ROMANCE: His Ebony Blood Jewel - A Novel (BWWM, Paranormal, Vampire, Billionaire New Adult Romance) (13 page)

“Oh my God.” Harper screamed. In her mind, she could just see Bryce’s face. So reassuring and kind. She was going to him − that was basically the purpose of the trip, but at this moment in time, she had never felt so far away form him.

The plane seemed to be pointed straight down. Harper screamed out as one of the windows shattered only few feet away from her.

“We’re under fire.” Victoria shouted out. Despite the turbulence, she was able to race over to one of her bags and pull out a gun.

Victoria went to the busted out window and opened fire on the plane that Harper realized was trailing them.

“Shit, it’s Roman.” She said as she reloaded the weapon. “Harper, get me the silver bullets in my bag. These normal ones won’t do a damn thing.”

Harper ran over and threw the contents of the Gucci briefcase onto the ground of the floor of the plane. She heard her mother hollering in the background, but her mind was focused solely on finding the silver bullets.

“Here you go.” She said after she found them, throwing them up to Victoria who swiftly caught them and loaded them into her pistol.

“It’s no good. They’re putting up psychic shields that are stronger than what I’m used to.” Victoria huffed.

“We’re descending, people.” The pilot said. His voice sounded stressed even though Harper could tell he was trying to sound calm.

But just then, everything went dark in the plane. The electricity was shut off, or something. The oxygen masks deployed from the ceiling.

“Hold on, everyone!” Victoria screamed out.

But then Harper fell to the ground. Her eyes shut as she felt herself spinning down to the ground.

She lost consciousness.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“
Good
morning, sweetheart.” A deep yet familiar voice said.

Harper’s eyes fluttered open.

To her delight, Bryce was standing above her. She realized she was in some sort of bed. But her interest in figuring out her surroundings was surpassed by her innate desire to feast her eyes on Bryce - her object of affection.

“Bryce,” she said, her voice croaking. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

He smiled slightly as he bent down and kissed her on the forehead. “It does seem that way, doesn’t it.”

She loved the feeling of his soft lips on her skin. She craved to put her lips to his. To feel that sensation. To taste him.

Even if he
was
a vampire.

“Bryce, there’s so much…there’s so much you need to explain to me.” She said.

“I know, Harper.” He said calmly. “But there will be a time for that. Right now, we need to focus on getting out of here.”

“What do you mean?” She said.

“Right now we’re in your mind. Well, both of our minds. This isn’t
real
, per se.”

“But it feels real. I can feel your touch. Hear your voice.”

“We’re communicating psychically.” He said as he took his hand in hers. “And I don’t know how much longer the link will hold out. Your powers are growing, but you’re still so weak from the crash.”

“What happened? Is everyone alright?”

“Yes. Your mom is fine. They’re taking good care of her.”

“Thank God.” Harper said with a sigh of relief.

“But they’re not happy about you coming here. My father, especially. Roman has been filling his mind with outrageous stories about how you intend to let humans know about the location of the Elder Island. About how vampires still walk the Earth.”

“I haven’t. I wouldn’t.” She said softly. “Not if you didn’t want me to.”

“My father is intent on keeping our existence a secret. I’m not sure if I agree with it, but it’s what it is.”

“I won’t tell, then.” She said huskily.

Her eyes looked into his. They were the deepest blue she had ever seen. Like the ocean. And she wanted to swim in them, forever.

“Bryce, Victoria told me that you…marked me.”

“I did.” He said with a slight smile.

“Does that mean that you like me?”

“Something like that.” He said with a smile.

His hand brushed against her cheek and she put her hands gently around his wrist, holding it there.

“I felt so scared when you were gone. Why did you leave?”

“I had to go back home. To take care of some things.”

“You should’ve told me. You should’ve let me know.” She said. “I missed you terribly.”

“I’m a vampire. I was getting the
hunger
. I had to feed.” He said softly. “I didn’t want to scare you. I don’t need to feed that often, but when I do, I become something else. You wouldn’t have recognized me.”

“I think I would have. Who could forget those beautiful eyes you have?”

He bit his lip and pulled her hands up to his face, then covered them with soft kisses.

“When we are back on the earth plane, you’ll know everything. My life will be dedicated only to you. But right now, we have to work to defeat Roman. My father has become sick, but I believe Roman is behind it. When we feed, we are basically ‘out of it’ for about a week. With my father sick and me out of commission, he was able to seize the throne.”

“Oh my God,” she exclaimed.

“It’s bad. He was able to turn the Royal Court against my father’s plane to keep us separate from the humans. He’s been able to convince them that the vampires should enslave the human race and have them serve us.”

“Can’t you just live in peace?” Harper asked.

“That’s my goal. I don’t see why humans and vampires can’t live peacefully side by side. We neither need to be invisible to them or control them. We’re not that different. We all want the same things. Happiness. Health. Hope.”

“Yes…” Harper said. She put her hand on his strong shoulder. Even though he said that this was all in her mind, it felt so real. Would a kiss feel real, too? She had to find out.

She gently pulled him down until their lips touched. She opened her mouth slightly, allowing his tongue to enter her mouth and explore. She moaned as he sucked on her lower lip, his hands running over her chest, feeling her…making her feel so good.

She pulled him down on top of him, feeling his full weight. She couldn’t help but feel his large erection in his pants rub against her thighs.

“Yes, baby.” She moaned as he kissed her neck passionately.

“I’ve wanted you so bad, Harper.” He said. He continued kissing and licking her ever so passionately.

“I’ve wanted you, too.” She grunted as his hands swiftly pulled down her top. His mouth quickly went to her right nipple and gently sucked on it, much to her delight.

His other hand went down between her legs and begin massaging her slightly. She spread them reflexively for him, wanting him to touch her even more.

He flipped her over until he was on top of her and released his manhood from his pants. She moaned as she saw how large he was. He smirked slightly as he pushed into her core, feeling her body envelop his member.

“God damn.” He moaned as he began thrusting against her, in and out so methodically. She ran her hands over his bare back, then couldn’t help but ran her hands over his muscular ass.

It felt so good having him inside of her. It seemed as though he was meant to be there, forever. She never wanted him to leave. It just felt way too right.

“You have no idea how turned on I am right now.” He whispered to her as he continued going in and out of her. “It’s what I’ve always wanted.” He bent over and kissed her collarbone and then couldn’t help but to kiss her bare breast.

“Mmm.” She moaned so softly as she continued feeling him fill her up.

Then his thrusting increased in intensity as he suddenly let out a deep, husky moan and filled her with his seed. At that point, she lost all control and whimpered as she orgasmed harder than she ever had before in her life.

He collapsed on top of her and cradled her in his arms. She smiled, leaning her head on his strong chest as she felt comforted by his muscular arm draped around her.

He seemed calmer than he had earlier. And she felt the same. All the tension in her body had melted away as the result of the magic he had worked on her. All that stress was gone.

“I want to do that again…and again…and again.” He said with a smile before kissing her savagely on the lips.

“I think we can work something out.” As she covered her nude body with the sheet.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

She
had drifted off to sleep, calmed and resolute after making love to Bryce for the first time. Even if it was just psychically, she felt as fulfilled as she would have been had they made love in real life.

And she couldn’t wait until that happened for the first time.

But a bright lit woke her up.

“Just a few more minutes.” She murmured. She wanted to sleep a little while longer.

“Wake up, Harper.” A cruel masculine voice said.

She opened her eyes suddenly and saw that she was in a dank dungeon. Yes, she had been sleeping on a bed, but it wasn’t the one from her psychic vision. It was dirty looking. Unpleasant. Not like the bed she had been love with Bryce.

“It’s you.” She said as she woke up, seeing that it was Roman standing in front of her.

“Who else would it be?” He said with a snarl. “I told you not to come here.”

“I had to come and you know that.” She insisted. She tried to sit up, but realized that there were ties around her hand that were strapping her down to the bed. “Now get these things off of me.”

He walked over to her and took a key out of his pocket and began unlocking the tiny locks that were fastened to the ties. “I apologize if my guards were a little rough with you.”

She sat up, rubbing her wrist. “Where’s Bryce?”

“He’s not doing well.” Roman said softly. He turned and looked out the window onto a dark night sky.

“But he came to me…last night.” Harper insisted as she sat up. “And my mother? Where is she?”

“She’s fine. We removed the cancer and sent her back.”

“What!?” Harper exclaimed, running forward, putting her hand on his shoulder and turning him around. “You can’t send her traveling alone?”

“Don’t worry. Victoria is with her.”

“Victoria? But she didn’t tell me that was part of the plan.”

“It’s what I told her to do. Don’t hold it against her. She’s a good girl, even though she’s insanely jealous that Bryce wants you and not her.”

Harper wiped her brow.

“That’s between her and Bryce. Now what’s wrong with Roman?”

“The woman who fed him…their blood wasn’t compatible.”

“Not compatible? What do you mean?”

“Some vampires can only feed from specific blood types. We thought Bryce was the type that could feed from all. That’s why he’s the prince, after all. He's pureblooded. Pureblooded royals have that ability to drink blood from any source. Turns out, he’s not as royal as he’s letting on.”

Harper gasped. “What exactly are you implying, Roman?”

“I’m implying that I think Bryce is a fraud. All of the royals are supposed to have that skill. If he doesn’t have it, he must not be royal.”

“I need to see him.”

“You can’t. He’s in isolation. The vampire witches are working on him, trying to heal them. He was cognizant enough to allow them to take a break to heal your mother, although his father wasn’t too pleased. Bryce could’ve died without their presence.”

“But he’s okay?”

“For now.”

Harper sat back down on the bed.

“I’ll find you better accommodations. I couldn’t tell the soldiers who you were. They would’ve alerted the military. You would’ve been put to death. So I’m trying to keep the fact that you’re here under wraps.”

“So that’s why you shot the plane down, huh?” She said, crossing her arms.

“We knew we were going to be able to get you before the plane crashed. We’ve done it numerous times before when we didn’t want the vampire population knowing of outsiders trying to crash our party.”

Harper shook her head. “Y’all have a strange way of doing things, that’s for sure.“

He walked over to her and offered her his hand. “Forgive me, Harper. I didn’t want things to happen this way. I told you not to come.”

“Well, let me see Bryce and I’ll go back.”

He said nothing. She refused his hand and stood up on her own accord.

“I don’t understand why you can’t let me see him.”

“He’s sick. He needs time to recover.”

“If he’s so sick, then how did he connect with my through that psychic vision last night?”

Roman shrugged. “It could’ve just been in your mind.”

“It
wasn’t
,” she spat. “It was as real as this. I know it was really him.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up. I’ll have some of the lady’s maids come attend to you.”

“And then I can see Bryce?” She said hopefully.

He shook his head.

“Roman, I hope you understand that I can’t trust you. Especially not now. The fact that he got sick…it seems very suspicious, don’t you think?”

He glared at her. “How very presumptuous of you, Harper.  Bryce and I have rarely seen eye-to-eye, but I’d never hurt him. Even if he wasn’t fully my cousin.”

“There you go with your conspiracy theory. You
really
think he’s some type of fraud?”

“I’m just following the trail of evidence. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“So if he’s not truly the prince, then it must mean that you’re next in line, right?”

Roman said nothing for a moment. He turned to look out the window. “We’ll see. Things can turn out in any number of ways.”

They heard a knocking at the door. Harper turned to Roman. “Who is it?”

He turned to her and started speaking hurriedly. “I’m going to cloak you. It will last about eight hours and then I’ll have to do it again.” He stretched his arm out and close his eyes, concentrating intently. Harper felt her body shimmer momentarily - a pleasing yet alien sensation.

“There.” He said. “You’ll pass for now.”

Roman walked over and opened the door and motioned for two women to walk in. They were dressed in head-to-toe black. They both wore similar sleeveless dresses that hugged their curves in a filmy, black sparkly fabric. Leather gloves went all the way up their arms. Their black hair was pulled back into tight ponytails.

“I am Lady Talia.” Said the taller one. She wore black lipstick and smiled softly, exposing her fangs. She curtsied  before Harper.

“And I am Lady Elizabeth-Rosanne.” Said the other, curtsying more deeply than the other, trying to outdo the other servant.

“Make sure she is well taken care of. We will have a feast for Princess Harper later this evening to celebrate her arrival.” Roman turned and walked out of the room.

Princess
Harper? Her mind was reeling. What exactly did Roman mean. Suddenly, his voice flooded her mind:

I am telling people that you’re from American vampire colony. They have several prominent black families that are extremely insular. Not much is known about them, so most vampires here will not question your origins if it comes from me
.

She sighed. Another lie.

Lady Elizabeth-Rosanne snapped her fingers as a young white man, perhaps twenty-years old wearing a tuxedo, pushed in a rack of clothing.

“We’ll find you something splendid for the festivities tonight.”

“I’m thinking a dusky maroon would look lovely on her.” Lady Talia said.

“No, a deep navy.” Lady Elizabeth-Rosanne barked back.

“Dusky maroon!” Lady Talia said a little louder.

“
Deep
navy. To make her lovely chocolate brown eyes pop.” Lady Elizabeth-Rosanne screamed back.

“Don’t I get any choice in the matter?” Harper said with a smile.

“Yes, of course, your ladyship.” They both said in unison, curtsying.

Harper tried to appease them both, selecting a gown that had elements of both ‘dusky maroon’ and ‘deep navy.’ The dress looked like something someone would wear in the 17
th
century - big, swooshing skirts. A tight bodice that she felt was squeezing the air out of her. And then a very low-cut front, exposing her cleavage for all to see.

“Are you sure this is okay?” Harper asked, turning around, examining herself in the mirror.

“This will complete the look.” An overweight but pleasant looking man said, walking into the room with a platinum-blonde wig.

“I don’t know if I can make that color work.” Harper said indecisively. “I never thought of myself as as blonde.”

“It’s the trend, your highness.” The man said. He smiled as he guided her down into a chair in front of a mirror and put a wig cap over her head and then put the wig on. He combed it back into a large bun.

“I don’t even think Rihanna would try to pull this look off.” Harper said with a sigh.

“Who?” Lady Elizabeth-Rosanne askeed.

“Never mind. Take it off, please.”

The man seemed disappointed but Harper didn’t care. She had to look good if she were to see Bryce. She didn’t want to change who she was just to appease these crazy vampires that she’d hopefully never have to see again.

“Let us show you to your chambers, your highness.” Lady Talia said.

She followed them through elaborately decorated corridors until they opened a massive golden door that led into an exquisite suite.

“Your bedchambers are to the left.” Lady Elizabeth-Rosanne motioned with a sweeping motion of her hand. “This is the sitting room. To the right is an entertainment room.”

“Great. Now would you tell me where I can find Bryce?”

“Prince Bryce?” Lady Talia said with a worried expression on her face.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t know his location.” Lady Elizabeth-Rosanne added quickly. “You’ll have to take that up with Lord Roman.”

“Fine.” Harper said coldly.

The two women curtsied and left her alone.

Harper flung herself down onto the small elegant couch, pulling her legs up to her chest and resting her chin on her knees.

She hadn’t felt so alone in a long time. And to think that Bryce was here, too. But where was he?

She’d have to find him.

But this place was so unfamiliar to her.

She was told she had a power. Something she inherited from her African ancestor. If she could use some sort of special ability, now would be the time.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated. She envisioned Bryce’s face. His deep voice. She imagined walking up to him, standing there before her. Touching him. Kissing him.

She felt as though she was filling up with some type of energy. It was something that she hadn’t felt before until recently - the time when Bryce made love to her, just the night before. It was that same feeling. Of fulfillment. Desired that had been quenched but still burned like the ember of a fire, just needing a bit of oxygen to reach its previous fiery heights from before.