by Ainsley Cole
Temptation
Immortal Cravings
Book 1
Ainsley Cole
Copyright © 2019 Ainsley Cole
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the author, except brief quotes used in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locals are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents are entirely coincidental.
Acknowledgments
To my family and friends, thanks for believing in me. Without your support, there are no books. Your belief has been wonderful in kicking my butt into gear.
To my mother-in-law, love how you buy anything I write, even if you don’t read much of them because of the sex. I don’t mind, love the support.
To my sister-in-law, Jess—thanks a bunch for loving my work. It makes it easier to write, when I have people who love reading it.
To Anna and Jade. Lots of love for being my guinea pigs for this series and loving it so much.
To the readers, hope you enjoyed Marley, Absinthe and Rhayden—there will be more, I promise.
And to Nicky, without you, my pretty covers wouldn’t happen. Love you to the moon and back honey!
One
Slowing, Marlene Brennan sensed the creature she hunted was just around the corner. The goose bumps which danced across the surface of her skin, made her wary.
The smell of death lingered in the air, mixing with the scent of garbage and fish from the boats.
Adjusting her stance, she frowned, not wanting to be caught unawares. Especially when they were so fast.
Retrieving the small silver dagger from the holder on her thigh, she held it up in front of her chest, just under her own throat.
A stance she had been taught by the one who had sent her out after them.
Keep your neck and face protected.
With the creature’s speed and strength, she had to make the most of the first strike. Otherwise she’d be laying in a pool of her own blood in seconds.
Popping her head around the corner, her gaze moved. Across the line of shipping containers, over the small truck parked against the side of them, it had to be here—
There.
At the end of the dock, a man and a woman were pressed against the wall. Bodies entwined in a lover's embrace.
Marley quickly dropped back behind the building.
What felt so wrong about this situation?
Was it the couple—when there was only supposed to one vampire?
Or was it they seemed to be so still, as if they had not smelled her presence?
It was hard to sneak up on a bloodsucker; she had learned in the past, when she had almost lost her own life to the vicious creatures.
Putting her head back around the building, she took another look at the pair.
The woman’s legs were wrapped around the waist of the man, his body, leaned into hers. One of the man's arms supported them against the wall, the other, holding the woman up, cupping her backside. His head was buried against the side of her neck.
At any other time, Marley would have walked away—taken him on at another opportunity. Nothing worse than witnesses to the death of a vampire. It was hard to explain why they just burst into flames.
But this; this was wrong. Something was wrong.
Her mind crawled with the idea she might have been mistaken on the identity of the man she had been hunting.
Maybe she had just stumbled upon a young couple taking an adventurous turn with their sex life? What would happen if she launched herself at them, only to find they were both human? That would be hard to explain away to the cops.
The lingering scent of decay and spoiled blood wafted to her o the wind, mixing with the ocean and fish of the harbor.
Marley nose screwed up. It was a scent she knew well. But she had to quickly determine if the couple was indeed Nocturnal Children, before she went any further.
Glancing around where she stood, her gaze caught the sight of a small rock, sitting just left of her riot boot.
Quickly bending down to retrieve it, she threw a quick glance behind her, to make sure she was alone. Satisfied, Marley turned and hurtled the rock at the pair.
It sailed high—hitting the man in the back of the head.
Marlene expected him whirl around, shout, maybe even attack—he didn't.
Not a single flutter of movement came from either of them.
The rock rolled down his back and dropped to the pavement with a dull thud.
Adjusting the grip on her dagger, Marley stepped out, gingerly making her way towards the pair.
Her heart hammered in her chest. Ready to make a hasty retreat if the man turned on her.
Aware of every single movement, every whisper of sound, Marley froze as the woman’s hair moved, picked up by the wind and blown from the side of her face—
Dropping her head to her chest, Marley tucked the dagger into the sheath and sighed.
She wouldn't be needing it.
Striding up to the pair, the whole reason why the lovers hadn't seen or heard her was instantly clear.
Pierced into the back of the man, spearing through to the woman's chest, was a long, thin arrow. Its flights were missing, pulled roughly from the end. Removing any sign of ownership.
The angle was quite severe, and the result had pierced both their hearts.
Not that it was a sure-fire way of killing a vampire, but it would work.
Taking their head was always the best way.
Maybe the killer had doused the end of the arrow with something to kill them instantly. She would have to conduct some tests on it.
Marley walked around the couple, taking in every single detail she could. Had the killer had left a trademark when they had killed them?
Obviously, they were both Vampires.
The way they embraced. The woman held her lover close, cradling his head against her throat. The bite mark on the woman's neck, mirroring the mans’.
Mutual feeding.
A trait only shared by mated couples—
“Well that was going to piss Absinthe off royally.”
There were so few mated Vampires left.
One’s of pure enough blood to be able to handle the intense emotional transference which came with being bound to another vampire. The ability to spawn their kind, without having to turn a human.
“Great.”
Who would be dumb enough to have—
“Thought I might see you here.”
Marley spun on her heel, dagger instantly coming to her hand in instinctual protection.
Standing on the other side of the alley, leaning against the wall was a man. Not just any man, but one who made Marley's heart hammer, blood boil and skin tingle.
And he was as dead as the couple she had just found.
“Rhayden,” she spat, turning herself back to the dead couple.
“Nice to see you too, sweetheart,” Rhayden quipped. He was by her side in an instant, leaning in, inhaling her scent as if he was a hound about to chase her.
“Go away,” steeling her voice as she spoke. Marley tried to ignore the smell of his skin, the scent of death on his breath.
“Nope. Absinthe sent me,” Rhayden retorted, leaning in closer to her. His cool breath whispered over her skin. “He wants to see you. Plus, I had to call in a team to clean up this mess.”
“Tell Absinthe to go screw himself. I’m not a pet he can call on in an instant.”
The man chuckled softly, “I would have thought he’d like to screw you more.”
Rhayden’s
fingers trailed up her back and Marley spun, slapping out at him.
But he was gone.
His breath came to the base of her neck again as he leaned in again, “He does enjoy your visits so very much.”
Marley shivered and closed her eyes.
It was impossible to get to this man. So many times, she had tried to hit him, kill him. She’d all but given up trying to drive a dagger through his heart, though she got close once.
She would have to put up with him, something she hated doing.
The feelings—
“And why would Absinthe want me?” She asked, casually turning around, staring at the man in front of her. “When he has you?”
Rhayden chuckled, “But you two. There is something there. Something understood.”
“The only thing Absinthe and I understand is that he tells me of the rogues. I kill them. He pays me. That's it.”
Rhayden smirked, tilting his head to the side, “Right. And the little sleepovers at the mansion?”
His eyes flashed from the electric blue they were, to the liquid silver of his kind.
“I don't know what you’re talking about.” Marley said, turning from him.
She wanted to kill him. She had already tried once and failed. No doubt would she have her chance again, but she didn’t want it to be now. She had more pressing things on her mind.
Turning her attention back to the couple, she leaned closer. Something in the end of the arrow caught her eye. Her hand went out, ready to pluck it from the end—but Rhayden quipped in.
“Sure. Anyway. We must go. Absinthe was very particular about you being in his presence within the hour,” Turning to him, her gaze shifted to the end of the dock as Rhayden turned. The dark van pulled up, shutting off the engine. “Plus, cleaning crew is here.”
Marley stared as six vampires climbed out of the van, a stretcher and bags, following them.
“They’re quick.” She replied, stepping back, as they went to work on the corpses.
“Yes, they are. Now come on. Absinthe is expecting you.”
****
The twenty-minute ride to the vampire head-quarters on the outskirts of Miami was exhausting.
With Rhayden at the wheel, it seemed he ran every red light. Sped past every other car. Raced whoever he could.
Marley closed her eyes and held on for dear life. If she said anything to the adrenaline-junkie, he would happily make it worse. He loved to goad her.
The gates of the old manor loomed, Rhayden's sleek, black Alpha Romeo pulling up in front of them. He nodded to the guard at the gate and after the guard had taken a quick snap of Marley's face to keep on record, the gates opened, “Wow, Absinthe is getting jumpy.”
Rhayden laughed and Marley felt her insides turn to jelly, but she battened down those stray feelings and dug her fingernails into her palm, “Yes, a little. But you would be too, if almost half your breeding pairs of vampires had been slaughtered.”
“What? There are more?” Marley asked, looking over at the man driving.
Rhayden's eyes flicked to silver again, his fangs distending as his anger rose, “Many, many, more.”
****
Marley really shouldn't have been surprised by the frosty welcome she received from the vampires in the mansion's foyer. Their cold, dead stares, aimed straight at her.
She hunted their kind and they fed on hers.
“Cheery place lately?” Marley asked Rhayden as he ushered her up the stairs, towards the library.
“They don't trust outsiders, even though you are Absinthe's pet and they see you on a regular basis,” He shrugged. “They just don't like you.”
“Absinthe's p— Ugh!” Marley crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Rhayden's back as he walked her down the hall. She was not Absinthe’s pet, nor would she ever be his pet.
They had a contract; that was it.
Anything else—well it wasn’t any of the Coven’s damned business.
“Here we are,” Rhayden opened the doors to the library and stepped to the side, bowing slightly to the occupants. “Lord Absinthe. Marlene Brennan. Just like you—”
“Show her to her room Rhayden.” Absinthe's voice floated from the depths of the library. His rich baritone making her heart hammer, her skin flush.
Marley couldn’t help it, poking her head just inside the door to get a better look.
Lord Absinthe Raynes.
Leader of the Miami vampire Coven.
Regal, powerful—beautiful.
He sat at the head of the long dark-hardwood table. Heads of other vampire Covens sitting around him.
Those vampires lifted their heads to her, their eyes flaring to liquid silver. Her fresh, pumping blood obviously calling to the dead creatures and she felt sickness creep into her throat.
There would be nothing more she would love to do, than slaughter them, for any one of them could be the next Rogue…
“Marlene.” Her gaze moved to Absinthe and her heart almost stopped in her chest.
His dark hair, raked back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. His strong, beautiful physique covered by the robes of his house. His dark, moss green eyes, slowly fading to silver as he looked at her, his lips parting slightly, “I wish you stay. We have business to discuss. Go. Freshen up. I will be with you shortly.”
Marley nodded dumbly at him, like a smitten teenager.
Rhayden closed the doors, sealing the members back in the library. She turned away, noticing the smirk on the face of the man next to her. “Nothing there, hey?”
Marley turned and stomped away, knowing that she had just laid bare her true feelings for the vampire Lord in the library. And Rhayden, of all people—of all creatures, had been there to see it.
“I think there is a little more than nothing, don't you?”
Marley turned down the next hall, wanting to distance herself from Rhayden, she needed space; time to clear her thoughts.
Her mind was so pre-occupied with that task, that as she walked around the corner, she slammed into another, bigger vampire. He growled, and Marley took a step back, looking up at the hulk in front of her, “Watch it, food.”
She dropped her hand to the dagger at her hip and raised an eyebrow. She’d take him on if she had to. Not that she would get out of the mansion alive afterwards—but she would give it a go.
Rhayden stepped in front of her, his broad shoulders blocking her from the vampire in front of them.
“Cool off Vince, Marley is here as of Lord Absinthe's command.”
“Yeah. Sure. Stupid Human.” Vince growled, and Marley felt the familiar shiver sink into her bones. The big man shoved past her and continued his way.
She sighed with the relief. It wasn't the first time she’d set this particular vampire off. Vince was an old nemesis of hers and she knew they would cross paths again, guaranteed.
“You sure know how to rile them up,” Rhayden chuckled, watching Vince's back as he turned the corner. His gaze shifted back to her as he smirked. “Might be a good idea to stay in your room until Absinthe is ready to see you.”
“Sure.”
There was no way she was going to going anywhere in this place without either Absinthe himself, or Rhayden. She’d never really been accepted into the manor anyway.
The others—well to them, she was food.
A source of nourishment. That was it.
Either have Absinthe or Rhayden by her side—or stay hidden away.
Not that she really wanted to be too close to the man beside her right now, he incited too many emotions in her and not all of them good.
Turning and following him, she watched the way Rhayden's shoulders moved as he walked. The way his hair sat; wispy strands which covered his eyes, brushing against the collar of his jacket, paler than beach sand.
His long, strong legs— nice buns.
“Do I have to fear for my life?” Rhayden asked, casually glancing over his shoulder. Staring at her from under his fringe, bright and cheeky.
“Huh?” Marley asked, heat coming to her cheeks.
“Keep looking at me like that and I might have to find another Coven,” He said huskily. “Because Absinthe doesn't share—”
Marley’s face heated even more. He chuckled, smelling the blood beneath her skin, as it rose to the surface. “Shut up Rhayden.”
They stopped in front of her room—the one she’d been using the whole time she had been in the employ of Absinthe. He leaned against the door jamb, watching as she retrieved the key which hung from the long, gold chain around her neck. As she slid it into the lock, he leaned in.
“You know, you can always quit here. Come on the run with me,” his breath ran over her skin, cool, lighting up her insides. “We could run forever, live forever.”
Marley looked sideways at Rhayden and raised an eyebrow, seeing his eyes fading to silver, “You could live forever. I’m human remember? Besides, could you leave your brother here on his own?”
“He is old enough to not need me. Sure, I could,” he whispered, leaning closer. “For you.”
“That's very noble of you Rhayden,” Marley whispered, leaning closer. Her lips were merely a whisper from his. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him, let him have her, like he so desperately seemed to want. But she didn’t, instead she leaned back, staring into his silver eyes. “Absinthe would kill you.”
Rhayden grinned and Marley saw the slide of his fangs, as they slowly descended. The sharp tips pressed against his lip, drawing a small bead of blood and she held her breath, “He would kill you too, Mars.”
It was one name he had used since she had first come into Absinthe’s employ. She hadn’t managed to convince him call her anything else—not that she minded too much. She liked the idea he treated her differently.
“Exactly. So, no. Offer rejected.” Marley replied, turning herself back to the door.
Twisting the key, she heard the whir and clank, as the intricate locking mechanism inside the door; recognized the small amount of Absinthe's dried blood on the end of the key.
Each door had a set key. If you didn’t have the right key, you couldn’t open the door.
It was one of the few improvements Absinthe had made to the mansion in the last couple of years.
