Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3)

by W. M. Petzler

  The Gypsy shrugged his shoulders. “I thought you’d heard about it years ago.”

  “Why on earth would they celebrate the killing of children?” Alex demanded, sickened people would actually want to reenact such a horrible event.

  “They do not celebrate their deaths; they are paying homage to yours and Magistrate Breber’s selfless act entering the woods when none other dared. You are a hero to have braved the starving wolves to search for the children.”

  Casting a dark scowl at the forest, Alex growled, “The wolves were the least of the malevolence stalking the night.” Before Kai could ask him what he meant, he left her to speak with the inspector.

  Photographs were taken of the dead men, questions asked of the gypsies. Alex helped Herrick and his family by taking control of the situation and answered most of the questions for them. Finally the bodies were bagged and the last of the vehicles left Wulf Manor.

  “Kai, head to the house and make sure no ghoul snuck inside. I’ll sweep the perimeter for any unwelcomed guests.” She nodded, drawing her gun and went into the manor. “Herrick, it won’t take us long to search and then you and your family can go to bed.”

  “I appreciate it,” Herrick replied wearily, his family ready to collapse from exhaustion. Some of the children had fallen asleep in their parent’s arms.

  To his relief, his search turned up nothing. Kai returned and announced, “All clear.”

  Escorting the gypsies in, Michael and his siblings, their families bid them goodnight and carried their children upstairs. Herrick and Sarah made to help Gaeta up the stairs. Alex waved them off and carefully lifted the old woman into his arms.

  “Master, you need not carry me!” Her plump cheeks went red as she put her arms around his neck for support.

  “You will need your strength to watch over the children, yes?”

  “Ja, I wish to stay with them.” Gaeta said to him and Kai, “Our thanks for staying. My family is safe with you guarding us.”

  “I’ll not leave until the danger has been eradicated, I swear it.” At the top of the stairs, Gaeta directed him to the children’s bedroom.

  Setting her down on her feet, she surprised him by giving him a hug. Releasing him, she patted her worried son’s cheek before she went into the children’s room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

  Herrick took his wife’s hand in his. “My mother speaks for us and we feel about your presence. Thank you for staying. Good rest, Alex. Miss Kai.”

  “You, too, Herrick.” Alex watched them retire down the hall and disappear into what once was his father’s bedchamber.

  Resigned, he turned to Kai. “Ask away.”

  “The wolf we saw was Aldric, wasn’t it?”

  Alex recoiled, stunned at her question. “How do you know about my brother?”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “How do you know about Aldric?” he demanded, eyeing her suspiciously. Had the gypsies told her?

  “You’ve been dreaming and … and it’s been leaking into my head.”

  “You said you couldn’t read me!”

  She coolly replied, “I’m not reading you. You gave me your blood, remember? Your mind is connecting with mine, and the dreams happen while we sleep. Neither of us have control over that.”

  “Are you seeing my dreams through my eyes or as an observer?”

  Surprised by his question, she answered slowly, “Both. I can feel what you feel and hear what you think. Yet, I can see around you, people and places.” She watched him warily, and he knew she was afraid he would close off from her again.

  It should have sent him into a tailspin that she was participating in his remembering Magdeburg. The burden his choices heaved on the mortal and immortal had become troublesome on his mind since they arrived in Germany, infecting his sleep with the nightmare he’d endured. Now, since seeing the wolf at the Skaggin farm, he wondered if she could help him with the problem of its identity.

  “The wolf at the Skaggin’s farm reminded me of the one I met on the Harz Mountain, in 1819. Is it different?”

  “It’s the same wolf, Alex. Is it Aldric?”

  “No,” he shook his head, “my brother was not the Wolf of Magdeburg. And it cannot be the same wolf. It was destroyed. This has to be Angel attempting to stir trouble for me. She accused me of being a traitor, remember?”

  “Yeah, she sure does hate your ass.” Kai didn’t look convinced and he didn’t feel it either. The wolf was damned near identical to the one that killed the children. How was it possible?

  “We will have to wait for the wolf to show us its true identity and go from there. If it’s this Lisa you told me of, we’ll put her down.” Checking his watch, it was two-thirty. “Dawn should be around five-ish. You protect the house, I’ll take patrol. Keep alert.”

  ✝✝✝

  And with that, he left her.

  Sitting her backpack and sword down on the floor, Kai took a seat on the top step. The blood flowing through her veins had made her stronger, her thoughts more focused, and still there was something magical about it.

  Was it true about Gaeta being a witch? Considering Herrick and his wife were in their eighties and only looked to be in their sixties, was a sure giveaway to it. Stretching out her mind, she found could hear Michael’s thoughts as he held his wife close, worried the Damned would come while they were sleeping and kill them … turn them. Sending soothing waves of encouragement to sleep, to let her and Alex protect them, the human calmed and fell asleep.

  If Aldric wasn’t the vampire responsible for the conversion of the Skaggin family, was he the maker of the Wolf of Magdeburg? Why did she feel that Alex was in terrible danger?

  She needed the truth. Their lives depended on it now. At the moment, she needed coffee more!

  As if she had heard her, Mary left her room and smiled at her. She whispered, “I can make you a fresh pot of coffee.”

  Whispering back, she said, “I’d appreciate it, but it’s late. You should—”

  “It’s no problem. I cannot sleep anyhow.”

  “Okay, if you don’t mind. I really could use a cup … or three.”

  “Follow me,” Mary said as she went downstairs.

  “Lead on.” Grabbing her weapons and backpack, Kai followed her into the kitchen.

  Taking her gun out of the holster, she set it on the table. Sword and backpack went on the chair beside the one she sat on. As Mary worked making the coffee, she could see the girl was worried.

  “Ask away,” she said to her, smiling so Mary knew she wasn’t irritated.

  Mary’s youthful face went red. “I-I was wondering how you met the Master?”

  “Oh.” She wasn’t expecting that question. “Alex saved my grandmother, who was pregnant with my mom from a mob, the same who had murdered my grandfather, who was a Borne vampire. He swore to protect them, and he tried his best, but the Damned and the vampire hunters were determined to find them. The hunters killed my grandmother after she’d given birth to my mother. She entrusted her to his care and Alex raised her. When it was too dangerous for her to be around him, Alex sent her to be raised by a family he knew. He watched over us, protected us from my great uncle, Jarrod Draco.”

  “Jarrod Draco is your uncle?” Fear in Mary’s big eyes and the death grip on the cup she held made Kai smile bitterly.

  “Was. Rathe Romulas, my step-father, killed him.”

  “Why are you not like Draco?”

  “Jarrod was not always Damned. My uncle was a Borne and a Slayer. He lost his soul avenging his brother, his twin brother.” Mary didn’t look convinced. “Not everyone is born evil. Sometimes, Mary, the decisions we make changes our course and we slip down into darkness, not thinking someone out there will take our hand and pull us back to sanity. For Jarrod, my grandfather was his anchor and when he was murdered, it fell to Rathe to be there for him. Except Rathe misjudged him, thinking he had turned. He hadn’t, not until later. Jarrod Draco embraced the demon within him
and became leader of the Damned, declaring war on the Borne, especially the Romulas family for betraying him.”

  “It must have been hard growing up with people knowing the leader of the Damned was related to you.”

  “No, not really. I became a Slayer and hunted the Damned, which made it pretty clear where my allegiance was.”

  Setting the coffee pot to brew on the stove, Mary took a seat at the table, opposite her. “I was wondering, how can you smell the Damned, and we can’t? How come the bodies dropped on us smelt horrible, but they aren’t the Depraved?”

  “The Damned are very good at glamour, to present a perfect face and body, to trick the humans into letting them close. They cover the smell of their bodies that are slowly rotting away, unable to maintain the evil consuming them, to attract their victims. We, the Borne, can smell them, because our senses are more highly developed than yours. As to the dead bodies, the stench remains because they were fed on by the demon in its natural state of evil.”

  “How do we know who is who then?”

  “Most times, the old saying, ‘Whatever looks too good to be true, isn’t’ is the best advice to follow. They are hunters and they love to cause fear and despair, to sweeten the blood they crave.”

  “Can we survive the Damned?” Mary asked in a small voice.

  “Yes, you can. As long as you keep silver and a cross on you, Holy water, too, you can defend yourself.”

  “Why do they want to rule the world?”

  “Honestly, I think it’s because they are tired of being hunted. If you rule, you are the one in power and are safe, which is why we won’t allow them to win. The world would be drained or converted, no hope and no future, if the Damned win.”

  The delicious aroma of percolating coffee made her mouth water. “Do you think the coffee is ready?”

  Mary gave her a blank look. “The what?”

  “Coffee. I really could use a cup of coffee now.”

  “It-it should be. Lots of creamer and sugar, ja?”

  “Yes, please.”

  When Mary set the big coffee cup in front of her, she smiled her thanks and took a cautious sip of the steaming hot liquid. “Mmm, delicious. Thank you.” She saw Mary trying to stifle a yawn. “Mary, why don’t you go back to bed? Nothing bad will happen. Not with Alex patrolling outside, and me, protecting you in here.”

  “Are you sure? I could keep you company.”

  “You are tired, seek your bed. We can talk tomorrow night, after I rise.”

  Yawning, the girl nodded. “I am pretty tired. Thank you, Kai.”

  “For what?”

  “For listening to me and not treating me like a baby.”

  “Being a considered a child is sometimes better than when adults figure out you can see and understand things no grown up should. Good night, Mary.”

  Chewing at her lower lip, Mary seemed to be digesting what she said. “Night, Kai.” The kitchen door closed behind her.

  Sipping her coffee, she hoped Mary took her advice to heart. In the world of vampires and humans, one doesn’t have the luxury to embrace innocence, not when real monsters existed and they hungered for your blood … your soul.

  ✝✝✝

  Standing outside, his past and present collided, blinding him. Snow and green grass conflicted. Withdrawing his gun, he forced his feet to move, casting out his senses, searching for any vamps or ghouls. A wolf.

  God’s Blood, who the hell was the wolf they saw at the Skaggin farm?

  Mistress, Mrs. Skaggin had said, denying it was Angel Heart. Racking his mind, trying to pinpoint a female he had perhaps made an enemy, the only one came to mind was long dead and could not haunt him further.

  Dammit, he wished Sin and Mina were here. Strangely enough, he liked Sin Dracula, found in him a man he could easily call friend and know he would not be judged by his past mistakes.

  Resigned to go it alone, as he had for nearly two hundred years, he patrolled.

  ✝✝✝

  Nothing.

  For two hours, he’d wandered the property, trying to numb himself against the painful memories, to concentrate on keeping those in the house safe. Alex returned to the manor and found Kai sitting at the top of the stairs. Walking up to her, he stopped when he was couple steps from her.

  She asked, “Anything exciting happen out there?”

  “Nope. You?”

  “Not even a psychic twitch.” Rising to her feet, she yawned. “I don’t know what’s worse, hunting or sitting.” Kai reached for the handrail and made to walk down the steps but missed.

  Falling forward, she gasped as he caught her, pulling her to safety in his arms. Off balance, she threw her arms around his neck. They stared into each other’s eyes. Their mouths almost touching. One only needed to lean in or withdraw. Helpless, Kai begged him with her eyes to make the first move.

  Each breath she took caused her full breasts to rub his chest. Relaxing his grip, Alex saw her disappointment, felt it in the way the tension in her body deflated in defeat. Running his hands up her spine, he fit her closer to him, loving how her curves melted into him. Fixed on her soft, full lips, the way they parted invitingly, he brushed his lips against hers. Enjoying the soft gasp she issued as he teased her, running the tip of his tongue along her bottom lip, he almost smiled as she eagerly opened her mouth.

  Instead of deepening the kiss, he pressed light ones on her lips. A low, deep growl issued from Kai, expressing her frustration. He shifted her so she was pressed against the wall. Running his hand over her hip, the flat of her stomach, along the swell of her breast, he gave into his desire without care or thought of the consequences. Using mouth and tongue, he wove a sensual web around her, drawing her whimpers in as she rubbed eagerly against him.

  In control, he touched her as he had longed desired. Enjoying the sweet taste of her silken mouth, he nearly jumped when she ran her hands over his ass, drawing him hard to her. His mouth opened in surprise, and she took advantage. She slid her tongue along his, drawing him back to her in a flare of need and raw passion. The rational side of his brain shut down and he pressed her roughly into the wall.

  He had to make Kai his now!

  ✝✝✝

  Alex was kissing her!

  Opening her eyes, Kai stared right into his, so hot and bold it melted her bones. Emerald flaked with ebony bore into her. They stood intimately, his warm breath fanning her cheek. She ached for more than his kiss. Running her hands over the firm expanse of his back, loving the feel of hard muscles under his cotton shirt, she touched him as she had long dreamt to.

  Ever so slowly, Alex caressed her as he flicked his rough tongue teasingly along her lower lip, making her moan in frustration. A small, arrogant smirk of male ego riled Kai into action. She pulled his head down and kissed him. Tongues met in a feverish pitch, hunger and desire intertwined. The taste of his warm mouth combined with the masculine authority as he led the kiss in a heady, thrilling direction as he pressed her into the wall.

  Alex’s lips left hers, venturing down her throat. Licking a path of fire, he ignited her starved senses to blazing new heights. The rasp of his unshaven jaw against her skin made her bite her lip, the cry of wanting to tell him how she felt lodged in her throat as his hot mouth molded and tasted her. The tension in her belly swept lower and the need pooling between her legs built to unbearable proportions. Every nerve, cell, tissue, and muscle quivered in anticipation of his bite. The erotic feel of his fangs touching her skin made her wet, her entire body quivered in response. At last, he would claim her.

  The grandfather clock downstairs chimed, the deep, melodic notes declaring the time. Jumping back, he started swearing. “Kai, I — we need to go to talk.”

  Closing her eyes, she sighed and gave herself a mental shake before brusquely walking down the rest of the stairs. He was right behind her.

  “Kai, we—”

  “No, we don’t.” In a flash, she was out the door.

  She couldn’t bear for him to touch he
r again and not finish what he’d started. Every nerve, inch of skin was on fire as she raced into the forest, desperate to get away from him. A ray of sunlight hit her, burning her.

  “Ouch!” Cursing her stupidity, she’d forgotten about the dawn. Making a grave, she floated down into it. Clutching her rucksack and sword, she held back a sob, refusing to cry.

  Before she ‘willed’ the soil to cover her, she gazed forlornly at the sky hidden behind the massive tree branches and thick leaves. She whispered brokenly, “Will we ever have a chance to be together?”

  ✝✝✝

  Hurrying outside, he realized Kai had disappeared in the woods, beyond the courtyard. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes and whispered hoarsely, “Forgive me, Kai. I want you, need you … I just don’t know how to break hold my past and be with you.””

  A mournful howl broke the stillness of the dawn. His fangs dropped, a snarl curled his lip. On the wind, he heard her, her German accent thick, “Handsome lover, how can you deny me? The girl cannot please you, not like I can. She cannot hope to satisfy your needs — your ‘appetites’, only I can fulfill your darkest desires.”

  “Who are you?” he demanded, searching for the vampiress, unable to locate her.

  A wicked chuckled rippled around him. “Short memory you have, lover. I am saddened by your forgetfulness.”

  He snorted. “You must not have made that much of an impression upon me. I don’t remember you.”

  “Bastard!” she screamed at him. “How dare you forget me?” Her fury pitched around the trees, sending the tops swaying in protest. “I killed the hunters for you! To protect you!”

  “Why do you protect me? Who are you?” Why did her voice sound familiar?

  “Send the girl away, Alexander. Ignore my warning and I’ll enjoy making you suffer again.”

  Again?

  “Kai is a Slayer. She’ll not run from the likes of you.”

  “Then her death will be on you, her blood on your hands.”

  “Who are you?”

  The woman giggled. “What fun we shall have, lover. It will be like old times, when you were mine. You will be mine again, I promise you this!”