes are born?”
“Aye.” He brushed her cheek with his hand.
She pressed her forehead against his. “You didn’t answer me. You’ll come back for me?”
“Always.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her across the deck toward the plank.
She laughed, “Where are you taking me?”
“To your new home.”
“You want me to leave now?” She couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice.
“No, I have a surprise for you.”
“You done be careful with the lass,” Doc said as he followed behind them.
“He will,” Hannah said. “They just got married, Doc.”
Ronan carried her down the plank and down the dock, past curious sailors who stopped loading and unloading ships. Angelica didn’t care. She was cradled in the arms of the man of her dreams. Her eyes widened. At the end of the dock, there was a carriage fit for a queen. It was decorated with red and yellow and white roses, and daisies surrounded the door. Sean waited at the door like a footman and bowed. “Your carriage awaits, madam.”
“Do you like it?” Ronan asked.
She looked into his anxious eyes. “It’s beautiful.”
He carefully lifted her inside, putting her down on a red leather seat, covered with rose petals and followed. Sean shut the door and climbed up on the seat iron. “Giddy up.”
On the opposite seat there was a picnic basket with a bottle of wine, bread, and cheese. “You did all this?”
“Of course. There’s nothin’ I wouldn’t do for you.”
“Then stay with me.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I’ll not be leavin’ with the ship until you’re stronger. I’ll tell Kane to sail without me in the mornin’.” He drew her into his arms and kissed her.
She lost herself in his embrace. Her pirate would keep his word. He’d fought his own demons and gave up having his hand restored all for her. When he held her close, his beating heart matched hers and they were one. No matter what happened, they would do it together as a family. She looked up at him. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You have my heart. You always have.”
Did you like Mate if the Vampire? Do you want to find out more about Ronan and his fellow vampire pirates? Check out the Blood Brotherhood series. Sign up for the Supernatural Scroll and you’ll get the first one free!
If you want to find out what happens with the Blood Brotherhood, check out Claim of the Vampire. You’ll meet Angelica’s sister, Isabella, and what she’s willing to do for the man she loves.
Excerpt from Claim of the Vampire
The terror was like tangling seaweed, strangling her. After witnessing the shocking horror on Zuto’s land, Isabella thought she could never be truly frightened again, yet there were times her beating heart thundered so violently, she worried it would burst. The slimy, wooden walls of her damp cell shrunk around her, closing in on her, cutting off the thin and sour air. She panted to ease the pressure squeezing her lungs.
And there were smells...
She wrinkled her nose at the stench of human excrement, wondering what the fate had been for those poor souls. Would hers fare any better? Not even the tiniest breeze eased the reek of rotting and dried gore that permeated the chamber, leaving a thin film on her split lips. She rubbed her mouth on her arm and winced, tears of frustration welling in her eyes.
Heavy footsteps creaked down the stairs. Isabella’s stomach tightened.
Quinton Palmer, Captain of the Fiery Damsel, walked into the brig, having to duck under the doorway. He was a brute of a man, but it was his watering left eye that sent fear running through her veins. “Good evenin’, Isabella.” He carried a tray of food that turned her stomach. “I brought you dinner.” His smirking tone spurred her hate.
There was a bowl of slop and a piece of moldy bread—not even fit for a hungry shark.
He sat the tray down, then opened her cell.
Despite her gnawing hunger, she met his hard stare. “I refuse to eat that.” She flicked her hand. “Take it away.”
He rushed over to her and snatched her arm, pulling her close. He was more than a head taller and seventy times stronger. He lifted her off the floor, her feet dangling. His thick red beard flickered over her chin, making her shiver, and his red eyes chilled her blood.
“I wouldn’t be feeding you if I had my way. I suggest you lose that tone.” He tilted his head at the blood-stained chains dangling from the wall. “Or I’ll string you up like a dead mermaid.”
The fool, she wasn’t a mermaid. She was a mermaid—a water elemental, and her father would harpoon him for making such a bad mistake. He leaned closer. His foul breath smelled of rotting fish. Fear crawled up her neck, and her lower lip trembled.
Unfortunately, he must have noticed, because a slick smile spread across his shaggy face. He released her abruptly, and she staggered.
He slammed the door shut. “You’ll have to beg to eat.”
She bit back a retort and held her head high.
“Expect another visitor soon. He won’t be as merciful as I am.”
He left her alone with her misery, wondering who she’d face next. She sat on the stained bench and rubbed her throbbing arm. She licked her split lip and winced. She could still taste her own blood.
Palmer had smacked her earlier in the ocean, knocking her out before bringing her on board his blasted ship.
The only bright point in all of this was that her sister, Angelica, was safe on board the Soaring Phoenix with her chosen mate. Against Isabella’s wishes, her younger siste
r had mated with a human and now was pregnant, but none of that mattered. She wasn’t here.
Isabella had helped Angelica and her mate swim to the ship with Palmer close behind. A demon had ordered Palmer to capture Angelica and bring her back. The bastard had wanted her unborn child’s soul. Something that Isabella risked her life to protect. She had hesitated to look at Angelica one more time before she disappeared in the sea, and that had been a deadly mistake.
Isabella longed to be out in the sea. She wished she was strong enough to push through the thick wooden boards to escape, but ’twas a foolish notion. There wasn’t even a blanket for her to wrap around her freezing body. She should count herself lucky at least Palmer hadn’t made good on his threat to string her up on the wall.
Isabella fingered the tiny conch seashell that hung around her neck. It had been Mother’s, and even in her darkest hours, caressing the seashell gave Isabella hope.
It wasn’t just Angelica that kept running through Isabella’s mind though. The day of the battle, the demon had tortured a man. He had the greenest eyes that changed like the coral near her home. They haunted her. She didn’t want to admit why—Mermaids recognized their mates upon sight. Ever. If she did like her sister, she could become pregnant and the demon Zuto would find a way to kill their child. She’d sworn to never mate with a human, especially a pirate, after what happened to Mother. She braced her shoulders. All she had to do was to stay away from the man.
But she couldn’t block out his screams when the demon had cast a spell on him, twirling him in the air like a renegade tornado. He’d turned red and orange colors, then collapsed onto the hard sand, unconscious. A fire-breathing green dragon had seized him, whisking him away from the infuriated demon. At least the man wasn’t here, tempting her. She needed to remember Mother’s pitiful screams and Father’s scorn. It was her fault Mother had died. Something Father had never let her forget.
The ship rocked and swayed. Rusted chains banged and slid against the blood splattered walls. The air grew heavy in the cell, and she had a hard time breathing. Despite being cold, hungry, and frightened, unbearable weariness overcame her. She fought to keep her eyelids open, but she kept closing them, each time longer and longer. Tingles swept over her, making her body heavy. She tried to move her arm, but it remained lifeless, too heavy for her to lift. Giving into the desire, she leaned her head back, allowing sleep to rescue her from this nightmare...
