ROMANCE: His Ebony Blood Jewel - A Novel (BWWM, Paranormal, Vampire, Billionaire New Adult Romance) (15 page)

“Your highness.” Harper said demurely, curtsying.

“Please, ma’am. No need to curtsy to your future father-in-law.” He said warmly, standing and walking over. He was wearing a black silk shirt and black leather pants. He looked less like a king and more like a sexy rock star. If Harper wasn’t in love with Bryce, she would’ve found his father hot as hell.

He took her hand and kissed it gently.

“I am Leo. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, and am glad you have made my son so happy.”

“I thought you didn’t like humans.” She said softly. “I thought you wanted them not to come to your land.”

“A man’s mind can change, if given reason to.” He said as he sat back down. “I’ve come to understand that all humans are not bad. My son has been impressed by your city. By its people.”

“It’s a good place, your highness.”

“Please call me Leo.” He said.

“Leo.” She smiled and looked at Bryce, who beamed back at her, obviously happy that the initial meeting between his fiance and father was going so well.

“However, the laws of the land dictate that you must leave. Unfortunately, the presence of a human is a distraction. One that we don’t need.” Leo’s voice had turned cold.

“Father, you mustn’t mean that.” Bryce protested.

“Until you convert, you must stay away. I know of your lineage, of your supposed abilities. But that makes no difference. This land is for the vampiric kind, only. Your blood is too tempting to us. For that reason, you must leave.”

Harper looked at Bryce helplessly. But then she decided that she didn’t want to make trouble for her love.

“Fine. Then I shall leave. But I ask that Bryce accompany me.”

“He has duties here, but I can allow him to stay with you one week out of every month.”

“No!” Harper screamed. “We’re to be married. I can’t stand to be away from him for that long.”

“If it’s what the king dictates, then his orders must be followed.” A distinguished looking gentleman said, an assistant of some kind.

“Father, you must rethink this.” Bryce protested. “Surely I can have more time with my bride.”

Leo shook his head. “I’m sorry, my dear son. It’s what’s required of you. If you no longer find yourself interested in carrying out your royal duties, I’m sure we can find a suitable replacement for you. Namely, your cousin Roman. I know he’s always been interested in being one of my heirs. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to assist me.”

Bryce furrowed his brow. “Fine. If that’s what you command, then I have no choice but to follow.”

“Very good.” Leo said, his voice warming up once again. “Miss Harper, I look forward to seeing you again in the future. Once you’ve chosen to commit to our kind. Until then, I have no time for you.” He waved them away. Bryce put one large, protective arm around Harper’s shoulder and led her out of the room.

She tried to hold back the tears, but was unsuccessful. “That’s so unfair. Only one week a month? I won’t be able to survive without you.”

“I’ll be able to change his mind. But it might take awhile.”

His fingers wiped away the tears from her eyes.

“We should get ready to go.” He said softly.

“We’re going back? But there’s so much I want to see here in Elder Island. It’s no fair.”

“I’m sorry, my love. But my father is stubborn. He’s made up his mind. You can’t come back until you become like us.”

“A vampire.” She said mournfully.

“Yes.”

“I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I can give up being human.”

“It’s not so different.”

“How do you know?”

“My mother was human.” He said softly.

“So Roman was right!” She exclaimed. “You’re not a pureblooded vampire.”

“No, I’m not. That’s why I’m sometimes not able to tolerate the sunlight. I feel as though Roman has always known, but I didn’t think he’d used it against me.”

Harper sighed. There was so much that she didn’t understand.

“I think I’m ready to go back home.”

He smiled down at her. “Home is wherever you are. So if you go there, I’ll go as well.”

He held her tight as she nestled her head against his defined pecs.

“I love you, Bryce.” She whispered.

“I love you more, baby.”

She’d never felt more safe or more loved at that very moment.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“
So
spill the details. Where did you go? And most importantly,
why
did you go?” Ashanti asked, her head cocked, a look of barely subdued annoyance on her face.

“Yeah, what was the big deal, rushing off like that?” Telah added.

“Ladies, please calm down and let Harper speak.” Lola said, coming to Harper’s defense.

“The long and the short of it was that I had to get help for my mom. And seeing Bryce was just a little perk.”

“And where exactly did you go?” Ashanti asked.

“It’s a little island off the coast of Romania.” Harper said. She took a bit of bread from the basket that Kierra sat in front of her. They were off in an isolated booth in the restaurant. Kierra knew that they were going to need to discuss some things, thus she gave them their privacy.

“And she’s better?” Telah asked.

“Yep, she’s 100% free and clear of cancer. The doctors here just confirmed it.”

“Thank the Lord.” Lola said.

“And what’s the status with Bryce?” Kierra asked as she sat down, taking a break from work.

“We’re on.”

“What do you mean
you’re on
.” Lola asked.

“We’re together. Dating. Whatever you want to call it.”

“So he’s staying here for good?”

“No, not exactly.” Harper said sadly. “That’s the hard part. He still has…obligations back home. He can only stay one week a month.”

“That’s too bad.” Lola said.

“We’re going to make it work.” Harper said.

“I’ve never heard of a long-distance that worked out.” Ashanti clucked.

“I don’t need your pessimism.” Harper said, narrowing her eyes at her friend. “I need you to support me.”

“I am supporting you. By telling you how I think. What I think is the truth. If you want me to lie to your face about your chances of a successful relationship, you’ve come to the wrong person.” Ashanti said. “You know I love you and want the best for you. I just don’t want you strung along for year after year, only to be dumped.”

“There’s not a chance of that happening.” Bryce said. The girls collectively gasped. He stood there, looking as gorgeous as ever. His hair was slicked back and he had on a beautifully-cut suit.

“Baby, I didn’t know you were coming.” Harper said as she got up. She went up on her tip-toes to give him a kiss.

“Hope I’m not intruding.” Roman said, appearing behind him.

“And you’re here too…” Harper said less enthusiastically.

“We have some things we wanted to clear up.” Bryce said as he sat down at the table with the divas. Roman took his lead. “My cousin and I have come to an agreement over the record label.”

“Really?” Harper said incredulously.

“We want you and Lola to run it. We’re both going to split it 50/50, but have no say in the operation of the label. Mr. Washington is going to help handle things until you two ladies are up to speed.”

“But babe, I don’t have that type of business experience.”

“You’re a brilliant attorney.” Bryce said reassuringly. He put his hand on her shoulder, stroking her with his thumb. “You’ll do a great job. Plus, the salary is nothing to sneeze at.”

Harper turned to Lola. Lola looked like pigs were flying.

“So this means I won’t dropped from the label?” Lola asked.

“Not unless you want to drop yourself.” Roman said with a laugh.

“But then…the algorithm. Who will control the algorithm?” Harper said, turning to the two men.

“That’s your call. We trust you’ll make the right decision.”

Harper knew what they
weren’t
saying - that with the algorithm, she had the power to influence people’s minds. But that was something she had no interest in doing.

“Thank you.” She said. She didn’t give any indication of what her decision was. They’d have to wait for that.

Roman stood up. He looked a little tired, but still just as handsome as his cousin. “I better get going. I just wanted to settle this. Our legal department from Santos Enterprises will send over the paperwork.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.” Lola said. She stood up and bit her lip seductively, reaching out her hand to take Roman’s.

“Sorry.” Harper said. “This is Roman Santos. Bryce’s cousin.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He said. Harper could feel the sensual tension between the two. She felt almost as if she should turn and give them their privacy. “But I really must be going.”

Lola looked dejected as he let go of her hand and turned to walk out of the restaurant.

“I think Lola has a crush.” Ashanti said sarcastically.

“Shut up!” Lola said, a smirk on her face.

“I’ve never seen her at a loss for words.” Harper said as she and Bryce sat down.

The girls started talking amongst themselves. Harper felt happy. For once, everything was right in her world. The record label situation was taken care of. The algorithm was in safe hands for the time being. Her mother was free from cancer. And she finally met a guy she liked.

A guy she
really
liked.

“How about we get out of here?” Bryce whispered seductively in her ear.

“That sounds good to me.” She said. She said goodbye to the divas, promising to meet them the next day at brunch.

She knew there were so many questions. The vampiric world was something completely foreign to her. How could she fit in there?

She hadn’t even told all of her best friends the truth about Bryce and Roman. Lola was the only one who knew. Would the others believe her? Would they think she was crazy?

But even though it wasn’t the happily ever after she dreamed of since she was a young girl, it was happy for now.

And that was good enough for her.

The End