Warlords, Witches and Wolves: A Fantasy Realms Anthology

by Michelle Diener

  Vampire. Bodyguard. Failure.

  Her eyes burned, but she refused to cry anymore. When she’d started college she’d stopped hoping for a miracle and instead focused on getting her degree and finding a way to move on. But as long as she was living at home, she’d never be able to get past the disappointment in her parent’s eyes. Or that little bit of sadness when they left her at home and went into the forest for a run.

  She finished putting away her clothes—she wasn’t living out of a bag for the whole gathering—then grabbed her sunglasses. Once she wouldn’t have bothered, but her eyes were more sensitive to light with each passing year. By the time she was forty sunlight would burn her fast. By the time she was sixty she’d truly be a night creature.

  But her night vision had improved to the point where she didn’t need a torch in the dark. She was faster too. Able to outrun all of her pack, her soon to be old pack. Not that she’d spoken to her parents about her wish to move, but she was an adult it was about time she had an adventure and began living.

  She could’ve studied mortuary science anywhere—her parents had been horrified with her degree choice, and in truth she’d selected it as a joke because of what she was—but stayed home because her parents hadn’t wanted her to leave.

  So she’d helped with her siblings instead of finding her feet in a new pack and a new city. Instead of finding out who she was since she wasn’t a wolf. Now she chafed for more.

  Maybe being a vampire wasn’t all bad. She never had to worry about the shifting energy rising with the full moon. And a little blood hunger was nothing that a rare steak couldn’t sate. She lifted her chin and slipped on a smile as though she was perfectly happy with her new place on the edges of pack life.

  With luck there’d be a hot vampire to take her mind off things.

  She opened the cabin door and stepped out into the daylight. Despite her sunglasses, the sunlight slicing through the trees made her squint. She went down the steps but didn’t know which group to go talk to. Two female vampires that were sharing the same cabin nodded, but she’d be spending time with them later. She needed to widen her circle…or create a new one.

  On the other side of the central clearing were the girls—now young women—that she’d hung out with last time. They were wolves now and no doubt looking for a good match.

  Vampires weren’t meant to become involved with wolves. Not that wolves were particularly interested in getting with vampires anyway, no one wanted to spread the dodgy genes around no matter how useful vampires might be in defending the pack.

  She stepped onto the dirt and hesitated. This was like the first day of high school all over again.

  Five years ago she’d been with the other teens waiting on their first change and full of hormones and angst. That summer everything had been possible. Except that she’d failed to get the guy she liked to kiss her because he was three years older, a werewolf and not interested in an unshifted teen.

  No doubt he would be here, and no doubt he’d be sniffing around her former friends looking for a mate. Her cheeks heated at the thought of running into Owen again. She’d rather die than have him sneer and look away.

  She tilted her chin and tossed her hair like she didn’t care what anyone else thought.

  I am a vampire. I need the same haughty ‘can’t take me on’ attitude as the rest of them.

  Then, like a coward, she slinked over to the vampires she was sharing a cabin with and pretended that she knew her place and was thrilled about never growing fur.

  Owen nodded at whatever his cousin was saying, but he hadn’t been listening to a word Ben had said since he’d seen her walk out of the cabin. It had been five years since he’d seen her. Five years since she’d walked up to him and dared him to kiss her.

  If she’d been a wolf, he would’ve kissed her.

  However she’d been a seventeen-year-old unshifted pup and he hadn’t wanted to have his ass kicked by her pack and his for misbehaving. So he’d turned his attentions to those women who had shifted, but he hadn’t forgotten the spark in her eyes. Or the dare to break the rules.

  She wasn’t a pup now.

  Her dark hair gleamed in the sun as she walked over to a group of women. Vampires, unless he was very mistaken. He stared at her a little longer, willing her name to appear in his mind. Had he ever bothered to learn it? Or which pack she was from? Or had he just noticed her legs and her laugh. While the legs hadn’t changed, she didn’t seem to be smiling the way she once had.

  “Dude,” Ben snapped his fingers in Owen’s face. “Is your father going to find you a mate this time? Are you even listening?”

  Owen blinked and shook his head. Ben had found him almost as soon as he’d arrived. While they’d been close when they were younger, this newfound attentiveness put Owen’s back up. No doubt Ben had been told to watch him. “Yeah, probably.”

  And he had no intention of following that edict. If he found a mate, it would be one of his own choosing. His gaze flicked to her, and he tried not to be mesmerized by the way she walked.

  He wasn’t here to find a mate. He was here to find people who might be interested in forming a new pack because he wanted out of his father’s. He needed supporters before he could even ask for a territory. That bit would suck because finding a pack willing to cede land would be difficult, but he had a few in mind. Then there was the very practical problem of finding work in that area.

  He pushed that thought aside. One step at a time.

  Ben wouldn’t support him. He was happy blindly following rules and tradition. He had a nice comfy place in his pack and hung on every word Owen’s father said. Ben would not upset his life because Owen was done with his father’s obsession with clinging to archaic tradition. Other packs were more progressive. It should be simple to petition to move—like most people did—but his father wouldn’t allow Owen to leave and he’d been punished for even mentioning leaving.

  As second son he’d never lead the pack, but he was supposed to support his father and brother in everything. That support didn’t run both ways.

  “That’s all you’ve got to say?” Ben pressed.

  Owen glanced at Ben. Whatever he said would make its way back to his father. Ben spread gossip faster than butter melted in the sun. “Yeah.” He shrugged as though it meant nothing to him but stepped away trying to end the conversation. “Whatever my father wants.”

  The woman laughed, and the sun caught her hair making the black shimmer blue like raven wings. Why couldn’t he remember her name?

  Her smile fell away as fast as it had formed. Her head moved as though she was scanning the gathered wolves and vampires. Did her gaze settle on him or glide past?

  He needed to go over there and say hi. Would she be mortified? Or had she totally forgotten him? As much as that stung his ego that would make things easier. Funny how he could remember her, but not the women he’d hooked up with at the last gathering.

  Owen took another step away. He didn’t want to spend the whole gathering chatting to Ben, but he would have to watch his back and make sure he wasn’t followed. “I’ll see you round.”

  He had other people he should speak to, but no idea how he would broach the subject of forming his own pack. Or who’d actually support him, and who’d tell his father to win favor. It wasn’t only five wolves he needed support from, he also needed two vampires. All packs had at least two for protection.

  She turned and her gaze caught his. Her lips parted.

  Oh yeah. She remembered him. Damn.

  Now he was going to either have to ignore her and pretend he wasn’t interested, or he was going to have to admit she’d left such an impression that he couldn’t remember her name.

  Maybe he’d never asked. That sounded about right for him five years ago. Names didn’t matter when midnight runs ended up in human form on the forest floor. She hadn’t been running—a small mercy otherwise he might have made an ass of himself. This time he knew better. This year he needed names.
>
  And he’d start with hers.

  Owen nodded and walked over.

  A couple of the other women she’d been talking with noticed his approach. They regarded him coolly before turning away with a few muttered words not even his sharp hearing could pick up, before leaving her alone.

  He stopped a few feet away and grinned. “Hi. I think we met last time.”

  She nodded. “Possibly.”

  Was he here to say hi or was he hoping for something more? That was part of the fun of the gathering. It was a chance to meet people and find a mate. Not that he was here to do that. He couldn’t have a mate if he didn’t have land. And he’d be damned before he accepted whoever his father picked out just because it was strategic.

  “I’m Macey.” She offered her hand as though they’d never spoken.

  He clasped her hand. Her skin was warm, but she didn’t smell of wolf the way he’d expected. There was no earth and musk, instead her skin smelled of hot steel and honey. “Owen. I think I owe you a kiss.”

  A smile flickered across her face, before melting into something sadder.

  It was only then, as her fingers slid away from his, that he realized she’d been hanging around with vampires not because they were her friends but because she was one. That was why she didn’t smell like a wolf. He should let go of her hand and make a polite excuse to leave.

  There were rules about vampires and wolves. Especially in his pack. Vampires were lesser, failed wolves, that existed to serve the pack, they were not to be dated.

  “That was a long time ago. Things have changed,” Macey said with a tight voice.

  And some things hadn’t. She’d never managed a shift. He didn’t want to be rude and brush her off again, but this attraction was a dangerous thing for a man in his situation.

  He glanced over his shoulder trying to pinpoint his cousin, or worse his brother. But didn’t see either. “Which pack are you with?”

  Her lips moved before any sound came out. “Green River. Quite a bit south. You?”

  “Portland.” His father controlled an extensive area and an equally large number of wolves and vampires. But his father would never give up any territory so his second son could have his own pack. Owen had spent the last three years pressing boundaries and testing ideas, only to be rebuffed each time.

  The silence formed again.

  “I should probably go.” She brushed her dark curls off her face.

  “Wait.” Now what was he going to say? He shouldn’t have said anything, he should let her go and forget this reckless lust.

  Macey tilted her head. “What, you want to hang out later? Go for a midnight run?” her lips twisted into a bitter knot. She stepped closer, her teeth lengthening. “I’m not a wolf.”

  He swallowed hard as his heart rate kicked up. If she’d been pretty before, now she was breathtaking—life-taking. He wanted to run with her even though it was the wrong thing to do.

  “I know.” His father would be furious if he heard tales of his son spending time with vampires. Right now he didn’t care that Macey wasn’t a wolf. That she wasn’t might even be part of the allure. He’d never kissed a vampire, much less run with one. “That doesn’t mean we can’t talk, and I’ve heard that vampires can really run.”

  She pressed her lips together and tilted her chin as though considering him and finding him unworthy. He wished he could see her eyes behind her sunglasses. “You wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

  “I’d be willing to try.”

  Chapter 2

  Macey spent the rest of the day meeting the other vampires and getting put into a training group. While the vampires of her pack had taken her out on patrol a few times—which had felt like they were looking for trouble—and shown her what to eat to keep the blood hunger at bay, that was all they’d been able to do until she passed vampire training at the gathering. Here, they seemed to take training very seriously.

  There was even a roster for who’d patrol the campgrounds to make sure humans didn’t intrude. For the first week, none of the new vampires were on the list. After that they were on with a partner, then in the last week they had full responsibility. Already, she wasn’t looking forward to any of this.

  Around her the new vampires buzzed with anticipation, eager to learn how to fight and guard their pack. She could barely raise enough fake enthusiasm to pass as happy to be here and do her part. Did no one here care that they were rejects?

  That the wolves saw them as lesser?

  She’d seen the confusion in Owen’s eyes when he’d realized. He’d been super nice about it, but then she wouldn’t have expected anything less. He’d been nothing but polite when she’d been an idiot pup panting after him. He was a true gentleman, and a wolf. And she’d never see him again, except in passing. She sighed, if she wanted to have any fun this gathering, she’d have to look for it among the other vampires.

  She scanned the vampires gathered in the hall. Some she knew from when she was younger—they too had turned out to be faulty wolves—and some she recognized from previous gatherings. But none of them made her pulse beat even the tiniest bit faster.

  She wrote her schedule into the small notebook she’d carried in her jeans. No cell phones were allowed in the camp. Though she was sure pack leaders had them, in case of emergencies. Among the wolves there’d be several doctors and nurses and paramedics, probably a few police officers and firefighters too. Very few wolves had rural jobs anymore, like timber cutting. Many packs were now based in a city, only the staunch traditionalists clung to the rural land. Her family lived in town, like the rest of the pack but the pack area included a nice chunk of forest suitable for running.

  With the schedules noted and the welcome done they could do their own thing for the rest of the day, with a reminder that failure to attend the required classes would result in punishment.

  Talia grabbed her arm. “Exciting!”

  Macey frowned. “Do the packs even need us?”

  Back in the day when people hunted them, sure. A human with preternatural speed and power was handy in protecting the wolves. But humans had forgotten they existed.

  The guy in front of them stopped, turned, and scowled. “Of course they do, besides who would abandon their family?”

  Was she abandoning them in wanting to be elsewhere? Humans moved away from their families all the time. She had friends who had moved states to go to college and who had no intention of returning home. They saw life as an adventure. Vampire’s also seemed to move packs more freely. It was only wolves that were expected to stay and never leave.

  There was more to the world than the Green River pack. And since she wasn’t a wolf, maybe she could live a little more.

  “I was just wondering about practicalities.” She shrugged; sure she was already failing at being a guard.

  “That’s what you’ll learn.” He glanced at her and Talia and shook his head. “Newbies.” Then he stalked away.

  What was up his ass?

  “That was Ajax.” Talia whispered as though not wanting to draw his attention.

  The name seemed familiar, but Macey wasn’t sure why she should know it.

  Talia bumped her arm. “Eldest son of a pack leader.”

  “Ouch.” To have grown up expecting to be a leader only to end up a vampire. She searched for him again, but the bearded man was gone. No doubt to do some serious scowling.

  “It get’s worse. No one in his pack since his father has fully turned. Some are saying it’s a curse.”

  “Or bad genes.” Or bad luck.

  “And now his father is dead…” Talia left the words hanging.

  The other packs would declare his pack dead because there was no leader to take over. “They should just let vampires lead.”

  “What? A whole pack of vampires?” Her eyebrows pinched together.

  It didn’t sound too bad. No wolves to sneer. No pitying glances. No one to make demands. It would just be a place where vampires could gather. She shrugged li
ke it was a dumb idea. “Yeah, maybe not.”

  Talia lead her toward some other young vampires, who despite their youth were standing in the shade instead of making the most of the sun. “While the wolves are having their run tonight, some of us are also running, separately of course.”

  “What do you mean?” The run was for wolves to be wild and wolfy.

  “They aren’t the only ones who like to have fun and get the blood up.” She leaned in closer. “If you like that kind of fun. Not everyone does. Some like to be tame and wait for their mate.”

  Even vampires could mate and marry, but they weren’t supposed to mix with wolves. If that had been the rule forever, then why hadn’t the wolves bred out the bad vampire genes? For a half a second, she regretted choosing the dead over genetics. She could’ve solved the werewolf/vampire problem. Though no lab would give her funding, and no one wanted the government getting their hands on that kind of research.

  “I’m not waiting.” She’d dated a few humans while at college to see what it was like to be human, since she no longer had to worry about upholding the wolf lineage. Vampires could date humans, as long as they never revealed the secret. But she’d stopped after the pulse in her boyfriend’s neck became far too tempting. A hickey was one thing, a bite was something else. “I didn’t realize that we ran too.”

  Talia smiled. “Of course we do. Why should they have all the fun?”

  By dusk the wolves were already out in the forest, and running on four feet, when the vampires gathered out the front of the meals hut. As expected, it was only the younger vampires. Some of the older ones were on patrol, others were catching up with friends both wolf and vampire. Discussing important things that effected the safety of all, and what rules needed reviewing. There would be several meetings that all adults were expected to attend over the three weeks, that covered things like moves, matings, and disputes. The politics of keeping everyone happy and safe.