Bite, My Love (26 page)

Lord, he
can be a callous bastard.

Daniel
laughs grimly.

I glower.
‘Accidentally
overhearing my thoughts again?’

Curving lips press to my temple in a chaste kiss.
‘Ah, sweetling, so well you judge me.’

The barbarian vampire inclines his head solemnly. A halo of
candlelight rings the waterfall of his hair.

It’s
remarkable there’s no outward display of jealousy from him at
Daniel’s mention of his past relationship with his Bride. I suppose
if he’s as old as Daniel alludes to this ancient’s perspective on
life and love is be boundless. To be so old, and to still love so
deeply, to be as vibrant and present as he is – look at those
sparkling eyes – is something magical to witness.

‘
She is my wife not my Bride in the old
way.’
Adam – he has given me his
name – thinks to me privately.
‘I have
lived too long for my true Bride to have not lived and passed on. I
love Simone, and that is all that matters to me.’

I’m
honoured he felt to share this with me. It’s obviously something
the others will be aware of, and he recognises me as part of the
family by ensuring that I know.

“
Though you deserve more,” Daniel continues to Simone,
oblivious of the welcome I’ve received from the strongest of them,
“I cannot tell you what happened between Anya and I. That scar is
too ugly to expose. Know you were right. I did not love her as I
should, but in my way I did care. I ask forgiveness for not
explaining how deeply I was hurting, and for only seeing my own
pain.” Daniel pauses to pull me close. Crimson moisture pools above
his lashes, but he hides it well. “Cut me till I bleed. Beat me
until I am broken. Injure my body as you must for retribution.” He
trembles and crowds closer to me, his body hunching over mine.
Sucking in a breath, he lifts his head to pin her with his gaze.
“Show me mercy one last time. I beg. Do not insult my Bride or our
union. I can withstand all else, but not that.”

Adam
looks taken aback. His smile beams his pride as he looks down on my
mate. Nuzzling Simone’s hair, he rubs her arms, and lowers with her
as she sinks to her knees.

A bloody tear rolls down Simone’s pale cheek.
“
Ich habe dich liebe,
Danielius.”

“
Ja. You always did.”

Adam’s
expression melts into beatific peace. He cuddles Simone as she
cries, finally able to grieve properly for her lost Protégée,
Anya.

How these
people have suffered for each other. I reconcile my lost sense of
self and make peace with my past.

This is
my family, and where I belong.

Silence descends, and three sets of Vampire eyes snap to
mine.
‘Always,’
they echo in my mind.

“
I told you,” a familiar voice trills from the
doorway.

I twist
in Daniel’s embrace to see Lee wrapped up in Ben. Their clothes are
crumpled and untidy. The scents of sex and moonlight drift from
them.

Ben looks
traumatized. “I can’t believe it.”

Lee
beams. “I knew they’d be fine without me.”

“
No,” Daniel says. He gifts her a smile, a real one. Not that
sardonic curl of his lips he’s so fond of. “You
are
needed here. I see that now.” He
stares at my face. “I see now.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I wake
expecting a kiss from my mate. Instead, I smell saltwater, sugar,
and the lingering smell of Ben. “Lee, we’re going to be great
friends, and I like you, and everything, but what are you doing in
bed with me?”

“
I’ve been sent to collect you.”

I crack
an eyelid. “This is weird.”

The
Vampire Queen is curled up next to me, dainty hands tucked under
her chin. She’s dressed in a gown of black silk, her back
completely bared. Her hair is swept into a sleek chignon, and her
green eyes sparkle, thickly rimmed with smoky kohl. Two slashes of
excited colour ride high on her pearlescent cheeks.

If she
keeps looking perfect all the time, I’m going to throttle
her.

Groaning,
I hug the pillow next to mine, inhaling Daniel’s lingering scent.
“I need a shower.”

Bouncing
up, Lee darts to the wardrobe. She spins and strikes a pose beside
a taupe garment cover hanging on the door. “This is yours. Like you
I love jeans, but our men want their females in
dresses.”

She
unzips the bag with a flourish.

The gown
is blue silk, the colour of dusk. It’s a single sheath of silky
heaven, not a puff of voile, voluminous skirt, or a single modest
bust line in sight.

I do the girly thing. My hands fly to my cheeks, and my mouth
drops. “That’s for
me.
Did you choose it?”

Beaming, she shakes her head. “Nope. Dan did.” Lee smoothes
her hands over her hips, as if drying sweaty palms. Why is she
nervous? “Sometimes it irritates me how stuck in the past Ben is.”
Leaning forward conspiratorially, she whispers this confession. Her
eyes dart side to side as if worried Ben will step from the shadows
wagging his finger. “Would it kill him to buy a modern computer? A
plasma flat screen? An mp3 player?” She rolls her eyes. “I asked
him if he had a laptop to check my email, and he showed me some
dusty monitor slash tower combo running software from the
nineties.” She looks scandalized. “The only game on there is
Minesweeper
.”

“
What about the internet?” My shoulders shake trying to hold
back laughter. “Is it one of those screeching dial up
modems?”

“
Internet?”
She clutches her chest,
traumatized. “There is no internet.”

Howling,
I roll onto my back.

Shrugging, she stares at the wall dreamily. “That stuff used
to mean everything to me, but now I’m like whatever.”

I wipe
the tears from under my eyes. “You don’t miss all the things you’ve
given up?”

“
Of course, but I wouldn’t trade the last month for anything
in the world. I don’t regret becoming what I am. Not just because
of Ben, but because I feel like I belong here.” She pauses. Grins
madly. “And my bank balance is unreal now. Turns out my gorgeous,
motorcycle-riding, immortal boyfriend’s filthy rich.” She talks
sotto voice around her palm. “And I mean roll around in bull shit
rich. No more pot noodles of for me.”

When I
was Pack, I’d never experienced anything like that. If I was hungry
food was brought. If I was too impatient I shifted into a wolf and
hunted something down. “That was an issue for you
before?”

She nods
sagely. “If I want to hire a live-in-chef to cook me whatever I
want now, I totally have the means.” She studies me. “Do you want
me to hire a live-in-chef? You’re a princess, so you must be used
to that. Would that make you more comfortable here?”

I wrinkle
my nose. “No.”

“
Are you sure? It’s no problem.”

“
Lee,” I say softly, “do
you
want to hire a live-in-chef and tell our mates
it’s for me?”

She
struggles to maintain her air of disinterest and nods shamefacedly.
“Being that I can’t ingest much else but blood, and a few light
liquids, Ben said it was an unnecessary extravagance. Usually he’s
just being a troglodyte, but he had me on that one.”

“
He drives you crazy, doesn’t he?” I trawl a hand through my
hair. “I swear, if Daniel pulls any more sexist crap I’m going to
wolf out and slobber all over his shoes.”

Lee
giggles. “I know what you mean, but think of all the great stuff we
get in return for putting up with a little chauvinism. Ben opens
doors for me, and takes my hand to help me walk down the stairs. He
makes sure I feed first, and that I’m covered with enough blankets
when we rest for the day. My needs always come before his. Men like
that aren’t born anymore. You get the occasional one, but most are
too worried about surviving than wooing a girl. We’re lucky. All
Brides are.”

Rolling
off the new queen-sized bed – the old four-poster had been beyond
saving – I head towards the bathroom.

I pause
in the doorway. Sighing, I turn back to find Lee waiting. “Out with
it then.”

The edge
of her fang pricks her bottom lip. “Dan told us you refuse to
extend your life. I thought maybe if I spoke to you, you might
change your mind. It’s not that bad. Really. When I turned it hurt
like hell, but Daniel can’t turn you. Only I can do that, and I
can’t turn anybody for another three hundred years.” She’s speaks
in a breathless rush, as if afraid I’ll stop her. “Dan will drink
from you then saturate your body with his blood every few years.
You might experience bloodlust, but you’ll still be Lycan. Just
with a few Vampire traits and, um….” She mumbles under her breath,
something trivial about damning my soul for all eternity, working
her toes into the rug.

“
Yeah, I know. He told me the logistics. I figure it’s too
risky. I might end up a monster – the insane kind, not the sexy
kind.”

Her
shoulders slump. “But how will he survive without you?”

My hand
falls to my stomach. I tap it gently. Sadness descends upon me at
the thought of how Daniel would be without me, but I shake it off.
“All I can do is love him. Our family will be enough to keep him
going. It’ll have to be.”

“
I don’t mean to be morbid, but it’s such a short time to
them.” She gives a small smile. “And me. Will you at least keep it
on the table?
Please
.”

“
Okay, alright. Don’t look at me with those big eyes. Jesus,
Lee. Quasimodo on the heart strings much?”

She grins
and grabs a paddle brush from the dressing table. Lee bounces on
the spot. “Hurry up and shower. I’m dying to get my hands on your
hair.”

Grimacing, I take a quick shower, eager to get into my dress.
Lee tackles my hair in record time, and I have to say it looks
good. It’s simple, brushed beautifully, and braids are plaited
around the crown. Très bohemian. She even does my make up. My eyes
look huge and smoky, and my lips are a glossy pink. I forgo
underwear and slip the dress over my head. It glides across my
skin, moulding to the contours of my body.

I smile
when Lee rushes to the door, motioning with flurried, flitting
movements for me to hurry. Excitement shines on her pretty
features. She glides ahead of me, barefoot as always, her gown
dragging carelessly over the stone floor.

We climb
a winding staircase at the end of the dark corridor, and come out
of a wooden door onto the turret facing the sea.

Lee hums
appreciably. “I take it all back, I love it here.” She inhales
deeply and smiles, flashing fang. “The view is much nicer than the
train tracks you see from the bedroom window at my
flat.”

I hear
music, and turn towards the sound, surprised the old school
Vampires have a sound system installed on the roof.

I
squeal.

Jumping, Lee follows my gaze. Recoils. “What
is
that
thing?”

“
I–I– Is it alive?”

“
What
the hell
is that thing?” Lee looks stressed. “I’d Google it, but oh
yes, I’m living in the dark ages.” Looking past me, her twisted
snarl softens to a blissful curve of the lips.

I jolt
and blow out a startled breath.

Creepy
silent Vampires.

The dark
haired man standing beside me reaches for her. “It’s called a
gramophone, love.”

“
Don’t even try to explain, Ben. We’re going online,
tonight
, and you
will
tell me where you
hid your wallet.”

On guard
now, my nose catches the next Vampire to approach, and I turn to
find Daniel sneaking up on me from behind.

He grabs
my waist and lifts me off my feet to twirl me around. I loop my
arms around his neck, locking my legs around his back. My skirt
accommodates the move perfectly. The thigh high splits let my knees
peek through.

“
What’s all this?” I can’t help but devour his mouth in a
heart-stopping kiss before he can answer.

His tongue duels mine.
‘Wooing.’

‘
Wooing?’
I nibble his lips.
‘I’m your Bride. You’ve dealt with my family,
seen the worst, and best of me. You’ve claimed my body, heart, and
soul. A few dates and trinkets are kind of unnecessary.’

He breaks
the kiss, scowling. “No, very necessary. Even Ben had the
opportunity to woo Lee. He had days of watching her from afar. He
even brought her to meet the rest of us.”

I pucker
my lips, imagining how that would have gone down. “You were a
perfect gentleman towards her, I’m sure.”

He
grunts, and that says it all.

They’re
all here.

The
Vampire Queen and her consort, Lee and Ben, are making calf eyes at
each other like always. Simone and Adam the Auld One, otherwise
known to me as the barbarian stand separate from the rest, studying
us with mild amusement. Red curls fluttering in the wind, Iain, a
Highlander with the sexiest burr I’ve ever heard, looks fetching in
a dark green kilt and sporran. He’s sniffing fussily at the wine
bottles, a look of pleasure blooming across his deceptively young
face. Afzal paces in a corner, staring daggers at my mate. The
crimson sash tied over his dress robes flutters in the breeze, and
so does his raven-black hair. The shoulder-length locks obscure
half of his darkly handsome face. Meeting him had been
uncomfortable. I can’t blame the exotic-looking male for wanting to
hurt Daniel. He’d inadvertently caused the destruction of Afzal’s
Sire; a Vampire figurehead I’m learning is second only to a mate,
or the reigning Child.