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

are not lovers, you swear it.” He was back to glaring at Valdez. “I cannot read your mind, damn you.”

“I have too much respect for you, Lord Campbell, to touch Gloriana.”

“Stop this! Have I no say in the matter? Am I just a weak female who surely cannot resist her handsome bodyguard?” I stomped across the sand to hit Jeremiah in the back. “Are Valdez and I lovers? Ask me that question. Boor! Ass!” I pounded him. “If I were in the mood to take another lover, I would tell you, not sneak around with the likes of this shifter.”

Flo clapped and yelled “Bravo!”

I ignored her. Jeremiah caught me in his arms and smiled down at me. Clearly, he thought my show of temper amusing. Oh, if I didn’t love him and wasn’t relieved that he had returned unharmed, I would hate him. I started to slap the smile off his face but he caught my wrist.

“Gloriana, my love. Can we go to the castle now? I am in sore need of a good long soak in the bathing tub. If you cannot forgive me, then so be it. I will order the carriage for tomorrow night to take you to Edinburgh. I’m sure there are men in the king’s court who would be happy to offer you their protection. I know you don’t like that word, but that is what we call it when we provide a home and care for you, my beautiful lady.” Jeremiah let go of me, then ducked when I swung a fist at him.

“Yes, you do need a bath. You stink of dirt and seawater.” I started toward the castle. “Come, Valdez. You are not dismissed. We are not going to Edinburgh. I believe I will give Lord Campbell another chance to please me.” I glanced at Flo. “Jewels? What do you think, Florence? Should I demand a new ring? Or a necklace? Your pearl is certainly a pretty bauble. Perhaps the laird can give Jeremiah the direction of his jeweler.”

“I think, Glory, that you are learning.” Flo grabbed the laird’s arm. “We were so worried, Angus. Grazie Dio, that Valdez could bring us word that you were safe.” She walked toward the castle. “My new friend is right. It will take a pretty ring to calm my nerves after what I had to endure while you were gone.”

The laird exchanged looks with his son. “My dear, you are worth more than a simple ring. I will send for a dressmaker. You did say you needed to add to your wardrobe, didn’t you?”

“Ah, Angus, you know me so well.” Flo pulled him toward the trees. “Let me show you how well I know you.” They disappeared into the forest.

“Da is truly foolish around that woman.” Jeremiah managed to catch me, his arm wrapping around my waist. “Am I acting the jealous fool, Gloriana?”

“Yes. I don’t like it.” But I let him hold me. Then I felt eyes on me. It was the witch, staring at us. What did she want? Was she wondering if I’d used her potion? I tried to clear my mind. It wouldn’t do for Jeremiah to learn about that.

“I am true to you, Jeremiah. Accusing Valdez of disloyalty also accuses me. Keep that in mind.” I was not going to make this easy for him. I had been through too much lately and my nerves were raw.

“The problem is that you are important to me. Maybe too important.” He stopped on the path. “When I think of you forced to fight for your life, it maddens me.” He pulled me in and kissed me with a desperation I’d rarely felt from him. “Please don’t leave me. For a moment, I thought about life here without you. It gutted me.” He looked into my eyes and let me see the truth in his. “Throwing out that threat is no way to fight with me. Don’t say it if you don’t mean it, Gloriana.”

I couldn’t believe I was really that important to him. This man who had lived more than a century? I knew he’d had a bad voyage, perhaps that was making him feel vulnerable. Whatever the cause, I was listening to his words and seeing his heart. He truly loved me. I might not like the way he wanted to keep me from harm, but it was out of love.

“I won’t do that again. You know I was only teasing, don’t you?” I ran my fingers over his lean cheek. “It maddens me to think you were on a ship and I might have lost you to the sea. Can you understand how desperate that made me feel?”

“Yes.” He held me tight and sighed into my hair. “I guess we are at a stand.”

“I guess. Though I still wouldn’t mind a new jewel.” I grinned up at him.

“You will have it.” He looked behind us. “Valdez, see if you can find out why only one guard was left outside her door that night. The pirates will be out for revenge for the death of their leader. We must be ready for them. I want to know more about this attack while I was gone as well. Someone let the pirate queen get to Gloriana. That kind of negligence can’t stand. Tell Fergus I will be expecting to meet him in the great hall as soon as I wash off my dirt. Go do that now.”

Valdez saluted and left us. He had a stern look, as if what had happened with Jeremiah had changed him and his attitude. I hoped I hadn’t lost his friendship.

We went straight to the bathing tower after letting Mercy know we’d be needing water sent up for Jeremiah. I was reluctant to even enter the room. I had come to hate the place. I saw the spot where Zarah had pushed me with her gun and the arrow slit where I’d stood for so many hours waiting for Jeremiah. But the bustle of filling the large