Love in the Fortress Read online

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  Two weeks later, Sandra stood on the front porch of the home Griffin had owned prior to his abduction. Mastyr Ian, ruler of Camberlaune Realm, had taken custody of the house when Griffin had been abducted. His intention had been to one day return the house to Griffin, should he escape whatever bondage Margetta had placed him in. Or in the event he learned of Griffin’s death, to give the home to the Camberlaune Fae Guild to use as they saw fit.

  When Griffin had finally met with Ian directly and shared the details of his captivity as well as the size of Margetta’s army, Ian had welcomed him home and given him the keys to the house. Griffin had wanted to immediately rejoin the Guard, but Ian had insisted he take at least two weeks to be with his blood rose.

  Griffin hadn’t protested very much, and for that, Sandra was grateful. The more she was with him, the more she craved him. In many ways, this had been their honeymoon.

  She felt more connected to him than ever.

  Griffin’s home was in the outskirts of the city of Mercata, in the foothills of the Venaset Mountains. Situated on an elevation, Sandra looked out at the glittering city lights of Mercata, clouded ever so slightly with her own spelled mist. Now that she’d advanced in power, she’d begun serious spellcasting especially those designed for protection. Griffin’s property was now cloaked and only the most powerful Realm-folk would be able to detect its existence. Certainly, very few Invictus pairs could ever get through the spell. If they reached it, they’d be turned back with an overwhelming sense they’d gone the wrong way.

  Her fae senses told her clearly that she and Griffin were in no way a priority for Margetta.

  “Sandra, where are you?” Griffin sounded like he was in the back of the house, maybe as far as the master bedroom. Their home was a single story and had every modern convenience. But it was fairly large and the distance from the front door to the bedroom was a nice trek.

  “I’m on the front porch, envisioning how I want to re-landscape the slope to the driveway. Are you about ready?” She’d fed him, of course, because this would be his first night back battling the Invictus as a Guardsman.

  “I’ll be there in a minute,” he called back.

  She felt completely torn about his leaving. She wanted him home with her and she wanted him safe. But she’d married a fighting man and knew he had to do all that he could to keep the Realm-folk of Camberlaune safe. He’d also gown antsy over the past few days. He needed to be with his brother’s-in-arms. The war was heating up and rumors were flying everywhere that Mastyr Stone of Tannisford Realm was engaged in organizing a major offensive against the Ancient Fae. Very soon, Ian would head to Tannisford for a meeting with all the ruling mastyrs of the Nine Realms.

  A week ago, when Sandra and Griffin had shared a meal with Mastyr Ian and the Ruby Fae, Sandra had felt the depth of Ian’s sadness over the loss of his second-in-command, Mastyr Ben. He’d served as Mastyr Ian’s right-hand-man for over half a millennium. Griffin had been shocked, having considered Ben one of his closest friends.

  But there’d been another layer that had felt like betrayal to Sandra. She would probably never know what really happened, but her fae senses told her Ben’s death had been necessary, which made her feel sick in a way that had caused Griffin to offer a questioning brow. She’d shaken her head, doubting she would share her concerns with him. Because of the hurt in Ian’s eyes, she’d also avoided asking any other questions about Mastyr Ben.

  Reuniting with Regan had been an amazing experience and a very long hug had followed along with a few dozen tears shed by them both. Regan had thanked her over and over for her bravery in getting the tower cell key to her.

  Of course, Regan had known at the outset of their reunion that Sandra had become a blood rose much in the same way Sandra could detect the similar power within Regan. A long conversation had followed, separate from the men, about what it was to be a blood rose and the tremendous intimacy that had followed. The men had stood side-by-side across the room, each drinking tumblers of whisky. She’d heard snippets of their conversation, but it was all about the war and the coming meeting in Tannisford.

  Because Griffin had risen in his mastyr power, he was now second-in-command of the Camberlaune Vampire Guard. When Ian left for Tannisford, Griffin would serve in Ben’s place.

  And tonight was his return to the Guard.

  It helped a lot to have a fellow blood rose to talk with.

  So much had changed in thirty years, including the advent of the Internet which hadn’t been available to any of the slaves in the fortress. Sandra was presently on a crash course and spent most of her time online bringing herself up-to-speed.

  She heard the sound of Griffin’s boots on the tiled floor behind her. She turned to smile at him and her breath caught all over again.

  He wore the traditional sleeveless, leather Guardsman coat, along with a brand new pair of the absurdly sexy thigh boots and pants. Like Ian, he didn’t wear a shirt and Sandra just about melted at the sight of his heavily muscled arms.

  His smile grew wicked and he lowered his chin as he moved, which gave him that caveman look she’d come to love. If he hadn’t been heading out, she would have taken his hand and hauled him back to bed.

  Instead, she worked at controlling her desire for him and put a hand to her chest, trying to get her heart to calm down.

  When he drew close, he put his hands on her hips, something he liked to do. “I’m feeling your desire and it’s not helping me at all.” But he chuckled as he spoke.

  And she of course took the opportunity to fondle his muscled arms. She sometimes felt guilty about how much she loved his body. But when she told him, he’d laughed and gotten a really affectionate look in his eye. ‘I’m all yours, babe. Every last bit of me.’ That’s what he’d said.

  She leaned up and kissed him, a long passionate kiss to remind him what he could look forward to when he returned.

  As she drew back, it took every ounce of strength not to beg him to stay home with her. But she was a warrior’s wife now, and it was important to let him know she supported his service as a protector of Camberlaune Realm.

  She waved to him as he took off into the night sky, heading to Somerstrong and the Vampire Guard’s Communication Center.

  She stayed on the front step until she could no longer see him. He’d be back before dawn and she’d count the hours until he was safe in bed beside her once more.

  She remained on the porch for a long time after, drinking in the freedom her love for Griffin had brought her. Her grief for her lost family had finally abated in the arms of her warrior bond-mate. And in return, she’d given him a life without the crippling pain that all mastyr vampires endured.

  Nothing could make her happier, except perhaps one thing.

  She smiled as she placed a hand on her lower abdomen. She could feel the life already growing in her belly. She wondered if Griffin had felt it as well, or if this was her secret to share when she was ready.

  Griffin’s promise that he would make a family with her had come true. The bounty of life, of the Goddess’s enormous love for her and for Griffin, poured down on her in waves of sheer joy. She’d been given a double portion with Griffin, and she would savor every moment she had with him, now and forever.

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  Now Available: EMBRACE THE HUNT, Book 8 of the Blood Rose Series

  A powerful vampire warrior. A beautiful fae of great ability. A war that threatens to destroy their love for the second time…

  http://www.carisroane.com/8-embrace-the-hunt/

  Be sure to check out the Blood Rose Tales Box Set – TRAPPED, HUNGER, and SEDUCED -- shorter works for a quick, sexy, satisfying read. For more information: http://www.carisroane.com/blood-rose-tales-box-set/

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Caris Roane is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty paranormal romance books. Writing as Valerie King, she has published fifty novels and novellas in Regency Romance. Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, loves gardening, enjoys the birds and lizards in her yard, but really doesn’t like scorpions!

  www.carisroane.com

  BLOOD ROSE SERIES BOX SET, featuring Book #1 EMBRACE THE DARK and Book #2 EMBRACE THE MAGIC

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  EMBRACE THE MYSTERY #3

  EMBRACE THE PASSION #4

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  EMBRACE THE HUNT #8

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  Author of:

  Guardians of Ascension Series – Warriors of the Blood crave the breh-hedden

  Dawn of Ascension Series – Militia Warriors battle to save Second Earth

  Blood Rose Series – Only a blood rose can fulfill a mastyr vampire’s deepest needs

  Blood Rose Tales – Short tales of mastyr vampires who hunger to be satisfied

  Men in Chains Series – Vampires struggling to get free of their chains and save the world

  Flame Series – Vampires battle it out with witches for control of their world