Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

sat up straight. Of course, I was naked. I knew he might be upset with me and had prepared to cozen him. Oh, why was I bothering? He should be proud. I was his warrior woman, wasn’t I? Damn him for an overprotective beast.

“I mean it, Gloriana. Are you aiming to become like that pirate bitch, parading around in britches and leading a pack of men on raids?” He sat up, his hands in fists. “I won’t have it. You put yourself in danger. Arrows are made of wood, damn them. The right kind of wood and, if one finds its way into your heart, you are dead, Gloriana, as surely as if you’d been staked. I would lose you. Just. Like. That.” He wouldn’t look at me, just slammed his fists onto the bedcovers.

“No, you wouldn’t lose me, Jeremiah. I promise. Like it or not, you will be stuck with me forever.” I crawled over to kneel in front of him. “Stop this. You know what and who I am. Let me be the woman I chose to be or I will choke from your tight hold.”

“I have to hold you tight.” He drew me to him and buried his face in my hair. “You might get away from me. Others have.”

“I will not.” I kissed his shoulder. “Did you lose someone today?”

“A lad from the village back home. I will have to write to his mother.” He lay back and stared at the ceiling. “It will be a hard loss for his family. I tried to keep him back from the fighting but he wanted to show off his bravery. It was foolish and I took no joy in killing the pirate who took Danny’s life.”

“I’m sorry, Jeremiah.” I lay beside him and held him. “You knew there would be losses. This is war of a kind.”

“It never gets easier.” He rolled me under him and kissed me. “I have seen too many battles, Gloriana, and seen how they can go wrong. I don’t want you in one. You were lucky this time. It is unlikely you will be so lucky a second time.”

“I know.” I stared into his dark eyes. “Write your letter and I will write mine. I’m going to ask Maggie if she will come to serve us again. That should bring Fergus back to your side.” I smoothed the line between his brows. “You need a friend, I think. Fergus was a true one.”

“Yes, and I miss him. I will add my plea to yours. I’m sure the Turnbulls are not being kind to Maggie, a mortal surrounded by that family. Fergus loves her enough to please her by coming here, I’m sure of it. He is bound to be restless there as well. He is not used to a dull domestic life. They will be a fine addition to our household.” Jeremiah finally smiled. “Clever girl. You always know just what I need.”

“Do I?” I ran a hand down his body. “Let’s see if that’s true.”

By the time sunrise hit us, we were both feeling better. Had we resolved our feelings about my efforts to play the warrior? No. But at least we had help coming. A friend for each of us. What could possibly be a problem with that?

5

The group that arrived from Castle Campbell a few weeks later was certainly different from the one we had expected. At the front of a train that included wagons and a carriage was Laird Campbell himself, Jeremiah’s father, riding a horse of fine quality.

“Da, welcome. Is Ma with you?” Jeremiah and his father pounded each other on the back as they hugged. Then Jeremiah looked anxiously past the laird at the carriage.

“Certainly not. I am sure neither Gloriana nor you would welcome her. Magdalena went too far this time and I told her so. I heard she sent an assassin after your woman.” Angus Campbell stepped back. He looked very much like his son. He’d been turned vampire in his late thirties so he had a few strands of silver in his dark hair. But he was a handsome man who seemed in the prime of life. Of course, he would always be that way.

“She did. He almost succeeded, Da. I cannot imagine how I will ever forgive Ma.” Jeremiah looked grim. “You swear you had nothing to do with it?”

“Of course not. I liked Gloriana from the moment I met her and tried to welcome her into the family. I never wished her harm.” The laird smiled at me. “Isn’t that true, my dear?”

I couldn’t deny he’d always been kind to me. “Yes, it is. Welcome, Laird Campbell.” I gave him a proper curtsy.

“Gloriana, you are certainly in looks.” The laird took my hand. “I am glad to see you.”

I appreciated his approval of me but was still slightly uneasy around him. I wondered if he couldn’t have done more to control his wife. She had tried to have me killed!

Jeremiah gave me a look that meant I should let the subject drop. I didn’t like it, but this man was his father and he was obviously here eager to see his son.

“Well, Da.” Jeremiah glanced at me then back at his father. “What brings you here?”

“Why to see how my son has prospered of course. Guardian of the Coast and a baron in your own right! The reward the king bestowed on you was the talk of Edinburgh.” The laird was beaming as he looked around.

“You know Robert MacDonald was involved in that business.” Jeremiah leaned close to his father. “I’ll not soon forget how he made a fool of me. Not that I wanted a bride selected by the king.”

“We’ll not discuss the MacDonalds and ruin this fine night.” The laird lost his smile. “I told your mother I was coming to see you and that I was sure she wouldna be welcome here. Castle Campbell was not big enough for both of us.” He cleared his