Adventurer's Honeymoon, Page 3

puzzled look. "I beg your pardon?"

  "Our vacation certainly closed with a bang."

  He raised his eyebrows as if wondering whether she had taken leave of her senses, so she flashed him a lopsided grin and a wink.

  His expression relaxed and he laughed as he put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. She slipped an arm around his waist and considered, not for the first time, how fortunate she was to have him as her spouse.

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  For more information on Sir Differel Van Helsing and the Caerleon Order, see the official site [https://www.sir-differel.com/].

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  About the Author

  Kevin L. O'Brien was born with a pen in his hand.

  Well, not quite, but he has been writing for as long as he can remember, at least since First Grade. Writing has always been his first, true love, but it hasn't always been his career. He worked for 15 years as a biomedical researcher, then for 3 years as a web designer. However, after 30 years of trying to be published in print with little success, he has decided to try his hand at self-publishing. Most of his works will be sold as ebooks through various online retailers, but he also plans to make some available for free exclusively on Goodreads.

  He writes primarily speculative fiction--fantasy, science fiction, horror, and their sub-genres--but he also likes to try his hand at thrillers, suspense, mystery, and even westerns. However, his stories tend to have a fantasy element, no matter how subtle.

  Most of his stories involve the following three main characters:

  Medb hErenn [https://www.medbherenn.com/]--One-time queen of Ireland, she is over 3500 years old. A warrior and a sorceress, she cannot be harmed by any weapon made by the hand of man.

  Eile and Sunny, Team Girl [https://www.teamgirlforever.com/]--They are two adorable, vivacious, fun-loving young women whose motto is ONWARD TO ADVENTURE!!! Yet trouble follows them like a love-sick puppy wherever they go.

  Sir Differel Van Helsing [https://www.sir-differel.com/]--The descendent of Abraham Van Helsing and King Arthur, she heads the Caerleon Order, the premier monster-hunting organization of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. She commands Dracula, the most powerful vampire extant, and the greatsword Caliburn, better known as Excalibur.

  He also writes a series of sword & sorcery stories set in an alternative universe known as the Lands of the Dreams of Men.

  Kevin lives in Denver with his family and 4 cats.

  For more information, see his website, Songs of the Seanchai.

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  Discover other titles by Kevin L. O'Brien:

  A fidus Aranea, Barbarians R Us, The Christmas Vampires, Dark Vengeance, Disposable Commodities, Do Unto Others, Far-Sight, Feline Savior, Gourmand Hag, Gratuitous Crossover, Gruff Tolls, Immanuel, The Lions of Inganok, Man Friday, Masie's Mind, No Torrent Like Greed, Oak Do Hate, Post-Traumatic Redemption, Pride and Fall, Sacrificial Offering, Shenanigans

  Enjoy these other titles at fine ebook retailers everywhere.

  Available on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/story/list/20075368

  The Beast of Exmoor, A Deliberation of Morality, Desperate Acts, The Denver Walker, The Golden Mushroom, Jigsaw Dragon, The Peril Gem, Rhapsody in Orange, The Steel Gazelle, The Temple of Ubasti, Youthful Indiscretion

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  Connect with Kevin L. O'Brien Online:

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/KLOB_writer

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.l.obrien.1

  Website: https://www.seanchaisongs.com/

  DeviantArt: https://teamgirl-differel.deviantart.com/

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Kevin_L_OBrien

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  Sample Excerpts

  From "Shenanigans"

  "You know, Dribble, it wouldn't hurt you to get stuffed now and then."

  Differel felt her irritation flare. "Well, we can't all be slags like you, Maggot."

  Rather than get angry Margaret smiled in triumph. Differel scowled; she always did know how to press her buttons. She was more frenemy than companion, so it was a mystery to her how they had become confidants. Yet they had shared an adventure when they were twelve that nearly got both of them killed, and from that they developed a rapport of mutual respect. Even so, their banter betrayed an underlying antagonism they both acknowledged with their nicknames.

  "Seriously, you can't tell me you haven't fantasized about being shagged by someone like him." She pointed to the magazine between them. Peer's Quarterly had come out with its annual issue of the most eligible bachelors in the British aristocracy, and it lay open to the page on Lord Solsberry, the eldest son of the Marquess of Montmury, posing shirtless with a bow tie around his neck.

  "Hmph. Like he'd have either one of us."

  Margaret leaned back against the headboard and stretched out in a languid manner, her arms folded behind her head. "I doubt that would be a problem for me." They were both fifteen, but she had matured faster. She already sported a prominent bosom for her age and the rest of her figure had started to fill out. Her bouncy, billowing cinnamon-sorrel hair, cute round face, and exotic copperish eyes added to the allure. Differel had no doubt she would be very sexy when she finished growing up.

  In contrast, her own stick-figure body had undergone a recent growth spurt that obscured whatever slight development had accompanied it. She was all arms, legs, waist, and neck, with a flat chest and scrawny thighs. She looked too much like a boy to like it, especially from the back. Her bullet-shaped face was too striking to be pretty, with its pointed nose and chin and prominent cheekbones, and not only did her gray hair and eyes make her resemble an elderly matron, the former was so lifeless and stringy she couldn't do anything with it except let it hang straight and loose down to her hips. Her big round glasses certainly didn't help.

  She smirked. "Like you have much experience being a charver."

  Margaret laughed as she lowered her hands to her stomach. "Oh, Dribble! I was deflowered on my last birthday!" She rubbed her hands over her belly. "A little gift I gave myself when father refused to buy me that Ferrari 348 I wanted. Since then, I haven't had any problem finding boys to jump."

  Embarrassed, Differel blushed and glanced away. Margaret was the daughter and only child of the Duke of Anglin, the premier peer of the United Kingdom and the third most powerful government official after Her Majesty and the Lord President of the Privy Council.

  And she never let anyone forget it.

  Margaret sat up and crossed her legs. "I think it's about time you were, too. You don't want to die an old maid, do you?"

  "I have a few years yet before that becomes a threat."

  Margaret flashed a lopsided grin. "In your line of work? You could be dead tomorrow." She referred to her being head of the Caerleon Order, Britain's premier monster hunting organization.

  "Not if I can help it," a deep bass voice rumbled. A cloud of shadow flowed out from under the bed, rose up, and coalesced into a humanoid figure. It dissipated to reveal her quasi-slave, Vlad Drakulya. Despite the quality of his voice, he was very tall and rail-thin, with a block-shaped face, domed forehead, square jaw, blunt chin, Alexandrian nose, and long ropey iron-gray hair and moustache. He was dressed in a great coat over a shirt, vest, and trousers, and a wide-brimmed hat, all black, with the only spots of color being his blood-red hatband, cravat, and gloves, which matched his ruddy complexion.

  "Do you mind?!" She and Margaret only wore nightshirts and socks. It had been a few years since either of them wore pajamas.

  "Not at all." He gave her an insolent grin.

  "Just get the bloody hell out!"

  "No, let him stay." Despite her shock and terror when she first met the Vampire two and a half years before, Margaret had warmed to him since. Differel sometimes wondered what her exact interest was, but they did seem to be kindred spirits. In some ways, he was as big a bully as she was, though f
or different reasons.

  "Oh, bother. Very well, but behave yourself, Thrall. Clear?"

  "Crystal, My Master."

  "I really think it would do you a world of good, Dribble."

  "Hmph. Maybe; someday."

  "Why not tonight?"

  Her heart stuttered. "Tonight?! You must be off your nut!"

  "No, I'm serious. This would be the best time. If you put if off until later, you may get cold feet and chicken out."

  "I believe she is right," Vlad said.

  "If I want your opinion I'll ask for it."

  "I am not expressing an opinion, I am supporting Lady Margaret's."

  She palmed her face. "Oh, shut it, you bloodsucking wanker."

  She directed her attention back to Margaret. "I appreciate your concern, Maggot, but it's not something I'm prepared to discuss."

  "Why not? You're not scared, are you?"

  "Oh, please. You really think you can goad me into this with such a childish taunt?"

  "Hey, whatever works. But you sidestepped the question: why not?"

  "All right. First of all, where would this occur?"

  Margaret spread her hands. "Why not here?"

  Differel gazed around out of reflex. They were in the children's bedroom on the third story of her ancestral manor. Every time Margaret came to visit, Aelfraed and Mrs. Widget had an extra bed moved in so she could stay with her.

  "It would look suspicious if you slept in another room."

  She