First Bite: The Black Fan, #0.5

By Laura Greenwood

A young vampire searches for love, even if it isn't something she can have.

Constrained by the strict rules of vampire society, all Catherine can think of is falling in love.
When a charming noble asks her dance, all of her dreams start to come true. But as the daughter of a noble, Catherine has her duty to follow.
Can she follow her heart?
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First Bite is part of The Black Fan, a paranormal romance series including vampires and a dystopian setting. It is a prequel to Bite Of The Past.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drowlgon Press
• Release date: Mar 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393010494

Laura Greenwood

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between. You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in The Paranormal Council Facebook Group. Happy Reading!

Book preview

Chapter One

I twirl around, my dress fanning out behind me and spinning in a way that fills my heart with joy.

Catherine? Are you ready? Mother calls.

Yes. I stop spinning and stumble a little to the side. I press my hand to my temple, trying to chase away the dizzy feeling. Perhaps twirling isn't the best idea.

We'll be late if you don't hurry.

Oops. I don't want to be late. I almost run from the room, before reminding myself that proper ladies don't behave that way. I have to remember that as of tonight, I'm no longer deemed a child by vampire society.

I straighten my shoulders and calm my stride, recalling what my tutors taught me. I have to take small steps, never run, and always speak softly for fear of...well, I'm not too sure what it's in fear of. Perhaps they think no one will want to marry me, but I find that difficult to believe. Not when I'm from the family I am. No one would want to disrespect Father that way.

Mother sucks in a breath as I enter the room, and I'm certain her eyes are shining with tears. I do the ladylike thing, and don't mention it.

You look beautiful, Catherine, she says.

A beaming smile stretches over my face. Do you think I'll do? I resist the urge to twirl in front of her and show off my gown. She helped me pick it, she knows what it looks like.

All the attention will be on you, she assures me.

I let a small laugh escape, carefully measuring it so the perfect amount of enjoyment shows. This doing things the way society likes thing is going to get old very quickly. I don't think I can cope with all the fake airs and graces for much longer.

I doubt that, there'll be all the other girls there too, I point out.

None of them have your station. You're lucky the King's daughter isn't being presented this year.

I grimace thinking about Elizabeth in all her stuck up glory. She's a princess in snobbery as well as in title. Though it means nothing. The human monarchy is the only one that matters in the country. The vampires only have a King from habit. The line stopped having any kind of power decades ago.

No one likes her anyway, I mutter.

That doesn't mean anything when she's the princess. She'll be a good wife to any of the eligible young men, she cautions me.

I clasp my hands together behind my back and bite my lip to stop me from saying anything about the princess' eligibility as a wife. If anyone asks me, I'll have to tell them that I think she'll be appalling. Though I suppose if one of the so-called eligible men wants to be King, then it's a good way to get that power. I don't think anyone is going to accept Elizabeth ruling on her own.

A knock sounds at the door, making us both jump.

I go to answer it, more from habit than anything else.

Mother cuts me off with a wave of her hand. Oh, right. This is my night, I'm supposed to let everyone wait on me. That's going to take some getting used to considering I'm the youngest child and always the one expected to do things for everyone else.

I stand perfectly still as Mother makes her way over and pulls the door open. Father stands on the other side, dressed in his best Court clothing.

Catherine, Matilda. He nods to each of us as he says our names.

I dip into a formal curtsy. He won't accept any