Cursed (The Brookehaven Vampires, Book 4)

By Joann I. Martin Sowles

Cursed: The Brookehaven Vampires, Book 4.

Leaving it all behind, Laney and Oliver are looking forward to getting away from the troubles of Treeville and finally beginning their forever. Unfortunately, Laney’s guardian angel and Oliver’s twin have other plans.
Even so, after a wonderful, yet also terrifying few days together, Laney and Oliver are off to the capital where they will partake in Levi’s plans of persuading his love to join his world. Although enjoyable, and rather entertaining, Laney and Oliver must soon return home where anything can and will go wrong.
As if a psychotic angel and a crazy twin brother weren't enough, Laney and her friends come to find that their previous troubles with witches, werewolves, and the Weslin siblings were nothing compared to what is coming.
With many secrets revealed, Laney must find it within herself to hold it together and make the right choices to help save the ones she loves.
With everyone’s futures hanging in the balance, will Laney and her friends be able to put a stop to a chain of events that could tear their world apart?

Paranormal Romance. 18+
*Mature Content Warning*
The Brookehaven Vampires series contains mature themes, including sexual content, violence, strong language, and alcohol use. It is intended for a mature audience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joann I. Martin Sowles
• Release date: Nov 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781940905044

Joann I. Martin Sowles

Joann I. Martin Sowles is the self-published author of The Brookehaven Vampires series. She prefers fantasy to reality, loves anything purple, and is a devoted Mickey Mouse fan.She can spend hours talking about her favorite books, music, movies, and TV shows with anyone willing to listen.When she’s not consumed by her writing, Joann is busy spending time with her family or avoiding housework.To find out more about Joann and the Brookehaven Vampires, visit her website at:www.brookehavenvampires.com

Book preview

Chapter 1

Our Grand Escape

It had been some time since the town of Treeville had faded away in the distance. Since then, there hadn’t been much to see—just the dark night sky and the stars that filled it. Oh, and the few distant farm houses that Oliver and I whizzed past as we sped along the highway.

I had already called Felix and let him know Oliver and I had skipped town. I made sure to inform him that leaving had been my idea. He argued, as I expected he would, but in the end, there was nothing he could do. He accepted the fact that he had no right to tell me what I could or could not do with my life, or at least he acted like he accepted this fact.

At that moment, I really didn’t care what he thought. I just wanted to make sure Oliver wouldn’t get into trouble.

After my call to Felix, Oliver and I agreed to turn off our phones. No interruptions, for at least the rest of our drive, would be a welcomed change.

Oliver encouraged me to get some sleep, but I was too excited to sleep! Could you blame me? Oliver and I were finally getting away! Together. Alone. We were finally getting the much needed alone time that we seriously deserved.

I planned to make our bonding happen, and I planned to make it happen as soon as possible. There was no part of me that doubted this plan, or how I felt about Oliver. There was also no part of me that wanted anything to do with Zane.

With my fingers intertwined with Oliver’s, I enjoyed the quiet while I gazed out my window and watched the dark road and all that surrounded it rush by.

Why didn’t you tell me about him? I asked, breaking the long stretch of silence that we were both enjoying.

What could I say? Oliver responded. He glanced at me for a moment before returning his focus to the highway in front of us. I mean, I thought about telling you, but I couldn’t think of how to word the fact your guardian angel was here to save you. He paused for a moment. I thought he was here to protect you from me. He glanced over at me again. I caught the uneasiness in his expression. I also saw his chest rise and fall before he continued. Once I was placed in solitary, I thought you were safe. His eyes flicked to mine for a quick second while I processed this information. Laney, he said, giving my fingers a gentle squeeze, was I wrong to keep this from you?

I watched him for a moment, the lights from the dash giving off enough glow that I was able to see his expression.

I really don’t know, I began. I saw his jaw tighten and felt his fingers squeeze mine. Maybe I would have been more cautious, I said slowly. You know, had I known I was in such danger that it warranted an angel falling from the sky to protect me. I squeezed his fingers in return. I do know that I never would have believed that you were the danger he was supposed to protect me from.

I leaned over our hands resting on the console, and I stole a quick kiss as he glanced over to see what I was doing. He relaxed, and a smile started at the corner of his mouth.

I love you, Oliver.

He told me the same, and then he lifted my hand and kissed the backs of my fingers with his cool and very kissable lips. An amazing sensation ran through me.

A moment later I settled back in my seat, but the wonderful sensation Oliver caused in me began fading as I tried to piece some things together.

I thought angels were supposed to be saviors or something, I said, voicing the thoughts rolling around in my head. My situation doesn’t seem to fit. He would be ruining my life by taking me from you, not saving me.

To some, they are saviors. They are warriors of their god, their leader. They are not all bad, but when they turn, they do so quickly, Oliver replied.

I tried to wrap my head around the meaning of Oliver’s words. I mean, I had read that angels turned into demons if they failed their tasks, but I didn’t know much more than that. It made me wonder if Zane was now a demon because he wasn’t the one who had saved me from Oscar, and if he wasn’t a demon… Did this mean I was still in danger and Oscar hadn’t been my true threat?

As I tried to come to some sort of reasonable conclusion about why Zane would still be an angel, and what kind of danger I might still be in, the image of a bumper sticker I’d once seen popped into my head. I remembered it saying something about not driving faster than their guardian angel could fly. Mine couldn’t fly. Could he?

He can’t fly, can he? I asked.

Apparently my question warranted a small chuckle. No, he cannot, Oliver replied, which was a relief. Their wings are removed before they fall. From my understanding, this is done so they aren’t easily identified in our world, Oliver told me.

I remembered Cyrus saying something about this when we were at the Pancake House. He told us something about angels’ wings being removed. I relayed what I remembered to Oliver. He confirmed what Cyrus had told us was true.

I was quiet for a while as I thought about the events leading up to this very point. I wondered about my dad, then my mom. Then I realized that I didn’t actually know how my mother had died. Lilly had told me that my mom had gotten sick, which scared the hell out of me as a child. Every time I sneezed, I thought I was going to die. Eventually, I outgrew this fear, thank goodness, but I still had no clue if it was actually an illness that had taken my mother from me, or if it had been something more…

I went back to thoughts of my dad, wondering if he would tell me what had really happened to my mom. Then, for some odd reason, the dream I’d had about the gargoyles flashed through my mind. I squeezed Oliver’s hand as I remembered the silent screams and the gargoyle taking his heart. Chills covered my body at the memory.

You okay? Oliver asked.

I nodded, realizing he could feel my distress. I steadied my breathing and tried to calm myself. It wasn’t really working.

What are you thinking about? he asked.

I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly before speaking. Are gargoyles real?

Yeah, they are members of the dragon family. I could hear the concern beginning to form in his voice.

Are there any at Brookehaven?

Yeah… he said slowly. He eyed me for a moment. Why do you ask?

I took another deep breath and closed my eyes before I responded. I exhaled, leaned my head back against my seat, and then turned to look at him as I gave the details of my creepy and silent dream.

That’s really disturbing, Laney, Oliver said, the concern now very evident in his tone.

I know. I returned my attention to the dark stretch of highway before us. Are there wolves there? I asked.

No, why?

Had a dream about wolves a while back. That same fortress was there. My dad killed one of them.

Oh, yeah? he questioned, the hint of laughter in his tone.

Yeah, and he was a vampire, I finished.

Oliver’s fingers tightened on mine, but he said nothing.

Right then I wished I had some sort of special ability like his or Felix’s. Adding that last part about my dad being a vamp, that had been more of a test than just a fact about my dream. I wanted to know how Oliver would react if I mentioned my father being a vampire. Oliver’s lack of response really had not helped me decide, but the squeeze he gave my hand had me wondering if my suspicions were correct.

I recalled what I could of the fleeting dreams I’d had while I was, well, crazy and thought the toaster was a talking rabbit. Seriously? Anyway, while recovering from my delusional state, I had dreams about many things. I remembered only parts of them, as if they were suppressed memories trying to surface. What stood out most of all were the vague dreams I recalled of my father. It was weird, because in those dreams, my dad had Phen’s eyes: one blue and one brown. But this wasn’t how I remembered him—at least the pictures of him.

I racked my brain, trying to remember if I had ever truly seen a picture of my dad where he was actually looking at the camera. I couldn’t.

Hey, Oliver said in a soft tone, giving my hand another gentle squeeze, your emotions are bouncing all over the place. What are you thinking about now?

My dad. I flashed him a halfhearted smile.

Oh? Anything you want to talk about?

I shrugged. I don’t think so.

He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. I felt myself relaxing once more.

To avoid my mind digging deeper into thoughts of my dad, or thoughts of my mother’s death, I chose to ask something possibly even more unsettling. Granted, I hadn’t realized how heartbreaking it would be until I asked.

How well did you know Gwen and Vance?

He sighed. Actually, I knew them fairly well. They were both part of the team Felix and I lead. Vance was a good soldier. He mostly kept to himself and was usually pretty quiet. He was a good guy. But… he trailed off, emotion catching in his tone. That’s when I realized these people had been more than just coworkers to Oliver. I gave his fingers a gentle squeeze and placed my other hand over our joined hands resting on the console. He continued, Gwen and I were in the same support group. We were turned around the same time, and we both had some issues to deal with back then.

Support group? I questioned.

After a quick smirk, he said, Yeah, it’s a required part of our training, or of our release process. Whichever we choose. Either way, it’s required. Gwen and I worked through some issues together. We stayed close all of these years. She was a good friend, and I will miss her. He fell silent, and I felt bad for asking about them, but mostly I felt bad for Oliver because he lost another person he cared about. She was my original field partner, he added, and then he snickered.

I raised an eyebrow at him. What? I questioned, surprised by his laughter.

Gwen could be obnoxious, and a real pain in the ass at times. He smiled at me as I giggled. Oliver rarely swore in front of me, and it always took me by surprise when he did.

I was thankful he ended his memories of Gwen on a happy note, but I was also saddened by the fact I would never get a chance to know her the way Oliver had.

I cleared my head and settled back in my seat. I relaxed, enjoying the fact that it was just Oliver and me. We were finally alone. The anticipation of this, hopefully uninterrupted, time alone with him had excited chills covering my body.

He squeezed my hand but didn’t question my emotions. I was grateful.

After some time, we were passing the Sacramento airport, and the lights of the city were coming into view. Lilly always kept me so close to home; I’d actually never been this far away.

I felt excitement bubbling inside me as I caught a glimpse of the Sacramento skyline against the dark night sky before we headed farther south. I silently wished I could see more of it, and in the daytime, too.

As if hearing my thoughts, Oliver told me he often made trips to the capital for work-related reasons, and that he would see about bringing me along sometime. This made me smile.

I wish I could show you San Francisco at night. Talk about beautiful, Oliver said, nostalgically. Unfortunately, it’s not safe for me to take you through the city alone.

I knew most of the Bay Area was off limits to Oliver and the other Brookehaven Vampires. Oliver had once told me so. He’d also told me the Bay Area housed a large number of rogue vampires and a very shady leader of an out of control coven. So, his reasoning for not showing me around that portion of the Bay did not surprise me.

I was surprised Oliver mentioned taking me through the city of San Francisco at all. That was where vampires had attacked him and his siblings. It was where Olivia had died. It was where he and Oscar had been unable to save their baby sister…

As he kept his focus on the stretch of interstate ahead of us, I rested my head against the headrest and gazed at my boyfriend. I studied him for a few moments—from his wavy, light brown curls that were a bit out of control but perfect at the same time, to the dark lashes that framed his gorgeous emerald-green eyes, to his perfectly defined facial features, and finally to his irresistibly kissable lips that nearly always had a hint of a smile to them.

On the surface, you would never know the pain he had been through. I couldn’t even imagine the emotions he hid from me.

With my fingers still intertwined with his, I squeezed his hand. Without looking at me, he smiled, just a little.

The signs we passed stated we were heading west. This stretch of freeway wasn’t as dark and desolate as the section between Treeville and Sacramento. It did still have some stretches of darkness, but this section was scattered with rolling hills and brightly lit towns.

After a while I realized I was starving, and tired. Once I voiced my hunger, or after he’d heard my stomach growl, Oliver took an off-ramp that led to an area heavily populated with fast food restaurants.

I pointed out which place I wanted, and we pulled through the drive-thru of a burger place. Oliver made a face at me when I told him my order. I laughed.

Once we were back on the road and heading toward the coastline, I began happily devouring my burger and fries.

While I ate, Oliver talked about the possibility of me giving up some of my staple foods. You know, fast food, Lucky Charms, Pop-Tarts, etc. I rolled my eyes at him as I stuffed two fries into my mouth at once. He found the act amusing, but I found his suggestion insane. I was pretty sure I’d starve if I gave up my staples.

With a full tummy, I actually dozed off for a little while.

Sometime later, Oliver gently woke me. Laney, we’re here, he said, ever so softly.

It took me a few seconds to gather my thoughts and remember where we were. I must admit, I was somewhat afraid it had all been a dream. I was thankful it wasn’t.

A dim porch light lit up the front of a Victorian cottage. The cottage sat secluded atop a cliff that overlooked the dark abyss of ocean behind it.

I was speechless. This was not what I had expected…

Granted, I don’t really know what I had expected, but it hadn’t been this beautiful, pale yellow house with a wraparound porch. It was like a dream, and I considered pinching myself as Oliver led me up the front steps.

The house was gorgeous inside too!

Oliver set to work getting the two-sided, stone fireplace lit as I took in everything else.

From the front sitting room, I moved into the bedroom that shared the fireplace wall. The bedroom was furnished in beautiful, solid wood furniture that was very shiny. The bed was covered in a heavy white quilt with lots of white pillows propped at the head.

Knowing what would soon take place in the large bed that lay before me, I blushed.

Moving on to the bathroom, which sat just off the bedroom, I all but fell over when I saw the size of the tub. It was huge! Along with the plans I had for my boyfriend, I planned to spend at least one good soak in that sucker.

Leaving the bathroom and bedroom, I found the kitchen to my right, just off the sitting room. It too was a good size with lots of dark cabinets and a large square island in the center.

There was a beautiful, small dining table with two chairs which sat just to the side of French double doors. The doors opened to the back of the wraparound porch.

Quickly moving across the length of the kitchen, I opened the doors and stepped out onto the porch. Even in the dark of the night, the view was breathtaking. The feel of the ocean breeze against my skin chilled me, but it was amazing.

As I was staring out at the dark ocean, Oliver’s arms slipped around my waist from behind. An excited chill of anticipation ran through me. This would be my first memory of the sea, and it was a very good one.

Can we go down to the beach? I asked.

Aren’t you tired? Oliver whispered against my neck. His cool lips stayed there and began working their magic against my skin.

More shivers ran through me. I’m too excited to sleep! I said, a little too enthusiastically.

Although I knew it was going to happen at any moment, when I knew he was ready, I sort of panicked.

Maybe it was seeing the bed—the place where our bonding would take place—that caused a nervous stir inside me. I knew I needed to gain control of that nervousness, especially before he sensed it. I just needed a few minutes. And a distraction.

His arms slipped from my waist, and he stepped forward to stand beside me. It took me a second to be able to look at him. And when I did, he flashed me a breathtaking smirk.

After a moment, he took my hand and led me off the porch and down a wooden path behind the house. That path connected with a sandy trail that then led down a steep cliff to the ocean below.

I slipped as we started down the steep path. Oliver caught me before I could hit the ground, and then he offered to piggyback me the rest of the way.

It’s okay. I can do it, I said, my nervousness obvious in my voice. I was already aware he could feel what I was feeling, but knowing he could also hear it in my voice made the nervousness grow even more.

But like the awesome man he was, he didn’t question me, nor did he comment. I imagined he too was nervous. This realization made me feel a little better.

So, instead of confronting me about my uneasiness, he simply walked in front of me so I could brace myself against his back as we descended the steep path.

Once at the bottom, Oliver took a seat in the cool sand. After a quick glimpse at the dark ocean, I sat beside him, leaning against him as he wrapped an arm around me.

Blissful. That was the perfect word for the moment.

A breeze blew off the water, and I shivered. The air was colder than I’d anticipated. I cuddled against Oliver, and he held me tighter while we gazed out at the crashing waves.

The ocean was darker than I had imagined—it was like some sort of enormous black void. It was actually rather unnerving, yet I had to feel the water.

I took off my shoes and socks and rolled up my jeans. The sand was cool between my toes as I headed for the water. Even with Oliver’s warning about how cold it would be, I still let out a little squeal when the freezing water hit my feet. Even over the waves, I heard Oliver chuckling.

I hurried back to where he’d stayed seated on the sand, and I cuddled against him again while we watched the dark waves crashing, only the stars and glow of the moon lighting the night.

We sat there for some time, staring out at the dark ocean and holding each other, only the crashing of the waves disrupting the quiet. Until I yawned. He shot me a sidelong glance and a grin that made my stomach drop.

You had better get some rest, he said. Actually, I’m feeling a little tired myself.

Reluctantly, we both stood. I got a piggyback ride on the way back up to the house after Oliver picked one of the small white flowers that covered either side of the path. He told me they were moonflowers, and that they only open in the moonlight. They were very pretty, especially covering the side of the cliff where the cottage sat.

Loosely wrapping my arms around Oliver’s neck, I held my shoes in one hand and my little flower in the other while Oliver effortlessly carried me up the slope. I slid down his back as we reached the top, and he held me close to his side while we walked the rest of the way to the back door. Instead of going right inside, we snuggled on the back patio’s porch swing that overlooked the ocean. I nestled myself in the crook of Oliver’s arm, and he held me close. I truly felt I was exactly where I needed to be.

Do we ever have to leave? I asked.

He kissed the top of my head before answering. Unfortunately, we do.

I sighed. I don’t want to go back there, I admitted.

He said nothing in response, probably because there was nothing to be said. We had no choice. We would have to return, sooner or later. I was all for later.

It wasn’t long before I fell asleep there on the swing while in the safety of Oliver’s arms.

I woke as Oliver lifted me from the swing. I wrapped my arms around his neck and planted little kisses on the perfect skin of his neck while he carried me inside. I was tired, but I was happy, and I had calmed down from my initial anxiousness. I was ready, so I thought. Unfortunately, I was asleep again before he even made it to the bedroom.

I woke just long enough to shrug out of my jeans and pulled my bra out from under my T-shirt. Then I crawled into the big, fluffy bed, and Oliver joined me only moments later. And, to my surprise, he actually crawled under the covers for a change. I rested my head on his chest while he held me tight, and I fell back to sleep within seconds, the faint thud of Oliver’s heartbeat lulling me while he played with a chunk of my hair.

All thoughts and worries of my angel faded away, along with the day.

Chapter 2

Oliver + Laney

I woke to the sounds of waves crashing. Oliver was asleep with his arms tightly wrapped around me. Knowing it was unsafe to disturb him while he slept, I waited as patiently and as quietly as I could until I could wait no longer. I needed to use the bathroom, and I was dying to see the ocean in the daylight.

Ever so gently, I began wiggling myself free of his grip. He stirred and I froze. I wasn’t quite clear on what would happen if I woke him. Thankfully, he released me and just rolled onto his side. He stayed asleep.

I quickly used the bathroom, and then I left the room and went through the kitchen so I could go out onto the back porch. I was excited to get a view of the ocean in the sunshine.

My excitement was cut short when I discovered that, while I was sleeping, Oliver had turned on the house’s security system. It was like the security system at Julz’s house, with the metal shutters that covered the windows, but this version also shuttered the back glass doors, and bolted them closed. I couldn’t get out even if I had to. This was slightly unsettling.

Defeated, I headed back to the bedroom and found that the shutters over those windows had been left open. It was only a few inches, but that little space allowed the salty ocean breeze to flow in. It was also enough for me to get a glimpse of the magnificent Pacific Ocean. It was a beautiful blue in the daylight. I was so eager to get down to the beach and really enjoy it!

I turned to head for the bathroom again, this time to get ready for the day, but my gaze fell on my sleeping vampire boyfriend. I’d never seen him really sleep before. I couldn’t help smiling. It took everything in me to prevent myself from crawling back into bed with him and running my fingers through his wavy, light golden-brown locks until he woke.

With a sigh, I headed for the bathroom, stopping at the dresser to grab some clothes first. Oliver had also unpacked while I’d been asleep. This made me wonder what else he had been up doing.

I showered and got ready, discovering that somehow I’d managed to bring my toothbrush but not my toothpaste. I had to borrow Oliver’s. I was leery since it was mint flavored and also some weird color because it was all natural, but I was happy to discover that it wasn’t bad. I was also happy to discover I was over my aversion to mint. I was relieved considering Christmas was just around the corner. There was no way I could make it through the holiday without candy canes, or peppermint ice cream.

Once I was ready for the day, I found Oliver still snoozing, soundly, and on his belly with an arm tightly wrapped around his pillow.

Being brave, or stupid, you choose, I stood beside the bed and gently brushed my fingers through his hair. He smiled slightly, but he didn’t wake. The love I felt for him amazed me, especially with the still lingering enhancements I’d received with Oliver’s blood. They made everything so much more intense. I could tell all of my bonuses were beginning to fade, and I was a little disappointed, but the happiness I felt over being alone with Oliver far outweighed how I felt about losing the boost his blood gave me.

I headed back to the kitchen to search for something to hold me over until Oliver could take us to the store for some food. Unfortunately, all I could find was a box of chocolate Pop-Tarts Oliver had brought for me from home. I was pretty sure, no thanks to Oliver’s brother draining me to the point of pure craziness, chocolate Pop-Tarts would forever remind me of rabbit poop, which made the one I ate rather hard to choke down.

Speaking of Oliver’s brother, I found my new cell phone—the one Oliver replaced (again) since Oscar had stolen mine—charging next to Oliver’s phone on the kitchen island. We’d all had to change our phone numbers thanks to Oscar helping himself to my phone and all the information in it, which reminded me I needed a new photo of Oliver and me.

I turned on my phone only to find I had no messages. Oliver’s flashed, announcing it had a new message, and I smiled to myself. I knew he couldn’t go long without checking his phone. I was fairly certain that while I was sleeping, he’d been up checking his messages while putting the house into lockdown and unpacking our bags. I wondered if he’d heard any news of the angel, and if I should be concerned about the reason for the lockdown. I shook my head and pushed the thoughts aside. I wasn’t going to let the troubles of home ruin our time away.

I headed back to the bedroom to wait for Oliver to wake. There was a chair in the corner across the room from the bed. The chair was placed at an angle between the window and the fireplace, which was still alive with a faint flickering. I propped myself on the arm of the chair beside the window and peeked through those open few inches—the breeze blowing on me while I waited for my Knight to awaken. I sat there for a long while.

The sun was high in the sky when Oliver finally woke. I had settled into the chair long ago. I was flipping through one of the old books I’d discovered on the mantle of the fireplace when I saw him stir.

He stretched and reached his arm across my side of the bed. When he came up empty handed, he sat straight up with a start. He appeared panicked when I wasn’t next to him, and he was immediately relieved when he found me slouched in the chair near the foot of the bed.

Hey, he said in a sleepy voice.

I sat up, set the book aside, and said, You slept a long time.

His hair was rather crazy, poufy even, and sticking up in all directions. I held back a laugh and only smiled at him as he rubbed his gorgeous, green eyes.

I joined him on the bed, crawling in beside him and easing him back down onto the mattress. He kissed my forehead as I cuddled in his arms and rested my head on his chest.

It’s easy for me to rest here, he told me. The worries are different. I’m not on duty. I don’t have to work here, you know?

I looked up at him, my eyes meeting his, and he leaned down and gently kissed me. When his lips parted from mine, he smiled ever so seductively.

I pushed myself up on one elbow and gazed down at him while my other arm rested on his chest. I said, with a hint of a smile, Go get ready, I wanna see the ocean. In the daylight.

His smile turned into a crooked, sleepy grin. Then he rolled out from under me and headed off to the bathroom wearing jammie bottoms and a plain, white tee.

Nice shirt, by the way, he said just before closing the bathroom door behind him.

I looked down at my I heart Vampires birthday shirt Isaac and Hayden had given me. I laughed for a moment, then I went back to the chair to wait.

After he was ready, we headed to the kitchen where Oliver downed a bottle of blood while I waited somewhat impatiently. He chuckled at me while his gorgeous, green eyes watched my every movement.

Patience, Laney. The ocean will still be there in five minutes, he said playfully.

Easy for you to say, you grew up with the ocean within reach every day. Hurry up! I encouraged with my best pretty please smile.

He chuckled at me again. He then downed the remaining contents of the bottle before heading to the front room to disarm the security system.

Once the shutters were up and I heard the bolts unlocking the back doors, I swung them both open and hurried onto the back porch. It was even more breathtaking in the daylight. The sea had been so black and sinister-looking the previous night, but in the daylight, it was so blue, and so very beautiful. As I gaped in wonder, I could taste the salt on the air, and the breeze ruffled my hair.

Let’s go down there, I said, excitement obvious in my tone, as Oliver slipped his arms around me from behind.

Without a word, he brushed my hair aside and his cool lips pressed against my neck. I trembled and felt myself instantly melting against him. His lips moved their way to my ear as my fingers gripped his forearms.

Is this the moment? Is he going to entice me back to the bedroom? There wouldn’t be a lot of effort needed on his part, I could tell you that.

Just as I was about to turn in his arms and take him back inside myself, he whispered against my ear, Don’t forget your sunglasses.

He handed me my sunglasses I hadn’t even noticed him holding, and then he took a step back, releasing me from his grip. I turned to find him slipping on his own sunglasses and donning a plain black baseball cap. I’d never seen him in a hat before. He looked freakin’ hot, as always. As I stared at him, he flashed me a super sexy smile, then he headed for the path.

I stood there for a moment, watching him walk away. I felt torn. As badly as I wanted to go down to the beach, I wanted to take Oliver back to the bedroom even more.

I watched him walk past a hammock that was strung up between two large posts—a hammock I had totally missed the previous night. Granted, because it had been dark, it was probably easy to miss.

Oliver stopped at the top of the steep path that led down to the beach. He turned back to me. Come on, Laney, he called, flashing me a perfectly crooked smile.

I put on my sunglasses, hurried down the back steps, and then down the path to catch up to him. I was still torn between the beach and the bedroom. However, the bedroom would have to wait. The beach won. This time.

I had an easier time making it down the path this time. Being able to see really helped. As soon as we hit the beach, I ditched my shoes and rolled my pant legs. Standing just out of reach of the waves, I cautiously let the cold water hit my feet. This definitely wasn’t the warm beaches you see on TV. No other people were in sight. We were the only bodies on this stretch of beach, and no one in their right mind would swim in that water. It was freezing!

Oliver was beside me in the next moment—shoes and socks gone, and his pants rolled. I smiled at him and he kissed the top of my head and took my hand. We waded out a little farther, the water rushing in around our ankles and then back out into the deep blue. It was still really cold, but the warm sunshine made the water bearable.

We spent a couple of hours playing around on the beach. Wandering a little farther, we checked out the sea life in some tide pools in a mass of rocks. We found several urchins stuck to the rocks, a small crab, and a couple of starfish. It was fascinating to see the creatures and the ocean in person. We also collected some seashells, and I noticed Oliver stashing some smaller shells into the front pocket of his jeans.

What are you doing with those? I questioned.

You’ll see, he said, the hint of a crooked grin appearing.

I felt a smile tugging at the corner of my own mouth.

As we headed back toward the path that led up to the cottage, Oliver found a stick that had washed ashore. With it, he wrote Oliver + Laney in the sand. He surrounded our names with a big heart. It tugged at my actual heart, making me love him even more.

He smiled bashfully as I gazed at him, my heart so full of love. The cold water rushing around my ankles snapped me back to the moment. I pulled my phone from my back pocket and hurried to take a picture of our names in the sand before the waves washed them away. Then I took a picture of Oliver and me with the deep, blue sea behind us.

We sat in the sand together, and I rested my back against his chest. We watched the waves crash and rush up the beach, the frothy ripples reaching for us. Some seagulls cried overhead, and a few pelicans swooped down, landing on the water and floating about for a while. It was so peaceful, and so relaxing.

Staring out at the ocean and relaxing for the first time in so long, I let my mind go. While thinking about all of the different supernatural creatures I had read about or encountered in the last few months, strangely my mind took me to an interesting question. Do you think Poseidon and the other gods were ever real? I asked, raising my voice over the sounds of the crashing waves.

I believe it’s a possibility, Oliver responded.

Should I? I asked. Should I believe in the gods as well as everything else that used to be nothing more than myth to me?

That’s up to you, Laney. As with everything, it is possible they once walked among us. If so, perhaps their descendants still do. He kissed the top of my head and held me tight, wrapping his arms around me. I felt so safe and so loved.

My question, and the thoughts that accompanied it, made me wonder… With all that I had recently learned, could it ALL be true? Were the gods of mythology real? Were the gods people currently worshipped real?

Oliver interrupted my thoughts when he suggested we pay a visit to the grocery store. I had to agree. My bunny-poop Pop-Tart had long worn off.

Chapter 3

My Boyfriend’s Ex

Going to the grocery store on an empty stomach is never a wise idea. Everything looked good! It didn’t help that the drive into town had been kind of a long one.

Oliver gathered organic salad items while I perused the fruit. Once we were finished in the produce section, we wandered the rest of the store, gathering snacks for me, and a few other items. I was scoping out the bubble bath and making Oliver smell them with me, telling him how I was so going to be spending time with that tub back at the cottage, when he suddenly tensed. He whispered something that I didn’t quite catch.

What did you say? I quietly asked. I looked up at him, slightly terrified. I knew that look in his eyes. What is it? I asked. I was afraid the angel might have found us. Would he make a public scene? Would he be friendly? Could we escape him?

Oliver’s eyes shifted past me to the end of the aisle. I followed his gaze. Heading toward us was a woman pushing a shopping cart. She did not appear threatening. Yet, I had noticed her in the produce section, and only because she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off of my boyfriend. I didn’t blame her. I had the same problem. Other than that, I didn’t think she looked familiar, or like I said, threatening.

I slyly eyed her a little more as she headed our way. Her eyes kept shifting to us, but she seemed to be trying not to look obvious about it. She was failing miserably.

My guess was that she was in her mid-thirties. She had curly blond hair that hit just past her shoulders, and she just looked like a regular person. Pretty normal, ordinary even. I didn’t foresee her as a threat, except for the fact her eyes were suddenly set on us, and she was getting closer.

I turned back to Oliver. He had pulled up the hood on his sweatshirt, and he was beginning to back away from me.

What’s wrong? I asked, keeping my voice low. He was starting to freak me out.

That’s my ex-girlfriend, he very quietly responded.

Uhh… I felt my face scrunch in several different ways. I imagine I looked fully confused and totally grossed out as I stared at him. Had Oliver gone trolling in his own age group before me?

From high school, Laney, he hissed, somewhat exasperated, most likely from my expression and the confused emotions he had caught from me. She can’t know I’m me! he whispered fiercely. He spun around and quickly walked away.

I stared after him, watching him hurry around the end of the aisle opposite his ex. Once he was out of sight, I slowly turned back toward the bubble bath section, desperately hoping this woman would not speak to me. I couldn’t imagine what she would say, or why she would say anything at all. To her, Oliver had died a long time ago. This was also a reminder to myself that Oliver was quite a bit older than he appeared, and that there were still many things I didn’t know about him. For example: the ex that was getting closer…

I twisted off the top to another bubble bath bottle. I held it to my nose, not registering its scent while I watched my boyfriend’s ex from my periphery as she pushed her half-loaded shopping cart closer to me and my own cart.

I twisted the cap back onto the bottle and placed it on the shelf as I waited for her to pass me. But she didn’t keep going. She stopped.

I glanced over my shoulder and quickly came to the realization that this woman was the same girl I had once, in a jealous fit, searched for on the Internet. My vampire boyfriend’s high school girlfriend, possibly even his first love, was standing just behind me.

I smiled a little, very uncomfortably, and turned back. I wondered where Oliver was, and if he was watching from some hidden spot.

I’m sorry to bother you, the woman said.

Her name suddenly popped into my head. Lacey. I remembered it only because it was way too close to my own name.

I turned again, looking at her cautiously. I plastered a fake small smile on my lips as I faced her.

She smiled at me. That man you were just talking to, what is his name?

I’m sorry? I responded, trying to buy myself some time to come up with a response to her question.

The man you were just speaking to, he looks like someone I once knew, she said with a small tremble in her voice.

All I could think of as a response was because he is, but I didn’t say it, of course. Oh, I began, well, we’re not from around here, I can’t imagine how you would know…my husband.

Okay, I may have gone a little far with the whole husband bit. Maybe it was a protective/jealous instinct that was way too strong in me. He was mine, after all, no matter that she had dated him first. Kissed him first… And who knows what else first…

If he hadn’t been changed into a vampire, would they still be together? Would they be married and have a family?

She glanced down at my hand, as if she was looking for a wedding ring. Her eyes quickly returned to mine when she found nothing. I mentally cursed myself while I struggled with my inner fit of jealousy.

This is actually our first trip to the coast, I added, desperately hoping she would let it go and move on.

Her smile faltered, leaving only the faint remains of itself behind. Like I said, she began, quietly, I’m sorry to have bothered you. He just looks so much like a friend of mine that I lost many years ago. There was nothing left of her smile when she finished her sentence.

I stared at her, trying to figure out what to say. The lines on her face were another reminder of Oliver’s real age, and the fact he looked nowhere near this woman’s age.

I’m sorry, I said. And I was. I felt bad for her. She probably thought she had seen the ghost of her dead high school boyfriend. In a way, she kind of had.

She forced another smile then continued down the aisle. I watched after her until she was gone. I felt sad for her, and also a little envious that she had gotten the chance to know my Oliver when he had been my age. Well, in this woman’s mind, he had actually never made it to my age.

Impressive, I heard Oliver quietly say from behind me. Also, an interesting twist. Your husband, huh? I could hear the amusement in his tone.

I figured he had been listening.

I smirked, felt my cheeks burn, and turned to face him. You hush it, I told him, an uncontrollable smile in place. Then I turned back to the cart so that we could finish our shopping.

Wait, Laney, Oliver said, grabbing my forearm to stop me. Here. He handed me some money and his car key. You pay. I’m going to stay out of sight. I’ll meet you at the car. He kissed my cheek, and with his hood still up, he shoved his hands into his front pockets and attempted to blend in with the crowd. Honestly, he looked suspicious, not inconspicuous. I shook my head and started for the registers.

As I was heading to the front, I heard my phone chime with a message. I stopped and pulled it from my back pocket. It was Oliver.

Don’t forget your bubble bath. Get the lavender, it was the least repulsive.

I chuckled, grabbed a bottle of the lavender bubble bath, and headed to the front of the store.

Lacey was in the next check-out lane over. I tried to avoid eye contact as we both finished up at the same time. I felt her eyes on me as I pushed my cart to the Challenger. I wondered if Oliver’s car was another giveaway. If she had known him as a teenager, she would know that his first car was also a Dodge Challenger, and that he loved that car. Possibly a little too much, in my opinion. Kind of like how he loved the black beast I was currently shoving groceries into. Boys and their toys.

Once I had finished loading the groceries into the trunk, I pushed the cart over to the return, and then I headed back to Oliver’s car. I saw Lacey a few aisles over. She was sitting in her minivan. She was watching me, and I was pretty sure she was waiting for Oliver to join me.

I slipped into the passenger seat and waited. Not long, though. He slid into the driver’s seat, and I handed him the key as he clicked his seatbelt into place.

She’s still watching us, I told him.

I know, he distractedly responded, his focus on his ex-girlfriend in the rearview mirror. She’s following us, he said as we pulled out of the parking lot. I’ll lose her on the freeway.

Have you considered letting her see you? Maybe let her have some closure by letting her know you’re okay? I couldn’t believe I was saying it. I mean, he’d once had feelings for this girl, and I was encouraging him to spend time with her. I gave myself a mental shake. That stuff didn’t matter anymore. He loved me.

He glanced at me for a quick second, then he returned his attention to the road ahead and to the rearview mirror. I thought I made her go crazy a few years back, he began. She showed up at the cemetery while I was there. She caught a glimpse of me and, well, she was positive it was me. She started telling people that she had seen me. Of course everyone she told thought she was insane. Felix intervened, but she somehow held onto the memory.

Do you think she still loves you? I questioned.

Not like that, Laney, he glanced over at me again, his dark, sunglassed-eyes meeting my own. "I think it’s like you said, a lack of closure. I agree that it might be good for her, but I can’t really tell her why I am still alive, right?"

I could see his point, but I still felt really bad for her.

We were friends long before we dated, he began again, and we didn’t actually date that long. I think she just misses her friend, he finished.

This new information made the whole situation even sadder.

We had been speeding down the freeway in silence for a while when Oliver said, She just took an off-ramp. We’re good. He reached for my hand and held it as we headed to the long, windy road which led back to the house. Some people just never let go of things, Laney. He sensed my concern. I have checked on her at different times of the year and she’s fine. It’s just this time of year, around the anniversary of my death, that she gets this way. He shrugged. There is really nothing more I can do.

It’s kind of sad, I said.

He nodded. Yeah, it is. But on the other hand, it’s also a relief to me that the worst thing to ever happen to her was losing me. She has had no other tragedy in her life.

I wonder what that’s like? I questioned under my breath.

You and me both. He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed the backs of my fingers. However, I would not have you if it weren’t for my tragic human end. He kissed my fingers again. I couldn’t help the smile that touched my lips.

After a few minutes, I asked, Did you love her?

He gently squeezed my hand. Laney, I didn’t even know what love was until I met you. He flashed me a breathtakingly, heart-achingly, perfect half-smile.

I felt myself melting. Good answer, I softly responded.

Chapter 4

The Setting Sun

I loved the front of the house. Well, I loved the entire house and everything about it, but the front, in the daylight, was just spectacular.

The pale yellow cottage had white scroll accents, and the wraparound porch was white with beautifully scrolled pillars. The path leading up to the front steps was lined with the prettiest little flowers, and lots of green and flowered foliage had been planted all along the front of the house and around the sides. The house sat upon a large lot; there was quite a distance to the next house, and tons of trees filled in the spaces between, making for excellent privacy.

After unloading the groceries, I grabbed a snack before we headed back down to the beach.

Once again, we tossed our shoes and socks and rolled up our jeans. We walked through the shallow parts of the waves as they lapped up onto the shore. We left footprints in the sand, and Oliver held my hand while he told me about life growing up in the area. He spoke of his baby sister, Olivia, more freely than he ever had back home. It made me wonder if being back in his native area made him feel closer to her.

I asked him if he would take me to his old neighborhood where his house used to be. He smiled big when he told me that he would love to. I wanted to know that part of him—the parts before he had been changed.

After a couple more hours in the sand, the sun was beginning to settle low on the horizon. Oliver piggybacked me up the slope and back to the house. We dropped our sandy shoes and socks on the back porch before heading inside.

I made us salads while Oliver jumped in the shower. He claimed the sand and saltwater irritated his skin if he didn’t wash it off right away. We couldn’t have that now, could we?

While waiting, I made myself a sandwich to go with my salad. Once Oliver was out of the shower, he helped me take our food out to a table on the back porch, and we watched as the sun began its breathtaking descent while we ate dinner.

After dinner, we snuggled in the hammock and watched the sunset. It was beautiful as the pink sky faded into the darkening night.

Once the stars were scattered across the sky, we stared up at them and just talked about whatever came to mind. You know, avoiding the giant elephant sitting beside us. I was not going to bring up anything about us bonding, and I didn’t think he was either. I mean, what would he say? So, you wanna go inside and bond now? Yeah, I didn’t think so. And I wasn’t about to ask the same stupid question.

At some point, I brought up the fact that I had skipped out on midterms, and that I would most likely be failing the classes I had left.

I can take care of that, Oliver said with a playful hint to his voice.

That’s not fair, Oliver.

Sure it is. Think of it as a perk to dating a geek. He winked and grinned at me.

I laughed, but this conversation was not over; it was only over for the moment. I would not let him fix my grades. It just wasn’t fair to others. Especially to Carter who worked so hard to keep his grades up. The thought made me wonder how he was doing. It also made me wonder if Zane, the angel, had caused any trouble, or was he too busy searching for me? An uncontrolled shiver ran through me. Oliver held me tighter.

What are you going to do about having your blood checked? I asked, suddenly remembering Oliver’s seventy-two-hour check-in.

I got an extension. I was originally assigned weekly blood testing, but I requested it be changed to every three days.

Why? I questioned, turning my gaze away from the sky to find his eyes already on me. My tummy dropped.

A lot can happen in a week, he said, his voice taking on a sultry tone that made my stomach drop even more.

A lot can happen in three days, I said back very quietly.

His eyes settled on my lips. A breeze suddenly picked up, sending a cold chill through me that made me think of the fancy bathtub just inside the house. I tried to escape his grasp so I could go take a bath, but Oliver was reluctant to let me leave the hammock. He tried to entice me to stay with kisses, which worked for a little while. That is, until I could no longer control my shivers. With a defeated grin, he released me and we headed inside.

While Oliver brushed his teeth, I ran the water in the tub, making sure that it was hot. I felt chilled to the bone and could not wait to soak in that tub.

I added the lavender bubble bath that I’d gotten from the store. I liked the way it smelled. It was mellow and relaxing. I could definitely stand to relax.

Once he was done brushing his teeth, Oliver trailed his hand along my spine while I was checking the water temperature once again. My body tingled at his touch. He then kissed me on the forehead before leaving the bathroom and closing the door behind him.

He had gotten me all worked up out on the hammock. Much like earlier in the morning before we had headed down to the beach. This made me wonder… Was he testing me, seeing if I would take things to the next level? Was he waiting for me to make that move? No pressure if he was… (Total sarcasm there if you didn’t catch that.) However, I was afraid I might keep chickening out. I wanted it to happen, I just didn’t want to make it happen. I just wanted it to happen. On its own. Spontaneously.

When the tub was full, I shut off the water. I pulled all of my hair up into a high ponytail, and I wrapped it into a messy bun around the band and added another to hold it in place. Then I stripped out of my clothes and carefully climbed into the large, claw-footed tub.

I slowly sank low in the tub. The hot water and mound of bubbles covered my body, and the temperature of the water quickly eased the chill from my bones while the smell of the bubbles eased my tension.

However, I did not relax for long. Thoughts of being bonded with Oliver were quick to fill my mind. I knew what was going to happen, and I knew it would happen soon. At least I thought I knew… How could it not happen? He does want it to happen now, too, doesn’t he? How could he not? He definitely wasn’t acting like he didn’t want it to happen.

Although…maybe that’s why he wasn’t taking anything any further. Maybe that’s why he kept stopping us when we would get to that point. Maybe Oliver wasn’t ready…

Or, maybe seeing his ex-girlfriend, his high school sweetheart, had put a damper on things… But the kisses in the hammock would suggest otherwise…

Or maybe I was making excuses because I wasn’t ready…

I sighed heavily. Tomorrow is another day. I would make it my mission to complete our bond. Tomorrow, it will happen tomorrow. Real spontaneous, huh?

Closing my eyes and resting my head back, I let my thoughts get caught up in the act of completing our bond, and how it might change us and our relationship…how others would know we had… But mostly, I thought about how amazing it was going to be, and how incredible it would feel to be connected to Oliver in more ways than one.

A light knock on the bathroom door pulled me out of my fantasy. Are you okay? Oliver asked through the closed door.

Yeah, I called back, my voice squeaking slightly. I wondered if he could feel the emotions I’d just been having. Did he know what I was thinking about? Could he feel it? Did he think I was doing something else in the tub if he could feel my emotions… Yeah, slightly embarrassing if that was the case.

I tried to relax again, but the water was cooling fast, and I didn’t want to refresh it. I wanted to be snuggled in Oliver’s arms.

I pulled the plug and quickly dried myself once I was out of the water. I pulled my hair free from its makeshift bun, then I put on my jammies.

As I brushed my teeth, I felt the warmth of the bath fading and the chill of the night creeping its way back in.

Opening the bathroom door, I found the room almost dark. Only the fire burning in the fireplace lit the room. Oliver was already in bed. He had an arm rested behind his head and he flashed me a faint smile.

Barefoot, and in nothing but thin pajama bottoms and a tank top, I hurry across the room and jumped into bed.

Oliver chuckled softly as I burrowed under the covers and cuddled next to him, trying to get warm.

How are you already cold again? he asked.

I don’t know, I said as I snuggled even closer, tightly wrapping my arms around his chest.

He hugged me to him; his strong arms making

Reviews for Cursed (The Brookehaven Vampires, Book 4)

[carolyn nowicki · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVED this ENTIRE series, all 3 (actually 4) books. My only regret is that there is not another book after Cursed. I really hope the Author continues this series. So much more can happen with regards to Laney, Oliver, and Friends. If this series is not continued, then I hope she writes a new series, very similar, to this one - similar meaning Vampire male / Human female romance, with a girl like Laney, a regular, average girl, since that is the way the majority of us are (I'm over 40 years old and I can still completely relate to Laney). I can see this series becoming a movie - it is similar to Twilight (which I am a HUGE fan of) but it is also different, and I can see it having the same following and hype that Twilight has. I highly recommend this series.