Queens and Monsters: A Vampire Shifter Romance (The Blood Falls Book 1)

“You don’t have a choice, Dray. I have to leave,” I whispered back. “And you’ll let me go. But does that mean we can’t enjoy what we do have?”

If we were Fated, then this couldn’t be the end. Not unless the Universe was playing a cruel joke on us. And given my life so far, maybe I should expect the Universe to be meaner.

His hand moved through my hair to the back of my neck as his eyes drank me in. “If it makes what’s coming harder, then I think we have to keep our feelings to ourselves.”

Then why was he touching me? Could anything really be harder than resisting this magnetic pull? “Maybe it will make it easier…knowing there’s something more out there. Something to come back to.”

“Rhysa. You’re not going to spend happy weekends with Grandpa. You’re the heir.” And yet somehow his lips were even closer. “We can’t be together.” But then his lips were on mine.

I sank into the kiss with everything I had, taking everything as if it would be the last. His strong arms held me firmly against his solid body, his fingers dug into my skin.

There was no mistaking that Dray felt things for me. Not only was the connection undeniable, but our physical responses were so dramatic. Even now I wanted to devour him in whatever way he’d let me. With a kiss, with a drink, or with my body. All of it was on the table.

And based on the desperate way he kissed me back, I had to believe he felt the same way.

As quickly as the kiss started, it ended.

Dray stepped back and let go of my hand. He stared at the falls. “We can’t risk it. The cost is too high.”

This is where the vast differences between us showed the most. “You’ve always had a supportive family around, Dray. Always had the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Not to mention fifty more years of experience with all of it. “But I’ve had nothing.” He winced at those words. “It’s been my habit to never let a good thing go to waste—even when I knew it wouldn’t last.”

Was it blinding me to the many issues ahead of me? Yes. I knew that. But I also didn’t fully understand what was coming, so why worry? Maybe my time with the Wrens was fleeting, but I would enjoy every second of this while I could, whether Dray did the same or not.

“Your old life is a memory now,” he said. “Things are different. You need to behave differently too.”

Ouch. Another difference. It was easy to look at Dray and pretend we were close to the same age, but when he said things like that…it was obvious he was much older. He probably saw me as a naive inexperienced child, not as a woman. I hugged my arms around myself realizing what I fool I was.

He moved so fast. One second he was several feet away staring up at the blood red falls and the next he was in front of me, taking my hands and pulling them away from my body. “No.”

I stared at his throat. “No? Are you reading my thoughts?”

He didn’t let go of my wrists and I noted that his lips were a tantalizing few inches away from mine again. Close enough to feel the soft puffs of warm breath. “I can’t read your thoughts Rhysa.”

“Then why do you seem to know what I’m thinking? How can you talk to me without speaking?” I was so sick of not understanding anything.

“It’s true I’m more sensitive to the people around me, but when it’s someone I care about, their feelings…I don’t know…it feels like they’re mine. You especially. When you have a sharp reaction, I feel all of it. And just now? You had bad thoughts about yourself.” His fingers traveled from my wrists, up my arms, to my shoulders where his fingers danced along my neck and his palms pressed against my chest. “My desire to keep away from you has nothing to do with you. Not your name, not your future or your potential power, and certainly not your lack of understanding.”

It sure seemed like he could read my mind, but I was also distracted by his amazing nearness and the dance of his fingers along my skin, so I didn’t want to argue.

His hands moved to cup my face as he brought his forehead to mine, swallowing hard. Believe me. I closed my eyes and sank into the connection he offered me. It wasn’t enough, but for now, it would have to do.

“Told you…” Gigi whispered in my ear after we got back.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She pulled a leaf out of my hair, giving me a “gotcha” look.

I shrugged. “It’s not what you think.”

She tossed the leaf to the ground. “It’s hard to resist fate.”

Dray came around the cart, giving his sister one of his looks. “Don’t start. I don’t want to hear it.”

She may be right about us being drawn together, but the simple reality was that Dray was never going to let anything happen.

And I really didn’t want to dwell on things I couldn’t control. “So is everyone here?”

“I hope you had a nice, quiet, relaxing time with Dray because things are about to get loud.” We walked up the stairs, with each step the hum of music, conversation, and kids grew louder.

She wasn’t kidding.

All the windows were open to the night air and inside the lights were low, candles lit everywhere. Kids ran, weaving between groups of adults of all different ages. “Is this all family or is it friends too?” Everyone looked so different.

“Just family… and a few friends.” She pulled me through the door.

“You’re really going to have to explain the genetics to me. Can we start there first thing tomorrow?” For some reason I expected to walk into a room of Wrens who all looked like carbon copies of each other. Sure Dray had just told me they married people from many different houses, and obviously their kids would look like a blend of them, but it hadn’t sunk in that samhain from different houses could be as different as humans from different parts of the world.

I had so much to learn but I was mostly really excited about it all.

“Bookstore girl!” Bo came toward me with a smile, one hand holding a drink, the other outstretched for a hug. “The universe works in mysterious ways, does it not? Who would have thought Georgiahana’s desperate need for a paperback was also us being called to find you?”

Gigi punched him in the arm. “I did need that paperback.”

He looked down his nose at her. “There are what? Five bookshops in that town? You chose hers for a reason and you know it.”

Her lips twisted off to the side. “It was on the way to the ball.”

“Gigi.”

She sighed. “Fine. Yes, the Sight showed me the sign outside the bookstore days earlier.”

The Universe sent her to me. “The Sight?”

She waved her hands through the air. “My psychic ability to see what’s coming and going. I meditate every day to tap into the Plane. Sometimes it’s all background noise and garbage. Like getting junk mail. But sometimes it clearly features something that will be important. I knew I had to go to your bookshop, I just didn’t know when.”

Fate. The Universe. Destiny. Part of me hated feeling like I wasn’t fully in control of my own life, but part of me enjoyed knowing I was part of something bigger than myself.

“Is this the infamous Rhysa?” Two women who looked like slightly younger versions of Gigi surrounded Bo.

He put his arms around them. “These two are full time trouble and you should ignore them.”

“I’m Cassandrha. Everyone calls me Cass.” The blonde on the right stuck out her hand.

I shook it, feeling a warm connection to her, just like I did with Gigi.

“And I’m the far prettier, much more intelligent twin, Bridghet, but everyone calls me Bridge.”

“Are you sure you three aren’t triplets?”

Bo gasped. “How dare you? I look nothing like these troublemakers!”

I laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth. “I meant Gigi.”

“Oh, well then, all is forgiven.” He released his sisters. “I’m clearly far better looking than they will ever be.” He straightened his flannel shirt and brushed back his hair.

Bridge rolled her eyes. “His ego is this big.” She held her hands out wide.

“So where do you fall in the pecking order?”

The twins traded a look as if they always confirmed with each other before speaking. I’d seen twins—human twins—do the same many times. “We’re the babies of the family,” Cass said.

“So let me see if I have this straight. Dray is oldest, then Bo. I haven’t met Leena, then Gigi, and I still need to meet Kris, Aethel, and Vic.”

Bo clapped. “Bravo. We know we’re an unruly bunch. Your efforts are commendable. Here, let me introduce you.”

As I moved beside Bo into the crowded room, I caught sight of Dray as far away as he could get while still keeping his eyes on me. And make no mistake, that’s exactly what he was doing: watching my every move. I might not have tapped into this Plane yet, but I sensed Dray more than anyone else and I knew when he was watching me.

“Leena. Kris. Meet our dear Miss Rhysa.”

The pair before me were darker than their other siblings. Both had dark brown eyes, olive skin, and dark brown hair. Their other features were identical to the fairer blondes and even Dray and Bo with their striking blue eyes.

They also seemed far less pleased to see me.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Leena said.

Kris smiled like he was forcing it onto his lips. “A pleasure.”

Bo leaned down and whispered, “They’re not members of the Rhysa Fan Club just yet. But don’t worry, it’s only because they haven’t met you and they worry about your grandfather destroying the family.”

“Oh, is that all?” I turned and stared at Bo, marveling that he was able to say all that with a straight face.

He stood back up to his full height. “I met you before you Awakened. Back when you helped Gigi find a book and made her incredibly happy for no reason other than a shared love of reading.” He shot his younger siblings a withering stare.

So Bo had that Big Brother energy as well. At least Dray wasn’t alone at the top all the time. “I perfectly understand your worries and I don’t blame you one bit.”

I stood my ground as Leena studied me. “Crap. I can’t hate her. She really is as sweet as you said.”

He said I was sweet? After fifteen minutes in a bookstore? That was really nice.

Kris didn’t crack though. “I don’t hate you. I just hate what you represent and right now my family is more important than anything.”

“I respect that.” I really did. The Wren family loyalty was admirable and, if I was being honest, I was jealous of what they all had.

Aethel and Vic were equally wary of me, but open to getting to know me. Then I met a string of aunts, uncles, and cousins I would never remember. I noticed that people seemed to be moving in and out of the house in waves.

I came to a stop in front of two identical Aunt Bethany’s. “I’m really confused right now.”

Both women smiled the same way at the same time. “Twins run in the family. I’d like you to meet my twin, Belynda.”

Fertility and twins? The Wren’s really were making lots of babies. The hair on my neck rose up and I knew Dray was behind me. Then both women looked over my shoulder and smiled.

“There you are.” Bethany waved him over.

“Aunts. What do you think of our new recruit?” He clasped his hands behind his back, standing ramrod straight beside me.

“She’s very nervous, Draygus,” Belinda scolded him. “Stop being so aloof. You know how terrifying you get when you’re like this.”

“You have no idea,” he said under his breath. Then louder, “I’ll try harder. If you’ll excuse me?” He nodded to his aunts and then to me before disappearing into the crowd.

Belynda shook her head. “The stress is eating him alive.”

“He won’t listen to me,” Bethany replied. “It’s not like when he stole my car.”

“Dray stole your car?” I couldn’t believe Mr. Broody would do anything so against the rules.

“Oh yes. He was a stubborn child who decided he was the man of the house and would take over getting groceries and supplies from town. Back then I was his guardian and had more power. I simply returned the car to the garage and disabled the engine so he couldn’t go anywhere. These days he’s his own man. A stubborn man.”

Of course he didn’t steal it for a joyride. Only Dray would steal a car in order to be more responsible.

“Lou!” Bethany waved at someone, then turned her attention to me. “I want you to meet someone who I think will be very helpful to you.”

Lou turned out to be a gorgeous woman. At least two or three inches taller than me with dark brown eyes, jet black hair, and a long, slender body. She also had the most perfect lips I’d ever seen in real life. I kind of had a girl crush on her.

“So this is the famous Rhysa. It is good to meet you. We have a lot in common,” she said.

I glanced at Bethany. “Lou is a member of the House of Sato. She is also a cousin of the House of Axl.”

“Like you, I’m forced to walk the line between friend and foe.” She articulated her words very carefully, the rhythm of her sentences staccato. “Perhaps I will see you at House of Axl in the future?”

I nodded, my mind whirling. Was this the Lou that Gigi mentioned so long ago? The one who was kidnapped? Oh sure, the rest of the story was a cover—the real estate mogul part—but the kidnap and ransom part sounded entirely genuine.

“I trust Lou. Completely. She will be a good ally for you inside your grandfather’s house.”

Lou smiled warmly at Bethany and Belynda. “They often watched me when I was small. I played with Dray, Bo, Leena and sometimes Georgiahana.”

It would be nice to have an ally behind enemy lines. “What were they like as kids?”

“Oh, Bo has always been a playboy. He was born with that smile and unshakable confidence. Leena was always covered in mud. She hated the indoors. And Dray…well he was once the sweetest boy I ever knew. He always had flowers for his mother and aunties.”

“Yes, well, he’s still sweet. It’s just harder to find.” Bethany smiled, but it was the sad kind.

Gigi came running over. “Have you seen the library yet? Of course not. When would you have time?”

“Maybe now would be good? I’m sure Rhysa needs a break from all this,” Bethany suggested.

“Bridge!” Gigi waved over my head. “Now!”

I let Gigi pull me away. “It was nice meeting you, Lou!”

“I’ll be seeing you,” she called after me.

“Lou’s good people,” Gigi said. “Super calm all the time. It’s pretty freaky but it serves her really well moving between the houses the way she has to.”

“Is she the Lou you told me about?”

Gigi paused, confused. “When did I tell you about Lou?”

“The second night at the book shop when you told me you knew someone who’d been kidnapped.”

Her mouth rounded. “Oh. Yeah. I wouldn’t have told you that if I’d known who you were.” She chewed her lower lip. “The answer is yes. Now let’s get going.” She yanked me even faster down the halls of the House of Wren.

I glanced in the open doors we passed. Everything was nice and clean, and even in the more formal rooms there was warmth. And then Gigi and Bridge stopped in front of an enormous room.

The walls were blue, the shelves dark wood, in the center was a large rug with two couches back-to-back, armchairs in the corners, and every shelf covered in books up to the ceiling. Floor to ceiling windows dotted the corners.

“Paradise.” Bridge danced into the vacant room, arms wide.

I stood in the doorway with my mouth hanging open. It was like I had stepped into the Beast’s library, or some other fantastical movie with the perfect library. “Can I sleep in here instead?” The couch looked perfectly comfortable.

“I have many times,” Gigi said. “Look over here.” She tugged me toward a shelf where the entire Murder, Mayhem, and Mischief collection was shelved, including the copy from my store.

I let the sisters give me a full tour. It took several minutes just for the overview. And then we got to the fireplace. Yep. There was a fireplace in here too. It really was the perfect library. “Did you know everything here has been built by us?” Bridge gushed. “The stones for the fireplace were set by Wren’s, every board that built this house was planed, cut, and hammered into place by our family. Even the furniture. The bookcases, chairs, and couches were all made by us.”

I touched the stones. Gorgeous stones of dark grey and imperfect striations. “You are all very talented.” Intimidatingly so.

“You want to know a secret?” Bridge made her eyebrows dance on her forehead.

“Of course.”

“Over here!” She skipped across the room to the full wall of books and waited for me to catch up. Then, with a grin, pulled the bookcase open.

Inside was a secret room!

I gasped. “No!”

“Yes!” She nodded quickly. “It’s my favorite place in the whole house.”

Behind the bookcase was an entire hidden room with an armchair, side table, a rug, and more bookshelves. I stepped inside slowly like I might be stepping into another dimension.

But no, it was simply a room hidden behind a bookcase.

“And here,” Gigi pulled open another bookshelf, “is the passage back to the main hallway.”

A secret passage.

“You all got up to lots of mischief, didn’t you?”

The pair nodded, grinning.

“Bridge! Gigi! Where are you?” Aunt Bethany called out.

“In here!” Bridge yelled back. Everyone seemed to yell in this house, even with dozens and dozens of guests over.

“Ah, I should have known.” Bethany stopped at the entrance to the secret room. “Have you shown her the tunnel?”

They shook their heads.

My brain short circuited. “There’s a tunnel, too?”

“Oh yes.” Bethany moved through the room to the other bookcase and pulled the bottom half open revealing a dark staircase hidden behind. “I need the girls to help me get Great Aunt Khathryn to her car. Why don’t you explore on your own and get some real quiet time?”

“You don’t have to ask me twice. It’s been a fantasy of mine to live in a house with secret passages.” I peered into the dark.

“All bookworms dream of this,” she said, reaching inside and up. “This is the key to the door below. Just make sure you return it to the hook when you come back up. Enjoy. Come on girls. You know how Great Aunt likes to see you.”

They groaned, but followed Bethany anyway.

I bit my lip. A real secret passage. Ever since we arrived at House of Wren, I felt like I was floating through a fairytale from the gorgeous homes to the woods to Blood Falls. And now this. I knelt down and slid into the opening. There was just enough light from the secret room to see the stairs and the door below. I crept down the first two so I could get enough space to stand and then slowly descended the stairs. Why I was walking slowly and carefully I didn’t know. They were sturdy and appeared to be regularly maintained. Maybe it was because I felt like I had stepped into a book and that maybe each step took me further and further from reality.

Either way, I reached the bottom. The door looked heavy and old. The lock had been updated at some point, but it was still older than most modern keys. I held my breath as I slid it into the keyhole and twisted. The mechanisms tumbled with a thud and the door gasped open a fraction of an inch.

I let out a little of my breath as I pushed open the door. I expected it to be black inside but instead there was soft yellow light that blanketed the racks of wine bottles and stacks of food supplies. In the center of the room was a table made out of wine barrels. And standing at that table with a glass of wine in his large hand was a frowning Draygus Wren.