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

by Amber Kallyn

  In the last few days, she’d sensed her enemy, Laroche, around the city. While she’d wanted to run, Sean convinced her to stay. He wanted to trap the demon and kill the bastard once and for all.

  She had to admit, at least to herself, it might have worked. But there was no way they could stay with both Laroche and now Connor around.

  One or the other would hunt them down.

  Her son would die.

  That she wouldn’t allow. So they would run again.

  Laroche would find them again. He always did.

  She’d make sure that next time, they were ready. She’d figure out a way to be rid of that monster for good.

  But now wasn’t the time. She couldn’t take on both men.

  She stared at the window as it lightened into day, and cursed the fates. The sunlight would weaken the strength she’d gathered. Yet the thought of waiting in this hotel room for dark wasn’t appealing.

  A soft knock sounded at her door.

  “Come, my love.”

  Sean peeked in, smiling when he saw her. “You’re looking better.”

  “Thanks to you.” The edges of her fear at once softened, even as it grew stronger, as she looked at her son.

  He strode in, his bearing confident and without the fear inside her heart. Sitting in the chair across from hers, he tapped his knuckles together, a sure sign he was thinking about something he knew she’d object to.

  She raised a brow. “Spit it out.”

  “I still think we should stay. You have this design project. If we leave, we miss the commission, and the recommendations it will give you.”

  She shook her head. “It’s too dangerous.”

  His green eyes widened. “Come on, mom, I’m not a little boy you still need to protect. I can still figure out a way to trap Laroche. We’d be rid of him for good. I know you don’t like constantly running.”

  He was right about that last part, and they both knew it. She sometimes dreamed out loud of one day having a home of their own, somewhere in the country. Of one day, being free so that Sean could live a normal life.

  “It’s too dangerous.” She refused to risk his safety. “We can’t face both the demon and the Judge.”

  He tilted his head, shooting her a stubborn look, ready to argue his point. “We’ve met Judges before, but they never scared you this much. What’s different about this one?”

  She shrugged. “He’s the best. He’ll never give up, or back down, and he won’t stop until he’s found us. You know the Council gives license for them to kill anyone like you.”

  Sean jumped to his feet and paced along the foot of the bed, his knuckles rubbing together almost violently. “You mean freaks like me.”

  “You know better than that.”

  “Do I?” He arched a brow, so reminiscent of his father, her heart nearly broke all over again.

  She went to his side and took one of his hands between hers, lightly rubbing his reddened knuckles. “You do.”

  He shrugged.

  “We’ll leave at dusk. Be out of here before either one knows we’re gone. Maybe this time we can go to a beach.”

  He loved the beach, but the suggestion didn’t cheer him. “I still think we should stay.”

  “I’ll call the Morgans and let them know an emergency came up. I have most of what I need, they can email or fax me the rest. When I have their designs drawn up, I’ll come back.”

  “Alone?” he asked, his green eyes darkening.

  “We’ll see.”

  He sighed deeply and relief filled her. The argument was over. “Go pack. Be ready.”

  Sean lightly kissed her cheek, then left the room. She sat back in her chair, watching the rising sun, unable to continue forcing a cheerful facade.

  * * *

  As the sun lit the horizon, Connor dropped onto the thin bed in his dingy motel room. He punched the pillow a few times to give it the slightest bit of shape. Then, exhausted, he gave in to sleep.

  And against every fiber of his will, he dreamed.

  Beneath a winter sun, Ashlyn dashed through a field of wildflowers. Long red hair fell down her back. She spun, dancing in a circle, her skirt billowing and giving him a glimpse of her calves.

  She looked at him and blew him a kiss from her strawberry red lips.

  He grabbed her, spinning them in circles until they were both dizzy. They fell to the ground, Ashlyn above him, still caught in his arms.

  She kissed him lightly, then wiggled out of his grasp. As she rose to her feet, he captured her hand.

  “Ashlyn?”

  She looked at him with eyes so green it was like looking at endless highland hills. “Aye?”

  “Mo grádh,” he whispered. My love. “I want you to be mine.”

  She fell to her knees, facing him, her grip tightening on his hand. “Truly?”

  “Aye.” He smiled at the joy lighting her face. “I’ve spoken with your father. He agreed to allow us to handfast until the spring, when the priest will be here. Then we can have the official ceremony.”

  Her eyes sparkled, her lips trembled as she sprung into his arms. He kissed her. She’d tasted of cinnamon and strawberries.

  Connor jerked awake, breathing heavy and drenched in sweat. His balls ached and he was hard as a rock. The dirty motel room no longer stank of old sweat and sex, but instead of a field of wildflowers and strawberries.

  Rising to sit on the edge of the bed, he let his head fall into his hands. He had to save Ashlyn from the demon, before it was too late.

  He might not know how she had survived the attack, or where she’d been the last thousand years, but his heart ached and his stomach clenched at the thought of her being hurt by the bastard demon half-breed.

  Chapter Three

  As the sun began its descent, Ashlyn grabbed her few suitcases and put them on the bellhop’s cart next to Sean’s things. They left the room, stood silent in the elevator as it made its way to the ground floor, then crossed the expansive lobby to the front doors.

  Sean hurried to get their rental car, while she stood in the dominating shadow of the building.

  They’d decided to fly out of Phoenix on the first possible plane. Ashlyn didn’t care where they went, as long as it was far from here.

  The bellhop helped load the luggage into the trunk and she gave him a nice tip, then climbed into the passenger seat.

  As Sean pulled away from the hotel, he glanced in the review mirror. A wistful look crossed his face.

  She patted his hand. “I swear, we won’t be running forever.”

  He sent her a grin of reassurance. “I know. It’s not that.”

  “Then what?”

  “You really liked it there.”

  Heat crawled up her cheeks. “So? We’ve only been here a few weeks.”

  He just flashed her another grin.

  “Besides, with our design business, we can afford the best luxury hotels anywhere.” Though she could clearly remember a time when she’d begged for any handout she could get, those days were past. “It’s not like that place was home.”

  Home.

  Something she’d dreamed about for so long, yet was an impossibility. Connor’s face filled her mind. She tried pushing it away as she’d been doing during her restless sleep all day.

  Seeing him had woken a part of her she’d thought buried.

  She didn’t have time for girlish fantasies. She had her son to protect. He was more important than long-ago dreams which had turned into bitter ash.

  They would leave Arizona, and she’d once more put Connor Gregory from her mind, and her soul.

  As they sped down the road, Sean hummed along to the radio. She sat quietly, trying to corral her wayward thoughts.

  When they pulled off the freeway and onto the ramp leading to the airport, traffic was at a dead stop. They slowly crept forward, an inch at a time. Finally, she could make out an electric sign ahead on the right side of the road. It flashed the warning that the police were checking each vehic
le due to a bomb threat.

  Her hands shook as she watched the sign creep closer. Ignoring the lingering heat of the day, she rolled down her window. She took a deep breath, nearly choking on exhaust fumes.

  Then she found it.

  Demons.

  It wasn’t Laroche, but it didn’t matter.

  They would be working for him. And they would know what she and Sean looked like.

  “Turn around,” she said, rolling her window back up.

  Sean glanced at her. “They’re here,” he said grimly, maneuvering the car to the right lane, trying to hit the next off-ramp.

  They finally made it. Sean took the first street they came to heading away from the airport.

  She wordlessly shook her head, trying to figure out where to go. How could Laroche be a step ahead of them already?

  Leaning over, she turned the radio dial until she found a local news station.

  The announcer talked about a drug raid, another murder in what they were calling the Cult Killings, as well as how the police were useless. Long minutes later, she heard what she was looking for.

  The announcer’s voice was gruff as he commented, “We’ve also had reports of two fugitives on the run. Police are watching the airport, train and bus stations. Highway patrol has set up stations along all state borders. They’re on the lookout for a woman and man...”

  She stopped listening as the man on the radio went on to describe her and Sean, then list multiple phone numbers people could call to report any sightings.

  “We’re not going to make it out of Arizona,” Sean said in a soft voice.

  “We could figure out a way, but it won’t be easy. At least we left the hotel when we did.” She shuddered at the thought of being trapped up in the room while demons disguised as police came knocking.

  Sean stared ahead at the road. “We won’t be able to get another one.”

  “Nay, we won’t.”

  There had to be somewhere they could go...

  Her mind locked on to the only place they might be safe. Might. She couldn’t be sure, but there was no other choice.

  As long as her cousin didn’t turn them out, or call Connor.

  She unbuckled and leaned over the back of the seat, rummaging in her purse for her phone. She rarely used the thing, but right now, was thankful for it. She powered it on, and tapped the screen.

  Ashlyn had no idea where her cousin lived, other than the name of the town. She called up a map to Moss Creek, Arizona.

  Writing down the directions, she pointed Sean to the highway.

  But even as they fled, putting distance between them and the airport, the stench of Laroche’s demons remained heavy inside the car.

  * * *

  Unable to go back to sleep after his dreams of Ashlyn, Connor left the dingy motel room and found a diner. He ate, then headed for one of the bars which would serve him the rest of his meal.

  Sitting in the back room of O’Grady’s Bar and Grill, he slouched at a table, calling for yet another glass of warmed blood.

  The waitress brought it over, shooting him a flirtatious smile and a wink. He glared at her until she scurried away.

  A few minutes later, Ben O’Grady himself came stomping into the back room. He slammed his palms on the table in front of Connor. “You keep scaring my waitresses off, I’ll be forced to kick you out, friend or no.”

  Connor held his empty glass out, and said, “Give me another.”

  O’Grady shook his head. “You’ve had plenty. What’re you trying to do, drink yourself into a stupor? I don’t let my customers get glutted, you know that.” He scowled. “Besides, it’s against the law ain’t it, Mister Judge.”

  “Fine.” He tossed the glass onto the table along with a hefty tip as a silent apology, then strode out of the bar to recheck the addresses he’d gotten from the dead girl.

  The streets were dark and crowded with the sun finally down. He pushed through one person after another until finding a road mostly empty. With the emptiness came the scent of prey.

  At least two demons, plus a human.

  Their smell had been in the bedroom with the dead girls.

  His black mood disappeared. Energy quickened his blood. He flashed down the street, getting closer to the rotten scents and the house that had been deserted the night before.

  He found them on the back porch of the run-down house. He approached, silently drawing his katana to deal with the demons. The human wouldn’t be an issue, nor would Connor allow him to get away.

  The man was as bad as the demons, as far as he cared.

  Easing along the shadows near the side of the house, Connor listened to the night sounds. Their conversation froze him in place.

  “... the Scottish woman,” a high-pitched voice said.

  A man answered. “They think she’ll try to head up the mountain. According to Andre`, she’s somehow related to a vampire Master in some small town up there.”

  Connor’s fist clenched around the hilt of his katana as the words sank in. So it truly was Ashlyn. His stomach turned at the realization his mind hadn’t been deceiving his emotions.

  And she’d managed to escape from the demon half-breed.

  Relief flooded him, until a radio crackled and a man on the other end of the transmission replied, “We’ve got ’em. Crashed their car up by Canyon Lake. Now they’re on the run. We need backup.”

  The creatures on the porch started getting up. One demon pulled out a set of keys from his jean pocket. “We’ll take my truck.”

  Connor seized the moment. He flashed up onto the porch, already swinging the katana. Heads rolled, thunking into the dirt. In seconds, all three were decapitated.

  He didn’t have time to deal with the bodies. He needed to get Ashlyn. After cleaning off his sword, he resheathed it and bent over the first demon. Connor slammed his hand into the spawn’s chest, then pulled out his heart. He went to the second one and did the same, then ransacked the house for a bag he could put them in until he could dispose of them properly.

  After a quick call to Captain Michaels to come process the bodies, he found the demon’s truck, got in, gunned the engine and sped down the street, heading for the lake.

  * * *

  Branches clawed at Ashlyn’s hair, at her clothes, as she raced through the desert, Sean at her side. The scent of the demons, their braying laughter and catcalls, followed them.

  After crashing into their car near a huge lake, four of Laroche’s creatures had jumped out and tried grabbing them.

  She and Sean fought them off, but they were no match for demons in such numbers.

  Scrambling into the desert around the water had been the only way out.

  Yet, the demons were catching up, running them down.

  Sean stumbled over a fallen tree. She caught his arm, pulling him along.

  There had to be a way out of here, even if she couldn’t see it yet.

  She tried to call to the Earth’s magic, but it responded sluggishly. Tired, hungry, panicked at the thought of what the creatures behind them would do if they caught up, she couldn’t hold the connection.

  So she continued to run.

  The demons would catch up eventually. They could draw on Laroche’s powers through their connection with him. She and Sean didn’t have anyone, or anywhere, to draw extra strength from. Even their blood supply was back in the car, with the rest of their belongings.

  Her only hope was to find a car or boat they could steal.

  And soon.

  While the demons chasing them had wrecked their own car as well, she’d heard them call for others to come. They were quickly running out of time.

  Shouts rose as the demons spotted her and Sean.

  They ran faster.

  Finally, some docks appeared ahead. There had to be a car in the parking lot. Her hopes fell until she spotted the shadow at the far end, glinting from the sliver of moon peeking from behind the clouds.

  They reached the beat up car as the heavy footstep
s of the demons pounded onto the lot.

  Ashlyn ripped open the driver’s door and slid into the seat, searching frantically for a set of keys. In the passenger seat, Sean leaned over, yanked off the ignition, and pulled out the wires. She watched the approaching demons getting closer and closer.

  “Hurry,” she whispered.

  From the road, a huge black pick-up truck roared into the parking lot. Lights blazed over the car, lighting her and Sean up clearly.

  The demons waved to the truck, pointing at the car.

  The engine revved. Tires squealed as it sped forward, barreling towards them.

  Chapter Four

  Ashlyn watched the advancing truck lights grow big enough to fill her field of vision. She swung open her door, ready to drag Sean out and continue running. Not that it would do much good. But they had to try something.

  Their engine caught.

  Coughed.

  Revved.

  “Go,” Sean yelled.

  She slammed the gear into drive and floored the pedal. The car squealed as it lurched forward. Her door swung shut when she cranked the wheel in a hard turn.

  As she stomped the gas pedal again, the truck flashed by. She glanced up, her throat closing, heart stuttering, as she saw Connor in the driver’s seat.

  * * *

  Connor picked up speed as he passed the little car. Ashlyn was fleeing, was safe, but for the life of him, he couldn’t understand why she was still with the demon.

  He couldn’t understand why the demon was running from the others, unless he just didn’t want to share his prize.

  Connor rammed the truck into the chasing demons. The hood crunched. Demons flew across the lot, tumbling over the asphalt.

  He hit the brakes and put the truck in park. Jumping out, he drew his sword, and faced the demons slowly getting to their feet.

  It was over in seconds. Connor knelt over the demons sprawled on the ground, and added the two hearts from earlier to the pile. Taking a leather pouch from one of the duster’s pockets, he sprinkled a mix of salt and holy ashes over the bodies. He pulled out his Zippo and lit the mixture.