Rouen Chronicles Box Set

by Raven Steele

  “Ancient blood?” A cold chill rooted itself deep inside my spine and refused to let go.

  “Just some other ancient legend that’s as ridiculous as the one I’m telling you.”

  “So what happened?” I swallowed hard, hoping that ancient blood wasn’t the Abydos. If it was, then I was in big trouble. I was right not to reveal that I knew where it was.

  He stepped over a log, turning his head to keep a look out and I suddenly realized that I should be doing the same thing.

  “The spell worked, but it wasn’t her child that came back. It was Trianus, the Lord of Hell and the demon she’d prayed to. Whether Ivona knew this or not, no one knows. She raised the child to adulthood. That’s when the deaths began happening.”

  “What deaths?”

  “Diseases all over the land. Remember the Black Plague that killed millions of people in the Middle Ages? It’s rumored that was Trianus’ work. Humans tried to stop him, but it wasn’t until a group of supernaturals joined together to defeat him. They sent his soul back to hell.”

  “And what about Ivona?”

  “Some say Trianus kept her protected and made her an immortal. So here the chick was, uber powerful and couldn’t be killed, and still wanting to bring her son back from the dead. In the end, it was only dark magic that could stop her. The special group of supernaturals chained her and locked her up in a casket bound by dark magic spells, then buried her.” He looked at me, a twinkle in his eye. “So who knows, maybe one day she could escape. Come after—” He froze, his body tensing. “Did you hear that?”

  I was so into the story that I hadn’t been paying attention to my surroundings. “An animal?”

  He cocked his head to the side, listening closely. “Wait here. I’ll circle to the back. Something doesn’t feel right.”

  He disappeared into the darkness. That’s when I felt it too. A sudden change in the air, like the way the air felt electric before a thunderstorm. But there were no clouds in the sky. Where was it coming from?

  Unconcerned for Dominic’s safety, I veered off into a thick patch of undergrowth and undressed quickly. I shifted into my wolf form and stretched long, my chops opening wide in a yawn. It always felt good to be my wolf. Wild and free. Powerful. I liked jobs that required her skills over mine.

  Stalking soundlessly across the forest floor, I made my way toward the fence. As I drew close, the eerie feeling grew stronger. I reached the bars but there was so much undergrowth that I couldn’t see through to the inside. Effortlessly, I slipped through the thick undergrowth and slipped past the bars. Soon I heard quiet voices.

  My perfect vision spotted Dominic, standing under a tall mossy tree bathed in darkness. He appeared to be talking to himself, but as I moved a little closer, I realized there was someone else there. No. Not a someone. A thing. Like a pillar of smoke that was constantly shifting. It rose, then fell. It even parted at one point.

  Dominic whispered, then paused. The smoke thing seemed to be speaking back, but I couldn’t hear a damn thing this far away. But I could feel its power, pulsing and throbbing through the cemetery. Whatever Dominic was talking to, it was more powerful than any supernatural creature I‘d ever encountered. Was this Trianus?

  I stalked as low to the ground as possible and inched bit by bit. The closer I got, the more the dread in my stomach grew. Soon, my instincts were screaming at me to run away and my whole body trembled.

  I came to an open space; the next gravestone was several feet over. I’d have to risk exposure to get closer. I was willing to take that chance.

  As soon as I was sure they weren’t watching, I darted from my safe spot. I was almost there when, in my anxiousness to get concealed, I stepped on a stick. A small one, but it produced an audible snap. I dove behind a gravestone, breathing hard. They had to have heard it. Shit.

  I waited almost a full minute before I dared move. I peeked around the edge. Dominic was gone as was the shadow thingee. Double shit.

  Sprinting fast, I weaved my way back under the fence, through bushes, deadfall, and trees to get back to my clothes. I was just pulling my shirt over my head when I heard Leroy coming toward me. He arrived as I finished pulling on my last boot.

  Pretending like nothing was wrong, I stood up. “Find anything?”

  He shook his head. “Weird though. I could’ve sworn there was something out with us, but I couldn’t find it. How about you?”

  “Nada. Should we head back?”

  “Yeah. We should probably check in. It’s almost been an hour.”

  When we returned, Dominic was walking back to the gate. Heather opened it for him. Whatever had happened in there pleased him. There was a satisfied gleam in his eye and pep in his step.

  “Let’s get drinks.” He pulled out his car keys, jingling them happily. “We need to celebrate.”

  “What are we celebrating?” She looked up at him like he was a god.

  He smiled a wolfish grin. “The beginning of the end.”

  Chapter 39

  I stayed with them just long enough to keep up appearances. Then I texted Roma for a ride home. When I jumped into the car, she gave me a curious look before she drove away.

  “You have leaves in your hair,” she said.

  “Oh yeah?” I reached up and felt for them. “Sure as shit.”

  She chuckled low in her throat. “I remember those days, screwing in the woods, animals watching—”

  “Ew, Roma. I don’t want to hear about you playing hide the snake in the bush.” I visibly shivered and wiped my palms along my jeans.

  She snorted. “Well, I don’t smell Luke on you, so who’s snake was sniffing around your bush?”

  “Again, ew.” I grimaced and shook out my hands, disgusted, yet smiling.

  She laughed and glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “I’m just messing with you. Luke wouldn’t allow anyone near your garden.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “It’s not really up to Luke though, is it?”

  She waved her hand. “That’s right, girl power and all that. You modern women have really embraced your feminine prowess.”

  “Hells yeah, that’s right.”

  She was silent for a moment, then she tilted her head as she glanced at me. "You look much better. Really good.” She smiled. “Healthier.”

  “Was it that bad?” I ran my fingers through my hair self-consciously.

  “Not bad. Lately, you just looked like you were coming off of something. Tired. Pale.“

  I averted my gaze. No one had told her what was wrong with me other than I was sick. She was more perceptive than I give her credit for.

  She reached back and patted my hand that was resting on the seat in front of me. “Don't be ashamed, sweetheart. We all have our demons." She smiled and winked at me, then pulled up to my house. “We’re here.”

  A limo was parked in the driveway.

  My stomach dropped and my hands grew clammy. “Speaking of demons, looks like it’s time I face mine.”

  * * *

  After Roma drove away, I straightened my back and confronted Angel. He was waiting for me in the dark shadows of the porch. Every step I took towards him made my breath quicken, my mind whirl, and my blood pulse in my ears. My gaze automatically tracked to his breast pocket where he’d always kept his vials. He caught the motion and narrowed his eyes, his lips pressing into a thin line.

  Moonlight reflected off his pale face, but his dark suit blended into the darkness, giving an ominous feeling about him being here. On my turf.

  It was odd and strangely natural at the same time.

  I sucked in a deep breath and approached him. He met me on the walkway, moving as fluidly as water from a tap. “Hello, love. You have not been to see me.”

  I shoved my hands in my pocket and sighed. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “There is no need to apologize.” He reached for my arm and lightly traced his fingers down my skin. “Luke told me you were doing infusions of the holy water Samira obtained from the Vat
ican. I trust it went well?”

  I lowered my gaze. “Yeah, if you don’t mind feeling like your veins are on fire.”

  His muscles tightened, a motion I might’ve missed had I not been staring at his chest. His throat bobbed up and down, and he pulled my arm so that it was hooked into the crook of his. “Let us walk. It is a beautiful evening.”

  I let him pull me along, breathing in deeply. On my exhale, tension drained from my body. Something to do with his steady personality. I had forgotten that fact about him.

  We strolled towards the road, my footsteps much louder than his. His movements were barely a whisper on the night wind. Maybe that’s why I was so comfortable around him. While my world was chaos, his was still. Quiet. A wistful sigh across the land.

  My eye caught the gentle sway of a nearby swing hanging from a tree. It reminded me of when my dad used to push me on warm autumn afternoons.

  Angel followed my line of site. “Would you like me to push you?”

  “I.. uh.. on the swing?”

  He nodded.

  “Nah, I’m good.” My cheeks warmed. I would actually love it, but it felt weirdly childish, especially around him.

  “I won’t take no for an answer.” He firmly steered me towards it, and I couldn’t help but grin. I could almost hear my squeals of laugher echoing in my ears, or the pitter-patter of my brother running around, his feet kicking through the piles of leaves in the fall.

  I sat down on the wooden seat and grabbed onto the rope holding it in place. Angel walked behind me and clasped his hands over mine as he pulled the swing back toward him. He leaned close and whispered into my ear, “Believe it or not, I was a child once, too.”

  I laughed at the image, just as he pushed me into the air. Darkness rushed at me, and a thrill raced through my blood.

  His hands landed on my hips, and I was flying again, the stars so close I could almost touch them. I closed my eyes, giving in to the nostalgic feeling as my body cut through the night.

  The sudden memories of my childhood flooding my mind made me feel like I was surrounded by family and love and harmony, all the things I had craved for years. And then it was as if my family were really alive. My heart warmed, and my mind reveled in this blissful place. All of the anger and pain were not only missing, but just gone, as if they’d never been there in the first place.

  I could remember everything.

  Every smile, every cookie my mom baked, every kiss on the forehead my aunties gave me before tucking me into bed. The house was constantly surrounded by the pack, spreading their unconditional love. I used to dream about who my mate would be, a love that would last an eternity. My dad would take me on walks through the woods, teaching me how to differentiate between the barks on the trees, how to use the moss to find my direction.

  I was at peace.

  I stopped and blinked, realizing I was no longer swinging. Angel stood in front of me, his head tilted slightly as if he had been watching me for some time. He touched my cheek, this time to wipe away a tear.

  I jerked free of the swing and stumbled to the side as pain and heartache violently crashed into me. My family was dead. All of them brutally murdered, leaving behind me and my entire existence full of nothing but rage and hate. “Did you do that? Was that some vampire trick making me believe they were alive?”

  His eyes followed me, but his feet did not. He remained silent.

  “Did you?”

  “It was meant to be a gift.”

  “Well, it wasn’t a very good one.” I clipped the words, hoping he’d feel every sharp edge. I hated him. Hated the way I now longed for that time again, hated the way I could see how crushing my life had been. How … empty revenge was.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to hurt you. I only thought it would make up for my mistake.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “And what mistake is that?”

  “I allowed you to fall under the Scorpion’s spell.”

  At the word, my emotions exploded from me: the anger, the resentment I didn’t know I’d been feeling toward him. I took his drug without even thinking about it. How it would affect me, how addicted to it I might become. And he just gave it to me, handed it over like candy.

  “Why did you do that?” I didn’t realize until this second that I was mad at him for it. Yet, I knew it was completely ridiculous. I alone was responsible for my actions. But I couldn’t help but resent him for making it so easy.

  “I felt your pain, my love, and I could not stop myself from wanting to soothe it.”

  “But why? Did you know what it would do to me?”

  “I did not. I gave you a special batch, made specifically for you. It was not meant to be addictive, but we didn’t understand at the time how it might react to your special properties.”

  I reared back. “What?”

  He stepped forward and raised his hand, but abruptly dropped it. “I swear to you, Briar. I did not think it would affect you, except to ease your pain a little. Just until you had your life where you needed it. To help you recover from Ryder’s death.”

  “What did you do, Angel?” The chill in my voice reached my eyes, and I hoped he felt the cold storm brewing in my gaze. “How did you make the Scorpion’s Breath different?”

  His mouth shut, and his lips clasped tight. His emerald eyes, the color of the bright sea, harbored a note of regret.

  I ignored it and clasped his shirt, gripping it tight. “What did you do to me?”

  His fingers closed over my tight fist. I expected him to react angrily, to rip my hand from his shirt. He was a badass vampire, one who would never take shit from anyone, and yet his touch was soft and gentle, and that was … disarming.

  He slowly undid my fingers and pulled my hand to his lips. He brushed his fingers over the tips of my knuckles, igniting a burning in my body I hadn’t expected. Warmth spread down my arm and into my belly, and a flush spread throughout my chest.

  His intense stare, dark and serious, burrowed into me. “I would never harm you intentionally. I swear it on my first-made fledgling. Please, trust me. Everything is not as it seems. There are things at play you’ve yet to understand. I am sorry it got out of hand, more than you will ever know. And for that, I deeply apologize.”

  He closed his eyes, pulling me closer, until my body was flush with his. His fingers clutched at my side, causing my stomach to lurch. My hand trapped between us, I felt my heart thundering in my chest.

  “I will never let anything harm you.” His voice, those words, so possessive and feral rumbled low, wild and reckless. This was a side of him I hadn’t seen, or maybe hadn’t wanted to see.

  But I believed him. Even after all he had done.

  “Angel.” His name was a sigh on my lips as I gave in. I couldn’t stay mad at him; my anger melted away into the darkness of the night. “I never … I never properly thanked you for everything you’ve done for me. Your saving me and just …” I lifted a shoulder. “Just being there for me.” I looked up into his eyes. “It means a lot to me. Thank you.”

  His eyes softened and the side of his lip turned up. His finger came up to trace my cheek, just as it had before. “Then everything was worth it.”

  Angel tilted his head and was still for a brief moment. Then he turned around and, pulling my hand into the crook of his arm once again, started walking back towards the house. “I must go. Mateo needs me.”

  We walked in a comfortable silence until we reached his limo. He opened the door and leaned over to brush his lips across my cheek. Then he disappeared into his car, shutting the door.

  I took a step back to let the car leave, but his window rolled down. I couldn’t see him, but I could hear his voice. “Tomorrow, go to Fire Ridge at exactly six p.m. Not a minute earlier nor a minute later. If Dominic does not invite you along, follow him. I think you will find something interesting.”

  Before I could respond, his window rolled up and the sleek black limo backed out of the driveway.

  Ch
apter 40

  The next night, I went to Fire Ridge, just as Angel instructed. I hadn’t seen Luke all day as he’d been gone on errands for Dominic. I couldn’t wait to free him of that burden.

  Because the sun hadn’t set yet, the mansion’s driveway was mostly empty. I was about to walk inside, when someone whistled at me. I turned my head. Heather was in the driver’s seat of a black SUV. “Over here. Get in. Hurry up!”

  I jogged over and jumped into the back. I expected to see Leroy and Terrence, but there was only Dominic. He looked up from typing something into his phone.

  “Good timing, Briar. I was going to show Heather something, but since you’re here, I want you to come too.”

  “Where are we headed?” I asked, forcing myself not to grin. It wasn’t good timing at all, but Dominic didn’t need to know that.

  Heather swung the car around. “To the warehouse where we met with Angel and Mateo.”

  “I want to show you something important.” Dominic’s head tilted down to his phone again. “Something I’ve been working on.”

  We drove the rest of the way in silence. Dominic was busy on his phone again. I tried to casually see what he was doing, but the afternoon sun through the window left an awful glare on his screen. I wondered if maybe he was talking with his buddies at other packs, trying to set up delivery routes through most of the major eastern cities. He had been talking about it for the last few days.

  Heather parked the car. Glaring sunlight reflected off the metal roof of the warehouse. I shielded my eyes as we walked inside. It looked exactly the same as before. Stacked boxes in the same place. Garbage stuck undisturbed in corners. I expected to see something else, maybe the beginning of a serious drug operation, but it didn’t look like he’d started anything.

  Dominic walked briskly forward, and we followed behind him. “Did you know I own this building?”

  Heather glanced around, clearly not impressed with what she saw. “How come? The place is a dump.”

  “That’s only because you haven’t seen the basement. This way.”