by Nicki Ruth
Damurios had not received a queen who would remain on her throne, signing edicts and proclamations. She was hesitant to leave during the Dāmming, but Amir and Alexios assured her their new security protocol would keep strict law and order. Councilor Trakkian, who would remain as the Damurian presence on the empire’s council, would personally approve any travel to the planet only after consultation with her royal security team—Amir and Alexios—for the remainder of the Dāmming.
Davina had also requested Elfond as her personal secretary to schedule appointments and forward messages to her while she was away. The boy had lost his family and she felt responsible to ensure he was taken care of.
With things in place on Damurios, she could give her full attention to finding Marius. She hadn't heard from Lexi since she had opened the small portal several weeks ago, but she trusted her friend was trying to rectify the situation. Davina also had Sandar searching, but she hadn’t yet told Alexios since he still did not trust the reclusive vampire.
“Are you ready?” Alexios asked, swiveling around in his chair on the bridge of the Kona, as she bounded into the room.
“Yes, I can’t wait to be the captain.” She laughed with glee, peering at the flashing controls. One could touch a symbol on the glass surface to steer the ship, remotely operate the doors and lights, or even talk to someone in another location far away! Davina couldn't wait to try them all.
“Well, I hope you make a better student than Jason did.” Alexios chuckled. Then a frown deepened on his brow, his gaze cast behind her.
She knew the cause of his displeasure before she turned around.
“Of course, my queen will be an adept student,” Amir said as he leaned in the doorway, sharpening an exotic bejeweled blade. As usual, he was fully armored, every inch of his body masked by some type of lethal instrument. “Though I’ve found incapable teachers to be most detrimental to promising students.”
Alexios narrowed his eyes but did not respond.
Amir smiled slyly. “Once I’m sure my queen is given adequate instruction, I will be happy to teach Her Majesty the proper use of this blade, a gift to her.”
Davina couldn't help but grin and nod eagerly at him. This garnered a low growl from Alexios. She glanced at him and stifled a chuckle. Men remained the same, regardless of the century.
She moved closer to the flashing control panel. “Well, let’s go find Marius, shall we? Which one should I press first?” She wiggled her fingers daringly before the controls. Alarmed cries raised behind her.
Davina threw her head back and laughed. She was looking forward to this new adventure.
Epilogue
Brandr knocked again on Jason’s door and again received no answer. But he could clearly hear movement behind the doors.
“Jason, the only way you’ll feed is to come out here and get your sire’s blood he left behind for you. You’ve been in there long enough, and you’re trying my patience.”
Brandr wouldn’t coddle Jason the way Alexios had. It was bad enough he was still suckling at his sire’s vein. There was a muffled curse behind the door. Jason was no doubt displeased by his new edict. Brandr smirked.
“I . . . I can’t come out, Brandr. I just can’t. Please, please understand.”
“Jason! Stop this. You’ve not fed in days, and I’m not willing to leave your meal at the door anymore.”
Brandr felt a little guilty, but it was for the best. Whatever Jason was dealing with needed to be addressed head on. Jason was a skilled warrior and Brandr’s brother, whom Brandr himself had helped train. Jason was more than capable of dealing with whatever had awakened within him.
Jason whimpered against the door. Brandr sighed. Jason’s growing thirst would get him out of the room soon enough. He retreated to the sitting area down the hall and waited, but not before he left a drop of blood right outside the door. The scent would hasten Jason’s decision.
An hour later, there was a large commotion in Jason’s room, most likely Jason’s restraint slipping. Another loud crash followed half an hour later. Brandr chuckled, but the laughter died in his throat as he saw what came barreling toward him with a ferocious scowl on its face.
It was Jason, but changed. Large, feathered wings protruded from his back. They spanned the length of the room, grazing the walls as he approached. The feathers were white, tipped in shades of grey and blue. A large number of feathers fluttered around him, released from their perch. Unhealed claw marks scarred his bloodied sides and shoulders.
“Give it to me. Give it to me!” Jason’s eyes were large and yellow and unnervingly intense. “Brandr!” Jason screamed, snapping back Brandr’s attention.
Silently, Brandr handed the jug to Jason, who pounced on it, grabbing it with his clawed hands. He sunk to his knees and desperately drank his sire’s blood, some messily escaping his lips. Brandr could only stare at his brother. Why had he gone through such pain to hide his transformation from them?
Jason finished the blood and remained on his knees with his head down. His body shuddered as he tried to regain himself. Then his shoulders heaved up and down, soft whimpering breaking the silence of the room.
“Please. Please don’t tell father. I . . . I cannot bear for anyone to know.” He sobbed. “I don’t know what has happened to me.” Despair laced his strained voice.
Brandr knelt beside him, hesitantly placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder, gazing over his wings in wonderment. He spied a slender tail, lying smooth against Jason’s back with a small, bushy tuft of hair at the end.
Jason flinched from his touch and refused to look at him, but Brandr kept his hand on his shoulder.
“Jason,” he began softly, “what are you talking about? You’re magnificent. Do not be ashamed. This . . .”
Brandr touched one of Jason’s downy feathers, feeling the softness on his large, calloused fingers. “We’re here for you. We’ll help you discover what all this means.”
Jason slowly raised his tear-streaked face to Brandr’s. With elongated, blood-stained fangs, bright, yellow eyes, and wings awkwardly folded behind him, he looked like something from Norse legend. Something jogged at Brandr’s memory, but he couldn't quite recall what.
Jason was clearly terrified at the changes that he’d undergone, but Brandr saw a ferocious warrior, whose winged splendor was to be admired and celebrated. He grabbed hold of Jason with both hands and shook him.
“My brother, come. Let’s think of what's to be done.”
∞∞∞
Cade checked his sensor again, reread the coordinates, and groaned. They hadn’t changed; his next target was on Damurios, vampire territory. Geez, he hated leeches. Goddamned bloodsuckers! Now, he was headed to a planet full of them. But his sensor—a relic from his ancestors, aided by several modern technological enhancements—had never been wrong before. He adjusted his ship’s navigation and headed toward Damurios.
Cade spent years searching for his targets, but most did not pan out. However, his sensor had lit up just a few days ago with the strongest signal he had seen in years. He leaned back into his chair and smiled, encouraged that this time, this target would be his most promising yet.
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Acknowled
gments
Special thanks to Nkese, Jen, Nikita, and Roslyn for encouraging me along the way, providing feedback, and putting up with my endless demands.
And to all my indie author support groups!
About the
Author
Nicki Ruth is a romantic at heart who loves a bit of history, a splash of adventure, and all things paranormal, especially vampires, shifters, fae, and all others. An avid reader, Nicki’s debut novel, Dark Blooded Desires, began as a dream of a dark-haired brooding stranger gazing into the deep recesses of space. This became chapter one.
She loves good food, good wine and good friends, and writes from her balcony overlooking a parking lot.
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