Faerie Godmother: Mythic Series, Book 1 Read Free Page B

Vlane said on an exhale as he shook his head. He had been attempting to recall the events of the previous evening, but with little success, especially since he’d been so distracted. His last clear memory was of being upstairs in his private office, watching over the annual event via the security cameras with a distant eye.
    At one time, Vlane had been a more congenial host and taken part in the festivities, but he had become increasingly reclusive over the years. Immortality and the restlessness of his stagnant existence weighed heavily on him as of late and he was in no mood to surround himself with living, breathing examples of people or beings who changed every day in some small way or another. Not when he didn’t, couldn’t, and never would again.
    He shook his head swiftly, as if that might shake some snippets of elusive recollection back into place. “I was in my office, working on the accounts and occasionally catching a glimpse of the gala. Then...nothing until you two were dragging me inside this morning.”
    “I think it’s safe to say no one forcibly removed you from your office,” Kristoff suggested. “So that means something — or someone — obviously got your attention and drew you out. Perhaps the security video will tell us something.”
    “An excellent idea,” agreed Armand.
    * * *
    “S o?” Dani asked excitedly as she bounced into the Sanctuary the following day. “How was it?”
    At sixteen, Dani was naturally ebullient. Her hair, a beautiful shade of amber striated with gold and gathered into a ponytail, bounced right along with the rest of her. Her golden brown eyes were filled with anticipation, her youthful skin radiant with expectation.
    Ana barely glanced up from the instruments she was sterilizing. “It was okay.”
    Dani shot her a stunned look. “Okay? Okay?! You were at the masquerade after party at Vlane Masterson’s! God, Ana. You are so lucky. Do you know what I would give to go to something like that?”
    Ana bit back a smile. Yes, she had a pretty good idea. It was all Dani had been able to talk about for the last two months. Apparently, getting an invitation to the event was a big deal — to everyone but Ana. She tried to stay under the radar as often as she possibly could, and going to the year’s most celebrated and exclusive local event was not the way to do it. However, with much effort, Dani had convinced her that not accepting the invitation would draw more attention than attending and keeping a low profile.
    “It was just an after party. No big deal, Dani.”
    “No big deal. No big deal, she says,” Dani lamented, lifting both hands and eyes to the sky as if asking for divine patience. “Did you actually see him? Vlane Masterson, I mean?”
    Oh yes , Ana thought. She had seen him. Heard his hypnotic voice, smooth and rich as a double-chocolate milkshake. Breathed in the dark, decadent scent of him, causing desire to unfurl in her belly like a spring bloom on an accelerated time lapse. Felt his cool, moist breath and the hard steel of his body pressed against hers as his fangs pierced the delicate skin of her neck, filling her with the most wonderful sensations...
    “Ana? Did you?”
    Ana couldn’t lie. Like her “gift”, she didn’t understand it, but there it was — blatant untruths simply could not pass over her lips. She had become quite adept at redirection, however. “Did I what?”
    “See. Vlane. Masterson.” Dani pronounced each word with particular emphasis. “I heard he is drop-dead gorgeous.”
    Well, he was dead...or undead. Ana wasn’t quite sure which was politically correct. But gorgeous seemed inadequate. Vlane Masterson was, quite possibly, the most stunning example of masculine beauty Ana had ever seen. And he was a vampire .
    “It was a costume party, remember? With masks.” For most people, anyway — not him , but definitely Ana. Thank God for that. In her faerie princess costume, with the tightly fitted bodice and full, flowing