“Oh, God,” the woman cried into the phone. “Okay, stay in the car, stay in the car. I think I can do that. Hurry!”
It was too late for her. The rogues were only taunting her. Little did she know, four savage vampires would drain her petite little body before the cops even showed.
Melrose materialized behind Elaina. “Dang. They're so high and distracted off the blood that they haven’t even detected us.”
“Gluttony, it’s what the rogues are known for, isn’t it?”
“Yes, they are.”
Elaina had been employed as a vampire tracker for D5, and they had taught all recruits that rogues would gorge on blood even if they weren’t hungry. Later, when she joined Vicq’s coven, she learned that overfeeding was a trait often found in all rogues. And oftentimes, they killed whomever they fed on.
Elaina and Melrose had been halfway across the country at a vampire holiday party and were on a pit stop to recuperate when they’d sensed the terror. Unfortunately, they were too late to save any of the souls drained of blood inside the building. Midnight was the perfect time for a vampire to come out and splurge, but these rogues were out to kill. And they had.
Melrose held up some straps and a needle. “Look what I found inside. Drug paraphernalia.”
“In that case, fear isn’t the only thing that chick is high on.”
Melrose nodded. “That means the rogues are loaded, too. And high just like their victims. Maybe the victims deserved it.”
Elaina shook her head and made eye contact with Melrose. “No. It’s not up to the rogues—or us—to lay judgment. In either case, it’s too late to clean up the mess inside.”
“We’re talking five bodies with evidence of a vampire having fed on them and one live witness, so I agree.”
“We’ll torch the place and leave the witness,” she said.
“And the rogues?” Melrose asked.
Elaina pulled a dagger from the sheath attached to her belt loop. “They’ve come to the end of the road.”
Melrose smirked. Her evergreen eyes filled with mischief. “I’m estimating that we have less than ten minutes to waste these bastards now that she’s called the cops.”
“Then we’ll do it in five and haul ass,” Elaina replied. “I’ll meet you back at the compound when we’re done.”
“Bet on it.”
As soon as Elaina and Melrose came out from behind the building, the rogues froze and whipped around. Their eyes widened and blazed bright red. Bloodstains marred their lips and jaws as though they’d fed sloppily from the victims.
All four rogues took a dominant stance in front of the car like they weren’t quite ready to give up their last catch of the night. Apparently, they weren’t planning on bowing out without a fight.
The first rogue charged with murderous intent in his gaze. Elaina threw the dagger. It sliced through the air, and the sharp end of the blade found its way into the rogue’s skull. Blood poured out of the wound, cascading down his face and into his mouth.
Elaina propelled herself forward and jerked her dagger out of the rogue’s head, ready to execute the next one.
In less than three minutes, she and Melrose had used their combined efforts to slay all but the last vampire.
Melrose caught him by the throat and thrust her long, red-painted fingernails into his jugular.
He knelt on the ground and howled from the pain. “You fucking whores!”
“Oh, poor boy,” Melrose crooned. “Look, he forgot his bib.” She pointed to the bloodstains on the collar and down the front of his shirt. “You got a tummy ache now? Would you like us to make it all better?” She dug her nails deeper, and his face contorted but no sound came out.
Elaina grabbed his arm and shoved up his sleeve. The symbol on the inside of his wrist marked him as a member of the newly formed rogue coven—a coven whose disregard for human life was a danger to all vampires and mortals. They were a threat to those like Elaina and her crew, who were just trying to exist and not cause trouble for mankind. Dead bodies with vampire bites showing up all over the country would mar their reputations even further. Thus, this rogue was a part of the problem.
“Who's your leader?” Elaina asked.
“You’ll only get his name over my dead body, you fucking bitch!”
“Wrong answer.”
Elaina brought her Kalis dagger down and severed his head, instantly rendering death.
With the human screaming in the car, they piled the vampire carcasses into the building, drove a car through the front door, punctured the gas tank, and set the whole place on fire.
Elaina circled back around where the survivor waited in the vehicle, smashed the passenger side window out, opened the door from the inside, and snatched it open.
The woman screamed hysterically.
Elaina rolled her eyes. “Will you shut the fuck up and run? Or would you rather stay in the car and let the smoke inhalation silence you?”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Y-y-you mean you’re not going to k-kill me?”
“Merry Christmas,” Elaina said then took the form of dark mist and started on her trail back to the compound.
Chapter 1
“You’re late!” Leila informed Elaina and Melrose as soon as they crossed the threshold to enter the compound, a sanctuary for members of Vicq's coven.
The main level consisted of one big den and a gathering hall big enough to hold dozens of vampires at any given time, especially during special events or mandatory meetings. Just like the Christmas event that had been scheduled to begin more than ten minutes ago. The lower levels consisted of slumbering and recovery quarters. Most of the sanctuary was situated at the foot of the Black Mountains. Even some of the caves were used as resting places.
“What the fuck?” Eli exclaimed. “You two look like you’ve been trudging through bloody Hell.”
“Put a fucking cork in it, dickhead!” Melrose said, plopping down on a nearby lounge chair. “I look fabulous.”
“We ran into some…issues on the way back from the party,” Elaina replied.
In that instant, Vicq appeared in the doorway. He prowled into the center of the den. His lips were pinched together, but his look of disturbance vanished the moment his eyes met hers. His expression softened.
“Elaina?”
“Sorry I’m late.”
That was all she managed to mutter. Vicq slipped his fingers gently behind her neck and crushed his lips to hers. He was the only man or vampire that could soothe her, even on the worst of days. She needed that now as the adrenaline from her kills continued to roll furiously through her veins. She tried to subdue her frustration. After all, this was supposed to be a happy time of year. But her goal of banishing rogue vampires and bringing down District 5 was still heavy on her mind. Vicq's kisses helped to suppress the remainder of her frustrations…for now.
His lips glided over hers like liquid warmth, and his palm kneaded the tension out of the back of her neck. Had it not been for the fact that there was a group of vampires waiting in the den to start a gift exchange that Leila had organized, this kiss would have likely continued.
Elaina pulled back, placed her hand on his chest, and caught her breath.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded. “Some rogues were about to feed on an innocent woman. They’d already killed five others before we got there. I had to help her.”
“How many rogues?”
“Four.”
His fangs pushed halfway through his gum line. “Elaina! I told you never to battle with rogues by yourself.”
“She wasn’t by herself,” Melrose spoke up.
Vicq frowned. “Both of you were under orders to stand down when outnumbered.”
“Outnumbered, but undefeated,” Elaina replied.
Vicq pressed his lips softly to her earlobe. “I can’t lose you.”
“I’m here. And strong enough to defend myself. The party was nice. Weren’t you going to ask?”
“Let’s get this show on the road,” he said.
Leila squealed in delight from the corner of the room where she hung on to the arm of her eternal mate, Leo. Despite all of the parties they’d held as a coven, this was the one that Leila prided herself in organizing. Their coven was like one big family. This holiday event and time of year reminded them all of the humanity still lingering inside of them.
“I would be lost without you. I can’t lose you,” Vicq said softly, pressing small kisses along her shoulder.
Both of them had retired early from the coven Christmas gathering. Elaina had left before Vicq to seek out a hot shower and, of course, she’d expected him to follow soon after.
“You can’t afford to wallow if that were to happen,” Elaina said, standing in front of the body-length mirror, glancing at their reflections. “You have work to do. It doesn’t stop. It never stops. And it won’t just because I’m not here.”
Vicq left her briefly, retrieved something from a nightstand, and then closed the gap between them once again. He placed a necklace around her neck and clasped it in the back.
“What’s this?” Elaina held up an amulet with tiny diamonds outlining it. The jewel was filled with blood.
“Merry Christmas to you.”
She smiled. “It’s your blood.”
“Sí. My life is yours.”
Elaina spun around to face him. His powerful arms pulled her into his chest, and she pressed her lips to his. His embrace always reminded her of how much she really needed him—his love and his protection.
She reached upward and slid her arms around his neck. He tasted of sweet liquid fire. That same heat fused with hers, affecting her deep down to her core. He cupped her ass and lifted her upward. She hooked her legs around his waist. He moved them away from the mirror and backed her into the flat surface of the wall. His tongue plunged into her mouth, dancing seductively with hers. The sound of her heart thundered in her ears, but at an inconsistent rhythm, and she almost wondered if she heard his heart beating alternately with hers.
Her silk robe was the first to hit the floor, followed by the silky red negligee she wore just for him. She’d worn no panties on purpose. His fingers urgently brushed across her nipples and kneaded her breasts. His lips left a trail of warmth on her throat as he kissed her skin. The flicks of his tongue against her pulse point sent sparks of desire throughout her.
“Did you let anyone feed from you tonight, mí amor?" he whispered. "Man or woman?”
Elaina shook her head and raised her chin higher.
“Good. I want no man, woman, or vampire inside of you again. Ever. ¿Comprende?”
He lapped at her skin, as if preparing her for the plunge.
“Yes,” she breathed.
His fangs nicked the delicate skin over her jugular, and she felt a hot trail of blood trickling down her neck. He nipped and sucked her skin gently. She pressed her sex against him, feeling the hard, lengthy bulge pushing against his fly.
He groaned, expressing his pleasure by lifting his face to the ceiling. She took the opportunity and ran her lips along his jaw, neck, and collarbone. Her fangs dropped as she proceeded to taste his sweat-dampened skin. For the amount of energy that she had expended before returning to the compound, her rising appetite didn’t surprise her. She gripped his nape and sunk her fangs into the thickest vein on his neck. He acquiesced, and his blood flooded her mouth freely.
He lifted one hand and pressed his palm to the wall behind her as she drank. Finally, when he couldn’t hold himself or her up any longer, he gripped her ass and turned to move toward the oversized bed. She fell back onto the mattress and watched as he peeled off his jeans. He wasn’t wearing any underwear, and his cock was already erect, the veins filled with the blood of his arousal.
Vicq came down over her, covering her mouth once again with his. He kissed her tenderly, his lips burning another hot path over her body. She grabbed a fistful of his silky hair as he descended farther. He used his big hands to spread her legs and dipped his tongue between the lips of her sex. He teased her clit with greedy urgency and tormented her with each stroke of his tongue.
Her orgasm came with a driving force that propelled her hips forward. She moaned his name over and over again and begged him to fuck her.
His hot body covered her, and he pressed his forehead against hers. His cock hung low and heavy against her body. She ran her hands up his side and along his chest, letting her fingers dip into the grooves and crevices of his hard muscles.
His gaze caught hers and held. She wrapped her legs around him and he slid himself to the hilt inside her. The pleasure almost paralyzed her. He gripped her hips and started a slow, demanding rhythm, pumping in and out of her slickness.
As their body temperatures rose, their heartbeats synced. He stroked harder, faster, and grabbed her about the hips as she arched into him. Finally, he tensed and exploded, releasing himself into her. His semen was just as potent as his blood, and a spark of renewal cascaded through her as she reached her peak once again. He rocked into her over and over until her climax subsided.
“Y mi vida pertenece a ti,” she said against his lips.
My life belongs to you.
Chapter 2
Elaina tightened her grip on the picture frame and a crack spread across the glass, shattering the photo of her smiling parents. She knew she shouldn’t have come back to the one place she was forbidden from returning to—her parent’s home. But she was no longer bound to follow the rules of District 5. It was her right to learn what had happened to them. Her heart ached and was damn near ready to burst as she fought to dispel the rage that built inside of her. The broken glass pierced the pads of her fingers, and dark blood ran down from her hand, past her wrist, and to her elbow. It dripped onto the plush beige carpet and on the toe of her black boot.
How could she not have known? She should have been there to stop them.
“Do you need a moment?”
Elaina’s heart jumped at the sound of Vicq’s voice behind her. Precious time had passed, and between the long panels of the lace curtains, she caught a glimpse of the light outside as morning began to fold over night.
She placed the damaged picture frame back on the fireplace mantle and used her powers to instantly seal the cuts on her fingers. “I’ll meet you outside.” She couldn’t turn around. She didn’t want him to see how helpless and defeated she was. She was angry with herself and the world because it seemed that everyone she loved had either been stripped away from her or threatened to be.
Vicq paused a moment in the doorway before turning to leave. Only then did she reach up to wipe the tears she’d allowed to spill down her cheeks.
Her parents were lost forever. It was her fault. All of it. Many had paid with their lives as a result of District 5’s corruption. They had gone too far. In an attempt to create the ultimate weapon, they’d done the unthinkable. They would murder innocent men, women, and children—all in the name of one mission.
She snatched up the bundle of mail that she’d found earlier behind a picture frame. All of them. Every last of one them. Envelopes filled with check stubs from D5, Inc.. Her parents had been receiving payment from the shady organization that had employed her. The same organization that hunted her to this day.
She snatched out another letter, hoping her eyes would tell her a different story. But the evidence was all the same. The checks had been drawn from the same bank and by the very organization that had once paid her a weekly salary for being a tracker.
Her parents had been paid by District 5. But for what?
Shame was an u
nderstatement; what she was feeling right now was so much more.
Her fangs lengthened and nicked her bottom lip, reminding her that she wasn’t even human anymore. Her nails dug into her palm, and she swallowed in an attempt to contain her need to lash out. Now wasn’t the time to make rash decisions. She had to process this revelation. The day would come soon enough. She would destroy District 5.
Elaina turned and headed toward the front door, leaving her childhood home behind.
Vicq and two others waited under a tree for her. Like her, they must have caught on to the mounting proof inside the home. She could look none of them in the eye, but could sense the questions on the tips of their tongues.
Sunrise was literally minutes away, but as devoted friends, and despite the evidence, they’d stayed behind. Her newborn vampire skin tingled, warning her of the sun peeking over the trees in the distance. Another of her enemies, so to speak, and she was just learning to tolerate it. She had gone from Donor to fledgling in such a short time.
Logan and Mark stood alongside Vicq with cans of gasoline at their feet. They parted from their huddle and came out from under the tree to meet her on the gravel path leading out to the mailbox. There were about a dozen newspapers strewn across the ground, and she stooped down to pick one up. Most of them were dated almost a year ago. Vicq placed a hand on her shoulder as she scanned the headlines.
Middle-aged couple missing, presumed dead.
And more headlines….
Couple vanishes without a trace from their home. Daughter, only child and heir to estate, unreachable.
Elaina’s belly churned, and she nearly dry-heaved in angst. She feared the inevitable, and she hated not knowing.
“The lighter?” she requested, holding out her hand.
Logan placed a gold lighter on her palm, and he and Mark dissolved instantly as they transported themselves away to safe cover.
The Dresdan Coven Trilogy Page 19
