Page 44 of Pleasantly Undead in Dark River

I unlocked the cafe and looked it over. Everything was in its place, ready for tomorrow's grand opening. Still, the stranger had thrown me off. We set about putting the finishing touches on the cafe in silence, each caught up in our own thoughts. But when he brushed past me on the way to the kitchen, he stopped, grabbing my arm and pulling me close to his chest. “Don’t worry about them, Rainey Day. You’re ours and we will protect you with savagery that they have never experienced.” He grabbed my shoulders and faced me to the cafe. I could almost imagine the people in here tomorrow. “Concentrate on this. You’re going to be amazing, and I can’t wait to see you kick some serious ass, then bring it home and let me take a bite out of that cake myself.” He squeezed my butt cheeks and I laughed, whacking him over my shoulder. He was right. There was nothing I could do about the suitors who seemed to be gathering. I’d hoped the guy from last week would be the last of them.

That was naive of me.

Chapter Twenty-Three

As if the universe wanted to prove a point, two strange vampires stood on the doorstep of The Immortal Cupcake the following morning, and their whispered conversation didn’t seem overly pleasant. Nico stepped in front of me.

“Can I help you?” His words might have been polite, but his tone was terrifying. Although he only just hit six feet, power emanated from his body that was so ancient that it was almost painful to me. He stepped forward, and the two vampires unconsciously leaned away, though the younger looking of the two halted himself before he could take that step. He put two hands up and gave me a congenial look.

“No harm meant, Nico. We heard that there was an available succubus, and some of us can feel the madness creeping in. We just want the chance to meet her,” he looked at me and flushed. “Uh, you. Sorry. I’m Ashar.”

I smiled and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, but I’m afraid you have heard wrong. I am not available, and nor will I ever be.” I looked at the man beside Ashar, who didn’t offer up his name. He was glaring at Nico like it was all his fault, but didn’t even cast a sideways look at me. Ashar gave me a disappointed look, and slid his eyes toward his companion. “That’s disappointing, but understandable. Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee we will be the last. Actually, I guarantee we won't be. The news of a succubus so young has riled up not only the American Nests, but those in Europe too.”

Nico sighed. “Walker has already found the remains of an older vampire in the woods. It's missing a head, but just be aware that Lucius has claimed Raine, and coming for her will not be particularly healthy. Plus both the Judge and the Executioner are her mates.”

The other guy spoke for the first time. “And then there is you. It seems to me like you are monopolising her for your own gain. Are you so unwilling to share?”

He still didn’t look at me and I growled. “Youwillnot speak about me like I am an object. Get the hell out of Dark River before you are cut into small pieces.” There was power in my voice, I didn’t know if it was my own vampire power or something I’d gained through my connection with Brody as Alpha Mate. But the man just slitted his eyes at me, and left.

Ashar sighed. “I guess I better be going too. Unless I can stay for the grand opening?” He looked so hopeful I almost agreed, but Nico growled low in his throat. “I would not suggest it. It wouldn’t be good for your health.”

Ashar grinned, and I thought he was quite handsome. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I was at my quota for dick. Seven days. Seven dicks. There was a reason for that. “A pity. Well, Raine. It was lovely to meet you. I wish you the best of luck balancing so many Alpha consorts.” His smile was infectious and I grinned back.

“I’ll manage. Good luck finding what you are searching for.”

Ashar gave a deep bow and then flashed to the other side of town. Nico didn’t remove his eyes from the man until he’d passed over the border.

I turned and unlocked the door to the cafe. Today was the day. The Grand Re-Opening and I was shitting proverbial chickens.

Nico had been up since three baking, so when I stepped inside, the smell of hot bread and sugar hit me like a wave. It was the most magical smell in the world, and wrapped around me like a reassuring hug. Despite the little hiccup on the sidewalk, today was going to be a good day. I could feel it.

Nico grabbed an apron from the back of the kitchen door and put it on. It was covered in kittens fighting with lightsabers, and was actually pretty cool, if a little kooky. Well, that was Nico in a nutshell, and I loved him for it.

I wandered in, putting on my own plain apron, The Immortal Cupcake logo on the top. Nico iced his concoctions, and I moved them to the front display case. I made sub sandwiches, wrapped in brown paper and tied with brown string, and stacked them high in the case too. We couldn’t do all the bread for the diner like Angeline had, but Beatrice had agreed to up her bread order so only one delivery had to be collected each week.

I’d found out that an old vampire with red freckles and bright orange hair, who looked about twenty but was actually closer to five hundred, did all the produce collection every week, and we had to order and send him the delivery dockets for his trip into the city by Wednesday.

Dark River was a well oiled machine. I had to respect what Nico and the Town Council had created here. I’d thought I’d chafe, being forced to remain in the same place all the time, but how often had I ever left my hometown anyway, at least until I went off to college and then my doomed trip to Canada.

Finally, at nine p.m., I was ready. There was a knock on the front door. Brody and Tex stood out the front with the kids. Behind them, Walker, Judge and X were talking softly. Walker looked up, his face lighting up with a smile that made my heart thump wildly. He looked so damn proud and I was going to cry.

My family. My guys. They filled up the small front area of the shop, and the kids walked up to the cabinet with wide eyes. “Do you want one?” I asked softly and Enit nodded excitedly. “Which one?”

As they all chose their cupcakes, the guys grabbed a table. That was the only difference between my layout and Angeline’s. I’d gotten a couple of large farm style tables so everyone was forced to eat together and they could accommodate my growing tribe. I sat down on Judge’s lap, and he held me close to his body. “You’re gonna do great.”

X leaned over and kissed me, biting my ear softly. “You smell good enough to eat. Get the old man to bring home a bowl of that icing. I have some creative uses I’d like to experiment with.”

I grinned even as my cheeks went red. I waggled my eyebrows at him and he laughed. Being with them relaxed me even though the butterflies in my stomach hadn’t let up. They kept me distracted until it was finally time to open the doors to the rest of Dark River.

Flicking the sign from closed to open made my heart thunder in my ears.

Cresta and Ella were the first through the door, and something swelled in my chest. “Hey, thanks for coming,” I said softly. It was unexpected, really. They’d been best friends with Angeline for decades and my friends for such a short period of time. If anyone thought I was stealing Angeline’s life, it would be them.

But they hugged me on the way in, and seemed genuinely happy for me. “It looks great, Raine,” Cresta gushed. “Who knew that Nico was such a clever baker. Dessert and the dick. Best combination ever,” she whisper-shouted. Cresta was loud and had almost zero filter. It was one of the things I liked about her. Ella rolled her eyes.

I ushered them in and moved behind the counter. Townspeople slowly poured through the doors, and a weight lifted off my shoulders. Sure, it could have just been morbid curiosity, or maybe even the fact that it was the reopening, but it still felt like it was a good omen.

About half an hour in, Brody and Tex came over and kissed me goodbye, taking the kids home. Tex squeezed me tightly, pressing kisses to my face. “You’re killing it.” He nipped my lips. “Bring home the leftover cupcakes?”

---