Immortal War

tuxedo and Grace’s favorite ice-blue cravat.

“Oh, no!” Darcy cried. “You mustn’t see me! It’s bad luck!”

Lorcan laughed. “Now, now, Darcy. You’re marrying Mr. Jetsam, remember? No more bad luck for you.” He took her in his arms.

“Of course,” she said. “How silly! See what a state I’m in?”

“You look very beautiful, Miss Flotsam,” Lorcan said. “Just think—that’s the last time I shall call you that. From now on, you’ll be known as Mrs. Jetsam.”

“Yes.” Darcy smiled. “Yes, I suppose I shall.” She seemed calmer now. Over her shoulder, Lorcan grinned at Grace. “Speaking of beautiful… Grace Tempest, you are a picture to behold!”

Grace rose to her feet. “Why, thank you,” she said as he stepped forward to kiss her. It began as a brief brushing of their lips but soon developed into something more.

“Come on!” Darcy said. “People, we have a wedding to get to. Mine!”

Lorcan and Grace broke off their kiss, laughing.

“Off you go!” Grace pushed him away playfully. “We’ll see you up on deck.”

Lorcan nodded. “It’s a beautiful night,” he said. “The stars have all come out for you, Darcy.” He turned to go, then had a fresh thought. “Oh, and Tempest, a word to the wise…”

Grace was busily gathering up the edges of Darcy’s train. “Yes?” she said, glancing up at Lorcan. “What is it, Furey?”

Lorcan grinned. “Just so you know, I’ve put down good money on you catching the wedding bouquet. I trust you won’t let me down!”

As he winked at her, Grace thought his eyes had never looked so blue. They were eyes you could never tire from looking at—as deep and constant and infinite as the ocean itself. In her head, Grace heard a familiar whisper.

So it ends, so it begins.

Also by Justin Somper

VAMPIRATES: Demons of the Ocean

VAMPIRATES: Tide of Terror

VAMPIRATES: Blood Captain

VAMPIRATES: Black Heart

VAMPIRATES: Empire of Night

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Text copyright © 2011 by Justin Somper

Cover hand lettering by Leah Palmer Preiss

Interior illustrations by Jon Foster

All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

Little, Brown and Company

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First e-book edition: January 2012

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ISBN 978-0-316-12613-7