by Nina Bangs
He had a momentary impression of the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces. She’d caught the sorcerer and Rabid by surprise. They couldn’t stop her.
And before he could roar an order for her to stop, she drove the stake into Stephan’s back. He screamed and rose from Dacian. Twisting, he made a futile attempt to jerk the stake out.
Everyone in the human audience cheered.
That was when all four walls of the greenhouse blew out and Ganymede strode over the wreckage. Others followed behind him. He met Dacian’s gaze. “Lucky for you, vampire, Bain remembered his vision. There was only one post with a vampire chained to it in the castle. Now I have some dickheads to kill.”
Outside, the snow was gone and a full moon was shining. The humans screamed as they scrambled out of Ganymede’s path, but they didn’t run away. Probably too confused.
Too bad. They should’ve run while they had the chance. Dacian leaped to his feet, searching for Cinn. He finally found her standing frozen as she stared at Stephan.
Crazed with pain, Stephan crouched to pounce on her. “Your little stake hurts, bitch. But not half as bad as you’ll be hurting in a second.”
“Wouldn’t count on that.” Dacian lifted Stephan high in the air before slamming him down onto the dirt floor. Then he held him there.
“You can’t kill me.” Stephan glared up at him. “Rabid, bring on the rage. Get this bastard off me.”
A quick glance showed Dacian that Rabid had his own problems.
Suddenly, Taurin was by his side. “He can’t kill you, but I can.” He grabbed a sword from Eric, who stood behind him with four other vampires.
Stephan screamed as he saw his centuries-old existence was about to end.
The audience screamed with him.
Dacian watched, amazed, as his little brother lopped off Stephan’s head.
“That’s for my brother and two hundred years of hell.”
For just a moment, there was dead silence from all the humans as they watched the spurting blood, and then the reality of what they’d witnessed sank in. You couldn’t fake a head lying a foot from its body. They scattered, their screams fading away as they disappeared into the night.
Ganymede barked out an order. “Eric, track them down and change their memories.” Then he got back to what he’d been doing.
Eyes glowing in the darkness, he stalked Rabid. “Take a last look at the night, bastard, because you won’t be seeing any more of them.”
Rabid laughed. “And you won’t be seeing your woman anymore either.” He hooked a thumb at Sparkle. “She’s dying. Pretty soon you’ll be lying there next to her. I couldn’t take you last time, but that was thousands of years ago. I’m more powerful than you now.”
“You have no idea what real power is.” Ganymede’s voice was a harsh whisper. “I’ve created black holes millions of miles wide, so I don’t think I’ll have a problem with a tiny asshole like you.”
Rabid started to draw his power to him, and Edge spoke for the first time. “Need any help?”
“No.” And then Ganymede’s power exploded from him.
The ground rolled in waves like the surf beyond the seawall. Dacian reached Cinn in time to keep her from falling. They both clung to an upright from the greenhouse that still stood.
He pushed her behind him. “Don’t watch.”
She didn’t fight him.
Flames rose up around Ganymede, swirling, snapping, and sizzling in a mad dance. Tongues of fire coated the ends of his hair in vivid reds and oranges, and as he stared from the flames with eyes as old as the universe, he looked like some demonic destroyer.
“Kill him.” Ganymede’s voice was a deep echoing boom that whipped the fire into a frenzy. The flames broke into separate streams that whistled and moaned as they gained speed. The streams of fire formed blades that flashed toward Rabid before he could even begin his attack. The searing blades sliced and diced until Rabid was no more than smoldering bits of flesh scattered over the ground.
Damn. Dacian could control fire, but not like that. He turned away. He was vampire, and he’d seen death before, but never such a complete one. He would never mess with Ganymede. Ever. Dully, he noticed Kyla’s head lying nearby. Not attached to her body. The Mackenzies must’ve passed judgment and carried out the sentence.
Stillness settled over the scene.
And then someone began clapping. Slow, rhythmic. Dacian turned with everyone else to stare at the sorcerer, who stood where the courtyard door had been, applauding.
“Great show. See, if they put drama like that on TV, I’d stay home and watch it more.” The sorcerer’s face was still shadowed by his hood, but humor laced his voice.
Ganymede ignored him as he dropped to his knees beside the counter where Sparkle lay still and motionless.
Holgarth stepped from his place beside Edge to face the sorcerer. “What is your name?”
“Zane.”
“Is that your true name?” No matter what Holgarth felt inside, his hand on his staff was steady and his voice rang with authority.
Dacian offered a nod of respect to Holgarth. The old guy had guts.
“It is today.” The sorcerer shrugged. “Tomorrow? Who knows?”
“Will you continue the battle?”
Every person hung on the sorcerer’s answer. Dacian figured if the sorcerer let his power rip, a lot of them wouldn’t survive.
Zane shrugged. “The king is dead, long live the king. And he took my paycheck with him. I don’t work for free.” He started to turn away but paused. “Oh, and I’m withdrawing my application to be castle wizard. Too exhausting. You keep it, Holgarth. It suits you.” Then he simply disappeared.
Holgarth managed to look strangely dignified in his crazy blue robe and pointed hat that once again had slid to one side. “He’s right. The Castle of Dark Dreams does suit me. I’ll retain my position.”
By his last word, everyone had switched their attention to Ganymede.
He smoothed his fingers over Sparkle’s hair. “If I could, I’d kill him again. Over and over and over for all eternity.”
Then Ganymede looked up at everyone watching him. Emotion glistened in his eyes. “I’m taking her back into her castle. And when she leaves me, I’ll…” He shook his head. “I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“Perhaps I can help.”
Cinn turned, startled. With the horror of all that had happened, she’d forgotten Airmid was still there. It didn’t matter anyway. What more could the goddess do that hadn’t already been done? Vince and Teddy were gone, and some of her other plants might never recover.
And Sparkle. She shouldn’t have wasted the last days of her life trying to please someone called the Big Boss. Life was for living, loving, and enjoying those you loved.
Those you loved. Cinn looked up at Dacian. “I love you, you know.”
His eyes lit with joy and wonder. He leaned down to just brush her lips with his. “In six hundred years of existence, I’ve never loved anyone more.”
“I know I’ll grow old and die, but I—”
He placed a finger over her lips. “Hush. Not now.”
She nodded as Airmid slipped past her and stood beside Sparkle. Ganymede looked up at her, his eyes dead.
“I can help her.”
No one breathed.
“How?” Ganymede’s tone suggested that this had better not be a trick.
“I’m not a goddess of war, so I took no part in your battle. But I am a healing goddess. I can help bring her back.” She motioned for Ganymede to move away, and then she pulled one leaf from a plant that hadn’t been knocked to the floor. She held the leaf to Sparkle’s nose. “Breathe in the life this leaf freely gives.”
Everyone watched, riveted, as the leaf slowly shriveled up and turned to powder.
After what seemed like hours, Sparkle groaned and opened her eyes. She looked down to where only one shoe hung from her feet. Then she looked past Airmid to Ganymede. “Make sure you bury me with
both Pradas, sugar-muffin.”
Cinn turned away. This time belonged to Ganymede and Sparkle. A Sparkle who would live to shop again. Cinn had the deaths of two plants, who were so much more than plants, to mourn.
Cinn hung on to Dacian as she knelt down beside Vince. His pot was shattered, his soil scattered, and his poor roots exposed. He’d lost so many leaves, so many. Tears welled up.
Asima’s keening cry rose up beside her, as the messenger of Bast mourned in her own way.
Dacian helped Cinn gather up what was left of him. Then she stood and stumbled over to Teddy. There was nothing left. Just an empty pot with pieces of cactus too small to even identify.
“He loved me. He died for me.” Asima’s tear-clogged voice was a dirge in Cinn’s mind.
Cinn sensed rather than saw Airmid standing behind her. “They gave their lives to save Asima, you, and me.”
“I know.” Airmid remained silent for a moment. “Because they showed their worthiness, I will allow you to keep the others in this greenhouse. Repot those that were thrown to the floor and they will again flourish.”
The goddess reached out her hand for Vince, and Cinn reluctantly handed him to her. “This one will live again.” She skimmed her fingers across his roots. “I’ve given him the strength he needs.”
“Thank you.” Cinn’s hands shook as she took Vince back. “Teddy?”
Airmid’s gaze was sorrowful. “His memory will be with me forever. He will truly be immortal. His is the sacrifice that must be. And think carefully, Cinn, before you experiment again. Raise many healing plants in your Teddy’s honor.”
Cinn could only nod, because if she tried to say anything, she’d dissolve into great gasping sobs.
Dacian held her tighter, giving her the strength she needed. She didn’t care how long or short a time she had on this earth; she’d spend it loving Dacian. Teddy had taught her a lot about the value of time. It wasn’t how much of it you had, but how you used it. And Dacian would simply have to put up with a withered old hag for a wife before he went on to the rest of his immortal existence.
“That won’t happen, Cinn.” Airmid sounded amused.
“What?”
“I read your mind, and you won’t become a withered old hag.”
Dacian murmured his assurance that he had a fondness for withered old hags.
“I don’t understand.”
Airmid sighed. “You share a part of my godhead. You’re immortal, Cinn.” She glanced from Cinn to Dacian. “I’d say you’re well matched.” The goddess knelt and scooped Teddy’s remains into a small sack; then she stood and disappeared.
Epilogue
Cinn lay in bed, thinking about what had happened since last night. She’d spent all day tending to her plants.
She’d put Vince in a brand-new pot and made him extravagant promises. First she’d buy an old two-story brick home with loads of character. Then she’d plant him beneath the big oak tree in the front yard. He could cover all the ground he wanted. Finally, she’d find him a sexy English ivy plant that could climb the brick walls and share his life.
Cinn had told Vince the English ivy represented female divinity for the druids. Because of the divinity connection, she figured it wouldn’t take much tinkering to make her into the perfect companion for him. And since Airmid thought he was a hero, she’d probably look the other way this time.
Vince had weakly thanked her. He had no memory of having loved Asima. Cinn found that kind of sad. Not for Vince, but for Asima. She suspected the cat needed some love in her life.
Cinn had also arranged to have a small statue of a cholla cactus made in honor of Teddy. It would have a place of honor in her future backyard. The statue would serve to remind her that courage came in many different shapes and sizes. And sacrifice wasn’t reserved only for humans.
Now only one thing remained to make her dream home magical—a hot vampire.
Dacian slipped into bed beside her. She had a hard time believing this big beautiful man loved her, and that they’d have centuries to be together.
As he turned toward her, she blinked. “Wait, something’s different.” She drew her fingers down the side of his face and over his collarbone and chest. Her fingers shook. “Your scars. They’re gone.”
His gaze seared her with his love, his need for her. “I figured if everyone else could forgive me, then maybe I could forgive myself.”
She threw herself at him, laughing as he rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him. “I have something for you.”
He ran his warm hand over her stomach and lower before sliding it between her legs. “I know.”
“No, no, something else.” She reached over to pluck an envelope from the night table. “Here. Read it. It’s from Eric.”
“This better be good, because I’m not a patient man tonight.” He ripped it open and glanced over the few words. Then he grinned at her. “A night game? When?”
She lowered her head until her lips touched his.
“Now.”
Praise for Paranormal Queen Nina Bangs!
ETERNAL CRAVING
“Eternal Craving delights with its powerful, eclectic imagination, fast-paced action with several intriguing turns, and a romance that moves from primitive powerful passion to a love that transcends time in its depth.”
—Merrimon Book Reviews
“Electrifying, creative, action-packed with sizzling hot love scenes—absolutely perfect.”
—Fresh Fiction
ETERNAL PLEASURE
“It takes a while to get used to placing this sort of character in the same sexy arena as wolves and vampires, but Bangs pulls it off with a deft hand and the right balance of menace and humor, weaving in Mayan prophecy for an unusual theme.”
—Booklist
“This is the beginning of an exciting new series. It has it all… action, steamy sex, and even some humor. This is a stand-alone book, but one is left anxious for the next installment. This is a great book!”
—Affaire de Coeur
ONE BITE STAND
“Bangs delivers another outrageously fun and scorchingly sensual paranormal romance in the latest creative addition to her loosely connected Woo Woo Inn series.”
—Booklist
“Bangs’s wacky tales never disappoint and her offbeat characters face danger with flair.”
—RT Book Reviews
A TASTE OF DARKNESS
“Bangs continues her wildly imaginative Mackenzie vampire series with another deliciously dark tale that is perfect for readers who like their paranormal romances sizzling, sexy, and wickedly funny.”
—Booklist
More Praise for Nina Bangs!
NIGHT BITES
“Cosmic chaos and laughs abound in this latest romp from the always wonderful Bangs. Sexy and sizzling, this is paranormal fun with lots of spice.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Nina Bangs has written a truly fascinating romantic tale with Night Bites. It has everything from trickery, sorcery, sizzling sex, intrigue, and danger all rolled into one explosive package just waiting to be devoured.”
—Romance Reviews Today
NIGHT GAMES
“A look into a future where sex is the only game worth playing showcases Nina Bangs’s talent for witty, irreverent eroticism…A sensual time travel that at once titillates and satisfies…a tempestuous fantasy with scintillating details.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Nina Bangs has to be the imagination queen. Who else could come up with…a humorous satire poking fun at the games people play?”
—Harriet Klausner
MASTER OF ECSTASY
“Is there any author who does humor, horror, and romance in one blending better than Nina Bangs does it?”
—Midwest Book Review
“Bangs…mixes in several different paranormal elements and equal measures of passion and humor to create her latest wonderfully creative, utterly unique romance.”
—
Booklist
THE PLEASURE MASTER
“Sizzling!…A remarkable blend of extremes, including charming, endearing, and exciting, The Pleasure Master lends a new definition to the word tease as it titillates the reader.”
—Wordweaving
Other Books By Nina Bangs:
ETERNAL CRAVING
ETERNAL PLEASURE
ONE BITE STAND
A TASTE OF DARKNESS
NIGHT BITES
NIGHT GAMES
PARADISE (anthology)
SEDUCTION BY CHOCOLATE (anthology)
UNWR APPED (anthology)
THE PLEASURE MASTER
AN ORIGINAL SIN
FROM BOARDWALK WITH LOVE
MASTER OF ECSTASY
Copyright
A LEISURE BOOK®
October 2009
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2009 by Nina Bangs
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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0747-0