The Van Wilden Chronicles Box Set Books 1-3

by Jessica Gleave

  Mariza was behind her now, grasping the back of her hair, jerking her sister’s head back. Fangs out, she leaned over her, watching Gareth. She licked the side of her sister’s neck who struggled against the iron grip.

  “Get away from her,” Gareth shouted, rushing toward them. Mariza smiled, her eyes never breaking contact as she forced her fangs into Morgana’s neck. Morgana’s screams echoed throughout the forest as Mariza sucked.

  Mariza pulled her lips away, her head tilting back, moaning in satisfaction. “Fuck, I missed this taste.”

  Gareth seized his chance and ripped Morgana out of Mariza’s arms, pushing her to the side, feeling her flare of anger at him for doing so. He ignored her. He would deal with her ire later.

  When his girlfriend was alive.

  But Mariza was quick, and he didn’t see the weapon until it was too late.

  Gareth grunted as the wood pierced his chest.

  The familiar burning he’d felt before.

  Oh, for fuck’s sake, why was he always being stabbed with wolfsbane?

  ***

  “Gareth,” Morgana screamed.

  His blue eyes shifted to hers before he slumped face down onto the ground.

  There was nothing through the bond.

  Just emptiness.

  All his feelings usually intermingled with hers, which she often found overbearing were now gone.

  “No, no, no,” she cried. It was like half of her body had shut down.

  ***

  When Vivienne heard her daughter’s screams, it did something to her as it had all those years ago when Morgana was first attacked.

  Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and despite her injuries, she stood, determined to help her.

  Oscar grasped her arm to stop her. “Vivienne don’t.” But her only response was to turn and glare at him. Her baby girl was in pain again.

  And the cause?

  Mariza, of course.

  He let her go, pain and regret in his eyes.

  She was behind Mariza in seconds. Grasping her stepdaughter’s head, she twisted it severing the spine.

  Mariza cried in agony and stepped out of her grip, turning around to face her.

  “An eye for an eye, stepdaughter.”

  Mariza straightened her neck back to its proper position and grinned. She reached into the folds of her dress and pulled out a stake.

  “An eye for an eye, stepmother.” Mariza plunged the wooden weapon into Vivienne’s heart, leaning forward to whisper in her ear, “For when you stabbed me with the broken chair leg.”

  Oscar’s cries rang through the air.

  Vivienne glowered at her stepdaughter before everything went black.

  ***

  It was like slow motion as Morgana watched her mother fall, the stake protruding from her chest.

  Mariza stood over the bodies of two of the people Morgana loved, the remote control in her hand.

  “Are you ready to see them die?” she sneered, her eyes flickering to the hidden bombs.

  “You’ll pay for hurting them, bitch.” Morgana leaped toward her sister, ready to tackle her to the ground. In mid-leap, Mariza caught her by the throat, squeezing her windpipe. Extra pain radiated from the healing bite mark. Morgana gasped for breath, trying to pry Mariza’s fingers away.

  She turned toward their father. “Pick one, Daddy-dearest. Your wife or your other daughter.”

  Oscar’s hand shot out, and he grabbed her wrist. “Mariza, stop this at once,” he commanded, his voice dripping with authority. “Don’t make me choose. I won’t. I can’t. I love you all equally.”

  Mariza, startled by his actions, stepped back and dropped both the remote and Morgana to the ground. Morgana drew a breath in her lungs, burning. She crawled over to Gareth’s body, cradling him in her arms as she watched the scene before her.

  “No, you replaced me with them. You replaced Mother.”

  “No. I didn’t.” Oscar winced. “I could never replace your mother. All I did was fall in love again. You know it doesn’t have to be two separate families, it can be blended together.”

  “You can’t have more than one mate,” she sneered.

  “I believe you can.”

  “No.” Mariza reached out and snapped a branch of wild rose, wincing as she did so.

  “You don’t believe I could live for thousands of years and find love again?”

  “No,” she sobbed, stabbing him in the shoulder. Oscar groaned through his teeth, falling to his knees. He looked up at her. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “No. You and your brothers had grown up and moved on. Can’t you understand? I was lonely. I craved companionship. I have lived for thousands of years and will live for thousands more. Don’t you think I deserved to have love again? You kids had all grown up and were off living your own lives. I wanted someone by my side again.”

  “But a human?” Mariza sneered.

  “I didn’t look to fall in love with a human. But I did, and then I chose to turn her because I couldn’t stand the thought of losing her. Like I can’t stand the thought of losing her now.”

  “But I still needed you. You’re never too old to want your family.”

  “And we tried to include you.”

  “No, you didn’t,” Mariza cried. “You banished me. You chose them over me.”

  “You bit your sister. She was only but a child.”

  “You were all playing happy family long before I got there.”

  “We were getting our portraits painted. You were supposed to have one with us. But Morgana wanted one with only you. She was in awe of you. Your brothers were going to have one done next time they came to visit. Instead, you bit her. How was I supposed to react? Let you drain your sister’s blood? She was four years old, Mariza.”

  “You chose them over me,” she whispered.

  “No, my dear. I chose to parent and discipline my adult daughter who, after four thousand and five years, should have known better.”

  Mariza sobbed and fell to her knees.

  ***

  Alastor took this opportunity, creeping up through the wild rose bushes and ignoring the pain of the thorns, using the stealth techniques Vivienne had taught him. He was behind Mariza before either of them could react. He plunged the stake into Mariza’s back, puncturing her heart.

  “No, Alastor.” Oscar reached over Mariza to get to him.

  “Sorry,” he said sincerely, “but she had to pay for her crimes.” He pressed the stake in further.

  “Father—” Mariza groaned. She looked down at her chest, her mouth gaping open before dropping the remote and collapsing into the dirt.

  “No!” Oscar’s cries pierced the air.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  After Mariza died, Morgana turned her attention back to Gareth cradled in her arms. She pulled the stake out with her left hand.

  “He’s not healing,” she mumbled.

  “It’s the wolfsbane.” Oscar pulled the stake out of her mother’s heart.

  Morgana nodded, she should know this, but her mind was numb. Her fangs began to grow in her mouth. She pierced her finger, placing it over the wound in Gareth’s chest. Her blood dripped inside the wound healing instantly.

  “Does Mother need some?”

  Oscar shook his head. “You know she’ll be more upset if you give her your blood than she will be about being staked.”

  Morgana nodded.

  “Please take her home, and she’ll recover there.”

  “I’ll take her, Mr. V,” Alastor offered, stepping forward, rubbing the back of his neck.

  Uncomfortable silence loomed as Oscar stared at Alastor, then he nodded his head.

  Alastor scooped Vivienne up. “Mr. Van Wilden, I’m sorry, I couldn’t let her kill my family.”

  Oscar gave Alastor a sad smile. “I’m forever grateful to you for saving my family’s life, but your act of heroism will forever be tainted by the death of my daughter.”
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  Alastor’s shoulders slumped.

  Gareth’s eyes flew open, and he jerked upright with a loud gasp. Morgana kept her arm around him, catching him as he fell back.

  “Morgana, am I dead?” He grinned and reached his hand up, touching her cheek.

  Morgana smiled. Relief and joy flooded the bond. “No, you’re not.”

  Gareth rubbed his chest. “Being staked hurts like a bitch.”

  “I’m sure it does.”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “And you gave me your blood.” He licked his lips, sighing. “But not in my mouth. Damn, I have been craving the taste of you for a while now.”

  “I’m no one’s—”

  “Yeah, I know, no one’s blood bag.” He grinned.

  Morgana bit back a smile. “And don’t you forget it. No one drinks from me unless I grant it.”

  Gareth laughed, wincing at the same time. “Bones mending and laughing don’t go together.”

  “Well, take it easy, then. My blood should be healing you quicker than this.” She looked over him, examining his chest.

  “They’re healing fast, it’s only a few final scrapes and broken bones.” He looked up at her and said, “I’m hoping this isn’t going to be a regular thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Me getting staked by wolfsbane-soaked stakes, then you rescuing and reviving me.”

  “Am I emasculating you by rescuing you all the time?” Her lips twitched.

  “Hell, no. It’s the almost-dying part I don’t like. I like living.” He turned serious. “But one day I’ll rescue you. Be the hero you need.”

  “I don’t need a hero. All I need is my mate.” She leaned forward, kissing him softly.

  “I love you.” He cupped her cheek.

  She leaned into his touch, pleasure flooding the bond. “I love you, too.”

  He shifted upward capturing her mouth with his.

  Oscar coughed, and the two pulled away and chuckled as their foreheads pressed together.

  Gareth sat up as Morgana released her hold on him, looking around. “How’s Mrs. V?”

  “She’s fine, son. Alastor has her.”

  Alastor gave a grim smile to his friend.

  He looked over to Mariza’s body. “And her?”

  “She’s dead,” Oscar said quietly.

  Morgana stood. “We need to burn the body now.”

  “Please, let me take her.” Oscar’s voice was flat and monotone. His usually bright, brown eyes he’d passed on to each of his children had become dull. He scooped Mariza up in his arms.

  “Do you want company?” Morgana placed a hand on his forearm. There was a euphoria flowing through her similar to her own thoughts of Mariza’s demise. And even though she had hated Mariza, she was still her sister, but she did wish events hadn’t transpired the way they did. She couldn’t stand to see her father this sad.

  Oscar looked down at the limp body in his arms. “No. I need to say goodbye to her on my own.” He looked up at them. “I also need to call your brothers. They were all close growing up, and they still keep in contact.”

  “Of course.”

  “Thank you.”

  Alastor turned away, exiting the wild rose ring and walked back in the direction of the Van Wilden’s home. Gareth looked at Oscar, saying, “We’ll leave you be.” He gave him a grim smile and turned to follow his friend.

  Morgana nodded. “I’ll come back with gloves to help you dismantle the bombs and wild-rose death-cage later.”

  She stepped up to Oscar, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Father.”

  Oscar placed his hand over hers. “I know.”

  ***

  Oscar watched his youngest daughter trail after the Daywalkers, then he placed Mariza gently back down on the ground. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed quickly.

  “Octavius. To what do I owe this pleasure?” the deep voice responded.

  “Batheras, I need your help.”

  ***

  When Ragnorok discovered Mariza’s betrayal, he gathered up the remainder of his strongest fighters to march toward the bitch.

  No one stole from him.

  He had hoped the rogue Van Wilden was different from her brethren, but he had been proven wrong. He could feel Svetlana gloating every time he glanced toward his second-in-command. They approached the designated area they’d planned to use. Only the southeast section of their old lair had been destroyed, and in its place was a monstrous cage of wild rose.

  “Well, this vos certainly not part of our plans.” Svetlana clicked her tongue.

  “No, it certainly was not,” Ragnorok agreed. He glanced around him. “Let’s move.”

  The Forest Clan moved toward the cage, but Ragnorok held up his fist to stop them when he spotted Oscar carrying a limp Mariza in his arms.

  You could not mistake the grief on his face.

  “Why are we stopping?” Cedric asked, stepping forward.

  “Stop, I said,” Ragnorok hissed.

  “He’s distracted,” Cedric said. “Now is a perfect time to attack.”

  “No. The betrayer is dead. We will let them have their grief.”

  “Why?” the young vampire asked, earning Ragnorok’s hardened stare.

  “Because unlike the Van Wildens, we have honor. We will allow them this.”

  “But—”

  “Someone shut him up,” Ragnorok ordered.

  Svetlana smiled with cruel glee before smashing her elbow into Cedric’s face, his head snapping back from the blow, falling to the ground.

  The Forest Clan vampires moved back into the tree line as they heard a helicopter approaching.

  Ragnorok watched as the chopper landed, and Oscar carried Mariza over before a younger-looking version of Oscar hopped out.

  He growled. There was more of them?

  The two vampires exchanged words masked by the sounds of the whirring propellers, then Oscar laid his daughter gently on the cabin floor.

  “I wonder why they are taking her away?” Svetlana asked, sharing a look with him.

  “It wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t burn their dead, like they do to us, and buried them somewhere like in a family crypt.”

  Oscar watched the helicopter take flight, then turned in the Forest Clan’s direction.

  “Let’s go,” Ragnorok ordered. He didn’t want to face a grieving Primus, especially when they still had no idea of how to kill them.

  “Vot about the dumb shit?” Svetlana jerked her head in Cedric’s direction.

  “Bring him with us. We can’t afford to lose any more recruits.”

  ***

  Vivienne sat up with a gasp. She looked around to find she was no longer in the death ring of wild rose but back in her bedroom. She was not alone, either. The presence of her daughter, Gareth, and her new protégé, Alastor, were all slumped over, asleep in chairs. Or in her daughter’s case, lying in a fetal position next to her on Oscar’s side of the bed. Brutus was curled up at the foot of the bed. She smiled to herself at seeing them all there, but the smile waned. Her husband wasn’t here.

  Alastor must have carried out his plans and killed Mariza after all.

  Through the bond, she couldn’t feel Oscar’s sadness, it was more like guilt. Then the bond shut off. He didn’t know she knew of his ability to shut the bond down. She assumed he needed to be alone in his thoughts and grief, much like the time after Mariza’s attack on Morgana. He had shut the bond down for the whole month he didn’t speak to her.

  Vivienne laid back on her pillow. She would not wake up the others yet to find out what had happened. They looked like they needed their rest too. And she would ask Oscar about his feelings of guilt in the morning. Her eyes closed as she drifted back to sleep, glad her family was safe and sound.

  For now.

  She had a feeling Mariza hadn’t constructed the booby traps on her own, though, but it had actually been Ragnorok’s plan to get revenge on her family. And he would likely still come after them.<
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  ***

  The bitch is dead.

  Gareth jolted awake. For some reason, he was singing the words in a weird tune. But he wasn’t quite sure where he’d gotten it from. Must be from one of the many movies Ava had watched at their house. He stretched his limbs, his body stiff from sleeping in the chair.

  They should probably look at soundproofing the house. But what would happen to them once the mission was over? They were part of the Van Wildens now, so would they move away with them?

  Or would Morgana want to strike out on her own again?

  Watching her sleeping form, he decided another day would be best to get answers to those questions. Right now, he would let her sleep.

  He stood and walked over to the bed. Brutus opened one eye, watching him.

  Gareth chuckled. “Don’t worry, buddy. I’d never hurt them,” he murmured, scratching the puppy behind the ears. Brutus preened and closed his eyes before laying his head back down.

  Gareth moved to stand over Morgana. Once again, he admired her ability to sleep so deeply. He stroked her hair. She stirred and smiled at his touch, but she remained sleeping. Gareth smiled, continuing to stroke her hair.

  “Jaysus, if that ain’t the most feckin’ creepiest sight to wake up to,” Alastor muttered, his voice still groggy from sleep.

  Gareth laughed quietly, placing a kiss on Morgana’s cheek before moving away from the bed.

  “I can’t believe you did it, buddy.” He congratulated his best friend, slapping him heartily on the back.

  Morgana mumbled in her sleep. Maybe she wasn’t soundly asleep after all. He grinned. Love filled the bond, and he sent the same back toward her. Morgana smiled in her sleep as she snuggled back into the pillow.

  “If yer finished staring at her like a creepy bastard, we’d better move this downstairs.”

  Gareth winked at his friend. “Come on, we’ll go celebrate and raid their blood supply. They always have the good stuff.”

  “Aye, that they do.”

  Gareth couldn’t help his grin as he walked downstairs.

  His evil creator was dead.