by Marie Medina
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2020 Marie Medina
ISBN: 978-0-3695-0140-0
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Melissa Hosack
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To DV
HIS SECOND CHANCE
The Year of Blood, 1
Marie Medina
Copyright © 2020
Chapter One
Valladora
3156, The Year of Blood
Petyr looked to the darkening sky and then into the back of the cart where his son and daughter slept in their baskets. If he went faster, he might not get caught in the downpour, but he would certainly wake them up. He had crates and boxes shoved well enough around them that they’d be safe and secure, but they were already so exhausted from the journey. The horses needed a break as well, their pace slowing a bit as the road wound up the hillside and became steeper. He reached back to fold the canopy flaps over the opening. At least the children would be dry even if he wound up drenched.
The house sitting atop the hill came into view, and it was smaller than he’d imagined. Most vampires lived in castles, but Lord Rollo lived in the former home of one of the mine owners. The mine had closed down ten years ago, and the lord had moved in a year later. Many eyebrows had risen when he’d built a second, larger house on the plateau and opened an inn, but Petyr had always liked the idea of a vampire living closer to ordinary people and working alongside them.
He’d taken even greater interest in it eighteen months earlier when an accident had led to discovering that he and Rollo were fated mates.
Petyr sighed as the wind picked up. The sky had been overcast all day, and the air held more of a chill than it usually did at this time of year. But at least the rain seemed to be delaying. Five more minutes and he’d be safe inside with Adam and Ellie.
Even if he isn’t happy to see me, he’ll have compassion for the children. Everyone in the village said he’s kind and generous. He was certainly kind to me when I rejected him to marry Nora.
Memories of that whirlwind of days swirled in his head—Nora breaking off their engagement, Petyr meeting Rollo and discovering they were mates, and then the news of Nora being with child. As Petyr came to a halt in front of the inn, The Stargazer, the disappointed yet resigned look on Rollo’s face came back to him for the hundredth time. He had no right to ask anything of this man, but his pride and everything else had to be put aside for the sake of his children.
A man in his fifties came out of the inn. “You’ll be needing a room?” he asked as a stable boy came over to steady the horses.
“Yes, please. And I have two infants with me.” Petyr lifted the flap to check on them.
“Oh, best get them in before the rain, then. I’m Edward.” He went back to the door of the inn. “Helen, can you come help? Two babes fast asleep. Should get them in before the sky opens up.”
A woman of about the same age came out, all smiles. “Oh, how nice to have little ones about.” She came over and began helping as Petyr freed and lifted the baskets.
As they worked, he turned to Edward and said, “And when he’s free, I need to speak with Lord Rollo, if possible.”
“Oh,” Edward said. “Is it urgent? Does he know you?”
“It’s urgent in a way. It can wait until tomorrow morning, though. And yes, he knows me.”
Edward nodded. “I’ll give him your name,” he said, tilting his head expectantly.
“It’s Petyr,” he said as he drew his satchel out. “I’m from the next village. It’s been about a year and half since he last saw me.” He looked up and saw that both Helen and Edward had stopped dead in their tracks, the children’s baskets balanced in their arms. Even the stable boy had paused to look back a moment, though he soon resumed his work when Edward glanced over at him.
“Petyr?” Helen said. “The Petyr?”
“Uh…” Petyr knew what they meant but didn’t know what to say. “Odd to think of myself that way, but I suppose so.”
“His mate?” Edward said.
Petyr nodded, wondering if these two friendly people would now turn on him and tell him to leave.
“The gods do play games with us, don’t they?” Helen said, before turning on her heels and going into the inn with Adam.
Edward nodded to the inn and carried Ellie inside, his gaze angling toward Petyr. “Begging your pardon, but I don’t see a wife. Or a wedding ring.”
They know all about me. Why didn’t I consider that? “I don’t have either anymore. My wife has passed, and the ring was sold to help fund my journey.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. I didn’t mean to be so blunt, but I’m just a bit surprised.” He paused as he angled the basket to get it inside. “Perhaps you should see Rollo tonight. He won’t be happy if we don’t tell him you’re here right away.”
“I promise I’m not here to cause him pain,” he said, feeling compelled to reassure them for some reason. “When you know all, you’ll understand.”
Edward nodded and led him down a hallway. Helen was in a bedroom at the end of it, already fussing with a large crib in the corner. She turned when they came in. “Edward said we’d never need this. That people with more than one infant would never trudge up that hill to stay here when there’s the other inn in town. But now I’m glad I insisted. They’ll sleep better close, I’m guessing.”
“Oh yes. Can’t bear to be parted,” Petyr said. He cleared his throat and asked, “What did you mean about the gods playing games with us?”
Helen pressed her lips together, casting a quick glance over at Edward. “Nothing, really. Just your timing. It’s interesting.”
“What’s interesting about it?” Petyr asked.
They both looked everywhere but at him, and he sighed.
“If I tell my secret, will you tell yours?”
That got them both to look at him. “Secret?” Helen said.
Petyr walked over to the bed, where the children’s baskets now sat. “I’m here for them, not for myself. I have a blood disease, one that cannot be cured. With their mother dead, they’ll have no one. I’ve come to beg Rollo to help them. I only knew him a few days, but he was so kind. Compassionate. The people in the village confirmed my vague memories. They couldn’t stop talking about what a good man he is.”
Helen came over and looked at Ellie and Adam. “Poor babes,” she said, clutching his arm. Then her face clouded. “But wait.” She frowned as she looked up at him. “Rollo is your mate. He wouldn’t need special permission to save your life.”
“The doctors say there’s less than a fifty percent chance vampire blood would save me.” He shook his head adamantly. “It’s not fair to Rollo.”
“What’s not fair to Rollo?” a voice asked.
Petyr looked into Helen’s eyes as a shiver went down his spine. There could be no mistaking that deep voice. He turned around to look into the eyes of his fated mate for the first time in a year and a half.
****
Rollo stared as the blond man turned around, and his breath caught in his throat as those blue eyes met his and he realized who it was. He moved forward and saw movement from one of the baskets on the bed. An infant beat against the side of the basket and then cried
out. Rollo stopped as Petyr turned to the child and lifted it into his arms.
Helen and Edward both hurriedly left the room without a word, Edward shutting the door behind them.
“Your children?” Rollo said.
“Yes. Adam and Ellie.” Petyr stroked the back of the one in his arms. “This one is Adam.”
Rollo took two steps closer. Ellie still slept, golden curls like her father’s brushing her forehead. “They’re beautiful.” And the reason you couldn’t be with me. He took a fortifying breath and asked, “Where is your wife? Nora, I believe?” He’d never forgotten her name, but he hardly needed Petyr to know how much he’d dwelt on those events all this time.
“Yes, Nora.” He wet his lips and shifted the babe in his arms. “She’s deceased.”
Rollo’s heart quickened at that news, but he turned his gaze to Ellie a moment to collect himself. He couldn’t allow himself to jump to the wrong conclusion about Petyr’s reason for being here. “I’m sorry for your loss. How recent?”
“Eleven months. A mere three weeks after their birth.”
Despite how much Rollo had resented Nora, and the pregnancy that had stolen his chance with Petyr, that news made his chest ache. “Not even a chance for them to know her. I’m truly so sorry, Petyr.”
“Thank you. Many in the village pitched in. Every morning, it got easier. Waking up to their little faces helped get me through.”
“Are you here by chance? What I heard as I came in makes me think you purposed to come here.” Why didn’t you come to me for help? He knew the answer to that, but it still pained him to think of his mate struggling to support and care for two infants.
“I did come here on purpose. I needed to see you.”
Adam reached out a little hand and grasped a strand of Rollo’s long brown hair. Rollo smiled at him and freed himself gently. “What is it that wouldn’t be fair to me?”
Petyr’s eyes glistened a bit as he hugged Adam closer. He hesitated, as if he didn’t want to answer, but eventually he said, “I’m not here for me. I’m here to beg you to help my children.”
Rollo looked at both of them more closely, not sure what Petyr could mean. The children looked healthy and well cared for, so he didn’t understand. “There’s no need at all to beg. What is it? Anything within my power will be done. And if it’s beyond my reach, I’ll reach out to my family, to all of my friends. Simply tell me what you need.”
Petyr turned away and wiped at his eyes. “I’m dying. My children will have no one. There are generous people in my village, but I have no money to leave them to ease the burden Adam and Ellie would bring.” He took a deep breath and turned back. “I wish for your help to find them a home. With you as their advocate, perhaps a vampire or a wealthy family might—”
Rollo stopped him by pressing two fingers to Petyr’s lips. They stared at each other a long moment before Petyr stepped back, looking flustered by the gesture. Adam reached out and wrapped his little fist around Rollo’s fingers. “It goes without saying that if your children need a home, they have one here.”
Petyr shook his head. “That’s not what I came here for. I can’t expect you to do that much for me.”
“You’re my mate. I would do anything for you. I told you that the last time we spoke. But I guess I don’t blame you for thinking I didn’t actually mean it.”
Ellie woke with a cry, and Petyr went to her. Rollo moved to his side and said, “Give him to me so you can pick her up.”
Petyr started to pick her up without handing Adam over, but then he put the boy in Rollo’s arms. “I’m used to handling them alone,” Petyr said. “Carrying both of them together.”
“I’m sure you are, but I doubt you’ll be able to do so much longer. Do they walk yet?”
“Yes. Both of them. Ellie doesn’t like to walk, but she can.” He cradled her close to calm her. “And Adam is starting to run.”
“Your hands are full then. I’m sure it’s been challenging.”
“It’s incredibly challenging. Worth it, of course, but it’s so much work. Which is why I can’t dump them on you.”
“Dump them on me? That’s not the way I see it at all.” He freed his hair from Adam’s grasp again and pushed the strands over his shoulder. “But more importantly, what’s wrong with you? There are few human diseases that turning cannot cure.”
Petyr shook his head right away. “I can’t ask that of you. That’s what I referred to when I said it wasn’t fair. I have a blood disease. A very aggressive form of Sanghex. My own blood is killing me. It grows more toxic every day. The doctors say there’s less than a fifty percent chance vampire blood can cure me.”
“Drinking vampire blood and actually being turned are two very different things. If you’re turned, the second heart, the gland below your heart, will be activated and will constantly regenerate your blood. If you’d mentioned that you’re a vampire’s fated mate, I’m sure the doctors would’ve sent you straight to me. So, I’m guessing you said nothing.”
Petyr looked down.
“Are you afraid of me? Or do you simply not want to be with a man? This is a matter of life and death with two innocents on the verge of losing a second parent. I would never force you to be with me in exchange for this help.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” Petyr looked back up. “And I was merely surprised to be fated to a man, not against it. I’ve found men attractive before, just never acted on it.”
“If we must sign contracts for you to believe I won’t force anything between us, I’ll do it. I won’t let you die without at least trying.” He studied Petyr’s expression, which struck him as both stunned and perplexed. “How long have you known?”
“I’ve been weak for months. Had many infections. A firm diagnosis only came two weeks ago, but I knew there was no time to lose.”
“You’re still in shock then. You aren’t thinking clearly. I’m sure it’s felt like an eternity, but I see no reason to give up hope this way.”
“I just…” Petyr turned away and set Ellie in the basket again, leaning heavily on the bedpost and seeming to struggle to catch his breath suddenly.
Rollo just made it to his side before his legs went out from under him.
“Helen, Edward, I need help in here!” he said as he tried to ease Petyr to the floor while balancing Adam on his knee.
Helen and Edward both came rushing in, and Helen took Adam from him straight away. “We need the doctor, Rollo,” she said.
Rollo nodded as he hefted Petyr into his arms. “We do.” To Edward, he said, “Help me get him into the main house. We’ll put him in my bedroom, the little ones in the sitting room beside it.”
“I’ll get one of the kitchen girls to help me get the babes settled,” Helen said.
“Send one of the stable boys into town on Lightning. I want the doctor here as soon as possible, even if the pending storm breaks. We’ll pay whatever he wants.”
Helen nodded, rubbing Adam’s back. “We’ll take care of everything.” She followed them down the hall a few feet. “Just make him see reason when he wakes up.”
He looked down at Petyr and said, “Oh, I will. I won’t let him slip away from me again.” He quickened his pace once they were outside. Especially not like this.
****
Petyr woke with an aching head, and he fumbled with the sheets as he tried to sit up. A glance around told him that he wasn’t in the room he’d been given at the inn. A large bed sat in the corner of an enormous room with dark wood paneling and elegant furniture. He tried to stand up but sank back down onto the bed almost immediately.
Footsteps sounded, and Petyr looked to the opposite wall. One door was wide open and led to a bathing chamber, but the other was partially closed. The second was the one that swung open, and Rollo came striding across the room with a look of concern on his face.
“How are you feeling? The doctor wasn’t sure how long you might sleep,” Rollo said as he came to stand by the bed.
“My h
ead hurts.” He looked around again. “Where am I?”
“The main house. My bedroom.” Rollo nodded to the far wall. “I slept on the sofa there.”
“I’d have been fine in the inn.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, struggling to recall details from before he’d passed out.
“I’d have stayed to watch over you there as well, so what does it matter?”
A flash of memory came. He remembered Rollo holding Adam while he tried to put Ellie back in her basket. “Where are the children? Did I drop Ellie?” He saw no sign of them in the room and tried to rise again.
Rollo put a hand on his arm to prevent him from getting up. “No, you didn’t drop her. They’re both fine. We’ve set them up in the next room, but right now they’re outside. Helen found a wagon in the barn. She and one of the maids have taken them out for some fresh air and a little walk. The storm moved on without breaking, and it’s a beautiful day. Almost noon.” He pointed to the windows behind Petyr. “There’s a small balcony, if you want to sit outside.”
“Not sure I can walk that far.”
“I’ll help you.”
Petyr lowered his head, and Rollo grasped his shoulder firmly.
“Look, you need help, and you’re going to have to learn to accept it. You should have written to me and let me come to you. Your journey obviously exhausted you. What if something had gone wrong on the road?”
“It didn’t. I was careful.” Yet panic began rising as possibilities rattled off in his head.
“You collapsed minutes after your arrival. The risk was too great, for you and for them.” Rollo reached for a decanter on the side table and poured dark liquid into a glass. “You need to drink this.”
Guilt washed over him, and he shuddered. Why did everything in his head have to be so muddled and blurry? He’d felt fine when they set out yesterday. Had he been going purely on adrenaline?
