In the Dragon's Lair -
Book Four of The Dragon Tasker Series - Vampires & Vendettas will be available by the end of November!
We had a couple of set backs and some places are adding the term "dark fantasy" to this because it is violent. Well, it's adult urban fantasy, so duh! But there are changes that need to be made because of this new development and also some shifting in scenes that needed to be handled. Thank you for being patient with us. We want to deliver to you the best story we can.
If you want to read the first chapter with Samantha and Sebastian from Book Four, it's here, for your eyes only! At the end, you'll find a special gift!
Samantha grasped her pen on the notebook currently resting on the counter while her eyes hovered over the microscope. She watched the way the cells on the slide reacted to each other, and her mind was in a whirl. This was important work, but it was also unofficial. So, she was using Sebastian’s laboratory in the Evansworth Coven. Scribbling a label on one of the boxes, she placed the slide inside and put it with the other samples next to the DNA machine. Another mystery to solve, it seemed. But first, she needed to see if Sebastian was awake.
Think of the devil, she smiled. She could tell from the subtle changes in the room that he was here. She was learning even the small tells. This time, she wouldn’t be surprised by him. Sam waited for the right moment to whip herself around to face Sebastian.
Sebastian’s eyes went wide, then he chuckled. “Look at who’s the sneaky one now.”
“Surprised? Me and my human abilities have allowed me to predict your arrival. Ha!” She noticed him glancing around. No, she had not left since he had taken his daysleep.
“Oh yes, I’m very surprised. I’m sure your friends were just as surprised when you shared your delightful news with them, hmm?”
“Oh, yeah.” Sam shrugged and pursed her lips before explaining. “The only real friend I have who doesn’t work with me is Gabriel, and he’s had a bunch of his own business to deal with. So, I’m afraid my announcement is right where it’ll stay. I’m thrilled to be your intended, and he’ll be happy for me, as I’ll be happy for him with whatever he’s... doing.” She twirled her fingers in the air next to her head. “What are friends for, right?”
“Indeed. What are friends for?” With a forced grin on his face, Sebastian stepped closer to his love. Sam took his hands in her own. She felt like she was a horrible person. He’d been all excited, and here she was making light of it. It was a vampiric marriage proposal. It was nothing to sneeze at.
“Hey, I know the past sucks, literally sometimes.” Her eyes brightened when he chuckled. “But you make me happy. It’s not that I don’t want to share the news with everybody, it’s the past part. Ya know?”
“Senias and I are beyond anything. If Gabriel is your best friend, tell him. Invite them both to the ceremony. I won’t mind. I promise to be on my best behavior for it all.”
“Ceremony? There’s a ceremony for being intended?”
He moved his thumb over her soft hand before asking, “No. It is but a question. But, if we were to be Chosen, yes, there is a ceremony. You are my intended, and I cannot stop thinking about the rest. Could you be ready for us to be more?”
“More? Aren’t we already moving fast?” Sam asked.
“It does not need to be immediately. But I would like to set a formal date. I know how I feel, and my heart will not change. My emotions will only grow stronger.”
Dr. Samantha Keene was speechless. They had come so far, so fast. When supernaturals felt a certain way, they really did. She’d been speaking to Eva Weylyn since before meeting Sebastian. The lycan alpha had explained things.
“Are you well, Sunshine?”
Clearing her throat, Samantha explained, “I’ve been talking to Eva Weylyn. She said it’s quick sometimes, with lycan. When she and Russell’s father met, it was love at first sight. And I can’t help feeling like maybe we have the same thing. I never imagined I’d find love at first sight. It’s so cheesy.”
“If it makes you feel better, it was not love at first sight for me. It was love at first angry door slam.”
“What?” She giggled.
“The night you were treating me for the silver nitrate poisoning, I was upset because of Senias. You had no idea what was wrong, only that the man had upset me. You shoved him out of the room as if he were not supernatural at all. Then you slammed the door in his face.”
“Oh, yeah…”
“I’ve been in love ever since.” Sebastian took her hand in his own. “You knew who I was and yet, you protected me.”
“I was kind of afraid it would make you feel emasculated, not gonna lie,” her voice got a little bit higher when she admitted it.
“Ahh, no, never. You were fearless and selfless. You did it for me. Your heart is as huge as that dragon, and I hope to hold onto it for as long as you allow.”
Sam stared at him and then wiped the moisture from her eyes. “Okay, you’ve got to stop making me cry, Lord Evansworth. Those are some strong, fancy words.”
“I meant every one. I also mean it when I ask you to be my Chosen. To go through the ceremony with me.”
“I don’t want to be turned. I need more time to decide about it. But I noticed there are others in the coven lair who are human and yet Chosen. Seth is a dragon, and yet he’s Chosen to Morgan.”
“Correct. The next step does not need to be turning. It can be to become my Chosen officially. To be acknowledged by all in the coven as my Chosen and not just be something said between us is part of the ceremony.” He pulled her free hand to his. “I want to give you a ceremony before my coven in the lair.” He kissed the center of her palm. “We exchange blood before them all, and they will treat you as my mate or spouse. Once you are ready for the change, I’ll bring you over. You will only be a vampire on your terms.”
“Last question. Are you sure you want to do this? It has nothing to do with Senias’ moving on?” Samantha asked.
“Excuse me?” His brows furrowed.
“It’s just, Gabriel and Senias have gotten close. And then you said everything you did and how it affected you to feel the bond lessen?” Sam closed her eyes and then opened them with a deep sigh. “I’ve been thinking about it all, and I don’t want to be the second choice for anyone. I never thought I’d be in this situation. So, I’m asking if this is about me and you or about you being lonely?”
“What I said about Senias has nothing to do with this moment.” Sebastian paced a few steps right in front of Samantha. “I’ve already introduced you to those around me as my intended Chosen. If you’d rather wait for the actual ceremony, I have thousands of years to do so.”
“I don’t,” Sam replied quickly. He stopped pacing, and so she continued. “You know… I don’t have thousands of years.” Samantha continued to stare into his eyes. “Tell me, what do I need for the ceremony?” She liked having all the facts before deciding.
“A nice dress and yourself. It is much like a human wedding ceremony, except for a few changes. We will exchange vows, but we also bleed for one another. After our vows, we will sit while all our coven members make a blood pledge to you. Our coven then usually serves us a meal. You aren’t a vampire, so we can skip the meal and enjoy dancing and talking to everyone until you are ready to retire. It’ll take place at the lair with the entire Coven present, so you can only have a few friends present.”
“I don’t have many. But, why the limitation?”
“Because any more than a few will probably cause trouble, and I don’t want your evening ruined. Our ceremonies are unusual to outsiders who’ve never experienced one. You must also remember lycan don’t do well in enclosed spaces.”
“I have Gabriel and his plus one. I have Amy and her plus one. I’d like to think I’ve made friends with Eva and therefore Devon. If they can’t do this, I’ll accept it. I understand. Then Morgan, Seth, and Russell? I’ve been talking to them all since treating them. I hope they kind of belong to both of us now.” She scrunched her nose and let her smile win him over.
“Those are perfect guests for our ceremony.” Sebastian chuckled as he kissed her. He wrapped his arms around Samantha’s waist and drew her close.
“Good.” Sam loved making Sebastian Evansworth, the grumpy ass of the supernatural world, become a joyful person.
“For once, I agree with the lycan witch. I see no need to wait, when I know I love you.”
“Then, I’m ready for the ceremony.” Samantha moved her arms around his neck. “I think I may soon be ready for both, so long as you’re the one and you’re gentle with me.” She giggled. “Wow, I never thought those words would come out of my mouth.
“Which part?”
“Be gentle with me.”
“Ahhh, good point.” Sebastian kissed her soundly before lifting her up into his arms. “Let me practice being gentle with you right now. Then, I’ll make sure we can meet up with your best friend and his plus one to tell them the good news. Eh?”
“Wait! Yes, yes! But…”
“But what?” Sebastian reluctantly put Samantha back down.
“I need to clean up the slides. They’re important, about our Jane Doe.” Samantha knew he was just as proper about procedure as she was. Especially lab work. “I’ve found some interesting things about these and I’m running the DNA profile. So, I need to put them up.” She kissed his lips. “Go get ready. I know my way to your room.”
He backed away from her slowly, and then simply vanished into nothing.
“I hope I get to learn how to do that, too,” she whispered before turning to clean things up appropriately. She was putting things away in the cooler when she felt it again. Her eyes scanned the room. “Hello?”
No answer.
“You’re in a lab inside of a vampire coven, Sammie. Get a grip. If there was anything to fear, it’s the coven lord, right? And you’re about to fuck his brains out, so…not scared of him at all.” Shaking her head, Sam made her way out the door and to Sebastian's suite, right down the hall.
If you want a NSFW scene that has been pulled out of the novel, you can find that HERE!
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Your Author -
Rachel D. Adams
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