by W. J. May
Eddie shook his head. “They’re going to eventually take us out.”
I chuckled, unable to help myself, and I turned so I could see both men. “Never! I’ll kill every hunter myself if I have to. I trained most of them and they still suck. Too many nights like tonight and they’ll run out of their best.”
“But they will send more.” Eddie confirmed what I didn’t want to admit.
“Then I’ll be forced to gather Malcolm and Hamish and begin planning a counterattack.” I rolled my shoulders, the tension building up in me something I wasn’t used to. I shook my head. Something was on the brink of exploding inside of me, but I couldn’t put my finger on what. Too much adrenaline from the fight? Too much fear from the need to be near Evan when I knew it wasn’t right?
“You really think Malcolm will turn his back on the counsel?”
“I don’t know, but I need him on my side. These hunters that showed up tonight were just testing our strength and ability. I assure you this won’t be so easy next time.” I moved past my pet and walked to Evan, who had picked up Trent and was walking him back toward the small shack of a cave. He adverted his eyes from me, but I watched him like a hawk. His body was bare, his clothes lost to the transition, and damn it if it wasn’t hard not to take full advantage of the situation.
I hesitated. He’d shifted. He must have killed someone and broke the curse. Had this been his first time as a wolf?
I followed him through the door and moved back as Evan set Trent on the blow up mattress I had rested on earlier.
Evan straightened, pausing before turning back to look at me. “Are you all right?”
I stared at him. No one had ever really asked me that question after a fight. It was a strange question. “I’m fine. Is Travis going to be all right?”
“Do you really, truly care?” Sarcasm spilled into his voice.
My eyebrow lifted. “Are you pissed because you both sucked during the fight and only took out one of the vamps where Eddie and I took out the rest, or is this some male alpha bullshit happening here?” I was pushing it. I should be thanking him for sticking around to help.
“Classy, Tori.” He turned his attention back to Trent, ignoring me.
Saying a thank you to him wouldn’t work because in his eyes all I had done was complicate their lives, but he failed to remember how quickly I could have put them both down behind the diner earlier that day. I chose to show mercy, and in return had been ejected from my people, thrown out by my father, and left to fend off the well-trained killers that existed. He was an idiot. I spun around and left the den.
A long, low growl escaped my lips as I pivoted around and walked to the edge of the forest. My leathers felt tight and unyielding, the soft material suddenly seeming to scratch at my skin. I pulled at them, wanting to strip to find relief.
“Tori... what’s the matter?” Eddie hurried toward me.
Why did he always have to show up at the worst moment? Could I never have a moment alone? I turned and bared my teeth to him, the world shifting in front of me. Colors married in front of my eyes and I couldn’t make out where Eddie began and the night sky behind him ended. I let out another growl as fear wrapped tightly around me. Suffocating me.
I could hear him beginning to panic, but nothing mattered beyond getting out of the itchy material that promised to drive me mad. I tugged my coat off and let it fall with a heavy thud. Working quickly, I pulled weapons from my back and legs, my waist and hips. The pile of metal before me was impressive and seemed to illuminate on the ground. I backed up, lifting my hands to my face as the brightness of my silver sword caused my eyes to burn.
“What the hell is happening?” I bent over, ripping at my boots until I finally got them off. I scratched lines into my skin, blood welling up at the wounds and pouring down to cover my feet. Blinking again and again, I reached out for the coolness of the dirt below me and sunk down onto it. I rolled on my back and tugged my skirt off before wiggling out of my top, my screams annoying me more than anything. The itch of the leather had turned into a subtle burn, the heat from my skin leaving me thirsty and parched.
“Tori... Tori!”
Evan.
I reached up and clawed at his face, trying to blink past the haze of color sitting heavy on my vision. I couldn’t formulate words, but I knew death was near. I swatted him away as he knelt before me, pressing his weight against me. I swatted and pushed at him and screamed again, needing him to back off and give me some room.
“It’s so hot,” I cried, amazed words could form. Why was it so hot all of a sudden?
“Tell me what’s happening. Tori!” As Evan lifted his weight off of me, he slapped me and then pressed back down on me.
It stunned me a moment and I realized I’d been clawing at him.
He ignored the blood running down his chest and back as he brushed my hair away from my face.
I forced myself to stop resisting his aid. I wanted so badly to tear his chest open, to force him off of me, but I remained still, a scream lodged in my throat.
“Victoria. Please.” Eddie’s voice resounded to my left and I jerked my head toward him. Evan sat on my lower chest, his knees pressing my hands to the ground, leaving me unable to push past his strength.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, a whimper leaving my lips that scared even me. It was so damn hot. Where was a bucket of ice water when you needed one? “My body’s burning.”
“Did Piper poison you?”
I shook my head like a rabid animal. “Something’s happening inside of me.”
“Oh, God,” Eddie muttered.
“What? What’s the matter?” Evan’s voice was filled with panic.
I knew by the sound of the two men above me that things weren’t looking good. I was almost lost to the pain that rolled through me, my stomach clenched, my eyes filling with tears that weren’t supposed to be possible anymore.
“It’s your blood.” Eddie’s voice held a desperate calmness that sent a shiver up my spine. “I heard a while back of a Halfling that got in a fight with one of us. The vamp thought it wise to drink from the wolf and he died from the poison in our blood.”
“What? You let her drink from me! Why would you do that?” Evan moved off of me.
I rolled onto my stomach, and slowly rose onto my knees. My stomach clenched and I opened my mouth to dry heave. Whatever was burning my insides was headed up. I was certain I wouldn’t survive it.
“I just remembered it now! I was injured and you thought it best to feed her! I didn’t know!” Eddie said, his voice raising in fear.
Evan was mad, I could feel the heat of his anger beside me. “She’s dying now, right?” He jumped to his feet. “Back the hell up.”
Eddie growled loudly and Evan echoed the sentiment.
I didn’t have the strength to make them stop. I was lost in my own hell, their words rushing around me as if spoken by someone a million miles away. I knew that drinking from a wolf was forbidden, but the reasons behind it had always been hidden.
“Rules are here to protect you. If you disobey me in any of them... the punishment will be severe. Do you hear me?” My father leaned over me and screamed into my face. I had never seen a more vicious expression, the remembrance of it forever seared in my mind.
Had he been protecting me? Had one of the witches he had us kill told him the truth of what was to come? Did he know that I would befriend the wolves and betray my people? Was there evidence in me that spoke of my willingness to drink from one of them? Had he set the rules to keep me safe and alive?
“Tori!!” Eddie screamed and dropped beside me.
I pressed my hands to the ground, my body shaking so hard I had trouble holding myself up. My eyes closed as I tried to fight past the infusion of the wolf’s blood within me, tried to reject it, but I could sense the war it raged against my ancient life source. My stomach tightened as I threw up over and over again, blood spattering on my hands and arms. I forced it from my body until I could do n
othing but drop down into it. Strong hands caught me before I hit the ground, and lifted me into the air.
Evan pressed his lips to my forehead as my eyes rolled back in my head. “Don’t you die on me! We can fix this. Just stay with me. Stay with us and I’ll figure it out. You’re strong, the eldest lineage of vampires and true ruler of your people, Victoria. Stay with me, baby.”
I wanted to reach up and touch his face, to open my eyes and memorize the handsome structure of the man I was sure was my soul mate. How had fate dealt such a heinous blow? The man who might be destined to love me forever was the one killing me.
THE END
Huntress
Now Available!
––––––––
COURAGE RUNS RED EXCERPT
What if courage was your only option?
When Kallie lands a college interview with the city’s new hot-shot police officer, she has no idea everything in her life is about to change. The detective is young, handsome and seems to have an unnatural ability to stop the increasing local crime rate. Detective Liam’s particular interest in Kallie sends her heart and head stumbling over each other.
When a raging blood feud between vampires spills into her home, Kallie gets caught in the middle. Torn between love and family loyalty she must find the courage to fight what she fears the most and possibly risk everything, even if it means dying for those she loves.
Courage Runs Red
By W.J. May
* * *
Book 1
Of the
Blood Red Series
Copyright 2015 by W.J. May
––––––––
Courage Runs Red
Copyright © 2015 by W. J. May
Cover Art by Book Covers by Design
Printed in the United States of America
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Thank you for your purchase, for comments, or to obtain further copies, please find us on the web at www.wanitamay.yolasite.com, on Face Book at Author WJ May, or contact the author direct at [email protected].
* * *
Book Blurb:
What if courage was your only option?
When Kallie lands a college interview with the city’s new hot-shot police officer, she has no idea everything in her life is about to change. The detective is young, handsome and seems to have an unnatural ability to stop the increasing local crime rate. Detective Liam’s particular interest in Kallie sends her heart and head stumbling over each other.
When a raging blood feud between vampires spills into her home, Kallie gets caught in the middle. Torn between love and family loyalty, she must find the courage to fight what she fears the most and possibly risk everything, even if it means dying for those she loves.
Blood Red Series:
Courage Runs Red – Now Available
The Night Watch – Now Available
Night of Courage – Coming Winter 2015/16
Website: http://www.wanitamay.yolasite.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-WJ-May-FAN-PAGE/141170442608149
SIGN UP FOR W.J. May's Newsletter to find out about new releases, updates, cover reveals and even freebies!
http://eepurl.com/97aYf
* * *
Chapter 1
One Dark and Stormy Night...
Heavy rain battered against the windshield. The massive drops ricocheted like bullets against the roof of the car, and the wipers were losing their battle to keep the front window clear. A gust swiped against the side of the car. Kallie’s vise grip on the steering wheel still could not stop the slight swerve the wind forced the car to do.
She had been driving already over a year, but just got her full license about two weeks ago. She knew how to drive, her dad owned a trucking company and had let her drive tow-motors and skid steers since she turned ten. Good driver or not, no one should be driving in this sudden storm. Her too-long bangs fell into her eyes and she tried futilely to blow them out. No way in hell was she taking a hand off the wheel to get them out of the way.
Her dad sat sleeping in the passenger seat beside her, oblivious to the storm. One of his dispatchers had called in sick two days ago, and then yesterday a driver had come down with the same stomach virus. He’d covered the dispatch desk and then opted to right away take the transport truck’s freight delivery for the sick guy himself. He had gone and done the twelve-hour round trip drive with no rest. On top of all that, he still planned to be back in for work at seven tomorrow.
When he got back to the office after parking the transport truck, he sent Kallie a text. She’d spoken to him earlier and had promised to pick him up since it was mom’s birthday and he always made her breakfast in bed – one of his specialties, omelettes.
Kallie checked the time on the car’s digital clock, just after three thirty. When she had left forty minutes ago, dark clouds covered the full moon and night sky but it had barely been raining. The storm blew in about the same time her dad had fallen asleep beside her. She suspected he had picked up the virus his workers had, and she didn’t want to wake him.
Another strong gust of wind slapped the side of her little car. The small Honda veered toward the curb and Kallie cringed as she drove through a massive puddle. The car hydroplaned and seemed unsure if it wanted to steer straight or spin. She let out the breath she had been holding when the wheels finally settled back on the asphalt.
She flipped the defrost on high to try and clear the glare from the windshield. It didn’t work fast enough so she squinted to try and see clearer.
“Weird,” she muttered. The haze came from outside, not from on the windows. Trying to see more than ten feet in front of her seemed next to impossible. She tried her high beams and quickly shut them off. They were useless. They just made the heavy rain look like shiny silver bullets and blocked any view through them.
Her dad snorted loudly in his sleep and she glanced over at him. His head had fallen against the back of his seat and his mouth hung open slightly. She had no idea if he was wearing his seatbelt.
A strange scratch against the outside of the car made her jump. It brought her focus quickly back to the road. A twig or limb must have blown down and scraped the car.
It only added to her frustration. Kallie now strained to see if any tree branches or garbage cans might have blown onto the road.
She huffed in frustration. They had to be close to their street now. Darn her folks for choosing to live just outside the city. Darn the city for not putting more lights on the long roads that led to her house.
She accelerated a tad when she noticed the red mailbox on her right. Their street was about two minutes up the road. Easy peasy. Almost home.
Less worried, she thought about her warm cozy bed and couldn’t wait to crawl under the covers and go back to sleep. Tomorrow was Saturday so no school. Maybe she should take her mom out to lunch.
Lost slightly in thought, Kallie didn’t see the figure crossing the street until it was almost too late. The dummy wore a dark hooded top and
no reflector stuff. “Shit!” Kallie swerved hard to the right and felt her dad’s side of the car go up on the curb. Puddles sprayed the underside and made an eerie, hollow banging noise against the bottom of the car. The concrete sidewalk was slippery and the car started to hydroplane again.
She bit back a scream when the car stalled out and she lost power steering. Pressing the brakes Kallie felt the car fishtail and almost as if in slow motion, she watched the stranger in the middle of the road stare at her with bright eyes. In the glare of her headlights, his eyes looked a weird red, like when you take a picture and the flash catches your retina.
It was a strange thought at a terrifying moment like this.
Still skidding, her focus back fully on the car, she tried pumping the gas and turning the key to get the car started again.
This nightmare drive had no intention of ending. The car continued its spinning course. When the engine suddenly kicked back on, the Honda lurched forward and Kallie tried to swerve away from a parked car. The passenger front end clipped the parked car and as the steering wheel spun with a mind of its own, Kallie knew she’d lost complete control. They were going to flip. She was sure of it. She tried to brace her hands against the ceiling and screamed.
Over and over she screamed; as they tipped, as her dad crashed against the windshield, as a horrible cracking sound filled the inside of the small car, as it picked up momentum from the small grade hill. Her screams were muffled when the air bag burst free from the steering wheel, but she continued her ear-splitting shriek through it all. She had no idea how many times the car rolled over and over. It felt like it would never stop.
Abruptly, part of the front and side of the car slammed into a large hundred-year-old oak tree.
Only then did her screaming stop.
Everything around her crashed into blackness.
––––––––
