Highland Vampire
Authors: Deborah Raleigh,Adrienne Basso,Hannah Howell
Tags: #Romance, #Fiction, #Historical, #General
Highland Vampire
BOOKS BY HANNAH HOWELL
Only for You
My Valiant Knight
Unconquered
Wild Roses
A Taste of Fire
Highland Destiny
Highland Honor
Highland Promise
A Stockingful of Joy
Highland Vow
Highland Knight
Highland Hearts
Highland Bride
Highland Angel
Highland Groom
Highland Warrior
Reckless
Highland Conqueror
Highland Champion
Highland Lover
Highland Barbarian
BOOKS BY ADRIENNE BASSO
His Wicked Embrace
His Noble Promise
To Wed a Viscount
To Protect an Heiress
To Tempt a Rogue
The Wedding Deception
The Christmas Heiress
BOOKS BY DEBORAH RALEIGH
Some Like It Wicked
Some Like It Sinful
Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
HIGHLAND VAMPIRE
HANNAH HOWELL
ADRIENNE BASSO
DEBORAH RALEIGH
KENSINGTON BOOKS
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com
HIGHLAND VAMPIRE
Jankyn pressed his lips to Efrica's forehead and inhaled deeply of her sweet scent. Even David's mother, a woman he had wanted to marry and claim as his mate, had never moved him as deeply as this delicate woman did. Efrica truly was his mate and yet even as he held her in his arms, he did not think he had ever felt so alone, for he could never claim her. It made his past sense of loneliness seem like no more than a bad mood. Although he felt certain she cared for him in many ways, and she desired him, he was going to have to resist the temptation to try to win her heart. She was a woman who loved the garden, the sun, and children. He could give her only shadows, windowless rooms and quite possibly, an empty womb. He could not do that to her.
She stirred in his arms and slowly opened her eyes. Jankyn stared into those warm, soft amber eyes and felt such a confusing wealth of emotion he was tempted to toss her to the ground and run for the hills. Instead, he kissed her.
Efrica was startled when Jankyn's lips met hers. For a very brief moment, she resisted the temptation of welcoming and returning his kiss. But when she parted her lips to allow the kiss to become more intimate, it took but one stroke of his tongue to banish the last twinge of caution. The heat of desire burned away all thought of anything besides how good he tasted and how alive he made her feel…
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2005 by Kensington Publishing Corp.
"Kiss of the Vampire" copyright © 2005 by Hannah Howell
"His Eternal Bride" copyright © 2005 by Adrienne Basso
"To Tame the Beast" copyright © 2005 by Debbie Raleigh
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Kensington and K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
First Kensington Trade Paperback Printing: September 2005
First Zebra Mass Market Printing: September 2006
Printed in the United States of America
KISS OF THE VAMPIRE
Hannah Howell
Chapter One
Scotland—Spring, 1478
The sun would set in a few hours, Jankyn thought as he crouched inside the narrow, deeply set stone arrow slot. When the sun was at this particular spot in the sky, he could safely view the gardens below. He grimaced as he thought of the teasing he would have to endure if it was discovered that he had a liking for flowers. A MacNachton liking flowers? Jankyn could almost see his kinsmen rolling on the floor, weak from hilarity.
It
was
rather pathetic, he mused, even as he took a deep breath, savoring the scent of primroses, bluebells, and musk roses. A garden flourished in the sun. He lived in the shadows. Perhaps it was more envy than appreciation. There was a part of him that hungered for a chance to turn his face toward the sun, to revel in its warmth upon his skin. It would be the last pleasure he enjoyed if he was mad enough to try it, but there were times when he was sorely tempted.
There was a soft rap upon his door and a woman called his name, but he ignored her. Something else that would both surprise and amuse his kinsmen. When he had first arrived at the king's court, he had freely indulged his lusts with the women gathered here, but that game no longer interested him. They no longer interested him. He was weary of being the dark, mysterious lover the women could brag about to their friends. There was a danger lurking in such excess for it stirred not only curiosity, but jealousy. He was also simply tired of fleeting, empty passion, of bedding down with women who did not really care to know him well, or would run screaming from his embrace if they did.
It was time to leave, but he could not give in to the urge to return to the comforting, shadowy depths of Cambrun. He had not yet found a suitable mate for his son David or finished his own work. Born of an Outsider, David could live a near-normal life, and Jankyn was determined to give him as rich a one as possible. There were also strong indications that it was here he would discover why he did not seem to be the pure-blooded MacNachton he had always thought he was.
"Are ye sure she will come here?"
Jankyn frowned down at the young man who had spoken, interrupting his peace and his thoughts. He recognized the elegantly dressed man as Sir Lachlan Armstrong, an impoverished young man with a small, poor holding. His companion was Thomas Oliphant, the youngest son of a laird with a lot of sons and little money. It was widely known that they would make any woman a poor husband. Jankyn tensed for there was something about them that made him think they were on the hunt, and he wondered which poor lass was their prey.
"Aye, Tom, she will," replied Lachlan. "I had Eleanor tell her the roses were in bloom. The lass loves flowers."
"Och, aye, she does that, but it doesnae mean she will come to have a peek at them now. Could be she willnae come until the morrow."
"Nay, 'twill be soon. Ere the sun sets. Eleanor told her that Old Rob, a mon weel kenned for his skill at foretelling the weather, had talked of a fierce storm coming, one that would be sure to damage the flowers. The lass willnae want to risk missing a chance to see them in full bloom."
"Clever."
It was and Jankyn had to wonder why Eleanor would help these fools. Since the two men could give her little save a rutting, he had to think Eleanor did not like the lass she was sending into this trap. There could be many reasons for that, but knowing Eleanor as he unfortunately did, Jankyn suspected the chosen victim was young and beautiful. Eleanor did not like it when some other woman drew men's interest away from her. The intended prey must have arrived recently, during the last two weeks in which Jankyn had cut himself off from the intrigues of the court, both political and sexual. And dear Eleanor was one of the reasons for that self-imposed exile.
"O'er by that rowan tree would be a good place to await her," said Lachlan even as he strode toward it.
"There is one wee problem with this plan," said Thomas as he joined his friend. "Which one of us gets to have her?"
"We will both
have
her, but the first to draw blood will be the one to wed her."
"Which will still leave one of us with an empty purse, little or no land, and the need of a weel-dowered wife."
"Nay, nay. This lass has enough for us to share a wee bit, just enough to make it easier to get that rich bride. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
Swine, Jankyn thought. The rumors that said these two hid a callous brutality beneath their fine clothes and bonnie faces were obviously true. Glancing toward the sun, Jankyn knew he would not be able to perform any daring rescue. The best he could do was call out a warning, letting the rogues know that their perfidy was not unwitnessed. There would be little glory in it, but the ones in the garden would see nothing wrong for none of them would expect a man to leap from where he now perched and live.
It was not long before both men tensed and shifted deeper into the shadow of the tree. Jankyn knew their prey had entered the garden and he waited with them. When the woman entered his line of sight, Jankyn nearly fell from his perch. He easily recognized that lithe shape and the sensuous way the young woman moved. Her long, thick, honey gold hair swayed with each step she took, adding to her allure. Although he had seen little of her in nearly three years, he had obviously recalled Efrica Callan very well indeed. The two men lurking by the rowan tree intended to attack his laird's sister by marriage. His shock had also stolen away the chance to warn her, and he cursed softly.
His first inclination was to roar out his fury and attack, but he forced his rage back. Efrica was no fool, nor was she helpless. There was also the sun to consider. Fists clenched, he waited.
"Weel met, m'lady," said Lachlan as he moved to stand in front of Efrica, Thomas slipping around behind her.
"Mayhap I misjudge ye, but I dinnae think ye are here to join me in admiring the flowers," Efrica said.