Vampire Assassin League Bundle Five - Loneliness by Jackie Ivie Page A

use...probably in some nameless battle. Back when they still used swords. He used to join in if the day was dark enough, and he was bored.
    Oh. Look there.
    Although expertly polished and maintained, more than one blade showed signs of deterioration. They might have been fashioned of inferior iron. He should probably move those blades to the armory, and work on them.
    The door opened behind him.
    Wystan spun.
    “Sir Wystan? May I present the Lady Rachel Berne? And her companion.”
    Wystan probably shouldn’t have been touching anything. One blade fell. He caught it. He snagged the two that followed, but that just seemed a signal for the entire display to collapse like water breaking through a dam. One after another they fell, in a litany of clanking. Before he knew it, there was a mound of weaponry at his feet and a lot of noise announcing that fact. And just when had he gotten so clumsy?
    Somebody giggled. It sure as hell wasn’t him. He was discovering that embarrassment was a pretty good panacea for lust. Actually, it was an excellent one. Wystan considered the stack of blades at his feet for several seconds, before he stepped right over them.
    “Um...hello?”
    Wystan glanced up as his mate spoke. The next moment he was right in front of her, and if he hadn’t been holding three swords, he’d have probably gone to his knee again. As it was, he just stood there, swallowing hard, as if studying the braids coiled atop her head. He ignored the sword blades that dangled from his hands as well as the woman clinging to his mate’s arm.
    Damn everything . He couldn’t control movement better than this?
    “You have a very ...um...yeah. Your castle. It’s...wow.”
    Wystan moved his gaze down to hers. How had he failed to notice she had such unique eyes? They were so light blue, they looked like liquid silver, and surrounded by thick lashes of dark brown that matched her hair. He’d never seen such incredible eyes. Clear. Fathomless. Containing all the mysteries of the universe. He could lose himself in her gaze. And almost did. She blinked, and then blushed, putting a pink tinge to her cheeks that matched her lips. He’d been mistaken. She was worse than beautiful. She was amazingly beautiful.
    “Sir...Crecy?”
    The woman at his mate’s side spoke, snagging his attention. She was gripping his mate’s arm like she belonged there. Wystan’s eyes narrowed. He barely caught and stopped the tingle of his canines. He focused on stanching that, rather than ripping the Munson woman’s hands away from his mate. He didn’t know anything of this lesbian thing. He knew less of women. Akron had said this Eleanor person was wed. Right now, said husband was close to becoming a widower.
    “Pleased...to meet you.”
    The woman released his mate and curtsied awkwardly. She didn’t look very steady on her feet. Her words had been slurred, as well. Is that why she held onto his mate’s arm? She was inebriated? The woman lifted her hand toward him. Wystan automatically took it and brought it toward his lips. He didn’t kiss it. His kisses belonged to just one woman. He dropped her hand. The woman giggled again. And then she hiccupped, although she hid it behind her hand.
    “Do you have some...place where I could...sit down?”
    Wystan glanced at his mate. Her eyebrows rose up and down several times as if conveying him a message. He didn’t understand. She smiled next.
    “Um...Eleanor did a bit too much celebrating. She needs to rest. And maybe sip on a glass of water, as well?”
    “Ah. A place to rest. Most assuredly, ladies.”
    Both women jumped at his words. Wystan had a tremendous voice. Deep. Soul-stirring. Most vampires did. And worse. His couldn’t quite conceal what had to be joy as he realized the obvious. His mate wasn’t exhibiting lesbian behavior. The women were simply friends, and she was giving an assist.
    He’d selected this room for its beauty. It was small in comparison to the rest of the castle. It had