The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée

“I doubt that’s possible. Your grandmother knows everything that goes on in this town. Alice makes sure of that.”

A very true statement. “Bloody hell. I suppose you’re right. I’d better go see her.” He checked his watch. He had time. And maybe his solicitor’s email would arrive with the paperwork while he was out. “Tessa should be home soon. Let her know where I’ve gone, all right? And that I’ll be home in plenty of time to get ready.”

“I will.”

Sebastian headed to Elenora’s estate. The grand house sat on a vast piece of land near the vineyards owned by the one and only Nocturne Falls’ winery, which meant that the land was rural and pretty and peaceful. He pulled into her drive, parked and let himself in, not waiting for her secretary, Alice Bishop, to find him and escort him to wherever his grandmother was.

The witch wasn’t one of his favorite people, despite her position as creator of the amulets that kept him and his family safe from the sun. More than once, Didi had used those amulets as leverage against them to bend their wills to hers. To say it was a thorn in his side to be nearly four hundred years old and still under the rule of his grandmother was an understatement. He loved the woman dearly, but it was a tiresome business.

Hugh had been working for years on a formula to sun-proof them, but had yet to achieve any real success. Until that changed, they were stuck with the amulets.

He strode through the great house, listening for sounds of life. He heard music and found his grandmother in her solarium, sitting at a wrought iron and marble table nestled beneath some palms and having tea. Vivaldi played softly on the hidden speakers.

“Sebastian,” she exclaimed. “What a marvelous surprise. I’d begun to think you boys had forgotten I existed.”

“Grandmamma, you know that’s not true. We’ve just been busy.”

“Oh? With what?” The question was as much of a challenge as anything.

He took a seat in one of the scroll-work chairs, buying himself some time to come up with an answer. “With this wedding chapel project of Julian’s.”

“I thought that was done.”

“So did I but he keeps adding things to the budget. That makes work for me.”

“Yes, crossing through all those lines must be very tiring.” She nibbled on a tiny finger sandwich. “Have you left my poor Julie any money for anything?”

Sebastian barely refrained from rolling his eyes. As the youngest of the family, Julian had always been the baby and always would be to their grandmother. “There is plenty of money for this venture, I promise you.”

“Good. Now, what rare treat brings you to me this afternoon?” She held up a finger. “I’ll warn you. If you’ve come to scold me about the last Neiman Marcus bill, I won’t hear it. A woman needs to stay up to date with the latest fashions and—”

“No, Grandmamma, that’s not what I’m here about.” But he’d take a closer look at that account next time he went over her bills.

“Then what is it, my darling?”

He took a breath, filling his lungs with the thick, loamy air of the solarium. It was more of a stalling technique than a necessity. “I have good news and I have bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”

Her gaze narrowed ever so slightly. “The good.”

“All right.” He thought of Tessa. It was the easiest way to make himself smile genuinely. “I’m getting married.”

She dropped her tea cup. It shattered on the floor but she paid it no mind. “You’re getting married. Are you teasing me? Tell me this means Evangeline has given you the dissolution she should have centuries ago.”

“Not exactly. But I really am getting married.”

She gasped, the sound of pure joy. “When? To who? What’s she like? Is she a vampire? Oh, Sebastian, this is the best news, my boy. I am so happy for you.” Then, just like that, her wide eyes went down to slits. “What’s the bad news? Is she pregnant? Because I don’t consider that bad news. Not one bit. My word, I’ll buy the woman an island if she gives me a grandchild. I’ll declare a day in her honor. I’ll—”

“No, Grandmamma. It’s nothing like that.” The idea of Tessa carrying their child was a thought that made his throat knot with emotion, but he swallowed it down. He was a vampire and she was a valkyrie. He had no idea what their chances of reproducing were. If they even stayed a couple.

“Then what is it, Sebastian? Stop tormenting me and tell me.”

He sighed. There was no easy way to say this, no way to gentle the news. Best to rip the bandage off in one go. “Evangeline is in town.”

A muscle in Elenora’s jaw twitched. “I don’t find this amusing, Sebastian. If this is some game you and your brothers have cooked up to poke at me, I will take all your amulets away for a week. Then we’ll see if you think about bothering me with such nonsense again. I suppose you’re not getting married, either.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose before returning to the conversation. “I am getting married and Evangeline is in town. The two are, unfortunately, related.”

“Please tell me this has something to do with dissolution papers being signed.”

“It does.”

Didi made a face. She wasn’t altogether happy, but she was curious. “Start from the beginning.”

Alice Bishop came plodding in. “Is everything all right? I thought I heard—oh, Sebastian. It’s you.”