21. Twenty-One
Twenty-One
A s my father predicted, Mohan, the Grand Master, deemed it necessary to visit. My mother has been on Cloud Nine all week planning her soirée. It’s quite nice to see her relaxed and excited for a change.
In fact, everyone, including myself, is looking forward to a night of good food and drink. I can’t remember the last time I got dressed up. I’m very much looking forward to seeing Erin in a gown. Well, I think she’ll be in a gown. She’s so far forbidden me from looking at her outfit.
The house is adorned with Mother’s finest decorations. Caterers and waitstaff have been hired for the event. Every vampire in a hundred-mile radius has been invited. Erin didn’t flinch when she saw the guest list.
“Are you nearly ready?” Lucas asks from my door. Erin and I stayed at my parents’ house all this week. Considering we’ve all had our noses in books for most of the time, it made little sense to keep trekking back to Insomnia. Claire is back in charge. Erin convinced me to step back, knowing we need to concentrate on finding out as much information as possible about the possible vampire human mating told through stories of old.
I’m still not convinced the folktales hold any water, but I’ve held my tongue. I only upset Erin when I say something, and that’s the last thing I want to do.
“Almost,” I shout. The black jumpsuit looks great on me. It’s one of my favorite and sexiest outfits. My hair hangs down as usual, and I’ve gone full vamp goth on the eye make-up. “Is Erin down there already?”
“No, she’s holed up in Maria’s room. I think they’re pre-gaming if the giggles coming from the room are anything to go by.”
“Oh Jesus,” I laugh. Let them pre-game. As long as Erin is having fun, I don’t care. “What about Mohan? Do we have an ETA?”
“Twenty minutes. Father wants you to be downstairs waiting when he arrives.”
Donning my heels, I give myself one last look over before heading downstairs to the party. Music plays softly throughout the house. My mother and father look every bit the host and hostess. Lucille and Trent are already dancing together.
“Amelia, it’s good to see you,” Misha Limone says. Misha is the CEO of a large real estate company.
“Misha, it’s been too long. How’s Lilian?” Lilian is Misha’s wife.
“Fat, her words, not mine,” she laughs. “She’s only got a week left and is thoroughly over the whole pregnancy thing.”
“Poor woman. Send her my love, won’t you? I need to find my father. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Wandering to the bar area, I see my father grab two flutes of champagne. “Here, this is for you,” he says .
“My hero,” I laugh.
“Feeling alright?”
“Fine, I just hope Mohan has some useful information. I’m worried that if we don’t find something soon, Erin is going to flip.”
“When I spoke to him, he seemed to think he might have something.” I nod and take a sip of my drink. “Ah, there he is. Shall we?”
Following my father, I’m grateful Erin isn’t downstairs just yet. If Mohan has bad news or no information to give, I get a few minutes to come up with something to tell Erin.
“Amelia, it’s wonderful to see you.” Mohan Chakan has been our Grand Master for over three hundred years. He is short with a kind face. It matches his character. There is a reason we have voted him into position for so long.
“Mohan,” I say, air kissing his cheeks.
“Shall we have a chat and then we can get to the party? If I know Victoria, the food is going to be phenomenal.”
“Of course,” Father laughs. “You can always count on Victoria.” We slip into my father’s study. There are already three glasses of bourbon waiting.
“So, I think I have something. After our phone call, Harlan, I went digging in the archives. I believe your theory that the legend holds truth is correct. I believe I found the vampire.”
“The vampire that successfully mated with a human?” I gasp.
“The one and only,” Harlan smiles. My heart is drumming furiously in anticipation. “And it gets better. I know where he is!”
“Good God!” Father barks in surprise. “That’s fantastic. Thank you, Mohan.” I’m stunned into silence. “Amelia, honey, did you hear that?”
“Y-yes,” I whisper. “Oh, my God. ”
“Where is he, Mohan?” Father can see I’m overwhelmed and is thankfully taking the lead.
“Ireland.”
“Ireland?” I parrot.
“Yes, as in over the sea and far away.” Mohan chuckles.
“How can you be sure it’s him?”
“I can’t be one hundred percent, Amelia. But I have a good feeling.”
“We have to go,” Father states. “We need to talk to him.”
“Not tonight, you don’t,” Mohan grins. “Tonight we have to celebrate, and I have to meet your beautiful new mate, Amelia.”
My mind snaps out of its fog as soon as Erin is mentioned. I need to tell her, but I’m going to wait until the end of the party. She deserves to have a night of fun, away from all the drama. “I look forward to introducing you,” I smile. Just the thought of Erin lifts my spirits.
“I’ll leave all the information I have in here. Come back to it fresh. I think it would be a good idea to make an announcement. No need to hide anything.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you straight away, Mohan,” my father begins. “We didn’t want to cause alarm until we had a better idea of the situation.”
“No apology necessary, I understand. Now we can work together and find a solution.”
“Thank you, Mohan.” I hug him hard. His face rests a little awkwardly on my chest.
We exit the study and mingle with the guests. Erin and Maria are still not here. I’m just about to go searching for them when I see the crowd part and Maria waltz in, looking regal as usual. Her midnight blue gown shimmers under the lights. She smiles at everyone and then winks at me. Stepping aside, Maria reveals Erin.
My God, she is radiant. Her hair is swept over one shoulder in all its golden glory. My eyes track her body, which is sewn into an emerald green strapless dress. Although she is in killer heels, she is still smaller than most people in the room, but what she lacks in height, my word, she makes up for in beauty and presence.
Forgetting entirely where I am and the company I am in, my legs carry me over to her automatically. Taking her by the waist, I bend my head, lowering my lips to hers. The kiss is deep, and passion filled. I want to pick her up and take her to bed.
Maria clears her throat several times before pinching my side. I draw back from Erin, still in a world where only she exists. “You look breathtaking,” I breathe.
“Wow.” Erin blinks several times, trying to recenter herself. I understand, that kiss was fire. “Um, Amelia,” she whispers. “Everyone is looking at us.” Ah, yes, the party!
Taking a step back, I run my fingers over her waist one last time before turning to the guests. Half are smirking and half look utterly confused. This is a room full of vampires, so the moment Erin entered, they would have smelled her.
Mohan clinks his glass several times. “Well, now seems like the perfect time,” he laughs. “First, I want to thank Victoria and Harlan for hosting yet another wonderful event. I think we can all say it’s been far too long.” The room mutters in agreement. “Tonight is special, though. Tonight, I have the greatest pleasure of announcing Amelia Loch’s mate.” Chatter immediately erupts, but Mohan pushes through. “As I’m sure you’ve gathered by that very warm welcome Amelia just bestowed… Erin, come here, dear.”— Erin gives me a confident wink and makes her way over to Mohan—“This lovely lady is Amelia’s mate, Erin.” More rumbling of chatter. “Now, I’m also guessing you’ve twigged that Erin is a human.”
“Amelia mated with a human?” a man says somewhere from the back of the room.
“She did, and we are here tonight to offer our congratulations and aid. We all know this isn’t the usual pairing.”
“Mohan, there isn’t a single case where this type of mating has been successful,” Misha shouts, shooting me a sad look.
“Actually, we believe we have found one. There will be difficult times ahead, but I believe Amelia and Erin will make it through. Will you all hold your drinks in the air and toast the gorgeous new couple.” Without hesitation, a hundred hands rise in the air. “To Amelia and Erin.”
“Amelia and Erin,” the room chants.
I’m fending off questions left, right and center. It’s been the same way for the past hour and a half. I know people are worried, but all I want to do is find Erin—who has been hijacked by Mohan—and dance with her.
“Do you need rescuing?” Lucille mutters in my ear.
“Please,” I beg.
“Amelia, I need to steal you for a few minutes.” Dragging me a little too hard by the arm, Lucille directs me to the sitting room. I breathe a sigh of relief when I find it empty. Crashing to the couch, I close my eyes, basking in the solitude.
“Care for some company?” An angelic voice paints a smile on my face. Opening my eyes, I look at Erin leaning against the doorframe, taking me in.
“I’d love some, especially if it’s from such a beautiful woman.”
“Always the charmer, Ms. Loch.”
“Come here,” I purr. Erin struts over to me. I sit up, patting the couch next to me. Erin ignores me, hitching up that delicious dress. Fuck me. She’s wearing a garter belt and stockings. Seductively, Erin lowers herself so she’s straddling my lap. “Hey, baby,” she whispers.
“Erin, do you know what you’re doing to me?”
“Hopefully getting you wet,” she grins.
“That happened the moment I saw you in that dress earlier tonight.”
“Maybe I could help clean you up?”
I let out a ragged breath. My eyes work up and down her body. She starts gently rocking against me. “Erin,” I warn.
“Yes, Amelia?”
“You need to stop, otherwise I’m going to fuck you on this couch.”
“Oh no. You have to wait for that.” Her hips are still moving. Her hands grasp my face, bringing my eyes up from her breasts. “Later. You can do whatever you want to me.”
“Erin,” I whine-slash-gasp. My panties are completely soaked. I’ve never wanted her so badly.
“Tonight, Amelia.”
“Then you need to leave,” I say seriously.
“We both do. People are looking for you.” The hip roll stops, which is a little upsetting if I’m honest. “Kiss me before we go out there.”
Oh, it’s my pleasure. I kiss her, taking her tongue into my mouth. Licking her lip, I gently bite down. “Now who’s teasing?” she mumbles.
“Just say the word and I’ll give you anything you want.” I’m deadly serious.
“Give me all of you,” she replies.
“You have me entirely.”
“I love you, Amelia.”
Pulling my head back, I look in her eyes. There is a fierce determination staring back at me. “Erin—”
“I love you, Amelia Loch.”
“I love you, too. I am yours, from now until forever.” The kiss this time is tender, slow, and knowing. Take away all the vampire/human crap, the drama and uncertainty and all that’s left are me and her.
“Do you promise?”
“Erin, we have to go to Ireland.”
“Um, that’s not what I expected you to say,” she giggles. “What’s in Ireland?”
“The vampire who mated with a human.”
“What?” She grabs my face forcefully. “You found him?”
“Mohan thinks he has.”
“Oh my God,” she screams. Oh my God, indeed.