Illegal Fantasies (Anthology ~ Behind Closed Doors) (10 page)

  
C
hapter
F
our:

         Mardi Gras

           
Mayhem

   
~~
Jolie, Flynn & Jacques~~

New Orleans

Midnight

There was something magical about this time of the night. When the clock struck the witching hour, so many creatures of the night snuck
out from the shadows, to live in the light.

This was especially
true of the undead.

They loved a party and living in the epicenter of the vampyre kingdom, they didn't need much of a reason to celebrate. For their kind, time had not been gentle. So many of the families perished over the centuries, and it was definitely survival of the fittest.

The same was true of the Harcourte society.

It was run by Mistress Jolie Harcourte, and she, like everyone else
, liked to relax and have some fun.

Being
kissed by death, the harbinger of her kind, didn't mean that she didn't like a grand festive ball. It was a time to dress the part of the powerful killer she was as she mingled with others just like her. Galas were a part of their societies for hundreds of centuries, and something to look forward to when the times had been bleak.

One of the reasons this little fun fest was happening was that the
local society wanted to invite all of their people back into the fold. Humans outnumbered them and with numbers so small, they needed more of the undead to stand together.

While
Jolie wasn’t one to socialize with the other societies or council, she couldn’t help but enjoy a gala. Sue her, but beneath the killer was a woman who loved beautiful things.

Being
a harbinger meant she was Death’s right hand reaper. With her body the vessel, it was her duty to feed her mistress. It wasn’t a pleasant job, and made her life difficult, but still…

It meant
her survival.

What choice did she have?

With the two men she loved at her side, Jolie was a force to be reckoned with. In fact, she was shocked that their family was invited. At first, she was wary, but a visit from the council’s head vampyre, Nathaniel, reassured her.

This was about unity and celebrating Mardi Gras.

While the humans would be down on Bourbon Street, catching beads, flashing breasts, and getting shitfaced drunk, their kind would be at the local museum, hosting a ball. It assured that their kind would be accounted for, just in case one of the humans was to have an untimely end.

Not that it could be stopped. They were the hunters
, and too often the humans had become the prey.

Everyone knew that a r
ogue vampyre was bad, and no one wanted Jolie Harcourte to be sent out to take a life-especially her.

Instead, they would party.

The gala was being touted as a charity event, but no one was ignorant enough to believe that. Nathaniel was tricky and a very good leader of the council. There was no doubt that his minions were keeping track of who would attend. They would be watched and monitored in case an ‘incident’ occurred.

If being monitored was a way to appease the societies in New Orleans, so be it. She’d be escorted
around the room like some trophy to keep her family safe.

She’d take whatever she could get at this point
, as long as her obligations were met.

Despite her initial reservations about going, deep down she believed t
onight was going to be special. Being a costume ball, she, Jacques, and their human mate Flynn, had decided to go their separate ways. They would find costumes, get ready, and meet up there.

It was making her crazy thinking about it.

There was nothing sexier than the prospect of meeting up with the two men there and catching each other’s eyes across the room.

Jolie had tried to get them to
tell her what they were wearing. In fact, she also attempted to peek.

Jacques shut her right down, and from the feel of the mental wall blocking her from Flynn’s mind, he was helping their human keep it secret.

That meant one thing…

They were conspiring against her. You didn't live as long as she did and not know when to be wary. Eight hundred years didn't make her naïve. It made her paranoid
and ready for any sneak attack which would pop up.

Now, she was forced to ride to the Mardi Gras ball on her own and seek them out.
It was only fair, since they made a deal.

No vampyre powers
once there.

Since Flynn was a human, only bonded with some
of their traits, they didn't think it would be fair to him. Instead, they opted to go in blind. When she arrived, there would be no scanning for their energy. Jolie would have to check out every attendee to find the ones who belonged to her.

Jolie was betting that she could pick them out of the crowd. After all, she’d been with Jacques Degaul for six hundred years. She knew his gait, his motions, and his
tricks.

Oh
and yes, she was very familiar with his glorious form.

He was tall, well-built, and perfect
, as was most of their kind. It was hard to find an unattractive vampyre in their ranks. Don’t get her wrong; they existed, but not her Jacques. He was Romanesque and powerful. From his chiseled features to the valleys and muscles across his pale flesh, he was perfection.

No, make that
mouthwatering.

Jolie liked nothing more than watching the crimson of his blood dripping down his skin in sexy little rivulets.

His emerald green eyes drew her attention as they stood out in his pale featured face. Their kind had the most brilliant of eyes in sometimes odd colors. It’s like what nature didn't give them in skin pigment, they got doubly for their eyes.

Jolie knew she’d recognize his shoulder length black hair and body in any clothes he used to try and disguise himself.

There was no question about it. While they doubted her skill, she’d studied him for centuries.

This was going to be embarrassing for them.

Jolie found herself laughing. The soft sound of her joy, melodiously filled the room. Her thoughts raced from her vampyre mate to her human one.

Detective
Flynn Brogan.

May the powers that be
have mercy on her shared soul. Talk about sexy as sin. This man could be one of her downfalls in life. While she had her vampyre mate, Jolie had never taken a human lover before, and for one good reason.

They didn't do anything for her.

Until him.

He was fate’s choice
for her human partner. The second she saw him, it clicked, and she just knew.

His body was a little bulkier than Jacques
’s. Where her vampyre mate had more of a runner’s physique, Flynn was like a sexy rugby player.

Big.

Bulky.

And h
otter than hell.

Flynn had the largest hands
that she’d ever seen in her life. When he put them on her body, Jolie’s heart skipped a beat. There was something about his strength and power that she found very alluring.

Then, there was his skin.

Unlike her kind, he was tan and sun-kissed. The rugged good looks, of being a tough bad ass homicide detective, were very alluring.

It made her want to run her lips all over his flesh and taste every inch of him. Then, when he’d stare at her with his icy blue
eyes, she was a puddle.

Jolie shivered.

Picturing the three of them was making her hot and bothered. What she wanted was to get to the ball, find her men, and do really wicked things with them.

At the knock on her door, she turned.

“Mistress, your limo is here. You should be going. Masters Flynn and Jacques left twenty minutes ago, so the coast is clear,” stated one of her human donors.

Jolie placed the giant blood red diamond around her throat and stared into the mirror.

Finally, her outfit was complete.

“I’m ready,” she said, grabbing the trail of fabric that was elegantly draped across her body. She couldn’t wait for them to see her. Jolie had picked this costume with them in mind.

In the limo, there were two bunches of roses and a note waiting for her.

Dearest Mistress,

We can’t wait to see you. We’re sure you’ll astound us with your radiance and beauty.

Forever,

Your men.

It made her smile as she brought the note to her nose and could distinctly smell the cologne
s of both men there. The mingled scent drove her insane with need. It called to something so primitive in her, that she couldn’t hold it back.

Tonight would be spectacular.

There was no doubt in her mind.

At the museum, Jolie stared out the window of the limo in awe. The society had made a huge donation to get their hands on this place for the evening. But, when you wanted to make an impression, you went big or you went home.

The lights were pointed at the giant stone structure, casting shadows on the elegant building. There were limos pulling up with other vampyres and their human mates getting out. As hers arrived, she waited for her driver to help her.

“Thank you,” she offered, handing him a very generous tip.

“Anything, madam,” he said in lilted French, as he offered her a bow.

Jolie
admired the other guests’ costumes. They wore everything from the risqué to old world couture. She saw someone dressed as Marie Antoinette and nearly laughed. She’d been at the beheading, and the woman looked nothing like that, before or after…

Immediately, she had
the attention of all those around her, and Jolie wasn’t surprised. Since arriving there, the societies and council were atwitter with talk.

They had made a statement.

It was what she planned after all. Maybe her costume was scandalous, but she couldn’t help herself. She’d dressed for the men in her life
and no one else.

Jolie ignored their stares and headed to the large doors. Once inside, she would be required to have herself introduced. It was part of the evening’s fun. Each master and mistress had to declare their costume, and it was a first come, first served party. There would be no duplicates, and that made her grin.

Knowing her Jacques, he would have done the research required to pick his and Flynn’s outfits. While Jacques was more likely to play dress up, she wouldn’t be surprised if Flynn showed up as a gangster.

It was just his thing.

Once at the top of the stairs, Jolie handed her card to the man, and he gave an approving nod.

“You have done well, Mistress,” he offered before ringing a giant bell. “Hear ye, hear ye. I offer you Cleopatra, Queen of the
Night.”

There were stares as she began the descent into the museum ballroom. It was lit with thousands of lights and candles, giving it a truly spectacular appearance.

Once at the bottom, she could feel their eyes.

They were here
.

Jolie knew it. Now, it was about finding them, claiming
her men, and beginning the festivities.

As she was offered a glass of champagne, she regally nodded at the other
powerful leaders but said nothing. There was a purpose at hand, and she needed her men in the worst way. Without them by her side, Jolie felt naked.