Read Online How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying) (Love at Stake) by Kerrelyn Sparks - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kerrelyn Sparks
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mouth dropped open. “You’re taking a vacation?”
“Yes.” Zoltan grabbed a pen and some paper.
“But you never take a vacation. Not in the five years that I’ve worked for you.”
“You’ve been with me five years?”
“Yes, sir.” Milan blushed slightly and adjusted his glasses. “You hired me after I graduated from college.”
“Oh.” Zoltan thought back. Milan’s grandfather had been the steward at his castle for years. And Milan’s father, the head gardener, had turned the gardens into one of the highlights of the castle tour. They were always there, every night, just like Milan. “I don’t recall you ever taking a vacation.”
Milan’s blush deepened. “You-you never gave me one. Not that I’m complaining. You’ve taken care of my family for more generations than we can remember. It is an honor to be working for you.”
Zoltan groaned inwardly. He’d been so obsessed with work that he hadn’t noticed what was happening to the mortals around him. And he prided himself as their protector? “Good God, Milan, you should have told me what a terrible boss I am.”
“That’s not usually wise for an employee, sir.”
“You’re taking a vacation. Now.”
“I am? But should we both be gone at the same time, sir?”
“Oh, right. You have to stay.”
Milan’s shoulders drooped. “Yes, sir.”
“But you’re promoted. You know everything that’s going on, right? You know all the building managers and business contacts?” When Milan nodded, Zoltan made a decision. “Very well. You’re in charge now. Double, no, triple your salary. And when I get back, you go on vacation. Okay?”
Milan stared at him, his blue eyes wide.
All of a sudden, Zoltan felt fifty pounds lighter. And much more energetic. Free . “I’ll see you in thirty minutes, Vice President.”
Milan nodded. “Yes, sir.” He closed the door.
With Zoltan’s superior hearing, he heard a victorious whoop on the other side of the door. Smiling, he wrote a note in English.
Dear Neona,
I’d like to see you again. Please meet me here at midnight.
Zoltan
He grabbed the note and teleported back to the clearing where he’d fought and kissed Neona the night before. From the top of the rocky outcropping, he retrieved the arrow he’d taken from Russell. Then, using his vampire strength, he rammed the arrow into an oak tree, pinning the note.
But what if one of the other women saw it? Would Neona be in trouble? He pulled the arrow out, then levitated up to the branch where the leopard had lounged the night before. He pinned the note there. It was too high to be noticeable by most, but hopefully, the leopard would find it and tear the note off to give it to Neona. It was a long shot, but what else could he do? He couldn’t waltz into Beyul-La, where he was forbidden. Unless he managed to remain hidden.
He wandered down to the stream, watching and listening, but no one was around. He eyed the rock wall where water gushed out. That water had to be coming from Beyul-La. He teleported to the top of the ridge, then across the top branches of trees till he had a good view of the village.
Only glowing embers remained in the central fire pit. The houses were dark. The women had probably retired for the night. He spotted the leopard trotting up a hillside toward a series of mounds. Burial mounds? There were five of them. No, six. The sixth one was grown over with grass and harder to see in the dark. The other five were brown with newly piled dirt, topped with large rocks that gleamed silver in the moonlight.
Something moved next to a mound. One of the women? He teleported closer. Yes, a woman, dressed in green and brown linen that blended into the hillside so well she was scarcely visible.
He teleported to a tree close to her. Was it Neona? It was hard to tell when all the women had long black hair and slim bodies.
She sat very still, her hand resting on a dirt mound, her head bowed. With her other hand, she wiped her
“Yes.” Zoltan grabbed a pen and some paper.
“But you never take a vacation. Not in the five years that I’ve worked for you.”
“You’ve been with me five years?”
“Yes, sir.” Milan blushed slightly and adjusted his glasses. “You hired me after I graduated from college.”
“Oh.” Zoltan thought back. Milan’s grandfather had been the steward at his castle for years. And Milan’s father, the head gardener, had turned the gardens into one of the highlights of the castle tour. They were always there, every night, just like Milan. “I don’t recall you ever taking a vacation.”
Milan’s blush deepened. “You-you never gave me one. Not that I’m complaining. You’ve taken care of my family for more generations than we can remember. It is an honor to be working for you.”
Zoltan groaned inwardly. He’d been so obsessed with work that he hadn’t noticed what was happening to the mortals around him. And he prided himself as their protector? “Good God, Milan, you should have told me what a terrible boss I am.”
“That’s not usually wise for an employee, sir.”
“You’re taking a vacation. Now.”
“I am? But should we both be gone at the same time, sir?”
“Oh, right. You have to stay.”
Milan’s shoulders drooped. “Yes, sir.”
“But you’re promoted. You know everything that’s going on, right? You know all the building managers and business contacts?” When Milan nodded, Zoltan made a decision. “Very well. You’re in charge now. Double, no, triple your salary. And when I get back, you go on vacation. Okay?”
Milan stared at him, his blue eyes wide.
All of a sudden, Zoltan felt fifty pounds lighter. And much more energetic. Free . “I’ll see you in thirty minutes, Vice President.”
Milan nodded. “Yes, sir.” He closed the door.
With Zoltan’s superior hearing, he heard a victorious whoop on the other side of the door. Smiling, he wrote a note in English.
Dear Neona,
I’d like to see you again. Please meet me here at midnight.
Zoltan
He grabbed the note and teleported back to the clearing where he’d fought and kissed Neona the night before. From the top of the rocky outcropping, he retrieved the arrow he’d taken from Russell. Then, using his vampire strength, he rammed the arrow into an oak tree, pinning the note.
But what if one of the other women saw it? Would Neona be in trouble? He pulled the arrow out, then levitated up to the branch where the leopard had lounged the night before. He pinned the note there. It was too high to be noticeable by most, but hopefully, the leopard would find it and tear the note off to give it to Neona. It was a long shot, but what else could he do? He couldn’t waltz into Beyul-La, where he was forbidden. Unless he managed to remain hidden.
He wandered down to the stream, watching and listening, but no one was around. He eyed the rock wall where water gushed out. That water had to be coming from Beyul-La. He teleported to the top of the ridge, then across the top branches of trees till he had a good view of the village.
Only glowing embers remained in the central fire pit. The houses were dark. The women had probably retired for the night. He spotted the leopard trotting up a hillside toward a series of mounds. Burial mounds? There were five of them. No, six. The sixth one was grown over with grass and harder to see in the dark. The other five were brown with newly piled dirt, topped with large rocks that gleamed silver in the moonlight.
Something moved next to a mound. One of the women? He teleported closer. Yes, a woman, dressed in green and brown linen that blended into the hillside so well she was scarcely visible.
He teleported to a tree close to her. Was it Neona? It was hard to tell when all the women had long black hair and slim bodies.
She sat very still, her hand resting on a dirt mound, her head bowed. With her other hand, she wiped her
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