Fanged Love - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,69
Do they not know they simply have to fill a clay jar with walnuts and leave it on their windowsill under a full moon, as an offering to the God of Erections? That’s what the men of my time used to do, and look at all the people we have now!
Neli makes a little growl, displeased by my plan. “Boz, if you hypnotize the judges to give the award to Stellariva, and it’s not actually the best wine, I guarantee she’ll know. She’s too smart not to figure it out. The wine will be slammed by connoisseurs and wine snobs around the globe. Thousands will wonder how their wines beat out the better wines.”
“Wine preference is subjective.”
“Said no judge ever at this contest.”
Grrrr… I loathe when Neli is right—I mean disagrees with me. Nevertheless, this is war. War for love. And every vampire knows that one must use every weapon in his or her arsenal to win wars. “Not to worry, Neli, I know what I’m doing.”
“Please, Boz. Please reconsider. Stella wouldn’t want our little project to win through cheating. She’s a good person, remember?”
That urge to be a stand-up vampire for my mate kicks in, and I feel my heart start to beat like a drum inside my chest. But Stella is nowhere near me.
What does this mean? I do not know, but I feel something shifting deep inside me. “Very well. I will find another way.”
She lets out a sigh. “Good. That’s good. Because if you’re going to break the curse, you’re going to have to step up and be the unselfish hero who’s learned his lesson about what it means to be a good man. I read it in your character arc.”
“Neli, have you been licking toads again? I thought I made it clear that the use of hallucinogens is not permitted by staff. Please cease immediately. Oh, and thank you for reminding me of the curse and my imminent destruction at the hands of the woman I am meant to love for all eternity.” Prince Bozhidar, I curse you to sleep until a woman is born who will teach you humility and kindness, whose beauty is so majestic, it will bring you to your knees. She will break your heart, and you will feel the misery, same as I.
“Boz, I can’t speak for Olga, but I do know one thing: If she’d truly wanted you to suffer, she would have tied you to a stake in the town square, let her evil crows pick you apart piece by piece, then covered your raw flesh in flammable liquid, and used your severed manhood as the torch to light you on fire.”
I cringe. “So vivid.”
“I know.” She smiles with a satisfied glassy look in her eyes. “It’s my go-to happy place.”
I snarl at Neli.
“Sorry.” She clears her throat. “The point is, Boz, I don’t think Olga wanted to destroy you. She just wanted to mess with your head and teach you a lesson—she was in love with you but probably knew she could never have you. Witches and vampires can’t be mates. And she probably knew her magic couldn’t keep you asleep once your mate came onto the scene. Destiny waits for no man. Or wo-man.”
Could Neli be right? Could this entire curse business have been a bit of a ruse? Yes, Olga put me to sleep for five centuries, but the rest was just nonsense. My destiny is Stella, and that means I must stop playing games with token gestures to win her heart and acceptance. I must go all in. Hold nothing back.
I look at Neli. “Thank you, Cornelia. You are truly the best major-dorko a vampire could ask for.”
She smiles and dips her head. “My pleasure. Just as long as you keep your end of the bargain.”
When major-dorkos fly, Neli. “Of course. I would never go back on my word,” I lie. I never said I was a completely changed man. I am, after all, still a vampire.
“Good. Let’s have some wine,” Neli says.
“Yes. Let us.” We walk toward one of the tuxedoed waiters. I know what I must do tonight—how I will show Stella I am not a monster and would do anything for her happiness and safe…safe… I glance over at Neli. “You did call the mercenaries to inform them that one of the residents would be coming home early, yes? I wouldn’t want Stella to come home and find a stranger in her house. She’s had enough excitement already.” We took care