Cecy Robson - Cursed By Destiny

To have one person help me bring out my creativity and give it life is a tremendous blessing. To have an entire team available leaves me blessed beyond words.

First of all, many thanks to my editor, Elizabeth Bistrow, who not only jumped on the crazy train known as Cecy Robson, but boarded with a smile, and purchased a few extra tickets so Claire Zion and the staff of Penguin Random House could ride along. Thank you, everyone, for your participation in the book-birthing process. Another weird novel is born!

To the artists and model, I could have never imagined more beautiful covers. Thank you for your talents and collective vision for my world. You are amazing!

To my agent, Nicole Resciniti, who is more family than friend, and the person who fights fang and claw for me. Nic, thank you for always laughing at my jokeseven the bad onesand for caring with all of your being. I would be lost without your honesty, intelligence, and heart.

To my husband, Jamie: Babe, where would I be without your loving arms, your devilish grin, and your horrifically bad recaps of classic songs? Thank you for lifting me with your words of support and for laughing at me when I really need to be laughed at. Ill love you forever.

To Pat Cicci, a beautiful woman who gave life to one of my dearest friends, Marifran. Ill remember her gentle words and kind heart always. She laughed at my silly antics and sarcastic humor, mostly because she enjoyed the happiness that laughter brought her, and because she enjoyed life. Heaven has a new angel, one that will watch over her husband, Frank, her children and her grandchildren, and offer them hope and love in times when they need it most. May God bless her.

To my Weird Girls fans, thank you for your loyalty and for spreading the word about my series. Ill tell you this much: The best is yet to come!

Master Vampires Estate

Tahoe City, California

Are you ready, Celia?

Mishas voice was nothing more than a seductive whisper. It made me breathless. Yes.

His gray eyes wandered down my body. Are you sure you can handle it?

Yes.

All of it?

I shot him an exasperated look. Were no longer talking about the scrimmage, are we?

He let out a deep sigh. No, but perhaps we should continue.

Misha gave the order in the form of a subtle nod. Ten of his vampires attacked me, the thirst of the hunt shadowing their overly eager faces. It was hard not to rely on my claws. The vamps fought dirty, and they didnt hold back, but hell, neither did I. My body slid lithely across the hardwood floor of the dojang, just when two vamps tried to tackle me. They slammed into each otherhard, like two boulders colliding.

The moment I kipped up to my feet, three more advanced. I punched, kicked, and maneuvered my way around them. It was grueling and my animal instincts propelled me into overdrive. Yet my innate need to survive and the long months of extensive martial arts training paid off. The overly obnoxious and excessively tanned vampires dropped with a skull-pounding crunch against the hard floor while I continued to hold my own against the rest. It wasnt easy. Liz, Maria, Edith Anne, and Agnes Concepcin were especially vicious. For she-vamps who bounced around in Catholic school uniforms all day, they sure were a mean bunch.

Maria threw back her dark hair, her Brazilian accent thick and dripping with spite. Did you get an invitation to Aric and Barbaras wedding, little tigress?

That was low, even for Maria. Thats none of your business. She hadnt even hit me yet, but I knocked her out with an uppercut to the chin just for being a bitch.

Liz jumped over Marias body, pouting her perfectly plump bottom lip as she advanced with all the grace of a starving cheetah. Whats the matter, Celia? Are you mad that youre not good enough to marry that werewolf?

My hackles rose. Liz had hit a raw nerve. Mention Aric one more time and youll be gumming your next meal.

Liz smiled, peering down her nose at me. Aric. There. Now what?

Lizs fangs landed somewhere near Mishas feet. He rolled his eyes. An entranced maid silently appeared and swept the pointy canines into a pan.

Edith Anne crouched into an attack stance. Damn. Youre an angry little shit.

I growled at Edith, blocked her strike, and wrenched her arm behind her back. She hissed and snapped her fangs at me. I silenced her with an elbow to her temple. The sickening snap almost made me feel bad. Almost.

Maria stirred as she regained consciousness. I was still ticked at her for mentioning Arics wedding, so I knocked her out again with a kick to her face. My sudden bitterness overwhelmed me and made me lash out at two male vamps whod struggled to their feet.

My foot nailed the first vamp in the jaw, but his pal struck me across the face before I was able to plant both feet. I whirled in the air three times before crashing on my back. Crap. He leapt into the air with his fist reeled back. I rolled awayfast. He grunted upon impact, lodging his hand through the floor. My heel found the back of his neck before he could jerk his arm free. The pop of his vertebrae and limp form told me he wouldnt be getting up anytime soon.

I panted and spun around, swearing under my breath. The vamp could have easily busted my jaw. I knew it, and so did the next two vamps who rushed me.

I couldnt heal like weres, but damn it, I was just as strong and just a little faster. And unlike weres, I could shift underground and come up completely unscathed. I spat out some blood and used my resentment against the remaining opponents.

I held Agnes and Edith with my feet pressed against their throats, taking care not to protrude my back claws when they grabbed my ankles and tossed me. I flipped back and landed in a crouch. Maria regained consciousness again, and tackled me from behind. I yelped as fangs dug into my skin, piercing my flesh like sets of scorching needles. The scrimmage ended and the pain receded before I could tear the Prada-worshipping leeches off.

Edith and Agnes visibly shook as Misha laid into them. Celia belongs to me, he hissed. You are never to taste her.

I frowned. Im not yours.

The vamps ignored me. I didnt drink her blood, Master. I swear it, Edith Anne whimpered.

Agnes cowered at his feet. Neither did I, Master. Not even a lick.

I rubbed my face. The Catholic schoolgirls and I werent exactly buddies. In fact, we barely tolerated one another. That didnt mean, though, that I wanted them turned into clumps of dust. I strode to Mishas side and grasped his elbow, halting his tirade. Misha, its fine. They only bit me. On the shoulder and . . . I turned to look at my backside. Damn it, Edithyou bit my ass?

Edith shuffled back and forth, looking at her feet. Sorry, Celia. It was an accident.

Her wicked smile and flirty wink told me otherwise. Misha glared with the might of his master badassness. Leave now.

The so-called Prince of Darkness knew how to clear a room. There was a slight breeze and the whole lot of them vanishedas in hauled serious supernatural tail. I tried to leave, too, but Misha grabbed my hand. Wait. I must heal you.

The smoldering look Misha gave me told me exactly what he meant. Thats okaytheyre only puncture wounds. Ill see Emme tomorrow. Shell fix me right up.

Misha closed the distance between us. They left deep marks. You should not wait to tend to them.

Misha . . .

Chills spread through my body as Misha licked my shoulder to seal the wound. His tongue and breath warmed my skin. Misha had been around for over a hundred and forty years; hed had plenty of time to learn how to touch a woman. He continued on, even though the bites had closed after the first flick of his taste buds.