Heart of a Vampire, Book Bundle (Books 1-3)

by Amber Kallyn

  He blinked at the sight of the girl who seemed to be in charge.

  “Chain him to the wall,” she said in a light, sing-song voice.

  At Dalia’s glance, he didn’t resist. He would wait for the right time.

  The girl nearly broke his will when she jerked Dalia across the cave and pushed her to her knees in front of a chair near the fireplace. The child clapped her hands and two young women came out, completely naked.

  They scurried around, building and lighting a fire.

  Jordan nearly bit his tongue at the sight of the oozing whip marks across both females’ backs.

  After the fire was blazing, they bowed and left through a door built into the wall. The girl clapped again, and four burly vampires stood to attention. “Bring me the Viking.”

  Her honey-colored gaze bore into Jordan. He kept his face expressionless as he stared at her.

  “Hard, huh? Well, I’ll break you. Don’t worry.” She leaned forward, patting Dalia’s head. “Soon, you’ll be as docile as this little pet.”

  Delusional. The girl was filled with grandeur.

  And she had no idea who she was baiting.

  Another door opened, and two of the vampires strode in, carrying Eric’s limp form between them. The man had been badly abused. Blood—dried and fresh—covered every inch of exposed skin. Chains dragged from wrists and feet as he was carried over the uneven floor.

  It was too much. Jordan snapped.

  He jerked his hands apart, shattering the chains. Flying forward, he slammed his fist into one guard’s face. Bones crunched and the vampire fell to the ground silently, unconscious.

  Before anyone could react, he picked the other guard up and threw him at the wall. He too crumpled with barely a sound.

  Jordan grabbed Eric’s arm and ripped the chains from his hands. His guard opened his eyes the best he could through the swelling and tried to smile through cracked, bleeding lips.

  “’Bout time.” Then he sighed and let Jordan carry his weight.

  Turning to the child he said, “Now you will release Dalia.”

  Her eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe the order. “Why should I?”

  “Because you don’t want to me break your neck and remove your head.”

  She shuddered, fear filling her eyes. The chain dropped from her hand and Dalia scrambled to Jordan’s side.

  “Take Eric,” he said.

  She held the man up, letting him lean on her.

  Jordan stepped toward the child. “Now, you will return my sister.”

  She smiled. “No.”

  Rushing forward, he reached for her, but the girl disappeared. He stilled, listening for the barest sound, let the air wash over his skin as he searched for signs of power.

  Magic slammed into him, tossing him down and rolling him across the floor. Dalia cried out, fear tinging her voice.

  Sharp rocks bit into his skin, but he ignored the pain. He concentrated as he was spun through the air, pinpointing the girl’s location.

  Then he raced at her, grabbing a fistful of hair. He jerked and the girl cried out. Revealed once more, she flailed at his hands as he grabbed her arms and lifted her beneath his arm.

  He stomped to the chains on the wall, yanked her arms up and shackled her. “Never underestimate your opponent.”

  She laughed, the sound light and airy. “I don’t.”

  “Where is my sister?”

  The girl’s eyes widened and she grinned.

  If she’d been a man, he’d have no issue torturing her for the information. But faced with an angelic looking child, he couldn’t do it.

  And he realized it was his own damnable weakness. For he knew she was evil to her core.

  Dalia helped Eric to the bed and laid him down. When she reached Jordan’s side, she glared at the girl. “You will tell us.”

  The child’s smile grew brighter. “Oh? Will I? How will you make me? A chivalrous knight who won’t harm me and a woman who can’t even stomach the sight of blood and glorious torture.” She curled her lip, baring her fangs. “You can’t do anything to me.”

  Dalia drew back. “You may look like a child, but I remember you. The things you did to people, making them scream for hours.”

  “And I enjoyed it, was thrilled to do the same to you.”

  Jordan shook his head. “We’ll find the others on our own then.”

  Dalia followed Jordan to the bed. He checked Eric over. The man was in no condition to go anywhere without help.

  Dalia tugged at her collar, hissing as pain flickered over her skin.

  “Here.” He grabbed it and ripped out the pin holding it closed, then dropped the chain and collar on the bed. “Do you remember the other tunnels?”

  She closed her eyes, shaking her head.

  Jordan glanced at the many doors.

  “We’ll find them,” she said.

  “Aye, we will.”

  The cave was plunged into darkness and Fionah’s voice came to him, heavy with pain. “Brothair?”

  “I’m here, Fionah. Tell me where you are.”

  Cold sharpness bit into his back and he was hurtled through the air, slammed into the rocky wall. Dizziness buzzed in his mind. He struggled to climb to his feet.

  The lights blazed on and he blinked against the unbelievable sight.

  His sister stood by the girl, now free. They were surrounded by vampires of all ages.

  “Fionah, get Dalia and run,” he screamed.

  His sister looked at him, her lips curving up in a grin. “You mean this one?” She dragged Dalia from behind her and dropped her to the floor. “Why would I run, Brothair, when I finally have you where I want?”

  * * *

  Dalia pushed through her terror.

  Jordan.

  Blood was rapidly spreading across his shirt. From his side stuck a long, thin wooden stake. Silvery lines ran down the sides. From the agony on Jordan’s face, it had to be something special, to be strong enough to incapacitate a vampire.

  He gazed at his sister, eyes drowning with pain. Slowly, he held out his hand and stepped forward, only to fall to his knees. “Fionah,” he whispered.

  Vampires swarmed him, holding him down. He struggled, but seemed dazed, unbelieving.

  Dalia cried out as one man hit Jordan, opening a gash on his forehead. Jordan barely registered it, his gaze caught on his sister.

  Sweeping her legs at Fionah, Dalia ripped her hair from the woman’s grasp and raced for Jordan. Hands reached for her, but she dodged and ducked, pulling away. Reaching Jordan’s side, she fell to the ground, grabbing his face in her hands.

  “Jordan?”

  He blinked, his eyes focusing on her. Slowly, a hard anger filled them and he glanced over her shoulder at Fionah. He snarled, jumping to his feet. In a rush, the vampires around them flew back, cries and screams echoed in the cave.

  He stumbled, nearly falling. Dalia struggled to help him stay upright.

  Staring at Fionah, he asked, “Why?”

  She giggled, her face youthful. “Centuries, I have been under your control. Centuries I have wanted to be free. Now I will be.”

  Jordan shook his head as if he still couldn’t believe it.

  Fionah screamed, “Bring me their heads.”

  A door crashed open, wooden shards flying into the room. Connor, Shane and Brandon barged into the cavern, taking everything in and barreling into the fight.

  Jordan seemed to effortlessly throw the vampires away from Dalia as he pushed her behind him. “Get to Eric.” His voice was low, weak.

  She slipped along the wall to the bed. As she leaned over the tall Viking, still limp on the bed, a cold blade pressed against her throat.

  “I will not be defeated by you or my brothair,” Fionah whispered a bit madly.

  The blade at her neck burned into Dalia’s skin. She didn’t fight, but let Fionah draw her through one of the doors.

  Playing helpless, Dalia let the woman push her into a dark tunnel filled wi
th shadows. Then claws tangled in her short hair and she was thrown against the wall, the blade once more at her throat before she could even blink.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jordan slammed another vampire against the wall, only to be jumped on by three wolves. Their teeth and claws bit into his clothes and skin. With a war cry, he slashed at their unprotected bellies.

  Blood spilled, filling the air with a driving scent, increasing his urgent hunger, the need to feed.

  He lifted the nearest one and bit into its neck, gulping down the warm strength-giving liquid.

  Shane, Brandon and Connor matched his battle cry as they fought to reach his side. Creatures, vampire and wolf, flew through the blood soaked air.

  Connor grabbed Jordan’s shoulder and slammed him against the rocky wall.

  “Don’t move,” he said, before gripping the stake in Jordan’s side and ripping it out.

  The fire burning along his ribs quieted a little.

  “Rowan wood with silver inlays,” Brandon said. “Who tried to kill you?”

  Jordan’s confusion diminished. Now that the poison had been removed, he was regaining his senses. It took him a minute to process Brandon’s words. It was a fair question, considering Rowan wood was well known to be poison to vampires. It was one of the few types of wood left in the world that retained the old-world magic from the Fey.

  “My sister,” he growled. He shook his head, not wanting to believe.

  As his men fought the onslaught of creatures, Jordan searched the room for Dalia.

  “Where are the women?” he yelled.

  Connor pointed to one of the doors. “That way. I thought Fionah was protecting your little vampire.”

  “Nay. My sister wants to kill us both.”

  Connor’s eyes flashed with understanding. “Go.”

  Jordan raced through the mob, unceremoniously tossing anyone who got in his way.

  He slammed through the door and into a darkened tunnel. Sniffing the air, he caught the scents of vanilla and flowers, and blood. If Fionah hurt Dalia...

  He hurried after them, not quite sure what he was going to do when he found his traitorous sibling.

  * * *

  Fionah looked her over closely. “There is something about you, your very presence that seems to calm those around you.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You are not human.” She grinned. “My brothair and cousin don’t know what it is, but I believe I do.”

  “What?” Dalia asked, partly out of curiosity, partly to keep the woman talking.

  Fionah’s eyes grew cold. “Nothing that matters, for soon you’ll be dead. Unless I choose to keep you.” Her lips twitched as she considered the idea.

  Fionah slammed open a thick metal door bolted into the rock, then pushed Dalia into a small room behind it. She closed the door, sliding a heavy bar across to lock it. She turned and faced Dalia.

  “Why are you doing this?” Dalia asked.

  Fionah laughed. “You wouldn’t understand. One like you has never been burdened with being a pawn in a man’s world. But now, I will take down my brother and become the most powerful ruler.”

  Her eyes were blood red, flashing with an anger that bordered on madness.

  “Your brother doesn’t treat you like that.” Dalia took a step back as Fionah came closer. There was a small cot and table, but nothing else in the small room. And nowhere to go.

  Fionah grinned wildly, baring her fangs. “You wouldn’t know.”

  “I’ve seen the two of you together. He treats you like a queen.”

  “But I’m not a queen, am I?” Fionah drew closer. “And I should be.”

  “Why should you be?”

  “Because once, long ago, it was shown to be my destiny.”

  “Then your village was destroyed,” Dalia said, sympathy stirring for the crazy woman facing her.

  Fionah laughed again, gliding ever closer. “No. Helping the vampires and demons destroy my village was part of the path.” Her eyes glazed over as if reliving memories. “I saw it all in a vision. But my brothair lived.”

  She snapped back to the present and rushed forward, reaching Dalia’s side before she could move. Fionah ran her finger down Dalia’s neck.

  “Come sweet. I’ve heard so much about how you taste. Now it’s my turn to see.” She stepped around Dalia.

  Fionah’s sharp nails pressed into Dalia’s chin, forcing her head up, baring her throat. Fionah’s breath whispered across her skin a second before teeth dug into Dalia’s neck.

  Frozen, Dalia stood very still as the woman drank her blood. Slowly, Fionah raised her head and met Dalia’s gaze. “Omega,” the woman murmured.

  Something inside Dalia clicked. She’d felt strange sensations when others had drank from her, but this time, it all came clear.

  She had the control. The power. Not Fionah.

  It didn’t matter the woman was millennium old and vampires drew power from age. She knew with clarity there was something different about herself, just as Jordan and Connor had claimed.

  She held Fionah’s gaze, stepping from the woman.

  Fionah’s face was slack as if asleep, but she stared into Dalia’s eyes. Her hands twitched, then stilled once more.

  Now that she had Fionah like this, Dalia didn’t quite know what to do. She didn’t dare look away for fear the spell would be broken. So she inched backwards toward the door and slid the bar off.

  Trying to keep Fionah’s gaze, she tugged on the door. It barely budged.

  “Dalia!” Jordan shouted, his voice harsh as it echoed in the tunnel.

  She spun, panic lending her strength. She jerked open the door and raced into the tunnel. “Here.”

  Behind her, Fionah’s skirts rustled as the woman chased after her. Dalia ran faster through the shadows, calling, “Jordan.”

  He appeared ahead, relief flushing his red-blue eyes.

  Hands grasped Dalia’s neck and jerked her to a stop. Fionah’s claws dug into her skin and blood welled, flowing down her shoulder.

  * * *

  Jordan kept his gaze on his sister, fighting the panic at the sight of Dalia’s fright. “Release her.”

  Fionah chuckled. “Brothair. Do you not realize I no longer take your commands?”

  He bit his tongue. “It is not a command, but a request.”

  “Ah. It is an order. One of millions you’ve issued me over our lifetime.”

  “I’ve never been cruel to you, Fionah,” he replied, still not understanding where this seeming hatred had come from.

  His sister had always been different, a bit touched in the head, but never had she shown any inkling to betray him.

  Fionah’s grip tightened and Dalia gasped, her face growing whiter. She bit her lower lip, trying to keep the sound in. “I take great pleasure in bringing you to your knees. As much as I will enjoy snapping this one’s neck, just as I did to Moira.”

  “You killed Moira?” Fury and confusion blazed inside him. “She was not the betrayer?”

  “How slow you are.” Fionah’s fingers dug even deeper into Dalia’s neck. “That pitiful cow would never have dared betray you, her master and love.”

  “How could you?” he gasped, thinking of their long dead family.

  “Easily. You remember our past with love and kindness. I remember being shut out of everything, told what to do, when to do it, forced into things I didn’t want. Could I stop it? No, I was a mere woman.”

  He shook his head. “No one ever hurt you.”

  “That’s what you think.” Her lips thinned. “But then, you never paid much attention to me until everyone else was dead, did you.”

  “Not true. I watched over you from the time you were born.”

  Fionah growled. “Watched over me? Then tell me how it is I was raped by your younger brother, over and over. I was a child, yet did he care? No. And the one time I fought back, he tossed me down the stairs as if I were garbage.” Her nails dug further into Dalia�
�s skin as anger boiled into fury and hatred. Blood dripped from Dalia’s shoulder and his own anger rose. “You brother dear, never protected me. I wish I had died that night, rather than waking up with visions which have haunted me for eons.”

  It couldn’t be. He had thought her safe. Jordan shook his head, his hands slack at his sides. “I didn’t know.”

  “Of course you didn’t. You never paid much attention. But your brother and father, even your mother knew. The only thing they ever did about it was tell me to keep my mouth shut.”

  “Our parents wouldn’t condone such things,” Jordan replied, but his confidence was waning. He didn’t want to believe the people he remembered with love had been so cruel to their own daughter.

  Fionah laughed, the sound that of the broken girl inside her. “Who cared what happened to girls back then. We were chattel, good only for what we could bring the family as brides.”

  “I loved you,” he said desperately. “You are the only family I have left.”

  “I do not love you.” She replied tonelessly. “Only when you and Connor are dead, turned to ashes, will I ever be able to forget. Only then will I find the peace I crave.”

  “Memories won’t just disappear like that.”

  “I will make sure they do.”

  He couldn’t talk to her. Fionah’s eyes were glassy, crazed. Somehow, he’d missed seeing this part of her. Yet, he saw now. And he knew he couldn’t change her mind.

  Jordan eased closer, but Fionah stiffened.

  “No. After I destroy this one, I will kill you and take your place.”

  “Our people will not blindly follow you.”

  “They will, or they will die. Or perhaps I shall keep this little vampire, your Omega bitch. Her magic would help me keep everyone in line.”

  It amazed him how stupid he’d been, never realizing how much madness and fury lived inside his own sister.

  She smiled, her eyes unnaturally bright. “But enough talking. You can keep sneaking closer. You will not reach your beloved in time.”

  He would. Nothing else was acceptable. And he would damn well not allow Fionah to harm Dalia any further. If that meant destroying his own sister, so be it. After what she’d revealed, perhaps death would be a relief.