DeLeina, Maya - Veil of Seduction [Ambrose Heights Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Maya DeLeina

  “How in the hell did he know we were here?”

  “Do some vampires have a sensing ability?”

  “Yes, it’s the early stages of the tracking ability.”

  “Then that is what he has. He can shield and sense. He was on the opposite side of the peak when he suddenly changed course, sensing we were here.”

  “But it’s been documented that sensing abilities are typically only tied to—” Steffan stopped short.

  “Mates.” Anya finished his thought. “Steffan, that can’t be the only link. Vampires must have the ability to sense regardless of mate match or not. I am not drawn to him. I am yours. You are mine. Maybe the bloodline report didn’t correctly document the ability.”

  Steffan nodded. “It’s possible. So where is he? Is he alone again?”

  “Yes. He’s alone. I just can’t tell exactly where he is. Everything looks the same.”

  Steffan tucked himself back into his pants and moved to the entrance of the cave. He carefully scanned the surroundings. A lightning bolt crashed down just a few feet from the opening, forcing him to retreat back in the cave.

  “Anya, stay behind me!”

  Anya clung to Steffan as she zipped up her jacket. “I’m scared, Steffan.”

  “I won’t let him hurt you. And he can’t hurt me. What we have to worry about is this lightning!”

  “Anya!” Ryan’s deep bellow from above jolted Steffan and Anya.

  “Oh my god! He’s insane!”

  “Anya! Anya! Anya!”

  Anya cried as Ryan continued to scream her name. Instinctively, she covered her ears with her hands.

  “Was he obsessed or crazed like this in his human form?” Steffan asked frantically.

  “No. I mean he obsessed over things, not me.”

  “Fuck! He’s viewing you like an object. Anya, I don’t even think he has genuine feelings for you. I think he’s just preoccupied with the thought of taking you from me, like a trophy of sorts, to reduce my power in the family.”

  “Now that sounds more like him.”

  “Steffan! I know you’re hiding in there, in that the cave like a coward! Release your hold on Anya and come out. Let her see us side by side. Let her choose of her own free will!” Ryan demanded.

  The lightning flashed, and the thunder rolled almost simultaneously. Steffan grabbed Anya and pulled her deeper into the cave.

  “Don’t touch the walls! Stay close to the ground right here,” Steffan demanded as he moved to the entrance of the cave.

  “Steffan, he’s not going to attempt to come in here.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “It’s a hunch. I think he’s looking for an elaborate spectacle. He wants us to come outside, on the tundra with him.”

  “That’s too dangerous. I won’t risk that with you.”

  “What other option do we have? He’s not going away.”

  “Steffan!” Ryan screamed from above, his voice feral and sharp.

  “What are we going to do?” Anya asked.

  Steffan deliberated, assessing all of their options. There wasn’t much he could do.

  “All right, we’re going out there.” Steffan looked over Anya. “Your jacket, take it off. There’s too much metal on it. Take off all of your jewelry and your belt.”

  Anya hurried to free herself from the jacket and her belt and then removed her jewelry, watch, and ring.

  Steffan spoke as he removed his belt from its loops and took off his bracelet and ring, “Listen to me. We need to stay as low to the ground as possible. The lightning usually strikes the tallest object since it’s the easiest path to take. We are going to be out on the tundra, so we’ll be the tallest objects out there.” Steffan paused, shaking his head. “Damnit, I wish there was another way!”

  “Steffan, we have to go out there. He’ll do anything, smoke or burn us out of this cave. We’re like sitting ducks in here. Look, just tell me what I have to do.”

  Steffan released a deep breath. “When we go out there, I want you to sit on your heels like this, on the ground.” Steffan positioned himself in the form he wanted Anya to take. “Once on the ground, try to tuck your head down. And spread out from me and Ryan. Our bodies shouldn’t be that close. If lightning hits me, I don’t want it to have the ability to jump to your body.”

  “What about you? What are you going to do?”

  “Fight him.”

  “No!”

  “Yes, Anya. I need him to expend his energy so I can take over and get you out of here safely.”

  “No!”

  “Anya. I was responsible for him since I was his maker. I never got to teach him about the methods vampires can be physically damaged or even die. Look at him! He is walking around out there with no care in the world about the lightning. Madeleine didn’t teach him anything.”

  “No, Steffan. I can’t watch you two fight!”

  “Look. I need to provoke him so he attacks me with all of his strength and energy. Once I can find a way to subdue him momentarily, I can focus on getting you off this mountain and away from him. That’s just the way it has to be, Anya. There’s no other way.”

  “Then can you promise me you won’t get hurt?”

  “Promise. Can you promise me something?”

  “What?”

  “Be careful out there and do as I say.”

  “Yes.”

  “I love you, Anya.”

  “I love you.”

  “Ready?”

  “Ready.” Anya nodded.

  * * * *

  The wind and rain thrashed against their skin, stinging them as they climbed up the rocks to the clearing. The tundra had a marked elevation from where they stood. Ryan loomed above them. He was situated at the very pinnacle, prominent and undeniable, his arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture. Behind him, the black sky lit up with spouts of evil energy. With each burst of brilliant sheets of light, the fury in the darkness was unveiled. Wicked clouds swirled about, like a wake of octopus ink released in the water.

  “Anya, my beautiful wife! Come closer to your husband so I can see you better.”

  A burst of electricity shot through the sky, this time a cloud-to-cloud bolt.

  Steffan, I’m going to kill him. I feel the heat building in me.

  Fight it, Anya. Fight it. You can overcome it. If it looks like he might hurt you, then and only then can you release it.

  Why? Why can’t I just kill him and be done with it?

  Because if you give in to the beast inside without provocation, your body will get accustomed to the feeling and you may turn feral…a rogue in its truest form.

  “I am not your wife and you are not my husband!” Anya shouted in fury.

  “He’s enthralling you, baby. That’s his secret power. He did it to me, too,” Ryan responded in a way that made Anya’s skin crawl.

  “You discarded me like trash. Why do you even want me now?”

  “I never discarded you. How could I have done that to a beauty like you? That’s his mind tricks on us. All lies.”

  “Enough, Ryan! Anya, do as I said,” Steffan interjected with an undeniable authority.

  Anya positioned herself on the ground as Steffan instructed.

  Steffan quickly followed, mimicking the same form.

  Ryan looked confused as they both appeared to be kneeling in a gesture of surrender. Ryan smiled at the sight.

  “What is this? Why the sudden turn of events, Steffan? Giving in so soon?”

  No way. He thinks we’re kneeling before him to surrender!

  So he doesn’t know about the dangers in the lightning storm for a vampire.

  Should we play along?

  Yes. Follow my lead.

  “I can’t keep this going. She’s too strong. She’s been breaking through the enthrallment ever since she saw you. She’s recalling things from her past too quickly,” Steffan said, his voice cracking at times.

  A lightning bolt came striking down to the ground, turning the tundra int
o a smoldering blackness.

  Tuck your head in, Anya!

  Ryan was laughing wildly as the thunder growled above them. “You’re afraid of a little lightning and thunder, my love? Don’t be. Thanks to Steffan here, we are immortals. Nothing can kill or harm us. We are invincible!”

  Anya looked up at Ryan. His expression was smug. She couldn’t just sit there like Steffan demanded. She needed to do something. “Ryan, I’m starting to recall my feelings for you. But I’m torn between you both. I don’t know what to do!” Anya screamed out in the rain.

  Steffan gave her a sidelong look of concern.

  It’s the game, Steffan, don’t worry. I have an idea.

  “Well, you’re rightfully mine, Anya. We were married in our human life, so he had no right to start a claim on you.”

  “But he still has a hold on me, Ryan! He’ll never let go of me. We will never be rid of him even if we try to start our life back together again!” Anya yelled as the rain poured down her face.

  Steffan, you need to start acting like a crazed lover.

  I think I see where you’re going with this. Let me play it up.

  “No! You can’t have her, Ryan. She is mine. I completed a full claim on her. If you take her, I will hunt you two down.” Steffan took a quick look at Anya. “You’ll have to kill me first before you even think of taking her from me!”

  In an instant, Ryan hurled himself through the air and crashed into Steffan’s body.

  Oh my god, Steffan…I didn’t mean for this!

  Love, I am all right. Did you see what I was projecting in my mind?

  Yes.

  I just spotted it. The light bounced off of it from that last strike. It’s to the left of me…about fifty yards away.

  I see it!

  I’m gonna try to move us near it.

  But I can use my kinetics to move it here!

  No. Your energy thread is still on it and could harm you if the lightning strikes it. Let me do this.

  Anya remained on the ground, her heart breaking as she watched Steffan and Ryan go at it on the open tundra.

  The two men rolled down the grade of the mountainside as they held on to each other. Steffan’s back landed against a boulder, stopping their momentum in their tracks.

  Ryan was on top of Steffan, growling and grunting, full of rage. “Fucker!” Ryan yelled as he threw a punch.

  In response, Steffan moved his head quickly to the opposite side of the punch.

  Ryan’s fist carved out a hole in the earth where it landed.

  Steffan threw an uppercut, catching Ryan’s chin. Black blood and spit spewed from Ryan’s mouth with the contact.

  Ryan splayed his hands over Steffan’s face, forcing his head to sink deep into the ground.

  Steffan bit a chunk of flesh from the heel of Ryan’s palm and spit it out.

  Ryan screamed in pain, clutching his hand at the wrist as he fell to the ground. Instantly, the black tendrils ignited and traveled to the wound.

  Steffan stood up and wiped his mouth of the black blood.

  A thunderbolt shot down, splitting off in two, striking the ground once again in synchronicity, and Steffan looked up instinctively to survey the sky.

  Without warning, Ryan crashed into Steffan, forcing them to fly through the air.

  They landed on a boulder, Ryan on top of Steffan.

  “Steffan!” Anya cried and ran toward the men.

  Stay there! Don’t come near us! Stay close to the ground!

  No! You need my help.

  I’m all right. I need to get him closer to it, so he’ll try to use it on me!

  What! I thought you wanted it to use on him!

  No. Anya, please do what—

  Steffan’s inward conversation with Anya was suddenly broken. Ryan lifted Steffan’s head and sent it crashing down to the boulder. Bright-red blood covered the rock.

  “Steffan! No!” Anya yelled in horror.

  “Steffan? Who in the hell do you want to win here?” Ryan demanded. “I’m doing this all for you!”

  Anya stammered her response. “I–I don’t know. I have feelings for you both! I’m confused!”

  “Well, I’ll make it simple for you!” Ryan said coldly as he picked up a rock, the edge jagged and sharp, almost triangular in shape. He lifted the stone and came down with force, impaling Steffan in the stomach. The force of the entry caused pieces of the rock to shatter in Ryan’s hand.

  Steffan cried out in agony.

  I can’t take this, Steffan! You told me not to worry, that you couldn’t get hurt! You need help!

  No, Anya! Yes, all right, it hurts. But he can’t permanently damage me. Please, do as I say and stay back.

  * * * *

  Steffan’s repair mechanisms were on high alert, expelling pieces of the rock from his body and mending the puncture wound in his stomach.

  Ryan growled with frustration. “Why can’t you just die!”

  Ryan punched Steffan in the face with a series of rapid blows. All his efforts merely marred Steffan’s face temporarily as his repair mechanisms responded to each tear, puncture, and bone break.

  “Goddamnit!” Ryan yelled, breathless, tiring from his expended energy.

  This was exactly the moment Steffan had waited for.

  With one hand, Steffan wrapped his fingers tightly around Ryan’s neck, lifting him off of his body and straight in the air. A growl rumbled in the pit of Steffan’s stomach, his eyes burning deep crimson. He looked Ryan deep in the eyes as he held him over his body by the neck.

  Ryan was panicked, punching Steffan’s arm and desperately trying to pry open his fingers. Steffan thought about all the times he’d made love to Anya as Ryan watched quietly in the corner and the rumble in his body turned into a menacing roar. In one swift move, Steffan threw Ryan’s flailing body, aiming for a boulder clear across the tundra.

  The move mimicked a quarterback throwing a Hail Mary pass.

  Ryan flew through the air, the back of his head taking the brunt of the impact against the boulder, shattering his skull. Ryan lay motionless, allowing the tendrils to work their magic on the extensive injury.

  Steffan took to the air and landed on Ryan’s chest, slicing a deep gash in the crevice of his neck with his razor-sharp, clawlike fingernail.

  Anya took to the air and stayed at a safe distance, landing behind a large boulder.

  Steffan stood over Ryan, a fountain of black blood cresting from his neck. Ryan scrambled to gather his saliva to mend the puncture wound.

  A lightning bolt struck, the closest strike yet, and shook the earth below her feet.

  Steffan backed off of Ryan and moved his attention in search for Anya.

  Anya! Stay down! Tuck your head!

  Ryan kicked up, his foot landing squarely on Steffan’s chest.

  Steffan flew backward, landing on his back on the smoldering tundra.

  Ryan ran to Steffan, intent on continuing his attack.

  Steffan outstretched his legs, tripping Ryan. He fell against a rock, puncturing his temple and crushing his eye socket.

  A lightning bolt touched down again, mere inches from where Anya stood.

  Anya screamed and tucked her head.

  Steffan stood frantically to see if Anya was all right.

  Anya, I do need your help. He still doesn’t see it and this lightning is too bad to continue on.

  All right, I can do it.

  Do it quick!

  Ryan crawled toward Steffan and grabbed his ankles, pulling him to the ground.

  * * * *

  Anya watched Ryan’s attack on Steffan.

  He was completely healed, his eye carefully tucked back into his socket. But he looked tired and worn, as if he couldn’t fight anymore.

  And she couldn’t take watching them fight any longer.

  She needed to end this.

  She fixed her gaze on the object that Steffan projected in his mind. It was a metal stake that sat planted in the ground. The metal stake looked lik
e it had either been carelessly left behind by campers in the area or been used as a marker of some sort. Either way, Anya focused her energy on the stake as Steffan and Ryan wrestled each other.

  It’s coming loose, Steffan. It’s working!

  Hurry and move it toward him. Coax him to use it on me. I’ve been counting the minutes between the lightning strikes, and it’s due any time now.

  Anya applied that last ounce of energy she had to the stake, and the earth released its steady hold. Anya set it down gently near Ryan.

  Do it now, Anya!

  “Ryan, the stake! Kill him so we can be free!” Anya yelled frantically as Ryan looked around for the object she was referring to, inconspicuously there at his feet.

  Here we go, shield your eyes, Anya!

  Ryan punched Steffan in the face.

  Steffan remained motionless, coaxing Ryan to start his fury.

  Ryan got up off of Steffan and reached for the metal stake.

  He took his place, a perfect stance over Steffan’s motionless body. Standing over Steffan, he held on to the long, sharp piece of metal, slowly raising it above his head. He screamed with a deep ferocity as he pulled the weapon back with every intent to lunge it deep into Steffan’s body.

  The lightning bolt crashed down on cue, catching the metal stake and piercing through Ryan. The stake sent shards of lightning to bounce in every direction. Steffan rolled out from underneath Ryan’s shaking body and took his position close to the ground. Ryan wailed in pain as the sparks lit up the darkened mountaintop like fireworks on the Fourth of July.

  “Anya, are you all right?” Steffan yelled as the electric show ended.

  “Yes! Are you good?”

  “I’m fine.”

  They both stood tall and ran toward each other, embracing tightly. Anya looked over at Ryan. His body shook on the ground.

  “And he’s not dead?”

  “No. He’ll be out for a little bit, but I can definitely tell you that he lost at least some of his abilities.”

  “What about the council? Isn’t he expected to be there? What are we going to tell them? It’s in two hours!”