Sneak Peak from It’s A Vampire Christmas

Hi! Still on the fence about It’s A Vampire Christmas?  Well, here’s chapter one. If I get 50 comments requesting the next chapter I’ll post chapter 2 tomorrow evening. So share if you  want the next chapter! Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Chapter One

 

“I found it.”

Alasdair glanced up from his computer as Gideon, his best friend and lover, burst through the mahogany double doors of the study, tablet in hand and a brilliant smile on his handsome face. The bright gleam of excitement in the other vampire’s gaze sparked Alasdair’s own. Could it be? After two centuries of searching, had the journal been found?

Gideon’s light brown hair hung in his eyes as he crossed the white tile floor. He stopped in front of the desk. When their gazes locked, Alasdair knew the male had indeed found the book. Alasdair held his hand out and the other male handed over the tablet. The image on the screen, though fuzzy, was identical to the leather-bound journal he’d been searching for. He was sure of it. He’d spent many nights of his youth reading the stories his grandmother wrote of her life. The Morgan family crest—a crouching gargoyle with the letter M in an elegant calligraphy overlaid him like a brand—on the cover appeared to be correct, but it was hard to tell due to the poor quality of the photo.

There was no doubt in Alasdair’s heart that the book in the picture was his great grandmother’s diary. “You did it.” He met Gideon’s stare, a hint of sadness clouding the blue depths. “What?”

Gideon dropped into the chair across from the desk. The morning light filtering in through the large window behind Alasdair caught the natural blond highlights in Gideon’s hair beautifully. Alasdair’s hands itched to comb through the silken strands, and reward his lover for finding the journal.

“Where is it?”

“I traced it to an antique shop In New York.”

Fuck. “I’ll call Julian and get clearance for you to fly right away.”

“Wouldn’t that take too long? Couldn’t you have Julian run down to get it?”

“Julian doesn’t run to get anything. He may be like a brother to me, but he doesn’t do anything himself. I don’t trust anyone but you to collect the journal.” Alasdair picked up his phone and pressed the New York vampire lord’s number.

Julian picked up on the second ring. “To want do I owe this wonderful surprise, Al?”

Gritting his teeth, Alasdair let the taunt go. He didn’t have time to play games with Julian. “I need to fly my consort to your territory tonight.”

A bitter, humorless laugh filtered through the phone. “It’s a little late notice. What business do you have here?”

One. Two… “There’s an artifact he needs to collect for me.”

“It can’t wait?”

“No.”

Silence fell over the line for several long moments. “What type of artifact?”

“A family heirloom.”

“Ah, I see. Are you certain?” Julian was one of the few who knew about the journal and its significance to the history of their race. It was only one of several artifacts that had been hidden from Lilith’s sister, Violet, about eight hundred years ago.

“Yes. Gideon found it online just a few moments ago.” Alasdair met Gideon’s gaze. His lover’s fangs peaked from beneath his upper lip and his hands fisted over the arms of his chair. A low growl rumbled from him. Gideon was annoyed with the vampire lord. Alasdair also grew impatient. If it wasn’t so critical to retrieve the journal, he’d tease his old friend about his superior attitude. With a shake of the head, Alasdair held up a finger in warning.

“It’s Grandmother’s,” he said, allowing irritation to leak out in his tone. Alasdair let his head fall back against the headrest of his chair. Julian, along with every vampire lord, knew his great grandmother Annamarie was one of the first vampires created by Lilith over five thousand years ago. The other lord also understood that any artifact belonging to Annamarie was very important.

After a long pause, Julian sighed. “Gideon is the only one allowed to come. He’s to gather this artifact and leave within three days.” A click sounded over the line, indicating the conversation was over.

Alasdair placed the phone on the desk, and met Gideon’s stare. “Watch your back. Bless will be watching you and I don’t have to tell you what a bitch she is.”

Bless was Julian’s right hand and one of his best sentries. She loved to play on others’ fears. Especially Gideon’s since it was a female gargoyle that had ended his human life.

A wicked smile formed on the Gideon’s lips. “I know how to deal with Bless. Besides she will be in stone while I retrieve the journal.”

Gideon had an easygoing charm about him, one of the many traits Alasdair loved about the male. “Please be sure to hurry. We can’t afford for the journal to fall into Violet’s hands.” Besides, I will miss you. Alasdair pushed away the insecurity and cursed himself for the weakness.

As if sensing his train of thought, Gideon rose from his chair, paced to Alasdair’s side, and sat on the desk in front of him. He lowered his head and cupped Alasdair’s chin, tilting his head up to claim his lips. Alasdair groaned and thrust his tongue inside his mate’s mouth, savoring every brush of his tongue. Gideon tasted of scotch and a hint of blood.

Breaking the kiss, he fisted a hand in Gideon’s brown hair. Alasdair gently tugged his head to the side then pressed his lips to the base of the male’s throat. His lover’s groan made Alasdair’s dick jerk to attention. “Do hurry back. Our bed will be cold without you in it.”

“Yes,” Gideon breathed.

“Go gather your things and I’ll alert the pilot.” Alasdair reluctantly released the other male and watched him exit the study, wishing he could go. He couldn’t leave Destin. Not with a pending war between vampires and earth bound demons stirring. Lilith had grounded all lords to their territories.

After hanging up with the pilot, his phone chimed to indicate a text message. He glanced at it and smiled. It was Rayne, Lilith’s only daughter.

I would like to request permission to discuss the treaty.

In recent weeks, Lilith had sent her natural born children out to petition the lords to pledge their alliance to her. Violet, the queen’s sister had started rallying groups of demons around the US as if preparing for an attack.  Alasdair was sure the demon queen was doing just that. The sisters hated each other, and Violet would do anything to destroy the peaceful life Lilith and the other lords worked hard to build.

The lords had always been free to rule their territories independent from Lilith. But after signing the treaty, all laws and punishments would go through Lilith. No more independent territories. The terms were non-negotiable, and if a lord failed to comply, he or she would be deemed a rogue and put down.

Some thought it was harsh, but Alasdair, along with Julian and a few others, agreed it was time to strengthen their defenses and band together. The queen would have full access to their territories and sentries. Something that should had happened a long fucking time ago.

He texted back. Of course princess, I look forward to the meeting.

Likewise. Rayne returned.

He laughed, imagining her eye roll with the text message. She hated being referred to as princess. All the lords knew it, but they loved irritating her. Mostly because they watched her grow up and considered her as a sister.

Closing the messaging app, he rose and left his study to see Gideon off. Memories of the day he found his consort entered his mind as he padded through the foyer to the great room. The white tile floor, tan leather couch, and matching chairs were in complete contrast to the dark alley where he’d first found Gideon. The male had been human then, and dying. Something about him pulled at Alasdair’s heart and soul. At the time he didn’t know what it was, but when he approached his queen about the male, she’d explained it was a mating urge and that his soul had called out to the human.

After she had confirmed the male was of the right bloodline, she granted permission to have Gideon changed. Alasdair’s chest tightened at the memories. Gideon was his first turn, his lover, and best friend. The thought of him being so far away increased Alasdair’s anxiety, but at the same time excitement swirled at the knowledge of holding grandma’s journal.

He crossed the room and met Edmond, one of the echo demons and the only one who lived in the main house. Alasdair kept his coven fairly small. There was the mansion and four smaller cottages—two on either side of the house—where a few of the vampires he turned and a family of echoes lived.

The echo had Gideon’s duffle bag over one shoulder as he waited. Alasdair gave him a short nod and said, “Good afternoon, Edmond.”

Nodding, Edmond offered a wide smile. “Hello, my lord. Gideon is leaving us for a while?” The demon’s brows bunched as he studied his folded hands in front of him.

Alasdair patted him on the shoulder. “Just for a few days. But you know what I need you to do for me?”

Edmond glanced up, eyes bright with purpose. “What do you wish of me?”

Demon lords of hell had created Echoes for the sole purpose of serving. A few escaped into the human realm over the past several millennia. Lilith took them under her protection and many echoes served the vampire lords today. Edmond had served Alasdair’s grandmother, Annamarie, and had remained loyal to the Morgan family ever since.

“Could you find out where Marie disappears to every couple of weeks?”

Edmond’s gaze grew round and his hands started to shake. “Marie, sire?”

“Yes. If you know something you should tell me.”

Nodding vigorously, he spoke in rush. “She sneaks off to see a male.”

Alasdair blinked, a mixture of surprise and concern swirled in his mind. He fisted his hands at his side and suppressed the urge to growl at the echo. “What type of male? Do you know him?”

“I…no, sire. I don’t know him. He’s a vampire. From what I saw of him, he appears to be around Gideon’s age.” Edmond shifted from foot to foot, clearly sensing Alasdair’s irritation.

Gideon approached from the stairs, and Alasdair breathed deeply as his lover’s scent flowed around him. Meeting Gideon’s serious gaze, Alasdair relax a little.

“What is it?” Gideon asked as he stopped next to him.

“Marie has been sneaking off to meet a vampire not from my coven.”

Gideon shook his head. “She’s young, Alas.”

“That doesn’t excuse her from not telling me. She has to understand that if he hurts her in anyway, I will kill him.” Alasdair took a deep breath. Marie was his newest vampire, but she was smart and well aware of the rules. “She should know better than to sneak around.”

He’d have to deal with Marie later. At the moment he had to send his love off to New York to collect Annamarie’s journal before it fell into the wrong hands.

Gideon closed the small gap between them, and cupped Alasdair’s cheek. “Always the protector. You’d make a wonderful father.”

“Gideon—”

The other male pressed his lips to Alasdair, cutting off the words he’d spoken many times before. No matter how long they had searched, the perfect female to complete them wasn’t out there. Alasdair had given up finding a third, a female who could share her life with them, love them, and bear their children.

When Gideon broke the kiss, he whispered. “She’s out there. I feel it. Please be patient a little longer.”

Closing his eyes, Alasdair nodded. He’d give Gideon anything. Hell, Alasdair was just as desperate to find a female to complete the union. Most matings developed a strong, unbreakable bond. However, the strings linking he and Gideon’s seemed faint, almost transparent, like the Fates had something else in store for them.

“I’m not giving up, my love. But I am growing weary of searching.”

“We’ll find her,” he said again before drawing him into a tight embrace. “I’ll return as soon as I can. It’s too damned cold in New York right now for me.”

Laughing, Alasdair let go of his lover to take his duffle bag, and led the way to the waiting car. “Call me as soon as you land.”

With a nod, Gideon climbed in and shut the door.

As Alasdair watched his partner leave, an icy sensation shivered up his spine. A vision he hadn’t had in decades entered his mind. A beautiful woman with chestnut brown hair cascading over her shoulders stood in the middle of a room dressed in a long, white gown, her belly swollen with child.

His chest tightened and he shook off the vision. There had been a time when hope was strong in his heart. He and Gideon had used his gift of visions, deciphering them for clues to find her. But Alasdair was tired of the dead ends and the disappointments. The visions were no more than dreams. A false sense of their happily ever after.

Turning on his heels, he stormed into the house and toward his study. He would no longer search for an illusion of what the future may hold. No more wasting time and energy chasing a ghost.