by J. N. Colon
She shrugged bashfully. “I remembered seeing pictures of you in Mac’s room.”
I hid my annoyance that she had dated Mac before me.
“It’s a good thing she didn’t really want to be a hunter,” I mumbled, momentarily forgetting everyone in the room could still hear me.
“Yeah,” she said with a shake of her head, tossing her ponytail into Demy’s shoulder, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Too much crazy for me.”
I couldn’t stop the slice of jealously from penetrating my chest. She already has a relationship with Mac’s mother, but I’m his damn girlfriend. Not her!
Sensing my distress Mac squeezed my hand and gently kissed my temple.
“Paisley helped me escape. I was afraid of contacting anyone too soon. Those hunters are duplicitous and have eyes everywhere. I decided it was best to use Paisley’s position and use her as a double agent of sorts to keep me in their loop.” Her lips thinned and eyes flashed with silver. “Everything was fine until the leader of this group, Clyde, decided to change his plans at the last minute. Paisley had no choice but to take Rubi. She needed to in order to stay in contact with her. She was the only thing keeping most of the hunters away from Rubi.”
A shivered rippled over my spine thinking what hunters like Declan would have done had Paisley not been there.
As if reading my thoughts or my expression Paisley grimaced. “Yeah. Declan was a big problem.”
“Who the hell is Declan?” Mac asked, stiffening beside me.
“Remember the one from the mall Jason called a stalker…?”
A deep growl resonated from his chest and his eyes flashed silver. “I didn’t see him in the woods fighting.”
Miranda shook her head. “He’s a slippery one. He knew to get away before the fight.”
A pit of worry formed in my stomach knowing that creep was still out there.
“No one’s getting to you again.” Mac’s voice was low and dangerous, sending chills down my spine.
Demy nodded. “Yeah. We should lock her up and throw away the key.” He flashed me a wink.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think that’s necessary.” I motioned toward Paisley. “Plus I have my very own hunter body guard now.”
Paisley scoffed while everyone laughed.
I thought it was very big of me to joke with my former arch nemesis who was also Mac’s former girlfriend. If I had more energy I’d pat myself on the back.
I blinked and Miranda was suddenly sitting on the ottoman in front of me with a tender, motherly expression. She pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay Rubi.” She smelled like jasmine and honey.
I hugged her back. “Thanks Miranda.” I was guessing first names were okay.
She shifted away and held my hand up to see my ring. “It looks very beautiful on you.” She took Mac’s hand in her other to examine his. “You too Mac.”
He smiled proudly. “Thanks Mom.”
Whitmore crossed the room and loomed over us with his arms against his broad chest. “Yes. I heard about your little bonding ceremony. I have yet to have serious conversation with you two about that. I’ve been a little preoccupied.”
“Whit,” Miranda tsked. “Sit down.” She patted the ottoman next to her. “Stop brooding over it. What’s done is done.”
He grumbled, but sat regardless, willing to do anything to please his wife.
I tried unsuccessfully to hide my smile. Whitmore narrowed his eyes at me, but gave a quick wink.
“It was going to happen anyways,” Miranda said, releasing our hands.
“Yes, but I’m not sure they understand the ramifications of their actions.” Whitmore stared at Mac suspiciously.
Mac shrugged. “What’s the big deal? It was something private between us. It was only a promise.”
Brant snickered, earning a narrowed glance from Whitmore.
“You exchanged these rings, said vows, and shared blood?” he asked.
“Yeah…” Mac squirmed beside me, suddenly filling my insides with apprehension.
Shocked murmurs resonated through the room and Whitmore sighed, rubbing his temples. “You’re bonded. There’s absolutely no going back or changing this.” He motioned toward me. “Rubi is now a princess.”
I gasped and sat up straight, getting a little lightheaded. “I’m not even a vampire yet!”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re joined now.”
My mind flickered back to our little informal ceremony, feeling our souls twining together. I knew deep down in my heart it was something bigger than we thought. It wasn’t just some simple promise that we’ll be together in the future.
Oh crap. I’m actually a freaking princess now.
Mac’s jade eyes melted with guilt as they met mine, his cheeks dusting with red. “I’m sorry Rubi. I didn’t realize—I mean I didn’t think it would be this…” He motioned with his hands in the air, trying to find the right word. “Big.”
He looked so adorable when he was flustered. I smiled and squeezed his hand. “It’s okay. Like your mom said we were headed in this direction anyways.” I was trying really hard not to freak out.
Miranda lovingly tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “Don’t worry Rubi. I’ll be here to teach you everything you need to know.”
It was a relief having a current queen to teach me. Hell, I was relieved there was a current queen at all. My reign wasn’t so close at hand. “Thanks.”
Whitmore appeared irritated no one was taking this as serious as he thought we should. “So Rubi, will you be going ahead and taking the Davenport last name?”
“What!” I squeaked. Okay, he got my attention now. “W-Why would I do that?”
“You are practically married now. Why wait?”
Miranda shot her husband a half-hearted glare. “Stop trying to alarm them.”
“What?” His tone was laced with false innocence. “They’ve sealed it. Rubi has rank and say in our world just like us.”
“Princess Rubiks Moon-Gem McHale Davenport—it has a ring to it.” Brant laughed, shaking his blonde halo of hair.
Aspen elbowed him.
He grunted and rubbed his ribs. “Awe babe. You hit me really hard.”
She bit her lip to mask her saccharine smile. “Sorry.”
“Well Rubi, just look at the bright side.” Mac flashed me a boyish grin. “I bet your parents wouldn’t have a problem with us moving in together.”
“Not so fast Casanova.” My dad was standing in the doorway with a serious as hell expression. “Do I need to show you my ancient sword collection again? I got some new, very sharp ones from Japan just the other day.”
Mac and I both slumped in our seats while everyone else found it hilarious.
Great. Now I’m part human, part vampire, full princess, totally embarrassed, and probably totally grounded.
I’m still not even seventeen yet!
Get the next book in the Secret Salem series
Haunted (A Secret Salem Novel 3)
***Continue reading for a sneak peek***
Hunted’s Playlist
“Letters From The Sky” by Civil Twilight
“It’s Been Awhile” by Staind
“Club Foot” by Kasabian
“Honeythief” by Halou
“Velvet Coat” by Ceramic
“Royals” by Lorde
“Infinity” by XX
“Hunted” by Snow Ghosts
“Angels” by XX
“Won’t Back Down (Bring You Hell Remix)” by Fuel
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus
“Bad Moon Rising (Cover) [feat. Peter Dreimanis]” by Mourning Ritual
“Ride” by Rob Zombie
“Keep the Streets Empty For Me” by Fever Ray
“Time is Running Out” by Muse
“Closer (Presets Remix)” by Kings of Leon
“You Rascal You” by Hanni El Khatib
“Human” by Civil Twilight
“She Visits Me�
� by Vast
“Paradise Circus” by Massive Attack
“What the Water Gave Me” by Florence & The Machine
“Howl” by Florence & The Machine
Thank you for downloading this book. Connect with me online.
www.jncolonbooks.com
www.facebook.com/JNColonAuthor
Goodreads
www.twitter.com/JNColon
[email protected]
Subscribe to my email list at www.jncolonbooks.com and get entered to win my newest eBook out this August, Blood Lies (The Iron Series Book 3).
Read an excerpt from the next book in the Secret Salem series, Haunted
Haunted
A Secret Salem Novel 3
Written by J.N. COLON
Chapter 1
Silver chains painfully bit into my arms and ankles where they bound me to the rigid wooden chair. The air was dank and musky, earthy dampness sinking through the walls. No windows provided light. The few haggard candles burning in the room, crying wax tears cast ominous shadows like monsters. A raw wood desk with a single drawer was tucked in the right corner while a hard bench was shoved in the other. A simple wood ladder led to the floor above.
The side of my face throbbed and lip stung, the metallic taste of blood still lingering. I uselessly struggled against the binds as a group clad in black surrounded me, malice poisoning the air.
“You’re an abomination,” their leader William said, a light Scottish accent lacing his words. He stood tall and broad shouldered, his pitch shirt straining against his muscles. His auburn hair curled passed his ears and framed his moss colored eyes that held a wild tint to them. A wicked scar of four parallel lines ran down the left side of his neck to his shoulder—claw marks. And I had no doubt whatever did that had met the end of his silver blade. “Not only is your sight unnatural, but you are between two worlds on a path that leads directly to hell. We end this now.”
I scoffed. “You aren’t killing me for the righteous act you claim.” My gaze passed over the six other hunters leering at me behind his massive shoulders. “You’re scared of what I know, of what I’ll do. I’ve already wrecked your current plans. You want me out of the way to resume.”
Silence prevailed, not one false denial slithered forward.
William pulled on his coarse beard the color of rusty blood, an ominous sign of my future. “That’s just a plus little witch.”
A humorless laugh tumbled out my mouth. “Oh this is far from the end William. My path of destruction as you call it won’t end with me. Your sect is cursed. My descendant with the gift will be your undoing.”
The crowd bristled restlessly, fear entering their eyes except for William. “You are barely an adult and your life ends in mere minutes. You won’t have any children to pass your devilishness to.”
My gaze cast down, staring at the crescent scar on the back of my hand as I thought of the painful secret I kept hidden for months. A small smile curled my lips. “Your evil plot will be stopped. I’ve seen it.”
A malicious sneer morphed William’s face, his yellowed teeth gritting against chapped lips. He unsheathed a silver dagger from his belt, the candlelight turning it liquid gold, and approached me with heavy steps. “You are finished girl.” With one swift swipe his hand arched toward me, slicing the blade through my neck, spilling scarlet blood down my white cotton shirt.
As the life drained out of me I couldn’t help but smile. I’m sure it was an eerie sight to all of them, spurring their hatred. But it didn’t matter. I knew she would come…
I woke up with a gasp, frantically clutching my throat, expecting to feel slick blood pouring out.
There was nothing but a fine layer of sweat dampening my clothes.
Oh man that sucked!
It was me, but it wasn’t really me. I examined the back of my left hand, part of me expecting to find a tiny half-moon scar. The skin was perfectly smooth because it was my skin. The girl had a half-moon scar on her hand. Not me.
I collapsed back on my pillow, brushing my mangled hair out my face, trying to slow my racing heart. I probably shouldn’t discount this dream. I came clean to Mac and the others about my sorta prophetic dreams. What if this is one? I don’t normally dream about getting my throat sliced opened by hunters and bathing in my own blood.
My stomach churned at the sadistic thought. As if I didn’t have enough nightmares about hunters.
Who was the girl they murdered? What was all that about sight and between two worlds? And they called her a witch. According to Mac witches aren’t real. Did he lie?
Crap. Is this the year of the witch at Highland Academy? Does this dream mean I’m going to get attacked by straw brooms and black cats?
Actually compared to last year with a hunter gone crazy, normal blood seeking hunters, and undead vampires, that doesn’t sound so bad.
My eyes readjusted to the ocean themed colors of my room in Shelby, Florida, the distant sound of waves crashing resonating in my ears.
No, Mac and I haven’t been separated again. It was still summer vacation, well for another few days.
I traced the delicate carvings on the ruby and silver bonding ring with my index finger, memories of that private little exchange of promises between us flashing through my head. No one attempted to separate us again. Mac would fight fang and nail over it. I was his royal mate and in the vampire world after our little impromptu bonding ceremony we were practically married. The concept still had the ability to freak me out. It wasn’t our intent, but what’s done is done. That’s exactly what Miranda and my mother said to our fathers regarding the matter.
To say my dad was pissed would be an understatement. He rarely calls Mac by his actual name. Instead he has a few choice nicknames for him—underhanded Casanova, daughter-stealing Romeo, Prince Uncharming were a few of his favorites.
Hey, at least we’ve kept our teeth from each other’s veins. I’m still human—mostly. Our dads can gripe as much as they want, but we haven’t accidently or purposely crossed the line where I change into a full-fledged vampire, turning Mac and me into eternal teenage rulers. My goal is to make it to twenty one.
Well, that’s what I tell everyone. By the hold our hormones have over us I’m hoping to simply make it to my eighteenth birthday. One year.
Yikes. That’s forever in teenage years.
Even though I’m not a vampire yet, due to our bonding I’m now a princess. I’ve endured a few princess lessons with Miranda, which, with my awkward nature, didn’t go smooth. When she tried to teach me table manners I thought my head was going to explode. Either that or my stomach was going to punch through my flesh and devour the entire tray of finger sandwiches. Finally she advised me to eat a big meal before any public dinner events and I should be fine.
She has way too much faith in me.
I sighed, tracing the tiny scars on the side of my abdomen from the undead vampire. The royal guards have been scouring the eastern U.S. for them, putting them back in the grave. None have been spotted in Shelby and neither have hunters, yet a whole crew of guards were stationed in town. Rufus and Daedalus were even bunking at my house.
I’m protected up the wazoo.
After the showdown in the woods, the hunters retreated with their tail between their legs. They were probably sour all my blood was destroyed, halting their evil plot to destroy vampires with a poison fashioned from my weird combo of human and powerful Davenport blood.
It was a relief to not feel as if they were breathing down my neck, but one hunter in particular still made cameos in my nightmares. Declan. The thought of him sent my skin crawling. That obsessive look in his impenetrable eyes haunted the dark recesses of my dreams at night. He’s still out there lurking and possibly salivating over the prospect of trapping me in a room again and tying me up.
A shiver rippled over my spine and I shifted on my side to find another body in the bed with me, warmth chasing the chill away. His back was toward me, but that messy pitch hair splayed ou
t on the pillow gave him away.
Mac snuck into my room!
Heat bloomed through my chest at his courage. My dad warned Mac if he found him in my bed again he’d scalp him.
I snuggled closer, pressing my cold nose into his nape to savor his heady scent. My brows crashed together when I smelled warm, earthy amber instead of a wild forest.
Demy!
What the hell is he doing in my bed?
A wicked smile twisted my lips as I bent my knees and stuck my icy feet on his back. The Russian shifter was about to get a rude awakening. In one swift motion I pushed him off the bed and he tumbled onto the floor, a slew of Russian spewing out his mouth.
“What are you doing in my bed Demy?” I asked, leaning over the side as he scrambled into a sitting position.
His inky black hair fell in his tanned, sharp face, obscuring his currently half-lidded violet eyes. One dark brow was pierced with a silver stud while a freckle sat under the other. He was wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a gray Filter shirt. He mumbled something and lithely crawled back into bed. “I’m sleepwalking. I don’t know where I am.” He forced me back and snuggled under the covers again. “It’s dangerous to wake me up.”
I rolled my eyes. “Get out Demy.” When he didn’t budge I flicked the silver stud in his eyebrow.
His violet eyes snapped open as he hissed. “Damn it Rubi. That hurt.” He rubbed his brow. “You’re a violent little thing.”
I opened my mouth to tell him off when another suspicion began to sink in. “Where’s Mac?”
Demy shrugged innocently. “It’s four in the morning. I’m sure he’s asleep in his room.”
My heart jumped in my throat. “Four? Four what?”
He sleepily glanced at the clock on my bedside table. “Four fifteen. Oh, nope, four sixteen.”
My gasp barely made it out my lips as my bedroom door swung open, revealing my parents lurking in the doorway with a cupcake and lit candle, belting “Happy Birthday”. They did it every year at exactly 4:16 am, the time I was born.
