Diary of an Unauthorised Vampire: Burkenswood Mysteries 1 by Iris Beaglehole

Author:Iris Beaglehole [Beaglehole, Iris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Clues and Collusion

6:15 PM. Hours spent researching magical artefacts: 9 (v. dedicated). Dark circles under eyes: non-existent (vampire perk). Coffee consumed: 0 (unnecessary). Blood-tea consumed: 4 cups (becoming slightly dependent).

“And this is why the Grand Soirée is absolutely essential.” Azalea’s voice carried that imperious tone that meant resistance was futile. She glided around my desk, examining the precarious towers of ancient texts and scrolls I’d been poring over for hours. Apparently threatening me at home wasn’t enough. She had to bother me at work too.

I looked up from a particularly dusty tome on fifteenth-century magical artefacts, trying to appear interested despite having heard variations of this speech three times already this week.

“It serves as the perfect opportunity to introduce you to potential Sangrelié candidates,” she continued, brushing invisible lint from her immaculate charcoal suit.

I winced at the term. I’d looked it up. Sangrelié – literally “blood-bound” – the vampire who would volunteer to be my retroactive maker, providing the legal and magical bond required by vampire law. The one who would have certain powers over me, control over my actions.

The very thought made my skin crawl almost as much as the persistent shadow patterns that still occasionally rippled across my forearms when I was stressed.

“Azalea,” I began, summoning what remained of my patience, “I appreciate your concern, I really do. But I have more pressing matters to deal with than finding someone to volunteer as my supernatural guardian.”

I gestured at the research materials spread across the desk – grimoires, arcane legal documents detailing the original covenant negotiations, and a particularly ominous book bound in what I hoped was animal hide. “The Twilight Concordat is still missing, tensions between vampires and witches are at breaking point.”

Azalea fixed me with a look that had probably intimidated Napoleonic generals. “Frivolous? The Grand Soirée is where the most powerful vampires in Europe gather, where critical alliances are formed, and where you might – if you’re enormously lucky – find a Sangrelié willing to sponsor you despite your unprecedented and frankly alarming powers.”

She picked up one of my research notebooks, examining my increasingly frantic scribbles with a raised eyebrow. “And given your Council status remains ‘illegal’ and your shadow integration is progressing at a rate that even I find concerning, I would suggest you reconsider your priorities.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Despite being a vampire for just over a week, I’d already developed a finely-tuned sense for which battles with Azalea were worth fighting. This wasn’t one of them.

“Fine. I’ll attend.” I raised a finger as she began to look smugly victorious. “But I’m not promising to bond with anyone. And I need time to continue my research.”

Azalea nodded graciously, as if granting a tremendous favour. “That reminds me – I’ve arranged for a seamstress to visit tomorrow for your gown fitting.”

I blinked. “A gown? Can’t I just wear what I wore to that wedding last year? It’s perfectly nice.”

The look of abject horror on Azalea’s face suggested I’d just proposed showing up in my pyjamas and slippers.

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