A Gift of Daybreak

Copyright © Stella and Audra Price, 2009 All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Total-E-Bound.

Excerpt From: A Gift of Daybreak

Andy managed to keep the sneer off his face until he left the room the wedding had taken place in. What a sham it’d been and only because the little viper had gotten herself pregnant. A rush job for the sake of propriety. Not that Reece had any sense of propriety and surely the little viper whore didn’t have any, either. Why his cousin had to live dangerously, let alone why he had to make Andy go to Vegas for the damn thing, Andy would never know. The place was so hot. Andy might be a snake, but he liked cooler more temperate temperatures. Of course, he could have made his excuses and turned down the invite, but he’d accepted for some reason unknown to him.

Truth was, Andy was growing bored. Maybe it was that his cousins were now mated and had children or maybe he was just getting to that age. He needed something new in his life. Certainly not a mate or child but something different, perhaps he needed a new yacht. He considered the idea as he walked the halls to his room. Knowing Remy and Reece’s penchant for practical jokes and their drive to make him the butt of every one, he’d requested to be put as far away from them as possible. He was an easy target for them, seeing himself as above such childish pranks.

He’d been glad of the decision to move after seeing the colour of Reece’s hair for the wedding. Dye in his hair gel apparently did wonders. Normally a dark blonde, it’d been coloured into a stunning purple, a colour that didn’t go with his seething face. He did match rather well with Remy who’d been dressed up as Elvis for the occasion. For a moment, Andy had almost felt sorry for their mates, but the girls didn’t seem to mind.

Maybe, I shouldn’t go back down at all, he thought to himself as he fetched his key card from his wallet. It had been a mistake to go into Vegas in the first place. It was full of crime and sleaze. All one had to do was watch the TV to discover that.

He’d just pack his bags and leave, his cousins wouldn’t miss him. He’d already shown face, and the boys would no doubt figure that he’d gotten lucky. That was only if they don’t think too carefully about it, and Andy had never accused his cousins of thinking.

He slipped the card into the lock, opening the door and ready to pack his case. Stopping short, he caught a whiff of scent from his room. There was a female inside. Groaning inwardly at Reece and Remy, he opened the door carefully, scared of what he’d find. He wouldn’t touch a woman from Las Vegas with Reece’s cock, let alone a ten foot pole.

A stately woman dressed in a green safari dress with her hair done up in a multicoloured turban and wearing large, tortoiseshell glasses that spanned above and below her eyes sat in the centre of the room. She was the colour of light coffee, with large berry-coloured lips, and her hands, adorned only with a large diamond ring, sat in her lap.

This was no hooker.

She uncrossed her legs and sat up a little more. “And a good morning to you, Mr. Derrell.” she said in a soft voice, thick with a Mexican accent.

“If your here for turning down service, I’ll pass. Leave the mint on the pillow,” he quipped lightly, leaning against the wall. This woman, whoever she was, was Ophidian, a weresnake, just like him, and she was very unwelcome.

“Your attempts at levity are dry and rather uncalled for,” she said and took off her glasses. She blinked large, almond-shaped, green eyes at him. “And such flip from a snake who grew up in the system… I would have thought Archon Rizdon would have taught you better.”

He felt his eyes narrow. “True she did, but she also taught me manners. One does not simply encroach into another’s territory without permission. I’m staying in this room for however long that may be. Bad form to break into another’s room.”

“You speak about territory when you’re actually in mine.” She stood and went to the window. “I came here for a quiet chat and you feel the need to challenge an Archon?” She shook her head.

“Archon?” he blinked, mentally chastising himself. “Of course, I meant no disrespect. I would be a fool to offer any such challenge, and I assure you I’m not a fool.” He stepped away keeping more of a distance. If this was indeed her territory then she could be only one woman. Olivia. A viper in every respect and a most dangerous woman. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? The happy couple is downstairs, if you wish to offer them your congratulations.”

“And I already have. My mate is conveying my felicitations. I am here to speak to you.”

“Excellent.” The word sounded forced even to him.