Silent Bite-A Scanguards Wedding (1001 Dark Nights) (7 page)

Ursula noticed how Delilah sucked in a breath. “You don’t think—” She stopped herself and ran her hand along her torso before resting it on her belly. “But, we’ve tried to be careful.” Her cheeks colored prettily.

Ursula didn’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure out what Maya was alluding to. “Are you saying Delilah is pregnant?” she whispered so nobody else in the room could hear them. Except maybe the other vampire females in the room, whose hearing was superior to that of humans: Rose, Yvette, Vera, as well as Portia and Lauren, who both were hybrids, half vampire, half human.

Maya smiled at Delilah. “I think you should come in for a test in the next few days. So we can be sure. I would love to study your pregnancy from beginning to end this time. Last time I only got the tail end of it.”

“That is, if I’m really pregnant. I could well be just getting fat!” Delilah joked.

“With a man like Samson?” Maya looked at Ursula, and Ursula couldn’t help herself but laugh.

“Maya is right. I mean I don’t know Samson that well, but if he’s anything like Oliver, then I’m surprised you only have one child so far.” Shocked at her own words, Ursula slapped her hand over her mouth, then quickly scanned the room to see if her mother was close by. To her relief, she was still harassing the poor seamstress and giving her tips on how to do her job.

When she turned back to Maya and Delilah, both women were chuckling.

“Guess our Oliver has become quite a man,” Delilah said, the affection for him shining through her words and eyes.

Ursula dropped her lids, suddenly embarrassed. “My parents don’t know.”

Ursula felt a hand on her forearm and looked up. Maya squeezed her arm briefly. “And they won’t hear it from us.”

“Thank you!”

“So, about the dress,” Delilah started.

“Don’t worry,” Ursula said. “There should be enough inside seam so the seamstress can let it out to make it wide enough so you can breathe comfortably. Let me get her.”

She walked to the seamstress, who knelt in front of Yvette to adjust the seam of her dress, and tapped her on the shoulder. “Ms. Petrochelli? Could you please help out my friend Delilah? Her dress is too tight. You’ll need to let a little bit of the seam out.”

“Too tight?” her mother interrupted, a panicked look on her face. “But you said she wore a size six. We bought her a size six.”

“Yes, but it’s just a little too tight.” Ursula tried to calm her down, but it appeared it was already too late. Her mother had switched to panic mode and was already moving toward Delilah.

With a sigh, Ursula looked over her shoulder and watched how she stepped behind Delilah to try to zip her up. Then she gesticulated wildly and Ursula had to turn away. She couldn’t watch. It would only make her stress about things even more.

“Your mother takes things too seriously,” Yvette suddenly said, making Ursula look at her and smile.

“Don’t all mothers?” She simply shrugged then let her eyes wander over Yvette’s red dress. “You look great in this. It’s totally your color.”

Yvette smiled broadly. “I love it. I was just a little surprised that you chose red for the bridesmaid’s dresses. Normally the bridesmaids get to wear some ghastly color like pink or orange, just so that they can’t upstage the bride.”

“Red means good luck at a Chinese wedding. The more red the better. Besides, with all of you except for Rose and Nina having dark hair, I figured it’s a color that would look good on all of you.” She chuckled. “And Rose and Nina can wear any color they want anyway.”

Yvette laughed and winked at her. “Yes, blondes have all the fun.”

Ursula had never seen her so lighthearted. As she joined in Yvette’s laughter, she heard her mother’s shocked gasp and turned, wondering what had gone wrong now.

Her mother stalked toward her, eyes wide, a dismayed look on her face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Instinctively, Ursula backed away. Had somebody let it slip that she’d been living with Oliver? “Tell you what?” she managed to ask, trying to buy herself some time.

“About Oliver’s date of birth!” Her mother’s cheeks were flushed as her voice rose.

The other women fell silent and were suddenly all staring at them.

“Why didn’t you tell me that he was born on the fourth of April?”

Ursula stared blankly at her mother. “What?” And who had even told her? She looked at the faces of her bridesmaids and saw Rose shrug and make a helpless gesture.

“Your mother asked so she could get a horoscope done as a surprise gift,” Rose said apologetically.

“The fourth day of the fourth month, Ursula! How could you keep this from me?” her mother asked again.

That’s when it finally clicked. It was a bad omen. With four meaning death in Chinese culture, for the groom to have two fours in his birth date spelled disaster. Ursula didn’t believe in these superstitions, having grown up mostly in Western culture, but her mother was still too engrained in the old beliefs.

“It doesn’t matter, Mom!” she answered.

“It matters! Have you no respect for your heritage? No belief in our culture?”

Ursula vaguely heard the chiming of the doorbell.

“I don’t care when he was born. I love him!”

Her mother shook her head. “We have to change things. I’ll have to get a horoscope done and see whether there’s a day you can marry him that will counteract his date of birth. A day that’ll be luckier than others.”

“That’s ridiculous! I’m not doing this! I’m getting married in two days, and that’s that!” Ursula ran toward the door.

“Ursula!” her mother shouted.

“Mrs. Tseng,” she heard Vera’s voice. “Maybe I can help. I’m an expert in Chinese numerology.”

Ursula pushed back the tears as she opened the door and stepped into the corridor. She doubted that Vera could sway her mother. After all, Vera was the owner of a brothel. Yes, she was Chinese, but did that really mean she knew anything about the superstitious beliefs her mother held or how to dispel them?

* * * *

He’d snatched a couple of folding chairs off the truck that was parked outside the house and simply marched into the garden without being stopped by anybody. In the tent, he placed the chairs around a table while his eyes took in his surroundings.

Various different workers were busy erecting a podium with a canopy on which undoubtedly the ceremony would take place, while others carried in tables and chairs and set them on the wooden boards that had been placed over the grass in order to form an even floor.

From what he could see, none of the workers were vampires. And if one of the humans realized that he didn’t belong there, he could use mind control on him and make sure there would be no trouble.

Looking over his shoulder, he made sure nobody was taking any notice of him, and stalked to the door that led into the back of the house. He entered quickly, finding nobody in the large eat-in kitchen. He pushed the door to the hallway open and spied a human standing watch in front of a door. A tall young man who couldn’t be older than twenty-five. He could overpower the human within seconds if he had to.

He’d nudged the door open a little wider when the doorbell chimed.

The human sighed and walked to the entrance door, turning his back to him. It was all the time he needed to exit the kitchen and advance silently into the corridor. Quickly, he dove into another room, which he identified as a laundry room by its smell even before he opened the door, and closed the door but for a sliver, so he could spy into the hallway from his hiding place. He was only a few steps away from the stairs that led to the upper floor. That’s where he wanted to go to find Ursula’s room and wait for her there. Eventually she would go there. All he had to do was wait.

“Hey Samson, Amaury!” the human greeted the two vampires who now entered the foyer.

He felt like growling but suppressed the urge. The boss of Scanguards and one of his high-level partners showing up here was inconvenient. He didn’t need any more vampires on the premises than there already were. It was hard enough to avoid the ones already in the house. He had to be careful not to get too close to any of them or they might be able to smell him and realize he didn’t belong here, even if he was hidden somewhere. He hoped that the fact that he was hiding in a laundry room that smelled of bleach and laundry soap helped disguise his scent.

“Hey, Blake!” Samson replied.

“What are you guys doing here? I thought you were babysitting Isabelle.”

“I left her with Zane.”

“Well, in that case, wanna help out?”

Amaury laughed. “Not likely. We’re just here to pick up Nina and Delilah.”

Blake motioned his head to the door he’d been watching earlier. “They’re still in there for the fitting. I’m afraid you can’t go in there right now.”

Just at that moment, the door opened. The scent drifted to him even before he saw her emerge. Ursula came running out of the room and nearly collided with Amaury’s massive frame.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you, Amaury,” she apologized hastily, her voice thick with tears.

“Something wrong?” Amaury wrapped his palm around her forearm when she tried to push past him and head for the stairs.

She shook her head and pulled herself free of his grip. “Nothing!” She sniffed.

Blake made a few steps toward her. “Is it your mother again?”

Ursula nodded.

“What’s going on?” Samson asked, his eyes darting back and forth between the two humans.

Ursula turned back to them. “She doesn’t like Oliver’s date of birth!” A sob dislodged from her chest and she whirled around and ran up the stairs.

“Ah, crap!” Blake cursed.

“Shouldn’t one of us go after her and calm her down?” Amaury wondered.

In his hiding place, he narrowed his eyes. No, he didn’t want anybody to go after her, because she was just where he wanted her. She’d be in her room, alone, crying her eyes out for whatever reason. She wouldn’t even hear him open the door and enter. She would be face-down on her bed. He hadn’t thought it would be so easy.

Blake shook his head. “Just give her some time alone. Ursula and her mother have had a few blowouts like that. It’ll pass.”

When both vampires nodded in agreement, relief washed over him.

Perfect!

Now he only had to wait for those three to leave the hallway and he would be able to walk upstairs and grab her. Only a few more minutes.

“So, where’s Oliver?” Samson asked.

“He’s out with Wes. Something about the flowers,” Blake replied.

Samson and Amaury exchanged a look. “Excellent. Then he won’t be able to overhear us.”

“About what?” the human asked curiously.

“About the wedding present. We need your assistance.” Amaury motioned to another door, the first one next to the entrance. “Let’s go into the study.”

Blake tossed a look back at the door he’d been guarding. “But I’m supposed to watch that none of the workers goes in there while the girls are still trying on the bridesmaid’s dresses.”

“It’ll only take a couple of minutes,” Samson assured him.

Moments later the three disappeared into the study and closed the door behind them.

He grinned. Finally, things were going his way. He looked up and down the corridor, then pushed the door open wide and approached the staircase, walking on tiptoes. Once he set his foot on the first step, he knew he was safe. The plush carpet on the stairs swallowed the sound of his footsteps as he ascended.

On the landing, he turned and inhaled. He could smell the faint scent of the blood whore’s special blood. It made his gums itch. His fangs descended in anticipation of the special treat he was about to enjoy.

He walked along the corridor, each step bringing him closer to his goal. He reached the door and put his hand on the doorknob.

“Ursula!” A female voice came from below. At the same time somebody came running up the stairs.

Cursing silently, his head snapped toward the sound as his feet automatically readied themselves for a quick escape. He caught a glimpse of the back of a head and a red dress as a woman came into view. She hadn’t seen him yet, but she would in a second or two when she turned on the landing.

One of the bridesmaids.

But not one of the human ones. She was a vampire, as her aura indicated.

Fuming inside, he dove into the nearest room and closed the door silently behind him.

He could still hear her as she approached Ursula’s room and knocked. “Ursula, honey, it’s Vera. I calmed her down.”

Then the door was opened.

His hands balled into fists while he tried to calm himself. There would be other opportunities like this one.

He just had to be patient.

But for tonight, there were entirely too many vampires in the house. He’d have to get out before anybody recognized him and realized what he was up to.

9

“Red?” Oliver stared at Wes in disbelief as the human brought the car to a stop in front of Quinn’s house. “You turned the piglets red?”

Wes shrugged. “Well, it was my first try. I just have to work on the spell. I’m sure the second time it’ll work like a charm.”

Oliver already started shaking his head before Wesley’s last sentence was even out. “No!”

“Oh, come on! I just need a few drops. That’s all!” Wes begged, casting him a puppy dog look meant to soften him up.

But Oliver didn’t cave. “I said no! Clearly, whatever spell you’re trying out isn’t working. There’s no need wasting any more of my precious blood on it.” The only person who’d get his blood would be Ursula. It was part of the blood-bonding ritual, and it would make her immortal while she remained human—and fertile. Once they were bonded, she would be able to conceive his child.

“But I really think it’s going to work the second time. I just have to get the dosage right.”

Oliver sighed. “Wes, I hate to say this, but don’t you think that maybe witchcraft isn’t exactly your calling?”

Wesley slammed his flat palm against the steering wheel. “I was born a witch! And I’ll be damned if I can’t get that back!”

“What do you have to prove? Just find something else that you’re good at.”