One (Rules Undying Book 6)

by R. E. Carr

  Georgia watched as Gail dragged Steve away from her. Once they reached the door, Gail ran back and gave Georgia an awkward hug. “Have you ever found yourself in a situation so utterly ridiculous that you know, somehow, once you accept it, anything is possible?” Gail asked softly.

  “Anything is possible,” Georgia said, giving her a tiny wave goodbye. “Take care, Gail.”

  “Take care, Georgia. . . err, Frankie.”

  Georgia wandered back to Ren and wrapped her arms around him. “He had a really nice suit—and a terrific car,” Ren muttered, resting his head on top of hers. “You could have lived a long time in the lap of luxury as an honest-to-goodness queen, you know.”

  “I know, but I chose to spend whatever time I had left . . . with you.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her. “Mada ikite iru.”

  Georgia grabbed her chest and felt the steady beating of her heart. She looked in the shadows once more. “You know, there may come a time when a strange guy—who only likes to wear coconut oil and a sock—will come asking for a favor. When that day comes, I need you to know that I have to help him.”

  “Well . . . of course, you do,” Ren replied, without a hint of irony in his monotone voice. She stepped up on her tippy-toes and kissed him in return. Georgia breathed in deeply the mix of the café, the sea air, and above all Ren, the Ren who held her tightly.

  “Mada ikite iru—to hell with anything else.”

  Acknowledgments

  The author would like to thank her amazing “Bite Club” of devoted beta readers. Rules Undying would not exist without your dedication and support. A special thanks goes out to the awesome Reginald Atkins, not only is he a brilliant cover designer but a perfect friend. I do need to add a special thank you for proofreading by Melissa Levine. Last but certainly not least, the awesome Aussiemandius needs to be thanked for her edits.

  If you cannot get enough of Rules Undying and you would like to know more, please check out www.rachelecarr.com, or follow me on Twitter @TotalRECarr.

  As always, this series owes its success to you guys, the fantastic Four fans who kept the author going through thick and thin. I know every story must end, but fear not, the world lives on. Just leaving you with that . . . oh, and turn the page, if you dare!

  Second Obligatory Post Credits Scene

  “Just one more interview, please!”

  “Lady Harker is done for the night,” Beulah replied. Her words had the added weight of two bulky security guards flanking her, one flashed his piece, the other his fangs. The young reporter, a slip of a girl with glasses and no makeup, refused to back down. The guards looked to their mistress who lounged on the grass of the Boston Public Garden. With her loose, flowing hair, and glowing skin, she looked positively magical in the light of the full moon. A large party of press, socialites, and bloodsuckers filled nearby tents, but only a security detail kept the normally gregarious Mina company out on the lawn.

  The elder vampire peeked at the short thing in a Bowie T-shirt and jeans rather than a suit. Mina cracked a smile. The girl piped up with, “I swear I won’t ask you about your relationship with the Romanian Prime Minister! I’m a scientist.”

  “Oh, a scientist? Well that is novel enough. Beulah take the boys and get me something proper to drink. Take your time.” One look from Mina silenced any protests from her attaché. Once they were alone in the moonlight, the girl grinned wickedly.

  “You’ve gotten better at hiding, sister,” Mina said with a sigh. “But I can always spot you. Why would you risk coming to Boston with everything going on?”

  “I brought a message from . . . Klaus. He can feel the old monster rising again. The Beast will return sooner rather than later, and honestly, neither one of us feels strong enough to fight anymore.”

  “I know.” Mina curled to her feet. “Why do you think I helped our brother expose us? If we are going to survive the next time it wakes up, we will need billions on our side. Su Min, sister, I’m asking you to trust me.”

  The girl shook her head. “You don’t understand the monster the way we do, Mina,” she said bitterly. “Unless . . . unless you’ve somehow become infected again too. Mina—”

  “I gave up my contamination long ago, as did Lorcan. We never had yours or Klaus’ . . . strength to keep a part of the monster inside. You know, it’s funny, we recite the words ‘colonial parasitic organism’, but we always gloss over the colonial part, don’t we, darling?”

  “Mina! For once in your ridiculous life will you listen to your older sister? Both Klaus and I gave most of our contamination to our sons. We split it between them and kept them apart in the hopes that the Beast would never reawaken, but when Steve was murdered by that brute—”

  “You might want to watch what you say . . . this close to the king, sister.” Mina nodded towards the crowded pavilion. Su Min took her sister’s hands. “I am locking Bam-Yin far away from everyone. If the Beast is truly about to rise, he will be one of the worst affected. Damn it, don’t you realize our second law was as much to protect the cattle as us? Once they see what sorts of monsters we can be—” She froze as they heard a twig snap. Mina swept her smaller sister into a tight embrace.

  “Despite all our differences, I do care about you, sister, and I’ll never forget that you risked so much just to warn me in person. Now go, and I’ll find you next time.” With that, Su Min darted behind one of the Garden’s trees and promptly vanished.

  “Do you think your hermana is telling the truth, mi amor?”

  Mina looked to the shadows over her shoulder. “Does it matter? Either it’s a trap for us to spring, or you’ll find some pieces of yourself. At least we’ve confirmed where more of you is hiding.”

  “So obvious and so close.” The shadows peeled away to reveal Javier lying on the grass, staring at the stars. “Just as I always am.”

  Mina joined him on the lawn, curling beside him while toying with his mess of hair. “You are a madman for reappearing like this, Javier. They will only mingle for so long before my watchers come back to me. Even my miasma has limits if I am to be subtle.”

  Javier traced his fingers along Mina’s jaw. He gave her one of his fangy, lopsided grins. “I do wonder, mi amor, what would your padre say if he knew you made a deal with el diablo?”

  “He’d be terribly disappointed that he didn’t bargain with you first, of course.” Both of them laughed and watched the figures flitting about the late-night party. For the briefest of moments, Mina caught a glimpse of Arthur and Gail clinking champagne glasses for eager onlookers. Mina sighed deeply. “I must say, our Arthur certainly plays the part better now. He’s getting more powerful every day.”

  “Sí, but that story is over. I think it is time we write our own, mi amor.”

  “All in good time, Javier. All in good time.”