Revelation of Blood (Skye Morrison Vampire Series, #5)

by J. L. McCoy

  One of the larger rooms I went into was obviously Jameson’s room. He had an acoustic and electric guitar sitting on stands in one corner and the room smelled heavily of him. I peeked into his closet and ran my fingers over the numerous concert t-shirts and jeans he kept in there. My heart instantly ached for the friend I had lost. I loved Jameson and wished more than anything that I hadn’t messed everything up so bad when I broke up with him. He was my brother now, my family, and I desperately needed him to be a part of my immortal life.

  I closed the closet door and left his room before the tears that were threatening to fall actually did. There was one last room to explore and that was Archer’s room, the master suite. I opened the tall, wooden double doors and gasped at what I saw. Archer’s room occupied the far corner of the penthouse and two of the four walls were floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the beautiful blue bay. Sailboats with bright colored masts and large motor boats cruised the water below. Watching them was surprisingly calming.

  Turning my attention to the rest of the room, I loved what I saw. Archer’s king-sized canopy bed was made out of a beautiful mahogany and draped in sheer cream curtains. Thick pillows of varying sizes and a brown fur blanket adorned the top. His bathroom had a double vanity, a walk in shower, and a big Jacuzzi tub. The walk in closet was just off that and it was big enough to be a bedroom of its own.

  I decided to relax on the bed and stare out into the blue waters of the bay until Archer was finished with his business. I guess I got too relaxed because I fell asleep, awaking to light kisses on my eyelids.

  “The donors are here, cion,” Archer whispered as he stroked my hair back from my face.

  “Mmm,” I moaned as I stretched and opened my eyes. “Good. I’m starving.”

  Archer took my hand and helped me to the door. Beverly was standing just outside with our suitcases and was waiting for me to exit. “Ms. Reynolds is going to unpack for us before she leaves. Do you need anything else before she does, baby?”

  I shook my head and gave her a sleepy smile as Archer moved us out into the hall. “I can unpack my own luggage, honey. She doesn’t have to do that for me.”

  “It’s her job,” he explained. “Besides, you aren’t going to have time to do it tonight anyway. After you feed you need to get changed. Jameson’s concert is in two hours. I’d like to get there early enough to visit with him before the show if I can.”

  “You miss him don’t you?” I asked, stopping us at the end of the hall and looking up into his eyes.

  “Every day, cion,” he answered with a small, sad smile. “He’s my son, my brother. We haven’t spoken much since he left.”

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized, feeling horrible for coming between the two again. “That’s my fault. I promise I’ll fix this, okay? I-I miss him too.”

  “It’s no one’s fault,” Archer shook his head and went to say more but I silenced him with a kiss.

  When I pulled away, I put on my best carefree smile, hiding the ache and guilt deep down inside me. “Want to share my meal with me? Should be yummy,” I said sing-song as I wagged my eyebrows.

  Archer shook his head and laughed. “No, baby. Between your blood and Donovan’s, I’m set for the night. You enjoy them though. Mind if I watch?”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I winked as I turned to the two new guests occupying the couch.

  Javier was tall, dark, handsome, and hailed from Portugal. His accent was thick and hard to understand but the great thing about donating blood is that conversation isn’t a requirement. The second man was Juan Carlos and he reminded me of a darker Jesse Metcalf; he was absolutely gorgeous and could have modeled for any agency in the world.

  Beverly had done a great job securing my donors. They were exactly as I asked and she exceeded my expectations. I was starting to understand why Archer kept her around. She may have wanted my man, but she was intelligent enough not to step on my toes when blood and a hungry vampire were involved. Smart girl.

  Javier was exquisite; his blood tasted tangy, rich, earthy and spicy, and was just what I had been craving. This time I didn’t allow my venom to give my donor more than a slight euphoric high. The last thing I needed was two hot, delicious men blowing their loads again in front of Archer. If the roles were reversed and Archer was giving gorgeous women orgasms when he fed, I’d probably have to cut a bitch. Respect. You give a little, you get a little.

  Juan Carlos proved to be a bigger challenge than I was anticipating and I was dangerously close to losing my head and giving him the full whammy of my bite. As I fed from his neck, he whispered seductive little words in Spanish. His blood, mixed with the smell of his excitement and soft cadence of his words, was enough to drive me over the edge of sanity.

  I blindly reached out with one hand behind me, desperately needing Archer to take it and ground me with his touch. Thankfully, he was there in a heartbeat. He held my hand tightly and stroked my hair as I finished up.

  By the time the men had recovered and I thanked them, Beverly was back to escort them out.

  “If there is anything you need, Mr. Rhys, I’m just a phone call away,” she purred at Archer before she showed the men to the door and left.

  I growled as soon as the door closed and Archer turned to me with a chuckle. “Is someone jealous?”

  “I hate the way she looks at you,” I frowned as I folded my arms over my chest. “And I don’t like the fact that I was picking up nothing but jealousy and longing from her emotions when I read her. She’s got a major hard-on for you and I don’t like it. I also don’t like knowing that you two have a past. I don’t know the extent of your relationship, but I can tell she wants more than you are giving her now.”

  Archer sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he sat down in the spot Juan Carlos just vacated. He held out his hand and waited for me to take it. When I did, he pulled me onto his lap and made me to straddle his hips. “Ms. Reynolds donated her blood to me a few times.”

  I gazed at him with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. “And?”

  “And,” Archer sighed, as he wrapped his hands around me and pulled me flush against his chest. “That’s it. Before you ask or even assume, Beverly and I have not slept together. Before you came into my life, I steered clear of fucking my employees.”

  I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. His words were a soothing balm for my displeasure and I was secretly glad that I wouldn’t have to ruin her adorable Chanel skirt with the sole of my chuck. That skirt was too posh to withstand an old fashioned Texas ass-whooping.

  Archer saw my change in mood and smiled. “Feeling better since you fed, baby?”

  “Much,” I smiled happily as I ran my fingers through his silky brown hair then lightly kissed his full lips. “I don’t mind you drinking your fill from me when we make love; in fact I love it, but let’s try to replenish my supply a little faster next time. Your girl royally pissed me off and I was ten seconds away from making her regret she’d ever come into work today.”

  “Skye,” Archer admonished with a tsk as he fought a grin.

  “What?” I breathed innocently as I shrugged one shoulder. “So I get a little cranky when I’m hungry. I’m a newborn. You know I’m still somewhat a slave to my emotions. When a hot chick comes into my man’s house and looks at him the way Beverly looked at you…in front of me while I’m starving? Well, she’s just lucky you were around to distract me.” I took his face in my hands and looked into his eyes. “You’re mine, Archer Rhys; lock, stock, and barrel baby. I’d never been jealous a day in my life until I met you. I know what I want, I know what I want to protect, and I’m prepared to kick a little ass if need be.”

  “You love me,” he teased and smiled a toothy, satisfied grin.

  “For life, baby,” I smiled and I realized that I meant it. I’d love Archer Rhys until my dying breath and couldn’t imagine myself loving any other man. More importantly, I never wanted anyone else but him. He was my forever and that fit me
just fine.

  Chapter Seven

  We arrived at Patty’s Club and Pub with an hour to spare until show time. Archer was dressed in dark wash designer jeans and a black t-shirt and I was wearing tight black leather leggings, my six inch black DIY (Do-it-yourself) Alti Spike pumps and a black Manky Langer t-shirt that I had previously cut, ripped, shredded and tied into a backless cropped halter top. I chose to wear my hair down to cover my naked back and I wore a little less makeup than I normally did when dressing up for my shift at The Mausoleum, but it was still quite dark.

  We gave the doorman our tickets, held out our wrist to accept the required wristbands, and headed inside for a drink. The club had around a hundred people inside already and it made maneuvering to the bar a bit interesting; lots of side stepping, shuffling, and ‘pardon me’s. Archer ordered two whiskey doubles and a PBR chaser for me. I was about to accept my drink from him when the sound of an acoustic guitar drew my attention.

  Someone was playing the opening chords to ‘Here Without You’ by 3 Doors Down. I tried to see the stage but a large crowd surrounded us and I wasn’t tall enough to see over the towering men. Archer nudged me with his elbow and I shook my head as I accepted the whiskey and beer.

  “To a good night, beautiful,” Archer smiled as he touched his rim to mine and leaned his head down to me.

  “To a good night,” I whispered happily against his lips before kissing them. “Sláinte, handsome.”

  “Sláinte.”

  I downed my whiskey in two gulps and nearly dropped the glass as Jameson’s perfect voice accompanied the sounds of the acoustic guitar.

  “Are you okay?” Archer asked worriedly, taking the glass from me and setting it on the bar.

  I tried to listen to what he was saying but Jameson’s soulful rendition had my complete attention. I turned to the group of guys nearest me and shuffled them to the side a few feet so that I could take a peek at the stage. Jameson sat alone on a high, backless bar stool; his acoustic guitar propped on his knee and his eyes closed tightly as he sang into the microphone in front of him. His face was full of emotion and what I saw and heard broke my heart.

  ‘Here Without You’ was not a happy song; it was about someone who was separated from the person they wanted to be with most and had to contend with thoughts and dreams of them to get by until they could see them again. Hearing Jameson croon those words made my stomach twist in knots.

  “What’s wrong?” Archer asked, lacing his fingers through mine and pulling me back to the barstool beside him.

  “N-nothing,” I mumbled as I popped the tab on my can of beer and took a deep pull.

  Archer turned my face to his and frowned as he looked deeply into my eyes. “Something is bothering you. You’re shaking.”

  Looking down at my hands, I realized he was right. Well shit! I closed my eyes and worked hard to put up a mental barrier between Archer and me. I didn’t want him hearing my thoughts right now. The song is probably about someone else; a girl he met. Jameson hates me. He wouldn’t be singing about me.

  Jameson’s song ended and Archer was interrupted from his thoughts by the clapping. He joined in and smiled toward the stage.

  “I think I’ll bring our dheartháir a whiskey and surprise him,” Archer smiled as he turned toward the bar. “I wonder why he’s out here singing with his acoustic. I’ve never seen him do that before a show. Have you?”

  “He’s probably just warming up,” I guessed as the chords of his next song began.

  It was a rocked up version but there was no doubt as to what the song was. ‘My Immortal’ by Evanescence vibrated off the strings and I swallowed hard. There was no doubt in my mind that this song was meant for me; even if Jameson was unaware that we were here, he was still playing the song for me and it made my heart ache. ‘My Immortal’ stood as the principal anthem of the wounded, pained and brokenhearted.

  I stood up from my seat and nudged my way free from the crowd around the bar. My eyes drank him in as I watched. Jameson’s eyes were closed again as he strummed out the gut-wrenching tune; pouring out his very soul into the mic. My hand covered my mouth as I tried to stifle my bubbling emotions. Seeing him play that song was bad enough but having to hear it made me feel sick.

  His words made me want to find the deepest, darkest hole and hide away; to run out of the club and lie down in oncoming traffic, finally putting him out of his misery. I felt lower than low; like the sludge that grows on slime that sits below algae at the bottom of a pond. He’s never going to forgive me, I silently told myself. He hates you, just listen!

  I swallowed thickly, my eyes burning with unshed tears, as I turned to go back to the bar. Truth was, I wanted to be anywhere in the world but right here listening to his internal torture. What I did to him was unforgiveable and I had no right to show my face here.

  Archer was moving through the ever increasing crowd and was only a few feet away. He stopped in front of me, handing me another beer and whiskey.

  “I’m going to take this one over to Jameson, baby,” he said as he leaned into me. “Do you want to go with me and say hello?”

  I quickly shook my head and made an excuse. “I’m going to check out the merch booth real quick. There’s a Manky Langer t-shirt I want. I’ll find you in a few minutes.”

  Archer kissed my cheek and I watched frozen with fear as he approached the stage. Jameson’s eyes were still closed but it only took a few seconds for him to sense Archer near. His eyes popped open in surprise and he smiled down at his brother. I could tell that Jameson had missed Archer and was genuinely happy to see him.

  Jameson flawlessly finished the song and flipped his guitar around on its strap so that it rested against his back before hopping down and hugging Archer tightly, patting his back a few times. Jameson accepted the whiskey from his brother, then reached over by his stool and picked up a half empty bottle of his own favorite brand before draining the shot and refilling his and Archer’s glasses.

  They talked for a minute and I was about to turn around when a tell-tale frown appeared on Jameson’s face. I knew right then that the conversation had turned to me. Jameson’s head snapped up and he scanned the crowd, looking for me.

  I was so terrified of him seeing me and wanted to turn tail and run, but my feet were cemented in place. Fear is a total bitch sometimes. Jameson’s eyes passed over me and I breathed a sigh of relief. To my horror, they snapped right back to me and zeroed in. Like they were all suddenly conspiring against me, the crowd around me picked that moment to shift, leaving me fully exposed to him. His eyes swept slowly down my body and back up again, taking their time on the trip. I wrapped my arms protectively around my bare stomach and waited for the condemnation I was sure to see in his eyes. To my immense amazement and shock, it never came.

  He stared at me for a while longer then looked back to Archer and never glanced my way again. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or hurt. I settled on a mix of the two and tossed back my shot before chasing it with the entire can of PBR.

  I politely elbowed my way to the bar and ordered up another double whiskey while Archer and Jameson visited. The bartender must have sensed my inner turmoil because he slid me another PBR on the house and told me to cheer up. I nodded my head, thanking him, and tossed back the double before shooting the beer. A minute later, my head started to feel fuzzy and I knew I had a buzz. Sadly, being a vampire made it hard to catch an actual buzz and even harder to keep it for very long. Either way I was happy because my nerves were starting to finally calm down.

  A hand rubbed my back and I glanced up to see Archer behind me. “You doing okay?” he asked, concern heavy in his voice.

  “I’m buzzed,” I smiled as I signaled for another round for Archer and me.

  “I bet,” Archer smiled and leaned down to capture my mouth. “You taste like Pabst,” he grimaced.

  “Give me two seconds and I won’t,” I giggled as I held up three fingers.

  The bartender set our order in front of m
e and I downed the shot and leaned back into Archer’s side. “What about now?” I asked, puckering up.

  Archer chuckled and pulled me off the barstool. “Mmm. Whiskey. Much better, baby,” he purred, pulling back from the kiss. “Grab your beer. Jameson is going to play one more song before the band comes out.”

  I wanted to dig my heels in and refuse to go, but some sick part inside of me was obviously a glutton for punishment. Archer and I joined a small group that had amassed in front of the stage. Jameson took a final swig from his bottle before he cleared his throat and began the next song.

  I didn’t recognize the tune at first and smiled up at Archer in relief. Maybe he’s done torturing me, I silently hoped. I started to relax and enjoy the performance, but was suddenly slapped in the face by the verbiage. Looking back, it had to have been the alcohol that caused me to not pay close enough attention to the opening. Jameson was singing ‘Rest in Pieces’ by Saliva and his eyes were only for me.

  My breathing increased as I listened to the song slack-jawed. The look in his eyes, coupled with the lyrics ‘Would you find it in your heart to make this go away and let me rest in pieces’ made tears spring to my eyes and quickly fall down my face.

  Archer noticed Jameson singing to me and when his eyes met my face, he saw what the song was doing to me. No amount of alcohol could have prepared me for what I was facing tonight. I was standing in the middle of my own personal hell and I had an audience of hundreds present for my humiliation and shame.

  Archer came to stand in front of me, blocking me from Jameson’s view, as he put his hands on my shoulders. “Skye,” he whispered, his face full of sympathy. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to believe those songs were about you.” He wiped the heavy tears from my face with his thumbs as he cupped my cheeks. “We’ll go, okay? We don’t have to stay. I’ll have a word with Jameson later tonight.”