Her Vampire Fate_Reverse Harem Serial

by S. L. Knight

  My own fury spiraled through me as I held out my hand, and that same burst of light that came from me in New Orleans shot from my palms, sending Edelnar hurtling back.

  A force lifted him up into the air, and his eyes went wild with panic. I looked down at my hands, startled. I wasn’t doing that.

  But Edelnar was looking past me now, his lips curling back in a snarl.

  “How dare you turn on your own kind!” Edelnar growled.

  I turned as Bastien approached. His hands were stretched towards Edelnar.

  “And how dare you try to tear apart mates,” Bastien returned. With a flick of Bastien’s hands, Edelnar vanished from sight.

  I immediately rushed forward to where Noel and Gabriel still lay on the ground. Relief flowed through me when I saw they were breathing.

  “What did you do to Edelnar?” I asked, looking up at Bastien as Xavier and Adrian approached.

  “A powerful Repelling spell,” Bastien replied, “it’s like . . . throwing him a great distance. But it’s a strong spell, and it drained me. I won’t be able to use my magic for the rest of the day.”

  “We need to get out of here,” Xavier said, “Edelnar will be back. With reinforcements.”

  “Carina knows of a safe place we can go,” Bastien said, nodding his agreement.

  As we made our way from their estate, I found out the full details of what had happened. Edelnar had a dozen of his allies attack the front of the house as a distraction while he went to the back in search of me.

  The house we were going to belonged to a distant relative of Carina’s who was now in the Barlad Isles. Unlike Carina and Bastien’s home, it wasn’t on the Council or Edelnar’s radar.

  It didn’t take us long to reach the house, a cozy cottage that was small but with enough room for all of us, tucked away in the forests that bordered the mountains of Voznes.

  As we entered the cottage, my mind was buzzing with all that had just happened. A chill slivered through me as I recalled Noel and Gabriel’s still bodies. What if Edelnar had killed them? I knew he wouldn’t stop searching for us. I wanted to have a life with my mates, but I couldn’t do that with Edelnar and the Council on our tail.

  Around me, Carina, Bastien and my mates were in deep discussion about other places we could hide. I stopped walking. My mates froze, turning to face me.

  “What is it, Liana?” Adrian asked with concern.

  “How did Edelnar find us?” I asked.

  “The Council likely has the location of our home in their files. They know Gabriel is friends with me,” Bastien said. “Someone told him where to look.”

  “Well, we need to stop running,” I said.

  “Eventually. But for the time being—“ Gabriel began.

  “No. We have to end this. If Edelnar wants me . . . let’s give him what he wants.”

  Carina and Bastien’s eyes widened, while my mates’ expressions varied from disbelief to horror to concern.

  “You’re not serious, cherie?” Noel demanded.

  “The only way we can kill him—and stop the Council—is to use me as bait,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm, though my heart pounded with fear.

  “No,” Gabriel said swiftly, “we won’t allow it.”

  “She has a point,” Bastien said after a long pause, looking at my mates. “If we could get a message to someone we trust on the Council to help us—“

  “No,” Xavier barked, looking angrier than I had ever seen him. “How would you feel if Carina wanted to offer herself up as bait?”

  “He wouldn’t like it, but he would respect my decision as his equal,” Carina said, her eyes flashing. “Don’t you consider Liana your equal?”

  “Yes, but—” Adrian began.

  “It’s my decision,” I said, pulling myself to my full height, “you can help me or not. But I refuse to live my life on the run.”

  There was a glint of admiration in Bastien and Carina’s eyes. Gabriel’s mouth tightened; he whirled on his feet and disappeared down the hall. Xavier and Noel looked at me with disappointment before following. Adrian lingered for a moment, but he too turned away and left with the others.

  “They’ll come around,” Carina said gently, stepping forward to take both my hands in hers. “You are only recently bonded, and they love you very much. They’re scared, that’s all. In the meanwhile, Bastien and I will help you come up with a plan.”

  I nodded, but I still felt defeated. I knew my plan was crazy, but it was the best way to capture Edelnar. I was hoping my mates would have more faith in me. Hadn’t I chosen to stay with them rather than the relative safety of my world?

  Chapter 4

  Later, as I sat down to breakfast with Bastien and Carina, my mates entered the dining room. I met their eyes, hoping they had accepted my decision. But their expressions were still stormy and tense as they took their seats around the table.

  “We still think this is too dangerous. But we’re not going to let you face Edelnar alone,” Gabriel said, his blue eyes flicking to mine before he looked away.

  “Bastien and Carina think I should go to the Council,” I said, trying to keep my voice firm, though my heart sank at my mates’ continued tension. “I think that’s a good idea. I can tell them a false story about how I regret mating with you. I’ll let the Council take me in—like they wanted to do before.”

  “How is that a good idea?” Xavier asked.

  “It serves two purposes. It’ll weed out the traitor—or traitors—and lure Edelnar to Liana. We believe the traitor will get word to Edelnar,” Carina said.

  “That’s when we’ll strike,” Bastien added. “We’ll send him a message to Elijah on the Council informing him of our plans. He’ll alert the few Council members he trusts what’s really going on. When Edelnar comes for Liana, the traitor and Edelnar will be arrested.”

  “That’s if everything works out perfectly,” Gabriel said, frowning as he turned to me. “And how do you know the Council will believe you? How do you know Edelnar won’t snatch you as soon as you get to the capital?”

  “I don’t,” I said, trying to keep my voice firm, though fear flooded me at the thought. “But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

  Gabriel set his mouth in a hard line while my other mates looked mutinous. Noel broke the tense silence.

  “If you’ve made up your mind to do this—” he began.

  “I have.”

  “Then we have no choice but to help you. When do we leave for the capital?” Noel asked grudgingly.

  “Tomorrow at first light,” Carina said.

  “I should use my remaining time here practicing my magic,” I said, avoiding my mates’ gazes as I stood. I needed to be prepared to fight Edelnar if it came to it; I didn’t have the time to keep reassuring my stubborn vampires.

  I felt their eyes on me as I left the room. Nya was eager to help, but my frustration with my mates distracted me. Didn’t they understand that it was only a matter of time before Edelnar tracked us down again? It was time to go after him.

  I took breaks from practicing to eat a midday meal and dinner. My mates weren’t at either meal, and my frustration grew to anger.

  Fed up, I excused myself to Bastien and Carina, who gave my sympathetic looks as I stalked out of the dining room. I went upstairs to our guest room where I found my mates in a heated discussion. They fell silent at my entrance.

  “I’ve had enough of your group tantrum,” I said, crossing my arms and glaring at them. “I’m your equal, not some damsel for you to protect. If—if you’re going to treat me like some weakling . . .” I trailed off, tears stinging my eyes. What was I going to say? I wasn’t going to leave them, my feelings ran too deep, and I’d already committed myself to them by sealing the bond. But how could we proceed in our relationship if they didn’t consider me as an equal partner, with equal say?

  “Liana . . . ” Adrian was before me in a flash, his hands cupping my face as he tilted it up to meet his. “It’s not that we don�
�t believe in you. It’s just that we’re frightened. We’ve waited and dreamt of you for years. And now that you’re with us, our bonded mate—”

  “The thought of harm coming to you is devastating,” Xavier said, stepping forward.

  “We’d give our lives for you, cherie,” Noel said.

  My heart clenched, and I reached up to touch Noel’s face as he joined the others.

  “There will be no giving your lives for me—I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you. This plan is the best chance we have of ending Edelnar. We won’t have a proper life together until he’s destroyed,” I said. “I need to know that you’re all with me on this.”

  They exchanged glances as if coming to some silent agreement.

  “We’re with you,” Gabriel said, turning back to face me. “Always.”

  Relief coursed through me. I stepped forward to kiss Gabriel, and he swung me up into his arms. Our kiss deepened, and desire flowed through me. I needed this; to reconnect with them. I could tell Gabriel felt the same, he carried me to the bed, his lips never leaving mine.

  The others joined us, crawling into bed and disrobing as Gabriel undressed me, his eyes pinned on me. He again pressed his lips to mine as he sank into me, and I moaned. He moved within me for what seemed like an eternity until we cried out our release together.

  Adrian took me next, rolling me from beneath him so that I straddled him. His eyes locked with mine as we rocked together, and he whispered his love for me as he came. I was still breathless with desire as Noel seized my breasts with his mouth, lifting me into his arms. We sank together to the bed as he entered me, our eyes locked. By the time Xavier sunk into me my limbs were like jello, spirals of desire and electricity shot through my body as we cried out together.

  I drifted back down to earth as my vampires snuggled into bed around me, stroking my hair, peppering kisses all over my body, whispering words of love.

  “I love you,” I whispered, reaching out to touch their faces. “All of you. So much. It’s why I have to—”

  “We know,” Xavier said, kissing me. “We know you are strong . . . we believe in you.”

  “But if we feel your life is in danger—we will intervene. Do not ask us not to,” Gabriel said.

  “I won’t,” I promised, though I prayed I wouldn’t have to; I knew that Edelnar would happily kill them.

  Nestling into Adrian’s arms as Gabriel stroked my hair, my eyes lingered on each of my mates. I wanted to hold on to this moment forever, but all I could think about were the dangers we were going to face the next day.

  Chapter 5

  The next morning, just as the sun was rising in the sky, we set off for the capital city. We had all risen a couple of hours before to go over our plan.

  Now, my heart thudded against my ribcage as the carriage made its way south towards the capital. This confrontation could change everything. We could succeed and be free to move on with our lives. Or we could fail and . . .

  I didn’t let myself finish the thought. We had to succeed.

  I looked at my mates. Xavier and Noel sat on opposite sides of me, holding each of my hands, while Gabriel and Adrian sat across from us. Bastien and Carina were in the carriage behind us. My mates looked as worried as I did, but when I met each of their gazes, they gave me reassuring smiles. You can do this, I told myself, taking a deep breath. You can do this.

  I kept repeating the mantra to myself throughout the whole journey until our carriage reached the outskirts of the capital. This was as far as the carriages would go; the others would trail me to the Council headquarters from a distance.

  Before I stepped out of the carriage, I gave each of my mates a long embrace, sealing my lips to each of theirs. I stepped down from it and turned to face them.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  “We love you,” Noel echoed, his silver eyes filling with emotion. “You can do this. We’re right behind you.”

  Taking another deep breath, I turned and made my way into the city. The chill of the early morning air prickled at my skin, and I pulled my cloak close around my body. The city was just waking up; vampires and fae were milling through the streets, shopkeepers were opening their stores, merchants setting up their stalls. To my relief, no one paid me much attention, though I was careful to avoid any eye contact in case any of Edelnar’s spies were on the streets.

  When I finally reached the Council headquarters, I braced myself as I stepped inside. I half expected Edelnar to grab me as soon as I entered, but the entrance area was empty.

  I made my way up the staircase. Moving quickly, I managed to avoid the cloaked vampire guards who stood at the far end of the hall when I reached the second floor; they were in deep discussion and didn’t seem to notice me. I hurried into the main room of the Council headquarters.

  I had expected to only find a low-level worker there, given that I hadn’t made an appointment. Carina and Bastien had told me that the Council tended to meet later in the day. But I halted in my tracks, startled, when I saw that most of the Council members were already there, a group of vampires and fae, gathered around the long table that dominated the room, speaking quietly amongst themselves.

  They all fell silent when I entered; it would have been comical if I weren’t so terrified.

  “Liana,” said a tall blonde fae woman, getting to her feet. I recognized her as Rinela, who’d addressed me the last time I was here. “What are you—”

  “It’s a mistake,” I said, my voice wobbly, “my bond—with the vampires.”

  Another stunned silence followed my words. Rinela’s eyes narrowed. I couldn’t tell if it was suspicion or disbelief that filled them.

  I scanned the Council members, searching for Carina’s mate, Elijah. I’d feel better knowing I had an ally here. She had described him to me; tall, dark hair, silver eyes, angular features. My eyes landed on a male fae who matched her description, and he gave me a subtle nod. Relieved, I returned my gaze to Rinela.

  “When you came to us before, you seemed—” she began.

  “I was scared,” I lied, hoping that I sounded sincere. “I didn’t want to anger them. If possible . . . I want to undo the bond. I want to take you up on your offer to stay here.”

  I studied their faces, which ranged from shock to disbelief. A few looked pleased, but that wasn’t enough to tell me which one was the traitor. Rinela nodded, studying me. I still couldn’t tell if she bought my reason for being here.

  “I’ll escort her to her temporary quarters,” Elijah said, getting to his feet. My heart rate increased; I was afraid this would seem suspicious, but Rinela just waved him on.

  “The rest of us will discuss among ourselves, and then we have more questions for you,” she said.

  I nodded. Their eyes all followed me as Elijah escorted me from the room. He didn’t say a word as he led me from the room and down a long corridor towards a second set of stairs. He held himself rigid, tension in every part of his body. When we reached the top landing, two cloaked vampire guards stood there. They gave Elijah a polite nod as we passed them while giving me curious looks. It was only when we passed them that he seemed to relax, taking my arm and leading me to a small room at the end of the hall. It was bare bones, with just a dresser and a bed.

  “I got Carina and Bastien’s message last night,” he said, after closing the door behind us. “I have several suspects who I think might be working against the Council—Rinela is one of them. Are the others far behind?”

  “They dropped me off at the edge of the capital,” I whispered. “They shouldn’t be far.”

  “Good. Stay in this room. It should only be a matter of time before the traitor alerts Edelnar to your presence here. Hopefully, we can intercept him before he gets to you.”

  Elijah moved towards the door before casting one last glance at me.

  “What you’re doing is very brave, Liana,” he said. “I’m sure your mates are proud.”

  I gave him a shaky smile though my
anxiety had increased.

  Ironically, the waiting was the hardest part of my plan. I could feel my pulse fluttering at the base of my throat, my palms were sweaty, and my breathing rapid. Frightening possibilities ricocheted through my mind. What if this backfired terribly and my plan got my mates and our allies killed? What if Elijah was right—and Rinela was the traitor? Had I somehow just played into her hands?

  It felt like an eternity had passed when I heard frantic shouts and a commotion just outside my door. Shaking, I yanked open the door and hurried out.

  I froze. The two vampire guards I’d passed before lay dead on the ground. Edelnar approached, a sinister smile on his face. I stared at him in disbelief. How had he gotten here so fast?

  He was here all along, I realized with horror. How closely was he tied to the Council? Were they all traitors?

  I raised my hand to issue a spell, but Edelnar was on me in a flash, his hands around my neck.

  “You’ve come to your senses too late,” he snarled, “I don’t want you anymore; you tainted yourself the moment you bonded with them. Now . . . you’ve made things too easy for me and Rinela.”

  Horror coursed through my veins. Rinela. She was the traitor. This was worse than I’d thought—she was one of the leaders of the Council.

  “Rinela is my lover. You were just a means to an end,” Edelnar said, seeming to take pleasure in the horror on my face. “She understands that fae need to be in control of Velar—not those beasts. We’ll just tell the rest of the Council that your vampire mates murdered you. Fae everywhere will see that vampires can’t be trusted. I’ll personally see to it that your mates are the first ones killed.”

  I struggled against his vise-like grip, terrified. How was I going to stop this?

  “Let go of our mate!”

  The words came out in a growl. Edelnar’s grip loosened, and he turned.

  At the end of the corridor, my mates charged towards us, their fangs bared. I shook loose from his grip, shouting a Repelling spell, and he went flying backward, landing hard on his back.