Page 22 of Toadstools and Vampire Kisses

Jack arrives with Ulrek soon after, the latter male frowning silently at my captive. Ulrek doesn’t say a word. He merely places his grip just above mine, his claws pressing into the human’s jaw, until I can move my hand away. Jack turns to follow Ulrek as the male hauls the galkin away but stops when he notices that I don’t follow. I know I should. It is my duty as much as it is theirs, but I cannot escape the pull of my mate. She has caught me in her web and all I can see is her as she talks animatedly among the witches around her and laughs at the performance of the men. I blow out a long breath through my nose, my sense of rivalry heightening.

“Reynard? Are you coming?” Jack asks hesitantly, and I shake my head.

“Not yet,” I reply, stepping forward. “I will be there presently. First there is something I must do.”

“Okay, cousin.”

I do not know if he says anything more or if he lingers even a moment longer because my senses are so focused on Fran that everything else falls away. Barely breaking my stride, I pick up the jack-o’-lantern I had made with the gaping maw and set it on my head. Fran’s gaze finally falls on me as I come to stand among the group of men, her eyes widening in disbelief. She turns away from me, but I can see her watching out of the corner of her eye as I begin to dance.

I feel foolish at first, but gradually she turns toward me again to watch, her eyes scrunching in humor and her smile slowly widening as I dance and dance with the absurd pumpkin on my head. My steps quicken as the tempo of the music gradually increases until I am tapping and spinning at an inhuman speed, her beautiful face the center of the storm. I can feel my wings stretch, threatening to burst forth, but still I dance for the way she smiles at me now though I have disappointed and hurt her. All around me, I can sense children pressing nearer, some of them attempting to dance too as they giggle and shout, but it is not until the last strain of music slows my feet to a halt that the thunderous applause makes me aware of just how large my audience is.

Astounded, I glance around, uncomfortable with so many eyes suddenly on me, but when I turn back to Fran, seeking the security and peace I find with her amid the chaos… she is gone.

ChapterFifteen

REYNARD

My mood is poor as I leave the ballroom with the intent of tracking my brethren through the house and out to the forest’s edge. But not yet. Not before I slip up to her room to return the treasured fox mask.

I take the stairs more quickly than what any human and most beings can accomplish, an eagerness and hope rushing through me that I might find her there. Sadly, one look around tells me the truth of the matter and I cannot help but to feel disappointed.

Where could she be? Perhaps in the rose garden at the fore of the manor? The rose beds are lush with generations of growth that can provide solitude to one who seeks it. I worry my lip with left fangs in a habit that my mother never could break me of.

Is she hiding from me?The thought sends a sharp pinch of pain through my heart. I hate the thought of my mate intentionally trying to escape me. But that seems to be the case from what evidence I can see. She no doubt suspected I would come to her rooms in search of her. If that is the case, I will not search further out of respect to the privacy she so clearly wants.

I set the old mask carefully on her bed. It seems to smile at me for a moment, but I shake my head at the direction of my thoughts. True, I acted strangely out of character today, more honest and forthright than usual in my desire rather than skulking about as I pined away, but it did not seem right to pin that on a mere mask. Still, I feel a small sense of elation fill me. For the first time, I pursued one whom I desire, undeterred rather than withdrawing in frustration at my lack of allure.

Oddly, I am also still filled with a strange desire to corner Fran and tell her everything. I nearly did earlier before she escaped me. I swear to myself that I will when I’m given the next opportunity. This charade has gone on long enough.

A soft sigh escapes me as I leave her room and make my way out of the house. With a burst of the true speed of my species, I hurry toward the forest edge, my every instinct and sense thrown widen open and aware. This has turned into a damnable situation.

I blame Jack entirely. And myself, if I am to be honest. I never should have gone along with my cousin’s idiotic scheme. I got the answers I needed, but in doing so I have caused a rift between Fran and me. I subjected myself to all of that for nothing.

“You are still angry, I see.”

Jack’s words border on flippant as he moves to my side. His wings are out, his gray skin and inhuman features a familiar sight. That he completely dropped his human disguise tells me that he was patrolling from the air. And perhaps to keep watch for me from a less vulnerable position. He does not have to fear; I would not really have killed him, but that leaves a huge opening to what I could do that doesn’t come anywhere close to murder.

“Naturally,” I snarl. “Why would I not be when Fran is avoiding me? Not only did I fail to spend any meaningful time in her company tonight, this ache is getting worse.”

He nods sagely. “Nesting hormones kick in quick, it seems.” I growl in response, but my cousin merely grins gamely. “Come on, Reynard. Every male in our coven would give their fangs for an opportunity to nest—well, nearly,” he makes a face, clearly thinking about Ulrek, who has done everything but socialize with the witches here. “What you’re going through is a good thing!”

I rub my chest in attempt to ease the ache but cannot disagree. Even with the triggered separation providing steadily increasing discomfort, I would not wish myself free of it even if I could.

“Where is the galkin?”

Jack tips his head toward a small gazebo that almost looks like an ancient temple on a smaller scale. “In there. Ulrek has established his hold on the male’s mind.” He shakes his head, his wings twitching. “I wish I had that ability rather than the common hypnosis that just makes prey more compliant and fogs the memory of the experience.”

“Would you give up your wings for it? The dragori and succuri are the only winged vampires,” I remind him as I head toward the gazebo.

His expression turns thoughtful. “That’s true, though the gavorethi are shapeshifters so he could take the form of a winged creature if he desired to fly.”

I nod. “It can be useful, but so can being able to fly while retaining your body and natural size. Every vampire subspecies has its own strengths. Ours is just as uncommon as those of the gavorethi and just as prized.”

“I know. It doesn’t mean that I do not wish to have it all,” he quips, his broad smile stretching once more across his face.

I shake my head in amusement, but the emotion is fleeting as I enter the gazebo and my eyes fall on the galkin who was cozying up tomymate. A low growl rumbles from me as I stalk forward, and surprisingly Ulrek smiles.

“I have kept the male in a sedated state for you. I presumed that you wished to question him.” Though his words are framed like a statement, his thick brows arch in inquiry.

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