Ignited: A Vampire Urban Fantasy Series (Daywalkers Series Book 6)

by Maya Daniels

  A red haze covers my vision.

  Everything is bathed in the color of blood.

  Headbutting Andrius is satisfying, but stars burst behind my closed eyelids from the impact. The shadow, which stayed out of our fight until now, uses that distraction to latch onto me, the feeling of slimy magic pushing bile to the back of my throat. It’s tentative at first, but as soon as I notice the pull of magic from my body, the horrible thing visibly shudders and redoubles its efforts. The ground is quaking harder too, making it seem like we are on a boat. The world around us is swaying.

  Zoltan’s foot comes into view as he kicks Andrius in the face, barely missing mine by an inch. I had every intention of using my fangs on the jerk, but luckily the vampire reacted faster than me. Roberti’s head flings to the side, his grip on my wrists loosening. Instead of rolling away from him, I try to rip his throat out, but the rocking of the earth jerks me forward and my claws sink into the hard, packed dirt.

  I’m plucked off Roberti and thrown aside just as a huge shadow falls over the spot I was standing only a second ago. Landing on my hands and knees, I crane my neck to see the Titan glaring down at me, his eyes literal flames burning on his ugly distorted face.

  I bare my fangs at him.

  The Titan stumbles, almost falling to the side.

  My heart skips a beat in excitement before I see Soren flinging magic at the monster, running toward us like the hounds of hell are on his ass. Platinum hair streams behind him like a white waving flag, but the expression on his face is terrifying. Tenebris is pounding the ground with his giant paws while he moves around the ancient Fae. From the corner of my eye, I see Zoltan pounce and sink his claws into the Titan’s ribs. The creature swings his arm to fling him away, but the vampire ducks and shreds every inch of skin he can find.

  There is no graceful movements or calculated hits. Something primal is awake in Zoltan, and he snarls while cleaving his way across the monster’s body. Soren joins him, taking a long jump and attaching himself on the Titan’s chest. When they take him down on his back, Tenebris is on top of him too.

  It opens the view of the portal where the mage I don’t know is still pushing magic like his life depends on it. Astara and Leo are trying to stop him by combining their powers. Sprawled on the ground at the mage’s feet is the dead body of Casius.

  Zoltan’s pained shout jerks my gaze away from my friends, and I see the Titan tightening his hand around the vampire’s throat while swinging at Soren and Tenebris with the other keeping them at bay. Lost in the sight, I don’t see Roberti moving until he grabs hold of my hair and yanks my head back. A dagger is pressed to my throat and the stench of poison clogs my nostrils.

  Back off,” he barks loud enough to be heard by everyone. “Or she dies.”

  I try to push him away, but the blade bites into my skin and warmth spreads down my neck. Zoltan stops struggling and goes limp in the Titan’s hold. Soren and Tenebris slink back, watching Roberti with trepidation. Even Astara and Leo release the magic fighting the idiot that is doing his best to open the portal. The mage says something shrill in a language I don’t understand, and Roberti grinds his teeth.

  “I might die, but I will kill you before I take my last breath,” I snarl at Roberti.

  “I said stop, Daren,” Andrius shouts, and I finally see my friend standing too close to the portal, the swirling lights hiding his position. Magic is streaming from his hands and blocking the asshole who is trying to open the gate to Sienna. Swaying on his feet, Daren looks like he is about to shrivel into a husk, but he doesn’t stop his assault.

  “I said stop, or …” Roberti growls.

  With a menacing grin, he slides the dagger from my neck and presses it against my lower belly. The breath freezes in my throat, my lungs shriveling from lack of oxygen. The deadly point of the blade sinks into my skin just enough to prevent me from moving. Everyone is frozen as if they’re holding their breath.

  “I will carve the abomination from her stomach while she is still alive,” the demigod announces with too much glee in his voice.

  Zoltan’s scream brings tears burning the back of my eyes, but I don’t dare blink. Holding my breath, I beg Daren silently in my mind not to listen. My mind is spinning. What can I do to avoid what I see as an inevitable fate? Even if I blast him with my power, he will have enough time to sink the blade into my womb.

  “Daren,” Zoltan roars my friend’s name, his voice promising him hell if he doesn’t listen.

  My eyes dart to Soren and the defeated look on his face breaks my heart, regardless of the fact that I’m angry at him for being a manipulative ass. I flick my eyes to Daren, whose skin is turning gray and his lips are blue, cracked, and bleeding. My heart stops beating when his arms lower slightly.

  No! Don’t stop!

  I scream at him in my head, but I can tell he is about to give up.

  “Which would you save, Drake?” Roberti gloats, jabbing the dagger deeper. “Your mongrel, or your friend? Either way I’ll have what I want. There is nothing you can do about it.”

  That kindling that I kept feeling in my belly turns into a blinding fury trying to consume me. My skin turns blistering hot, which forces Roberti to hiss even though he doesn’t let go. There is a gasp from someone, but I only have eyes for the fucker trying to kill my young.

  It all happens so fast.

  Tucking my hips in, I tug the dagger out, twisting my hips and nailing myself on it until the tip of the blade embeds itself in my hipbone. Roberti’s eyes pop out so wide they’ll fall out of their sockets any second. With a feral grin, I open my jaw wide and strike at his throat. Fangs sinking into soft skin, I literally chew through his neck, the gushing blood spraying all over my face. Screams and shouts turn into white noise until his head falls off his shoulders, the shadow blinking out of existence. Good thing he was arrogant enough to hold it back. He thought he had me where he wanted me. I did tell him many times that would be his downfall. When I’m left with his headless body in my arms, I start clawing at it.

  I don’t stop until there is nothing but a mush of broken bones and handfuls of grinded muscle on the forest floor. When there is nothing left of him to destroy, I lift my head, blinking the blood out of my eyes. The hunters are dead, there is no sign of the Titan, and everyone is watching me—some with fear and others gawking like idiots. Licking my lips, I lock eyes with Zoltan, who looks like he wants to scoop me up and is afraid to approach me at the same time.

  “I told him I would kill him,” I rasp through a raw throat.

  “That you did, love.” Approaching cautiously, he reaches for me, leaving his hand palm up for me to decide if I want to take it.

  When I try to move, I flinch, the dagger hurting like a bitch sticking from my hip. Zoltan’s eyes fall on it and he forgets to be wary. Dropping on his knees, his hands hover over the hilt because he’s too afraid to touch it.

  “Soren,” the vampire barks, and the ancient Fae is next to us in a second. “It stinks like poison.”

  “It’s Titan blood,” Soren spits in disgust.

  “If I turn ugly like that jerk just kill me,” I tell them, faintly swaying on my knees.

  “Nothing will happen to either of you.” The Dragon Blood takes hold of the dagger with one hand while pressing his other wrist to my lips. “Take it, young dragon. I give it freely … for your young.”

  My gaze flicks to Zoltan, and he clenches his jaw but nods once.

  I sink my fangs in Soren’s wrist.

  Everything is a haze of loud voices arguing and flames trying to melt my insides. When all the pain stops and I can hear myself think, I find Zoltan, Soren, Astara, and Leo looking down at me, with Tenebris lying on the forest floor next to me, his head pressed to my arm.

  “Daren?” I don’t want to ask, but I have to know.

  Zoltan shakes his head and a tear slides down my face, which is followed by many others that soak the collar of my bloodied shirt. I’ll always regret that I never told him I forg
ave him. Out of all of them, he knew me the best and did what I wanted him to do like he could read my mind.

  “It’s finally over.” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. All of them are shining because of my glossy eyes.

  “Indeed, it is.” Soren looks like he wants to reach for my stomach,

  I kill his temptation by taking Zoltan’s hand and placing it there for the first time.

  “She is okay.” I’ve never seen that many emotions playing across Zoltan’s face. If I’m not mistaken, he looks like he is about to faint.

  “She?” He swallows thickly, his gaze darting from his hand on my stomach to my face.

  I make sure he sees me look pointedly at Soren. “Yes she, unless the old fart swings the other way.”

  Zoltan barks out a laugh.

  “Now take me home.” Lifting both hands, I urge him to pick me up.

  “You want me to carry you?” His eyebrows crawl to his hairline.

  “Yup. I’m going to milk this shit for all it’s worth. No more walking. You’ll carry me around like a personal mule.”

  Shaking his head, Zoltan curls me to his chest and stands.

  “You too, Soren.” I wait until the Dragon blood is on his feet to give him a wicked grin. “I’m going to make you my bitch until this youngling is old enough to come to your defense.”

  I’ve never seen the ancient Fae so pale.

  Daren, my brother, and many others will be missed and mourned for years to come. I’ll make it my mission for everyone to remember their names. As Zoltan nears the portal preparing to lead us home, I look over his shoulder to see Leo staying behind. His gaze connects with mine and I know without asking that he is not coming back with us.

  “The Fates have other plans for the Alpha,” Soren murmurs when he spots who I’m looking at.

  “I think you are right,” I tell him.

  Leo’s shoulders slump, but he nods in gratitude when he hears my words. Then he disappears into the trees.

  Maybe now I can finally get some sleep.

  The End

  From the Author

  Hello rebels,

  I can’t believe that this series wrapped up. As I promised there will be more books coming out with a different enemy needing to be thought a lesson, but keep an eye on the spin offs that will take you deeper in the lives of the supporting characters you learned to like along the way.

  If your favorite Daywalker is missing, drop me a line and I’ll see what I can do to convince them to tell me their story. Thank you for being with me on this journey through Sienna and the human realm. Give me a virtual hug, leave a review. We absolutely love reading what you liked or didn’t like about our stories. If you seriously loved Daywalker Series, grab a copy of Secret Origins, it’s closely connected to the ending of Francesca and Zoltan’s story. You’ll be seeing the intense couple in the Countless Fae series often.

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  Until next time.

  Happy reading.

  Maya xxx

  Also by Maya Daniels

  The Broken Halos series- PNR/Urban Fantasy:

  The Devil is in the Details Book 1

  Speak of the Devil Book 2

  Encounter with the Devil Book 3

  The Devil in Disguise Book 4

  To look the Devil in the eye Book 5

  Better the Devil you know Book 6

  New Blood Rising series- Dark PNR

  Risorgimento-Rebirth Book 1

  Rovesciamento-Overthrown Book 2

  Riconoscimento-Recognition Book 3 - coming soon

  Daywalker Series - PNR/UF

  Investigated Book 1

  Infiltrated Book 2

  Instigated Book 3

  Initiated Book 4

  Infuriated Book 5

  Ignited Book 6

  The Courtless Fae series - PNR/UF

  Secret Origins Book 1

  Shadows of Torment Book 2-coming soon

  Stand alone-Dark Fantasy romance/ Mythology:

  The Cursed Kingdom

  Hidden Portals trilogy- PNR:

  Venus Trap Book 1

  The First Secret Book 2

  The Obsidian Throne- coming soon

  Semiramis series-Urban Fantasy/PNR:

  Who am I - Prequel to the Semiramis series

  Semiramis Awakened Book 1

  Semiramis Reborn Book 2

  Semiramis The Vessel Book 3

  Remembrance Book 4 - coming soon