Faerie Godmother: Mythic Series, Book 1 (11 page)

Vlane Masterson
.

* * *

V
lane stared at the tiny female. He didn’t remember her being quite so small. Then again, she had probably been wearing heels that night, and the fullness of her gown had given the illusion of someone a bit more...substantial. Her golden hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her face devoid of makeup. She looked more like a girl than a woman, especially in those ridiculous clothes. His lips quirked as he looked her up and down, taking in the dancing cartoon cows adorning her formless top.

For a moment, he thought he must have the wrong woman. There was no way this tiny little thing held the kind of power he had felt that night. Then he looked into her eyes and saw the brilliant clarity, intelligence, and most importantly, recognition.

Oh, yes. She was the one he wanted. His body tingled at the knowledge.

“Dr. McKinnon?” His voice was deep and smooth, intentionally hypnotic.

“Y-Yes,” she stammered, clearing her throat nervously.

Vlane offered what he hoped was a friendly smile. He could scent her fear. The last thing he wanted was to scare her away. Or for her to call for her wolf guard. The tiny silver whistle hung from a thin chain around her neck. He had no doubt she would use it if she felt threatened, and he had no wish to break the tenuous truce between his people and the Weres unnecessarily.

“I must apologize. I do not have an appointment, but perhaps you may fit us in?”

U
ntil that moment, Ana hadn’t noticed the cat he held in his arms. With its silky black fur, it blended perfectly into the black of his shirt and slacks. Silvery-golden eyes with a hint of red, the exact color of a spectacular blood moon, blinked lazily at her.

“Oh, of course. Would you like to bring her back?” Instinctively, she knew the feline was female by the utterly contented look on its face. Ana had a feeling most women would feel the same way in Vlane Masterson’s arms. The man had a magnetic pull to rival the poles; even Ana found herself fighting the inclination to close the distance between them.

He followed her so silently, she had to look over her shoulder to confirm he was even there.

Breathe, Ana
, she commanded herself, nearly closing her eyes when her lungs filled with his rich, dark scent. She was trembling again, but not wholly out of fear. Tingles of awareness skittered along her skin. It was the exact same reaction she’d had the night of the after party, as if all of her senses had just suddenly come alive with his nearness.

“Would you like to put her on the exam table, or would you prefer to hold her?”

“I will hold her, if you do not mind.”

“Whatever makes you more comfortable,” Ana answered with a little smile, but inwardly, her heart was pounding a mile a minute. His deep voice resonated along her auditory nerves and to examine the cat, she’d have to get close to him, too.

Of course, that was probably exactly what he’d intended.

“She’s beautiful,” Ana commented. The cat looked at her and blinked, acknowledging the statement as nothing less than truth. “Is she having a problem, or is this just a check-up?” Ana asked.

“I was hoping you could tell me,” Vlane said smoothly. “Bast has been rather unsettled as of late.”

It figured his cat would have the name of an ancient Egyptian goddess. “Unsettled?”

Vlane nodded, his shining obsidian eyes boring into her as she stepped between his knees to examine the feline. The cat let out a loud purr when Ana stroked her back.

“You have quite a way with animals, Dr. McKinnon,” Vlane said, a bit of surprise lacing his tone. “Bast does not tolerate strangers well — especially females.”

Ana wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Was it a compliment? Or a warning?

“Have you noticed any changes in her behavior? Her eating habits?”

“She eats, but she is not satisfied. She rests, yet she cannot find peace.” The words wrapped around her like a lovely, haunting melody. So familiar. So...appropriate. Ana could definitely relate.

She pressed the stethoscope gently to the cat, hoping he didn’t see her hands shaking or hear her heart pounding like a jackhammer against the walls of her chest. She took her time, focusing as much attention as she could on the animal while fighting the urge to touch
him
.

“She seems fine now.”

“That is because she is where she belongs. With me. In my arms. It is where she finds that which she truly needs.”

That voice, it slipped inside her, caressed the most feminine parts of her until she felt the urge to purr, too. Finding it hard to breathe, she took a step back. When had it gotten so hot?

“Well,” she said, drawing away with some effort. “She seems to be in perfect health, Mr., uh...” She paused, wondering if it would be wise to reveal she knew his name. He hadn’t openly recognized her, either.

“Masterson,” he said. “Vlane Masterson. I believe you attended an event at my estate several weeks ago.”

“Ah, yes, of course,” she said, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

“And declined my subsequent request for dinner.” He smiled patiently while Bast looked at her with undisguised curiosity, as if she couldn’t figure out for the life of her why Ana would refuse such an invitation. “Would you, perhaps, reconsider?”

Ana turned her back to him to wash her hands at the sink — a rather foolish act, she realized. Wasn’t that how all this started in the first place? With him at her back? The memory of his body crowding hers, the feel of his cool breath just before the glorious penetration of his fangs, had the area between her thighs warming and growing increasingly moist.

“I don’t think so, Mr. Masterson.”

The clock ticked off several seconds of silence. Could he sense her fear? Her arousal? Did he know refusing him was one of the hardest things she’d ever done? And was that his doing — some kind of vampire-mojo mind-body control thing — or hers?

Finally, he spoke. “May I inquire as to why not?”

She hesitated, clutching the small paper towel like a lifeline. She didn’t want to answer him. It would reveal too much.

“Why does it matter, Mr. Masterson?” she asked quietly. “Of what interest am I to you?”

He regarded her for so long, she wasn’t quite sure he would answer. Those eyes, glittering and black, looked right into her, as if he was trying to figure out the answer to that one himself.

“I failed to properly introduce myself as your host,” he said, finally. “It is an unforgivable offense, one I wish to rectify.”

“Well, you just have, so we’re good. It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Masterson.”

Suddenly, he was there, in front of her. She had no idea how he managed to move so quickly, or what had happened to his cat. One exceptionally long, well-manicured finger caught her beneath her chin and lifted her eyes to his. She drew in a breath; it was impossible to look away. Glittering black eyes, infinitely deep, bore into her own. At that moment, she couldn’t think of any reason why she would want to look away.

“I did not get to dance with you, Ana,” he said, his words a soft caress up and down the length of her spine. “And I so wish to dance with you...”

Her eyes grew heavy and her body began to ache in very specific places. Voices, familiar ones, intruded on her pleasant fog, calling as if from far away.

“Ana! Hey, Doc! You back there?!”

“Tell them you are with a patient,” Vlane commanded softly.

“Yeah, I’m with a patient,” she called out without breaking eye contact.

“You will be done shortly.”

“I’ll be out in a bit. Feel free to raid the fridge.”

“Cool,” one of the boys responded. From the examination room, they heard the brutes moving through the waiting room toward Ana’s private living space.

“Come with me, Ana,” he breathed, moving even closer.

She wanted to, but something was holding her back. What was holding her back? “I...can’t.”

“You must,” Vlane said, cupping her face, brushing his lips lightly over hers.

His lips were so cool, so very soft. She reached for more, but he pulled back slightly, denying her that which she so craved. “I must?”

“Yes. Just for a little while, Ana. Just one dance.”

* * *

D
ani dropped her backpack on the kitchen floor and grabbed a Rockstar from the fridge. Because of her high metabolism, the energy drink had no more effect on her than a regular Coke would on a normal teenager. For some reason, the sickeningly sweet taste really appealed to her.

“Where’s Ana?” she said, poking her head into the living room. Food covered every available surface and the brutes were knee-deep in a game of Mortal Kombat.

“In the back with a patient,” Derrick answered without looking up.

“No, she’s not. I was just back there.”

Cal looked up and frowned. “She was there when we got here about fifteen minutes ago. Said she was finishing up and would be out soon.”

Dani went out to the reception desk and picked up Ana’s appointment book. “Her last appointment was over two hours ago.”

“So? Maybe it was a long one.”

Dani shook her head. The hair on the back of her neck prickled; something didn’t feel right. “No. It was only a checkup. And it was Mrs. Conroy. I saw her in town just a little while ago when I was waiting for the bus.”

“A walk-in, maybe?” Cal offered.

The boys put down their controllers and followed Dani into the exam room. It was empty; nothing appeared out of order. Dani walked straight to the other side of the room and pushed open another door to the surgical area. She did that through the entire facility, going from room to room in a big circle until she came back to the waiting room.

“Are you sure she didn’t come into the house?”

Derrick and Cal didn’t think so, but they checked it out anyway. Kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom — nothing. Everything looked as it should.

Her instincts told her that something wasn’t right. Dani lifted her nose and sniffed, picking up faint traces of feminine perfume, weiner dog, a feline of indeterminate breed, and something else.
Vampire
.

“I’m calling Matt.”

W
ith only a slight bit of coaxing, Ana had followed him out the Sanctuary’s back exit like a docile puppy. She slid into the front seat of his expensive, UV-protected sports car while he held the door open, and sat quietly for the thirty minute drive to his estate with a purring and contented Bast in her lap (a feat which both impressed and befuddled him). She made no protest when he took her hand and led her into his manse, and even accepted a small glass of brandy to calm her nerves once he guided her to his elegant office.

“I shouldn’t be here,” Ana said softly, more to herself than him, yet she displayed no genuine distress. She had come of her own volition. Mostly. He had only used the slightest hint of compulsion, though he had been prepared to use more if necessary. He probably wouldn’t have used even that had the brutes not shown up when they had and forced his hand.

“On the contrary,” Vlane said smoothly. “You are exactly where you should be.”

“What do you want, Mr. Masterson?” she asked bluntly, turning away from the beveled glass windows to cast her inquisitive gaze upon him. Such a powerful gaze she had. Her faceted green eyes shimmered in the filtered light, reminding him of a rare Tsavorite garnet. The gem was one of his personal favorites, its intense color more brilliant than a fine emerald. Deep in his chest, he felt his dormant heart stutter once, then twice.

“I think we are past such formalities. Please, call me Vlane. And you know what I want, Ana.”

Those long, golden lashes fluttered slightly before she blinked. “No. I really don’t.”

Vlane shook himself free of her mesmerizing eyes, pinning her with a powerful gaze of his own. “Let us begin with the burning question. Why did you make me human?”

Ana gasped, her expression quickly turning to shock. “Is that what happened to you?” she asked. “You don’t seem human to me.”

“Do not toy with me,” he warned. He allowed a bit of his power to radiate around him. “I have been more than accommodating, but my patience quickly wanes. What are you? How do you hold such power over life and death?”

She swallowed, her eyes still wide. Taking a step back, she wrapped her arms around herself and sat down, presumably in an effort to make herself smaller. “I don’t know.”

Her feeble attempt to claim ignorance was unacceptable. “You made me human!” he roared, pounding his fist on the desk, causing her bottom to lift several inches from the seat. “How does one tiny slip of a human female make a five hundred year old vampire human?”

Tears began to well up in her eyes, her hands wringing in her lap. “I didn’t do that. You did.”

In a split second, he was inches from her face. “
Do. Not. Lie. To. Me
.”

“I
cannot
lie. It must have been your wish,” she sobbed softly. “It was what you desired most when you took my blood.”

Vlane stilled, his rage draining with each tear that coursed down her cheek. Amazed, he touched one with his finger and brought it to his lips. The taste burst across his tongue. Fresh. Pure. Brimming with an incomprehensible energy, making him feel...
alive
.

Her words penetrated his haze of temporary euphoria.
It must have been your wish...
Wish. Energy. It wasn’t possible. Was it?

“Show me,” he demanded.

She shook her head in refusal, her shoulders shuddering with silent sobs. He grabbed her delicate hand and pierced the tip of her finger with his extended fang, effectively taking the choice away from her. He took no pleasure in bullying her, but he needed to know the truth. Was she a consummate actress, a trickster, a danger to him and his kind? Or was her verisimilitude genuine?

He raised her hand to his lips and squeezed a drop onto his tongue with but a single thought:
I wish to know the truth
.

Her blood exploded in a symphony of colors and music within him. He did not collapse like last time; instead, he simply staggered backward as his wish was granted, the truth revealed in startling clarity.