Two Vampire Kings: Ananboris Clan, #3

By Dakota Rebel

After five years together, my husband has gotten it into his head that there's something missing our lives. And while I'd be completely happy to get him some yappy little dog he could carry around in his purse, he's got his heart set on something a little more permanent…and much harder to obtain.

We still act and fight like children, so I'm not sure how he decided it was time for us to become parents. But not only did he make that decision, he's convinced me that it would be a good idea as well.

Does anyone know where two vampire kings can get their hands on a baby?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dakota Rebel
• Release date: Dec 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223504214

Book preview

Two Vampire Kings

Anaboris Clan Series

Book Three

By Dakota Rebel

Two Vampire Kings

by

Dakota Rebel

After five years together, my husband has gotten it into his head that there’s something missing our lives. And while I’d be completely happy to get him some yappy little dog he could carry around in his purse, he’s got his heart set on something a little more permanent…and much harder to obtain.

We still act and fight like children, so I’m not sure how he decided it was time for us to become parents. But not only did he make that decision, he’s convinced me that it would be a good idea as well.

Does anyone know where two vampire kings can get their hands on a baby?

Copyright

© 2023, Dakota Rebel

Two Vampire Kings

Published by: Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

Wanna hang out?

NEWSLETTER -

I know, every author in the world wants you on their newsletter. And I do, too. I send them every Sunday and they are mostly just funny little dives into my life. Plus, if you sign up I’ll send you a totally free book.

BOOKBUB –

If you just want to know when I have a new book out, this would be the easiest way to get alerts.

JOIN THE SQUAD –

If you really, really like me and want to legit hang out with me, come on over to the Rebel Squad on Facebook. I’m in there way more often than I should be, but we have a really great time. Lots of dirty memes, sneak previews and cover reveals. Plus, when I want input on what to write next, or what to include in a book, that’s where I go. So come on in! We’d love to have you.

Chapter One

Ethan, you stupid fuck, where the hell—

And good evening to you as well, a woman interrupted from behind me, her tone thick with humor.

I turned around to see my mother-in-law, Tara Connor, Vampire Queen of Chicago, standing in my kitchen, clearly fighting a smile as she bounced her two-year-old daughter, Lila, on her hip.

Ma’am, I stammered, feeling heat creep up my throat. I apologize. I thought you were my husband.

So I gathered. She stepped toward me and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. I’m not sure if I should be happy or disappointed that the two of you have not changed at all in the last few years.

At this point it’s doubtful we ever will, I assured her. And as strange as it seems, that was a term of endearment.

Clearly. She shook her head but finally let the grin spread over her beautiful face.

Lila held her pudgy hands toward me, making grasping motions with her fingers until I pulled her from her mother’s arms and snuggled her into my chest.

Heya, Brat, I whispered, nuzzling my nose against her cheek. Did you miss me?

Tara blew out a sigh but didn’t put actual voice to her displeasure at my nickname for her daughter. Having just had the conversation, I suppose she figured it was pointless to argue about how I speak to the people I care about.

Where is your husband? Tara asked.

I’m not sure, I admitted. Probably still preening. You know he likes to make himself pretty for dinner.

Tara raked her gaze over me, and her bemused smile returned.

Hey, the shirt is clean, I said feebly.

The truth was, I hadn’t been expecting Ethan’s parents for another hour, and I’d come downstairs to start dinner and had planned to shower and change before they arrived.

Well, I’m afraid we have to cancel dinner tonight, Tara said. I know it’s short notice, but some old friends happen to be in town tonight and I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if we rescheduled with you for next week.

That’s no trouble at all, I assured her, excited as an idea hit me. Why don’t you let us keep Lila while you and Jafir go out?

Oh, she said, shaking her head. That’s not…you don’t have to do that.

We’d love to, I insisted.

What would we love to do? Ethan asked, thundering down the stairs and bouncing into the kitchen.

Keep Lila with us while your parents went out to dinner with their friends, I said.

The moment Lila saw her brother, she started squirming and reaching for him, so I handed her over before she wiggled out of my arms. I figured if Tara saw me drop her youngest child, she’d probably never let me hold the baby again, let alone watch her unsupervised.

Oh hell yeah! Ethan said, raising Lila up and blowing a raspberry against his sister’s belly. We’ll eat candy and drink soda and watch scary movies.

What’s going on in here? Jafir asked, joining us in the kitchen. Tara, we really must be going. You boys don’t mind, do you?

Not at all, I assured him.

Of course not, Ethan agreed. You two have fun. Get a room downtown, make a night of it. Or you can always stay at your old place, we keep it cleaned for you. You can swing by after sunset tomorrow and grab Lila on your way home.

Wait… Jafir looked from his wife to me to Ethan then back again. What just happened?

The boys are going watch Lila tonight, Tara said. Her tone was firm, but I could see her face fighting a wince as she said it. And you’re right, dear. We really should be going. She turned back to Ethan. Lila’s bag is by the door. Her bedtime is three. Do not let her stay up until sunrise or she will be an absolute demon for us tomorrow night.

Not really an argument in your favor, Ethan teased. Go. Don’t worry. I can handle my baby sister for a few hours. Seriously. Get out of my house.

To her credit, Tara only turned back to look at us four times on our way to the front door. And once she and Jafir left, they didn’t come rushing back in to change their minds.

I’m not sure how you managed that, Ethan said once they were gone. But this is going to be great.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what had possessed me to offer. I mean, I adored Ethan’s sister, but neither of us had any real experience with babies or small children.

Well, I suppose we should figure out dinner, I said. Lila, are you hungry?

Juice, she said, wriggling madly in Ethan’s arms until he set her down on the kitchen floor.

She toddled over to the fridge and pulled it open, staring up at the mostly empty shelves.

We didn’t eat a lot of human food, but there was a tray of chicken marinating on the top shelf, which we’d planned to cook for dinner that night, some condiments in the door, two dozen beers and a box of O-Negative bags chilling on the bottom shelf.

How about I run out and grab some juice and a pizza? I offered. Will you be okay alone with her for a few minutes?

What, like your infinite knowledge of childcare was the only hope of keeping her alive tonight? Ethan rolled his eyes at me. Yeah, go. We’ll be fine.

Alright, I’ll be right back. I grabbed my keys from the hook and headed toward the door. Love you.

Love you, too! Ethan called out.

I was talking to Lila, I assured him, heading outside before he could shout a comeback at me.

Obviously, I loved Ethan more than all reason could possibly dictate. But it was important to keep him humble.

****

When I got back with the food, I found Ethan and Lila snuggled on the sofa, each drinking from a plastic sippy cup, watching a cartoon together.

That’s almost adorable, I said, leaning on the door frame and staring at them.

Hungry! Lila shouted when she saw the box in my hand.

She sounds just like you, I said, winking at my husband. Completely capable of full sentences but preferring to grunt like a caveman. Must run in the family.

Yeah, we get it from my father, Ethan assured me. Come on, monster. Let’s get some pizza.

We all sat at the kitchen table together and I watched in awe as Lila demolished three pieces of pizza and guzzled down four glasses of apple juice.

Should she be eating all of that? I asked.

It’s fine, Ethan answered with a shrug. She’s a growing girl.

A growing vampire girl, I reminded him. I can’t even eat that much normal food. If she throws up that’s your problem.

She’s not going to throw up. He sounded sure of himself, but I caught him looking at Lila with concern etched on his face. But that’s probably enough for the night.

Can we watch more cartoons? Lila asked, blinking wide, blue eyes up at her brother.

Go on, I said, motioning toward the living room. I’ll clean up and meet you in there in a few minutes.

Ethan scooped up his sister and carried her out of the kitchen and I felt a smile tugging at my lips as I watched them go. He looked pretty damned good with a kid in his arms.

It only took a few minutes to take care of the dishes, so the movie they’d chosen was just starting when I settled in next to Lila on the sofa. She scooted closer to me and leaned against my side as I draped my arm over the back of the couch, my hand resting on Ethan’s shoulder.

It was very domestic and sweet. Which were two things that Ethan and I didn’t normally experience together. But it was nice.

It only took about fifteen minutes before I was mind numbingly bored and wondering when the nonsense movie about a giant dog and her idiot owners would be over.

When I looked over at Ethan again, he seemed completely engrossed in the story, and I couldn’t have been less surprised. I fought a sigh and turned back to the movie. It wasn’t for me anyway, it was for Lila. And since it had been my idea to keep her for the night, I could suffer the boredom in silence.

Jesus, Jamie, Ethan said after another couple minutes, his tone disgusted. You could say excuse me.

What? I looked at him in total confusion…until the smell hit me. Ugh. That wasn’t me. Isn’t your sister potty trained?

No, she’s two. Ethan huffed out a breath and stood up. Grab the diaper bag for me please?

I stood up as well and went to the hall for Lila’s bag. When I came back, Ethan had laid Lila on the floor and was pulling her pants down.

Put a blanket down or something, I snapped. It’s white carpet.

Well, I wasn’t going to wipe her ass on it. Besides, we’ve been looking for an excuse to get rid of this rug for months. Ethan shot back. Give me that. He reached up and snatched the bag from my hand, rummaging through it until he found a blanket, wipes and a diaper.

Do you even know how to do that? I asked him, wrinkling my nose as the smell seemed to get stronger.

I can figure it out, he assured me as he spread the blanket down and moved his sister on top of it. You just grab these little tab things and open them, then slide this—

Whoa! we yelled together as we stared down at the mess Lila had made in her pants.

Okay, maybe a bath, Ethan suggested before dry heaving. Yeah. He redid Lila’s diaper and carried her with his hands in her armpits, his arms extended out in front of him.

I rushed around them into the bathroom and started the water while he laid her on the linoleum and removed the diaper again. He grabbed a washcloth and wiped her as clean as he could, then threw everything into the trash while I removed the rest of the girl’s clothes then plopped her into the lukewarm water.

You okay if I run this out? Ethan asked, holding up the bathroom trash bag he’d tied up.

Yeah, we’re good, I assured him.

He left and I grabbed another washcloth, getting it wet before gently rubbing it over Lila’s skin.

That was gross, little girl,