Queen of the Vampires: Snow White Reimagined with Vampires and Dragons (Seven Magics Academy Book 3)

by RaShelle Workman

  “You could drink some unicorn blood with me.”

  Dorian stroked Jasmine’s wings. “Not today. I’m thinking I’ll have some oatmeal with bananas, brown sugar, and cream with a side of bacon.”

  Jasmine scrunched her face up in disgust. “Gross, Daddy. How can you eat that stuff?”

  A chuckle escaped my throat. Jasmine’s eyes grew wide. I covered my mouth.

  “What’s funny, Mommy?” She came over to me, and the edge of one wing ruffled my hair. “You don’t like that stuff either. You drink blood too.” She said it matter-of-factly, as though what we did was normal and Dorian eating oatmeal wasn’t.

  “You’re just so cute I can’t help myself,” I said, brushing some of her long, wild hair off her face.

  “Thanks, Mommy.” She wrapped her little arms around my neck. “You cute, too.”

  “Awwww.” I hugged her tight. “Let’s get you dressed and then we’ll eat.”

  Jasmine jumped off the bed, flying to the door. “Hungry. Come on.”

  Chapter 36

  After Jasmine, Dorian, and I had breakfast, I headed down to the conference area. There was a big meeting with all of the supernaturals where we discussed whose realm would be created next. Once that was finished, Coco came by my office. As the headmistress of the Academy, she was in charge of everything, but she asked that I speak with one of my vampires, a young worker vampire who changed just before I defeated Sharra. The council, which included Professor Pops, Heathcliff, Cindy, Coco and I, agreed to let Valencia attend the Seven Magics Academy.

  I thought it was going well, but apparently, the girl enjoyed starting fights.

  She was a beautiful young woman with dark hair, light brown skin, and brown eyes. Her navy jacket was unbuttoned, revealing her white shirt underneath. There was blood on the collar, and I sighed.

  At the moment, she was seated in the chair opposite my desk, her head down, and her hands in her lap.

  “Am I to understand you picked a fight with a witch and an elf during lunch?”

  Valencia nodded, looking up. There were tears in her eyes.

  “Then you drank from them.”

  “Uh-huh,” she said, her face a combination of sad and smug.

  “You shouldn’t be pleased with yourself, Valencia. I’m not like the old queen. That isn’t acceptable behavior.”

  Valencia licked her blood red lips.

  “And I won’t tolerate it.” I clasped my hands together, resting them in front of me on the large oak desk.

  Her face fell. Valencia looked away, gazing at her feet. She wore black boots with her knee-high white socks, and she crossed her legs at the ankle. She didn’t have any family. Many of the supernatural creatures we invited to the school didn’t. They were either abandoned or disowned by their parents.

  With magic, we created dormitories for them, with six students to a room. I hoped they would be able to bond with each other and create their own families. For the most part, it was working, but there were some who struggled more than others.

  Valencia swallowed. “My queen, the elf stole my favorite book and she wouldn’t give it back—not even when I asked her nicely.” She blinked several times and I waited for her to go on. “So I grabbed her around the neck and demanded she return it, but she laughed at me and called me a blood-sucking leech.”

  That was the cruelest and most derogatory comment a vampire could hear. “I see.”

  She went on. “The witch walked into the lunchroom while I had the elf around the neck and fought to protect the elf, which irritated the hell out of me, so yeah, I punched them both. But they deserved it.”

  I clenched my teeth together, forcing myself to remain in control. “I understand your frustration, Valencia, but the next time you have a problem like that, you bring it up with the headmistress or any of the teachers. When you take matters into your own hands, I have no choice but to punish you.”

  “But that isn’t fair.” She stuck out her bottom lip, pouting and irritated.

  “Maybe not but doing something negative in response to a negative action isn’t right.” I pursed my lips together, waiting to see what else she would say. “However, if you tell me the names of the other two girls, I will make sure they are punished as well.”

  “I’m not a snitch,” she said, sitting on her hands.

  “Very well, then you must stay after school and help Heathcliff in the potions lab for the remainder of the week.” I picked up some paper and clicked it against the desk before setting it in the basket to my right. “That will be all.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” She went to the door. I didn’t look up until she was gone, worried she would see my irritation at what had happened. Coco and I needed to talk about what we could do to alleviate some of the tension between the different creatures.

  Chapter 37

  It was late afternoon. I sat beside the fire, watching the flames dance merrily in the hearth.

  “Mommy.” Jasmine flew into the room and straight into my arms.

  “Hi. How was your day?” I tucked her against me, holding her close. Jasmine wasn’t in school yet, but what would the other creatures think when a vampire with wings began to attend? How would those at the academy treat her? Would they bully her like they did Valencia?

  “It was so fun. Me and Sabrina chased squirrels and helped baby birds learn to fly. Sabrina tried to ride a fish. It was funny because the fish tried to eat her, but Daddy saved her.”

  “Thank goodness,” I said.

  “Yeah.” Jasmine went on and on about her day as I listened, my eyes falling on Dorian who stood by the entrance, leaning against the doorframe. His sandy hair was rumpled from the wind or possibly the play. Instantly, my fangs pressed against my lips. I wanted to taste him.

  “Your daughter is a handful,” he said, his voice filled with admiration, but he saw what I wanted, and his eyes became hooded.

  “No, Daddy, you a handful.” She jumped into the air and flew over and into his outstretched arms.

  I walked over to them and wrapped my arms around them both. “Glad you had a fun day.”

  Dorian leaned around Jasmine’s wings and kissed me. “I missed you,” he whispered, his voice full of meaning.

  Jasmine rested her head against Dorian’s shoulder, and she closed her eyes. Within moments, Jasmines was asleep. Dorian’s free hand wrapped around my waist and he pulled me to him. I ran my fingers along the waist of his pants, telling him with my eyes what I wanted.

  He nodded knowingly.

  “Let’s put her to bed,” he said.

  My heart began to race. “And then you can take me to bed,” I added, licking my lips.

  “Agreed.” He went up the stairs and I followed down the hall, up another set of stairs, down another hall, and past mine and Dorian’s bedroom. I opened Jasmine’s door for him.

  Her room was decorated in different shades of teal and black—Jasmine’s two favorite colors. In the center of the room was a round bed covered in pillows. I pushed some aside and Dorian laid her on her stomach. With her wings, it was the only way she could sleep. Then I covered her. “Night, Jasmine. Hope your dreams are sweet.”

  Ciana, the only vampire I would leave Jasmine with, appeared.

  “Watch over her,” I said softly.

  “With pleasure, my queen.” She bowed.

  Dorian took my hand and pulled me toward the door. “Do you still want to go on our date?”

  I watched his eyes happily. I really wanted him, but our dates were so much fun. “Definitely.”

  “Where to tonight?” Ciana asked.

  Dorian put a finger to his lips. “It’s a secret.”

  Ciana giggled, and I smiled at their exchange. Everyone in Sharra was smitten with Dorian. Where I was respected, Dorian was loved. Adored. He brought joy and kindness into the land. “Enjoy yourselves,” she said.

  “Thanks, Ciana.” She closed the door behind us, and I knew she would sit in Jasmine’s room all night. Ciana was Jasmine�
�s guard, protector, and nursemaid while Dorian and I were away.

  “You going to give me a hint?” I asked, unable to hide my giddiness. We hadn’t been married that long, and while I knew him my whole life, marriage was different. Exciting. And Dorian was so damn sexy I could hardly keep my hands to myself.

  “You’ll see.” He leaned in and kissed my neck. I shivered in anticipation.

  “Should I change?” I asked when we reached our bedroom.

  He glanced down. I wore a sky-blue day dress made of fairy gossamer. It was soft, breathable, and airy. Like wearing a cloud.

  His eyes skimmed across my body, caressing me slowly, and I shivered.

  “You look perfect,” he said, pulling me into the warmth of his strong arms. “Come on.”

  Chapter 38

  We made our way out of the castle. Once we were outside the gates, we walked through the apple orchard. I plucked an apple off a tree and brought it to my nose. It still surprised me that its fragrance was blood. I knew it would taste like blood as well. I bit into it, enjoying the flavor.

  Dorian also picked an apple. He took a few bites.

  “What does yours taste like?” I asked, curious.

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Like an apple, of course.” He winked.

  “It does?”

  “Yes, my love, it tastes like a sweet and juicy apple.”

  “If you say so.” But I knew that was the magic of Sharra. All foods tasted like what you desired most.

  He leaned in and kissed me.

  As we walked slowly through the grove, I admired the blossoms floating along with the breeze. Dorian caught one, clutched it between his thumb and first finger, spun it, and then turned and stuck it behind my ear.

  “Beautiful.” He stroked my cheek.

  I loved that he could make me forget I was the vampire queen. With him, I was a woman in love with a totally gorgeous man and that was more than enough. “So are you, you know.” I touched his chest, felt the beating of his heart. Blood flowed through his veins and made my mouth water. Maybe that was why I didn’t want to change him. I loved the way his blood tasted of humanity and magic. There wasn’t any other blood anywhere in the world that tasted more divine.

  Dorian smirked. “You want me, don’t you?” He pressed his body against mine.

  “Yes, husband, I do.” To prove my point, I ran my hands up his arms to his neck.

  He rubbed his cheek against mine. “Can you wait until after our date or should we go home, my queen?”

  “Keep that up and we’ll skip our date and move straight to the afterparty.”

  Dorian chuckled. “Let’s go, sexy. Our date is going to be a blast.”

  I snickered. “It better be.”

  We continued through the orchard until we arrived at a cobblestone path where we walked until we reached the sandy shore of the Filigree River. At the water’s edge an elegant pearl barge bobbed next to a pier. Paper lanterns in pastel colors hung along the edges of the roof. They were lit and swayed gently in the breeze. The sun had almost set, its dying rays making the water flicker like flames.

  “What’s this?” I glanced from Dorian to the barge and back at his incredibly handsome face. Water wasn’t my favorite thing. Growing up a klutz, I tended to stay away from areas where problems could occur—like water.

  But I was the vampire queen now. No longer klutzy, no longer a bumbling snowflake.

  “Officially, we’ve been married one month today. I wanted to do something special.” I watched his excitement turn serious. “It feels like forever and yesterday since we were married.”

  I cupped his strong hand in both of mine. “I know exactly what you mean.”

  “But you’re still glad we married, right?” There was worry etched in his features.

  Before the actual wedding day, we discussed at length whether to marry or not. We were still young. Twenty and twenty-one respectively, but when you know it’s right. When you know you’ve found your soulmate, there didn’t seem to be a point in waiting.

  “Absolutely. What about you? Are you happy to be married to me?” His life had altered drastically because of me. He went from a Harvard student to the king of a magical land.

  “Without a doubt.” He leaned down and kissed me tenderly.

  When he lifted his head, I smiled. “You are the perfect man for me.”

  The corner of his mouth rose into his trademark smirk that melted my heart and soul. “Remember that when I’m ninety and wrinkled and walking with a cane,” he said.

  I laughed. “Oh, I will.” But I doubted he would ever need a cane or become wrinkled. He wasn’t a vampire, but he had become part of the seven magics. If he aged, it would be at a much, much slower rate than humans. Though I might have to change him, so he didn’t suffer.

  “Good.” He kissed the tip of my nose and pulled me toward the pier.

  When I stepped onto the barge, a feeling of foreboding overwhelmed me. “Wait.” I stopped and searched the water’s edge on both sides of the wide river. My keen eyesight picked out a herd of deer, an otter building a home near one of the houses, and several dozen different birds chatting amongst themselves from tree branches. There was also a group of pixilettes fluttering near a meadow of pink wildflowers. An ogre was cutting down a tree and a vampire stalked a bear near the base of the mountain about a mile away. Nothing abnormal—at least not for Sharra. Still, I sensed something.

  “Dorian? Who knows we’re here?”

  An elf appeared wearing a deep blue tunic and brown pants. His long blue hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. His eyes were black as were his eyebrows. They stuck out from his pale blue skin. He came from below the deck of the barge. In one hand he carried a tray. Two glasses of something deep and red sat on top.

  “King Dorian. Queen Snow.” He bowed. “Happy anniversary.” He offered the glasses to Dorian and me. “Please. Drink up.”

  Dorian picked up the glasses. “This is Rheme,” he said, indicating the elf.

  I nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

  “And you, my queen. Dorian has told me much about the two of you from when you were younger.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Really?” I glanced between the two men. “What did he say?”

  Dorian’s eyes danced with mischief. “Go ahead, tell her.”

  Rheme seemed embarrassed. “He knew the two of you were meant for each other long before you did.” He bowed again. “My queen.”

  I laughed, taking a glass from Dorian’s hand. “Did he now?”

  Rheme cleared his throat.

  “Of course I did.” Dorian pressed the glass to his lips. My glass held blood. His looked like mine. Was he going to drink blood as well?

  “What’s in yours?”

  He winked at me. “It looks like blood, but it’s actually strawberry-rhubarb nectar, a special bland Rheme here makes. It’s delicious.”

  “Oh?” He stuck his glass under my nose. I sniffed. “Mmmm, that smells good.” It didn’t really. Only blood smelled good anymore, but I knew it was supposed to smell appetizing, so I pretended.

  Dorian shook his head and laughed. “You’re a terrible liar.”

  I laughed too. “Yeah, I know.”

  Chapter 39

  There were two other crewmembers on the twinkling flat-bottomed vessel. They went to work pushing us away from the dock until a circular paddle smacked the water at the rear, pushing us forward.

  It was nearly dark. Insects came out and played us their songs. Night pixies, their iridescent wings changing colors in the moonlight, fluttered along the water’s edge. When they saw us, they flitted forward. I could hear their giggling and whispering. But before they reached us, they stopped and turned back. They no longer giggled. In fact, I sensed apprehension. Something spooked them.

  I tried to remind myself I was the scariest thing in Sharra. None could hurt or defeat me. Plus, I had Dorian.

  He seemed to sense my trepidation and pulled me against his chest, wrapping his arms ar
ound my waist. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

  I swallowed, forcing down the strange feeling in my gut. “Yes, it’s exqui—”

  The boat smacked against something hard. My body tried to lurch forward, but Dorian held me fast.

  “Rheme, what was that?” He sounded calm, but I felt his heartrate increase.

  “I’m not sure, sir.” Rheme walked toward the front of the boat. “Let me check,” he said, leaning over the railing.

  Something smacked against the boat again. The elf nearly went in the water.

  Dorian released my waist and started forward. I grabbed his arm. My senses were on overload. Something was wrong.

  A figure, dark as the darkest night, appeared in front of Rheme, and pulled the elf over the edge of the barge. Sub-consciously I expected to hear a splash, but there wasn’t one.

  Dorian sprang forward, peering over the edge.

  “Get behind me,” I said, worried for him, as creatures who looked like shadows swarmed him. They were small, the size of children. “Dorian!” My body moved over to my husband before I even realized it. “Get off him!” My fangs descended with my fury. I couldn’t see Dorian, there were so many creatures around him. I pulled at them, yanking and throwing them behind me, but I still couldn’t see Dorian. The creatures were too dense.

  After several seconds I realized what I was doing wasn’t working, so I picked up the nearest dark figure and bit into it. The creatures looked like shadows, but they were solid, and solid meant they would have blood. I would be able to tell the type of creature by the flavor of its blood.

  Except…

  As soon as my fangs sank into the flesh, it disintegrated in my hands and evaporated. I screamed in frustration and grabbed another. And another. And another. Each one crumbled the same as the others.

  Fear welled up; I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t lose Dorian, and I wouldn’t. So I kept fighting, even though it felt useless. One after another I buried my fangs into them until a green light flashed from the center of the dogpile. At the place where I thought Dorian might be. It grew brighter, the color intensifying and getting bigger.