Regally Bitten (Blood Alliance Book 3)

by Lexi C. Foss

  I shrieked, my shift reverting on instinct and forcing me to run to him on two legs.

  But someone else reached him first. A vampire in a suit. His name not registering. My mind fracturing beneath the insanity of the moment.

  I tried to chase him, to call after Silas, but cement arms clamped down around my waist, yanking me backward.

  “There you are,” a deep voice said against my ear.

  I shivered, the menacing energy coupled with the feel of his chest against my back twisted my heart. “Walter,” I breathed.

  “I prefer sir,” he replied. “But we’ll work on that, little slut. We’ll be working on a lot of things.”

  31

  Edon

  Silas! I roared, my body twisting this way and that as I fought blow after blow from the vampires descending upon the field. You better not fucking die on me, Silas. Or I swear, I will crawl into the afterlife just to beat you myself.

  No reply.

  Fuck!

  I told him not to intervene.

  I told him to stay put.

  I told him not to speak.

  Did he listen to me at all? No. And how the fuck did he move so damn fast? I hadn’t even seen the gun, but I heard it just before the bullet sailed into Silas’s chest. Now I had no idea where he even went or who took him. He just disappeared before I had a chance to react.

  My fist met the face of another bloodsucker, my instinct to shift overwhelming my thoughts. But I couldn’t afford the few seconds required to take on my beast form. There were too many damn vampires and not enough lycans fighting.

  I growled, snapping my elbow back into another assailant and my knee into the asshole in front of me. He collapsed on a grunt, his weapon falling to the ground. I snatched it up in a flash and used the dagger to slice the throat of the male behind me.

  Then moved on to the next.

  All the while calling to Silas.

  Without a reply.

  I could feel his life energy seeping from this plane, the silver taking him from me far too soon. And all I could feel was rage.

  Walter would pay for this.

  All his fucking cronies, too.

  A howl parted my lips as I demanded the pack to assemble, to fight, and to my surprise, several answered the call.

  About. Fucking. Time.

  And those who hid? Well, they’d be first on my cull list. Because no way was I letting an army of vampires take me down.

  Not today.

  Not for something I didn’t do.

  My father disappeared, leaving me to fend for myself. Coward. Silvano stayed, but not to fight. He merely supervised, as if enjoying the carnage.

  Killing vampires took a lot of effort.

  Lycans were easier, as we lacked the immortal gene. But that didn’t make us weak. I proved that by taking down three more of his men while he observed in stoic silence.

  Where the hell was my grandfather? He could put an end to this madness.

  And Luna… I’d felt her moments ago. Where had she run off to?

  A smack against my side had me focusing on the idiot who’d just thought to strike me. I put him down with a fist to his chin before whirling on the vampire approaching behind me.

  They were all so young, maybe a hundred years at best.

  Which meant Silvano had brought his D-team to the fight.

  Poor choice. But hey, it worked in my favor, so I wasn’t about to complain.

  Silas, I tried again.

  Static. Quiet. Nothing.

  My heart ached, my soul crying out at the injustice of his fall. Why had he jumped before that bullet? How—

  Stars flickered behind my eyes as something hard slammed into the back of my skull. I blinked, shook my head, and danced around to fight, but my vision began to bleed into spots of light.

  No. I wasn’t giving up. Not yet. Not when… What is that? The sharp cry echoed in my ears, kick-starting my heart. Luna!

  32

  Luna

  “Fuck you,” I snarled, my arms straining as I tried futilely to loosen Walter’s hold. He’d yanked me behind one of the houses, one hand encircling my neck while the opposite held both of my wrists.

  “As soon as Edon dies, I’ll grant your wish,” he growled, his lips far too close to my neck for my liking.

  His goal wasn’t lost on me. My ties to Edon would die with him, allowing Walter to stake his claim beneath the moon.

  And then I’d be well and truly fucked. Both figuratively and literally.

  Not going to happen.

  I kicked back against him, and he responded by shoving me into the log exterior of the home, causing me to cry out in pain. Because fuck, that hurt.

  My father stood close by with a look of disgust on his face. Not at Walter, no. But at me.

  And my mother—her eyes shone with tears.

  Logan, however, appeared ready to commit murder. He’d already tried to intervene once, which resulted in the black eye now blossoming on his handsome face.

  Our father was a fucking dick.

  But my brother appeared ready to try again. His hands fisted at his sides, his blue eyes locking on mine as he tried to convey some sort of plan. He looked pointedly at my wrists gripped tightly behind my back. And then he cocked his chin sharply.

  I didn’t understand his goal until he charged forward—his focus on Walter. I jerked my hands just as he crashed into the shocked alpha behind me, thereby breaking his grip.

  However, the one on my neck squeezed harshly.

  I hacked, my airway crushing beneath his grip, but was suddenly freed as Logan slammed a fist into Walter’s jaw.

  My father roared in fury, charging forward, only to be slammed off his path by my mother. “Run!” she shouted at me. Just before my father yanked her to the ground on a yelp.

  I didn’t want to listen.

  I didn’t want to run.

  But I wasn’t about to let their rebellion be all for nothing.

  My legs took off, my body aching from the places Walter had manhandled me. If I could hide until sunrise, I’d be safe for another month. I just had to get away, to—

  A hand clamped over my mouth, yanking me backward into a hard body that smelled of death. Another arm clamped around my middle as I tried to fight, furious that I’d escaped only to fall captive yet again.

  What the fuck?!

  I’m not this woman.

  I am not weak.

  Let me go!

  I fought with everything I owned, earning me a curse and a grunt from my new captor. And then he slammed me harshly into an ungiving surface.

  Another damn house.

  I growled, fed up with being manhandled and treated like a damsel. This wasn’t—

  He spun me around, his forearm at my throat, and piercing blue eyes met mine. The color of ice. “I’m all for a feisty wolf, darling, but right now, we need your help to understand something.”

  My lips parted. Jace.

  And who the hell was we?

  He pushed me through the door of the home and shut it behind him with a kick. “We don’t have a lot of time, so I suggest you be a good little wolf and play along.”

  “I told you, it’s too soon,” another male said, his stance casual as he leaned against the wall. “We need more time before we show our cards.”

  “So we let Edon die and try to start over?” Jolene replied, hands in his pockets. “Can’t guarantee I’ll be alive long enough to see it through, gentlemen. I’ve given that boy everything I’ve got, and he’s exactly what we need in this region.”

  “And what about Silvano?” the dark-haired vampire asked, his tone as nonchalant as his pose. “It’s going to raise a hell of a lot of questions, especially so soon after what happened to Robyn.”

  “That wasn’t even related,” a fourth voice put in with a sardonic snort. Luka.

  Shit. What had Jace just pulled me into the middle of?

  “Whether it was or wasn’t isn’t the point. All this unrest is going to al
arm Lilith.” The dark-haired one pushed off the wall. “I’m not discounting the fact that you’ve put a lot of effort into this, Jolene. I’m merely pointing out the paperwork that will be involved should we intervene. It may set us back years, as we’ll be forced to maintain a low profile.”

  “If we don’t intervene, we lose two clans,” Jace replied softly. “Which sets us back several decades.”

  “Two?” Luka asked.

  “Logan just assaulted Walter.” Jace looked at me. “To save his sister.”

  I swallowed. Was this where he wanted my input? Because I didn’t know what to say.

  “Well, shit.” Luka rubbed a hand down his face, shaking his head. “Niko isn’t going to like that.”

  “No, I suspect not.” Jace was still looking at me. “Tell us about your relationship with Edon and Silas.”

  My eyebrows rose. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re fucking them both. Is it because Edon’s making you?” His flat tone didn’t match the severity of his question.

  “Fuck you,” I growled. “And fuck your assumption.”

  His lips quirked upward. “Oh, Claudette has raised you perfectly, I see.” He glanced at Luka. “There’s hope for your precious daughter yet if Logan’s anything like this one.”

  “Considering he just attacked Walter, I’ll say he’s a perfect candidate.”

  Jace lifted a shoulder. “True.” His focus locked on me again. “Your relationship with Edon and Silas isn’t accepted by current social conditions. How do you feel about that?”

  “Like my relationship with Edon and Silas is none of your damn business,” I replied flatly. “What the hell is this? There’s a war going on outside, and you’re all gossiping with me about who I’m fucking? Talking about my brother like he’s some pawn in your game of chess? Fuck that. You’re wasting my time.” I took a step, only to find the dark-haired male suddenly at my back.

  Power vibrated off him in waves, causing goose bumps to flare across my limbs and reminding me that I was very much naked in a room full of dominant males.

  Not good.

  Especially considering Jace’s penchant to play with wolves.

  I swallowed. “Look, Edon’s innocent. He didn’t attack Silvano’s vampires or issue any sort of edict telling his wolves to go on the hunt. His father just wants to maintain his power.” I looked imploringly at Jolene. “Tell them.”

  “They already know, sweetheart,” he replied, sliding off his jacket and handing it to me. “They’re trying to figure out if they should intervene.”

  “Well, if you ask me, I say you should,” a new voice declared as Kylan entered from the back of the house. “I mean, what’s a revolution without a little kickoff party?”

  The only indication that they were surprised by his appearance was the slight stiffening in Luka’s shoulders.

  “You know, I missed my invitation to the party,” Kylan drawled, his expression one of stark amusement. “But I’ve sensed your intentions for some time now. What are we all waiting for? I vote we take out Silvano. He’s one of the reasons we’re all in this mess. I promise he won’t be missed by those who count.”

  Silence met his statement.

  But the tick in Jace’s jaw said the male had struck a nerve.

  “I can do it,” Kylan continued. “I mean, I already have a knack for pissing off Lilith. Maybe she’ll put me wherever she hid Cam.”

  All the males exchanged a glance.

  “Oh, come on. I can’t be the only one who suspects he’s still alive.” He looked at Luka. “His Erosita lives with your clan, right?” He sighed at their continued silence. “I see. Well. If my services are requested for whatever the fuck this is, you know where to find me.”

  Jace stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, their gazes locking in a long, silent duel while the cries of wolves and vampires bled through the night air outside.

  My chest ached for them all, especially Edon. The only thing that kept me upright was the strength radiating through his mating bond.

  He was alive and fighting and mourning Silas.

  Whom he couldn’t feel anymore.

  A tear slipped from the edge of my eye, my nails grasping my jacket even tighter around myself. “We can’t just stand here,” I whispered. “I don’t know why you’re all standing around debating a timeline when you could be helping. But I do know this: not intervening when you can just makes you all a bunch of cowards.” I looked pointedly at Jolene. “Your grandson is fighting for his life out there. I’m going to join him with or without your help.”

  I thrust my elbow backward, expecting to strike the dark-haired one, but only met air. He stood by the door with an amused expression. “We should introduce her to Juliet,” he said, glancing at Jace. “See if we can’t instill some of that feisty energy.”

  “Trust me, D. Mira is already working on it,” Luka put in.

  D smiled. “Brilliant.” And then he opened the door. “After you, little wolf.”

  Little wolf.

  Little mate.

  Little moon.

  I was really, really tired of everyone calling me little.

  I was not short.

  I was not weak.

  I just happened to be less muscled and tinier than the others around me. But I possessed an alpha bloodline for a reason. And they were all about to find out why.

  33

  Edon

  Red.

  Everything around me was stained in red. The vampires. The wolves. Silvano and his fucking smirk. The moon. The grass. The male trying to bite me.

  All. Fucking. Red.

  I couldn’t hear Silas. I couldn’t find Luna. I couldn’t focus on anything other than the assholes who kept trying to take me down.

  I would not fall. Not like this. Not until I knew Silas’s and Luna’s fates.

  A growl ripped from my throat as I took down yet another bloodsucker. They just kept coming. Fortunately, it seemed most of them were without weapons.

  So what happened to the gun? I wondered for the thousandth time. Someone had one. Yet he’d fled, leaving only vampires with knives in his wake.

  Which led me to believe it wasn’t a vampire who tried to shoot me, but a wolf.

  How did Silas know?

  No. No time for that now. I’d analyze later.

  Silvano. He was the key to ending this all. If I could just fucking get close enough to incapacitate him, his minions would—

  Shit!

  A sharp edge struck my rib cage, sending me to my knees and rolling away from the source as fire licked through my veins.

  Another damn knife.

  Better than a gun.

  I whirled on the ground, ignoring the pain shooting up my side, and lashed out at my attacker. Only, the air fled my lungs and refused to replenish.

  He punctured my lung.

  Okay, so worse than a scrape.

  A cringe rendered me useless for half a second—long enough for my assailant to jump on top of me and aim the blade at my throat.

  I caught his wrist, twisting it, but spots danced before my vision, leaving me woozy. He pressed down, his strength matching mine because of his superior position.

  Sadism radiated from the male’s face, contorting his lips into a wicked sneer.

  Not good. Not good at all.

  I grasped his throat with my opposite hand while trying to break his wrist with my other palm. Anything to deter him from placing that deadly weapon at my neck once more.

  But he inched closer.

  And closer.

  Until a ball of white knocked him off me with a violent snarl.

  Luna.

  Relief flooded me at the sight of her svelte form destroying the vampire’s face while he screamed in agony, his knife long forgotten. I grabbed it, then gave myself a second to recover before jumping to my feet. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but newfound adrenaline surged inside me.

  My mate was alive.

  She was here.

  And the woman
fought like a damn goddess.

  She took down two more vampires with her jaws alone, ripping out their throats before returning to my side, her sleek coat painted in blood.

  Gorgeous.

  If we weren’t in the middle of a fight for our lives, I would have grabbed her, forced her to turn, and fucked her on this very field.

  But I had another horde of vampires appearing from the tree line as if Silvano had a whole army of reserves just waiting to attack. He must have deployed them in waves. It explained why he hadn’t acted sooner during my argument with Walter.

  What are your real intentions? I wondered. Because he wouldn’t waste this many resources just to take me down for an old friend. This had to be a double cross, a way to weaken the Clemente Clan and take more land.

  And my idiot of a father had fallen for it by opening the borders.

  Come right in.

  Destroy my wolves.

  As long as I keep my throne, I don’t care.

  When I survived this insanity, my father would pay.

  With my lungs barely recovered—thanks to my lycan healing—more vampires poured onto the grounds, their orders clear. Kill on sight.

  The newcomers were refreshed.

  I was not.

  My wolf ached to come out to play, but there wasn’t time. I twirled the knives in my hands—ones I’d stolen from the vampires who came before them.

  “Welcome to the Clemente Clan,” I greeted them, narrowing my eyes. “Allow me to properly introduce myself.”

  Luna growled and acquainted them with her teeth while I carved my initials into their skin.

  I was mid-design on Vampire Three when a hush fell over the crowd. And all the bloodsuckers collectively fell to their knees.

  My eyes tracked across the field to the cause.

  Kylan.

  He stood casually in the middle of the bloody field wearing a pristine suit. And unceremoniously dropped Silvano’s head on the ground.