Chapter One

           Damn, vampires. They had no business in the lives of witches, entering their sacred realms. Fallon flipped the sheer red scarf over the table. “I will show you. Coming into my private moments as if you have a right to be there,” she seethed, setting the candle down with a thud in the center of the table.
           Looking about the room to see what she may have forgotten her eyes rested on the half eaten piece of chocolate cake. “This vampire has me so flustered I can’t even finish my favorite dessert.”
           She struck the match, setting fire to the candle’s wick before settling in for her meditation. If he dared to show his face tonight, he would have another thing coming. She would not fall into his arms like some wanton whore, as she had last night. No, tonight he would be in for the fight of his life.

            Fallon stared into the flames flickering against the darkness of her cabin walls. Why wasn’t anything happening? No mist. No imagery of any sort, only the same four walls of her single room cabin.

            A knock on the door pulled her attention from the flames. So this is why she couldn’t sink between the worlds, the bastard was brave enough to come to her home. Fallon jumped to her feet, grabbing her broad sword before flinging open the door, ready for attack. She’d be damned if she gave him permission to enter her physical realm.

            “What in blazes?” Tara squealed.

            Fallon brought the broad sword to a halt the moment it reached her friend’s neck. “I thought you were someone else.” She huffed, turning on her heel returning the sword to its rightful place by the door.

            “Obviously, who you were expecting had to be foe for you do not greet friends in such a manner.” Tara eyed Fallon as she entered the cabin and closed the door behind her.

            “I was expecting an arrogant vampire.” Fallon blew out the candle on a grumble.

            “He must be something to behold, this vampire of yours, for I have never seen you in such a state,” Tara exclaimed, going to the pot of coffee pouring herself a cup before curling up in a high backed chair by the fireplace.

            “Something! I’ll tell you what he is he’s an arrogant, overbearing, shameful creature. Stealing into my meditation, having his way with me without a second thought to what it might mean.”

            “And what does it mean?” Tara took a slow easy sip of the steaming brew, the leisurely smile crossing her lips added to Fallon’s irritation.

            “It signifies he’s an ass, that’s what it denotes.”

Fallon dropped into the chair adjacent from her friend.

            “You’ve never been one to embrace your desires, my friend. What would it hurt to accept them?”

            Horror rose up in her chest. Was Tara asking her to condone this vampire’s behavior? Was she asking her to embrace the yearnings her body cried out for, even in the absence of the irritating blood sucker? “How can you ask such a thing?”

            “Oh please, Fallon, I caught you preparing to seek him out in your meditations. I would bet it is a bit more than irritation that has you hunting down this mysterious vampire.” Tara snorted, “Don’t forget I’ve known you since we were babes.”

            “Then you know I am not one to be taken in by a man’s pretty words, much less a vampire’s seductive means,” Fallen snapped, rising to stoke the embers in the fireplace.

            Tara came to her, placing a hand to her shoulder, “Men are not the horrible creatures your mother would have you to believe they are.” Her blue eyes sparkled, “I would imagine a vampire could offer much more than a mere mortal man.”

            The heat rose up bringing warmth to Fallon’s face. If the vampire which interrupted her meditations the night before was any indication of the wiles of vampires, her friend’s words were more truthful than even Tara knew. “My mother only wishes my powers to rise to their fullest abilities.”

            “Yes, but that does not mean one cannot enjoy the merriment of the flesh with a willing man, or vampire in your case,” Tara reminded her. “So tell me, what happened? What did he look like? Don’t leave out a single detail,” she coaxed, curling back up in the chair she had been occupying moments before.

            Fallon stared into the fire, watching the flames lick the fresh wood. The intense blue rising up from the embers brought the memory of the vampire’s eyes back to her third eye. “He has the most penetrating blue eyes,” she whispered. “The kind which looks right into your soul.”

            She pulled her gaze from the fire, going to the counter, slicing a piece of cake for each of them. She handed Tara a piece then retook her seat. “He shook me to my core.”

            “Because you’ve never experienced . . .”

            Fallon held up her hand silencing her friend’s words. “I’ve had sexual relations before.”

            “But you’ve never been subjected to such where your emotions were involved.”

            The mysterious vampire did stir her emotions there was no question about it. His touch ignited stimulation. His eyes beaconed to her soul. He inflamed both her anger and her arousal. Only a witch, as seasoned as Tara, would have recognized the signs within her. “He does rile my passions.”

            “What are you going to do about him? Do you think you’ll see him again?”

            Fallon savored a bite of chocolate cake contemplating her answer. On one hand she hoped she never set eyes on him again. She could almost envision the arrogant look in those spellbinding eyes, from his knowledge of how wanton she could be. On the other hand, every part of her being hummed with need to return to his arms, to feel his lips against her own, to give into her carnal desires.

            “I honestly don’t know. He sets my nerves on fire.”

            A slow easy smile crossed Tara’s lips. “Sounds like love to me.”

            Fallon laughed. “Love, I would hardly think after one night of giving into passion it could be titled love.”

                                                            ***

            Dante paced the long stone corridor. What am I doing seducing a witch? He looked about the empty passageway. “This is why, the isolation, this void that has become my life.” He slammed his fist into the stone wall, the cuts healing themselves in almost an instant.

            It had been years since he realized his heart was still intact. The moment he had witnessed Fallon under the full moon a fortnight ago, there was no question a heart still beat in his chest. Her red-brown hair fell down her bare back. Flames shot heavenward from her palms, indicating the Fire Clan she belonged to. Her essence screamed out warrior, woman, and most of all passion.

            Never in four hundred years had the glimpse of a woman stopped him in his tracks. Fallon had done more than halt him in his steps, she’d taken ahold of his black soul and the longing for a different life had sprung into existence. She occupied his every thought, his dreams, there was nowhere in his miserable way of life he could hide from the stunning witch.

            There were rumors afoot, vampires rarely fell in love, but when they did, they would move heaven and hell to hold the object of their aspiration. In the past he thought these tales to be nothing more than myth. After happening upon Fallon there were no more doubts. Was it not why he had sought her out, interrupted her mediations to sample her sweet flesh.

            Storming through the castle gate, Dante knew what he must do. She would be his, from this night until eternity. After all, he had a lifetime to insure her love.