The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée

Kettlingr meant kitten, after all.

Evangeline was appropriately wide-eyed at the exhibition, while Sebastian beamed with what seemed to be a mix of pride and arousal, but not so much of either that he missed the opening Tessa was providing.

Evangeline was distracted.

He shot his arm up and around Evangeline’s, twisting her arm and the dagger away from him and throwing her against the mantel. Blood spread down his crisp white tuxedo shirt.

Evangeline howled in anger and slid away from him, grabbing another weapon off the wall as she went. She brandished the short sword at both of them. “I will kill whoever comes at me first.”

Tessa brought Kettlingr down to bear on Evangeline as she spoke to Sebastian. “Are you all right?”

“The shirt’s in worse shape than I am. Bloody hell, you’re a gorgeous sight to see.”

“Now is not the time to flirt.” She smiled, but kept her eyes on Evangeline despite wanting to kiss him and tell him how relieved she was that he wasn’t hurt. “Better get Greaves to call an ambulance. Or a coroner. This could go either way.”

“For you, maybe,” Evangeline spat.

Sebastian shook his head. “I don’t know where Greaves is.”

“He’s dead, or will be soon,” Evangeline snarled. “Just like you’ll be if I don’t get that secret.”

Sebastian cursed. “If you’ve hurt him—”

“Where is he, Evangeline?” Tessa liked the rook a lot. Her anger went up a notch but the blinding temper that she’d been so worried about for so long still had yet to rear its head. “If we can get to him in time to save his life, I’ll go a little easier on you.”

Evangeline lifted her weapon. “We’ve both got swords. I remember how this played out last time, so if you think I’m worried, I’m not.” She made a coy face. “You should know I took it easy on you when we were fencing. I definitely could have won if I’d wanted to. My current lover has been teaching me.”

Tessa stared her down, gaze steady and filled with the confidence of her training. “And you should know I let you hit me so Sebastian could see what you’re truly capable of. Last chance to tell us where Greaves is.”

Sebastian’s phone rang. He fished it out of his tux pocket. “Ellingham.” He went silent for a long moment. “I see. Thank you. I’ll be there shortly. Actually, you should probably come here as soon as you’re able.”

He hung up and tucked his phone away, his gaze steely with anger. “Sheriff Merrow found Greaves in the Rolls on the side of the road on the way into town. He’d been hit on the head and the sheriff thinks possibly injected with some kind of paralytic. He’s being transported to the hospital now.”

Tessa sucked in a breath. “Is he going to be okay?”

“He’d better be.” His hands balled into fists. “Either way, Evangeline’s going to pay for this.”

Tessa thrust her sword out a little straighter. “She’s not going anywhere.”

He nodded. “Keep it that way. I’m calling my brothers.”

Evangeline’s eyes were feral, fear expanding her pupils like the light in the room was betraying her. “Let me go. I’ll forget about the daywalking. And I’ll sign the paperwork. Whatever you want. I swear I won’t go to the council.”

Sebastian barked out a laugh. “Oh, you’re going to the council. But this time the charges are going to be against you.”

She snarled. “You can’t do this to me. I’ll tell them you’re cheating on me with her.”

He ignored her to speak into his phone. “Hugh. Gather everyone and get to my house immediately. I’ll explain when you get here.”

Tessa recognized the crazed look in Evangeline’s eyes. The woman sensed the end was near. She was getting desperate. Tessa took a few steps closer and slid sideways, eliminating a possible escape route. “Don’t even think about running, Evangeline. I can and will hurt you if need be.”

“You can’t stop me. I’m a vampire. No one can stop me.” Evangeline’s laugh was shaky and wild. Then she charged forward, sword held out in front of her, flailing wildly with no perceptible skill in her efforts.

Without a twinge of the uncontrollable temper she’d feared for so long, Tessa reacted from the place within her that had never stopped being a valkyrie. Maybe she’d grown out of that rage. Or maybe it was because Evangeline wasn’t an opponent to be feared, but rather pitied. She was mad with power and ambition and spoiled from a life of indulgence.

Or maybe it was because this time, Tessa was fighting for something—someone—that mattered.

Tessa flipped Kettlingr up and around, reversing her grip on the hilt so she could lead with the pommel instead of the blade. She danced out of the path of Evangeline’s sword, coming around with Kettlingr high, and drove the pommel against Evangeline’s temple.

The sword connected with a dull thud and Evangeline dropped to the ground like a rag doll, her borrowed weapon clattering to the hardwood beside her.

If Evangeline had had a pulse to check, Tessa would have put her fingers to the woman’s throat. Instead, she dropped Kettlingr to her side and glanced at Sebastian. “She’s not dead. I swear.”

He nodded. “Well, actually, she is dead, being a vampire and all, but if you’d done enough damage to end her existence, she would have turned to ash.”