Burning Both Ends (23 page)
Authors: Ally Shields
Tags: #Guardian Witch Book Three, #Urban Fantasy, #Paranormal
Andreas rose and frowned at her. “Arianna, cara mia, why are you so upset?” He reached out, and his hands closed around her shoulders. “Daron did not do anything. I gave him the crown.”
“Why? Why would you do that?” Surely it wasn’t because of her. No, dammit! Andreas wouldn’t do that without talking to her. Something had gone very wrong. Why didn’t he call her? Follow the plan. It was only three hours by jet. She didn’t know what to say to him.
“You’re disappointed?” he asked quietly.
“Disappointed?” His understatement broke her restraint. “I’m pissed as hell. What about the others? Russell, Lilith, Gabriel. Tell me what happened.”
Please Goddess, don’t let any of my friends be dead.
Andreas’s face paled, his eyes hooded. “I thought you would be happy to have me in Riverdale,” he said. “Apparently I misjudged the situation.”
“I am, or I would be if things were different.” She scowled at him. “How could I be happy when you gave up so much? I’m not that selfish.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Cara mia, I do not know what you mean. Are we talking at cross purposes? I have given up nothing, except a huge headache.” The cloud on his face began to clear. “All of us have returned safely. Daron and I formed an alliance, a business deal, and traded territories. You are scowling so disrespectfully at the new Prince of Riverdale.”
She was speechless for a long moment. “Really? Truthfully? Why didn’t you say so?”
“I just did.” His chuckle was low, as his knuckles gently rubbed across her chin.
Ari peppered him with questions, and he filled in the pieces of the story, including his secret negotiations with Daron. While Ari had known Andreas and Daron had been talking, she hadn’t known an exchange of territories had been under consideration since the night Sebastian died. Although Ari was annoyed he hadn’t shared this sooner, she was beginning to know her vampire. He wouldn’t understand her irritation. In his mind, it was vampire business and didn’t need to be shared until it affected her. And she was too happy to have him home to start a fight that would gain her nothing.
She nodded absently, wiggling closer to his side on the couch, as he listed all the thinking that had gone into their final decision. Very solid and extremely practical choices. Quite businesslike, in fact. He pointed out that the Toronto court was too large and had too many older vampires for him to hold it indefinitely, that Daron was older and more experienced, that Daron's age and experience would gain him automatic respect from Sebastian's people, especially when the word circulated that Daron was the first son of an elder. Andreas also mentioned something about Daron’s presence in Toronto might slow down the O-Seven. They'd have to think of some clever way to oust him, because his sire would never agree to an assassination. All good, sensible arguments, Ari thought, leaning her head against his chest. Blah…blah…blah. The rest of it went in one ear and out the other.
She listened to the rich vibrations of his voice, savored the familiar scent of his cologne. His magic cradled her, entwined with her own, shutting out the rest of the world. The words were simply lost in the process. Maybe she’d care about the details later and make him repeat it all—especially the part about the O-Seven. The vampire elders weren’t likely to leave Prince Daron or Andreas alone forever. Not after the death of Sebastian and taking over the Toronto court. They’d need to plan for the possibility that bigger and better monsters would come. But not tonight.
When he finished the lengthy explanation, they remained on the couch, wrapped in each other’s arms. Bella hopped up and curled beside them, her loud purr signaling her contentment. Ari’s smiled to herself. She wanted to purr too.
“I’ll miss one thing,” she whispered just to tease him. “The private jet. I was beginning to get used to it.”
Andreas stirred and murmured against her hair. “Then consider it yours. Because I brought that with me, too.”
Ari turned her head to look into his dark, fathomless eyes. Her own mysterious vampire and a private jet. What more could any witch desire?
~ About the Author ~
Ally Shields is the pseudonym for Janet L Buck, a writer born and raised in the Midwest along the Mississippi River, the setting for her urban fantasy series. A former lawyer and juvenile court officer, she now writes full time. Visit her official author website at
www.allyshields.com
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Discover more about Ally Shields here
http://allyshields.com/blog.html
http://twitter.com/ShieldsAlly
http://facebook.com/AllyShieldsAuthor
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527209.Ally_Shields
~ Also by Ally Shields ~
Awakening the Fire
Guardian Witch Book One
Arianna Calin has sworn to keep the peace in Riverdale. Most of the Otherworlders prefer to haunt the Olde Town district--partying at vampire strip clubs, dining in elegant supper clubs, and inhabiting the cliffside caverns along the Mississippi. Being a cop is a tough job, but someone's gotta do it, and Ari's got her derringer, a sharp stiletto, and a few handy charms against things that hunt in the night. She's also a fire witch--a pedigree that comes in handy, since her partner's only human.
When a virtual reality drug hits the streets, people start to die, and an elusive pack of werewolves threatens the status quo. Ari and Ryan are drawn into a web of murder and evil that will lead sworn enemies to a confrontation. While the city simmers around them, Ari struggles to prevent an all-out supernatural war...
Fire Within
Guardian Witch Book Two
A hidden evil stalks the city…
Ari Calin refuses to believe her human friend Eddie murdered a vampire—in spite of his confession. Her human partner Ryan thinks the case is a slam dunk, even though there’s no weapon and no witnesses, but Ari’s not about to let her friend take the rap without finding out more.
When Ari attends a charity event on the arm of a handsome werewolf, she finds someone she never expected to see again—Andreas De Luca, the charismatic vampire she used to date. When their eyes meet across the room, memories come rushing back. His kiss, his touch, a savage death…and a terrifying magical bond. A reconnection is the last thing she wants. Only by staying away and forgetting Andreas can she hope to avoid the Legend of Ramora.
But when vampires keep dying, one thing becomes clear: Riverdale has a serial killer on its hands, and Andreas could be next. Ari begins to fear there’s more to it, though. Something truly evil is stalking the city, waiting to take control…
~ More Fantasy from Etopia Press ~
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