Unearthed

by Lauren Stewart

  He phased in next to Lamere, squeezing his bulk in between him and Keira until the vamp got so uncomfortable he let go of her. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes dimmed as he realized something had gone very wrong.

  “Any last words?” Davyn grabbed him by the neck, sending the full force of his heat into the bastard, watching the pain and blistering turn his pretty face into something truly ugly.

  “Stop!”

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” he said, releasing a lot of pent-up aggression into the vamp. “Anything you want to tell him before he goes, hunter?”

  She shook her head. “He played with fire. Make sure he burns.”

  “Chérie.” Lamere reached for Davyn as his body spasmed. “He does not love you. His kind cannot love.”

  Davyn closed his eyes and concentrated on the gate, calling for it to be opened. “Go get one of your stakes.” He cut her off before she could argue. “Now.”

  “You’ll be trapped down there with me,” the vamp whispered.

  “I’m not going anywhere—I don’t have any pants on. Plus, she forgot to mention that I only physically guide people I like. Otherwise, I stand at the gate and wave. Guess what the plan is for you.” He placed his other hand on the vampire’s chest, ready to take him down, but not before Keira got back. “You know, things might have worked out better for you if you weren’t such a dickhead.”

  As soon as he felt her beside him, he blew out a breath and began to push Lamere towards the darkness. He opened his eyes just before the vampire’s body would leave the physical world. “Your turn, hunter. But hurry.”

  She nodded when she realized what he meant. The stake went deep, a symbolic ending to that part of her life, the beginning of a better one.

  Davyn shoved Lamere through the gate before he dusted, ensuring the vampire was still completely alive when he went to hell. When Davyn came back into himself, Keira was wrapped around him, her head buried in his chest, crying.

  “You did it, babe. You got him.” His lips traveled across her hair as she clutched onto him. “He’ll never hurt anyone again.” Feeling her body jerk and hearing her broken breaths was a relief. Because he knew she finally understood that hiding what she felt didn’t prove she was strong. It just proved she was hiding.

  “You did it.” He was no longer bound to hell or the bed. He was bound to her—with or without the soul.

  Forty-Five

  As exhausted as they were, the demon and the hunter couldn’t keep their hands off each other. No amount of fatigue trumped the feel of Davyn’s skin against hers, him inside her. He seemed set on proving once and for all how much stamina Fosfer demons really had. And oh man did he prove it—from on top, behind, and on his feet with her legs wrapped around him.

  Even though she recovered fast, no human could’ve kept up with him. Eventually they took a break, so she could breathe and he could eat.

  “The vamp was right about something, though, and I don’t want you to freak out about it.” He came back to bed smiling, with his arms full of snacks. “Demons can’t love. They don’t team up, either. Or help out or do dishes. They can’t fly above the clouds or do laundry or—”

  She smacked him. “Fall in love with humans?”

  He leaned over the pile of food and kissed her. “Yeah, definitely not that.”

  “Guess that means you’re a shitty demon then.”

  “Nah, I think it means you landed a really special demon, and you should never take him for granted.”

  She laughed. “Shut up and feed me, my special demon.”

  “He doesn’t listen very well, though.” He swept all the food off the bed and grabbed her, setting her on top of him and running his lips down her neck to her shoulder.

  “Demon!”

  Davyn picked her up, put her behind him, and turned to face the voice before it even registered in Keira’s mind that someone had spoken. Of course, danger still existed, but for a second she’d forgot anything could hurt them. She felt indestructible, almost as immortal as he was.

  “Rhyse?” he said, shocked. “What’s—?”

  “Help me. Please.” The Prime of the North American zone stood in the doorway, Addison laying limp across his arms.

  “No!” Keira jumped off the bed and grabbed a wooden stake off the nightstand. “What did you do to her?” Davyn grabbed her about a foot from the vampire. “Let me go!” He wrapped both arms around her, holding her back from dusting the bastard who’d killed her friend.

  “He didn’t do this.” He shushed her, pulling her into his chest, ignoring her kicks and elbows to his ribs. “He would never hurt her.”

  “He—” The argument died in her throat when she saw the vampire’s eyes, desperate, lost. The Prime was worried...about his greatest enemy. He held Addison tighter.

  “Rhyse, just tell her you didn’t do anything to the vitae,” Davyn said, “so I can let her go.”

  The Prime didn’t do anything, didn’t move, didn’t speak.

  Davyn swung Keira off her feet, spinning her to face him mid-air. “I don’t know what’s going on, but let me find out. Okay?”

  She took a deep breath, glancing one more time over her shoulder at the Prime before nodding to Davyn. “If he killed her…”

  “I’ll hold him down for you, yeah.” He slowly released her. “But she’s not dead, and whatever happened to her, he didn’t do it. Trust me. He loves her too much.”

  “What?”

  Davyn left her standing with her mouth open and approached the Prime slowly, more cautious than she’d ever seen him. He held his hands up and crossed the room, worried not threatened. “Talk to me, vamp.”

  Keira grabbed her t-shirt and underwear and yanked them on as she moved.

  “She has been ill.” The Prime’s voice was barely more than a whisper, and Keira had to strain to hear him. “She drank from me, but it did nothing for her. She fell, Davyn. She fell with my blood still on her lips, and now…” The Prime lifted his head and swallowed harshly. “Did he take her?”

  “I fucking hope not,” Davyn mumbled. “I’ve had a tough couple of days, so I gotta touch her to know for sure.” His stammered explanation about his power was so vague, it had to be deliberate. As if he didn’t want to say the word ‘soul.’ Maybe because he’d gotten one on the same day Addison had lost hers.

  Oh no.

  He motioned to the Prime to follow him into the living room and put her down on the couch. Both supers knelt beside her limp body. Keira stood at Addison’s head with her fist wrapped tightly around the stake, glancing from the dat vitae’s expressionless face to Davyn to the vampire.

  “Am I responsible for this?” the Prime asked. “Did I give him her soul in exchange for my passage?”

  “You went through hell to save her life, remember?”

  “All I remember is that she saved mine.” He caressed Addison’s cheek and then moved back to let Davyn get closer.

  “The soul is there,” the demon said, his hand on her forehead. “Weak though, not as bright as the first time I met her.” He looked at Keira for an explanation. Maybe Parker would have one, or Graham, but she had no clue.

  The vampire’s shoulders hadn’t looked slumped before, but with his relief, his presence seemed bigger, more intimidating, if that was possible. “Whatever it takes to make her well, I will do.”

  “Me too.” Whoever hurt Addison was someone Keira wanted to be involved in hurting back. When Davyn looked at her warily, she said, “I need to help if I can.”

  “Okay,” he said, “but first he has to go see some nasty old women who think they know how it’s all going to end.” The oracles. “But believe me, you’ll have your chance to help. Free will and all, right, Rhyse?”

  The Prime’s eyes flashed with suspicion and, a blink later, with surprise. “It seems your hunter’s intelligence seems to have rubbed off on you.” He picked Addison up as if she weighed nothing. “Thank you, demon. It is good to have you back.”

  “Y
ou should blame her for that.” He nudged Keira.

  “I suppose I should.” The Prime looked at Keira and bowed his head. “Thank you for returning him to something moderately useful. And good luck with him.” If it was any other day, she would’ve fallen on her ass in shock—the Prime taking care of Addison, a super showing Keira respect, a vampire teasing a demon as if they were friends.

  “Okay,” she mumbled.

  Rhyse held Addison and went to the door. “Davyn, I would also be thankful if, the next time we see each other, you were wearing pants.”

  “Only because you asked so nicely.” After the vampire phased out, Davyn turned to Keira and took her face between his hands. “No one on earth will take better care of the vitae than Rhyse will, promise.”

  “Will we see them soon?”

  “Don’t worry about that,” he said, lifting her into his arms and taking her back to bed. “Trust me, the fun is just about to begin.”

  ~ Another intermission ~

  Want to know what Micah, Rhyse, Noah, Tempest, and others were up to while Davyn and Keira got into trouble?

  Beyond the Heights

  will be a series of FREE short stories and bonus scenes that runs concurrently with the main series. You’ll see what some of your favorite characters have been up to and get hints of where their journeys are headed. Later on, you’ll get to meet some completely new characters in their own standalone novellas.

  Sign up for my newsletter to get your FREE first look at Beyond the Heights.

  You’ll also be able to find out about new releases, book sales, and giveaways. Lots of good stuff going on, so check it out!

  Click here to get started: www.ReadLaurenS.com

  About Me

  I live in Northern California with two of the most amazing children that the world has ever seen. I read almost every genre so, naturally, my writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you'll find elements of other genres—fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women's literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn't kill us should make us laugh.

  Email me, like me on Facebook, follow me on twitter, visit my website, or meet me at Starbucks.

  Acknowledgments

  To my critique partners, Christina McKnight and Olivia Rivers: If you don’t know how much I cherish you by now, I’m sorry. You’re both brilliant, and I have no doubt that, very soon, the rest of the world will know how much.

  To my designer, Amanda: I thought I’d used up all my good karma when I found you. But since you’re still putting up with me, I guess I was wrong. What other reason could there be? Thank you.

  To the real Nadine: I’m sorry I killed your namesake off so quickly. I really am. She was incredibly strong, intensely loyal, and didn’t back down when she believed in something. Sound familiar? It should.

  To my readers and blogger friends: This year has been a trial. Your continued patience and encouragement has made me realize how much I love writing and what it would do to me if I didn’t have it in my life. More than that, it’s helped me realize what a gift this community is, the kindness, creativity, and humor you’re all so willing to share. You’re extraordinary people. Know that. Believe that. Live that. Because it’s true.

  ~ how to help all your favorite authors and make them eternally grateful ~

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  Lauren’s Other Titles

  Unseen

  Unearthed

  “What would you give up for freedom?”

  “Everything.”

  “Even if it wasn’t yours?”

  The Heights not only protects the secrecy of vampires, shifters, demons, angels, and other supernaturals, it protects the humans unaware of the world hidden within their own. This series is a mixture of urban fantasy and paranormal romance with multiple interlocking stories and characters and plot lines as well as different races of supernatural beings, each with their own cultures, hierarchy, and attributes. It’s not a series about only two people, or three, or even four. This is a world in which everyone will have to pick a side.

  Hyde Trilogy

  Hyde, an Urban Fantasy

  Jekyll, Book II

  Strange Case, Book III

  The Complete Hyde Series Box Set

  “...my favorite series of the year...a perfect blend of what makes a book go down in history.”

  — Ohhh My Shelves

  Dark and light, good and evil—mankind’s universal struggle.

  But what if you’re not a man? Or can never allow yourself to be kind?

  What about on those nights when you’re not quite human?

  Two people bonded by a curse of heredity and the manipulation of an unknown entity. When the truth leaves them nothing to hold onto, they will be forced into a partnership neither expected…or wanted. Because in life, who you trust is as important as who you are. And when you can't even trust yourself, sometimes the only person you can rely on is the last person on earth you should be falling for.

  All three full-length novels are intended for adults because of very naughty language, biting sarcasm, and descriptive love scenes. They are not a retelling of the classic story. Not even close.

  * * *

  Darker Water

  Once and Forever #1

  After another painful breakup, Laney Temple finally understands that love is a fairytale and sex rarely comes with a happy ending. She’s too busy for it right now anyway—she has a business to run, art to create, and candy to crush. Eventually she’ll be ready to switch from her plastic-or-silicon lover to a flesh-and-blood one. But before that happens, she needs to be sure she won't feel any of those annoying emotions that make her heart do things it wasn’t meant to do...

  Like break

  Carson Bennett is completely upfront about what he wants, and it has nothing to do with Laney’s heart. Her lips? Hell yeah. Other parts of her body? You better fucking believe it. But her heart? Nope, not even a little. Until it does...a lot. But having feelings for someone isn’t allowed. It’s the kind of thing you’re supposed to push down deep and cover up with one-night stands, sarcasm, and booze...

  Like secrets

  Two people want the same thing—a commitment to nothing more than great sex in a bunch of different positions. Simple. Enjoyable. A win-win. Problem is, those two people have families and fears and pain that spill into every moment of their lives, control what they do and who they are. And if either Carson or Laney can’t free themselves from the past, they’ll both be pulled under by it.

  DARKER WATER is a standalone contemporary romance (no cliffhanger). Each book in this series will twist a different symbol or theme from a fairytale to tell a story filled with life, laughter, and healing.

  * * *

  No Experience Required

  a Summer Rains novel

  After leaving the hippie commune she grew up on, Summer Rains set a modest goal for herself: earn enough money to live a normal life in the real world.

  Maybe she was aiming too high.

  When she wished she could get rid of the platinum-selling pop star who was stalking her, she didn’t mean ‘get rid of ’in the permanent sense. But someone did. And being a suspect isn’t the kind of attention she wants from the gorgeous-but-entirely-too-condescending detective investigating the case. As if that wasn’t bad enough, her only help comes from the man she’s been in love with since her hormones kicked in…and his beautiful girlfriend.

  Sounds like a good time to reassess her goals. ‘Living a normal life’ moves down the list, and ‘figuring out who the real murderer is before she gets thrown in jail’ moves all the way to the top.

  But crime-fighting wasn’t part of the home-schooling curriculum back on the commune. So solving the case is an on-the-job kind of thing. Along the way, she learns other skills—how to fold hospital corners, how to keep herself from becoming
the next victim, and how to deal with all the insanity of the ‘real world’.

  This novel is a fun comedic-mystery, similar in tone to the books of Janet Evanovich, Meg Cabot, and Stephanie Bond. Also available as an audiobook.

  * * *

  There will be more. Much more. More in The Heights, Once and Forever, Summer Rains, a spin-off of the Hyde series, an as-of-now untitled YA paranormal series, and a billion more projects all impatiently waiting their turn. So stay in touch to find out what’s next.