by Anna Santos
The witch and the vampire king
the Immortal Love Series
Book 2
Anna Santos
Copyright © 2016 Anna Santos
All rights reserved.
Inquiries about additional permissions should be directed to: [email protected]
Cover Design by May Freighter
Edited by Kathryn Galan
Edited by Stacy Kennedy
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.
ISBN: 1539515966
ISBN-13: 978-1539515968
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Soul-Mate – Book 1
The Witch and the Vampire King– Book 2
Coming Soon:
Spellbound – Book 3
Shattered – Book 4
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BOOK DESCRIPTION
The Witch and the Vampire King
Book 2 of The Immortal Love Series
Jessica is a young and powerful witch on a desperate mission to find her soul-mate—a hot vampire king who haunts her dreams with steamy memories of their blissful past life. The problem is that he could already be dead. To complicate matters further, a psychotic vampire is after her. He wants the grimoire she stole.
For protection, she can only rely on her best friend’s family. When she arrives at Affinity, she is brought closer to her goal. But encountering the man of her dreams is only half the battle. Convincing him that she is his reincarnated love may prove to be next to impossible.
Some memories should remain hidden. If unlocked, death will claim Jessica before her enemy. Although, her survival won’t matter if she faces a rejection that will shatter her very soul.
Prologue
From my window, I could hear the people outside celebrating. Huge fires and laughing sounds announced the festivities. It was the happiest day of my life. I knew because of the smile on my face and butterflies in my stomach. I could feel the emotion swelling in my throat as my impatience grew thin and the beating of my heart increased. Although I was immortal and a vampire, my spirit had never been so alive as on that night. I missed my love, and we had been together celebrating the whole day. Our union would be important for the future of our two kingdoms. I was lucky to find my soul-mate at such a young age. I was a child by vampire standards. My soul-mate was older, wiser, and extremely important.
I was fifteen when we first met. I can vividly recall the day our hands touched and his eyes made contact with mine on the dance floor—the tingling sensation went all the way to my core. It was like time ceased to exist and only the two of us remained in the room. He bent his knee and bowed to me, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Soon, we were surrounded by all the other vampires whispering, awestruck by the moment. I could hear the buzz around us, but I only had eyes for him.
Finding one’s soul-mate among pureblood vampires is a monumental event. It’s not to be taken lightly. It can incite wars or ensure peace. I was glad our encounter forged an important new alliance between my parents’ kingdom and my soul-mate’s kingdom. He was a king. I was a princess. He wanted me and would stop at nothing to achieve that goal.
My soul-mate was not from our land. He was tall and strong with stunning blue eyes, long and curly blond hair, plus a beard and mustache that were blond as well. My parents feared him, and they had been doing everything in their power to keep him happy, because he was powerful enough to have us all killed—ending our bloodline. But when he looked at me, he didn’t seem at all like the cruel, heartless vampire king they had described to me. He looked like an angel. Maybe I should have felt scared. After all, he was the cruel beast who wanted to end my clan. But I didn’t. I never did.
Also, my parents had something he’d craved for centuries. He had been waiting far too long for me. I would be his queen and the mother of his children. The moment he opened his mouth to call me his queen, bowing to me, I knew that he would never destroy the clan that provided him with his other half, who gave his life purpose. I was sure my family wouldn’t object to our marriage, and I would do everything in my power to make him happy.
My king waited until I matured to make me his wife and queen. I loved him instantly. We were meant to be. So, on my wedding night, it was only natural that I was feeling apprehensive and longing for him, all at the same time.
My thoughts flitted about all the possibilities of things that were to come. The loud festivities of singing and dancing continued outside. Everybody was celebrating my wedding. Night had fallen long before on this part of the world. I was far away from home, but my parents were there with me for the wedding and all the celebrating. They would leave to their own kingdom the next day, and then all of the people I had once known would be living far from me, including my siblings and my friends. I would miss them, but he was going to be my family after that night. We were going to build a new family together and be happy.
Once it was night, the moon shone in the sky, and I heard lots of wolves howling to their goddess, showing their approval of our union. In my clan, we didn’t have packs of wolves as our servants; we had covens of witches. But wolves didn’t like the city, though, I’m sure in time I would get used to life in the country.
I sat on the bed, watching the torches that lit my new sleeping quarters. Wearing a white tunic with nothing underneath, I waited alone since I sent the maids away for privacy. I was tired of having a constant maid who kept me away from him. Always making me behave without being able to tell him what was on my mind and what I really felt for him.
Where was he? I had been waiting far too long for this, all my fantasies would come true tonight.
A gentle warm breeze entered the room, surrounding me with the scents of pine trees and burned wood. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, feeling a tingling sensation in my stomach and goosebumps going all the way down my neck to my lower back. It beckoned me, increasing my desire to be next to my mate all alone, just to touch him and taste him. He smelled divine: spicy and woody fused with a subtle salty, sea aroma. My whole body longed to be one with his and my eyes often changed with lust when we were close. We were married now. There was no more need for chaperones or rules for courting.
I rose to my feet with anticipation when the door opened, and he came in. A tight knot formed in my stomach as his scent enveloped me, and our eyes met. He was still wearing his regal clothing and I should have let him come to me to begin the mating ritual. But, with all the passion I had built up in me and my heart pounding in my chest, I ran to his arms when the door shut behind him. He engulfed me in a hug that let me know his longing for me matched what I felt for him as our mouths met for the second time that day. I had been fantasizing about this since the moment he kissed me, just before the ceremony. It left me wanting much more. And now I was going to have everything I’ve dreamed of since meeting him. My gums ached to feed off of him as our lips locked and our desire burst forth. Jolts of pleasure shot through me and I wished that we would never be separated again.
My husband didn
’t hold back. He kissed me deeply as his hands slid to my waist and held me tighter. I felt small and secure in his embrace because, despite his strength, he had always been gentle, and careful with me. I was nervous, it was my wedding night and I had never done this before. Yet, I craved my king and trusted him completely.
Our lips kept moving in tempo with one another, the air was dragged from my lungs, and his hands pressed on my lower back. I could sense his body tensing against mine as I was swept away into the passionate moment, moaning shamelessly and fisting my hands in his clothes while trying to respond to his hungry kisses.
My king, my mate, and husband would mark me that night. I would also mark him to be his mate for all eternity, carried through all of our lives and deaths. I was made to please him, serve him, and love him unconditionally. He was made to love me, care for me, protect me, and make my life have a purpose.
My mate, my vampire king, was there in my arms…
Suddenly, I wake up like I always do, not remembering half of my dreams, not even the nice parts of them. All I remember is that I was wrapped in his embrace, kissing and tasting him, and feeling all the love and joy in the world. When I’m suddenly taken away from there and brought back to the present time where I am physically someone else, and I have no idea where he is. Where I miss him terribly, and I want to roar in endless pain until my voice is ragged, my throat raw, and I’m unable to scream anymore.
Chapter One—Burn
JESSICA
The ride to Anna’s current house didn’t take long. I had woken up at the best part of my dream. It was unfair…I hadn’t dreamed about him for a whole week, then I fell asleep on the way to my best friend’s house and there it comes: my vivid dream, my most erotic and intense sexual fantasy. Only to wake up right in the middle of it! Livid doesn’t begin to describe how I felt at that moment. But I was also surprisingly happy. I always enjoyed dreaming of my mate.
The taxi driver cleared his throat to informed me that we had arrived at my destination. Then he took my bags out of the car, drove off, and left me in front of a cabin in the middle of nowhere. It would have been pretty eerie if the cabin hadn’t had a welcoming tendril of smoke rising out of the chimney. There were people I knew inside—Anna and Shane—at least that’s what I hoped for.
I still felt annoyed, and somewhat anxious, as I carried my small bag up to the porch and knocked on the door. The driver was long gone; I had fantasized for a while before climbing the stairs, and I didn’t know what Anna’s reaction would be to my abrupt arrival. I had not alerted her that I was coming nor did I ask her if I could stay. But she was my best friend, and I needed her help. Surely she would take me in and help protect me.
I had a hard time keeping my mind on the present. I couldn’t stop thinking of that hot dream about my mate I was left with a deep yearning. I did feel like I could remember more this time than before, but I could never remember his face. It was always a blur. I was able to remember inner thoughts, some smells, and some actions between us. Yes, I was able to remember the intimate kisses and his hands roaming my body. In fact, I usually woke up all aroused and needy, especially when waking before the actual end of the dream. However, a word echoed in my mind. A word that I had never thought about before. The new word was king. My soul-mate from another life had been or still was a king. That would explain the feeling I always had of being inside a luxurious castle. He was a vampire king.
That would narrow it down to a mere one thousand kingdoms…But it was useful information. And then there was the fact that I was sure the castle was not in America. My mate was an European king. And I had just arrived from Europe—damn! I’m even running away from a king. Coincidence? Probably.
I knocked again and held my breath. I was growing distressed and uneasy. I peered around the darkness and slightly trembled in fear. It was creepy out here. And I felt watched, paranoia perhaps, but I still tried to listen to my surroundings as I prayed for Anna to open the damn door.
I knocked impatiently, tempted to use my powers to open it so I could get inside, close it behind me, and glue my back against the door while catching my breath. I felt like the main character of a lame horror movie, waiting to become dinner to some wild animal or serial killer. I wanted and needed to get in, and I also needed to stop being so afraid. I wasn’t being myself lately, I wasn’t a coward, nor was I generally paranoid. However, I didn’t make a habit of running away from vampire kings who wanted my head. Topping it all off, I was tired and my magical powers were low.
Finally, someone unlocked the door and opened it slightly to peek outside. It was Shane. God, Anna had won the lottery! Her gorgeous mate stared at me, shirtless in a nice pair of pants, he looked perplexed trying to figure out who I was.
“I’m Jessica. Anna’s friend,” I reminded him, a bit confused by his blank expression. I had only been gone for three weeks. And I’m kind of gorgeous and unforgettable. I guessed I hadn’t made a very strong impression on him after all.
“I know who you are,” he answered with a drowsy voice.
Okay, I guess I did leave an impression after all. Well, in fact, I kind of saved his ass. I let out a sigh of relief and was going to ask him something when a crazy woman ran at me from inside and jumped wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Jessica!” Anna screamed in my ear, causing a ringing sensation to go through my head. I guess she’d missed me. “Where were you? What are you doing here in the middle of the night? And why couldn’t we make contact with you for weeks?”
The interrogation had begun. She acted like my mother. Actually, no, she acted like my best friend who cared more about me than my mother ever did when she was alive. By nature, witches are impulsive and tend to do whatever they please. I guess it’s all the dancing naked in the woods that gives us a feeling of freedom and an unwillingness to be restricted by moral standards and ‘normal lives’. We are anything but normal. We are magic beings. We were adored like goddesses back in the beginning of time. It’s too bad that tradition was not becoming fashionable again. I would like to be worshiped and paid homage to by humans.
I smiled at Anna and pretended to be playful. I didn’t want her to realize that I was frightened, that would make her even more alarmed. Besides, I had escaped, I was here safe and sound, so everything was going to be all right. There was no need to divulge everything about the trouble I’d left behind me.
“I’m here to visit you. Aren’t you going to ask me in? It’s freezing outside, I didn’t know the nights could be so chilly here.”
“Of course, where are my manners, please come in.”
I hesitated. “Can Shane bring my bags in?” I pointed outside to the three suitcases.
Shane frowned slightly, and I smiled and batted my lashes at him.
“Trust me, she is traveling light,” Anna said as Shane strolled to my luggage and brought it effortlessly inside their home. He was a werewolf and a strong one; three suitcases were no challenge for him.
Anna led me inside her home, asking, “Is everything okay?”
I nodded while looking around at the cozy house that Shane had built for himself. It was charming and rustic. It had an inviting fireplace and next to it was a comfortable couch covered with a blanket and two mugs on the coffee table. I may have interrupted some romantic affair and suddenly I felt a bit morose for not having someone to do those sorts of activities with. However, I was more than ecstatic that Anna had found her mate. A gorgeous and really powerful mate. Come on, it was hard for me to take my eyes off of him. He should put on a shirt.
Anna must have thought the same, because she threw him his shirt as she gave me a look. I smiled, my cheeks turning red as they warmed up near the fireplace. Staring at the fire, I became mesmerized by it until I heard Shane lock the door. I let out a huge sigh of relief. I was safe at last. I was among friends and next to Anna, who I’d missed and prayed to have beside me when I was in danger. Above all, I was alive.
Anna cleared her voice. “So, are
you staying with us for a while?”
“Only if you’re okay with it,” I answered, glancing at Shane to see his reaction. He just shrugged his shoulders. It seemed like he didn’t mind, so I liked him even more.
“We would love it,” Anna said with a happy voice. “We have an extra bedroom. Shane will put your luggage there. You can rest, but first you have to tell me what the hell you have been doing these past few weeks!”
“Sightseeing,” I said.
Anna rolled her eyes. She never liked it when I answered her flippantly and didn’t take her seriously. So I sat on the couch, clasped my hands together, to keep them from trembling, and let out a long sigh.
“Can we talk tomorrow? I’m tired and sore from my journey. It has been such a long day.”
“I’ve missed you,” she said, sitting next to me as she put her arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to her. “You’re in some kind of trouble, aren’t you?”
I was the witch and yet she was the one who could always sense when bad things happened to me. That was creepy, but she was also my best friend and knew me all too well. “Yes, you know me. I’m always getting myself into predicaments.”
“Is it serious?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
I was lying. I needed help. That was why I was interrupting Anna’s time with her newfound mate. I was shamelessly moving into their home so I could have her protection. Being in her family’s territory and them being powerful vampires wouldn’t hurt, either. I knew I would be safe there. My anxiety diminished just with that thought.
“I’m going to put her bags in the guest room and make the bed,” Shane announced.