surrender to darkness

by E. M. Moore

  The opening went by in a blip. Gregor and Natalie both stood to remark about the future of the graduates. It was heartfelt, and welcomed, but I wouldn’t be able to recall what they said after the fact. Once they sat, I didn’t have long to wait once the ceremony started. Instead of calling graduates up in alphabetical order like the human world, it went in order from top of the class to the lowest.

  Before I knew it, Natalie said, “Ariana Stuart,” into the microphone. I stood on shaky legs. As I walked, the extra fabric billowed around me. I caught T.J.’s eye who now stood next to Soren and Matthews. All three of them clapped for me. Next, it was Isabelle who pulled me into a hug as soon as I climbed the last step to the stage. She whispered something into my ear, but it was all happening so fast I didn’t catch it.

  Gregor waited for me afterward. He shook my hand, his other coming on top as he told me congratulations. Behind their parents, the princes all clapped. Instead of a demure applause, they whooped and cheered. The audience laughed, and my cheeks turned pink. They didn’t buck the ceremony as much as they wanted, but they did at least cheer for me louder than anyone else.

  When I got to Natalie, she shook my hand and offered me a jewel-encrusted stake. My eyes widened as I took it in, including the plaque that read ‘Top of the Class’. It wouldn’t kill a vamp, but it sure as hell was pretty.

  She motioned toward a table to her right. “You can make your choice now. Officially.”

  On that table was the list of every vampire family needing a guard. I walked up to it, my heart in my throat. I picked up the pen with shaking hands and bent over the table. Quickly scanning the sheet, I didn’t waste any time when I saw the Ravana name. I printed my own name next to it, dotting the ‘i’ and crossing my ‘t’’s so there’d be no dispute in who I wanted.

  I, Ariana Stuart, choose the Ravanas, now and forever.

  I looked back at my princes and winked. Each one of them still clapped, their faces so full of love and purity that I thought my heart would seize. I had a whole lifetime—and then some—to see them, to watch them, to be with them. But most of all, to love them.

  I was one lucky guard.

  Epilogue

  The cold air rushed into my lungs and I gulped it up eagerly.

  I loved these early morning runs. They made me feel like I had wings. Out on the main road, I’d open up, using every single muscle I had to push myself harder and harder. Though the air came in brisk and wet, I breathed out fire. My chest ached as I ran all out until I thought I was going to fall over. A horn beeped alongside me and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  A deep chuckle billowed from the car. I spun. “Jesus, Nic. You scared the crap out of me.”

  He beckoned me with his finger and I leaned over into the window of his new car. “You want to lead the run for the trainees this morning?”

  He was evil. He knew how hard it was to say no to that, but I’d already promised I’d go with Stephan to the health clinic. I’d gotten to know the recovering ‘feeders’, especially Trix, and no matter how much I liked going to The Fort to run Nic’s trainees into the ground, I just couldn’t.

  Yep, Nic’s trainees. Natalie had taken on more of a superficial role in her family’s namesake. She still sat on the board, along with Christian, but it was Nicolai and Matthews’ Fort now. I came whenever I wanted. Even taught a class on stake wielding, but that wasn’t for another month or so.

  “Sorry, can’t,” I told Nicolai. “Next time?”

  He nodded. “See you for lunch though, right?”

  I grinned. I was so looking forward to lunch at our pizza place. We tried to do meet there at least once a month when all our schedules lined up. Today was the day. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  He checked the clock in the dash. “I better get going. I want to see if little Randy is out on the obstacle course by himself this morning. Reminds me of someone I know.”

  I lifted my shoulders, pretending I hadn’t had a hand in that. When I went to meet the new crop of guards-in-training, I couldn’t help but pick out Randy first. He was just so much smaller than the rest of them, unsure. He reminded me of me, so I gave him a little helpful advice: Success doesn’t just come to those who want it, it comes to those who work for it.

  I waved goodbye to Nic and jogged back to the Ravanas’ second house, which the princes and I had taken over. It was within easy distance for everyone to get to where they needed to be. Christian and Connor could get back and forth to the estate easily. Their new positions sometimes demanded this, otherwise they worked remotely. Connor, with his impeccable personality, was the head of relations for the Ravana Clan. He worked as mediator between The Council and whoever needed it. He expressed others concerns, taking them to The Council, and fought for people who needed it. Because he understood both sides, he was the perfect candidate. Right after the battle, his talents had become necessary when there was so much political stuff to wade through with the joining of the clans. Now that we had a new set of laws in place, he wasn’t needed as much, but there were still times when he was called upon.

  Christian, of course, had taken a seat on The Council. He was on the board of The Fort as well because he was interested in that, but he was most important to the clan at large, governing in the easy shadow of his father.

  Instructor Nicolai only needed to take the short drive to The Fort, and Stephan to his health clinic. It was a perfect arrangement.

  Stephan waited just inside the vestibule for me when I strolled in. I ran right past him, calling out, “Sorry,” as I went. I ran upstairs, pulled on other clothes and bounded right back down the steps in front of him. “I’m ready.”

  He shook his head and smiled. After holding the door open for me, he led me outside. The first construction van pulled around our circular driveway. To the left of the house, we were adding on to the garage to house the many vehicles we now needed to get around. One for each of us. We waved at the head foreman, and then Stephan helped me into his car. “We’re still on for pizza for lunch, right?”

  My stomach practically grumbled just thinking about it. “I can’t wait.”

  We talked easily as we made the half an hour trip to the clinic. It was amazing the improvements the ‘feeders’ had made under Stephan’s guiding hands. We spent the morning floating from one room to the next. Stephan took his clinical notes and asked all the important questions while I chitchatted right beside him. These humans were some of the strongest I’d ever met. To overcome such imprisonment took a strong heart.

  As the lunch hour drew nearer, I waited in Stephan’s office so he could finish up with his nurses, making sure everything was up to par. He was downright sexy doing it. I hadn’t yet convinced him of Stephan’s miracle cream becoming the next best acne medication, but I did tell all his patients to save some of it for their skin. He only rolled his eyes when I did so, never complaining about my interfering with his work. Because he’d needed a bigger supply for all his treatments and wasn’t able to provide it all himself, other vampires dropped by to give blood periodically for his cream. His nurses not only saw the patients, but also helped make the cream alongside him.

  I took out my phone and texted Connor. It’s almost time!

  He sent back a dazed face. I’ve been thinking about it all morning. Dad and Christian kept droning on and on and on. I thought they’d never shut up.

  You’re in the car now though, right?

  Oh yeah. We’re on the way. There was a pause and then Connor sent another text. If Christian asks what we were texting about, tell him I told you we were talking about very important things related to the status of the clan. VERY important things.

  I chuckled and rolled my eyes. Being a moderator meant Connor had to sit through clan meetings he thought were boring. Extremely boring. If I believed the way he described them, I’d never want to go to another one again. Christian, however, always put the serious twist on it. Sometimes politics wasn’t always exciting, but it was always crucial.

&nbs
p; The door to Stephan’s office opened, and I stood. He came forward and pulled me into his arms. He looked tired. He’d just crammed an entire day’s worth of work into a few short hours so we could all go to lunch together. He sifted his hands through my hair and kissed my head. I loved these little moments. These moments when it was just about us again.

  “We better get going,” he whispered.

  I nodded into him and was the first out the door. I waved bye to Trixie and practically ran to the car. In thirty minutes, I’d have my pizza, and I’d have my princes all in one place. What could be better?

  I texted on and off with Connor during the ride, relaying to Stephan the gist of The Council meeting. We laughed and joked the whole way until we turned down the main street of the little town. The other two vehicles were already there. I waited until Stephan put the car in park and then I hurried out. With his hand at the small of my back, we walked inside. Sure enough, there were my other three princes, already staring at the door waiting for us to walk in. Like so many times before, a thrill shot through me. They were mine. And I was theirs.

  And we were going to eat pizza.

  Stephan moved around and sat on the other side of the circular booth. I walked forward to take my seat, but a crash sounded just to my left. I could barely contain myself when I turned and saw the haphazard state of the waitress who was never able to stop staring. I couldn’t blame her when she did it back then, and I couldn’t blame her now either.

  She cringed. “Sorry.”

  I bent down to help her pick up the empty trays. “I know how you feel,” I told her, feeling the four pairs of eyes burning into my backside.

  She gulped and looked over my shoulder. “I can barely control myself around them. I’m a complete spaz. I always do something stupid.” I chuckled and put the pizza server on the dirty tray. She looked up at me. “For the record, which one are you seeing?”

  Smiling, I stood and brushed off the knees of my pants. “All of them.”

  Her mouth dropped. I let what I said sink in and then I winked at her.

  “Whoa,” she breathed.

  She could say that again.

  The End

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Thank you so much for reading Ariana’s story! I can’t believe all the messages and comments I’ve received on Facebook regarding my characters. Thank you all so much for loving them as much as I do!! This is the LAST book in this series. Many of you said you’d love for me to keep going, and that is my plan. Ariana and her princes’ story isn’t over. This part of it is, but I’m happy to say that you will get more of them! “Follow” my author page on Amazon, or like me on Facebook, and you will be notified of all my new releases.

  Books by E. M. Moore

  Reverse Harem

  Order of the Akasha Series

  Novella Starter — Stripped

  Summoned By Magic — Read on for a preview of the first chapter!

  Tempted By Magic—Out March 23rd!

  Chronicles of Cas Series

  Reawakened

  Hidden

  Power

  Severed

  Paranormal Romance

  The Adams’ Witch

  Bound In Blood

  Cursed In Love

  Phoenix Series

  Flight of the Phoenix

  Cozy Mystery

  Witchy Librarian Cozy Mystery Series

  Wicked Witchcraft

  One Wicked Sister

  Wicked Cool

  Summoned By Magic

  Order of the Akasha, Book One

  Chapter One

  The point was to watch them, not get sucked in. I failed. Holy fuck, this guy was hot.

  I always was a sucker for tattoos and guns. Not the kind of guns that shoot things. Guns, as in thick, muscled arms I could sink my teeth into.

  I blew out a breath. For heaven’s sake, I needed a cold shower. It might even do these cramps some good. How the hell did I even end up here? Well, technically, I knew how. A long ass bus ride with people who weren’t always the cleanest and some men who I could tell didn’t have the best of intentions. The more appropriate question was why I ended up here.

  I’d been getting cramps—I know, TMI—and a yearning in my stomach for something “other”. Something that wasn’t in New Orleans where I’d lived my whole life. The pressure was like a pull, and when you grew up with my grandmother, you tended to want to follow your instincts because that’s what she hammered into you day in and day out. Don’t trust someone? Don’t. They’re probably an axe murderer. Feel like you shouldn’t go to school today? Don’t. Who knows what shitty nonsense could happen? Don’t like that guy around the corner? Neither do I, he’s a dick.

  I smiled to myself remembering Granny. She hated that name, but I called her it, anyway. She was a forever young person stuck in an old woman’s body. And, she just so happened to be the local Voodoo Priestess, revered—and feared—by many. Yeah, my childhood was a smash.

  The too-loud pop music in the bar where I’d been enjoying my eye candy stopped suddenly. Shoved into the present, I dropped the straw that allowed me to suck down my Amaretto Sour like it was Kool-Aid and turned. Wow. What a dive bar. The absence of Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk and the house lights exposed the thick layer of sticky grime on the bar and the off-brown checkered tile that led to the small stage at the back of the place.

  The tall, lanky guy who lived with the Adonis I’d been lusting after since I got to Salem two days ago stood on the cramped stage. He tapped the microphone tentatively, sending a buzz through the air that made me cringe. “Sorry,” he muttered, while pushing his glasses back up his nose. He stood there awkwardly for a few moments, shifting his weight from foot to foot while I—and everyone else in the bar—watched. He wasn’t used to being the center of attention, that much was evident. My heart went out to him as his face blanched. The blinding white lights all turned on him and he stood there like a surprised animal getting caught taking food.

  He was adorable, actually, in a dorky kind of way. All the guys who lived at the apartment I’d been drawn to were good looking in their own way, surprising and confusing me all at the same time. Before I could get sucked back down the rabbit hole of why I was here, he finally cleared his throat and spoke. “Uh, hey.” He waved awkwardly, then put his hand above his eyes to ward off the spotlights. “Just wanted to send a happy birthday out to my friend, Randy. Um, guess I should’ve brought a drink up here with me to toast or something, but uh…”

  One of the other guys from the apartment, the blond one who looked like he stepped off a sports magazine cover when he left for practice in the morning, ran a drink up to the front. “Bottom’s up,” he winked.

  “Thanks, Gabe.” The lanky one bent over so his lips were almost on the microphone as he raised his borrowed glass in the air. “Happy birthday, Randy.” The microphone buzzed and squeaked as he stepped away.

  The blond one—Gabe, apparently—stepped right up after. “Cheers, Mate!” He threw his own drink back, and stepped away from the mic, encouraging the lanky one to do the same with his. He did, his face immediately puckering, and then gave a quick shake of his head as he finally swallowed what was surely some strong, hard liquor.

  I leaned against the bar and took a drink of my own. Following them to the bar tonight had been a good idea. I’d just learned two of their names—Gabe and Randy. I also knew that Gabe was apparently British and that it was Randy, Mr. Hot as Fuck’s, birthday.

  I eyed the two as they made their way back over to the bar a few feet from where I stood. The same pull tugged in the pit of my stomach when they were all together. I moaned deep as the feeling became overwhelming. There was definitely something about these four. Was I supposed to know them? Was I supposed to fear them? Nothing seemed off. They were four regular guys. Three of them went to college at Salem State while Randy spent most of his time at the gym and a tattoo parlor.

  Frustrated, I pulled the straw from my glass and downed the rest of my drin
k. I was just about to place it back on the bar when a deep, gruff voice said, “I hope that was in my honor.”

  My eyes widened, and I almost sputtered. The guy I’d been lusting after since I got here just spoke to me. Holy bananas. Now that he was six inches away, I got to check him out up close. It was easy to get drawn in. He looked sexy as sin wherever he went. He was either dressed for the gym, showing off his sexy as fuck muscles, or sporting tight ass t-shirts on his way to the tattoo parlor he worked at. Tonight was the same tattoo parlor look, jeans that hugged his hips with a black shirt that looked like it was tailor-made just for him. What I hadn’t noticed from watching him with what was usually a street distance between us, was his dark eyes. They were deep brown, teetering on black. A shiver rocked my spine.

  Suppressing my inner freak out, I blinked up at him, doing my best to appear interested. Appear? Who was I kidding? I was interested. “Of course,” I answered. “Randy, is it?”

  He nodded in assent before taking his time perusing my body. My insides clenched, a more potent feeling than I’d ever had before as his eyes raked all over me. I hadn’t brought much of anything with me from New Orleans, including clothes, since I didn’t know what I would find here. Tonight, I’d just tied off one of my black shirts right above my right hip, showing a little midriff. It was about as “bar appropriate” as I got, even when I was home. Coupled with the tight pair of jeans I’d brought with me, I didn’t look half bad in the small ass motel mirror I’d checked my reflection in before making my way here. I’d followed them to the bar and then decided I had to go back to the room and do a little mini wardrobe makeover before heading in after them and seeing what I could find out. It couldn’t help to be as sexy as I could while trying to feel them out. At least, that’s what I’d thought, and it was working too. Randy was actually standing in front of me, his eyes gliding over my skin as if his only thought was what he could do to me.