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

that shuddered through me from my head to my toes, I fought the dying. I wanted to know more. But I was vampire and one thing vampires cannot deny is our death sleep. The sun rose and I knew no more.

When I woke at sunset, Valdez was sitting at my bedside. He was scowling. That convinced me he had heard about my fight with the pirate queen.

“You are very lucky, Glory.” He got up and turned his back to me.

“I was ambushed. But I am to blame. I never should have sent you away. But wait—” I grabbed my robe and shrugged it on. “why didn’t you check the grounds before you left? Didn’t you see the pirate ship in the harbor? That we were under attack?” Now I was angry. He was my bodyguard. He’d let me talk him into leaving and then look what had happened.

“The ship was not in the harbor when I flew out of here, madame. Nor had fighting started.” Valdez did not back down. “You were desperate for me to go. Begged me.”

I sat on the bed. “You are right. And poor MacDougal paid the price.” I sniffed back the urge to cry. “I fought her, Valdez. Thank the gods you trained me well or I would not have won the fight.”

“Colin said she threw herself off the battlements to avoid hanging.” He sat beside me.

“Yes, that’s what happened.” I wanted to lean against him but stood instead. “I guess we’ll both hear plenty from Jeremiah when he returns about our wrongheadedness in this. I hope you have news for me about him.” I walked over to the pitcher and poured water into my bowl. It was cold but I was glad to splash it on my face before I cleaned my teeth. Valdez was silent. Not a good sign.

He stood, almost at attention.

“I am angry at myself. I never should have left you. I’m sorry MacDougal paid the price for my negligence. It won’t happen again.” He frowned. “Colin said you were wounded. You are healing?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I sat in a chair in front of the fire. “Sit and tell me what you saw on your search. Did you find Jeremiah and the laird? What about his ship?”

He sat and leaned back. I’d never seen him tired, but it was obvious he’d had no sleep and needed to find his bed.

“I found his ship. You were right about that cannon. Jeremiah had to jettison the thing or risk sinking the ship. He took on a lot of water and has run aground on an island north of here. The ship is stuck on a sand bar, firmly stuck it seems.”

“Is he all right? The laird? Jettison?” I worked on that strange word. “Does that mean he had to throw it overboard? His beloved Intrepid? How that must have pained him!”

“Yes, he waited too long to do it, too. I couldn’t let his mortal crew see me so I stayed hidden and listened to him rail about it. The wheels were a bad idea. He had it tied down, but it broke loose and rolled with the rough waves. That made it a danger to the crewmen.” Valdez frowned.

“Your Guardian of the Coast had to admit he was wrong to insist on bringing it on board. That very expensive toy of his is at the bottom of the sea. It would have better served him if he had mounted it at the front gate here.” My bodyguard couldn’t hide his disgust at the waste of a good weapon.

“Oh, dear.” I knew that would put my lover in a devil of a mood. “What is he doing now?” I tried to picture it. “How do you get a large ship off a sand bar?”

“First, he thought the tide might help it break free. That didn’t work. Now he’s continuing to lighten the load.” Valdez sighed. “More cannon are going overboard. Your lover would rather leave his entire crew behind on that deserted island than lose one more weapon, but the laird talked him out of it.”

“Surely that was a jest. Jeremiah couldn’t treat mortals so poorly.” But did I really know him that well? He did love his weapons.

“I think the next high tide and another cannon should do it. They are also putting some of their rowboats in the water and trying to tow off the boat. The crew can row, pulling as best they can to help.” Valdez yawned. “Can I trust you to stay inside the castle tonight while I sleep for a while? We should see Jeremiah and the laird before sunrise if all goes well.”

“Wait. How did they explain to their crew disappearing from the ship during the day? Flo found graves where they slept on land and they weren’t near the ship or she’d have seen it.” I got up and walked Valdez to the door.

“They would lock themselves in the captain’s quarters and then fly out the window. The crew knew not to disturb them. Jeremiah and his father didn’t dare spend the day dead on board ship. There was always the possibility of being attacked while on that sand bar. Someone could have broken down the door. It was a wise decision in my opinion.” Valdez opened the door. “Well, at least now you have guards at your door.” He began to question the men about their whereabouts the night before.

“Valdez, leave them alone.” I still felt tired, as if I hadn’t really rested during the day. That potion. What had it done to me? Fortunately, Mercy approached with a pitcher of warm water.

“Go rest. I need to dress.” I shooed him off and let the maid in.

“I am hearing such tales!” Mercy chattered about the fight with the pirate. Colin must have told her all he knew of it. “Maggie is working on your dress but it will never be the same. Do you wish us to