A Vampire's Wish, page 12
part #1 of Vampires on Holiday Series
He lifted his head, his hair sticking to his cheeks. She brushed it away and kissed his nose, still feeling him pulsing inside her. “I love you. Merry Christmas, darling.”
“And I you.”
Deirdre glanced at the many presents crowded underneath the branches of the tree. “Would you like to open my gift?”
He suckled her neck. His husky breath brushed over her ear. “You’re my gift. My Christmas wish.”
Her heart nearly burst with joy at his words. She stared into his hooded eyes, knowing that not even time or past lives or evil could destroy their love. He’d given her choice on whether she wanted to become a vampire, but for now, she was content to being human––a woman totally devoted to a man of her dreams.
Character Tidbits
Janus Morano:
I fought in the Battle of Culloden. I’m British and Irish descent, and fought for the Scots. I was mortally wounded and was dying. A Scottish Highlander found me and the strangest thing happened. He tore open his wrist and forced me to drink his blood. I don’t know who he was. He didn’t wait for me to turn and left. I never saw him again.
Deirdre Hahn:
I don’t know if I want to become a vampire…yet. I love to cook and I can’t imagine never being able to eat food again. My favorite thing to make is Italian food, and I make an incredible gnocchi. My mom’s side was Italian and the recipe I make comes from Italy.
Brandon Delaney:
I can’t get Janus’s voice out of my head. Sometimes I think I’ll go crazy. He’s changed me. I was bully, because my dad was. I’m not a bully anymore. Deirdre would laugh if she saw me now. I’m now a non-profit attorney for Family Tree and represent battered women. I never want to see another woman go through what I put Deirdre through. I’ll never stop loving Deirdre and if she ever needs me again, I’ll be there.
A Vampire’s Gift
Ireland 1641
Prologue
Hot, blazing, fire devoured Eleanor Byrne’s sweet home. Black and white smoke billowed into the midnight sky and blocked out the silver moon. The thatched roof collapsed, bringing down her mother’s beloved brick fireplace.
Sizzling sparks landed on Eleanor’s arm. Pain burned into her flesh. Tears blurred her eyes and rolled down her bruised cheeks. Sweat drenched her as if she was melting into butter.
She couldn’t move.
She was dying.
She inhaled a metallic smell––blood. Her blood. Her family’s blood.
Her mother, father, and twin brothers were only a few feet from her, lying side-by-side on the frosted grass. Their lifeless eyes stared into the flames. Dirt and blood were smeared on their faces and the wind blew their dark hair. Her brothers had only been ten years old.
Their terrified screams still echoed in her head.
She choked on the fumes. She couldn’t breathe. Pain throbbed in her chest and between her legs. Five men had taken turns with her.
Making her poor father watch.
He’d pleaded for them to stop, but they’d only laughed.
She closed her eyes.
God, please let me die.
Heavy footsteps crunched on the ground. Her heart stilled. More tears trickled down her cheeks.
They’re back. Emmet Carver and his perverted gang.
Eleanor held her breath, waiting for more pain, more humiliation, more horror.
A presence hovered over her.
“No.” Blood sprayed from her lips. Her voice was barely a whisper, and it was all she could muster.
“Easy, lass.” A husky male voice made her tremble. Another Sassenach, but unlike Emmet Carver’s, his was smooth and glossy like a lazy river.
She tried to talk, but only the sound she made was her teeth chattering.
He knelt. “Shhhh, I’m not going to hurt you.”
She shivered uncontrollably.
He removed his long coat, casting it over her. The glow of the fire flickered on his face.
She frowned. He wasn’t one of Emmet’s men. She had never seen him before and would have remembered someone so handsome. He had high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a strong square chin. Long black hair graced his broad shoulders.
He brushed her hair back. His dark brown eyes held her gaze. “Who did this to you?”
She licked her dry lips. “Emmet, Emmet Carver.” Her tone was frostier and crueler than the winds screaming over the cliffs of Moher.
“I’m sorry.” He lowered his head. “’Tis because of me this happened.”
“Why?” Her voice was a strangled gasp.
He kissed her sweating forehead. “Your father was protecting me.”
His lips sent warmth flowing through her.
“I don’t…don’t understand.” With his broad shoulders and muscular arms, the man didn’t look as if he needed protecting.
He reached out his hand.
She sucked in gulps of air. Her heart quivered violently.
“I promise I won’t hurt you.” He put his hand close to her nose, and she inhaled leather and horse. He furrowed his brows. “You are near death.” He pushed hair out of her hot face, and his touch was gentle and kind. “I can offer you a chance to repay Emmet for what he has done to you, your family, and your home. Or you can die in peace and join your family in the next realm while Emmet lives, the choice is yours.”
Hate burned on the back of her throat. “How?” A coughing fit gripped her, and she spewed blood. Her vision clouded, and she fought harder and harder to breathe.
“My name is Janus Morano, and I am a vampire.”
A vampire? Had she descended into hell for failing to defend her virtue?
“Will you accept my gift?”
Behind him, her father’s clenched hand lay unmoving on the grass. Her mother’s hair flew across her face––her battered and bruised face unrecognizable.
But it was her brother’s terrified eyes and mutilated bodies that sent hate churning in her gut.
Something grew inside her. Something that sent her heart racing. Something that spelled vengeance.
“I want revenge.” Eleanor stared into his glowing red eyes. The power of uttering those words flushed strength through her veins to live…
Afterword
Dear Reader,
I hope you liked A Vampire’s Wish. This is the first book in the Vampires on Holiday Series. I had originally published this book under A Vampire’s Christmas Wish, but I changed it and expanded on the story.
I first wrote this story when I was in my Master program at Regis University. It was actually an assignment and I fell in love with the characters. I hope you liked it too.
Would you like free books? Sign up for my newsletter, ML Guida’s Supernatural Scroll, and you’ll get the first books in my other series for free!
Also sign up for my private Facebook group, ML Guida’s Supernatural Lounge, for exclusive giveaways and sneak peeks of future books. I hugely appreciate you spreading the word about A Vampire’s Wish, including telling a friend. Reviews help readers find books. Please leave a review on your favorite book site.
Thanks for your help. I’m off to write the next book–A Vampire’s Gift. Join me on my newsletter or Facebook group.
Farewell for now,
ML Guida
About the Author
Award Winning Author M.L. Guida loves the paranormal. Even when she was four years old, she would watch the soap opera, Dark Shadows, and fell in love with vampires! Who wouldn't want a bite on the neck? But she didn't stop there. Witches, dragons, angels, and demons are sprinkled throughout her books.
Today, she continues to love the preternatural and watches Supernatural, Paranormal Survivor, and A Haunting. Like Dean Winchester, she loves to write alpha males who aren't afraid to face the forces of evil.
If you don’t want to miss another book, sign up for ML Guida’s Supernatural Scroll http://eepurl.com/dnphtb
Also by ML Guida
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Madness Unhinged
Madness Unmasked
Madness Unbalanced
Legends of the Soaring Phoenix
A Pirate’s Curse
A Pirate’s Revenge
A Pirate’s Agony
A Pirate’s Obsession
A Pirate’s Bane
A Pirate’s Darkness
Angels of Death
Betrayal
Deception
Punishment
Cupid
ML Guida, A Vampire's Wish
