The Vampire's Mark 2: Hell Storm (Reverse Harem Romance)

by Rachel Jonas

  Kept his mission alive.

  “I’m not afraid of you.”

  I shocked myself with those words, mostly because they hadn’t been true until now. Before, Roman’s dark soul and hotheaded demeanor had intimidated me, but not anymore.

  He leaned closer, and I had a feeling I might have been knocked off my feet had it not been for the table between us. The darkness in his eyes spread—literally and figuratively. Yes, my words had awakened the monster within him. And for some reason, instead of running like I knew I should have, I only wanted to push him further.

  “Tell you what. I’m willing to give you another chance. An opportunity to speak to me with the respect I’m owed,” he seethed. “Who knows … it might just save your life.”

  Standing to his feet, Roman’s face twisted and contorted right before my eyes. This was, undoubtedly, meant to serve as another threat, but instead, I took it as a challenge.

  “Not a chance, dickhead.”

  With those words, I leaned forward to brace my hands against the edge of the table. At that moment, I had to acknowledge that my fight or flight mechanism must have been severely malfunctioning. The others must have sensed it too, because they were on their feet quickly. I expected them to surround Roman in case they needed to wrangle him in, but to my surprise, they surrounded me.

  Protected me.

  And I wasn’t the only one who took notice of the trio’s formation. Roman did as well.

  The distorted features that had begun to emerge slowly shifted. Within seconds, he was, once again, hidden behind the deceptively handsome façade.

  I was startled by the sound of sinister laughter billowing from his mouth. It didn’t quite fit his expression, or the heaviness in the room.

  “So, you’re taking her side?” he asked. “After all we’ve been through, after all she’s cost us?”

  “It isn’t like that,” Julian insisted, inching closer from the left.

  He didn’t stop until our arms were pressed against one another’s. Instinctively, my hand twitched toward his, but I refrained from holding it. Perhaps I’d been tempted because I was in need of comfort. Or perhaps, it was just because I suddenly wanted to be in his presence.

  “Roman, just … sit. We’ve all got a lot on us right now and—”

  “I’d rather not,” he grumbled, cutting Silas off midsentence. “I was never onboard with this—covering for this sow.”

  He stared down on me like I was nothing.

  Like I was less than nothing.

  “I’m gone,” was Roman’s final thought before storming out of the dining room. The thundering boom that followed, when the front door slammed shut, alerted us all that he’d also left the house.

  The remaining princes didn’t say a word as they slowly drifted from the posts they held, blocking me from the treacherous, unpredictable storm by the name of Roman Fairchild.

  “I … thank you,” I stammered.

  It was on the tip of my tongue to apologize, but then I remembered that wasn’t owed. I’d done nothing wrong.

  “Of course,” Silas answered with a nod, passing a concerned glance toward Julian. “He’s likely just headed back to the hotel. I’m sure he’ll return once he’s cooled off.”

  That wouldn’t be necessary. He could stay as far away as he wanted.

  Levi made his way back to his seat and dropped down into it with a sigh. Of all the reactions I expected him to have to the altercation between Roman and I, a smile certainly wasn’t it. Especially not one directed at me.

  His dark gaze studied me for a moment.

  “Yes, I think I’m beginning to like you, Corina. I believe you and I will get along famously.”

  Confusion washed over me.

  “Oh, right! You haven’t heard yet.” Levi’s smile grew with the statement.

  “Heard what?” I peered up at Julian after asking. I hoped he might fill me in, since the obnoxious one hadn’t explained. That is, until he surprised me again.

  “I’ve volunteered, Love,” Levi crooned. “I thought it’d be fun for you and I to get … better acquainted. Shall I pencil you in for tomorrow morning?”

  Hearing this news stirred a strange feeling in my gut, one I couldn’t easily nail down. It was like a mixture of apprehension, curiosity, and dare I admit … excitement.

  “Oh, goody! Can’t wait,” was the sarcastic response I offered as my voice trailed off. The tone was not lost on Levi.

  “Joke all you want,” he smirked. “But mark my words—give it a week, and I’ll have you eating from the palm of my hand.”

  When I drew in a breath, he stood again and walked closer. So close, we were suddenly sharing one another’s air. Unable to stop myself, I gazed up the length of his tall frame and couldn’t move.

  A cool finger pressed beneath my chin, and the devilish smile he donned made my entire body quiver. Beneath his stare I felt … naked.

  I would have bet my right arm that was his intention.

  “Be ready, Love, because I’m not Julian,” he leaned in to whisper. “If I decide to pay you a midnight visit, I’ve never been the kind of guy to change my mind.”

  Shaken, I forced my stare to meet his. “And what will you do when I turn you away?”

  There was so much confidence in the smile he offered when I asked. Almost as if he’d been hoping I wouldn’t give in so easily.

  “If hearing me beg would bring you pleasure, your wish is my command,” he teased, wetting his lips. “However, I have a hunch that when the day comes, waiting and playing childish games with the others’ feelings will be the last thing on either of our minds.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Corina

  Levi’s words stuck with me and I hated it, hated how they repeated in my thoughts. He was utterly impossible to deal with.

  And maybe a little hard to ignore too.

  I’d never met anyone like him—someone so outspoken and sure of himself. Someone who seemed to care so little about what was, and wasn’t, socially acceptable. He was just perfectly at ease being Levi.

  I thought this walk around the grounds would clear my head, but it hadn’t yet. Elle suggested it to Julian when she saw me storm out of the dining room, likely thinking it had something to do with the argument with Roman. However, if I’m being honest, it was actually Levi who had me flustered—and not because he made me angry.

  He had a different effect on me.

  One I had a hard enough time admitting to myself, let alone others.

  My face warmed again when I heard his declaration so clear it was as if it had been spoken right into my ear. Even now, I felt his breath against it and a chill shimmied down my spine.

  It was inconceivable to imagine being with any of them in the way he suggested. Only, now I had imagined it. Couldn’t stop imagining it, actually.

  “It’s quite lovely out, isn’t it?” Elle piped.

  I peered up with a shrug. Autumn was settling in, so there was a bit of a chill to the air. Not to mention, the endless cloud cover Ianites perfected centuries ago—to protect their sensitive skin from sunlight—it completely blocked it. I’d never had the privilege of seeing more of our star than a glowing outline.

  Mother used to speak of uninhabited islands she encountered in her travels, back when there were more scouting missions than rescue missions. There were a few locations where Ianites hadn’t wasted their resources to shield the atmosphere. It was no small feat to produce and emit the chemical concoction that canopied the Capitol and other densely populated areas.

  On those islands, she said the sky was as blue as my father’s eyes, and the warmth of the sun left her skin a beautiful shade of bronze. I glanced down at my arms, imagining it. To answer Elle’s question, compared to those places my mother spoke of, it wasn’t such a lovely day.

  “It’s fine,” was all I said. She didn’t seem to mind the short answer.

  A gentle breeze rustled tree branches as we passed beneath them. I couldn’t believe Julian ha
d agreed to this, letting me outside the palace, even with a chaperone. The grounds were so vast, spanning several dozen acres. We neared a beautiful garden being tended by the groundskeepers. As we passed, their gazes fell upon Elle and I. It was likely they first heard about me from other staff members gossiping, and later heard more once the story about Julian and I went national.

  “Good morning!” Elle greeted the group with a wave and a smile, but only a few returned the gesture. The others never took their eyes off me.

  “Friendly bunch, aren’t they?” I wasn’t sure whether Elle understood the concept of sarcasm, but she would soon if she hung around me long enough.

  My gaze climbed the height of the perimeter wall when we approached it. It had been constructed out of smooth stone. I assumed this was not only because the designers were going for a specific look, but also because the texture would make it incredibly difficult for anyone to scale.

  But every fortress had its weakness.

  And I wouldn’t stop until the palace’s weakness was discovered.

  “Elle? Where are the hellhounds kept?”

  When I asked, I realized that the intent of this outing was beginning to shift. It had once been to blow off steam, and was now a scouting mission.

  I wasn’t likely to get another opportunity to survey the grounds, so I had to make the most use of being somewhat free for the moment.

  “They’re kept in a facility behind the garage. Oh, but don’t worry. I made certain they were secured before arranging our walk,” she answered with a smile.

  I hadn’t even thought to worry about that, but was grateful it seemed like a valid reason to ask.

  “Is the garage far?” was my next question. “I’d like to see what other cars Julian keeps around, if that’s okay.”

  Elle glanced over. I wasn’t sure whether the look she gave was one of suspicion or curiosity.

  “It’s just that I’ve always been fascinated by the expensive cars Ianites drive, but almost never get a chance to see them up close.” I hoped this explanation would reassure her, fool her into thinking these questions were innocent.

  I studied her expression to see if she detected the lie, detected that I indeed had ulterior motives. However, when her usual, chipper smile curved her mouth upward, I knew I was in the clear.

  “Of course! It’s right this way.”

  She pointed right and I followed her lead. The only thing I could see from here was a beautiful greenhouse in the shape of a giant bird cage. The panes of glass that framed it bore a shimmery, iridescent coating. I wasn’t sure how the plant life inside was maintained with so little sunlight allowed to seep through the clouds, but the Ianites were crafty and had clearly come up with a solution.

  “So, the hellhounds,” I blurted, “are they kept indoors unless there’s a disturbance? Or are we just lucky they’re not out yet for the day?”

  Elle turned to me with a smile. “There really is no need to be alarmed, Corina.”

  “It’s not that. I guess I’m just curious about how things work around here. I mean, if this is going to be my home, I should get familiar with how the monarchs run their kingdom, right?”

  It felt strange saying these things, seeing as how I didn’t intend to get comfortable.

  “They mostly roam freely,” she answered, “but they’re brought inside when it’s time to be fed. Meal times aren’t set. It mostly depends on their temperament.”

  In other words, there was no way I could plan to make a run for it when they weren’t lurking about the grounds. If I knew Ianites as well as I thought I did, not keeping a set schedule was probably intentional, calculated.

  Like every other move they made.

  The stone walkway eventually led us past the greenhouse and another building came into view.

  “Is that it?”

  Elle nodded. “It is.”

  I didn’t slow my pace, but peered over my shoulder. “But it’s so far from the house. Doesn’t Julian get annoyed having to walk this far when he wants to head into the city?”

  Elle shrugged, and I hadn’t seen her do that before—not that I was an expert. It honestly seemed like the more I was around her, the more human she became. Perhaps, she was even beginning to pick up some of my traits.

  Julian would love that, I’m sure.

  “Seeing as how he’s usually escorted by a driver, it’s not as inconvenient as you might think. But on the rare occasion that he wants to drive himself, he’ll either just walk the same path you and I have taken, or an alternate route.”

  There was something curious about the way she said that. “Alternate route?”

  Elle nodded. “Yes, one of the underground tunnels. The property has several.”

  I blinked wildly as my thoughts began to formulate some semblance of a plan.

  “That’s cool,” I chirped, pretending to be impressed. Well, I guess I was on some level.

  “I suppose it is.”

  Elle offered another bright smile as she lifted the cover of a keypad beside the large, retractable door. I nearly broke my neck trying to catch what the code was, but I missed it.

  “Ianite technology has come a long way since the main palace was first constructed. When Julian was nearly of age to migrate into his own estate on the property, the Empress made certain his home was outfitted with all the latest perks and gadgets.”

  The Empress.

  I was aware she was scheduled to be away on a philanthropic task for a while, but it seemed strange she hadn’t returned sooner. I mean, with all the trouble Julian had gotten himself into recently. My guess would have been that she’d want to be present to oversee how things were handled. Only, from what I could tell, this family catastrophe hadn’t changed the course of her plans.

  “Is the passage from Julian’s estate concealed behind some hidden door or something?” I didn’t waste time getting back on track with the questions.

  Elle laughed. “No, actually. Just a normal door. Right inside the staff kitchen.”

  I made a mental note of that information, in case I ever got the chance to use it.

  “And if you had to guess, how many underground passages does this place have?”

  Elle took no time thinking about it. “Only two that actually exit the property, but in total, fifteen.”

  As the number left her mouth, the large door beside us began to rise. Surprisingly, with its massive girth, it was still almost completely silent. A glossy white floor with silver flecks mirrored the light like a shiny coin. My heart was racing with sheer anticipation. I was, admittedly, excited to be getting a glimpse of Julian’s collection, beyond my ulterior motives.

  The door disappeared inside the ceiling and nothing stood between me and the array of high-profile vehicles. I wasn’t sure why, but I expected to find a fleet of black cars like the two I’d been in so far. I was wrong about that. Red, blue, yellow, and even the brightest, loudest green I’d ever seen in my whole life greeted me.

  Our slow steps echoed through what I now realized was a showcase. Calling this place a garage was like calling Earth a rock.

  “He has so many,” I mumbled aimlessly.

  Elle gave a nod. “Yes, he’s acquired quite a few over the years.”

  A few … yeah, okay.

  My gaze shifted toward the wall when a dark mass caught my eye—a mounted black shelf. And what sat on top of it made my knees weak.

  Motorcycle helmets.

  I stopped dead in my tracks and so did Elle. I counted ten of them—different colors, different styles.

  “Julian rides?”

  Elle nodded. “On occasion, despite his father hassling him about how doing so contradicts the wholesome image an emperor ought to project.”

  My eyes darted from one corner of the room to the next. “Where does he keep the bikes?”

  She must have read the excitement on my face, because her smile grew broader. “Right this way.”

  I followed her to a glass door with a silver pull handle. T
he room on the other side of it was pitch black, preventing me from seeing much, but that didn’t stop the excitement that swelled within me.

  We crossed the threshold, and with the bright light that filled the room the next instant, you couldn’t have convinced me I hadn’t died and gone to heaven. The car showroom would have been Felix’s paradise, but this … it was mine.

  Row after row of bikes I could only dream of riding.

  The one our team owned had been pieced together with old parts from junkyards mostly. A can of black spray paint hid the fact that it was a combination of about five separate motorcycles. Our only concern had been that it was reliable, never its style.

  But these in Julian’s possession took my breath away.

  Walking down an aisleway between two straight lines with five at either side, I let my fingers slide over their handlebars and finely-crafted bodies. To me, they were art on wheels.

  I stopped at a black one that resembled the fantasy of how I used to pretend mine looked. It was impossible not to imagine the thunderous sound the engine would make when it was cranked up and ready to go.

  “Have a seat on it!” Elle suggested chipperly.

  My gaze shifted to her and then back to the bike. “You sure it would be okay? I mean, there aren’t any cameras out here?”

  She shook her head. “There aren’t, but even if there were, I’m certain Julian wouldn’t mind.” Her smile broadened again. “After all, he’s quite fond of you.”

  My heart felt like it danced inside my chest when she said those words. Doing my best to ignore it, I took the handlebars and climbed onto the soft, leather seat. Even wearing jeans, I could feel the smoothness of it against my thighs. It’d been a while since I had the opportunity to ride, but when I did, the feeling was unmatched. My team didn’t know this, but even if the money the races brought in hadn’t been necessary, I would’ve likely found an excuse to get out there. To date, nothing had ever made me feel freer.

  Perhaps, I missed that sensation more now than ever.

  “I can mention it to His Highness that you’d like to ride with him one day. Maybe he can teach you.”