The Vampire's Cursed Kiss (Shadowvale Book 2)

by Kristen Painter

  Her nerves were back. Big-time.

  Con laughed softly and squeezed her knee under the table. “You wouldn’t believe it if she told you.”

  Daniella’s smile was steely and didn’t reach her eyes. “Try me.”

  Con’s hand stayed on Andi’s knee. “She came out of a book.”

  The truth. She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, but it felt like a relief that he was going with what actually happened.

  The table was silent. Daniella frowned. “What does that mean? Is this some literary joke I’m not getting?”

  “No, no,” he answered. “I bought a lot of antique books from an estate sale, and when I opened one of them, Andi appeared.”

  No one budged, fixated on Con’s words.

  Juliette raised a finger in thought. “She was in a book.”

  “Cursed into it.” Con looked at Andi. “Weren’t you, darling?”

  Andi swallowed the last of the biscuit crumbs and nodded. “Cursed into it. A practical joke by my sister.” Okay, that part wasn’t true, but she didn’t want to explain Cassi’s actual reason to these people.

  Juliette snorted. “Wow. That sounds like something Val would do to Con.”

  Daniella let out a soft laugh. “It does, actually.”

  Josephine lifted her glass. “Here’s to my son’s love of literature finally paying off.”

  Laughter filled the space as everyone joined her in the toast.

  Andi relaxed. All was well.

  When the wine went around, she held her glass out to be filled. And when dessert was served, she unabashedly had seconds. Mostly because Daniella and Juliette did, too.

  She could see herself fitting in here. Being a part of this family. Being friends with these women.

  Living in this town. With this man.

  She glanced at Con, admiring how handsome and wonderful he was, and for the first time in her life, she understood how one person could want to spend their entire life with another.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  “I can’t believe how well that went.” Con was amazed in the best possible way.

  “Me, too,” Andi said.

  He was smiling and couldn’t stop. He pulled out of his parents’ driveway to head home. “You were so good. I mean, you just being you, but that was perfect. They would have seen through anything else.”

  “I kind of thought that would be the case,” Andi said.

  He glanced over at her. She was leaning against the car window, eyes half shut, a wine-tired smile on her face. “Sleepy?”

  “A little.” She sighed contentedly, blinking herself awake. “I haven’t eaten that much in a long time. Your mom can cook. And that bread pudding with the whiskey sauce? Wow, I need more of that.”

  “More?” He laughed softly. “You had two helpings.”

  “Only because your sisters did. I was trying to be polite. And it was delicious.”

  He nodded. “I see, I see. Well played, then.”

  Still smiling, she closed her eyes.

  He let her be. She’d done a remarkable thing tonight. She’d charmed his very judgmental family. They’d always been that way. A close family often was, as a way of protecting its members, but his family had learned to protect each other in a way most didn’t have to. Being a vampire had that effect.

  But since the nightmare of Miranda, his parents had taken their critique of anyone new in his life to the next level.

  It was one of the small reasons that he’d given up trying to find a new partner. His reluctance to be so deeply hurt again was another one. The big one.

  Finding love was hard. It required a person to put so much of themselves out there. He’d risked it all once before. He glanced at Andi. Was he really ready to do it again?

  Shockingly, his head and his heart seemed to agree that he was.

  He knew he was being impetuous. That the speed at which his heart was responding to this woman was so out of character for him that it ought to be setting off every alarm in his system.

  But that was the old Constantin. The new Constantin was taking the opposite approach. Letting go and being, as Andi would say, less uptight.

  It terrified him as much as it thrilled him.

  Andi was not his kind of woman at all. Which seemed to indicate exactly why she was so perfect. He didn’t need another woman like Miranda, a woman who aspired to perfection in every aspect of her life.

  He needed the chaos and impetuousness of Andi. He needed that kind of carefree joy. He’d never experienced it before her, and living in a place like Shadowvale made that a sad thing. He had nothing to fear in this town.

  And yet he still lived with the kind of caution he had in the old days.

  A bold wave of decision swept through him. Enough was enough. He knew what he wanted. Who he wanted. And waiting wasn’t going to change that.

  He pulled into his driveway, turned off the car, and looked at the woman who’d captured his heart.

  She was deeply asleep. He could tell by her breathing and by the relaxed rhythm of her heartbeat. He smiled. His beloved.

  He could wait until morning to tell her. He hoped. There was a very good chance he’d get cold feet. But he didn’t want to wake her up either. She’d earned this rest.

  Unsure what to do, he got out of the car and went around to her side. He opened her door carefully, catching her as she leaned with it. He scooped her into his arms and carried her into the house.

  He bent his head to inhale the fragrance of her hair. Despite her curves, she was birdlike in his arms, delicate and fragile. What would she look like when she got her wings back? he wondered. He couldn’t wait to see them. They must be as beautiful as she was.

  Nudging the guest bedroom door open with his foot, he slipped into the darkened space and gently laid her on the bed.

  He took her shoes off, then straightened, looking around. There was a throw on the bench at the foot of the bed. He retrieved it and draped it over her, pausing to kiss her forehead.

  There was something innocent and compelling about her when she was sleeping. Even if that sleep had been brought on by her overindulgence in wine and rich food. He smiled. He didn’t blame her. He would have drunk himself silly meeting his parents for the first time.

  “Sleep well, Andromeda.” Their talk could wait until the morning. He was not going to chicken out. His feelings weren’t so fickle that they’d fade with the morning’s light. In fact, he ought to put voice to them now, even if she couldn’t hear him.

  He cleared his throat softly, intent on keeping his voice soft so he wouldn’t wake her. Yes, this was a good way to practice his words. To see what they sounded like.

  “Andromeda Merriweather, I am besotted with you. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I don’t want to either. I hope you’ll stay. You will, won’t you? Because the truth is…I love you.”

  A small flash of light filled the room, and he glanced at the windows, his ears focusing on any sound of a storm. He heard nothing, not even the slightest rumbling of distant thunder. He went to the windows anyway, closing the curtains so Andi wouldn’t be disturbed.

  He turned to wish her good night and stopped cold.

  The throw he’d covered her with was flat. The bed was empty.

  Andi was gone.

  * * *

  Andi pushed at the thing that was pushing at her. She was deep in a dream that involved a shirtless Con, bread pudding, and a mine full of jewels.

  The thing nudged at her again. A voice followed. “Wake up, you lazy brat.”

  Andi knew that voice. Her eyes blinked open. “Cassi?”

  “Who else did you think it was?” Cassi stared down at her, fists on her hips.

  “I…” Andi pushed up to her elbows. “Where am I?”

  “On the floor of my living room.”

  The same spot Andi had been standing when Cassi had trapped her in the book. Except now she was lying down. And wearing the clothes she’d worn to meet Con’s family. “Why a
m I here?”

  Cassi rolled her eyes. “Really? You’re that clueless?”

  Andi sat up and pushed to her feet. Definitely still wearing the black cigarette pants and white shirt, but no shoes. “Yes, really. Why am I here? Where’s Con?”

  “You’re here because obviously you tricked some poor sap into breaking the curse. I only hope you fell for him, too.”

  A breath-stealing chill went through Andi. “I’m in Paris?”

  “That’s where I live, so yes, you’re in Paris. Wow, being cursed made you dumber.”

  Andi spun, her bare toes digging into the carpet, desperation taking hold of her. “Con isn’t here? Constantin? Where are you?”

  “Is that the sucker you tricked?”

  Andi whipped back around. “I didn’t trick anyone.” She’d started out to, but then her heart had gotten involved. “Where is he?”

  Cassi folded her arms and shrugged. “Wherever he was when you left.”

  “He’s still in Shadowvale,” Andi whispered to herself. She had to get back there. Fast. Or Con was absolutely going to think she’d played him. Or worse. Her heart ached at the thought. “Send me back. You have to send me back.”

  “You want to go back into the book?”

  “No, to Shadowvale. To Constantin.”

  Cassi just stared at her. “I don’t have the magic to do that, you know that. Take yourself back.”

  “Right, right.” Andi felt like she was having a heart attack. But she could do this. “I have to go, Cassi, but I’ll come back, and we’ll sort this all out, okay? I have a lot to tell you.”

  “I bet you do.” Cassi snorted. “Good luck on your trip.”

  Her words rang with spite. Instantly, Andi understood. She didn’t have to look over her shoulder to know her wings were still gone. “Give me back my wings.”

  “Why should I? After what you did to me?”

  Andi shut her mouth for a moment, trying to compose herself. Her urge was to yell, but that wasn’t going to get her anywhere. And she understood her sister’s pain now in a way she never had before. “Cassi, I am very sorry about Rolph.”

  Anger filled Cassi’s gaze. “Oh, right. Good time to be sorry, too. But yeah, that’s not going to fly.” Then she laughed. “And neither are you.”

  “Cassi, listen to me. I know you think I came on to Rolph, but I didn’t.” She swallowed at the knot in her throat. “He came on to me. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew it would hurt you.”

  Cassi’s haughty expression faltered, then she righted herself. “More lies. Just like you to spin one on top of another.”

  “No, Cassi, it’s not a lie. It’s the truth I was trying to spare you from. I know we don’t always get along, but you’re still my sister and I still love you. I thought it would be easier for you to be mad at me than heartbroken because your fiancé wasn’t true.”

  Tears welled in Cassi’s eyes. “Why would you make up such a horrible thing? It’s not going to change what you did to me. I don’t believe you anyway. Rolph is just one more man you ruined. That’s it. Now get out of my house.”

  “Cassi. I swear it on my wings. Wherever they are.”

  Her sister paled and took a step back. “He wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “First, you tell me you actually fell in love with a man. Now you’re trying to tell me that you were looking after my best interests?” She laughed as tears started to fall. “Gran would be so disappointed in who you’ve become, Andromeda.”

  Andi nodded. “I know, but I was already trying to change. Con helped me realize how much more I need to do. And I’m trying. I really am. Being in love with him has made me realize that love isn’t the petty emotion I thought it was. I am sorry for everything I’ve done to you. Every boyfriend of yours I flirted with, every man I seduced away from you. I wish I could take it all back.”

  She took a breath. “I was wrong to do those terrible things. Not just to you, but to myself. I don’t want to be like our mother. I want to be like Gran. And you.”

  Cassi’s lips parted, but no words came out.

  “I know you probably don’t believe me. I shouldn’t expect you to. I haven’t given you any reason to, after all. But maybe if you go with me to Shadowvale, and you meet Con, then maybe you’ll see I’m telling the truth.” She smiled sadly. “I even went to meet his family at their weekly dinner.”

  Cassi found her voice. “You went to meet a man’s family?”

  Andi nodded. “And I didn’t embarrass myself or him. And get this, they’re vampires.”

  Cassi’s eyes rounded. “What kind of game are you playing?”

  “No game. I’m done with games.”

  “You had dinner with a family of vampires.”

  Andi nodded. “And I’m pretty sure I’m in love with one.”

  Cassi shook her head. “I don’t believe you. You can’t expect me to.”

  “I know. That’s why I want you to go to Shadowvale with me. And if I’m not telling the truth, you can keep my wings.”

  Cassi blinked a few times. “This has to be one of your tricks, but for the life of me, I can’t figure it out. Fine, I’ll go to Shadowvale, but I have to see this man for myself and hear him say that he loves you, or no wings.”

  “He had to say it to break the curse, right? So I’m sure he’ll say it again.” Except she wasn’t sure. Not if she couldn’t get back there in time and explain what had happened. “Deal?”

  “Deal. Where is this Shadowvale?”

  “Yeah, about that… I’m not really sure.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Andromeda was gone.

  Gone.

  Moments ticked by as Constantin stood there, staring at the bed and attempting to process what had happened. He put his hand down where she’d been. Warmth remained. Her scent lingered, too. Proof that she had been there. That this whole thing hadn’t been a dream.

  Or a nightmare.

  He slumped into a chair near the windows and tried to think while he stared at the empty place and willed Andi to return. She didn’t. Chloe wander through the open door and meowed, reminding him that he hadn’t fed her yet.

  “Soon,” he muttered.

  How did a woman just disappear? What kind of magic did that? Her curse? But how? Had he done something wrong? If Andi was hurt or—

  “ANDI!”

  His voice resounded through the house, causing Chloe to take off running and the sound of cracking glass to come from another room. But that was all. No response from Andi. Nothing. The only other heartbeat in the house belonged to Chloe.

  Andromeda had vanished.

  And he felt utterly lost. A sudden terror took him, like a clock was counting down toward a very bad thing. He was out of his depth. He needed a witch. Someone who could give him answers. Now.

  He needed Amelia.

  He got to his feet, dug his phone from his back pocket. His hands shook as he tapped the screen, calling her up.

  Three rings…four rings…five—

  “Hello?”

  “Amelia, it’s Constantin. Andromeda’s gone. She’s just disappeared out of her bed. I saw her. Well, I was in the room, but I thought it was a flash of lightning, but it wasn’t, and now she’s gone—”

  “What happened right before she disappeared?”

  “We were at my parents’ for family dinner. She had a lot of food and wine and fell asleep in the car on the way home. I didn’t want to wake her, so I carried her to the guest room and put her on the bed. That was it.”

  “That was it? Nothing else?”

  He backtracked. “I took her shoes off, put a blanket over her, and kissed her forehead.”

  “What else?”

  “Nothing. That’s it. Then there was a flash of light. I thought it was lightning, but when I looked at the bed again, she was gone.”

  “You did nothing else? Think. Details matter.”

  “I closed the curtains because I thought a stor
m was coming. But she was already gone then. I think.”

  She repeated the question, slower this time. “You’re sure you did nothing else?”

  “That’s everything I did.”

  “Did you say anything?”

  “Yes, but I don’t see how—”

  “What did you say?” Her voice was softer. Almost sympathetic. Like she was pitying him. But for what?

  He swallowed. “I told her how I feel about her. I was going to do it in the morning, but she was asleep, so I thought I would practice.”

  The admission made him feel vulnerable. And foolish. As if he’d done something he should have realized would lead to this. Was that why Amelia sounded like she pitied him? “What did I do?”

  “I don’t know yet. Can you tell me specifically what you said? The exact words?”

  He closed his eyes. “That I was besotted with her. That I couldn’t imagine my life without her. That I hoped she’d stay. And that…” He squeezed his eyes tighter. “That I loved her.”

  Amelia made a small noise that could have meant a thousand different things. “I had a feeling. That’s what did it, then.”

  “That I said I loved her? How?”

  “Because those were the words needed to break that curse. You spoke them and meant them, and the curse was broken. That’s why she disappeared.”

  “No, Andi told me it would take three kisses to break the curse. And we’d only had one. At least in the time frame that she said—”

  “I’m sorry, Constantin, but that’s not how that curse was built. She had to make you fall in love with her to truly break that curse. Getting you to kiss her was just a means to that end.”

  He sat down again, on the bed this time. Andi’s lingering warmth was gone. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Not only because I’m a witch, but I confronted Andi about it, and she told me the truth herself.”

  “She lied to me.” The words were a whisper, spoken to his own shattered heart, raked out of his tightened throat.

  “I don’t think she knew any other way to fulfill the curse.”