Guardians for the Vamp (Manhattan Monsters #2)

Chapter 1 – Layla

I’m nervous as fuck.

I’m never nervous.

I hate the feeling of my stomach twisting and my nerves vibrating like a live wire.

If I had a heartbeat, I’d surely be dead from a heart attack.

I wasn’t even this nervous when I was crowned vampire queen of New York City just over three months ago.

It’s the highest honor for my kind. Well, in title only, I suppose.

There are elders far more important than me; vampires who have reached four digits in age—like the first vampire who is so old, it’s rumored he rarely requires blood to survive.

It’s been centuries since he’s made any sort of public appearance, only glimpses of the broody man lingering in the shadows.

My little promotion is nothing compared to those vampires, but that still doesn’t negate the fact that I, Layla Sofia Aldana, was chosen for this role.

I remember walking into the World Organization of Vampire Elites—WOVE—headquarters in Lower Manhattan for my coronation with my head held high.

I was asked to arrive early so the Council of Vampire Elites or COVE—WOVE’s governing body—could inform me of unprecedented changes happening during my reign, including having a gargoyle head my security team that will be comprised of a variety of supernatural beings.

It’s not common for high-ranking supernaturals to have different species on their protection detail. In fact, I only know of one: my best friend Millie, and the former vampire queen, who has two griffin guards.

Even more unprecedented is asking a gargoyle to protect another supernatural being.

Gargoyles protect cities, towns, and small villages.

They’re destined to protect innocent human souls, not vampire queens.

They only assist us when a vampire goes mad with blood lust and threatens the lives of humans.

So why?

The elder vampires, and other supernatural leaders, are tired of living in the shadows. They want to reveal our world to the humans, but in order to do that, we all have to be on the same page. That begins with unification, working together in all aspects of our lives.

They’re testing this unification plan with me.

Tonight I’ve been tasked with asking King Basque if he’d lend me one of his soldiers.

COVE was supposed to speak with the gargoyle king three months ago, but he’s canceled all scheduled meetings with them up until now.

Understandable since he’s been dealing with the aftermath of his brother, Magnus, trying to steal his throne.

Magnus wanted to reign over New York City and cause harm, or death, to humans. It was eerily similar to the failed attempt by feral vampire Heinrich—Millie’s sire—who wanted to form an army of supernaturals and capture humans to farm them for blood.

Thankfully, both of those fuckers are now dead.

I’m not surprised COVE wants me to be the one to break the news to the gargoyle king. They know I won’t complain. They know I won’t try to back out. Because they know how badly I want to lead.

The role of vampire queen doesn’t typically involve much responsibility, mostly acting as a mediator or overseeing policy creations, even though new policies for vampires haven’t been constructed in decades.

The queen can also decide the fate of a rogue vampire.

Depending on their crimes, she can choose death by sun or stake to the heart or an eternity in a cell.

Millie hated being queen. She only agreed to the job because it was during a time when vampires needed rules. I became her royal advisor about one hundred years ago, offering her any support she needed. She claims I was the one in charge, but she’s wrong. She was a great ruler.

She left the role—naming me as her successor—after meeting her blood mate: A golden retriever man destined to a lifetime of love with a creature of the night. Blood mates are rare for vampires. We’re cursed beings not meant for love. We claim. Possess. We have no souls.

Yet my bestie found her soulmate.

Bonding with Teddy physically changed her. The sun’s rays can no longer kill her—though if she spends too much time in the sun, it will make her sick. Her heart also beats, even if those beats are slower than normal. Her tears no longer bleed.

I was overjoyed for her, but I couldn’t deny my jealousy. A vampire in love? It proves that we’re capable of the emotion... that maybe the curse upon our kind is wrong, and we’re not soulless evil abominations.

It doesn’t matter. The chances of me finding my blood mate, when Millie is only the third vampire to do so, are low. I’m 709 years old, and I’ve long accepted I will be alone forever.

Not that I have time for love... or to even fool around anymore.

A week after my coronation, COVE informed me that I’ll be leading a special committee comprised of representatives from every supernatural species living in New York City. Our sole purpose will be forming a plan to reveal ourselves to humans.

We have to prepare for the unknown, the council had told me.

Humans are extremely emotional. There could be an uprising.

The ones who hunt us, and other supernatural beings, could form an army.

The human government could capture us to experiment.

If that happens, the supes will retaliate, especially if it threatens their lives or that of their mates.

The heavy wooden doors to the grand hall open, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Lala!” a familiar voice calls out.

Teddy’s nickname for me is new, and I don’t hate it. My name isn’t one that can easily transform into something cute… like Milli Vanilli, which is what Teddy calls his mate. I brace myself for an onslaught of energy from the former human who was turned into a vampire not too long ago.

Within seconds, he crosses the hardwood floor to reach me where I stand near the back of the room. He lets out a ‘woo!’ and a smile stretches over his face.

“That never gets old.”

He’s clearly enjoying his new vampire abilities.

Millie walks through the entrance at normal speed.

She dodges vampire workers speeding around, making final preparations for tonight’s party, including hanging decorations and setting out drinks and food—all tailored to tonight’s guests: blood for vampires, fairie wine for the fae, human food for shifters, weres, and witches.

“I need a leash,” Millie mumbles.

“Yes!” Teddy says, wiggling his eyebrows at my friend.

Millie’s fangs drop, and I imagine the image of Teddy wearing a leash while crawling to her just popped into her head, because it unfortunately popped into my head too.

“Lala,” Teddy gasps. “Stop thinking about me naked on all fours being led around by a leash.”

Fucker.

“You got me.” I sigh, but it’s hard not to smile at the disgustingly positive man. I’m a positive person too, but Teddy’s level of happiness is as if his endorphins are infused with crack.

Millie smiles at our bickering and it’s so foreign on her. She used to be a grump but now she radiates joy. Teddy has clearly infected her with his sunshine personality.

And I absolutely love that for her.

“You look stunning,” I say to my best friend.

I admire her glittering red gown that hugs her thick body and has sleeves that hang off her shoulders.

Millie and I are what the world considers plus-size. My stomach jiggles, and my thighs have dimples. I’ve lived in this bigger body for hundreds of years, but it was never seen as a problem—at least, not like it has in this modern society, which is obsessed with body image.

“Me? What about you? You’re absolutely glowing.”

I huff out a laugh. “Vampires do not glow... or sparkle for that matter.”

Millie reaches up and adjusts my crown. It has purple jewels that were ethically mined in Australia and comes with a costly price tag. I explained to COVE that I didn’t need a purple jeweled crown, but it arrived a few days after I’d been asked my favorite color.

The head piece is just a formality. Rarely worn unless there’s an event, like the ball taking place tonight, where everyone goes overboard with extravagant outfits and headwear.

Millie’s silver and black eyes water as she takes me in.

I haven’t seen her since my coronation. She avoids functions attended by a large number of supernaturals because Teddy’s blood, being Millie’s blood mate, is highly desirable to other supes.

We still have no idea exactly why his blood is so special.

We assume it has something to do with whatever magical property deemed the former human destined to be Millie’s mate.

Whatever the reason, Millie is highly protective of him and to lessen his appeal, she had a witch cast a protection spell over him.

“You make such a beautiful queen,” Millie says, her voice catching.

Being the strong-willed woman she is, she’s quick to replace the emotion.

Another smile spreads across her pale face.

“We just ran into the gargoyles in the hallway. Who do you think will be your new head of security? Locheran maybe?”

“Who cares? They’re all fucking hot,” Teddy adds.

Millie bites her lip, nodding her agreement.

“I’ll gladly let any of them ruin me,” Teddy continues.

His face lights up, and he grabs Millie’s face, smooshing her cheeks.

“Babe, we should ask the one with the scar if he wants to be our third.” Teddy turns to me.

“Not permanently. Just for funsies. And let me tell you, LaLa, the gargoyle is big—”

“All gargoyles are big,” I mumble, but that doesn’t stop Teddy from talking.

“—and, like, godly hot. First time meeting a gargoyle, and I’m in love.” His eyes widen, and he wraps his arm around Millie’s shoulders. “Not real love, that’s only for my Milli Vanilli.”

He kisses her temple.

“Yeah, I’m going to need you to calm down, puppy,” I say, calling him by his nickname. “And, no, I don’t know which one it will be because the king doesn’t know about this request.”

“Still?” Millie gasps.