Teaseday - Excerpt from Masquerade (Vampires Realm Romance Series Book 10) - Felicity Heaton - Paranormal Romances with PassionFelicity Heaton

Today’s tease comes from the book Masquerade, which is the tenth book in my popular Vampires Realm romance series. Read on for this Tuesday’s tease…

Vivek nursed his flute of blood. It had gone cold thirty minutes ago, around the same time that he had finally managed to locate Sophis. She had disappeared after he had first set eyes on her and he had lost her in the crowd. When he had found her again, she had been with Lord Hyperionâ€™s group, held tight in the Validus vampireâ€™s arms as though he was protecting her from the temper of Lord Valentine. Vivek had taken a step forward, intent on tearing her away from Lord Hyperion, before he had got the better of himself. Hyperion could kill him with a single blow and Sophis was unlikely to thank him for his heroics.

Sophis had escaped the powerful vampireâ€™s grasp shortly after that and the man had said something to her that had changed her expression of anger to one that held a note of sorrow or loneliness. She had stood there alone for a few seconds before turning to watch the dancers with an edge of longing. Did she want to dance too?

She was dancing now, although she didnâ€™t seem to like her partner. Vivek was close enough to the edge of the dance floor that he recognised the man as the Chosen Son of the Nocens bloodline, a vampire of considerable age and power. Sophis was alluring as she spoke to the man, saying things that Vivek couldnâ€™t hear, and he wanted to dance with her too, wanted to cut in and claim her as his partner.

She looked so beautiful and elegant, turning on the dance floor, the long train of her scarlet dress caught up in one hand, revealing enough of her white stockings to make him ache to know how the soft fabric would feel under his fingers. The candlelight played on her hair, highlighting each curl pinned and tumbling from the back of her head with shimmering gold threads.

The music shifted and Vivek was so lost in watching her that he missed his cue. Sophis twirled out of the Nocen vampireâ€™s arms and into those of a tall man wearing black.

Vivek growled.

He knew that man. If he hadnâ€™t recognised him from the years that they had seen each other in this mansion, he would have known him from Sophisâ€™s reaction.

She dipped her head as the man spoke to her, a smile on his face and warmth in his ice-blue eyes, and she nodded, her mouth barely opening as she responded, as though she was too shy to speak loudly in his presence. They turned together in circles, Sophis allowing him to guide her and move near to her, letting him break proper etiquette by coming close enough that their bodies brushed with each step. The man spoke to her again and she didnâ€™t look him in the eye as she answered. Her reaction to him turned Vivekâ€™s stomach and made him feel as though this man had total power over her and she would do whatever he wished.

Her sire.

Why did he have to come back now? He had been away for decades, only speaking through letters to Sophis, telling her of his travels and experiences. He rarely returned for the balls when the Venia hosted them. Why now, when things between him and Sophis were so precarious?

Had she sent for him?

Had she told her sire about the things he had done to hurt her and her sire had come to see her?

Vivek couldnâ€™t bear it when the dark haired man touched her face, laying a gloved hand on her cheek, and ran it down to caress her jaw and lift her head. She didnâ€™t resist him. She raised her chin and then her eyes, looking straight into the manâ€™s, and Vivek snarled under his breath as the man leaned in and kissed her cheek. Sophis didnâ€™t push him away. She simply closed her eyes and accepted the brief brush of his mouth across her flesh, and remained with her head tilted up to him when he drew back. It took long seconds for her eyes to open again and she glanced away when he spoke, blushing without the flush of colour on her cheeks.

The crystal flute in Vivekâ€™s hand shattered under the pressure of his grip, causing several people nearby to start and turn towards him. He shook his hand, ridding his palm of fragments of glass and the cold blood, and stared at Sophis and her sire. She was smiling at the man, chatting animatedly to him now, but a shy edge still touched her masked face. Vivek clenched his fist again, felt the trickle of his own blood between his fingers, and fought for restraint and failed.

He wasnâ€™t going to stand around and let her sire sweep her away.

Did you enjoy today’s tease?

Caris Roane is also posting a Teaseday snippet, so be sure to check out her blog and read it!

Masquerade
F E Heaton
Ten years have passed since Sophis and Vivek, two vampires of the Venia bloodline, came close to death at the hands of twin hunters Aleksis and Izabella Romanov. The events of that night turned Sophis and Vivek against each other, shattering their close friendship and driving them apart.

Now, on the eve of a centenary Creator Day masquerade and at a time when things between them are dangerously close to separating them forever, they uncover a small army of vampire hunters in Saint Petersburg, led by their nemeses, Aleksis and Izabella.

With the safety of the rulers of the seven pure vampire bloodlines in their hands and their chance for vengeance hanging in the balance, can Sophis and Vivek face their past and overcome their differences? Will they realise their true feelings for each other before itâ€™s too late or will the hunters finally claim their lives as their deadly plot to destroy the bloodlines unfolds?

Available in e-book from:
Amazon Kindle | Amazon Kindle UK | Amazon Kindle Germany | Amazon Kindle France | Amazon Kindle Canada

Apple iBookstore US | Apple iBookstore UK | Apple iBookstore Australia | Apple iBookstore Canada | Apple iBookstore New Zealand

Barnes and Noble | Kobo Books | Sony Reader Store | Smashwords

Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Barnes and Noble

If you haven’t had a chance to read any of the books in the Vampires Realm romance series yet, they’re all available at major ebook retailers and some are available in paperback, and you can find the links and samples of the books at my website: