Into the Storm (Vampires of Velum Mortis Book 2)

by Stephanie Summers

  I sat down on the edge of the bed, every emotion I’d avoided dealing with throughout the day rushed to the surface, stealing my breath away as it broke through. Tears streaked down my cheeks and my body tensed as I let it all out.

  Sliding to the floor, I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I cried for the mother who never loved me, cried for the family I never had, cried for the life that had slipped away from me. Fear, anger, sadness, and disappointment flowed from me with each strained sob until there was nothing more than a dull numbness throbbing through my soul.

  I stared for what seemed like hours, my mind as blank as the wall I looked at.

  In that moment, I accepted my fate.

  Accepted that I would never know love.

  Accepted that my life sucked.

  Accepted that I likely wouldn’t live to see next week.

  10

  Stellan

  The suppressing agent had taken its toll on me, but my body vibrated with energy anyway. Why did touching her skin invigorate me the way it had? Her body practically answered the call of the storm within. When I touched her, electricity sparked over her flesh and mine, and if I didn’t know better, I could almost swear that she was my mate judging by the way my body reacted to hers, but she wasn’t the right age. If she’d been my mate, I would’ve felt her presence the year she turned eighteen or shortly after. And aside from that, she was a wolf. Never had I ever heard of a vampire mating with anything other than a full-blooded human.

  But was it possible? Was it possible that the punishment I’d endured had dulled everything to the point that I couldn’t sense her when I should have? Every time I took the antidote, another piece of me seemed to not return. I never could quite get back to what felt like normal. I’d tried to ignore it, convincing myself that I just wasn’t used to being at my full abilities anymore, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that I hadn’t fully harnessed the power of the storm in decades. Wasn’t sure I could anymore, despite it being bred into me. Sure, I could summon a crack of thunder or a bolt of lightning here or there, but that was nothing compared to what I used to be able to do.

  Making my way through the semi-crowded streets of Manhattan, I went about finishing my errands as my thoughts turned toward Sydney. She was easily the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in nearly a thousand years.

  A vampire should never be attracted to a wolf, yet here I was, thinking about how glorious it would be to get her into my bed and sink my cock deep inside her warm body as I lavished each of her curves.

  I had never shied away from sex, though it had been a while since I’d indulged, but this was different. She clouded my thoughts nearly every waking second since I’d met her. Though I always carried it with me, I had never taken the antidote in the human realm, not even when my king’s life depended on it. But I hadn’t hesitated when I saw the demon take her.

  There was no alternative in that moment, and it had nothing to do with my mission or the punishment I might face should I fail. No, it was strictly about her and saving her life.

  Despite everything telling me she couldn’t possibly be my mate, I wanted to believe she could be. And if she was, there was no force in the universe that could make me hand her over to Liam. He was my king, but he was also my best friend. Surely, after finding his own mate in Delia not that long ago and the way they had to fight to be together, he would understand better than anyone the predicament I’d found myself in.

  There was only one way to know for sure if she was or wasn’t, and that was to return to my full powers indefinitely, but was I strong enough to overcome my urges and not act on them? If I went back to normal, and if she was my mate, I’d know it soon enough. And if she wasn’t, I could return to my life knowing I had done everything I could to know the truth before I handed her over. I didn’t have anymore of the antidote with me, but I did have some back in Velum Mortis. If we could get back there tomorrow without any interference from outside forces, I would face my urges head on and take the antidote. I’d just have to convince her to stay with me for a few days while I figured everything out.

  After finishing up my errands, I returned to the hotel. My heart pounded in my chest as I opened the door. If she had decided to run, I didn’t know if I could find her this time.

  Stepping through the door, a wave of emotion hit me like a ton of bricks as I found Sydney splayed out on the floor.

  11

  Sydney

  “Sydney,” he said, pulling me into his arms and out of the darkness.

  I blinked a few times, my vision focusing on the beauty of his face. He was almost angelic, despite being a vampire.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. “You were unconscious.”

  “I fell asleep,” I said, tears flowing again. “But, no. I’m not okay.”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Are you hurt?”

  “What isn’t wrong?” I squeaked.

  “You’re fine,” he said. “You don’t need to be so upset.”

  “Oh, well, excuse the fuck out of me,” I said, rage snaking through my words. I’d show him upset. “How do you expect me to act? I didn’t ask for any of this.”

  “I know you didn’t,” he said softly. There was a softness to his face that hadn’t been there before.

  “I mean, really? Do you even understand the magnitude of what I’ve been through, not just today, but for my whole fucking life?” I asked and pushed him away.

  Pulling up his knees and resting his arms on them, he stayed by my side on the floor. “Tell me.”

  “I’m sure you don’t really care.”

  “Tell me,” he said again.

  “Well, for starters, I’d have been better off dead than with the mother I got stuck with. And now a pack of werewolves wants me for fuck only knows what. I’ve lost my freedom, I’ll likely be dead soon, and all I really want to do is take a goddamn shower, but I don’t even have clean clothes to put on,” I said, biting back more tears. “I want to wash it all away.”

  He leaned forward and grabbed a bag that he must have tossed down on the floor when he came in.

  “Here,” he said and handed me the bag. “You can take a shower.”

  Opening the bag, I pulled out a soft pair of pajama pants and a T-shirt. But that’s not all that was in the bag. Under the pajamas was a couple pairs of underwear, socks, two shirts, a pair of jeans, and a new hoodie.

  “You did this for me?” I asked, nearly whispering.

  “You didn’t have anything when we took you,” he said, looking at me with concern in his eyes before glancing away. “I got you some food and water, too. It’s in that other bag.”

  “Thank you,” I said and stood.

  “I guessed on sizes. I hope everything fits. Wasn’t sure what food you liked, so I got a variety. Mostly junk food.”

  It was one of the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. Granted, he had put me in the position of needing these things, but still. He didn’t have to take care of me. He could’ve been cruel, but he wasn’t. A little strange, yes, but not mean. Somehow, I didn’t blame him quite as much as the others who had been involved with stealing me away from my life. I should’ve been angry with him. I should’ve hated him, but I didn’t. It wasn’t the smartest move, I know, to overlook these things, but I couldn’t ignore the way my heart quickened when he looked at me, couldn’t ignore the way breathing seemed easier when I was near him, couldn’t ignore the way he’d fought to free me from the demon when he could’ve left me to be devoured and been done with me for good.

  I gathered up the clothes and headed to the bathroom, making sure to close the door behind me. Turning the hot water on, I waited until it got to the perfect temperature, the steam fogging up the mirror, before stepping into the tub. Warm water cascaded over my body, and I relished the way each stream stung as it hit my body.

  Closing my eyes, I stood there, the water washing away the dirt of the day—part of me happy to be alone, part of me wishing for compan
y.

  Slipping into the pajamas after drying off, I could barely keep my eyes open when the realization that there was only one bed set in.

  I opened the bathroom door and moved slowly into the bedroom where I found Stellan sitting in the chair by the window. He had taken off his coat and the button-down shirt he wore and changed into a black V-neck T-shirt that I could only guess he had picked up for himself when he’d gone shopping for me. It was the only thing covering his torso now, but it gave me a glimpse of his strong arms and a peak of just how fit he was under his clothes. Biceps hard and tight, forearms firm... My mouth went dry as I struggled to swallow, thankful that he had kept his pants on.

  Tearing my eyes away, I grabbed a bottle of water off the counter and opened it up. The cool liquid was barely enough to quench the thirst.

  “I’m really tired. Think I’ll go to bed now,” I said as I went over to the side of the bed and pulled back the covers.

  He nodded, but didn’t move from the chair.

  “Do you mind if I turn off the light?” I asked.

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “You can watch TV if you want. I don’t mind.”

  “You need to rest. It would only disturb you.”

  “It’s fine,” I said. “Really.”

  “I don’t care for it,” he said as he continued to look toward the window.

  “Suit yourself,” I said and rolled over, pulling the covers up around my neck.

  For a brief moment, I hoped he would join me.

  Get it together, Sydney, I thought to myself, hoping this was one of those times he couldn’t hear my thoughts. Quit lusting after death.

  12

  Stellan

  I watched her sleep for a solid hour, wondering what she was dreaming about. Wondering what she really thought of me. If I hadn’t taken the suppressor, I might have even taken a peek into those dreams just to see if I was there. During the brief glimpse into her mind that I’d gotten after the demon attack, she’d seemed conflicted, and who could blame her?

  She’d swung wildly between wanting to ravish me and wanting to kill me. Further proof that she was my mate? Perhaps. As my mate, she would have certain unavoidable sexual feelings toward me, but as a wolf, she should want to rip me to pieces.

  Pulling out my phone, I clicked on the screen and tapped out a text to Daniel, one of the vampires we had run into earlier at the restaurant. Since the phone was only usable on this side of the veil, I rarely used it, but I was glad to have brought it with me. I’d turned Daniel and his friend decades ago, and while Daniel didn’t seem to harbor much ill-will toward me, Royce had distanced himself from me once he figured out I wasn’t going to be a guide for him. He’d grown angry with me. I guess I could understand it. Being natural-born, I never had to learn how to be a vampire. I just was. But vampires who are created through the blood exchange often don’t survive long without someone showing them the ropes. I’d failed both of them and countless others along the way. All the more reason I had willingly continued to punish myself after Liam had told me I could stop.

  I need passage out of the city.

  A few moments later, a response came.

  And you’re telling me because?

  I loathed vampires sometimes, especially those who weren’t natural-born.

  Because unless you want me to rip your spine out and beat you with it, I need your help in doing so. My traveling companion was attacked by a comedenti demon and I don’t know if he was alone.

  I can get you through the club after last call.

  You’re sure it’ll be empty?

  Yeah… It won’t take long to clear out, but I can check the tunnel before you head in there to make sure. Text me the address and I’ll meet you.

  My companion needs to sleep. Morning would be better. I’ll meet you at Union Square Park. Text when you’re on your way and we’ll be there.

  I didn’t believe he would betray me, but I didn’t exactly trust him to know where I would be sleeping either.

  That works.

  Now that safe passage through the portal underneath Nearly Dead and Dancing had been arranged, I could finally close my eyes.

  Dreams normally evaded me. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had one, but sometime after I’d drifted off I’d found myself in the middle of a field, lightning bolts racing across the sky as thunder boomed above me. Electricity engulfed my body, rain poured down around me. My body vibrated like I might explode if I didn’t find the sweet release of the storm.

  And across the field stood Sydney in a white dress, radiant and beautiful, her dark hair flowing in waves behind her in the wind. A bolt of lightning raced toward the earth, striking her where she stood. The air buzzed with static as I raced toward her, expecting her to be splayed out on the ground, burnt and letting loose of the mortal coil, ready to follow her into that great black abyss.

  Fire burned the ground, but as I stepped through the flames, I found her standing tall and unaffected by the bolt that had hit her. The fingers of her right hand spread out before tightening into a balled fist, thunder answering her call. Her amber eyes glowed brilliantly as her top lip curled back, exposing a row of sharpening teeth. Lightning flashed again so bright that it nearly blinded me. Shielding my eyes, I looked away, but when I returned my gaze to her, I was met with a snarling wolf. It’s dark fur tinged with streaks of silver.

  It gnashed its teeth and leapt toward me, tackling me to the ground. Pushing at it with all of my strength, I couldn’t get it off of me and barely kept it from sinking its teeth into me.

  “Sydney,” I yelled. “Sydney, don’t do this.”

  But my cries went unanswered.

  Just as the beast’s teeth were about to clamp down on my throat, I jolted awake and sprang to my feet, grabbing at whatever it was that had touched me, ripping me from my slumber.

  A desperate whimper forced me to focus, to realize that I was no longer dreaming. I looked down into helpless amber eyes and realized I had Sydney pinned against the wall. Her hands were above her head, a tiny tattoo of a broken heart on her wrist. My left hand covered hers as my right hand gripped her side. Pressing my body to hers, I bent my head, my lips lingering near hers as my cock lengthened, becoming painfully hard.

  She nipped at my bottom lip, a heavy breath releasing as she did. If she’d broken the skin with her bite, it could’ve put me in a dangerous predicament, but I didn’t care.

  I wanted her. Hades knows I wanted her, but not like this. Not without knowing for sure one way or the other what she was or wasn’t to me.

  “You said my name,” she said, barely above a whisper.

  Letting go of her hands, I stepped back, and said, “I’m sorry.”

  Her chest raised and fell rapidly as she nodded and looked away.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the message from Daniel.

  Be there in thirty minutes.

  Putting the phone back in my pocket, I said, “We need to go soon.”

  She grabbed the bag that contained the other clothes I had bought for her and hurried into the bathroom.

  My cock, still engorged with lust, tugged at my attention, but I ignored it, instead focusing on things that would take the desire away.

  Lucien and his hoity-toity attitude… the stench of death… phlegm demons and the way their bodies oozed… Theodona…

  That last one had done the trick. The thought of the witch was like dick kryptonite. I don’t think there was another creature in the worlds that I found more revolting than her. Sure, she was beautiful by most standards, but to me, there was something sinister about her. She reminded me of a snake lying in wait and ready to strike at any second.

  A moment later, Sydney came out of the bathroom, and asked, “Do I have time to eat something or should I take it with?” She opened the other bag and pulled out a blueberry muffin.

  “You have a few minutes,” I said and headed to the bathroom to take a cold shower for good meas
ure. The urge to throw her on the bed and fuck her, despite my reservations, had returned almost immediately upon seeing her.

  I had to do something to subdue my desire before we both gave in and we lost the window of time to get out of the city unharmed.

  13

  Sydney

  Holy hell, did that really just happen? I thought to myself as he disappeared into the bathroom.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, I grabbed the complimentary note pad off the nightstand while he showered and I fantasized about what his body looked like completely naked. I waved the note pad vigorously in front of my face so I could get a cool burst of air.

  Never in my life had I wanted someone the way I wanted Stellan. I felt like he was the answer to every question I’d ever had, like he was the light in the darkness, the one thing that could protect me from all the terrible things in the world, yet I knew very little about him and had a hard time fathoming how I could feel so strongly for someone so fast. Especially when that someone was technically holding me captive.

  The more time I spent with him, the stronger the pull to him grew. I never did believe in love at first sight or when people would claim they fell hard and fast for someone. Never really wanted to believe in love at all, yet I found myself faced with someone who made me feel things I never thought possible. I wasn’t convinced that it was love, but it didn’t feel like it was only lust either.

  I went to work gathering up the things he’d brought me and then slipped into my shoes and the new hoodie he’d bought for me, all the while wondering how something so dangerous could feel so right?