Masquerade (Vampires Realm Series Book 7) (Reading Sample), Felicity Heaton [read an ebook week txt] 📗

of their bloodline saw that as sacrilegious, but none of them were brave enough to speak out about it.

Deshal had even turned some of his females, only to grow bored of them after a short time, as though they had lost their charm and sparkle on becoming a vampire. Ella had thrown herself into the guard after he had discarded her, but another had suffered a worse fate. Deshal had given Cara to their Chosen Daughter, Lorna, as an aide, as though she was a possession that he could do with as he pleased. Sophis often saw Cara around the house, following Lorna wherever she went, and always staring after Deshal whenever he passed. When Deshal had callously given Cara away, Sophis had heard rumours that she had only agreed to become a vampire because he had promised that he would change his ways and would remain forever hers.

Sophis could understand why Cara felt hurt by that and how he had treated her. If someone had promised her forever only to cast her aside after a few years, she would have been heartbroken too. Whenever Sophis saw the petite woman around the house, she couldn’t help wondering if Deshal had even mentioned the only other course of action open to him. Deshal kept his human consorts alive at the mansion until the last possible moment, often pushing the limit of the Law Keepers’ patience when it came to the rule about not revealing their existence to humans unless they intended to kill or turn them.

Had Deshal told Cara that the alternative was to kill her?

Not many would choose death over eternal life if they were presented with a chance to select their fate, even if they knew at the outset that their immortal life would be spent pining after the man who broke their heart.

“Have all preparations been made for the security at the masquerade?” Deshal removed his thick black coat, folded it over his left arm, and neatened out the cuffs of his dark purple shirt.

His whole manner declared that he wasn’t remotely interested in the security for the ball. He yawned and then frowned at a dark smudge on the cuff of his shirt. When he touched it, his fingertip came away red. Blood.

It was on his collar too.

Deshal affected an air of refinement and elegance but it seemed he made messes just like every other vampire when the bloodlust seized him.

Sophis looked down at her jacket cuff. She could still smell the hunter’s blood on it.

Her gaze snuck to Vivek where he stood on the other side of Deshal facing her. A tremor rocked her when her eyes met his, their hazel depths lit by strange fire. Her breath caught in her throat.

Tynan must have answered with a nod because Deshal spoke again, shattering whatever spell Vivek had been under and causing him to look away.

“May I see the plans?”

“Everything is in order and exactly as Lord Timur requested,” Tynan said, a cold edge to his tone. “It is my job to ensure the safety of the attendees and not something our Chosen Son should concern himself with.”

Deshal waved his hand again. “It is not something I care about, but Timur believes I should involve myself and requested that I checked that everything was in place. I only wanted to be thorough.”

“I appreciate your concern. If you wish, I can find something you can do during the ball to improve security,” Tynan said and Deshal held his hands up.

“I do not think I would go that far. Given the choice between socialising at the ball and walking the grounds with the guards, I know which I will choose.”

Tynan nodded and gathered the papers scattered across his oak desk, tapped all of the sides until they were neat, and then placed them in the desk drawers. Sophis had seen Tynan do that enough times to know what it meant. She wasn’t sure whether Tynan was aware of his actions, but it was his way of silently telling the occupants of his office that their conversation was over and he wanted them to leave.

Deshal seemed to get the message and turned to Vivek, who saluted again. “I trust you know your role during the ball?”

Vivek nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Yes, sir,” Sophis answered before Deshal dared turn to look at her. She didn’t want his eyes on her again.

Deshal saluted Tynan with a brief nod and gave one last look at the dead hunter, and then left the room.

“Interfering bastard,” Tynan muttered under his breath after the door had closed and Sophis smiled, glad that she wasn’t the only one who didn’t like the man. He looked at her and Vivek. “You do know your roles?”

Sophis nodded. She knew it but she still didn’t want to think about why they were going undercover.

Did Lord Timur believe that hunters would penetrate the ball?

Or did he think he was in danger from one of the attendees?

 

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About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Felicity Heaton is a USA Today best-selling author who writes passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, Felicity Heaton’s best selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series she writes as F E Heaton or any of her stand alone vampire romance books she writes as Felicity Heaton. Or if you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try Felicity Heaton’s new Vampire Erotic Theatre series.

In 2011, five of her six paranormal romance books received Top Pick awards from Night Owl Reviews and Forbidden Blood was nominated as Best PNR Vampire Romance 2011 at The Romance Reviews. In 2012, she was awarded the GraveTells Author of the Year Award, and Heart of Darkness was announced as a 2013 Epic Ebook Awards finalist in the Paranormal Romance category. Many of her books receive five star reviews from readers and review sites alike.

To see her other novels, visit: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk

If you have enjoyed this story, please take a moment to contact the author at author@felicityheaton.co.uk or to post a review of the book online

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PARANORMAL ROMANCE BOOKS BY FELICITY HEATON

Stories in the Eternal Mates series

Kissed by a Dark Prince

Claimed by a Demon King – coming in 2014

 

Stories in the Vampire Erotic Theatre series

Covet

Crave

Seduce

Enslave

Bewitch

Unleash

 

Stories in the Her Angel series

Her Dark Angel

Her Fallen Angel

Her Warrior Angel

Her Guardian Angel

Her Demonic Angel

Her Wicked Angel

 

Stories in the Vampires Realm series

Prophecy: Child of Light

Prophecy: Caelestis & Aurorea

Prophecy: Dark Moon Rising

Eternity: The Beginning (free short available at: www.vampiresrealm.com)

Spellbound

Reunion

Seventh Circle

Winter's Kiss

Hunter's Moon

Masquerade 

 

Stand alone paranormal romance stories

Blood and Snow

Vampire for Christmas

Love Immortal

Ascension

Forbidden Blood

Heart of Darkness

 

Imprint

Publication Date: 12-07-2013

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