BloodSworn

by Stacey Brutger

  “You have the sister.”

  The King whirled, his temper sending the rest of the servants fleeing in terror of catching his attention. “A sister she’s hadn’t seen in years and left to rot here for three weeks. One who professes no love lost between them. A lover would be a more powerful tool.” They stopped by the door almost directly below them, and Merrick half-expected one of them to leap straight up into the balcony and steal Trina from his side.

  “Find them. Bring them to me alive and in one piece.” The King grabbed the vampire by the throat. “Don’t bleed her.”

  With the slam of a door, the last twin spun away with a pissed expression on his face that didn’t bode well for anyone who got in his way. Merrick released his breath when the vampire left to continue the hunt.

  “I’m going to follow the King.”

  Trina grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaping over the railing. “You’ll alert them to our presence.”

  A growl rumbled in his chest. He wanted to keep Trina out of the fight, away from the bastard who’d already tried to kill her. It pissed him off that this King thought to take her from him. “What do you have in mind?”

  “My sister’s too valuable to leave out in the open where other vampires would have access to her.” She didn’t say ‘for now’. They both knew Eden’s usefulness faded the longer Trina maintained her distance.

  “We need to find his private chambers. He wouldn’t trust anyone else to protect her.” Dorian’s rage bubbled beneath the surface as if waiting to erupt. Even at that distance, his magic snapped at her, and she wondered how much longer he could hold it all back.

  “He has an outdoor arboretum.”

  Everyone whirled at the voice. A vampire leaned one shoulder against the far wall. A witch swung her knife, and the vampire casually caught her arm and twisted.

  A vicious snap echoed into the hall. The blade dropped with a clatter, and the woman clutched her broken limb with a whimper. The shifter partnered with her lunged forward.

  But the vampire was quicker, snatching the witch close and spinning her around, her back to his front. A single nail rested against her throat, tapping her carotid. Evolution had created those nails to be nearly has hard as diamonds and sharper than any knife.

  “I wouldn’t do that.”

  “What do you want, vamp?” Merrick kept his muscles loose. His fangs elongated, and his nails ripped from his fingertips as his beast prowled to the surface.

  The vampire smiled as if he didn’t have a care in the world. That was if you didn’t notice the way he kept his back firmly against the wall, or the way his eyes turned such a pure pale blue that they almost glowed in the dark. “I can get you to the girl.”

  The vampire was lean but healthy. He didn’t even smell of death or decay like the other vampires Merrick had come across, which surprised him.

  Must be why they hadn’t sensed him sooner.

  Merrick resisted the natural instinct to kill the vamp. This might be their only hope of getting in and out without a fight, but letting the vamp live after he’d found their location went against the grain, especially when Trina’s safety was in the balance.

  “Why would you help?” Trina stepped forward, fouling his line of sight. He pulled her small frame toward him, conscious once again how delicate she was.

  “I want something in return.”

  Trina’s body grew taut at the offer. Dorian held back as well, letting Merrick know that he was alone in his desire to kill the bastard. “Explain.”

  “Her blood.” He nodded to Trina. There was hunger there, but not for something as simple as food.

  “No.” Merrick grabbed Trina’s arm before she promised something stupid, and Trina rammed her pointy little elbow into his ribs with surprising force.

  “The deal isn’t with you, shifter.” The vampire didn’t move, didn’t even turn his gaze away from Trina.

  “He’s right. It’s my choice.”

  Dorian looked torn. He knew the danger of Trina’s blood, but he couldn’t give up this last hope of saving his love. Merrick sympathized and knew he’d get no help from that quarter.

  If Trina were in trouble, he would do whatever it took to save her. No, he blamed the sister for all of this. She’d left Trina alone to fend for herself. She was the eldest, it was her job to protect Trina, and she’d failed.

  They were going to have a talk when they met.

  First, though, they had to rescue her.

  The thought of this guy’s fangs anywhere near Trina had his beast growling. The vampire met his gaze for a second, the fear and desperation in them a dangerous combination.

  “One vial only.”

  Merrick had no doubt if they didn’t agree, the vampire would try to take what he wanted by force.

  Trina cocked her head. “You understand that the blood wouldn’t be any good. The properties in it don’t hold. Once it leaves my body, the magic deteriorates too rapidly to be of use.”

  The vampire stood unbending, and Merrick knew she was going to agree to the devil’s bargain. They really didn’t have any choice. They’d lingered too long already, but that didn’t mean they had to give it away. “Lead us to the woman first.”

  The vampire shook his head. “I’ll have no guarantee you will fulfill your part of the bargain.”

  Merrick crossed his arms. “And you’ll take her blood, lead us farther into the castle then vanish on us.”

  “How about a compromise?” The vampire aimed his words at Trina. “I’ll lead you to your sister if you give me your word.”

  “And that’s good enough for you?” Trina sounded baffled.

  Merrick agreed, suspicious at the easy capitulation.

  The vampire shrugged. “Everyone knows you can’t trust a shifter, but if you give me your promise, I’ll accept it.”

  “Just like that.”

  “You’re the scepter.” He said it like that was answer enough.

  Dorian cleared his throat. “In the old days, a scepter’s word was law.”

  Before Merrick could protest the deal, Trina spoke.

  “Agreed.”

  He grabbed her arm. “We should talk about this first.”

  “The deal’s done.” The stubborn chit just shook her head and turned away as if everything had been decided.

  The vampire hesitated at their exchange then dropped his arm away from the witch’s throat at Trina’s promise. He stood rigid as if expecting the traitorous shifters not to keep their word and attack anyway.

  The witch scrambled to safety, still clutching her arm. The shifters around them tensed, and Merrick snapped a command. “Halt.”

  Though the vampire kept the others in view, he watched Trina as if he were afraid she would disappear. Merrick recognized that expression because he knew that feeling all too well.

  “You don’t even know what he plans to use it for.”

  “I think I do.” Trina waved her hand as if to brush away the conversation. “We need to get moving. We’ve been here too long.”

  Their new guide turned and pushed at a set of stones behind him. A section of the wall opened up, and Merrick realized how he had been able to sneak up on them without a sound.

  How easily he could’ve just snatched Trina without revealing himself and offering a bargain.

  Death and decay spilled out into the hallway.

  Drew grimaced. “Not another tunnel.”

  The vampire raised his hand and everyone fell silent, following single file in the cramped space. Merrick’s shoulders brushed the walls as they walked. The restricted space would be a nightmare if it came down to a fight, and he crowded closer to Trina.

  Holes dotted the walls, and he realized that the passageway was a spy center. He had no interest in exploring the vampire’s lair further, knowing that nothing good would be on the other side.

  Trina’s steps had slowed then stopped, and he whirled. “Don’t.” But it was already too late. He quickly backtracked and saw the room that’
d caught Trina’s attention. Three humans dangled by chains, long dead given the advanced stages of decomposition.

  “Come,” he prodded her, “you can’t help them anymore.”

  Trina nodded. He expected tears. Instead, anger brightened her eyes. “Bastards.”

  The vampire ahead just shrugged. “Not all of us are like that. Those people sold themselves to their master. If it makes you feel any better, they deserved what they got.”

  “No one deserves to be treated that way.”

  Another shrug. “You’d be surprised.”

  They went five more minutes before drawing to a halt. “We’re here. I’ll open the door but this is where I leave you.”

  Merrick hated to have the vamp at his back, not knowing when he’d reappear. And there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. “Stay and fight with us.”

  The vamp’s eyes flashed a pale blue as if he was considering the idea, then they faded brown. He shook his head and withdrew a syringe. “My part of the bargain has been fulfilled. I can’t take further risk by being caught. Know that not everyone is averse to you being here.”

  The rest of the group went ahead. Merrick watched Trina insert the needle in her arm, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth at the trade. As the blood splashed into the vial, he glanced at the vampire, expecting to see hunger. What he glimpsed was a terrible hope. It was too similar to the shifters’ hope for her blood for him to feel comfortable.

  When the vial was filled, Merrick passed it to the vampire, still not convinced that the other man wouldn’t lose control at the sight of blood. The man cradled the vial in his fist and nodded in thanks. Without a word, he turned and vanished down the hallway.

  Trina paused by the hatch, more nervous than fearful. Her sister was on the other side of that wall. Merrick’s hand rested at the small of her back, giving her courage, and she stepped through the opening.

  And into a transformed courtyard half the size of a football field where an exotic garden bloomed in wild abandon. A balcony lined the four walls, but all the entrances were sealed off by bricks. A pergola stood in the center of the garden. Sunlight filtered through the slats.

  When Merrick joined her, the door slid shut behind them with a whoosh of air. Trina whirled, but couldn’t find even the tiniest seam.

  Merrick ran a hand along the wall then shook his head. He turned, snapping out orders. “Judith and Dorian are with us. The rest of you spread out and search for another exit.”

  Everyone moved, quickly becoming lost amongst the thick greenery. Flowers filled every available space. Many of the blooms were closed as if waiting. “Night flowers.”

  She almost regretted not seeing them in bloom. Night flowers were rare and some say the most beautiful. The rest of the garden was just as gorgeous. Statues of men and women, thousands of years old, were scattered throughout the courtyard. Granite benches were placed at intervals.

  The King’s retreat.

  Eden was here.

  A noise caused Trina to whirl. The beauty of the garden dimmed as her mind noted all the places someone could set up an ambush. She unsheathed her amathe, her heart racing as she waited for someone to jump out at them. Merrick pushed his way in front of her, silent for one so large. Trina didn’t protest, his presence a balm to her ragged nerves.

  They rounded a bend, and Trina stopped dead, her throat clogging with tears. She’d been waiting for this moment since she’d left the coven.

  “Eden.” It had been years, but she’d recognized sister anywhere. She was the spitting image of their mother.

  Her sister’s blond head shot up. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Okay, so Trina hadn’t really expected her to jump for joy, but the greeting stung.

  Merrick was instantly at her side, glaring daggers. “Rescuing your ungrateful hide.”

  Dorian hurried forward and embraced Eden. He ran his hands over her as if to assure himself she was alive before crushing her to him again. Their obvious love stung after Eden’s cold reception to her.

  “You fool. You should’ve left me here.” Eden roughly pushed him away, but the lie was in her eyes as her gaze devoured him.

  After the shock of seeing her sister wore off, Trina took a step forward, only to have Merrick block her. Protecting her. She ducked from his too-perceptive gaze, hating to feel the inadequacy of being dismissed in front of him like a nuisance child by her sister. “We have to hurry.”

  He grunted and reluctantly dropped his arms. She instantly missed his warmth.

  As she neared the couple, she got the first clear look at her sister in a decade. Her hair was snarled and a dusting of light bruises dotted her arms, but she appeared to be in relatively good condition. The years had been kind to her. Despite signs of captivity, she was beautiful. A little ragged and dirty, but healthy for being in the vampires’ care for three weeks.

  Dorian grabbed Eden’s chin and twisted her head gently to the side to check her neck.

  “He didn’t hurt me. Can’t damage the goods. They took a little blood, but by normal means.” She shoved away Dorian’s questing hands. “You have to get her out of here.”

  Trina dropped her gaze from the sister she’d once adored. The same sister who had yet to truly acknowledge her. Instead, she focused on what needed to be done.

  Getting her free.

  A deceptively delicate golden chain encircled her sister’s ankle. Trina concentrated on the magic in the room then blinked in surprise to find so little available. The majority of the magic rested in the chain. It had an odd glow that she didn’t readily recognize, and she squinted to see it better. The magic was more of a dark shadow hovering over it then the bright burn of color she was used to seeing. The shadow felt vaguely familiar, echoing inside her with a twang.

  “What do you see?” Drew came to her side, peering at the chain as if he looked hard enough, he would see it, too.

  “The chain is binding my powers.” Eden looked both affronted and horrified.

  Though it was awful of her, Trina was glad that Eden knew what it was like to be bound and have everything taken away from her. Then she felt bitter and hateful.

  “Let me see.” Dorian crouched next to Trina and reached for the chain.

  “Don’t.” She knocked his arm away. “There is something wrong with it.”

  “I was afraid of that.” Eden kicked at the chain in frustration. “It reacts to magic. Let the shifter give it a try.”

  Trina glared at her sister, shocked that she would so casually risk injuring a shifter. When she would’ve opened her mouth to protest, Merrick’s hand settled on her shoulder. “I’ll do it.”

  Merrick nudged her over and reached for the chain. His hand hovered over the metal, and she heard the crackle of magic react to him. He stood, followed the links to the anchor in the wall and shook his head. “It’s solid. This is a supporting wall. We won’t be able to rip it free without taking the whole thing down with it.”

  Trina gazed down at the chain. “But a vampire can touch it?”

  “Yes.” That was the first word her sister spoke directly to her that wasn’t an accusation.

  “It feels like a vampire.” Her hands hovered over the metal and static crawled up her arms. “Aren’t vampires supposed to be allergic to magic?”

  “Not me, thanks to your blood.” The King stepped forward. “I can manage a few basics, but I don’t have a natural affinity for it the way you do. It fights me.”

  He gave a smile, his fangs flashing. “Much like you did the first time I tasted you.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Trina couldn’t move at the sound of the voice she’d heard so often in her nightmares. Memories of pain and blood clouded her vision. Images of her mother’s broken body and her father’s death haunted her as she’d watched helpless as the life faded from their eyes.

  Anger and rage grew. Her power reacted to her emotions, building under her skin, eager to be used. She glanced at the vampire for the first t
ime since he’d nearly killed her and then froze.

  He lingered in the shadows, mostly hidden from view. She recognized his golden hair, but his pale blue eyes no longer danced with mirth like they once did. When her fingers twitched to cast, the vampire swung into motion, snatching Drew around the throat before she could raise her arm.

  Trina shot to her feet, but Merrick quickly caged her in his grip when she would’ve charged forward.

  “Let me go, vamp.” Drew struggled, but he had no strength against the man holding him. He pulled out his knife. He might as well have just handed it over for the ease in which the vampire took it from him.

  Not to be outdone, Drew leaned forward and bit the arm loosely collared around his throat. Retaliation was lighting fast. Like a snake, the vampire struck back. A taste only, releasing him when the shifters moved forward as one.

  It sickened her to see Drew’s blood on his fangs. As if he knew it bothered her, he licked his lips and smiled.

  “What I want is very simple. Everyone can leave without retaliation for entering my territory uninvited.” He paused dramatically. “In exchange for our little Trina.”

  She found her gaze swallowed by his. Her anger mellowed. His words sounded so reasonable that Trina hesitated.

  Everyone else would be safe.

  Merrick stepped between them, and she blinked. What made perfect sense just a minute ago now sounded insane. Revulsion filled her at the ease in which he’d slipped into her mind. It chilled her that he knew her so well that he was able to pick the perfect thing to tempt her. “You would start a war with my blood.”

  “No, I wish only to resume our rightful place in this wretched world.”

  “The pact was set for a reason.” Dorian stood in front of Eden. One hand held a weapon, and the other was stirring a spell.

  “Humans would become an endangered species.” Merrick refused to back down. “There are reasons that vampires are relegated to the night.”

  “You are no better, hiding from the humans, slowly dying out. If you had the cure within reach, would you let it go?”

  Merrick stiffened slightly, and the King laughed nastily. “That’s rich.” He gave Merrick an assessing look. “There’s no need for us to fight over her. We can split the blood between us and both get what we want.”