A Call of Vampires (A Shade of Vampire #51)

Caia bellowed against the sheer force of the fire column, summoning her abilities to come out in full, and her shield burst out with an explosion so powerful, it canceled Blaze’s attack and threw him backward. He landed several feet away, and needed a minute to shoot back up to his feet.

I couldn’t help but clap at the sheer display of strength and skill from both of them. Caia wore a proud grin, putting her lighters away and lifting her index finger in the air.

“Sorry if I got a little too intense,” she said. “I can tell we’re being screened for something today, so I figured I’d give it my best.”

He chuckled, then nodded with appreciation.

“You most certainly did,” he replied, his voice a touch lower than usual.

There was a twinkle in his eyes that reminded me of my first few days around Bijarki, back at the mansion. I could see the attraction—it didn’t need explaining. Blaze then frowned and looked away, focusing his gaze on Bijarki and Harper’s training.

He was probably seeing Caia now for the first time, in a way. They’d grown up in The Shade during the Eritopian time lapse, but my sister had spent most of her time within the Residences community, while Blaze lived on the other side of the island, with the dragon folk.

I knew his dad Heath and our mom had gotten close at one point before dad had come into the picture… which made this little potential coupling all the more interesting. I couldn’t wait to see where it might lead.





Anjani





The day I’d never imagined I’d experience was finally here.

My wedding day.

My heart was thudding, wrestling against my ribcage as Corrine made the final adjustments to my dress. All my favorite girls were with me, along with members of my new family: Hansa, my sister and my best friend; Serena, Aida, and Vita, the unbreakable trio who had helped us regain freedom for ourselves and our people; Victoria, Jovi’s mother and a woman who inspired me on so many levels; Vivienne, Jovi and Aida’s grandmother and truly a sight to behold, the epitome of grace and vampiric elegance; and Viola, a Daughter of Eritopia with a mind of her own and a heart the size of Calliope.

Aura and Almandine were busy giggling and braiding silver orchids into my long, curly black hair. They gathered the braided locks and twisted them into a loose, flowery bun resting on the back of my neck. I would’ve loved to have Izora, Hansa’s only living daughter and my niece, with us but she’d been sent to a therapy camp to recover from her severe war trauma. Hansa had been very quick to notice the signs and didn’t like talking about it much, mainly because it broke her heart to see Izora so quiet and sleepless. Watching her sisters die at the hands of Sluaghs and Destroyers had taken its toll on the young succubus, and her caregiver had told us Izora wanted some time alone with her inner ‘demons’, to heal on her own. Izora was a young warrior and, much like her mother, needed solitude to heal. It didn’t make Hansa too happy, but she respected the girl’s wishes. We didn’t want to interrupt her treatment, and her physical and emotional health was far more important than my wedding day.

Corrine had done a fantastic job with my wedding dress, and I was filled with gratitude for her craftsmanship and attention to detail. The corset was snug, glazed in fine white lace with delicate floral embroidery and small pearls. The bolero was made of the same lace, covering my shoulders and arms and somehow bringing out the natural shimmer of my skin. The skirt was beautiful, pure white, with a wide diameter and plenty of soft silvery tulle underneath to keep it full.

“You look absolutely breathtaking.” Corrine smiled as she took a few steps back, admiring her handiwork.

I felt my skin light up, my emotions running wild, and I struggled to stay upright. The excitement and jitters were getting to me, but I’d survived an actual war—there was no way a wedding would knock me off my feet.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, and looked at myself in the large floor mirror in front of me.

“Jovi will pass out at the altar. I’m willing to bet on it.” Aida grinned, her golden eyes glistening with tears of joy. I loved her like a sister, and I was thankful to be surrounded by so many incredible women as part of this new family of ours—a fascinating mixture of Eritopians and Shadians who advocated love, peace, and tolerance.

“I might pass out before him.” I chuckled, fighting another bout of lightheadedness.

Hansa came to stand in front of me and put her hands on my shoulders. She was a bridesmaid, as were Vita, Aida, Serena, Viola, Aura, and Almandine. Given the importance of this day, I wanted them all to be a part of it, and I wanted them to look as beautiful and as radiant as Jovi had made me feel from the moment we’d first laid eyes on each other. They wore matching dresses designed by Corrine’s daughter Arwen. They were simple but gorgeously elegant, the gray silk hugging their bodies, complete with thin straps and a large silver orchid on each right shoulder.

“You’re simply a vision, little sister,” Hansa said, her silvery skin glowing as she swallowed back tears. “So please, make us all proud and don’t fall flat on your face during your wedding ceremony. I will make fun of you for the rest of our lives, and that means oh, so many years…”

I burst into laughter and instantly relaxed as she smiled, then dropped a kiss on my forehead. Aura handed her a small silver bowl in which she’d prepared some red war paint—the color of our tribe, the color by which Eritopian society recognized us as Red Tribe succubi.

“I’m getting married, Sister,” I joked, watching as Hansa gathered some paint on her index finger. “I’m not going to war.”

“You are a succubus of the Red Tribe, Anjani Gorria,” Hansa declared with gravitas. “You will walk down the aisle as one. You will be married as one. And our new family must accept you and welcome you into the fold as one.”

I nodded slowly. She drew a single red line on my neck, from my chin to the meeting point of my collarbones. Her wisdom and pride were something I hoped I would one day acquire and impart to others, as well. Until then, however, I was honored to have her near me, to teach me even when I might think there was nothing left for me to learn.

She took a step back, wiping the tears that had finally broken through. Victoria took her place in front of me with a warm, loving smile.

“You know, I think this would be the point where I give you some advice on marriage and living as a couple,” she said gently. “But we all experience married life differently, and that’s the best part about being with someone. You get to write your own story, add in your own emotions, and, well… simply be! But I will tell you one thing, Anjani. My son is the luckiest creature in all the universes to have found you as a soulmate. Just love and be good to each other, and everything else will fall into place.”