Moonlight and Diamonds & The Vampire's Fall by Michele Hauf

Johnny Santiago sang goth rock with a local band who had entertained friends and family tonight. Kambriel had lived in Minnesota all her life until running away to Paris to “find herself” a few years ago. It looked as though she’d found happiness.
    Could he ever be so lucky?
    Stryke threaded his fingers through Blyss’s. What a woman to spend the rest of his life with. Yet it was an irrational thought. He knew nothing about her. Sure, they had some amazing chemistry between them. But what kind of distortion made her werewolf so imperceptible to him?
    And would he really have to ask her the big question? The one that had troubled him since the night he’d returned home after the gallery showing and had shoved his hand into the inner pocket of the suit coat. He’d found something odd, interesting and couldn’t believe it had belonged to Vail.
    He had to do it. He would do it. Now, while it was relatively quiet and they sat toward the back. The bride and groom had recited their vows, and the officiate was babbling on about loving one another until death parted them. Long wait, if they could avoid the stake.
    â€œSo were you disappointed Vail wasn’t wearing the suit?” he whispered close to Blyss’s ear.
    â€œUh...” Startled, she flashed her bright greens at him.
    Right. He’d caught her out.
    â€œWere you looking for this?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the incredible black diamond that seemed to glow red from within and which was the size of a small plum.
    Up front, the officiate pronounced the couple happily married and called for, instead of applause, a blessed moment of silence.
    Blyss gasped and reached for the stone. “How did you—?”
    Amid the silence a surprisingly loud sneeze echoed out.
    Johnny, the groom, glanced over the crowd, his eyes landing on his little sister, Summer. “Ah hell,” the vampire muttered.

Chapter 7
    â€œD emons!” someone shouted. The entire audience jumped to their feet. Shouts to protect the women were answered by demonic growls.
    Blyss grasped for Stryke’s hand, but he snatched the diamond away. “I need that!”
    â€œNo time for this argument.” Stryke’s eyes scanned the crowd and focused on the back door, where the bride had walked in and down the red-carpeted aisle. His jaw tensed.
    Blyss grabbed him by the suit lapels. “Just hand it to me.”
    â€œWe’ll discuss this later. You have things to tell me.” He gripped her by the shoulders. “Yes?”
    â€œI’ll tell you everything if you’ll give me the diamond.”
    â€œI’m going to hang on to it until after your confession. Now stay behind me. There’s a lot of them. Hell, what are demons doing here?”
    Screams and shouts erupted. Demonic growls curdled over the gaiety. The brother Blyss knew as Trouble charged for the dark-skinned red-eyed demon in the lead of what looked like a cavalcade of demons. All around her Blyss saw people spring into action, and it wasn’t just the men. Witches attempted to repel the demonic approach with chants and gestures, and the witch with the dark purple hair even threw fire—of which, a demon caught in his mouth and gobbled up as if candy.
    The bride was swept off the dais in a swish of black latex by her groom, but neither left the fray as demons poured down the aisle, slapping at vampires and werewolves to clear their way. The bride slid up her skirt to reveal a dagger strapped to her thigh. The groom smirked and pulled out knives from the holsters beneath his velvet suit coat.
    Stryke punched a slender demon with long, disjointed arms and wicked talons. The demon growled, infusing the air with a foul miasma.
    Stryke reached back to shove Blyss away. “Stay close.”
    She appreciated his need to protect her, but all she wanted was to grab the diamond and get out of there. She hadn’t seen him put
Le Diabolique
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