Resurrected: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance

by Kim Faulks

  Maddy closed her hands over her babe, then gripped her child tight. She raised her head and stared at her daughter.

  Come on. Come on.

  “I love you.” Maddy whispered. “I love you so much.”

  The tiny sound came again. I couldn’t see her lips move. I couldn’t see anything. The sound ratcheted one octave at a time, followed by a tiny draw of breath. A shriek tore from those perfect little lips, stealing the thunder from the sky. Stealing everything.

  Odessa’s face lit with a smile so wide, it mirrored the crescent moon. In the distance the lightning came closer, sweeping everything away with the pungent scent of ozone.

  “She’s perfect, Maddy. She’s so perfect.” I whispered.

  Odessa brushed back hair slick with sweat from Maddy’s brow. “What are you going to call her?”

  Maddy looked up to the swelling white thunderheads as they rolled and swelled and whispered. “Storm. Her name is Storm.”

  For the first time in what felt like forever I smiled. “That’s a perfect name. Storm.”

  “Congratulations, Maddy.” My father called behind me. I spun at the sound. “Is it a boy?”

  None of us answered for a moment. Was silence an answer?

  “A girl.” Maddy’s voice was a husky croak. “It’s a little girl.”

  “Oh.” The sound of steps followed. “Another girl. The storm’s almost here. We’ll stay here tonight and leave later tomorrow to give you some rest.”

  Maddy pushed herself up with one hand and cradled her baby with the other. “Thank you. I’ll keep up. You won’t have to worry about us.”

  One nod, then my father shifted his gaze to me. “Good job.”

  Then he disappeared, leaving the three of us alone.

  I closed my eyes at the sound of his boots, waiting, praying, yet in my heart I knew the words would come.

  “He seems happy that she’s a girl. Don’t you think he’s happy, Abrial?” Maddy whispered as I struggled to stand on numbed legs.

  No. I don’t think he’s happy at all. “Sure. Sure, I think he is.”

  I left them behind, following my father as he turned from where the warm fires waited and headed into the shadows.

  I skirted the trees, finding his outline in the darkness. The crack of light ripped the sky, illuminating the hunched forms. My father, Hurron, Buck, Leon and Travers. The five men who controlled everything in our pack.

  I caught the word… girl. All five dropped their heads. I edged closer, keeping my feet light. Déjà vu hit me. Wasn’t it my sister’s fate they decided not so long ago?

  Do I save one, or save many Abrial? Answer me that. Well… answer me. One, or many? How the mighty had fallen. While the others of my pack still saw the warrior and the Alpha, I only saw weakness.

  Well, answer me, Abrial. One, or many?

  I sucked in the night air and shuffled closer. Please, Goddess. Just this once, save one.

  I crept forward, pressing my face into a thorny bush to hear.

  “We have no food as it is. She’ll slow us down. She’s just a girl. They’ll only breed more.”

  Thorns gouged my skin. Those words. Those words.

  “Leave her behind.”

  I jerked my head up and slapped one hand over my mouth while I gripped the bush with the other. No!

  “Agreed. Leave her behind.”

  “Leave her behind.”

  “Aye. Leave her behind.”

  “Leave her behind.”

  Thorns pierced my palm. I clenched tighter.

  “Leave her behind.”

  I jerked at the sound. Six? Five men controlled our pack. I strained to hear the sixth, not trusting my ears.

  “Are you sure, Walker? This is Maddy we’re talking about, the mother of your child.”

  Please, no. Not Walker. Not him.

  My best friend’s voice rang out loud and clear. “I’m sure. There’s no other choice. Like you say, save the one, or save the many. We have to leave her behind.”

  Pain drove the thorn through my body and into my heart. The one male I thought I could trust had betrayed us and I was five all over again. No. Please not again. I rocked back in the shadows and my hands slipped to hug my knees.

  No one would save us. Not my father. Not my friend.

  I fisted the hair at my temples, the thuds inside were words.

  Just a girl. But she wasn’t just a girl. She was every girl, every woman—every mother. Every sister. Every friend.

  Just a girl? No, Maddy’s baby was everything.

  I had to save her, then maybe I could save my sister.

  I forced my boots to move, edging backwards and looked to the sky. The North Star shone bright, enticing me to watch, to follow.

  But the storm would soon be here.

  Leaves crunched under my boots in the dark. I retraced my steps until the fire chased the darkness away.

  “What happened?” Maddy murmured. Her eyes slid closed, before opening. But she wasn’t asleep, not yet. She cradled her baby in the crook of her arm. The little bundle wriggled, wrapped tight in my favorite sky blue shirt.

  The corner of my mouth tugged as I dropped to my knees beside her. “Nothing. Everything will be fine. You trust me, right, Maddy? You trust that I’ll keep us safe?”

  “You’re starting to scare me, Abby.”

  Her lips were already starting to pinken. I’d never seen a woman look so beautiful as she did in that moment. “You have nothing to be frightened of. I just need to hear the words.”

  “I trust you.” Those words never trembled.

  “I trust you, too.” Odessa whispered.

  I shook my head. “Why? You don’t even know me.”

  “You’re the reason I’m here, Abrial. You’re the Alpha we all need.”

  Odessa held my gaze and climbed to her feet as I spoke. “Stay with her. Don’t leave her side. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “Storm’s almost here.” Odessa whispered.

  That touch of other caressed my mind. “I know. Believe me, I know.”

  Her hand snaked out to grasp my arm. Her eyes twinkled. “You want to know what I see in your future?”

  I wrenched my hand away. My heart thundered. “No… don’t. I already know.”

  “I bet you don’t. I bet you don’t know a thing.”

  Lightning cracked overhead, and in the luminescence, I saw her. Eyes wide and lips smiling. “Run, Abrial.” She yelled as thunder chased the light. “Run, run, run.”

  The rumble overhead frightened my wolf. I forced my gaze up, finding the sparkle in the sky as the storm clouds swallowed the light.

  “Run!” Odessa screamed.

  I stumbled backward, then turned and lunged for the trees.

  My knees jarred with every thud. Two hours and I’d make the town. Would I find someone to help? The hospital. They’re humans—they help everyone. I had to try.

  I had maybe seven, eight hours before the men started to rise and It’d taken us almost eight hours to get here. But the pack was slow with the old and the young. In a run I could try do it in three.

  Then do it.

  My boots hit the ground, sending a quake through my body. I leaned into the movement, grasping trees as I shuffled past to throw myself ahead, faster, harder, praying momentum would take me.

  East turned into west, then north and south. I spun staring at the trees, which now all looked the same. The storm cloud parted, revealing the stars above. I tracked my movements by the constellations. Still I kept walking, pushing my lead-filled feet into a jog, then into a run as fast as the thick forest floor would allow.

  My boot hit a hollow in the earth, sending shards of pain into my knee. I toppled and hit the ground with a thud. The cold earth held me, like I’d held Maddy’s newborn baby.

  Storm.

  I had to save her. Even if they left Maddy with enough food and water to last her for days, she’d die out here. There were more than wolves who combed the woods for prey. The E
cho pack would come—just as I knew they were coming for me.

  I deserved death. Maddy and her little girl didn’t. I shoved my hand against the wet earth, leaves stuck to my face as I forced my chest off the ground and slid my knees underneath me.

  I slammed my right foot against the ground and shoved upwards. My knee screamed as I followed with my left. Shift. My wolf snarled. I looked up at the sky, thick cloud covered the moon, still I felt her, slipping, slipping.

  I needed to shift and heal. But I needed the connection of my pack to give me the strength. I couldn’t take the risk of lying in a ditch, half-shifted and unable to find help. I hobbled, using my heel to pivot and climbed the steep rise. Each thud jarred my knee, until my hot tears mingled with the fresh splatter of rain.

  Don’t let me walk through this forest all night. Please Goddess, can’t you hear me? Don’t let me fail them.

  I welcomed the pain as I shuffled each step, sliding down the slopes, only to hobble back up the next rise, until finally I crested a hill. The stars had fallen. I blinked, and grasped the nearest tree. Tiny sparkles hovered in the distance.

  My heel skated the pine needles, straining tendons. I gripped thin branches and leaned forward. Lights beckoned in the distance. The glint held my gaze as the ground slid from underneath my feet.

  Hard rocks punched my back as I hit the ground. Knotted roots and thorny bushes kicked and whipped. I felt the sting for a second before pain ripped through my head. Finally, I came to a stop.

  I lay there, breathing in the cold, damp early morning air. Morning was coming, I’d never make it to the town. I’d never make it to my pack.

  My belly hardened, pain ripped through my chest as a cough tore free. I licked my lips and tasted blood. I couldn’t get enough air. Pain tore through my chest like a spike. Not enough air. Tiny breaths. I kept them light. The salty scent of my blood filled my nose and leaked into my mouth. So tired. I could just lay here a while. Sleep, the darkness whispered.

  I closed my eyes. Just a little. Just a little.

  The storm’s coming, Abrial. You better. Run. Run. Run.

  I snapped my eyes open at the sound of her voice. “Odessa?”

  You want to know what I see in your future?

  I knew what was in my future. Heartbreak, pain, and the Echo pack.

  Don’t sleep. Not now. Tiny toes filled my mind. The newborn’s shattering cry chased sleep from my mind. Her future won’t be mine and it won’t be Maddy’s. I won’t let it happen.

  I drove my fingers into the earth and shoved. Pain ripped along my side. For a second, the lights in the distance wavered, blending together into one bright blur. The humans will help us. Please Goddess, let them help us.

  My growl set fire to my throat as I dragged my feet along the ground and pushed. Two feet seemed so hard to gain, and for a second my wolf rose, urging me down on all fours. I swallowed the pain and the fire. Not yet. Not until I’m back with the rest of my pack. Not until I know they’re safe.

  The scent of fresh earth followed me as I held my arm against my body. Tiny breaths. Tiny steps. The lights glinted. One after another those bright lights shimmered a little brighter and grew a little bigger until I stepped from the trees and my boots scraped asphalt.

  Heavy thuds mirrored my heart as I stumbled. The hospital wavered in the distance. Letters outlined in white neon burned my eyes. I focused on the building, then the automatic doors.

  I’m not going to hurt you. I only want to help.

  His voice crowded my mind. Marcus. The man drove into a tree to save me. Why? No one had ever tried to save me. I was nothing. Just a girl, wasn’t that what my father said? Just a girl.

  I crested the gutter and inched my way up the grassy rise. The emergency bay was empty. I licked my lips, finding movement through the glass. Just a little further.

  A head turned and someone peered through the doors. I tried to lift my hand, but something was wrong with my brain. My hand didn’t respond. Help. Please help them.

  The air whooshed. Boots rang loud. White jackets and blue uniforms rushed to meet me. A male voice, so calm and controlled, filled my ears. “Are you okay? What happened? Were you hit?” He spoke over his shoulder to another. “Holy shit. She’s a shifter… a wolf.”

  “She’s from that pack… Echo… or something.” A man snarled. “Leave her, she’s more trouble than she’s worth.”

  I opened my mouth to speak as my knee gave way. Whispered words slipped from my lips. One woman leaned close. I caught the heady scent of perfume. “Say that again, honey. I didn’t catch it.”

  Grey speckled through dark brown hair. Vanilla smothered me.

  My lips parted as she dipped her head. “Just a girl.”

  “No. You’re not just a girl. You’re a fighter. You’re going to be fine, sweetheart. We’re going to take good care of you.”

  I clawed her arm, trying to hold on tight. “No. Not me. Maddy… the baby. In the woods. Leave them behind.”

  “Are they hurt?”

  I shook my head. No. Not yet….

  “Come on inside, let us take a look at you. We’ll talk about them later.”

  She gripped my arm. I shook my head. “Maddy. The baby. Two hours west. Need to take care of them.” I gestured toward the trees. “Through there. Please help them.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. Maybe the sheriff can have a look when the sun comes up.”

  Tomorrow would be too late.

  I shoved her hand away. Why aren’t they running? Why aren’t they racing to save them? The sheriff. Would he help? I dropped my arm and felt something tear inside. I swallowed the whimper as I climbed to my feet.

  “You need to let us have a look at you. We can give you something for the pain.”

  I shook my head. “No.” Turning back in the direction I’d come, I forced one foot in front of the other, leaving the nurse and doctor behind. Maybe I could talk to the sheriff myself.

  Concrete gave way to asphalt once again. At the end of the hospital drive, I followed the main road into town, passing their houses and their shopping centers. Neon lights glared, pulsing through shop windows. The sheriff’s office loomed in the distance. The open blinds revealed no movement. What if no one was there?

  My belly dropped like a weight. Then this would’ve been all for nothing. I stumbled along the pavement and slapped my hand on the door. The door didn’t budge. I shoved, hearing the scrape of metal as the door swung over the threshold, and stumbled into the foyer.

  A head snapped up from behind the counter. The desk officer narrowed his gaze and rubbed bloodshot eyes. He stood and peered over the counter, looking me up and down. “What the fuck do we have here?”

  My last chance. My only chance. I forced the words, trying to make sure he understood. “There’s a pack of shifters. They’re going to leave a mother and her newborn baby behind. She won’t survive out there. Others will come. They’ll kill her. West, through the forest. About two hours. You’ll find them. Please, help her.”

  He rubbed his chin and rounded the counter. “Jesus. They’re gonna leave her to die?”

  I nodded, reaching out with my good hand as my throat thickened, leaving my voice husky. “Yes. We need to go now.”

  The silence lingered. I shifted under the weight of his cynical eyes as he stopped in front of me. I stared at his name tag—Leonard Schult—then back up to warm brown eyes.

  “They’re out there in the cold, Leonard. It’s been raining. There was a storm.”

  He nodded. Still, I waited for him to grab the two-way at his belt and call, someone… anyone. He brushed the hair from my cheek and muttered. “You’re a pretty thing, aren’t you?”

  I wrenched my head from his touch.

  “Sounds like they’re doing us a favor. She dies out there, won’t be no concern of ours. We don’t get mixed up in pack business.”

  “She’s still a person. She needs someone to protect her, to fight for her.”

  He shook his head and h
is lips twisted in a smirk. “Like I said, we don’t get caught up in pack business. But if you want to hang around a while, I can help you out with somewhere to sleep.”

  His tongue snaked over his lips. His slippery gaze had me stumbling for the door. “No, thank you. I….”

  He nodded as I fumbled for the handle. I shoved the door with my hip and hurried away, listening to it slam shut behind me. High above, on tall metal poles, lights blazed, illuminating cars behind a locked gate. I slowed at the sight of the crumpled Chrysler.

  So stupid, so fucking stupid. This had all been for nothing. They depended on me. They were waiting for me. And I let them down. I let myself down.

  I gripped the wire mesh with my good hand and stared at the torn driver’s door. I could still see him in the car, dazed, staring up at me. The thick trickle of blood from his brow glistened under the green dashboard lights. He’d driven into a tree to save me. Strange man. He didn’t even know me—why would he care?

  What use was thinking about that now?

  I punched the fence, sending a twang through the wires. These humans wouldn’t help. No one could. I shuffled away, moving toward the next building. Stop. Sleep. The bricks were warm against my back, lulling me. My weighted lids drooped. I rocked forward.

  Something brushed across my mind and the sickening scent of male wolf filled me. The scrape of boots followed. I yanked my eyes open as a heavy hand slapped across my mouth. Fingers dug into my arm, wrenching me from my feet. I stumbled, flailed, then dropped my weight.

  “No you don’t, you little Bloodstone bitch,” a male voice snarled against my ear. The smell of wolf filled my nose.

  Strong arms squashed my arms against my ribs. Agony stole my breath. I sucked, drawing in the fetid stench of his hand, then drove my head backwards. The crack ripped through my skull, but I relished the crunching sound behind me. Something warm splashed the back of my ear. The hold on my arms slackened. Stars exploded behind my eyes as I fell, smashing my face against the pavement. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

  “Fuck! My nose. My nose!”

  “Get her. Get her now!” The second voice came from my right. I knew that voice.

  Sol. The stench of mongrel told me Echo pack had found me.