Rose Bound: The Rose and King series Book 1

by J. J. Marshall

  “Remind me to thank you later, bandit,” Rose rasped before unleashing all of her power at Dahlia.

  “You’ll owe me,” Tora replied before reaching for her bow and quiver. She knocked a quiver into place. “Widows!” she called, her voice strong and stoic. “Unleash your fury and strike!” She released her arrow.

  Lorelei

  Lorelei had never seen so much blood and chaos in her entire existence. It was true, that for the most part, she’d caused most of the chaos that enveloped her daily life, relishing in the little rumors and lies she spread, but this, this was otherworldly. This was pure terror. Heart thumping and breath hitching in her throat, she raced through the throng of gore and ghouls toward the castle and stables when a shadow emerged into her path, halting the heiress in place.

  “G-g-g-going somewhere?” it hissed, materializing before her. A boy, approximately twenty years of age, appeared before Lorelei. His grey skin was taut, his cheeks gaunt as he looked at her with blank dark pupils. Tattered clothing hung from his skeletal figure, the smell of rot suffocating Lorelei where she stood. Bile churned in her stomach, threatening to make an appearance, but Lorelei would not give this boy, this rotting sack of flesh and bones, the satisfaction of making her sick. Instead, she placed a hand on her leather clad hip and raised the other up as if to inspect her black nails.

  “That depends,” she replied.

  “Depp-pp-pendssss on whatt-t?” the shadow ghoul inquired, reaching for a weapon that the heiress couldn’t see.

  “It depends on if you live another worthless second, maggot!” Declan roared from her side, wielding knives between his fingers. She hadn’t heard him emerge. Hadn’t even known he’d been flanking her. The last Lorelei knew was that Declan was knee-deep in ghouls. His blades danced from knuckle to knuckle in a show meant to intimidate the shadow.

  “Two-ooo against onn-nne is not a fair fightt-tt,” the ghoul snarled, exposing his rotten mouth. Her stomach twisted in on itself. Lorelei bit her lip and shot a glance at Declan. A smile brimmed on his lips from ear to ear, flashing pearly white fangs at the ghoul. His eyes were cold, calculating, every bit predatorial as his brother’s.

  “Do you like to pick on women?” Declan asked’ The knife dancing across his knuckles came to a halt and he took a step forward. Shadows covered half of his face, sending a chill down Lorelei’s spine. She’d never seen him in this light. Never so... dangerous.

  “Do you like picking on someone who can’t defend themselves?” he pushed, taking another step forward, catching his knife by the hilt. Flicking his wrist back, Declan hurled the knife at the ghoul. Metal hissed through the air. The boy let out a howl as the blade lodged itself in between his ribs, a mark that would have killed a mortal, but not a ghoul. Lorelei steadied herself, preparing for blood to spill, watching as Declan pulled the sword sheathed at his side. “You want to talk about being fair? Then fight me!” he snarled, driving his blade at the ghoul’s mangled chest. The ghoul melted into a shadow on the ground, springing up behind Declan. Declan whirled, striking out as the ghoul wielded a sword of his own.

  “Go get my sister!” Declan shouted, a note of panic in his voice, fighting off the attack. Lorelei whirled on her heel. If she could get to Demetrius, her noble Pegasus, then she could get out of Tatum and back home where it was safe. But that wasn’t going to be the case for Lor.

  Declan wanted her of all people to rescue his sister, making something within her chest break. The pleading in his voice echoed in her sensitive ears. She would do what was needed to save the last Sinclair princess. Because Declan had asked. Heat rushed into Lorelei’s cheeks at the request, at the thought of doing something for the prince simply because he’d asked. But, she couldn’t dwell on that now.

  Screams echoed down the castle hallway, through the open French doors Gavin had emerged from before the ceremony. It was bloodcurdling and scared and... Lorelei knew that scream.

  Aurora. Fuck…

  All of her plans fled from her thoughts as the Bloodworth heiress pushed her legs into overdrive and raced down the hall. She would save the last Sinclair princess, even if it meant giving up her own life.

  Gavin

  The Ripper tore into the jugulars of ghoul after ghoul. Bones snapped as necks came free from undead bodies. The stench of burning death filled the Ripper’s nostrils, edging him further into oblivion. He watched the bodies perish into ash. Flames licked at his clothing, charring the black suit. Blood painted his pants, his shirt, his face, dripping down his chin. Screams and metal drowned in his ears and for a moment, Gavin, the Ripper, felt nothing.

  But the moment quickly faded and with it, Gavin’s bloodlust. His body grew heavy and tired, a side effect from the brand etched on his chest. Gavin knew it wasn’t he who was tired. No, he was just getting started. But Rose... Her magic nearly gone, her body trying hard as it may, to replenish. But it wasn’t enough.

  Bandits fought beside vampires, hurling knives and wielding blades better than any swordsman Gavin had met. Better than him. A rain of arrows plummeted from the sky, hitting body after body. Gavin watched, dodging until the last arrow met its target. Bodies dropped to the stones beneath their feet, left and right, ghouls, humans, vampires and wolves. The dead burned around them.

  From the corner of his eye, Gavin saw Rose’s shoulders slump and from the other, he saw two massive wolves fighting to the death. One, he knew, was Ollie. But the other? He had no idea. All he did know was that the black wolf had ambushed his mate and was going in for the kill.

  He had to choose.

  Rose or Ollie?

  His heart told him Ollie, but his soul told him Rose. Gavin shook his head. He didn’t have time to think. Death could be dealt in a single second. So who to choose? Gavin saw the bandit leader step in front of Rose, pulling more arrows from her back, knocking them back into her bow. Squaring her shoulders, Tora took up a fighting stance against Dahlia. Gavin turned his attention to Ollie.

  Ollie dropped to the ground, a snarl on his maw as the black wolf loomed overhead. Teeth bared, the wolf reeled for the kill. Gavin moved faster than he ever had before, pushing back into his Ripper. Fangs dripped with venom. Bloodlust in his eyes, Gavin barreled into the wolf, driving his shoulder into its side. Pain radiated up his neck, a sickening crack sounded from his socket, but the Ripper within him kept the hurt at bay. The wolf beneath him snarled and turned his neck to snap at Gavin, but the Ripper merely smiled before plunging his deadly fangs deep into the wolf’s neck.

  Lorelei

  Lorelei knew she was on her own as she quietly raced through the castle halls, listening for any sign of Aurora, but everything around her was silent. An uneasy feeling crept into her gut as she pushed onward. The princess could be anywhere in the massive fortress. Lorelei moved stealthily through the halls, placing one booted foot in front of the other. A snap here, a crack there, had her whirling on her heels perched for a fight.

  The double doors behind her slammed shut, freezing the Bloodworth heiress in place. She whipped toward the door that faced the end of the grand foyer, only to find the space empty. A shiver wracked down her spine, hot breath at her neck, her ears...

  “Come to die?” it asked. The voice was neither male nor female. It was simply there, breathing hot plumes of moisture down her neck. Lorelei gulped. She had no weapons, nothing to fight with but her hands. Her knuckles curled into fists.

  “Where’s the princess?” she asked, rooted in place, voice strong though nerves wreaked havoc within her body.

  “Dead,” the voice slithered out.

  “I don’t believe you,” Lorelei whispered. Her breath hitched in her throat, chest heaving, burning. The words couldn’t be true.

  “Such a pretty thing you are,” the voice hissed. “Master would be pleased to have you.” Wisps of fingers caressed Lorelei’s cheek, her hair, moving strands aside.

  “Where is the princess?” she asked again, digging her nails into her palms. The sting was enough to keep her in ch
eck. She wouldn’t let the phantom have the satisfaction of seeing her break. Not now.

  “Dead!” it snarled.

  “You lie!” Lorelei snapped, turning to face her phantom. But nothing was behind her. “Quit hiding from me you son of a bitch!”

  “Help!” Aurora screamed. Her voice echoed around the heiress as she ran, pushing her body to its limits. Chest thundering, blood racing, Lorelei ran with conviction in her heart and fire in her veins, leaving the assailant before her in the shadows.

  * * *

  Aurora was seated in a small wooden chair, her hands and feet bound to the legs when Lorelei found her. Tears smeared down her face, joining the blood that painted the young princess’s dress black and red. She didn’t know where the shadow ghoul was, if it was watching her or out gathering friends for its sick, twisted games, but Lorelei wasn’t ready to find out. She snapped the half-assed tethers within seconds and pulled the young girl into her arms, caressing her head as she held her close. Sobs rocked the young princess, pulling on Lor’s heartstrings.

  “Shhh,” she cooed. “It’s going to be okay. I’ve got you and we’re going someplace where the bad guys can’t reach us,” she said. She lifted the girl up and bound for the stables. They made their way to the door as the shadows consumed the path they had just taken.

  * * *

  Demetrius stood in his stable, white wings tucked to his back as the two approached. A whinny on his lips let Lorelei know he was unharmed and unfazed by the commotion all around. The heiress stole inside and kneeled down in the hay that covered the floor.

  “I’m going to put you down, little duckie. Have you ever flown before?” she asked the princess. Aurora shook her head, throwing her hands over her ears as another scream penetrated the air. Lorelei pulled her hand away and looked the girl straight in the eye.

  “Just focus on me. You and me. We’re getting out of here and going someplace safe. Don’t listen to what’s going on out there, you hear me?” Aurora nodded and Lorelei pushed herself up and began readying the Pegasus for travel.

  “Lor.” Aurora’s voice shook. “They’re coming.” Her hazel eyes widened in horror as the shadows crept in around the stables. Lorelei moved quickly, pulling the Pegasus from his stall into the open. Aurora oohed and ahhed at him, patting him gently on the snout before Lorelei hoisted her onto the creature’s bare back. Her eyes darted to the door, seeing the darkness increase around them. Quickly, Lorelei bit into her finger and wrote a message on the stable door.

  I have her. We’re safe. -Lor

  Then she moved back to the steed and pulled herself up behind the princess.

  “Just you and me, little duckie,” Lorelei whispered before she took hold of the reins and kicked Demetrius into overdrive. He plowed forward through the stable doors, taking to the sky.

  “Take us home, boy,” Lorelei said, patting the beast as they rose in the air. “Take us away.”

  27

  Rose

  Darkness tunneled Rose’s vision as she fell to her knees. Her magic was gone and her strength, soon to follow. Rose wasn’t typically one to give up, roll over and die, but in that moment, she wondered if it would just solve everything. Dahlia wanted the throne. She wanted Gavin, despite having Conan. She wanted power and greed and all things that would make her the worst ruler Elirion would know. But those reasons were exactly why Rose couldn’t give up. Why she couldn’t just roll over and die. And then, Tora had stepped in front of her. Battered and bloodied, she stood wielding her arrows against her sister.

  The bandit leader’s chest heaved, sucking in smoke and rot in the air, choking her lungs. And Dahlia, cloaked in shadows, only snickered.

  “Your toothpicks will do nothing against the darkness,” she sneered. “Give up. Defeat is already on your doorstep. Do you hear the bells ringing for you?”

  “Fuck you, vamp bitch,” Tora snarled, charging with the Widows from all sides toward the dark heiress. Arrows flew through the air, raining down on Dahlia. Rose’s vision blurred, she was fading fast, the darkness taking her. Her head swam as her body grew heavier by the second. She felt hands on her back, strong hands hoisting her up over a shoulder.

  “You’re going to die, bitch,” the male voice snarled, but Rose had no strength to fight back. “I’m going to watch the light fade from your pretty eyes before the goddess takes me.” Rose opened her mouth to scream for Gavin, for Ollie. Fuck, for anyone. But no sound came out. Something hot and sticky soaked through her dress, the familiar and delicious tang of copper filling her nostrils.

  Blood.

  Gavin

  “Put. Her. Down,” The Ripper seethed. Seeing Rose slumped over the wolf’s shoulder fueled the hatred pumping through Gavin’s veins. There was so much darkness and bloodshed and hate. Oh goddess, did he relish the hate that hung heavy in the air. His nostrils flared, smelling the tang of death. Gavin’s vision was a red haze.

  “Or what fanger?”

  “Or I’ll kill you before the venom does,” The Ripper replied. The wolf before him curled his lip on his maw, half-beast, half-man the creature stood holding that which was his. Its claws curled, tearing into his queen’s dress, breaking skin on her milky thighs. The smell permeated the air, smothering Gavin’s senses. His body went rigid, eyes narrowing on the wolf, ready to strike. Ready to kill...

  “Oh, I’m quaking in my boots,” the wolf retorted. The Ripper’s brows flashed, his muscles screaming to end the beast when—

  “Gavin,” Rose rasped, her throat raw and burning. “Let them take me.”

  “No,” he said.

  “They have Aurora. They’ll kill her. Let them take me, please...” Rose said again, mustering whatever energy she had left. Her voice still trailed off weakly.

  “No,” Gavin repeated. “I won’t let them take you or her.”

  “Time’s up,” the wolf sneered, shooting a look at Dahlia Coston. Gavin’s gaze flicked to her as well.

  “Fine,” Dahlia snarled from her position amongst the bandit women, curling her fingers as she held them frozen in dark webs of power. One hand remained raised as the other began weaving through the air. Tendrils of darkness curled forming balls of abysmal black. They hovered, vibrating with power before barreling toward the Prince of Blood. The Ripper moved, barely dodging the dark magic. Bones snapped, stones cracked and blood pooled in rivers at their feet. There was so much blood… so much death. Dahlia would kill every last one of them. Gavin knew it and so did Rose. Fear gripped at his insides, raw and primal, clawing its way up. The Ripper paused, feeling Rose’s terror well up within him, the bond between them ever present.

  A scream, guttural in nature erupted behind Gavin. He whirled, eyes widening in horror as another ball of shadows pummeled into Tora. There was nowhere for her to escape. The darkness plowed through her, dropping the bandit leader like a sack of potatoes to the ground. Scarlett liquid ran from parted lips as the life faded slowly from the woman’s eyes.

  Gavin gulped back the lump forming in his throat, the demon within him giving way to his queen’s emotions. A cry to Gavin’s left captured his attention. He whirled, watching as his best friend, mangled, beaten and bloodied race forward, dropping himself before the girl, shielding her body with what was left of his. Tora’s dark eyes were wide, staring into nothing. Had death taken her quickly? Or was it here to play some cruel sick joke on them all?

  “Give up the throne, Gavin,” Dahlia called, forming another sphere with her fingers. Gavin had never witnessed such sorcery. There was a reason it was outlawed and this was why. His eyes shifted from Dahlia to Rose still hunched over the dying wolf’s shoulder and back to the bandit lying in a pool of ruby blood. Ollie pushed the girl onto her back and placed an ear to her chest.

  “She’s alive,” Ollie murmured. “Barely.”

  “After everything that you’ve done, do you really think I’d hand the kingdom over?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let me clarify this for you, Dahlia. I won’t give you
the throne,” Gavin growled.

  “Then that sweet little sister of yours, dies,” Dahlia stated nonchalantly. Gavin knew he couldn’t give up the throne, despite finding himself in the stickiest of situations. He needed time, which was far from being on his side.

  He needed to think.

  Ollie

  Life.

  Ollie saw life flash before his eyes. Not his own, of course, but Tora’s and Rose’s. His body trembled, fear pooling in his gut, twisting and curling in on himself as he looked from one woman to the other, both dying. Rose was slumped over his brother’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes, her body weak and her spirit quickly fading. He knew Gavin could feel it in the brand and had to do something unless he wanted to die. Gavin had stepped up to the plate, facing off with Conan and Dahlia.

  But Tora, the girl who had spared his life more than once, laid before him, with death at her doorstep. The wolf knew he had a choice to make. Let sweet death pull her from this world or save her with a bite. Though it was true that Ollie had never imprinted on someone before, he knew that if he bit Tora and saved her life that he would forever be hers. The change didn’t come without a price, leaving no room in his heart for Rosalie Elena Coston.

  Ollie reached out to whatever goddess was listening and sent up a silent prayer for guidance and forgiveness before he pulled Tora’s wrist to his mouth. He peppered a kiss to her supple skin before curling back his lips and biting down. He knew she would likely skin him alive when she woke, yet, he couldn’t find it in himself to let her die. Not when there was something he could do about it.