Dawson snarled but didn’t oblige.
“Dawson.” Elisa placed her hand against her brother’s chest. “Let the cards fall, Dawson. Tristan’s words are genuine. Let’s not ruin our victory. Our Packs are once again united. It is up to us to keep and strengthen the bond. We have a lot to learn from each other.” She took Tristan’s hands and peered up into his eyes. “We’ll learn one night at a time.”
Not a single Spirit left that night without having confirmation that when a man follows the desire of his heart, he gains much more than he’s ever bargained for.
Epilogue
Three weeks later
Mating ceremonies were one of the most sacred unions among both Caedmon and Arnou-kind. This one would be the first in the history of their existence that an official mating was performed between members of two different groups. The union had been sanctioned by the Alpha’s of both packs and dozens of wolves were in attendance from each side.
In wolf form, Blake flanked her. His sleek black wolf appeared just as majestic as the full moon highlighting them. Naomi’s own wolf rejoiced in being claimed at last and shrills of excitement raced through her spine. She moved closer to her mate as the crowd turned to acknowledge them. Panting and out of breath, she and Blake prowl near the center of the gathering. Their brethren rejoiced.
Both female and male wolves participated in the mating run which had started hours earlier and would last well into the next morning. Unmated females would disburse into the forest and the males would descend upon them shortly afterwards. The objective of the run was for the male to scent track a female of his choosing, chase her down, catch her, and bring her back to the circle. The wolves indulged in this behavior on a monthly basis to appease their ravenous needs. The event usually occurred during a full moon—like tonight. Group sex usually occurred in the case that no official mating was performed.
But at this moment, it was all about Naomi and Blake. They prowled together to the center of the circle where the wolves had placed bundles of lupinus perennis on the ground next to the silken sheets.
Naomi was the first to shift. A white translucent gown clung to her curves and stuck to the thin coat of sheen on her skin. She was still aroused from their coupling in the forest. Her nipples were still drawn into taut cylinders and protruded against her flimsy attire.
Blake followed, standing to his full height, completely naked just like the rest of his brethren. His brown skin glowed beautifully under the twinkling stars.
Howls rang out through the crowd when they saw the mark on her shoulder. Naomi was overjoyed that their union and true mate bonding was accepted by both Packs. The mate mark was already forming as clear evidence. Although the bite was freshly impended in her flesh, the serum he’d placed there saturated the wound ensuring Blake’s mark was a permanent one.
“Well done,” she whispered and took his hand.
“You didn’t make it easy for me.”
“Have I ever?”
He gave her a knowing grin.
The chase had lasted over an hour before she finally succumbed to him. They’d been together before in wolf form, but this time the union had been different, sacred, and magical.
Naomi pulled Blake closer to her chest. “The crowd is waiting on us. Let’s lead them into a night of bliss.”
Blake’s agreement was a deep kiss. He sat on the white silken sheets and led her down to straddle him. They continuing the loving kiss as she mounted him. The head of his cock tipped something inside her, setting off a series of vibrations in her loins. Her clit throbbed, ready for yet another climax. She locked gazes with Blake pretending that they were the only one’s here tonight.
Grabbing her hips, Blake led her into slow strokes up and down his rigid cock.
“I love you, Naomi.”
“Blake, I love you.”
Naomi pulled him closer into her embrace, gently taking his face between her palms and pulling his mouth against her neck. He stroked her aching wound with his tongue, soothing her. They climaxed together and she cried out in burning passion, lifting her face to moon and letting the carnal trance take her higher and higher into the dark sky amid the stars.
What had once been forbidden was now respected.
Naomi Valentine had given her heart to Blake DeLuca a long time ago and now he possessed her body, mind, and soul.
Excerpt from Ambrielle Kirk’s Vampire Romance, DONOR
DONOR (Dresdan Coven, 1)
Elaina was once a tracker of Dresdan, an ancient species of vampire. For years, she served District 5, whose prime agenda is to create a new race of humans. As a result of misguided politics and greed, the District becomes corrupted from the inside out. Before Elaina can expose the truth, District 5 discovers that her blood type contains the elements to create a successful hybrid. She becomes the hunted, but protection is found while in the presence of one vampire…
Vicq won’t rest until he destroys District 5 and their immoral experiments are halted. Too many Dresdan have been captured and exterminated, threatening their existence and painting them all as animals. As he plans his attack against District 5, master vampire Russo orders his death for violating a prime law of Dresdan. But Vicq is not ready to cease existing…especially since he’s found salvation with Elaina.
With very few on their side, Elaina and Vicq must cultivate a plan to ward off their enemies. In the process, they find lust, love, and new meaning to their special bond.
CHAPTER ONE
Without her Glock 26, Elaina was no match for a Dresdan.
Her tracker intuition told her she was being followed by one. The vampire made no attempt to mask its presence. Dark shadows loomed over the pavement around her as it hastily shifted from one area to the next. Revealing itself to a human wasn't something the Dresdan were known for...unless it planned to kill said human.
Elaina kept her gaze on the ground and quickened her pace. Although the parking garage wasn't that far away, it seemed to take her an eternity to reach. The worse thing she could do at this point was run. There was no escaping them, and no point in fleeing once one became a target. Death was the only outcome. Theirs or yours. One shot to the head or a clean slice through the neck proved to be the quickest way to destroy these creatures. But tonight was her unlucky night. Mid-day, she'd left all weapons in her SUV in order to get past the metal detectors and cover for a sick co-worker in another department of the Courthouse.
Thus, Elaina had nothing to defend herself. Not even a damn razor blade.
Something told her the vampire would not allow her to make it to her SUV, but it was worth a try. Continuing toward the covered garage, she contemplated limited options.
The tall wrought iron street lamps gleamed on the sidewalk, and her heels echoed into the night as they hit the asphalt. Gusty winds blew against her exposed face, lifting the hair off her shoulders. She caught the scent of two more presences directly behind her on the breeze, but these two weren't Dresdan. One smelled of cheap aftershave and the other of pine scented soap. They were human. Both were men. And they were the only ones between herself and the Dresdan.
Customarily vampires didn't discriminate when it came to a feeding. Blood was blood. The nourishment that kept them alive. Maybe the Dresdan was just hungry. Could the men be the decoys she needed to make a clean escape? Or would her plans backfire?
If this thing was one of the greedier, younger ones, then more than likely he'd chase all three of them down and feed until their bodies were lifeless.
Resisting a Dresdan was like struggling to stay awake when fatigue set in. Sooner or later, the body succumbs. There was no denying these creatures a feeding. Death came swiftly to those who opposed them.
Elaina had once been a Dresdan tracker until she made one false move that cost her the job. Now she was being hunted by both the organization that had employed her and the very beings she'd been contracted to kill, but not for the same reasons.
Both sides would have to put up a good fight
if they wanted her, because she refused to become a research rat and had never welcomed death before.
Tonight was no different...
She stopped cold on the pavement...and so did everything else. In that moment, she had guaranteed confirmation that she was the one being tracked this time around.
When Elaina spun around, the next events happened like flash animation in rapid succession right before her eyes.
The Dresdan caught the humans by surprise, rushing up behind them and grabbing them both by the throat. They were stunned and—like her—unprepared for this ravenous predator.
Just as she was about to make a break for it, a gun fell from one of the victims' hands and skidded across the pavement. The other man gripped a rope. Had these two actually been pursuing her?
She scurried backwards nearly tripping over her own feet, yet her eyes would not leave the scene.
The vampire must have held them in a death vice. All she saw were the whites of their eyes, and a large dark shadow behind them. The creature honed in and struck the first victim in the jugular, sucking the life right out of him. The second victim's arms and legs began to shake and then he was completely still.
Damn. The Dresdan had drained one while choking the other.
It tossed their limp carcasses in the grass along the sidewalk. From deep behind the shadows, he eyed her—the main course. Deep crimson eyes burned bright like fire. The ends of the trench coat it wore fanned outward with the breeze. It was moving toward her.
Her legs finally obeyed and she fled, the wind whipping across her ankles as if urging her to hurry. She shrugged off her long pea coat in an attempt to run faster. Her heels knocked the pavement, echoing against the stone walls.
Every day she parked on the same level, but tonight it seemed like she had to cross mountains to get to her SUV. Taking the elevator was not an option, of course. Standing still for even one second would be disastrous.
Elaina heard the familiar swooshing sound the Dresdan made just before they shifted from one place to the next. The sound was closer than before. He was gaining in on her.
Her heart pumped frantically and her lungs burned from exertion. She picked up pace, pushing herself to reach her destination. Her Tahoe sat in the corner. The last one on the right within what was now a desolate parking garage. If she died tonight by the hands of a vampire, it was likely that no one would find her body until morning when it was cold and rigid with death.
The moment she thought she'd reached her SUV successfully, the Dresdan unfolded in front of her, blocking her path. He was huge, and her eyes leveled with the lower portion of his chest.
Before she could raise her gaze higher to confirm, he reached for her. He grasped her by the waist and lifted her off her feet. She opened her mouth to scream, but a gloved hand clasped over her lips.
Elaina kicked her feet, connecting sharp-heeled pumps to her captor's shins. She might as well have been fighting with a sumo wrestler. His grip was firm. Her cries were muffled by his grainy leather glove and she focused on wriggling out of his grasp. No mistaking what he was now. The spicy ancient aroma gave him away.
Dresdan, for sure.
Her captor lowered her heels to the pavement and his massive frame pushed her back into the metal pole behind her. The hard beam felt alien digging against her spine. Her eyes turned left and right looking for a savior. Someone. Anyone. Still, he pressed his palm to her mouth, preventing her speech. The SUV was only a few feet away, but she'd failed to reach it.
Elaina strained to peer up at him, but the height of her captor prevented this. Only the black shirt stretched over his taut chest muscles could be seen from her line of sight. He bent down further so close that his chin touched her forehead, and then he inhaled deeply.
Oh, my God. She would die. Tonight.
"When I let my hand up, you keep your trap shut," her captor hissed into the side of her face.
She sucked in another breath and clasped her fingers onto the chilly metal behind her. Her heart drummed like the consistent cadence of a marching band. Dammit, she was stronger than this! Had she turned into a wimp after all this time?
"You got that?" it demanded when she didn't answer.
She squeezed her eyes shut and nodded her head.
"You scream...we'll both be executed."
His harsh warning tone frightened her, but she bounced her head in agreement once again.
Executed? Those were the only words that registered.
He straightened his posture and slowly lifted his hand from her mouth. She parted her lips, taking a gulp of fresh air. It burned her lungs as she recovered from lack of oxygen.
Gradually, she lifted her chin, then her eyes to identify the brute. Red glowing orbs glared down at her. The rest of him—a black shadow in the night.
On her next exhale, she released a belated scream.
CHAPTER TWO
The high-pitched scream wretched from Elaina's throat and echoed through the atmosphere. The Dresdan's palm clamped over her lips, this time with more force.
It was over for her. She had no chance of escape. Should she even try? Once a Dresdan got hold of something, anyone could bet on destruction and death. Always in that order.
He'd discarded of two grown men like a dissatisfying snack. There was no doubt that the Dresdan was ready for a meal. Female blood gave the male Dresdan an instant high. Many human female had been captured and carted away by the most ruthless of Dresdan. There was something about an excited, scared, or aroused female's blood that appealed to them. An abundance of fear mixed with the adrenaline running through her system was sure to appease him.
The Dresdan was so close now. The smell of hungry anticipation was thick in the air. Her body went limp again against the pole. Her resistance undoubtedly excited him. Maybe if she fought less, he would grow uninterested and find some other chick to feed on.
He turned her quickly away from him and positioned her face to look in the window of a car. "Is this your vehicle?" His voice was a forced whisper.
The bastard! He planned to drain her blood in her own SUV.
Elaina looked through the window anyway. She glimpsed a newspaper and a stack of books on the passenger seat. A semi-automatic handgun lay hidden on the driver's side under the floor mat.
He shoved his hardened groin into her ass. "Is it?"
A jolt of pleasure swirled in her stomach. Confused at her body's choice of sensation, she nodded. She could understand the fear of being caught, the excitement from finally reaching her weapon, but why the heck was she aroused? Fuck, she was so dead.
Her captor brought his free hand around, producing her keys. Somehow, he must have snatched them from her. She couldn't remember anything, just the struggle she put up to break free. Of course, it was all in vain.
Opening the front door, he held her body against the SUV with his own. He used the controls on the inside frame to unlock the others, then led her to the back of the Tahoe.
So much for reaching the gun under the front seat.
Commotion came from the other side of the parking garage and both their heads whipped in the direction. Something headed their way. Hope tingled in her belly. Thank God! Maybe someone would see her being attacked.
She took a deep breath, and tried to build up enough courage to fight off her captor so she could get their attention.
Dark figures moved about casting shadows against the concrete. Two of them.
"You hear that?" He hissed into the back of her hair. "Four were sent to kill you. Two are now dead. These two are looking for you. Do you want to cross over this night?"
This brute is crazy. If two men were trying to kill her and he knew it, then why the fuck would he hold her hostage?
When she didn't answer, he continued, "Get in the damn vehicle. Don't make a peep."
There was no time to accept or reject his demands. Feet shuffles and voices of the two men approached. He shoved her onto the back floor of the SUV and came down over her. Elain
a had never felt more claustrophobic in her own space before.
Blazing red eyes burned into her gaze. He pressed his pointer finger to his lips and shook his head.
Strange. His hard dick pressed into her stomach, and that was all she thought about. It awakened a sexual urge that she thought had dissipated.
Her captor's head snapped up as footsteps pounded outside on the pavement. While her heartbeat quickened, he remained still and calm.
The men's hushed voices echoed throughout the garage, just beyond the SUV.
"You sure she ran up to this level?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Were they talking about her?
They spoke in harsh tones before moving on. After moments of complete silence, Elaina was certain they had moved to another area.
She exhaled and looked at her captor. He'd no doubt saved her from being taken in, but what for? "What do you want from me?"
Fire eyes slowly turned on her, but the Dresdan didn't let her up. He lifted his hand and brushed sweat-dampened hair from her forehead.
Elaina shrank back, confused at this stranger's actions.
He stroked his fingers through her strands as if he admired her and had known her. "Elaina." Her name rolled off his tongue like magic.
She gasped. She knew this voice. It couldn't be. No. Wasn't he dead? Executed. Extinct.
Glowing ruby eyes vanquished and turned to deep hazel. She knew them.
She had to be dreaming. This could not be possible, but past memories of those eyes matched this one.
"Vicq." She'd missed him.
"Mi amor." He bent his head as she slipped her fingers around the nape of his neck.
Delicately at first, he settled his mouth onto hers. Her fingers tangled with his hair and his firm lips molded desperately to hers. She parted her lips, inviting his tongue to tangle with her own. The taste of him was not forgotten. Delicious. Sweet. Comforting. It had been so long since she'd been embraced like this.
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