Page 11 of Bite of the Vampire

“Do you want to take a walk around the gardens?”

He wanted to go much farther away than that, to prove to himself she wasn’t after Gareth. If she was sticking close to the castle where Gareth could be staying, and not just getting a bite to eat, Stasio’s worst nightmare could be realized. No way did he want to terminate Jasmine. He only eliminated other vampires who were attempting to kill him. So, it was always a defensive measure. Though, if she was trying to kill him, he would have to defend himself.

He saw his friends coming, minus Caitlin. He assumed they wanted to meet Jasmine so they could learn what they could about her. Did they believe she distracted him too much? Or that she’d cast a spell over him, and he would let down his guard? As wary as he and the others were, his guard was always up. Well, except for the part about compelling her to do something.

“Just the garden?” he asked.

“For now. Sure. But it appears your friends want to check up on you, or check me out.”

When Levka drew close, she stuck her hand out to shake his, as if she knew he was in charge. He hesitated to respond, his gaze steady on hers, and Stasio knew he was trying to will her to do something. Like Stasio should have done. But a vampire, or a hunter, would know he was attempting that on her. She dropped the offer of a handshake and smiled. “I’m Jasmine, and you are?”

“Levka. This is Arman, and that’s Ruric. Caitlin wasn’t feeling well, so she’s getting some sleep. We came down to eat, however. Are you just visiting Wales?”

“Yes. And we might as well…cut to the chase.” She telepathically said to the collected group,“Have you lived long?”

Rarely did humans have the telepathic gift. The same with hunters. Caitlin had been an exception to the rule. Which meant Jasmine had to be a vampire.

Levka gave her a dark smile.“Yes. You?”

“From the beginning. Now that we have that out of the way, I’m not exactly here on vacation. Are you?”

“We are,” Stasio said, speaking out. They had no intention of telling her why they were here.

“Sightseeing,” Jasmine said.

“Yes.” Stasio glanced at his friends.

“We’re going into the restaurant to eat lunch. We’ll talk to you later,” Levka said to Stasio. “Nice to meet a fellow traveler,” he added, speaking to Jasmine.

“Likewise.”

Stasio took Jasmine’s hand and walked her to the gardens. It was still laid out very much the way his great grandmother had built it centuries ago. The rock borders, flowers, and vegetables, but now there were fountains and waterfalls.

“This is beautiful,” Jasmine said.

“It is. If you were turned early on, where were you living then?”

“London. You?”

“Here.”

She smiled. “You could really show me the sights after all.” She seemed to like the idea, and for once, he relaxed a little.

“I could.”

Then she turned and was staring at someone. Her heart started beating faster and Stasio turned to see who she was watching. She pulled Stasio in for a kiss.

It was Gareth, and Stasioknewthat she was after him. She wasn’t a huntress, but an assassin. He telepathically said to Gareth, as he was still kissing her, “This is your cousin Stasio, and I suspect you have an assassin after you.”

Gareth touched a red rose and was looking at it. He smiled darkly.“Stasio, my friend. Are you close by?”

“Near a fountain in the garden, but I believe the woman I’m with is a vampire assassin, and she’s after you.”

“Not you too?”

“I don’t think she knows about me. You need to leave. I’ll try to stall her here. Just leave.”

“I owe you, cousin. Are the rest of the princes with you?”Gareth wandered through a gate into another section of the garden.