Authors: V. J. Devereaux

Blood Bound (25 page)

BOOK: Blood Bound

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A little distracted, still in a sensual haze, Julian said, “Are we expecting visitors?”

“You did invite Sasha and Sid up for drinks, a swim and a hunt,” Rafi said, grinning. “Something about a problem with deer eating the grapes?”

“And Holbrooke said
we
were vermin,” Julian complained. “Bloody deer, they’re eating my best vines.”

Then the reality of the situation hit him. He opened his eyes and looked at Rafi, sandwiched between him and Nico.

Both she and Nico were grinning. And naked.

“Bloody hell,” he exploded, and then added, wryly. “Clothes.”

“Good idea,” Rafi said.

“Just for that,” he said…and tossed her over his shoulder.

“Julian, put me down.”

“No,” Julian said, with a glance at his cousin, who just smacked her on her pretty ass.

Laughing, they raced inside like guilty children.

Moments later Julian greeted Sasha and Sid at the door dressed in a polo shirt and jeans as Rafi came to join them wearing a gauzy dress sans underwear.

Neither Sasha nor Sid was fooled, especially since Nico followed, grinning like a loon, but it didn’t matter.

All of them settled around the table on the patio, looking out over the vineyard.

Rafi took a deep breath and smiled contentedly as Julian and Sid talked politics while Nico and Sasha talked games and sports.

She wasn’t a vampire. From what Julian and Nico told her she wouldn’t be one for a very long time. Not until she actually died the true death, neither of them being able to reach her in time. If she were, they couldn’t feed from her or her from them and none of them wanted that.

The risk of death wasn’t entirely unlikely in her line of work, as they’d already experienced, but it much harder now. Unless a bullet hit her head or heart, she was nearly invulnerable. Drinking from them had unexpected side benefits, it had turned her into something of a bionic cop, giving her increased strength and speed, and a much longer life span. It seemed she’d joined the ranks of the paranormal. As long as she drank from them now and then, she’d stay the age she was virtually forever.

With them.

#####

About the author

Valerie Douglas is a prolific writer and a genre-crosser, much to the delight of her fans. She writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and as V.J. Devereaux, erotic romance. Who knows what will pop up down the road!

www.valeriedouglasbooks.com

www.vjdevereauxbooks.com

Other Novels by Valerie Douglas

Fantasy

The Otherling series:

The Coming Storm
- Elon of Aerilann, Elven advisor to the High Council, helped negotiate the alliance between Elves, Dwarves and men. Suddenly he finds that fragile truce threatened from without by an unknown enemy and from within by old hatreds and prejudice. To preserve the alliance he'll be forced to choose between his honor, his duty and the woman he might just love.

A Convocation of Kings
- sequel to The Coming Storm. One war is over, but fifty years later another begins just as Elon is reunited once again with his lost love. Is it coincidence she has returned just as there are signs an old enemy has returned as well?

Not Magic Enough
- For Delae, a lonely landholder on the edge of the Kingdoms, a frantic knock at the door on a stormy winter's night brings more than a cry for help. After centuries of war Elves have little contact with the men, but Dorovan can't bring himself to ride past those so obviously in need. And so begins a tale of love, honor, duty and determination...

Setting Boundaries
- For journeyman wizard Jareth the task of setting the boundaries between the lands of Elves, Dwarves and men is the opportunity of a lifetime and a chance to meet the great Elon of Aerilann, Elven councilor to the High King. What he doesn't know is that the journey will test him to his limits and forge friendships that will last for centuries.

Song of the Fairy Queen
- It's said of Fairy that if you're in dire need and call the name of one, they'll come. With his young son, Gawain, in his arms and his castle under siege, High King Oryan couldn't be in any more dire need. With only Morgan, his High Marshal, and a handful of Morgan's men at his back, he has only one direction left to run...up. There's also only one ally to whom he can turn - Kyriay, Queen of the Fairy.

Heart of the Gods
-When archaeologist Ky Farrar starts in search of the ancient Tomb, he awakens its lethal and lovely, guardian. Both quickly discover Ky isn’t the only one in search of the tomb and the danger to the world that lies within it. The key to which is the Heart of the Gods.

Romance:

The Millersburg Quartet

Dirty Politics
-Returning to her hometown, practical Cam Kenyon discovers on-time teenage crush Noah Denton is running for D.A. When she discovers his opponent is going to indulge in dirty politics, she throws her support to him, resurrecting an old enemy.

Director’s Cut
-When bad-boy director Jack Tyler comes to town to rediscover his passion with the local community theater group, teacher and theater geek Molly has to decide whether to take a chance on him. When his past catches up with him and he seems to be returning to his old bad habits, she has to decide whether to fight his demons alongside him.

Two Up
- Sculptor and welder Jesse was always the wild child, her only family her three friends. A chance meeting with novelist Mitch Donovan gives her a chance to make a new life. For Mitch meeting Jesse gives him new inspiration, but that new inspiration comes at a terrifying price.

Other Books by the Alexandria Publishing Group

Donna K. Fitch

The Color of Darkness and Other Stories

Revival - coming soon

Second Death

The Source of Lightning

Paul Kater

* Fantasy

Hilda the Wicked Witch series

Hilda the wicked witch

Hilda - Snow White revisited

Hilda - The Challenge