Page 20 of A Vow for the Vamp
“Yes, ma’am.”
Yes ma’am?
I pause because the last time someone called me ma’am was decades ago when I was traveling through the South. Teddy did say he’s from Kansas. Do people in the Midwest say ma’am there too?
He’s too sweet. Too polite.
I’m going to corrupt him.
“What?” I seethe when opening the penthouse door a crack. “I told you not to interrupt me tonight, no matter what.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” my royal advisor says, trying to peer into the apartment to see what I’m hiding. “But we’ve received word that a feral vampire is leaving bodies across the city.”
“Shh!” I hiss and open the door just enough to squeeze out.
I nod to my security guards standing on either side of the door, then narrow my eyes at my best friend.
I met Layla Sofia Aldana about one hundred years ago. Our connection is rare. Vampires don’t tend to have close friends, at least not in the way a human would. But Layla is the type of person who draws you in, not only with her beauty, but her wit and aura. She radiates happiness, and while I’m her complete opposite, she’s the only brightness I allow in my life. If she were any brighter, she’d rival the sun.
She’s older by a couple hundred years with light brown skin and umber hair that’s always up in a high ponytail. She’s curvy, but not nearly as thick as me. People oftenunderestimate her. She may be short, but she’s fierce. And she’s a badass fighter.
She once took out an entire team of vampire hunters all by herself, just to protect me. It’s why I named her my right-hand woman.
“Who are you hiding in there?” she asks, reaching for the door. I swat her hand.
“No one. Go away. Don’t make me sic the griffins on you.”
My guards roll their eyes because they know I would never do that. Plus, I’m pretty sure Layla intimidates them.
Layla ignores my threat and sniffs the air, then scrunches her nose. “You smell like sex…” Her brow quirks. “Oh and with a man?” She sniffs some more, and her brown eyes widen. “Ahumanman?”
“I do fuck men, occasionally. Humans too.”
Layla is like me. We enjoy the company of all genders. We met in New Orleans at a jazz club. She was on stage singing in her sparkling flapper dress.
She wasstunning.
We soon became an item. Our relationship was fueled by attraction. It was the 1920s and casual sex was growing in popularity. It was some of the best years of my life because Layla had quickly become my dearest friend. Wehad many things in common, including suffering years of being controlled by men.
After a months’ long affair, we decided friendship would be best. Neither of us wanted to lose this connection and sex often ruins that part of a relationship.
It was for the best. She’s too optimistic about life, whereas I’m hours away from ending it all.
I haven’t told her.
I won’t.
I did, however, write a recommendation to COVE, the Council of Vampire Elites, that she be named queen in my place. They’ll find it in my will, which also leaves my entire estate to Layla. Not that she needs it. She has her own wealth and belongings. But she’s the only one I trust with my legacy.
“Who is it?”
“No one. Again, mind your business.”
“I am your business, Millie May.”
I groan. “You know I hate when you call me that.”
“Fine,Your Majesty.So what do you want to do about the feral vampire? Should I call the gargoyles?”
