Dark Seduction (Vampire Royals of New York #2) - Sarah Piper Page 0,98
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But you took the risk anyway, because you knew—you knew it was worth it.
Charley smiled, and then closed her eyes, her body slumping forward with exhaustion.
Dorian caught her against his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head.
“Ah, love,” he said, so softly Charley wasn’t sure she was meant to hear it. “What have you done to me?”
And then, for the second time that night, Dorian’s strong arms encircled her, lifted her up, and carried her away to a better place.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Isabelle? Is something wrong?”
Dorian had just gotten Charlotte to bed, and now he returned to the study to retrieve a much-needed bottle of his favorite scotch. But instead, he found the witch pacing before the fireplace, her shoulders bent with the weight of bad news.
“I need to speak with you,” she said urgently.
“Were you able to trace Sasha’s location?”
“I’m still working on it, but this isn’t about Sasha.”
“Charlotte?” His chest squeezed tight. “But you and Colin said… She’s fine, Isabelle. I’ve just gotten her settled. She’s already feeling much better, and—”
“Dorian.”
Her sharp tone, the uncharacteristic use of his first name…
Dorian’s blood turned to ice.
“May I speak plainly?” she asked.
“I’d prefer it.”
Isabelle let out a deep sigh, then shook her head, as if she herself didn’t want to believe whatever came next. “Charlotte… She’s demon touched.”
“Demon… what?” He blinked at her, trying to follow. “What does that even mean?”
“It’s a claim, essentially. I can sense it in her energy field.”
“I still don’t understand. Does this have something to do with your empathic gifts?”
“Yes. I read emotional energy, which comes through your heart, your mind, and your soul. Feelings, intentions, thought forms… I don’t get specifics, as a mind reader might. Just general impressions. And with Charlotte, the energy of her soul…” Isabelle frowned.
“Isabelle, you’re mistaken.”
Again, she shook her head. “There’s no mistaking the mark of the demon touched, Dorian. It’s almost like a dark shadow—a mark on her soul. I’m sorry.”
“What the bloody hell does that mean?” he shouted, jamming a hand through his hair.
“It means that at some point in her life Charlotte was promised to a demon lord. And judging from the strength of the mark, the end of her term is nearing. It won’t be long now before he comes to collect.”
Promised to a demon lord? It won’t be long before he comes to collect?
Dorian shook with rage, his fangs descending, the familiar hunger rushing into his veins.
I’d like to see him try…
He glared at Isabelle, outrage turning his vision red.
“Why are you standing here blathering on about this?” he shouted. “Get rid of the bloody thing!”
“The mark is bound to her soul. If I so much as attempt to manipulate it, magically or otherwise, it will kill her. If she dies, her soul goes to hell, and her body becomes a demonic vessel. If she lives, her contract comes due, and the demon comes to claim her, to do with as he sees fit. There is no way out of this.”
She took a step closer and placed a hand on Dorian’s arm, her eyes full of a compassion he did not want to see. There was no need for such sentiments. Not in regard to Charlotte. This story about the demon mark… No. Dorian had never heard of such a thing.
He said all of this out loud, again and again, his mind spinning, searching for a way to tear the bloody heart out of this fucking nightmare.
Yet still, the witch looked at him, her eyes glassy in the firelight, unwavering in her relentless concern.
“This is her fate, Dorian. There’s not a damn thing you or I or anyone else can do to save her.” Isabelle reached up and touched his chest, a tear glittering on her cheek. “Charlotte D’Amico belongs to hell. I suggest you make peace with that and say your goodbyes.”
It’s not over yet! Dorian and Charley’s story continues in Dark Obsession!
Charley and Dorian have found their way back to love, and there’s nothing the vampire king won’t do to protect his woman. But with enemies closing in on all sides and a demonic claim on Charley’s soul, is their happily ever after even possible? Find out what happens next in Dark Obsession, book three of the Vampire Royals of New York series!
Vampire lovers! If you loved reading this story as much as I loved writing it, please help a girl out and leave a review on Amazon! Even a quick sentence or two about your favorite part can help other readers discover the book, and that makes me super happy!
If you really, really loved it, come hang out at our Facebook group, Sarah Piper’s Sassy Witches. I’d love to see you there.
XOXO
Sarah
About Sarah Piper
Sarah Piper is a Kindle All-Star winning urban fantasy and paranormal romance author. Through her signature brew of dark magic, heart-pounding suspense, and steamy romance, Sarah promises a sexy, supernatural escape into a world where the magic is real, the monsters are sinfully hot, and the witches always get their magically-ever-afters.
Her works include the newly released Vampire Royals of New York series, the Tarot Academy series, and The Witch's Rebels, a fan-favorite reverse harem urban fantasy series readers have dubbed "super sexy," "imaginative and original," "off-the-walls good," and "delightfully wicked in the best ways," a quote Sarah hopes will appear on her tombstone.
Originally from New York, Sarah now makes her home in northern Colorado with her husband (though that changes frequently) (the location, not the husband), where she spends her days sleeping like a vampire and her nights writing books, casting spells, gazing at the moon, playing with her ever-expanding collection of Tarot cards, binge-watching Supernatural (Team Dean!), and obsessing over the best way to brew a cup of tea.
You can find her online at SarahPiperBooks.com and in her Facebook readers group, Sarah Piper's Sassy Witches! If you're sassy, or if you need a little more sass in your life, or if you need more Dean Winchester gifs in your life (who doesn't?), come hang out!