Colour Me Undead

by Mikela Q. Chase

  “Maybe.” Melinda didn’t sound convinced.

  Cora pulled up the file containing the colour scheme and designs she’d come up with. “Let’s talk colour.”

  Chapter Two

  After spending the past hour convincing his brother it was in his best interests to show more enthusiasm for his future wife’s wedding plans, or at least pretend interest, Basil went in search of the women. He found Melinda sitting alone in her office.

  “Where’s your cousin?”

  Melinda looked up from her printouts. “Hmm. Oh, Cora had a hot date.”

  Fury burned through Basil. His fangs pricked at his gums while he fought back the urge to attack his brother’s mate. How could she let that sweet wedding coordinator out of her sight?

  “What do you mean she has a date?” There, he didn’t sound quite so maniacal.

  Melinda’s expression told him he wasn’t quite as successful as he thought. “She had a date. I didn’t ask a lot of questions. She doesn’t like to share after the last time.”

  “What happened last time?” The question was out of his mouth before he’d given it any thought.

  “She went out with a werewolf and he shifted when he got excited. She ended up having to use wolfsbane on him. She really has the worst taste in men.”

  None of that made Basil any calmer. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

  “Why? She needs to get laid. She’s too high-strung.”

  Basil’s fangs burst through his gums as a red haze filled his vision. “Where is she?”

  Melinda expression grew horrified as she finally realised she’d made a terrible mistake. “Basil? Oh, hell. She’s your mate, isn’t she?”

  Mate!

  It all made sense now. The incredible scent, the allure of dipping into her thoughts, and the irresistible urge to stand as close as possible. Yes, the human was his mate.

  “Where is she?” His voice was little above a growl now. His bestial side demanding he claim what was his.

  “She went to Harper’s Warren, a steak house off of I-10.”

  Before the words were completely out of her mouth, Basil ran out the door determined to get his woman.

  Driving would take too long. Two steps from the front door, Basil transformed into an eagle and flew. It was rare he bothered to take another form. Flying took a lot of energy and was flashy in front of the other vamps. Only the king could transform and he didn’t like to throw it in the other vamps’ faces unless it was completely necessary to show them who was strongest.

  * * * *

  Cora looked across the table.

  What the hell was I thinking?

  When he’d asked her out, she’d accepted because he’d seemed so normal. He wasn’t a witch, or seelie, or a were-anything. He was human.

  She watched him as he went on and on about his job at a law firm and wondered if he’d notice if she drowned in her soup. Looking down at the perfectly clear broth, she decided it would be too insulting to the chef.

  “Can you believe it?” Howard threw back his head and laughed. Yep, he laughed at his own stories.

  “Nope, I can’t believe it.” Mostly, she couldn’t believe she agreed when he’d asked her out.

  Looking at her date, she tried to examine Howard critically. There really wasn’t anything wrong with the man. His brown hair curled appealingly, his lashes were long and fringed melting brown eyes. His only flaw appeared to be that he was overwhelmingly, soul-crushingly dull. The question was whether she would find him as dull if he were tall, dark and undead.

  “Enough about me. What latest parties are you arranging? Anyone famous?”

  The new sparkle in his eyes told her more than anything that she’d picked the wrong date. She’d had them before, men excited about dating someone who rubbed shoulders with celebrities. Although Cora did occasionally throw big bashes for well-known actors or billionaires, most often her parties were for average people with something to celebrate. “Nope, no one special.”

  An enormous bird landed on the patio outside.

  “Holy crap, what is that?” Howard stared at the bird.

  Cora watched with an impending sense of doom as the eagle transformed into the big vampire she’d met not an hour before. Somehow he still retained his clothing, a neat trick she was almost sorry to see.

  “Oh, hell.”

  Cora gritted her teeth when Basil waved at her cheerily through the window.

  “You know the vampire king?” Howard’s excitement told her she wasn’t getting any help from that quarter.

  Great. Her date was star-struck. Apparently even lawyers weren’t immune to vampire glamour.

  “His brother is marrying my cousin. I’m planning the wedding.”

  “Wow. That’s great.”

  Howard got to his feet as Basil approached. Cora folded her arms, stayed seated and glared.

  “Cora, my sweet, I was looking for you.”

  Before she could protest at being called his sweet anything, the vampire wrapped an arm around her waist and all but dragged her out of her seat, scooped her clutch off the table and shoved it into her hands.

  He gave Howard a patently fake apologetic look. “Sorry about your date but I need to talk to Cora now. Wedding plans, you know. Have a good night.”

  Without giving Cora a chance to object, he ushered her out of the restaurant. “Where’s your little car?”

  “What makes you think I didn’t come here with Howard?”

  “I met Howard…it’s your first date… You’d make sure you had an exit strategy.”

  “You could just fly back to where you came from,” she offered sweetly.

  “Car.”

  Cora sighed. “Over there.” She pointed out where she’d parked in a well-lit area.

  “Good girl.” His hand was still wrapped around her waist as they walked to the vehicle.

  “Why are you here again?”

  “Because you left without saying goodbye.”

  Cora laughed. “Seriously. Were your big bad vampire feelings hurt?” What was really going on here? “Did my cousin send you to check on me?”

  “No. I came to check on you myself. Let’s get you home. I’m sure you have a lot to do tomorrow.”

  She stopped outside her car, key in hand. “I’m almost certain I can make it home without your personal escort. I’ve been doing it for years.”

  “Badly from what Melinda says,” Basil responded, unperturbed by her ire.

  “You can leave now! Go fly back home, little birdy.” She made a shooing motion with her hands in case he didn’t get the point.

  “I think as future in-laws we should get to know each other better.”

  “Your brother is marrying my cousin. We’re not exactly going to be close.”

  “Oh, I think we’re going to be real close.” Basil pressed her against her car. “In fact, I think we’re going to be as close as two people can possibly be.”

  Cora sucked in a breath as Basil’s tall, lean body propped her smaller frame against the car. Miles of muscles slid across her softer form. His hard, firm chest rubbed her breasts, making her body heat with desire. She barely resisted the urge to grind against him. In the little black dress she wore, that action would make her boobs pop out to greet him. She had little confidence in the built-in bra keeping her in place.

  “I wouldn’t mind if they greeted me,” Basil said, his eyes glowing with a green supernatural fire. He slid his fingers into Cora’s hair, tilted her head up and placed the softest kiss she’d ever received on her lips. Strange emotions filled her. The need to jump up and wrap her legs around him burned through her like a raging wildfire.

  I want him.

  The thought brought her up short, snapping her out of the cocoon of lust Basil had cast about her. Cora had never been one of those people who found the idea of a vampire lover particularly attractive. With a hard shove she pushed him away from her.

  Unprepared for rejection the vampire stumbled backwards.

&
nbsp; “You keep your vampire tricks to yourself,” Cora snarled. Quickly deactivating her alarm, she opened the door, shoved the key in the ignition and started the car. Without another look at the vampire king, she peeled out of the parking lot. “Damn, sneaky vampire.”

  She knew he could’ve recovered enough to chase her but for some reason Basil let her escape. Tomorrow she’d call Melinda and tell her she wasn’t going to organise the wedding. Her aunt could do with Cora what she wanted but there was no way she was going back into that dark castle with its vampire king.

  * * * *

  “She’s immune,” Melinda said baldly, staring at Basil as if he’d lost his last two brain cells.

  “What do you mean immune?”

  “I mean, she’s a member of my family. We’re all immune to magic. It can’t be cast on us at all.”

  Thinking back to the encounter, he had to disagree. “But she was falling for my mystique.”

  Melinda shook her head but he could see the laughter trying to get out. “It wasn’t your mystique she was interested in, it was probably your hot body.”

  Basil stared at her, stunned. “You mean she finds me attractive even if she doesn’t feel the spell?”

  “Yes.” Melinda gave him a smile. “Just as I find your brother attractive without his. Sometimes it’s more chemical attraction than magical.” She set down the book she was reading before he’d barged in. “I know my cousin very well and she has horrible taste in men. She probably shoved you away because she didn’t want to fall for another sexy deadbeat.”

  Basil stood up straight and looked down his nose at his future sister-in-law. “I am king and have been for four hundred years. I am one of the strongest of my kind and I can shower her with all the fur and jewels she requires. If I am not enough, then her standards are too high.”

  “My cousin isn’t interested in your jewels and if you give her a fur, be prepared for a long lecture on animal rights. Cora isn’t like the women you usually have sex with. She’s independent. She wants someone to be her partner, not her keeper.”

  Basil stared at Melinda. He knew he was missing some strange underlying message the woman was trying to get through, but he couldn’t quite grasp it. “She doesn’t want my money?”

  “No.”

  “And my mystique doesn’t work on her?”

  “No.” Melinda smiled. She really was a pretty girl. Not as pretty as her cousin but his brother could’ve done worse.

  “What does she want with me?”

  Melinda sighed. “At this point I’m guessing she just wants your body. It’s been so long she probably has cobwebs in her vagina. I’d give her a few days to calm down and then give her a call.”

  “Can’t you demand she come here and help you with your wedding?”

  Melinda shook her head. “I’m willing to bet she’s already trying to find people to take her place. Cora might be sneaky but she’s predictable in her own way. She always runs from confrontation.”

  Basil tried to think of a better way to capture the woman who his soul screamed belonged to him. “So if you wanted to capture our elusive Cora, what would you do?”

  “I’d send her flowers.” Melinda held up her hand, palm towards him to indicate no interruptions. “Don’t empty out the greenhouse or buy out a flower market, just send her a dozen daisies.”

  “Daisies? But they are so…”

  “Simple? Elegant?”

  “Cheap,” Basil said in disgust. “Can’t I throw in some roses also?”

  Melinda shrugged. “You could but she’s always loved daisies—the brighter the better.”

  “This romancing thing is hard,” Basil admitted. He should’ve known his mate wouldn’t be easy. After all, it had taken him hundreds of years to find her—why would getting her be any easier?

  The door to the den swung open and slammed against the wall. “How could you?” Deva shrieked.

  “How could I what?”

  Skintight leather pants and a red silk top that dipped low between her breasts highlighted Deva’s perfect form. Her white flesh glowed against the vibrant colours. Basil had bedded her once but found her too power-hungry for his tastes.

  “It’s all over the castle how you went chasing after that little girl. I won’t stand by and let you make a queen out of a mere human.”

  Melinda jumped to her feet, her book heedlessly falling to the ground. “I was once one of those ‘mere’ humans and so were you,” she hissed.

  Deva flushed. “I didn’t mean you, my lady.”

  “No, you meant my cousin. I can tell you that my cousin would make a fine queen if she ever chose Basil.”

  Deva looked between them. “I thought she was already here.”

  “And what were you going to do if she were? Hmmm. As your king I have the right to pick anyone I choose as my mate. If you don’t like it, feel free to join a different clan.”

  “B-but I’ve been part of this one for two hundred years.”

  Basil felt a bit of enjoyment in seeing her pale even further. It was a mark of esteem to be a member of the king’s personal household. “Remember you are here only owing to my favour. I will withdraw it if I find you were the least bit rude to my future queen or her cousin.” He tilted his head to indicate Melinda beside him.

  He saw the flash of resentment in Deva’s eyes before she lowered her lashes. “Yes, my king.” She gave a reluctant curtsey, making the motion surprisingly graceful considering her tight pants.

  “Dismissed.” Basil left no room in his tone for misunderstanding. He wanted her out of his sight before he really did something to get the castle talking.

  The door was barely closed behind her before Melinda spoke. “You’re going to have problems with that one.”

  “Yep. I’ll have to keep a good eye on her. At one time I thought she might make a possible queen but I decided against it.”

  “Why? I thought the leather pants screamed royal potential.”

  Basil shook his head at Melinda’s sarcasm. “It wasn’t the pants. It was the fact she likes to scare and chase her victims before she feeds.”

  “Why? I thought most of them wandered into the castle to be feeders. I know mine do.”

  “She likes the thrill of inspiring terror in her victims and draining them of most of their blood.”

  “I thought that was illegal?” Melinda asked horrified.

  “No. Only if you drain a person completely. They can still recover when she’s done.” Basil grimly remembered her last victim.

  “You might want to assign a watch on Cora. I don’t want psycho woman painting a bulls-eye on my cousin’s back.”

  Basil nodded. “Good idea.” He wouldn’t put it past Deva to try to hurt Cora or have someone do the dirty work for her. Her eating habits hadn’t been the only reason he’d crossed her off the potential mates list. She was a mean, manipulative bitch and that was on a good day.

  Chapter Three

  “I think you’re getting an undead reputation, boss woman,” Becka said, walking into Cora’s office.

  Cora looked up from her computer. They were both at the office late trying to finalise last minute projects for an event the next day. “What are you talking about?” Glancing at the vase of yellow daisies, she wondered if Basil had shown up on her doorstep.

  “A woman is here and wants to book an event.” Becka lowered her voice. “She’s definitely a vamp.”

  “Damn.”

  “Here.” Becka handed over a small spray canister.

  “What’s this?”

  “Garlic spray.”

  Cora tried to hand it back, but her assistant shook her head. “Trust me, you’re gonna want to keep it close to you. She really gave me the creeps.”

  “Are you heading out?” It was getting past seven and she knew Becka had a young daughter at home in the care of her elderly mother until she got off work.

  Becka’s expression showed she was torn. “I could stay.”

  Cora shook her head. “I’
m sure your mother is exhausted by now.” Six-year-olds had a lot of energy and Becka’s mother was pushing seventy.

  “All right, but keep your cell phone close and hold onto that spray. I don’t trust her.”

  “Send her back on your way out.” Now Cora was getting nervous. She hadn’t heard or seen Basil since she’d ditched him two days ago. He’d sent the flowers but she hadn’t been back to the castle yet and she wasn’t in a huge hurry to return.

  “Hello there.” The woman was sex personified and she knew it. Her neckline dipped almost to her stomach with a few strings holding it together, and her leather skirt could only graciously be called mini if two more inches were added to the length. Add in the spiked heeled boots and she looked like she would fit right in with the S & M crowd.

  “Hello, can I help you with something?”

  For the first time in her life Cora knew she was looking into the face of pure evil. The woman’s calculating smile sent shivers down Cora’s spine especially since it didn’t touch the vampire’s cold eyes.

  “I would like to throw an engagement party.”

  “Oh?” As far as Cora knew her cousin was the first vamp to marry and this woman didn’t look like someone Melinda would befriend.

  “Well, it is more of a mating party than a true engagement. Vampires don’t get married, after all.” She finished in a mocking voice. Cora resisted the urge to punch her. First, because the vampire was a potential client, and second, because she could probably bench-press Cora before chucking her body out the back window.

  “That’s very kind of you to want to throw a party for the happy couple.” If this woman had a single kind bone Cora would eat her laptop, hard shell case and all.

  “That’s me. I love to do things for others.” She gave a laugh that almost froze the blood in Cora’s veins.

  “When did you want to throw this bash?” Carefully keeping her mind blank, she pulled up her calendar.

  “Oh, I think his highness will make a move very soon. Maybe even tonight.” In the brief second Cora looked down at her keyboard the vampire went from across the room to right behind her.