Page 9 of Toadstools and Vampire Kisses

I nod. “Are there other types of vampires out there?”

“Yes, but most you do not have to worry about,” he assures me. “While the succuri live closely with humans, they are pleasure seekers and generally are very fond of humans. Then there are the gavorethi who rarely come near humans, preferring to dwell in their castles in remote locations where they can run and explore in wild forms.”

I tip my head curiously. “And what are you?”

His fangs flash in another brief smile. “I am a dragor vampire. The dragori are often nearly as reclusive as the gavorethi, or at least they once were, though the younger generations seem to have a fondness for your cities now. As for what we can do… perhaps sometime I will show you.”

I struggle to restrain my imagination so not to cause either of us any further embarrassment.

Good gods, where is that coming from?I’m hardly a virgin and participated in my share of seasonal orgies when I was in my early twenties to draw new life to the land. Outside of that, however, my love life has been tepid at best since I discovered I had more interest in mucking about with my plants than trying to play the dating scene. So why is my inner slut is roaring to life for a man who isn’t even flirting with me, much less displaying any real interest?

Because clearly I’m cursed, that’s why.

Pushing back the morose though to a dark corner of my brain and locking it away, I smile up at the vampire beside me. “I would like that.”

He smiles down at me, and we continue circulating, even stopping to help with the décor in various areas for some time until finally his friends draw him away. I’m surprised to discover that I’m actually sad to see him go as he steps out of the ballroom with his cousin.

I don’t know why I’m allowing myself to get all morose over his absence. It’s shocking that he accompanied me for as long as he did, unless he somehow discovered already that Katherine Durmont is my mother. I doubt it, however. The coven leaves the pleasure of parading me around to my mother alone, and that has yet to come. She always likes to save that for the day of the ball itself, and I’m already dreading it.

No. Reynard Bell, for whatever reason he politely was accompanying me, will likely move on to more interesting witches who catch his eye over the days to come. Huffing unhappily at the idea of oversexed vampires, I go off to hunt down Beast and relieve the younger children of their play companion for a little while. I feel the need for a hug and a bit of absolute adoration from the little terror.

ChapterSeven

REYNARD

The leaves crunch under my feet as I stop a short distance from the Durmont house. My senses opened wide, I can sense Jack nearby, and even farther away are the energy imprints of Connor, Jace, and Ulrek who have woken to join us. As unnatural as it feels for us to sleep and be awake at odd times of the day, I am gratified to see that they are present and seem rested. I know the youngest two were not keen on leaving the party early to rest, but that was expected. Not only because it is an odd time for any of us to slumber but also because of their dismay at not being able to court the witches longer.

Younger than even Jack, Connor and Jace possess a youthful enthusiasm along with the willful exuberance of the vladimiri which makes my head ache at times. Like Jack, they talk about the possibility of mates with a hushed excitement of young males who have never been crushed by the reality of what is often a long, lonely existence. They see this as an opportunity for a children’s storybook ending rather than the brutal failure it is sure to be. Ulrek is the only one who appears unmoved by the events. Unfortunately, though the male is near my own age, I am not comforted by any illusions of support from that quarter.

The sole gavoreth in our coven, he keeps his history hidden. With the exception of perhaps the queen, no one knows why he left the mountains and traveled across the ocean to join with us a few short years ago. I find it difficult to trust in him since, even within the coven, he intentionally keeps himself apart. I cannot imagine why he accompanied us to the Durmont coven. I doubt it has anything to do with finding a mate since he prowled around the ballroom as far from the witches as he could get without actually stepping outside of the room.

I push away my awareness of them and stretch my senses further to seek out any unfamiliar vampires who might be within the vicinity. The billowing breeze and gathering mist whisper over my senses, and my fingers twitch in response to the sweet familiarity of it. I have missed this. Dwelling with the Isadora coven has its benefits but also distinct drawbacks. I have no taste for city life at all. The sounds and decay that float on the air practically suffocate me even as they sour upon my tongue. I don’t know how Jack abides by it—and even seems to enjoy it. Granted, it is not as bad as it once was, but it is still foul.

But this… this is exquisite, the taste of it reminding me of my own estate, far from human habitation. Though only a short drive from the town it neighbors, the Durmont grounds still enjoy a sort of rural privacy with the acreage that it has managed to hold onto, much of which is still woodland.

I wonder if Ulrek is experiencing the same longing that I am to slip into the woods. The only thing that keeps that temptation truly at bay is my hesitancy at leaving Fran alone and potentially vulnerable so far from our protection. I glance back toward the house. This is our third patrol since the evening began. Not that I can complain—this was my idea, after all. The sensitivity of our eyes and skin to the sunlight that blinded us and caused terrible, blistering burns plagued all our species, so if any were to approach, it would be now. Soon Jack and I would retire, leaving the hunt to the other vampires while we take our turn resting so we will all be alert in the early hours of the afternoon before the others retire, just in case any vampires have evaded our notice and slipped into the Durmont household.

It is a fine plan, efficient even. I just had not anticipated how much I would hate it. What is it about that witch that is so distractingly compelling?

I grit my teeth and give an impatient growl as Jack suddenly pushes into my awareness as he jogs over with the blinding speed of the dragori and a burst of icy air. Even among vampires, we move exceptionally fast, faster if in flight, with the air and its moisture at our command that blast of which rarely fails to announce our presence even to those who cannot sense us if they know what they are looking for.

“Jack.” I sigh, turning back toward the house. “Anything?”

“Quiet as a tomb out there aside from the usual wildlife, and just as foul and filthy,” he replies, frowning as he bats away some dirt from his clothes, drawing on the moisture in the air to drag the stain up before it can set. I find his comment ironic considering the sort of surroundings he enjoys but keep it to myself. “I’ve already met up with the others, and their areas are clear and they are set to continue for the rest of the night, though I think Jace and Connor are disappointed that the entertainment inside has concluded for the night,” he adds with a sympathetic purse of his lips. “Did you get anything?”

I shake my head. “Nothing. As you say, it is quiet.”

A blonde eyebrow arches at me. “Then what has you looking out of sorts? You usually like all of…this.” He gestures to the woods stretched out ahead of us at the perimeter of the manor’s clearing.

I give another shake of my head. “Something feels off.”

My cousin’s lips quirk. “Are you sure it’s not just the aftereffects of being dragged around by that witch?” I frown, wondering how he had guessed my infatuation, but then he laughs, and I want to throttle him. “I know I would feel like one of the corpses that humans take us for if I had to stay by her side for hours. Remind me that I owe you one for keeping the coven mistress’s offspring distracted.”

I nearly choke on my own startled breath. Jack pauses, his eyebrows flying toward his hairline in amusement.

“You did not know?” He chuckles again. “I didn’t know her name, and all the close relatives here rather smell alike, but I dug up information on the Durmont heir—or heiress, in this case—and only needed to look for the dullest, frumpiest witch in all the coven to know she was the one.” His grin widens. “It was like an epiphany at first sight.”

“That is why you wanted her out of the way,” I growl, displeased with having pertinent knowledge kept from me. “Because you knew that she would be as watchful and suspicious as her mother in her protectiveness over the coven. And you did not think that this was information I needed to know?”

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