The Witch's Vampire (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Mystery Springs Series) (5 page)

“Can’t your mother or father do something to help your sister?” It was a logical question. Surely an angel could heal just about anyone.

“My mother was human, she died in childbirth and my father is - unreachable.” He tied his blond waves back in a ponytail. “My older sister, Tiffany, is human. She’s all I have left.”

“What happened to her?”

Christopher cast an angry glance back toward Giovanni. “She was attacked by a vampire. Injured, infected, and in the process, mortally wounded.”

“So if she dies she’ll become a vampire.” Giovanni supplied an answer to the confused look on Sophie’s face. “What troubles me is vampires don’t attack humans or supernaturals anymore in Mystery Springs. We get most of our nourishment from blood banks and willing feeders. Such an attack is a violation of our treaties and if it was unprovoked is punishable by death.”

Sophie cringed at the idea of vampire's drinking blood from human veins. Live humans! It seemed almost barbaric, but the idea of using blood donated for the injured and sick was not much better. She buttoned her mouth deciding it wasn't the time or place for the ethical debate of vampire feeding.

Christopher laughed coldly, “You expect me to believe vampires are no longer killers?”

Giovanni looked offended, but conceded. “Accidents happen and every death that has a certain supernatural air about it is investigated thoroughly. If it was more than an accident the punishment is severe and irreversible.” Christopher snorted in disbelief which caused Gio to respond defensively. “You’re a hunter. Does that not make you a killer?”

“For a cause, to protect the humans and other supernatural beings from your kind.” Christopher defended himself, narrowing his eyes at the beast in the backseat. Sophie tried to occupy herself with navigating the darkened streets, but couldn't help but get distracted by the argument between the two men. She imagined it was an age-old dispute.

“Death is death. It’s permanent and carries a high cost to those left behind. Think of the supernaturals in Mystery Springs as enlightened. We don’t take the death of any species lightly.” Giovanni flicked something, probably lint off his black leather jacket and narrowed his eyes at Christopher. “Humans don’t need protection in Mystery Springs, not from the supernatural that is.”

Sophie saw the look of concern slide behind those intense eyes in the mirror. “You have a reflection in the mirror.” She spoke her thought out loud. She didn’t mean to sound naïve, but it wasn’t everyday she had an angel and demon in her car.

“That’s because vampires are the worst kind of predators, wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Christopher responded for the sexy man in her back seat. “They’ve learned to adapt and blend into the world of the creatures they hunt.”

“No, that would be werewolves, literally.” Giovanni growled back and Sophie couldn’t hide the laugh that escaped her lips. It was a nervous laugh, but if werewolves were real they would definitely fit that description.

Both men stared at her with dumbfounded looks. “I’m sorry, you’ve got to understand. I only found out I was a witch tonight, before that I had no idea that you people existed in any other place aside from books, television shows, and movies.” She glanced over her shoulder as she merged into the exit lane on the highway. “And now, I have two super sexy men in my car who claim to be the same supernatural creatures that I often create in my own fantasies. It’s a lot to take in.”

Christopher had the good sense to look sheepish while Giovanni took the compliment in stride, inflating his ego. “You’re rather sexy and intriguing yourself, Sophie.” Gio added with a mischievous grin. “I’ve personally never met someone part of this world so innocent. It’s rather – refreshing.” He picked up his phone and began dialing a number.

Sophie felt heat rise up the back of her neck and color her cheek. The vampire had a way with words.

“Who are you calling?” Christopher asked in an agitated tone.

“The council. We need to find out more about the attack on your sister. Like I said, we take death very seriously. I’ll have some representatives from local law enforcement meet us at Sophie’s house,” as an afterthought, “if that is agreeable with you, my dear?”

Sophie felt the heat grow. He was so comfortable with those terms of endearment, and the way he spoke reminded her of Old English. He made her uncomfortable, in a good way. She shrugged. “I guess that’s okay. The address is…”

“We all know where you live, we just never knew you existed. Your mother did an admirable job of protecting you.” He said this with a light of admiration in his eyes. “Yes, Nicolai, I need you to gather the available members of the council and send them to the Waters’ house.” As abruptly as he started the conversation he ended it by closing the phone. “Now, another thing that troubles me, Christopher, is how you decided to look for Sophie since you’re not a resident of Mystery?”

Chapter Four

“What do you mean?” Christopher feigned innocence. 

Perhaps it was for Sophie’s benefit, but Gio saw right through his façade. He'd come face to face with a few nephilim in his time and they weren't the angels people thought they were. "Please don’t play stupid with me. I know all the supernaturals in this town, hazard of the job. And you, Christopher, are not on any of my lists." It was his way of keeping track of the supernaturals in this town and had been extremely effective over the years. There hadn't been an angel hybrid in town for over thirty years. "Are you connected to someone I know? Is that why you were able to find Sophie, how you knew her mother had passed?”

“I doubt it. I don’t get along with vampires. Emery, my sister’s new friend, told me to find Sophie." Christopher unlatched his seat belt and turned narrowed eyes on Giovanni. "Are you done interrogating me?”

“Yes.” Sophie answered quickly. This entire situation was making her uncomfortable and she was ready to move things along.

“Not yet.” Gio interjected. “How did you know to look for her at my club?”

It was a good question, Sophie thought. She had never been there before.

“Giovanni’s is the most popular supernatural hangout in town, right?” Christopher answered his question with a question of his own.

Gio hated it when people did that. “One of them, yes. But Sophie has never been to my club,” Gio tossed a look to Sophie, “have you?”

“No.” Was he reading her thoughts? She wanted to ask, but instead kept quiet. Adding to the conversation was only going to make it run longer.

“We have our ways.” Christopher stated, crossing his arms over his chest. His body language made it clear he wasn't interested in continuing this conversation either.

“I’m afraid that’s not good enough.” Gio stated coldly, un-clicking his own seat belt, readying for a fight that might just break out when they exited the vehicle.

Christopher turned to face him again. “Who died and made you king?”

“Prince, actually. My father would be the vampire king, but he often defers to me in matters of politics.” Gio leaned forward, their faces were only inches apart, just as Sophie pulled into her driveway. “And I won’t stop asking until I’m satisfied with the answers.”

Sophie unbuckled her own seat belt and tried to process what she was hearing.
 
A vampire prince? Holy cow! 
An extremely sexy vampire prince that seemed very protective of her and her family. So he really was the Mancuso prince. It was strange, but comforting, that a stranger would put himself on the line to protect her. Especially now that she was sure she’d be finding herself in dangerous situations. He’d be a good friend to have if all this actually turned out to be real.

Christopher rolled his eyes. “I paid a witch to find her.”

“You really do underestimate me, don’t you?” Gio steepled his fingers in front

of his kissable lips and Sophie’s breath caught in her throat, what she'd give to be one of those fingers pressed against his lips.
 
Holy hell, get it together, Sophie!
 She told herself. It was so difficult. Even his mannerisms were old school. She had a real weak spot for the long forgotten age-of-the-gentleman. As long as that gentleman was a strong, handsome hunk, which this one was. Another reason why she was able to continue to fool herself that she was dreaming. His old-school mannerisms made her wonder how old he really was. It was clear he was older than he looked. No twenty something man acted like him. At least none she'd ever met. “A locator spell would require a personal item of the person you’re desiring to find.” Giovanni's smooth voice sliced into her thoughts like a sharpened blade into a perfectly cooked turkey breast. What was wrong with her? She must have been hungry, 
when was the last time I ate
? She wondered briefly, her thoughts distracting her from the tense situation. Or, it could be because Giovanni looked tasty enough to eat. She licked her lips as she imagined what he would taste like. Feel like. She felt herself getting lost in the image of them in an intimate embrace. 
Get it together, Sophie!

It was Christopher that pulled her from her thoughts again. Giovanni was proving to be a terrible distraction. “Not if I was looking for a power instead of a person. I asked the witch, Esmie I think her name was, to find me a witch with powerful healing abilities. She found me you.” Christopher smiled at Sophie, who felt the heat of a blush color her cheeks because of her guilty thoughts of the vampire. After a pause he turned to Giovanni, “does that satisfy your interest?”

“I’m satisfied. Let’s see if we can find Chelsea and hopefully help your sister.” Sophie got out of the car and headed toward the house leaving both men behind in the vehicle. She’d had enough of the posturing and her raging hormones. She needed space between her and the sex-on-a-stick vampire.

Gio watched Sophie as her curvy form disappeared behind the door of her house. He wasn't satisfied with Christopher's answers. He knew he was leaving important details out of the conversation. He'd have to wait to get those answers because there was an innocent life on the line after a vampire attack.

"Shall we?" he asked Christopher as he got out of the car. He didn't really care about the angel's answer. He was more interested in following Sophie and spending more time with her. Being in the close confines of the car for the last thirty minutes only made his desire for her grow and her spunky attitude made her more appealing. She was so different from the other women he knew. Those women all threw themselves at him, and this one fought her attraction which was admirable, impressive, and a little intoxicating. Her unique attitude made him desire her even more. The men followed her into the house without another word.

Sophie wasn’t expecting a full house so quickly after Giovanni called Nicolai and felt a little overwhelmed as she was introduced to everyone. She learned there were nine council members, each representing a different species that made Mystery Springs their home. Captain Logan Carter represented the humans. She was sure she recognized him from before, but she was a child the last time she saw him. In the version she remembered he was at least ten years younger. The crinkled skin around his light blue eyes held less wrinkles, and his side burns weren’t salted with grey hair. Despite the obvious increase in age, he still looked strong and solid as he stood leaning against the wall by the fireplace in the living room, arms pulled across his chest, taking in the scene with suspicious eyes.

The only memory she had of him was kind. He’d given her an ice cream treat right before he entered her mother’s greenhouse in the back yard. Closing the door behind him, shutting her out of the conversation. She was too young to be curious back than and too preoccupied with her vanilla and chocolate treat to really care. All this supernatural chaos was going on around her and she was too blind to even see it happening.

A frail, elderly woman who walked with a cane named Mariah represented the witches. Sophie was surprised that she recognized Mariah as well. Not as a witch, but as someone who came over to the house to visit with Chelsea, her father, and mother from time to time. Mariah always made Sophie feel a little nervous so she avoided those visits like the plague. Always coming up with some excuse to study in her room or go visit a friend. Today Mariah wore her grey hair in pigtail braids which seemed to be her second favorite hair style. Other times Sophie had seen Mariah she was wearing her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head. The skin on her bones looked thinner than normal and seemed to hang a little looser off her bones. Sophie couldn’t help but wonder if her mother’s death was the reason for Mariah advancing frailty.