The Rise of Vlad (The Seeker Series Book 3) (13 page)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Vlad stepped from the bathroom and pulled the door closed behind him.

“I heard,” Ember announced, entering his room. She laid some clothes on his bed. “I’m pretty sure these will do.”

“Thank you, Ember. I’ll see that you are reimbursed for the cost.”

“Nonsense,” Ember insisted, turning to leave.

She stopped at the door. “Angel and Shon should be back momentarily. Virginia is with them.”

Vlad nodded. “Good to know. I’m sure Nita will be relieved to hear that her mother survived.”

With a soft smile, Ember strode into the hall and disappeared down the stairs.

Mordecai’s footsteps could be heard shuffling across the foyer. Vlad had to fight his instincts to keep from running down there and helping the elderly butler with his burden. But of course, Mordecai would never hear of it.

Vlad moved to stare out the window, enthralled with the scenery of the grounds below. No matter how old he got, he never tired of Alaska’s beauty.

His thoughts drifted to the bathroom where Nita lay soaking in his tub. The water had long since stopped running, giving way to the occasional splash as she apparently bathed.

Her scent, mixed with his shampoo, escaped from beneath the door and drifted up Vlad’s nose. His cock hardened instantly.

If he was honest with himself, he’d been hard since the moment he’d found her in that bear trap.

It seemed an eternity had passed since she’d snuck onto his lands and disrupted his life.
Has it only been two weeks?

Vlad could barely recall the life he’d led before Nita Franks had stumbled into it. And he damn sure couldn’t imagine her not being in it now.

What if she didn’t want to stay? he wondered, watching a shooting star arc across the sky. Could he let her go? Could he go on living as if she’d never existed? No. Vlad would do whatever it took to keep her with him. No matter what.

Mordecai finally arrived, holding a tray and Vlad’s favorite wine. “I figured you could use a drink.”

Vlad grinned at his old friend. “What I wouldn’t give to be able to pull a good drunk. The humans seem to enjoy it immensely.”

Mordecai sniffed. “It’s way overrated, if you ask me.” He set the tray on the bedside table. “Will there be anything else, my lord?”

“That will be all, my friend. Go get some rest.”

The elderly butler stopped at the door on his way out, turning to look over his shoulder. “Will Miss Franks’s mother be joining us tonight?”

Vlad fought a smile. He’d already noticed the difference in Mordecai when Virginia was around. “I believe so.”

“Very well,” Mordecai murmured, nonchalantly. “Good night, my lord.”

The bathroom door opened, admitting a flushed Nita wrapped in an overly large towel. “Is that food I smell?”

“It is,” Vlad assured her. “Come sit down, and I’ll get you fixed up.”

The sight of her padding across his room, barefoot and pink from her bath, triggered another untimely erection. “Angelo and Shon found your mother.”

Nita stopped next to the bed, her face lit up with hope. “Is she all right?”

“I believe so. Ember didn’t give a lot of details, so I’m assuming that she’s fine.”

“I’ll get dressed and meet her downstairs.” Nita began snatching up the clothes lying on the bed.

Vlad reached out and caught her by the arm. “After you’ve eaten. She isn’t here yet, and you need to keep up your strength.”

Snagging a robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, Vlad handed it to her. “Put this on and have a seat.”

Nita accepted the robe, gratefulness shining in her amber-colored eyes.

Vlad held the garment open, watching with humor as she inserted both arms before pulling the towel free and cinching the robe around her waist.

She sat on the edge of the bed before lifting the lid to the tray. “Damn, this looks good.”

Vlad couldn’t seem to take his gaze from her as she ate like a starved puppy.

Water droplets dripped from her hair to be soaked up by the fluffy material of the robe.

She took a sip of the wine he poured her. “This is all so delicious. Mordecai deserves a raise.”

“Herman is well compensated.” Vlad chuckled. “I assure you.”

The sound of a vehicle coming up the road reached Vlad’s ears. “They’ll be here in a minute.”

Nita glanced up from her meal, excitement evident on her face. “My mother?”

Vlad nodded. “You still have a few minutes. Go ahead and finish your food.”

She took another bite of the pasta Mordecai had made her before going completely still. “I can hear it too. The engine, the sound of the tires rolling over the asphalt. Am I becoming a vampire?”

Vlad shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’m not sure what is happening with you. Perhaps your Shaman will give us some insight.”

“If he’s still alive,” Nita muttered quietly.

She set her tray aside and stood. “I don’t think I can eat any more. My stomach feels weird.”

Taking her by the hand, Vlad guided her toward the door and down the stairs to the foyer, where Ember and Laura were playing with Lucius.

The front door opened, and Angel, Shon, Virginia, and the Shaman walked in.

Nita threw her arms around her mother. “Thank God, you’re all right. I saw you fall after that asshole hit you in the head. I’ve been going crazy with worry.”

Virginia pulled back and cupped her daughter’s face. “I’m okay. Just a small bump on the head. We Franks are pretty damn resilient.”

The sound of Nita’s relieved laugh washed through Vlad in a well of warmth that burrowed inside his heart.

Shon touched Vlad on the sleeve. “We have a few injured shifters in the SUV. I wasn’t sure if it was cool to bring them inside or not.”

Vlad nodded. “It’s fine. Take them to the basement. There are beds and plenty of blankets available.”

“Wait,” Nita interrupted, moving to stand next to Vlad. “I need to see them first to make sure none of them were with Miles. We have Lucius to think about.”

Pride filled Vlad’s chest. Nita put a vampire child’s safety above the life of a shifter.

She will make me one hell of a queen, Vlad thought, watching her spring into action like a seasoned general. Because like it or not, she was stuck with him. And he intended to reclaim his rightful place on the council seat, with Nita by his side.

Chapter Thirty

Nita had never been so happy to see her mother’s face as she was in that moment. With one last kiss to Virginia’s aging cheek, Nita stepped back and began barking orders.

Angel, Shon, and Vlad followed her to the SUV to access the injured. One man, lying unconscious in the back, stood out above the rest. The man who’d slammed the butt of his gun into the back of her mother’s head.

Nita yanked him up by the front of his shirt and dragged his body to the ground.

Vlad appeared at her elbow. “One of Castro’s men?”

“Yeah. The one who hurt my mom.”

“Would you like for me to dispose of him for you?”

Nita shook her head. “The other injured shifters might need his blood. I’ll kill him when he’s no longer needed.”

Vlad gripped the shifter around the waist and slung him over his shoulder. “I’ll secure him in the basement.”

Nita followed the trio back inside the house, through the foyer, and into the basement.

She quickly made beds for the injured shifters, tended to their wounds, and washed the blood from their faces.

Her mother accompanied Mordecai into the room, both carrying boxes of food and drink.

“In case someone is hungry when they awaken,” Virginia whispered, setting her box on a nearby table.

The Shaman suddenly appeared in the doorway. His wise old eyes sought out Nita. “I have seen my vision come to pass on this night. Your numbers may seem few, but an army awaits your future.”

Nita stumbled forward and took the Shaman’s hands in her own. “Tell me what you’ve seen.”

The old man shifted his gaze to Vlad before bringing it back to Nita. “You may have destroyed the Seekers in that field, but more will rise up to take their place. Something dark is coming. And I fear the Seekers that your children must face will have weapons the likes of which this world has not yet beheld.”

Nita’s heart skipped a beat. “My children?”

“Yours,” the Shaman murmured, waving his hand in Vlad’s direction. “And his.”

Nita swung her gaze to Vlad, who stood looking at her with a suspicious moisture swimming in his eyes.

Vlad drifted closer, his attention on the Shaman as he spoke. “Will they survive this apocalypse…our children?”

The Shaman shrugged a bony shoulder. “I am not long for this world and will not be here to witness the war that will surely come. The vampire and Kiana must band together. Learn from each other. The fruits of your labor will surpass anything you have ever known.”

Nita blinked back tears. “You’re dying?”

“I am an old man, my child. I have seen more than my share of sorrow in my long life. It is time someone else steps forward and accepts the gifts of the spirits. A leader, a caregiver…a seer.”

Nita’s heart lurched. “Me? But I’m no seer.”

“The black eyes in the cloud. The robed figure, standing above the carnage…”

The tears Nita had tried so hard to hold back spilled over unbidden. “I’m afraid.”

“That is good,” the Shaman, admitted, his faded brown eyes swimming with pride. “A man who does not fear is a fool and is not to be trusted.”

Placing a kiss on Nita’s cheek, the Shaman turned and left the room.

Nita stood there for several heartbeats, taking in everything she’d just been told. She glanced up at Vlad. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Of course you can,” he assured her, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “You’re Nita Franks, leader of the Kiana. You can do anything.”

Laura strolled toward the bathroom, carrying an armload of towels. She smiled at Nita on her way through. “Why don’t you get some rest? We’ve got this.”

“I’ll stay and help,” Nita insisted, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

Vlad abruptly bent and scooped Nita up into his arms. “You heard the lady. You need to rest.”

Nita glanced around at the three injured shifters lying helpless on the beds before seeking out Angel. “Feed the prisoner to them. They’ll be healed up by morning.”

“It’ll be our pleasure,” Shon piped in, sending Nita a wink as he breezed through, trailing his mate.

Vlad carried Nita back up the stairs, shutting and locking his bedroom door behind him.

He stood her on her feet and slowly pulled the belt free on her robe, parting the material to expose her bare skin to his hungry gaze. “Breathtaking…”

Before she could blink, he blurred across the room, grabbed a recliner, and placed it next to the bed. “Sit.”

“You want me to sit in the recliner?”

Vlad began removing his clothing, his hooded gaze locking with hers. Nothing else needed to be said.

Nita sat, her heart pounding with excitement. “But, my mother is downstairs.”

“Then I suggest you keep quiet.”

Vlad finished undressing before sinking to his knees in front of her. He gripped her ankles, pulled her slowly forward, and draped her legs over the arms of the chair.

Nita’s breath caught as her sex became exposed to him. “Vlad?”

“Shhhhh.” He nuzzled the insides of her thighs, nipping and licking his way to her center.

His tongue softly swiped over her clit, and Nita bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out.

“You taste so fucking good,” he growled, dragging his tongue around her small bundle of nerves in a slow, sensuous slide.

Nita’s head fell back in surrender. The feel of his mouth on her most private place, tasting and loving her, had to be the most incredible feeling she’d ever known.

His thumbs slid up on either side of his mouth to press gently on the fleshy softness of her pussy, opening her for his devouring tongue.

He took her clit between his lips and sucked.

Nita’s hips bucked off the chair. Nerves exploded with feelings so incredible she couldn’t catch her breath.

The tingling grew stronger, more intense, climbing up her spine in a whirlwind of sensation that triggered her climax.

Her body shook with the force of the orgasm gripping her insides. Gone were the thoughts of her mother’s presence downstairs or the other vampires hearing her cries. The sounds coming from her throat couldn’t be stopped any more than her release could.

Vlad stood in one fluid motion. He lifted her from the chair, sat where she’d just been, and pulled her onto his lap, facing away from him.

“Do as I tell you,” he whispered in her ear before reclining the chair back. “Put your legs over the arms.”

Nita straddled the arms once again, holding on to his knees to keep her balance.

Vlad gave her a gentle tug. “Lie back against me.”

Her head rested on his shoulder as she eased her back against his chest.

His hands came around her, coasting up her sides to settle over her breasts. He kneaded her flesh, rolling and pinching her nipples into hard nubs of sensitivity.

“Do you like that, my sexy wolf?”

Her inner walls clenched. “Y-Yes.”

“How about this?” His warm palms skimmed down her ribs, over her stomach to rest on her thighs, his thumbs brushing against her aching pussy.

A moan escaped Nita at the contact. She opened her legs wider to give him better access.

Vlad released her thigh with his right hand and cupped her smooth mound before slowly slipping a finger inside.

“Oh God,” Nita gasped, straining for deeper penetration.

“Not God,” Vlad growled, inserting another finger. “Vlad. Say it.”

“Vlad,” Nita gasped, digging her nails into his forearms.

He nudged her hair aside with his nose, raking his fangs lightly over the skin of her throat. “I have never wanted to be inside anyone as much as I crave to be inside you.”

Nita panted. “Are you telling me the truth?”

Vlad removed his fingers from her aching center and brought them to his lips. He licked the dewy tips before resting his mouth against her ear. “I would never lie to you, Nita. I love you more than life.”

Tears welled up in Nita’s eyes. “Say it again.”

“I love you,” Vlad breathed, a slight catch in his voice. “And if you don’t love me back, I’ll fucking die.”

Nita let the tears spill over to track down her cheeks. She turned in his lap to face him. “I love you too, Vlad the Impaler. God help me, but I do.”