by Zena Wynn
Reyna’s Vampyr
By
Zena Wynn
© 2015
REYNA’S VAMPYR
Reyna Leoine has good reason to hate the vampyr after what one did to her mother. Her goal in life is to stay as far away from them as possible. When she compulsively accepts a dare to enter their domain—The Gladiator—Reyna questions her sanity. When the leader of the local vampyr clutch claims her as his, Reyna does the sensible thing. She runs.
Tariq Bastien recognizes his Heart’s Blood the minute he sees her sitting at the bar. After centuries of being alone, he has no intention of allowing her to escape him. When she manages to do just that, Tariq goes a little crazy.
Tariq does what Vampaliens do best—he hunts. The more he discovers about her, the less it makes sense. No human should be able to escape him, and he’d recognize one of his kind. When he finally finds her, will the mystery of her past draw them together or drive them apart?
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Books by Zena Wynn
A Real Love Enterprises Publication
Reyna’s Vampyr
Smashwords Edition
ISBN 978-0-9861890-7-4
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Copyright © October 2015 Zena Wynn
Cover art: Shirley Burnett
Printed in the United States of America
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Real Love Enterprises, PO Box 12003, Jacksonville, FL 32209.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.
Chapter One
What am I doing here? I must be out of my mind.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t insanity that brought Reyna Leoine to The Gladiator. It was her damnable, childish inability to resist a dare. Specifically, a double-dog-dare. Yep, the words “I double-dog-dare you” got to her every time. You’d think at her age she’d have learned better.
“Just dye my hair blond and color me stupid,” Reyna muttered under her breath. She really was insane. There could be no other explanation. Only a crazy person would willingly walk into a known vampyr bar dressed as she was. Might as well have a sign on her forehead proclaiming, “Fresh blood! Come and get it!”
Reyna fought not to fidget. She was extremely uncomfortable knowing the majority of her pulse points were exposed. The borrowed dress draped low on her breasts in the front. The back was completely open. Forget wearing a bra. A swath of silky material lay on the swell of her ass, almost revealing the dimple directly above it. The hemline was so short it came with a color-coordinating micro-thong. This was not her usual style at all. Add in the pair of ‘fuck me’ stilettos on her feet and the image was complete. It would take everything she had to escape without being jumped or worse, bit.
Wasting time, she glanced around the shadowed interior of The Gladiator. The windowless building stood at least four stories tall and took up an entire city block. She’d been told it also extended another three stories below ground, maybe more. No one knew for sure and those who did weren’t talking.
The inside was cavernous. It had three open floors. Each level contained arched alcoves rimming the perimeter, seating groups of two or four. Soft red lighting illuminated the recesses and each was rimmed with tied-back curtains which could be released for privacy. Several of those drapes were closed. Reyna didn’t want to know what was going on behind them.
The walkways contained additional seating in the form of Roman-styled backless couches. Some lined the barrier ringing the dance floor. Others were in groupings to allow larger parties to sit together. Mock fires flickered inside Roman-styled lamps—golden oil lamps on tall pedestals—providing additional lighting.
The servers all wore short white togas fastened on one shoulder, leaving most of their muscled chest bare. The togas were belted at the waist before falling to just about mid-thigh, revealing thick muscular legs worthy of the world’s strongest bodybuilders. It was rumored underneath they were naked. The bouncers wore molded leather breastplates, short leather panel skirts, and knee-high black leather boots, similar to Russell Crowe’s costume in The Gladiators. Lots of eye candy, if you were interested in that sort of thing and didn’t mind the whole lot of them being vampyrs.
Reyna shuddered and huddled closer to the bar, all the while trying to send out vibes that said, “Not interested. Do not approach.” Despite the way she was dressed, the last thing she wanted was to attract the attention of anyone in here. Just the thought of it left a bad taste in her mouth. She squinted at her watch. Ten minutes down, fifty to go.
She gazed into the mirrored wall behind the bar into the room. Strobe lighting made the masses on the dance floor appear to be dark shadows moving in slow motion. The flooring was made up of lighted squares flowing in random patterns according to the beat. It was enough to make her dizzy.
Sighing, she called the bartender over and ordered yet another drink she didn’t want, knowing she had to blend in. Sticking out would only draw attention to herself. Something she wanted to avoid at all costs.
As Reyna sipped on her wine cooler, she mentally reviewed what she knew of Vampyrs, or bloodsuckers as she privately referred to them. Five years ago they’d come out of hiding, proving reality really was stranger than fiction. Not that she’d needed proof.
Despite the name, Vampyrs weren’t really vampires, but aliens with vampiric tendencies from a planet called Vampalien. Turns out they’d been relocating by the shipload to earth since 2400 B.C. The reason they’d given for doing so was overpopulation and a growing lack of resources on their home planet. Earth was the closest, livable planet with a similar environment to home.
Lucky Earth.
After the unveiling, mass hysteria was quickly nipped in the bud when humans realized just how powerful—not to mention wealthy—the creatures were, and how they’d infiltrated every segment of the population from highest to lowest. Laws, initiated by Vampyrs themselves, were quickly put into place to protect the populace, or so they said. It was rumored these laws were just an open acknowledgement of the ones already in place in Vampyr society.
In response to the newly enacted legislature, humans had come up with a few unofficial rules of their own—survival tactics, if you will. Briefly, she reviewed them in her mind as a reminder and to strengthen her resolve to make it out of here in one piece. After all, she had plenty of time—forty-three more minutes—before she could leave.
Rule number one: Don’t look them in the eyes. Vampyrs had an abundance of mental powers, one of which was the ability to enthrall humans.
Rule number two: Never say yes to a Vampyr. According to the law, Vampyrs could only take blood from willing donors. To do otherwise was considered rape and carried stiff penalties. That is, if the victim remembered they hadn’t consented and reported it. Vampyrs were tricky bastards.
Rule number three (and the most important one in her opinion): Never let a Vampyr claim you as mate. Once claimed, legally there was no escape. You belonged to them body and soul.
Once again Reyna mentally kicked herself for being so stupid. Her friends—bitches every one of them—had known what they were doing. She should have realized it was a setup. Reyna thought back to earlier today at lunch when she’d blindly walked into their trap...
“What are you doing tonight after work, Reyna?” Lexy asked.
“Going home to tend to her cats,” Caitlyn said.
“A lot you know. I don’t have any pets,” Reyna said. There might be felines living in her home but only a fool would mistake them for house cats.
They were at a table in the glass enclosed, rooftop atrium where they usually gathered for lunch. Office personnel who worked on different floors in the building, they’d met and become fast friends in the course of doing business for their respective bosses.
Delany airily flicked off Reyna’s response. “You might as well. With your boring lifestyle, throw a few cats into the mix and your picture could feature in Webster next to the word ‘spinster.’”
“Hey! My life is not boring. Just because I’m not a ho’ like some folks I know.” Reyna directed a pointed look at Delaney. “Or a swinger like other people I could name but won’t,” she gave an arched look at Caitlyn, “does not make me dull. I happen to like my life just the way it is.”
Lexy pointed a finger at her. “So what are your plans for tonight? It’s Friday. Surely you don’t intend to sit home.”
Since she planned on doing exactly that, Reyna remained silent. After the hectic week she’d had, all she wanted to do was go home and curl up with a bowl of ice cream and a good book. She might even watch a movie. The possibilities were endless.
At her silence, Caitlyn said, “Reyna, no. You can’t stay in tonight. You need to go out and live a little. Do something other than hole up in that warehouse you call a house.”
The others nodded in agreement. Reyna frowned. She liked staying home. Home was safe. Home was her sanctuary, where she could relax and be herself.
“I know!” Delaney snapped her fingers. “She can go to that new club, the one everyone’s talking about. I hear it’s all the rage, especially on Fridays.”
“The Gladiator? Yeah, that place is totally blazing,” Lexy agreed, a dreamy expression on her face.
“And packed,” Reyna inserted dryly. “Everybody who is somebody—or thinks they are—tries to get in. The line wraps around the block and stays that way for hours. I’d never make it to the door, let alone get inside, even if I wanted to, which I don’t.” Reyna shook her head. While she’d never been to The Gladiator, she’d heard others speak of it and seen reports of it on the news. Just the mere thought of being trapped in a building with so many vampyrs made her shudder.
“Aw, come on. It would be fun. Just standing in line would be better than sitting at home,” Delaney said.
“Says you. No way.” As far as Reyna was concerned, the conversation was over. She wasn’t going anywhere near the place. Driving past it on the way home was bad enough.
“I can get you in.”
All eyes swung toward Jacey, the quietest and newest member of their group, at the calm conviction in her voice.
“You?” Caitlyn voiced what they all were thinking.
Reyna was shocked and a bit dismayed.
“I’m pretty sure I can get Reyna in if she wants to go,” Jacey said.
“How?” Lexy demanded to know.
“You’ve been to The Gladiator?” Delaney questioned at the same time.
“It’s not important. Reyna?” Jacey dismissed them both, showing a calm sense of self-possession Reyna had never seen her display.
As Jacey stared at her, obviously waiting for a reply, the others continued to taunt Reyna, like bullies on a playground.
“Oh, she’s too chicken to go,” Delaney said with a dismissive wave of her hand in Reyna’s direction. “Let me go. I’ll enjoy the experience way more than Reyna.”
“I’m no coward,” Reyna vehemently protested. “Just because I don’t enjoy bouncing from club to club every night doesn’t make me a chicken.”
“Really? When’s the last time you went out? To a club? On a date? Out to eat? The movies or theater? Hell, how about a museum? Anywhere other than home?” Lexy asked.
Reyna opened her mouth, but nothing came out. What she did on her off time was private, not something she could share with this group, no matter how much she enjoyed their company. Besides, she couldn’t remember ever doing any of the things Lexy mentioned, unless it somehow pertained to business. How pathetic.
“I knew it,” Delaney crowed. “Reyna’s a big scaredy cat.”
“Am not. You take that back!” Reyna demanded.
“You know, I have to agree with Delaney,” Caitlyn murmured and Lexy nodded. Jacey just sat quietly and watched.
Reyna glared at them all. She didn’t have to defend her lifestyle. She had valid reasons for living the way she did.
“Uh-huh. Prove it. I dare you,” Delaney taunted.
She could feel her blood pressure rising as her temper began to boil, but tried to play it cool. Arching an eyebrow, she asked, “You dare me? What are we, still in grade school? This whole conversation is stupid.” She shook her head and then tried to change the subject. “Anyone heard the latest? They say we might all be getting a cost of living increase. I hope so. There’s also talk the cost of our benefits might increase.”
Caitlyn nudged Delany. “She’s trying to avoid the issue. She’s frightened.”
“Terrified,” Delaney agreed.
Grinning broadly, Lexy said, “If she was a horse, the whites of her eyes would be showing.”
Reyna rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I just can’t believe how childish you three are being.”
Lexy leaned forward in her seat and pointed her fork at Reyna. “Come on, Reyna, I double-dare you. Break out of your rut and get out of the house for once.”
“Who knows, you might actually meet someone nice,” Jacey said.
“And get laid, something you obviously need,” Caitlyn threw in.
Delany frowned at the others. “Can’t you see you’re wasting your breath? Women afraid of their own shadow rarely come out in public and socialize.”
So now I’m afraid of my own shadow? Oooo! She did not just say that, Reyna fumed. She heard a tapping sound and realized she was drumming her nails on the table. Reyna immediately halted the motion.
“She won’t do it. Remember how much trouble we had getting her to come to the office Christmas party. It took weeks of nagging to get her to agree,” Lexy reminded them.
The Christmas party was two years ago and they were still throwing it up in her face? Damn heifers had memories like elephants.
“Oh, that’s right. In that case, I double-dog-dare you. Prove you aren’t scared by going out tonight,” Delaney continued breezily.
Oh, hell, not a double-dog-dare. She’d never been able to resist one of those.
“Not just out, but out to The Gladiator,” Caitlyn added smugly.
“But isn’t it a vampyr club?” she asked. Of all the places they could have chosen, why that one?
“Yes. You got a problem with vampyrs?” Lexy asked. Reyna knew Lexy loved vampyrs by the way she was always gushing over them and updating their group with the latest vampyr news.
She looked around the table at the small group. They all appeared ready to pounce if she gave the wrong answer. Pushing her per
sonal feelings aside, she cast a quick glance at the cloudless sky. Hopefully lightening wouldn’t strike her dead for the whopper of a lie she was about to tell. “Not really.” She clutched her suddenly queasy stomach.
“Then what’s the problem, unless you really are afraid?” Delaney continued to push the issue.
Reyna’s mind scrambled, trying to come up with a believable excuse. The truth was not an option. “I don’t have anything to wear,” she announced triumphantly. “A club of that caliber has to have a dress code.”
“We’re almost the same size. I have a dress you can borrow. You’ll fit right in,” Jacey announced, once more shocking the group.
After regrouping from another astounding revelation from the youngest, quietest, and simplest dresser in the group, Lexy turned to Reyna with narrowed eyes. “No more excuses. Jacey has the dress, I have shoes, and I’m sure Caitlyn will be happy to do something with your hair.”
“And I’ll do your makeup,” Delaney volunteered.
Knowing she was defeated, with an inward sigh she gave in to the inevitable. “Fine, what are the terms?”
Her friends all high-fived each other and grinned broadly.
“You have to go to The Gladiator tonight,” Delaney said.
“And stay for at least an hour,” Caitlyn added.
“And Monday we want all the details,” Lexy finished.
Reyna turned to Jacey. “You have anything to add?” she questioned sarcastically, beginning to realize she’d been had.
Jacey’s eyes seemed to lose focus as she gazed at something only she seemed able to see. Finally she blinked, shook her head slightly, and her gaze locked onto Reyna’s. “Let yourself have fun.” She looked like she wanted to say more but held back.
