by M. K. Dawn
“At least there was order. Some kind of justice.”
“For the vampires, perhaps,” Euphenia settled back into her seat, “but not for humans. You’ve set them free.”
“By letting loose the monsters?”
Euphenia frowned. “My dear Samantha. The monsters have always been there. It is why the Dhampyr exist. The difference now is humans know of the threat and can defend themselves if need be.”
Samantha sank into her chair. “Why did you save me?”
“Ah. The answer is simple yet complex. There is a uniqueness about you I cannot figure out. One that may change the world for the better.”
Samantha’s head throbbed. “What does that even mean?”
“As I said, simple and complex. Which brings me to an item I wish to speak to you about. You are now Dhampyr. I would like you to consider joining us.”
Samantha snorted. “You can’t be serious.”
“There are rumors you defeated the witch Laras. I’m not sure if you are aware, but he trained in physical combat for upwards of a hundred years.”
“I guess I got lucky. Perhaps your magic helped.” The spark she’d felt that night hadn’t returned.
Euphenia rose from her seat. “Please take some time to consider my offer. I must be going.”
“Wait. I still have so many questions. And the stone—I brought the shards back with me.”
Euphenia rested a hand on Samantha’s shoulder as she passed. “Keep them. As for your lingering questions, come by the Dhampyr training facility, see what it is we do, and we’ll talk.”
Samantha plodded back into kitchen after walking Euphenia out, wishing it was later in the day. A glass of wine or a shot of whiskey would hit the spot right about now.
“Did I just see a really old Euphenia walking down the path,” Ethan said as he came back from his morning run, “or am I losing my mind?”
“Yep. That was her. Apparently, she made a deal with the God of Light, loaned me her immortality so I could live, has been in a coma for a month, took her immortality back from me a few days ago, and is slowly returning to her younger self.”
Ethan froze. “I…what? That’s a whole lot of…”
Samantha threw her arms over his neck and kissed him. “My words exactly.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “So…is that why she was here?”
“That,” she dropped her head, “and to offer me a job.”
“Job?” Ethan kissed her neck. “What sort of a job?”
Samantha’s stomach tingled from the heat of his breath. “Joining the Dhampyr.”
Ethan released Samantha and took a step back. “What did you say?”
The front door swung open and Darrien and Evie strolled in, each with a bag of food.
“Um,” Darrien paused, “did Ethan not tell you we were coming over for breakfast? We can leave.”
“No,” Samantha waved them in, “we were just talking.”
“About…?” Evie pressed. “Something exciting?”
Darrien took the groceries from Evie and made his way to the kitchen. “Can’t be more exciting than our news.”
“Want to bet?” Ethan mumbled.
Samantha grabbed Evie’s arm and pulled her to the couch. “What sort of news do you two have?”
“I got this bun from the baker,” Darrien called from the kitchen, “can I stick it in the oven?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Samantha waved him off. “So, what’s the news? I’m dying to know.”
Evie raised her eyebrows and laughed. “Seriously?”
“What?” Had she missed something? “Ethan, do you know what’s going on? Ethan? Are you okay? You look kind of pale?”
Darrien dissolved into laughter. “Ethan, maybe you should sit down.”
“How did this happen?” he managed.
“Well, you take a man,” Darrien held up his pointer finger, “and a woman,” he made a circle with his other hand, “and they—”
Ethan smacked away Darrien’s puppet show. “You finish that, and I will knock your ass to the ground.”
“Wait a minute.” Samantha rose from the couch, still confused. “What am I missing?”
Darrien cupped her face. “Evie and I are pregnant. Well, she’s pregnant, but I helped.”
“Oh my God.” Samantha pushed Darrien’s hands from her face and hauled him into a hug. Then she rushed to Evie and pulled her close.
“You're not mad?” Evie lowered her eyes. “After losing your own child I thought maybe…”
“Never.” She hugged her tighter. Even though Samantha had never gotten to hold her baby in her arms, this healed her heart in ways they would never know. “How did this happen?”
“Well, you take a man…” Darrien suck up his pointer finger.
“Shut up,” Samantha snapped. “I know where babies come from. What I mean is how did it happen between the two of you? A vampire and a werewolf.”
Darrien grinned. “I’m fantastic at—”
Evie held up her hand. “No more.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Darrien removed the packaged plates from the bags. “I’ll just get breakfast on the table. The girls down the way make a mean omelet.”
“Ethan?” Evie grasped his hands. “You haven’t said anything. Are you mad?”
“Mad?” Ethan shook his head, eyes wet with tears. “I’m in shock. And not in a bad way. I’m just so…I’m going to be an uncle.”
“Yes.” A tear rolled down Evie’s face. “Sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m just so…”
Samantha laughed. “Sometimes you two are so alike.”
“Have you told Mom yet?” Ethan asked.
“Not yet.” Evie sighed. “You think she’d be okay with it? Her hatred for vampires runs deep.”
Ethan cupped her face. “She’ll be thrilled.”
“Breakfast is ready,” Darrien called out. “Everyone to the table.”
They ate, laughed, and talked well into the day, enjoying the simplicity of their newfound lives. Much of the conversation revolved around the baby, from names to Darrien taking bets on whether he would be born a werewolf, vampire, or some sort of hybrid the world had never seen.
“Hey,” Darrien snapped his fingers, “when we got here you said something about having news as well. I’ve got to know, is it more exciting than ours?”
Samantha took a deep breath and recounted what Euphenia had told her this morning. When she finished, they sat in silence for a few minutes.
“Wow.” Evie chewed on her nail. “I mean wow. All of it is crazy, but joining the Dhampyr…I mean, wow.”
Darrien, who usually had an opinion on everything, pointed his thumb at Evie. “What she said.”
“What did you tell her?” Ethan asked.
“First, I laughed in her face and told her that was ridiculous. She told me to think on it. Pretty much told me she wouldn’t answer any more of my questions until I at least visit their training facility. So that’s what I’m doing: thinking about it.”
“You’re mortal,” Ethan mumbled.
“Half mortal,” Samantha reminded him, “half vampire. As are all Dhampyr. And you saw how well they handled themselves.”
“Well, I for one think it’s great.” Darrien stood and pulled Evie to her feet. “You were a badass when you took down Laras and Miss Crazy Pants. With some training, you could be a full-on ninja.”
“Thanks, Darrien.”
Evie squeezed her arm as they headed out the door. “Let me know if you want to talk.”
“I will. And congratulations again.”
“Listen,” Ethan said the moment the others left, “it’s not that I don’t think you can do it.”
Samantha went to the kitchen to start the dishes. “Obviously.”
“I’m serious.” He grabbed her hand. “After everything that happened with Guinevere, it changed you. You hardly ate, barely slept for weeks. I don’t want to see you go down that road again. But whatever
you decide, I’ll be here.”
Samantha shut off the water and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” He gave her a quick kiss. “I’m going to jump in the shower. Care to join me?”
“Let me finish these real fast and I’ll meet you there.”
“Hurry.” He kissed her again and headed off to the bedroom.
As Samantha finished the dishes, a group of Dhampyr passed by the window. The spark she’d felt when she defeated Guinevere—the one that had been missing for weeks—ignited. Her body came alive, her senses heightened, her muscles ached for a fight—for justice in a world that thrived on chaos. The future she never knew she wanted flashed in her mind, not in images but as a single word: Dhampyr.
Thank you so much for reading! If you have time to spare, a short review would be greatly appreciated.
There are two spin-offs in the works for the Immortal Wars Trilogy:
A prequel series: The Darrien Barrows Chronicles
A Continuation series about Samantha and the Dhampyr
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Other Books by M.K. Dawn:
The Immortal Wars Trilogy
The Immortal Plague (Book 1)
The Immortal Deceit (Book 2)
The Immortal Affliction (Book 3)
The Nysian Trilogy (Fantasy)
The Nysian Prophecy (Book 1 is FREE)
The Nysian Prophecy Revealed (Book 2)
The Nysian Prophecy Fulfilled (Book 3)
The Decay of Humanity Series (Post-Apocalyptic Thriller)
Dusk of Humanity (Book 1)
Descent of Humanity (Book 2) – Coming 2019
Demise of Humanity (Book 2) – Coming 2019
Dawn of Humanity (Book 2) – Coming 2019
How We Met Novellas (Contemporary Romance)
Under the Texas Sky
A little about M.K. Dawn
M.K. Dawn was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She now lives south of town on a cattle ranch with her husband, two kids, four dogs, and a rabbit. When she's not writing, she can be found driving her kids around to after-school activities, decorating cakes and watching as much Netflix as she can. But her all-time favorite hobby will always and forever be reading.