Aris Reigns Read Free

through Sarah, a sinister laugh curved Mariska’s crimson lips. “Soon I will begin using my dark powers to steal your mortal life. Slowly. Painfully.” Her last words were softly whispered and even more frightening because of it.
    Sarah’s head swam as she did her best to recall some memory of the female vampire who was standing before her. Suddenly, she had a flashback to one of the hypnotic dreams she had during the time she was doing regressions in Chicago with her own psychotherapist. In the dream it was the sixteenth century and a maiden named Elizabeth Wyatt was fighting in the dust with a young gypsy woman who she now realized, resembled the Queen greatly. Sarah’s mind began to clear. During her hypnotherapy sessions, she discovered Elizabeth Wyatt had been the name of one of her past life incarnations. Somehow this vampire thought Elizabeth Wyatt had stolen her man in that long-ago lifetime. It was only a moment before Sarah recalled why the two women were fighting and she knew Mariska was right. They were battling in the dirt over the woman’s gypsy lover, over Diego, Diego, who now stood before her as King of the vampires. Her head swam as she realized that she and Mariska and DeMarco had all shared a life together in a long-past time. And in that century long ago Elizabeth won, not only the fight but the man. She remembered the curse the bruised and defeated gypsy spat on her as she crept away from the midnight fire.
    And now, here she stood, Mariska, Queen of the Spanish Coven. Sarah feared this was going to be a very long night.

    Three darkly handsome manservants entered the chamber carrying two comfortable chairs and a round, carved wooden table. One built a glowing fire while the other two placed the furniture at a comfortable distance from the blaze. They were followed by a lovely young female vampire carrying two jewel-encrusted golden goblets on a matching tray. As she placed them on the table the gems glistened in the firelight.
    Turning from Sarah as if they had forgotten she was there, Mariska and DeMarco moved across the room to sit in the chairs. They raised the goblets to toast one another, their eyes locking with an unspoken hunger more sinister than their desire for blood. They drank; neither paused while there was a drop left. Sarah shuddered, thinking what must have been in the goblets and, even more frightening, what might come after their taste of blood.
    DeMarco rose and crossed to his Queen. He glanced at Sarah as if in defiance, then bending to Mariska, kissed her deeply, wildly. She buried her hands in his hair as he dragged her to her feet. Pressing her hips into him, she leaned backward, exposing her throat to his bared teeth. Sarah wasn’t sure if it was just the reflection of the dancing firelight, but his canine teeth appeared to grow longer and sharper just before he plunged them into her throat.
    Sarah’s heart raced as she turned away, shutting her eyes against their blood union. Still she was unable to block Mariska’s burning cries of anguish and ecstasy echoing throughout the stone room as her mate drew the venom from her veins. Sarah was terrified, yet fought against an uncontrollable desire to turn, to watch the strengthening of their forbidden bond, to watch the vampire bloodletting.Then there was silence.
    Slowly Sarah opened her eyes. Her captors had returned to their chairs. They sat quietly for a moment, staring into the fire.
    A loud banging on the door brought them quickly to their feet. “Enter,” the King spoke. A slender incredibly muscular man walked into the room, his long black hair caught in a braid that touched his waist. “Ah, Esteban. What news?” The King gestured the newcomer to join he and Mariska as they rose and crossed the room to the window.
    Sarah thought she heard whispers of spies and war. Breathing slowly and deeply to calm herself, she listened carefully. She knew she heard mention of the