The Witch's Vampire (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Mystery Springs Series) (33 page)

“Are we awake, dear?”

Marissa tried to flatten her frizzy blonde hair and offered a weak smile. “Sure, I’m awake.” She grumbled.

“Good girl. Hurry and get dressed. Brick would like a word with you.”

“Really? Why?” Marissa asked as
she began to pick out clothes for the meeting.

“You requested guard duty, did you not?”

“Yes.” Marissa had requested guard duty so she could keep a closer eye on the king.

“Your personality profile passed you onto the next stage.” Velvetine’s irritating sing-song voice bashed against Marissa’s skull. By the Gods, she hated this place!

With great care, Marissa was able to level her voice to decent decibels. “Wow that was fast.” She’d only taken the test two days ago.

“Yes, you showed the desire to do whatever it took to protect the ones you love. Now, Brick wants to know if you can love him.”

Marissa frowned. “I barely know him.”

“I suppose that will change rather quickly if you get the assignment. Stop frowning, get dressed, and hurry up.” Velvetine clapped her hands together and Marissa fought the urge to smack the headmistress. Gio better appreciate everything she’s doing to keep the peace.

Marissa picked out a soft blue dress that matched her eyes, knee high black boots, and white and blue stripped stockings for her attire. It made her look like a wicked little Bo Peep, and was definitely something she wouldn’t have worm as Gio’s consort. She missed her short dresses and the wild nightlife. She added smoky eyes and red lipstick to finish off the look. She fluffed her now un-frizzed blonde hair and smiled. “How do I look?”

“Like every other fairy in the kingdom. Let’s go.” Velvetine pulled Marissa out the door, through multiple corridors, and down a darkened hall. She didn’t know what to expect, but when she was tossed in a bedroom and the door was locked behind her she knew it wasn’t that.

“Hello?” her voice was barely above a whisper as she tiptoed deeper into the room. Her senses were on high alert and when the male presence that was hiding behind her jumped out and wrapped his arms around her waist she reacted with an elbow jab to his face. The satisfying crack of cartilage told her she made her mark. She used the heel of her boot and stamped on his barefoot which caused a yelp. She slipped out of his grasp, spun around kicking his feet out from underneath him. She couldn’t help the smile that lifted her lips when the large body thumped against the floor. When she jumped up she slipped the belt from her waist which was actually a golden whip and got ready to strike.

“Stop!” Brick’s voice came from the man lying on the floor in pain.

“Oh, crap!” She rushed to his side and helped him off the floor. She couldn’t believe she’d just beat up the fairy king. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you.” She pushed him into the elegant leather chair behind him and rushed into the bathroom to wet a towel. Just my luck! Gio always told me to look before I strike.

She rushed back to his side and pressed the wet clothe against his bleeding nose. “Are you okay?”

He laughed and then groaned at the pain it caused. “I don’t think so. I believe you broke my nose, little filly.”

Marissa looked down, ashamed. “You may be right. But I know a great healer and she owes me a favor. She’ll come over as soon as I call her.” Marissa fumbled for her cell phone.

“I know Sophie Waters, too. No need to bother her with something so insignificant. I’ll go to a regular doctor.” He closed her cell phone. Their hands touched and electricity shot through her. She’d never felt that kind of power from another supernatural and it unnerved her. She pulled her hand back and smiled timidly. “You have some impressive moves.”

“Thank you, I’ve been training for many years. My consort, er…um Giovanni insisted I knew how to protect myself. It’s a dangerous world out there.”

Brick nodded. “That it is.” He got up and grabbed some ice from the bucket by the bed and Marissa noticed he was wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. He was solid muscle with tribal tattoos all over his chest and back. As he walked across the room she had a fantastic view of his shapely behind. “I must admit, I didn’t think you’d stand up to the first test.” He tossed a look backward and grinned when he caught her looking. “Remind me to thank him for ensuring you could defend yourself.”

“I thought the personality test was the first test?”

He grinned and grimaced all at once. “Okay, second test.” He pointed toward his wardrobe chest. “Do you mind grabbing a shirt out of the chest for me, I think I’ll need to go to the doctor.”

“Oh, um, yes, sure.” She took the few strides toward the closet and pulled out a deep blue t-shirt that matched his sapphire eyes. Then she passed him the shirt.

“You have good taste.” He sat down against the oak dresser after his failed attempts of putting on the shirt and holding the ice to his nose. “Do you mind giving me a hand?”

“Okay.” She slipped between his legs and helped him maneuver his arms into the shirt sleeves while maintaining pressure on his nose. She’d be a liar if she didn’t admit being close to him was awesome. He smelled of vanilla ice cream and pine and his body was a mass of strong chorded muscles. She allowed herself the gentlest of caresses against his ripped back as she pulled the shirt down. They both shuddered at the contact. When their eyes met she knew she was in trouble. Suddenly her reconnaissance mission just got far more difficult than she could ever have imagined.

If you enjoy a little mystery with your paranormal desires check out this excerpt of my upcoming series due for release at the end of 2014.

~She felt the pressure of fabric landing on her face, it was the first hint she needed to rouse from her sleep. Moving the clothes off her head was a mistake as the sun slashed through Stormy’s closed eyelids and forced her eyes to open in a reflexive act. A pair of boots were tossed next to her, biting into her side and kicking up dirt around her naked body. She jumped up, snarling and ready to fight.

“Jeez, Stormy, get up on the wrong side of the forest this morning?” Ashley giggled from a safe distance as she readjusted her fifties- styled cat glasses and kicked dust off her worn-down, brown boots.

“You’re lucky I love you like a sister, Ash, or you’d be eating dirt right about now.” Stormy grumbled as she recognized her friend and long time partner’s scent. It was the morning after the second full moon of the month and it was a brutal night. Stormy felt like her head had been used for a battering ram. Her wolf wasn’t sharing any details of last night’s hunt, which was odd, but had happened before.

She’d flood her with memories at the most inopportune times, which, in turn, would piss Stormy off and cause a sparring match between her and her wolf personality for months.

“Damn it, Ash, a dress?” Stormy asked as she pushed her head through the white floral sun dress that Ashley had tossed her way.

Ashley shrugged her shoulders and held up a new sparkly belt buckle. “I brought the perfect accessory.” She placed it down on the ground and headed back toward her bright yellow Hummer. “We have a case and Kitty said that you need to dress better when we meet new clients. I’ll meet you at the truck.” Ashley practically skipped away on the trail.

“I don’t see you wearing a dress!” Stormy shouted as she took the few steps through the prickly grass that was needed to reach her new boots. It was her fault for tossing them in the first place.

She’d much rather be wearing the jeans and t-shirt Ash was wearing at the moment. The sundress made her feel completely out of place and out of her element, which was weird since earth was her element. She was an earth witch long before she became a werewolf and her powers blended nicely.

Stormy dusted off her hands and headed toward
s the Jeep. Ashley was already in the driver’s seat putting on some mauve lip gloss which looked amazing against her light skin and auburn hair.

“Want some?” She asked as she handed the lip stick her direction.

“I’d rather take a breath mint and a coffee.” Last night’s hunt was still fresh in her mouth and she wondered why her wolf waited so long to eat? The only conclusion she could come up with was that wolfie was pissed about something and wanted her human host to suffer.

Ashley tossed her some mints and pointed to the latte in the center console. “I always got your back, sis.”

“Except when you make me dress up like one of your dolls you used to play with when we were kids.” Stormy grumbled as she took a long swig of her coffee, then popped a mint in her mouth. Ashley was a sister witch. They grew up two doors down from each other and while they were as opposite as two souls could be they were best friends.

“Speaking of dress up, your make-up bag is in the back seat. You might want to freshen up a bit before we get to the client’s house. I hear Damon is on the case as well.”

Stormy pulled the black bag to her lap, opened it, and started applying some foundation to her tan skin, some concealer and mascara under her emerald eyes, a little pink lip gloss to her pouty lips. She ran a comb through her long, red, natural curls – which never seemed to cooperate with her after a change. “Thanks, Ash. Have Kitty and Emery returned from the coven meeting?”

“Not yet, but they should be back any day now.” Ashley maneuvered the vehicle like a pro. She’d spent her summers on a farm. The girl could four wheel, handle animals, and kick ass with the best of them. But her skills for the agency were of the ‘I see dead people’ variety – literally. She had a habit of being able to speak to the dead like no other witch Stormy had ever met. If she was on the case, there most likely was a murder.

“Who died?”

Ashley pursed her lips for a moment before answering. She contemplated waiting to break the news to Stormy until they got to their destination, but decided against it. Maybe it was better to get the reaction out before they met the client. “Lola Montane.”

Stormy blew her top. “As in Duke’s new fiancée, Lola?”

Ashley nodded her head and waited for the aftershocks.

“Holy shit kickers, Ash, Duke must be devastated.”

“Not the reaction I was expecting, but yes, I would hope so.”

Duke and Stormy were high school sweethearts, and they were engaged to be married about five years back. It was the werewolf attack that tore them apart. She had already had to keep the fact that she was a witch from him and suddenly she had to find a way to hide the small detail that she turned into a hairy beast once or twice a month. It became too much. Their families hoped they’d eventually get back together, until he met Lola and he was smitten by her Sofia Vegara personality and looks. That was the day Stormy had closed the book on ever finding a way back to Duke’s arms. “Don’t you think there is a conflict of interest here?”

“Kitty and Damon don’t seem to think it’s a problem.” Ashley smiled. “Neither do Emery or I. Five years ago was a long time and you’ve both changed.”

“That doesn’t mean that I don’t still care for him.  He was my first love.  I don’t know if I can handle this case.” Stormy felt a sadness roll over her.  Duke was a good man who had been through a lot, and he didn’t deserve any more pain.

Ashley continued to maneuver through traffic like a professional race car driver taking on speeds that were 40 miles over the limit at times.  Picking up Stormy had taken longer than she expected, and she was afraid that most of the crime scene would be worked over and little left for them to discover as far as evidence is concerned. “I am really sorry, Stormy, but I need your strength to help us solve this murder. Perhaps the best gift you can give Duke is to help bring his future wife’s murderer to justice.

Stormy cursed under her breath. She knew Ash was right. “Fine, but don’t think I’m happy about it.”