Chapter 1

I don't think I breathed all the way to the North Harbour. Naturally, Edgy had landed his plane – and my mum – on the bloody North Harbour. Where else would she be, but death harbour? In a way, it seemed oddly appropriate.

Mum isn'tthat bad, I told myself firmly. She's particular but not murderous – unless you ate her last pickled egg, then admittedly you'd take your life in your hands.

As we approached the harbour of death, I could already see the one-armed pilot. Next to him was another man. It wasn't my father pulling a surprise trip – as if! – but nevertheless I recognised him and my tummy roiled. It was John, the vampire who'd been instrumental in my escape to Alaska. I owed him everything but as I looked at him, his shoulders bowed, I felt a measure of trepidation. John had helped me but first he'd betrayed me. Which John was I getting today?

Don't judge a man by his first action but by his final one, I told myself, and stiffened my spine. John had betrayed me but he'd saved me in the end, to his own detriment. He was controlled – owned – by my father's business partner, Octavius the Vampire King of Europe. Octavius had something over John that was so strong he couldn't do anything but work for that arsehole.

The vampire king was adept at all sorts of dark arts, including blackmail. No matter what John had done for me, he still marched to the king's tune. I would greet him warmly and keep one eye on him at all times.

He and Edgy were unloading a truly monstrous amount of luggage off the pint-sized plane. I turned to Connor, eyes wide; we'd have to make at least three trips in his sports car to get that lot to my house. Connor had reached the same conclusion and he pulled out his phone. ‘Get a Suburban to the North Harbour, stat.' He hung up.

I looked around nervously for my mother. I doubted she'd be in a good mood after a ride on a small, worn-out plane. I couldn't see past Edgy, John and the tower of luggage … but then I heard her voice over the crash of the surf, her tone both imperious and saccharine sweet. Hearing her overly dulcet tones made me wince.

I looked around, weighing up how mad she'd be if I ran away. Or maybe I could push her into the harbour and hope the water dragon ate her. Everything in me screamed to get her far away from here. Portlock was my new home and I loved it. She was going to criticise everything, look down her sharp, pointed nose at all the rough edges of the life I'd built there.

‘Easy,' Connor murmured, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘You've got this,' he continued, letting his hand fall away.

No, I hadn't; I was so far from having this.

‘Mr Pilot, you've forgotten to retrieve my darling! Now that you've seen to your … plane … you must fetch my Arabella! Go along now.' Her tone when she said ‘plane' made it very clear that she thought the small aircraft barely qualified for the moniker. Edgy rolled his eyes but did as she bade him and hurried back to retrieve the dog.

I finally saw my mother. She was wearing a silk dress, kitten heels, a full face of makeup and carrying a garish handbag over her arm. She was standing with pinched lips glaring into the plane.

I could already hear her little beast yapping. I'd met many a lovely Pomeranian but Arabella was not one of them. Where others in her breed were soft, fluffy and cute, she was the spawn of the devil. She sensed that I was her rival for Mum's affection and she loved to piss all over me. Literally.

Maybe I could convince Fluffy to eat her. I smiled: that'd work. Heck, Arabella was so small that Shadow could probably eat her. Cats were less picky; Shadow could definitely get the job done.

‘What is that look on your face for? Whatever it is, I like it.' Connor laced his fingers through mine and my anxiety levels dropped instantly; something about him was so reassuring. I smiled up at him and answered honestly, ‘I'm plotting her dog's death.'

He laughed. ‘I didn't expect that answer. You're a dog person.'

‘I am, but Arabella isn't a dog. She's the spawn of Satan.'

‘Ah, that explains it.' He smiled indulgently. Connor MacKenzie was the only thing in my life that Mum would approve of. He was handsome, accomplished and kind, not to mention the son of a vampire king. That thought soured my mood. Mum would approve of Connor. Ugh. It made me want to dump him on the spot.

Luckily, he chose that moment to give me my favourite smile and the madness faded. I'd walked out on Connor once before and I wasn't making the same mistake again even if Mum did like him. Connor and I were a team.

I rolled the tension out of my shoulders. Edgy had let Arabella out. The little beast piddled on the dock – better than on me – and Mum praised her lavishly. Yeah, yeah, praise her for breathing, but praise me? Never. I tried not to let the bitterness show on my face and pushed it deep down into the little box where it lived.

Mum picked up the fluffball, tucked it under her arm and headed towards me. I blew out a breath. Here we go.

She minced down the dock to where we were waiting by her gargantuan pile of luggage. ‘Oh darling! I've missed you!' She air-kissed me on both cheeks using Arabella as an excuse not to get close enough to touch me. I looked at the dog; Mum had painted its nails a horrific shade of fuchsia.

She took a step back and looked me up and down. ‘Elizabeth, darling!' Her lips twisted in a moue of distaste. ‘What on earth are you wearing?'

Fuck my life.

‘Hi, Mum,' I mumbled. I was wearing my best XtraTuf black boots folded down to show their blue, white and red seascape lining. I'd left my uglier brown work boots at home. I had on a cheery bright-blue rain jacket over my best jeans, and a nice top even she'd approve of – if she could see it. I was wearing what I was comfortable in, and she could take a long walk off a short pier. I tightened my hold on Connor's hand.

Right. Connor. Introductions. I had to remember my manners. I chuckled wickedly to myself and turned to him. ‘Connor, I'd like you to meet my mother, Victoria Barrington. Mum, I'd like to introduce you to Connor MacKenzie.'

My mother's smile had become fixed. In polite society you always introduced the highest-ranking person to the lowest ranking person, but I had introduced Connor to my mother not the other way around. Her pursed lips told me she understood the slur. Heh, heh, heh.

‘Connor is the local vampire leader and my…' I thought about it. In reality we were mates, fated mates, but even though Mum knew about the existence of magic she was as ped as they come. ‘Boyfriend,' I finished lamely.

Connor didn't bat an eyelid. ‘Pleased to meet you, Mrs Barrington,' he said graciously and held out his hand.

Mum tapped a finger on her cheek and snubbed his offer to shake, probably because I'd pissed her off with my introduction thing. Whoops. She frowned. ‘MacKenzie? That name sounds awfully familiar. Do you have relatives in England?' She smiled too politely.

Connor dropped his hand. ‘Scotland,' he replied. He didn't bring up his father, so neither did I. ‘I'll help with the luggage,' he offered. He picked up several bags and started to haul them along the dock.

Edgy looked relieved to have some help. John helped too and between them they made short work of the pile. I watched John: was he planning to stay with me as well? I only had two bedrooms and offering him the sofa didn't seem fair.

‘Umm, Mum, is John staying with us?' I asked. ‘I don't have a very large place.'

‘Don't be silly, darling. The vampires have arranged a place for him.' She waved her hand in the air like it was sorted.

I frowned. Connor hadn't mentioned anything; I'd have to ask him about it. ‘Connor will give us a ride home, and then I guess he or his men will come back for the rest of your luggage.'

No doubt Lee Margrave would show up with that big SUV that Connor had summoned and collect the remaining bags. Anyone would think my mother was moving in, not coming for a month: she must have packed the kitchen sink. She was going to be very disappointed with the limited space she'd have at mine.

Maybe I should give the house to Mum and John and stay with Connor? The idea made me brighten, then I looked at my mother and sighed. She'd make my life miserable if I did that. More than miserable.

Mum's small, practical heels weren't practical enough for the climb. The tide was out and the incline, which wasn't much when the tide was high, was pretty damn steep. I offered her my arm but naturally she refused it; she was too proud to admit that my ugly boots were the better choice. To add insult to injury, the heavens burst and it started pouring with rain. I flipped my hood over my head but I didn't have an umbrella to offer her. Mother powered on to the car through the deluge, and I felt her disapproval of everything around her like a flame burning next to me.

Well, so what? She could take her disapproval and shove it where the sun didn't shine.