

CONTENTS

Copyright

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

About Claudy

Copyright Page

Can't Stop—Smoke

By Claudy Conn at Smashwords

http://www.claudyconn.com

Copyright © 2019 by Claudy Conn

Edited by: Alicia Carmical

Cover Artist: Dawn Sullivan

All rights reserved

Published in the United States of America

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Names, characters, and events depicted in this book are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Prologue:

THE FIRST TIME I SAW him, I stood in a dark corner of the lower galley of the paranormal club known as Hazard.

The dance floor overflowed with every kind of supernatural that resided in New Orleans. The pulse was erotic. Everyone seemed bent on letting loose and having a good time.

And then, he stepped out of a black cloud.

I couldn't tear my eyes away as I watched him walk up to the massive bar, with a swagger all his own. He surveyed the surroundings of the infamous club. His glance went wide, and then high to the upper galley where all the tables and chairs were taken.

Besides freezing me in my tracks with his holy good gosh, good looks, I noticed he didn't smile. His expression seemed...confident, maybe even arrogant. He behaved as though he owned the world jazzing all around him.

He actually did. He owned Hazard, and maybe, some of the patrons as well.

I had heard a great deal about him. His name was Grail Wilder, though the supernaturals called him, "The Dark Lord". The talk was that he was the most dangerous supernatural in all of Louisiana, but especially here in his home base of New Orleans.

I had heard very few paranormals ever tried to cross him and those that did...if they lived, regretted that decision.

I looked him over again. I was intrigued by the height and breadth of the man, by the black layered waves of hair that fell to his shoulders, by his mannerisms. Something about the way he moved sent shivers through me.

I had come to this place—this club that catered to any and all paranormals out of sheer boredom.

I wasn't bored anymore.

I tried not to stare at him and picked up my shot of vodka and drank it down.

A bushy-haired guy who barely hid the fact that he was a werewolf sidled over to me and said, "Hey blondie, can I buy you another?"

"No, but thanks," I told him. I didn't come to mingle. I didn't come to dance. I came to Hazard to have a look at the Dark Lord. I had heard enough to make me curious.

He shrugged and said, "Maybe another time."

He was nice. I don't do nice, and for that matter, I don't do bad either. Sadly, I haven't done anyone in a very long time. I have my reasons for being a loner, but I like to be kind when I can, so I said, "May...be."

He grinned and I glanced back at the man I had been inquisitive enough to come to check out and was taken aback to find that the Dark Lord's bright blue eyes were on me. Wait, not just looking my way, but looking me over. I shivered again.

Our gazes locked and against my will, that shiver turned into a tingle that shook my nerves with anticipation. Anticipation? Oh yeah, because he was walking right toward me.

A sexy redheaded giving off the scent of a witch, in a sequenced spaghetti strapped blue dress, stepped in front of him. She put her hand to the V opening of his black silk shirt which opened and neatly displaying a series of tattoos over his wide and tantalizing chest.

The redhead who was a good four inches taller than I, got onto the toes of her silver four inch high heels, put her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth.

I was surprised to see that he didn't join her in that kiss. Instead, he picked her up by her trim waist and set her aside and continued coming at me.

All my girly parts were on high alert. He was hot. Damn oh damn, I was hot for him. This was wrong, all wrong. I didn't come here for a...connection. I don't get involved and sex, well, for me, that is getting involved. Aw hell. Here he was, and I felt myself turn into a burning mess of desire.

He towered over me. He would because though I am just five-five standing on bare feet, he looked to be six ft. six.

His scent engulfed me. It made me take a longer sniff. What was that? Not brimstone, and yet, something burning, alluring and masculine. Yes, I picked up on sage and all at once it came to me in a rush and I knew, it was the scent of campfire wood, maybe pine, slowly burning. Oh, but his scent wound its way around my body and all I wanted to do was lean in and keep sniffing.

He moved with easy grace for such a large man, but his manner was predatory. I got a mental picture of myself in his embrace and the fantasy made my knees feel like jello. Sinking into his arms would be so comfortable...?

That made me smirk to myself. Comfort? He looked like he could give a whole lotta comfort to a woman. I couldn't stop myself from breathing in his aura as he got closer because his scent—aura, whatever, was intoxicating.

"Finally," he said quietly. "I have been waiting for you, Ms. Smokie McGuire."

How did he know my name? What did he mean, he had been waiting for me?

"Have you?" I answered at my coolest though I didn't feel cool, not one bit.

He smiled and it occurred to me that he was so very sophisticated. He purposely and slowly looked me over from the top of my blonde head to my little silver heels and offered, "I'm Grail Wilder." He cocked his head towards the crowded dance floor. "I would love for you to dance with me before we sit and talk."

Holy shit! Dance with him? Sit and talk? Sorcerers of his reputation never bothered with creatures like myself.

You see, I'm a vampire with only two years under my belt.

I was turned against my will by my best friend, Sharon, because she didn't want to see me die. I would have died. A powerful vampire had selected me for a snack, and that snack ended up being a seven course dinner.

Sharon got to me in time, just before I took my last breath. I didn't want to be a vampire. I begged her to let me die, but she wouldn't. She said she couldn't.

My best friend, a born-vampire, said it was all her fault that he had gone after me. She told me in that moment where I was barely hanging on to my life that he had wanted to hurt her, by killing me.

My college days with her flashed through my mind. My life swept through me in fast motion. I told her no. I didn't want to be a vampire, even to live...

I had been too weak to stop her.

She cried and her tears spilled over on me, "Forgive me, Smoke. I just can't let you die."

I saw her slit her wrist. She poured her blood down my throat. I choked on it and tried to spit it out, but in that moment, I died.

As I said, Sharon is a born vampires and they are both powerful and rare. They are also revered, feared, and envied by made vampires, especially ancient ones. Sharon's blood, the blood of a born vamp, well it gave me lots of advantages.

Sharon trained me through those first weeks of bloodlust. She taught me what I needed to know and how to survive without killing for blood. She had never turned a human before. It was against her ethics. So we were both surprised to discover that I inherited through our blood link, many of her powers.

I would have been dead if she hadn't turned me. In spite of that fact, I hadn't wanted to enter the supernatural world. So I kept to myself. I didn't want to be a vamp, powerful or not. Vamps are bloodsuckers and now I was one of them—sorta.

But...not dying was in the end, a good thing, so I forgave her.

There are perks to being a vampire, like being able to eat as much chocolate as I like without gaining a pound. Yeah, Hollywood has it wrong. Vampires can eat. There too, being one of the undead I have although very pale skin, it is silky soft. My eyes which used to be a nice enough shade of green when I was a human are now glittering emerald pools. Took me a time to get used to controlling what my eyes can do to humans. I don't want to compel them. I don't drink from live sources. I don't need to feed very often and when I do, blood bags in the fridge work just fine. I keep myself muted all of the time because I don't want to draw attention to my enhancements. I have speed and strength, and as born vampires can walk in daylight, apparently that is yet another perk from Sharon. So yeah, not so bad being a vamp.

As I had drifted off with my thoughts and the determination not to dance with Grail Wilder, I found his hand sliding down my arm to regain my attention.

"Where did you go, Ms. Smoke?" he asked.

"Oh...just remember how...I ended up here. But, no...I don't wish to dance, thank you," I said with resolution.

The Dark Lord had my hand. Could he tell he was sending a series of mind-blowing tingles through my body?

He tugged at my hand, but miraculously, I resisted. I was certain if I danced with him, it would turn out to be more. He had the look of a male on the hunt. I didn't want to be his prey. I didn't want to get involved. I had come here just to watch.

Wilder stopped and eyed me, "It is just a dance, Smoke...I promise."

"I...don't think so," I told him. "I get...er danger signals near you and I believe in following my instincts."

"I won't ask you...not tonight at any rate to give me more than a dance," he said and just like that I was in his arms. Totally up against his hard body, moving in a way that was sexually suggestive and brought to life a need in me I haven't felt in a very long time.

I noticed couples sliding well away from us as we moved, although we moved almost in place.

I have to say, being in his arms was heart-stopping. I mean, honestly enthralling. Something about his touch erased my inhibitions and made me want to end my sexual abstention and fuck the hell out of him.

No, no, who just thought that? Not I...no, I didn't, couldn't think like that.

I tried to regain my common sense. I have never been the kind of woman who just falls for a pretty face and a hard body.

Yet, here I was, falling.

He held me so close, I couldn't breathe and the truth was, I wasn't trying. We glided along the dance floor as a unit and his nearness made reasonable thought impossible. Something primal had sudden been born inside of me and wanted out.

The beat was hard, and grinding, taking the music through me with erotic rhythm. His arousal was evident against my belly and even through our clothes, turned me into lust-filled hungry woman. Damn, but everything about him called on something needy inside of me.

His hand was on my bare back and I was all too aware of his touch on my flesh. The connection sent a flurry of uncommon desire and all I could think was 'fuck him—fuck him now'.

I never have thought, felt like this. I haven't been interested in sex since I was turned. Not that I was that interested before I was turned. Sharon used to call me a late-bloomer.

As his fingers sent ripples of feral desire through me and tingles over my spine, I cursed myself for wearing the cocktail dress with the open back. Why had I done that? Had some instinct whispered I would meet the Dark Lord tonight? Was something else going on here like...fate? That is another thing. I don't believe we fall into things because of pre-destiny. I believe we make our own fate and hell, seemed like I was making mine this night.

I was too aroused by his touch. Holy shit, I was in trouble. I had thoughts about unzipping his black silk pants...and...

No. Get control Smokie, get control.

When Sharon had first turned me, she had been shocked that I had no lusty inclinations. She said the newly turned always did. Now, I was shocked by all the primal lust rushing through my body. Maybe she was right and I was a late bloomer?

Grail's touch was experienced, gentle, and burned through my flesh. He was an expert with those strong long fingers of his which lightly moved over my back. I wondered if he had put a spell on me.

"Have you put a...?" I started to ask.

He interrupted, "A spell?" He shook his head. "I don't use spells to get a woman onto the dance floor." His hand moved to my hip and I looked up at his handsome face. He was smiling and those blues of his were bedroom lit, low and inviting...oh no, not going there!

His smile was mesmerizing. No I don't suppose he needed a spell to ever get a woman to bed anytime he wanted.

I couldn't speak and even swallowing was difficult, but I needed easy conversation, so I finally squeaked out, "Grail? Like in Holy Grail?"

"Something like that," he answered without smiling.

His answer surprised me. "Oh wow, you must have been teased in school."

"I didn't go to your average school...at least, not human school and no one teased me in the paranormal school I attended."

I digested this and was still trying to imagine him as a young boy in a supernatural school when he broke into my thoughts and startled me once again.

"I saw you last week, Smokie...when you saved that child from the rabid vamp. I was impressed."

"Oh?" He saw me?

"Vampires are usually too self-involved to care about humans, but you used your vampire speed without concern for yourself and did a number on one of your own kind."

I looked away from his intense scrutiny. "That vamp wasn't what I consider one of my kind. I'm pretty much a loner. I don't hang with anyone, especially other vamps. The creepo one, who was after the boy, drinks from live sources and he was going to drain a child. A child!"

"Ah yes, I suspected that you don't drink from live sources. After all you were turned by Sharon."

"You know Sharon? Is she a friend of yours?" I couldn't see Sharon being friends with the Sorcerer they called the Dark Lord—the one that was accepted as the King of the Dark supernaturals of New Orleans. But then, I didn't think I would end up dancing with said, Dark Lord, this evening.

"Know her, yes. Friends? Not exactly," he said evasively. "How long have you known her?"

What was going on here? Why was he asking me all these questions? What did he want?

Suddenly, I knew I had to escape. "I have to go." I broke away from him right there on the dance floor and ran towards the exit.

I didn't look back, yet I know he watched me go. He wouldn't follow, would he? Nah. That wouldn't be something the Dark Lord would do, would it?

Vamp speed took me onto the street and halfway home. I stopped to make certain he wasn't behind me. When I turned back for home, I jumped and squeaked out a scream that filled the still night air.

The Dark Lord stood right in front of me, in his black silk shirt and black silk pants, his arms crossed at his broad hard chest. He looked...amused. Better than angry, was my first thought.

"We weren't done talking, Ms. McGuire," the Dark Lord said as he advanced on me.

~ One ~

"OKAY...YOU ARE OUT OF line following and startling the hell out of me. I mean, what is up with that? Are you some kind of warlock-wizard stalker?"

"Not a warlock, and a bit more than a wizard, but when I have a prey in my sights, yes, you could call me 'some kind of stalker'," he answered and his tone was damned glib.

"Well, listen to me, 'some kind of stalker', just because you are the New Orleans Big and Bad, when it comes to me, you just can't do whatever you want," I told him as I folded my arms across my chest. Could he zap me into oblivion? Dying was relative. Living forever, so far, a little lonely and not all it was cracked up to be.

He smiled and said, "Actually, that's right. As the Big and Bad, as you called me, I can do pretty much anything I want, and you are...er...just now, you are only a vamp, and a young one at that."

"Even so, not with me, no how, no way. And what do you mean, 'just now'," I bluffed robustly. I am good at bluffing.

He sighed and it was a drawn out sound, one that held some exasperation. His blue eyes were bright as he gave me a cajoling look and said, "Come Smokie, let's sit and be comfortable."

"Sit and be comfortable? Where?" I shouldn't have asked, but, he had surprised me.

The next thing I knew, I was wrapped up in his arms, ensconced in a black cloud where I could see only him, feel only him and poof we were moving through space and I imagine, even time. Holy shit, but he was powerful, and his arms wrapped around me was driving me crazy.

A moment later, we were in a huge, fashionable industrial styled living room. I took a moment to get my bearings and marched to a window.

The Garden District? He had a home in one of the most exclusive areas of New Orleans! Well sure, he had the money...but who expects the Dark Lord to have a place anywhere but in or around the French District?

I looked back into the huge loft sized room and wondered if I could use my vamp speed to get away. He had already out-paced me when I left his club. So, yeah, he was faster than I am. Probably not a good idea to try and run just yet. Maybe it would be easier to just hear him out and then take my leave?

He walked with easy grace, and yet his movements pulsed with power. He gave me a smirk and sat on a huge black leather sofa.

Absurdly, I stood. I wasn't sure just how to behave. Why had he brought me to his home? He wasn't making any sexual moves, so...that couldn't be the reason. What the hell should I do?

"Sit," he said softly. "Be comfortable."

It wasn't a bad idea. My heels were killing me. "Not happening," I answered.

"What is not happening?" he asked calmly, his eyes narrowed and a slight sneer hovering over his sensual lips.

"Sitting or anything you want me to do. You brought me here against my will. I don't take orders, not even from the Dark Lord, himself. Like I said. Want to zap me dead. Go ahead. I don't care."

"Orders? I haven't given you any orders. First, I don't remember you saying you wouldn't come here with me. And asking you to sit and be comfortable is not an order but a polite invitation," he said and his eyes glittered.

I couldn't believe he just said that to me. What the hell? Oh no, he wasn't turning this on me. "I didn't say I wouldn't come here with you because you didn't give me the chance. You didn't ask me. Plain and simple. As to sitting...I don't want to."

"If I had asked, you wouldn't have come with me—even if I had asked politely, and I really—"

"Well now, we'll never know," I interrupted sharply, "If I would have agreed to visit with you here if you had asked politely...if you had told me why you wanted me here, if..."

He put up his hands, "I get it, but now that you are here, do sit and I will tell you why I brought you here," his voice was still low, disarming and his smile charming enough to seduce a girl with more experience than I. However, I am stubborn.

I paced as I tried to think clearly. Everything about him drew me to him. It was ludicrous, but, it was a fact. I was totally aware of my attraction to him.

He patted the place next to him and said, "Smokie...I mean you no harm. Sit, we'll talk."

I stood still for a moment, glared at him and tapped my high-heeled aching foot.

"Right, you can stand if it makes you feel better," he said resignedly. "I'll do the talking. As it happens, you have made an enemy, Smokie McGuire. We both know why, but what you don't know, is that enemy is at your little place in Metairie right this moment, waiting to surprise you."

I froze. The thought of anyone in my home, my place of sanctuary was horrifying. "How do you know that?"

When you so hastily left the club, I saw him leave as well. Yes, he was there. He didn't follow you because he already knew where you live. He went there ahead of you to wait your return."

"How do you know?"

"I saw it on his face and when I followed you, I picked up on his scent. I know the direction he took...ahead of you."

Now, I was interested, but I as I said, I have an obstinate streak. So I continued to stand, and yeah, I felt like a fool as I went from tapping my foot back to pacing the room. As I turned back and marched toward him, I got a whiff of his scent again. Tantalizing. The lure Wilder had over me was strong, like a magnet pulling me against my will into his aura. I had to fight it. I had heard all the rumors. This guy was class A badass I didn't want to get too close to—oh no. Besides, did I believe him? How would the child-killer vamp I had stopped know where I live? I was a loner. I moved during daylight hours when 99% of all vamps were resting in the dark. What to do? I knew in my heart he was telling the truth. I knew that a child-killing vamp was the worst of the bloodsuckers and therefore would want revenge against me for my successful attack against him.

However, I wasn't ready to give in, so I said, "I can't imagine any vamp being interested in me in any possible way. I don't mingle with vamps...at all. And if you are speaking about the vamp I stopped from killing the child...he must know that I am under a born vamp's protection."

He watched me silently for a moment. "I thought you smarter than that. Your rabid vamp is just that, rabid. He isn't subject to logic."

I chewed my bottom lip. He stared at me as though I was as mad as the rabid vamp he was talking about. No doubt he thought my obstinacy was idiotic.

I put up my chin and said, "Staring is rude."

He chuckled.

That annoyed me. I am normally even-tempered, but he was an arrogant dick! I was seeing red everywhere even though his place was furnished in black, white and silver. Very masculine, not at all inviting.

"You think that is funny?" I didn't give him a chance to respond. "Did I say you were out of line? Well, that isn't just what you are!" I threw at him. "You are also egotistical. You think because you have all that Dark power you can do whatever you want to whoever. Well, you can't. I want out of here, so I am leaving. Don't follow me," I snapped at him and started for the stairs across the room.

I didn't even see him get up. He was faster than I could imagine and I had already witnessed his speed. This was faster, like in a blink of my eyes. Boom, I was wrapped in his arms so tightly that it was hard to breathe. I didn't budge as he bent and whispered in my ear, "Don't be so prickly sweetheart. I am trying to help you."

I pushed hard against him and nearly fell backwards as he released me. "Why?" I shouted at him. "If I believe you when you say you want to help. Tell me why."

"Not yet. We need to establish...an understanding," he said.

"Oh, here it comes. Quid quo pro. I obviously can't match you in dollars...so it isn't money. I have no powers you can use, newbie vamp here..." I poked his chest, "Big Bad there. So what then, want a toss in bed? Not happening." The notion of him tossing me into his bed, and making wild feral love with me, made me lick my lips. What the frig was wrong with me?

He smirked. "Like the money and the power I don't need from you...don't need that from you either."

Conflicting reactions shot through me. It was insulting. When I turn someone down, I want them disappointed.

"So then, what do you want?" I pursued and I could feel the sulkiness that I heard in my voice.

"For now, I want to know a little more about you. That is where the quid quo pro comes in. You answer a few questions for me and then I'll answer some for you."

"No. I'm not cooperating with you. I don't do cooperation under duress. If that means you are going to zap me dead, then go ahead."

"I have no intention of er...zapping you dead. This world needs you. It may be that I will need you, but not in the manner you might imagine. Sit, please and I will explain, because you and I are part of a larger picture."

What the hell did that mean? He had caught my interest, but there was that stubborn streak of mine again. "No."

"Ah Smoke, let me tell you about the very first time I saw you. You were human then, and I was...taken," he said wistfully and paused.

I waited because absurdly I wanted to hear more about me being human.

"You were walking out of class," he continued. "I supposed, in the direction of your...apartment and everything about you was like a bright sun...too bright to even look directly at without blinking. I did though. In fact, I stared at you because something about you, your soul...was fresh and new. You were a breath of fresh air." He looked away and paused again. I said nothing as I waited for him to proceed.

Finally he said, "You didn't see me and I hung out of sight just so I could watch you. I saw at once that your smile came from your heart, and I drank it in as you laughed with your friends. You drew them to you. In that moment I wanted to get to know you, and wondered if I could without corrupting you," he said softly with a look in his bright blues that made me tremble.

His scent came in waves and hauled me against my will into the realm of fantasy. I don't want a fantasy. I am a practical kind of woman. My libido had to be contained. Since when did I ever want to fuck a stranger? That just wasn't me. Everything he had just said, confused me. He liked me as a human. Did that mean he didn't like me now? And why should that matter to me? Did it, did it matter? Where was all of this going?

I sat down beside him on his sofa and ridiculously my first thought was, a girl could get mind-blowing sex on this sofa. He could give mind-blowing sex. What? Libido was taking control again.

I cleared my throat. "You saw me when I was human? But...the last time I was human was about two years ago," I said frowning at him. "You actually noticed me at Tulane?"

"Why does that surprise you? I was at there on business. I am a major contributor, honorary alumni, if you will. I walked out of the building and there you were with your friends. You had all graduated and you were saying good-bye. Of course, I noticed you. Smokie, have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? You are ravishing, but that isn't what made me look twice."

I said nothing to this. Beauty isn't an achievement and I have never placed much importance on it. I am one of those who is corny to a fault and attracted to the beauty inside of a person.

"It was your glow," he said quietly, "Even now, as a vampire, you have one you know, all golden, and then there was your scent. Then, like now, it was a strong aroma of vanilla and rosemary—a powerful supernatural's scent, and yet, you were human."

I felt my brows arch. "Sharon says my family on my mother's side were witches. It skipped my mom, or she ignored that part of herself, but I...sometimes feel as though..." I waved the thought away. "It doesn't matter. I doubt that my witchy side will emerge now that I am a vampire."

"I disagree. Your grandmother was a mortal but powerful witch of the light. I believe you are now a hybrid and when you approach the time for your witch to emerge, it will." He eyed me but I was busy thinking about this and didn't respond.

He moved on and said, "I asked Sharon about you then. She told me to stay away from you. She said you were not a witch, not a supernatural, that you were just a sweet young woman, nothing more." He inclined his head. "I knew that she knew otherwise and merely meant to protect you from me." He gave me a rueful look, "I have a bad reputation, but the truth is, I never seduce women and I never lie to them. I make them no false promises." He waved this away with a grimace, "At any rate, for a time, I stayed away from you."

"I...had no idea. Sharon never told me a word," I said as much to myself as to him.

"And then I heard you were turned by Sharon. She has never turned a human. I was saddened by the news. I continued to stay away from you, however, the next thing I knew...I picked up on your scent a week ago. It was intense...so intense. I saw a blur of color—you. I was a witness to you moving at vampire speed and you were chasing a rabid vamp who had just abducted a human child...a young boy."

I tensed.

He eyed me and continued. "I followed your blur of color. I saw you break the vamp's neck which stopped him but did not kill him. I thought you should have killed him. He was pure evil. But you didn't kill. I realized you had retained your humanity through the turning. You are not a killer. I was stunned as I watched you take him temporarily out of commission and then compel the crying child to forget the experience. I watched as you returned him to his mother who had been searching frantically for him a few blocks away."

"Yeah, so?" I said. I had to hold myself aloof from the Dark Lord. I was mystified by his interest in me.

"I am...enthralled with who you are and who you could be."

I shrugged, "I'm happy with who I am."

"Let me approach this differently," he said on a soft sigh. "Tell me, because I am curious about your name, why are you named Smokie? Also, I want you to tell me about your parents. I need to know the details of your turning—how the lovely human became a vampire? Were you a willing participant or had Sharon forced this life on you?"

I looked away from him, "What difference does it all make. Why should it matter to you?"

"It matters, so tell me. This is where we get to know one another for the mission we are meant to complete. You tell me something I want to know and I will reciprocate."

"Wait, what? Mission? What mission?" I was flabbergasted.

"Later. First answer me. Were you a willing participant?"

"Why should I tell you anything? I don't know you."

"As I said, this is where we get to know one another. You answer my question, I will answer yours."

"I don't want to know anything about you," I can be snarky when annoyed.

He grinned and suddenly I was in his arms, and his lips crushed mine, parted them and his tongue, oh hot damn, his tongue found and teased mine into a response. My body was on fire. My mind was a mass of goo.

He was delicious and his kiss, his tongue, made erotic love to me in a tango of passion I never wanted to end. Hell yeah, I was kissing him back. I even had the urge to sink my canines into his neck.

That actually was what splashed cold water all over my brain.

Never drink from a live source.

I wanted to stop. I thought that I could. Hand up, I told myself. Push him away.

Can't stop. His first kiss turned into another and then another.

I should stop. I had to stop, but, I couldn't, and I didn't want to. I was invested in those kisses, even against my better judgment...I wanted kissing, more of him, oh so much more.

I pressed into him for that more and holy hell, he blew my mind as his hand grabbed my ass and brought me against his crotch and I felt his arousal.

That was when something finally clicked in my brain and told me I was getting in too deep. Time to run. He was the Dark Lord. Danger signals began bleeping in my brain.

I have had sex just for fun only once in my life. No regrets, but it changed me, and I didn't like the way I felt afterwards. It turned out that I didn't really want sex just for fun. I discovered that I was a relationship kind of woman. Never found anyone I wanted a commitment from after that and then I became a vampire. Everything became complicated and so here I am, sex starved, though until he kissed me, I hadn't felt I was missing anything.

I pulled out of his arms. I had to save face, because, well, we both knew I had been kissing him back and obviously liking those kisses. "You caught me by surprise...and you are a damn good kisser, but don't get any ideas," I told him.

"Too late," he said and his voice was husky, dreamy husky. "The ideas...got 'im."

I almost laughed. I hadn't expected him to sound and look...cute. Cute was a word that was difficult to associate with 'the Dark Lord'. "Look," I said, "I don't need to ask you any questions. Every instinct tells me you are a taker. The problem with that is, I am a giver! Not liking my odds in that equation." I clucked, "Tch, tch, no...not liking that scenario, so don't do the kissing thing again."

He smiled wickedly and said, "Not promising anything, but for now...I agree, no more kissing. Talking instead, so if you would, please, answer my questions."

"Not inclined to answer your questions."

He sighed, "You would do well to remember that I could actually in a fit of temper, zap you dead, if I so wished. I have generally found vampires in general, despicable creatures."

I eyed him, "Oh? Sure didn't just get that impression."

He chuckled, "Granted, you are the exception. You know, don't you that I have the ability to you to tell me what I want to know."

"No, you don't," I said confidently.

"Don't I?" he stared into my eyes/

I knew he was working his compulsion magic, but Sharon had taught me how to resist being compelled. I was a quick study.

He said, "Tell me your name."

"No," I said. "You already know it. And I can't be compelled."

He sighed, "Sharon, of course."

I just smiled.

"You know, I have far more effective ways of compelling—inducing you that you can't impede with Sharon's training. As those methods could leave you with memory confusion, I don't ever wish to utilize any of those methods. So, as I would rather you converse with me willingly, please Smoke...let's just talk," he said softly. "Be rational. You must realize by now that I have very good reasons for my questions. Have you no curiosity about me—about why I want answers from you? Don't you want to know why I have these questions? I believe it would behoove you to do so."

"Behoove?" I snorted. "Who says behoove? Just how old are you?"

He laughed out loud and oh my, he probably is ancient but he looked, right then, like a boy—a gorgeous hunk of a man-boy, with a charming, mesmerizing smile. There was that cuteness again getting in my way.

I didn't want to answer his questions. However, the problem here is the fact that not only was I curious by nature, I was damned curious about him. I eyed him for a long moment before I agreed, "Okay, if sitting and chatting for a few moments will get you to let me leave. Go ahead, chat, tell me why I am here and then I'll answer your question."

"Smokie McGuire, you are, as I suspected, quite a unique, if a somewhat annoying woman. First, shall we have tea?"

Tea appeared on his huge black enamel coffee table.

That got my eyebrows up. I looked at him and teased, "Can you whip up cake as well?"

As an answer, he did just that.

"Ha! I was only joking, but wow, they look delicious, are they safe to eat?" I am curious yes, but also suspicious.

He smiled, "And why wouldn't they be?"

"Well...didn't you just magically bake them or something?"

"No, I magically swiped them from the bakery down the street," he said.

"Oh no, you stole them! Some poor hard working baker will be out his profits. That isn't right!"

"I left him a hundred dollar bill, Smokie. Cakes are not the sort of thing I steal." He eyed me and softly said, "Now, eat your cake, drink your tea and then we'll talk."

What kind of a Dark Lord leaves money when he didn't have to? I was astonished.

I started downing a little pink-iced petit-four.

"The kind that wants you to...help him," he answered.

I snorted cake.

I covered my mouth and felt like the idiot I must have appeared to be. I shook my head and said, "Did you read my thoughts?"

"No, your face."

I narrowed a look at him. Was he telling me the truth? "Look," I said, "I am a vampire, you said, you don't like vamps. Also I'm not a very old vamp so being a newbie, my powers are not totally maxed. So tell me how I can possibly help the Dark Lord of New Orleans?"

He totally ignored my question and silently and unnervingly eyed me for a long moment. When he finally spoke, it was to ask another question, "Tell me why a born-vampire bothered with you. What made Sharon turn you? It isn't something she does. In fact, I happen to know she had never turned a human before. Was it at your request?"

I frowned at him, "You seem to know her, so ask Sharon."

"Sharon and I have a rocky...er...friendship. The years have taken us in different directions. She believes she has reasons to avoid me, and as it turns out, the time has come for me to ask her for help. I think you could be a, shall we say, friendly go-between." He eyed me thoughtfully. "Now, please, answer my questions."

"Ah, so Sharon doesn't like you? Hmm, surprise, surprise," I said and gave him a cocky look. "What makes you think she will help you if I ask her, and why should I ask her to help you? I don't even know you and have no reason to want to know you."

Once again he ignored what I said and just went on as though I hadn't objected. "First, tell me, how you and Sharon met?"

I tried to get a read on him, couldn't and sighed. If I just told him what he wanted to know, maybe he would just let me go home?

"Look, it isn't a big secret. I met Sharon at Tulane University. She was my roomy for three years. I graduated early and so did she. I didn't know she was a vamp at first, let alone a Born-Vamp. I found out quite by accident just a few months before graduation. I realized that same night I discovered vamps are real, that she actually wanted me to discover what she was. She told me then that she knew I could handle it."

"She knew you could handle it?" he digested this and then asked. "Thus, it didn't repulse you to find out what she was?"

I stared at him. "Repulse? Sharon and I are friends. Look, I've lived in New Orleans all my life. Lots of strange things go on in this town." I didn't want to tell him my grandmother had been a light-witch extraordinaire. "No, Sharon and I will always be friends. It is what it is. She couldn't help that she was born a vamp." I shrugged. "Besides, she told me she never drinks from a live source. She said she fought the bloodlust when she came of age and began turning. She said the only thing painful about her turning was the need for blood. She denied that need until a friend...a vampire friend, helped her obtain blood without killing the donor. She told me born vamps can walk in daylight without any discomfort although she would have lost that ability if she fed on live sources. We discovered together that I inherited a great many of her advantages because I was turned with her blood. She helped me get over the bloodlust. At any rate, after she turned me, she took me to her home in Metairie and helped me through those first six months. She said I reminded her of her young sister who did not survive all those years ago when they went into battle with the Lycans in what she called, 'the old country'."

"Were you willing to be turned?"

I shook my head. "No. I had no choice. There was this vampire...his name is Whistler. Sharon said he noticed us together, noticed we were friends and that Sharon cared for me. He has a thing...a vendetta against Sharon...I don't know why, she wouldn't say. Apparently he decided to get his revenge by draining her human friend—me."

The Dark Lord growled. "Whistler. I know him. Another born vamp...but quite evil."

Evil? Look who was calling the pot. Yet, here was the thing—I wasn't getting evil off of Wilder. But, I argued with myself, he was the Dark Lord—didn't that absolutely mean he was evil?

I considered him a moment longer. He growled again and said, "Whistler will pay."

I didn't know Sorcerers growled like that. He sounded primal and ridiculously I thought, sexy as hell.

"Right," I said as I continued, "So Sharon found me like that—dying. I would have been dead if she had come a few minutes later."

"You accepted to be turned rather than die?"

"No, hell no. I told her no, it was all I could say at the time as I was too weak to do more." I stopped talking for a minute and looked away. When I looked back at him, his eyes were lit, brightly lit with an emotion I couldn't fathom.

I said, "Sharon told me she couldn't let me die because of her. She said that was one more guilt she couldn't bear. She also said something strange, something about 'it was written'." I shook my head and frowned because I had asked her later what that meant, and she had always changed the subject. "Anyway, she cut her wrist open and poured her blood down my throat and then everything went black."

His voice became intense, "Sharon said it was written—then she knows."

"Knows? Knows what?"

"We will get to that. So you were saying, she turned you in spite of your wishes."

I shrugged. "Yup, so here I am."

"And you are still friends with Sharon?"

"Of course. She got me through it all, the bloodlust, kept me sane, and taught me control."

"But, you moved out of her home?" he asked, one brow up.

"Yeah, needed my own space. Sharon was too...protective and in spite of her keeping me alive or undead, whatever, she felt guilt. So...that made me more uncomfortable." I eyed him. "Now you know, so if you aren't going to zap me dead, please let me leave. I can't help you."

"Everything you and I are drives us to a point in time. I can't let you go. You will walk into a danger you cannot manage. A rabid vamp waits for you in your home and he has years on you. You don't have the element of surprise this time. He won't show you mercy as you showed him. Stay and we will rid ourselves of him at another time."

I considered his offer. It made sense. However, I wanted to know a few things so I asked, "This written shit, are you talking about fate? Because if you are," I scoffed. "I believe in making my own fate."

"Fate is a tricky female. One never knows whether one's decisions one way or another are actually their own. At any rate, you can't go home tonight. A trap has been set, and I can't let you walk into it," he said. "Take the first door down the corridor. It is a guest suite and you will find everything you might need for an overnight stay. No one will bother you while you are here."

"Er...I don't think so. Been looking after myself for a while now and that is what works for me. I am going home," I said and got to my feet.

He got up as well and put his large and hands around my upper arms. His touch sent tingles up and down my spine. I should have pulled away. Instead, I looked up into those devilish blue eyes and licked my bottom lip.

His gaze was so intense. I concentrated on his lips as he spoke. My bad. So bad. Concentrating on his lips turned me into a woman in heat. All I wanted...I caught myself and zoomed into what he was saying. "What? What was that?"

"Smoke, you can't go home," he repeated. "The rabid vamp is out for your blood. He will drain you for a high on born-vampire blood and then he will stake you through the heart and cut off your head."

I grimaced.

"You made an emotional decision to let him live. Someone like that is a threat to all of society and now to you. You should have staked him when he was unconscious. Now, he is out for revenge. He wants you dead for interfering with his meal. Don't take my word for it that he is waiting for you at your home. Think about it. He knows who you are and therefore he knows where you live. He has your scent and you will never make it inside your home. He is faster, stronger and deadlier than you. Like you pointed out, you have not yet come into all your powers. You will...and soon, but that won't help you tonight."

"I am not going to sit around and wait for him to strike. If you think he is at my place now, then I'm going there and taking him on."

"No, you are not. He will kill you and that isn't anything I wish to see occur. You aren't ready to take him on."

"Oh yes, I am...and besides, not hiding here. I don't hide."

"Smokie..." he said and he pulled me right up against his hard body, "Stay."

He took my mouth beneath his and I caved for his kiss. Damn, but the world around me vanished and all I could see were bright lights. All I could feel was hot desire. Maybe I could do sex just for fun?

Stubbornness saved me. I pushed out of his hold. "Stop, you and me...not happening."

"No? We'll see, but in the meantime, take the first door down that hallway. No one will be able to get past my wards," he indicated with his perfectly masculine chin. "Lock it and stay safe tonight. I won't bother you and if you want to take the rabid vamp on tomorrow, we'll talk about...a plan. How is that? Do I have your word you won't try and leave?"

I like plans. I considered this proposition. "Yes, okay, staying seems smart, but, I have questions."

"As do I. Tomorrow we will get to them. Now go on...get some sleep."

"Where is your room?" I asked looking down the hallway and noting there was a set of double doors facing us at the end of the wide corridor.

"I won't lock them if that is what you are wondering,"

If I were human, I would have blushed. Even so, I felt a flush invade my face and said, "I just wanted to make sure we have some distance between us."

"Afraid to get too close?" he said in that low damningly sexy voice of his.

"Er...no...just...well, right. Nighty-night," I said and hurried to that first door. I stopped there and looked his way. His blues met my gaze and held me for a brief moment before he said, "And sleep tight."

~ Two ~

I had found everything I needed behind that door. The bedroom was large and beautifully decorated in shades of green and mauve. The bathroom was luxurious, with toothbrushes to choose from and an assortment of hair products. I don't use them.

I showered and slipped into one of the oversized white T-shirts I found in the walk-in closet. Drawers upon drawers held a variety of female clothing, including an assortment of naughty lingerie. One in particular was no more than a bit of black lace that would expose both the woman's nipples and the patch between her thighs. I laughed and threw it back into the drawer.

I climbed into the huge four poster bed and thought I would never fall asleep, and promptly did so.

I awoke to a grey morning and the smell of bacon.

I love bacon.

I was up and showered and dressed in the oversized white T-shirt, I found in one of the drawers. I ran my hand over the clothes, all high fashion, and oddly enough, all in my size. However, I gave this up quickly because the delicious scent of breakfast ping-ponged down to my stomach. Yeah, another Hollywood myth. Vampires can eat food.

Wilder was at the stove, flipping an omelet. He wore jeans and nothing else. Holy good God, a woman could go blind looking at pure, raw sex, and that was what I was doing. He had a primal pull I had to make an effort to fight.

Holy Geez, looking at him like that, his kisses filled my memory banks and my body went rigid with sexual tension.

He looked over his shoulder at me and said, "Sit...coffee is on the island. Do you take cream?" his smile was absolutely wicked.

"No, black, thank you. Wow, you are quite the domestic for a Dark Lord," I said trying to ignore the erotic scent I knew my body must be giving off. I busied myself by pouring a cup of rich coffee and sipping. It was perfection.

Blood? Hmm. I wouldn't need to drink blood for another day or so.

He served me up a full plate, bacon, eggs and toast. He sat beside me with the same and his voice was a husky rumble as he said, "Eat up..."

I concentrated on my food and did just that. I couldn't look his way, if I did, there was a good chance I might jump his bones!

After a few moments where I broke the silence by telling him, "Hmm, good...hmm yum," at various intervals, he pushed away his plate.

His blue eyes looked me over from my head right down to my bare feet and made my nipples poke at the soft white material of the T-shirt.

His voice was a sexy rumble when he said, "Do you know how...desirable you look right now?"

"Er...no. My hair is a mess and well, it's just a T-shirt, oversized at that," I tried to deflect.

"Is it just? Your nipples are pushing through hard and hungry. I wonder how much harder they would get if I...er flicked my..."

"Hold on. Stop. No flicking, no nipple talking," I said even though that was exactly what I wanted him to do—finger flick me, oh hot damn, yes.

I got up and hurried off, annoyed to hear him chuckling at my back.

I was back in my cocktail dress because I wasn't going to wear any of the clothes hanging in the closet. They all still had price tags...whoa, way out of my league.

When I returned to the main room he stood by the window looking like a movie star. He had on a white silk shirt, jeans and boots and I looked away as I said, "Ok...going home now."

"I'm coming with you."

"Wait, what? No. He won't be there...daylight."

"We still need to talk. I need answers and so do you," he said. "We can talk in your place, where you might be more comfortable."

I sucked in my bottom lip, chewed for a moment and shook my head, "Nah, I'm good. I don't need any answers and I am not inclined to give you any more than I already have."

The next thing I knew, we were traveling in a black cloud where all I could see were his bright blue eyes and all I could feel was his strong arms wrapped around me. His traveling cloud reminded me of something my mother once said to me about magical locomotion. I had laughed it off and she had touched my cheek and said, "One day you will learn it all...your name means more than you know. I could hear her voice in my head. "Your father named you so you would discover what and who you are." Why hadn't she just explained it all at the time? Because she thought we had time. For a moment I was filled with grief, but, I shook it off as suddenly the cloud was gone.

I was still in his arms. I pushed, he released, I stepped back and snapped, "You could at least warn a girl before you do that!"

He grinned, "You'll get used to it."

"No, no I won't because..." I pointed to him and then myself. "You and I...are saying bye, bye now. You go your way. I go mine."

"You and I are tied at the hip from now on," he said in that husky voice that drove me wild in spite of the fact that I was trying very hard not to allow it to get to me.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I demanded and slipped out of my heels and went towards my bedroom where I meant to change. "I have a nice simple life. I watch the stock market and invest my savings so I can live quietly...and..."

"And there is no more quiet for you," he said and followed me into my bedroom.

As my dress was off already I shrieked and dove into my closet, "Out...let me dress in peace."

He laughed and gave me his back. "Go ahead. No worries. I don't take what isn't offered."

"Sure you do," I said and hurriedly pulled on my black tank top, panties and jeans.

"Smokie...our fates, yours and mine are linked. At least I believe that to be true and if you would just answer a few questions, I will know one way or another."

I turned him around and pushed on his chest, "Out of my room. Out of my house. I don't want to be linked. I want to..."

"What? What do you want? Quiet? To be a loner with no direction. In one hundred years you will wish you were dead...really dead. That isn't for you," he said angrily.

I hadn't seen him this angry thus far. Why did it all matter to him so much? I stood for a moment taking his words apart in my mind. That didn't help. Did I want to know more before I chased him away? Knowing is always better than not knowing.

"Okay, okay, I will hear you out, after that, I can't promise anything. Deal?"

"Deal," he said and left my room.

I pulled on socks and a pair of my favorite and comfortable buckskin boots and followed him into my small living room.

I found him lounging on my floral loveseat. He waved his hand around at my living room, "Charming. You have good taste."

I smiled because I really loved my little home. I had painted and had searched out antiques and designed the interior all myself. I had modernized the small kitchen, and felt from the start that it suited me. Still smiling, I looked around, pleased with the pretty shades of green sprinkled with blue. It was a bright, inviting open floor plan and yet the furniture and its placement made it all feel cozy, and welcoming, like an English cottage. I had made it as far from vampirish as I could.

I nodded and sat on one of the chairs and said, "Right...let's do this. What do you want to know?"

"Right, you have established that you were not a willing vampire, but before that happened to you, were you aware of anything unusual about yourself?"

I tensed. He wanted to know if I had felt any supernatural eccentricities about myself. I have felt them because I have always known that I was destined to be a light-witch. My mom had told me all about my famous grandmother and in the French Quarter, she was famous.

I don't like to lie, so I answered, "A little. I have always had good instincts. I don't get lost even when I have never been to a place. I...sometimes get 'feelings' that warn me off something or send me towards something else. That sort of thing." Not telling him the whole wasn't really a lie.

"But, nothing magical?" he pursued.

"Not sure," I answered truthfully. I didn't feel obliged to tell him my grandmother was an uber witch. I didn't want to talk about my father. "Now, I get to ask a question."

"Shoot," he said.

I smirked. "Why does all this matter to you? Why does it matter how I was turned? What difference does it make if I was willing or unwilling to become a vampire or if I had 'supernatural' tendencies before it happened?"

"Do you believe in the Fae...or more properly, the Tuatha de Dannan?"

Actually, my mother had told me that my grandmother was a 'Sounder Seer Witch'. She was able to locate Fae artifacts and had helped the Fae queen recover one or two that had been hidden in New Orleans. So, now I had to decide how to answer him. Cautiously I said, "Well, Vampires, Lycans, and all sorts of supernaturals exist, so sure, I believe the Fae do as well."

The vamp that drained you, Whistler, works for a born-vamp named Vidal, a direct descendent of the first vampire, Dracula. Vidal is ancient and has acquired a great deal of power over the centuries. In the past, he was content to remain in Italy where he governed over a feudal type village in the mountains. More recently he has become obsessed with finding a particularly powerful Fae artifact. Vidal wants to dominate all supernaturals and humans alike. He believes this particular artifact will allow him to achieve that goal."

"Ooooh, sounds like a bad guy," I said. "But what does it have to do with me?"

"With us, Smokie, with us. We are linked by a little known prophesy...and according to that prophesy, we are the only ones that can stop him when the time comes and that time, is getting closer every single day."

A certain disappointment traveled through me. I had entertained the notion that this hunk was somehow attracted to me. Now, apparently, all he wanted was for me to fulfill some crazy prophesy to take down someone I was very certain could destroy me with a look.

"A prophesy?" I said trying to appear unconcerned.

"Apparently, when the Dark Fae King realized that some of the Hallows he created, (which were living things in their own right) had evolved into formidable weapons, he decided to disperse them throughout the earth. Fae cannot find their own Hallows—artifacts. He wasn't worried about humans using them, as humans have no magic. I suppose The Dark Fae King didn't think about supernatural beings being able to use them. The Dark King has always been a mystery, so we can't fathom what he was thinking at the time."

"And the prophesy names you and me?"

"Well, no, not by name," he said frowning.

"What then?"

"Right, in its entirety which you would do well to memorize, it reads:

She who was unwilling, died.

She will become an undead guide.

Inside of her, it hovers and waits,

But he who rules will alter her fate

It calls, she will hear

It is floating so very near

So begins the unholy pact

Time dawns, time to act...time to..."

He sighed and put up his hand. "That is all I have."

I laughed, eyed him with the disbelief I was feeling and laughed again. "That is the prophesy? It isn't even finished."

He looked frustrated. "This is not funny."

"No? Sure it is. What kind of a riddle is that? Bad enough we have to figure it out, but it doesn't even finish its last line." I spun around in place and came back to wag my finger at him, "Damn, for all I know, I'm in a coma...having a never ending nightmare. This is funny."

"Listen to me. You were dragged into the dark...and now I'm going to drag you in deeper. All I can promise is to look out for you with everything I am," he said earnestly. "This is all real."

That hit me. I had been perfectly normal, living a normal life the night I first witnessed Sharon's fangs appear, the night she hissed at another vamp who had put his hands on her—the night she broke his neck. She hadn't known I was there in the alley watching her. She had turned bright, startled amber eyes on me and cried out, "Smokie...wait."

I waited. Absurdly I said, "So, vampires are real?"

She appeared to make up her mind, "Yes."

"Did you kill that vamp?" I remember I felt so calm, as though I had always known the vampires were real and roaming amongst the humans. As though I had always known she was a vampire. I had always known the truth. I believe now I always knew. After all, I was a descendent of a powerful witch, why not vampires and whatever else roamed New Orleans.

"No, he'll wake up in an hour or so. Come on, we have to get out of here."

That was only a few months before we graduated, only a few months before she turned me.

Now, I shook my head as I sat contemplating everything Wilder had just told me.

"Not in a coma. I know. Vampires are real, shifters are real, you are..." I pinched him—his eyes narrowed. "You are real. So now, what? I am part of this crazy prophesy? I am the unwilling in that little ditty?"

"I am nearly certain of it," he answered softly.

I got up and paced. He followed and stopped me, "As am I, Smoke, as am I a part of it and not liking this anymore than you do."

"So...what are we supposed to do—save the world? How do we do that? Basically a newbie here, only a two year old vamp, and you..." I waved my hand over him. "Dark sorcerer...not the saving the world type, or so I am told."

He stiffened and slightly inclined his head. "Have a good day, Smoke. I'll see you when I see you."

A black cloud formed almost instantaneously and he was gone.

I was aware of a tremendous sense of loss.

"Sure, just like that, puff in...puff out. Lay a whole saving the world on me, and vanish! Great."

I decided to go out for a run. I do it to clear my head as vamps as far as I know, stay pretty much as fit as the day they were turned. I should have changed into jogging clothes and running shoes. Didn't. Vamp here, I can run in anything.

It was breezy and a cool seventy today, and it felt good against my cheeks. I was just getting a rhythm on when a scent wafted through the air.

I was surprised by it. Supernaturals are usually night creatures. Daylight for many paranormals doesn't work, except for shifters and werewolves. Anytime was their time. Even witches and warlocks like the night. So, the scent surprised me and just as I was getting a read on it, deciding it was demon—male demon, he stepped in front of me and grabbed my arm.

His eyes blazed red. He was enswathed in human Glamour but, I have always had the ability for some reason, to be able to see past the Glamour. I saw his many horns on his egg-shaped head—three horns. His flesh was green. His teeth were jagged and sharp. However, he looked downright amusing in his T-shirt and weathered jeans.

So I pushed him off and laughed before I told him, "I don't know what the hell you think you are doing...but if you are smarter than you look. Hands off, demon."

"You can see past my Glamour?" he sounded surprised.

I didn't tell him I have always had the gift of sight. No reason to tell him anything.

"Out of my way," I told him and pushed him again.

I am unusually strong even for a vamp, and he traveled backwards quite a few feet.

He jumped forward and rushed me. Growling in a series of grunts he said, "You are coming with me."

"Oh, as to that...I don't think so," I snickered.

"He who rules, says to bring you. I must...you must come," he said.

"He who rules?" I thought of Grail Wilder. Was he talking about the Dark Lord? Why would the Dark Lord send a demon to fetch me? That didn't make sense. "No...not going anywhere with you." I started my run again.

He reached and grabbed hold of me again and even as I pushed hard, something happened that caught my attention.

That something happening was a swirling ring of power in broad daylight, with cars passing by on the street. A black hole the size of volley ball was forming and growing. Colors burst out of the damned thing, and I looked to see if anyone driving by noticed. They didn't seem to, so I realized it must be shielded from human detection.

The next thing I knew demon-boy was dragging me inside the black hole. Oh no, this was not good.

Vamps are stronger than demons. I broke away from him, but the giant hole, which I immediately assumed was a portal, sucked me inside before I could put on the brakes. There just was no escaping its suction power. I bounced off its solid walls and finally landed with a thud in some dark, very dark and enormous chamber!

~ Three ~

ALL I WANTED LAST NIGHT WAS a bit of fun.

Just some music and a getaway from my humdrum life. As a vampire I had hid away from my friends and put aside all my plans to be an archeologist.

When I made up my mind to check out the Dark Lord's club, it was because I needed a bit of adventure. Nothing too wild, just a laugh or two. So, into Grail Wilder's club I went.

And now my life has gone to hell.

This is totally not acceptable. How much bad luck can one girl have in the space of two years? Seriously.

I was spit out of the portal with some force, and landed on my ass. I didn't just get to my feet, I jumped into position, ready for an attack.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened, so I peered into the dark chamber where I landed, looking for a clue as to where I might be. The portal had already closed at my back, so evidently this had been a one way trip. I would have to find another escape route. My first obstacle would be Mr. Demon who stood some distance at my back, cracking his knuckles. I grimaced and turned away from him since he didn't seem to be on the attack.

Someone else was in the dark room. I could smell him. Champagne and roses. Vampires always exude delicious aromas. It is part of their lure. Their victims are attracted by the scent and then compelled by the hypnotic stare and soft alluring voice.

I saw him then.

I could just make out the form of a tall, lean man at the far end of the room. I studied the aura I was getting off him. Evil, pure and unmitigated. Also, I could hear a confusion of thoughts, his. Words bumped into one another, like, compel, seduce, find out, sounder. I had no idea in what context these words worked in his mind, but more importantly, how the hell was I listening? Vampires can't hear other people's thoughts, so...was this my witchy DNA at work? All at once, he shut down his mind with a shield. He must have realized I was listening in.

I was surprised when he finally spoke and I nearly jumped. "Welcome, young vampire," he said.

His voice was both deep and self-assured. His tenor held the air of command. I got the impression that he was very used to people taking his orders without hesitation, without demure or objection. I decided to buck him and throw him off his game. "Welcome? I was forced here, wherever here is, against my will. So...not feeling welcome."

And then I was surprised again, because, damn if the guy didn't know my name, "But, my dear Miss Smokie McGuire, you would not have come had I extended a formal invitation."

"Yeah, well, where I come from a person, even a vamp, is given the choice with an invitation. I don't call throwing me into a dark portal very friendly. So, let's not bother with amenities. Who are you and what do you want?" I threw back at him, rarely at a loss for words when I am pissed. I looked over my shoulder, and yup, Mr. Demon was still there, his hands now folded into one another just above his crotch. Him I could take in two seconds. Demons are never a match for a vamp who has my strength. I arched a brow at the demon and then back at the man I couldn't quite see yet, and waited for his reply.

The vampire in the dark corner walked towards me then and snapped his fingers high in the air. A few dim lights gave me a view of the room. Not a dungeon as I had first thought, but a most remarkable and somewhat fashionable library. Where the frigging hell was I and who the hell was this guy? I picked up on the scent of dark power. He was not only evil, he was strong and intense. Besides that, I realized that he reeked of a recent meal. Blood. He had just fed from a live source. I was getting a really bad vibe. I couldn't show fear. I had to keep my wits. No one was coming to my rescue. No one knew where I was. I had told Grail to go ahead and zap me, but I suddenly realized, I didn't want to die at the hands of this awful wicked vampire.

"Ah, a bit presumptuous of me. However, at times, one must take hold and do what is necessary to accomplish one's goals. You and I...we need to talk," he said.

"Damn, what is happening? Everyone, all at once, wants to talk and thinks they can force me to it," I said with a sigh that indicated I was exasperated.

"Ah, Wilder has tried then to get you to talk about yourself. That is the very reason I brought you here. I wanted an opportunity to speak with you before you became more involved with Wilder. I believe we, you and I, have more in common and I believe what I can offer you will far outweigh anything he..."

"Stop right there!" I interrupted him. "I am not bargaining with you. "I am not involved with Wilder, but if I were, that would be my business," I snapped.

"Ah," he said and came closer. "Spirited. I like that. It will be fun breaking you."

I could see that he was by some standards, a handsome man with dark blond hair and amber lit glittering eyes. I assessed him quickly and also made a mental note to assess the power he was exuding. It was more magical than a vampire possessed. I had to get out of here. I had to keep him busy while I figured out a way to escape. One huge window at the far end of the room was covered with thick drapes, and a set of double doors that I assumed led to the rest of his establishment.

"Oh, as to breaking me?" I clucked my tongue. "You see, you don't know me. If you did, you wouldn't have offered me that challenge. I will make certain I end myself before I cave to someone like you!"

He frowned, "Apparently, you don't know who I am, so I shall forgive your arrogance."

"There ya go. Don't know you, don't want to know you," I said, but the truth was, I had a bad feeling that I knew exactly who he was. For all my bluster and bluffing, I could be in serious trouble.

He inclined his head, "I am Vidal and you and I, Smokie McGuire will be great...colleagues, maybe more, for you are quite beautiful and I should like teaching you how to please me in my bed."

I closed my eyes. Yup. I knew it. I had already guessed who he was, but was hoping I was wrong. How the hell was I going to escape him? And being in bed with him absolutely grossed me out.

Vidal was the legendary (among vamps) ancient. I hadn't told Grail that Sharon had filled me in on Vidal and his unique power and rule over the vamps, not only in New Orleans, but worldwide. I am pretty certain there isn't a vamp in the entire world that hasn't heard of Vidal. He was nearly as well-known as good 'ole Drac.

"Not happening," I told him as though he hadn't just laid it on me that he was the most powerful vampire in New Orleans. "I do my own thing." I pulled a face at him, hoping my cockiness would infuriate him. "I don't partner up with anyone, not even you."

"You want manners," he said in an amused voice. "I do not tolerate rudeness."

"I want manners? You bring me here against my will and intrude on my private life? Gimme a break," I snapped. "Besides, manners...aren't quite relevant here. You need me for something, so...you want to bargain. I don't."

"I am Vidal," he repeated as though giving me another chance to acknowledge him as a vampire God.

"Yeah, so?"

He waved a finger at me and said, "Is it possible that because you are a new vampire...a loner, I am told, that you have never heard of me?"

He didn't need to know what I did or didn't know.

I had to get out of here. That was all I knew. I surprised myself by responding, "Oh, I've heard of you—born vampire, fancies himself King of the Vampires, and all that. But the thing is, I don't live in your Kingdom. You said it, I am a loner. So I repeat, yeah, so?"

"Careful child. I do not tolerate insubordination."

"Look, I have things to do. What exactly do you want from me?" I asked impatiently really trying to goad him.

"Rude girl, as I said, your manners are non-existent, and I am just the right one to teach them to you. Manners and so much more."

"I don't think so." I purposely looked him over from his slicked dark blond hair, over his fancy grey and white print shirt to his grey silk pants and grimaced. "Not my type."

"I will be when I am done with you. For now, I am allowing you some license because you may not be aware of my rules and the punishment I dispense when my rules are broken."

"Look, I don't travel with vamps. I don't hang with them and I don't bother with your class system or your rules. You want to punish me for that? Go ahead. Not afraid of dying. Didn't want to be a vamp in the first place."

"Oh, I wouldn't kill you, only make you wish you were dead," he said and evil dripped from every word.

I believed his threat but I needed him to be enraged. "Really. Well, already dead and wishing I wasn't. Someone like you, would waste his time bringing me here just to get himself worked up enough to torture me? I don't read you like that."

I could see he was angry. His eyes glinted. "No, at the moment I don't wish to torture you, but you would do well to remember the lesson I am about to inflict on you." He twisted his wrist in the air.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened. He frowned and twisted his wrist again.

"Well?" I taunted and wondered what the hell he was trying to do. He evidently believed twisting his wrist was going to cause me pain. Huh. It wasn't working was it?

"Why isn't it working?" he asked no one in particular.

"Hmm...Mr. All powerful have a problem?" I taunted. He had tried to hurt me and it didn't work. He would eventually fix the problem and the pain would begin. Hell, I needed to get out before he solved his problem.

What I noticed and assessed was the fact that Vidal remained in the dusky light. He hadn't ventured into the lit part of the room where I stood. I concluded he preferred or needed the dark. If he was a born vampire, sunlight shouldn't be a problem, unless he had spent all these centuries draining and killing humans.

I made up my mind. Now was the moment. Now when he was confused.

Vamp speed took me to the drapes covering the large window they concealed. Without hesitation, without a backward glance at him, I used only some of my vamp strength and pulled down the heavy velvet drapes at the wide window.

Sunlight poured into the room, filling every bit of its large expanse.

To my relief and great satisfaction Vidal made an awful sound as he ducked behind his hands and raced out of the room.

I turned on the demon who had been momentarily frozen with shock. "Want to pit your strength against mine and try and stop me from leaving?"

He didn't move.

So before he changed his mind and attacked, I crashed through the window and landed like a cat on my feet two stories down.

I looked around and for a moment couldn't fathom where the hell I was.

Didn't matter. I ran full speed in a southerly direction. Instinct took me as it so often does. My witch DNA at work.

I had only gotten a couple of miles when I recognized a few streets and realized just how far out of the historic section of New Orleans I had been. There was only one place I wanted to go, Hazard!

Vampire speed took me to the Dark Lord's club five minutes later.

I had played it cool and cocky when abducted by the ancient vampire, but it wasn't how I felt. Vidal was a scary dude and I needed to know why he was after me. I mean, holy jeez, I am an absolute nobody in the vampire world. What did the ancient vampire think I could do for him.

The club was closed. I knocked, or rather I banged hard on the door.

A huge man with a shaggy haircut and the golden eyes of a wolf and the smile of a charmer, opened it a crack. I shoved it open. He said, "Careful, little girl."

I gave him a glare that silently told him I did not appreciate being called a 'little girl'. I was about to push my way past him when I heard a movement from the rear of the open galley and then heard his voice, loud, clear and oddly soothing.

"Let her in," Wilder said from where he stood in a doorway to a backroom.

I turned to the sound of his voice which annoyed me to admit went through me and sent shivers up my spine.

Our gazes locked and I was aware of the sexual tension between us. It was like a warm and intoxicating current that flowed in a wide wave from him to me and back again. Oh damn, I was being fanciful. This was ridiculous.

And then I saw the redhead from last night, the one who had stepped between us to kiss him. She slid off the huge desk in his office and came up behind him to run her hand down his white silky covered chest.

I heard her say in her husky sensual voice, "Later, darling."

He didn't respond. He didn't look at her. Instead, he took a step toward me.

Oh no, all the more reason to put distance between us. He was, as I had suspected, a player and I wanted nothing to do with that sort of man in my life, no matter how much my body wanted to be with his body. My mind was too smart for that.

"Wilder," I said and marched towards him. "You will never believe what I have just been through, and I blame you."

"Hush, Smoke. Calm down and come in," he said and put his hand on my back.

As I passed by him I looked up at his oh so gorgeous face. He was frowning and he said, "Now, tell me, what happened."

"Till you...I lived a quiet, unobtrusive life. Now, you start talking about prophesies and an ancient born vamp and the next thing I know, boom, demon creep pushes me through a portal and there I was, standing in front of Vidal himself! Not good. Really not good!"

He had closed the door, stopped in mid-movement and said quietly, "Tell me all, from the beginning."

So, I did, with a few expletives to express just how I felt about what I had just experienced.

"A portal," he interrupted me to question. "Vidal used a portal? To where?"

"If you hadn't interrupted I would have told you already. The demon pulled and then pushed me and I landed in what I thought was a dungeon because it was so dark, but was really a library...Vidal's library, though where his place is, I am not sure, quite a few miles north of the Garden District I think."

He folded his arms across his chest and said, "How did you get away?"

He looked suspicious and that infuriated me.

I poked his chest and said, "Hey, don't believe me? Fine. Go have some fun with your redhead, I am outta here."

He had my shoulders and he said softly, "First of all, I do absolutely believe you. You have no reason to come here and lie, and besides, your facial expressions, sweetheart, always gives you away. Second, the redhead? She isn't mine, nor do I want her to be. She is an accomplished witch who keeps me informed on many matters. Nothing more." He released my shoulders.

I couldn't look at him and the words slipped out before I could stop them, "Sure looks like more to me."

He laughed. Damn him, he actually laughed. "I have been alive a great many centuries and I was not a monk, my love, but..."

"The clothes...in the guestroom, are they hers?" What was wrong with me? Why was I asking such stupid questions? Why should I care? But, deep down, I wanted to know the answers.

"As it happens, I have never...entertained a female in my home. You are the first. So no, the clothes were purchased with you in mind," he said solemnly.

My truth antenna told me he wasn't lying, but why I should feel elation over this was something I wasn't ready to face.

He waited for me to say something. When I didn't he sighed heavily and took my chin, "Now, beauty, how did you escape?"

"Vidal's library was dark, so completely dark, except for some lights over me and the demon. I noticed that when he came towards me, he stopped short of the light. I figured the heavy drapes over his window needed to come down." I shrugged. "Yeah, he didn't like the sunlight, so I took that moment when he ran out and the demon looked flabbergasted and I crashed outside and ran."

"The demon didn't try and follow?"

"I never looked back, but, from all I have learned in these two years of being a newbie vamp is that demons are nowhere as fast as vamps."

"Correct. Right then, you have had your first introduction to Vidal and have come out quite well. I must go out, but you, Smokie, will remain here in my club. When I get back, you will have the next lesson in your education."

"Education in what?"

"Warfare. I believe you will be a quick study. You have ingenuity as you exhibited today, and that will help you in the future, but you need skills and you need to know what you are up against."

"Yeah, well...I didn't come here to learn how to fight," I objected.

"What did you come here for?" he frowned. "We both know you did well today, but the next time, he will be prepared for you and Smokie, there will be a next time. He is an ancient with a purpose."

"You can't know that he will still come after me," I objected. That stubborn streak.

"Smokie, you know you didn't come here expecting me to soothe your tattered nerves," he said softly.

"Maybe I came for tea and pastries," I said and plopped into one of his leather chairs facing his desk.

Softly he said, "You did well. Your instincts serve you better than I could have for against Vidal." He flicked his wrist, and both tea and pastries appeared on the desk.

"Stay, eat, I shan't be long," he said and in a puff of black, my Dark Lord was gone.

I smiled and poured a cup of tea from the pretty tea pot, added some sugar, sipped the delicious brew and wondered what next was coming.

~ Four ~

WHEN MY HOLY GRAIL RETURNED, he did so with a load of questions.

Wait, did I just think that? My Holy Grail? No. He wasn't mine. I got stuck on this in my head for a few moments and had a downright but silent argument with myself.

I could hear him talking but I couldn't concentrate on what he was asking. When I didn't answer, he took my hand and led me into the main galley, and then behind the bar. He held onto me as he moved his hand along the far edge of a shelf where, he unbent just as I heard the click of a switch. A hidden door made to look like part of the wall, opened inwards just a crack. He pushed it further and pulled me inside with him.

I stopped and I think my mouth opened because I was sucking air through it.

On the other side of that narrow, hidden door was a world all on its own.

This was a Hollywood horror movie producer's dream. The room was dimly lit and the ceiling was like a dark velvet sky alive with twinkling stars and traversing planets, none of which I recognized from this galaxy. It was a 3-D planetarium. Spectacular and yes, magical.

As it happens, there are some things I have learned over the years from both my father and my mother, so I knew what this was—a portal between universes!

I have always been drawn to white magic. I mean physically drawn to it and ridiculously I felt embraced by what my mother referred to as 'magic of the light'. When I come across it and in New Orleans, that happens quite a lot, I feel a glow surround me. I felt that now.

Here was 'white magic' and its power was immense. Odd, that, since here standing beside me was the Dark Lord.

I don't know why, but I lifted one finger and pointed at an unusual star alive with rainbow colors.

I almost jumped when a voice, robotic, genderless and emanating from that rainbow colored star actually spoke and said, "Welcome Princess of the Light."

I looked around. No one behind me. Grail Wilder stood to one side, watching me. "Er...ah..." I meant as a question, loud and clear and meaning, what the hell?

Grail Wilder folded his arms across his chest. His white silk shirt was open midway down his chest and I was able to see a great deal more of his tattoos. They formed a familiar design. My father had similar tattoos on his chest and biceps.

I also noticed that Wilder's expression was unreadable as he ignored my reaction to the faceless voice that had called me a 'Princess of the Light'.

"Indeed," he said, "So, Princess of the Light, tell me your father's name. Just who was your father?"

"My father? I...why? What does it matter who my father is...was?"

"Because you know, don't you? You know you are so much more than a vampire with expectations of becoming an earthly witch. Your present magic or what you call instincts, comes from your maternal side, but, your powers inherited from your father, are about to bloom. You must know that. You must have seen something was different about your father when you were growing up. Tell me, what was his name?"

I don't know why this angered me. Perhaps because he was suggesting that my parents kept too big a secret from me. I had always suspected that, but hearing it from someone else was infuriating. I got control but said, "My father, is my business. You don't understand. I grew up thinking him...the sun, the stars and the moon. My father walked on water and then one day vanished out of our lives. I was only fourteen and coping without him...with my mom broken by his loss. You don't understand. Mom was never the same after he vanished."

He took me into his arms and I let him. He stroked my head and whispered, "I am so sorry, Smokie."

"My father's name was Canyon McGuire," I answered and heard the grief in my own voice. "I don't speak about my dad because the fact I have to face is that he might have just left us of his own accord, or...worse, that he...that something happened to him. If he was a paranormal, he never told me. But, I do remember hearing my mom tell him once she wanted a normal life for us while I was a child."

"What else do you remember?"

"When I was fourteen, just before we lost him, we came home from a festival in the French Quarter. I overheard him tell my mom he had to go out. They argued and I heard the door slam." I shrugged. "He never came back."

My Dark Lord stroked my cheek and said. "I don't think it was his choice to leave you and your mother."

"I don't either. He wasn't like that. He would never have left my mom to wonder...to...suffer like she did."

"Forget that now, and tell me something joyful, like what your parents named you Smoke?"

"My mom didn't. She said Dad insisted on the name. He wanted something of himself to be a part of who I was. That never sense to me. How is my name being Smoke...something of himself? But, we were so happy...life was so perfect and I never questioned the reasoning." I shrugged and added, "It was a kinda cool name and as I was popular in school...I was happy with it."

Wilder looked intently at me. In his blue eyes I saw something that tickled my imagination and made me shiver with need. He had an erotic hold on my libido and I watched him as he ran his hand through his black hair. After a moment he said, "It all makes sense now."

"What all makes sense?" I frowned at him. "What are you talking about?"

"You say his name is Canyon? That rings a bell...but, I can't quite place it—put it with a face."

"Rings a bell?" I said more than astonished. I grabbed his arm. "You knew my father?"

"I am not sure. I need...to think about this," he said quietly.

"You are lying. I can tell. Why would you lie to me about knowing him? Grail, please, tell me."

"Not lying, I just need to be sure," he answered impatiently.

"Wait, no. Not fair. I answered your questions and talked about something very personal and hurtful to me. You must tell me what you know about my father. You must."

"Dear heart," he said and touched my cheek with his thumb, ran it down to my lips. "We were friends in passing...more acquaintances than friends. I knew him under another name and he explained that he was using the name of McGuire because he had broken all his...families' rules and married a human." Grail looked away and then back at me. "You must favor your mother, although...your eyes are even greener than his, as I recall."

"Yes, I have his eyes, but not his auburn hair color. I am blonde like my mom was. Tell me what you know about him?"

"I only know that he was happy. He came to me once...wanted to know if I knew how to make a mortal...immortal without destroying her soul."

"My mom? Why would he want to make my mom immortal?"

"Because sweetheart, he was."

"No, no..." I said.

"I knew him a century ago. We met in passing and then we met here again in New Orleans just after he married your mother."

"No...immortal?" I was stuck on this.

He held my shoulders in his large hands. "Somewhere inside of you Smoke, you own his magic. He was the Prince of Light and from the Deatach Realm. He named you after his native realm. Deatach means Smoke. That is why the Mystic recognized you immediately. You have enormous power that must be locked away inside of you and needs to be released. I imagine your father installed a switch to release it in stages in order to give you time to adjust to its potency."

"What? Why...why would they have kept it secret?"

"I don't know. I know your mother told him she wanted to give you a normal...human life for as long as she could. Smoke, your full might must be formidable. I can help you adjust to it. Let me help you unlock who you really are."

"If...if I am so magical, can I rid myself of the vamp in me?"

He shook his head, "I don't think so, but you can mitigate your vampire needs. There is no cure for vampirism, but your magic will make you so much more comfortable." He pulled me close and held me, "Are you ready?"

Hell no, I wasn't ready and damn straight, yes I wanted to know everything.

~ Five ~

I PUSHED OFF HIM AND ran as fast as I could outside the club. I stood in the fresh air, bent over my belly and fought the tears that threatened to take over. I took long hard breaths. I sucked in that air and couldn't think.

Secrets! I hate secrets and apparently my parents had been keeping more than the 'average' amount of them from me. Not right. I should have been told...at least before my dad left us and then especially afterwards.

Holy Grail with his beautiful blue eyes was in front of me, pulling me into his arms, crushing me in his embrace, whispering, "I'm sorry, Smoke. I'm sorry. I knew putting it all together would be difficult...but, I believed and still do, that you deserve the truth."

I was angry at the world and shoved him away. He didn't let me go.

"Sharon couldn't have known that you were an immortal," he said as much to himself as to me, "She would never have given you her blood, had she known."

"I did know. I have always known," said a familiar and dear voice.

We both spun around as she walked up to us, beautiful reddish hair silky loose and long, amber brown eyes bright with emotion.

I faced her. "You are my friend and knew? How could you have still turned me?"

"You hadn't come of age. Your immortality in this realm had not yet kicked in. That is what I knew," she said sadly. "I had tried to tell you so many times, but you were so happy being human...and I wanted to prolong that comfort for you."

"You weren't my roomy by accident," I said as new dawning descended.

"No, I was an acquaintance of your parents...and I have always known about the damned prophecy."

I was in shock. I couldn't speak.

"Sharon," Wilder said with an inclination of his handsome head. "Let's all go inside and talk."

She gave him a rueful look, "I suppose you and Smoke meeting at this time was inevitable?"

"I suppose, but, she shouldn't have been kept in the dark...so, time for you to come clean with her, but not out here."

"No, I hear Vidal is on the hunt for her," Sharon said grimly.

"On the hunt?" I shouted. "He found me. I escaped but don't you think my best friend should have warned me?"

The next thing I knew, I was back in Wilder's arms and in a dark cloud traveling. We stepped out into his office.

I just laid my head on his chest. So far in my world, he was the only one who had told me the truth.

Sharon stormed in a moment afterwards, looking like fury.

"Don't take off with her like that. She isn't baggage!" Sharon yelled.

"No, she is a precious Princess of the Light and her time is now," he said quietly. "And as to taking off with her, I will do so if and when I think she is threatened in any way. Understood?"

Sharon's amber eyes were lit with anger, and they narrowed, but she did not object. Instead, she said, "Right...you have appointed yourself her...what? Guardian? Fine. Now it is time to let her know what is expected of each of us and what we are up against, if we are to stop a declaration of war from Vidal on all paranormals!"

* * * * *

It was a couple of hours later when Sharon left us, saying she had a 'meeting' she couldn't miss and my Holy Grail as I now think of him, softly said my name.

"Smoke...I want to try and see if you can access the gift your father left you. Are you willing?"

"A gift?" It dawned on me. Somehow my father had left me a memory he believed I would be able to access in time. I still asked, "You mean...in my head? A memory that he left for me?"

"Yes love. But it will be more than a memory. You will be unlocking something both frightening and beautiful. I think you can handle it. Do you?"

"Damn straight," I told him not sure I could.

"I will be with you every step of the way if that is what you want...or you can leave me behind and go exploring in your head on your own."

"I want you with me," I said and realized just how much this was true. I had come to trust him. Thus far, he had been honest with me, which was more than my parents or even my closest friend had been.

We were still in his office. He set me in a black leather chair and said, "Close your eyes, baby."

I did as he asked and he put his fingers on either side of my forehead and lightly massaged. "Good. Now, I want you to imagine a low burning fire. Do you see it?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Throw a sprinkle of water on the fire..."

"How?

"Imagine you have a bowl of water in your hands."

"Yes, I have now," I said.

"Sprinkle the low burning fire."

"Smoke...it is smoking..." I told him, excitedly.

"Go into the smoke. You can travel through fire into the smoke, any kind of smoke and emerge unscathed. That is one of the reasons he named you Smoke."

"But...?" I said.

"Just do it. Wait...do you see me. Take my hand."

"I saw him beside me and did just that.

He said, "Imagine yourself with me...taking a leap into and through the smoke."

The next thing I knew I yanked on his hand as I pulled him into the billowing dark smoke with me!

Everything cleared and a warm feeling came over me. I looked at Wilder, who squeezed my fingers and whispered, "Patience."

A familiar and dear voice said, "Smoke, my daughter."

My dad's voice filled my head and I almost burst into tears. It had been so long since I heard him speak. My father stepped out of nowhere and I ran to hug him but there was no substance to him. I went right through and turned to Wilder, "What happened?"

"Your father installed an image of himself in your brain along with the information he wanted you to have. Think of it like a chip—a mixture of science and magic. He isn't really here. Only his image and voice. You won't be able to talk to him, but you will be able to learn from him."

"But you are here, I can feel your hand," I said.

"Because I am here baby. I am holding your hand and my magic allows me to join you in your head."

I digested this and turned back to my father. "Dad," I said. "I have missed you so much."

"My dear-heart. You need an explanation, so I am here to give it to you. Your mother needs an explanation. I shall start with that."

"Dad...mom died while I was in college. In an accident..."

"He can't hear you, baby," Wilder whispered.

"I am a prince in my realm. Prince Canyon of Naraclyn. I broke the law when I took a mortal as my wife. I was, however, forgiven what they called an indiscretion, because your mother was a mortal and when she was gone, they believed I would return home and take my place on the council. I love your mother. The thought of her...dying, was unacceptable. I looked for and finally found a way to give her immortality without destroying her soul. That is a law when broken is punishable by death in Deatach. Before I was able to give her the elixir, I was captured and imprisoned by the council."

I turned to Wilder, "My dad...he is alive."

Wilder put a finger to my lips. "Listen, baby."

"My sister, at great risk to herself, traveled to you and installed this memory chip in you while you slept. I want you to concentrate on all your inherent powers—those you get from me and the earthly magic you inherited from your grandmother. Time runs differently in our realm, as do seasons, so I am unable to tell you at what age you will come into your rightful mana. I only wish I were there to help you. My brother always wanted my position. He betrayed me and now means to do what he can to become a King of the Realm. There are factions here that have rebelled and wish to free me. But as I said, our time here is very different than yours. What seems like a month or two here, could be a year or two in your world. Remember always, tell your mother, that my love for you both is deep and everlasting."

With that last, his image and voice vanished.

And then I felt like I was falling into open space. Through the silent tears running down my face, pouring into my heart, I clung to my Holy Grail and when we landed, it was in a cloud of smoke so thick I had to use my free hand to part the waves.

When I did, knowledge flooded into my head, fast and sure and overwhelming and magic I never thought possible suddenly became very real and mine to employ!

And then everything went blank.

* * * * *

"Smokie..."

"I heard him calling my name over and over. Icy cold and wet hit my forehead and then my cheeks. What? He was wiping my face down with a cold wet rag. My lashes flickered and I tried to focus on his blue eyes, full with concern.

I tried to give him a reassuring smile and it hit me, I wanted to reassure him. I tried to sit up and felt him gently keep me in place. I must have fainted which is absurd. I don't faint. I never fainted as a human...and as a vamp, I was pretty sure I wasn't supposed to be able to faint. This was crazy shit.

"Hi," I said. "Did I black out?"

"Yes," he answered softly.

"How long?"

"Not long...ten, maybe fifteen minutes." The back of his hand rested on my cheek a moment and his voice was low, so low and full of emotion when he asked, "How do you feel?"

"Ten minutes?" I shook my head and pushed up and into a sitting position. I trusted him to tell me the truth and asked, "You were really with me...in my head? You saw my dad?"

"I did and now I am certain he is alive. I suspected it because he wouldn't just leave you and your mother...and killing an immortal such as your father—a royal, is nearly impossible, at least for any paranormal here in this realm," Wilder said quietly.

"How were you and my father friends? I mean...you are the Dark Lord...?"

"Never mind all that, let's get you fit. I have nice hot tea with a shot of smooth brandy just waiting for you to sip."

"Hmmm," I said and allowed him to help me to my feet and see me seated at a small round table with two upholstered black leather chairs near the window. It was then that I realized we weren't in his office but in his home in the Garden District. He must have transported us there while I was out cold.

I sighed and then sipped at the hot toddy.

The back of his hand rested on my cheek a moment and his voice was low, so low and full of emotion when he asked, "How do you feel, baby?"

When he called me baby, or sweetheart, it bolstered my sexual craving.

The truth was he made me hungry for a toss in bed. I was certain he was the one that would fulfill me. But, though I trusted him to tell me the truth, I still saw him as a player. In the end I would care far more than I thought he would or could.

Still, I wanted his mouth on mine, his hands all over me. Will power at work. I controlled the urgings of my libido and said, "Not exactly sure."

"Sick? Are you sick?"

"No, as to that, I feel rejuvenated...like I want up and out for a run...I feel...completely and totally loaded with power and ready to take on Vidal and bury him."

He laughed, "You have magical might coursing through you. I can sense it, but, you still need to train in order to use that might." He took my hand and squeezed. "Then tell me, Smoke, because, when you parted your hand through that last thick smoke, I was thrown out of your head. I felt a force, an incredibly powerful force, literally take hold of me and send me flying. What happened—can you remember?"

"Yes, I remember the moment I lost hold of your hand, but I wasn't frightened at all." I shrugged, "I'm guessing that apparently my father's DNA kicked in which in turn released my grandmother's magic as well. I felt vines of incredible force...delicious white magic thread through my nerves. I felt this all-encompassing knowledge hit my brain, all sorts of spells and science bombard me at once. It felt as though my head was going to burst. I was filled with more magic than anyone one person was meant to handle all at once, and yet, I remember feeling...complete as all of it came together. Then, boom, I couldn't take anymore and the lights went out."

"Indeed, it is incredible to me that you look...completely recovered after such a harrowing experience."

I stared at him as I thought about this. Yes, I felt all powerful and yet, hesitant about taking my power in hand and using it. How could I control this awesome mana inside of me, if I let loose?

I felt as though I could do anything, and my body felt...tingly as though waiting, no, itching to be used. I felt something wild surging through my blood and it needed release. I thought about him, and what it would feel like to have him under me...no, control. I looked away and said, "Am I recovered? Perhaps physically, but...not sure about my head."

"You need relief," he said and frowned. "You need to use some of all that energy vibrating with newness in your blood. Try using some of your white magic."

"Magic? Like what?"

"Think of something you want from your house...a favorite book. Think about that book and use your magic to bring it here."

"You think I can do that?"

"You now know that your father was a prince in a Realm of Immortals. I think he—you are shall we say cousins to the Seelie Fae. I mean to do some research on Deatach and find out more, but in the meantime, yes, I think you can do that with just a thought."

I remembered I had been reading a romance novel by my favorite author. I pictured it in my mind, resting on my nightstand, and wished for it to appear in my hands.

Voilà. In my hands, right in my hands, with its sexy cover and...I saw him smile, no not smile, but smirk.

"What?" I demanded.

"You read those?"

"Yes, it is great reading," I felt my eyes narrow.

He put up his hands, "Okay, okay. What is more important is that you were able to immediately access your power. Not an easy thing to transport physical items over space."

I grinned, "Feels good, I feel good."

Wilder looked excited as he said, "Excellent, baby. We'll start your training tomorrow."

"Training? Start?"

"Yes, if your father had been here with you, for you, he would have been able to help you secure your magical abilities without injury to yourself or anyone else. He isn't here, so, please, accept my help, Smokie."

I eyed him, one brow up, "Well, since you ask so very nicely...that is, if you think you can handle me?"

He took me into his arms and whispered, "Handle you? I don't think anyone can handle you, but I would love to find out what we can do together. Smokie, do you know what it is you do to me? Because I don't...Smokie, forgive me...but, I just can't stop."

He kissed me then and damn, my mind went into hyper-drive. I was burning for him. He couldn't stop? Neither could I, and I had no intention of doing so. All better judgement dissipated and I turned into a primal woman in need. Gone was my self-control, my so-called will power. Damn, no will power, it was out to lunch!

He had my clothes off with a flick of his magical wrist. I reciprocated with a thought and reveled in the release of power.

His voice, low and husky was at my ear, "Baby, I am going to take you now hard and fast because I can't wait...don't want to wait."

"Yes, need that...need it now!" I definitely agreed, hard and fast was good, very good.

He held my waist with both his hands and picked me up. Oh hot damn! Yes, I wrapped my legs around him as he positioned his cock, jeeez, big cock and slammed into me.

Holy good gosh! The sensations that swept through me took me to a planet called heady pleasure. I couldn't pump against him enough. I was reckless and wanton and had the super strength to take what I needed while I held on to him with everything I was, or had become.

He walked me to his bedroom, groaning with pleasure and walking like that with his cock inside of me touched all the right places inside my sex. I exploded with a release that went right to the top of my head and then I shuddered all the way back down to my toes.

He put me on the bed, I let my legs drop and he raised my legs up so that my calves straddled his hips. He pulled out of me then and I grabbed for him, didn't want it all to stop.

"Oh baby, I'm not going anywhere but back inside," he said in a voice that sent me into a tornado of lust. He was on his knees, taking a hold of my ass, lifting me to meet...oh fuck, his lips!

He did as promised, but not with his dick. Instead he was between my legs, lapping and diving deep with his talented tongue. I arched in a glory of heat. I called his name. I have never had this done to me, for me—ever, and I told him, "Holy Grail...I...you...oh, yes...yes!"

He nibbled at my clit and there it was, that rising sensation climbing all through my nerves, demanding release and getting it! He brought me to a climax that almost had me on the ceiling. Tremors of pleasure relaxed my body and I fell back again against the mattress. All I could think was, more, I wanted more of him.

He had me in his grip, but as I settled down, he released my butt and climbed closer to me on the bed. I smiled as he pulled me onto my hands and knees. He never gave me a moment to wonder what he was about to do next. I found out, and joined him in a wild pumping of sexual need.

He was at my rump, pressing his large dick against me, as he said, "Smokie, you are perfection. You just don't know how exquisite you are, do you? Let me show you what you do to me."

He slammed into me then, and I felt that wonderful cock of his go deep, so deep as his movements annihilated everything but the pleasure. I rocked back against him. He reached around me and fondled my breasts and then lightly brushed my nipples with his thumbs.

Harder, faster, he slammed into me. His rhythm was easy so easy to meet merge with. Damn, but we were crazy wild and I thought we would break his bed as I responded with equal fervor.

And there it was again, that growing, pure primal, feral sensation that took me into space and detonated with a force that made me shake and tremble and say his name.

"Good girl," he said. "Oh baby, I could live inside you!" he said as his voice rose and my Holy Grail exploded deep within me.

Even as his body stiffened, even as his climax roared through him, he held me close and rolled over holding me cradle-like as he whispered, "Smoke."

I smiled and closed my eyes.

He said, "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" I was surprised.

"No rest for you, baby, you have super stamina now and I mean to tap it," he said with a chuckle.

He had me on my back and took my breasts in his hand as he lowered his lips to brush gently one nipple and then the other. He suckled there until I was arching and heating up all over again.

His kisses then traveled to my neck and my ears and he whispered, "This round...I am taking the slow and easy route. This round, baby, I am making love to you..."

His kiss was like our first, wild and hungry and full of mystery. Just who was this Dark Lord? He was passionate and yet gentle. He was determined, yet considerate. He was...oh holy hell, he was good...I almost said out loud as his fingers played between my thighs and found just the right spot.

All at once, I wanted to play. I wanted to hold his dick. I wanted to kiss and lick and suck. I pulled away from his wonderful fingers and pushed him onto his back, "My turn," I told him and bent to his rigid, now dancing cock.

I held its length and stroked with a gentle up and down motion before I bent further and kissed the tip, tentatively sucked it partially into my mouth, paused to look up at his face and ask, "Is this right?" Again my one nighter had not prepared me for this.

"Hell yeah!"

I smiled and I took him deep into my mouth. I wanted him so much. Lust took over as I sucked as much of his cock into my mouth as I could, stroked the length simultaneously and felt my body burn as I rubbed myself against him and used his knee to go off yet again.

"Oh baby, no...not so fast, I want to taste every inch of you. Go slow woman, just try and go slow," he growled and sounded so damn sexy.

He pulled me up with that while my body was still in shuddering mode from my climax. He took my tits into his large hands and said, "Climb on and ride me Smoke, ride me—take what you need."

That suited me just fine.

* * * * *

"That..."I said, "Was incredible. I am amazed we didn't break the bed."

"Its frame is made of steel. Had it made a couple of weeks ago when I first saw you again and realized you were a vamp."

I sat up on my elbow. "What...wait...what? You planned to have me in bed?"

"Of course," he answered at once, no hesitation. "How could I not? I have wanted you from the first moment I saw you...baby, more than wanted you...knew you and I were...what would be the words, ah yea, meant to be an item."

I stared at him, "An item?" I wondered if that was a form of commitment. Didn't quite make the mark for me. I decided not to prolong this conversation. We weren't there yet, may never get there. He was not a long-term commitment type of guy.

He held me tightly against him and said, "How many boyfriends have you had in bed, Smoke?"

I laughed. "Wow, personal much."

He grinned and sighed, "You're right. I...don't even know why I asked."

"Was I too...inexperienced for you?" It suddenly hit me that I may not have satisfied him enough. Maybe he was into more kink than I had known how to give.

He laughed, "Oh baby, you didn't just ask that! Holy shit, you were, are incredible. I couldn't get enough of you and even now...I want to get back inside and make you go off over and over again."

I smiled and snuggled. "I was only with one guy...for one night just before I became a senior at Tulane. I wasn't sexually driven in those days and then afterwards...I, oh, I don't know. Then there was the whole vampire thing and..."

"And as vampire you would have been sexually ravenous...no?" he was frowning down at me.

"No, I guess I retained who I am, and...before you, I wanted a commitment, a forever," I said and then realized I might be scaring him off and I didn't want to do that. No. I wanted more of what he had just given me. Supreme pleasure. "Not expecting that from you, of course."

He laughed, "What is wrong with forever with me?"

"Well, for one thing, you are the Dark Lord of New Orleans and have had more women than I can count on my fingers and toes, so I'm sure you are not into forever."

"What I am into, is you," he said softly. "Let's not think of tomorrow, Smoke...right now, you're mine and I have no intentions of letting you go."

I eyed him, "Possessive much for someone not into forever."

He laughed, "Fishing?"

He kissed me then, long and hard and whispered, "Get some rest baby. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Hmm. Big day, why?"

"I'll tell you in the morning," he said and brushed his lips against mine.

Sleep sounded like a good idea and the next thing I knew, I was out just like that proverbial light.

I don't know what woke me. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was late and his side of the bed was empty.

I sat up and saw a dim light coming from an ante-room. A hidden pocket door was partially open. I got up, and ridiculously shy of my nakedness I stole a white T-shirt from his drawer and slipped it on before I made my way toward the light. I slid the door open further and he turned and gave me such a welcoming smile I almost jumped his bones right there.

"Smoke," he whispered. "Damn, I do hope I didn't wake you?"

"I am a light sleeper," I said and went into his outstretched arm. He pulled me close with that one arm while his other hand pointed to a huge old manuscript open wide on the long desk in front of him. I looked around then and realized we were in a large windowless room filled with manuscripts and books. "What is this?"

"My collection of arcane manuscripts from many, many realms. This one is a copy of a memoir written by a friend of my family. He was a scholar in the Deatach Realm and worked with the House of Naraclyn, your father's family, to record their history." He shook his head, "I knew his name sounded familiar. My family studied the Immortals of Deatach. Smoke, your heritage is remarkable and the powers of Naraclyn are comparable to those of the Tuatha Dé Dannan—or better known as the Fae, also called The Children of the Light."

"The Mystic...it called me, Princess of the Light...are my...people somehow connected to the Fae?"

"I would guess, distant cousins," he said and smiled. "Baby...today we start your training!"

"Wait, wait...this is all happening too fast. I am a vampire. Doesn't that interfere with what my father's DNA...?"

"No, and I believe the Deatach Immortal in you will help you reduce the effects of the vampirism in your blood, though I don't think it will cure you of it."

"No cure? Are you sure?"

"Only relatively sure," He struck his free hand to his forehead, "Vampire! What is wrong with me? Do you need...a packet?"

"You mean a blood packet?" I eyed him looking for disgust in his eyes. There wasn't any. I shook my head. "No...I probably will soon though, but...and I did notice something when I woke up."

"What?"

"My fangs aren't quite as prominent. Still sharp...but...different somehow."

We stared at each other and then he pulled me onto his lap and kissed me long and hard before he let me go and sighed. "Go on, Smoke, shower and put on something comfortable. We will go up to the second floor where I have everything you need."

"Which is?"

"You'll see," he stood me up and gave my rump a pat as he turned me away. "I transferred all your clothes from your home to my closet. I put the white wicker armoire beside my black one in our bedroom. All your other needs are set up for you in our bathroom suite."

"Pretty bossy...assuming I will just stay here," I told him but couldn't keep the smile off my face or stop the pleasure I felt with some of my independence apparently seized by my Holy Grail.

"Smoke, you must know how I feel. You must realize what is happening between us is something I have never experienced. It is too soon to talk about more than just that, but, I have never lived with a woman before. In all my hundreds of years...you are the first I have allowed into my private sanctuary."

"And yet you have a guest room?"

"I have it as a convenience...to give shelter to a paranormal friend now and then who needs my help," he grinned. "One in particular is Shags. My favorite shifter. You met him at my club."

"So, once upon a time, you helped him and now he is your trusted...what, side-kick?" I bantered.

"My trusted friend. Briefly, Shags was thrown out of his pack because he had alpha tendencies and the alpha of his pack felt threatened by him. There was an alpha female who couldn't make up her mind and if she chose Shags, his position as alpha would have been solidified. It should have been settled with a challenge, but instead, Shags was overtaken, beaten nearly to death and left in the swamp for the gators. I happened to be visiting a...friend and saw him crawling out of shallow water. I took him up, brought him to my club, and helped his own shifter healing powers by speeding up the process. One of my abilities is 'healing'. I then paid the murderous alpha a visit and told him Shags was now in my employ and if one bushy hair was pulled from his head, I would be back. Shags offered his unending service. I declined and told him he was a free man who needed to find his own pack."

"But, he stayed," I said softly.

"He did, and has become a dear and trusted friend, but free to come and go as he pleases. I don't take in slaves or indentured servants." Wilder's voice softened.

"My, my, Dark lord, you do surprise me at every turn. Not so dark, after all," I whispered into his ear.

He put a finger to his lips and said, "Shhh. No one need know that." He shrugged, "We all have dark and light inside of us, ever ready to combat with each other. One has to know when and how to use those...influences." He kissed me then, sweetly, completely, and I knew in that moment what was happening to me. I was falling in love!

~ Six ~

I STEPPED OUT OF MY Holy Grail's shower with the wonderful multi-heads of great water pressure, and reached for a towel.

"Hey Wilder?" I called suggestively. "Want to dry my back?"

No one answered so I wrapped myself in the towel and padded into the bedroom. The bed was neatly made and in its center was a note.

I unfolded it to read:

"Smoke, sweetheart:

I know I said we would train this morning, but something has come up. We'll put it off till later today.

Don't go out. I have some business I have to attend to and should be back in an hour or so.

I put a call button into your phone. Only you and Shags can reach me on it and use it if you must."

I was both disappointed and delighted all in one moment. The way he had written both my name and sweetheart shivered through me and poked my heart with the delight thing. The disappointment had the opposite effect.

This was bad. I was beginning to depend on him for my happiness. That was something I had taught myself never to do...never depend on someone else for my daily smile. Not healthy, and yet, his absence had most definitely insinuated negatively on the pleasure I had been feeling.

I twirled my finger and oh, but I was really liking this magic thing I had going on. Boom! And my running clothes were on. Another twirl and my long hair was up in a ponytail.

I looked in the mirror. Yeah, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, just from being sexually taken over the top all night long.

He had said 'don't go out'.

He must have had a good reason, my clear-thinking self, suggested.

Well, he should have told me why then, shouldn't he have?

It was a beautiful day outside. He couldn't mean that he didn't want me to go for my exercise? Nah. He couldn't mean that. Besides, I don't do orders very well.

Thus, with a wicked grin at myself in the mirror, I ignored my 'reasonable self' and disobeyed my Holy Grail.

I jog faster than most humans, but, not so fast as to draw attention to myself. Wilder's home was in the heart of the Garden District, so it took me a few minutes to get to the far end of the French Quarter district where his club quietly took up an entire corner.

I am contrary. Order me not to do something and damn, if you don't give me a good reason to chew over, the next thing I know, I'm doing it.

I was tickled at the thought of storming him in office and flaunting my disobedience. I was looking forward to the wild confrontation that would ensue.

The club was closed during the day, so no one responded when I first knocked. I knocked again and still no response. I was about to use my newfound power when the door opened wide to display a tall, lean and good-looking shifter wolf.

Shags said, "Miss Smoke," and waved me in.

"Hi there," I smiled and strode inside, stopped, and looked around. "Is he in his office?"

"No, he just left but..."

Before he could finish the sentence, we were interrupted as a flash of movement displayed a hand clutching at the wide ornate oak door that Shags was in the midst of closing.

A female growled, "Not so fast, Shags, my love. If she gets in...so do I."

A flash of black leather and short red hair and I recognized the sexy witch as she was stopped in her tracks by Shags. He stood in her way. "Out, Sonya. You know better."

He sounded polite, but firm. I studied her.

Sonya was the redheaded witch I saw kissing Wilder that fateful night I first stepped into his club. She didn't look happy.

"Out of my way, dog," Sonya snapped and her amber eyes were lit with a gold storm. She was quite beautiful in a raw way.

I stood my ground as she returned my scan with one of her own.

"I don't know how you are out and about in the daylight, Dark witch, but, you don't belong here."

"I am out and about because my place is just two doors down and I know how to stay to the shadows. Now, stand down, dog-breath."

He put his hand on her to lead her out the door and she shoved him hard and into the wall and had her hand and claws into his neck. Her witch powers were dark and deadly. I worried for a moment that she would hurt the shifter.

Shags was my Holy Grail's friend. That meant he was mine as well. I don't allow my friends to be mistreated. My hand shot out and I felt the surge of magic rush through my arm, pick her up and plant her on her ass some feet away. It was all done with a thought, and I have to say, I impressed myself.

Shags grinned and inclined his head, "Thanks, but, I could have handled her."

I laughed, "Ok, I'll remember that next time."

"Oh yeah, Miss Smoke, I can see why the boss likes you."

"Likes her?" Sonya had jumped to her feet and came at me. She was taller and stared down and into my eyes as she hissed out with a sneer, "Look at you, Newbie—standing unafraid to face me. I am mistress of the most powerful coven in New Orleans." She stepped back and shrugged. "You don't know better, but you should. I know you think you are something special because the Dark Lord fucked you. But, you are nothing to him...just another whore he'll cast aside when you tire him, and you will tire him...sooner or later everyone does...except me."

The last words, 'except me' hurt, shot into my heart like a sharp knife. The words clouded my thoughts. Wilder had led me to believe that this redhead had been only a passing fancy. Was she still in his life? Was he still with her? That would explain all her anger.

"Then why am I welcome here...and you are not?" I asked because in spite of the jealousy I felt, I was still able to function logically.

She frowned and shoved me, as she hissed out with a fury that made her body shake, "Better watch your back little whore."

"I already do, but listen up," I snapped as I don't take threats easily. "I think it is time for you to leave. You called me a Newbie. You have no idea what I really am, but I am ready to show you if you like and make you leave."

"Make me?" she yelled and took hold of my blue spandex halter.

I don't even know what happened. My mind went into protection mode. I felt power surge right through me, humming and ready.

The next thing I knew, and without laying a hand on her, she was flying backwards out of the club and the oak door was slamming shut after her. I heard the locks fall into place and turned to find Shags light brown eyes alive with laughter.

"Extraordinary," he said. "I'm guessing you are some kind of hybrid...witch and vamp? Is that it?"

"Something like that," I said and for a moment frowned over the description. I needed to be able to control myself. I couldn't unleash power like that randomly.

"Yeah, well the boss said to make you comfortable whenever you showed up and to tell you specifically, he knew you would, show up, that is."

My mouth dropped and Shags chuckled and added, "How about a Mimosa and some eggs? I was about to flip some with link sausages."

I liked his smile, the sound of his laugh, and I was hungry. "Oh yeah, you do the eggs, I'll do the Mimosas."

He laughed and I watched him take the swinging door to the kitchen behind the bar.

His name suited him. He had a mass of carefully disheveled auburn hair, bushy, yet shapely eyebrows. He was tall, lean and heavily tattooed. I liked his easy manners and the light in his eyes. In fact, I liked him. My instincts told me he was one of the 'good guys' and I have learned to trust and go with my instincts.

We divvied up the preparing and the cooking and were eating and joking when my Holy Grail walked in.

I don't know why, but we both stopped in mid-chuckle and turned toward him as he stood there, his eyes speaking volumes, though he didn't immediately say a word.

He looked angry. Why? He had told Shags I would disobey him and probably show up, so it wasn't like he wasn't expecting me to break his orders. As he stepped towards the counter, his eyes locked, not with mine, but with Shags and he said, one defined dark brow arched, "Enjoying yourself?"

"As a matter of fact," Shags said on a low note, his brown eyes glinting. "I was." He picked up our empty plates and went towards the kitchen door where he stopped, turned and grinned before he told Grail, "Possessive, much."

I waited for the Dark Lord to explode, but instead, he shook his head and gave his friend a half-smile before he said, "You would do well to remember it."

"Excuse me," I interjected. "Hello, good-morning."

"You were not supposed to go out. It isn't safe," he said and slid his hand down my back and lightly touched my ass.

Shivers of desire trembled through me. I said, "No, not safe. You don't have to tell me about it. I hope you don't have too many Sonyas hanging around ready to warn me off you."

He frowned, "What happened?"

"Just that. She showed up and told me you and she were an item and that I should basically accept to be...cast aside in the near future."

"First of all, she and I were never more than a one night stand...for more than three or four nights. I don't cast aside the women I have been with. I always make it clear...our time will be short, but filled with pleasure. However, I never said that to you. So, you need to know that you, Smokie McGuire, simply don't fall into a category. Never link yourself with any woman I have ever been with."

I liked that, but I just eyed him and decided to change the subject, "When do we start training?" I spread my arms. "I'm dressed for it."

"So you are," he said and the next thing I knew, I was wrapped up in his arms and traveling in his black cloud.

When we landed, we were naked, and we were on my Holy Grail's bed in his home. I grinned and asked, "Are we starting our training?"

"No. You don't need any here...but, I, baby, I need you to show me what you need, because that is what I want to give you," he whispered and his lips gently brushed against mine.

I pulled back and said, "Well, alright then!" I flipped him and felt well pleased with myself. It was as though I was finding new strength every other minute and when needed.

I straddled his belly and felt his cock bounce against my rump. I kissed his ear, felt a sudden urge to bite his neck, but reminded myself that I don't bite or drink from a live source. Yet, the desire was undeniable, more than ever before, I lusted for blood, not anyone's blood, but his. I lusted for his blood. I blasted the fancy out of my head.

My teeth grazed his neck and I licked his pulse. He held my wrists in the air and said, "Do it, baby, it isn't drinking...it is a marking. You want to mark me as your own...do it."

"No, I don't...I don't want to mark you," I said and knew I was lying.

Apparently he knew I was lying as well. He flipped me and said, "Alright then." He thrust into me, paused in mid-movement and took my mouth. He wasn't gentle this time. His tongue shoved into my mouth with primal ferocity and it was a hard kiss that I never wanted to stop.

All thought was suspended as I returned his kiss with my exploring tongue. He was delicious and I wanted more, so much more.

When had my tongue left his? When had my tongue traveled to his neck?

He flipped us so that that I was on top of him again. His cock was still inside me and I rode it as I bent to lick his nipple and damn, there I was again, licking the pulsing vein at his neck.

"Smoke...mark me," he said his voice strained with passion. "I want you to, I think I need you to...do it now!"

My fangs lengthened and grazed his neck. I was driven by something beyond my understanding. I didn't want blood. I wanted his blood...and not for sustenance. He was correct. I wanted to mark him and the next thing I knew, I sunk my fangs into him and the world exploded.

Rockets blasted in a dark velvet sky as I rotated my hips and my sex clenched around his dick as I tasted his blood. I didn't drink it in. I stopped myself. But even that little taste, sent something of who he was deep into my head. I saw his memories like a movie flashing in my conscious mind. Power surged through my blood to my heart, rippled there and then swept back down to my toes and then up to my head!

I yanked my teeth away from his flesh and the words were out before I knew they were on my tongue, "Mine!"

"Am I, baby? Do you know what that means? Or are you just in the heat of the moment?" his voice was a low growl. He seemed annoyed all at once.

I had gone too far. The word had slipped out before I could stop myself. I wiggled a shoulder and whispered, "I was talking about the ride I am about to take on you..."

"Were you?" his voice husky with raw desire. He grabbed my rump, "Then go ahead, ride me hard and fast."

I pumped and moved, took and gave until a climax shook my body and made me collapse and tremble against him. He pulled out and maneuvered himself and excited me as he put his wet cock to my lips and said, "Taste us baby...suck me now."

I took his dripping cock and sucked its length until he shouted out my name and his seed exploded into my mouth and down my throat.

His body rocked with his climax before he said, "More, Smoke. I need so much more of you."

"What about my training?" I teased.

"Oh, baby, you are an A+ student just about to get a gold star," he whispered and put me on my hands and knees on the bed.

He was behind me, rubbing his cock all over my butt and then slamming it into me with a force that made me gasp with pleasure. I was filled with unimaginable pleasure.

As he rode me, touched my breasts, pulled on my nipples I looked back at his face, covered with passion and called out, "Holy Grail!"

~ Seven ~

"No!" the Dark Lord snapped. "You aren't powerful enough yet to take on Vidal."

"But, I just got the better of you," I continued to argue. I had just avoided a take down as we trained in my Holy Grail's war room. I had avoided a take down and tripped and landed a blow to his gut. I was quite proud of myself.

"I let you. I wanted you to know what it would feel like, but if I hadn't let you, this is what would have happened," he said and faster than I could imagine, he had me on my back on the hardwood floor, with a dagger at my neck.

"Careful," I complained, my ego diminished. "That thing looks sharp."

"It's spelled. It can't cut," he whispered and rubbed his hard-on against my belly.

To test the knife's effectiveness, I ran my finger along its sharp edge. Nope, it didn't cut. I gave him a demure look and teased his cock with a slow wiggle and a pump of my own.

He relaxed into my come-on and I used the moment to flip him on his back, grab the dagger and hold it to his neck. "Recovered, didn't I?" I said, maybe a bit too full of myself. "And I didn't use a blink of magic. I'm ready." We had been training for a week. All I wanted was to face Vidal and take him out. Rumors were that he was savaging both humans and paranormals in the archelogy field, during his search for the Fae artifact.

"No, you aren't ready. You have no idea what he can do. Even I am always circumspect when we have crossed paths."

"Lie," I can hear the lie in your voice. "You have never been worried about facing Vidal. He is the one that avoids a confrontation."

"What makes you think so?" He frowned and in one fluid movement he was up with me cradled first in his arms before he set me on my feet. He walked away and went to the door.

"I just know," I told him and that was the truth. I 'sensed' it and was getting better at sensing things all the time, compliments of my father's DNA.

He hadn't answered me, but was headed for the stairs to the lower floor. I followed and asked, "Where are you going."

"I have an arbitration meeting. Showering and gone. I can't be late for this. The witches have made an official complaint against a rogue warlock. It took some doing to get all the parties together for this. We'll talk later."

I said nothing to this, but I brought up my father again. I have done so over the last week a zillion times and the answer has always been the same.

"I want you to open a portal to my father's prison. I am breaking him out."

"No," he said and down the stairs he went.

I was on his heels. "If you won't do this for me. I will find someone who will."

"No, you won't. When the time is right and you have all your magical powers in place, and under control, you won't need me or anyone else to open a portal to your home...to your father. You are a Princess of Deatach. You have the ability to open portals yourself."

That stopped me. I stood. He was already in the shower. I twirled my finger and naked, I followed him. As I sponged him, he closed his eyes and said, "No. Don't use your exquisite wiles to tempt me to get what you want. I will go with you and free your father only when the time is right. We will do it together when you are ready. Timing is everything...and the time, well, it isn't now."

"But..." I started to interject. "My father could help us find the artifact."

"No, he isn't part of this prophesy. The artifact is out there waiting on you." He held my shoulders, "Baby, we are entering dangerous times. Vidal is not the only one that will come after you. There are others, perhaps even more powerful than Vidal that will want that artifact. I don't have time to argue now. I must be on time for this meeting or blood will spill."

"Why?"

"Never mind, just know this, I will stand between you and danger, always. Understood?"

I nodded, but he never saw me do so because in a flash of black, he was gone.

I sighed and finished my shower, wondering how the hell I was supposed to find an artifact hidden by the Dark Fae King a thousand years ago.

Where would it be? Ireland? Scotland? Where? Somewhere near the land the Fae left behind but still cherished? Or, had the Dark King sent the artifact to another realm? Where was I to begin? Something in my head kept whispering, 'water'. Did that mean the artifact was in the sea? Which sea? A lake, an ocean, a pond? Where?

Well, maybe Sharon could help me figure it out. We were having coffee together soon and she had always been the best sounding board for my trials and tribulations. Besides, she knew about the crazy prophesy.

I picked out an outfit, a pretty softly flowered tank top, jeans and sandals, and got dressed the old fashioned way, without magic. The whole while I thought about my dad.

I didn't agree with my Holy Grail. I believe my dad knew a great deal about the Fae and could be a help. I believe rescuing him now rather than later would be good for our so-called mission and besides that—he was my dad. I wanted to rescue him right then, right that very moment. If I knew how to do that, I would go in alone.

The magic in my brain, still sitting in a box waiting to be used, told me that my DNA, gifted from my father, was closely linked to the Fae. Somewhere in my brain...I knew their history. I needed to tap into it, but it would be so much easier if my dad were with us to help. I had to convince my Dark Lord that the priority, should be rescuing my father before we did anything else!

Was I being led to this conclusion because of emotion? Maybe, but it was also logical.

Wasn't it?

* * * * *

Sharon, lovely as always in a blue sundress and heels so high I would have toppled over had I tried to walk in them, sat across from me and raised one arched auburn brow.

She sat back and brushed her short auburn waves away from her face and considered everything I had just told her, and I had told her everything that had happened from the moment I met Wilder until and including Grail's refusal to help me rescue my father before looking for the artifact.

"Grail and I have disagreed more often than not...in the past, but, in this, I think he is right, Smokie. You aren't ready to take on your father's enemies. They sound like really powerful immortals. They managed to capture and imprison your father. Think about that."

"He wasn't expecting it. He didn't really think his brother would turn out to be his enemy. I believe my dad's brother is his only true enemy and that as long as he thinks he has my dad imprisoned, he will not be...looking over his shoulder. That is where I come in. I don't have to take them all on—just the prison guards. They won't have a clue. They won't see me coming. I portal in...get my father and swoop out from the same portal. Simple."

"Smokie, if it were that simple, one of your father's friends...and I am certain, he must have had some friends, some who are outraged at his incarceration, would have already made the attempt. In my humble opinion, one of those friends would have created a portal and helped him escape to safety." Sharon shook her head. "No, there must be a binding spell on him, not only curtailing his natural abilities and his own brand of magic, but keeping him from escaping from a portal."

I frowned, "Oh, no. I hadn't thought of that."

"You are new to everything inside of you. Give it time," Sharon said on a quiet note.

"Sharon, Grail thinks you can help us. I know you and Grail...aren't well..."

"Yes, I will help. It is important we keep the artifact out of Vidal's hands. I will do whatever I can to help you locate the artifact and finish Vidal. He and I are old enemies. He despises humans." She sighed, "I have an affection for humans, but besides that, Vidal and I...are ever at odds. We have thwarted one another over the years and I have wished for his end."

I took her hand, "Grail will be so pleased that you have accepted to join us in what he calls our mission. Come with me now to the club. Let's tell him together."

"Oh," she frowned at me. "You can tell him."

My turn to frown, "What have you against him? Were you lovers?"

"Lovers?" she snorted. Sharon never snorts, so my mouth dropped. And then she snorted again, before she gave me a rueful look. "No, not even close. We were once...friends of a sort. In the old days, Grail Wilder was something of a vampire killer. Never blinked or hesitated to kill a vamp when he saw one taking blood from a human. He believed vamps were all vicious killers. He thought I was the exception and we became friends of a sort. I had a vampire friend. He and I had been lovers, but we evolved into...just close friends over the years. He wasn't really a killer, but he liked to drink from live sources. He compelled a young woman...more girl than woman and Grail came across them." She stopped and sighed heavily. "He didn't just stop my friend. He killed him. Grail turned him into a living torch..." She looked away. "His death wasn't necessary."

I touched her hand, "I am so sorry."

"He was very dear. He was charming and fun and always had time to listen to me. I liked him. I don't think he would have killed the girl, but...Grail couldn't have known that. He said that Peter wasn't stopping and that when he grabbed him, he shoved Grail off and kept draining the poor girl. Grail said he had no choice. I understood, but...even so, I couldn't look at him then without feeling Peter's loss. That was a very long time ago."

I eyed her, "Just how old are you, Sharon?"

She touched my nose, and laughed, "Ha, no one needs to know."

"Come on, you are coming to Hazard with me," I said to her as I laid down a twenty to cover the coffee and a huge tip for the waitress.

~ Eight ~

Grail had told me that the ladies were attracted to Shags. Over the last week I had ample opportunity to witness this. Shags was an adorable man with a killer smile. He was nice looking, but oh, that boyish charm, slayed.

Even so, I was shocked to see the way Sharon stared at him when he opened the door of Hazard for us. My mouth dropped and I couldn't speak as I watched Sharon who never flirts, flirt him up with her eyes and a crook of her elegant shoulders.

I have witnessed Sharon cold shoulder some of the hottest guys ever, so this was totally new to me.

I introduced them and disbelieving, stood back to watch the show.

Sharon got all girly and actually leaned towards him with one shoulder to say, "Shags? The name suits your hair, but not your handsome face."

Shags, who was ever ready with a jest or a boyish grin, was as opened mouthed as I, but, staring at Sharon like he wanted to gobble her up. He seemed tongue tied when he replied, "Ah...er...well."

That did it for me. I burst out laughing. They didn't seem to know I was there so after I collected myself I shook my head and had to say twice, "Is my Holy Grail in his office?"

"ER...no...but, ah...Miss Smoke...go on in," Shags managed to finally answer.

I went forward, looked over my shoulder and got buggy-eyed when I saw Sharon purposely slide her body against Shags, give him a 'come-on' look and take a whiff of his musky masculine self.

"Sharon!" I said though I don't know why.

"Yes?" she said, still looking at Shags.

"Ah," said my Holy Grail as he walked in the front door behind us. "You have brought, Sharon. Come, we can talk in my office. Shags...join us."

I was surprised that he had invited Shags to be a part of our little mission team, but, he took my fingers at that moment and lifted them to his lips, 'old world' style and all I wanted to do was sink into his arms.

I didn't have to sink. He had me tightly pressed against him and whispered low into my ear, "Baby, I missed you. Even a couple of hours away...were too many."

Oh yeah, my Holy Grail knew how to play. Only trouble was, I knew, all too devastatingly that I, unlike he, was playing for keeps. I had been pinching myself these last weeks and reminding myself that he would leave and I would be forever in love with a man who was no longer there. Yes, oh yes, I was hopeless in love with him.

* * * * *

Grail Wilder knew how to take a meeting and control the participants with extreme finesse and success. He wasn't the sort that said...you are wrong, but simply pointed out pros and cons of each issue. He was a brilliant negotiator and he do so from strength.

Of course, watching him, feeling about him as I do, I know I might be considered prejudice, but, truly, he handles the paranormals with great style and composure.

Admittedly, my emotions are in the way. He is the Dark Lord, so why do I see a halo around his entire body—not just his head?

My Deatach and my earthly witch have merged and I am infused with white and extraordinary magic. I see what other witches miss and the glow around him was almost angelic.

Odd.

At the moment, he had Sharon, and Shags completely agreeing with him. He manages it without them even aware that a few moments ago, they had thwarted his proposals.

I sighed and glared at each member of our team. I was frustrated. "Nothing I have said has convinced you to help me save my father now, right now?" Sharon bit her lip and said nothing. Shags looked away from my scathing eyes.

I turned and put the question to my Holy Grail as harshly as I could, even though I knew what his answer would be. "So, you won't help me?"

"I would never refuse to help you, Smokie," he said quietly. "However, if you truly wish to free your father from the captivity his brother has managed to secure him in, then we have to look at 'timing'. I have already told you that 'timing' is everything. Those aren't words. It is a fact. We need to go in with the power to free your father from the magical barricades keeping him from even using his own enormous powers. I have been researching a fool-proof method of doing just that, but have not yet discovered a spell strong enough to break the Deatach spell imprisoning him." He put up his hand. "Believe me, baby, I am working on it."

"Getting back to Vidal. He has a both a demon and warlock working for him," Sharon interjected at this point. "You do know that?"

"I met his demon friend," I stuck in. "Not pretty."

Shags laughed. My Holy Grail's eyes rebuked him and then turned to me, "You will never go out into the city without one of us with you. Understood"

"I don't take orders," I answered.

"Smoke," he said looking right into my eyes. "It is for your safety that I ask you not to go out alone, day or night without one of us," he amended.

"Better," I said and gave him a wink. I noted a reluctant twinkle in his bright blue eyes.

Sharon chewed her lip. I watched Shags' eyes land and stare at her mouth. Their eyes met and she smiled before she finally said, "I know the warlock working for Vidal. His name is Trusom. We used to be friendly. I never understood why he went to work for Vidal last year and I have not yet discovered the reason."

"I think," Grail said, "That we need to find out what it is Vidal is holding over him."

"I know Trusom. He was always a decent sort," Shags offered quietly. "I know a couple of shifters who knew him well. I can try and talk to them about him, learn more about his situation."

"Good, that is your job then, Shags. Find out what you can about Trusom," Grail said and then looked away from all of us. I waited until he looked back and locked his gaze on me.

"Ah," I said, "This is where I come in."

"It is where we, you and I come in. We have a lead to follow," Grail said.

"A lead?" I questioned.

"Yes, are you ready?"

"I'm always ready," I joked.

"This is serious, Smoke. You have to take it seriously," he said impatiently.

I eyed him, "I am, I just react...differently than you."

"Do you baby?" he said so low, so intently that I looked right at him, challenging him to say more.

He changed the subject and told all of us, "One of the witches I worked with this morning in arbitration gave me a clue regarding the Cumhachdach Hallow we are trying to find before Vidal does. It isn't much of a clue, but it tells me that the artifact is not in Ireland as I had supposed. It is actually right here in New Orleans."

Okay, so it is in New Orleans, but we still have no idea what it looks like, what it is made of, what it smells like, what..." I objected.

"Yes, yes," he interrupted me. "I get the picture. We do know one thing—it is a living thing. Fae artifacts evolve with time. The Dark King put his DNA into some of his favorite Hallows and I am told this particular Hallow has a song." Grail looked right at me. "I am hoping the Hallow will sing to you when you get near."

"How do we get near? Walk the streets aimlessly waiting to hear a song?" I shook my head, "That's crazy."

He sighed resignedly, "Yes, it is. My witch friend who is an immortal and has been around a very long time, said that she once thought she heard the river sing, but as she got closer, it stopped. She thinks we should walk the river's edge." He shrugged. "It is a long shot but the only one we have."

"Water!" I jumped to my feet. "Yes. Water. I get the sense it is surrounded by water when I think the word artifact. I thought the other day I heard something whisper, water and that wasn't the first time. And you say...the Hallow sings a song?"

"Indeed, and I believe if you get close...it will call to you. It is my belief it wants to be returned home."

I rubbed my hands together, "Maybe this Hallow, what did you call it, Cumhachdach, if we rescue it, will help me free my father when we return it...home. Where is home to the Fae?"

"The Isle of Tir," Grail said and put his finger to my chin. "Smoke, we will free your father. I promise you that."

"Sooner than later," I answered softly.

"As soon as possible, how is that?"

"Fair enough, I suppose," and suddenly I was in his arms and we were traveling in his black cloud.

We stepped out along the docks of the Mississippi River not far from Grail's club. I looked at him and said, "Now what?"

"We walk along the river and become connected with its pulse, with the life pulsating in the river," he said and dropped a light kiss on my mouth.

"How do we connect like that?"

"Go into your mind, Smoke...find that place where you, earth, wind, fire and water are one," he said as though it was the easiest thing in the world to do.

I did what he asked, closing my eyes and just as I began to realize what he was talking about, all hell broke loose!

~ Nine ~

A DEMON, THE SAME ONE who had abducted me appeared at Grail's back. I screamed, more from being startled than fear.

At that same moment, I saw Mr. Rabid vampire! He was coming at me with some speed. We connected or rather, he knocked me off my feet.

He was on me, ready to bite and tear out my throat, when I froze him in place with magic, and shoved him off.

I hurried to my feet in time to witness the demon attacking Grail, Ninja style, and with what appeared to be his full force of magic, hit after hit.

I was momentarily stunned and watched as Grail recovered from the surprise hit and returned physical and magical blow for blow.

The demon shot into the air and when he landed, his fingers became black tentacles which surrounded Grail and bound him in place.

I tried to figure out a way to break the demon's tentacle hold on Grail when all at once, Mr. Rabid broke free from the magic and came at me again.

"Oh for goodness sake!" I was exasperated and put my hand at my back. A stake was what I needed, and a second later it was in my hand.

Just in time, I brought it up as he rushed me and I staked him in the heart.

He exploded into flame and I was staring at a pile of ash when all at once, I was pushed from behind and tripped as I fell forward, nearly falling. I caught myself only to feel an incredible force, like a magnet pulling me backwards. I looked over my shoulder as the tornado like wind of potent magic had me in its folds.

"Smoke!" I heard Grail's voice scream as he broke through the demon's tentacles. Even as I saw him rush towards me, his arms outstretched...I knew I was trapped. Damn, I was in serious trouble.

It was a portal. I had been pushed into the mouth of a portal!

Too late, I thought to call on my own magical power and break away from that magnet yanking me inside the portal's depths.

As I struggled to keep my balance I saw a stranger jump in and take hold of my shoulders.

I don't know how I knew who he was, but I did. Here was the Warlock Trusom. He held onto me inside the black hold sucking me deeper and deeper and though I pushed him off as hard as I could, he didn't let go.

"Don't move...don't fight it, and you will have a better landing," he said in my ear.

"Fuck you!" I answered and broke away from him only to be bounced off the walls of the black hole I was caught up in.

Damn, but, I was traveling through a portal I was sure was stronger than the last one that had taken me to Vidal.

Damn, I had to find a way to make and break these things once and for always!

I landed with a thud on my rump. The warlock landed on his feet beside me, bent and pulled me up roughly. "I warned you," he said.

"I repeat," I answered. "Fuck you." So saying I thought how nice it would be to be in my home. "Home," I said out loud and heard the warlock shout out and grab my hand. Holy good gosh, there I was, stepping through air and space right into my living room with the warlock holding on to me.

It dawned on me. I can shift like a Fae. Also, next time I want to shift, I have to make certain no one grabs hold of me. Apparently they get shifted as well.

It also dawned on me that if I could shift like a Fae, I could shift into my father's prison and rescue him...as soon as I figured out how to remove his magical shackles.

I was standing on the pretty rug by my sofa in my home. Now, how to get rid of Trusom and get to...

Never finished the thought as Mr. Warlock pulled something out of his black satin coat and threw that something over me. It was a net...made of gold. No sooner had he thrown it over my head and body, but he yanked me roughly to the ground and tied my ankles with what looked like more of the gold threading.

I struggled but there was no breaking the golden net. I tried to reach the gold thread-like rope at my ankles, but couldn't quite bend enough inside the net.

"Once I knew what you were, I found what I needed. Danu Dust. You see, I already owned a piece of a Golden Wiele I found while touring the Fairy Mounds. The Danu Dust allowed me to enlarge the piece of golden net I already had. I thought it might come in handy one day. Apparently, I was right," he said softly without a smirk and in fact, he looked sad, I thought. "The Golden Wiele was designed to hold and detain wayward Fae and after watching you, I had come to believe you might be part Fae," the warlock explained. "I am, Trusom and you would do well to try and cooperate. Vidal...can be ruthless."

I wasn't going to speak. Why give him any information? The gold netting was tightly wrapped around me so that I couldn't do much more than study him. He was a tall, lean man with white hair, white eyebrows and soft grey eyes. He wore a long black silk coat, which I thought odd, since it was like 85 degrees outside. He wasn't particularly pretty or handsome and yet, his looks were certainly arresting...interesting.

"Why are you working with Vidal?" I finally asked.

"Direct, aren't you?"

"Why?" I repeated.

"I have no choice," he said quietly.

"We always have a choice. You have not chosen wisely."

He gave me a hard look, "What do you know about it? Nothing."

"Right, yet, here I am, knowing nothing, right in the middle of it all," I snapped. "So tell me, where is he—your boss, Vidal?" I felt a fool blustering while all tied in place and on my back on the hard floor.

"He is somewhere else. I am to bring you there...soon," Trusom said gravely.

"You don't want to, do you?" I tested the waters.

"What I want...has nothing to do with what I will do." He looked away and then looked at me, "You are a shiny young creature with potential. He will break you to get what he wants. Why would I want that?"

"Then why are you delivering me to him?" I frowned up at him and gave up the struggle with the Golden Wiele. It wasn't giving an inch. I was trapped and at the moment I had no way out. I had immediately tried to escape the netting with my own brand of magic, but whatever the Golden Wiele was, it inhibited my magic from working at all.

"As I said, I have no choice," Trusom walked away and stood by the window overlooking my little garden at the back of my home.

It was right at that moment, I got a whiff of burning campfire wood and sage, familiar, masculine and so very welcome. I smiled to myself. I didn't know how he had found me and the how didn't matter. He had found me. He had come. My Holy Grail had come for me and there wasn't a warlock or vampire that could successfully stand up to him. A fact I was sure of.

The black cloud simultaneous arrived with the scent and my body tensed with expectation as I watched him step out of his traveling fog. Here was help and when he freed me, I was going to seriously kick some warlock ass for trussing me up like he had.

With a flick of his pointer finger, the Golden Wiele was untied at my ankles as he stood in front of me and faced the warlock.

He might be kicking ass before I had the chance.

I scrambled out of the netting which I then angrily kicked away.

Grail and the warlock had confronted each other. I watched, waiting for a rumble of extravagant proportions.

I was sadly disappointed as Grail very calmly told Trusom, "I expected better from you."

"Did you?" Trusom said grimly.

Grail's voice was as solemn as his expression, "But, in case it isn't clear, let me make it so. Smoke McGuire...is mine. Harm her, cause her discomfort ever again and our present situation will become personal and I will take it out of your hide. Understood?"

"It is not my wish to hurt your...lady, in any way," Trusom inclined his head. "I told her and now I am telling you, I don't have a choice in this matter."

My Holy Grail pulled me onto his hip and then looked back at the warlock, "You have been warned."

Before I could object I realized we were leaving. I realized then that before we left I needed to get a hold of the Golden Wiele. Before I could spell it into my hands with a thought, Trusom had it in his hold.

I hadn't thought of it in time. Too late—such ugly words. Trusom had already snatched it and vanished into his waiting portal.

"Damn, double damn," I bit my lip and glared at Grail. "I wanted to smack him myself and I wanted that net!"

"No worries," he whispered as he still had me against his hip and bent to brush his lips against mine. He smiled after he lightly kissed me and said, "You'll have both those wants satisfied, very soon."

His black cloud surrounded us and swoosh, off we went. When we stepped out it was into his club office.

I eyed him happily, "I suppose I should swoon and call you my hero..."

"But? I know there is 'a but' in there," he said and grinned.

"Yeah, there kinda is. I want to know how you found me," I asked more than a little curious. Could he always find me? What if I didn't want to be found?

"I tracked you with magic," he said simply.

I frowned, "What? What do you mean? How could you do that?"

"I installed the equivalent of a tracking chip...only it is more than a chip actually. Call it a magical link between us. I can find you anywhere with the link."

My mouth dropped as rage built up in me, "You mean you put a chip in me? Like a dog? How dare you!" I shoved him hard and he went flying across the room and slammed into one wall.

He growled but did and said nothing. He just stood there glaring at me.

"A chip? A tracking device?" I shouted, "You put it inside of me...where? In my head? When?"

"Yes, in your head, while you were sleeping," he said angrily. "And you are welcome. I knew they would try to get their hands on you, and they did. I was only able to save you from Vidal..."

"Save me from Vidal? How do you know I wouldn't have been able to save myself? How dare you put a chip in me without asking my permission?"

"It isn't a chip, baby," he said and sighed. "It is more like a mind-link."

"Is it?" I stomped to face him up close. I poked his hard chest. "You put a mind link inside my head without either asking or even telling me...how is that okay?" I wagged a finger and snapped. "Don't speak. Is it one way or can I track you as well?"

He didn't say anything.

"Well?" I demanded.

"You ordered me not to speak," he said and I saw the twinkle in his eyes.

I poked his chest again, "Speak now."

"Well..." he hedged.

"Yes, or no? Can I track you as well?"

"Yes, if you learn how to work with the link. Eventually...our link will allow us to speak to one another, but you have to be open to it for it to work," he explained reluctantly.

"You don't want me to know how. You don't want me to track you, do you?" I shot back.

He took my shoulders, "Smoke, stop...listen baby...I found you before Vidal got to you. That was the result of what I did. You wouldn't have been able to escape the Golden Wiele and Vidal would have...hurt you."

The logic of this diverted my anger for a moment, but only a moment. "Even so, you should have asked. Now, take the link out."

"No," he said angrily.

"I'll get it out. Wait and see...I'll find a way to..."

"Stop, baby, stop. When the danger is past. When you have all your skills at their very peak, if you learn how to find me, speak to me through the link and you still want the link between us severed, I will do so. Compromise with me," he said quietly.

The link between us severed? I didn't like the sound of that and how it made me feel. I didn't want anything severed between us. What I did want was the ability to track him as well. It was my turn to hedge. I eyed him. "I need to think about this."

"What I don't understand is why Trusom would abduct an innocent and he must see that in the world of magic...even vampirism you are more innocent than not." Grail said as much to himself as to me. "Why would he hand you over to Vidal who as far back as I can remember, Trusom has despised?"

I shook my head. "He was conflicted. I could see that," I answered distracted by this for the moment. "He said he had no choice. Maybe Shags will turn up an answer on that, but...this link thing...we will need to talk more about that."

The door burst open and Shags stood there, his face aglow, "I know why Trusom is helping Vidal."

"Do you? Damn, by all that is dark, Shags, you are always dependable, my friend," Grail said softly.

Shags stood tall, apparently well pleased by this and then hurriedly said, "I found Trusom's sister. She is a Witch of the Light and when I told her you wanted to help her brother, she spilled everything." Shags sat on a nearby chair and paused a moment for that to sink in. Satisfied that he had our attention, he went on, "Vidal has Trusom's mate locked up somewhere he can't find her. Trusom has tried everything in his bag of tricks to locate her but can't. Grail, you will never credit it, but Trusom's mate is a shifter...a panther shifter."

"Is she now?"

"Yes, and Nell, Trusom's sister said her brother nearly lost his mind when he thought Vidal would kill his mate. He and Nell have pooled their magic and used every known locator spell at their disposal. They even dipped into dark magic to try and find her, with no luck. I feel for the bastard in this. A warlock of Trusom's nature, his sister said, has imprinted on his panther shifter. She says Trusom could go mad and kill himself without his mate."

"I didn't know he had a mate, let alone a shifter mate. So Trusom and his shifter have imprinted?"

"Yeah, there is never telling on whom a shifter will imprint, and though it is usually one of own kind, it doesn't have to be. Trusom and his black beauty, as his sister described her were only together a few months. She also said that he talked about ending his life when she first went missing and he thought her dead."

"What does his sister know about Trusom's mate?"

"Nell says his mate is called, Frida. She gave me a description. The woman is tall, with silky gorgeous chocolate shaded skin, hazel eyes and long black hair. Frida is an immortal panther shifter who Nell says is kind and gentle and who she welcomed into their witch family. She has been working with her coven to help her brother find and rescue Frida who is allergic to but can't be killed with silver. To date they just don't have any answers regarding her whereabouts."

"This changes everything," Grail said and started pacing.

"I'll say," Shags agreed. "Trusom will do anything Vidal tells him to. He won't risk his mate."

"Right. That is a fact we have to deal with, but there are other factors and questions. Let me put my first to you; why wouldn't a powerful warlock, the most powerful in all of New Orleans not be able to find his mate?"

Shags shrugged, "You got me."

I had been quietly listening and asked, "With the link we discussed, could you find me anywhere?"

"Yes..." he started and stopped. "No. There are obstacles that could obscure and hide you from the link."

"Such as?" I pursued.

"Iron. Iron has been used to enclose a wayward Fae, but it also works to help hide many supernaturals from one another. It is a powerful but simple tool. If she is being held in an iron cell...even I might be inhibited from finding her and though Trusom is a powerful warlock, he would not be able to find her."

"You said, most supernaturals. Is iron an infallible tool?"

"No, some can see through iron quite well. Vampires for instance are not affected by it," he said thoughtfully.

"And you Dark Lord from another realm, are you subject to its properties?"

"No, I am not, and as it happens, only the Deatach in you might be affected. The vampire in you, would mitigate the iron's effects on you." All at once he stomped out of the office.

Shags and I jumped to follow him.

"What are you doing?" I called at his back.

Over his shoulder he said, "Now, we have no choice. We must first find his mate, Frida. All our energies must be concentrated on that. Freeing Trusom from Vidal, will make Vidal less potent."

Sharon had arrived in the main galley just at this moment and had evidently heard this as she said, "I think I can help you with that."

~ Ten ~

WE ALL STARED AT HER.

"Come on, Grail, take us into your room of realms."

"Why?" Grail asked frowning.

"You'll see."

"But Sharon, I know that Vidal has a castle in Italy, and though it might be heavily fortified and guarded with warrior vamps, I thought we might start our search there. Why are we wasting time?" Grail asked.

"Because I have a theory I would like to pursue," she said. "I believe you need to connect with your home."

"Right then." He turned back to the paneled wall and clicked the button. It opened and he stepped inside. We followed him and waited as he stopped to stand before the midnight blue velvet sky alive and ablaze with stars. I saw that he was staring at one star in particular. I realized in that moment, it was his star, his realm.

"I am the Prince of Cumhacht, son of King Haevin."

"So you are," said a feminine voice. "You deserted your post."

"No, I gave it to my brother who wanted it and was more qualified to be the Regent in Waiting."

"Ah, I hear the truth in that. What can I help you with, son of Haevin?"

"I need a locator spell that can see through iron," Grail told the strange genderless voice.

"You have it within your enormous power to do that without my help. Look into your memories. It is there. When you first became a warrior and won your first battle...it is there. You saved your brother from the rebels. You were the one. Remember it...remember that time."

"Help me then to remember...it was so long ago," Grail answered.

A light shot out like an arrow and pieced Grail's forehead. I jumped and nearly pulled Grail away, but Sharon stopped me and held me back. "It is okay," she whispered.

The room went pitch black for a moment and then returned to its original state. Grail turned, pulled me away from Sharon and held me tight. He looked at Shags and Sharon and said, "Are you ready?"

"Always," Shags said standing straight.

I marveled that Shags didn't ask, 'ready for what'. It was a silent question in my head though I didn't voice it.

Grail looked at Sharon, "You can sit this out, Sharon...you were right. Frida isn't being held in Vidal's Italian stronghold. He has her in his smaller castle in Ireland."

"Like hell I will sit this out. I have been waiting a long time to be a part of anything that takes Vidal out. He is a plague on this earth."

Nobody was asking so I couldn't hold back any longer. "Ready for what?"

Grail smiled down at me and said, "A trip to Ireland."

"Hell yeah!" I said. "Can we go to Dublin first and visit Trinity and see the Book of Kells and...?"

His laughter interrupted me. "We will do all those things, Smoke...but first, we have to find Trusom's mate and free her."

If I were human I would have blushed. I felt the heat sting my cheeks. "Of course," I said, "I meant only..."

"I know what you meant, baby. You haven't seen much of the world and that will be one of my goals...to show you the best of it," Grail said and dropped a light kiss on my lips.

"Do we fly?" I asked, still feeling the heat.

"No, that would take too long." He said and grinned. "It will take me a few moments to create, but we will portal to his castle. We have the advantage of surprise."

"Don't you need to know where his castle is exactly?" Shags asked.

"Oh, but I do," Grail inclined his head.

He didn't elaborate but instead excused himself and with another quick kiss to my waiting lips, he led us out of his secret sanctuary and said only before he vanished in his traveling cloud, "Stay here," He looked at me. "All of you, stay here. I won't be long. I need a few things."

* * * * *

"We need a few things. Give me twenty minutes and I'll be back," Sharon said and super vamp speed she disobeyed Grail and was gone.

Shags and I regarded one another and went to the main galley. He grinned at me and said, "Coffee?"

At that and I suppose at least on my part, nerves took over and we burst out laughing. I said after a moment, "Is this real? At moments like these I think I must be in a never-ending dream...or a coma somewhere making this all up?"

"If you feel pain or pleasure...it's real," Shags said and poured me some coffee.

I looked at the coffee and felt a moment's nausea. What was that? Sick...all at once, I felt so sick. I grabbed my belly and bent over.

"What's wrong, Smoke? What is it?" Shags came close...oh, too close.

I felt my fangs distend and realized I had gone too long without feeding. I never allow that to happen. I had forgotten about feeding. Control is so much easier when you don't go over the edge.

"Shags..." I whispered. "Get out of here."

He studied me, "You need blood." He offered me his wrist. "Go on."

"No...I don't take from a live source, ever, but...to be on the safe side, get away from me," I told him.

"Your eyes are glowing," Shags said and he ran a hand through his hair. "You're in trouble, Smoke and I don't have any blood handy." His face lit up and he said, "Wait, I know...I'll cut myself, I heal quickly, but I'll be able to drain enough blood into a cup..."

"No!" Grail's voice hard and sharp as he rushed to my side. "I have what she needs. Come on baby." He scooped me up and carried me to his office and laid me on his black leather sofa. I watched him as he opened a wall panel to display a small fridge. Inside were packets of blood. He brought me one and said, "Go on baby...drink."

He disliked vampires. He had told me that when we first met. How could I drink with him watching? I shook my head.

"Go on, or I'll pour it down your throat," he snapped. "You're sick with need."

I was more than sick, I was desperate. "Turn around," I told him.

"Drink!" he said, "There is nothing about you that could ever make me turn away."

I drank it down. He gave me another. I drank that as well.

"Feeling better?" Grail stroked my cheek.

"Thanks, but...where...how...?"

"I have been taking a great deal of your time. I went some days ago to retrieve your blood supplies from your home and saw that those supplies were ransacked and destroyed. I picked up on the scent of the rabid vamp you disposed of today. I realized you would need blood, so, I...."

I interrupted him, "Where, where did you get this?"

"I used my own blood and have it stored for you. Don't go so long again," he said crisply.

"Your own blood?" I was shocked that he would do that for me, and then it happened. As my body, as my heart, my veins adjusted to the blood, I felt a wave of memories flood my brain. Not my memories. His...my Holy Grail's memories.

They hit me one after the other. His childhood. His family...his brother. I saw him relinquish the throne to his brother not realizing the woman he loved would turn away from him and instead give her hand to his younger brother! She wanted to be the regent kings' queen. He realized that too late. She wasn't interested in love...and then, she further broke his heart by trying to bed him after she was his brother's wife. He couldn't wouldn't and vowed never to allow himself to fall in love again!

I gasped and the flashes of his life abruptly stopped. I stared at him, "Grail...?"

"What? What is it?"

"Nothing," I said but couldn't stop myself from asking, "Tell me, in all your thousand years...have you never been in love?"

"Where did that come from?"

"Oh, we touched on it here and there, but now I want specifics," I said.

"Once, when I was no more than twenty-five, I fancied myself in love. She fancied something else. I never allowed another woman to get too close after that. But, another time, a young beauty caught my interest. She was a human and I liked her...perhaps was infatuated with her, but...I was never fulfilled in that relationship. I could have broken her you see...humans are not able to withstand our love-making. In the end, we parted."

"And no one else? No supernatural ever turned your heart inside-out?"

"No, I suppose I am a hard-case," he said.

"I see," I said somewhat deflated.

"Until now, that is..." he said softly, "But you know that and were fishing, weren't you?" He smiled softly and in his eyes I saw more than affection, more than liking though I was afraid to call it what I hoped it was.

"I don't know anything and yes I was trying to find where I should stand, where I will stand, in your life."

"Right beside me," he said and kissed me long and hard and bit my bottom lip.

Sharon with Shags right behind her burst into the office, "Smokie...you good?"

"Yes, the Dark Lord had some blood stashed for..."

"WHAT?" Sharon shrieked. "You drank his blood? How much?"

"Two packets. Why...what is wrong?" Grail asked.

"Yeah, what is wrong?" I also wanted to know.

"He is a prince of magic. His blood in that quantity mixed with yours...and mine...there is no telling what it will do to you now while everything is all new in your body. Once your body begins to bond with his blood—well there is no telling what it will do." Sharon was more than a little concerned.

"Too late. Done deal," I said and sighed. "I'm already a hybrid of sorts, so I'm guessing, this will make me..." and then images started shooting through my head. I saw Vidal slinking in the shadows. His demon moved towards a four walled, windowless cell coated in iron, sprinkled with silver. Inside the cell I heard a woman's voice moaning in pain.

Everywhere I saw vampire guards...roaming about. There were others...uber vamps I had heard about. Just as I had been told, the ubers were all bald and their fangs were long, so long. Holy shit...but, there were so many!

Even so, and determinedly in my dream or vision, I moved towards the cell with every intention of breaking Frida out when I realized, I was beginning to feel sick, really sick.

The iron? Did it affect me like it did the Fae? My race and the Fae are connected somehow, so...yes, I think it was the iron making me sick. I stepped back and the ill affects ebbed.

All at once, I knew what we had to do. Trusom was there, rushing towards the iron cell and I knew what I had to do to help him, but even as I tried, Vidal blocked my path and snarled as he came at me. Sharon stepped in his way and he overpowered her.

I heard myself scream and then the world started to spin out of control and I saw blood, so much blood, everywhere and bam, I blacked out!

~ Eleven ~

"SMOKE!"

GRAIL'S VOICE WORRIEDLY CALLING my name bounced off the walls in my head.

"What?" I answered and wow, my own voice sounded so far away. Where was I? What happened?

I remember. We were getting ready to travel...I needed blood...he gave me his and then I blacked out.

I scanned the ceiling and then Grail's face. Past him to Sharon and Shags, both looking anxious. I recognized my surroundings. We were still in Hazard, Grail's club—in his office.

And then it all came back to me.

I had a vision. More than a vision. It was as though I had lived the vision or was about to and then all at once, everything went blank again.

I blinked and tried to focus. My Holy Grail's face looked blurry, but it was comforting all the same to have him near. "Hi," I said.

Shags laughed and said, "She said hi."

Sharon eyed him and then looked back at me and I almost laughed.

"Baby," Grail called my attention, "I was so worried."

"We were all worried," Sharon added. "Come on blondie, tell us what happened."

Sharon always called me Blondie when she was concerned about me. I swallowed and tried to put my words in order.

"I drank...the blood and noticed it was unusually good and...had a certain...punch of potency." I looked at Grail, "Your blood." I tried to sit up. Grail helped me. "Your blood, Grail...all of a sudden went through me like a thousand little explosions."

"Oh baby, I'm sorry...I had no idea that would happen."

"You didn't think it through. In general, vampires lust after witch's blood," She frowned at him, "But you aren't a warlock—or witch, are you? You aren't an earthly or even an immortal one. You're something else, and that something else...that blood mixed with mine in her veins, well, there is no telling what she is now or will become."

"Oh hell," I said.

He didn't answer Sharon, but turned back to me. "Tell me baby, what do you remember?"

"Just before I what...blanked out?"

"You have been out for more than twenty minutes, kid," Shags stuck in. "So whatever you saw, whatever you felt...well, it must have been bad."

"Twenty minutes?" I was astonished.

"Tell me if you can, baby, what do you remember just before you...blacked out?" Grail asked.

"I remember Vidal. He was in a rage and he had these super vamps...crazy looking creatures, and Trusom was there...!" I said low and worriedly. "I remember thinking we were in trouble because we were surrounded."

"Anything else?" Grail asked.

"Yes, Trusom's mate...she is locked in a windowless cell coated in iron and sprinkled with silver and...Grail, the iron does affect me. The iron is coated with a magical shield and that is why your magic hasn't been able to locate her. We need to portal right into his dungeon which puts us all at risk. Those amped-up vamps guarding the place are like zombie blood suckers, but they are slow, at least in my vision, they were slow which gives us some advantage," I rushed to get my thoughts all out, "And Grail, I couldn't get close to the iron. It seemed to make me weaker as well as nauseous. So we need to figure a way of breaking through it...without my getting too close."

"Leave that to me," a familiar voice said at the office door.

I looked past Grail's shoulder and was astonished to find Trusom standing there.

* * * * *

Sharon and Shags both took a fighting stance.

Grail, however, stood up and in front of me to say, "Welcome, Trusom. We have had a little setback, but, the portal has been building upon itself and should be ready shortly."

"Hey wait," Shags interjected. "What? You spoke to him? You told him to come here? Why? Grail, we can't trust him. Aw no, Grail, you can't mean to let him join us—that is all out of whack."

"Trusom is here because we can use his help." Grail put a hand on Shags' shoulder. "I met with him and told him we have found his Frida. That is all he cares about, helping us free her," Grail said quietly. "Do you have any objections that make sense?"

He looked from Shags to Sharon and though they didn't voice any opposition, I could see they didn't quite trust the warlock, yet, weren't ready to voice their opinions.

I didn't blame them for their lack of trust in Trusom. I had seen first-hand what he was willing to do to keep his mate alive.

I had an objection and chewed my lip as I tried to formulate my words.

Grail noticed and said, "You don't look happy, Smoke."

"No, I'm not happy. I understand that you think Trusom might be helpful, but I have had a real up close and personal encounter with him and know, if things go wrong, guess what?" I proceeded to answer my own question, "He will fall right back into Vidal's hands rather than allow his mate to be in danger." I stood up, walked up to Trusom and raised an eyebrow.

"She is not wrong," Trusom said grimly, not looking at me, but at Grail. "I will do anything to save my Frida. You have to know that going in. If things go wrong...that is all that will drive me."

"I think we all understand that, but, believe me, Trusom, I have a trick or two up my sleeve. I am not called the Dark Lord for nothing," Grail said confidently. "I have taken every scenario into consideration and believe me, we will be ready for your betrayal, if...er...things go wrong. I believe they won't go wrong. After all, with you on our side, all Vidal has is a demon and a demon has never been a match for a shifter wolf, an ancient vamp...and for whatever my Smoke has become. And as I said, Dark Lord here."

"Then, what are we waiting for?" Trusom said and his eyes glinted with anticipation.

"Grail," I stuck in. "There is also the chance that Vidal has a small army of super crazy strong vamps."

"Also I believe they are no match for our combined magic and abilities," Grail said softly.

"But," I whispered, and took him aside, "Things might go wrong real fast...so Trusom will need to be...contained if that happens. Can we contain the warlock?"

"Never doubt me, baby," Grail said and gave me a cocky grin. "I have that all worked out in my head."

"Want to share?" I asked and arched a brow.

"No, not now," he said and went to the open office door, "Shall we?"

"Where is this portal of yours?" Sharon asked.

"In Hazard's upper floors, where else?" Grail said and grinned.

~ Twelve ~

I STOOD BACK AND STUDIED the growing black hole in front of us. I could see it spark and sizzle as it stretched and funneled its way through the atmosphere.

Grail told us to wait as it completed itself.

I looked at Grail, "That will take us all the way to Ireland...to his castle?"

"Right to his dungeon where he is keeping Frida," Grail answered quietly.

"How did it happen that you know his castle so well?"

"There was a century where Vidal and I were...friends. Something went wrong with him, with his thinking, with his humanity and we parted ways." He released my hand which he had tucked close to his heart and walked into the middle of the room. "The portal as are most portals, is a living thing," he said. "Remember that. It needs energy to survive. It is as if the portal makes a pact with its travelers. It allows you to enter and use it, but it takes a certain amount of energy from you, thus...it plummets and bounces you off its walls. Don't fight it. Just go with it. It won't take more than you can spare."

Shags took Sharon's hand and put it to his lips, "I won't let go."

"You better not...ever," she answered.

I grinned at them, they didn't notice me.

Grail told them, "It's ready when you are."

They stepped inside and I heard Sharon squeal. Trusom went next, silent and stoic, and then Grail put his arm around my waist and as we stepped inside, he held me to himself with both arms and that was good, because I wrapped my arms and legs around his middle.

Bumpy? Hell yeah. Also, roller coaster. Up down, side to side. Did I squeal like Sharon who I could still hear up ahead, hell yeah!

* * * * *

Dark and dank, are actually good words for a dungeon.

I unlocked my legs and set my feet firmly on the ground, but Grail, pulled me close as I looked around our surroundings.

Think about whatever you have ever imagined a dungeon to look like—this one was worse.

Everything evil, as evil as stone and mortar can be was how I would describe Vidal's dungeon. I hadn't realized just how awful it would smell—and feel when I had my vision, but now, with the dim light given off by the torches, I could see a table in the middle of the chamber with instruments of torture laid out and some were covered in dry blood. A rat scurried across the floor, followed by two others. Eweee.

Repulsed, I cringed.

No one appeared to be around guarding this horrible place. I noticed all the dungeon cells were empty.

We were not expected, or so I thought as I pressed closer to Grail's hard body and wished we were in bed, making love instead of in this horrible place making war.

I was wrong about no one being around. They were there in the shadows. I counted fifteen huge vampire warriors. They advanced on us.

I heard a low keening and then saw the uber vamps, released from what looked like a hidden door that led to another chamber. The door closed after them, trapping the ubers with us.

The portal at our backs hummed.

"Make a circle, easy now," Grail told us as the vamps closed in.

As they advanced they made threatening sounds and Trusom leaned in and told Grail, "Fire. We need it."

I saw it then, the iron cell block, just as the warrior vamps charged fast and furious.

Grail cautioned, "Wait...another second...wait."

They were nearly on us.

Luckily, the uber vamps were slow, almost zombie-like in their movements, and awkward. Scary looking in appearance, but Vidal had erred when he created them. Also, luckily there weren't as many as I had assumed there would be. However, all had one purpose, drink our blood and kill.

We made our circle, and waited till my Holy Grail stuck out his arm, pointed a finger that turned into a flame thrower. Vamp after vamp went up in flames, but there were more coming down the dungeon stairs. Holy shit...so many warrior vamps!

Trusom and I took this cue and I found the magic in my mind to create a similar flame thrower, though not as powerful as Grails.

Trusom said, "Fire is not my forte...but this is."

I saw him freeze vamp after vamp. He didn't cover them in ice, he turned them into ice statues that quickly cracked into myriad pieces before each turned into ash.

"Oh, I like that," I told him. This was working, fire and ice.

Sharon was doing her thing, fast and furious and taking off head after head of the slow moving uber vamps. Shags was with her, right by her side, tearing them apart. A shifter wolf's bite is deadly to a vamp. We were piling up ashes everywhere.

I was feeling over confident and found an opening. I ran towards the iron cell, careful to keep enough distance so I wouldn't be rendered useless by its ill effects.

Trusom followed me, leaving the others to hold off and destroy the vamps. He was able to approach the iron cell as it doesn't affect him.

"Smokie, help me...I need you to concentrate your magic and melt an opening in the cell's wall. Can you do that? I can help increase its power once you get a steady flame going."

I saw that Grail and the others were still busy taking on the vamps and ubers, so yes, I was going to have to try. I nodded and sent one flaming ball after another into the front of the cell block.

"Yes!" Trusom yelled. "I can enlarge the fireballs."

I saw that it was working. He was close to the cell's wall and as the fireball closed in on its target, I saw that he was not only enlarging it, but he had managed to increase its heat.

"There!" I yelled as I saw a small hole the size of an grapefruit form and grow. I worked furiously and kept up a barrage of fireballs. He did his part.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Grail busy but in control with the horde of vampires still storming into the dungeon from above. We had to get Frida and get the hell out of this place. There were too many of them.

Fleetingly I wondered where Vidal was. No doubt, staying safe and sound with his demon protecting him. No sooner had this thought entered my head when a black tentacle surrounded me. Ah, Mr. Demon!

Demons in general are no match for vampires and I am so much more than a vampire. Stronger, faster and loaded with more magic than he ever dreamed of.

I smiled and gave him a wink. "Wondered where you were."

I broke out of the black tentacles and directed my fireball finger at him. Apparently demons of his realm aren't affected by fire. I did no damage.

I needed to use something else...water. I spun my finger in the air and the next thing Mr. Demon knew, he was in a tank of water trying to keep his head above and in the small space of air I left him between the water line and the spelled glass top.

I learned something. Water negated his ability to use his magic and break out.

I turned back to the iron cell block, but found Trusom had already managed to ice it over and break it down.

I watched as he rushed inside and appeared with his mate in his arms. She seemed barely conscious.

It was in that moment that I found out where Vidal was. Behind me.

Suddenly I was held against him in a grip that I could break with magic, however, he had a dagger to my throat which made it all a bit tricky. Could I use magic before he severed my head?

He shouted at Grail and his voice stopped everyone in their tracks.

"I have your little magical vamp. This ancient dagger has magical qualities. It can easily cut off her head before she can use her magic to escape me. I will kill her if I have to. Better just let her come with me. I should like to use her talents, so don't make me destroy her."

The demon was screaming for Vidal to free him. Ubers were grunting with need. They saw us a dinner and wanted a bite. His warriors stood very still.

Vidal paid no attention to any of them, as he stared Grail down.

I was very still as I went into my head and tried to find a means of escape.

I saw Grail raise his hand and say, "Don't be foolish, Vidal. If you hurt Smoke, you will never find the Hallow."

Sharon was out of Vidal's line of vision. He couldn't see her as she used her speed and managed to sneak up on him.

He relaxed his hold on me when he suddenly realized someone was at his back. He yelped in pain as she shoved the stake into him, but he had thwarted death. He had moved and the stake missed its mark. She had not gotten his heart.

I had enough space between us to break away without the dagger drawing blood. I turned to face him, but Vidal was an ancient and not so easily taken down.

He was already in a fight to the death with Sharon.

Yes, she was a born vampire, but he was an ancient and though she had some years and experience, he was far more ruthless.

I pointed a finger, determined to give her the upper hand but they were a blur of color and suddenly it was over. He had Sharon in the same position he had had me in a few moments ago.

Behind him, I saw Shags drop the weapon he had been using against the vamps. As a shifter he could transform at will and with ease.

I watched, fascinated as he became wolf in his mid-air lunge.

Deadly fury and determination covered his dear face and my heart stood still as he landed behind Vidal and took Vidal's ankle nearly biting it off from Vidal's leg.

Vidal cried out in pain.

Vidal had been bitten by a shifter wolf and he was not immune to the bite. Werewolf and shifter wolves have a bite that is fatal to a vampire.

He turned and screamed curses before he vanished in a haze of black. I was reminded of the legend that tells of ancients turning into hundreds of black moths in order to escape.

Sharon and I hugged each other as Grail and Shags finished off the last of the slow moving ubers.

This done, Shags, still in wolf form, padded over to Sharon and put his huge head against Sharon's hip, and she petted him which made me laugh.

Grail hurried over to me and touched my face, "You gave me a scare, baby. I can't tell you how I felt when I saw Vidal take you like that."

I smiled and snuggled against his chest.

I looked up and saw Trusom, still holding Frida cradle like in his arms walk over. He looked like a different man as he said, "I have to get my mate to my sister who is a healer. Frida is in terrible pain from sustained time with the silver in those damned walls of iron."

"Go on, Trusom...we'll talk later."

"What about Vidal?" I asked as Trusom stepped back into the portal.

"My guess is he went in search of an antidote for the wolf bite," Grail said and brushed my lips with his thumb.

"Is there one?"

"Yes, but, the question is, will he find it in time?" Grail shrugged. "I think he only has 48 hours and it won't be easy because the pain he is about to endure will make it difficult for him to find what he needs."

"Well, with any good luck, he won't find the antidote and the world will be a better safer place without him," And then I got hit with a vision and felt as though I was falling into a well of darkness.

I could feel Grail's arms go around me. I could hear his voice as the full weight of the vision took me, but there was no stopping what I was about to see.

All at once, I was near a dock in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and I heard a siren's song calling my name. I looked down into the water and all at once hands, so many hands, pulled me into the river. I went down, down, down...I couldn't breathe...I couldn't breathe."

I spluttered out of my vision and held onto Grail for dear life before I said, "I think I know where the artifact is."

~ Epilogue ~

LIFE TEACHES US EVERY SINGLE day that there is no, happily ever after, but, oh, you can come close.

That was how I felt whenever I was with Grail, in and out of his arms. A week has passed since our war with Vidal in Ireland.

Never got to see a thing but a dungeon, but Grail has promised to take me back as soon as we get our hands on the Fae Hallow.

My vision told me it was in the river in the French Quarter, but although we have searched and Shags has even used Scuba gear, we haven't yet found it. I haven't yet heard its song.

Grail has been busy trying to get information on Vidal. We need to know if he is alive and thus far, no luck. No one we know has any information one way or another.

Grail thinks he is alive and recovering somewhere.

I love him, but, I haven't told him. I think he might love me. He hasn't told me. It is probably too soon for either of us to use the word—it means so much.

I needed a day to myself, so I went home to my lovely little house. I dusted and tidied up and then curled up to read a book. Life had become intense and the quiet was good for me.

His scent and then the black cloud and then him, gorgeous and larger than life stepping towards me.

Without a word, he took me up from my sofa and crushed me in his arms. His kiss as always curled my toes. I don't say that out loud, but, damn, it is the truth.

When his lips moved away from mine it was to murmur, "I can't seem to be without you, Smoke, for more than a few hours. I missed you."

"Did you?" I ask hoping to hear more of what he might feel about me.

"You know, don't you, but you want to hear it?"

"Do I?"

"Smoke, you aren't just joined with me. I don't know where I end and you begin. I find myself thinking when I see chocolate, 'ah, my baby would like that' and I buy it. When I say something to a supernatural that you might think unkind, it makes my conscious cringe. When...you aren't near, I ache. I love you more than I do myself."

I threw my arms around his neck and said, "Forever is a long, long time. Have you thought this out?"

"Thank the fates that I have forever with you," he whispered and kissed me hard.

All at once, my living room which is not large, filled with a gold and silver dust and out of that dust, walked one of the most incredibly beautiful females I have ever seen.

Her skin glistened. Her long platinum hair hung to her knees and over a gown that clung to her figure and was nearly transparent.

Grail pulled me close and inclined his head low, so very low and pushed me to do the same, "Queen Aaibhe...we are honored."

Her smile was soft and her voice musical, "I am here against my better judgment, but, my trusted Prince Breslyn tells me there is a danger to humans and supernaturals that must be addressed. It is my understanding that you, Prince of Cumhacht, son of King Haevin, are attempting to retrieve our treasured Cumhachdach Hallow and return it to me."

"Yes, Queen Aaibhe, that is the truth," Grail said.

I think my mouth was open. I couldn't stop staring, although the queen wasn't looking at me.

She twirled her hand and what looked like a huge crystal ball appeared in her palm. She said, "Open your hands."

My Holy Grail did just that and the crystal ball was transferred to both of his open hands.

She inclined her head and said, "You may use my personal Orb to locate the approximate location of the Hallow. We as Seelie Fae are unable to see and locate our own Hallows. My orb cannot show it to me, but, my orb will show it you," she turned to me. "You, my princess will hear its song when you are close. The orb can only direct you to its approximate location, and then you will need to hear its call."

I still found I was tongue-tied and couldn't say a word.

"Both of you...and those you hold dear will be in grave danger. I have the sight and have seen this and nothing more. The Cumhachdach Hallow is one of our most powerful, in fact, that is how it was named, and should never fall into the wrong hands. Vidal lives and will come for it." She put up a finger as though to stall Grail from speaking and added. "Be resilient."

With that, she was gone.

"The Queen of the Seelie Fae!" I spluttered. "The Queen of the Seelie Fae!"

Grail laughed, "Yes." He too seemed taken aback and startled by her visit.

"Why doesn't she just zap Vidal dead?"

"They have a law of non-interference with humans. It is part of the treaty drawn up thousands of years ago between Fae and Man. Her coming here...giving us this orb, is very...extraordinary. She must be concerned."

"Right, and now we know for sure, Vidal is alive."

"Yes..." he said thoughtfully.

"So, let's set it down and see what it can do," I said excitedly.

Grail laid it on the coffee table and said, "We are looking for the location of the Cumhachdach Hallow. Show us the location."

"Ah, Prince of Cumhacht, son of King Haevin, you are recognized and I shall comply," the orb said.

And there it was, deep in the river, singing its song.

"Do you hear? It is beautiful...but so sad," I exclaimed.

"I don't hear anything baby, but I see the location. I can't believe it has been here all these years."

"It hasn't," the orb said. "My King has moved it over the last century."

Grail was on his cellphone to Shags, "Yes, yes, we'll meet you at the dock...you know the one, yes, yes, bring Sharon as well. Vidal is alive so we all need to be careful."

"We can't recover it...he is in New Orleans and has spies watching us," I said as the queen's words had brought on a vision. I have learned to control myself when a vision hits. This one came in a flash leaving only a feeling, not anything I could work with.

"Then we'll use a shield so that he can't see us," Grail said and held me close as we traveled in his black cloud.

We stepped out of my Grail's traveling cloud and spied Sharon and Shags coming towards us. I waited while Grail whispered a spell to cloak our presence.

I went to the edge of the dock and whispered the Hallow's name, "Cumhachdach, are you there? Sing for me."

And it did. The song was full with sorrow and loneliness and then it called my name, "Princess Smoke...take me home."

I reached my hand into the water and used my magic to rescue the Hallow. It felt warm and tingly in my hands and no larger than a foot in height and less than six inches in width. It was in the shape of a woman...it was in the image of...

"The Dark King's queen...his Crystal. He created me for her use, but she said I was too powerful...too dangerous and I have been alone ever since. Take me home, princess, take me home."

"I'll take that!" Vidal snarled at my back.

How the hell did he know? How did he get past Grail's cloaking device? How...? And then I saw, Vidal had at least six humans held captive by his vampires.

Things are never easy, but then, where would be the fun in easy?

* * *

CAN'T STOP-WANTING (book #2)

Coming soon

Claudy Conn, a native New Yorker, now lives with her husband, Bob; Rocky Man, who weighs in presently at 190 pounds and their horse, Southern Pride.

She loves horses and riding and raised her ten-year-old gelding Southern Pride from the moment he was born. She also loves gardening, swimming, skiing, hiking, and travel—and of course, reading, writing, but no, she says, no arithmetic!

To get her monthly news, her reviews for all her new paranormal romances, and excerpts, come on and visit her at her website.

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