A Call of Vampires (A Shade of Vampire #51)(29)

I stifled a laugh, then shook my head slowly.

“The word ‘incorrigible’ comes to mind.” I grinned. “But sure, Heron, apology accepted. Thank you for being so open about it, though. I’m sure it doesn’t come easy.”

“It doesn’t, but that’s just my fragile ego. It’s about time someone put an end to it,” he said.

“I mean, I’m sure that stunt works with other chicks.” I giggled, shoving my attraction toward him in a dark corner, deep inside. “But I’m not exac—”

I stilled, distracted by a light moving in the night sky. I watched its zig-zag as it got bigger against the tourmaline blanket of stars, and felt my eyebrows draw into a frown. That wasn’t normal, and it seemed to be getting closer to the surface of Eritopia.

“What are you…” Heron’s voice trailed off as he followed my gaze and saw the strange light moving unnaturally as it got bigger and brighter. “That’s not something you see every day.”

“That’s not something you see, period,” I muttered, my skin crawling.

There was something off about it. My instincts flared with giant warning signs, and I kept my eyes glued to the light. I squinted, trying to get a better look as it got even bigger. It seemed to be the size of a hot air balloon, more or less, bright white and perfectly round.

“It’s definitely not a shooting star,” Heron replied.

“No, it’s moving in a specific motion,” I said. “A repeating zig-zag pattern.”

He nodded, watching it.

“Where do you think it’s headed?” he asked.

It took me a minute to realize, but, despite its evasive maneuvers, it soon became obvious. My lips parted and my stomach dropped as the conclusion kicked in.

“It’s coming straight toward us.” I gasped, then shot off the balcony and into the hallway.

I ran fast, with Heron right behind me. We rushed into the banquet hall, dodging servants with food trays and glasses, and hundreds of wedding guests across the massive dancefloor. I had to warn Draven and the others.





Fiona





(Daughter of Benedict & Yelena)





I returned to my table after Bijarki politely took Shen aside for a quick work-related talk—or so he’d said. Shen didn’t seem all that happy to part with me, but I had to admit I’d had a little too much of his incubus nature already. With a light head and soft knees, I rested my elbows on the table. Dad poured me another glass of peppered blood. Of all the varieties I’d tasted so far, the spicy one was definitely my favorite.

“I must say, you look gorgeous, honey.” Mom smiled at me as she leaned against Dad’s shoulder. I glanced down at my dress and shrugged. I’d opted for a black sequined pencil dress that covered my knees, with spaghetti straps and a deep cut at the back for mobility, and black pumps with heels high enough to make me comfortably taller.

“Thank you, Mom.” I smiled back with a wink. “You’re not looking bad yourself!”

Indeed, my mom had gone for a soft red cocktail dress, with diamond earrings and a matching necklace that made her resemble a 1950s starlet. Dad gazed lovingly at her, his hand covering hers on the table.

“And she always makes it look so effortless,” he said.

Mom laughed lightly, her eyelids fluttering as she took a sip from her glass of blood. She’d settled for the plain one, without spices.

Field and Aida came to our table, laughing. Their cheeks were red, as they’d just finished a fast-paced number on the dancefloor.

“Mind if we join you for a minute?” Field asked, pointing at Avril and Scarlett’s empty seats next to mine.

“Of course not!” I beamed at them.

They both sat down, pouring themselves tall glasses of spiced rosewater and gulping down half in one go. Dad stifled a laugh as he sipped from his.

“I’m guessing all that dancing got you two thirsty,” he said.

“Yeah, though I’m not sure it would be wise to drink spiced rosewater so fast.” Aida grinned. “But hey, my brother just got married, I’ve got a bun in the oven, and the man of my dreams is with me. I think we’re okay to enjoy this exotic treat tonight. It’s harmless during pregnancy anyway!”

“Congratulations again, sweetie,” Mom replied with a warm smile. “I can’t wait to see the bump!”

Field put his arm around Aida’s shoulders and pulled her close, dropping a kiss on her temple. Aida sighed and relaxed into him, resting her head against his chest. She looked tired, and I had a feeling she’d soon be gently carried off to dreamland.

“Me too,” she said, stifling a yawn. “Although the bun is already eating into my energy. I’m sleeping more each day! Not to mention the morning sickness… I heard that kind of goes away in the second trimester, though.”

“It did for me.” Mom nodded. “Fiona was a good baby, too. Barely kicked toward the end of the third trimester.”

“I had to sometimes tap Yelena’s belly just to make sure Fiona was still in there.” Dad chuckled, brushing his knuckles against my cheek.

They all looked at me with soft smiles, as if I were still a baby, and it felt cute and awkward at the same time because I was still reeling from the physical attraction that Shen had fired up inside me. I got busy with my glass of spiced blood, unable to formulate any coherent thoughts—I noticed Shen gazing at me from across the dancefloor. Even from that distance, the incubus was brazen and unabashed in expressing his desire for me.