Page 4 of Toadstools and Vampire Kisses

Jack may joke about the rogues all he likes, but at least whatever bond they created was a happenstance of some other force at work. Unlike those within my coven, rogues rarely use the allure to do more than feed. I always held some small amount of respect for them in this regard. That they have found mates and establish blood bonds with them is surprising, but it is far more deserved than our queen’s plans. That my brethren are intentionally targeting witches here is particularly odious. There is nothing natural about this.

Never have I been more grateful for the misfortune of being born lacking the allure. I know my cousin sees it as a weakness, but for me it keeps things uncomplicated. Hypnotizing my prey in passing holds little promise to me.

But this—this isn’t about hunting at all. This is entirely about using seduction to hunt out powerful mates. I cannot think of a more odious thing. There is nothing natural about this. I am quite certain that my expression betrays my thoughts on the matter because my significantly younger cousin is giving me an incredulous look.

“Don’t act so shocked,” Jack retorts. “None of us are virginal, and I suspect no witch in attendance is either. Witches do not hold to celibacy any more than our own kind. If we are fortunate enough to mate, it will benefit both sides. If not us, it will be another. The queen has learned that the Algriech coven intends to infiltrate the ball’s more public events, which is why she arranged for us to be here for the entire celebration as protection with the coven’s permission.”

That other vampires pose a threat to the Durmont coven makes me waver on my outright objection. The Algriech coven are a nasty bunch, vladimiri vampires who crave pain as much as the taste of blood from their prey. Although the Isadora coven possesses our share of vladimiri, which is hard to avoid due to their ample numbers, as well as a greater number of lustful succuri, we live by a far tighter interpretation of the laws than many other covens. That adherence to order is what drew me to them in the first place.

I cross my arms over my chest contemplatively, and he straightens, releasing a long sigh. “I see that you aren’t going to do it, are you?”

“And how would you presume I do that, cousin?” I snap, annoyed with this entire situation. I don’t wish for a single vladimir to be anywhere near this place.

He shrugged. “The strange one you were speaking with earlier did not seem entirely averse to your presence. If nothing else, you can keep her occupied while the rest of us test the others in attendance.”

A small growl rises in my throat, but I quash it. It wouldn’t do any good, not with this whole plan sanctioned by the queen.

That I found the witch oddly appealing is not something that I’m willing to admit to and give my cousin further ammunition against me. That he clearly found her lacking in her admittedly frumpy attire was not lost on me, but I found an endearing sort of charm in its blatant honesty. After a lifetime surrounded by vampiresses who flaunt their predatory natures, it is surprisingly refreshing with something so clearly unspoiled. She doesn’t deserve to be mixed into all of this.

“As wrong as I find this, all I can promise is to not get in your way and to help you avoid detection as much as possible,” I reply stiffly. “I am certainly not going to attempt to seduce some distant relative of the Durmont coven.”

A sly grin stretches across Jack’s face that makes my hackles rise. “I do not recall you protesting overly much. Quite the opposite, actually. You seemed to have the situationwell in hand.”

I refuse to humor him beyond a simple raised eyebrow. I do not find him the least bit amusing. A male who was born in the mid-nineteenth-century, he possesses a juvenile temperament despite achieving adulthood some time ago. He certainly needs no encouragement.

“As always, cousin, your sense of humor is highly questionable,” I remark dryly. “I was merely attempting to be a gentleman and assist a female in need. Surely not so much time has passed that you have forgotten.”

He gives me a disbelieving look. “Times like these remind me how much you’ve slept through when you decided to take your century-long nap.”

“I decided nothing. It was a punishment,” I return, not bothering to keep the growl of bloodlust from my voice.

An unfair and undeserved punishment from a vengeful queen who thankfully passed beyond the veil just before I had been awakened That had not kept me from joining my kin here, however, once I learned of their location.

“True,” Jack admits with a grimace. “In any case, I remind you that chivalry is a thing of the past, cousin, gone the way of bustles and corsets. Best that you remember it before someone takes advantage of this naiveté.”

At my stubborn silence, my cousin rolls his eyes. “Fine. I will assign another male to distract her so you can lurk in the background like a wraith as usual.”

I leap to my feet and grab the younger male by the collar, dragging him up off his feet and slamming him against the wall. He stares down at me drolly, not the least bit intimidated at the vicious flash of my fangs.

“I take it that is a no?” he murmurs.

Huffing, I release him, letting him drop silently back onto his feet as I turn away. “I will handle her,” I snap, hating every word coming from my mouth. “One of the others may terrorize her to the point of giving away the game.” I cut him a sharp glare. “You would not want that.”

“Of course not, Reynard,” he soothes, happy now that he has achieved exactly what he wants, and I’m all the more the fool for giving it to him.

Whatever am I going to do with Miss Fran Durmont?

ChapterFour

FRAN

“But, Mother, why a dragon?” I sigh as I watch my mother fuss about my bedroom, straightening the various knickknacks.

I have updated the room over the years to reflect my tastes rather than a homage to my long-gone childhood. Long gone are all the half-naked posters of Bon Jovi and Axl Rose that my mother detested, as well as the whimsical figures of unicorns, faeries, and dragons that I never quite outgrew. Though honestly the best of those were simply relocated to the decorative cabinets in my cabin.

She shakes her head, her brown eyes filling with humor as she looks over at me. “What was I to do, tell him to leave? Since the day he showed up on the front step, he’s been going on about claiming his ‘treasure’ and not leaving without it. I have no idea what he’s on about, but since he scares off other nuisances and that has proved to be invaluable. It was simpler to let him have one of the rooms in the north wing.”

I squint at her. “And he’s teaching you magic.”

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