by ML Guida
Excerpt of Mate of the Vampire
April 1671
Soaring Phoenix
Ronan Macmillan leaned against the bulkhead, detesting the tied bandages on his stubbed wrist. Sometimes he swore he could feel his absent fingers and hand move. Hell, his palm even itched. Doc said it was phantom pains, an illusion—his mind hadn’t accepted that his right hand was gone.
Visions of the horrific island battle with the demon Zuto flashed through his mind. He couldn’t shake them. Zuto slicing off his hand. The grotesque spider. And his promise...oh his promise...
He hated that damnable demon and his blasted curses. Because of him, the crew turned into vampires during every full moon. If they didn’t feed, the thirst nearly drove them mad.
But now the demon had a new trick—one Ronan couldn’t refuse.
All he had to do was to find a mermaid, a water elemental, then hand her over to Zuto. How bad could it be? It’s not like the mermaid was human. The demon needed her blood, then he’d promised to restore Ronan’s hand. He could be a warrior again.
A cool sea breeze swept over his face, and salt tingled his lips. He turned away from his stump and slid it inside his pocket. The ocean stretched out for miles, and not a cloud marred the blue sky. He loved the sea, but how could he stay aboard the ship a cripple? He was a warrior, a pirate, not a deck swabber.
Kane motioned for him at the wheel. “I’ve ordered the men away from the stern.”
“Why?”
“Mariah needs to talk to you about what happened on the island.”
Blimey, did she know about the deal? He should have known. She was a witch—a powerful one, but he couldn’t admit it. Not yet, and he played dumb. “She bloody thinks I donna know what happened?” His raised his stump. “The damn demon cut off my hand.”
“Aye,” Kane agreed. “’Tis more to it than that. ’Tis Lark.”
Ronan scanned the ship but didn’t see his friend. “What about him?”
Kane clasped his shoulder. “A time spider snatched him, flinging him to a different time. We have no idea where he is. Or if he’s even alive.”
Ronan’s heart skipped a beat. “Another spider? By the gods, the first was terrible enough.” He forced himself to stand; brushing away Kane’s outstretched out hand. “I can stand on my own.”
Kane lowered his arm. “Mariah needs to talk to you. She thinks you might be the key in finding her brother.”
“Me? Why?”
“Bloody hell if I know.” Kane tilted his head. “Now go.”
Ronan wanted to argue, but the captain’s order was law and left little argument. Ronan sighed and headed to the stern.
Mariah waved at him to join her and William. He maneuvered between crewmen busy cleaning and repairing the ship. He couldn’t even hold a bloody mop and swab the deck.
Several men close to the stern stopped talking and working as he squeezed by. Kane might have ordered them away, but it didn’t curb their curious gazes. A five-point star had been drawn on the deck, and at each point, there was a bowl full with some kind of herb.
“Merci d’être venu,” Mariah said. “We need to talk.”
William stood behind Mariah. He wrapped his arms around her, then nuzzled the back of her slender neck.
She laughed. “William, stop!”
Ronan gritted his teeth and fought the urge to slam his fist into William’s lovesick face. He should be the one kissing Mariah. He’d have kept her safe, not galloping around trying to defeat a demon and his fierce spider. But no, she preferred a man possessed by a dragon spirit. Being around those two was like rubbing salt into his bleeding heart.
“What the hell do you want to talk about?”
His loud question made them stop.
Mariah stepped away from William and straightened her dress. William mumbled under his breath, but Ronan didn’t care. He shouldn’t have been so harsh, but there was only so much he could take.
“Ronan, when you came on board the ship, you were babbling about how to get Lark back.” Eagerness flashed in her big violet eyes. “Do you remember what Zuto told you?”
“Bits and pieces of a mermaid, but nothing clear.”
She slumped against William and a tear slid down her cheek. “Je Vois.”
A lump formed in his throat. He wanted to make her smile and give her hope, but he honestly couldn’t remember what Zuto had said. ’Twas all a blur. “I’m sorry.”
She stood straighter. “I also know about the deal.”
“What deal?” His shocked voice sounded like a little lad explaining to the baker how the cookies ended up in his pocket.”
She smiled and clasped his arm. “You were feverish when you came onto the ship and talked in your sleep, oui?
Ronan closed his eyes, and his heart quickened. Lord, stop. It was so damn hard to be around her, to breathe in her sensual scent, to experience her touch—but never her sweet kiss. “What’s this?”
“It’s a pentagram. I was able to cast a spell and go deeper into the incantation binding you. I know Zuto promised to make you whole again, but I need to know if he said how to get my brother back. Lark’s in danger. I can feel it. We have to rescue him soon, before ’tis too late.”
William clasped her hand and kissed her white knuckle. “We will. I promise.” He looked at Ronan, his eyes turning hard. “Why would you even think of making a deal with Zuto?”
Ronan’s heart beat harder, sending anger rushing through his veins. He clenched his fist, trying not to bash it into the judgmental, shape-shifting dragon’s smug face. He glared. “He didna give me much choice. ’Twas the deal or my life. Which would you have chosen, ye muttonhead?”
Flecks of yellow flickered in his William’s green eyes. “At least I wouldn’t have been dumb enough to sell my soul to the devil.”
Grand, he’d stirred the dragon Drakon’s anger. He was about to get his arse burned to a crisp. He’d had enough of this conversation. He motioned toward the drawing. “This says I should remain a cripple?” Bitterness crept into his voice.
“No.” Her voice softened. “But you need to understand something. Anytime blood is used, it becomes a powerful spell, not something to be taken lightly. Only magie noire requires the use of blood. Be careful in this deal, Ronan. Once you fulfill this promise, it cannot be undone.”
Ronan glared. “What if the binding spell would save your brother? Would you do it?”
“I would not want to do, but if it was the only choice...” She stuck her chin out in defiance. “Then oui, I would. I’d do anything to save Lark. He’s the last of my family.”
Ronan turned away. He understood desperation. He’d tried everything to save his parents and his younger sister, but the bloody Sassenach murdered his family. Pushing back the painful memories, he looked at each point of the star suspiciously. He’d had enough spells to last him a lifetime. “What do you mean?”
Wariness reflected in her beautiful eyes. “My magic revealed that he didn’t tell you the whole truth.”
Dear Reader
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Heart of the Vampire. Slavery has been an evil part of our history and I didn’t want to sugarcoat it. Like I mentioned earlier, the villainess was based on Annie Palmer, the White Witch of Rose Hall. Johnny Cash wrote a song about Annie and you can visit Rose Hall on Jamaica, which is still been on my bucket list.
If you want to keep reading the Blood Brotherhood, watch for Mate of the Vampire. It will be Ronan’s story and I will be writing the next three books which will all be about three sisters who are mermaids.
I would love to know what you thought about Heart of the Vampire! Leave a review and let me know.
If you want to keep up with my books, sign up for my newsletter!
I’ll see you soon!
ML Guida
About the Author
Award Winning Author M.L. Guida loves science fiction and the paranormal. From Star Trek to Dark Shadows to Supernatural, she fell in l
ove with things that go bump in the night. But it was the heroes, she loved the best. No matter what happened, those characters never gave up. Now, her heroes are following their footsteps. Whether it's a shape shifter from outer space or a vampire from the past, her wounded heroes always find a way to conquer battles and win the heart of the feisty heroine. Because even in a world of darkness, true love survive.
Also by ML Guida
Blood Brotherhood
Sin of The Vampire
Shadows of the Vampire
Mate of the Vampire
Claim of the Vampire
Destiny of the Vampire
Bears of Aria
Walfea
Vaughn
Tash
Dragons of Zalara
Madness Unleashed
Madness Unhinged
Madness Unmasked
Madness Unbalanced
Vampires on Holiday
A Vampire’s Wish
A Vampire’s Gift
A Vampire’s Vow
Paranormal Dating Agency
Eye of the Tiger
Another Tiger Bites the Dust
Magic New Mexico/Magical Shifters
Touch of Curiosity
Touch of Madness
Touch of Darkness
The Touch of the Dragon
Angels of Death
Betrayal
Deception
Punishment
Cupid