“Have we got a surprise for you today,” she said in a hushed tone. Looking around conspiratorially, she put her hand up to her mouth. “I got us access to the hottest new club on the other side of the island. But first, we’re going to take a helicopter tour of Monstrana. Isn’t that exciting? We’re leaving in five minutes. Grab whatever you need.”
Cate opened her mouth to protest, but found a soft, frosted pastry being shoved inside.
“Oh, you’ve got to try this donut,” Stasia said, her hands all sugary. “My sister made them. She’s the very best pastry chef in the country, if I do say so myself. I can’t believe how good they are. Almost like magic.”
She nodded and chewed very fast to get the pastry down. As far as taste went, it was the very best donut she’d had in her life. But she didn’t have time for sugary treats. This was an emergency.
“Wait, I...” she called, as Stasia sped out the door. That girl couldn’t sit still for long.
“No time,” she said over her shoulder. “Helicopter in thirty seconds. See you there.”
Joy also wouldn’t listen to Cate’s protests. She practically dragged her to the landing pad with the rest of the group. Cate shuddered at the sight of the giant metal beast with the lazily spinning propeller. It looked like a death trap. Back home in Nebraska, they would flash her picture on the late evening news and talk about the tragic death of another US tourist. That wasn’t for her. But she couldn’t quite get her feet to stop moving forward. Plus, Joy was strangely strong for her tiny stature.
“It won’t be that bad,” she cooed at her shoulder. “Just a little noisy. But once we’re up in the air, I just know you’re going to love it.”
Cate’s stomach was threatening to do other things up in the air, but it clenched as soon as she spotted Prince Viktor on the landing pad. He wore an attractive pair of worn jeans and a stiff-collared button down shirt, looking strangely out of place. His feet didn’t seem to want to stand still and he turned every few seconds, as if to leave. Prince Leo stood beside him, the image of cocky confidence. He placed an arm on his brother’s shoulder and mouthed a few words to him. Whatever he said seemed to have a serene effect on his older brother. Prince Viktor planted his feet and crossed his arms, his usual scowl in place.
“Is Prince Leo coming, too?” Joy squealed. She clapped her hands like a little girl. “Two princes in one. What a great day.”
Cate could think of better days, but who was she to argue with Joy’s ultimate childhood dream? The two of them followed a quiet and laser-focused Jezebel into the helicopter. It was surprisingly roomy, with two bench seats facing each other. Room enough for only six passengers. She looked back and forth, wondering how the television crews were going to fit.
As if she could read her mind, Stasia hopped in after them, a camera perched on her shoulder. She grinned and pointed at it. “The rest of the crew will meet us in Murdo. It’s just me, until then.”
She sat in the middle of one of the benches. Immediately, Jezebel claimed the window seat on the opposite side and placed a protective hand on the empty seat next to her, glaring at Cate.
“I guess one of us will have to sit next to Stasia...” Joy said, her smile faltering.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take it.” Cate was happy to give up a seat next to the pouting prince. She liked Stasia’s company better.
The men took their places, Prince Leo across from a simpering Jezebel, and Prince Viktor looking awfully uncomfortable in his middle seat. Cate couldn’t help but snort behind her hand as Jezebel slid her hips a little closer to him and he moved in the opposite direction.
Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe the snooty Prince Viktor wasn’t into aggressive women. Or, he simply had the flirting abilities of a slug. Still, it was fun to watch. Maybe this trip wouldn’t be a waste of time. She could see two people make fools of themselves on national TV. Surely that was worth another few hours of mistaken identity.
That was, until the helicopter lifted up into the air and Cate clutched the seat for her life.
❖
Viktor tried to keep his attention glued to the wide glass windows on the sides of the helicopter, but everywhere he looked there was a woman trying to catch his eye. Lady Joy kept smiling at him like he was a caramel treat in a candy store. And Duchess Jezebel seemed to want nothing more than to press her perfectly proportioned body into his, completely overriding his need for personal space.
Still, there was one woman who didn’t seem too concerned with him at the moment. Lady Larisa’s face had gone ghostly white and her hands clung to the leather seats. Her eyes appeared wide and glassy, as if she were about to faint. His first thought was that she was going to hurt herself if someone didn’t help her. His second was that it was a good enough excuse to change places with someone else.
“Stasia, trade seats with me so you can get some shots of both sides of the copter,” he shouted to her.
She peered out from behind her camera and gave him a thumbs up. Before Duchess Jezebel could protest, he’d taken Stasia’s spot and successfully placed himself out of her reach.
“You must put your head between your knees,” he said, turning to Lady Larisa.
She glowered at him, her lips trembling. “Excuse me?”
“I said you must put your head between your knees. It’ll help with the nausea. Trust me.”
Her blue eyes narrowed, but slowly she folded herself over until her ears brushed her legs.
“Now, take five big breaths,” he instructed, placing a hand on her back.
She did as he said, filling her lungs deeply with air and then letting it out in a long stream. Finally, on the fifth breath, he felt the tension go out of her muscles. Sitting up, she looked at him, a slight smile tugging at her lips.
“Thanks for that. Heights have always affected me. It’s probably because when I was three, I fell off my dad’s bookshelf and broke my arm. Those kinds of things tend to scar a kid for life.”
He nodded, grasping his legs tightly with his hands. Even those slight few moments of physical touch between them had him shaking. He needed to get a grip. She was just another vampire hunting for a rich and powerful mate. And she wouldn’t find it in him.
“Try to look out the window, Lady Larisa.” He pointed to the scenic view below. “Maybe you need a distraction.”
“It’s Cate.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I prefer to be called Cate. Lady Larisa sounds too stuffy.”
“Cate.” He liked the sound of it rolling off his tongue. “Please call me Viktor. Or Vik. But in all that is holy, never call me Viky. Only the Queen gets away with that.”
Laughter bubbled up from her lips and he felt an unbidden smile at the corners of his lips. It was a pleasant sound and his heart thrilled with the knowledge that he’d been the one to cause it. She turned to the window and gasped when she caught sight of the island below.
They were so far up, the trees appeared to meld together in one big green field. Monstrana Castle looked like a gray stone dollhouse that was slowly disappearing over the horizon. The brilliant blue of the Bering Sea rose up to meet them, stunning in the late morning light. The landscape rolled with hills and mountain peaks, hidden lakes, and tiny towns.
Viktor smiled as he surveyed his homeland through her window. He couldn’t think of anything more beautiful than the country of Monstrana. Although, he also couldn’t help glancing at Cate’s captivating face once in a while.
“Is that where we’re going?” She pointed to a coastal city just coming into view. It was alive with pastel colors and large seaside resorts.
“Yes, that’s Murdo.” He cleared his throat. “It’s a relatively new city. We’ve been working on increasing site-seeing tourism in Monstrana. The Bering Sea is home to many interesting and rare creatures, including the blue whale, the humpback whale, and the rarest in the world, the North Pacific Right Whale. Of course, you’ll also occasionally spot a few Steller Sea Lions, Orcas, and polar bears.”
&
nbsp; He wasn’t sure why he sounded like a walking Wikipedia page, but he couldn’t stop himself. His brain had gone on auto-drive.
“They’ve also got some fantastic restaurants and the hottest clubs,” Leo yelled over his shoulder, saving him from further humiliation. “It’s a brilliant party destination. That’s why I came along. Vik wouldn’t know fun if it bit him on the neck.”
Viktor’s ears burned. He certainly did know how to have fun. Maybe it wasn’t always Leo’s idea of a good time, but he had his moments.
“I happen to love humpback whales,” Cate said, turning to him with a sweet smile.
Despite the fact that it hadn’t beat in almost a millennium, his heart did a flip and landed in his stomach. He grimaced and stared resolutely out the window, fighting to regain control of his emotions. Vampires had a nasty reputation for letting their feelings get the better of them. He’d spent his whole life proving the story wrong. It wouldn’t do good to start now.
As the helicopter turned, the sun’s rays streamed through the windows and onto his face. He closed his eyes, soaking in the delicious warmth. There had been a time when his kind had hidden in the shadows, prowling the dark like monsters. The sun had been their adversary. A way for the humans to overcome the bloodsuckers. A death sentence.
The day vampires learned how to combine ancient magic with the power of gold, that had all changed. Thanks to their rings, once again, they walked in the sunlight, unafraid of the light. He never wanted to take that for granted.
“We’re here,” Stasia yelled. The helicopter began to descend, the propellers slowing with every revolution. They landed smoothly. “Everybody out. We’ve got an entire day ahead of us.”
Viktor sighed. He had a million other things he needed to accomplish at that moment. Frolicking around the country wasn’t high on his list of priorities.
“We’ve got a carriage tour of Murdo, an hour to spend on the strip shopping and then dinner at the seaside cafe,” Stasia called, as if she’d been guiding tours her entire life. “Ladies will attend the salon with me and then we’ll head to the club. Men, I trust I won’t need to hold your hands.”
Viktor smirked at her. Same old Stasia, even behind a camera lens. Someday, he’d find a way to pay her back for all of this.
Until then, he’d just have to steer clear of the women. Certainly, easier said than done.
Chapter Six
JEZEBEL HADN’T STOPPED throwing daggers her way the entire day. They’d made it through the tour, mindless shopping, dinner, and eventually landed at what was supposedly the best salon in the entire country. At various moments throughout the day, Cate had found herself stuck next to Prince Viktor, drawn into reluctant conversation. If this hadn’t all been such a big mistake, she would’ve enjoyed chatting with him.
He had a pleasant voice and a way of listening to her without making her feel like she was just another pair of legs. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a guy actually pay attention to what she was saying. Charlie certainly hadn’t been good at it. She had eventually marked it down as a flaw in the entire male species. But Prince Viktor was different. Still, she couldn’t get too attached.
They’d left the salon ten minutes ago and finally arrived at the club Leo had been spewing about. Despite the new setting, Jezebel was still glaring at her. Cate had enough. She was going to confront her. There was no reason to be so rude.
“Well, you and the prince did look pretty cozy on that helicopter ride,” Joy told her with a shrug.
She had donned a sparkly pink tank top that clung to her small chest and revealed her entire back. The salon had teased her ringlets into an updo that would withstand the sweatiest of club dance floors.
“I wasn’t trying to cozy up to him,” Cate exclaimed, a stubborn frown on her face. She’d refused to change into any of the slinky outfits presented to her at the salon. Her bikini she’d left in her suitcase covered more than those pieces of cloth. “He sat next to me. I can’t help it if he wanted to get away from her.”
“She thinks you faked your panic attack on purpose.” A sad smile tugged at the corner of Joy’s lips. “That you stole him away from us.”
She gritted her teeth and glared right back at Jezebel. At the salon, she’d shimmied into the tightest pair of black leather pants and cropped leather halter Cate had ever seen. That woman knew how to sow discord. Not only did she have her sights set on the prince, but she was going to ruin her new friendship with Joy. Well, not if she had anything to say about it.
“That’s a big, fat lie.” She leaned down to whisper in Joy’s ear. “And, to tell you the truth, I don’t even want to be here. This is a complete mix-up. I’m not after Prince Viktor. My name isn’t even Lady Larisa. It’s Cate Mahoney. Plain, old, Cate.”
Joy’s jaw dropped as the music began to pump around them. The club was one of those new modern types, with the neon blue lights streaming up the walls and the posh glass tables. Waitresses swerved through the crowds wearing black corsets and carrying massive trays of drinks. At least fifty college-aged people already crowded the dance floor, their bodies pulsating with the music.
“Are you telling me that you’re not supposed to be in the competition?” Her eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her face.
“Bingo.” Cate smirked. “I’m only here to visit my best friend who works at the castle. Before I realized what was going on, it was too late to say anything. The cameras were rolling. And I didn’t want to get my friend in trouble.”
“Good thinking.” She whistled through her teeth. “And to think, Jezebel is furious that you’re moving in on her territory.”
“Yeah, well, she can have Prince Stiffo and everything that goes with him. That is, if you decide he isn’t worth your time, either.”
A small smile flitted on her lips. “We’ll see. Haven’t given up on that princess dream yet.”
“I see your prince now.”
Cate watched Prince Viktor and his brother stalk through the door of the club. He hadn’t changed his outfit either, but Prince Leo had changed into a pair of tight black pants and a leather top with gold detailing. Immediately, the younger of the two moved toward the ladies. Viktor followed, a disapproving frown firmly set on his face.
“Good evening, ladies.” Leo’s boyish smile stretched from ear to ear. He gave them a wink and then held his hand out to Jezebel. “Fancy a dance?”
The look she gave him could’ve frozen boiling water. Still, she accepted his hand and followed him out to the crowded dance floor.
A minute passed by in silence as the three of them watched the dancers.
“This is awkward.” Joy giggled a little too loudly. “Three ladies, two partners. Whatever are we going to do?”
“I don’t plan on dancing.” Viktor crossed his arms and scanned the crowd with a heavy brow.
“Oh.” Joy squeaked, her eyes cast downwards.
Cate could’ve kicked him. Couldn’t he see how much a single dance would mean to her? It wasn’t a marriage proposal.
Stepping close enough to him so that her friend couldn’t hear, Cate brushed up against the prince and reached up to her tip toes to whisper in his ear. “By my count, you have exactly thirty seconds left of this song before Duchess Jezebel comes swimming out of that pack faster than a shark who smells blood. And she’s coming straight for you. Save yourself and ask Lady Joy for a dance. Before it’s too late...”
His arms dropped and she could’ve sworn she heard him gulp.
“Lady Joy, would you give me the honor of the next dance.” He turned to her and held out his hand.
The excitement in Joy’s face could’ve lit up every dark corner of the club. She batted her eyelids a few times before nodding and taking his hand.
Thank you, she mouthed over her shoulder as they headed toward the dance floor. Cate gave her two thumbs up and went to find herself a vacant stool.
It was interesting to know her theory about Viktor avoiding Jezebel was correct
. She shook her head in amusement. Maybe he wasn’t as vain and emotionless as she thought. Joy could make him a great partner. She had a way of lightening up the darkest moods. Viktor could use a little lightening. His face seemed frozen in a disapproving frown every time she saw him.
Cate turned her attention to scanning the room for Stasia. She’d abandoned them at the salon, leaving Cate to stew in her uncertainty about the entire situation. There were certainly enough of the camera crew about. They focused in on the dancers, moving in and out of the crowd.
But no luck. Stasia was nowhere to be found. She swallowed down the disappointment. The sooner she came clean, the better. The build up to this confession was starting to make her jumpy. Her stomach bounced around in her stomach as if a frog had taken up residence there.
Deciding to look for her on the other side of the room, she stood and ran directly into a brick wall. Except, it wasn’t a wall. Once again, she found herself bouncing off of Viktor’s steel abs, but this time he held her tight so that she wouldn’t fall.
“I believe it’s your turn,” he said, his voice husky.
She looked up at him. From this distance, she could see the golden yellow in his eyes and the way the muscles in his square jaw twitched as he stared back. His arms were surprisingly strong, with big hands that spanned the length of her waist. Now, it was her turn to gulp.
“I don’t plan on dancing.” The words sounded lame to her own ears.
“I don’t think so.” He shook his head. She thought she saw the hint of a grin, but his lips returned to their customary frown. “You’ve made it your mission to save me from Duchess Jezebel. If we don’t dance, I’ll fall victim to her blood thirst. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for that, would you?”
“I suppose not...” It was hard to think with his body pressed up against hers. She bit her bottom lip and made a face. “Just one, though. You’re on your own the rest of the night.”
Drop Dead Single: Vampire Romance (A Monstrana Paranormal Romance Book 1) Page 4