In the Service of the King (Vampire Warrior Kings 1)

Shayla threw her hands out to brace herself as the car eased into what had to be a U-turn.

“Um, hello?” She reached forward until her hands found the facing seat and then shifted her body to reach the dividing window. She knocked. Nothing. “Oh, come on. Hello?” she called louder. She flopped back against the seat.

What is going on? Maybe her trainer, a man she called Master Simon, needed to ride back with her after all. That must be it.

In the quiet lull of the resumed ride, all she could think about was how different the night had gone from what she’d expected. Yesterday, she’d been so excited, nearly giddy, as she imagined what the evening might hold for her. How meeting the king could very well be the answer to a variety of prayers. Now, she was just depressed…and, frankly, a little annoyed. Kael might be gorgeous and fascinating and sexy, able to make her come by kissing her alone, but he was just a guy. For God’s sake.

Oh, who am I kidding?

Kael was everything she’d ever fantasized, and so much more. Powerful and magnificent in his otherworldliness. Gentle and kind, at least when he wanted to be. So damn hot her novice body and mind could barely process it. Her best shot at getting justice for Dana, vengeance against the Soul Eaters.

Shayla hugged herself and laid her head back against the seat. She’d find another way. Somehow. As for Kael, well, the Proffered never had more than a few hours with him, did they? Her rational mind knew that, expected it. Any hopes she held out otherwise were just the last hangings-on of teenage fantasies. Now she could put her daydreaming aside and focus on a realistic path to fighting the evil in her world. If nothing else, there was her future role on the Electorate Council. Surely there were also other contributions she could make she didn’t yet know enough to conceive. That thought eased the tension from her neck and shoulders.

The car stopped again, drawing her attention. She’d been so distracted she couldn’t tell how much time had passed. Her door clicked open. From somewhere outside, voices bit back and forth at one another. She slid her blindfold off and set it on the seat beside her.

Shayla’s eyes blinked and watered as they adjusted to the fluorescent lights of the cavernous garage—she’d guessed right, then, they’d returned. Through a squint, she was finally able to make out the shape of her trainer, a tall, thin man in his mid-forties, and—she was certain from his size and long braid—a vampire warrior. Chills raised the hair on her arms as she stepped out of the car. Why was the warrior here if the point of her return was to collect Master Simon?

The men’s conversation halted, and both turned to look at her. Their expressions were studies in opposites. Master Simon’s entire face was frowning—it was his “concerned” expression, rather than his “angry” one, and she was a little relieved at that.

The big warrior, on the other hand, wore the most welcoming smile. He nodded once. “Hello.”

His manner was open, friendly. It put her at ease. “Hey.” She glanced at Master Simon, who was watching them, wary.

The vampire stepped forward and offered his hand. “I am Liam.”

She looked at him for a minute, then placed her hand in his engulfing grip. “I’m Shayla.”

He grinned as he shook her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Shayla.”

Shayla returned his smile, then bit her bottom lip. She had no idea what was going on and therefore what protocol was appropriate. She had a million questions, but no idea if she was free to voice them. A long moment passed with no one saying anything, unleashing a nervous energy inside her she could barely restrain. Finally, she couldn’t keep herself from breaking the silence. “Uh, so…”

“Come, Shayla. Let’s talk.” Her trainer held out his hand in invitation and directed her back the way they’d come just an hour before.

She glanced between them for a minute and smiled wryly as Liam nodded encouragingly. “Yeah. Okay.”

The three of them entered the reception area, passed through security, and threaded their way through several corporate-looking hallways until they returned to the posh apartment where she’d readied herself earlier. Simon offered her a seat in the living area and she settled into an armchair and crossed her jeans-clad legs. A glass of orange juice and two of her favorite kind of chocolate-chip cookies sat on the side table. She smiled at Master Simon and took a long sip of the cool sweetness.

The men chose seats around her. Master Simon and Liam traded looks, then Simon said, “The king would like to see you again.”

The words were so far outside her expectations she merely blinked at them. Hope flared in her gut, but she tamped it down. Hard. No one saw him a second time. She tucked her long loose hair behind her ears. Finally, she managed, “Why?”