Not Another Vampire Book

by Cassandra Gannon

  Kara rolled her eyes as Slade bounded through the crowded ballroom, dressed exactly like Brad Pitt in Interview with a Vampire. Tanya took all the fun out of mocking Eternal Passion at Sunset when she did stuff like that. It was almost like she was parodying it herself and Slade didn’t need her help to be ridiculous.

  For no reason at all, the party guests began clapping and cheering his name as he passed.

  Slade slowed his progress through the crowd to wave at his admirers. He raised his hand in careless, entitled acknowledgment, flashing his thousand megawatt smile. An honest-to-God, couldn’t-happen-outside-a-toothpaste-ad, star effect gleamed off his boyish grin as he stopped to kiss a baby.

  Someone brought an infant to a formal ball?

  Kara gave up.

  Ignoring ‘The Slade Show,’ she fluttered her lashes at Damien, tauntingly. “So, shall I tell him you’d like me to Eternally Bond with him now, or did you want it to be a surprise?” She still wasn’t ready to let Damien off the hook. Knowing she was in love with him just made her all the more annoyed with the jerk.

  Apparently, he didn’t appreciate the sarcasm.

  Damien’s hand slashed over to grab Kara’s arm like she might make a run for it. For a guy who’d just been eager for her to start dating other super-beings, he sure didn’t seem thrilled to see Slade within fifty feet of her.

  He stared down at Kara, breathing hard.

  She contrived to look innocent. “Reconsidering your plan to pimp me out to Edward Cullen?”

  “I tried to do what was right.” Damien shook his head. “To give you a choice, like a mate should. I did the best I could to be honorable. But... I can’t release you. Not really. I just can’t.” He sounded like he’d just had the evil equivalent of an epiphany. “You’re right. I’m not the hero.”

  Kara’s breasts tightened at the intent look in his eye. “I never wanted the hero.” She whispered.

  “If you leave with Slade, I will blow-up the world to get you back.” He promised, harshly. “I don’t give a shit about the consequences, or if you consummate the Eternal Bond with him, or if you’re hidden away on the golden island. You are mine and I will always get you back.”

  He glared down at her as if he still expected an argument. Did the guy just not listen or was he really that insecure about Slade’s appeal with the ladies? “Vlad, you wouldn’t have to come get me.” Kara switched her hand around so she was squeezing his fingers. “I would come back to you on my own.”

  Damien was on a roll, not processing that reassurance. Clearly, he somehow felt like he’d been the soul of patience up until now. “To make you happy, I tried to give you freedom, Kara Lynn. I must have been out of my mind, but I tried. You did not appreciate it and I’m through kidding myself that I could have gone through with it, anyway.”

  “Good.”

  He ignored that, too, tugging her backwards, so she was behind him. “When we get home, you will mate with me.” It was an order. “You will take off your clothes, you will lie on my bed, and you will willingly mate with me. Understand?”

  “Yeah, okay.” Kara agreed, readily. “Good idea.” Wow, did she love it when he let his dark side loose. He loomed over her, dominating the space and she was suddenly so aroused she was close to spontaneous combustion. Sleeping with him was still a bad idea, but if she was bound for heartache anyway, she might as well get see him naked first. Where this man was concerned, she developed the alternate personality of a really easy, sexually playful wanton.

  It was exciting.

  Damien pupil’s dilated, like he hadn’t expected such a fast agreement. His gaze flashed to her poofy skirts and Kara had the feeling he was remembering how very, very naked she was under the dress. Thanks to him, her underwear was nothing but a tattered piece of lace. He’d pocketed it when the left the carriage and he hadn’t magically made her a new pair, yet.

  She could feel herself growing damp under his inspection.

  His mouth curved, like it was just occurring to him that his animalistic side of his nature turned her on. “You’ll let me do whatever I want to your body.” He was testing her and the jolt her body gave was probably a passing grade. “You’ll get on your hands and knees, and you’ll do just as I say, won’t you?”

  “Uh-huh.” Kara licked her bottom lip, feeling Damien’s eyes burning through the layers of fabric shielding the junction of her thighs.

  “I’ll hold you down and I’ll take you just as hard as I like, Kara Lynn. Then, I’ll start over. Endlessly, so you’ll never tell me I’m not your mate, again. Until you admit you’re my cari and you believe it.” He leaned closer, so his lips brushed her ear. “Then, I’ll tie you to the bed and take you again, just because I fucking can.”

  Holy shit. Was he writing that dialogue himself? He had this kind of talent and he decided to reveal it in a ballroom? What the hell had he been waiting for?

  Damien smirked at her dazed expression. “Such a good human.” It was a purr. “Now, stay behind me while I deal with the Vampires. I need to finish this very, very quickly and get you home.”

  Kara blinked. “What?” Hang on... “No, I’m going to deal with Slade.” She was more than willing to let Damien take the lead in the bedroom, but he wasn’t going to boss her around outside of it. “I have to tell him about Melessa. That’s the whole reason I captured her.”

  Damien frowned, impatiently.

  “It’s important. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

  One black eyebrow arched. “Oh, I know you will.”

  Her stomach dipped at the meaningful drawl, even as she tried to regain control. “Here he comes. Seriously, cut it out. Slade has Vampire smell or whatever. If you keep it up, he’s gonna guess that I’m... That you made me... you know.” She trailed off, with a sigh.

  “Aroused?” Black eyes began dancing with unholy amusement at her embarrassment. “He has Vampire hearing, too. No doubt, he’ll listen in when I say that your body is the softest, sweetest...”

  Kara slapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish that.

  Damien’s mouth curved against her palm.

  Bastard.

  Kara had the sudden urge to giggle. If she’d thought he’d said that as some kind of pissing contest with Slade, she would have stabbed him. But, Damien hadn’t even glanced in the Vampire’s direction. He was teasing her. “You’re blowing your nefarious man of mystery shtick, right now. I hope you know that.” She dropped her palm and wound up grinning at him. “Goof.”

  He smiled down at her, something vast and warm in his expression. “My powers are shrouding you, cari. He can’t smell you. He cannot hear us. I would not share anything with him. Do not worry.”

  God, she really did love this guy.

  She cycled through about seventy emotions a minute around him. He had a twisted sense of humor and death wish. He was probably gonna kill her from undiluted sexual desire and their relationship was utterly hopeless.

  But, she still loved him beyond reason.

  Her thumb brushed over the scar on his chin. “Thank you, Damien.”

  “You are welcome.” He kissed her temple, straightening as Slade approached. “Enjoying the party, Vampire?” He asked it casually, but his body was braced in front of Kara, waiting for a fight.

  “You have gone too far this time!” Slade never just talked. Everything was announced or proclaimed. It got old. “I know of your vile trick and I shall see you dead!”

  “Yes, so you’re said before.” Damien sounded bored. “It frustrates me that we can’t just fight and get it over with. Why can’t I kill him, right now?” He glanced down at Kara for a ruling. “It seems like I should be able to, but I can’t.”

  “The book.” She explained. Eternal Passion at Sunset was like an out-of-control train right now: No one at the helm, but still packing a lot of power. Poor Damien looked baffled that he couldn’t break free of its hold and just behead Slade. “I don’t think it will let you skip to the climatic end scene.”

/>   “The book!” Slade repeated with a triumphant stab of his finger. “So, you admit it!”

  “Huh?” Kara frowned at him.

  He scowled down at her, not looking anything like the besotted Eternal-One he was supposed to be. “I know all! There shall be a reckoning!

  “Huh?” She repeated, blankly.

  Damien didn’t seem to care what Slade was jabbering about. “Have you seen your cousin, Vampire? I suppose I can still kill him and just work my way up your family tree.”

  “Why would you be after To’kel?” Slade taunted. “Because he knows the truth? Because you wish to hide your duplicity with this Witch?!” He spat out the word, his blue eyes fixed on Kara. “Because To’kel might tell me that this imposter is not my Eternal-One, but a Wizard Warlock whore sent to trick me?”

  Uh-oh.

  To’kel had gotten to Slade and told him his own version of the story. That’s why Slade was late and To’kel was nowhere to be seen. Very not good. The little punk was improvising a new plan. He’d sicced Slade on them. “Hey, now I told you that I wasn’t really your bride from the very beginning... Damien, no!”

  Kara’s explanation ended with a shriek as Damien’s powers exploded. Slade was catapulted into the air, right through the dome of the ceiling and out into the night. His huge body flew like a comet, spinning out of sight. The glass roof spider-webbed around the hole he created, splintering apart with ominous cracking sounds.

  Partygoers started screaming and taking off in all directions. Crystal shards crashed to the black and white marble floor, crunching under foot, as people ran for their lives. Kara gaped up at the shattered ceiling. Very slowly, her head swiveled in Damien’s direction.

  He was staring up at the damage, too. “I can hurt him, then.” He murmured in satisfaction. “I just have to want it bad enough.”

  “Did you kill Slade?” She demanded. “Damn it, we need him, Damien!”

  “The son-of-a-bitch called you a whore.” Damien shot back. “I would have killed him, but I can’t, yet. This was the next best thing.”

  She blew out an aggravated breath. It was hard to lecture a guy when he said something like that. “Well, at least fix the roof before someone gets hurt, then.” She gestured at the fracturing dome suspended over their heads. Kara was the only human not dashing for the door.

  Damien wouldn’t let her be injured. She believed it totally.

  He grunted and waved a negligent hand. The glass on the floor shot upward, again, melding back into the decorative ceiling like it had never been broken. The jagged edges smoothed themselves, the fissures healing back together. It was all so simple for Damien.

  Magic.

  Kara glanced over at him. “You’re just so talented.” Genuine admiration colored her tone. “I would love to be able to do something like that.”

  His mouth curved. “Would you?”

  Slade returned before she could answer.

  He slammed through the newly repaired roof, breaking it all over again. For a moment he stayed aloft, posing against the starry sky. Then, swooping down like Batman, he landed on the floor with the flourish of an Olympic gymnast. Unhurt and waiting for a round of applause, he straightened and surveyed the empty ballroom.

  A frown tugged his mouth as he noticed that his audience had fled into the night.

  Vampires could fly?

  Of course they could.

  Kara rolled her eyes, ignoring the glass that rained down. None of it got within six feet of where she stood. Magic, again. She looked over at Damien. “He couldn’t use the door, huh?”

  “Overcompensation.” Damien stepped in front of her, his attention on Slade. “I think you owe my cari an apology, Vampire.”

  “She is not my Eternal-One! You have lied to me for the last time, sorcerer. Passing this Witch off as my beloved is the vilest, most...”

  “I’m not a Witch.” Kara interrupted before Damien sent him through a wall next. “And I told you I wasn’t your beloved, Slade. You heard me say it many times.”

  “Lies. Witches lie.”

  “You lie.” Damien started for him. “She told you that she wasn’t your Eternal-One and you sought her, anyway. You tried to steal my mate. Admit it! When she wouldn’t go willingly, you sent the dragons after her. You tried to take her for your own and I almost fucking let you!” The last part was a roar.

  “I thought she was mine! She seduced me with her Witch’s magicks!” Slade protested, righteously. “Her curly hair is un-Witch-like and purposefully attractive. When I kissed her, she only pretended to fight me off. She gives mixed signals.”

  “Get your eyes off of her hair and... What?” Damien stopped short, rounding on Kara. “He kissed you?!”

  “Well, I hit him for it.” She shrugged, helplessly. “It’s not like I wanted him to. Don’t get upset, it only lasted a second.”

  “She was about to become overcome with passion when she attacked me.” Slade volunteered. “The woman is impossible to understand. You are welcome to her, sorcerer.”

  Damien looked back at Slade, his voice going cold. “Even if I wasn’t already planning to kill you, now I would kill you.”

  “You have stolen my real Eternal-One!” Slade shouted. “You are the one at fault here. To’kel has told me how your Witch bragged of abducting the gentle flower of my heart.”

  “Okay, technically that’s right...” Kara began.

  Damien cut her off. “I abducted the human girl. Not Kara Lynn.”

  “Now, that’s not true.” Kara shook her head at Slade. “He was against kidnapping Melessa from the start. It was my idea. But, see I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Slade’s woman is my prisoner.” Damien said, flatly. “I think she makes a lovely addition to my dungeon.”

  Slade’s not-quite-blue-enough eyes narrowed at Damien. “You seek to protect the Witch from my wrath, but I am the most brilliant strategist of my people and I am not fooled. We have battled in the past, yet you never caught me so off-guard before. Never done so many things so... differently. So wrongly and not how they are supposed to be. No.” He started for Kara, his handsome face intent. “She is behind this. The Witch and her evil book of lies.”

  Kara automatically looked down at Eternal Passion at Sunset. To’kel must have told him about the story spoilers, too. Probably not the part where he was planning to steal the Vampire throne and kill granny’s cat, though. “Okay, I’m with you on not liking this manuscript, but there’s no need to go all unhinged. We’re both after the same thing. You want Melessa and I want to give her back to you, so... Vlad, stop. I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”

  Damien seemed to disagree. He pushed her back, farther away from Slade. “If you come near my mate, Vampire, yours will die.” From out of nowhere, a really sharp sword appeared in his elegant palm and he gave it a menacing twirl that bespoke of a lot of bloodshed. “I’m positive I can kill that girl whenever I feel the urge.”

  “Great.” Kara threw up her hands at the threat as Slade gasped in outrage. “Come on, Damien. Not helping. Slade?” It was a sad day for sanity when she was counting on him to be rational one. “If you want Melessa, you can have her. I swear. I know you need her by your birthday tomorrow, so I’ll go get her right now and...”

  “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He interrupted. “You think to lead me into a trap. I am no idiot. I will save her from your vile clutches, without your help.”

  “No, geez, don’t do that. Just let me give her back.”

  “You truly want to just return the woman to him?” Damien sounded incredulous. “Has it escaped your notice that he is my mortal enemy and I’ve been planning to capture his bride for six hundred and sixty-six years?”

  Kara’s mouth dropped open. “Damien!” Villainy was just second nature to him.

  “Don’t you see? My plan has actually worked.” He was warming to his topic. “Inadvertently, yes. But, now I have his real Eternal-One and she is not you, so it doesn’t matter what happens to h
er. I can use her to extract my vengeance and lure him into a trap. We’re not just giving him back my bait.”

  Kara wondered if she could somehow levitate him through a ceiling. “She’s my prisoner, Damien. I’ll decide what we do with her.”

  “To’kel has warned me of your treachery.” Slade said that a little too loudly as if he just wanted their attention back on him. “Your schemes will end in your doom!”

  “Oh please. To’kel’s trying to murder you, dingus! Here.” Kara opened the manuscript to page 175. “See for yourself.” She held it up for him. “He’s been working with Damien to overthrown you this entire time.”

  “Kara Lynnnnn.” Damien drew her name out on an aggravated sigh. “Don’t tell him my plans. Without spies, I cannot I spy on him.”

  “Oh, you’re going to kill To’kel, anyhow.”

  Slade edged forward as far as his own suspicions and Damien’s sword point would let him. “‘Slade’s imposing masculine beauty outshone the human men and drew the eye of every woman.’” He read out loud. “‘The Vampire King seemed bathed in a golden ray of radiance that Melessa felt lucky to be part of as she basked in his magnetic sexual presence.’” Slade’s lips pursed. He glanced at Kara, reluctantly intrigued. “Interesting. This book does not sound like lies, at all."

  “It depends on your point of view.” Damien muttered.

  “Quiet, you.” Kara nudged him with her shoulder. “Here, Slade. Read this part.” She gestured further down the page.

  He obediently squinted at the paragraph. “‘Slade stood as straight and imposing as a very large tree. “I know that you have plotted with Damien to steal my crown and my beloved, but I am the rightful owner of both and will not have them stolen by you, my illegitimate cousin from hell.’” Hmmm... Well, you have a point.” Slade shrugged and looked up from the book. “That brave man does sound like me.”

  “Yeah, he sure does.” Damien agreed, snidely.

  “Why would anyone want to rebel against me, though?” Slade seemed baffled by the idea that he might not engender universal devotion. “Especially To’kel. I let him care for my horses. He is head stable boy.”