Resurrected

by Kim Faulks

  With a snarl I stumbled, grasping hold of the wrist and bringing it to my mouth. Power rippled through me. I lapped the slick fluid, smearing crimson along pale skin, and then turned to look over my shoulder.

  Rurik grasped his neck, and dark, viscous fluid trickled between his fingers. He flashed me a look of fear and anger.

  “Over here, Nova,” Kol suggested, a willing sacrifice. “Take all you want.”

  The metallic scent teased, drawing me away from the ancient blood behind me. I was an animal…single-minded and cruel. The thought reached deeper than hunger, deeper than need.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered, unable to patch this cracked dam. “I’m so sorry.”

  Need spilled, and the more I tried to stem the flow, more cracks broke through. Kol’s arm blurred, hate and hunger welling in the back of my throat. I was helpless to stop it. The hate filled my belly. I grasped Kol’s arm and yanked, dragging him to the floor.

  He hit the ground with a thud and the bitter stench of fear filled the room. There was nowhere to go…not for him—and not for me as I straddled his thighs and inched forward. He leaned back, turning his head to the side as I advanced.

  Kol

  Nova released me. I grasped the bite at my neck as she straightened.

  “Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Rurik barked. My maker was no longer the most powerful vampire in my coven.

  My top lip curled. My hiss filled the air. “Of all the fucking nights—why come here tonight?”

  My fingers brushed Nova’s back. She stiffened and drew away from my touch. The sight wounded me more than any stake. “Nova, it’s okay, love. Talk to me.”

  The slow, constant tick of the old Grandfather clock boomed inside the silent house. I could feel Rurik’s and Angelique’s eyes on me…waiting for answers I couldn’t give, until the human woman screamed.

  The sound pierced my head. I wrenched my gaze to the four stunned expressions and growled, “Wipe their memories and get them the fuck out of my house!”

  Angelique was the first to move, dragging the banshee from the room. One yank to her arm and the mortal whipped around to face the vampire. Angelique’s words were low, controlling, leaving nothing to chance as she wiped the entire day clean from their minds, along with this bloody, violent intervention.

  “It’s cool man,” the male muttered as Angelique turned for him. “I won’t say anything. Not a damn word.”

  I shook my head, but it was Rurik who answered, “Sorry Chris, can’t take that chance.”

  If there were one thing groupies like them hated, it was the big black hole of nothing they woke with the next day. The absence of memories made them feel weak and lonely.

  I turned to the woman I loved. Nova’s spine bowed as she clutched her knees. She was thinner than before her death, emaciated almost. Her bones were knots under her shirt. Even her hair had lost its shine.

  My blood wasn’t enough for her. She needed more.

  A wounded moan escaped her. She was starving. Jesus, no wonder she attacked Rurik. She was doing what any starving animal would do—go for the most nutrients.

  Angelique came back into the house and closed the door. I’d never felt silence like this moment—this emptiness was worse than death—it was worse than loneliness.

  Rurik hissed. “Does someone want to explain to me what the fuck just happened?”

  “I thought it was pretty obvious,” I bit back. “She’s different—”

  Doubt filled me. If my maker couldn’t accept that she drank the blood of her own kind, then how could he handle the idea of her power of resurrection?

  The urge to protect reared deeper than any hurt, any longing. Even if he could understand, I wouldn’t take that risk, not with her—not for anyone. With a careful voice, I answered, “She can’t consume human blood.”

  “What do you mean she can’t consume it? She seemed to drink my damn blood just fine.” He climbed to his feet.

  I stared at the crimson line between his fingers as he released his neck. The gaping edges of his wound was already flattening, racing to knit together.

  “I never wanted this…this constant hunger. This constant ache,” Nova said. “I never asked for any of this, but it’s not like I haven’t tried. I can’t…can’t keep human blood down.”

  Rurik dropped his hand to pierce me with a panicked gaze. “So, she’s been feeding from you all this time?”

  “One…one time,” Nova answered. “And even that was bad enough. I almost drained him dry.”

  “I thought it was the sex,” My maker confessed. “When I heard about the scene at The Vein, I thought it was because, well, because you two were in love and in the midst of doing what young lovers do, you pushed yourself too hard.”

  A blush crept along Nova’s cheeks. She turned away.

  “I still don’t understand. Why come after me? You basically shoved Kol out of the way and strode past Angelique. Why?”

  “Because your blood is stronger,” I answered. “The older the vampire the more potent the blood. She wanted you more.”

  Nova’s gaze snapped toward me, filling me with a pained expression.

  “Oh, I’m going to have to…” He took a step toward her, and then another. Something softened in his features, and I saw the same man who strode into my room, saving me from those who called me family all those years ago. “Then come, child. Come and take my vein.”

  Nova trembled and shook. I waited for sense to come to her…waited for her to understand this wasn’t something she could ignore. “I can’t, not from your neck.”

  “Then my wrist.” Rurik eyed me, waiting for the slow nod of acknowledgement before he reached for his cuff. “You’re stronger than I expected.”

  “A hunter of hunters,” whispered Angelique. “And here we were coming to surprise you. Instead, you surprised the hell out of us.”

  Rurik reached for her head with one hand while he extended his wrist. He softly stroked her head, his way of telling her he trusted her.

  Nova reached for his hand, bringing it to her mouth. Her lips brushed his skin before the bite. Quiet sucking sounds reached me.

  “That’s actually…Oh....” My maker shuddered and dropped his head backwards. The white tips of his fangs drew out over his lips as Nova worked his wrist. “That’s actually quite nice.”

  The sight was brutal, like stepping into the path of a semi. This was what she wanted…no, this was what she needed.

  “I’m sorry, Kol.” Rurik’s husky voice was an acid bath as he said, “If I’d known.”

  I couldn’t speak, couldn’t force the fist in my throat down enough to make the sound.

  “The council has already passed the merger.” He turned his head. Brown eyes glistened with something far too close to lust. “You now own the Holland line.”

  “Son of a bitch,” I spat, crossing the room to grasp his collar, tearing his hand from the back of her head. He was my maker…he was my friend. But in this moment all those things blurred. “You put me up for this?”

  Nova nuzzled harder at his wrist and I was trapped between her needs and her survival. I couldn’t leave her to go to Seattle…

  And if I took her. What then?

  “Members of his line were breaking away from tradition. They wanted to branch out on their line, and name his second-in-command the new Sire.”

  “Fuck tradition,” I said, shoving him free from my hold. “And fuck you. Why would I walk into the lion’s den?”

  “Better to know where the lion sleeps, don’t you think? We can make this work. No harm will come to you or Nova. On my honor, we’ll help. Angelique and I are…” He cleared his throat. “Involved.”

  Nova broke away from his wrist. Blood smeared the corners of her mouth. She shoved herself from the floor to stand. “There’s no getting away from this, is there?”

  “No, I’m afraid not. The Holland Holdings are quite substantial. This merger will make Kol one of the richest and most powerful vampi
res alive.”

  “And Nova, where does that leave her? I can’t very well walk in there knowing she can—”

  “Knowing she can what, Kol?” Angelique’s question hung in the air.

  But it was Nova’s gaze I held.

  Knowing she was born with the gift of the sun, the gift of resurrection…

  But for me, she would exchange it for the night…

  Afterword

  I hope you enjoyed this story. If you have the time a review would mean the world. I couldn’t write these stories without your support, so thank you for all the kind words and all the recommendations.

  About the Author

  I’m an Aussie girl who grew up in the bush and one day found a book in the library… a book that changed my world,

  Bram Stokers, Dracula.

  And I’ve been searching for that magic ever since.

  Find out more at my website and join my mail list click on the link below to take you to Haunting Fiction and grab a copy of my dark werewolf romance story—Savage.

  Connect with me here

  www.hauntingfiction.com/

  authorkimfaulks@netspace.net.au