Page 33 of Toadstools and Vampire Kisses

The extra cabin was what I lived in for the months it took to build my home and was the original structure on the property. I know very well the place isn’t very nice to look at, but at least it’s well insulated. He just isn’t going to be very comfortable with internet services there since the cabin is farther back on the property and too far away to receive reception from my setup.

“Okay,” I agree, giving Reynard’s hand a squeeze. “It’s a deal.” I pause, biting my lip. “You realize he’s going to have to get up all close and bite you, right?”

Ted shrugs. “Sure. I mean, hell, I’ve watchedQueen of the Damnedabout a half dozen times growing up. If he were a woman, it would probably be sexy as fuck, but I’m good.” He squints at Reynard a little. “It’s not going to hurt too much, though, right?”

“No,” Reynard rasps softly. “There will be a small pinch, and then it will feel like being bathed in a pleasurable warmth. You will enjoy it.”

My cousin nods and gives him a crooked smile. “Sounds good, but I really wish you were a vampiress, not going to lie. Where do you want to do this?” he asks as he looks away from him and back to me.

My mind scrambles to land upon the perfect spot where we won’t stand a chance of being interrupted, but I draw a blank. I could take them both back to my room but I know exactly how that would look—and though Ted is a distant cousin, I don’t really need rumors that I was entertaining both of them in my bedroom in the middle of the day. Everywhere else is guaranteed to have people moving in and out as the ball goes into full swing.

“My room,” Reynard says suddenly, saving me from having to make a potentially bad decision. “We will go up briefly alone. If anyone asks, we will say that we went up so that I could show you my ancient seeing stone.”

Ted’s eyebrows raise with excitement. “Do you really have one?”

“Have one, yes. Have it here, no,” Reynard replies crossly. My cousin’s face falls in disappointment, but he does not see it because his gaze cuts sharply to me and I feel a subtle weight of command in it. “Fran, I ask that you wait for me to return.” He grimaces. “Preferably not with males. I do not know how well I will be able tolerate the scent of another male near you at the moment.”

I nod his way. “No problem. I can pester Eleanor for a bit. I’m pretty sure that she can use the distraction.”

The look he gives me is grateful, and he drops a kiss to my cheek, no doubt as aware as I am of my cousin’s eyes bouncing between us with interest. At last, he straightens, and I find that I already miss him when he takes several steps back to give Ted room to accompany him.

My lips thin unhappily as I watch them walk away, a small sensation tingling and snapping within me that is too much like a magnet resisting being pulled from its mate for my enjoyment. But at least Reynard is getting what he needs. Hopefully, it will improve his mood for what is to come. Sorceress’s Choice tends to be a favorite of a lot of ladies, and many of the men who are hopeful of getting a little action, but it’s going to mean that I stake a very public claim on my vampire—whether I am ready to or not—to keep the other ladies away from him and all mine for the night.

I spin around in search for Eleanor, hoping she will be just the distraction I need. I know that, despite my words to my cousin and Reynard, I will need it more than she ever would. As I catch sight of her, I smile as she navigates the arrangement of a dozen fake crows, dodging everyone around her quickly as she seems to speak to herself with her head down.

I’ve been there. Sometimes the best person to bounce thoughts off is yourself, and no one in the coven ever judges anyone for that since we all do it to one degree or another. I personally think it is one of those things that comes with being a witch. I’ve never known one who didn’t talk to themselves, men and women alike. Regardless, she is so engrossed that I doubt she even notices the craziness around her, and I smile fondly after her.

Of course she wouldn’t. She does this every year without batting an eyelash as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. The chaos of the coven and the responsibility is as natural as breathing to her without even taking into consideration her own power that is nearly equal to my mothers. She doesn’t let it go to her head, but nor is she shy or hesitant about anything. She knows exactly what she brings to the coven and her place in it. And I am a little jealous of that. Knowing her, she wouldn’t be shy introducing the man she chose to the coven, even if he was a visiting vampire.

Damn. I wish I were more like Eleanor. Maybe if I hang around with her enough, something will rub off. Or that she might have advice. One can hope, anyway.

ChapterTwenty

FRAN

Eleanor is a lot quicker on her feet than I realized. How she has effortlessly evaded me with just a brisk walk while I’m practically jogging after her is beyond belief. I would almost think that someone was transporting her small distances away, getting her farther and farther from the crowd so gradually that no one notices her.

Picking up my pace, I jog after her, determined more than ever to catch up. Something strange is going on, but I can’t put my finger on it. She is about to disappear around a corner when I’m finally close enough to reach out and grab her arm. I don’t expect her to whirl around nearly jumping out of her skin with a startled yelp, but I step back with my hands raised and laugh.

“Is everything okay, Eleanor? You were really booking it.”

She gives me a flustered look as she adjusts her finely embroidered and beaded blouse. “Of course. I was just lost in my own thoughts for a moment there. Was there something you needed, Fran?”

I feel a momentary flash of guilt. Have I talked to her lately outside of needing help with something? I haven’t socialized much with the coven lately and can’t really recall.

“Actually, I was just coming over to hang out and see if you needed help with anything.”

To my shame, her eyebrows fly up in surprise. I guess that answers my question. I really need to make more of an effort. Of all my cousins, Eleanor is the one I am closest to, and not just because it was convenient to dump my unwanted responsibilities that she seemed to crave on her when we were younger. She’s the only member of my family who has ever accepted my eccentricities and solitary nature where most consider me completely antisocial at best. Even before I moved out to the property I bought, I frequently took long trips from the city and was hard to reach more often than not outside of emails left for me.

“Really? You want to hang out with me? I thought you were—” she pauses, glancing around. “Where is your vampire?”

Heat crawls up my neck, and I fail at muffling my embarrassed croak as I rub a hand over the red stain creeping up toward my face. Eleanor slowly grins with delight.

“What? Did you think no one would notice the way you light up around him? Please. We’ve grown up together, even shared the same bathtub when we were little. You can’t hide it from me,” she teases, flicking the tip of my nose with her index finger, sending a tiny jolt of power into me.

“Ellie, damn it, you didn’t need to do that,” I yelp as I scrub at my nose, harkening back to our childhood as I stick out my tongue.

She cackles jubilantly and waggles her finger at me. “Nuh-uh, no paybacks. You remember what happened last time.”

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