The Chosen: A Tale of the Blood Breed

by A Tale of the Blood Breed (lit)

  “Show me.”

  He looked at her, a little confused, and then understood. His face became a stoic mask, and he rolled off of her. He stared at the ceiling, running his hand through his hair and shaking his head.

  “Why won’t you show me? You’ve told me and even…bitten me, but when I voluntarily ask you to show me, you refuse?” Her frustration rose to the surface, but she didn’t care. He started this, and she was going to see it through.

  He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he ran a hand over his face. His muscle bulged and flexed as he pulled himself up and rested against the headboard. “You don’t want to see that. Not really.”

  “Don’t tell me what I want to see. I asked you to show me, and if you won’t, then just take me home.” Maybe she sounded childish, but she wouldn’t apologize.

  “You don’t really want to see me like that.” His hand traced her cheek, a sad smile covering his lips.

  “I do want to see…please.” She threw the last word in there for good measure and hoped he would take the bait.

  He sat there for a while and closed his eyes, and she thought he was really going to show her. He opened them a second later, but they were still vivid blue, not the black she prepared herself for.

  Right in front of her, his eyes darkened, just like they had in the hallway. Her heart pounded in awe at what he showed her. His breathing grew faster as his mouth opened and his canines grew sharp and long. He still sat against the headboard, and she moved back slightly as the muscles on his body grew bigger and more pronounced. He was huge before, but his muscles now bulged beneath his skin. His breathing hadn’t slowed down, and when he spoke, his voice was deep and distorted.

  “Do you fear me now?” He didn’t move, just sat there and watched her with eyes so dark they looked like bottomless pits.

  She shook her head and moved closer to him. His body tensed, but she could tell it was from fear of her touching him.

  “You don’t frighten me, not anymore, that is. I know you wouldn’t hurt me.” She sat there and stared at him, knowing deep within what he said was the truth—that she just slept with a vampire.

  That knowledge alone should have had her screaming and running, but instead she sat in front of him, her hands reaching for him. She ran her hands across his chest, his body still tense and shock still covering his face. Since she met him, he had shown her nothing but kindness and affection. She brought her hand up and slid her fingers down his cheeks. He closed his eyes as she stroked every line of his face, every sharp angle that made up who he was.

  They made love after that, not a rushed frenzied mating like before, but a slow exploration of each other’s bodies.

  * * * *

  Lana woke slowly, the spot next to her empty. She didn’t know how long she slept, but she felt refreshed. She ran her hand across the empty sheet, the fabric cold and unwelcoming. She sat up and brushed the hair out of her face, the fire still going strong. Tingling warmth blossomed on her side, and she looked down. She ran her fingers over her birthmark. The sensation originated from that spot. Confusion filtered through her as she stared at the mark that bothered her so much. The shade was off, a deep cream color that had her knitting her brows.

  She went into the bathroom and wet a washcloth under the faucet. She rubbed her birthmark, the color not growing lighter, but her skin becoming red. She threw the rag in the sink and walked back into the room. She noticed an outfit draped across the back of a chair, a note lying on the cushion. She opened the letter, a smile covering her lips at the masculine scrawl on the thick paper.

  My dearest Lana,

  I apologize ahead of time for leaving so abruptly, but some important business came up. I hope the clothing is to your satisfaction and that it fits correctly. I have no doubt that you will be beautiful, no matter what you wear. Please wait for me, and I shall be back shortly. If you need anything, I left my phone on the dresser, and my number at the club is programmed into it.

  With all my love,

  Aleksei

  She folded the paper, grabbed the clothes, and walked back into the bathroom to take a shower. After her shower, she sat on the edge of the bed and watched the fire. There was no way she was just going to sit in here and wait for him to return. She picked up the phone, staring at the smooth surface, and touched the screen. It was similar to her own touch-screen phone, so she had no problems with figuring out how to work it. She dialed Kayla’s number, knowing her friend had to be worried to death about her. Her heart pounded as the phone rang, and she couldn’t believe she was actually nervous.

  “Hello?”

  Kayla’s voice was groggy, and Lana wondered what time it even was. “Kayla? It’s me.” Silence greeted her for a moment, and then Kayla let out a long breath.

  “Oh, my God, I have been so worried about you. Where are you? Why are you calling me so late? Is everything okay?”

  The words were spoken fast and in one breath, and Lana smiled. “I’m fine. I’m sorry that I woke you up. What time is it?” Shuffling sounded on the other end as well as a couple of unfeminine grunts from Kayla.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t find the light switch. It’s one in the morning. Why didn’t you call me sooner? I was so worried last night and today.”

  Had it only been a day since she came here? It seemed unreal, like days passed. “I’m sorry I worried you. I couldn’t get to a phone until now. I just wanted to let you know I was okay.”

  “Where are you? Do you need me to pick you up?”

  “I’m fine, really. I, uh, I went home with a guy.”

  “Yeah, I know. Adrik told us you were with the owner of the club.”

  She didn’t ask how Adrik knew that. It wasn’t important, anyway. She didn’t think it was wise to tell Kayla how she originally got here because the situation changed drastically. She wanted to be here now, and that was what mattered, but how was she going to explain to Kayla all the unbelievable things she learned? Should she even tell her? Would she even believe her?

  “I just wanted to let you know I was okay and that I’ll call you when I get home.” Silence greeted her, and she wondered if Kayla had hung up. “Hello?”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Lana could hear the worry laced in Kayla’s voice and felt bad that she was the cause of it.

  “I promise, Kay. Go back to bed, and I’ll call you later, okay? There is a lot to tell you.”

  She slipped the phone in her pocket and breathed out. She looked around the room and decided to see the rest of the house. She gripped the handle and pulled the bedroom door, the heavy wood swinging open with ease.

  She headed off the same way she had the night before and ended up facing the staircase. She climbed the stairs and opened the door that led to the lavishly decorated sitting room. Everything was quiet as she made her way out of the sitting room and into the hallway.

  The hallway opened up to a large foyer with a crystal chandelier that hung from the cathedral ceiling. Marble and granite covered the floor and walls, and she turned in a big circle as she took in the beauty of it all. Going down one of the three openings branching off of the foyer, she ended up walking into a kitchen. Stainless steel appliances filled the kitchen, and black granite covered the counters and floor. Her stomach chose that moment to growl, and she grabbed a banana from a bowl of fruit on the counter. She sat at one of the barstools and ate the banana in silence, jumping when loud music blasted through the walls. She walked down the hallway and stood in front of a set of huge wooden doors.

  She cracked the door open and peeked inside. A studio stood on the other side with mirrors covering the walls and polished pine covering the floor. Classical music played from a large stereo in the corner. She pushed the door open a little wider, afraid of what she might see. A woman danced beautifully, her movements matching the rhythm of the music to perfection. She couldn’t remember her name. Anna maybe? No, Anna didn’t sound right. Aniya, maybe? Yes, that was it, Aniya.

  S
he wore a light pink leotard and a gauzy black skirt. Her body was slim and graceful as she twirled around to the music. Lana wasn’t familiar with ballet, but Aniya did it perfectly. As the music slowly faded away, Aniya finished her dance with a split jump in the air and a soft landing. Her hair was dark, and her eyes were the same bright blue as Aleksei’s. As if she read Lana’s mind, she looked up and smiled.

  “Did you like the dance?”

  She nodded, not knowing what to say to the woman in front of her—the vampire in front of her. “Very much so. Where did you learn to do that?”

  “So long ago it isn’t worth mentioning. Aleksei introduced me to pointe, and ever since then, I’ve done it.” She walked over to a small table and grabbed a bottle of water. “Ballet is very popular in Russia.” She turned off the stereo just as another classical song filled the room.

  “Do you dance professionally?”

  “No, it’s more of a pastime, really. I used to dance in performances, but that was quite awhile ago.”

  She didn’t look older than twenty, but she spoke eloquently and intelligently, as if she were much older.

  “Would you like something to drink?”

  “No, thank you. Aleksei left, do you happen to know when he’ll be back?”

  “Sorry, my dear, I don’t. It’s very hard to tell when he will make an appearance. He comes and goes so frequently.”

  She watched Aniya gather her things and walk toward her. Her life changed so dramatically in the last twenty-four hours that it was surreal. She had gone from graduating college to becoming the Chosen to a vampire. Well, she did think given the circumstances she was handling everything well. She certainly was handling Aleksei very well. The images that came to mind had her face heating and her brain conjuring up illicit thoughts of the hours prior with him. She hoped Aniya didn’t notice her flushed face. Aniya cleared her throat, and Lana knew the woman noticed.

  “Well, enough with that. Shall I show you the house?”

  Aniya held her hand out and without a single thought, Lana grabbed it and let the woman lead the way.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Aleksei sat behind his desk as several of his warriors gathered around. Things needed to be set up on a wider spectrum if they were going to catch the monster who killed the women. As he motioned for the men to come closer, he laid out a map of the whole city. Dimitri and Garrik flanked him on each side, and Nikolai, Adrik, and Damien stood in front of him.

  “Okay, here is the outer perimeter of the city.” He ran his finger along the edge of Stone Brooke and continued. “Nikolai and Damien, I want you two to take three other Breeds with you and check it out. Dimitri, Adrik, and Garrik, I want the three of you to take another five Breeds and do a run through of the inner city. I will speak with Aedan and see if he has seen any strange activity in his territory.”

  He sat down and opened his desk drawer. He pulled out four Glocks and set them on the table.

  “I want to find out what the fuck is going on, and I want to know tonight.” Each male picked up a gun and placed it at the small of their backs. “Go do your thing, boys, and keep me posted.” He would have loved to join them in the little hunt, but right now he had more important things on his mind…Lana

  * * * *

  “Shit, when did it get so cold?” Dimitri brought the lapels of his coat up around his neck and crossed his arms.

  “Quit being a pansy.” Garrik elbowed him in the side, a grunt coming out of Dimitri.

  “Both of you shut the fuck up and keep your eyes open.” Adrik walked between the two of them, constantly scanning his surroundings. So far they found a whole lot of nothing. He pulled his cell out and punched in Nikolai’s number. He answered on the first ring.

  “Yo.”

  “Any news?”

  “Nah, I’m juiced for some shit to go down, though.”

  “Keep me posted.” Adrik shut his phone and stuffed it back into his pocket. The three of them stuck together as he sent the other five Breeds in different directions. All five checked in to report they hadn’t seen any unusual activity. He looked around, his pulse kicking into overdrive up as he realized where he was.

  “The two of you head around to the left and see if you sense anything. I’m going to go over here and see if I can pick anything up.” As the two of them left, he scanned his surroundings quickly and crossed the street.

  He was in a small residential area of Stone Brooke—the houses all the same design. He walked briskly down the sidewalk and headed to the back of the house. He slipped behind a thick tree, his body blending into the shadows. He stared at the second story window, the room dark and no movement coming from the other side. He was being a voyeur, yes, but he told himself he was making sure she was safe. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowed his respirations and heart rate.

  His gift was astral projection, and even though this was a really bad idea, he couldn’t stop himself. His body separated into two different beings, his physical form staying by the tree—his other self moving through her window. He stood in Kayla’s room and watched as she slept silently in bed. Her blond hair lay loose around her pillow, the locks framing her beautiful face and making her look ethereal. The sheets bunched around her waist, her legs poking out and causing his lust to spike.

  Her legs were long and smooth, and his hands itched to run up the length of them. He could watch her all night. In fact, he did watch her a lot in this form, and he should have felt shameful for the fact. Because Kaleb was gone a lot of the time, Adrik needed to know she was safe. He gave one last, longing look toward her and willed himself back into his body.

  * * * *

  Lana followed Aniya around the massive house and was surprised to know it was built into the mountainside. Aniya pointed out all of the historical and priceless artifacts that littered the house, some being so old it was unbelievable.

  “Do you want to go to the club?”

  “Really?

  “Sure, why not? It’s not fun hanging around the house all night.”

  They stepped through an open door and into a very feminine bedroom. A large canopy bed sat in the center of the room—white lace trimming the bed. Aniya walked over to a set of double doors and opened them. Behind the doors was a walk-in closet, the shelves and racks filled with clothes and shoes.

  “Let me just change, and then we can head out. I’ll have my brothers follow us out there.”

  An armoire sat in the corner, the color a deep cherry with delicate engravings in the wood. Beautifully carved shelving was built into one of the walls and filled with Faberge eggs. Track lighting illuminated the eggs, making the jewels encrusted in them shine and cast rainbows. Lana walked over to the eggs and reached out to touch one.

  “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

  She jumped at the sound of Aniya’s voice behind her. Aniya smiled at her, her jeans and cardigan set casual yet elegant on her petite body. Her hair was piled high on her head, and small pearl earrings dotted her ear lobes.

  “They were my mother’s. Aleksei says she used to shine them with a silk cloth every day. He says she would have wanted me to have them.” Sadness crossed her features as she ran her finger across one of the eggs.

  “Did your mother pass?” What a stupid question. Of course her mother had died or she wouldn’t have been talking about her in the past tense. “I’m sorry that was a rude and stupid question.”

  “No, it’s okay. My mother and father died when I was an infant, and Aleksei raised us.”

  “I’m so sorry.” A smile playing across her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “Enough talk about that, that was so long ago. Shall we go?” She gestured toward the door. “How about we take one of Milo’s cars? They’re pretty fast.”

  She admitted she didn’t have the urge to run away again, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to go back home. Her time with Aleksei had been incredible, but she had a life and a best friend she worried. The club wasn’t too fa
r from her house, and if Aleksei wanted to talk with her then he could go there to speak with her.

  They reached the garage, Aniya opening the door and gesturing for her to go inside. Two men leaned against the opposite wall, both of the familiar from earlier. They stopped talking and stared at them, an air of power surrounding both of them.

  “Wow, he marked you up good didn’t he?”

  “Shut up, Milo, you’re so rude.” Disgust dripped from Aniya’s words as she looked back at Lana with sympathy.

  Milo leaned against the wall, popping a piece of gum. The taller one stood next to him, his sight trained on Lana. Both men looked so much like Aleksei she could definitely tell they were brothers. Milo seemed happier of the two men, making her feel more at ease as he smiled.

  “What? I’m just stating the obvious. I mean that’s the point, right?”

  She looked down at herself, slightly confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “Nothing.”

  “No, tell me.” They were lucky she wasn’t running at them with a stake in her hand for the shit they pulled earlier. Well, maybe not Milo, but definitely the other one. Did stakes work on them? She didn’t know but would have to remember to ask Aleksei.

  “Well,” Milo looked at his brother and sister before he turned back and stared at her, “he marked you.”

  “Marked me?” Again, Lana looked down at herself trying to see what they meant.

  “On your neck. He marked you on your neck.”

  Her hand went up to her neck, her skin instantly tingling under her touch. It was slightly sore in one spot, but the skin felt smooth and unmarred.

  “He marked you to let all males know that you’re his, and if they even think about approaching you they are as good as dead.”