Page 35 of Vampire Visions

He nodded his head slowly at her. “Sloane and I are taking over in Nate’s absence, but Kade doesn’t know that yet.”

Blaire’s eyes went wide. “You?” She inquired in disbelief.

“Yes,” he drawled.

She looked at me. “He’s joking, right?”

I shook my head. “No, we’re being serious.”

Blaire scoffed at us both, tilting her head at her brother. “You found a mate?”

“Fuck, Blaire,” Novak said in embarrassment. “Yes, I have a mate.” He moved his hand up and down like he was showcasing me. “Blaire, meet Sloane King. Sloane, meet Blaire Malin.”

I gave her a bright smile, extending my hand to shake hers. She blinked stunned eyes at me a few times before she reached forward, jerking me into a tight hug. I froze, shocked and… fucking shocked! “Why is she hugging me?” I sent the hissed thought to Novak and heard him chuckle behind me.

“She’s happy but confused as to why the master’s only heir is mated to her brother. She just told me to take the jewelry out of my dick and act like a grown man.” I wanted to laugh, but couldn’t.

When Blaire let me go, I was able to breathe once more. “I’m so excited for you two. Tell me, is he finally getting his shit together?” She smiled devilishly, and Novak groaned. I bit the inside of my lips together and shrugged. I couldn’t answer that, because none of us had our shit together right now. The shits were scattered all over the place, and though we’d sealed our bond, I still didn’t know enough about him to not lie to her. I liked her, so I’d try my best to not fib.

“So,” Blaire dragged to word out for four full seconds, “Kadence called me in to draw up the paperwork for you guys?”

“No.” Novak stared at his sister with such a serious look that the smile faded from her face. “Blaire, she wants to take over and out us publicly.” His low admission sent visible goosebumps racing across Blaire’s arms.

15

Sloane

Friday Morning

We’d stayed early into the morning, telling Novak’s sister everything that had happened in the last week. They’d agreed on a time for her to call and tell Novak what was going on from her end and what Kadence wanted her to do. The somber conversation had killed the playful mood we’d had when we arrived. Our walk back to my father’s house was silent, both of us dwelling on the upcoming bullshit.

Though it had only been a week, it was the fastest seven days of my life. The problems just wouldn’t stop piling up. It felt like every step we took in the right direction, there was something or someone there to knock us back three steps. It also seemed like Kadence had all her ducks in a row. She’d been planning to take my father's position for longer than I’d been alive, so why wouldn’t she?

We had no real plan, no idea what she was actually going to do, and no clue if the masses would follow her lead or not. I wanted to know how many followers she had, but that wasn’t what I needed to focus on. It was hard to make any sort of a plan when we didn’t know how she would react. She was insane, unpredictable, and manipulative.

What it all boiled down to was this: I was going to have to wing it, no matter what we planned. There were some aspects that we could plan for, but there were too many others that were simply a toss up. In other words; I could plan for her to move, but I couldn’t know for sure if she’d go right or left. I had to be ready to react, to go left when she went right, and meet her head on.

My cell phone started ringing as we walked into my father’s home. I slid away from Novak, wandering down the hallway until I found the first open door. I entered without thought, stopping dead in my tracks to watch Vaughn pull his shirt over his head. He stood, taken aback by my quiet entrance. “Sorry,” I mouthed as I answered my phone. It was Simon.

“Can you talk?” he immediately asked me. “Are you alone?”

“Yes and no,” I told him as I sat on the bed next to Vaughn. “It’s okay, though. Speak freely, Simon.” I put the phone on speaker, turning the volume halfway down.

“The party starts at eight tomorrow night,” he informed me.

“Okay.” I looked at Vaughn as I questioned Simon. “What time should we arrive?”

“Nine-ish. How many people are here with you?”

“Mmm, eight in the house. Samuel and Charles will be here later.” It felt weird using Papi and Dad’s names, but he always got them confused. I was just trying to make it easier.

“Alright. Have your guys act as bodyguards.” He sighed. “Lo, she thinks you’re dead. All hell is going to break loose when you walk in. You know that, right?”

Yeah, I kinda did. “I’ll blend,” I promised him.

Simon laughed at me. “No, you won’t. I don’t know why you keep lying to yourself, or me.”

I smiled at his truthful statement. “Okay, I won’t blend. I’ll just make my entrance worth the trouble.”