Ellowyn Found: An MM Vampire Trilogy Omnibus Edition Books 1 - 3

by Kayleigh Sky

Rune.

  He closed his fingers around his chain and pulled on it. Would he see somebody’s head roll on the floor today? Not Rune’s. It couldn’t be. He jerked the chain. His other hand grew warmer and warmer. Bewildered, he looked at the band he held. Crusted in dirt, black with tarnish, but the jewels… red as blood.

  Shouts and pounding feet drew his attention. A vampire ran up, sliding on his knees to the base of the throne. The creature gasped. “He has the light bearer.”

  “Of course,” came a voice above him. “You are incompetent fools.”

  “Forgive us.”

  “Get away from me.”

  The vampire scurried back on its knees, not getting up until it was some distance away.

  Another close scream dying in a gurgle shook him. Isaac lowered his head and peered out again. Across the room, a vampire fell to the floor, clutching its throat as it toppled over. More vampires rushed into the space, and whoever sat on the throne laughed again.

  “Blood has such a lovely scent, wouldn’t you say, human?”

  Creep.

  Isaac stayed silent.

  Another gush of vampires appeared, and then a strange stillness. The scuff of feet moving backward. Two pairs of legs approached. Slow, grating steps. One upright, the other stumbling. Halfway across the floor, they stopped, and the stumbling one dropped like a stone to the floor. Solomon!

  “He sees no more,” said the vampire on the throne.

  “I do.” Cold froze Isaac to the stones. Rune’s voice rasped, his breath like tearing paper. “I wiped my eyes clear of the blood you stained me with.”

  The creature laughed. “My blood.”

  “The Ellowyn are my people. I AM KING. You and these that crawl at your feet are not worthy to be my subjects. I reject you and condemn you to this dead place where you will die too, because I will seal you in and suck the air from your tomb.”

  “A lovely speech, but how do you propose to do it?”

  “These dogs will follow me. I am their master.”

  “And I,” said the creature, sliding his booted feet wider on the floor, “am yours.”

  The hand that shot under the throne surprised Isaac. He lurched back, but strong fingers wrapped around Isaac’s chain and dragged him out. The length wasn’t long enough to allow him to get up. He kicked, his foot smashing into the vampire’s knee and thigh. Over his gasp, the creature grunted. A moment later, he flew onto his knees, held by his chained arm. The vampire grabbed his nape and pulled him between his thighs. Isaac reared back, but it was no use. The vampire’s face bent over him, lips curling over its fangs.

  Isaac’s breath left him. The thing was beautiful. Silver strands wove through its tousled brown hair. Its mouth was lush like… Rune’s. It looked like Rune except for the… scars. Old wheals that laced its forehead and cheek. It took terrible injuries to leave scars on a vampire. Though Uriah had them, Isaac had once seen. A soft hiss came from its throat.

  “A human. You love a human?”

  Rune shrugged. “You loved one. I loved her too.” The green light drained him ghastly white. Shadows ringed his eyes, and blood stained his face. “But tell me. Did she know Abadi was not her attacker?”

  The vampire’s gaze slowly left Isaac’s face. “I hate humans.”

  Its grip on Isaac dug in and sparks burst in Isaac’s head. Dark fell, buzzing like static from a radio, until Rune’s roar broke through.

  “Let him go!”

  “YOU ARE NOT KING! You owe me your honor.”

  “You had it.”

  “Liar. You cheated me, and it’s time you pay. ”

  No… Isaac pulled on his chain, latching his stare on Rune. Get away!

  But Rune only stared at the vampire. “What do you want?”

  “The necklaces. Or him.”

  No. Don’t. Not Rune’s treasure. Tears blurred Isaac’s eyes, and his stomach churned at the thought of being the one Rune gave it up for. I’m not worth it!

  “The treasure is a myth,” Rune said.

  “The necklaces. Or him.”

  Isaac lunged to the end of his chain, jerked to a stop, and flew back onto his ass. He gasped, the burn in his wrist shooting up his arm. He tightened his other fist, knuckles rubbed raw from the stone. But the pain meant nothing. He caught his breath. “Don’t!”

  But Rune bent his neck, yanked the pouch with the necklaces over his head, and tossed it to Qudim, who caught it and sat back.

  Isaac scrambled onto his knees. No, no.

  You are my treasure.

  But he wasn’t. Rune had sacrificed everything for the real treasure. It had to be something important or be about something important unless...

  “No treasure is worth your fish.”

  That comment had pissed him off at the time because it had sounded like a joke, but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe Rune had believed it.

  Isaac swiped his eyes and fixed on a key in Qudim’s fingers. The vampire gave a gravelly chuckle.

  “Too bad the key to my kingdom lies in your death.”

  48

  The Spell-catcher

  The air burned in Rune’s lungs, and the green light faded into gray.

  But he kept his legs under him. At least he kept them under him. At least that…

  His brain rambled, refusing to accept he’d lost. After all this. But he had to get Isaac away. He made his numb lips move.

  “Let him go.”

  But Qudim frowned. “Dawn was one of us. Not human anymore.”

  So the rumors were true. “You fed her.”

  Qudim gave a humming sound and nodded. “You took Jessamine from me. Humans took her and our child. I wonder…” His gaze faded, and Rune fought not to fade with him. He’d lost too much blood. “I wonder what it would have been. Our child.”

  “Loved.”

  Rune would have loved it. With all the love he gave Mal and Jessa. All the love he’d never given Isaac. Now was his last chance to save him. Everything else…

  He’d failed. Lost. Lost the necklaces. Lost the treasure. Lost the peace.

  He shook.

  Qudim chuckled as he leaned forward and pulled at Isaac’s chain. “Love is dead. Like you.”

  “I gave you the necklaces.”

  Qudim eyed the key in his fingers. “But I want more. Come to me, and promise your obedience.”

  “Let him go.”

  “I keep my word. You don’t.”

  “I honored you.”

  Qudim laughed. “Your human lover defiles us. I want your blood oath, traitor. You will never be king.”

  “Zeveriah is king.”

  “ABOMINATION!” Qudim pushed Isaac away. The chain caught him, and he dropped… What? Rune stared, but Isaac snatched up whatever it was and scuttled backward. “You are Abadi’s spawn!”

  Rune curled his lip over his fangs. “What was I to you? Anything? What are any of us! You poison your own people for the pleasure of feeding on humans.”

  “Blood is our right! Anything else is accursed.”

  “You are insane.”

  “Hm.” Qudim smiled and grabbed a fistful of Isaac’s hair. “I. Want. Your. Blood.”

  Lost. Everything lost.

  “What happened to you?”

  “I was murdered by my son.”

  Fabric scraped rock beside him as Solomon crawled away. Vampires surrounded him. He snarled at them. “Traitors.”

  Qudim laughed and raised his hand. The metal between his fingers flashed light. “The key to your vermin’s lock. Get on your knees, or one of my loyal enforcers will cut off his head.”

  Lost.

  Isaac pulled away from him. “Asshole.”

  Rune frowned. What was Isaac holding?

  “On. Your. Knees.”

  All lost.

  He sank, and his courage rushed away like the last of his blood. Tears swam in his eyes.

  Forgive me.

  “Bastard!”

  Isaac again, but this time sparks flew. Sapphire. Turquoise. Aqua
marine.

  Rise, my son.

  Mama?

  He blinked. Isaac swung at Qudim, driving him back with…

  Energy surged through Rune’s body, and he leaped across the space. He crashed into Isaac as a Ryzok clanged on stone.

  A gunshot cracked in the distance.

  Isaac rolled underneath him.

  “Give it to me,” Rune said.

  “Give…?”

  Rune grabbed the bracelet squished in Isaac’s hand. Spinning above them, Qudim swatted at the blue sparks dancing on his skin.

  Isaac released the bracelet, and Rune rose with it.

  Qudim roared. “You die!”

  Rune grinned. “You first.”

  A light—sapphire blue—shot from his fingers. It twisted and crackled in the air like lightning.

  Mouth in a wide O of shock, Isaac scrambled under the throne, and Qudim’s vampires scattered.

  The light hit Qudim in the chest, slammed him into one of the tables under the windows, and scattered in blue sparks. But it… wasn’t enough.

  Dazed, Qudim shook his head, but he was still alive. Swords clattered as the king’s enforcers scrambled away. Gunshot cracked again.

  Rune forced his thoughts back to Qudim. His eyes glowed with hate, his scarred face twisted. In this room, he’d once cupped Rune’s cheeks and kissed his forehead. Carried Jessa on his shoulders. Hugged his wife. But he’d also beheaded a man while his son sat on his knee. Exiled his children’s mother. Cut them off from her with lies.

  Laid in wait.

  Murdered his own people.

  Let Rune believe him dead.

  As though knowing his thoughts, Qudim swayed then straightened. “Strike again.”

  He wanted to, but the quivering in his arms told him it wouldn’t happen. He clenched the bracelet in his fingers. Why wasn’t it working? You took it off. Lost the power. Lost it all. Everything.

  Qudim laughed. “I am stronger. Minute by minute, day by day, I lay dying. My blood drained away. My will to live. You betrayed me. I will never be free of that memory. Coming to me without weapons. Your lover hiding in the dark. You and your glorious plan to grovel at the feet of humans.”

  “We don’t need their blood.”

  “We are ELLOWYN!”

  Some of Qudim’s enforcers had returned, staring nervously into the back of the hall. Rune took a quick glance. Solomon was gone. He looked at Isaac and heard his voice. Uriah’s here.

  Of course he was, directed by Cammy. The tunnel behind Abadi’s statue led to the castle and her children. Her treasure perhaps.

  Go with him.

  Isaac frowned but nodded.

  Qudim flung his arms to either side of him, and his enforcers kept their distance.

  “You pushed me to my death, and you think I should play papa.”

  He’d told Rune to get on his knees and give up the formula for Synelix. Commanded him to obey. And when Rune hadn’t, he’d grabbed his gun and turned it on Zev in his hiding place. Come here, you vile, fungus-riddled parasite.

  Maybe he hadn’t planned to go through with killing Zev, but Rune had grabbed his arm, and they’d fought. They’d been too close to the portal though. When Qudim lost his footing, Rune had grabbed but Qudim had gone over the edge anyway, his horror and betrayal still the last thing Rune saw before he slept.

  But now, in the seconds that he tried to steal to let his power return, he saw Abadi’s face. Weary, wry, amused Abadi. He’d been afraid in Kolnadia that she might kill him, but he’d gone to visit her anyway. She hadn’t trusted him, but he hadn’t expected her to. Now he realized she had trusted him enough.

  The worry on Isaac’s face brought him back to the moment. He glanced behind him. Bodies lay on the floor, the stench of blood strong in the air. Uriah had a Ryzok in one hand, a gun in the other. He stood in a corner, protected by the stone wall at his back, but Qudim’s traitors outnumbered him.

  “Rune!”

  He whipped his head around in time to see Qudim leap. He had no strength to dim, not even muscle strength.

  “A spell-catcher consumes good luck and holds it prisoner,” Protis said. “Whose luck do you think that will capture? Yours? Or another’s?”

  The smash of Qudim’s body into his knocked him flying. He crashed onto his back and skidded on the blood-slick floor, twisting to rise onto his knees. He slammed a boot back into Qudim’s chest and slugged him in the face. The big vampire grunted but grabbed his waistband and dragged him closer. He got his hands around Rune’s throat and let his fangs come out to play. Rune showed his own and jabbed his knee up into Qudim’s gut. His breath, thick with blood, hit Rune in the face.

  His home.

  This had been his home.

  And violence and greed had fouled it. He roared, the clash of metal ringing in his ears. A head rolled past him. Not Uriah’s. His relief mixed with fear at the clock ticking in his head. How long could Uriah hold out? He slammed his elbow into Qudim’s fangs. The howl shook him. The fang was gone, a jagged edge at the gum line. He stumbled up. Qudim spat blood at him.

  “How much did your mother teach you, you filthy spawn. And how much did she forget to tell you came from me? We have ruled for thousands of years. Did you not fucking wonder why?”

  Goosebumps erupted on his skin, and dread wriggled in his guts as he wondered what he’d missed when Qudim swung his arm and smashed Rune in the mouth. His tooth snapped. The pain was electric, live wires of agony shooting into his head. He staggered back, hands clapped to his face, gagging on blood. The pain was a lash, driving adrenalin through his veins in hot strokes. Energy. Fury. His power surged. He shot blue light that crashed into the same blue light crackling from Qudim’s fingers.

  Holy fuck.

  Where did the power come from? He’d never seen it before. But he’d never shown his own either.

  Why not? Was he afraid of it?

  Yes. Terrified. Afraid of losing control. Of losing everything.

  But he already had. One last surge shot through him, and Qudim fell back. He rolled the bracelet—tarnished metal and stiff leather entwined with rubies that pulsed with color the moment they touched his skin—onto his wrist and raised his arm as Qudim’s blue fire shot toward him. It hit the bracelet and exploded like a wave, changing from sapphire to turquoise to aqua to sea foam. It enveloped everyone in the hall but only struck Qudim. His power rolled back on him in an endless loop. He jerked and twisted, rising off the floor, like somebody caught in a lightning strike. The sobs and wails that tore at Rune’s throat surprised him. He gasped and dropped into a crouch, his wrist throbbing with warmth. A hand fell onto his back. Then another grabbed his waist, and he turned into Isaac’s arms.

  “Don’t look,” he murmured, though he had no idea what would confront him when he viewed the scene himself.

  A heavy thud led to a high-pitched whine in the air and a palpable stillness.

  He extracted himself from Isaac’s embrace and cupped his face. “I’m taking you home.”

  He ignored the puckered frown that appeared on Isaac’s brow, marveling he could even stomach Rune now. He was a monster. A hairsbreadth away from being Qudim.

  “Garbage!” Uriah yelled. “Eyes down!”

  Rune struggled onto his feet and faced the hall. The vampires who still lived knelt. Uriah stood in the middle of them, chest heaving, a bloody sword at his side. He met Rune’s gaze, steel in his eyes as he approached, striding through the vampires as though they weren’t there. His nostrils flared as he breathed. He paused only to glance down at Qudim, a flash of pain appearing in his eyes. Tearing his gaze away with a jerk of his head, he strode on, locking his eyes on Rune’s. He stepped up to him, dropped his Ryzok, and fell to his knees, chin to his chest. “Majesty.”

  “Uriah.”

  “I am your servant.”

  Rune’s lips parted. He shook his head. “No. My friend.”

  Uriah looked up, and a smile warmed his face. “Yes. I am. What are your orders, sire?�
��

  “Release Isaac.”

  Uriah climbed to his feet. The vampires across the hall stayed on their knees. Some knelt in blood, some were wounded, some shook, tears on their faces. Rune ignored them. He did what he railed against doing, what shook him inside worse than the quaking of the vampires fearing for their lives. He strode to Qudim. His father, and once his king.

  “It was him,” Zev said. “The one who killed everyone in the lab. Justin confessed. He must have been the one Asa saw. I would never have thought it. His death is dishonored.”

  Not his death though. His life. He’d fought well, as a vampire should, though for all the wrong reasons.

  Steeling himself, Rune let his gaze rest on the corpse. It wasn’t burnt, though. Strange. His vision blurred. He was a fucking orphan again. The wail inside him rose. He’d found his father alive, after all the grieving and thinking him dead. After everything he’d done and lost. After the hope had died. He’d given up his family and pushed Isaac away. Love wasn’t for him, the murderer of his own father. He’d thought he had nothing left to lose, that the treasure was everything. But Qudim had taught him a last lesson.

  The treasure was nothing.

  “I was your son,” he whispered, his throat choking him, his tears falling. “I loved you.”

  With a swipe at his face, he knelt and took the pouch with the necklaces from Qudim’s neck.

  Then he stood and his voice soared and echoed under the cavern’s ceiling.

  “IT IS OVER!”

  49

  A Second Chance

  Rune sat on the throne, though it appeared to Isaac as if he’d collapsed onto it. He sprawled, leaning on one of the throne’s arms. Blood soaked the bottoms of his jeans.

  Isaac’s heart pounded at the sight of the vampires coming closer. Maybe they were afraid of Rune now and wouldn’t try to go against him, but there were dozens of them still alive.

  Rune echoed Isaac’s fear.

  “How many of you are there?”

  They exchanged glances, then one of them stepped forward. He was older, grizzled, and bleeding from a slash in his arm. “We fill Celestine and Kolnadia, part of Onnopiel, and some are scattered in other cities.”