At least Kira was safe. God, he hoped so.
“I know you are awake.” Chason’s voice echoed through the building.
Truth was, he prayed his twin would end it quick. He lifted his chin in defiance and opened his eyes. A dry lump lodged in his throat as he stared down his brother.
Chason’s dark empty eyes scanned his. “You know. We could have been friends.” He tapped his chin with a long nail. “We could have been brothers.”
His twin bent down and inhaled the blood scent floating in the air. “Em. The best in all our kind.” He straightened and crossed his arms. “Why didn’t you look for me, brother?” The Vry’s swung out and slapped Trace across his cheek with such force his chair tilted on its side, but Chason reached for him and settled the chair back on four legs. “Why, I ask?”
Trace fought, yanking against the binds. Anger crawled around inside his body. He thought of Kira, how he had treated her at the warehouse. He’d hurt her bad. But, couldn’t she see that he wanted her safe?
“I didn’t even know you existed.” He shook his head. “Hell, I didn’t even know who I truly was until today.”
Their eyes met. Trace felt a strange bond between them, the similarities. One he didn’t wish to acknowledge. “I wish I would have known you.” He frowned. “Before you turned into this.”
The Vry smirked. “I knew all about you. I was reminded everyday single day of my miserable life. It was drilled into my head, over and over again. The tales he’d tell me of you living in the castle like a King, and I living in filth on the streets like scum. I’d go where ever the fucking bastard took me.” He spat.
Trace couldn’t allow himself to feel for the Vry. “I never lived in a castle. I had no idea about any of this.” Trace felt his life force draining from him. He could barely hold his head up anymore.
Chason snorted. “You do now.” His voice vibrated through the warehouse. A knife appeared in his hand. He twirled it around then stabbed his own hand. Blood trickled, dropping onto the concrete floor.
Trace felt the desire to feast. His hands clenched as his body drained. He wet his dry lips, staring hard at the red drops splattering on the ground.
The Vry’s brow rose. “Would you like some? A small taste?”
“No.” He lifted his chin high and his teeth snapped. “Never.”
The malice in his twin’s blood would turn him into a killer. Not a killer only for the Vry, but a murderer of all things. The darkness was hard enough to fight without Chason’s tainted blood. If he drank from him, his life would be over, as well as those of the others around him.
Hunger stabbed his gut. His control slipped, like the blood falling from his brother’s arm. He smelled the petrified stench, but blood was blood. Unwillingly, his teeth protruded forward. He growled in frustration. He would not do this.
The starving predator in him said differently as he stared at the crimson liquid pooled on the concrete floor.
Drink. Make us stronger so we can fight.
If he did, his dark side would win. “No. I won’t.” If he drank from him, his life would change forever.
Chason stepped forward, extending his palm toward Trace’s mouth. “We came from the same bastard and bitch. Our blood is the same.” He shrugged. “The best of both worlds.”
“No. You’re tainted,” Trace yelled.
The Vry thrust his hand, forcing his wrist into Trace’s mouth. Trace shook his head wildly. He spit out the smears of blood, but the taste still lingered. Rage roared inside of him and he knew the minute he began to fall. Darkness drew him deeper into a fury of madness. He inhaled and exhaled, demanding his brain to think of something other than the blood filling his mouth, sliding down his throat. The tainted liquid raced through his veins, taking all control.
As he swallowed, a haze covered his vision, his thoughts. He groaned then bit his brother’s wrist, gnawing flesh, and drinking in a feral thirst, barely noticing the evil grin spreading across Chason’s lips or the wicked laughter over powering the humming in his ears.
*******
“I know where he is,” Spyder said as he rushed inside Trace’s house.
Mike clenched his fist. “Where?”
Kira felt her heart skip a beat. “Is he okay?”
Spyder ignored her question and continued talking. “He’s in a warehouse on Conti Street.” His stare bore into hers. “It’s too late to save him—now we must stop the Vry.”
Someone in the room screamed, she realized it was her. Her hands trembled, while she tucked her hair behind her ear. “No. It’s not too late. Mike?” She wouldn’t accept it. They hadn’t had enough time together.
Mike strode toward her and took her hand. He steered her in the direction of the table and pulled out a chair. “Sit.” She watched him as he glared at Spyder. He hadn’t liked what the biker had said either. She knew it. Mike wouldn’t give up, either. He turned and stared at Spyder.
Spyder nodded. “He’s not dead. But, he will be once the Queen finds out what’s happened. She won’t allow another Vry roaming around killing innocent people. Trace is way too powerful already. His changing could ruin us all.”
Kira stood. “He’s alive?” She inhaled. “Mike, let’s go get him.”
Mike guided her back into her chair. “Stay here,” he said. “Someone stay with her.”
He was right. She needed to be here in case Trace came back. She wouldn’t interfere with their mission this time. Last go round she screwed it up, she couldn’t do that again. Not with Trace’s life on the line. “Let him know I—”
Mike cut her off. “No. You let him know yourself.”
“Let’s go,” he said. Three of them disappeared, leaving Drago behind.
“Why didn’t you go with them?” she asked.
Drago strode to the table, pulled a chair out, twisted it backward and then straddled it. He tilted his head. “How do you fit into this equation human?”
Kira didn’t like the way his eyes skimmed her body. She liked the question even less. “Trace and I are together.” Well, they had been. “Do you know him?”
“No. But when Deveraux asks us to come, we do as he says.”
Kira recalled meeting Deveraux at the Queen’s castle. “He asked you to help Trace? How did he know about it already?”
“He asked us to help Trace find the Vry. Said he was one of the ancients. One as old as Trace himself. I’m sure he knows.”
Kira thought about that. She had no idea how old Trace was. She wasn’t about to admit to Drago that she had no clue. “This vampire, is he more powerful than Trace?”
“In some ways, yes. But, for the most part, we are smarter than the Vry. Once the Poryria allow their dark side to take over, they no longer use most of their brain. The only thing a rogue sees is greed and power. They want everything. This is what gets them killed.” Drago leaned his chin on the back of the chair. “So how together are you and Trace?”
Kira stiffened. Why did he want to know? “Very together.” She couldn’t just sit here, she had to do something. “Would you like something to drink?”
His brows rose. “What do you have in mind?”
Shit. She had to watch what she said around these guys. “Coffee? Tea?”
“Do you have Dr. P?”
Kira stared at Drago. “Really?” She couldn’t believe he’d just asked for a soda.
He shrugged. “I’m addicted.”
Somehow that made her relax. She went to the fridge, and her mouth fell open. The refrigerator was completely stocked. Karen. She’d have to thank her if she got the chance.
“You are in luck.” She grabbed the can, turned to toss it to Drago, but stopped dead in her tracks. The can dropped, and the soda burst, spraying over her and covering the floor.
Trace stood directly in front of her. His fangs exposed, his eyes blood red, and his skin tinted a strange gray color.
She hadn’t seen Drago move, but he was on top of Trace a second later. Trace flung Drago over his sh
oulder, and the vampire jumped to his feet ready to protect.
“You Trace?” Drago asked.
Trace’s gaze shot to him, and then turned back to Kira.
“Trace? What’s wrong? What’s happened?” she asked.
She couldn’t swallow, seeing Trace this way. The distant look in his eyes was worse than that day in the bedroom. A strong odor suddenly hit her. The oxygen she tried to breathe burned her throat. The room smelled tainted. She coughed and watched as Trace hunched over like a predator ready to attack.
She took a small step back.
“Well now. That’s my brother.” How long had Chason been standing there? She realized the terrible odor came from him. “Drain her dry, and then we hunt for more.”
Trace inched closer to Kira. She gasped. He wouldn’t do this. Please don’t let him do this. “Trace, listen to me. Please.”
A flicker of blue shown through his eyes a second before he grabbed a dagger from behind his back. His stare pinned her like a poisonous snake ready to strike at any second. A wave of fear crashed through her body. She wanted to tell him she loved him, but the words wouldn’t come. “I…”
Before she got another word out, he spun around and jammed the dagger deep into Chason’s heart. Stunned, his brother went down on his knees. His mouth hung open in shock. “Why?” he asked, confused by what just happened.
Trace went down on his knees with him, groaning. His teeth extended further and he tilted his head back ready to bite Chason’s neck.
“Don’t!” Mike appeared next to Trace.
The four men surrounded Trace, but by the smirk on his face, Trace wasn’t impressed. He stood his ground as though no one had spoken. They circled him, watching him.
Without warning, he threw himself at two of the newcomers and landed on the kitchen floor. Spyder yelled. “Don’t let him bite you. He’s infected.”
Kira inched back and found herself pressed against the cabinets. They were hurting him. He grunted and moaned as they tried to hold him down. His body writhed and bucked as if in pain, snapping his teeth. “Don’t hurt him.” Her heart beat a mile a minute.
Trace raised his head, trying to bite Mike. “Kill me or die,” Trace roared.
“I won’t kill you.” Mike struggled against Trace’s strength. “And you won’t kill me.”
Suddenly the Poryria were all propelled into the air as though a bomb blew up beneath them. Devereaux and the Queen appeared out of nowhere. Trace remained pressed flat on his back.
“Stop at once.” The Queen’s voice echoed throughout the house.
Abruptly Trace flipped onto his stomach and groaned in agony, his arms pinned and stretched above his head. “No.” Kira heard herself scream. The Queen couldn’t kill him. “Don’t.”
Stay out of this, human! The Queen’s voice slammed inside her head.
Trace cursed as he squirmed. The Queen bared her fangs. “I will not allow this.”
Mary spotted Chason lying on the ground, bleeding but still alive. She closed her eyes as though in agony and in the next second Chason was gone. “He’ll die alone,” Mary whispered loud enough for Kira to hear.
Kira ran toward Trace, but when his stare found hers, she stopped in her tracks. Evil radiated from him. He snarled at her, then sat up.
*******
Kira shook her head. “Trace?” A glimmer of hope shone through her eyes, but faded quickly. Trace used all the strength he had left to push Kira away from him. The evil filling him, he knew he couldn’t trust himself anymore. He didn’t want her to die. She needed to leave now.
Queen Mary spoke. “Trace, there is a chance if you drink from me, you can beat this darkness. We can beat this.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s too late. Kill me now!” If his mother touched him he would taint her. She was the source of the Poryria, he couldn’t ruin their bloodline. If he tainted her—their leader, his mother—he could possible take down the entire species and ultimately destroy them all. No. The Poryria guardians needed to continue to watch over the innocents. They needed to kill him now or he’d be one of those they needed to protect the innocents from.
A knife appeared in his hand. If no one was willing, then he’d have to do it himself. He glanced at Kira. He had to make sure she was safe from him. He sensed the evil slowly growing within him, and still loved her enough to end his life to save hers. If he waited much longer, he didn’t know if he would love anymore. He lifted the knife, aiming it at his heart.
“Don’t.” Kira screamed and threw herself toward him. Without thinking he caught her with one arm, while still holding the knife. She felt so good in his arms. He wanted to squeeze her into his body. He inhaled the sweet scent of her hair. A shock surged through his system. If she didn’t get off of him now, he would kill her. Frozen, he couldn’t move an inch.
“Please Trace, if you must kill yourself, take me with you. Take me with you, please. I can’t do this again. I can’t live without you.” Kira gripped the knife still held tight in his hand and aimed it toward her heart. “Take me with you, please.” Tears streamed down her face.
Trace struggled with the darkness within him. His emotions on a roller coaster set on fire. The evil rejoiced, ready to plunge the knife deep within her, the darkness ready to drink her dry, but the overwhelming love for her was a pain so deep he roared into the air and dropped the knife.
He felt someone nearing them, and he growled. He wrapped her tighter into both arms ready to protect her. He glared at the on-comer and found his mother watching them in shock.
She smiled at him. “You are not evil through and through, son.” She knelt next to them and brushed Kira’s tear soaked hair away from her face. Trace had never seen the Queen act this way before, especially around a human. She didn’t want the Vry to kill them, she was bound to protect them, but she’d always kept her distance. She didn’t trust them.
“Did you really believe I would allow my son to die? You do not know me, nor do you really know yourself. We are not all evil. You and I could never truly be pure dark. Our blood is the strongest among our kind.” She lifted her wrist toward his mouth. “Now drink so we might fight this together. We must combine our strengths—let us drag this demon down.” She turned her gaze toward Kira. “With Kira’s love surrounding you—you will beat this.”
“Take it, brother,” Mike the only brother he’d ever known said from behind the Queen.
*******
Trace opened his eyes and gazed at the white ceiling in his bedroom. He turned his head to find Kira sleeping next to him. He still couldn’t believe that three months had passed since he’d almost died. His mother and Kira had saved him. He smiled. His mother still didn’t like Kira much, but she was coming around. Mary knew she had no choice if she wanted to keep him as guardian. Kira was his soul mate. His heaven on earth.
He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was almost seven in the evening. Kira had learned to adapt to his sleeping schedule. Now she worked nights at the child abuse center she had opened. He was glad she’d been busy with the center lately. Although he missed her, he was able to pull off the surprise without her knowing.
Today was the big day. He hoped she would accept his plans for them.
It was really Karen’s idea. Karen had brought little Emma over for a few nights while she worked because Emma’s mother had been too consumed with drugs to take care of her. Karen didn’t want the child around all that. The child deserved better, so she asked if Trace could help her find a good home for Emma.
After several visits with little Emma, he didn’t really have a choice anymore. He couldn’t let the child stay in the hands of her drug addicted mother. Instantly drawn to Emma, he knew the moment she had put her tiny hand in his he would love her forever. He hoped Kira would love her too.
His fingers stroked Kira’s arm while she slept. She moaned and stretched.
“Is it that time already?”
“I woke you up a little early.”
�
��Trace, what do you have in mind?” She smiled and opened her eyes.
“Well, I called the center, and Megan is covering for you today.”
Her brows knit together. “You called Meg? Why?” She yawned. “What’s up?”
He saw how tired she was. She’d been working so hard. She’d practically buried herself in her work, trying to save all the abused children. Kira was on a mission to help every child. She was exhausted and it took a toll on her. It was why he kept insisting she let him change her. Her body wouldn’t be worn down so easily, but she kept refusing his offer, saying “Not yet. Not yet.”
He knew she had other reasons too, like the darkness she still sensed within him. She knew her being human kept him fighting. She was his strength. He loved her so much, though. He just couldn’t sit back and allow mortality to destroy her body and mind. If she allowed herself to die from old age, the evil would reemerge. The thought of watching her die slowly ate at him.
She could even decide to leave him, believing he only stayed with an old woman out of pity, out of an obligation of some kind. It wouldn’t be the truth.
Trace felt his teeth extend. Kira had closed her eyes and laid on her side, her neck exposed. His lips hovered above her skin, feeling her heartbeat and listening to the sound of her blood pumping.
“Trace? What are you doing?”
He inched away. “Kissing you.” He tasted her sweet skin. He couldn’t believe he wanted to change her right now. Never had he wanted to change a human before.
“I know what you are thinking.” She placed her hand on his bare chest. “Not yet.”
He nodded. “Not yet, but soon.” She wasn’t ready. He’d wait as long as it took.
A smile tugged at his lips when he heard a car door slam. He jumped off the bed and instantly clothed himself. He didn’t clothe her as well, because he knew she didn’t like his choice of clothing. She’d complain of them being too tight or too short. He thought she’d looked sexy as hell.
“Hurry. Get dressed.”
*******
Ten minutes later Kira stepped into the den. What was he up to? She wasn’t big on surprises and this certainly felt like one. She crossed her arms and stared at him across the room. “Well?”
Not An Angel (A Poryria Vampire Novel (Book 1)) Page 16
