Page 5 of I Dated a Golden Vampire (Blind Date Corporation #21)

P ria got the call on the ship. “Hey, Zera. It’s been a while.”

“Y es, I know. Pria, are you actually on the cruise vessel near Golden Pearl Casino? ”

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“ Long story, but a BDC escort was hired for the night, and now her patron doesn’t want to let her go. Can you do a retrieval for me? ”

Pria checked the time. “We have a few hours before the ship sails. Sure. I am already in my swimwear. Give me her details, and I will bring her back to the ship and defend her against the lord of the island.”

She got up, put her wrap on, summoned some water, and let it carry her over to the casino, using the expensive entrance.

It was six in the morning, so only security was there to watch her walk into the casino, and there was a lot of shouting, but it was hard to hear through the dense layer of water that protected her.

The signal Zera had sent her led through a number of gates, and she used the water to subdue and disable the guards around her.

The bedroom door opened with a flick of water, and she saw a very nervous woman in an evening dress sitting across the table from the golden vampire who owned the island.

She blocked the door and spoke. “Lord Denog, you are detaining an escort in good standing with the BDC. I am here to retrieve her.”

“Who are you?”

“Currently, I am the retrieval specialist sent to bring Cabree back to her ship so she can continue her travels. She needs her freedom.”

He got to his feet and approached her menacingly. “And who are you to say what she needs?”

She looked at him. “I am Waterdance. I have been dead once already, and bullies don’t scare me. If you want to drown in your own body, keep walking.”

Cabree got up and made her way to Pria’s side. Pria asked, “You are well?”

“Yes. I just started seeing the world. I don’t want it to stop yet.”

Pria nodded. She looked to Lord Denog. “Come here for a moment.”

He scowled but stalked toward her.

She rose up on a pillar of water and whispered directions to him. “Take it or leave it, but it is a better way.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

He walked to Cabree, leaned in, and kissed her cheek. “I am sorry I made you uncomfortable. I will consider my actions.”

“Can you call off your guards so they let us out?”

He nodded and picked up a handset. He gave the order, and Pria and Cabree walked arm in arm out the door and into the hall, past a lot of damp and angry guards.

Cabree said, “I can’t believe Waterdance was on the cruise.”

“I haven’t been Waterdance for years. Not since the tsunami.”

“I saw the videos. I am shocked you survived.”

“I didn’t. I had to be restarted a few times.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“No one in the public did. My neck was broken. It wasn’t until a superfan let his girlfriend know that I was paralyzed, and she provided me with healing.”

“Who?”

“Salat and Khytten. Salat had drawn a comic with me in it five years ago.”

“Oh, wow. When did you recover?”

They walked outside, and Pria wrapped her arm around Cabree, lifting her through the air and back onto the cruise ship. “I was repaired six months ago. I just learned to walk again, and if any of those guys had landed a punch, I would have been down for the count.”

“Oh, shit. But you have water control.”

“Yes. I do. I still can’t breathe underwater, but I can dance on it.” Pria smiled. “Did you want an escort to your quarters?”

“Yes, please. He was so nice, but then I started getting a weird feeling.”

“That was when he was deciding to keep you.”

“Oh, that would do it. That was when I started thinking of him as threatening.”

“He’s nearly seven feet tall and three hundred fifty pounds of muscle and fangs. He’s an excellent example of an active.”

“He is very pretty. What did you say to him?”

“Oh, if he wanted to court you, he could follow our itinerary, book you for dates on the islands we visit, and get you to consider life with him.”

“How did you know?”

“Zera gave me your stats. I know trust and pleasure when I read it.”

“Oh. This is my room.”

“Then, have a good trip. It’s a nice ship.”

“Wait, where are your quarters?”

“Mid-ship. I can’t afford much. I was still in my apprenticeship when I had the accident. The medical treatments took the rest of the money. It was a good thing Zera called me today. I leave the day after tomorrow to head home.”

Cabree blinked. “Why?”

“Because that is all I could book. Have a nice day. Get some rest.” She nodded. “If you need me again, contact Zera.”

“Waterdance?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” Pria nodded and left, heading back to the crowded buffet so she could find some food she was willing to deal with later.

* * * *

C abree unlocked her computer, looked up Waterdance’s file, and gasped. She was right. Her finances were trashed, but she had booked seven days on the cruise in the cheapest room available. No extras and a minimal food package.

Cabree contacted the concierge and made some arrangements.

Zera called as soon as the line was free. “ Cabree, are you all right? ”

“Yes. I am fine. He just decided he wanted to keep me, and I wasn’t certain what that would entail. Thanks for sending Waterdance.”

“ Pria. She isn’t Waterdance anymore. She managed? ”

“She managed and suggested to Denog that if he wanted to see me again, he could book me on the layovers in the islands.”

Zera blinked. “ Isn’t she clever?”

“She really is. I am upgrading her and asking her if she wants to stay with me for the full cruise.”

“Right, well, as regards your escort status, Lord Denog gave you a glowing review and a hefty bonus.”

There was a knock on her door, and she got up and walked over, seeing Pria on the other side. She opened the door and beckoned her. “I am just on with Zera.”

“Yes, I was told they were moving my quarters. Why?”

“Because I want someone to hang out with?” Cabree smiled. “Because I had friends and family living on that coastline. Because your teammates were assholes?”

“So, you work for Z-Tech.”

“Yes. Well, sort of.”

Zera snorted. “ Well, Cabree, you are fully checked out as an escort. Other patrons may try and interest you.”

“Um, do I have to?”

“ If Pria agrees, you will have a bodyguard at all times, on dates.”

Cabree looked to the woman who was standing on the balcony and staring at the open ocean. “You will ask her. I just want to offer her a stress-free vacation. After this, I am taking her shopping and am changing my breakfast and dinner reservations.”

“ Why? ”

“Because I am in the fancy restaurant at a table for one.”

“ Okay. Fair enough. Let me guess, you made a mention, and it’s already done? ”

“Yup.”

“ You are efficient. ”

“I have to catch up on my maintenance, so I want to get Pria settled in my guestroom and then get some clothing for her. We have three weeks more on this cruise, so they should be comfortable days.”

Zera sighed. “ Go settle in. ”

“Talk to you later. Try to dissuade any interested parties, please. I need a few days to go through what happened.”

“ We will do a debriefing with you and how you felt at all times .”

“Oh. Delightful.”

“ It’s important to keep a record. For now, did you feel unsafe at any time? ”

“Not until dawn, when he had made up his mind to keep me. His intent changed, and I felt it, according to Pria.”

Zera sighed. “ Active males who find an ideal partner are opportunistic. You were in his arms with no one to enforce the contract as far as he knew.”

“He was surprised when she came in. His guards looked really damp.”

Zera chuckled. “ Yes, I wish I had been able to do anything for her, but she signed up to be an apprentice, and the standard insurance riders didn’t cover them. ”

Cabree said softly, “What about her family?”

“ Working-class Sethir. She isn’t an omega conformation, so the Sethir weren’t interested in her recovery .”

Pria’s voice rang out. “You can tell Zera that she is correct. Also, your com isn’t as quiet as you think it is.”

Cabree smiled. “My new master’s voice. I will talk to you later.”

Zera slyly asked one thing. “ Are you smiling? ”

“Shut up.” Cabree ended the call.

Pria sauntered in and said, “So, you are adopting me as a project?”

“I think I am helping a friend who has had a rough time of it. I have made good investments and never spent any of the benefits, so this is that trip. If you want to come with me to island adventures, we can book some excursions on the next island if you would like. Travelling alone is relaxing; I think having someone with me is fun.”

“So, what do you want to do?”

“First, I will show you your room, and the pursers will bring your possessions here and set them up as you had them. We will get your com registered to my room so you can open the door and get some overpriced outfits for you, including travel, evening, and swimwear.”

“Why swimwear?” She looked down at her sportsuit.

“Because everybody deserves to feel pretty, and I want to spend money. I already set up my own closet, so buckle up.”

Pria snorted.

Cabree walked to the closed door and opened it. “This is the guestroom. Good enough?”

“It is twice the size of my entire cabin, so yes. I need to get back into yoga and isometrics, so being able to flatten out on the floor will help.”

“Can you show me? I spend my life behind a screen. Exercise isn’t something that comes naturally.”

“What time do you normally wake up?”

She laughed. “I normally go to sleep around three; I can wake up anytime.”

“Okay. When I was training, I was up at five, but I think eight is nice if you want to eat at nine or so.”

“Why don’t we split it and say seven so we can shower before going on an excursion?”

“So, excursions?”

“Yeah. Having a friend to do things with will be fun.”

“Friend?”

“The bar is in the dirt. You came to my rescue and tried to help a guy I am interested in. The first was work; the second was a friend move.”

There was a soft knock, and Pria’s clothing and luggage were brought to the guestroom. That was it.