by J. L. McCoy
He looked at me, confused, and opened his mouth to speak, but Trey cleared his throat, reminding him of our audience. Archer sighed deeply and managed a small smile. He took my hand from his chest, placed a soft, lingering kiss on the inside of my wrist, and then got up and motioned for everyone to follow him out the door.
I watched as most everyone filed out my door. Aoife, Trey and Jameson stayed behind, though. As soon as Jameson closed the door, Trey ran over to the bed and flung himself on me, hugging me tightly.
“Oh, honey,” Trey sobbed as he held on to me. “I’m so glad you are okay. I’ve never prayed so hard for someone in my whole entire life. We were so worried about you! You can’t begin to imagine how difficult your kidnapping has been on everyone, Skye Morrison. We all just adore you, sweetie. Oh, God…what you went through…it’s just so horrible!” he hugged me tighter as he cried harder.
I held Trey as I soothingly rubbed circles on his back. My sweet, sensitive Trey. “I’m fine, honey, really. Feel my emotions. I’m a little tired, but I’m so glad to be alive and back here with y’all. I’ll be okay, Trey, honest I will.”
Aoife tapped his shoulder and he reluctantly let go of me. “If you need anything, darling, you just let me know,” he hiccupped as he wiped the tears from his eyes with his slim fingers. “I’m here for you, Skye. Anytime, you know that right?”
I nodded my head and smiled, thanking him. He turned and stepped away as Aoife took his place standing in front of me. “You know,” she said with pursed lips. “I never liked you.” I cocked my eyebrow, preparing myself for a verbal fight, as she continued. “I hated the fact that Archer hired a human to help him run his club when the job so obviously should have gone to a vampire. And, I’ll be honest, I hated the fact that you had the attention of my husband…ex-husband,” she sighed and clarified begrudgingly. “There hasn’t been a moment since the first time I first met you that I didn’t want to rip your hair out along with your throat.”
I swallowed hard as my hand went up to my throat. Jameson flashed to stand behind Aoife and he growled loudly in warning.
“Oh, stuff it, Jameson,” she said, annoyed, as she flicked her wrist over her shoulder. “I’m not going to hurt your little girlfriend, so back the hell off.”
I watched as Trey put his hand on Jameson’s shoulder, stood on his tip-toes and whispered quietly in his ear. Jameson looked confused for a moment before he glanced at me with humored eyes and smiled, dropping his hand and taking a step back.
“Like I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted,” Aoife said as she fluffed her platinum blonde locks, “I hated your very existence. But…that all changed when we were in that horrible basement. You kept me alive, Skye. You didn’t have to give me your blood, but you did. I know how much you must hate me, and yet you still saved my life.”
I shook my head, sighed and rolled my eyes. “I don’t hate you Aoife. I never have. I’ll be honest…I didn’t understand at first why you hated ME so badly; though, now I do. I’m sorry if I stepped on your toes where Archer was concerned, but I honestly had no idea that you had been married to each other. You don’t have to worry about that, though. I’m with Jameson now.”
She dismissively flicked her wrist again and shrugged. “It’s all water under the bridge. Let’s talk no more of it. I’m glad you pulled through, Skye. I’d hate to be the only female left in this horrid house of boys.”
Jameson rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’d love it, don’t lie.”
Trey chuckled as I smiled.
Aoife sighed again boredly. “Well, I’ll let you get your beauty rest. I just wanted to convey my thanks in person. After all, it’s only polite.” Much to my shock, she leaned over and hesitantly hugged my neck. The movement was jerky and a bit awkward. My body tensed up as she whispered quietly in my ear. “He still cares very deeply for you. You know that, right Skye? I just want Archer to be happy, that’s all. And if you’re it, then so be it.”
I opened my mouth to speak as she pulled away, but I was too shocked to speak. She had basically given me her blessing to be with Archer if I wanted. I didn’t know what to say to that. I was with Jameson now, but I couldn’t deny that I still had strong feelings for Archer. I think that they would always be there, no matter whom I was with.
My mind wandered back to that house in East Austin and the kiss Archer and I shared. It was so intense; full of the deepest, most desperate passion I had ever experienced. I couldn’t deny that there was definitely something still between us…at least on my end. I had no idea how Archer still felt about me.
“We’d better go,” Trey said, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Remember what I said, honey. I’m just a shout away if you need me.”
“Thank you, Trey,” I smiled as he and Aoife walked out the door and gently shut it behind them.
Jameson sighed and turned to me. “Holy crap,” he chuckled. “I never thought I’d live to see the day that Aoife would bury the hatchet with you. I thought she’d loath you until the day you died.”
“She might still hate me,” I shrugged as I laid back in bed, snuggling into my plush pillow. I was so tired all of the sudden. “I can’t read her mind. I don’t truly know what’s going on in there.”
Jameson took off his shoes and gently lay down beside me on his side, propping his head in his hand and running his fingers soothingly through my hair. “Trey read her emotions, love,” he shook his head as he gazed down at me lovingly. “She really does mean what she said. She harbors no ill will toward you now. He even said she likes you. Go figure.”
I smiled and shook my head in disbelief. Aoife actually liked me now and all it took was me feeding her. I rolled onto my side and snuggled into Jameson’s chest. He sighed contentedly as he buried his face in my hair.
“I missed you so much,” he whispered into it. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you.”
I craned my neck up and pulled his face to mine. “I’m right here,” I said seriously, glancing back and forth between his beautiful pale green eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m safe now.”
Jameson sighed and shook his head. “That’s not good enough for me. I want to make sure that nothing ever happens to you again,” he said, his eyes full of sorrow and regret. “I want you to live here, with us, permanently.”
My brow furrowed and I pulled back. “No…I can’t,” I shook my head apologetically. “I like my home and I love living next door to my best friend. You can’t ask me to do that. Besides, that’s a really big step in a relationship. We’ve only been dating for a few days.”
Jameson ran his fingers through his hair; a move that I had learned in the past meant he was frustrated. “Even if we weren’t dating, I’d want you to move in here so that we can protect you. I just want you safe, Skye. There’s no guarantee Amun won’t come back. He’s hell-bent on ending our bloodline, so I’m positive he’ll try again. Who says he won’t use you for a second time to get to us?”
I rolled us both over so that he was on his back and I was straddling his waist. I leaned down and grasped his face between my hands, looking deeply into his eyes as I spoke. “It’s going to be okay. I AM safe now,” I staccatoed slowly, hoping that my words would sink into his hard head this time. “I have all of you looking out for me. Nothing is going to happen to me, baby. I promise. But, if you want me to stay here, with all of you, until Amun is caught, I will if it eases your mind. I can’t stay here forever, though.”
Jameson sighed and pulled me firmly against his chest, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I laid there, my ear to his heart, listening to the slow, steady, comforting beat for a few moments before he spoke. “I’m never letting you go again, Skye Morrison,” he whispered into my hair.
I took a deep, cleansing breath and slowly blew it out. “Good,” I said as I snuggled further into him and smiled contentedly.
Look for book #3 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series in late Fall 2012! It’ll be av
ailable worldwide in print and e-book format.
Character Index
Amun: Father of all vampires; obsessed with killing off Cináed’s bloodline.
An Dílis: Irish Gaelic phrase for “The Faithful”; elite army to the Day Walkers; sworn protectors of their race.
Aoife: (Pronounced ee-fa) Works as the second floor bartender at The Mausoleum; blood child to Archer; married to Archer for 600 years before they split up in 1899; her divine power is detecting spoken lies and truths.
Archer Rhys: Owner of The Mausoleum located in Austin, Texas; roughly 1,300 years old; blood son of Cináed and blood father to Aoife, Hunter, Jameson, Lochlan, Quinn, Seamus, and Trey; has the divine ability to read human and vampire minds.
Athair: Irish Gaelic for the word “Father”.
Callum: (Deceased) Blood son of Treasach; was made vampire a few weeks before Jameson and ultimately grew up with him; divine power unknown.
Cináed: (Pronounced KIN-awd) (Deceased) Blood son of the original Day Walking vampire; blood father to Archer and Treasach; divine power unknown.
Conriocht: Irish Gaelic word for “Werewolf”.
Courtney: Works at The Mausoleum as a cage dancer; brief object of Martin’s attentions.
Dan Kennedy: Skye’s old boss and forever friend; owns Drop Kick Dan’s bar in downtown Austin, Texas.
Dancers: Cage dancers at The Mausoleum; known dancers are Courtney, Seth, Staci, Peyton, Brian, Eden, Rachel, and Alex.
Dark One: Nickname given by Day Walkers for vampires who cannot go out in sunlight; once a dark, depraved, morally corrupt species who are under new leadership.
Day Walker: Nickname given by Dark Ones for vampires who can walk in sunlight; first Day Walker was born in 541 A.D.
Dylan: Cousin to Dean/Dic Cruz; member of Dean’s Kaxaw werewolf pack; age and pack position unknown.
Dheartháir: Irish Gaelic word for “Brother”.
Dic/Dean Cruz: (AKA: Dean Ian Cruz) Owner of Tricky Dic’s Hookah/Head Shop/Beer Bar; frequent customer of Skye’s at The Mausoleum; Alpha werewolf to Central Texas’ Kaxaw Pack.
Drop Kick Dan’s: Austin, Texas bar owned by Dan Kennedy; Skye worked here for 4 years while going to school at UT.
Ducky: Barback at The Mausoleum; works the first floor bar.
Gavin: Recent friend of Skye’s; lives one block from her house.
Greyson Mead: (Deceased) Friend and business associate of Archer’s from Houston, Texas; Day Walker whose divine power was reading people’s minds; was murdered by Amun in the PVIP section of The Mausoleum; age unknown
Gunnar: Works at The Mausoleum; his official position and vampire status are unknown.
Hagan: (Pronounced HAY-gan) A member of the elite army of An Dílis/The Faithful for over 700 years; fierce warrior; over 900 years old; appointed to Archer as a temporary protector to him and his family; divine power unknown.
Hunter: Works the first floor bar at The Mausoleum; blood child to Archer; born in southern United States; age and divine powers unknown.
Jameson Doyle: Lead singer of The Manky Laner, a hard core Irish punk band in Austin, Texas; works part time at The Mausoleum in the VIP and PVIP sections; blood child to Archer; born in Northern Ireland in 1717; made vampire in 1744; Skye’s current boyfriend; divine power is Healing (both humans and vampires).
Jesse Prescott: (Deceased) Human ex-boyfriend of Skye’s turn creepy stalker; killed by Martin.
Lochlan: Works the second floor bar at The Mausoleum; blood child to Archer; from Ireland; age and divine power unknown.
Lola Finch: Half-sister to Jesse Prescott.
Lyric: Nikki St. James’ current boyfriend; notorious Jain vegan.
Marcán: (Pronounced MAR-cawn) (Deceased) A member of the elite army of An Dílis/The Faithful for over 100 years; appointed to Archer as a temporary protector to him and his family; has unparalleled eyesight; age and divine power unknown; killed by Amun.
Martin: (Deceased) Dark One who tried to feed from dancer Courtney opening night at The Mausoleum, attacked Skye, and was thrown out; worked with Amun to kill off Cináed’s bloodline; killed by Skye.
Nikki St. James: Best friend and next door neighbor to Skye; 27 years old; works at Drop Kick Dan’s and moonlights at Cherry Bomb Tattoo Shop as a skin artist; dating Lyric.
Pádraig: (Pronounced PAW-drig) A member of the elite army of An Dílis/The Faithful for a short time; fast, deadly warrior; appointed to Archer as a temporary protector to him and his family; age and divine power unknown
Primo: Member of Dean’s Kaxaw werewolf pack; age and pack position unknown.
PVIP: Stands for Platinum level VIP; PVIP is located on the second floor of The Mausoleum and is only open to select vampires.
Quinn: Works the stairs leading to the VIP/PVIP second floor at The Mausoleum; blood child to Archer; age unknown; has the divine power of mesmerization (can alter one’s memories/make them do as he pleases).
Ruarc: (Pronounced ROO-ark) A member of the elite army of An Dílis/The Faithful; second in command of the entire army and first in command of the field unit that visits The Mausoleum; known to Skye as Emerald Eyes (E.E.) before properly introduced; age/divine power/birth place unknown.
Saint Fionán of Cluain Eraird: Priest in Ireland visited by the original Day Walker before he was made vampire in a vicious attack; Saint Fionán and the Holy Father are credited with the creation of the Day Walker race in 541AD through prayer.
Sayer: Member of Dean’s Kaxaw werewolf pack; age and pack position unknown.
Seamus: (Pronounced SHAY-mus) Works the front door at The Mausoleum as a bouncer and takes admission; blood child to Archer; from Ireland; age and divine power unknown.
Sissy Schneider: Friend of Skye’s; went to the University of Texas with her; has a crush on Zephyr.
Skye Everleigh Morrison: 23 years old; human; born in Houston, Texas; moved to Austin, Texas to attend University of Texas majoring in Ancient History and Classical Civilization; roommate/best friend to canine Styvi Nix; works at The Mausoleum as Archer’s Executive Assistant and manages all human employees; best friend to Nikki; current girlfriend to Jameson Doyle.
Sliocht: Irish Gaelic word meaning “Descendants”.
Styvi Nix: (Pronounced STEEVY-nix) Miniature French Bulldog; 2 years old; canine best friend/roommate to Skye; other best friend is Nikki; loves treats, snuggling, and chasing butterflies; dislikes when her naps are interrupted, the green bits in her Kibbles n’ Bits, Archer and most other flighty vampires.
The Mausoleum: Bad-ass Gothic/Industrial club in downtown Austin, Texas owned by Archer Rhys; currently the hottest club in Austin; mecca for vampires looking to party; work place of Skye.
Treasach: (Pronounced TREE-sak) (Deceased) Blood son to Cináed, blood brother to Archer; blood father to Callum; lives in Gairloch, Scotland; he and his whole family were killed by Amun.
Trey: (AKA Nathaniel Herschel Thomas Hatfield, III) Works the first floor bar and front door at The Mausoleum; blood child to Archer; made vampire in June of 1865; born in Georgia, USA; has the divine power of Empathy (can strongly feel the emotions of vampires and humans alike); good friend to Skye.
VIP: Stands for Very Important Person; VIP is located on the second floor of The Mausoleum and is open to all vampires.
Zephyr: Member of Dean’s Kaxaw werewolf pack; age and pack position unknown; works at Tricky Dic’s; crush to Sissy Schneider.
About the Author
J. L. McCoy resides in the beautifully weird city of Austin, Texas with her opinionated Pekiweenie Isabel and handsome husband Kenny. She has always been a passionate reader and enjoys watching movies, traveling, listening to heavy metal/classic rock/80s music, getting mani/pedis with her girls, and singing karaoke. She loves body art and is hopelessly addicted to Sonic’s ice and Route 44 un-sweet raspberry iced tea.
If you’d like more information about her or her upcoming books, please visit her Facebook page at: http:/www.facebook.com/AuthorJLMcCoy
Table o
f Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
About the Author
