by Sarah Bailey
“I don’t know how I’m going to explain any of this to Ella and Lukas.”
“We can do it together. You can place the blame on me if you wish.”
She smiled. Despite all his faults, Gavin was always considerate of her feelings.
She heard footsteps behind them. He stepped away from her as he turned. Her eyes widened, mouth going slack.
Jack was standing in the doorway with another person. Someone she hadn’t seen in a very long time.
“George?”
Chapter Twenty Five
Her brother didn’t look a day older than the last time she had seen him. The day he’d left for Peru. Hazel eyes stared back at her. He was very pale. She knew immediately why he still looked nineteen.
She reached out for Gavin’s hand blindly until her fingers met his. She squeezed his hand in a vice like grip. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
George was a vampire.
“You… this is why you disappeared?” she asked in a small voice.
George took a step towards her. She flinched, stepping closer to Gavin. He hadn’t died like everyone thought he had. She didn’t know if this was worse.
“I’m sorry, D. I never meant for you to find out,” George said.
She turned, looking up at Gavin. Tears welled in her eyes. Her brother was alive.
“You found him for me?”
“I wanted you to have closure. I didn’t know he was still alive until I asked Jack to find out what happened to him. It seems the two of them know each other,” Gavin said.
“I spent some time in Peru after Gavin and I parted ways,” Jack said.
Daisy turned back to George. She released Gavin’s hand, taking two steps towards her brother. She wasn’t mad at Gavin for doing this for her, but George had been gone for such a long time, she’d given up hope.
“You’ve been in Peru this whole time?” she asked.
“Yes. I have been with my maker, but when Jack contacted me and told me you knew about our kind, I had to come.”
She understood why he had to disappear. Vampires couldn’t allow their human families to know what happened to them. It didn’t make it any better. He’d left her to deal with their parents.
“Fuck, George. Do you have any idea of how much I want to kick the shit out of you right now? Nothing was the same after you disappeared. You fucked up everything. Our parents have spent the past fifteen years wishing it was me who left.”
George’s expression was impassive. She wasn’t quite sure what she expected. She turned away from him. She couldn’t look at her brother any more. It was too much. Her eyes met Gavin’s, they were full of sympathy. She didn’t want that from him. She paced away towards the edge of the terrace, looking out at the London skyline. She needed a moment to collect her thoughts. She didn’t know why he’d even bothered to come back. It would’ve been better if she’d never known. The fact that he was now a vampire didn’t bother her. He’d just left her alone in the world.
“Why are you here, George?” she asked.
“I’ve spent a long time wondering if you were okay, D. I wanted to be there when you grew up, but I couldn’t come back. How could I explain this to you, to them? I’ll never look a day over nineteen.”
She turned to look at him. He was still standing near the door, but his expression softened. He looked genuinely sorry. She put her hand out towards him. He was next to her in an instant. She hurtled into his arms. He was a wall of solid muscle and cold, but she didn’t care.
George is here.
When they pulled apart, she smacked him on the chest.
“That’s for leaving me alone with them.”
“I’m sorry. I know they weren’t easy.”
“Easy? They’re impossible. You ruined their lives, you know. Mum can’t get through the day without popping Valium. Dad drinks himself into oblivion on a regular basis. Not to mention his countless affairs with his secretaries.”
“You know that went on before I left.”
She shrugged.
“I was twelve. I didn’t know until much later.”
“You’re okay, though?”
“Yeah. I’m okay. I haven’t done much with my life, but I have him now.” She waved towards Gavin. “I’m happy.”
George looked over at Gavin and Jack for a moment.
“I didn’t expect you to get involved with one of us.”
She shrugged again. She hadn’t expected it either.
“It’s a long story.”
“Did you keep in touch with Ella?”
“Oh, yeah. She’s kind of why I met Gavin. So… you’re probably not going to believe this, but Ella isn’t actually human.”
George raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
“She’s half demon, half angel, like some weird kind of hybrid of the two. It’s another long story.”
He stared at her for a long moment.
“I always knew that girl wasn’t normal.”
“She isn’t pining after you still, don’t worry.”
She knocked his arm lightly.
“Ah, damn, there goes my plan to sweep her off her feet.”
“You’d have to go through Lukas first.”
“And he would be?”
“Her boyfriend, fellow angel, demon, soul partner.”
“You know what, I’m not even going to ask what that means. You can tell me about it another time or maybe she can.”
She smiled. Ella was going to flip when she found out George was alive and a vampire.
“I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
“So, you really are happy?”
“Yeah.”
Her eyes sought out Gavin. He was the reason for her happiness. He was her family. Her home.
“I’m glad. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”
“How long are you staying in London?”
“A while. We have a lot to catch up on.”
“Is your maker with you?”
She wanted to meet the person who’d changed her brother into a vampire so she could give whoever it was a piece of her mind.
“No. Colel never leaves South America. She prefers to stay close to her roots.”
So much for that idea. Daisy stifled a sigh. She couldn’t really be angry at Colel. George was an adult and she could hardly blame him for choosing this life.
One day she might do the same. She couldn’t imagine her life without Gavin in it. He was never going to age. She was. Would her one lifetime be enough? She couldn’t rightly answer that question.
“Well, as nice as it is to know you’re here and alive. I think maybe we should call it a night. I’ve had a few too many revelations this evening.”
There were a lot of questions she had for George, but they could wait. She needed time to process what him being alive meant. And she’d technically got married this evening. She hadn’t even had time to process that either.
“Of course. We can speak again tomorrow if you would like.”
She nodded. George gave her hand a squeeze before he walked back over to where Jack was standing. The two of them spoke in low tones with Gavin. They both disappeared, leaving her alone with her new husband. He walked over to her slowly, not making any sudden movements.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes. George being alive changes a lot of things, but at least I know why he disappeared. I always wondered. Thank you. I mean, I didn’t really know that I wanted him found, but you did it anyway. I appreciate it. I can’t give my parents closure, but I have it.”
He took her hand.
“Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes.”
He tugged her into his arms. She wrapped hers around his back as the shadows encompassed them. She’d gotten used to travelling through them now, she’d done it so many times.
He stepped out into his bedroom. He’d brought her to his daytime resting place. She knew he intended to keep her here all night, so she could wake
up with him. He really did look dead to the world when he slept, but Daisy knew he wasn’t. She appreciated he allowed her to stay with him when he was vulnerable.
His hands were at the zip of her dress, dragging it down her back. He slipped it off her shoulders. It fell to the floor in a pool of fabric. She stood there in just a bra and her heels. He undid the clasp and pulled it off her, throwing it away from them.
“Those really are ridiculous shoes,” he said, eyebrow raised.
“They aren’t exactly easy to walk in.”
He picked her up and set her on the bed before he undid the buckles and slipped them off her feet. His hands ran up her inner thighs. She stifled a groan.
“You know.” She fiddled with his bowtie. “I think you’re wearing far too much.”
She tugged it off him before she started unbuttoning his shirt. He shrugged off his jacket, placing it on the bed. She continued her path down his chest and tugged the shirt out of his trousers, pushing it off his shoulders.
“I don’t want to over inflate your ego, but you really are a sight for sore eyes,” she said.
He cocked his head to the side and grinned at her. He moved to take off his glasses, but she stopped him.
“No, I want you to keep those on.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes. Didn’t I tell you I wanted to see you in just them and nothing else?”
“I remember.”
He stood, unbuckling his belt before slipping out of the rest of his clothes. She edged back on the bed, hooking her foot around his leg and urging him onto it with her. He knelt between her legs, fingers trailing up her stomach.
“You really are the most exquisite woman. I could look at you all day.”
She flushed and pulled him towards her, catching his mouth so he couldn’t say any more. His hands cupped her breasts. She arched into him, feeling the tension inside her building. He kissed her neck, fangs grazing over the sensitive skin. She wanted to feel the ecstasy of his bite. Her hands tangled in his hair. His fingers moved lower, trailing down her stomach before they found her sex. He stroked her. His fangs trailed down her neck again.
“Stop teasing,” she muttered.
She felt the sharp prick of his teeth. His tongue swept across her neck. Her body burnt with fire. She arched up into him again. Her hands gripped his shoulders, nails digging into his skin.
“Damn it, Gavin. I want you so fucking much,” she hissed.
He moved so quickly, she didn’t even had time to blink. He pushed inside her. She cried out, feeling the sweet sensation of him filling her whilst he sucked her blood.
He was hers. Her vampire. Her husband.
There was nothing else in this world she wanted more than to be with him forever.
“Harder.”
He gripped her hips, giving her more, giving it to her harder, faster. She panted, her orgasm building at an alarming rate.
“Daisy,” he grunted. “My fiery wife.”
He captured her mouth as he pounded into her, drowning out her cries of pleasure. She couldn’t hold back the tide. It crashed over her, the waves taking her under. She was lost. Utterly lost. Nothing and no one ever compared to the way Gavin made her feel.
She was hot and sticky when he rolled off her, but she didn’t care. She curled into his side, holding him close. Her heart thundered in her chest.
“Gavin.”
“Mmm?”
“Maybe one day… I’ll change my mind.”
He turned his head, looking down at her with curiosity.
“About what?”
“About staying human.”
From his expression, she knew he hadn’t been expecting her to say that.
“I don’t want you to change for me.”
“It wouldn’t be for you. It’d be for us.”
“We don’t need to talk about this now.”
“I’m not ready to make a decision. I’m just telling you I’m thinking about it seriously. I mean… I did just become your wife.”
“Mmm, yes. Wife.”
“Husband.”
He smiled at her, his captivating green eyes lighting up. He was still wearing his glasses. She plucked them off his face and placed them on the bedside table.
“I know we’re technically equals now, but I’d rather you didn’t change. I kind of like your domineering and overbearing side.”
“Do you now?”
“Mmm… yes… I love everything about you, at least the bits I know about. The rest, well, I guess I’ll just have to wait to find out.”
He captured her mouth with his for a moment.
“And I love everything about you.”
“What? Even when I’m being disobedient and infuriating?”
“Even then.”
Her arm around him tightened. She had never felt such happiness in her entire life. Gavin was her everything. She smiled up at him.
“I meant what I said to George. I’m happy. I didn’t think I’d ever find my knight in shining armour. Even if he’s a little dark and twisted.”
He grinned.
“Darkly, handsome knight in shining armour.”
“Hmm, I was going to go with sexy as fuck, but that also works.”
He captured her mouth before she could say any more. And Daisy lost herself in a sea of pleasure with her vampire husband.
Playlist
Collapsed - Natalie Taylor
Wicked Games - The Weeknd
Raw Emotions - Stolar
Glued - Elle Watson
Fool – Refs
Animals – Maroon 5
Toxic Love - The Beach
Surrender - Natalie Taylor
Anger - Sleeping At Last
Smother - Craig Lucas, Paxton
Midnight Hour – Teischa
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Roo Panes
I Belong to You - Jacob Lee
Acknowledgements
Thank you for reading this book. As an indie author, reviews are very important to me. I hope you consider leaving one if you enjoyed it.
Whilst I was writing the first book, someone suggested I should turn this into a series. Immediately the first character who came to mind was Gavin. I’ve always loved vampires. I knew he would become next in line to take over after Raquel’s timely death, so it felt right to tell his story next.
It was only later when I finally introduced Daisy into the world that it clicked. She came on the scene about half way into drafting. I just had to go back and throw her in as a supporting character.
The fiery, outspoken Daisy was the perfect woman to push Gavin out of his comfort zone. I love the dynamic between the two of them. The words flowed out of my head faster than I could type at times because I was so involved in their love story. There are scenes that make me laugh and ones that made me tear up. This book was an emotional rollercoaster and I wanted so much to give them the end they deserved after the hell they went through.
I’m so excited about this series and I hope that everyone who reads it loves the characters as much as I do.
Thank you to my husband who had to put up with me squirrelled away for a few weeks when I was writing this. For that, I love him all the more.
Thank you to my aunt for suggesting that I could think about expanding on the first book and writing further stories in the world I’ve created. Without your nudge, this book might not have happened. I am eternally grateful.
And to everyone else who has encouraged and supported me during this whole process – thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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A contract with Hell. A mischievous witch. Secrets, lies and a little magic.
Discovering her father has made a deal with a demon wasn’t part of Grace’s plans for a Friday night in. When she offers up herself in his place, her father sends her off to track down another demon he thinks can help. Instead, Grace meets Alistair, a witch with piercing blue eyes who takes an interest in her little problem. With only two months l
eft before her soul is dragged to Hell, Grace agrees to work with him in exchange for his help.
Alistair’s constant teasing and proximity sends her into a tailspin. He may have rescued her best friend from a fairy, but she doesn’t fully trust the playful witch. When the secrets surrounding why her mother left when she was a baby threaten to surface, Grace discovers Alistair isn’t quite what he seems. And neither is she.
Will the secrets threaten to tear them apart? And what has her father been keeping from her all these years?
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Attacked in the dark. A murderous psychopath. A shifter’s curse is so much more than turning at the full moon.
A night out turns into a full blown nightmare. If Rex, a feline shifter, hadn't come along, Izzy would've been done for. When she discovers she's becoming a shifter herself, her life crumbles before her eyes. Being bitten is the least of her problems. Rex doesn't know what she’ll turn into and the person who attacked her is murdering girls. Izzy is the only one they left alive.
Come the full moon, Izzy turns to Rex for help when she wakes up in a pool of blood, unable to recall what happened. Soon she finds herself mixed up with shifters, witches and fairy magic. Despite being drawn to Rex, she’s reluctant to get close to her fellow shifter. Not when she’s got secrets of her own.
Will they find out who's behind the murders? Or will her attacker come back to finish the job?
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Banished from Heaven. An angel, a girl and the Devil himself. The Darkness is coming for them all.
Discovering your boyfriend is cheating is one way to ruin your evening. With nowhere to go after Alice storms out of her shared flat with Jason, she winds up on a park bench. The man next to her seems surprised she can see him. His beauty takes her breath away. When he informs her, he’s Azrael, the Archangel of Death, Alice’s night turns from bad to weird.
After an attempted kidnapping by a demon, Alice realises she's in danger. Lucifer wants her dead. Azrael promises safety, but at what cost? He hates humans and his tendency to read her mind drives her insane. She’s sure he knows far more than he’s letting on about her ability to see angels. There’s something sad yet alluring about the angel who has spent hundreds of years on Earth alone. Alice can’t help but want to discover what lies beneath his hard shell.