Sometimes a monster really is hiding under the bed.
Welcome to another offering for Frisky Friday, where we hope you're getting as excited about the weekend as we are. This week, I'm sharing an excerpt from my 1st book, Mortal Illusions. A vampire romance published by New Concepts Publishing, Mortal Illusions is currently the first in a series of 3 books. Its sequel, Fatal Desire, is currently under production.
This snippet occurs at the beginning of Chapter 6. Germaine St. Justine and Claire Daniels are both attending the opening night festivities of Germaine's newest musical "Dracula." Claire's mother died the day before, and Germaine dedicated their opening night performance to her. Though Claire is grateful for Germaine's support, she has grown more and more convinced he is a vampire and was once her mother's lover. So, when she begins spouting accusations that Germaine is truly undead, he suggests their backstage doctor sedate her enough to calm her down so she can complete her performance. Claire is furious with him for avoiding her questions and overriding her wishes in the matter, but finishes her performance and attends the opening night party, since she doesn't want to do anything that might ruin the occasion her mother had most wanted to see. Claire's Broadway debut. However, Claire isn't handling her grief well, and when she begins her third glass of champagne, Germaine intervenes by lifting the filled flute from her fingers with the warning that alcohol and tranquilizers don't mix.
.
.
“Oh.” Certain Claire's chagrin was only momentary, Germaine could almost hear the tiny wheels whirring away in her mind when her lips
curved into a suspiciously compliant grin.
“Very well, you choose for me, then.
And while you're at it, select some choice pieces for yourself. I wouldn't want you to grow hungry watching
me stuff my face.”
Her tactics did not fool him, and he
let her know it. “Vampires don't eat,
remember?”
Her eyes wide, she took a step
back. “You're admitting it's true--that
you are a vampire?”
Her fear surprised him, but didn't deter
him from his purpose. “Of course.” He gestured to include the room. “Everyone here is. Didn't they tell you? It's a prerequisite for being in the play.”
Her chin promptly rose another three
notches. “If you think a little sarcasm
can divert me, St. Justine, think again.
Joan taught me how to flush a vampire out of his coffin.”
“Ah, yes, Joan . . . “ He returned his attention to the buffet.
“She appeared to know what she was
talking about, and you didn't have to go behind my back and dismiss her. I would have told her.”
“When?” Pressing the filled plate back into her
hands, he guided her over to a small padded bench. “Sometime in the next millennium?”
Instead of verbally ripping into
him, as he half expected, Claire sat and began nibbling absently at his
selections. “I think she made you
nervous because she discovered what you really are.”
Not nervous, he corrected
silently. Irritated. And he was growing more irritated by the
minute. “Then it's wise of you to be
wary,” he warned, leaning over to whisper intimately in her ear, “I could just
be fattening you up for my next meal.”
Though Germaine is concerned about Claire, he's more worried by the notion she has discovered the truth about him. Vampires do exist, and walk among us, but if an uninitiated human suspects, the vampire is supposed to clear the mortal's mind of such foolishness. Germaine finds such tactics distasteful, but he may not have a choice in Claire's case. They are too closely connected.
M/F, Contemporary vampire romance in a society based on D/s.
Read the first three chapters at: Mortal Illusions
Buy the book at NCP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ARe.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and wish you and yours a very Frisky Friday.
Enjoyed this snippet Kathryn, loved how he handled this!
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Roz