Unraveling Sarah Cresley, Marisa Maichel [thriller books to read .txt] 📗

maybe I won't. I've dated countless women, trying to find her. And when I met your mother...she made me feel things that I didn't know that I was capable of feeling. I fell in love with her. But she loved Alexander. She still does. So I brewed a love potion to make her fall in love with me.

"She dumped him, and agreed to marry me instead. We married, and then she found out months later, and then you were born, and then she divorced me. She fought harder for you than I'd ever seen her fight for anything before. The custody battle lasted for years. Eventually, a judge and your grandfather ruled in my favor. I was ecstatic. Your mother got upset and asked to see you occasionally, but we refused. Told her not to come back. I realize that was cruel and unnecessary."

I was disgusted with him. I rudely pushed past him and headed toward the den. Mother and Alexander were locked in a kiss. Neither was fighting to get away. I turned around and went to Sarah's bedroom.

She was still asleep, looking like an angel. My angel. I kicked my boots off and slid in beside her. She was warm and cozy and soft. I kissed her forehead.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - THE BALL

The next day was spent getting ready for the Holiday Ball. I found my best tuxedo. Fortunately, Father wasn't making me wear a bow. He was, however, making me wear nice pants and a jacket. He wanted me to go to a hairdresser and have my hair trimmed as well, which I reluctantly complied with.

I had half an inch cut off and my bangs trimmed. When the barber was done, I looked decent. I was grateful that I wasn't being made to wear makeup.

The women were not seen all day. I assumed that they were getting their dresses fitted, their hair trimmed, and their makeup done. All Sarah said was that she'd chosen a green dress. She had eaten breakfast quickly, and she agreed to see me before guests started to arrive.

The castle was being decorated all over by both the human and vampire servants. Claudia was working overtime to bake desserts for the human guests. The maids were busy sweeping, mopping, dusting. A robot vacuum could be seen going throughout all the rooms, picking up dirt and debris.

Father made me drink A positive before we started to get dressed. The ball would begin at seven o'clock and continue until dawn. Everybody was nervous, since this was Sarah's first ball with us. She was beautiful and smart, yes, but she was also human and pregnant. The implications were nerve-wracking.

As seven o'clock approached, guests started to trickle in. I was already dressed in my tuxedo, and so was Father, Louis, Uncle Soren, and Grandfather. Alexander was also present as a family member. Mother arrived, looking stunning in a cherry red dress and red lipstick. Her hair was a bit neater, and the curls were looser.

Sarah followed after Mother, looking unearthly in an emerald dress that brought out her eyes. She'd lined and shadowed her eyes in black and dark brown, and her lips painted with a dark red. I closed my jaw and smiled.

"You look lovely," I said, admiring her neck framed by a diamond necklace.

"You look handsome," she countered. "And thank you."

I introduced Sarah to a few family friends and allies. The Russian coven leader was especially interested in her. I growled at him, warning him to keep back. He looked suitably apologetic. My third cousin, Raquieca, was frowning at us. I think she was jealous because she wanted all the attention, and Sarah was the one who was getting most of it.

Raquieca's sisters Rebeka and Rainess were also there with their husbands. All of them have blond hair, and all of their eyes are either green or blue. Sarah spoke with Rainess, who was the nicest out of all three. Rainess had just gotten married last June to an Australian billionaire who was also a major vampire coven leader.

"How do you feel about the possibility of marriage?" Rainess asked her.

"Marriage?" Sarah chuckled humorlessly. "I've never given it much thought. If I find the right person, then yes, I want to get married."

"I mean marrying my cousin," Rainess corrected.

"Oh...um..." She was saved, luckily, by my mother pulling her away to meet somebody else. Sarah gave Rainess an apologetic smile and waved at her, signaling that she'd talk to her later.

"Sarah, you must meet my friend Anna," Mother said excitedly. "Anna, this is my future daughter-in-law, Sarah Cresley. Sarah, this is my good friend Anna Cheklos. Anna has been my friend now for many years."

I got separated when Father made me greet Grandfather's surviving sisters-in-law. All of Grandfather's brothers were dead, but their wives and whatever children and most of their surviving victims had survived the centuries.

"Hello, Aunt Helga," I said to Grandfather's first sister-in-law.

"Hello, Reese. It is good to see you." I doubted that. Helga was the mother of Raquieca, Rebeka, and Rainess, and she didn't much like my grandfather, and she had agreed with Raquieca that one time when she called my mother a slut. As for me, I didn't like her at all. Still, I hugged her, then greeted my aunts Elsa and Gudrun.

We chatted for a bit, they asked how I met Sarah, and I told them that I met her through school.

"Will you marry her?" Aunt Elsa asked.

"I am hoping to propose to her very soon," I stated, because it would satisfy Aunt Elsa. Music began playing, and people started dancing. I excused myself and went to go find Sarah. She was at the refreshment table, studying the drinks.

There was human blood for the vampires, animal blood for who we called the deniers, red and white wine, champagne, and water for the humans. Sarah had decided on water and filled up a glass.

"Hey, there," I said, approaching her with a smile.

"Hey, there," she repeated, taking a drink.

"Would you like to dance with me?"

"Yes, I would." She set the glass on the table and took my hand. "Rule The World" by Take That had begun playing. I led her in a slow dance. I kept one hand on her waist, and I held her right hand with my left one. My stomach tightened as someone bumped her, and her chest touched me. I pulled her away and mentally growled at the other person.

"Reese?" Sarah said, looking worried.

"I'm okay," I lied. She didn't look convinced. "It's okay, baby." I swung her around, gently, and dipped her. She nervously looked at the ground. "Trust me," I said.

"I do trust you," she said. "That's the problem," she mumbled. I didn't let her know that I heard her, but her words stung. What did she mean by that? I wondered that if I kissed her, it would make her feel better about me. Then I chided myself for such a superficial thought.

"I need a break," she said as the song ended. She went back to the refreshment table. I noted that my father and grandfather had chosen the crystal bowls this year. Last year, it was gold. A lot of vampires complained about the funny taste that the gold gave the blood.

As more and more people arrived, I nearly lost track of Sarah. I noticed a tall warlock with straggly black hair staring at her. He was smiling as if he just found his soulmate. Oh, hell no. She's mine.

"Hello," I said to him.

"Hello," he said, giving me the once-over. "Reese, right?"

"Yes. What's your name?"

"Glen Crow."

"Glen, is this your first time here?"

"No, actually. I've been coming here every year since Louis turned eighteen." Hmm. That was a long time ago. Why have I never noticed him before? He wasn't bad-looking- He was a bit taller than me, with long curly black hair, tanned skin, and dark eyes. He was definitely toned- he probably had better abs than me. His features were angular, his cheekbones were high, and his lips were bow-shaped and pink. He was going to be tough competition.

"Do you know the girl in the green dress?" he asked, looking at Sarah again.

"Yes. She's my girlfriend. Her name is Sarah Cresley." He looked at me, then back at her.

"Sarah," he said, as if he was trying out the name. "Care to introduce me?"

"I would, actually," I said. He looked at me and smirked.

"Let her choose who she wants," he said. "Me or you. It's her decision, after all." From then on, I had a new rival.

He approached her slowly. She froze completely when she saw him, then regained her composure. I growled silently. He stood in front of her and kissed her hand.

"Hello," he said. "My name is Glen Crow. What is your name, my dear?"

"Sarah Cresley," she said, and I marveled at her composure. She didn't stutter or speak nonsense once.

"There's a cat in here!" someone cried. I looked around. Shadowfang had made his presence known. Louis scooped him up, mumbled an insincere apology, then took him back upstairs. I looked around. During the distraction, Glen had snuck away with Sarah and was now dancing with her. I wished that no one else was there so I could suck him dry.

He swung her around, not careful with her. I turned around and tried to find Father. He and Uncle Soren were chatting with the Japanese coven leader and his wife. Father noticed me, and started to wave me over, but paused at my hostile expression. He excused himself for a moment.

"Reese, what's wrong?" he asked. I looked over to where Glen and Sarah were still dancing. I couldn't read Father's expression when he saw the vile scene. He frowned then, apparently not liking it. "I know that he's a friend of Louis'," he said. "And that he's a warlock, but I forget his name."

"Glen Crow," I growled. Father looked at me.

"Reese, try to control your jealousy. She can dance with other males."

"Ha ha. He practically forced her!"

"Reese, control your volume! And try to calm down. You cannot do anything about it now. Have a glass of O. This particular batch came from New Orleans."

I took a sip. The blood was all right. Not the best I've ever tasted, but not the worst, either. I finished off my glass in the time it took for the song to end. Sarah went to the ladies' room, and Glen and I shared a glare that said She's mine. She came back a minute later, looking refreshed and smelling of freshly-applied lipstick and perfume.

Someone pulled out a bunch of bells, and a bunch of people started dancing to the Moreska. I had to take part, being a member of the royal family. Sarah also took part. As the men circled around the women, Glen joined us, taking his place across from me. We danced faster and faster until the music stopped, and a lot of people clapped, having had fun with the dance.

Sarah was pulled away from me again by Mother, who kept introducing her to different people. "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers began to play. I glanced over, and noticed Evan Byrd. Huh. Father must have invited him. He waved at me, and I waved at him. What we had would never happen again, and both of us were okay with that. Our relationship now was one of friendship.

"Hello," I said to a beautiful blond who was standing by himself.

"Hello," he said to me. Oh my...His eyes were a sight to behold. Not only were they beautiful, one was green and the other was blue.

"My name is Reese Emerson," I told him.

"Nice to meet you, Reese. My name is Reed Lockhart." Interesting. The seer that I'd seen last month had said that Reed Lockhart was the name of Evan's other soulmate.

"Nice to meet you as well, Reed. How do you know my family?"

"I'm a friend of Soren's, actually. I've been friends with him and Louis for a long time."

"That is interesting. Excuse me for a moment."

I