by Lexi C. Foss
“I knew she was hiding here somewhere,” he growled in a voice as smooth as honey.
The boys’ shoulders all stiffened as they saw me.
“Who do we have here?” I asked in a brave voice.
Another of the visitors sniffed the air. “And you fucked her. All of you. Her smell’s all over you. This is quite the predicament we have here. The queen is going to be most upset that her three chosen have betrayed her like this.”
“We’re not her chosen,” Noah hissed.
“Tell that to the queen.”
“When she finds out about this, she’ll come for you,” a blond vampire said, his lips curling with delight at the thought.
“Get out,” Ryan spat out with a growl.
“We’ll be seeing you,” the ebony-skinned vampire purred as he turned to leave, deliberately flashing us his back like my men weren’t dangerous predators who could attack at any time.
The rest of them filed out after him, until it was just the four of us left standing in the entryway.
“She’ll come?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“She will,” Ryan confirmed. “Who knows when, but eventually, she’ll come.”
“Good,” I murmured, and the three of them looked at me incredulously.
“I think I owe her a little payback,” I told them with a grin.
Their faces lit up at the savage thirst in my voice.
They thought I was kidding. But no one was taking them from me again. Taking the loves of my life was the worst thing that anyone had done to me.
Eventually, my curse would kick in. And I would help it seek vengeance anyway I could.
Ryan scooped me up again, and I giggled as he ran down the hallway, the groans of annoyance of the other two following close behind.
I tucked thoughts of the queen away as Ryan burst into a bedroom and my clothes flew off.
No bitch queen was going to take them away from me. The three of them were mine.
Always.
Epilogue
Wyatt
The Day of the Accident
I tapped out a beat on my leg as I stared out the window. I was trying to distract myself from the fact that Olivia wasn’t answering her phone. I’d been calling for the last hour in hopes I could convince her to go to the show tonight.
"Any luck?" I finally asked Noah who was fiddling with his phone in the front passenger seat. I knew he'd been trying to call her too.
He grunted and I rolled my eyes.
"What's with the attitude, fucker?" I growled, sick of the cold shoulder he'd been giving me every time I'd seen him since lunch.
Silence. But I could feel the tension rolling off of him. Rolling off both of them come to think of it.
"You have something to say obviously. By all means, say it."
Noah looked at me and glared. "Why do you even care if Olivia comes tonight? Won't you have some other piece of ass to keep you busy there?"
My eyes widened at the venom in his tone.
"What are you talking about?"
"Tits McGee from the cheerleading squad...does that ring any bells?" snarled Ryan as he drove. He glared at me through the rearview mirror.
It took me a second to figure out what they were talking about. "Brittany?" I asked in disbelief. At least I think her name was Brittany.
"Olivia saw her, you know. She was devastated. That's why she's not coming tonight. I don't even know why we're coming tonight, asshole." Noah would have hit me if he weren't in the front seat.
I just gaped at them, I'm sure resembling some sort of asinine fish. "Dude. Nothing happened," I practically yelled at them. I checked my phone, wondering if I could make it back home to fix things with Olivia before the show.
Fuck, there was no way.
"Look, the gossip's been getting bad. I know you two idiots somehow manage to ignore it, but the way we act around Olivia hasn't gone unnoticed. Everyone's been talking about the fact that she must be fucking us all."
"I wish," muttered Ryan.
I ignored him. I couldn't wait to get inside of Olivia. But that was beside the point.
"I thought that if I pretended to be friendly with someone else, it would take the heat off of her."
"You didn't think you should explain that to Olivia first?" Noah asked incredulously. "You should have seen her face, man. I've never seen her like that."
"It was kind of a spur of the moment thing," I muttered, frustrated. "There was a whole group of guys talking about it, wondering if they could "get her to spread her legs for them too." I just freaked."
Noah sighed. "You have to make it up to her. I've heard all the rumors too. But I'd rather people know she was ours than hurt her."
I groaned, desperation slicing through my skin to make things right with Olivia.
Just then the jeep swerved.
"Fuck," Ryan yelled.
"What was that?" barked Noah.
Before Ryan could even answer something hit the side of the jeep, jarring us so hard that the jeep flipped over on its side.
The airbags popped open, slamming me to the side as glass shattered around us.
There was an eerie silence afterwards. The world was spinning around me and I could taste blood in my mouth. I heard groans in the front seat and I faintly registered relief that my two brothers were at least alive.
There was smoke pouring from the front of the Jeep and the smoke, combined with the strange chemical scent wafting from the airbags was making me nauseous.
Or that could have been because of how bad my head hurt.
Noah and Ryan began to try and fumble their way out of their seatbelts and out of the Jeep. Taking a deep breath, I tried to follow them. Sharp stabbing pain shot through me as I moved to try and unbuckle my seatbelt.
Looking down I gasped when I saw a piece of metal protruding out of my side.
Fuck.
Gritting my teeth I hurried to undo my seatbelt. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done getting out of the Jeep.
But somehow I did it.
I laid on the street, my chest heaving as I tried to breathe through the pain. My hands were like hamburger from dragging myself across the glass. I didn’t think there was anything on my body that didn’t hurt.
Ryan and Noah crawled up beside me.
"Shit, what happened?" asked Noah, a grimace on his face as he turned to look at Ryan.
"I don't know. Something fast just hit us out of nowhere. It wasn't a car,” Ryan explained, bewildered.
"We need to call the police."
The world was starting to get dim around me. Blood was pouring out of my wound. Olivia was going to freak out when she heard about this.
Fuck.
“Hello boys,” a voice like silk purred from nearby just then, startling me.
I turned to look at who had spoke, hoping they could help, but my eyes weren't working. All I saw was a murky form of someone standing a few feet away.
"Call the-" I tried to say. But I was cut off by a sudden sharp stabbing prick in my neck...
The last thing I heard was a cold, cruel, feminine laugh.
And then everything went black.
About C.R. Jane
A Texas girl living in Utah now, I'm a wife, mother, lawyer, and now author. My stories have been floating around in my head for years, and it has been a relief to finally get them down on paper. I’m a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and I primarily listen to Beyonce and Taylor Swift…don’t lie and say you don’t too.
My love of reading started probably when I was three and with a faster than normal ability to read, I’ve devoured hundreds of thousands of books in my life. It only made sense that I would start to create my own worlds since I was always getting lost in others’. I like heroines who have to grow in order to become badasses, happy endings, and swoon-worthy, devoted, (and hot) male characters. If this sounds like you, I’m pretty sure we’ll be friends. I’m so glad to have you on my team…check out the links below for ways to hang out with
me and more of my books you can read!
Visit my Facebook page to get updates.
Visit my Amazon Author page.
Visit my Website.
Sign up for my newsletter to stay updated on new releases, find out random facts about me, and get access to different points of view from my characters.
Other Books by C.R. Jane
The Fated Wings Series
First Impressions
Forgotten Specters
The Fallen One (a Fated Wings Novella)
Forbidden Queens
Frightful Beginnings (a Fated Wings Short Story)
Faded Realms
Faithless Dreams
Fabled Kingdoms
The Rock God (a Fated Wings Novella)
The Timeless Affection Series
Lamented Pasts
Lost Passions
The Pack Queen Series
Queen of the Thieves (2020)
The Sounds of Us Contemporary Series (complete series)
Remember Us This Way
Remember You This Way
Remember Me This Way
Broken Hearts Academy Series (complete duet)
Heartbreak Prince
Heartbreak Lover
Academy of Souls Co-write with Mila Young (complete series)
School of Broken Souls
School of Broken Hearts
School of Broken Dreams
School of Broken Wings
Fallen World Series Co-write with Mila Young (complete series)
Bound
Broken
Betrayed
Belong
Thief of Hearts Co-write with Mila Young
Siren Condemned
Siren Sacrificed
Siren Awakened
Stupid Boys Series Co-write with Rebecca Royce
Stupid Boys
Dumb Girl
Crazy Love
Breathe Me Duet Co-write with Ivy Fox (complete duet)
Breathe Me
Breathe You
Sanguine Soul
By Claire Marta
Contents
Introduction
Prologue
1. Yukie
2. Dante
3. Yukie
4. Dante
5. Yukie
6. Dante
7. Yukie
8. Dante
9. Yukie
10. Dante
11. Yukie
12. Dante
13. Yukie
14. Dante
15. Yukie
16. Dante
17. Yukie
18. Dante
19. Yukie
20. Dante
21. Yukie
Epilogue
Introduction
The ghost.
That’s the name they whisper just before they die.
Trained from birth to kill vampires, my reputation precedes me.
Dante Medici, Vampire King of Rome, possesses no morals, no restraint, and no qualms in anything he does.
He’s my next assignment. It should have been a breeze until I found myself trapped reliving the same two days over and over. Someone's playing games, pulling strings, and orchestrating our movements at a whim.
Thrown together, I can’t let Dante sink his claws into me. He's a different kind of danger than I’m used to. Seductive, ruthless nothing stands in the way of what he wants.
Trusting him could cost me everything.
Prologue
A high-pitched scream emanates from behind the closed door at the end of the corridor only to be cut short as quickly as it started. Eyes wide, I stare in its direction, my stomach twisting in knots of fear. I’m used to the sounds of pain. It’s something I live with every day here in Hell. The fact I know its owner only solidifies my sense of dread.
Aiya is failing her test.
My other sister, Kiko, has already passed hers. Seeing her leave the exam room limping, bloodied with a haunted look in her eyes has sent my nerves rocketing.
“Yukie, you're up next.”
Jolting at the harsh voice, I slip from my chair and walk toward the door willing my legs not to shake. My back aches with my movements, still bleeding from the fresh lashes from the whip of one of my instructors. All I did was look at him the wrong way, and he took pleasure in punishing me. Every time he opens his mouth, it’s to chastise me for something or other. I’m sure he wants me to fail. I’ve seen the looks he gives me and my sisters. He thinks we’re freaks. Ten years old and I’ve learned my place quickly in this world. The strong survive, and the weak die. Everything I’ve been working for cumulates in this short span of time. Every shameful and torturous moment will either be for everything or nothing. My destiny was written a long time ago. I’ll either leave this room victorious or not at all.
My steps falter as my sister’s mentor emerges from the door, cursing under his breath, his monstrous expression tight with anger and disappointment. There’s no sign of Aiya. She’s never far from his side, trailing after him like a little whipped dog. Whatever her fate, I’ll learn more when I enter. Hiding my anxiety, I make my way to the figure waiting for me.
“Remember to focus,” Julian instructs at the threshold. “Don’t let your guard slip. Make me proud.”
Mane of wild sandy hair, brown, soulful eyes stare back at me. He hasn’t been with me long. Six months as my personal mentor. He’s not like the other demons here. Instead of looking at me in loathing and disgust, his gaze fills me with confidence and a craving to please him. The attention he gives me fills the empty spaces inside me.
Taking the wooden stake from his hand, I curl my fingers around the strength of his own briefly. The callouses don’t bother me. His touch is something I’ve grown accustomed to over time. I know he’ll be watching my every movement, judging me and the training he’s provided. His views on how I should conduct myself have always been rigid. He’s been proud of my progress. The praise he’s given me has bolstered my confidence. I hold back my other questions. Now is not the time or place. He’s always disapproved of my disobedience and inquisitive mind.
“I won’t fail you,” I tell him, stepping inside.
The light is steeped in shadows and silence. Goosebumps raising over my flesh, every sense I have tells me I’m not alone. Keeping my breathing slow and even, I walk cautiously into the center of the room.
What’s left of Aiya lies in a shredded pile on the blood slicked floor. A face that looks exactly like mine stares up at me with empty dead eyes. There’s no time to mourn her loss. I force myself to feel nothing at her demise. No one else here will care. Later when I’m alone, the emotion will hit me, if I don’t end up joining her first.
I know the vampire will have already scented my blood. My chance at stealth has been deliberately ruined by my instructor. No doubt, it was on purpose. He probably doesn’t want me to leave this room alive. Fingers tightening around the stake in my hand, I scan the dimness for any signs of movement.
I can’t fail.
One slip and I’m dead, too.
A tall figure emerges. Skin as pale as moonlight, blue eyes glow brightly in the dark. The color throws off my concentration as I’m used to blood red. The vampire hisses, baring its fangs. No chain keeps it contained like when we usually practice. It's free and more dangerous than I’ve ever had to face before.
My hesitation costs me. Before I can move, he’s on me in a blur, tossing me through the air. Back hitting the wall, a pained gasp leaves my lips. Scrambling up, I dive for the stake that’s fallen from my hand. Claws rake my spine, digging into the whip marks, but somehow, I manage to swallow my scream before it escapes my throat. No weakness. One mistake and it will cost me my life.
Using my legs, I propel myself backward, ramming him into the wall. The hand trying to fist my hair is removed. Before he can grab at me again, I twist gracefully to face him. Fangs bared, he grapples for the weapon in my hand. Anger burns in his gaze. Bloodlust. Like all the vampires they bring here, he�
�d more than likely been half starved.
Bringing my knee up, I power into his balls. Shock explodes across his expression, his focus shifting to his crotch. Sweeping his legs out from under him, I leap onto his chest riding him down. The bastard surprises me by rolling us in mid-air. Breath leaving my lungs in a grunt as his full weight hits my smaller body, I find myself crushed beneath him.
His snarl of victory is chilling. The look on his pale face says it all. I’m nothing but prey. Food. He’s won his freedom.
Something uncoils, awakening in my bones. Every fiber of my being is rocked by the roar that explodes from my lips. I’ve never felt such fury before. A tempest born in shadows and darkness, shattering my fear. Digging my fingernails into his chest, I slash away until warm sticky blood coats my hands, its flow turning into a gush. Teeth snapping at my throat, I bring my elbow up breaking his nose.
Strength I never realized I had courses through me. Flipping the vampire, I grab the stake from where it's fallen beside us and ram it through his heart with enough force to pierce it.
Mouth gaping, the vampire falls limp, its skin blackening. It caves inward crumbling to powder so fine it becomes dust in the breeze.
Releasing a breath, I’m buzzing from the adrenaline, a sweet pleasured-filled high I’ve come to expect straight after a kill. The beast that’s awoken inside me stretches her muscles, sniffing at the air. Whatever it is, it has just saved me from certain death.