Midnight Magic, page 133
“This is very good,” Jesse whispered.
“Holy shit,” Tawne said out loud.
“I double that,” Olivia chuckled.
“It’s about fucking time,” one of Olivia’s men said from somewhere near Brandi.
Taking a small step forward, Brandi began to lift her hand. Everything in this felt right, but deep in her mind, something screamed for her to run.
She’d never had anything good in her life. No home, no family, no life… no one.
But now she had Tawne. Now, she did have a place to call her own, somewhat, if she needed it.
And when she laid her hand in Malik’s, the sigh that escaped her was the realization she was home.
“Wait, you said our lady, right?” she asked Malik. “Does that mean… I’m going with the three of you?”
The trio of sexiness that stared back at her simply smirked.
“Shit,” she whispered.
What did I just get myself into?
CHAPTER 7
Brandi shook from nerves so much she was afraid she’d cause an earthquake simply by standing still. She looked from one man to the next, to the next. She stood, encircled, by the vampires.
Bishop adjusted his tie, while Dash shifted the weight distribution of his feet.
Then there was Malik.
He stared into her eyes, his amber-colored, beautifully lined with dark lashes. She felt intimidated by the man’s larger than life presence. He was the ruler of all of what she had just learned about and now she would become his…
What was the word?
Consort?
Concubine?
She wasn’t sure, but when she shifted her gaze to the ground, she held her breath as another pair of male feet came into view.
“Lady Holmes,” Jesse whispered next to her. “All is well, I promise. You’re in very good hands and have made an excellent decision for this pairing.”
“I don’t know about that,” she whispered back. “I feel as if I played the lottery with an understanding there’s no way I would win, yet, here I am, with the jackpot.”
Bishop chuckled but didn’t say anything at her statement.
She glanced his way, then up at Jesse. “I hope you’re right about this.”
He winked at her. “I always am. Enjoy your evening. It was a pleasure serving as your escort tonight.” Jesse bowed his head, nodded to each of the three rulers, then made his departure.
Their driver opened the limo door and Brandi’s heart lurched in her chest. She thought she might vomit.
“Are you okay?” Dash asked next to her.
She turned her head to meet his eyes and lifted her brows. “Not really, but I’ll be fine in a few. This is… well, it’s all new to me.”
“Let’s get in the car and discuss this,” Bishop announced and took up the space on the other side of her.
Did they expect Brandi to have sex with them tonight?
Every night?
All three of them at once?
Hell, what about feeding on her?
This was the part in her head that screamed for her to get the fuck out. It was at the forefront now, yet, her body betrayed her as she casually stepped into the waiting vehicle.
The cool air surrounded her and it was a momentary welcome reprieve. She faced one of the side vents and turned it to face up.
“Turn the air up, Roger,” Bishop ordered.
Roger, who she assumed was the driver, did as he was told. The air flow increased and Brandi closed her eyes, enjoying the moment… At least, until the limo door closed.
She opened her eyes and side-glanced at Dash, who sat in front of her. Next to him sat Malik. That left Bishop, who sat next to her, she realized, as she craned her neck around and met his gaze.
“You look like you just snuck the last piece of chocolate.” Bishop’s voice was deep, growly, sexy-as-fuck, if she were honest with herself. She could listen to the man talk all night.
“I’m just trying to cool off,” she whispered.
“Nothing will happen to you without your consent. That you have our word on,” Malik told her. “I understand from reading your profile that you’re very new to our world.”
She nodded. “I took the serum a few days ago.”
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “And how do you feel about what you’ve done?”
His question wasn’t accusatory, but she also couldn’t help the feeling she was being judged.
She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted a brow. “It was my decision to make and I’m glad I did it. Does it matter, in the long run, if I was human before now?”
“Darling,” Dash spoke. “You’re still human. You just have a blood synthetic to demons, now. That’s all.”
She felt like she was two inches tall. Brandi could feel the color drain from her face and she had never wanted a car seat to envelope her as much as she did right now.
“Wow, that was a dick move,” Bishop told Dash and turned in his seat to face her. “Brandi, listen to what Malik was trying to tell you. What we’re trying to say. We picked you above everybody else. We picked you because you’re different. You know nothing of our lifestyle, who we are, what we mean to our part of the world. All of this will be a first for you. And we’re all excited to be a part of that experience.”
The threat of tears changed from hurt to touched. She sniffed and offered a slight nod. “Okay.”
“Okay?” he repeated.
“Yes, okay.”
“Right, then,” Malik stated and crossed one leg over the other. “You’re aware of our roles in the Covenant, are you not?”
“Yes, sir, I am.” She wasn’t sure if she should address him properly or not but figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
“Malik, please,” he insisted, then continued. “I have been in my position for far longer than I care to admit.” He chuckled. “When you live for an eternity, days and nights become one.”
“Especially when sleep doesn’t come,” Dash added.
“You don’t sleep?” she asked.
One shrugged, one shook his head, and the third didn’t move or say anything.
“Sometimes, but not often. We don’t need sleep, necessarily. If we’re injured or just exhausted, then, yes, we’d sleep,” Bishop told her.
“Umm...” She felt her cheeks redden with the question she wanted to ask on the tip of her tongue. “What do you sleep in?”
“Normally, I don’t sleep in anything,” Malik answered.
Her mouth dropped open and Dash chuckled.
“I think she meant bed or something else,” he announced.
Malik grinned, and it was beautiful. His teeth were perfectly shaped, aligned, and… fangs. He most definitely had fangs. But with his smile, it lit up his face. His eyes crinkled slightly in the corners and she imagined the stories he had told and the countless days he’d encountered that may have brought him joy.
Then as quickly as the smile was there, it was gone.
“What do you think we sleep in?” Malik asked.
She nibbled on her bottom lip and her face burned with embarrassment. “Coffins?”
He shook his head. “That’s Hollywood. We have beds, as will you. You’ll have your own quarters which include said bed, bathing chamber of your own, clothes, shoes, anything you can think of. You can have whatever your heart desires in your room.”
She wasn’t sure what to say or think about that. Going from having nothing to holding everything in the blink of an eye was like living a dream. She prayed she’d never wake up.
“The room will be yours until you feel comfortable enough to share your days and nights with us,” Malik added.
“How long do you expect to wait for me to… become comfortable?” She wasn’t sure if the question was appropriate or not, but she really needed to know. She wasn’t ready to jump into the bed of three men she’d just met. Regardless how sexy they were.
“As long as you need,” he answered.
She stared at him for a moment, then slowly shifted her gaze to Dash, then to Bishop. Both men nodded in agreement. She relaxed ever-so-slightly in her seat at the realization she would be in control of herself and her surroundings. But in order to get to know them, she’d have to spend time with them.
What if feelings were involved?
Would they begin to love her?
Could she possibly love three men?
Would they allow her to love them?
There were so many questions.
“Oh,” she almost squealed.
Malik raised his brows, then perked one side of his mouth in a grin.
“Sorry, another question.”
“Don’t apologize for asking questions,” he reassured her.
“So I’ll continue to age while you stay… well, you. What happens to me when I’ve run my course with you? Will you release me of my duty to live out my life in a nursing home or something?”
“Ahh, seems Christofano may have left out a few details of what happens to you when you become a concubine to a vampire.” Malik scratched at his chin, then glanced at Bishop. “You can tell her.”
He nodded. “When we begin to feed on you, then you feed from us, the chemistry of our blood will slow your progress of aging.”
“Oh, well, he... well, Will, did tell me that. But I’ll still age, though. Right?”
“Somewhat,” Bishop answered. “It all really depends on how often you feed from us.”
“Will I turn into a vampire?”
“No,” Dash answered. “There’s only one way to become a vampire and it’s not by feeding on us. Well...” He tilted his head and lifted his brows. “Well, one would take our blood, but only after they were drained. Then, and only then, would you become a vampire.”
She nodded her head and crossed her fingers in her lap. “So why would I feed on you? I mean, Will did cover this as well, but still, why?”
“To heal you, to give you a sustenance food cannot, and to link a bond between us,” Dash answered.
“A bond? He didn’t tell me about this bond. Tell me more?”
“Sure,” Bishop answered. “But more of that soon. We’re home.”
Just as he said, “we’re home,” the limo bounced as it pulled onto the drive of a long, narrow road. She glanced out the window and realized they’d pulled in on a property outside of New Orleans. It was what she called the country. The land was massive. She imagined horses running, or maybe cows feeding. Maybe they’d let her have fainting goats. They were so cute.
Then, in the near distance, a large mansion came into view. And it was like a fucking castle.
The drive was large enough to be its own highway. A few limos were parked at the ready and two men were standing at the end of steps that led toward the home. Peaks with crosses at the top of the home were met with beautiful roof architecture. The windows were plentiful and appeared to be covered from the inside. The front entrance had a grand staircase that led up, then went around the side of the home to the second floor. It looked like it ended at the balcony of possibly a bedroom.
Then, next to the stairs, hidden almost in a tucked corner, were double doors that were opened as soon as the limo pulled to a stop. The two men in wait headed toward the passenger side door and opened it.
The one who opened the door was an older man, a head full of salt and pepper hair, light blue eyes, and a smile that would forever be etched into her mind as someone that could have been her grandfather. She instantly felt at ease with him.
“Welcome home, sirs. And welcome to our newest guest, Miss Brandi Holmes,” he spoke.
“How… how did you know my name?”
“Jesse phoned ahead for us,” Dash answered.
“Oh,” she whispered and turned back to the man. He offered his hand for her and she accepted it.
“My name is James Adams. Please, call me James.”
“Hi, James. I’m Brandi, but you knew that,” she giggled. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“My fellow here is Mister Tony Adair.”
Tony stepped forward. He was younger than James, maybe in his forties. His build was tall like James, but slightly stockier. He grinned a side-grin. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Holmes.”
“Brandi, please,” she insisted.
“Yes, Miss Holmes,” he winked.
James handed in three large, black hats, gloves, and long dusters to each man. After pulling on the garments, Malik, Bishop, and Dash stepped out of the limo. The sun was rising in the sky and soon, it would be morning.
“The sunrise hurts?” she asked.
“It feels like a sun burn,” explained Bishop. “Imagine someone with red hair and fair skin. They don’t tan.”
“Right, just burn.”
“Precisely,” he said.
“Oh, okay, gotcha.” She looked between each of the men, then offered a shrug. “I don’t have much for supplies that came with me. It’s just me.”
“Perfect,” Dash told her.
She felt heat rise to her cheeks and James cleared his throat.
“Shall we take the grand tour?” he asked.
“Not now,” Malik answered. “She needs her rest. She’s been through a lot today.”
“I can speak for myself,” Brandi told him. “No disrespect intended.”
He nodded. “None taken. Would you like the tour, then?”
She shook her head. “I really do want to rest. Maybe sleep.”
He chuckled. “As you wish.”
“She told you,” she heard Bishop whisper to Malik as they made their way toward the front door. She could only smile.
Moments later, after picking her mouth off the floor, she was shown through the extravagant entrance they called a foyer. It was large enough to be its own bedroom. They went through the multiple dens, five fireplaces she’d counted so far, a set of three statues next to the staircase, and in through the windows to the backyard, a gorgeous fountain of a woman—no, an angel— who poured water from a basin into the base where it pooled.
She imagined running through something like this as a child.
“And there’s a heated pool as well as a hot tub outside,” James’ voice echoed through the home.
She blinked and realized she’d completely spaced out in awe and missed everything the man said. She felt awful about it, but who could blame her? A true rags to riches woman, she could only shake her head.
“I’m afraid to see what my room looks like.”
“Well, let’s go see it, then,” Dash offered.
She quickly covered her mouth. “Ohmigod, did I say that out loud?”
He grinned. “Sure did.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. It’s just, wow, I’ve never had anything like this before.”
“We’re aware of what you had and didn’t have, Brandi,” Malik told her. “In time, we hope you’ll grow accustomed to your new home. Now, if you’ll forgive me, work never ceases.” He stepped toward her and when Brandi backstepped, he paused, then nodded. “Right. I’ll, umm…” He turned on his heel and in a flash, Malik left the room, only a breeze left in his wake.
“Wow, can you all move that fast?”
“Yes,” Bishop answered.
She stared into the empty space Malik had just occupied. “I hope I didn’t offend him.”
“How would you have offended him?” Bishop asked.
“I think he was going to… Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what I think. He’s gone.”
“It matters,” Dash told her.
She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. Shewasn’t one to be at a loss for words, because in her life, she’d never mattered. To anyone or anything.
Until now.
And that feeling was euphoric. She smiled and lowered her gaze to the floor, crossing her fingers in front of her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome,” he returned. “Now, let’s get you to your new room. Ready?”
She nodded and met Bishop’s gaze.
James led the trio up the flight of stairs and after passing all the doors, which she assumed one might be hers, and she assumed wrong, they finally pulled to a stop in the corner of the house. “Welcome to the west wing, Miss Brandi. This area of the home will be yours.” He opened one of the double doors, then he stepped inside. Flipping on the lights, Brandi followed him, and gasped in awe.
The walls were cream in color and trimmed in gold accents. Opposite her was fireplace number six. The mantel had a small wooden clock in the center of it. There were floor to ceiling window doors on either side of the fireplace. In front of it were two sets of love seats. There was also a chaise lounge, another armchair, and to her left, the actual bed in her bedroom.
It was definitely a king size, if not bigger.
Did they make a size bigger than king?
She wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t wait to get lost in the blankets and pillows.
Above the bed was an actual chandelier, and where it hung, the ceiling was painted with angels and cherubs. It was beautiful and tears filled her eyes.
“My dear, why are you crying?” James asked. He untucked a hankerchief from his dress coat and handed it to her.
She took it and was grateful the gesture. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this in my life.”
“Do you like to read?” Bishop asked.
She nodded. “Yes, I love to read. I’ll read anything so long it has words.”
He chuckled. “Good, because over here...” He motioned behind him, “You have your own small version of a study, library, whatever you’d like to call it.”
Her eyes widened and she rushed past the men and came to a halt in front of the walls of bookcases. She squealed and clapped her hands as she bounced on the balls of her feet.
“I see this makes you very happy,” Dash told her.
“Yes, very!”
“Mental note to get more books,” he said with a wink.
“We’ll leave you to slumber, Miss Brandi,” James said.
“You’re welcome to shower, bathe, whatever you like,” Dash told her. “There’s pajamas in the dresser, if you’d like to wear them.” He shrugged. “Or go naked.”
