Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths #2)

by Nashoda Rose

  She lowered her gaze from Waleron and nodded.

  What the fuck? Waleron wanted Delara to leave? Leave the Toronto Talde? Jesus. Every face in the room was stunned into silence, except Jedrik who was stupid enough to protest.

  “What are you talking about?” Jedrik looked at Waleron, who gave no answer. Then he turned to Delara. “Delar? Why? What does he mean?”

  “Leave it,” Waleron ordered.

  Jedrik opened his mouth to retort and Waleron raised his hand and slammed Jedrik with a bolt of energy, sending him across the room and right through the drywall into the next room.

  “Jedrik,” Delara cried. She took two steps toward him then stopped. With one look at Waleron, she turned, walked past all of us, and went upstairs.

  TYE PROPPED HIS SHOULDER up against the steel door, ankles and arms crossed while he stared at the floor, giving the impression he was casual. He wasn’t. Lowered brows and the twitch in his jaw told me he was anything but.

  A fuckin’ guard. That’s what Tye was. Probably smart. No, not probably, it was smart.

  He’d snapped a steel plate over my Ink. That argument hadn’t gone down well, but it was a battle I wouldn’t win, and I had to see her.

  I walked across the room, booted feet echoing like fuckin’ tribal drums before a sacrifice. My heart matched the pounding as I drew closer to the cell. No matter how luxurious Keir had designed the containment areas, they were still fucking cells. And Abby was locked behind steel bars. Unbreakable steel bars.

  There was a private washroom in one corner and a black leather couch and lounge chair with a marble coffee table. One wall had a large plasma TV with an assortment of books on shelves on either side. In the far corner was a king-sized bed with white satin sheets and oversized pillows. It was there my eyes found Abby, except she wasn’t on the bed. She sat on the floor leaning against the bed, knees pulled up to her chest, face hidden by her hair as she rested her cheek on one knee.

  “Abbs,” I called, my fingers curling around the bars. Jesus, she looked so fragile and alone. Never imagined Abbs like that. She was a fighter, feisty and full of life, but all of it was gone.

  She was gone.

  I wanted to tell her everything was going to be all right. That we’d find a way to fight this. But that was a lie. It wasn’t going to be okay.

  I tightened my grip on the bars.

  “You have to listen to me.”

  She didn’t move.

  “Baby, no matter what happens, remember who you are. Remember the girl in the grocery store. Remember.” Please, Abby. Please remember. Give me something here. “Peaches, Abbs. The hotel. The pillow fight.” She stared, comatose, eyes red-rimmed, not a flicker of recognition. “Jesus, this isn’t over.”

  I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against the bars. I wanted to rip this place apart and take her away. Force her to remember who she was. Because somewhere inside the bloodlust lived Abby.

  Tye shifted his feet and I sensed his eyes on me. I didn’t give a fuck what the guy was thinking. Abby needed to remember who she was, and I couldn’t release her, so I’d give her something else. She may be a vampire, but Abby was still a part of her.

  “Look at me for fuck’s sake,” I shouted, attempting to get her attention. I slammed my fist into one of the bars and a ding vibrated through the room.

  A wave of relief hit me as she slowly lifted her head and our eyes met.

  God, Abbs. She looked like a wilted piece of lettuce drowning in sorrow. My senses picked up her heartbeat. It stopped, skipped several beats, paused for several seconds, and then beat faint and slow. New vampires’ hearts beat erratically until they gained control over their body, but I hated hearing it. A reminder of what she was now.

  Fuck!

  “I don’t want you to see me like this,” Abby finally said in a rough, scratchy voice. It was the first words I’d heard her speak since she went through the Transition. Waleron had given her animal blood, which had calmed her mind and the bloodlust. “Go away, Damien.”

  “Damn it, babe. I spent months with you in hell. Don’t you dare tell me to go away,” I growled. Pissed was an understatement. Maybe I should be sympathetic, but I knew Abby enough that she’d hate me showing her pity. “Get your ass over here and talk to me.”

  Tye cleared his throat. “Umm, I don’t think—”

  I shot him a glare. “Piss off, Tye.”

  He was no longer propped up against the door. His legs were braced, arms at his side, but he didn’t move toward me.

  I turned back to Abby, my Visionary ability able to take in every detail, even the one drop of sweat that dripped from her hairline on the right side. Her scent was fear, frustration, and anger—a real shitty combination for an unpredictable vampire.

  I knew what I was about to do wouldn’t go down well, but it would connect us. And that connection was our chance.

  I slid my arm through the bars, wrist up. “Take my blood.”

  Tye groaned. “You’re shittin’ me? Come on, man. Don’t do this.”

  There was no way I’d get away with this without some sort of confrontation. But I ignored him, my eyes on Abby, but all my other senses were on Tye who was now moving.

  She crawled to her feet, eyes hungry with need as they locked on my wrist. She needed this. I needed this.

  “Are you insane? You can’t give her your blood,” Tye said.

  His steps were slow and cautious as he approached me. “I can, and I will.”

  Tye stopped twenty feet away. “Damien, man, I can’t let you do this.”

  My eyes heated and blazed, every sensory in my body igniting and ready to fight. “Have to,” I said. “Back off, Tye.”

  “It’s against the law.”

  There was no bending the laws when it came to Tye. That was why Waleron chose him to guard me. But all I needed was two seconds for Abby to take my blood.

  “Abbs, do as I tell you.” I heard her soft, hesitant steps approach like a wounded animal weary of a trap.

  Tye leapt.

  I jerked my chin to the right and up and the chair leaning against the wall flew through the air and crashed into Tye, sending him back into the wall.

  He grunted and shoved the chair aside. “What the fuck, man?”

  I quickly lifted the old antique shield on the wall. It hovered in the air for a second; the weight impressive and it took a lot for me to will it with my mind.

  Tye saw it and ducked to the right, but I expected the reaction. The shield slammed into his chest and pinned him to the floor. I heard a clatter as he shoved it aside.

  My breath stopped when Abby’s fingers touched my skin then curled around my wrist.

  I closed my eyes at the contact. This was all I could give her. Everything within me said to protect her. I could do no other.

  “Remember, Abbs. You fuckin’ remember the blood you taste this night. My blood. No one else’s. Stay strong. Don’t give up on me.”

  Her eyes darted from my wrist to my face and locked on me. Tears pooled and something else… hesitation. As if she was afraid to take my blood. There was no choice.

  “Do it!” I ordered.

  “Damien,” Tye shouted.

  I sucked in my breath as her fangs pierced my wrist. Then her cool lips caressed my skin as she drank from my vein. I watched her, head bent, fiery-red hair hanging over her face as she bent over my arm.

  “Baby, you belong to me,” I whispered. She’d never be Liam’s. Never.

  The air shifted and I knew my time was up. My wrist ripped from Abby’s mouth as Tye slammed into me and we flew through the air, landing hard on the cement floor. Then his fist plowed into my jaw.

  I didn’t fight. Even when he punched me again. My eyes were on Abby with her hands on the bars, watching me, eyes wide and mouth quivering. A drop of blood, my blood, trailed down her chin.

  Tye straddled me, his scowl fierce. Then he hauled back and punched me in the jaw a third time. “What the hell were you thinking?”


  I didn’t answer. There was nothing to say. I did what I had to.

  “Christ. Waleron is going to put you in Rest for this, asshole.” He jumped off me, but he held out his hand.

  I took it and he hauled me to my feet. “Don’t tell him.”

  He snorted. “No choice.”

  But there was a slight hesitation as he glanced over at Abby then back to me. I knew he wouldn’t say anything. He saw it. He sensed it.

  It was undeniable. Didn’t matter that she was a vampire and I was a Scar.

  Love had no boundaries.

  I HAD NO IDEA what was planned for tonight, but Liam was prepared for something. He obviously had warned his vampires of my ability and none of them touched me, although three surrounded me as we walked in silence through the deserted exhibition grounds.

  There was no sign of Jasmine or the CWOs, but I suspected they weren’t far. I didn’t think Liam would go against the Scars without her, but he seemed pretty damn cocky about tonight.

  Dark shadows of Liam’s underlings were on top of the buildings, alert and ready. He walked with confidence. I didn’t. I tried to, but my nerves sparked off and my heart pounded so hard I knew every vampire within a hundred feet of me probably heard it.

  Liam stopped at a metal door and stepped aside. A vampire moved forward and broke the padlock with one yank, ripping the chain off. It fell to the pavement with a clatter. The vampire, along with three others, entered leaving me, Liam, and four vampires outside. We waited several minutes before the door opened again.

  “After you, my dear.” I hesitated and Liam grabbed my elbow. “I have no objection to hurting a woman.” He shoved me forward and I staggered into the building.

  The instant I walked into the deserted warehouse, I smelled the remnants of food, mostly meat, deep fried meat mixed with stale air. Liam had probably picked this place because the smell of food would hinder the Scars’ scenting abilities.

  It appeared like a warehouse with a high ceiling with metal beams. Beams that had movement, and I was guessing the movement was vampires.

  Were the Scars going to fight Liam? Would Kilter be here? Was he okay? God, please let him be okay.

  A piercing screech erupted and I cried, bending and putting my hands over my ears.

  Liam yanked my arms down and pushed me forward. “High frequency makes telepathy difficult. Only dogs and, of course, Scars, can hear it.”

  The constant high-pitched buzz threw off my balance, and I tried to block it out with my shields, but all I managed was to dull the sound.

  Liam stopped by a long, rectangular, wooden table with benches on either side. I stood beside him and his vampires formed a protective semi-circle around us on either side and behind.

  Another door creaked open then slammed shut.

  “Behave yourself,” Liam warned.

  I had every intention of behaving myself. Unless the Scars fought, and then all bets were off. I’d fight with everything I had.

  The steady sound of booted feet came in our direction; it was dark, but my vision had improved since gaining weight.

  Waleron appeared out of the shadows first. He wore simple black trousers and a matching T-shirt. His expression was unreadable as his eyes locked on Liam, but he looked steady and confident. Didn’t tell me much, however, because I suspected the man didn’t know how to be anything but.

  I tensed when Delara came up beside him. Something was wrong with her. Her emotions leaked into me and I gasped at the despair that encompassed her. What was going on? Her hands were curled into the sides of her pants, and even in the dim moonlight filtering through the windows covered in a dirty film, I saw how pale she was.

  I stiffened when a high-pitched screech echoed and Liam’s underlings stepped closer to me. I had no idea what could make that horrid sound until I saw a young woman struggling like a rabid animal in the grip of a Scars’ Ink. It had the thin string of light attached to it like I had with Serafina. I followed the light to Keir, who stood in the shadows.

  But this Ink was nothing like Serafina. This was a majestic, lithe, panther-like man with a sleek black coat covering a two-legged figure. The muzzle was sharp and defined with long, straight, black whiskers. It had small ears on the sides of its head instead of on top like a panther’s. The eyes were solid white as if it had no vision, but there was no question it knew exactly where it was going.

  Its massive paws—which had thumbs—clamped down on her arms and didn’t appear to care that she struggled to get away.

  “I said no weapons,” Liam said.

  Waleron nodded toward the girl. “She’d sink her teeth into any of us if we got near her. The Ink can control her. And if I recall, you specifically asked her to be alive.”

  Liam tensed then turned his attention to the girl. “Abigail, settle.”

  My eyes widened when the girl stopped struggling and stood meek in the Ink’s grip. Holy shit, Liam had power over her. This had to be Abby, the witch turned vampire.

  Booted feet strode toward us and my knees weakened and my heart skipped a beat because I recognized his stride. God, I recognized everything about him. My eyes searched the darkness then landed on Kilter.

  I choked back the sob by biting my lip. Oh, God, he was okay, and he was here. Every part of me wanted to dive across the expanse between us and leap into his arms. Feel him against me. Hold him.

  He stopped beside Waleron, and only then did he tilt his head in my direction. Our eyes met and it was like he held me protectively in his embrace with that one look. Despite the fear skidding through me, there was a sense of calmness in me now. What surprised me was how steady Kilter was. I’d expected a raging lunatic charging in by himself without a care to the other Scars. But he was solid.

  “Trinity isn’t coming?” Liam asked. “A shame. I would have loved to have seen her expression when she hears the news.” He shrugged. “No matter.” His eyes roamed over Delara and his smug smile faltered. “Delara, I do apologize for this. I like you, although I fear you never liked me. If it weren’t for Abigail, I’d have gladly continued our relations, despite the fact that you were using me to keep an eye on my extracurricular activities.” That’s why Delara had been sleeping with him? “But as you know by now, Abigail has something I want, and my power in this world is more important than pussy.” Liam looked over at Abby. “Foolish girl. Nearly ruined my plans by sleeping with Damien and getting pregnant.”

  “Let’s get this done, Liam,” Kilter said.

  “We’re here to share a tidbit of information you might find interesting,” Liam said. His eyes blazed triumphantly and his brows rose.

  “You have nothing that is of interest to us except Rayne,” Kilter stated.

  “But that’s not true, is it, Delara? Waleron was very quiet on the phone last night when I told him about Jasmine.” He grinned. “Even quieter when I told him your news. Did he ask you about it?”

  “You’re a bastard,” Delara shouted and took a step toward him.

  Waleron grabbed her arm and yanked her back. She looked ready to explode and Waleron was a time bomb. Surprisingly, the only one calm was Kilter.

  “Does he know the rest, I wonder? I didn’t want to give him all the news. We needed to save some of it for shock value. Honestly, I never would have believed it until I read the document. Jasmine is very resourceful, as you’re well aware, Waleron.”

  Waleron stiffened.

  Liam laughed.

  “Where is she?” Waleron demanded.

  “Relax, Waleron. She’s not here. I do believe you would sacrifice all in order to kill her after what she did to you. How long was it? Sixty-one years in her prison?”

  My eyes shifted to the tattoo on the side of Waleron’s neck as it slithered across his skin, the black ink of its eyes flashing red.

  What was going on? How did Waleron know Jasmine?

  “She will never have him again,” Delara said. “I will destroy her before that ever happens.”

  “Oh, I have n
o doubt you would try, my love. And it would be a fight I would pay to watch, but for now, let us discuss our negotiation.”

  “We don’t negotiate,” Waleron stated.

  “I figured you’d say that,” Liam stated. “But you may change your mind. You see, last night I told you Delara has been fucking me for months. You didn’t take that too well, as I recall.” He paused as if he wanted to drag out the moment. “What I saved for tonight was that your Delara had been pregnant once. Did you know that? Pregnant with your child, Waleron.”

  Waleron didn’t flinch. He stood frozen, no chest rising and falling, no muscles twitching. Nothing. He stared at Liam with his piercing blue eyes. Deadly silent.

  I glanced at Delara, but couldn’t see her eyes. Her head was bowed and her fingers were curled into the sides of her jeans.

  Liam pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket. He passed it to the vampire on his left and the vampire walked around the wooden table and passed the paper to Waleron. The vampire backed away, his eyes on Kilter, who watched him.

  Waleron unfolded the document then bent his head and scanned it. No one said anything, not even Liam.

  After a minute, he lifted his head and, without looking at Delara, he passed the document to her. Waleron’s eyes were no longer a beautiful blue. They were ice blue, cold and frozen as he stared at Liam. His lips tight, jaw clenched. A haunting devastation lingered in the air as my ability took in his emotion.

  God, it was like he’d just read a death sentence.

  Waleron’s gaze shifted from Liam to me and stopped. My breath caught in my throat at the intensity of his stare, and I wanted to look away, and yet I couldn’t.

  What the hell was going on? What did a document have to do with anything?

  The piece of paper fluttered from Delara’s trembling hand and swirled to the floor. Her eyes pooled with tears as she looked up and met my eyes. “I… oh, my God. No. No. It’s impossible.” Her head shook back and forth, tears streaming down her cheeks. She took a step toward me, but her legs gave out. Waleron’s arm shot out and snaked around her waist, holding her upright. As soon as she was steady, he released her.