Vampire Coalition - Complete Collection

by J. S. Scott

  Nathan, Ethan and Rory instantly dropped to one knee and bowed their heads as they all uttered in unison, "Your Highness."

  "Oh, for God's sake, get up." Daric’s booming voice rose as he removed his hand from Regan's shoulder and motioned for the brothers to rise. "I'm not into all that royalty gibberish. You are all fierce warriors and don't need to kneel for anyone. Call me Daric."

  Regan nearly smiled. Daric actually looked embarrassed.

  "With all due respect, Daric, where is my brother?" Nathan asked as he rose to his feet, Rory and Ethan rising at almost the same time. "And how in the hell did he get that strong?"

  "Why are you calling Regan his mate?" Rory inquired in a confused voice.

  "She's my intended mate," Tom squawked from his seated position on the floor, finally finding his voice.

  "You..," Daric's eyes were intense as he glared at Tom, "are leaving." Daric flipped his hand as though he was batting away a fly and Tom disappeared.

  Regan didn't bother to ask where Tom had been sent. She really didn't care. Even for a mage...he was disgusting.

  Daric walked slowly towards the Hale brothers, his hands clasped behind his back. "To answer Nathan's question, Liam has always been strong, but his power is usually put into his healing."

  "I've never seen him....like that." Rory gulped as he tried to comprehend the fact that Liam had an enormous amount of power. "He's my twin. I should have known."

  Daric stopped in front of the three brothers as he remarked, "There are a lot of things that you all should have known, but Liam thought it was in your best interests to remain ignorant of some of the facts of his life." He looked at each brother as he added, "I disagree. I think being informed is the best protection for all of you." He waved his hand in the air. "Watch and learn."

  Regan's eyes were riveted to the images that sprang forth. It was almost like watching a big screen television suspended in the air.

  Liam's life rolled by, scene after scene, while seven pairs of eyes stayed glued to the images, gaping expressions on all seven faces.

  Daric had to explain some of the scenes as they played, but Regan knew about most of them and some, like the backlash experiences, she had actually witnessed up close and personal.

  Good or bad, Liam's secrets were being revealed.

  Chapter 5

  The screen disappeared as the last episode of backlash flashed away. Daric eyed Rory as he asked quietly, "Not the grand life that you imagined your twin had, is it?"

  Rory shook his head, his expression wistful, "I always thought he was the lucky one. Now I realize he wasn't." Rory sighed as he continued, "I always imagined he went away to a grand adventure when he was gone for long periods of time when we were young. I was jealous."

  "In reality, he went away for weeks at a time for healer training. It's not a grand adventure. It's hell. You've seen some of it," Daric replied.

  "Yeah...I guess I was really the lucky one. I had a childhood. I had friends. And I had Ethan and Nathan."

  "Being a healer is a load of responsibility at a very young age and it's a lonely life. There is nothing grand about it," Daric remarked gravely.

  "I still don't understand why he didn't tell us about the backlash," Nathan muttered, obviously irritated.

  "Because he feared that if you knew that he would pay with pain for killing a fallen, you wouldn't call him when you were in trouble. He didn't want to take the risk of losing one of his brothers," Daric commented quietly. "He was protecting you all in his own way. He never wanted anyone to know about his pain."

  Regan squirmed, feeling guilty that she did know, but kept Liam's secret.

  "Don't," Daric said sternly as he gave her an understanding look. "You're a good mate and kept Liam's secrets as he requested. You honor him." He crossed his arms over his massive chest. "I, however, am a prince of my people. I have no such qualms about blurting out his life story if I think it's for his benefit."

  "Liam's found his mate. He'll get his soul and a partner. He won't be lonely anymore," Callie exclaimed in wonder. Callie and Brianna were both grinning, but Sasha's expression was cautious and subdued.

  "Liam has a soul. Mating is different for a healer. It's a blood bond," Regan murmured absently, knowing that Liam could never truly be her mate.

  The room erupted with chatter, questions all being asked at the same time. Daric held up his hand and the room quieted, allowing him to explain the basic mating rules of the healer.

  "Holy shit!" Rory exclaimed loudly as Daric finished. "So it really is a miracle that Liam and Regan found each other."

  "Liam found his mate because it was meant to be," Daric answered with a shrug of his mammoth shoulders. "He's the first deserving healer in a very long time. He put his people first and served long and tirelessly. He deserves his mate if that’s what he wants." He shot Regan a stern, knowing glance as he finished.

  She fidgeted nervously, her voice nearly inaudible as she admitted, "I can't mate with him. The league of mage assassins will kill him if I do."

  "That's bullshit. Liam needs his mate. You can't just abandon him,” Nathan snarled. "It's not like we can't protect you."

  "Quiet!" Daric shouted abruptly. "Don't judge her." He gave Nathan a sharp glance as he waved his hand. "Watch."

  The big screen television returned, but this time the image was of the incident that Regan had gone through with the council. Daric hid her nude body, but he didn't tone down the violence of the attack and subsequent painful branding.

  Regan turned her head, trying to block the images and stay deaf to her own tortured screams. She rubbed her hip, still feeling the burn, still smelling the burned flesh. "Please, Daric. Stop," she choked out as she turned pleading eyes to the prince.

  The images immediately disappeared, but six sets of eyes watched her.

  "Where was Regan's protection during that episode?" Daric asked sarcastically as he turned his gaze to Nathan. He sighed loudly as he shook his head. "You are a brave warrior, Nathan, but your temper and rush to judge can sometimes cloud your common sense. Had you planned better the other night and not rushed in to eradicate the mass of fallen while being led by anger, Liam probably wouldn't have needed to kill. You're smart, but rash when it comes to killing the fallen."

  "But-" Sasha rushed to defend her mate.

  "No, Sasha. He's right," Nathan said grimly. "My hatred of the fallen consumes me at times. I need to get control of it. I can dust the bastards without being stupid. I should have planned better. I should never let my anger and resentment consume me to the point where I put any of my brothers at risk. It won't happen again."

  Daric's mouth turned up slightly in an approving smile. "Well said, warrior. You have reason for your hatred, but let common sense be your guide and you will get the best revenge."

  "I'm so sorry, Regan. Sorry we weren't there for you. If I had known, we all would have protected you. I understand you were just trying to protect Liam and I'm sorry we couldn't keep you from suffering." Nathan spoke quietly, his voice vibrating with remorse. "Will you mate with him?"

  "I don't know," Regan answered honestly. "I love him. I want to. But I'm afraid of the council's revenge. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to Liam."

  "Why didn't the league of assassins come after me when I mated with Sasha?" Nathan asked curiously.

  "I don't know."

  "I do," Daric answered. "Regan is a possible weapon against the mage. They need to keep her in the mage circle. For her, the council is willing to risk the wrath of the vampire by sending in the league of assassins."

  "What do you mean?" Regan questioned with a perplexed expression.

  "If you had looked very closely at your mating mark before it was defiled, you would have noticed a very tiny sword being carried in the claws of the dragon. That sword is a sign of a protector, a very rare mating mark for a vampire. It means if the mating is ever completed, the female mate will become a protector of the vampire, able to protect the vampire ag
ainst harm from her people. You, my dear Regan, will always have the power to protect yourself or any of your vampire kin against the mage." Daric finished and laid his hands on Regan's shoulders in a gesture of comfort.

  "How?" Regan questioned, shocked by Daric's incredible revelation.

  "You will be able to spell the jewelry you make with a spell of protection after your mating. Mating will release your power as a protector. You will know how after you are mated."

  "Oh, God. I can protect Liam. And my vampire family,” she sputtered wildly, hardly daring to believe it was true.

  "Yes. You can truly make your choice without any other influence," Daric smiled down at her like he was speaking to a treasured child.

  "I choose Liam," she exclaimed excitedly. "I'm just not sure he will want to choose me," she muttered in a more restrained tone. "He still has the option of rejecting me."

  Daric's eyebrows raised almost to his hairline as he said wryly, "I don't think that will be a problem. He's in such a desperate state right now because he cares too much. However, it might be hard to convince him, but now that you've made your choice, I hope that you can. He's past the point of no return, Regan. You need to reach him or he will not survive."

  Regan's heart stuttered and she could feel the palpitations begin as her gaze shot to Daric's sad eyes, "What do you mean when you say he won't survive?" she asked breathlessly.

  "If he can't reject you, which I already know he can't, and if you don't mate within the next few days, he will die. Liam needs to either mate or reject. He can't reject you because he wants you. On the other hand, he thinks he has done you unforgivable harm and doesn't want you to take him as a mate out of pity. It will take some convincing."

  Regan felt the fear wrap its icy hands around her heart, but she shoved it away. Failure was not an option. "I don't know all of the details for the mating." She gave Daric a pleading look.

  "And I will be glad to explain," he told her patiently. "In private," he added, giving everyone else in the room a get-lost-now look that no one would dare to ignore.

  Regan hugged everyone quickly, giving her sister Sasha an extra squeeze. "Don't let him go until he does the deed," Sasha whispered urgently in her ear before she and Nathan transported away, followed by Ethan and Brianna.

  "Tell him I'm sorry. Tell him...I love him. Please don't let him die," Rory said in a low, graveled voice filled with remorse as he hugged her tightly.

  Regan pulled back and looked into the face that looked so much like Liam's as she answered, "I will. But he knows, Rory. And he loves you. More than you know." In a stronger voice she added, "You can tell him yourself later. That stubborn vampire is going to be mine. Lord help him."

  Rory gave her a ghost of a smile as Callie wrapped her arms around him and they faded away.

  Regan took a deep breath and turned to Daric. His face was solemn as he looked down at her and put his hand lightly on her hip. Slightly confused by his action, she started to pull away as she felt a mild burning sensation under his fingers. "You're fixing my mark." Understanding dawned and her face lit up as he pulled his hand away.

  "It's already fixed," Daric corrected her arrogantly.

  "Thank you, Daric. Thank you. I hated the brand. I missed Liam’s mark so much." In her excitement, Regan jumped up and threw her arms around his thick neck in gratitude, and planted a loud, smacking kiss to his cheek.

  He patted her back gently and Regan could have sworn she saw a slight blush as she pulled away from him. The big guy wasn't such a hard ass after all. "You care about Liam."

  Daric shrugged. "I wouldn't be getting involved if I didn't care about the outcome. I don't want him to fuck this up. No vampire healer has gotten this opportunity in the last thousand years."

  "You're not mated?"

  "No."

  Regan sensed that there was more that Daric could add, but she didn't push. "So, tell me what I need to know."

  "It's getting close to sunrise, so I will go over it with you quickly. I will take you to him at sunset. Until then, I will make sure you are guarded from the mage," he informed her, his expression and tone telling her not to argue. "This won't be an easy task for you, little one. Liam can be stubborn when it comes to doing the right thing, even if it brings harm or death to him."

  Regan didn't need easy, she just needed Liam. "Tell me something I don't know. Believe me, I've dealt with his stubborn butt many times and I can be just as cranky as he can. I'm ready."

  Daric cocked his head and he gave her a mysterious smile as he answered, "Yes, I believe you are."

  By the time the sun began to rise over the mountains, Daric was gone and Regan was armed and ready with information.

  She crawled into her bed and breathed in the residual scent of Liam with a small, happy smile before she fell into an uninterrupted slumber.

  Chapter 6

  Liam's eyes popped open the minute the sun descended behind the surrounding mountains, surprised to find himself in his own bed.

  Trapped. Can't get out. Can't kill the mage that tried to harm my mate.

  Recognition dawned and Liam remembered the entire incident clearly, remembered his mate throwing herself over the mage to protect her kin.

  Daric had confined him to his own bedroom, in his own house. Liam sat back against the headboard. He was still seeing red...literally.

  "Good. You're awake." Liam's angry eyes looked up at Daric as he strolled into the room, wanting to kill the prince for confining him.

  "Lift the confinement," Liam demanded, fists clenched and body tense.

  "After the mating, my friend."

  "There will be no mating. Regan will never accept me now and she's been through more than she should have to bear. I practically raped her. She went through hell just because she wears my mark and wanted to protect me. She threw herself on top of the mage to protect him from me while I was in a mating rage. I'm nothing more than an animal to her." Liam's voice shook with anger and resentment.

  Liam had no more finished his statement when a large crack rang through the air and his head jerked sideways from a powerful blow. What the hell? He rubbed his hand over the side of his face, wincing as he poked at his jaw.

  Eyes wide, Liam jerked his head up to his prince, stating with fascinated surprise, "You just bitch slapped me." Daric had always been a stern but wise teacher, and he had never resorted to violence.

  "Boy, I'll bitch slap you into next week if you don't change your attitude. Now!" Daric thundered as he towered over Liam with a scowl. "Regan jumped on that slimy mage to keep you from killing him, but not for his benefit. She didn't want you to suffer the backlash."

  "No, Liam. He's not worth it."

  Liam heard her cry clearly, as if she were standing right next to him. Was it possible that she had been protecting him? He shook his head in denial as he replied flatly, "There's no way she could forgive me. I hurt her. She told me. Hell...I can't even forgive myself. And the torture she went through at the hands of the mage because she wore my mark-"

  "She wants to be your mate," Daric interrupted, crossing his arms over his chest. "You will mate."

  "No." Liam crossed his arms and glared at Daric. "She hates me. It would make her miserable. It would be better if I were removed from her life permanently."

  "Then refuse her."

  "I can't." Oh, hell no. Liam loved and wanted Regan so much that he could never force the words from his mouth that would release her. It wasn't physically possible. He could only refuse her if he truly didn't want her.

  "You'll die."

  "I don't care. That way her problem would be solved."

  "Gah...I give up. Stubborn idiot vampire healer," Daric threw his hands in the air and stalked out of the room, easily able to breach the invisible barrier that held Liam prisoner. Of course...Daric had created it - no surprise that he could walk right through his own magic.

  Liam flopped back against the pillows, waiting for the inevitable. There was no way he was going to tie R
egan to him and he couldn't refuse her. His fate was sealed. Now all he had to do was wait.

  *****

  "Liam?"

  The soft, gentle voice of his mate surprised Liam enough for him to quickly glance toward the entrance of his bedroom...a move that he instantly regretted. Vampire healer matings did not require witnesses and he understood why as soon he looked at Regan. He would kill any male that looked at his mate in the silvery silk gown that she was wearing. It hugged her body, hiding nothing as she walked slowly toward the bed. Slithering over her body like a second skin, the light silk outlined every incredible inch of her feminine form.

  Take. Possess. Mine.

  Fuck! Liam jerked his head away. He should demand that she leave, but he deserved the torture after the way he had treated Regan and the pain that she had gone through on his behalf. He would give her a chance to berate him if she needed it. He'd always give her anything she needed.

  "Look at me, Liam. Please." Her request was compelling, but he wasn't sure that he could look at her and not jump her like a rampant wild animal. It was difficult enough to just be in the same room, hearing her voice.

  "I can't, Regan. I'll want to touch you." Yeah, like he didn't want that already?

  He felt the bed dip slightly as she replied, "I think it will be difficult to mate if you don't touch me, Liam."

  "No mating." Liam clenched his jaw and tightened his fists. "I would think your first experience would have been enough to convince you that you don't want me for a mate."

  "My only regret is that I couldn't touch you that time. I want to do that now. Can I touch you, Liam?" Her wistful voice socked Liam in the gut. His mouth as dry as a desert, he couldn't have answered, even if he knew what to say.

  Regan was already in the bed and moving slowly toward him. Her tiny hand slid to his bicep and stroked lightly, caressing up and down his tense muscles before moving hesitantly toward his chest.

  Oh, fuck. Just shoot me now and get it over with!

  As Regan's hand got bolder and her nails lightly trailed through the dusting of hair on his chest, Liam decided right then and there that he would rather deal with the backlash of killing a dozen fallen than with the light caresses and incredible scent of this one tiny woman.