Vampires' Embrace [Southern Supernatural Alphas] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour)

by Sara Anderson

  Rachel threw open the door and her sister lay on her bed with her box fan blowing air on her and her I Home radio casting a colored glow on her peaceful, sleeping face.

  “Addy, get up, now!” Rachel barely kept herself from screaming the command as her bloody hands shook Addy’s bare arms. Howls filled the night outside. Their savagery sent a chill through Rachel’s heart and she had the terrifying realization that they were not friends. These Lycans were here to kill her friends and family.

  “What do you want now?” Addy’s groggy voice mumbled.

  “I don’t have time to explain. Get up now!”

  Addy shooed her away with a slap of her hand. “Leave me alone. I’m sleeping—ew, gross—are you bleeding on me?”

  Another demonic howl split the air that shook the windows, as well as a demon’s hellish answering screech. Addy sat bolt upright, with her eyes wide with fear as her head snapped toward the window. “What the hell was that?”

  “I don’t have time to explain. We have to hide, now!” Rachel pulled Addy from her bed with a strength she didn’t know she possessed and Addy dropped on the floor with a loud thud and a “Hey!”

  She ignored her and pulled her along the floor, like a piece of felt under heavy furniture on a smooth linoleum floor.

  Rachel didn’t stop once she got to the staircase. Either her sister could walk, or she’d drag her grumpy ass down each hard wooden stair to the basement. Once again, she just didn’t have the time to deal with her sister’s teenagerness.

  Kieran met her halfway down the stairs and pulled her even faster. Once they got to the basement, Rachel was relieved to see Yerel had arrived before the fighting cut him off. He was crouched next to Devon, his hands on Devon’s head and a look of concentration on his face. Devon never moved, even though his wounds looked like angry red scars instead of open wounds that poured out his lifeblood.

  Behind her Addy crouched on the floor. She glanced to make sure her sister was holding up okay and then turned her attention back to Yerel. “What is happening?” Addy asked with wide eyes.

  A loud blast that sounded like it came from a cannon shattered the night, making Addy scream. It only enraged the werewolves. Logan and Derek were armed to the teeth and firing at them. The howling increased and it was close to the house.

  “What’s happening?” Addy yelled, far more frantic. Her eyes were wide and her skin lost all its color.

  “Shhhh.” Rachel pulled her sister to her chest and covered her ears. She still flinched with every reverberating gunshot, but her screams had settled into frightened hiccuping.

  Yerel’s face looked as if it aged thirty years as his ice blue eyes regarded her. “This morning, Marcus and Sam both got a warning that two of the Kansas packs had betrayed them, and joined forces with Mortef. They allowed Mortef and his coven to take over the territories, and they slaughtered every human living in the territory.”

  Rachel covered her mouth in horror at the thought. She’d seen both Marcus and Sam’s pack territories. They were huge, covering small towns and mile upon mile of farm land. “All of them?” she whispered from behind her hand.

  “Yes, even the younglings. The only consolation we have is they were both small territories. Still, Lycans, who are human’s protectors from supernatural predators, turned on humans and Lycans alike.”

  Rachel could only shake her head in silent denial of the bloody images that filled her head. She’d witnessed firsthand what bloodthirsty atrocities Vampires were capable of. She’d grown to trust Lycans as protectors and the image of them standing by as Vampires slaughtered innocent people made the bile rise in her throat.

  “Mortef somehow learned you were in Paris, and decided to attack. Sam and Marcus had already had enforcers on their way, so they were close when the fighting started at the airport.”

  She let that soak in. Had Solan betrayed them? Someone told Mortef they’d be at the airport and when they’d be there. They had a hard time finding her because her parents moved. Did that mean Mortef couldn’t find her either until Solan told him where they’d be? The thought was gut wrenching. Another person, or rather Vampire, who Devon trusted betrayed him.

  The conversation ended abruptly when a terrifying band of howls split the air once again right outside the door, followed by growling and the sound of a vicious dog fight.

  “What is happening?” Addy asked in a high-pitched voice that shook with terror. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she stared around the cinder block room that held the furnace, air conditioner and some shelving for seasonal items.

  Kieran reached over and stroked Addy’s arms. “Calm down, sweetheart. It’s going to be okay.”

  Yerel’s eyes focused on Addy. “All will be explained to you in time, child.”

  Dylan moaned and his color indicated that his injuries were healing, and Raeff also looked a little stronger. Both of them looked far too weak to fight or even walk too far though. Worry consumed Rachel, as Devon remained unmoving and unconscious. Yerel placed his hand once again on Devon’s forehead and closed his eyes. “I fear he may drift away. He simply doesn’t have the strength to recover.”

  “What do you mean? I fed him blood. Why isn’t that enough?”

  “Devon suffered more than physical injuries. Mortef was strong on the power he drained from others, and used that against Devon. His own life force is low now and he may not have enough energy to heal his internal injuries.”

  “Mortef was strong because of me. What if I did the same for Devon?”

  Yerel nodded. “It may work, but you know what is involved with channeling, child.”

  “I don’t care! I don’t want to lose him. I’d give my own life for him.”

  Kieran gripped Rachel’s hand and held it to his chest. “She can use me. I will keep Devon alive even if it means giving my own life.”

  Yerel’s lips twitched in a minuscule smile. “You’re both willing to die for one Vampire. Your actions speak louder than any voice could on Devon’s character.” Yerel moved toward Devon. “Rachel, you come and sit with Devon. I will place his head in your lap and then you will grip Kieran’s hands.”

  Rachel helped to pull Devon into her lap as Kieran sat close enough to her, so she could lean over and take his head in her hands.

  “Then what do I do?” Rachel asked.

  “Nothing, my child. You have no ability to produce any sort of magic on your own. You can only channel it into another. Instead of absorbing the energy myself, I will use you to help to channel the energy to Devon.”

  Rachel and Kieran sat across from each other with Devon in the middle. She watched Kieran for that horrible moment when she ripped his life energy from him. Despite the direness of their situation with the fight raging outside, her heart pounded in anxiety. Her worst nightmare was about to be relived, but this time she was saving the man she loved.

  The hot wind swirled around her and she felt her hair lift as the energy swirled within her. Rachel’s eyes widened as she realized it didn’t hurt this time. It was warm, very warm in fact, but not the burning hot feeling of hot tar pouring on her skin as the energy moved through her.

  Kieran didn’t scream or stare at her in terror as he felt himself dying. She felt his energy and she was stunned at the beautiful calm energy. It actually relaxed her, and she rested her head against Yerel as she looked at the ceiling in wonder.

  Kieran’s love for Devon was clear. Not a romantic love that may one day turn bitter because Devon loved Rachel, but a love born of years of loyalty and fighting alongside one another. Their brotherhood was born of loyalty, not blood. There was no fear in Kieran’s emotions as his energy drained. He was prepared to give everything he had to save the Vampire he loved like a brother. Tears filled Rachel’s eyes as her gaze met Kieran’s.

  The hot wind dwindled into a gentle breeze and then she only felt a warm sensation, like a stroll through the prairie grass on a warm day.

  “Kieran,” Rachel whispered, scared she’d killed him.
<
br />   He opened his eyes and smiled. “What?”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m really tired now, though. I need a moment.” Rachel watched Kieran’s eyes close as fatigue closed its claws over him.

  “Kieran?”

  “He’s fine, child. Give him a few moments to rest.”

  Several long moments passed and Kieran stood up. “I need to get out there.”

  “Are you sure?” Yerel eyed him with concern.

  Kieran, her gentle protector, was a fearsome warrior when protecting those he loved. He picked up one of the packs an enforcer left and took out several wicked looking knives and two large caliber handguns. “Stay down here. I will come and get you when it’s clear.”

  Devon opened his eyes. “Watch your back, brother.” Kieran nodded once and unbolted the door.

  “Lock that door,” Devon croaked, sounding like he’d been through the wringer. He had, in fact.

  Yerel moved Devon and smiled. “He’s much stronger now. He simply needs rest now.”

  Yerel’s gaze jerked over to Addy. “Child, come here away from the door.”

  Addy backed away with wide eyes. Her face was white as a sheet and her head shook back and forth like a bobble head toy on a gravel road. “No, stay away from me! Who are you people? What did you do to my sister, and how did Devon get better so fast?”

  Yerel stood and held a hand out to her. “Come here.” The command in his tone was stronger this time, as if he could take over her will with his own. Sorcerers used energy within themselves, though, not with the elements of the earth and spells like those witches used. Yerel, already weakened by pulling the energy from Kieran and giving it to Devon, couldn’t gather the strength to hold on to Addy.

  She jerked backward as if some huge hand had tried to grab her and she slipped from its grasp.

  Torn between caring for Devon and calming her sister, Rachel stood frozen for a moment. Devon would be fine now, but her sister was in the grip of a panic attack. Supernatural law had forbidden her from telling her sister anything about Lycans and Vampires. Now, after Rachel woke her in the middle of the night to a supernatural battle taking place outside and seeing her look much like a witch on one of their fantasy programs, she’d wished Addy knew of their existence before this moment.

  Gently placing Devon’s head on the ground, Rachel stood up. “Addy, I’m fine. Please calm down.”

  Addy didn’t say a word as she turned the deadbolt and threw open the door.

  “No, do not go out there!” Yerel yelled.

  Addy moved with the speed of a person who was running for their life. She had no idea she was running from the ones that were protecting her though. Addy hit the back porch and shoved open the storm door, and stopped.

  Rachel was right behind her and felt her mouth drop open at the sight. Two massive wolves fought one another, with blood flying. Kieran stood on the top of the tool shed firing a gun at several Lycans, watching them fall and then pulling the trigger at another, protecting his nest and the Lycans that had come to fight the rogue pack.

  All of the Lycans had brute strength on their side, they were built to kill Vampires and did so efficiently. If this had been a fight between Vampires and Lycans, the Lycans would have defeated their mortal enemy by now. But Lycan against Lycan had turned the fight into a blood bath while Devon’s nest fought against Mortef and his coven.

  Rachel stood in awe as she witnessed how brutal her lover could be when defending his family. With the full moon, and the large flood light shining, she could see Kieran’s eyes blazed with rage as he used his claws to behead a Vampire.

  Two more followed so the enemy Lycans flanked Kieran. There was no sign of the exhaustion that plagued him a short time ago. With a long swipe, Kieran pulled a long blade from his high leather boot, and he sliced his blade through a Lycan. In a blur of movement, he pulled a gun from the other boot, and he shot another Lycan that thought he could take advantage of Kieran’s distraction. His movements were a blur of speed only a Vampire could use. She was mesmerized by how powerful Kieran really was. It was easy to focus on his gentle demeanor and forget he was a lethal warrior. Perhaps that was why his enemies fell before him so easily. They took his kindness for weakness.

  Vampires were supposed to be at a disadvantage against Lycans, but she was watching Kieran slaughter any of the Lycans who approached the house, by himself and weakened from the channeling.

  When more wolves approached with vicious snarls and pure hatred emanating from their eyes, Rachel nearly screamed. Two large wolves joined in whom Rachel recognized as Logan and Derek. Relief made Rachel sag to see the Wolf Creek Lycans help Kieran. She was thankful the Wolf Creek pack had warning of the coming battle. None of them would have survived this kind of fight without the added enforcers from Marcus and Sam’s packs. It felt like time stopped as she watched the battle when in reality it was all happening in split seconds.

  Something landed hard on the ground by the steps of the porch. Rachel turned to see a demon as she’d seen that night in the storm standing in front of Addy. She stared in paralyzed terror as her eyes bulged. He merely panted as the look of terror froze on her face.

  The demon grabbed Abby’s arm, right where Rachel had gripped her earlier in her panic to get her downstairs, and tasted her. “Channel.” The demon let Addy go for only a moment and her terrified stupor lifted. Addy let out a fearful scream as Rachel heard heavy footsteps stomping up the stairs.

  Kieran turned to see his mate and her sister out in the open with a demon facing them. “Fuck. Get away from them!” Kieran’s eyes blazed with power and rage as he sliced through another Lycan to get to Rachel and Addy.

  The demon gripped Addy, as she let out high pitched, terror filled screams, in its grotesque mouth and turned to leap down the stairs.

  “No! It’s me! I’m the channel,” Rachel screamed as she ran toward her little sister and the demon. This couldn’t be happening. The demon tasted her blood on her sister’s arm and just tasted the magic. She ran after the demon, screaming as it leapt away at an impossible speed. Strong arms wrapped around her and held her tightly to a stone hard chest.

  “We’ll get her back!” Yerel said, Addy’s screams of fear and pain echoing through the night. No matter how hard Rachel fought to get away, Yerel held her tight as he pulled her back down the stairs. She glanced at the dogs that cowered in the corner. She screamed as she fought to get away from him. His assurances meant nothing to her. She’d experienced Mortef’s kind of torture and now her sister would suffer the same fate. Yerel was far stronger than she was, though, and no matter how hard she kicked and punched, he continued to drag her back down into the basement and away from Addy.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Hours had passed and the sun had risen high into the sky. The time passed in a haze of fighting and frantic terror for Rachel, though. Last night, she’d screamed and fought as Yerel pulled her back down into the safety of the basement. She’d waited with Devon and felt relief fill her when his eyes finally opened.

  “What’s happened?” Devon lifted his hand to his head as if he held a hundred pound weight. She’d seen newborn foals look stronger than Devon did at the moment.

  Sam crouched down to Devon. “The Vampires, Lycans, and demon have attacked the Dawson home. Addy Dawson has been mistaken for Rachel and a demon took her.”

  Devon’s gaze moved to Rachel. “Rachel,” he rasped. His voice reminded her of a kid who had spent the day screaming at an amusement park, and now it just whispered out. “I am so sorry. I should have protected her.”

  As Rachel’s mind screamed, I’ve been with Mortef before. He’ll torture her! She gripped Devon’s hand and gently whispered. “It’s not your fault. We all did our best. She just panicked and ran.”

  “Come here.” Devon held out a shaking hand to her in entreaty for her to join him.

  Rachel moved to him, grateful he was awake now, despite her fear of what pain her sister was enduring. “Mo
rtef had what he wanted when he had you. We’ll find her and get her back.”

  Rachel shook her head in denial. He didn’t want her at all in the beginning. He wanted Anna as a way to get to Marcus.

  “You have to keep those thoughts out of your head, love,” Devon said, rasping as he tried to raise his voice.

  Rachel hadn’t even realized the sounds of the battle had finally stopped. No more gunfire or howls of the defiant and dying.

  Derek walked down the stairs. “Come on upstairs so we can get some food in you and discuss what we’re going to do. I’ve had Logan put a call in to Marcus.”

  Rachel slowly got up as several of Devon’s Vampires and Lycan enforcers came down the stairs to help the injured back up to the house. Logan picked up Devon as if he was a toy and carried him. Rachel waved off several attempts to help her climb the stairs. She wasn’t hurt at all physically, just worried sick about her sister. Was Mortef hurting her? If he touched any part of her sister, she would find a way to kill the bastard.

  The afternoon sun was high in the sky when her parents pulled up the drive. Rachel began to cry harder as she thought about telling her parents that Addy was gone.

  Devon, finally looking and acting more like his old self, gripped her shoulders. “I know you’re hurting and scared. We are working as hard as we can to find Addy, but it will protect your parents more if they don’t know about us. It’s why we didn’t just tell them when we found you, and why we erased the memory of your fear of us.”

  “Why? How does not knowing protect them?” Rachel didn’t understand. They allowed her to know.

  “Because they do not live in pack territory. Strong supernaturals can pick up emotions easily and even some thoughts. You’ve seen how hard it was to defend this house. If a paranormal comes looking for trouble, they’ll only find an older couple and their teenage daughter.”