Blood Bred Series Book 1: Gift Of Love

by JennaKay Francis

  Celd was atop Rhiannon, holding her down with his magic while he made use of her body as if it were no more than an inanimate object. Jaeger could see the rage and determination on Rhiannon's face as she tried to break free of the Vector's magic by using her own. Jaeger knew what cost she would pay for her effort, and an idea suddenly formed in his mind.

  Quickly, he shifted once again; this time to a small brown spider he prayed would be unnoticed. It took him only a moment to cover the distance between himself and Rhiannon. As he hoped, Celd was far too involved in his own pleasures to see him. Rhiannon, however, shifted her gaze, obviously drawn to Jaeger's presence by the strange bond she shared with him.

  He crawled forward, seeking shelter in her long tresses that were splayed out on the rock. It took him only a second to reach her skin. Without hesitation, he bit, taking in her iron-rich blood. At once, his energy soared, sending pulses of power racing through him. He backed away, giving himself enough distance to do what he knew he must.

  The tiny spider body grew, elongated, and sprouted clawed forearms, strong hind legs, and powerful wings. His head reared upward, his mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, his throat filled with flame and venom. Celd looked up, a gasp escaping him as he scrambled to his feet. For a second, sheer panic crossed his face. It was the second Jaeger needed.

  He swept outward with one heavy, clawed arm, raking spiky nails across the Vector's bare chest. Celd stared down as blood spurted from four long gashes. Jaeger didn't wait for him to recover from his shock. He opened his mouth and sent out a stream of fire that swept Celd up in its embrace. The Vector staggered backward, throwing up one arm to shield his face. Jaeger sensed Celd's magic snapping into place, protecting him from, if not exquisite pain, at least death.

  With one swift motion, Jaeger snatched Rhiannon from the ground, along with her blanket and the pack, and tucked her safely into one bent arm, then spun and roared from the cave.

  The sunlight hit him full in the face, sending agony ripping through his body. Still, he took to the air, his great wings beating the earth into a swirling mass of dirt and debris. Rhiannon's cry echoed against the rocks as Jaeger turned to the mountaintops and the shadows they created with their peaks.

  It took him only moments to descend into the gloom, away from the sun, but those moments took their toll. His dragon hide sizzled with blisters, his wings faltered in pain. Still, he flew on, moving as far away from Celd as he could. Finally, he knew he had to stop. He searched out a place he could land that would afford him the darkness he so desperately needed. Finding it at last, he sat down, gently lowering Rhiannon to the ground, then collapsed before her, returning to his Vector form.

  Rhiannon grabbed him under the arms and struggled to drag him into the first dark crevice she could find. He lay, shivering, and moaning, both freezing cold and sweating from his numerous burns. Rhiannon touched him gently, tears streaming down her face. He reached up and took her hand in his.

  "I'm sorry,” he managed, before blackness claimed him.

  He woke to the sounds of a crackling fire and the smell of mint. Rhiannon hovered over him, her gentle hands placing cooling gel on his burns. His head swam with dizziness, his gut with nausea, and he managed only a small smile before allowing darkness to claim him once more.

  The pattern continued for several days. He would wake for brief moments, always to find Rhiannon there, tending to his injuries. Though he tried desperately to stay awake on those occasions, he found he could not, and would slip back into healing slumber.

  Finally, on the fourth day, he was able to do more than merely smile at her. He reached out for her hand, surprised to find it cold and damp. His alarm only grew when he was able to clearly see her face. She was pale, fatigued; yet she gave him a welcoming smile. It was only then that he became aware of the familiar scent.

  "You've been using your magic,” he murmured. “On me?"

  "Some,” she replied. “More to shield this place, us."

  "From Celd?"

  She nodded, a small tremor running through her. He pulled her toward him, and she obliged, lying down and pressing up against his chest. His guilt rose up like bile in the back of his throat.

  "Rhiannon,” he began softly, “I—"

  She shushed him. “It's not your fault,” she interrupted.

  "Yes, it is. I knew he was looking for you, that he wanted you. I thought I could keep you safe from him. I failed you."

  She tipped her head back to look into his eyes. “You failed me? You risked your life for me. How is that failing me?"

  "He never should have gotten close. He never should have been able to—” He broke off, his despair gripping him in a cold hand.

  "He does not have what he thinks he has."

  "He planted the embryo, Rhiannon. Through that, he can command you. I don't know how to stop it, how to stop him."

  She shuddered. “I don't want to think about it right now. I want you to help me. I want to help you. It's been too many days, Jaeger. I'm not feeling very well."

  He knew what she asked, knew what they both needed, yet was reluctant to act upon it. He wasn't sure how carrying the embryo would affect her, her blood, or him. Again, she seemed to know his thoughts. Tears filled her blue eyes, glittered there like sapphire jewels.

  "You no longer want me,” she murmured. “I can understand that, Jaeger."

  "No,” he said at once. “I do want you, Rhiannon. More than anything in the world. But I'm afraid. I'm afraid of doing anything that will show Celd where we are. If I bleed you, Celd may be able to sense it through his bond with the embryo. I don't know much about this, I'm afraid. When I left the Lair years ago, I didn't think to continue studies of my own kind. I'm afraid I am woefully ignorant of a lot of things."

  "Then I am trapped.” Rhiannon pushed away from him to sit up. “I must be bled, Jaeger, or I will die. If you bleeding me will call Celd here, then I will not risk that. I will go to Celd instead."

  Jaeger gasped, gripping her arm. “No!"

  "What choice do I have? I cannot keep the shields in place without using more magic. If I use more magic, I increase the iron in my blood. And if I do that, I—” She broke off with a sigh and buried her face in her hands. “I will die."

  Jaeger pulled himself to a sitting position beside her. What she said was true, all of it. His gaze danced toward the mouth of the cave. He could see daylight far beyond. Celd couldn't travel in the daylight. It gave Jaeger an idea. He touched Rhiannon's cheek, and she raised her tear-stained face to him.

  He tenderly brushed her tears aside, then leaned forward and kissed her lips. They were cool and dry. Her illness was too apparent, and too much for Jaeger to ignore. Without another word, he drew her into his arms to feed upon her blood. She melted into his embrace willingly, eagerly, holding to him even when he was finished.

  "I love you, Jaeger,” she whispered.

  "I love you as well,” he told her, stroking her hair. “And if we're to keep that love together, we need to leave this place, now, before Celd is able to travel."

  "Now?” She drew back to stare at him in confusion. “But it's daylight outside. You can't go back out there. Not into the sunshine."

  "Then I'll keep to the shadows,” he told her. “But I'll not let Celd have you.” He glanced about for their provisions. “Come, let's get things packed up here."

  "Jaeger, I'm not going to let you sacrifice yourself for me,” Rhiannon stated firmly. “Not again."

  "And I am not going to let you sacrifice yourself to Celd. Now, come on, help me pack up.” He rose, heartily strengthened by her sweet-tasting blood. Whereas before it had seemed to fill only a need, now it seemed to do much more. It brought him renewed energy, cleared his thoughts, and gave him a sense of wellness that he had never experienced before. He absently wondered if it was because of the embryo nestled in her womb.

  He still didn't know how he was going to keep Celd away from the child, or what he would do with the Vector's baby once it w
as born. But he had some time to think about it. Not the full nine months he might have with a human child, but, still, he had five months to plan.

  He extended his hand to Rhiannon, helping her to her feet. She wore a look of grim resignation.

  "Jaeger, how? How can you go out there?"

  "It'll be all right. You'll see. Celd told me that as I adjusted to this ... this new...” He paused, unsure what to call it, then went on. “Anyway, he told me that I would eventually be able to go back out into the daylight."

  "But, then, why can't he?"

  "I'm hoping his promotion to one of the Chosen will affect him, just as my ... growth is affecting me.

  She smiled at his term. “Growth?"

  He flushed. “My ‘entry into manhood', as you called it."

  Rhiannon's eyebrows knotted together, and she took hold of his arm. “You had never lain with a woman before me?"

  Jaeger's flush deepened, and he swallowed the lump suddenly forming in his throat. “No.” His voice came out in a choked whisper, and he looked away. He was startled by her soft kiss upon his cheek. He dared to look into the blue depths of her eyes, astounded by the love he saw there. Holding the pack with one hand, he pulled her close with the other.

  He wanted to make love to her, to show her how much he wanted her, needed her, loved her. His desires were made obvious by his body's youthful reaction to her closeness.

  She giggled, though she didn't try to pull away from his embrace. “And shall we use up all of the daylight here?"

  He sighed, brought back to cold reality. “No. We can't. We need to keep moving. We need to find someplace safe.” Although where that would be, he didn't know. He took her by the hand and led her from the cave.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jaeger stared morosely into the small fire. He was running out of time. Already he could see a small rounding of Rhiannon's belly. The child was growing. But—so fast? Had Jaeger missed something in Celd's explanation? Had the embryo of the Chosen been magically altered to attain birth even before the usual five short months?

  He lifted his gaze toward Rhiannon. Rolled into the only blanket, she rested fitfully, lying on the cold stone floor of a dark cave that had become a backdrop to hers and Jaeger's existence. By the Sovereign, how he wanted a decent inn, a soft bed, and a scented bath in which to luxuriate. And decent food. He was sick of the game animals he brought down in his nightly hunting forays. And Rhiannon needed proper food—fruits, vegetables, milk. She was getting weaker by the day.

  They had been walking the cold mountains for almost two weeks, seeing no sign of human life. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any sign of Celd, either. Still, Jaeger suspected the Vector didn't need to exhaust himself with a search for Rhiannon. All he had to do was wait. His connection to the embryo would draw her to him, not the other way around. He could relax in the comfort and warmth of whatever inn he chose. Eventually, Rhiannon would go to him.

  The thought burned in Jaeger's gut, tore his heart to shreds. How could he stand to lose her? How could he turn her over to the likes of Celd? For that matter, to any man? But—how could he stop it? He had thought of going to the Sovereign, of begging for her, but he knew that would only get him the slow death he sought to avoid. No one questioned one of the Chosen.

  He rose, walked to the mouth of the cave, and peered out at the lightening lands. They spread before him in their wild beauty—vast fields of wildflowers tumbling down craggy mountain slopes, dotted here and there with stubborn patches of snow. How flowers could bloom in such inhospitable conditions was beyond him.

  A quick movement in the grass caught his attention, and he trained his keen eyesight on it. A rabbit! Something he and Rhiannon had not feasted on for weeks, having been relegated to those rodents plentiful in this environment.

  He shot a quick glance at Rhiannon, then a quicker one at the skies. If he was very accurate, he might be able to catch the rabbit before the sun rose. Without another thought, he shapechanged into a fox and loped down the hillside, keeping upwind of his prey.

  The rabbit, however, was attentive. It stood on powerful hind legs, scanned the immediate area, then, without waiting to see what stalked it, ran. Jaeger went after in hot pursuit. The rabbit led him on a wild chase, careening through brush and flower, over jutting rocks and tangles of berry vines, at last disappearing into a thicket.

  Jaeger skittered to a stop, tongue lolling, legs quivering. He peered into the thicket, then drew back. The rabbit was a doe, with young. Jaeger could see the fuzzy heads as she herded them back, away from the fox threatening their existence. Jaeger huffed out a tired breath, turned, and walked away. He would not separate a mother from her young, no matter his hunger.

  The first, feeble rays of morning sunshine caught him off-guard and still quite a distance from the cave. He glanced up, then broke into a run, driving his exhausted body forward. A sudden shriek from overhead sent him belly-flat to the ground. His gaze shot to an enormous hawk sailing quietly over the wakening lands. Too tired to shapeshift, Jaeger pressed himself into the flowers and waited.

  This was no ordinary hawk, of that he was sure, though he was just as sure it wasn't Celd. A few more moments would tell. If the hawk beat a hasty retreat as the sun reached over the land, Jaeger would get his answer.

  There was something familiar about the feel of the hawk, something Jaeger couldn't quite decipher. His gaze drifted to the mouth of the cave, than back to the horizon. If he didn't move soon, he would be caught in the morning sun. Though he was better acclimated to daylight, he knew he couldn't withstand its full onslaught. Yet, if this hawk was indeed one of Celd's minions he wasn't going to lead it directly to Rhiannon, either. So, he waited.

  Finally, the hawk gave another screech and winged away, disappearing into the shadows of the mountains. Jaeger hesitated, then began to creep toward the cave and safety. He barely made it. The sun rose just as he slipped into the welcoming darkness and returned to his Vector form. He collapsed against the stonewall and sagged to the ground. Footfalls brought him upright again with a gasp.

  A tall, thin form slipped from the darkness to greet him. “Jaeger! Where the hell have you been? I've been looking all over for you!"

  "Darius?” Jaeger pushed away from the wall, overwhelmed with both relief and fear. He stared at the man standing before him. Darius was at least twice his age, had been a mentor and a friend for decades. He was also an Elder Chosen, someone who held rank over Jaeger. And right now, Jaeger saw disapproval and anger in the dark eyes.

  "Yes, Darius!” the Vector snapped, approaching him. “What do you mean by attacking one of the Chosen?"

  Jaeger cringed under the biting tone, ran one hand through his hair and shook his head.

  "I don't know, Elder,” he admitted, his voice soft.

  "You don't know?” Darius bellowed, his voice echoing in the caves.

  Rhiannon came awake with a startled cry. Upon seeing Darius standing before Jaeger, she grabbed up her blanket and backed away. Jaeger's heart broke at the terror he saw reflected in her blue eyes. Ignoring Darius, he went to comfort her.

  "Who is he?” she whispered, clinging to his arm.

  "Darius, an Elder, and an old friend,” Jaeger replied quietly.

  "A friend? Of yours or Celd's?"

  Jaeger hesitated, not quite sure how to answer that. He suspected that Darius had heard the question, and he turned his gaze back to see the other Vector's reaction. Darius was studying Rhiannon with open interest.

  "So, this is the wench causing all the problems?” he asked.

  "She is no wench,” Jaeger said at once.

  "No.” Darius moved closer, his gaze narrowing in thought. “She is a Bleeder and a witch, however. A pleasing combination. No wonder Celd chose her.” He moved closer still. “And quite lovely as well.” His gaze moved to Jaeger. “I can see your attraction, Jaeger. She does seem to have a lot to give."

  Desperation tore through Jaeger. “Darius, please, say nothing. Don't l
et Celd have her. Please. I—I love her. I can't bear the thought of Celd—” He broke off, a lump forming in his throat.

  Darius looked at Rhiannon again. “And you, do you also love Jaeger?"

  Rhiannon seemed surprised he should even address her. She nodded. “Very much."

  "And how long did you track him before you claimed him?” Darius asked.

  Jaeger frowned in confusion, but a little gasp escaped Rhiannon. Her eyes grew wide, and her gaze darted from Darius to Jaeger.

  He shook his head. “What do you mean, tracked me?"

  "I ... I...” For the first time, Rhiannon seemed to be at a loss for words.

  Jaeger looked to Darius. “What do you mean?"

  Darius settled his lithe form on the floor by the fire and fixed his dark gaze on Rhiannon. “Why don't you tell him why you might want him?"

  Jaeger sat as well, paying homage to this Vector before him, then looked at Rhiannon. “Yes, please, tell me."

  She sighed. “I ... I had sensed a Vector was in the area. I...” She drew a deep breath, then rushed on. “I followed you through a city and two villages, Jaeger, before I caught up with you. At least, I think it was you. In retrospect, it could have been Celd."

  "But why? Why were you following me?"

  Again, she hesitated. “Because of what I am, because of what you are. I knew we could benefit each other."

  "Benefit?” Jaeger moved away from her, not sure how to analyze the conflicting emotions leaping inside. “Like a partnership? A business?"

  "No!” Rhiannon cried. “No, it's not like that at all!"

  "Then what is it?” he asked. “You sought me out to help you with your affliction. That was all?"

  Rhiannon stiffened. “My affliction. Is that what you call this curse? My ‘affliction'?"

  His own anger was on the rise. “It is no different than my curse, Rhiannon!"

  "Exactly! That's why I thought we could help each other."

  Jaeger surged to his feet, quite forgetting about Darius. “Help each other? Become partners? Associates in a business deal? Thank you, Rhiannon! Thank you for taking what I perceived as love and making it nothing more than a ... than a...” He threw up his hands, not sure what words would adequately express what he was feeling.