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

But sometimes it makes me feel…” I stared up at the ceiling. Should I share such a thing with this stranger? For some reason I wanted to. “Well, it makes me feel like he’s controlling me, taking away my freedom. Foolish, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. Love is wonderful but is a kind of, how you say, la trappola.” Florence paced the floor. “You want to leave but cannot. Even when he is telling you what to do, you still love him. Madness! Foolishness! We must not let them rule us!” She threw up her hands. “Pah, why do we need men at all?”

I smiled, feeling warmed by her friendship. Oh, how I’d needed this. Without Maggie, I’d been so alone. Yes, Anne had become a friend but I knew there were too many secrets between us. With Florence I didn’t have to hold back.

“You are right. Love can be a trap. But when he looks like a Campbell?” I kissed my fingertips and threw out my hand as Florence had done. That got her to laugh and we both flushed. “I know why I need a man, a vigoroso man. I’m sure you do too.”

Florence picked up her beautiful fan and put it to work. “We will just have to be careful, amica. They are strong but so are we. Right?” She grinned and aimed her fan at my warm cheeks

“Right. If I am not careful, Jeremiah would keep me in a golden cage. I am learning to fight, Florence. Mayhap I will have to pull my sword when he tries to tell me what to do. Won’t he be surprised?”

I grinned as I headed downstairs with a promise to send Mercy up to help Florence with her unpacking. I wanted to see how Jeremiah really felt about his father’s visit.

I couldn’t find him. Finally, Colin said Jeremiah and Captain Burnett had taken the laird down to the beach to show him how they planned to greet the pirates when they next attacked. We’d had a few weeks without another sighting of them. Valdez appeared by my side before I could decide what I should do next.

“One of the shifters from Dollar just came back from the pirate stronghold. I had asked him to come to me after he reported to Jeremiah.”

Valdez was chafing at his role of bodyguard. We had soldiers at the drawbridge and our dozen men inside the courtyard. I was well protected. Valdez really didn’t have much to do these nights.

I was chafing as well. Jeremiah and I had been sharing blood during lovemaking but I knew I would have to go hunting on my own soon. It wasn’t healthy for us to only take blood from each other. I didn’t like drinking from unsuspecting mortals, but it was what I had to do to survive. I’d seek out a healthy person this very night. Valdez would follow me of course. Then he’d at least have something to do.

“What did he find out?”

“Your arrow caused permanent damage to the pirate female. She will never have use of her right arm again. It’s caused her great pain and, of course, rage. It was her sword arm.”

I sat on one of the benches in front of the fire, my legs suddenly weak. “She must hate me.” I knew she was a murderous villain, but to harm her so grievously… I felt sick.

“Hate is too mild a word, Gloriana.” Valdez sat beside me. “She has sworn to kill you. She does not accept that her right hand will not work for her again. She tries to bring it back to life with punishing demands on it.” Valdez shook his head. “Her men urge her to give it up. The Irish have worked themselves into quite a fury and have sworn to act as her right hand. They are ready to attack again as soon as she gives the word and can lead them into battle.”

“You are not making me feel better.” I stared into the fire. “What should we do?”

“Wait. Or you and I can run back to Edinburgh. I like that idea. I’m sure that is what Jeremiah will press you to do. Laird Campbell and his woman would surely be glad to escort you there.”

“I am not going to run. We are well protected here.” I stood. “She may be hurt, but that does not make up for the fact that she killed Lord Ralph nor does it bring back the girls her men stole from the village here.”

“You’re right about that.” Valdez stayed beside me. “But you are no warrior, Gloriana. Playing with a sword does not make you one. Do you understand me?”

“Thank you for the encouragement.” I glared at him.

“I speak the truth. If we are attacked, you must let the trained men handle the fighting. It was pure luck that you got off your shot before. The pirate queen will not wait for you to shoot again. Her archers will have you in their sights if you stand anywhere they can see you.”

“So you say.” I stalked over to the wall where weapons were displayed. There was a suit of armor and I grabbed a chest protector made of gleaming metal. “What if I wear something like this?”

“It will not fit. Or, if you find one in your size, the bulk will make it impossible for you to aim your bow.” Valdez snatched it from my hand. “The fact is, you need to be locked up, like Lady Anne was before. It is the only safe option. Are you listening to me?”

“Who is this man trying to tell you what to do?” Florence stood with her hands on her hips. She gave Valdez a cold assessing look.

“My bodyguard. Madame Florence daVinci, Señor Diego Valdez.” I waited for them to exchange a bow and a curtsy. “Madame daVinci is here with Laird Campbell.”

“Yes, I heard. Don’t be surprised, Madame, if you are sent back to Edinburgh in short order.” Valdez was not smiling as