A Dark Hunger

by Natalie Hancock

  In a fight for freedom, hunger consumes them both. But it’s not the enemies who are in danger…

  After attacking a human when Surquyn loses control of her hunger for blood, nearly exposing what they were, Riyzan decides to take the newly changed vampire to a secluded place to help her control the urges that consume her mind and body.

  Surquyn responds well to the training, but when their safe place is raided by unsuspected enemies with weapons stronger than Riyzan believed possible and Surquyn is taken from him before they can finish, he must act fast if he’s to save her in time to stop her hunger from killing her.

  Will they reign over their hunger and defeat the enemies, or will hunger consume them both?

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A Dark Hunger

  Copyright © 2013 Natalie Hancock

  ISBN: 978-1-77111-588-9

  Cover art by Angela Waters

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by eXtasy Books

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  www.eXtasybooks.com

  Smashwords Edition

  A Dark Hunger

  World of Darkness Book Two

  By

  Natalie Hancock

  To those who love Riyzan’s hunger.

  Prologue

  Rain pelted down hard, soaking Riyzan completely almost instantly. He didn’t care—he couldn’t feel the cold, couldn’t feel anything as he knelt down on the ground, his gaze moving slowly across his dead wife.

  She just lay there, almost peaceful looking had it not been for the trickle of blood on the corner of her beautiful lips, or the gaping hole in her chest.

  He could smell her blood—the sweet aroma that always brought the dark hunger from within, the hunger he could never control.

  Stroking her cheek gently, Riyzan moved a stray bit of hair behind her ears and spoke a silent prayer to himself, thanking everyone for the love that had been given, the beauty in his wife and the kindness he had learned to give and share.

  When he finished, he gently slid his hands underneath her, lifted her lifeless form off the ground and held her close.

  Layla cried silently as she watched and Riyzan was unable to feel any emotion as he bowed his head, letting his long hair side over Surquyn’s face and walked away without a word. He didn’t make a move to turn to his own daughter and her mate and comfort them. She wasn’t alone, he was. He had lost his true love and had no idea how he would ever survive without her in his life.

  The rain came down harder, mixing with his dark thoughts. He couldn’t understand what had happened, couldn’t understand why he’d lost the one woman who kept his hunger at bay, who kept him strong each day he lived.

  Thunder cracked through the sky and his thoughts darkened further. Riyzan couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t bury her like he did his firstborn. The wound cut deep into his heart at the thought as though it had only happened yesterday, and he knew he couldn’t handle it. Not again.

  Once at the back of the mansion—their mansion—he kicked the door open and strode straight into the kitchen. The automated lights flickered on and he saw the blackened walls near the kitchen door, spreading across the wall. The fire had been big, nearly burning the entire mansion down.

  Riyzan gently placed Surquyn on the table and once again moved her hair away from her face. In the light, he saw her wound clearer. Her skin was torn, bones broken and her deflated heart, which lay unmoving, where it used to beat life through her body.

  No! He couldn’t leave her, couldn’t let her leave him when he needed her most. He couldn’t say bye to her, not again. Without thinking, Riyzan bit into his wrist and let his blood drip from the wound into the hole in her chest. When his wound closed over, he grabbed the kitchen knife and slit his wrist deeply, letting more blood pool down her throat before he put both hands on her chest and pressed down, trying to get her heart to pump his blood through her body.

  Nothing happened.

  She lay unmoving on the table, her heart didn’t beat and she didn’t come back to him. She had left him for good.

  For the first time since turning into a vampire, Riyzan felt tears slide down his cheeks, felt his heart break with the knowledge that she would never smile at him, never love him or feed him again.

  Never laugh and make his day worth living.

  Riyzan buried his face in her stomach as he cried, bunching her clothes into his fists, holding her close as he thought about facing the world without his woman by his side.

  He’d have to face Layla—who looked so much like her, and Shayla who had killed her. He couldn’t do it, couldn’t live without her. He needed her with him, by his side.

  He jumped back when Surquyn sat up straight, sucked in a deep breath and then let out an ear-splitting scream…

  Chapter One

  Riyzan pushed Surquyn against the wall, not caring about the humans walking past the alleyway they stood in, and kissed her while she clawed at his clothes and moaned into his mouth. He held in a groan, sliding the straps of her thin dress off her shoulders and watched it pool at her feet. He licked his lips at the sight of her full breasts and felt himself harden when her nipples puckered in the cold night, her breasts rising and falling as she breathed heavily. Instantly, hunger grew within, wanting her touch and taste.

  Surquyn pushed his trousers down and he stilled as her warm hands stroked the length of him from base to tip. He shut his eyes and shuddered when she gripped him with one hand, her nails digging into his skin slightly, and used the other hand to cup his balls. He growled as his hunger and his arousal spiked and picked her up, leaning her against the wall as he slipped himself into her. He groaned and pressed his lips to her neck when she tightened herself around him, pulling him in deeper inside her heated depths and gently kissed her neck. He felt heat spread across his body as he moved and held back the urge to sink his fangs into her neck and pull her sweet blood into his mouth. He knew he’d be unable to hold back once he did, and he wanted to watch Surquyn shatter before he gave in to his own pleasure.

  Gripping her hips tight, he moved at a steady pace while Surquyn dug her heels into his ass.

  “Faster!”

  He chuckled against her neck but still kept his pace, teasing her until he felt her tighten and heard her breathy moan. He sank his fangs into her neck. She exploded around him, tightening and pulling him in deeper while she arched away from the wall and gripped his hair tight.

  Aware that some of the humans had seen them, Riyzan didn’t care as he took a deep pull on her neck and slammed himself into her. She moaned loudly as he groaned, savouring the taste of her blood before he swallowed it.

  He heard whispering nearby, and knew the humans had moved closer. He ignored them and moved faster and drank harder. Surquyn tightened around him again and cried out loudly. Riyzan groaned around her skin before he pulled his fangs out and kissed her. She slipped her
tongue into his mouth, tangling it with his and then sucked it into her mouth. He growled low and pressed himself closer to her as he came. Hunger flashed in Surquyn’s eyes before she bared her fangs and sank them into his throat. Riyzan bellowed into the night as she milked him of his semen and blood.

  Riyzan ran his fingers through Surquyn’s hair and pulled her head back. Blood slid down her lip and he watched her tongue snake out to lick it up.

  Bright lights flashed through the alleyway and anger surged through Riyzan. He was crushing the human’s phones before their flash went off again. He let the bits fall to the floor as the three men gaped at him. He bared his fangs. “Run!”

  They yelled loudly and ran off into the street, tripping over each other.

  Riyzan let them go. They were idiotic humans and he wasn’t about to waste his time chasing them.

  When Surquyn growled behind him, he turned and saw the remaining two humans standing around his still naked wife. One of them struck her with the back of his hand and drew blood. Anger surged through him and he grabbed the man around the throat, lifting him off the ground as though he weighed nothing.

  Surquyn lunged for the other human, knocking him into the wall and baring her fangs at him.

  “Surquyn, no!”

  She ignored his warning and sank her fangs into his throat. He flailed and screamed, the noise echoing through the alleyway and alerting others that strolled past.

  Dropping his human, Riyzan moved quickly and grabbed Surquyn, but she had already ripped the human’s throat out. Blood splattered across her and she moaned with obvious hunger as Riyzan grabbed the human and shoved him away the same time he tightened his hold on Surquyn when she went after the heavily bleeding human.

  Riyzan turned his attention to the loud sirens of the police as Surquyn continued to struggle out of his hold. When the blue flashing lights lit up the crowd of onlookers, he cursed, turned Surquyn around and ran in the opposite direction of the police, only stopping when the sound couldn’t be heard.

  Surquyn pushed him away and hissed at him. “You fool!”

  He pushed her against the wall, pinning her there with his body as a couple walked around the corner. Surquyn was still naked, her dress forgotten in their hurry. “Fight the hunger.”

  She struggled against him. “Get off me!”

  Riyzan smoothed her hair back and kissed her nose. “I will, when you are not controlled by your hunger.”

  “Riyzan!”

  He pulled her head back by her hair and ran his lips across her neck. “You cannot continue to let your hunger get the better of you.” He felt her shudder against him. “You need to learn.”

  Surquyn sucked in air. “I can’t fight it,” she whispered.

  Riyzan heard the defeat in her tone. “You can and I will help you.”

  “You’ve already done what you can. This hunger isn’t like any hunger I’ve experienced before…I do not know how to control it.”

  Riyzan met her gaze and held it. When he’d first changed Surquyn into a vampire, it appeared nothing had changed—until she had fed on blood for the first time. It became apparent how much she hungered for the elixir of life and how much her hunger reigned over her when she hungered for it. He had taught her to control her urges for blood when she was around others, but not how to control it when she was angered or aroused.

  Surquyn gripped his shirt tight. “Please, help me control it before it kills me.”

  Riyzan put his forehead against hers and exhaled slowly. He’d never seen her so vulnerable. She’d always been so fearless and strong. The drastic change into a vampire had changed everything. “Let us go and I can help you.”

  Fear flashed in her eyes. “Where will we go?”

  “Do not fret. I will take you somewhere where you cannot hurt humans when your hunger takes over.” He kissed her gently before taking his suit jacket off and covering her with it. He took her hand and smiled as he led her away from the scent of blood that drifted around them.

  Chapter Two

  “Oh, Riyzan!” Surquyn faced him, her mouth open in surprise. “I thought you destroyed this place when Layla and Akila were born?”

  Riyzan chuckled as he pulled Surquyn close. “This was our first home together, why would I have gotten rid of it?”

  Surquyn smiled as she rested her hands on his chest. Leaning up, she kissed him. “After everything I did…well I wasn’t sure you wanted to have the memories of our time here.”

  “I would never get rid of this place. As I said, it was out first place together and where Layla and Akila were born. There are no bad memories here.”

  “You sound like Layla.” Surquyn exhaled hard and turned away from Riyzan’s gaze, trying to control the emotions swirling inside. She’d done so much bad in her life, destroyed so many lives and ruined those who were closest to her. Although she was slowly making up for those things, she would never forgive herself, even if others did.

  Their home—their first home—was exactly how she remembered it. Walls and a high ceiling made from stone with elaborate markings carved in them. Stone floors covered in beautiful rugs from Egypt. They stood in the entrance—or cave of the mountain—through an arch there were three rooms. A living room with a kitchen attached. A bathroom and a bedroom complete with all the furniture they needed. Below them were more rooms, including a ball room, training room, weapons room and a dining room that was used only when close friends and family came around.

  Within the walls there was plumbing and electricity. Like any other house.

  Surquyn remembered cooking meals over the fire that would blaze warmth through the rest of the home. Remembered cuddling up to Riyzan in front of it and giving birth to Akila in the very room they stood in.

  Layla was born outside, in a crevice during a storm.

  Their home was like the castle she always dreamt of living in. Riyzan had made her fairytale come true when he built their home in a large snowy mountain that overlooked a large wood.

  “I wish Layla could have remembered this place.” Surquyn turned back to Riyzan. “She would have loved it as much as I do.”

  Riyzan kissed her gently. “I assure you, she did remember. Layla has a tendency to never forget, even the smallest of things.” He stroked her cheek. “You must let go of the past if we are to move forward. I often told Layla the same thing when she lived in the past that haunted her.”

  “She has been through so much.”

  “And she fought through it all.” Riyzan cupped her face gently. “I will help you. You are not alone.”

  “How?” She knew Riyzan had been consumed by his hunger when he was first changed by Reiyah. She had been there to witness it and though he was never able to control his urges, she had been there to keep him from attacking innocents. Now the roles were reverse, did he think he was able to help her?

  “It is simple. What is it you crave most?” His hands slipped down her back as he spoke.

  “Your touch.” Surquyn arched a brow.

  Riyzan chuckled. “Except that.”

  Inhaling deeply, she reached up to stroke his neck with her finger. Hunger shot through her at the thought of his blood. “Your blood.” She put her lips to his neck and licked the vein that pulsed fast underneath his skin.

  Riyzan grabbed her wrists and took a step back.

  Surquyn growled when he moved with the speed he was well known for. When he put his lips against her neck and pulled her back against his body, Surquyn shivered with longing.

  “The hunger you feel coursing through your body.” He ran his hands over her chest. “The one that consumes you is the deadliest one of all.” Riyzan stepped away from her, leaving her shaking with hunger and desire.

  She swallowed her hunger but couldn’t shake off the desire for his touch. It burned through her.

  Unable to stop herself, she spun around quickly, but Riyzan no longer stood behind her. She turned slowly, searching the room, but couldn’t see or sense him anywhere.

&nb
sp; She licked her lips slowly and, knowing his eyes watched her every move, she slowly unbuttoned the coat, slipped it off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor.

  A low growl sounded within their home.

  Surquyn smiled. She knew Riyzan couldn’t resist the sight of her standing nude any more than he could resist biting her during sex.

  To tease him more, she backed away slowly until the small of her back came into contact with the table that sat in the middle of the room. She eased herself onto it and lay down, spreading her legs at the same time. She ran her hands over her breasts before moving them lower.

  Riyzan appeared out of nowhere, completely naked, and crushed her lips with his, forcing a moan of pure desire from her lips. He pulled away enough so she could catch her breath, and licked her lips, making her heart jump widely.

  Surquyn wrapped her legs around him and ran her hands over his tanned skin, feeling the raised marks that covered his back and arms. Scars she herself had made during their time of passion.

  “You, my queen, are a witch,” Riyzan whispered seductively.

  “I am hungry.” Surquyn licked his neck to emphasize her words.

  Riyzan growled. “What will you learn if you keep testing my self control, knowing I will do anything for you and give you everything if it means I can watch you squirm in pleasure underneath me?”

  “Maybe it is not just me who needs to learn self control.” Surquyn kissed his neck and ran her fangs over his pulse.

  Riyzan wrapped his fingers around her neck and tilted her head back. “It is not wise to tease me when I have the thing you crave.”

  “You cannot control your urges any more than I can control mine.”