Unraveling Selena by Marisa Maichel (black female authors TXT) 📕

around the waist and she took his shoulders. Music started playing again-this time it was "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. I swallowed my pride, nearly crushing my Adam's apple in the process, as I watched my rival dance with my bride.

My bride. That sounded nice. I growled and purred at the same time, causing several people to look at me. When the dance was over, Sarah let go of Caden and rushed over to me, eliciting several gasps and uncomfortable noises. More shock echoed around when she stood on her toes and kissed my chin. I leaned my head down and kissed her soft hair.

"What the fuck?"

"She likes him?" "What does she see in him?"

I continued to ignore them as I led her away. They didn't know what I was capable of. They had no idea what we had, what we could have compared to the rest of them. Eternity.

CHAPTER TWELVE - LAY WITH ME

The next day, I felt slightly achy, but in a good way. I smiled over at Sarah, who was laying next to me, completely nude except for the sheet covering her bottom half. Last night was amazing. We left early so we could be together more. I thought ahead to our wedding day.

One drop of blood from each of us. The consummation. Then the bite, and she would be mine forever.

Vampire marriage is similar to human marriage, except we have more rituals and our vows are more substantial. One drop of blood, and you were connected for eternity. Even if one of you betrayed the other in some horrible way, which was unlikely to begin with, your minds and hearts would be connected.

One drop of blood.

One drop of blood!

Now I thought I knew how Sadie and I had been able to read each other's minds. It was more than the fact that we are both deadly immortals. There was also a lot of blood that night. A lot of blood. Almost everyone had gotten hurt.

But thanks to that old witch friend of my uncle's, I was safe from that future. I rolled over onto my stomach and kissed Sarah. I traced circles on her back and kissed her again. She stirred and mumbled incoherently.

"Baby?" I said. She turned her head and smiled at me, her green eyes sparkling. I leaned toward, her, and she pushed me away.

"Morning breath," she said.

"Oh, Sarah," I sighed. She rolled herself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. I smiled as I watched her behind. I noticed her phone. I waited until I heard the shower running, then picked it up. Her phone was blowing up. Seventeen new friend requests, ten new text messages, seven from last night. Caden Cartwright, Elliot, Patrick, Dante, Zack Davis, just to name a few. I read Caden's first.

Caden: What happened last night? Why did you run out on me? Are you really with Reese Emerson? Why the Lone Goth? He's a loser.

He's also a vampire prince, I thought. I set the phone back on the nightstand and waited for her.

She came back wrapped in a towel, running a brush through her hair. I smiled at her, and she smiled back. She grabbed one of my old shirts and pulled it over her head.

"I start a new job on Saturday," she said. "I'll be working at Pon's. The bookstore cafe?"

"Good for you," I praised. Working would make her feel better about herself. "What will you be doing?"

"Making coffee and sandwiches. I'll probably be doing shifts in the bookstore part, too."

"What will you be doing there?"

"Taking money and giving change, stocking and restocking, stuff like that."

"Can you fit it in with your schedule?"

"I might have to cut back on spending time with my friends, but I need the money. Also...I don't know if I want to go to school in Los Angeles. Mainly because I don't know anyone there. I'll go to school here in North Hampton. It'll be a hell of a lot cheaper, and I can get help quicker. Also, they know my cheer schedule, so I can rest easy about that."

"You've got quite a few text messages," I cut in.

She looked at her phone. "Caden, Elliott...oh, even Mia and Ariella. Hang on, I have to text these people back."

She texted everyone back within minutes.

"Well, I'm quite possibly the school slut," she said.

"No," I argued. "You're not a slut. They should know that. None of them can possibly understand what we have."

She crawled into bed and rolled over on her back. My lips grazed her tummy. She purred and twitched. I moved down and slid her panties off. The next few minutes were spent with me ravishing her with my mouth and enjoying the sounds and smells emanating from her.

"You should sleep," I said, hovering over her. "I promise I won't go anywhere."

"I know you won't," she said, yawning.

I snuggled in beside her, protecting her from the world. I kissed her hair as I pulled the covers over both of us.

"My soulmate," I purred.

She's awfully pretty when she sleeps.

I looked down. "Hello, Shadowfang."

Hello, Reese Mordecai Emerson. And Sarah. You know, I've always liked her. She treats me and my kin with respect. She gives us treats.

"Because you clearly need more treats."

Haha, very funny. Seriously though, don't lose her. She's your only chance at true happiness and completion. Evan was okay, but he's a complete psycho.

"Thank you for noticing. How are the kittens?"

They're fine. Actually, Catniss is learning to talk like we are. She will no doubt try to talk to you or Mordecai. In the meantime, the rest of us are anxiously awaiting your marriage to Sarah.

"Marriage? Why?"

She's involved in a prophecy, and so are you.

"I don't believe in prophecies."

Neither do I, but it has been spoken. A prince of vampires and a fairy woman will marry, uniting the two races.

"She'll become a vampire eventually."

True. Otherwise, she'll die. I know fairies are immortal, but Sarah is more human than fairy. She will die one day if she is not made immortal. A girl with a name that means princess.

"Sarah means 'princess' in Hebrew," I pointed out.

Yes, it does. And your name means 'fiery' in Welsh. Your surname is a tome to your great-grandfather, who was related to the Atlantean royal family. Ask Alexander about his father and his brothers.

"He's already told me a little bit. He and his brothers planned to murder his father because he was a tyrant. But before they could carry it out, his brothers died one by one, all from mysterious causes."

The causes are mysterious to him, but not to the real killer. Question him some more.

He settled himself at Sarah's head, stealing most of the pillow and closed his eyes.

I called Alexander.

"Hello? Yes, Reese?"

"Did your father murder your brothers?"

"I believe he did. Unfortunately, he never paid for his crimes, and I believe he is still alive. Your mother thinks me crazy. She said that if he's still alive, Selena most certainly is. I told her that was a load of cribble. She is not speaking to me right now. Wait a minute, how did you know?"

"A little cat told me."

"Oh, right. Your so-called talking cats. I saw the big one earlier. He was staring into the window as Marina fed Cirino. That was also when we had our conversation. Cirino saw him and pointed at him. That's when the cat left. Well, whatever. It is of no importance. Even if I knew where my father was, I'd have to have dung for brains to go after him."

"Wait, how long have you known he's alive?"

"Ever since a month ago, when Marina mentioned Selena. I decided to try and find my relatives. Only my father is still alive."

"Interesting. Well, I should go. Bye."

I rolled onto my stomach and kissed my sweetheart. I gazed at her longingly. She was so pretty when she slept. She looked like an angel.

I got up a couple hours later, feeling refreshed. Sarah was still sleeping beside me. I pecked her forehead and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. I gave her another kiss and gripped her sides. I pulled her up toward me. She made a noise as our intimate parts touched. She opened her eyes and looked at me.

"You spoil me," she accused.

"I plan to," I replied. I looked outside and noticed something odd. "Who is he?" I asked out loud. Sarah came to the window.

"No idea."

I quickly dressed and went downstairs just as the pounding started.

"EMERSON! I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE!"

Sarah hid behind me as I approached the front door carefully. My uncle grabbed me and put me off to the side. Just as he opened the door, the man barged in, looking furious.

"You!" Uncle Soren hissed.

The man looked around. "Yes, it's me, Soren. Where is she? Where is she?!"

"She's not here, Liam! Leave, now!"

Liam's eyes settled on me. "Another spawn? And a human as well. How interesting. You've been busy, Soren."

"Leave the kids alone, Liam. And leave this territory."

Liam glared at him, and I took the time to study him. He had long gray hair wrapped in a ponytail, a triangular goatee, and silvery eyes that flashed with anger. He wore an expensive Armani suit and a black tie.

"Where is she?" he demanded again.

"She's gone, you idiot," Uncle Soren snapped. "She was buried in flame and ash."

"I don't believe that for one minute. I saw her two nights ago. She was running from someone."

"Possibly you?"

"No... I am her soulmate."

"Liam Wolfheart," I noted. Liam looked at me.

"The young one knows my name. What else have you told him, Soren?"

"Leave him out of this, Liam!"

"No, I want to know who he is. Is he yours? Or is he Mordecai's? Is he Alexander's, or is he Eilief's?"

"I am my father's son," I stated.

"Obviously, you little smart mouth, but who is your father? I see that you have a large nose and black hair, so at least one of your parents has black hair. Is it Alexander?"

"No," Father said, coming down. "He's mine." He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"Ah, yours, Mordecai. But then who is the mother?"

"Marina," Father growled. "Liam Wolfheart, meet Selena's half-brother, Reese."

"Half-brother? Interesting. I suppose, then, you know where Marina is. Tell me, boy."

"No."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said no. I'm not selling out my mother just so you can get your hands on my sister."

Liam was furious. Then he noticed Sarah. Before I could react, he had her in his arms, holding a knife against the side of her neck.

"Don't do it, Liam," Uncle Soren said. "Let her go."

"How the fuck did he find us, anyway?" Father asked.

"It's my fault," Louis said. "Damn it, Wolfheart, let Sarah go! Don't hurt her!"

Liam smelled Sarah, then licked her skin. "She tastes sweet. I wonder if her womanly wonders are as sweet as her skin?"

"Fuck no!" I cried. "Relinquish her!"

Liam grinned and licked Sarah's cheek. "Does she know she's forty nine percent fairy?"

"You always were good with numbers," Father said. "What can we do to make you give her back to us?"

"Give me the whereabouts of Marina Santorino. I know that bitch is hiding my Selena!"

"NO! FUCK THAT!" I roared. "LET MY ANGEL GO!"

"I'm no angel," Sarah whispered. I ignored her.

"Liam," Father said. "Get out of my house." He pulled out a pocketknife. "Release my daughter-in-law and leave us. Your quarrel is not with us."

"Soren is responsible for the death of Selena," Liam jeered.

"No, that was your own fault," Grandfather growled.

"Selena never did have her mother's courage or wisdom," Father said.

"Do not insult Selena!"

Sarah cried out as Liam drove the edge of the blade into her skin.

"Don't hurt her!" I begged.

"Liam."

I turned and saw my mother. She had a shotgun in her hands.

"Let go of my daughter."

"How did you know to come here?" I asked.

"Later," she hissed. She cocked the gun and pointed it at Liam's head. Liam let Sarah go, but not before slicing her skin open one layer. Mother dropped the gun and picked up Sarah, nurturing her and loving on