Free (Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips by Gerry Bartlett Page A

hundreds of years of sizing up people by the pint, I didn’t know how to act. So I stuffed my face with food. Next came a raspberry tart. I tried to slow down and take dainty bites, but it was just too delicious. When I reached for another one, Mars had waited long enough.
    “Can we get to the point?” He slammed down his coffee cup. An empty plate sat in front of him. Obviously he’d finished his breakfast and that was all he cared about.
    “And that point is?” I blotted my lips with a snowy napkin. I hadn’t been so greedy that I’d forgotten to be careful not to spill on my dress.
    “You know the point, Gloriana. You are staying here and we’re arranging a proper marriage for you. You’re certainly not marrying that fanged monster on Earth!” Mars slapped the table and the silverware rattled.
    “Over my dead body.” I jumped to my feet. Would he strike me dead? No. But he could freeze me in place, hurt me. Let him. I wasn’t going to marry anyone but Jerry. I showed him that in my eyes.
    “Stubborn wench.” He’d jumped to his feet too and I could see his frustration in his scowl and fisted hands. “It’s for your own benefit. There are many worthy warriors up here and a good alliance can protect you.”
    “Sit down, both of you.” My mother calmly drank her tea. “This argument is going nowhere, I can see that. You are both too stubborn.”
    I sat but leaned forward. “Who do you think has protected me since 1604? Jeremiah Campbell.” Tears filled my eyes and ran down my cheeks. “The man rescued me from poverty, loved me, kept me from danger and even paid for bodyguards when we took breaks from each other.” Hearing it laid out like that made me even more determined to fight them and fight for Jerry.
    Mars settled back in his chair and the wood creaked under his weight. He was a big man and, even without his armor, strained the delicate furniture that someone had used to fill my sitting room. He was obviously thinking about what I’d said.
    “That’s all very well, Gloriana. But here you are not a vampire. You are our daughter. A goddess in your own right and from the house of Zeus. There are many gods who would be honored to call you wife.” My mother set down her porcelain cup. “Mars and I would let you choose from among them, of course. A man who would be kind and lusty enough to keep you happy. Give you children!” She leaned forward and clasped my hand before I could stop her. “Can your vampire do that? Give you children?” She stared until I had to look away. “Of course not.” She released me and sat back then nodded at Mars. He took up the argument.
    “Listen to your mother, Gloriana. This is important. Zeus may take the matter out of our hands, of course.” He toyed with a knife at his belt. He wore a leather outfit suitable for a soldier, not a toga, but from an ancient time. “Hebe, I remember this man Gloriana is so fond of. He threw himself in front of her once when she was in danger. He calls himself Blade.”
    “Yes!” I grabbed my father’s arm. Could he be coming around to my way of thinking? “He goes by Jeremy Blade now. Because he’s handy with a knife. I’ve seen him hit a target dead center from yards away. You would enjoy getting to know him better, Dad.  I know you would. He’s a warrior like you are and has been in many battles. He’s the bravest man I know and a leader. Just like you are, Dad.” I dropped in the “D” word again, hoping to tease a little fatherly feeling from him. Whatever that meant up here.
    “Not just like Mars, Gloriana. Not even close. He’s not a god.” Mother frowned, obviously not happy with me.
    “One more reason that I love him.” I lifted my chin. “My dealings with gods haven’t exactly made me trust them, have they?” I didn’t care if I made these two mad. What else could they do to me? When would I learn not to think like that?
    My mother went from irritated to furious in a blink of an eye.