Rise for Me

7

“Where’s my daughter?”

“Mariah is under my care and protection now, Mr. Stone.”

“How dare you come to our home, vampire gypsy?”

Roman inhaled a deep breath to keep from grabbing Mariah’s father by the throat. “How dare I? How dare you allow a child to suffer the way she did? Did you even know she had breast cancer? That she was dying? You kept us apart with threats, but not any longer.”

“What have you done?”

“I gave her life.”

“You brought her death and a life of persecution. You think I don’t know about your kind?”

Roman shook his head. “You forget where you came from. What happened to the proud Romani man? What happened to your family? Do you sleep better at night pretending they didn’t exist?”

Mr. Stone thumped the screen door with his fist, but Roman didn’t budge an inch. He started to step onto the porch when Mariah’s mother laid a hand on his shoulder. “I want to hear what he has to say. Where’s my daughter?”

“She’s with me where she will remain.”

She frowned at her husband before opening the door. “Come inside, Roman Lee.”

“Do you know what he is, Lila?”

Mr. Stone asked.

“I know what he is, and I also watched him with Mariah when you wouldn’t.”

“He’s an abomination, Lila!”

“He’s one of God’s creatures, just like us. Where’s your pious nature? Surely, with all those prayers and studying, you learned nothing good comes from judgment.”

Mr. Stone glared at his wife in horror when she smiled at Roman. “Perhaps we can talk on the porch, and you can tell me everything about my daughter. Is she well?”

Roman bowed his head in respect. “She’s perfect, and she misses her parents.”

Lila laughed. “Well, that’s a first.”

Roman winked at his future mother-in-law. “The first of many firsts. We plan to marry soon, and Mariah would love to have her parents at her side.”

“My baby married, and to a handsome Romani man just like her father!”

Mr. Stone blanched white as snow.

Lila laughed again. “I know more than you think, Patrin Stone. You assumed I wouldn’t research your people, but I did. The vampire was a protector, highly regarded in your community. Shame on you, Patrin.”

Patrin snorted. “They could’ve prevented the massacres.”

Lila gasped. “The vampire was persecuted just like your family, hunted mercilessly, and forced to hide or blend into society to save their species.”

And the weight of the past lifted from Roman’s shoulders.

Mariah opened her eyes to an empty bed, reaching for and rubbing the spot where Roman usually slept. In the last two weeks, she’d never left his side and had learned the ways of the vampire.

Roman was a patient teacher and a passionate lover.

Her thighs and breasts tingled, remembering the things he did with his tongue.

Every moment seemed like a precious gift.

Her gaze drifted around the room they now shared within the Haunted House.

Everything she ever wanted lived inside these old walls.

She grinned when her eyes lowered to the floorboard. Sleeping in the dirt was a problem for her, but Roman didn’t seem to mind. It was difficult to let go of her human ways.

Dust particles floated in the moonlight streaming through the window.

She missed no detail with her enhanced eyesight.

Every scent from the carnival filtered into her nostrils along with the mouthwatering scent of human blood. She licked her lips and the tips of her fangs before forcing the impulse to feed to the back of her mind.

Sustenance was necessary, but so was control.

With a sigh, she rose from their bed and sat at the vanity Roman had gifted her.

Jewels and trinkets lined the surface-all gifts from Roman, but the only thing she desired was him.

She didn’t know why he continued to bring them.

A soft smile spread across her face when she picked up a ruby ring surrounded in gold, set on a wide band.

Roman gave it as an engagement ring.

Her eyes slowly lifted to the mirror, and she stared at her reflection.

With the transition to vampire, no trace of the dark circles remained under her eyes, and her skin appeared luminous.

The black streak in her hair was still there, but she loved it, as well as the streak of blond in his.

Once again, Roman gave a selfless gift when he saved her life.

Mariah chuckled at her reflection, thinking of how Roman planned everything, including this day, their wedding day.

Just as she slid the ring on her finger, her door burst open.

Lizzie barged into Roman’s room carrying an old trunk.

With a huff and a few choice words, she dropped it beside the bed and began rummaging through its contents.

Mariah watched her friend with a bit of humor.

When Lizzie pulled a vintage dress out and spread it on the bed, Mariah sighed at the exquisiteness. “I can’t wear it.”

With her hands on her hips, Lizzie whirled around. “Why the hell not? My mother gave it to me to wear on my wedding day, and since no Romani prince has swept me off my feet yet, you’ll wear it.”

Mariah bit her bottom lip. “I haven’t even met your mother. I wouldn’t want to offend her.”

“And I won’t be offended.”

Lizzie grinned, and Mariah rose from her stool as Roman’s mother entered the room.

From her exotic, dark features, green eyes, and regal bearing, there was no doubt this woman was Roman’s mother and vampire.

A sequined red dress outlined her curvy figure, and her dark brown hair was in an elaborate updo with red jewels.

Mariah didn’t say a word when Margarite looked her over from top to bottom, then winked.

“I can see why you’re my son’s mate. You’re beautiful, Mariah.”

Mariah glanced from Lizzie to the dress, then back to Margarite, but she didn’t know what to say, so she let her heart do the talking. “I love him.”

Margarite’s husky laughter filled the room. “It’s a good thing, or I’d be upset at traveling all this way. When Roman called to us, I couldn’t believe my ears.”

Margarite waved one hand in the air. “Besides, I’d slept too long, and the worms were getting on my nerves.”

Mariah burst out laughing. “The worms?”

“Yes, the worms. Slimy little things crawling all over my flesh. I was human like you . I told Vadim I need a coffin from now on.”

“Vadim is here, too?”

“Of course he is. He’s a grumpy old thing, so pay him no attention.”

What a character, Mariah mused to herself, just as a deep voice grumbled in the doorway. Margarite clucked her tongue while looking the dress over. “Speak of the devil. Mariah, meet your soon-to-be father-in-law.”

Vadim Lee strode to her with a wicked grin on his handsome face and a twinkle in his eye. Mariah blushed from the tip of her head to her toes.

This man didn’t look a day over forty and exuded sexuality. Now she knew where Roman got his looks.

A black tux fit snugly against his tall form, and his black hair hung in loose waves to his shoulders. Vadim bowed before her, took her hand, and placed a gentle kiss on her palm. “It’s a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman.”

“Oh please,”

Lizzie barked.

“You don’t kiss my palm like that,”

Margarite said, laughing.

Vadim winked. “You see what I have to put up with, and I the Prince of Darkness. No respect.”

Mariah couldn’t stop the grin or the laugh from emerging.

She absolutely loved Roman’s family.

The only thing missing was Roman and her own parents.

They’d returned home but never tried to contact her.

Several nights she’d paced on the sidewalk outside her childhood home but didn’t have the courage to approach them.

Maybe it was for the best? She knew how they felt about Roman.

It was a sore subject, but Roman never brought negativity to the conversation regarding her parents. He insisted they would come around because love had a way of mending fences.

Her lips twitched as her fingers slid over the dress. “Where’s Roman?”

Lizzie grabbed the dress off the bed and held it up in front of her. “Roman is finishing some last-minute details, so don’t go prying into his mind. Now, let’s get you ready.”

Mariah tilted her face. “He’d better be waiting at the altar.”