Vampire Heir (Scorned by Blood Book 1)

by Heather Renee

  Everyone was tense on the way to the airstrip. We watched as the snow continued to fall and began sticking to the ground. Every minute that passed had me more worried we weren’t going to get to LA when we needed to. This was the opportunity we needed to get one of the elusive Russian vampires. I couldn’t fathom having all of our plans ruined by the damn weather.

  Thirty long minutes later, Eddie pulled into the parking lot, as close to the gate as he could get us. We raced out of the SUV and grabbed our things.

  Zeke took my bag and Rachel took Maciah’s. “We’re going to need to run,” Zeke said.

  Before I could respond, Maciah picked me up and the world around us became a blur. I hadn’t eaten breakfast, so the uneasiness I’d felt last time didn’t come, but with the chill, I still found it hard to breathe when he sat me down at the base of the plane stairs.

  A pilot dressed in a blue uniform was waiting for us. “We have maybe a minute to start taxiing before we get shut down.”

  Nobody questioned him. We rushed the rest of the way onto the aircraft and got seated in the ten-passenger plane. There was nothing overly fancy inside: just a few rows of seats, the cockpit, a bathroom, and a small storage area where our bags had been tossed.

  “We made it,” Nikki said as we all buckled up.

  “You’re going to jinx us,” Zeke replied as the plane started to move.

  I didn’t say a word and hardly took a breath until we started to pick up speed. Even then, I was tense. We were flying through a snowstorm. I was the only human on the plane. Sure, I’d turn into a vampire if I died, but I definitely wasn’t ready for that.

  “Don’t worry. If the plane goes down, I’ll get to the ground first and catch you,” Maciah whispered in my ear.

  “Not helping,” I replied through clenched teeth as turbulence was already rocking the plane.

  He took my hand and rubbed his thumb over my palm. I closed my eyes and did my best to only focus on his touch, even as my seat shook so hard my bones felt like they’d been rattled.

  When we arrived in LA, the sun was out, and the temperature was in the sixties. Freaking lucky Californians.

  The drive to Maciah’s house wasn’t too bad, even with morning traffic. As we pulled up, I wasn’t surprised to find a mini version of his home back in Portland.

  There was an iron fence covered in ivy around the property and a hand imprint was needed to get in. The gates opened, and the driveway led us to a white home about a third of the size as the mansion, but still beautiful.

  There were two columns holding up the front porch. It had a red front door and flowers planted around the house. They were peonies in varying shades of red, pink, orange, and white. A better choice than the roses, in my opinion.

  “I haven’t been here in so long,” Rachel said as she got to the door first.

  “I checked on everything when I was visiting my sister. It’s still in good shape. The rental company has been keeping it stocked with food, too,” Nikki said.

  As we walked in, I asked, “Is the person you call your sister actually your sister?”

  Nikki shook her head. “We were both turned around the same time. She escaped before me but had tried to get me out as well. She leads a different life than we do at Maciah’s, but she doesn’t kill humans.”

  Hmm, as far as Nikki knew, she didn’t, but I didn’t say my thoughts out loud. We had bigger problems to worry about.

  “Grab whatever rooms you want to get ready in. Amersyn and I will take my normal room. The vampires driving down to join us won’t be sleeping or needing to get ready, so don’t worry about them,” Maciah said, and I turned toward him.

  I grabbed his hand as the others moved on. “Umm, what vampires driving down?”

  “I have twenty of our regulars driving down from Portland. They left late last night and will be here this afternoon,” he replied as if it wasn’t a big deal.

  “Why didn’t I know we had extra people coming?” I asked, feeling like this was indeed a big deal and something that should have been talked about the couple of times we solidified our plans.

  “Zeke thought of it yesterday. I let him take care of things and forgot about it. In case things go wrong at the club, we’ll have people we can trust nearby to help us. What’s wrong with that?” he asked.

  I wasn’t sure. There was no reason for me to be making a big deal out of not knowing, but something about having so many of the nest with us didn’t sit right with me. Maybe I was worried we’d draw too much attention or something. I didn’t know.

  “I guess nothing. I was just surprised to hear you say that,” I said, then remembered the other thing. “Also, as much as I enjoyed last night, I’d still like to have my own room if we’re staying the night.”

  Maciah smiled and reached for my hand. “At the nest, you can, but while we’re here, I’d feel better having you close. The others understand that as well. I can sleep in the chair if that would make you feel better, but I doubt we’ll even be here long enough to worry about that. The only reason we’d have to stay is if we can’t land in Portland.”

  “You definitely won’t be sleeping in a chair,” I said, glad he understood and didn’t seem to take offense to my objection.

  He led us toward a downstairs master suite. There was nothing fancy or remarkable about the room. That seemed to be the theme of the whole house. While the property was in pristine condition on the outside, there was nothing that had stood out to me when we walked inside.

  Maciah had my bag and set it down. “If you want to get any more sleep, you can do so now. We won’t be leaving here until late tonight.”

  “I’m good.” My phone buzzed, distracting me.

  Pete: I don’t know how, but I received keys and the deed to a new gym in South Portland. If you need somewhere to stay still, there’s a place for you here.

  A map link followed with the address, and I stared up at Maciah. “Did you buy Pete a new gym?”

  He shrugged, not answering me with words.

  I reached for him. “Why?”

  “Because the thought of him being hurt upset you. I didn’t want you to feel guilty.”

  Words were lost on me. I didn’t know what to say. The gesture was huge and showed me another layer of Maciah that had my heart opening to him.

  I tightened my hold on him. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He looked around, seeming very uncomfortable talking about his good deed. “Do you need anything?”

  “Do you have coffee in this place?” I asked, still amazed by his kindness.

  “We do. I pay a property management company to come in and clean this place once a month and bring in fresh food for times we need to stay here without much notice,” he answered.

  “Practical vampire,” I teased.

  He grabbed my hips, pulling me toward him. “Is ‘prick’ officially out of my title now?”

  I chuckled. “Not permanently, but I’ll keep that name reserved for special occasions, so you know just how mad I am when I use it.”

  Maciah’s lips pressed to mine as he smiled. “Good to know. Now, let’s go get you some caffeine.”

  Following him out of the room, I pushed away any earlier worries about arriving vampires and the impending death of Rigo.

  For the moment, everything was fine, and I wanted to revel in that.

  24

  Night had fallen, and I’d been transformed into a new identity. Hours had been spent on my make-up and finding the perfect outfit to go with the short auburn wig Nikki had brought for me to wear.

  When I’d looked at myself in the mirror, I didn’t recognize the face in the reflection. My normally fair skin had more color to it from foundation and a spray-on tan. My cheekbones were highlighted with blush, and my eyes were covered in blue contacts with shimmering eyeshadow on my lids.

  The dress I’d squeezed into was a black number covered in lace. It was tight, but long enough that I could keep some shorter modified stakes strapped to
each of my thighs, as well as a few more in my knee-high boots.

  I’d yet to see Maciah since Rachel and Nikki finished working on me. There was a knock at Rachel’s bedroom door, and I tensed, wondering if it was him.

  Instead, Zeke walked in with a hand over his eyes. “Is everyone decent?”

  Rachel giggled and Nikki threw a pillow at him. “Yes, weirdo.”

  When his hand came down, he let out a whistle as he appraised the three of us. “You ladies are… I’m not even sure if I can say the words I’m thinking. Just know you’re looking good, but damn, Amersyn. Maciah isn’t going to let you into that club.”

  Yeah, I was a little worried that maybe we’d done too good of a job on my makeover.

  Rachel shushed him. “He will if he knows what is good for him.”

  “I was just coming to let you ladies know that the other vampires are in place and we’re ready to go when you are,” Zeke said.

  “Where is Maciah?” I asked.

  “He was speaking with the few assigned group leaders we have. Don’t worry. He’s been missing you all day, Hunter,” Zeke replied.

  I felt a little uncomfortable. Sure, the three of them knew there was something going on between Maciah and me, but it hadn’t really been talked about openly. I wasn’t much of a sharer, and Rachel and Nikki thankfully hadn’t pried after the first time.

  When the room became awkward from my lack of response, Zeke backed toward the door. “I guess we’ll see you downstairs, then.”

  I sighed. I was not good at this relationship thing.

  Nikki patted my arm. “Don’t worry. Maciah won’t stop the plan, and you don’t need to talk about anything that you don’t want to.”

  “But we’re here if you do want to, because we’re good listeners and would never share anything you tell us in private,” Rachel added quickly.

  I smiled at them both. “Thank you. Seriously, I didn’t know what to expect coming into this situation. I thought I would be miserable, but you ladies have made sure that wasn’t the case.”

  “We’ve been at this womance thing for a while. We know how to read people, and we’ll never push you for more than you’re ready for,” Nikki replied.

  “Womance? Is that the female equivalent to bromance?” I joked.

  “Damn right, it is,” Rachel said proudly.

  I grinned widely. “I’m honored to be part of your womance, then.”

  We gathered into a group hug, standing together for only a few seconds, but they were impactful ones. It wasn’t just Rachel’s and Nikki’s words that made me trust them, but their actions. I had always been a singular-focus person. Having people around me who understood that and didn’t expect more out of me than what I was capable of was exactly what I needed.

  “It’s nearly ten. We should get going,” Nikki said.

  Tension tightened in my shoulders as I nodded. Going on hunts was something that had become the norm for me over the years. I’d done the disguise thing before—though, not as elaborate as I was done up now—and I’d ended at least two of my family’s murderers, but something about this made me feel different.

  Maybe it was that I was different. I knew that while I still believed and wanted the same things that nothing was the same, either. I wanted to end the vampires I hunted, but I also was aware that not all of them were killers like I’d previously thought.

  Rachel and Nikki waited for me at the doorway. I took a deep breath and joined them, feeling better with them at my side.

  We headed into the living room. Maciah’s back was to us, and Rachel cleared her throat. His phone slid into his pocket as he turned around and took all three of us in.

  My eyes locked with Maciah’s, sending heat straight to my core. He stalked toward me with lowered eyes. Rachel and Nikki left me standing there alone like traitors. So much for our womance.

  Maciah’s hand raised, brushing lightly over my left cheek, then down my arm. He grabbed my hand, bringing it to his lips. “Stunning,” he murmured, then, leaning in closer, “but I prefer the you I woke up next to this morning.”

  Mother eff. I didn’t actually believe swooning was a real thing, but Maciah’s words—along with his closeness, and the heat in his dark, appraising eyes—sucked the air right from my lungs.

  “Thankfully, all this comes off. Well, hopefully,” I finally said, hoping to diffuse the sexual tension growing around us, given we had an audience in the room.

  “I’m happy to help with the task,” he said with a grin.

  My cheeks warmed as images of Maciah undressing me ran through my mind. Yeah, that was something to look forward to—a celebration after Rigo was turned to ash.

  “The car is out front. Let’s get out of here,” Zeke said from the open door.

  I straightened my shoulders and pushed naked thoughts out of my head as Maciah took my hand. Rachel and Nikki were grinning like fools until I glared at them, then they began laughing their asses off. Maybe that was why I never really had friends before meeting them.

  In all fairness, if it was one of them in my position, I’d have been acting the same, so I couldn’t really be mad at them.

  There was a blacked-out Tesla crossover sitting in the driveway with the doors open and waiting. The car looked like a bird with its back doors up in the air, but I knew it would fit in with the area, so I kept my opinions to myself.

  Maciah helped me into the back before sliding into the driver’s seat. Part of the plan was for him to play driver/security guard to the three of us. Zeke was also security. Both of them grabbed hats from the dashboard they must have tossed up there earlier and pulled them low over their eyes, getting into character before we arrived.

  They wore matching grey slacks and black dress shirts, something that could pass for a uniform of sorts if questioned about why they were there. I was the human plaything to Rachel and Nikki that was hoping to offer herself up to the guest of honor.

  They wore silver dresses that swooped almost to their asses in the back and remained tight around the front. They were both stunning, but that was no surprise to me.

  Maciah drove away from the house, and I watched as the city lights came into view. I hadn’t been to Los Angeles before. I’d always wanted to go as a kid and visit Disneyland, but that never happened.

  My eyes were glued to the passing of buildings and dirty streets. The further we drove in, the less I understood why people wanted to live in this craphole.

  “The beach cities are much better than this. I’ll take you to my favorites one day,” Nikki said, and I nodded. I could go for a vacation as soon as there weren’t vampires trying to kill me.

  We pulled up to a brick building with a red carpet out front, ropes forming lines along the side, and one bouncer in the front.

  A small valet stand was to the left of the door, and two younger men were working there. One of them approached the door, and it was time for our show.

  Maciah and Zeke opened their doors at the same time and pressed a button up front that lifted our doors as well.

  The valet held his hand out to me. “Welcome to Warlock, miss.”

  I smiled at him and accepted the gesture, pretending to act amazed by the grandeur around me. “Thank you so much.”

  Nikki slid out behind me, and Rachel exited on the other side. I stayed between them as we walked the red carpet with Maciah and Zeke at our backs.

  The bouncer made eye contact with Zeke and nodded, making me assume he was Gregory. “Are you here for the private event tonight?”

  “We are,” Nikki said.

  “Names?” he asked after picking up a clipboard from behind him.

  Rachel pointed at herself, then me and Nikki. “Sara, Brea, and Trixie.”

  Nikki’s grip tightened around my elbow as Rachel said Trixie for her, and it took everything in me not to laugh.

  Gregory scrolled his list, scratching out a few names, then writing a note. “Have fun, ladies.” He lifted the red velvet rope, and we entered the club.r />
  I kept a smile plastered to my face as my eyes roamed the room. The lights were dim, but the place wasn’t overly crowded, so it was easy to see to the other side where I found a door swinging open that appeared to lead outside with two tall and glowering vampires guarding it.

  “We need to get back there,” I said.

  “We will. Eventually,” Nikki said.

  I knew we couldn’t seem too eager, but knowing I was in the same place as someone I’d wanted to kill for seven years? That had me on edge.

  Maciah and Zeke stayed at the back wall, near others who appeared to be filling the same role of guard to others present.

  I locked eyes with Maciah. His jaw was tight, and I knew it was hard for him to leave me alone in a room of supernaturals, but the fact that he was willing to do so… I wasn’t going to forget that. Between his trust in me and the kind gestures he’d done since we’d met, I knew there was no going back.

  If Maciah wanted me, then he could have me.

  Rachel pulled me along when she noticed I’d stopped. “There are high-ranking vampires from all over. Even some shifters and witches are here, but not many. Rigo isn’t well-liked by other races. Let’s grab drinks first and scope out the bartender situation. Sometimes they’re useful in parties like this.”

  A drink was exactly what I needed to calm my twitchy fingers.

  We strolled up to the bar, giggling and falling over each other. The barkeep approached us with a grin on his face. “What can I get you ladies?”

  Everything about the attractive man was dark except his light-green eyes. If I didn’t have a sexy vampire waiting for me across the room, I might have hit on him. Instead, I let Nikki have her fun.

  “Well, we just got here, and we need drinks. Real good ones, if you know what I mean. We’re also hoping you can tell us where we can sign our friend up for donations,” she said with a nod toward me.

  He leaned against the bar top. “Well, it’s a good thing you came to me. I can help you with both things. If you’re here, then you know it’s a special night for our guest of honor. He’s the only one feeding, and you’ll want to stand in that line over there to be picked out.” He pointed toward a small section where there was already a massive line formed of waiting women.