Wolf Games: Island of Shade (The Vampire Games Book 5)

by Caroline Peckham

  ALSO BY CAROLINE PECKHAM

  THE VAMPIRE GAMES NOVELLAS

  A GAME OF VAMPIRES (SERIES PREQUEL)

  THE VAMPIRE GAMES: SEASON 1

  V GAMES

  V GAMES: FRESH FROM THE GRAVE

  V GAMES: DEAD BEFORE DAWN

  THE VAMPIRE GAMES: SEASON 2

  WOLF GAMES

  WOLF GAMES: ISLAND OF SHADE

  THE RISE OF ISAAC SERIES

  CREEPING SHADOW

  BLEEDING SNOW

  TURNING TIDE

  WEEPING SKY

  FAILING LIGHT

  THE RISE OF ISAAC NOVELLAS

  FALLING FIRE (PART ONE)

  FALLING FIRE (PART TWO)

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  Published by Caroline Peckham 2018

  Copyright 2018 Caroline Peckham

  All rights reserved

  Caroline Peckham has asserted her right under the copyright, designs and patents act, 1998, to be identified as the author of this work.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Wolf

  games:

  Island of Shade

  CAROLINE PECKHAM

  Prologue

  This was probably the first time I had ever been truly broken. Pleading was not my style, but it was all I could do now.

  I realised taking my life had never been enough of a threat to break me. Taking her away, however, would be the end of me. There had always been hope for us until now. I had been able to cling onto little slivers of it. But for the first time in my life, I felt utterly hopeless. Completely defeated.

  His dark boots appeared beneath me and his voice sounded close to my ear. “You've had too many chances, I don't know what else to do with you.”

  “Why can't you let me go? What do you want with me?”

  His hand ran a line down my back and my skin prickled where he touched. “You're my wolf,” he murmured to himself. “You're mine.”

  Varick

  “This is stupid,” Selena groaned as I took another photo of her standing in the ocean, the sunlight sparkling on her bare arms. She tossed an ebony curl over her shoulder, shaking her head at me.

  “You don't look stupid.” I gave her a hungry grin, clicking the shutter again.

  I'd bought the camera from a local market. Greece wasn't like I remembered. I had never had a beach holiday in my entire life. Indeed, I'd spent a lot of time on beaches back in my pirate days, sailing between them, restocking my ship, trading with locals. But this was something new to me entirely. For the past month, we'd been travelling through the Mediterranean with Brendan and her mother. We'd busied ourselves with exploring and trekking. But now, we were here on this island to simply 'be'. And much to Selena's irritation, I had decided to document every moment of our time together.

  Giving in to her pleading expression, I dumped the camera in my pack, wading out into the sea to join her. As I reached her, I tugged her against me, dipping my head to kiss her. The water was cool, splashing our waists, the gentle waves rolling past us. The sun warmed my skin and I soaked up the feel of it, basking in the light which had forsaken me for so many years.

  Peace at last.

  Her father had rented a villa with its own private beach, in addition to a pool, hot-tub and staff who cleaned and cooked for us. Then he'd left us to it, heading off to another part of the small island with Selena's mother. I was boundlessly grateful for the gift he'd bestowed on us: alone time.

  “I think I'd like a go with that camera!” Selena wriggled away from me, splashing back to the shore and plucking the camera from my bag. She pointed the lens at me and I immediately stiffened.

  The repetitive click of the shutter sounded her taking a series of photographs. I folded my arms. “I suppose I deserve that.”

  Selena beamed, dropping the camera so it hung around her neck on a strap. “Yes you do. You haven't taken one picture of the scenery.” She opened her arms, gesturing to the incredible white sandy beach that stretched out on either side of us.

  I waded out of the water, rejoining her. “The only beach I need is right here.” I ran my hand down the pale skin of her stomach, leaning in to kiss her neck. “Your skin is the shore and my mouth is the sea,” I murmured and she laughed, looping her arms around me.

  “Well the sea is getting very handsy with the shore today,” she teased, locking her fingers behind my neck.

  I was so happy being human. But the problem was, though I'd made my peace with my mortality, I hadn't quite made peace with Selena's. She had the type of soul that made this dark world a better place. It was the reason my life felt so full. So why wasn't I content? Knowing she'd grow old and die just like the rest of the human population? With me alongside her?

  She is too wonderful a thing to let die.

  She jolted me out of my morbid thoughts with a kiss.

  I pushed a hand into her hair, holding her in place as I surveyed her. “I invited your mother and father over for lunch today.”

  She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “It's strange seeing them together...”

  “Yes, I imagine it is.” I didn't know if her parents could ever rekindle their love for each other, but I liked to think that they might. They were certainly spending a lot of time together on this trip.

  What Selena didn't know, was that I had another agenda for inviting her parents to dine with us. One which made me anxious to my core.

  *★*

  We sat at a table on the veranda before the white stone house, overlooking the pristine beach. Selena's mother was still growing to understand the Immortal world. Initially, Brendan had asked a Vampire to Charm her into remaining calm. But now she was over the shock, Rachel was starting to grow inquisitive about everything. In particular, me.

  “So you were a captive of these...Helsings?” she confirmed as we sat out on the veranda overlooking the sea. She didn't resemble Selena in the way her father did. Rachel's features were sharper, her eyes narrower and the softest of greens.

  “Yes,” I said, a lump growing in my throat. I still felt a lot of guilt for the life I'd led under the Helsings. I didn't know if I'd ever truly get past it. And I was starting to accept that fact. When the nightmares came for me in the dead of night, Selena would hush me and whisper that it wasn't my fault. That I'd made up for my wrong-doings by far. But telling her mother about what I'd done reminded me that that wasn't really true. I could never make up for the deaths which had been dealt at my hand.

  I focused my attention on the sea breeze and the lapping water against the beach, calming my worries. A mezze was laid out for us with fresh bread, hummus, cheeses and salad. I picked up a knife, slicing out bread for everyone.

  I cleared my throat, figuring Rachel deserved more information.
“They used to hold twisted games in their home, before your daughter stopped them.”

  “We stopped them,” Selena corrected and Brendan chuckled as he spread hummus onto a slice of bread. “Alongside a lot of our friends, I might add. I think I was the least helpful, actually.”

  I laid a hand on her bare spine. The black maxi dress she was wearing gaped open at the back, her hair gathered up at the nape of her neck. I leaned in closer, catching the whisper of a sweet perfume on her neck. “As I recall, you were the one who finished off the Helsings.”

  Rachel looked to Brendan, her eyes wide and deer-like. That had probably been the wrong thing to say, reminding her that her daughter had killed people. Selena was smiling though, so perhaps not. I didn't judge her at all for the kills she'd made. But then I was from a different time. Death had always been a part of my life. My father had been a pirate. But we were entering a new era now, one where death didn't play a part anymore. Certainly not at our hands anyway.

  “They were very cruel people,” Brendan supplied, patting Rachel's hand. She played with a curl of hazel hair, glancing up at him beneath her lashes. Selena was watching them closely and I felt the hope emanating from her that they would reunite one day.

  “There's some wine in the fridge,” I said, looking to Selena. “Would you fetch it?” It wasn't my usual style, but I needed a moment alone with her parents.

  She stood, narrowing her eyes at me suspiciously, but she left without complaint. Nothing got past her.

  I fiddled with a cheese knife, flicking it around in my palm; it was the way I'd handled blades back in my pirate days. It felt as familiar as breathing.

  I cleared my throat and Brendan folded his arms, looking at me expectantly. Rachel raised a brow, resting an elbow on the table. I shifted in my seat, flicking the blade around in my hand. Spin, catch, flick. Spin, catch, flick.

  “So...I wanted a word with you both about your daughter. Though perhaps I am not quite the man you would have wished for her to meet-”

  “Quite the opposite,” Brendan cut me off. “I couldn't think of a better man, in fact.”

  My chest swelled at his words and I sat up straighter.

  Rachel smiled cautiously. “From everything I've heard, you seem like a bit of a hero.”

  “No...” I shook my head, fiddling with the blade. I couldn't find the words to answer her. I didn't want her building up a false image of me. “Rachel, I am, in all honesty, a man who lost his way. Who has done despicable things, unspeakable things...I was trapped in more ways than one, by Hunters and by the Vampire curse. They kept me hungry...and when I was hungry I was-” A jagged shard stuck in my throat, halting the end of that sentence. I was a monster.

  “You had no control,” Brendan said in a low tone. “The Helsings kept you starved so that you would do those terrible things. They used your hunger as a way to control you. To manipulate you. Surely you see that, Varick?”

  I bowed my head, spinning the blade in my hand. “I am still coming to terms with much of it. But I know, truly, in the deepest regions of my heart that I will strive every day to be deserving of your daughter.” I looked between the two of them. “And that's why I'd like to ask you both something. If you deem me fit, I'd like to ask her- christ!” The blade sliced my palm open and blood poured onto my linen trousers. I stood up abruptly, knocking the chair to the ground with a loud clatter.

  Selena returned from the kitchen, hurrying toward me with a bottle of wine in her hand. At the sight of the blood splattered across me, she flew to my side, grabbing my wrist.

  “I'm fine,” I said immediately.

  “I'll get you a cloth,” she said, planting the bottle on the table.

  “I said I'm fine,” I growled. My neck was hot and anger rolled freely through me. I'd been a complete fool. And now I'd spoiled this opportunity.

  “You're bleeding. Don't be so proud.” Selena headed back to the house to fetch me a cloth.

  “My apologies,” I muttered, bowing my head to her parents before walking after her.

  I marched through the white walled house, my shoes thumping on the clean tiles and echoing around the large rooms. I followed Selena to the traditional Greek kitchen. Pots hung above the old-fashioned oven where Selena was rummaging through a drawer. She turned to me, holding out a tea-towel and I gave her an apologetic smile as she walked to my side, taking my hand.

  She guided me to the huge basin, turning the tap on.

  I let her unfurl my fist and hold it under the water, catching her in my gaze.

  “I shouldn't have snapped at you,” I said softly. “I felt a fool.”

  “You don't need to be so strong all the time.” She cupped my cheek, giving me a loving smile. I moved to kiss her and she turned away, grinning as she gazed down at my hand.

  I lay a kiss on her ear instead, running my mouth down to her neck.

  “Varick,” she gasped.

  I trailed my mouth to her collar bone. Vampire or not, she smelt delicious.

  “Varick!” she demanded and I looked up, my eyelids half-mast as I gazed at her. I was jolted back to my senses at the sight of her fearful expression. I followed her line of sight to my palm, doused in the stream of cold water.

  I sucked in a breath, dragging my hand out of the water and gazing down at it.

  Not a scratch. Not a scar. Nothing.

  The cut was gone.

  Jameson

  I breached the ocean surface, gulping down air until my lungs didn't feel like they wanted to pop anymore. The moon hung low in the sky, gazing watchfully down at my predicament.

  And shit was it a predicament. The cruise ship had sunk, presumably sucking down whoever was left onboard. But cries reached my ears across the dark sea. Survivors. Vampires, Werewolves, humans, Sirens, who knew? But from the amount of splashing, growling, grunting and shouting that was going on, I guessed there were a lot of them.

  “Firefly!?” a voice stood out amongst them all. And it pissed me off. I'd been about to shout the exact same thing.

  I hunted for Silas, swimming in the direction of his cries. With him wailing like an alarm, I didn't need to join in. Cass would hear him if she was close. As I approached, I noticed that between each of his shouts, he gave out a choked sob.

  I spotted him floating on a large chunk of wood, curved in the middle. No doubt it had recently been part of the ship's hull.

  “Jameson?” he gasped as I caught hold of the side.

  He reached down, dragging me up onto the makeshift raft. I wanted to flop onto it and never get up. I was exhausted to my core from our ordeal on the ship, but I wasn't gonna rest until we pulled Cass from the water.

  I refused to let myself believe for one, single second that she'd been killed.

  No way. The universe wouldn't dare snuff out a light like hers.

  Silas was soaking wet, his eyes bloodshot and his hands trembling. He didn't look so hot right then. But those model cheekbones were making a good effort to counter his floppy wet hair and pale lips. It was only then I noticed the absence of the little dead girl he'd been carrying around when the ship had been sinking.

  “Oh...” I gazed at him and his shining, gold-flecked eyes met mine.

  “Emma...she's gone...she's gone,” he murmured, his fingers flexing as if he was reaching for her in the icy air. “I tried to hold on.” He shook his head. “I couldn't.”

  Silas gazed at me, needing something, looking absolutely desperate. I crawled across the space and tugged him into my shoulder. It was what I would have done with any of my pack members. And though Silas was hardly a friend, I wasn't going to let him sit this one out alone. For all I knew, I'd only have him and this raft for company for the rest of the night.

  He clutched me with one arm, then finally drew away, taking a breath. “We have to find Firefly.”

  I nodded, gazing out at the lapping ebony waves. I took a deep breath and called out her name, over and over until every single survivor could probably hear me.

&n
bsp; Problem? Many of the Immortals were now swimming toward the life-saving piece of wood Silas and I were floating on. And I was pretty sure none of them were Cass.

  As the moonlight flashed in the eyes of the closest survivor, my heart nearly stopped. Gnashing teeth, haggard features, his hair thin and patchy. Vampire. A starving, effing V.

  Panic ricocheted through me. I turned to Silas, pointing at the horde of hungry Vs moving our way. I snatched hold of his collar and brought him within an inch of my face. “You had hungry Vs on that ship?”

  “We didn't usually let them get hungry,” he growled. “But we had a blood shortage- money was tight.” His eyes flitted back and forth between the oncoming swarm and our raft.

  “How many?” I demanded.

  “Er-”

  I brought my fist to his chin. “How. Many.”

  “Thirty six,” he said, shoving me away. My shoe skidded across the damp wood, making a sharp squeal. I glanced over my shoulder as the noise drew more attention.

  “Great. I'm betting we smell fantastic to them right about now.”

  Silas nodded, visibly swallowing. I stood up straighter, balancing precariously on the raft as I gazed out into the sea. The moon highlighted a patch of land in the distance. It looked swim-able. By me anyway. I wasn't really taking Silas into account. He'd probably do fine. Maybe. I wasn't massively bothered. But could I outpace the Vs?

  I didn't have time to make a decision as the first one reached us, grabbing hold of the raft and tilting it violently toward the sea. I fell onto my arse, sliding toward it, its tongue flicking out as it tried to get a taste of me. I slammed my boot into its face and it splashed back into the sea.

  The panel righted itself and I glanced at Silas who was bracing himself against one of the curved sides, looking alarmed. He pointed into the dark water behind me and I followed his finger toward a slim plank of wood. “Would that work as a paddle?”