Danika blinked several times and gave a tight smile, the tension and honor of the situation was obviously overwhelming her.
Sherman raised his hand and the cheering died down.
“As Queen Danika will be too busy to run this coven, we will need to find a new coven lord. There are several names that we are still sorting through but for now Sinya will run the coven. Las Vegas and its lordship is to be given to Roth.”
Roth stepped forward, stoic as ever, and nodded to Sherman.
“Along with these new positions, it is proposed that we form a worldwide committee. One that will be made up in equal parts of all races that still live here. Vampire, vampyr, vamp, human, and fae. This committee will counsel together for the betterment of every single person. The idea of slavery is to be abolished here and now in the entirety of the United States. There will be no more slave markets. No more raids. No more capturing of humans. Slaves will be freed and paid. If we do not evolve, we will perish.”
Danika stepped forward and raised her glass. “Let it be so.”
The crowd raised their glasses. “Let it be so.”
Chapter 27
William stood at his bedroom window staring at the barracks. It’d been an additional two days, and he still hadn’t seen Evan. She hadn’t come to him as he’d hoped, and every time he’d gone to see her, Tommy had guarded her door.
The anxiety in William’s stomach had turned to full-blown panic. He couldn’t understand what was going on with her. He knew he’d been a jerk and it was very well possible she’d learned about the two females, but if he could only get close enough to her that she’d let him explain.
The pent-up energy and mounting need inside him had him ready to explode on everyone. He’d tried to distract himself with drinking and with helping everyone in the house, but the more people that fawned over him, the worse it became. He’d locked himself in his room the night before, afraid that if he didn’t he’d drag one of the fawning females into the nearest room and screw her till he dropped. Possibly several females.
But that wasn’t what he wanted. For as much as his new nature craved acceptance and pleasure, more than that it wanted to love and be loved. And there was only one woman he wanted that from.
Sue and Tommy walked out of the barracks hand in hand. That explained a lot. Their smiling faces mocked William in his misery. Tommy said something and Sue smacked his shoulder. He grabbed at her, and she let out a shriek of laughter and then ran off around the side of the building toward the back of the property. Tommy took off after her.
William’s heart leapt. Without wasting a moment, he raced into the hall and jumped to the bottom floor, startling several coven members. He was through the kitchen and out the back in only a few steps. He ran to the barracks and up the stairs so fast no one had time to stop him. Skidding to a halt outside Evan’s room, he took a deep breath and let his hand rest on the knob. Nervousness skittered up his spine as he raised his hand to knock. What if she told him she didn’t love him anymore? What if she didn’t care? He didn’t know if he could take the heartbreak.
He sucked in a deep breath. It didn’t matter. The not knowing was killing him. He knocked on the door and then pushed it open. The lights were off and the curtains drawn.
“Evan?”
* * * *
Evan’s eyes opened and a shiver ran down her spine.
“Evan, are you awake?”
The soft sound of William’s voice both soothed and grated on her at the same time.
It had been three days and she still needed more time. Three days of silence. Three days of sleeping and thinking and sleeping some more. And now she lay in her bed feeling more tired than she had when she’d started.
“Evan?”
“I’m awake.” She rolled over and faced him. He deserved to know the truth. Even if he rejected her, he deserved to know.
He closed the door and moved to the edge of her bed. He sat down heavily, making the box spring creak.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You’ve been sleeping a lot. Tommy wouldn’t let me bother you.”
She pushed herself into a sitting position and tried to flatten her hair and wipe her face before turning on the light.
He searched her eyes in the golden glow from the lamp.
“You’ve been crying.” He scooted closer. “What’s wrong? What’s happened? Did someone hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No. No one hurt me.”
“Tell me. Please, tell me what’s wrong. Did I do something? I know I’ve been an ass and I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be that way, it’s just now that I’m…well…the new me, I guess my dick does a lot of the thinking and I don’t—”
“Be quiet.” She put her fingers to his lips. “It’s not you. It’s me.”
He stared at her and then nodded. “It’s okay. You don’t have to give me the ‘It’s not you it’s me’ spiel. I get it. I’ve put you through too much. Between the following you across the country to the blood drinking and me killing that guy to me forgetting you and—”
“I’m pregnant.” The weight lifted off her shoulders for finally having gotten it out, but her gut twisted as she waited for him to say something.
William’s mouth hung open. He blinked several times. “Oh,” he said quietly.
He looked away and scanned the room.
She held her breath, waiting for him to speak. “Oh? That’s all you have to say?”
He looked back at her, sadness etched into his features. “I suppose it was someone back at the enclave? A guy you met while you were there? The one in the hallway that let us go that night? It’s okay. I understand.”
“Wait, what?” She shook her head. “What guy? There was no guy at the enclave, you idiot. The only guy I’ve been with in the last two years was you.”
“Me?” William’s eyebrows raised. She watched as his brain finally caught up with her words. “Me? I’m the father? I’m gonna be a father!”
A smile spread across his face, and he grabbed Evan and pulled her into a hug. Then he released her and cupped her face.
He kissed her forehead. “Evan.” He kissed her eyelids. “Evan.” He kissed her cheeks. “Evan.” He kissed her mouth. “Evangeline.”
Emotions that had been all bottled up inside boiled over and tears spilled from her eyes. William kissed them away tenderly, telling her he loved her with each worshiping kiss.
Finally, she brought her lips to his and kissed him hard. He growled deep in his chest and her body tingled all over. She grabbed at his shirt and fumbled with the buttons trying to get it off him.
He ripped it from his body and threw it to the floor. She stripped her tank top off and her bra as well. His hard, muscular body covered hers on the bed as he kissed down the side of her throat, his enlarged fangs grazing her skin.
She wrapped her arms around his back, taking stock of his newly broadened frame. His muscled bunched and flexed beneath her touch. He kissed down over her breasts to her stomach. He kissed her reverently and laid his ear on her belly.
“I can hear his heartbeat,” he said. “He’s strong, like you.”
“Oh, and you know it’s a boy, do you?”
William nodded and then kissed her belly once more before moving back to her mouth. “I love you, Evangeline. I want to marry you, mate you, and make you mine.”
She pulled him close and kissed him. She ran her fingers down the flat planes of his packed abs to the sensually cut V that started at his hip and dipped below his waistband. She undid the button of his slacks and went to push them off and found he wore no underwear.
She cocked an eyebrow.
He shrugged. “I like to make things easier.”
She slid his pants down to his thighs and grabbed his tight rear. “Do you now?” She moved her hand so she cupped his erection.
His head dipped, and he bit at her neck as she stroked him. Every inch of him was bigger, stronger, more muscular.
“Evangeline,” he moaned her name into her throat.
“Say it. Tell me.”
His red eyes looked straight at her. “I’m yours. Now and forever.”
She kissed him hard, and he stripped her of her sweats. She guided his large size against her, and he pressed inside her slowly, digging his nails into her hipbone. When he was all the way in, his forehead leaned against hers and he panted hard, his muscles trembling with strain.
“I can’t hold back,” he told her. “Not this time.”
She took his face in her hands. “Take me. I’m yours.”
William’s mouth clamped down on hers, and he thrust inside her hard. She moaned at the feel of him.
He rocked his hips, the friction between them making him moan her name.
Evan grabbed onto his rear and held on. He grabbed her by the back of the neck, and their bodies slapped together in a musical rhythm, her bed slamming into the concrete wall. Within a minute, he called out her name and she looked on as his face turned from a mask of agony to utter bliss within those few passing moments of exquisite torture.
She smiled as he fell on top of her, totally spent, and kissed her softly. He brushed the hair from her face and ran his fingers down her body.
He wrapped his arm around her and rolled on his side, keeping them joined together.
Caressing her body, he kissed her throat, her breasts, and her shoulders. Every touch a silent promise to worship her forever.
Finally, he looked into her eyes and she kissed him again.
“I love you, William.”
A broad smile crossed his face and his eyes dulled from bright red to a magnificent chocolate brown.
“I love you too, Evangeline.”
Epilogue
William stepped carefully down the stairs to the front foyer, one hand one Evan’s lower back, one hand on the railing.
“You do know I’ve walked down these stairs a million times, right?” she asked.
“Yes, but you’ve never been this large before,” he replied.
She stopped and gave him an icy glare.
“Large and beautiful. Radiant. Bursting with maternal—”
“Shut it.” She rolled her eyes and continued down the stairs.
The front door opened and Danika and Mason walked in followed by Selene and Neeman.
“Good evening.” Danika strode across the foyer to them and hugged William and then Evan. “Wow, you’re ready to burst.”
“I wish,” Evan replied.
“You have about two more weeks, Doc said,” said William. “The baby needs all the time in there he can get.”
Evan shook her head. “He’s become the biggest nag about everything.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.” Sinya walked down the stairs holding her baby. “You should have seen Lance when I was pregnant.”
“I only want what’s best,” said William. “Did you speak with Nicholas?”
Danika’s gaze flicked to Mason’s and he wrapped his arm around her protectively.
“Yes. I spoke to my father. He’s well.”
“Do you think he’ll come for a visit soon?” asked Evan.
Danika shook her head. “I think it will be a while before that happens. I have a lot of feelings to sort out first.”
“I know how that goes,” said Evan.
“This came for you.” Roth walked up to William and handed him a folded piece of paper.
Evan squeezed his hand. “What is it?”
William flicked open the paper and then closed it. “Later.” He kissed her head.
Neeman and Selene walked through the front door.
“How was the committee meeting?” he asked Neeman and Selene.
“Better,” Selene replied. “We’ve been able to convince your uncle and several of the other enclave leaders to meet with us finally.”
“That’s great news,” said Evan. “You need Lou on board for all this if it’s going to succeed.”
“Would you consider being there?”
Evan looked between them. “Me?”
“You know him better than anyone.”
The thought made an involuntary rumble escape William’s chest. Evan wrapped her arm around his waist and laid her head on his chest.
“I don’t want her anywhere near that man.” He tried to keep his voice as even as possible, but even he could tell it was a losing battle.
“Ask Tommy,” Evan said. “He’s better at diplomacy than I am. Besides, I think it would be good for him to see Lou. I know he’s missed his Pop a lot.”
William relaxed a fraction. “Come on, we have an appointment with Doc and then you need to walk around the property for twenty minutes—”
“And then I need to pee and eat.”
The group laughed and William’s cheeks heated.
“I stand corrected,” said Sinya. “I think William wins.”
He grumbled and Evan reached up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Come on, dad, let’s go see Doc.”
William pulled her away from the group and headed toward the basement elevator.
Three human females walked by them, all ogling William. He swallowed hard as his arousal peaked, but he kept his eyes straight ahead.
Evan chuckled.
“What?” he asked innocently.
“You’re getting better at that.”
He pushed the button and feigned ignorance. “At what?”
She pulled him to her and cupped his erection. “Pretending that the attention from others doesn’t get you hot.”
He closed his eyes as she rubbed him through his pants.
“As long as you stay mine, I don’t care how your mind and body respond.”
The doors opened and she pulled him inside the elevator.
“You know,” he said. “I think maybe we can skip the walk today.”
“Really?” A devilish smile came over her face as she rubbed against him again.
His throat dried and he had to clear it before being able to talk. “Yeah. I’m thinking maybe you should rest.” He reached between her thighs and rubbed at her as well. “Maybe a massage would be better for you. A nice, relaxing massage.” He pressed against her, his lips meeting hers.
The baby squirmed and kicked William in the stomach.
Evan laughed and William did too.
“I think a massage is a wonderful idea.” She kissed him again.
William pushed the stop button on the elevator as it bumped to the basement floor.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I wanted to show you this.” He licked his lips, unsure of how she would react. He handed her the paper that Roth had given him.
“What is this?” She laughed.
“Read it.”
She opened the paper and stared at it, her eyes scanning the lines. Her head whipped up and her gaze met his.
“How long?” she asked.
“How long what?”
“How long have you been looking?”
“About four months. It took a while for me to track them down but I found them in Turkey. They’ll be coming back right away. Danika will see to that.”
She shook her head. “William, I don’t want that. She won’t even know me.”
He laid his hand on her belly. “Our son will have a half sister. They deserve to know each other. And you deserve to know your daughter.”
“I...” Anxiety filled her face.
“You don’t have to decide now. Just think about it.” He stroked her cheek. “Either way they are coming back to the States and they aren’t leaving again.”
She smiled and kissed him. “Thank you, William.” She caressed his cheek and he turned his face and kissed her palm, his eyes landing on the large diamond ring on her hand.
“You should know by now my love, I’ll do anything to keep my wife happy.”
Meet the Author
Rebekah R. Ganiere has always been a creative soul and a prolific writer. Her debut novel, Dead Awakenings, was a bestseller, and she is also the author of the best
selling, award-winning Fairelle series.
Rebekah is the President Elect of the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA as well as a member of several other chapters. When she isn't busy writing, you can find her moderating or teaching on SavvyAuthors.com and at Comic Cons, or Cosplaying around the west coast, with her husband and four children.
Readers can visit her website at www.RebekahGaniere.com, find her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter: VampWereZombie.
Keep reading for an excerpt from the first Society novel by Rebekah R. Ganiere.
REIGN OF THE VAMPIRES
She wants security. He wants freedom. Together their love could destroy the world.
Ten years after the outbreak of the V2000 virus turns the majority of humans into a mutated Vampire sub-species, the last remaining true humans are the world’s hottest commodity. In this new world, it’s The Society that rules.
Being the only female Vampire Lord in America isn’t easy. Being thrust into the role of CEO is even harder. Danika Chekov refuses to let her father’s legacy die. She’s resolved to keep everything under her tight control. But after she’s almost killed, she’s forced to purchase a human guardian.
Mason is human, or so the Vampires think. He’s determined to protect his secret, but Lord Danika buys him before he can make his escape. Their passion for each other threatens everything they want most. And when Mason’s true nature is exposed, the results could be devastating.
A Lyrical e-book on sale now.
Learn more about Rebekah at http://www.ekensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31634
Chapter 1
Mason blinked against the sun’s harsh light bouncing off bright white picket fences. A typical Midwestern suburb. Only the world hadn’t been typical in almost a decade. The smell of lingering death filled his nostrils. Everything on this side of the small town was too quiet. Even with the virus-mutated vamps at work in the “real world,” there should be some in the area, but there weren’t any. His eye twitched.
Vengeance of the Demons Page 27