A Deadly Masquerade: A Vampire’s Thirst

by Michaels, A K

  Kimber nodded before laughing some more. The sound lifted his heart because she hadn’t looked happy for days.

  “Well, at least it will keep him busy for a while so why don’t we go for this walk and see if we can keep ourselves busy while we wait on Jana?”

  Kimber smiled up at him, her eyes twinkling like her usual self. “Yes, why don’t we?”

  Chapter 6

  “Flint! Oh, isn’t this gorgeous? I’m so happy to be back home, even if it’s just for a few days.” Kenzie whirled around in a circle, her arms outstretched and grinning madly.

  They’d walked for over an hour and were now on the opposite side of the lake, with the forest behind them and the water’s edge just beside them. It was indeed beautiful. The rain had stopped, and the sun had made a rare appearance, its rays glinting off Kenzie’s red highlights. When she twirled around, the light caught the emerald in her eyes and they glowed even brighter. She looked glorious and happy in that moment which made him feel like a dog.

  “I’m sorry, babe. I know I promised to bring you back sooner, but things got hectic with the baby and everything, and then when Victor started planning this Ball thing, well, time just got away from me.”

  He felt awful for breaking his word to her, but it was as he said. Time had flown by and before he knew it the days had turned into weeks…and then months. Kenzie hadn’t complained though. She hadn’t whined at him or brought it up other than to say she missed her grandmother, or Nan, as she called her.

  “I know that, please don’t feel bad. I’m aware that your job is to look after Victor and I’m okay with that. I just can’t believe that we’re here now and Nan isn’t. Trust her to go away the very time I’m here.”

  Kenzie shrugged and sighed, sadness in her eyes as she looked up at him.

  “Where is she again?”

  “A large Faery gathering in the Borders. I called her, but I didn’t say I was here because if I did then she’d want to know why, and I didn’t want to tell her that. Plus, if I did then she’d come rushing back and she loves those gatherings. She’s always a focal point of them because she’s one of the oldest and most powerful of our kind. Anyway, with what’s happening now I’m not sure I’d want her here.”

  Flint’s jaw tightened, his eyes flaring red and his left hand reaching for one of the razor-sharp blades hidden at his belt. The thought of his love being in danger caused anger to fire up inside him, and he wasn’t sure he could contain it for much longer. He needed an outlet and he thought he might go and find Ace or Thorne to do some sparring after their walk to burn off some of his pent-up energy.

  If he didn’t, he feared he might explode.

  “Hey, you need to calm down, Flint. I can see you getting all riled up. Again. And this is our time together. Remember? So just cool your jets, big boy, and relax.”

  Flint chuckled, shook his head and strode over to her, taking her into his arms and lifted her up so they were face to face. “Cool my jets, huh?”

  “Aye, you need to just calm it, or you’ll have a heart attack, and that’s not happening.” Kenzie snorted. “Oh right, you won’t but you know what I mean.”

  He leaned forward, his lips caressing hers in a soft kiss. A barely there meeting of their mouths, but as soon as they touched, passion ignited deep inside him. He knew she felt it too, her heart rate sped up, thundering in her chest, blood rushing through her body and her hands wound around his neck to tug him to her and hold him fiercely while she panted into his mouth. Her legs scrambled up his body, wrapping around his waist and his cock hardened so fast it was straining against his pants painfully.

  Shit. It was cold out here…the ground was still wet, and he couldn’t possibly continue this. Not now. Not here. Yet…he wasn’t sure he, or Kenzie could wait. Her moans fell down his throat as their teeth crashed together, tongues dancing in a frenzy when moments ago the last thing on his mind was…this.

  A twig snapped. A pad of paws. A snarl. And Flint dropped Kenzie to her feet and pushed her behind him.

  “What?” she looked dazed, her eyes glazed with lust and her lips plump and red from their passion.

  “Shh.” Flint held a finger to his lips, sending his senses out to locate the threat. And make no mistake, he knew there was a threat.

  None of Quinn’s Wolves would fucking snarl at them. Not a chance in hell would that happen. And he’d heard it.

  “Phone, now,” he hissed low, “we’ve got a problem. Tell Victor there’s strange Wolves here and we need help. Do it Kenzie.”

  Flint cocked his head to the side, listening and looking around, wondering if he could make it back with Kenzie in his arms. He was fast. Faster than mangy dogs. But…where were they? How many? Could they cut him and Kenzie off? Cut him down with her in his arms? If they did she’d be torn apart…fuck!

  That thought almost brought him to his knees. His legs shook, and his belly roiled. His skin grew cold and his fangs sprang free, fury engulfed him at the vision of Kenzie being mauled by a Wolf.

  “Not fucking happening.” He snarled aloud.

  “Victor, we’re on the opposite side of the lake. We’re in trouble. We need help. Wolves.”

  Kenzie whispered frantically but Flint noticed she did it without a waiver in her voice. His fierce Bloodmate sounded strong and sure as she relayed the message, and he’d never felt prouder than he did at that moment. He knew she was scared. He could feel it. Scent it. But she didn’t fucking sound it.

  He heard Victor’s curt reply. “Hang on! We’re coming.”

  His sensitive ears honed in on every sound around them, birds wings fluttering, small animals moving around in the forest, some not so small, and then he heard them…large paws padding through damp leaves on the ground. His head spun around, his eyes zeroing in on the location…two. Damn. One was behind them and one was just off to their side.

  They were blocked. Other than carrying on…away from help…they were stuck.

  Only one thing for it. Stay where they were and do what he did best; fight.

  “Kenzie, baby, we can’t go back the way we came, there’s one behind us and one to the side. So, we need to keep you safe. I need you to go to the edge of the water. The very edge. If they get by me then you go in. I know it’ll be cold. Very cold. But you’ll stand a chance in there…out here you won’t. Understand? Victor’s coming with help and I’ll do what I do best. You know what that is? Right?”

  Kenzie’s lip trembled, her eyes filled with tears and her hand reached up to run down the side of his face. “Yes, I do, but…”

  “No buts, Kenzie. It’s the only way. I can’t take you further away from help. That’s what they want me to do. They want me to take you further away and then they’ll attack. There’s two of them. One will attack me and while I’m dealing with him the other will go for you. I can’t have that. Not a fucking chance, babe. So, this is what we’re doing and that’s that.”

  “Flint! They’ll both come for you. Two Wolves.” Tears now slid from her eyes to fall down her cheeks.

  The sight would’ve undone most men, but he wasn’t most men. He was Flint. Hard as Flint. And those tears unleashed something deep inside him. Fury didn’t come close to naming what he felt. Rage didn’t come close. There was no name for what now ran through him at the thought of his Bloodmate being in danger from two dirty dogs. He’d show those fuckers they’d made the biggest mistake of their lives by even coming close to the most precious thing in the universe to him.

  “Kenzie! Do what I say. Now.” Flint’s tone was harsh before he leaned down, crushing his lips to hers in a searing hot kiss. “I love you, but you have to do this. Please stop arguing with me and just go.”

  Kenzie’s face ran with tears as she nodded, backing away from him slowly, she moved toward the water’s edge. Her eyes never left his and he allowed her that until her feet touched the lapping waves…then he turned back to the trees. His hands reached for his weapons, firstly searching for his special blades. The ones that we
re dipped in silver and which he knew would do the most damage to a Wolf. He’d use those first to, hopefully, slow one down so he could deal with the other. He only had three of those on him, so he had to use them wisely and ensure they hit their mark.

  Shit, he had to. Kenzie’s life depended on it.

  “Stay there, Kenzie. No matter what. You stay there and wait for Victor and if one of them gets by me then you go into the water. Okay, babe?”

  “I know!”

  Kenzie’s voice sounded more exasperated than anything which pleased him. If he’d heard fear, or worse…terror in it he was sure he’d have lost his shit. But she didn’t and that was good because he needed to focus. On keeping her alive. That was the main thing right now. Keep those damn Wolves away from his Bloodmate and hopefully kill them before they got anywhere near her.

  Chapter 7

  Flint cracked his neck, turning the blade in his right hand over and over and keeping the other two in his left, holding them loosely and ready for easy transfer once he’d released the primary one. Whenever the silver touched his skin sharp stings kept him alert assuring him they would inflict the damage they were meant for.

  He was adept with both hands so once he’d thrown one he could quickly hurl the other two in quick succession. Hopefully with all three hitting their mark within seconds and putting down, or at the very least, slowing down greatly one beast. After that he’d concentrate on the other, using his faster speed to close in on it, and at the same time pitching the rest of his weapons on the run. By the time he reached the Wolf, it should be injured and in a weakened state, enough for him to be able to take it down without too much effort.

  Or that was the plan.

  After he’d dealt with that one. He could return to the first and finish it off. Then he could get Kenzie and get the hell out of there and take her to safety as quickly as possible. That was all he cared about; getting Kenzie the hell out of there.

  A low growl from his left alerted him to the presence of the enemy and true enough, with a rustle of branches, a huge beast revealed itself. Dark as night, a black Wolf emerged from the trees, its head hung low as it prowled closer with its eyes locked on him and drool dropping from its open jaws. Jaws that revealed a mouth full of huge sharp teeth made for ripping apart its victims. Only he was no damn victim.

  He was a killer, and that fucker would find that out soon enough.

  With another snarl immediately in front of him, Flint’s head snapped forward and caught sight of another Wolf. This one was larger, dark brown, and definitely the more dangerous of the two. Its head was higher, proud, and its lips drew back in a vicious growl as it stalked forwards. He saw it moving slightly to catch a glimpse of Kenzie, then back to him. Hell no. It wasn’t getting anywhere near her. Not a fucking chance in hell.

  “Hey, you mangy mutt! You look like you’ve got fleas! You should go to the vet and get something for that…must be real uncomfortable for you with all the itching ‘n all.”

  Its head swung back to him, snarling and snapping. Good. That’s what he wanted. All attention on him and he just needed it to get a little closer to get it within throwing distance. Or rather, a better throwing distance. He wanted to ensure the silver blades hit the mark before he took off after the black one which was farther away and then he could return and finish this fucker off. He wished it was the other way around. This one was larger, deadlier, and nearer his love…but he had to work with the hand he’d been dealt. And he’d been in tighter corners than this and lived.

  Only difference was those times…it was his life on the line…this time he had Kenzie to worry about and that was a whole different ball game.

  His vision zeroed in on the damnable creature who dared to threaten her. Threaten them. Threaten their life together, their future, their fucking love. He saw the hatred in its eyes, heard its heart beat in its chest, watched as its paws hit the ground and drew it nearer to his killing zone. One, two, three…just a few more and he’d unleash his knives. Unleash the silver that would weaken it and put it down. Just long enough for him to deal with the other. Hopefully.

  There! Flint’s hand rose, flew through the air, and one blade was on its way. Transferring another to his right hand and both hands rose together to release two blades simultaneously. They hurled toward the beast as the first blade struck. A howl sprang free from it as the silver sank deep into it just a second before the other two collided with its hide. One crashed into its side and the other smashed right beside the first on the Wolf’s neck, embedding deep within its skin. Howls of pain and anger flew out from it before it collapsed to the ground, mewling like a damn kitten.

  Flint didn’t blink, turning and sprinting for the other who was now rushing toward him at full speed. His hands were already reaching for his smaller throwing knives that were along the back of his belt, tugging them free and throwing them as he ran…all four hit home and the Wolf howled each time. Then he reached down, first with his right hand and then with his left and retrieved his Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knives from his boots. Two double edged, seven and a half inch weapons in his hands, and he was careening toward the Wolf at breakneck speed.

  He knew what he wanted to do. Where he planned on striking with his blades. He just needed the fucking animal to keep on coming straight for him…that was all.

  And it did. Dumb damn dog.

  It ran right for him. Snarling, snapping, jaws readying to take a chunk out of him and if he were human it would break him in two. But he wasn’t.

  Closer and closer they drew to each other. He saw the hairs on its coat flattened against the body with the speed it ran toward him. The fangs in its mouth as it readied to sink into his flesh. The fury in its eyes because he’d injured its partner in crime. Flint took it all in and when they were mere inches apart, when the beast was almost upon him, he leaped into the air, tucked his feet up beneath him and sailed over it…reaching down and slashing, cutting, and wreaking bloody havoc with his best friends; his blades.

  Long wounds appeared on the body of the Wolf beneath him while he flew over it as his hands moved frantically with a speed only a Vampire could wield. Many large, ugly, bloody and deep injuries, including one where he severed the tendons on its hind legs which left it falling head over ass in a tumbled mess on the ground as it roared in agony. Flint landed deftly on his feet, spinning around and sprinting back to the downed beast. He didn’t falter, didn’t hesitate, instead he reached down to slash its throat in a final death blow before rising to look back to ensure Kenzie was still safe.

  That was when his heart stopped dead in his chest.

  Kenzie was still at the water’s edge, but she was by far no longer safe. The beast he’d put down with his silver daggers was up and heading her way…but she wasn’t aware of it. Her eyes were on him.

  “Kenzie! Baby! Get in the water! Go! Now!” Flint roared at the same time as his feet started to move, taking off back the way he’d just come, this time he ran as if his life depended on it…and it did.

  If anything happened to her he knew he’d die too. He’d wither up and cease to exist if that fucker took her from him. He had to get to her. Had to kill him. He. Just. Had. To.

  She waved at him. Waved! Hell. She couldn’t hear him. He was too far away. He sped up, his legs moving so fast that he was sure he had never run like this in his life before. Fear lapping inside him like never before. Yelling his warning over and over until finally she turned and saw the beast. But it was almost upon her. Within striking distance…and strike it did.

  Its massive paw flew out, claws extended and, and, and…Flint watched in horror as Kenzie screamed, her body flying back into the water, blood soaring into the air as those deadly talons connected with her body. A bellow of pure rage erupted from him as he sped even faster forward. Shouts from behind him echoing inside his brain but he couldn’t make sense of anything other than reaching the most precious person in the universe who was now floating away from him.

  He didn’t feel
the pain when the Wolf’s jaws snapped at his leg. Or when its claws raked across his back over and over while he fought to get into the water. He didn’t care about the dirty fucking animal. He only stopped long enough to turn and stab his blades into its eye sockets…deep inside, so far that he knew the long steel penetrated the brain and it finally dropped dead. Flint released his precious blades, turned and dived into the freezing dark depths of the water and struck out for the body that was floating farther and farther away…his precious Kenzie. She wasn’t moving, wasn’t swimming. She was dead in the water.

  Holy fuck. No. This couldn’t be happening. His brain couldn’t comprehend the sight before him as he swam with all his might toward the one thing in the world that he lived for. The one person that made living worthwhile. The one light in his darkness; his Bloodmate.

  “Flint! Flint!”

  He heard his name being called but he didn’t stop. Didn’t waver from his course even when he felt his arms drag. When his legs faltered and felt like lead weights…dragging him in the water and trying to wrench him down into the depths. When they stopped working he carried on, using his arms to pull him on and on. He had to reach her. Had to save her. He…had…to.

  “Kenzie…I’m…coming.”

  His eyes blurred, growing darker, darker…Kenzie’s body disappeared from view and finally his eyes closed and he fell beneath the waves. He’d failed.

  His heart broke into a million shards. Piercing his entire being at the thought of failing to protect his love. Of not being able to save her. Of not being there to…he gave up. This was as it should be. He couldn’t go on without her. He couldn’t carry on without seeing her smile. The twinkle in her gorgeous emerald eyes. The sun glint off her red highlights. Hear the tinkle in her laughter…he just couldn’t.

  Flint relaxed, allowing his body to sink down, down, down into the murky depths and hoped the end would come soon. Praying that he’d meet his beauty on the other side. Surely the Goddess that she loved so much would grant them that. Wouldn’t she? And in moments the darkness came…peace overtook him, and he welcomed it. He took it in and allowed it to wrap around him like Kenzie’s arms and smiled as it did so.