Blood That Binds: A Vampire Romance (Blood Legends Duet)

by Melissa Winters

  My hands clench at my side. “Then demand it. Please.”

  “Is it worth a war, Marina?” he asks harshly. “Do you know her enough to potentially put millions of humans at risk?”

  “You think that by demanding she stay, you’d start a war?”

  “Marcellus is looking for a reason. He’d turn it around and make it appear to the Council that I’m going soft on humans. He’d convince them that I’d jeopardize our race for one girl.”

  A tear drips down my cheek at the realization that I can’t save Stacey. No matter how much I promised, I can’t deliver.

  “Hey.” He grabs my cheek softly, turning my head toward him. “I’m not saying I won’t try, Marina. I will. I’m just asking you to know that there is a chance it won’t happen. If he pushes back, I can’t fight him. I can’t risk everything for her, no matter how much I want to. One month. That’s what was agreed.”

  I sniffle, turning my head out of his grasp. In truth, I understand his dilemma, but I hate it.

  We walk along the path in silence, both lost in our own thoughts. The two-story historical dream house helps me to relax. There is something soothing about this place, but we don’t stop today. We walk past, coming up to the large woods.

  “What’s beyond the woods?” I press my luck, digging for information on what lies beyond.

  “It separates this property from my brothers’.”

  The mention of his brothers makes me think of Law. He’s been nothing but nice since the auction.

  “What does Law think about all of this?”

  “Law tends to stay out of matters dealing with my brother and the Council. He agrees with me and doesn’t feel the need for an auction. He has his own line of volunteer donors.” Julian’s eyes roll. “Women tend to throw themselves at his feet willingly. He prefers to snack and leave them alive.”

  “Gross,” I scrunch my nose.

  “I suppose it would be to you. To us, it’s merely a form of foreplay. There is pleasure in blood sharing.” He looks at me sideways again.

  “I doubt that.” My hand comes to my neck, massaging the phantom pain.

  “Truly, Marina. It’s very erotic and sensual when both participants are willing.”

  “I’d rather die.”

  Julian straightens, his face a mask of stone. What’s going on in his head? I’ve certainly offended him, by the way he’s shut down.

  “I think it’s time we head back,” Julian says sullenly.

  I instantly regret my reaction. Will this affect our truce? Regardless, I can’t lie. To me, the thought of someone taking my blood from my body is anything but sensual. It’s painful and uncivilized. I’d like to be friends with Julian, but at the end of the day I won’t pretend to understand his culture. It’s strange and disturbing to me. Especially when their kind embrace the practice of kidnapping and stealing blood. No, there is nothing sexy about that.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The past week with Stacey has been the most fun I’ve had in more than a year. We’ve done nothing but eat and talk about our lives pre-abduction. Stacey’s life was the all-American one. A beautiful, educated, loving mother. A doting, breadwinning father. One brother, a dog, and a white picket fence. I listened raptly as she told the stories of her childhood with unshed tears. She’d give anything to have that life back.

  As I sat there listening to her, I realized how different we were. I might not want to be a prisoner of vampires, but I’m not begging for my old life either. It was far from perfect. In fact, at times, it was a nightmare.

  Stacey’s going on about high school and her friends. I laugh, because even in that aspect we’re polar opposites. She had more friends than I had kids in my class. My life pales in comparison.

  “So, what you’re saying is you were a mean girl,” I say in response to Stacey’s high school antics.

  “I wasn’t mean, per se.”

  I purse my lips, tilting my head to the side.

  “Okay, fine. I was mean, and karma is an epic bitch, based on our current situation.” She crosses her arms over her chest, pouting at karma’s revenge.

  No debating that. There is nothing either one of us has done in our past to justify this. Stacey’s life has literally been turned upside down. I’ve just traded one form of hell for another. Your current situation is better than life before.

  “We wouldn’t have been friends in life,” I say, thinking about how different we were in our pasts and being thankful that we’ve met, even under the unfair circumstances.

  “You don’t know that.”

  I laugh. “Oh, yes I do. I was the town weirdo who saw monsters as a child. If that wasn’t traumatic enough, I watched my sister commit suicide. The whole antisocial thing—I had it pegged.”

  “Jesus,” she croaks. “We weren’t cruel. The people we picked on had it coming to them.”

  I raise my brow.

  “Seriously. You weren’t a weirdo, Marina. What you saw . . . it was real,” she says, motioning around. “Vampires are real. Your monsters—real,” she says to emphasize her point. “It was the rest of us who were in the dark.”

  I nod. She’s right. Everything Maggie and I saw growing up wasn’t our imagination. All the medications they made us take were for nothing. We were right, but in this moment, I wish we had been wrong.

  We’re quiet for several moments, each lost in our own thoughts. The silence makes the air thick and awkward. Stacey, being Stacey, attempts to lighten the mood.

  “Let’s play a game,” Stacey says excitedly.

  “Um . . . okay? What do you suggest?”

  She taps her finger on her chin a couple times before opening her eyes wide.

  “I’ve got it. Let’s play tag and seek.”

  She can’t be serious.

  “I’m serious,” she laughs.

  Okay, so she is.

  “In here?” I question, not seeing the fun in that.

  “No. He gave us permission to roam—let’s roam.”

  “What the hell is tag and seek?”

  “Just what it sounds like. A combo of tag and hide and seek. Come on,” she says, grabbing my shoulder and turning me toward the door. “Rules of the game. We remain on this level. I hide first, but you have to give me ten minutes before you come in search. Got it?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Nope,” she singsongs, clearly excited about this child’s play.

  “Then you’d better get going.”

  I begin to count out loud and Stacey smiles widely before dashing off, giggling while she goes.

  My stomach growls, alerting me to the fact I’ve yet to eat, but it will have to wait. Stacey was so excited, and if playing games helps her to smile, I’m going to participate. I can’t pretend I get it, but I never really was one for games. Right now, though, I’m willing to try new things. It’s something I should’ve been doing a long time ago. We need a little fun in our lives, after all we’ve been through.

  Giving her another two minutes, I quickly shove a strawberry into my mouth. The need for more is intense, but I told her I’d play, so I repress the urge to continue to stuff my face full of food. Entering the hall, I look left and then right. I’ve only ever been down the right hall. It leads to the throne room and outside, the only two places I’ve been on the estate, outside of my room. Curiosity has me turning left.

  The hall is lined with doors. I open each to find empty rooms. I’ve just finished looking under the bed of the current room when a noise from behind has me spinning around. The room is dark, and with the light of the hall, I can barely make out the figure of a girl.

  “Stacey?” I call out. No answer.

  She turns and takes off in a sprint. Getting to my feet, I fly to the door, trying to catch her. When I reach the hall, I catch the backside of her rounding the corner. I pick up my pace, eager to catch her.

  “Hey, come back,” I yell down the hall. She giggles and I throw my head back, jubilant laughter escaping for the first ti
me in years. I feel carefree. Alive.

  A simple game of tag has transported me back to the days of my childhood that are worth remembering. Memories of Maggie and me playing the same game. I channel that and live in the moment, running around the curves of the hallway, not even bothering to check the rooms I pass.

  When I come upon a large set of iron doors, I throw them open without thinking twice. Looking back over my shoulder, I check to make sure Stacey isn’t creeping up on me. I lost sight of her and she could’ve easily ducked into any of the empty rooms. She could be in pursuit of me now. I giggle at the thought.

  Walking backwards, keeping my eye on the door in case she tries to sneak up on me, my calves hit something soft. I turn around and all the excitement I felt quickly turns to dread. A scream rips from my throat at the sight in front of me. My hands come to my mouth to smother any additional shrieks of terror.

  Lying in a massive bed is a corpse, charred from the inside out. I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman, the body is so badly burned. Empty eye sockets and a mouth that gapes open make for a horrifying sight. Screams continue to rack through me. Strong hands come down on my shoulders from behind and turn me around.

  Julian pulls me into his firm chest, rubbing his hand down my back in a soothing gesture.

  “Shhh. You’re all right. I’ve got you,” he whispers into my ear, attempting to calm me down. It works, though my body continues to tremble in his grasp.

  “You weren’t supposed to be here, Marina. I never wanted you to see this.”

  With those words I know I’ve entered the east wing, one of the forbidden areas of the estate. He said it was his father’s chambers. Realization hits, and I feel even more queasy.

  Stepping back to look at him, I try my best to stop shaking.

  “What happened to him?”

  I’m staring at the body of Julian’s father, the former king of vampires. He’s been reduced to near ashes. If I so much as touched him, what’s left would undoubtedly crumble into a pile of dust.

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” He shakes his head. “We found him in here like this. It looked like he had been cooked from the inside out.”

  “Who would do this?”

  Julian drops his hands from my shoulders, walking closer to the bed and peering at the remains of his father.

  “The list is extensive. My father was not a good man.”

  My nose crinkles.

  “The Council?” I offer.

  “Some are at the top of my list,” he admits. “My father harbored secrets that the elders of the other families were trying desperately to uncover. I believe my father died protecting those secrets.”

  My eyes narrow on Julian. “But you know them?”

  The way his eyes shift tells me his father was not alone in keeping secrets from the Council. Julian’s guilt-ridden face shows the truth. He knows something.

  “What are you hiding, Julian?”

  He turns from me, probably trying to formulate his lie, and when he turns around, he appears tired.

  “There are things that aren’t safe for you to know, Marina. If they assassinated my father to unearth the truth, they won’t hesitate in killing you.”

  I huff. “They wouldn’t hesitate in killing me period. I might as well be caught up on what’s going on here. Maybe I can help.”

  He eyes me wearily. “You’re very brave, Marina, but I wish you’d value your life more.”

  My spine straightens. What does he know about my life? His eyes widen at my change in demeanor.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you; I just don’t understand. What happened in your life that makes you so quick to throw yourself into the thick of danger?”

  “I haven’t thrown myself into anything. Do I need to remind you that your Council did this to me? You brought me here. Any danger I’m in, you’ve brought to me.”

  His sigh is long and harsh.

  “You’re right, Julian. I don’t want to know. Keep me a prisoner and in the dark. You seem to have this all under control.” I shoulder past him, pissed and ready to get far away from Julian Bellamy.

  I’m halfway down the hall when Stacey comes sauntering out of a dark room.

  “Whoa. What’s wrong with you?”

  I push past her, not wanting to stop.

  “Marina,” Julian calls out, but I ignore him, wanting to put as much distance between us as possible. I’m angry because I thought we’d turned a corner. He asked me to trust him, and to me, trust is earned. Trust comes from being open.

  “Please. Stop,” he commands. Coming to a halt, I whirl around and go toe to toe with the king of vampires.

  “Why don’t you stop ordering me around?”

  His eyes widen at my harsh tone and deadly glare.

  “I’m tired of taking orders. You said you wouldn’t hurt me—well, I’m calling your bluff. How long will that last when I refuse to obey?”

  His lips part but then slam shut again. Swiping his hand back through his hair roughly, he grunts his dissatisfaction.

  “Why must human women be so difficult?”

  I blanch at his words.

  “You’re kidding.”

  “No, Marina. I’m not. I’ve made no move to harm you, yet you’ve been nothing but combative.”

  “I was stolen from my home,” I yell.

  “I’ve told you a million times, not by me. I’ve done nothing but keep you safe.”

  “Then stop. Let me go,” I demand, knowing full well I’m being childish. He’s already explained why I can’t go, yet here I am throwing it back in his face after all he has done. Ungrateful much? But I can’t help it.

  “If you leave here you will die, Marina, and not at my hands. I can’t save you if you leave.”

  “Ugh,” I groan. “I’m so tired of hearing the same things over and over. I’m saving you, I won’t hurt you. You sound like a broken record.”

  “What do you want from me, Marina?” Julian yells back, clearly done with my breakdown.

  “The truth. That’s all.” My words come out defeated. I’m tired. Tired of fighting for the day, tired of lies, tired of getting the same answers. Most of all, I’m emotionally spent. Maybe I’m being unfair, expecting too much too soon, but what I saw today has me unraveling.

  I’m living under a roof with the corpse of the ex-Crown. A creature that was obviously cruel—given he started and ran the auction—and merciless. I feel off-kilter around Julian, and I still don’t know if it’s because I’m starting to care for him, or if it’s a symptom of PTSD or some equivalent mental illness. Hell, it could very well be magic too. I’ve yet to attempt that puzzle.

  Julian takes a deep breath.

  “The truth is I will never harm you, Marina. Everything I’ve done is truly to protect you.” His shoulders sag, the fight leaving him. “But if you insist on knowing things—things that will put you in further danger—I’ll tell you.”

  “Everything?”

  He nods, resigned.

  “Everything.” He turns away. “Go clean up. We’ll have dinner, and then I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

  I walk to him, placing my hand on his back.

  “Thank you, Julian.” He looks over his shoulder, gives me a nod, and walks away.

  “What was all of that about?” Stacey asks with wide eyes.

  “I saw his father. He was killed, and Julian says he thinks it’s because of some secret that his father was hiding. I want him to tell me the secret.”

  “Why? What good can possibly come from you entangling yourself further into the vampire web, Marina?”

  I consider Stacey’s words. She isn’t wrong, but at this point what does it matter? If I’m to believe Julian, I’ve been marked. I’m stuck here and in the direct path of the vampires. If I try to leave, they’ll come after me anyway. Knowledge or not, I’m as good as dead. Knowledge is power, right?

  “What if it’s something that could help get us home? Don’t you want that?”
/>
  She purses her lips. “Yes, but I think we should listen to Julian. He hasn’t given us any reason not to trust him.”

  “He’s keeping secrets.”

  “Probably for our own good.” Stacey’s hands shoot up, frustrated. “I for one really don’t want to know what kind of monsters are out there.”

  “You’d rather be in the dark?” I ask, seriously curious.

  “Yes. Being in the dark isn’t always a bad thing, Marina. Could you seriously go home and turn your back on it all?”

  She has a point, but I still want to know.

  “I couldn’t,” she continues angrily. “I’d constantly be looking over my shoulder. Paranoid. You know what happens to paranoid girls? They end up killing themselves or they get institutionalized.”

  My face pales. She’s just described Maggie. Paranoia led her to do just that. Stacey isn’t wrong. In fact, she makes the most sense I’ve heard in some time, but it doesn’t change anything. The fact is, I do know monsters exist. I’ve been living with some sense of that knowledge my whole life. I need to know everything. It’s about more than just curiosity. It’s about knowing that Maggie didn’t die in vain. What she saw, the things she said, it was all true, and a nagging voice in my head says that this place, these people, have something to do with her death. Now it’s personal.

  Julian promised me answers after dinner, and I plan to hold his feet to the fire.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Thank you, Julian,” Stacey offers for the delicious meal we were just served. “You don’t know what it means to me that you saved me from your brother.”

  Julian’s eyes lower to the table. It makes me wonder how long Stacey will be safe. Can we keep her here and away from Marcellus?

  “You’re welcome,” he says bashfully, cheeks reddening, which is strange to see on a vampire.

  “You do have blood,” Stacey muses.

  Julian chuckles. “What did you think, we were hollow?”

  “Every movie I’ve ever watched, the vampires were unnaturally pale.” She considers him. “You do have the pasty white skin going on, but your cheeks just turned red. So you have to have blood flowing.”