Vampire Coalition - Complete Collection

by J. S. Scott

  Where in holy hell is Liam?

  He knelt next to her naked body, wishing that he knew more about the mage. Mage and vampire didn’t mix, so he knew only the bare minimum of information about the magical species.

  They were not immortal. They lived a little longer than humans, but their existence was finite. Born with magic, they could cast spells and bend magic to do their bidding. Mage were stronger than humans, but not as strong as an immortal.

  Oh hell...that was about all he knew. He had never even come in contact with a mage since they seemed to have an aversion to vampires.

  Nathan jerked backwards, landing on his ass in shock as his fingers moved over her left hip to slow the bleeding on a deep slash in her skin.

  My mark!

  “Christ!” he whispered harshly as he levered himself back to his knees and lightly touched the dragon symbol on her hip with trembling fingers. He brushed it gently, tracing the lines of the small marking.

  Not possible.

  He made his mark appear on his right arm to confirm that it really wasn't his marking. Nathan hadn't even looked at his mating mark for so long that he couldn't remember the exact design.

  They were identical matches.

  The dreams.

  The marks.

  My mate.

  “You don't have to keep staring at it, brother. She's definitely your mate.” Nathan jerked his head around to see his brother Liam with an arm propped casually against the doorframe and a smile on his face.

  He hid his marking as he asked hotly, “Where in the hell were you? This girl is bleeding to death.”

  Liam's smile only grew broader as he nudged Nathan aside and assessed her injuries. “She's hardly a girl. And I was busy. I got here as soon as I could.” His hand moved quickly over her body, using his healing ability to completely stop her bleeding. “She's mage and she needs a mage healer. There's only so much I can do. She'll end up scarred.”

  “I don't give a damn about the scars,” Nathan answered fiercely. “Just don't let her...” his voice softened as he choked out the last word. “die.”

  “Back away from my sister or I'll fill you both full of silver bullets.”

  Nathan and Liam's heads both snapped up to stare at the woman in the doorway. She was blonde, her hair not quite as long as her sister's, and her hands were shaking as she held a handgun trained on the two men.

  “I think you have your myths confused. Silver bullets are for lycanthropes and they don't really work on them. That's a more modern myth,” Liam told the woman casually as he stood.

  “Yeah...well...I could certainly make you miserable.” Her voice sounded shaky and unsure.

  It would be painful, Nathan thought, but all it would do was really piss him off.

  “I'm a vampire healer. I was trying to help your sister. We weren't going to hurt her. We want to help her.” Liam told her reasonably.

  “It was vampires that attacked her.” The woman replied defensively, still waving the gun in their direction with shaking hands.

  “Fallen vampires. They're the bad guys. We aren't fallen. We try to contain them. It's my guess that my brother Nathan saved your sister's life.” Liam's voice was soothing as he spoke quietly to the obviously nervous woman.

  “Oh, thank God! I was afraid I'd have to shoot you.” The blonde blew out a pent- up breath and lowered the gun. “I'm a healer...not a killer.”

  Liam gave her a sympathetic smile. “I've done all I can do. Perhaps you can take over.”

  “Yes. Of course.” Dropping the gun in a chair she rushed to the bedside.

  “How in the hell did you get in here?” Nathan demanded. “I have more security than Fort Knox.”

  “I spelled myself in. I can't transport, but I can gain entry with spells. You aren't mage protected,” she answered distractedly as she took Liam's place that he had vacated at the bedside. “Oh, Sasha,” she whispered as she looked at the nasty gashes. “Has she been unconscious like this for a while?”

  “Since I killed her attackers. Is that bad?” Nathan asked anxiously.

  “No. It's our way of conserving energy until we can be healed.” She opened a bag she had brought with her and began to apply a paste to her sister's injuries.

  “Is that her name? Sasha?” Nathan questioned, breathing her name softly.

  “Sasha Taylor. I'm her sister, Regan.”

  “This is Nathan Hale.” Liam waved his hand toward his brother. “And I'm his brother, Liam. I'm a vampire healer. Can I help in any way? I don't know much about the mage, but I'll do whatever I can to help.”

  “I'm going to do a healing spell. If you can send me any healing energy, it might help.” She crinkled her brow in concentration.

  Sasha. My mate's name is Sasha.

  While Regan chanted her healing spell and Liam closed his eyes to send healing energy, Nathan stared at the vulnerable woman on the bed with awe and confusion. Hundreds of years of waiting...and she was finally here. He had given up hope, and he wasn't sure if he should rejoice or mourn. He didn't want a mate. Did he?

  Sasha started thrashing, her long lashes flickering. Nathan went to the opposite side of the bed and crawled over the empty space of the enormous structure to get to his mate. He held her hand and put a comforting hand on her forehead.

  She was healing, her injuries closing before his eyes to leave nothing but smooth skin. Nathan looked from her to her sister. Regan's face looked strained and contorted as she continued the healing spell. Liam's head was thrown back in concentration, his eyes closed. Nathan wasn't a healer but he could feel the combined energy swirling through the bedroom. It was all directed toward Sasha, making her thrash and moan as her body healed.

  Nathan stared fixedly at his mate, his displeasure at the whole situation evident. She was in pain and he didn't like it. He stroked her cheek and she quieted.

  Her eyes fluttered open, confusion and pain mingling in her panicked eyes.

  “Don't be afraid. You're being healed. You were injured. Stay still.” Nathan tried to reassure her.

  Her gaze flew straight to his face and she started, her face frightened and alarmed. “You're him. I recognize your voice. The man from my dreams.”

  Nathan realized he was still stroking her cheek and she was awake. He scrambled back on the bed, but he wasn't fast enough.

  His face grew feral and his body shook with reaction. The mating instinct had kicked in and it seized his entire being, infusing him with possessiveness and lust. His cock hardened like a diamond and heat rushed through every artery, vein and capillary in his body.

  “Mine!”

  With the healing completed, his fierce, loud growl brought every eye in the room to him with shock and alarm.

  Chapter 3

  Sasha couldn't do much more than stare at her dream lover who had suddenly come alive in much too graphic detail. Holy hell...the man was enormous and there was no veil or shadow this time to make him less scarier. Nostrils flaring and eyes burning, the man pinned her with his black stare but said nothing more. He seemed to be struggling...with himself. His eyes raked over her body and face hotly.

  Sasha scrambled for cover, pulling back the sheet and blankets to cover herself from chin to toes. She flushed as she realized she had been as naked as the day she was born, exposed to every eye in the room. Had they seen her mark of the vampire?

  Liam was the only one brave enough to approach Nathan. He walked calmly around the bed and dragged his brother to his feet, yanking hard with both arms around his shoulders. Nathan was two hundred years older than Liam, but Liam had his own elevated degree of power as a healer and Nathan didn't really resist. He was too busy trying control his animal instincts.

  “You okay, Nathan?” Liam slapped him on the back as Nathan stood, stumbling a little as he gained his balance.

  Nathan held up his hand. “I'm fine. I'm six hundred years old for Christ's sake. I can control myself.”

  Liam gave him a doubtful look as he returned to Sasha.
He introduced himself and his brother as Regan looked on curiously.

  “What's wrong with him? He doesn't look so good,” Regan probed quietly, as she continued gaping at Nathan.

  “Let's go get something to eat, Regan. The healing was draining. I'll explain everything.” Liam nodded his head toward the door, indicating that they should leave Sasha and Nathan alone.

  “Are you sure it's safe.” Regan didn't sound so sure that leaving them alone was a good idea.

  “They'll be quite safe, Regan. Come along and I'll explain. They have a few...issues to work out.” Liam coughed to cover his laugh as he motioned Regan out the door.

  Regan moved behind him slowly, shooting her sister one last, perplexed look as she followed Liam.

  Sasha watched as the pair disappeared, her mind whirling. She remembered the monsters that attacked her and seeing a brief glimpse of the vampire that Liam had introduced as Nathan before she lost consciousness. She also remembered sending out a calling spell to Regan. She had obviously received it. She was here, and she must have healed her.

  “You saved my life,” Sasha whispered, knowing that he must have destroyed the creatures attacking her.

  Nathan walked around the bed and sat on the floor beside the bed before replying, “I almost didn't make it fast enough.” His eyes never left her face, Sasha could see the fear and concern in his expression.

  She lifted a hand to his cheek, unable to stop herself from comforting him. “You made it. I would have been dead had you not shown up. What were they?”

  “Fallen vampires.”

  Sasha shuddered. She didn't know that vampires could fall and become such hideous creatures. “And you hunt them?”

  “Yes.” Nathan answered simply. “They prey on the innocent.”

  “And you don't?” She couldn't stop herself from asking the question. Weren't all vampires evil? The mage shunned all vampires, never mentioning that there were good and bad among them.

  A volatile look crossed his face as he answered roughly. “No. I do not. Vampires may survive on blood but we take from those who aren't so innocent and we don't kill to do it.”

  She believed him. His insulted look was definitely not false. He looked like she had slapped him. Remorse stabbed at her sharply as she replied, “I'm sorry. I know very little about vampires.”

  “Probably about as much as I know about the mage.” His voice was rough and low. “Do you know that we’re mates?”

  Sasha flinched. “I knew I was the mate of the vampire because I have the mark. I didn't know who he was. But I have dreams...” Her voice shook. “I never see a face...but I dream. I recognized your voice.”

  “I dream the same dreams. But I could see you very clearly.” Nathan willed his mark to appear and held his forearm out to her. “We are definitely mates. I can feel the mating instinct even now.”

  Sasha stared at Nathan's mark, a twin to her own. She could feel the mating instinct too, and it wasn't comfortable. She wanted to pull Nathan into the bed and have him at least a million different ways. The only difficult part would be where to start.

  You cannot mate with a vampire...no matter how handsome and compelling he may be. You are mage.

  “Mage and vampires don’t mate,” Sasha said, speaking as much to herself as to Nathan, trying to convince herself that she could never have this man who was already turning her inside out.

  “Make no mistake, little one...we will mate. The process has begun and it will end with us being mated.” His stare was intense and his voice rumbled. “I understand that you don’t know all there is to know about vampire mates. I’ll explain. But we will be mates.”

  Sasha felt her temper rising. He may have saved her life, but no man was going to tell her what to do or what was going to happen with her life. She made her own destiny. She opened her mouth to tell him exactly that, but he had started explaining the nature of mates.

  Curiosity overruled her anger...and she listened as he explained exactly what being the mate of a vampire really meant.

  ******

  Sasha smiled as she woke one week later in an array of silken rose petals. She stretched in her bed, inhaling the fragrant smell that surrounded her. As she opened her eyes she ran hand a through more than an inch of soft, red petals, piled high around her. She laughed as she tossed a handful in the air and watched them waft slowly back to the bed.

  His courting is bewitching me.

  When Nathan decided something...he was immovable. He had decided he was going to court her...and she had been spoiled rotten for the last week. All she had to do is wish or want for something and it appeared.

  This was the seventh day she had woken up in a bed of rose petals. Sasha knew from experience that once she exited the bed, the petals would disappear and her bedroom would be filled with several vases of roses, covering every available surface of the room.

  Nathan's power was terrifying, but strangely enough, Sasha had never feared him. She got in his face often enough when he pissed her off, but he showed nothing but patience with her. His control was nearly as scary as his power. The vampire might vibrate with power, but the strength contained, just waiting to explode.

  She hopped out of the bed, shaking off petals as she went, yawning as she glanced at the window, realizing it was twilight. Although she had never been an early riser, her nights had gotten longer and she slept the day away.

  Coffee.

  She made her way sleepily toward the kitchen to put on the coffee pot only to find a large, steaming mug of latte waiting for her. Extra milk, extra sugar. Just the way she liked it.

  Exasperating man! He probably had not even woken from his day sleep yet and he was able to cater to her wants. Ah…the benefits of having a six hundred year old vampire mate.

  Sasha blew on the steaming mug and took a small sip of the much needed caffeine. Perfect. As usual. Sighing softly, she carried the mug back to the bedroom. The rose petals were gone and the vases were arranged around the room. How in the hell did he do that? Did he arrange it with magic before he slept or was he so powerful that he could do all this while he slept? She had asked him before and he had just shot her a deliciously wicked look.

  She sat on her bed and cradled her coffee, sipping at it leisurely as wondered what she should do this evening. She could go to the homeless shelter and help out as she had been doing the night she had met with the two fallen, but she had promised Nathan that she wouldn't go there without his escort.

  It was Saturday night. She and Regan never worked on the weekends. They had been working in her basement workshop all week with Nathan, his brothers and their mates as frequent visitors. She had even met Adare and Kristin, friends of the brothers. They were all so...likeable. Even Regan, shy and quiet as she was, laughed and joked along with the brothers and their mates, enjoying their company. They all teased each other mercilessly, but Sasha could also see the bond between the brothers, ties of respect and love in addition to just blood.

  So different from the mage, Sasha thought. Mages were serious creatures that rarely laughed or showed their emotions to one another. Their main concern was the survival of the species and keeping the purity of their mage heritage.

  She shuddered, her coffee nearly spilling as she thought of her parent's reactions to her revelation that she was a vampire mate. They were disappointed in her and they showed it. She was treated as a dirty outcast by everyone except Regan, who treated her no differently than she always did. Her parents had told Sasha, in no uncertain terms, that she was an aristocratic mage and she would be mated to another of her kind.

  Sasha had refused. She may not end up mated to Nathan, but she could not mate with another mage knowing that she was the keeper of Nathan's soul. She couldn't do it. She would end up an old maid before she mated with a mage simply for bloodlines.

  You will be mated with me, love.

  Nathan's voice floated through her mind like a caress, making her shiver in reaction. All she needed was to hear that sultry voi
ce to make her heart race and her soul fill with yearning. Her body reacted, her panties dampening and her nipples hardening.

  “So sure of yourself, vampire?” she whispered as she smiled into her coffee mug.

  He was infuriating arrogant and smug. He could also be kind, tender and thoughtful. It was almost an irresistible mix. She longed for him as she had never wanted another man.

  I have no doubt, Sasha. You belong to me.

  His voice was low and possessive. How it could anger her and arouse her at the same time was a mystery. “I belong to no man, vampire,” she answered stubbornly.

  She heard his chuckle as he murmured back in her mind. We shall see, little one.

  Sasha's spine stiffened in indignation. Tall for a woman, she was hardly little. Just because Nathan was a giant of a man didn't make her small. “Don't call me that. I’m not a child.”

  “I am well aware of that, love. You are well developed in all the right areas.” His voice was husky and full of desire.

  Her panties flooded as she imagined him exploring all those areas, every place that she wanted him desperately to explore. Her lust for him was undeniable. Although he had done nothing more than kiss her forehead, she longed for him to take her to bed and claim her.

  The thought had no more crossed her mind when Nathan appeared in front her, dressed only in a pair of body hugging jeans and a slight smile. Her breath caught as she took in his muscular, hard body in the flesh. He was gloriously handsome with his dark hair and eyes that were shooting her a look of intense lust.

  “Tell me you want it as much as I do, Sasha. I'm not sure how much longer I can fight it,” he growled as he held out his hand to her.

  Chapter 4

  Sasha trembled as she set her empty coffee cup on her bedside table. Oh...she wanted it. She had wanted Nathan since he had appeared in her dreams. Now that she knew him in reality, her desire had intensified to an unbearable level. To let him take her was dangerous; to be without him was unendurable.