“I loved Celia.”
“I know, that’s why she had to die.”
“Because I loved her?”
“Yes, I want to see you suffer before I eat your heart.”
Cedric felt a tap on his shoulder and turned his head. Sherry flashed him a hateful smile. “Miss me?”
His eyes widened. “How?”
She balled up her fist, clocking him on the jaw.
Cedric stumbled with the unexpected blow. Rage rippled through him as his body phased into a large black panther. He let out an ear-piercing scream of rage as he reared up his large paw to strike.
The other shifters phased and flanked their leader.
“No!” young Mica screamed as he charged forward. In a single step he phased into the white tiger.
“Another outfit,” Caleb mumbled in disgust as he stripped his own clothes off. “The kid’s gonna break my bank account buying him clothes.”
Desiree smacked his arm. “Shut up, Caleb!”
The white tiger pounced on Cedric before he could strike Sherry. They rolled on the ground with claws and teeth tearing into each other. They were evenly matched. Mica was larger and stronger, but Cedric had more experience and fought dirty.
Drake and Mica rushed forward to take on the other shifters. Caleb shifted into a panther, jumping in the middle of the fight.
Desiree ran up to Sherry, embracing her in a hug. “I was so afraid that I’d lost you.”
Sherry shook her head and smiled. “I’m tougher than that.”
“More than you know.”
The battle raged around the women as teeth flashed and fur flew.
Young Mica rolled Cedric on his back. His mighty paws weighing down Cedric’s heaving chest. Both were bloodied and exhausted. Caleb let out a mighty roar as he gazed at his young son. Cedric, sensing the end was near, struggled to regain his footing. Mica pounced on his chest again, then sank his teeth deep into Cedric’s jugular. The enormous cat ceased his struggles, laying still in death.
The young cat stepped off his prey and started licking his wounds. His father stood beside him and ran his rough tongue over a bad gash in Mica’s side.
Two of the cats lay dead and bleeding not far from their leader. Drake and Mica still fought the remaining two.
Sherry looked over her shoulder and caught her breath. She nudged Desiree to look away from the fight and whispered. “Oh god, we’re surrounded.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Desiree looked up sharply to witness what Sherry was saying. They were indeed surrounded by about three thousand blood-thirsty vampires. “Oh, no. Santana’s making his move, and Drake’s here without his clan for support.”
“Justin Hargrove planned this,” Sherry whispered fiercely. “I just didn’t know what he was talking about.”
The circle slowly started to close in on their small group. Drake and Mica still fought the two remaining cats.
Desiree looked at Sherry. She saw the fear in the young woman’s eyes. “Listen to me and listen closely. I don’t have time to go into great detail but know this…you are not a common witch. You carry my powers.” Sherry’s eyes widened in surprise. “We will live to discuss this in length, but for now I need you to listen.” Sherry nodded. “Do you remember the spell I told you that I cast on that clan of vampires a few days ago?”
“Yes, why?”
“We are stronger together. Our magic is stronger together. We can destroy them together.”
“How?”
“Recite the spell with me. Together it will be strong enough to destroy them instead of just frighten them.”
“But what about Drake and Mica?”
“They’re protected by the amulets. Our spell will not harm them.”
“We’re running out of time. Let’s try it. Anything’s better than standing here and dying.”
“Agreed.”
They held hands, raised their fists in the air and began to chant:
“By the gods we beckon thee, to bring the sun so they will see. With its rays they doth feel, the kiss of fire to feel so real. To burn their flesh and cause them pain, to dissolve their bodies to where only ash remain. In this night and in this hour we call upon the ancient power. By the power of three times three, let them see, let them see. We do so wish it, so mote it be!”
Chaos suddenly sprouted everywhere as lightening streaked the sky and the clouds boiled and churned like an angry sea. The wind whipped up, blowing Desiree’s and Sherry’s hair and clothes furiously about them. Their bodies glowed and levitated into the air as the power surged around and through them.
Mica and Drake had just destroyed the two remaining cats, and stood in awe as their mates rose higher into the air. It was then they became aware that the cats weren’t their only opponents. The real enemies were there, now, and they were sorely outnumbered. There was no time to call in their clan.
Drake’s jaw clenched in anger as he watched Santana strut proudly to the front of his group.
Santana smiled triumphantly and gestured to the women in the air. “Nice show, Drake, but it will take more than parlor tricks to defeat me. Your kingdom is mine. You no longer rule here. Two lone vampires and a couple of shape shifters can’t defeat my army. Face it Drake, you’re done.”
Caleb and young Mica flanked their friends. Drake nodded to them, then glared at Santana. “Fuck you, Santana.”
Santana wagged his finger in the air. “You are in no position for name calling.”
“I will die before submitting my kingdom to you.”
“That was always the plan from the beginning. Never leave your enemy alive to strike back.”
“I am not afraid to die, Santana.”
“I never took you for a coward, Drake. On the contrary, you’ve always been a strong and respected leader. You’re just in the way of what I want—this great city.”
“You can’t have it.”
Santana laughed. “I somehow knew you wouldn’t want to give up without a fight.”
The ground trembled beneath their feet as the two witches floated back to the ground. The witches’ eyes glowed blue and they appeared to be in a deep trance.
The women turned and stepped apart, but stayed back to back and raised their hands stretched out level with their chests. Blue rays emitted from their fingers out into the throng of vampires. Everyone the rays touched burst into flames, dissolving into ash.
Another type of chaos arose as the vampires pushed and shoved each other to get out of the way of the unnatural light. Screams of pain and anguish rent the air as the wounded fell and died.
Santana roared in anger. “What in the hell is going on?” He ducked around a beam of light and made a wide berth around the group.
Amidst the ruckus and confusion Santana managed to slip in between the women. He drew his dagger and shoved it into Sherry’s back. She fell in a heap onto the concrete. Her blood rushed and pooled around her body.
Santana roared in triumph. “I will still win this night.”
Drake rushed his enemy. “Not if I can help it.” He tackled Santana to the ground. They wrestled and rolled, with knives and teeth.
Desiree came out of her trance, screaming as she rushed to Sherry’s side. “Drake, she’s dying.”
“Good,” Santana grunted at the news as they continued to wrestle.
Drake straddled his opponent. “I’ll see you in hell, Santana,” He raised his dagger, plunging it into Santana’s heart. Santana’s hands dropped away as he lay frozen and unable to respond. Drake stood. “Mica, tie him up before you remove the dagger. He will stand trial.” He made his way to Sherry and knelt next to Desiree. “Can’t you cast a spell to heal her?”
Desiree’s shoulders shook in anguish. “She’s already lost too much blood for magic. He must have severed a main artery. She’s dying, Drake, and I can’t do a damn thing to stop it.”
Sherry’s eyes fluttered and her hand flopped away from her body. Remember that I’ve always loved you.
/> Hold on, love. Drake bit into his wrist and nudged Desiree out of the way. “I have no choice.”
Desiree grabbed his arm. “No, Drake, she doesn’t want to be a vampire.”
Drake yanked his arm out of her grasp. “There’s no other choice. Her heart is growing weaker. It’s now or never…Mica! Come tend to your mate.”
Desiree rushed into Mica’s arms and wept.
Drake tilted Sherry’s head back and let the blood from his wrist trickle into her mouth. It filled and spilled out of the sides. “Drink!” In frustration he pinched her nose and pressed his wrist firmly to her mouth. “Drink, damn it.”
She choked, swallowed, then swallowed again. Her hands reached up, grabbing his arm, drinking now in earnest.
He stroked her hair. “You will live, little one. Your life will be different, but you’ll remain by my side for eternity. Rest, love.”
He pulled his hand back and sealed the wound with his saliva. He gathered Sherry into his arms, cradling her to his chest. “Desiree, will she keep her powers?”
Desiree shrugged, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I honestly don’t know. I’ve never heard of this happening to one of us before.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sherry slowly opened her eyes. It was dark, but she saw everything clearly, down to the tiny minute cracks in the ceiling tiles. She cut her eyes to the right then to the left. She realized that she was in her bed at the warehouse. The memory of how she got there eluded her.
She retraced the steps in her mind; the kidnapping, changing Justin into a rat, the fight with the cats, and finally Santana’s warriors. She sat up abruptly. Santana’s warriors! Drake’s in trouble, she thought. She moved and stood by the bed so fast her head swam. Pressing her palms against her eyes she cried out. “Drake!”
She heard the door open, then close. The sounds echoed in her head. Then she felt Drake wrap his arms around her, holding her close. I’m here, he spoke to her mind.
She turned into his arms and buried her face in his neck. “What’s wrong with me?” She moved her hands to cover her ears. “Ah! Why is my voice so loud?”
He rubbed her back in a soothing manner, rocking her gently. You were mortally wounded in the battle.
Her voice caught. “What are you saying?”
I had to convert you, love.
“You mean I died?”
No, let’s just say you were born again. You will never die, love.
“I thought you said I wouldn’t become a vampire like you.”
That wasn’t my intention, no, but I guess that is what the Fates had planned all along. I knew that you would become immortal, but at the time I didn’t know how. Had I been given a choice I would have tried to find another way, but Desiree said you were injured too badly for even magic to heal you. There wasn’t time to find other help. Had I tried you would have been dead.
“Then you would have died too.”
Yes.
“Why aren’t you speaking out loud?”
He chuckled softly. I could, but your senses will be in overdrive for the next couple of hours. You’ll need to sit quietly for a few more hours until you feel a little more normal.
She sighed heavily and snuggled a little deeper into his neck. “Okay. Mmmm you smell good.”
Are you hungry?
“I’m starving.”
You can feed from me. In fact, you need to feed.
“How?”
Run your tongue along the vein in my neck. Yes, that’s right. You’ll feel your teeth drop.
All her senses were heightened. He smelled so good her mouth watered. She ran her tongue along his neck, following the artery from the crook of his neck to his ear. She felt the familiar ache in her core as she ran her tongue over her teeth and felt their newfound sharpness. She bit down, sinking her teeth into the tender flesh of his neck, his blood flowing freely into her mouth.
He held her close, allowing her free reign to take what she needed from him.
She pulled her teeth back and sealed the wound with her tongue. “I’m still hungry.”
You didn’t have to stop.
“No.” She fisted his shirt in her hands and flung him back on the bed with her new strength. “I need to feel you between my legs.” She worked the button on her jeans, unzipped the zipper, and shimmied them to the floor. “I need to feel you deep inside me….” She pulled her sweater over her head and threw it to the floor. “To touch my soul.” She stopped and raised an eyebrow. “You’re still dressed?”
A smile touched his lips as he reached for the snap on his leather pants. “I figured that you’d be angry with me for changing you.” The pants slid past his hips exposing his hard cock, then he kicked them the rest of the way off.
Sherry straddled his legs and sat down, considering his words. “I can’t find it in myself to be angry with you. Would I have chosen this for myself? I would have to say no, but I do choose you, love. If it means living for eternity as a vampire to remain with you…well, I can’t be angry with you about that.”
His smile grew. “Good.” Grabbing her hips he flipped her over on her belly, spreading her legs, exposing her fully to his gaze. On his knees now he peeled the shirt over his head. It followed the rest of the clothes to the floor. “Because I want to show you how it feels to feed from each other. But first….”
With one hand he fisted his cock, and with the other he pumped a finger in the slick opening, spreading her juices around and over her tight ass. Her inner walls clenched and wept.
Looking over her shoulder she asked, “What are you doing?”
“Relax, love. I’m going to heighten your pleasure. For now I’m only using my fingers.” Dipping his fingers into her creamy wetness, he again used the wetness to massage the tiny bud, then slipped a finger into the opening.
Sherry moaned and undulated her hips to get closer to his hand. Plunging his finger slowly in and out, going deeper with each stroke, he eased his cock in past the silken lips and began to rock his hips in rhythm with his finger, pulling both nearly out to ram all the way back in, picking up the speed and abandon. Sherry threw back her head and bucked her hips, taking him in to the hilt. Her body shuddered over his cock and finger, pulsating and milking the swollen member.
Drake shoved his cock in as deep as it would go and roared out his own release. Removing his finger and cock, he rolled her over and buried his cock again in her wetness, undulating his hips to stoke her need again. Her inner wall still pulsated, sucking him deeper. He licked the vein in her neck. “Here’s how we’ll feed, love.” He sank his fangs into the tender vein as his cock plunged deeper.
Sherry’s body was on fire. Every movement of his hips wound her tighter than before, and the feel of his mouth on her neck was heaven. On the verge of her own climax, she sank her teeth into his shoulder. Together they crested and felt their souls merge as one.
***
Sherry dressed in a red velvet gown that Drake insisted that she wear. He had told her that she would receive her coronation, and there would also be a trial of sorts for Santana. They all already knew he was guilty…it was just a formality.
She brushed her hair as she looked into the mirror. Her eyes were now a deep shade of red. Drake had told her that her eyes would remain that color for about a year, then they would slowly change back to her natural color, and then only change if she were angry or on the hunt. Her complexion now was the color of flawless porcelain. She turned her face from side to side as she studied every detail. Being a vampire seemed to enhance the good parts of her features and hide the bad.
There were still a couple of unknowns: Was she still a witch? Could her body handle the sunlight without an amulet? She was anxious to find out.
Drake walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He kissed her neck. “Are you ready, my queen?”
She placed the hairbrush on the counter and smiled at their reflection into the mirror. “Yes, sire.”
He turned her around a
nd kissed her lips gently, then placed her hand on the crook of his arm. “Let’s go make this official.”
This trip down the hall was different from the last. This time there were no secrets. They walked through the throne room doors arm in arm.
The entire clan stood at attention. They raised their right fists in the air, then across their hearts, and back in the air as a silent salute to their king and queen.
“My love, I need you to face the throne and kneel.”
She gave him a half smile and kneeled as he asked.
Drake held her crown in his hands and held it up for all to see. “I have claimed my life mate and your new queen. Serve her as you would serve me.” He placed the crown on her head. “Rise, my queen, and meet your subjects.”
She rose, placed her hand on his arm again, then faced the clan. The entire clan saluted her with their fists. Drake led her to her throne and encouraged her to sit. He sat in his own throne and raised his hand for the meeting to continue.
“You did beautifully, vixen.”
“Thank you.” She looked around. “What’s next?”
“We will hear and judge Santana together. Are you up to it?”
“The man almost succeeded in killing me. I will take great pleasure in sitting in judgment.”
“Now vixen, we have to go by facts, not personal vendettas. We are supposed to be unbiased. Don’t let the power go to your head.”
“I count myself blessed to still be here. I won’t be biased.”
He nodded. “Good.”
Drake lifted his hand and motioned with his fingers to bring the prisoner forward.
Santana swaggered to his place in front of the throne, his hands tied securely behind his back, chin held high.
Drake raised his hand for silence. “Santana, you are charged with plotting to overthrow my kingdom and attempting to kill my mate. How do you plead?”
“This kingdom should have been mine. It was promised to me. Your mate was in my way and just a means to an end. She should have died, thus ending you.”
Dangerous (Courting the Darkness Saga) Page 15