The Dragon's Vamp (3 page)

Mari turned to face them. “I know someone who will. Damn I hate to do this, but I want solid answers on why they’re attacking my town.”

Rhys’ gaze narrowed, arms crossing over his chest. “Your town?”

“Damn right. Clear everyone another hundred yards back, I have a call to make.” Striding for the beach she listened as everyone fell back. Mari stood right on the edge of the crest, the water lapping the toes of her shoes, and closed her eyes. Breathing deeply, arms up, elbows by her side, palms up, Mari called forth the energies of the land. Her skin tingled, brain numbed as energies flowed freely through her system. Her eyes fluttered as she took a step forward, right hand raised. She knelt and brought her hand down, slapping it on the surface of the water as she yelled, “Triton, I call for you!” The energy wave reverberated over the top of the water like a pulse, sending a sonic boom type of sound to the ears of everyone within hearing distance. Stepping back she stumbled a bit before arms went around her waist.

“That was something.” Rhys smiled.

“Takes a lot of energy.”

“I guess the hell so,” Drake replied as he stepped up. “Did I hear things or did you just call a mythical creature?”

Mari chuckled. “Don’t you know by now that all mythical beings are real, Roven?”

“You’re telling me Triton, King of the seas and oceans, exists?”

“Of course Triton exists, and he’s a prince. His father, Poseidon, is king.”

“I thought Gods like them were myths,” Rhys stated.

Mari chuckled. “They are not Gods, they are Other Kin, very old Other Kin.”

“And they just come when you call?” Drake asked.

Mari’s lips lifted as her brow hiked up. “Only the ones I’ve played with.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rhys asked as he turned her to face him.

“It means that I have some very old friends.”

“Just how old are you?”

Her smile grew as she kept his gaze. “Don’t you know you never ask a lady her age? Besides, that’s something for us to discuss later.” Turning her gaze to the Kelpie when it started fidgeting, her smile widened. “I’d say Triton’s coming.” Moving out of Rhys’ arms, she turned toward the sea as a water spiral shot straight up to the sky and a man emerged from within its center, smiling when he caught her gaze.

“Triton, is
here
!” he called out, arms tossed out to his sides.

Chapter 2

Mari laughed as Triton lowered the waterspout like a bridge and rode it to land. “You show off!” she chuckled as he picked her up and twirled her around. She noticed Drake and Rhys look at each other before Rhys glared her way. He folded his arms across his chest. “All right put me down you oaf.”

“Oaf, oaf, I’m the Prince of the Seven Seas and Oceans and I get oaf?”

“Yes.” She smiled, taking his hand within hers. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“It wouldn’t happen to be that big vamp with a pissed off look would it?”

“Ha, yes it would,” she laughed, leading him right up to Rhys and Drake. “Rhys, this is my friend Triton. Triton this is Rhys, my soon to be life mate, and our friend Drake.”

“Life mate?” Triton boomed. “By the Gods, she’s finally settling down.” He whooped with laughter. “It’s about time, Sissy, I now forgive you for not calling me for a century.”

Mari slapped his huge bicep. “Stop it you trouble maker. Now back to business, the other reason I called.” She motioned over to the Kelpie, noticing the smile leave his handsome face. “He came ashore and attacked with no warning. He injured a water nymph badly. Triton, he didn’t try to shape shift or lure. What have you heard about Alston?”

“We were figuring something like this was going to happen. All the signs toward a sea attack on Alston have been showing; the creatures of the water are anxious.” Looking down at her and then up to Rhys and Drake he said, “We need to talk in a more secure location. I’ll have my warriors come fetch him and get answers.”

Mari stood by as he lifted his hand and four mermen emerged from the sea. Taking hold of Rhys’ hand she leaned into him as Triton gave his orders. Once his men and the Kelpie disappeared into the sea, Triton turned with a smile.

“You’re lucky I was close by.”

“Where?” Mari asked.

“Hawaii. Gods I love Pele, she’s such a little hottie,” he whooped.

“Oh I’m sure,” she frowned. “Why were you so close?

“Ah, I had a little visitor saying I should come this way.”

“Who?”

“Your momma!” he grinned. “Boy she is still one fine looking woman. And no disrespect to your daddy, but if she wasn’t with your daddy, I’d hop all over that little ancient ass.”

Mari slapped him. “Ewe, gross. Now I have to go wash out my ears or something. She’s my mother you moron, don’t say stuff like that to me.”

Triton belted out a laugh. “Let’s go find some place to talk, we have a lot to catch up on, and I need to fill these boys in on what’s happening under sea.”

Rhys snarled when Triton took her hand, leading her away.

“Easy,” Drake said as they turned. “He’s not a threat.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Well for one, they’ve apparently known each other for quite a while and she chose you.” Drake smiled as he slapped his back. “Let’s go, they’re heading toward your place.”

* * * *

Mari frowned at Triton as he started hitting on one of Rhys’ house staff. What he’d just revealed was an attack from the sea was imminent. The darkness was raising his army to try and attack Alston from that angle now. Drake had left to talk to the Elder council about what they’d learned and Rhys stood by the window. “Triton, what does your father think?”

“He’s calling his guards to arms. He’s also been speaking with my aunts and uncles about what’s happening on their ends. They don’t want to get involved; they’ve fought the darkness once with your father and sustained a lot of casualties.”

“Why wouldn’t they want to fight against the darkness?” Rhys asked. “Isn’t it as much a threat to them as us?”

“It is, and my father has made that point known. If we don’t destroy the darkness or find some way to seal it forever, it will come back with a vengeance like it is now.”

“But how do we seal it? None of us has that kind of power,” Mari said as she laid her arms across the table.

“Your father does.”

Mari met Triton’s gaze. “And my father is sleeping.”

“We may have to take the chance of waking him, Mari. Does he know what’s going on?”

“Yes, he’s aware.” Her eyes lowered to the table as she sensed Rhys’ gaze burning into her back as Triton’s eyes narrowed.

“You haven’t told him who your parents are? I thought you were joining as mates?”

“We are but I haven’t had a chance to explain certain—things—to Rhys.”

“Damn, I thought you would have explained everything to him before sleeping with him, because you know what happened before.”

Mari glanced over at Rhys and frowned, turning back to Triton when he busted out with laughter.

“By the Gods, this is great! You haven’t slept with him yet have you? The Terror of Tahiti, The Sex Kitten of Shangri-la, The Arouser of Atlantis…”

“Shut-up, Triton,” Mari growled.

“Oh no,” Rhys grinned. “Continue.”

“No, it’s time for you to go play with Rhys’ servant,” Mari stated as she jumped up. “So I can talk to Rhys.”

“Or other things,” Triton grinned as he wiggled his eyebrows.

“You’re cruising for a bruising, water boy.”

Triton sighed dramatically, the smile still in place. “Water boy? No respect I’m telling you, no respect. So, Lord Beven, do you mind if I partake in some extra activities with your beautiful coven ladies? It’s been awhile since I’ve had the pleasure of loving a Vampire.”

Mari rolled her eyes as Rhys grinned. “What, you can’t be happy with one, oh scourge of the seven seas?”

“They’re adults to do as they will,” Rhys answered as he stepped up behind Mari.

“Excellent,” Triton boomed as he rose. “Mariwen, make use of this night and bed your man,” he laughed as he wrapped an arm around a brown haired female. “And you, my love, can bite to your heart’s content, it won’t hurt me a bit. But just so you know, I may bite back.”

“You’re so overconfident, you horny toad!” Mari called out listening to his laughter.

“Mariwen,” Rhys smiled. “I like it.”

“Well I’m glad, seeing as how it’s my name.”

“So your mother is an ancient?”

Mari’s chest pressed tight against her shirt as she breathed deeply and turned to meet his gaze. “Yes.”

“And my soon to be father-in-law?”

Her eyes lowered. “My father is—my father is…”

“Are you embarrassed by him?”

“No!” Her eyes whipped up meeting his gaze. “I love my father. I’m just very protective over him is all.”

Rhys stepped forward drawing her into his arms. “That’s fine.” His chin rested on top of her head. “When you’re ready you’ll tell me. Now tell me about this Arouser of Atlantis.”

Mari slapped his back, his chuckle echoing in her ear. “That was a long time ago.”

“How long? You still haven’t told me how old you are, Mari.”

“Older than you can imagine,” she whispered before lifting her head.

“You have to tell me some time.”

“I will. I’m just really tired.”

“You did expel a lot of energy calling Triton. Why don’t we go up to my bedroom and I’ll get you in a hot bath with a glass of wine.”

Mari’s lips parted as Rhys lifted her effortlessly into his arms. She draped hers around his neck as he brushed her lips gently with his, sending tingles coursing through her body. She’d only been to his room once when she’d woken up there after the incident in the clearing with Olivia Roven and the Golem. She’d insisted on her own room after that and he’d put her right across the hall from his own. She also knew that Rhys wanted to question her about everything from her parents to her past. She had to hand it to him though; he wasn’t demanding answers like he would have done when she’d first met him months ago. Glancing up she watched him as he headed down the hall to his rooms. She admired his strong jaw and good looks. Any female would be honored to have him for a life mate, but she, she was just scared.

“Why are you frowning?”

“Wha…I, um, I was just thinking.”

“Of?” Rhys asked as he stepped into his master bath.

“Why I’m so scared.”

“Of us?” He frowned as he set her on a padded chair. “I thought we went through this earlier.”

“We only grazed it, Rhys. Just because I spilled my guts to you doesn’t mean I’m not afraid.”

Rhys knelt down in front of her, taking her hands within his own as their eyes met. “Answer me this. Did your first husband know about your gifts and who you were or did you hide it from him?”

“He knew.”

“And he chose to stay by your side correct?”

“Yes.”

“He made his choice, Mari, as we all do, as I do. Are you afraid that I’ll die?”

“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly.

“We all have to die sometime. When it’s our time, it’s our time, and there’s nothing we can do. What we have to do is fight to survive and live our life to the fullest every day because we don’t know what’s right around the corner. Do you think I had any idea this darkness would emerge and come after us? No, I was living my life between doing my daily responsibilities for the coven, securing Alston and partaking in pleasurable bed sport.” He smiled when her eyes narrowed. “I’ve never claimed to be a saint, Mari, but all that was before I met you and we started fighting to save this town. Since the night we met and I sensed the bond between us, I haven’t been with another woman. I think my body damn well knew you were it and that was that. Frustrating as hell let me tell you.” He grinned as he rubbed the backs of her hands with his thumbs. “I’m one thousand eight hundred and eighty years old and I’ve never felt what I feel with you. If that’s not a sign that we’re not only life mates but soul mates, you tell me what is.”

Mari’s mind was whirling. “What if once you find out what I am you don’t want me anymore?”

“Your mother’s an ancient right?”

“Yes.”

“If your father was good enough for your mother, and the ancients and Gods saw fit to allow a child to be born, then who am I to say otherwise? Would you turn your back to me if you found out I was half human or Triton’s brother?”

Mari squeezed his hand. “No.”

“I’m not by the way, human or Triton’s brother,” he chuckled.

“Oh that I know.” She smiled bringing her hands to his shoulders. “Rhys, if you think about it, we really don’t know each other very well, and I’m feeling a bit rushed and that’s spiking my anxiety as well. I know what I feel between us. I know our bodies are telling us we’re supposed to be together, as well as my mother pointing that out.” Her breath shuddered as they stared at each other, her fingers playing with the short strands of his soft hair. “I never expected to be part of someone again; I’ve lived so long on my own.”

Rhys gripped the sides of her thighs. “Just because we’re to be mates doesn’t mean we have to jump into the ceremony straight up. There’s no law that says, ‘up, that’s it, you’re together, now marry’.” The side of his mouth went up as her eyes widened. “Is that what you thought, that I’d make you jump right into the binding ceremony?”

“A part of me I guess.”

Leaning forward he kissed her softly. “Baby, this is going to be new to me as well. Like I said, I wasn’t exactly a saint. You are, however, the first woman to ever grace my bedroom with her presence. Well, outside of my mother, sister, and housekeeper. No female I’ve slept with has ever been here. I need a little time myself to acclimate to us.” Leaning back, he met her gaze. “You don’t snore do you?”

Mari chuckled as she smacked a kiss on his lips. “No. Well, only when I’m really tired. But I don’t drool and I like the right side.”

“Perfect, I’m a lefty. Now let’s get you in the tub.”

Mari stood and let him help her take her clothing off. “Um, just because we’re not…you know, going through the bonding ceremony right away, doesn’t mean you want to wait, to well, you know.”