Marked (Dark Ties Book 1)

by A. Vers

  The feeling only worsened as we waited on the locals to get here. No matter how much I try to calm my heartbeat, to brush it off, it won’t abate.

  Chief Walker walks off finally, leaving the king, myself, and my team on the pier as Lock Lake loads up the guns and ammunition for transport.

  Markus scrubs his face and his lips part on a harsh exhale. “Well, this was a shit show.”

  “We need to head back, Markus,” I say, voice jagged.

  He looks at me. “There are three other docks within twenty-five miles, Ruin. We need to check them–”

  A low chime flows from T’s pocket and he pulls out a slim silver phone. He holds up a finger. “Sorry about this, hang on.”

  I consider choking him.

  “T-Man here,” he answers cheerily. All the color leaves his tan skin. “Raina? Calm down. What happened?”

  Markus snatches the device and places it on speakerphone. “Raina?”

  “Markus,” her voice is broken, sobbing. “Vlad was here. Caine is down, and I can’t find Lilah anywhere.”

  My world narrows to her words and the strange feeling now spiraling through me.

  I stumble and strong hands grip me to keep me upright. My eyes trail to Markus, and I’m vaguely aware of the low snarl pouring from my lips. I dive across the space.

  My fist slams into the chiseled line of my king’s jaw. “I fucking told you,” I bellow as hands close over my arms. My body bucks in their hold, straining to get loose as Markus turns back to me, his gold eyes blazing. “I warned you that he would come for her. Now Caine is down and Lilah is–” I choke off, throat closing.

  He has her. Vlad has Lilah.

  I collapse.

  “Ruin?” Markus walks closer.

  “My lord, that may not be–”

  “Silence.” Markus cuts through T’s words with finality. He eyes me. “Did you feed her?”

  My lips clamp closed.

  “Did you fucking feed her?” he bellows.

  I nod, and the others inhale sharply around us.

  He walks closer. “What you are feeling ... the anxiety in your stomach ... Is it strong?”

  I blink. “What the fuck does that–”

  His fingers close over my jaw, bruising me into silence. “Is the damn anxiety strong?”

  My head moves slowly in his grip.

  “Then focus on it,” he commands. “Feel it, allow it to roll through you.”

  “I don’t understand what that has to do with anything–”

  His hand tightens. “You are vampire, Ruin. A bastard born, but a vampire all the same.” His gold eyes turn supernova level bright. “Your blood is in her veins and hers in yours. Feel the connection, the dark tie of our kind. Follow it.”

  I continue to growl, but try to do as he says.

  My eyes fall closed and I pull Lilah to the forefront of my mind, her scent, her heat. The innocence of her humanity.

  Her blood.

  The anxiety doesn’t come gently, it barrels through me and I hunch inward as the urge to vomit taints my insides.

  “Oh Goddess,” I spit.

  Markus paces in front of me. “Let yourself feel it, Ruin. Do not shut it out.” He motions behind him. “Get the car.”

  Loping footsteps fade across the pier.

  The King continues his prowling. “I am going to enter your mind, Ruin. Keep what you are feeling at the surface.”

  “How are you going to–”

  A dark-clad blur flits in. Markus pulls my head to the side and his fangs sear into me like lava laced razors.

  The pain is immediate and I gag past the nausea already filling me. Some of the anxiety begins to fade under the pain, I force it back in place, remembering Lilah’s resolution, her fighter’s spirit.

  Markus pulls away with a gasp. “She is at Carnage.”

  Shaking, I look at him and clamp my fingers over my neck. “How do you know?”

  He just shakes his head and starts walking.

  I wrench from Gage and Horan’s hold.

  Grabbing the king’s arm, I pull him to a stop. “Answer me, Markus. How do you know where Lilah is?”

  He stills, blond head hung almost low. Defeated. He peers at me over his shoulder. “I don’t,” he says. “But she is your Consort. And you do.”

  45

  Lilah

  “RISE AND SHINE, DOVE.”

  The words echo in my ear and I jolt completely awake.

  Bright lights shine down on me from horribly familiar rafters. I try to turn, to peer past them. Bindings hold my arms tight to my side, while manacles clank as I try to raise my legs. I manage an inch before the resistance is too much. Something soft brushes my bare feet and hands. Like silk.

  I glance over.

  The mahogany and white plush side of a coffin greets me. I scream.

  “Now, now, dove. Theatrics are my thing.” Draven appears out of my peripheral, gold eyes bright, and his face in a burnt ruin. He strokes a blistered hand down the wood. “It seemed only fitting to put you in here.”

  My eyes flash. “Ruin is going to kill you,” I say.

  He snorts. “The bastard is on the far side of Lock Lake. My informant was careful to guarantee a real delivery. Though not the one that I am sure the coven was after.” His smile is insane. Manic. “But by now, the newest shipment of Brightex will be halfway to Georgia.”

  “Why?” I ask, railing against the bindings. “Why Georgia? Hell, why do this at all? You’re killing people.”

  “And?” His eyes widen and he leans down. “My contacts in Georgia know the risks, the damage. But there is so much more going on, dove. So many actors in this scene that you can’t see them all.” He beams. “You know of Act One, but I have read the whole play.”

  “You’re insane,” I breathe.

  “Am I?” he asks. “For years, supernaturals have been condemned and ridiculed for circumstances we cannot control. We are born this way, even your bastard can understand that.”

  “But Brightex will level the playing field. It affects both sides equally, humans and supes. We can start over.” His arms spread wide. “A new beginning on Earth.”

  “Draven, don’t do this,” I plead. “It’s murder.”

  He tuts. “Oh, Lilah. I really wish I could,” he says, pressing one hand to the other side of the box before leaning over me. His fangs flash. “But, you see, I can’t.”

  His eyes trail from my hair down my body. “I’m a selfish man, dove. And spoiled. Everything I want, I get.” He plucks at my shirt and the material slides up over my midsection. I try to squirm away, to move away from that touch. He pinches me. Hard. “And I’ve had my eyes on you since I got into town.”

  Something hot flows down my cheeks as the pain continues to build in my stomach. “Draven, don’t.” I choke as he twists his fingers. “Don’t do this. Please.”

  His gold eyes rise. “But this is nothing, Lilah. Nothing to what you have done to me.”

  “I haven’t hurt you, Draven. At all. Let me go,” I sob.

  He releases me. “I’ve wanted you, Lilah,” he snaps again, “for months. I offered time and again to ease your position. To take you and let you stand at my side during all of this. But I’m a vampire.” His voice goes high on the last.

  “And what do you do?” His eyes flash. “You fuck the coven Captain.”

  He grabs my face in both hands, fingers digging in. “Am I not attractive enough for you?” he demands, blistered skin on his face stretching morbidly. “Because I can change. Just like all the times before, you pick the face, dove, and I’ll wear it.”

  “Do you like accents, Lilah? I know hundreds.” I remain silent, heart pounding. He seethes above me. “No. You’d rather spread your thighs for the bastard vampire.”

  He shoves off from the coffin and his steps recede.

  “I’ve been patient. I’ve tried to play the game, to entice you.” Something clatters, like metal on a tray. “But you ignored my advances, dismissed them. Like a
discarded act.”

  He reappears over the edge of the coffin, hypodermic needle in his hand. “I just wanted to fuck you. To bleed you out on my pillows maybe.” He sighs. “But now you reek too much of the bastard for me to even get a hard-on. So killing you will have to do.”

  The needle glints in the bright stage lights, and sweat beads all along my brows as time seems to slow to a crawl.

  Or maybe he is just that fast.

  Everything seems poised, unmoving and unwavering as I watch him press the needlepoint into the crook of my arm with a pinching pain. His thumb rests over the plunger and the sickly yellow drug slowly lowers down the tube.

  Time returns and I buck and strain, arching frantically to get away. But I can’t. The bonds are too tight, there is no way to get free. My heart pummels my ribs, beating like a jackhammer.

  He smiles and tosses the syringe. “All you’re doing is speeding the inevitable.” He leans over me, watching.

  Heat fills my body, replacing the icy terror of my current situation. My spine bows. I jerk back down.

  The tremors start in my hands, rising through my body until my teeth chatter and I clamp my jaws to try and stop them. My vision floats in and out. Draven’s face grows distorted. Oblong.

  His fangs flash. I scream as a new wave of terror replaces the one before. His laughter echoes in my ears. “Ah, music.”

  Darkness crouches just above him, blocked by the too bright lights. But I know it is death. My death.

  “Can you see it, Lilah?” Draven breathes as the darkness gets closer. “The end?”

  I try to breathe, to inhale. There is no air left.

  There is nothing actually. Just a vast stretch of emptiness and light. Fatigue crashes over me and my eyes flutter closed.

  Distantly, there is a boom, like the final beat of my heart. And then there is nothing at all.

  46

  Ruin

  I ROAR AS I FALL FROM the rafters, taking Draven to the old dais with me. “Get her out,” I bellow, slamming my fist into the other vamp’s jaw. He reels back.

  Gage and T rush behind him. Horan circles out of my peripheral, sword in his hands.

  Draven climbs to his feet, spitting, and blood flies. “You’re too late,” he sneers. “Forty ccs of Brightex right into the vein.”

  My world narrows to his glowing gold eyes and I flit.

  I slam into him, arms going around his midsection. We slide backward on the old carpet. Leaning back, I pummel his new, burnt face, splitting the blisters on his tan skin until his blood coats my knuckles. But it’s not enough.

  My fingers clamp around his throat, squeezing and squeezing as my fangs pierce my lip and the world fades away around me.

  His elbow plows into my temple. I shake my head and squeeze harder. His eyes bug and his face turns a vivid shade of red.

  He jerks beneath me, legs thrashing and arms flailing. I lean over him.

  Strong hands close over me from behind, hauling me back. “Ruin. Ruin, stop.”

  I wrench away and drop back over Draven. My fist crunches against his nose and more blood pours from his face.

  Something slams into my temple. Hard enough I see stars.

  I snarl. A muscular arm goes around my throat, pulling me back until I choke and fight for my next breath of air.

  “He goes to jail, Ruin. We don’t kill.” Markus’ voice is hard, unwavering. “Not even for this.”

  I buck and strain. Horan stands poised over Draven like an angel of mercy, sword against the vamp’s neck. “Horan,” I croak. “Kill him.”

  He stills.

  I rail. “I’m your gods-damned Captain. Kill him.”

  The sword tip presses tighter. “For the crimes you have committed, for the wrongs you cannot right...your life is forfeit either way.” Horan’s voice is low in the din. “But for the atrocities you have committed against my brethren, you will rot in hell sooner rather than later.”

  “Horan, no!” Markus releases me and rushes forward.

  Horan steps aside and I draw the Glock at my waist. Markus is mid flit as the first bullet catches Draven in the chest. The second millimeters apart. I fire as I stand, as I walk closer.

  I fire until my magazine clicks empty and a wide, see-through ring sits in the center of Draven’s chest.

  The vampire stares up at me as the light slowly fades from his eyes. He laughs and collapses back, unmoving.

  Markus slams to a halt inches from the fallen male. His hands shake as he reaches for Draven and then stops. He turns.

  “We have no supplier!” he bellows. “Vlad was our middle man. I needed his boss, Ruin. Our supplier of Brightex is still out there, still infesting our streets. What the fuck am I supposed to tell the Council?”

  I lower my gun to my side and turn away.

  “Ruin. Don’t you dare. Ruin!”

  I ignore him and keep walking to Gage and Tanner. They huddle around a familiar dark-haired frame.

  Lilah’s chestnut waves are tousled, flowing out from her along the stained dais. But her skin is ashen. Too pale.

  That feeling of doom crashes over me, like all the light in the world suddenly snuffs out.

  I push between them and fall to my knees.

  “Baby girl?” I whisper, voice thick. “You can wake up now. He’s dead. I got him for you. I got the monster.”

  She remains unmoving, eyes closed. I brush back her hair with trembling hands. “Lilah?” I strain to catch her heartbeat, but the others are too loud. They have to be blocking hers. She’s weak. Tired.

  That’s all.

  “Cap...”

  I grab her and lift her in my arms. She is soft but too cool for my Lilah. My Lilah is all heat, humanity, and that damn innocence that makes me want to be better. That makes me believe I can be better.

  My face presses into her hair and I rock her. “It’s okay, baby girl. Come on.” Her silken waves are soft under my lips. “You got to wake up. We got to go.”

  My back and arms begin to burn, but I barely feel it. Barely notice it over the emptiness growing inside me.

  A strong hand alights on my shoulder. “Ruin...”

  I wrench away from Markus with a snarl. “This is on you,” I snap. “I told you. I fucking told you that diplomacy does not solve this shit. Now she’s–” My voice breaks.

  No.

  I look at him, fangs down. “Change her.”

  His gold eyes glow. “Ruin ... Son. It’s against the accords. I can’t.”

  I stare at him, hatred building in my heart. “Then we are through here.”

  He reaches for me, but I pull away.

  “Don’t. I’ve never asked for any of this,” I snarl. “Never wanted this. She is the only thing that has ever made this shit worth it. And now she’s gone.” My eyes illuminate his face in a light so bright, it’s like the fucking sun rose early. But I know better. It will never rise for me again. “We’re done, do you understand? I fucking quit.”

  Markus’ lips clamp into a hard line before he growls. “Ruin. Give her your wrist.”

  I glower. “Why?”

  “Just fucking do it.”

  I rip into my arm with my fangs and press it over Lilah’s unmoving mouth. My blood dribbles over her lips and down her chin. T helps open her mouth and the dark fluid flows down her tongue.

  Markus’ eyes glitter. “Horan. Feed him.”

  I start to protest, but Markus snarls, fangs flashing and his hands like hooked claws. “You will drink, you son of a bitch, until you can’t hold anymore. Do you understand?”

  We gaze at each other. Markus motions.

  The Angel comes out of my peripheral, his body glowing softly and his sword at his side.

  He crouches before me and offers me his wrist. “This is going to hurt you more than it is going to hurt me.”

  I look at him, but he just lifts his arm higher. My mouth closes over the steady beat of his heart and heavenly fire rips through my insides.

  My back bows and I try to
hold onto Lilah, to keep my blood flowing into her as I force myself to drink the lava from Horan.

  It burns, twisting and trying to purify the vampire blood in my veins. Or maybe to absolve me of all my sins, all the lives I have taken.

  He stays poised on the balls of his feet, his lips turning paler and paler as I drink as deep as I can.

  Markus pushes him aside. “Gage.”

  The Fae warrior rolls up his sleeve. When I try to shake my head, his hand clamps on my shoulder. “It’s on all of us. Take it.”

  My fangs press gingerly into his pale skin, but my eyes never leave his. Fresh mown grass and leather wreathes the air around me in a cloud. He nods, throat working. “Good man.”

  I drink until Markus pushes him back too. T gently widens Lilah’s open jaw and offers me his neck.

  “This don’t mean shit,” he mutters as he leans down, but his face is ashen under his tan. “I’ve just been bit there before.”

  I clamp my jaws around him, cheeks hurting from every suckle I have taken. His blood is hot, almost as hot as the angel’s, and I realize out of my team, I am the coldest. The closest to death.

  Or maybe the one who has welcomed it too many times.

  Markus pulls my bleeding arm from Lilah’s mouth and presses it over her heart. Quick as a snake, he flips a blade from his belt and stabs it clear through my arm. And her chest.

  I roar.

  But I can’t pull away. If I do, I’ll hurt her worse. Injure her worse.

  Markus crab walks backward as I snarl and gnash my teeth. “By blood you are bound, by love you are tied,” he says softly. “With these dark ties, arise, Lilah Marks, daughter of Adam and Eve, and walk in the night once more.”

  Something tickles along my consciousness. His eyes glow like beacons, but Markus merely climbs to his feet and steps to the other side of the dais.

  A heavy drum slams in my ears. I wince, nerves scrubbed raw as it pounds again. And again.

  Gentle heat fills my arms. My eyes whip down to the soft fluttering lashes of Lilah’s now sun-kissed gaze. She peers at my in confusion. “Ruin?” She blinks sleepily up at me and my world grinds to a halt. “I’m gonna sleep again. Okay?” Her eyes roll back in her head, but her heartbeat continues to purr in my ears.