Grizzly Cove Volumes 1-3 Box Set

by Bianca D'Arc

  Running security was second nature to him. Zak had left home at eighteen, leaving the bayou and his bastard father behind, striking out to join the Army. He’d never looked back. Not even once.

  When his mate had died of illness, Zak’s father had turned mean. Or maybe he’d always been mean, and losing his mate just made him worse. Zak didn’t know for sure. His mother had died when he was still a boy. He missed her to this very day, but he felt like maybe, sometimes, she was watching over him from above—or wherever spirits went when they left this realm.

  “You know, deputy, I’m going to have to start charging you rent if you keep coming in here every night.” Tina brought over the carafe of coffee, pouring him a fresh cup without even asking. She knew by now that he would never say no to good coffee.

  “Just following orders, ma’am. Though to be honest, I’m enjoying these orders way more than any other I’ve been given to date in this town. It’s nice to have an excuse to sit here, drink coffee and eat your marvelous pastries.” He popped a slice of the danish he’d been eating into his mouth to emphasize his point.

  “But you ran the reporter off. Nobody’s seen him since. I don’t think he’s coming back, and even if he did, I could handle him. I’d tell him to go straight to hell, like I did the first time he came sniffing around.”

  Tina was a little more outspoken than her older sisters, and Zak liked that about her. She had spirit. But that sort of spirit could sometimes get a person into trouble.

  “I won’t argue the point, but Brody asked me to keep an eye on the place, and I’m just as happy to do so. Come on, ma chere, don’t tell me you don’t enjoy my company, at least a little.”

  The little bell above the door tinkled out its merry tune as the door opened, and every hackle on Zak’s body rose in alarm. He spun to face the newcomer, taking in the dark, wet clothing, the blood-red eyes and the hesitant gait.

  “Holy shit.” Zak grabbed for his radio as the newcomer eyed him.

  “Call your Alpha, little cub. I am hanging on here by a thread.”

  Zak’s sensitive nose smelled the blood—new and old—on the creature in the doorway. That he was probably outgunned and outclassed entered his mind briefly, but he dismissed the idea. All that mattered was protecting Tina. And hopefully, getting them both out of this confrontation alive.

  “I beg your pardon, miss, but do you happen to have any wine on the menu? I am greatly in need,” the newcomer asked politely, though Zak could see that every word cost him.

  Then he remembered what he’d heard about vampires and wine. The creature was seeking something that would help him, not attacking. That was a good sign. Zak keyed the mic, calling for Brody in low, urgent tones. Then he palmed his cell phone, hitting the speed dial that would bring the Alpha on the run.

  “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t serve alcohol. Our liquor license hasn’t come through yet,” Tina answered politely, though Zak could hear the confusion in her tone. Bless her little human heart, she didn’t recognize the danger standing in her doorway.

  Zak didn’t take his eyes off the vampire. “Tina, don’t you have some wine upstairs? Go get it, honey. Bring as many bottles as you can down here on the double. Leave them at the bottom of the stairs and then go back and get more. Everything you have. And then stay the hell upstairs for me, will you?”

  She opened her mouth to argue. He could just feel it. But the vampire stepped forward and left a trail of blood across her doorstep. She gasped as the man’s fangs showed.

  “Get the fuck upstairs now, honey. And whatever you do, do not invite this guy up there. Vampires are big on invitations. Do not issue one, okay?”

  “I won’t. But, Zak…” She sounded worried now.

  Zak couldn’t tell if she was concerned about him or the bleeding bloodletter. Either way, she was a sweetheart for her concern, but right about now, with a vamp on the edge like this one clearly was, such weakness could easily get her killed.

  “Take your bear’s advice, little one. I am not to be trusted, at the moment. I have lost too much blood. The wine might help,” the bloodletter said as he all but collapsed into one of the chairs at the front of the bakery. He leaned back, blood and seawater pooling beneath him as he sat.

  Zak didn’t take his eyes off the man, but—thank the Goddess—he heard Tina leave. Her scent went upstairs, and she closed the door behind herself. Zak almost sighed in relief, but he was too keyed up to relax even that much. Everything in him recognized the threat that now sat in front of him.

  “I’m Zak Flambeau, the town deputy,” Zak introduced himself to the bloodletter, hoping the man could keep his wits a little longer.

  Zak knew that bloodletters could go mad when starved of blood, either by being unable to feed or bleeding from serious wounds, like this one. The red eyes gave it away. They were just on the good side of sanity, right now, but that could change in an instant.

  “I am Hiram Abernathy, master of this region. I am headquartered in Seattle but was enjoying a few nights on the ocean when my yacht was attacked and destroyed by…something.” The red eyes looked confused and sort of haunted. “I seek your aid and will apply to your Alpha for safe harbor, though as you seem to understand, I am in extremis. I need blood, or I will run mad. I am trying my best to stay sane, at the moment.”

  “If I give you my blood, will you leave the girl alone?” Zak asked. He’d do anything to keep Tina safe.

  The vampire licked his lips in an unconscious gesture. “Shifter blood…” His flaming eyes seemed to glaze over a bit. “It would heal me much faster than mortal blood. I wouldn’t need as much, and it would safeguard your human playmate. But I will warn you, feeding from you will create a link between us. That could be both good and bad. It will also give me some of your strengths for a short period, making me even more powerful than I already am. Bears are very magical, I hear. Still, I have lived many centuries,” the vampire said, seeming to consider the situation, laying it all out for Zak. “Even with your inherent magic, I do not believe anyone in this town is my equal, so giving me your blood will probably not matter in the long run. My powers are already superior to everyone here.”

  Zak had to chuckle as he moved closer to the vampire. “I’d like to hear you say that to Big John.”

  “Is that your Alpha?” the vampire asked. “John Marshall, right?”

  “How’d you know?” Zak asked, eying the man once more with suspicion.

  The vamp smiled tiredly. “Why do you think I was sailing around the entrance to your cove for the past few days? Recon, my friend. I like to know who is setting up house in my territory, even if you don’t come under my dominion.”

  “I can understand that, I guess,” Zak allowed. He knew Brody and John were on their way.

  They’d be here any minute, but every second the vampire had to wait for blood was a second Tina was in danger. He had to stave off the vampire’s need for as long as he could, until help could arrive. If this guy was as old as he claimed, Zak knew he would be no match for the bloodletter in a fight, even with his native bear magic. Plus, if Hiram was going to feed from any of the shifters in town, it might as well be him. His bear was small by comparison to the others, and less magical. He was the logical choice, so there was no sense in delaying.

  “How does this work? I’ve never entertained one of your kind before,” Zak said with a deceptive grin. Inside, he was nervous, but he refused to show it on the outside.

  “Just give me your wrist, and don’t fight. I will do my best to control myself, but regardless, if you pass out, I will stop feeding. I won’t kill you.”

  “Good to know,” Zak nodded, swallowing hard. The vampire smiled, showing his pearly white fangs.

  “You are giving me a great deal of trust, young one. I will not forget this. And I do realize it is to protect your people and your lady. All worthy goals. You have earned my respect, Zak Flambeau.” The vampire nodded to him in a very old-world sort of way.

  Zak bet the bloodlette
r didn’t say those words to too many people. Oddly, he was flattered, which somehow made it easier to take that final step toward the vampire. He held out his arm, and faster than thought, the vampire had grabbed his hand and elbow, positioning his wrist upward for the fangs that descended with lightning speed.

  Zak was unprepared for the wave of energy that washed over him. He felt his magic battling with the vampire’s for a moment before some sort of accord was reached and the blood began to flow.

  Chapter Two

  The door opened with a tinkling chime of the bell.

  “What the fuck?” Brody stopped short as he came upon the scene of the vampire sucking blood from Zak’s wrist.

  “It’s okay, Brody. Hiram needs this, and I’m the logical choice of all of us. Where’s John?” Was it Zak’s imagination or was his voice sounding a little weak?

  “I’m right here,” John said from behind the bakery counter. He must’ve come in the back way. The stealthy way. Good ol’ John. Once a commando, always a commando. “And I’ll thank you, sir,” he was speaking pointedly to the vampire now, “to let go of my friend, Zak, there.”

  The vampire took one last long swallow, then licked his tongue across Zak’s wrist in a move that could’ve been weird but felt healing, instead. He let go of Zak’s arm, and when Zak looked, there were no marks left to show that the veins in his wrist had just been opened and resealed. That was some funky vampire mojo Hiram had going on there.

  “A moment, if you please, Alpha.” Hiram held up his hands, as if in surrender.

  He closed his scary blood-red eyes and seemed to meditate for a few seconds. As Zak watched, he seemed to internalize the blood and energy he’d just taken in, his skin taking on a healthier cast as his own bleeding appeared to stop, judging by the lack of droplets adding to the puddle beneath his chair.

  When he opened his eyes again, they were a sort of topaz brown. No longer red. No longer too close to the edge of sanity. The vampire still looked quite weak, but he was definitely better.

  “Forgive me for this abrupt arrival in your town, Mayor Marshall. It was not my intent to arrive here in this fashion, but the creatures of the deep apparently had other ideas.”

  “Really?” John seemed unimpressed by the fellow’s pretty speech. “Are you trying to tell me a sea monster ate your boat and spit you out in my cove? Pull the other one.”

  Hiram stood and tugged off what was left of his tattered shirt.

  “Son of a bitch,” Zak muttered, seeing the evidence of the wounds Hiram had suffered.

  It looked almost as if he’d been bitten by a shark, but if so, it was a freaking huge shark, with massive rows of teeth. At least five rows of teeth, if Zak was counting right. And stinging suckers, but again, much larger than any octopus, squid or jelly Zak had ever seen.

  John came closer, moving in front of Zak to inspect the wounds. They were healing even as Zak watched. He knew the power of his blood gave the vampire the ability to heal his wounds, but if they still looked this bad now, what must they have been like when they were made?

  “I stand corrected. And I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong,” John said magnanimously. “What the fuck happened to you?”

  “A sea monster ate my boat and spit me out in your cove.” Hiram repeated John’s earlier words, earning a grin from the big Alpha that turned into an outright laugh.

  “Guess I deserved that. I’m John, as you already know. You’re Master Abernathy, right? From Seattle?” John held out his hand for a shake.

  Zak held his breath. He didn’t think the vampire would try anything, but now was a moment of truth, of sorts. Would the bloodletter turn on them now that he’d been fed?

  Hiram took John’s hand and shook it. Zak breathed again. One hurdle overcome.

  “Please call me Hiram,” the master replied. “I regret coming to you in such strange circumstances. I was trying to be stealthy, observing your settlement from the water for a bit before I made overtures.”

  “I know. My bears saw your yacht out there, and I traced the registry to you. I figured you’d come in when you were ready.”

  John wasn’t Alpha for nothing. Zak hadn’t known about the vampire’s surveillance, but John had others who were more suited to such tasks as watching boats out at sea and tracking down ships’ registries.

  “I would have,” Hiram agreed easily. “But it seems fate had other ideas.” His face turned grim, even as his wounds finally stopped bleeding. “Sir, there is something out there in the deep. Something very evil.”

  Tension filled the room until everyone heard the clanking of bottles near the bottom of the stairs leading to the upper level apartment. Tina.

  Zak nodded to John as he headed behind the counter to the door that led to the staircase. He opened it and found Tina standing there, clutching three bottles of red wine to her chest. Her eyes were wide, and she looked adorably startled.

  “Is it safe?” she whispered.

  Zak considered. “Safe enough, I guess. If you want to come meet our guest, I think it’d be okay. And he can probably still use the wine.”

  Zak took a couple of the bottles from her and waited while she scooped up a few more, and they headed out into the bakery together. Zak led her over to the table where Hiram was seated again. John had taken a seat at the table next to him, facing Hiram, and they were talking in low, urgent tones. Their conversation ceased as Tina entered the front part of the bakery.

  “Honey, this is Hiram Abernathy,” Zak introduced them as he placed the first of the bottles on the small table in front of the vampire. Tina was right behind him. “Master Hiram, this is Tina Baker.”

  She gasped when Zak stepped aside and she saw the rows and rows of bite marks that still showed on Hiram’s chest. They weren’t bleeding anymore, but they were still there, red and gruesome looking.

  “I beg your pardon, lady,” Hiram said with old-world politeness. “I am sorry to darken your door in such a way and make such a mess.” He looked at the blood smears that made a path to the table and the considerable pool of seawater and blood beneath his chair. “Thank you for helping me. I will gladly reimburse you for your troubles. And, as they say, I owe you one. It is not something trivial to have a master vampire owe you a debt.” He winked at her, and Zak bristled.

  “What happened to you?” Tina asked in a sympathetic whisper.

  “Something in the ocean objected to my presence rather strongly,” Hiram replied with wry humor as he looked through the bottles they had brought. “Do you have a glass, a bowl and a small towel?” he asked Tina directly.

  She nodded and bustled off to get the supplies he’d requested. Zak stood by the table and watched the vampire. He didn’t like the way the bloodletter was flirting with Tina. The bear inside him bristled again at the thought of it, and Zak heard a little growl hit the back of his throat.

  Damn.

  “Rest easy, young one,” Hiram held up a calming hand toward Zak. “She is not for me. I believe the Goddess may have already decided her fate. And yours. No?” Hiram looked up at Zak, a smile in his topaz eyes.

  Zak was taken aback. Could he mean…? Could it be?

  Tina returned with the items, and a cork screw, which Hiram hadn’t requested specifically, but Tina had apparently thought to add. Hiram smiled at her again, and Zak’s bear sat up, staring at the man from out of Zak’s eyes, sizing him up. The bear wasn’t sure what to make of Hiram, and neither was Zak’s human side.

  Hiram opened two of the bottles, sloshing deep red wine into the glass from one and drinking it all down in one go. Helpful not to have to breathe, Zak thought, when chugalugging. But it didn’t do the rather good vintage he’d chosen any justice.

  The second bottle, Hiram poured into the bowl, drenching the small towel with wine. Zak watched, surprised, as Hiram placed the wine-soaked towel directly over his wounds, sighing in what sounded like relief as the wine hit his savaged skin.

  He drank more glasses of wine while he let the towel sit,
emptying the bottle with speed before he opened a second bottle of the better vintage. He started drinking that, too, at a slightly slower pace.

  “Normally,” Hiram paused in his drinking to speak, “I would share this excellent wine with you, but these are rather trying circumstances. Tonight, you learn one of the secrets of my kind. You are seeing for yourself that we can, indeed, drink wine and that not only can we drink it, but that it also heals us.”

  Hiram removed the towel, returning it to the bowl to soak up more wine. Tina gasped when Hiram’s chest was revealed. Wherever the wine-soaked towel had touched, he was healed. Completely healed. Not even a small mark was left behind.

  As Hiram drank down the second bottle, the rest of the marks on his body began to fade right before their eyes, as well.

  Zak had seen quick healing. He was a shapeshifter, after all. But he’d never seen anything quite like this. He imagined few people ever did.

  Chapter Three

  Tina was shocked clear out of her skin. That Hiram guy was getting better by the moment, and all indications were that he was some kind of vampire. An honest-to-goodness vampire, right here in the middle of her bakery. Holy cow!

  She’d thought she was going to spend the last few minutes before closing flirting with Deputy Zak, but things had changed drastically in a short time. She was playing hostess to a vampire who was drinking the best bottles of their meager wine collection as if they were filled with water and he had been stuck in the desert for a week. The dude could pack it away, and he didn’t seem to get drunk at all.

  In fact, if anything, the alcohol made him brighter. More with it. It healed him. The very idea defied logic.

  And his eyes had gone from that horror-movie red to a glittering topaz brown that reminded her of a cat. He was really a very dashing fellow. Handsome and built. Just the way she liked ‘em.