Kiss of the Vampire (The Vanderlind Realm Book 2)
Page 21
“If you’re going to punish anyone, then punish me,” Dorian told her. I could feel his muscles clenching under his shirt. “Haley has never harmed you.”
The vampiress gave a small laugh. “It’s true,” she said. “But punishing her hurts you so much more.”
“Is everything alright here?” Everett asked, appearing at Ilona’s side. “I hope you’ve settled all your differences.”
“You can always hope,” Ilona said before turning and strutting off down the hall. The three of us stood and watched her go.
Everett shook his head. “It’s a shame that something that crazy comes in such pretty packaging.” Then turning to the two of us he said, “So, you were planning on getting out of here?” He gestured down the hall, in the opposite direction of Ilona’s departure. “Let me see you off.”
As soon as we were airborne and clear of the warehouse district, Dorian swept me into his arms and kissed me while we did a barrel roll across the sky. “Let’s drop by the castle for a moment. I need a quick change of clothes before we head to Cleveland,” he said. “I would feel ridiculous going anywhere dressed like this.”
“Okay,” I said shyly. My heart felt like it was hammering in my chest. It was nearly impossible for me to believe that Dorian actually loved me. But I decided to try to follow my mother’s advice and just live for the moment. So I stuffed all my fears and insecurities way down into the darkest corners of my being. I loved Dorian with all my heart. There was a chance that he was going to break that heart one day, but that was a risk I was willing to take.
Epilogue
Haley
I had just spent more money on clothes in twenty-four hours than I had in the last ten years. I was not exaggerating. Dorian even called around and made some stores stay open late. It all felt so fabulously Pretty Woman and I absolutely hated that movie.
There were several moments during our break-neck spending spree through the finer retailers of Cleveland where I felt the crushing grip of insecurity wrap its talons around me. I couldn’t trust Dorian. I couldn’t let him spend so much money on me. At any moment he was going to grow tired of me and demand that I repay him. Or disappear without a word.
But whenever he sensed I was about to panic, Dorian always took me in his arms. He didn’t need to speak; he could say worlds with just one kiss. And then I would know that the fairy tale was true. The frog had turned into a prince. Or, more accurately, the playboy had turned into a prince. Dorian loved me. He’d risked meeting the sun to save me. Yes, he really was a scoundrel, but a noble scoundrel. My scoundrel.
We were headed to Chicago after the next sunset. After all of my planning, I was finally going to make it to that city. But I definitely wouldn’t be sleeping in my car and serving up burgers and fries at an all-night diner. After that Dorian wanted to take me to New York.
“I want to show you off,” he told me. And then we would finally start exploring the undead world. We’d agreed to fire first, although Dorian still refused to give me any more details. “You’re going to love it,” was all he would say. “It really is astounding.”
“Can’t you at least give me a hint?” I pleaded. “Not knowing is driving me crazy.”
“No.” He was adamant. “I want it all to be a surprise.” Then he pulled a purple velvet box out of the breast pocket of his jacket. “But maybe this will distract you for awhile.”
My hands were trembling as I flipped open the lid to reveal a diamond bracelet. “Ohhhh…” I whispered like a tire leaking air. It was just so dazzling that I couldn’t speak.
With a laugh, Dorian pulled me close and kissed me. “That was exactly the reaction I was hoping for.”
We were dressed to the nines and just entering my first undead cocktail party. The host was serving blood drained solely from the inhabitants of Malta. It felt a lot like I imagined a glamorous, Hollywood cocktail party might be, but where everyone was much better looking. A woman with a mane of platinum blonde hair and wearing a peacock blue silk dress slinked in our direction. She was decked out with enough jewels to purchase a major league baseball team, but I preferred my bracelet.
“Dorian, dahlink,” she said, throwing her arms around him in an affected gesture of joy at seeing him. “It’s been too long.”
“Yes, it has,” he replied, awkwardly returning her hug. “Katrina, may I introduce you to my progeny, Haley.”
The smile froze on the woman’s face. She looked at me and then back at Dorian. “You’ve become a maker?” she exclaimed and then shook her head, her long hair swaying back and forth. “Will wonders never cease?” She looked me over again, as if I was a mink stole that she wasn’t quite sure was genuine. “Well, at least you got a pretty one,” she finally concluded, which I think she half meant as a compliment. Then, leaning toward me to speak intimately, she stage whispered, “Watch out for this one, dahlink.” She nodded in Dorian’s direction. “He’s a handful.” And then she slinked away.
I glared at Dorian and he had the decency to look thoroughly sheepish. “Another old girlfriend?” I asked, my insecurities revealing themselves as anger bubbling just beneath the surface of my skin.
“Haley,” Dorian said, slipping his arm around my waist and pulling me to him. “Yes, Katrina is an old girlfriend. And we’re probably going to meet a few more of my old mates as we travel. There’s nothing I can do about that. But I’ll make you a deal.”
I had my arms folded, but I looked at him out of the corner of my eye to show I was listening.
“I promise to put my past behind me,” Dorian said, “if you promise to try to forget that I have one.” And then he kissed me, which sealed the deal.
The End
I hope you’ve enjoyed Kiss of the Vampire, book 2 in The Vanderlind Realm. Look for book 3 to launch in the spring of 2015. Just as Haley begins to enjoy some of the wonders of the undead world, Dorian’s past threatens to catch up to them.
In the meantime, if you haven’t already read The Vanderlind Castle series, books 1-3 are available now. To find out what happened to Dorian’s handsome cousin, Jessie, and the rest of his family, start here:
Call of the Vampire - Book 1 in The Vander Castle series.
Good news for readers who are already Jessie & Aurora fans. Book 4 of The Vanderlind Castle series will launch in March of 2015. Check out my blog and follow me on Facebook and Twitter for all the updates. Or just drop me a note. I’d love to hear from you:
www.gaylatwist.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/GaylaTwist
www.twitter.com/GaylaTwist
If you are enjoyed reading Kiss of the Vampire, please take a few minutes to write a quick Amazon review. If you are reading this book electronically, all you have to do is flip to the last page and you will be asked for your review automatically. It would also be great if you could Facebook about it to your friends. Word of mouth is crucial for indie authors and I appreciate your efforts.
xo ~ Gayla Twist
Table of Contents
Copyright
DEDICATION
Chapter 1 Haley
Chapter 2 Dorian
Chapter 3 Dorian
Chapter 4 Haley
Chapter 5 Dorian
Chapter 6 Haley
Chapter 7 Dorian
Chapter 8 Haley
Chapter 9 Dorian
Chapter 10 Haley
Chapter 11 Haley
Chapter 12 Dorian
Chapter 13 Haley
Chapter 14 Dorian
Chapter 15 Dorian
Chapter 16 Haley
Chapter 17 Dorian
Chapter 18 Haley
Chapter 19 Haley
Chapter 20 Haley
Chapter 21 Haley
Chapter 22 Dorian
Chapter 23 Haley
Chapter 24 Dorian
Chapter 25 Haley
Chapter 26 Haley
Chapter 27 Haley
Chapter 28 Dorian
Chapter 29 Haley
Epilog
ue Haley