Always the Vampire

Lynn embraced me again and gave Saber a shy hug, too. Then she took Triton’s arm to drift toward the bar. They did make a striking couple, but I had to wonder if the two dolphin shifters would produce more dolphin shifters, merfolk, or plain humans. I shook my head. Time would tell.

Cosmil cleared his throat, and I gazed expectantly at him and Lia.

“What’s up?”

Lia straightened and smiled. “Francesca, Princess of the House of Normand, the Council of Ancients formally invites you to become our new vampire representative.”

“They what?” Saber and I blurted together, then exchanged a shocked glance.

“Without Legrand,” Cosmil explained, “vampires of various camps are jockeying for the empty position, but each vampire has his or her own agenda.”

Lia nodded. “The Council believes you will be a strong yet impartial presence. Just what we need as we regroup.”

I shook my head. “Tell the COA thanks but no thanks. Suggest Ken or David. Heck, suggest Jo-Jo,” I added, waving my hand at his lean form on the dance platform.

Lia took a long look at the comic soon-to-be actor but shook her head. “The members will not accept anyone but you.”

“Then tell them to suspend the position until they find another vampire,” I said firmly.

“You won’t consider filling the seat?”

I twined my fingers in Saber’s and smiled up at him. “Nope, Saber and I are due for some downtime.”

“Perhaps you will think on it,” Cosmil said, “but we will leave you now, Francesca. Your friend Maggie wants your attention.”

I turned to see Maggie wave at me as she and Neil approached the microphone on the bandstand. Damn, we were going to miss the tosses if we didn’t hustle.

With a few words each, Maggie and Neil thanked their guests for taking the time to share in their wedding celebration and invited the bachelors to come forward. Saber and a few others gamely gathered on the dance floor, and good-natured hoots and whistles filled the air as Maggie lifted the hem of her wedding dress so Neil could remove one of the two garters she wore.

Ham that he could be, Neil bowed to Maggie before he waved the garter for all to see. Then he slingshot the bit of lace and ribbon dead center at Saber’s chest. DennyK made a dive for it, but Saber snatched the garter, his hand moving in a blur.

I blinked. My stinker sweetie had used his enhanced speed to nab the prize, had he?

The single women gathered next for a shot at catching the bouquet, and not one of them hung back like the guys had. Nope, these females elbowed for space like they were shopping at the last sale before Christmas. Maggie waved the nosegay specially made for this tradition, turned, and let it fly over her shoulder. I used a little vampire leap and caught the bouquet two handed.

The women melted away, and the bandleader announced the last song.

Saber sauntered toward me, twirling the garter on his finger. The blue garter that seemed weighted with something gold and sparkly.

“You know what tradition says about catching the garter and the bouquet, don’t you?”

I swallowed at the intense heat in his eyes. “That the catchees will be the next to marry?”

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s just a whimsical piece of folklore.”

“Unless the parties involved want it to be something more.”

He took me in his arms then, and the pulse in my throat beat so fast, I felt dizzy. He lowered his head, his lips hovering over mine.

“Princesca. Still want to take that island vacation with me?”

I brightened. “Sure. When do you want to leave?”

“As soon as you answer a question.”

“W-what is it?”

He dangled the garter before my face, the garter that was slipknotted through a diamond ring.

“Will you take the trip with this on your finger?”