Wolf's Temptation (Caedmon Wolves Book 7)

by Kirk, Ambrielle

  “I’m not afraid of dying.”

  “Tell me what happened when he was taken in,” she demanded.

  Elaina opened her mouth to speak, but regret rose in her throat. She shook her head. “I…”

  “Give me your wrist.”

  She eyed the vampiress incredulously, but felt guilt for what happened to Vicq when he risked everything to save her. She extended her arm, wrist up, and closed her eyes.

  The vampiress didn’t hesitate as she grabbed her hand and sunk her fangs through the thickest vein. She fed for a few minutes and then pushed Elaina’s arm aside. She had a sour expression on her face before she said, “We could have saved Vicq, but instead, he got caught while he was with you. Trying to save you after those people you aligned yourself with shot you. You caused this. Now, because of you, he will die.”

  Elaina grimaced, trying to bottle up her agony.

  “I honored Vicq,” the red head continued. “I could kill you for this. The only reason I have second thoughts is because of what I saw through your blood. He cared deeply for you.”

  “I cared for him too,” Elaina replied.

  “I was once like you,” she said. “Wanting to take on the world and seek revenge against those who wronged me and my family. And now I’m no longer human.”

  “No longer human, but at least you can still take revenge.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “I urge you not to try anything stupid. There’s no other vampire you should trust after this. Not even me. I came to kill you. My coven members never trusted you, but Vicq did. I see it now in your blood. We warned him to stay away from you. Why do you think he never brought you near us, huh?”

  Those words hurt Elaina, and she swallowed down her pride. It confirmed her fate. Even though she could technically bond with Vicq, it would have never worked. She was marked as an enemy. He was leader of his coven. How could he lead his followers if he bonded with an ex-District 5 member?

  “Ah…those human emotions will surface every time,” the vampiress teased. “You worry about him, don’t you? Don’t feel bad. Good things never last. Suck it up and get on with your life, huh?”

  Elaina slid the tip of her tongue against her top row of teeth. Hunger gnawed at her gut. The aftertaste of Vicq’s blood still filled her memories. “Maybe I will.”

  “You should…its all a matter of life or death,” were the vampiress’ last words before she disappeared.

  Elaina decided to heed the warning this time.

  By the next morning, she was already on a train headed west. Exactly where she would end up, only time would tell.

  Epilogue

  The prison guard’s keys rattled as he made a pit stop next to Vicq’s cell.

  Vicq didn’t even bother to lift his head. Even if he tried, he doubted he could. He had no strength and not much blood left within him. Most of his skin had been burned away until only raw flesh remained. He didn’t even know what day it was or how many days had passed since he met the sun. Two days? Five days? A week? Fuck, it felt like he’d been burning in this cell forever.

  “Are you dead yet?” the guard asked.

  “Fuck you,” Vicq grumbled.

  “You’re the one who’s fucked now.” The guard chuckled. “You got a little break yesterday. Today’s luminous power is expected to be much higher. Tell me, traitor, are you ready for more sunshine?”

  Death by sunshine. Who would have known that this was how his fate would unfold? He had no regrets. He’d do it again to protect Elaina—mi sol, mi amor.

  Donor

  (Dresdan Coven Book One)

  Everything they know is wrong … except each other.

  Her enemy, her lover …

  When District 5 betrayed her, Elaina went into hiding. Now the elite vampire tracker is on a mission to expose the truth about the underground group–before they can kill her. She needs the vampire who saved her life … whose touch awakens a hunger like nothing she’s ever known.

  His executioner, his salvation …

  Vicq is under a death sentence from the powerful Dresdan Court for helping a vampire tracker–the woman whose blood satisfies his deepest needs. Elaina has become his reason for existing … he just has to survive long enough to prove it.

  Their destinies are joined …

  Elaina and Vicq must defeat those who would destroy them … and fight for their right to be together. With danger on every side, can their love survive?

  * * *

  Donor is the next book in the Dresdan Coven series. Read an excerpt below or Click Here to read start reading Donor now.

  * * *

  Copyright © 2015 Ambrielle Kirk, Amber Ella Monroe

  Published by Obsidian Gem Publishing LLC

  http://amberellabooks.com

  ISBN-13: 978-1514113981

  ISBN-10: 1514113988

  Third Edition. September 2015

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, places, incidents, and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or person, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  * * *

  Excerpt from Donor (Dresdan Coven, 1)

  CHAPTER ONE

  Four months later…

  Without her glock 43, Elaina was no match for a bloodthirsty vampire.

  Her tracker intuition told her she was being followed by one. The vampire made no attempt to mask its presence. Dark shadows loomed over the pavement around her as it hastily shifted from one area to the next, but it never fully materialized. Revealing their true form to a human wasn’t something vampires were known for...unless they planned to kill said human.

  Elaina kept her gaze on the ground and quickened her pace. Although the parking garage wasn’t that far away, it seemed to take her an eternity to reach it. The worst thing she could do at this point was run. There was no escaping them, and no point in fleeing once you became a target. Death was the only outcome. Theirs or yours. One shot to the head or a clean slice through the neck proved to be the quickest way to destroy these creatures. But tonight was her unlucky night. Mid-day, she’d left all weapons in her SUV. The metal detectors at the Courthouse would have immediately exposed her if she hadn’t. As a tag and title clerk at the local government office, her position never required her to go beyond the onsite metal detectors. However, two of the clerks had called in sick in another department and she was chosen to cover for one of them. It was also the reason she was working late. She never stayed out past evening.

  But here she was with nothing to defend herself with. Not even a damn razor blade.

  Something told her the vampire would not allow her to make it to her SUV, but it was worth a try. Continuing toward the covered garage, she contemplated her limited options.

  The tall wrought iron street lamps gleamed on the sidewalk, and her heels echoed into the night as they hit the asphalt. Gusty winds blew against her exposed face, lifting the hair off her shoulders. She caught the scent of two more presences directly behind her on the breeze, but these two weren’t vampires. One smelled of cheap aftershave and the other of pine-scented soap. They were human. Both were men. And they were the only ones between her and the vampire.

  Customarily, vampires didn’t discriminate when it came to a feeding. Blood was blood. The nourishment that kept them alive. Maybe he or she was just hungry. Could the men be the decoys she needed to make a clean escape? Or would her plans backfire?

  If this thing were one of the greedier, younger vampires, then more than likely he’d chase all three of them down and feed until their bodies were lifeless.

  Resisting a vampire was like struggling to stay awake when fatigue had set in. Sooner or later, the body succumbed. There was no
denying these creatures a feeding. Death came swiftly to those who opposed them.

  Elaina had once been a vampire tracker until she had made one false move that had cost her the job. Now, she was being hunted by both the organization that had employed her and the very beings she’d been contracted to kill, but not for the same reasons.

  Both sides would have to put up a good fight if they wanted her because she refused to become a research rat and would never welcome death.

  Tonight was no different...

  She stopped cold on the pavement...and so did everyone else. Elaina spun around. At that moment, she had confirmation that she was the one being tracked this time around. She stared directly at the barrel of the gun that was being pointed at her by one of the humans. The next events happened like flash animation in rapid succession right before her eyes.

  The vampire caught the men who had been following her by surprise, rushing up behind them and grabbing them both by the throat. They were stunned and—like her—unprepared for the ravenous predator.

  Just as she was about to make a break for it, a gun fell from one of the victims’ hands and skidded across the pavement. The other man gripped a rope. Had these two actually been pursuing her?

  She scurried backward, nearly tripping over her own feet, yet her eyes would not leave the scene.

  The vampire must have held them in a death grip. All she saw were the whites of their eyes and a large dark shadow behind them. The creature honed in and struck the first victim in the jugular, sucking the life right out of him. The second victim’s arms and legs began to shake and then he was completely still.

  Damn. The Dresdan had drained one while choking the other.

  It tossed their limp carcasses onto the grass along the sidewalk. From deep within the shadows, it eyed her—the main course. Deep crimson eyes burned bright like fire. The ends of the trench coat it wore fanned outward with the breeze. It was moving toward her.

  Her legs finally obeyed and she fled, the wind whipping across her ankles as if urging her to hurry. She shrugged off her long pea coat in an attempt to run faster. Her heels clicked the pavement, echoing against the stone walls.

  She parked on the same level every day, but tonight it seemed like she had to cross mountains to get to her SUV. Taking the elevator was not an option, of course. Standing still for even one second would be disastrous.

  Elaina heard the familiar swooshing sound the vampire made just before they shifted from one place to the next. The sound was closer than before. He was gaining on her.

  Her heart pumped frantically and her lungs burned from exertion. She picked up her pace, pushing herself to reach her destination. Her Tahoe sat in the corner. The last one on the right within what was now a desolate parking garage. If she died tonight at the hands of a vampire, it was likely that no one would find her body until morning when it was cold and rigid with death.

  The moment she thought she’d reached her SUV successfully, the vampire unfolded in front of her, blocking her path. He was huge, and her eyes leveled with the lower portion of his chest.

  Before she could raise her gaze higher to confirm that the killer had caught up to her, he reached for her. He grasped her by the waist and lifted her off the ground. She opened her mouth to scream, but a gloved hand clasped over her lips.

  Elaina kicked her feet, connecting sharp-heeled pumps to her captor’s shins. She might as well have been fighting with a sumo wrestler. His grip was firm. Her cries were muffled by his grainy leather glove, and she focused on wriggling out of his grasp. There was no mistaking what type of vampire he was now. The ancient spicy aroma gave him away.

  Dresdan, for sure.

  There was only a handful of vampire species, but Dresdan were one of the most powerful, and the most ancient of the group.

  Her captor lowered her heels to the pavement and his massive frame pushed her back into the metal pole behind her. The hard beam felt alien digging against her spine. Her eyes turned left and right, looking for a savior. Someone. Anyone. Still, he pressed his palm to her mouth, preventing her speech. The SUV was only a few feet away, but she’d failed to reach it.

  Elaina strained to peer up at him, but the height of her captor prevented this. Only the black shirt stretched over his taut chest muscles could be seen from her line of sight. He bent down farther, so close that his chin touched her forehead, and then he inhaled deeply.

  Oh, my God. She would die. But why tonight?

  “When I let my hand up, you keep your trap shut,” her captor hissed into the side of her face.

  She sucked in another breath and clasped her fingers onto the chilly metal behind her. Her heart drummed with the consistent cadence of a marching band. Dammit, she was stronger than this! Had she turned into a wimp after all this time?

  “You got that?” It demanded when she didn’t answer.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and nodded her head.

  “You scream...we’ll both be executed.”

  His harsh, warning tone frightened her, but she bounced her head in agreement once again.

  Executed? Those were the only words that had registered.

  He straightened his posture and slowly lifted his hand from her mouth. She parted her lips, taking a gulp of fresh air. It burned her lungs as she recovered from lack of oxygen.

  Gradually, she lifted her chin, then her eyes to identify the brute. He wore a black leather hooded cloak. Sleek hair framed and covered most of his face. The blood from his last snack had leaked from one corner of his mouth, and some of it had settled on his chin. His fangs were exposed, and they were a good three inches long. Red glowing orbs glared down at her. The rest of him—a black shadow in the night.

  On her next exhale, she released a belated scream.

  * * *

  Click here to read Donor, the next book in the Dresdan Coven series.

  YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY

  Wolf Shifter Thane Silex was sentenced to exile by the United Council of Nightdwellers for his suspected involvement in a crime. If he doesn't clear his name, Thane is bound to spend the rest of his days in captivity. His thirst for vengeance escalates and his vendetta against his traitorous brother consumes him. Without the camaraderie of a Pack and the absence of supporters, a wolf begins to lose hope. Thane is headed down a hopeless path, until one night a strong-willed woman enters his world and his desire to endure returns.

  After Kalena stumbles upon a murder scene, she's kidnapped and thrown inside of a barricade filled with bloodthirsty wolves. Her savior comes in the form of a centuries old wolf named Thane. If she wants to survive and escape exile, she'll have to trust him. But soon she discovers that she's also falling for him, and one split second decision will irrevocably tie her to his world. While these two are learning to love each other, future revelations and hurdles will threaten to tear them apart.

  Click Here to Read Wolf in Exile ~ FREE with Kindle Unlimited

  ALSO BY AMBER ELLA MONROE

  AMBER ELLA MONROE

  AMBRIELLE KIRK

  BLOOD LEGENDS

  The Protector

  CAEDMON WOLVES

  Wolf’s Haven

  Wolf’s Promise

  Wolf’s Touch

  Wolf’s Desire

  Wolf’s Strength

  Wolf's Honor

  Wolf’s Temptation

  DRESDAN COVEN (Coming Soon)

  Prelude

  Donor

  Requiem

  WOLF IN EXILE

  Captured

  Unchained

  Ascend

  Reclaimed

  Bound

  ASPEN VALLEY PACK (BAD BOYS)

  Shifter Untamed

  For paranormal romance novels, visit Amber Ella Monroe on the web at http://amberellabooks.com

  For contemporary romance novels, visit Ambrielle Kirk on the web at http://booksbyambrielle.com

  If you enjoy romance with an edgier side, subscribe to Amber Ella’s newsletter HERE, and be one of the first to be notifi
ed of new releases, current contests, giveaways, and book-related news.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Amber Ella Monroe pens seductive tales of paranormal romance. She also writes contemporary romance as Ambrielle Kirk. As a child, she never really dreamed of being an author. It was a destined path that chose her. Now she writes with her readers in mind, but the characters, of course, dictate the outcome.

  Visit her website at http://amberellabooks.com if you enjoy romance with an edgier side or subscribe to her newsletter HERE.

  COPYRIGHT

  Wolf’s Temptation (Caedmon Wolves Book Seven)

  Copyright © January 2016 by Ambrielle Kirk, Amber Ella Monroe

  Published by Obsidian Gem Publishing LLC