A Vampire's Embrace
Page 24
As though invoking his presence, Stone strolled in from the hallway and crossed the room. His hair was still damp though pulled back in the woven clasp. “Champagne? Great idea.”
He joined Rosamunde so that the circle was now complete. Isobel was sound asleep in the guest room.
Everyone held their flutes and looked to Stone. Even Oregis had been provided a gremlin sized glass for the occasion.
Stone nodded several times as he lifted his glass. “First, to the safe return of Rez’s daughter, Isobel.”
“Hear, hear.” Everyone took a sip.
“Next, to the latest women to join the exalted ranks of the blood rose bond. Rosamunde and I especially want to extend our appreciation for what your service has already meant to our world. Tonight, we saw the elimination of yet another threat. I lift a glass to our blood roses.”
Holly smiled at Emily as the others took a sip.
She then decided she wanted to take a turn. She lifted her flute, and though her throat was tight, she said, “And to our fighting men who keep Tannisford safe. We have a beautiful society in which all realm-folk flourish, but not without the vigilant efforts of the Vampire Guard and the Troll and Shifter Brigades. But I’d also especially like to express my appreciation for what Rez has accomplished during the last two years, how many lives he’s saved through personal sacrifice of both time and to a large degree his reputation.”
It was Devyn who returned with a strong, “I will say a Goddess-amen to that.”
“And I second it.” Stone’s voice boomed around the circle.
Everyone took a drink.
Holly took Rez’s arm and gave it a squeeze. He turned and offered her a smile then kissed her cheek again.
A few more toasts of general good-will occupied the next several minutes.
Stone then shared a few critical points about the battle at the Overlook. The Invictus in the camp were quickly subdued and the wraith-slaves taken to a rehabilitation center where physicians and fae would tend to their recovery. Though Oregis had helped him backtrack to Underworld, all signs of the captives were gone. Nothing had remained but the glass enclosures and scattered crystals all over the cavern floor.
“I’ve ordered the Sidhe Council to do a complete investigation of Lanarae’s workshop. They’re hoping to determine how these latest Invictus pairs were created and, more importantly, whether this new evolution might prove a threat to all the realms.”
Both Devyn and Rez asked questions about the battle itself, but Rosamunde ended the discussion by announcing that the buffet was served.
Shortly after everyone was seated, Stone asked Rez if he would be interested in rejoining the Guard.
Holly was so surprised, she almost choked on her wine.
Rez, however, refused. “Thanks. But I’ll continue as I’ve been. The eastern villages and hamlets need me, maybe now more than ever.”
“I understand, though I’ve had an idea I’d like to run by you. What if you returned to create, train and lead a division designed specifically to care for all our outlying areas. It would mean bringing on more warriors but our people would be safer.”
Holly could feel the release of tension within Rez’s body. He’d been a Guardsman a long time before he’d left to patrol the east on his own. She knew his desire to serve alongside his brothers-in-arms had never abated. He was being offered a way back in that would restore his reputation and trust among his fellow Guardsmen.
Still, he hesitated. Holly thought she understood the reason. Rez cleared his throat. “Your idea has merit. Great merit, in fact. Just what I’d want to do. But for the present, I need time with my daughter.”
“Of course.” Stone’s brows rose. “Yes, of course. We can discuss it later. Any time that suits you.”
Oregis’s high, thin voice took the conversation a different direction entirely. He addressed the former queen of Ferrenden Peace. “Rosamunde, has anyone told you that you have the prettiest eyes. Violet, with these lovely hints of blue and purple. They remind me of the color of my wife’s—”
“Oregis.” Four masculine voices called sharply to the gremlin.
He appeared innocent with brows raised. “Whatever do you mean? I was going to say the sofa in her third sitting room.” He then chortled with glee.
~ ~ ~
Rez insisted on flying Holly back to her mountain home where they would spend the day, in bed, together. They would complete the bond with a full union of their bodies, the sharing of blood, and the engagement of their mating frequencies.
He couldn’t wait, yet he wanted to take his time with her, so he flew her.
Everything about this moment felt sacred. He was living inside a miracle. Love had found him again and that same love had brought his daughter home safely. He felt blessed and overcome.
He held Holly close to his side while he flew. Her foot was planted on his right boot and her left arm was slung across his shoulders. She used levitation to keep herself upright while her free hand caressed his shoulder, his chest, his neck and his face.
His woman.
His blood rose.
His partner.
The air was cooler now as he levitated above the slope of the rising forest. “I love you, Holly, more than words could ever express.”
~ ~ ~
Holly hugged him in response.
She shared Rez’s mood.
Reverence was what she felt coming from him, as though this shared moment belonged to the heavens and not to the mere realm-world. She loved and she was loved. She’d found passion, companionship and an incredible bond in the arms of a man she’d once thought of as a deserter.
They would marry sometime this year. But she hoped, as she never had before, that she carried his child when she bound herself to him in front of their families and loved ones.
She gasped as a vision came to her rich with color and life. She was at a midnight picnic, on the lawn in the smithy backyard. Isobel was there and held a baby in her arms. Her husband was bringing her a plate of ripe apricots and a glass of mineral water. He was smiling at her and she looked beyond content.
Children ran around the yard. Several of them and they belonged to Holly. All hers and Rez’s.
Rez sat beside her on the picnic blanket and between them was an infant. Their latest.
The vision faded and left her feeling overwhelmed yet happy beyond words.
As he flew, she hugged him hard. She’d never thought of herself as a mother of a brood, but it looked like she was and right this moment, she wanted nothing more. She wanted to give back to Rez what the war against the Invictus had stolen from him so thoroughly: A family.
Did you just have a vision? Why are you weeping? Are we in danger?
She chuckled. Just the opposite. We’re going to have children. Apparently, a lot of them.
His arm tightened around her waist. You’d better marry me then.
Oh, I will. Yes, I will.
The End
A Note from Caris
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Coming Up Next
A TOUCH OF FLAME: The next story set in the world of Five Bridges will be the fifth book of the Flame Series and features a crazy witch and a grief-stricken alpha wolf. Read more about the Flame Series…
About the Author
Caris Roane is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-eight paranormal romance books. Writing as Valerie King, she has published fifty novels and novellas in Regency Romance. Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, loves gardening, enjoys the birds and lizards in her yard, but encourages the scorpions to inhabit elsewhere. Her motto: Live the Fang!
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ind out more about Caris on her website!
Have You Read These Books by Caris Roane
The Flame Series…
BLOOD FLAME – Book 1
AMETHYST FLAME – Book 2
DARK FLAME – Book 3
AMBER FLAME – Book 4
CHRISTMAS FLAME, A Holiday Novella
The Blood Rose Series…
BLOOD ROSE SERIES BOX SET, 1-2-3
EMBRACE THE DARK – Book 1
EMBRACE THE MAGIC – Book 2
EMBRACE THE MYSTERY – Book 3
EMBRACE THE PASSION – Book 4
EMBRACE THE NIGHT – Book 5
EMBRACE THE WILD – Book 6
EMBRACE THE WIND – Book 7
EMBRACE THE HUNT – Book 8
EMBRACE THE POWER – Book 9
The Blood Rose Time Travel Series…
A VAMPIRE’S SOFT EMBRACE – Book 1
The Blood Rose Tales…
BLOOD ROSE TALES BOX SET
To Peruse the Blood Rose Tales Separately…
TRAPPED – Tale 1
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Guardians of Ascension…
The Original Six Books Published by St. Martin’s Press
ASCENSION – Book 1
BURNING SKIES – Book 2
WINGS OF FIRE – Book 3
BORN OF ASHES – Book 4
OBSIDIAN FLAME – Book 5
GATES OF RAPTURE- Book 6
The Dawn of Ascension Novels, Self-Published by Caris Roane, as part of Guardians of Ascension
BRINK OF ETERNITY as part of VAMPIRE COLLECTION
THE DARKENING
The Rapture’s Edge Series as part of Guardians of Ascension
AWAKENING – Rapture’s Edge Book 1
VEILED – Rapture’s Edge Book 2
REVEALED – Rapture’s Edge Book 3
The Amulet Series…
WICKED NIGHT/DARK NIGHT (Boxed Set)
The Men in Chains Series, Published by St. Martin’s Press
BORN IN CHAINS – Book 1
CHAINS OF DARKNESS – Book 2
UNCHAINED – Book 3
SAVAGE CHAINS – A Separate Novel in the Same World
Find Caris at…
Her Website
Her Blog
Her Facebook Author Page
Her Twitter Page
Her Pinterest Page
For giveaways, freebies, updates on the latest books, and lots of photos, be sure to sign up today for Caris’s mailing list: Caris’s Newsletter
Author of…
Guardians of Ascension Series – Warriors of the Blood crave the breh-hedden
Dawn of Ascension Series – Militia Warriors battle to save Second Earth
Rapture’s Edge Series – Militia Warriors battle to save Third Earth
Blood Rose Series – Only a blood rose can fulfill a mastyr vampire’s deepest needs
Blood Rose Tales – Short tales of mastyr vampires who hunger to be satisfied
Men in Chains Series – Vampires struggle to get free of their chains and save the world
The Flame Series – Hunky ‘Alter’ warriors battle for control of their world
The Amulet Series – Master vampires use special amulets to care for their tribes