by Elisabeth Naughton, Cynthia Eden, Katie Reus, Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright, Joan Swan
He smiled slowly, reading her mind. “Yeah, that’s usually what you give the woman you love when you ask her to marry you.”
Her eyes grew even wider. “M-Marry her?”
He chuckled at her stunned reaction. “Where did you think I was headed? I was on my way to San Francisco to hunt you down.”
“I… Oh…”
Speechless. Again. It tickled every part of him.
“A year’s not gonna do it for me, Lisa. I figure fifty, maybe. Probably longer, since I plan on chasing you all through my golden years. There’s no one else in the world I’d rather spend my life with. What do you say? Marry me?”
A single tear slid down her cheek, and she shook her head. “A treasure hunter and a thief. What will people think?”
His smile widened. “That we were made for each other.”
She looked deep into his eyes and ran her hand over his cheek. Her touch sent warmth to every nerve in his body.
“Make me believe it, Rafe.”
“Always.”
Thanks for reading STOLEN FURY
I hope you enjoyed Rafe and Lisa's story!
If you would you like to know when my next book is available, you can sign up for my new release e-mail list at http://www.elisabethnaughton.com. Follow me on twitter Twitter.com/ElisNaughton, or like my Facebook page Facebook.com/elisabeth.naughton1.
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To see a complete list of all my books (including the other books in my Bestselling Stolen Series—STOLEN HEAT and STOLEN SEDUCTION), please turn the page.
Other Titles by Elisabeth Naughton
(In series order)
Stolen Series
(Romantic Suspense)
STOLEN FURY
STOLEN HEAT
STOLEN SEDUCTION
STOLEN SERIES BOXED SET
Single Titles
WAIT FOR ME
(Romantic Suspense)
Anthologies
BODYGUARDS IN BED
(with Lucy Monroe and Jamie Denton)
Firebrand Series
(Paranormal Romance)
BOUND TO SEDUCTION
SLAVE TO PASSION
POSSESSED BY DESIRE
FIREBRAND BOX SET
Eternal Guardians Series
(Paranormal romance)
MARKED
ENTWINED
TEMPTED
ENRAPTURED
ENSLAVED
BOUND
About the Author
Bestselling Author Elisabeth Naughton writes full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her books have appeared on every major bestsellers list, including the New York Times, the USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Digital Book World and IndieReader, and have been nominated for numerous awards such as the prestigious RITA® awards by Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, The Golden Leaf and the Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ballpark or dreaming up new and exciting adventures. Visit her on the web at www.ElisabethNaughton.com to learn more about her books.
BOUND BY BLOOD
By
Cynthia Eden
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events in this story are fictional.
Published By Cynthia Eden
Copyright ©2011 by Cynthia Eden
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
I was very excited to contribute to this anthology. When I was told that each author would be including a story that was her “first” (either in a series, in a new genre, etc.), I knew that I had to include BOUND BY BLOOD.
Although I have been traditionally published with New York for over eight years, BOUND BY BLOOD was my first “indie” release. I wanted to write a story about a powerful, determined alpha werewolf and his equally fierce vampire mate, so BOUND BY BLOOD was born. I had such an amazing reader response to my vampire and werewolf pairing that I created a “Bound” series. All of my “Bound” stories feature werewolf heroes and vampire heroines. And, in addition, the stories are all loosely based off fairy tales. Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and even Rapunzel helped to inspire these stories.
I like to think of my “Bound” stories as updated, werewolf/vampire versions of those happily-ever-after tales.
I hope that you enjoy BOUND BY BLOOD. This novella contains 21,000 words, and it will introduce you to Morgan and Jace. Happy reading!
Best,
Cynthia Eden
Chapter One
The sexy little vampiress walked into the bar as if she owned the place.
Since Howling Moon was a low-rent dive hidden on the shadier side of Miami, a bar that catered to werewolves, well, the lady was very much out of fucking place. And, if she wasn’t careful, she might just become the night’s entertainment.
Jace Vaughn tensed when he saw her. He wasn’t as drunk as the other wolves, not yet anyway, so he recognized the deceptively delicate woman instantly.
He could see the hint of her small fangs peeking out just behind the plump fullness of her too-red lips. Vamps’ fangs always came out when they were about to fight or fuck.
So which one was the vamp about to do?
She stilled inside the doorway of the bar. Her long blonde hair tumbled behind her as her gaze raked to the left. To the right. Huh. Looked like she was hunting for someone—or something. In this place, the only thing she’d find was a pack ready to rip her to pieces.
Vampires and wolves weren’t exactly playing nice these days. Or any days.
She should know that.
But then her gaze swept by him. Swept by, then came right back. Her blue eyes—bright with a vamp’s power—caught his. She stared at him, and Jace found he couldn’t look away. A vampire’s trick of compulsion?
Nah…more likely just his own lust. Because the lady was hot. Most female vamps were, those pureblood ones anyway. And Jace knew he was looking at one of the elite pureblood Florida vamps.
A pureblood, in a werewolf hell.
He smiled. Fate must be laughing her ass off somewhere.
Then, she smiled too. A lick of heat shot straight through his body, and the beast that he kept chained inside stretched and growled.
Want.
She started walking toward him in her high, fuck-me or fuck-off black boots. Jace shoved away from the bar.
But the others had noticed her now, and they were closing in.
Three males. Big and hulking because that was the way of the beast.
“Vampire…” The snarl floated in the air, and the males reached for her.
“No!” His roar broke a second too slowly.
Two of the males crashed into nearby tables. They’d made the mistake of actually touching her. You didn’t touch a vampiress who didn’t want to be touched. Fools should know that rule.
Purebloods were especially strong.
Excitement had the beast inside yanking on his leash.
Every person in the bar froze for a moment, then instantly turned their attention on her. The vamp had the third wolf on the floor in front of her. He hadn’t shifted, not yet, but his claws were already lengthening. She had one small hand at his throat while the other held tight to his hair, yanking his head back to better expose his neck.
Vampires always went for the throat. So predictable. Their hunger made them weak every time.
“Kill the bitch…” Ah, that mutter came from one of the guys she’d tossed a good ten feet. He was already rising with his claws out and blood dripping from his busted cheek.
Jace lifted his hand, staying the men even as they rose. “Not…yet.”
He knew no one would disobey. They couldn’t. He was alpha, and if they tried, he’d be the one kicking ass.
Even the shitty band
stopped playing as he crossed the room. The few human females in the bar glanced around curiously, and he saw a couple of the shifters push them toward the back. The women came to play at Howling Moon. Or rather, the wolves played with them. Those women knew the score about the supernatural world, and they knew to keep quiet about the paranormal society.
The vampiress didn’t release her grip on her prey. Jace took his time stalking toward her. Like most vamps, she had pale, ivory skin. Her features were…damn, pretty perfect. Wide eyes, high cheeks, small nose. Her chin was pointed a little, giving her a slightly stubborn edge, but then, bloodsuckers were not exactly known to be easy going.
Neither were wolves.
She wore all black. Tight black shirt, a very short black skirt, and those boots that oozed sex.
Sex and violence. Yeah, that was pretty much how vamps and wolves rolled.
As he closed in on her, Jace picked up her scent, separating the light perfume of her skin from the booze, sweat, and the cigarettes in the air. The vampire smelled sweet, tempting.
Her kind always did. The better to lure their prey in for that deadly bite. But she was—
More.
He inclined his head toward her. “Let him go.”
“Of course.” Her voice rolled lightly, soft, sensual, but had no accent. She dropped her hold on the wolf instantly.
Then Mike made the mistake of lunging back up and slicing at her with his claws.
Rage exploded inside of Jace, and he leapt forward even as his own claws broke from his fingertips.
Don’t hurt—
She stepped back, ducked, then shoved her fist right at the wolf’s heart. Her punch threw Mike back against Jace.
Jace grabbed the wolf and twisted him around. He lifted the other guy off the floor and glared at him. “I don’t remember giving you permission to attack, Mike.”
He heard the vamp’s breaths panting lightly and knew she wasn’t as controlled as she appeared. No scent of fear, not yet.
“B-bloodsucker…comin’ in here…” Mike snarled. “She can’t just…walk in…”
“I was invited here,” she said smoothly.
Still trapped in Jace’s grip, Mike twisted and glared over his shoulder. “Who the hell…would be dumb enough to invite a vampire here—”
“Your alpha.” Her answer came with a shrug as her gaze lifted back to Jace. Then she inclined her head in the smallest of subservient gestures. Submission. “I was told of your offer, and I’m here to accept.”
Mike’s head swung back toward him. “Jace?” His voice was stronger now. Wolves always healed fast. “What bullshit is she talking about?”
Jace slammed his forehead into Mike’s nose. Bones crunched and blood spurted even as the smaller wolf howled. Then Jace threw the guy against the nearest wall, one that was about fifteen feet away. When Mike crashed, he didn’t get up.
Silence. So thick it covered the whole bar. Jace stared at the vamp, trying to keep all emotion from his face. Then, slowly, he closed the remaining space between him and the woman who was going to change everything for him.
He caught her hand and turned her palm over. Hell, yes, the mark was there, cradled inside her left hand. Just like he’d known it would be. A blood-red rose.
He stood close enough to see the circle of gold in her eyes. The faint gold that marked her just as her hand did. She was something far more than an ordinary bloodsucker.
She was a vampire princess. His key to power, immortality, and she was the perfect weapon that he needed to kick the ass of the demons who’d come to town looking to wipe out his people.
Her lips parted as she stared up at him. He glimpsed her deceptively delicate fangs.
And he caught the scent of fear as it swept through her.
She was right to be afraid. Now that she was there, within his grasp, and he’d never let her go.
Never.
“I’m Jace.” He let her see his own fangs. “And you’re mine.” A claim made before all the wolves in the room. From now on, any wolf who touched her would face him—and death.
She swallowed and tilted her head back to better meet his stare. “Hello, husband.”
The wolf within growled…Mine.
***
When you were stuck between death and hell, sometimes, you had to turn to a big, bad wolf for help.
The door to the small storeroom closed with a soft click behind Morgan LaBeaux, and she tried hard not to tense her shoulders.
Alone. With him. The werewolf’s footsteps padded around the room.
She kept her chin up and knew that he’d smell her fear. Dammit, she hated being afraid. But the idea of bonding with this male and staying with him for the rest of her very long life—hello, fear.
Morgan didn’t fear many things, but every vamp in lower Florida knew it was smart to step cautiously around Jace Vaughn. He hadn’t earned the alpha title by playing nicely.
No, he’d earned it by cutting a bloody path through his rivals and leaving their savaged bodies in his wake.
And I get to marry him?
Some days, a bride was just lucky.
“I didn’t think the vamps were going to accept my deal.”
His voice sounded more like a beast’s than a man’s. Deep. Rumbling. He propped his shoulders against the wall in front of her and crossed his powerful arms over his chest. His eyes, so dark they almost looked black, swept over her once more. “A real fucking princess,” he muttered as he shook his head. “I’ll be damned.”
Probably. They all would be. That’s why they were monsters. Though she really hadn’t been given much choice since she’d been one of the few vamps actually born to the blood’s call.
She cleared her throat. “At first, the Council didn’t plan to accept your…ah…offer.” The Vampire Council—the strongest vamps in the area—hadn’t exactly been keen on Jace’s plan. But then the game had changed when their guards started showing up dead, courtesy of the demon bastards who’d come to town.
Once upon a time, the supernaturals had all lurked in the shadows, content to exist only in the nightmares of humans. Why take the spotlight? Death and persecution would only follow. The witch trials had taught them all that.
Vampires had never sought attention, still didn’t.
Wolves, yes, they got a little wild and some rumors had been known to circulate about them, but they’d kept fairly quiet over the centuries, too.
But the demons—those assholes who were escaping hell in increasing numbers—they weren’t in the mood for quiet. They’d amassed in Miami and were planning one deadly coming out party. But first, they wanted to prove they were the biggest, toughest prey in the night.
So they were eliminating their supernatural competition.
A war was coming. No, it had already started. Vampires versus demons. Demons versus wolves.
The enemy of my enemy…
Is my husband.
“The demons want to wipe us out,” she said. “You want them stopped as much as we do.” He still hadn’t moved. Just stood there with his arms crossed. But at least there was no sign of his claws, not anymore. “You were right. The best way for us to end this battle is to team up.”
He smiled, a half-smile that didn’t lighten his face. It just made him look all the more dangerous.
The guy exuded danger like no one she’d ever seen. Darkly tan, golden skin covered a body hard with muscles. Jace Vaughn towered over her, easily passing six-foot-three or six-foot- four. He wasn’t handsome, no, his face was too savage for that. His long, dark mane of hair brushed his shoulders. He had hard, tense features.
Not handsome. But…sexy. Dammit, sexy.
Wolves and their animal appeal. She hadn’t thought that appeal would work on her. She’d been wrong.
“Wolves are holding their own…” Now his arms dropped as he stepped toward her.
“So far,” she whispered. That would change soon enough. Once the demons started concentrating their full strength on them.
“You know we have to find the doorway that’s letting these demons out of hell and close it. If we don’t, they’ll take over.”
And their coming out party to the humans would be a nightmare.
His eyes held hers. When he took another step toward her, Morgan held her ground. She had an image to maintain. A vampire can’t tremble before a werewolf. But the slight flare of his nostrils told her that the wolf was drinking in her scent, and no doubt picking up on her fear.
Great.
When his hand lifted toward her, she tensed.
“Easy, princess,” he murmured, “it’s just a touch.”
Right. And if they were going through with this bargain, he’d be doing a whole lot more touching.
What’s one life versus the fate of your people? That had been the Council’s big selling speech to her. Sacrifice yourself. Save everyone else.
Go be food for the big, bad wolf…because he can save our asses.
“My name’s Morgan,” her voice came out huskier than she’d intended, but his hand was on her cheek, smoothing over the flesh, and she wanted to shiver. Don’t. She couldn’t show that weakness. His hands were hard, but his touch felt whisper-soft. “Morgan LaBeaux.” There was pride in the words because she was named after the first pureblood vampire ever to be born, Morganna La Fey.
The first, but not the last.
His gaze swept her face. “I can’t believe…they’d really trade…you?”
She swallowed. In the end, it wasn’t about the Council. It wasn’t their lives that would be offered. “It’s my call.” His hand slipped down her throat and his fingers pressed lightly over the pulse that raced beneath his touch.
Yes, her heart still beat. She breathed. She wasn’t dead, despite what humans thought. Purebloods were born as vampires. They simply stopped aging around their twenty-fifth year. Stopped aging and developed a lust for blood.
