KEEP IT IN
THE BLOOD
A VAMPIRE ROMANCE FOR ADULTS
SAMANTHA SNOW
Copyright ©2018 by Samantha Snow
All rights reserved.
Get Yourself a FREE Bestselling Paranormal Romance Book!
Join the “Simply Shifters” Mailing list today and gain access to an exclusive FREE classic Paranormal Shifter Romance book by one of our bestselling authors along with many others more to come. You will also be kept up to date on the best book deals in the future on the hottest new Paranormal Romances. We are the HOME of Paranormal Romance after all!
* Get FREE Shifter Romance Books For Your Kindle & Other Cool giveaways
* Discover Exclusive Deals & Discounts Before Anyone Else!
* Be The FIRST To Know about Hot New Releases From Your Favorite Authors
Click The Link Below To Access Get All This Now!
SimplyShifters.com
Already subscribed?
OK, Turn The Page!
About This Book
When handsome vampire Zach Knight realized his injured father was close to death he prepared for the worst.
However, as his father passed away, Zach received a visit from an unexpected guest.
It was his father's wife Vivian.
And she had a stunning proposition.
With his father dead, Vivian wanted Zach to take her as his and finish something that his father had already started. She wanted him to get her pregnant.
Could Zach really impregnate his own step-mother? When he discovered the reason for her request he realized he might not have a choice in the matter....
This is a vampire romance for adults with a remarkable twist. You simply will not see this ending coming. For mature readers only.
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER ONE
“Zachary Knight?” asked the fellow Templar as the two men met on the middle of the battlefield that night. A most untraditional battlefield by all accounts, hidden deep beneath the Vatican in a vast cavern full of ancient graves.
“Yes, that’s me,” he said, nodding. “How do you know my name?”
“The Arimathean, sir,” the man explained. “He has sent for you. He wishes for you to stand at his side as he begins his new reign.”
“Yes, of course,” said Zach, nodding dutifully. “What vampire king would not wish to surround himself with his closest allies at a time such as this? I shall join him directly, just as soon as I take care of a few last necks here.”
Saying this, Zach brought down his sword on a writhing, bloodied body, and ended its suffering. The other man shook his head.
“Why do you show your enemy such mercy?” he scoffed. “Far better to let the turncoats rot. They will not serve our king willingly, nor will they be able to rise once again.”
“We should be taking no chances that they will,” Zach explained. “We do not wish for yet another usurper to rise to power. Come, let us go to our lord now.”
As they approached the stone throne upon which the reinstated vampire king sat, Zach took little notice of the vast crowd of cheering people that surrounded them on all sides. He kept his eyes forward and his mouth shut, taking in everything with senses other than his eyes as he went. Ahead of him, he could sense the presence of his father as well, and yet, at the same time, he knew that something was wrong.
“Father?” he questioned as he reached his side, noticing that James was barely able to stand straight beside their king. “Have you been hurt?”
“It matters not right now,” said James tightly. “My time for assessment is after this. When we return to our rooms, then will be time enough to have a look. Joseph needs us here to lend our support.”
And yet, when they did take the time to look, what Zach saw was forever branded into his mind with the precision of a laser.
“Dark magic indeed, to cause something like this,” he told his father gravely. “I fear there is nothing that I can do. We will have to call in the High Mage.”
“For this little scratch?” James scoffed. “No, my son, I’m sure I will be fine.”
“The longer you wait, the more it will fester and sink in,” Zach insisted. “I will not sit idly by and watch you fade without at least trying to stop it somehow.”
“I fear there is nothing to stop this wound,” James sighed, finally abandoning his bravado. “It was given by the Blade of Arconia. It’s amazing that I still survive.”
“Surely not,” said Zach, his throat tightening around the words as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
“Indeed,” he nodded. “I want you to take me home. I’ll live on for a week or two, and then it will be your turn to shine. I’m sure you’ve been itching to change one or two of my rules. Now, you will finally get to do it, son. Will you make our excuses before we depart? I won’t have the strength to fly. We’ll have to take a plane.”
*****
It was rough going, trying to get home, but the two of them had managed to do it. Zach called upon Ebenezer and another ghoul to get James settled in his bed while he went into his office to check on all his emails. Again, nothing from Will. Did his brother not take his duties as the archive seriously? And what was this other email concerning him?
“Your brother has been in the news once again,” the missive read. Looking over the data, Zach frowned in agitation. The last thing his brother needed to be doing was to become a ‘person of interest’ in a murder investigation. No doubt, he’d even been the one doing the murdering.
It had been nearly sixty years since the twin brothers had seen each other in person—though since the rubbish about vampires being unable to see themselves in a mirror was a fairy tale, he had a pretty good idea what Will looked like from seeing his own reflection. Identicals usually looked pretty much alike, didn’t they?
“Well, I suppose it is inevitable,” said Zach, sighing. “Both of the prodigal sons will need to be sent for. If James dies, we will need to complete the ceremony and set him free from this world.”
Grabbing up the phone and setting it to his ear, Zach began to dial the easier of the two siblings to find. “Alex? We’ve got trouble. I need you here immediately.”
“Why?” he asked tiredly.
“It’s James,” he said. “He has been bitten by an Arconian blade. I fear there is nothing we can do.”
“I’ll be there as soon as may be,” his brother replied.
*****
One week later, Alex had located his brother, Will, and convinced him of the dire need to fly out to witness his father’s demise. Now, they were approaching the estate where both James and Zach resided near the Texas coastline.
“This place is nothing like the one we left behind,” said Will Knight as he and Alex led the way in front of his bride, Irene, and their third, Charles. All of them were looking around curiously. “The hacienda that used to stand here was decidedly Spanish in nature, and I seem to remember there being many more trees.”
“Times change,” said Alex with a shrug. “You should see how it looks inside. This place is about as modern as you can get. It’s really great, actually.”
“Maybe, if you prefer to give up the old ways and move completely forward into the future,” Will scoffed. “Person
ally, I don’t believe I’m quite there yet.”
“But your own home is full of modern things, you big hypocrite,” Alex complained. “Why should our father and brother not be allowed to do the same?”
“Well, I just hope they didn’t squander away the entire family fortune on this nonsense. Though, admittedly, I do believe the stone fence and wrought iron gate are a really nice touch.”
“Yes, along with the state-of-the-art security system and the ten guards who are always watching from key points. Ghouls by day, and vampires by night. I never would have thought up something as cool as this.”
“Let’s go in, then,” Will sighed. “Might as well get the past out of the way, and prepare to begin anew. I do not wish to fight anymore. I believe we should be working together to build up this family, don’t you?”
“Well said, brother,” said Zach from just outside the front door.
“What, the mountain has come out to Mohammad?” Will teased.
“You were taking too long,” he excused himself. “I have not seen my second self in sixty years. Are you not just as excited and curious as me?”
“Hardly,” Will grumbled, though it was obviously not true. As soon as they reached one another, the two men embraced wholeheartedly, thundering each other on their backs and each coming away with tears.
“Isn’t that sweet?” said Charles dryly into Irene’s ear.
“It is, actually,” she told him as she wiped at her own eyes. “You’re such a cynic, Charles, really. I sometimes think you have no heart at all.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed, shrugging. “But more than anything right now, I could really use some sleep.”
“It’s probably because you’ve run out of blood,” she told him. “The first couple of weeks, you are really, really hungry.”
“Come on, Irene, it’s not that long since you went through it too.”
“It’s true my own embrace is only two months old, while yours isn’t even one, but that doesn’t negate the fact that I did it before you,” she lectured him. “Now, stop sniveling, will you? Will knows what you and I need tonight. I’m sure he will provide for us somehow.”
“And who are those two?” Zach asked, noticing the pair whispering back and forth together like bickering children.
“My mate and her toy,” said Will indulgently. “Though, quite recently, we elevated him to our third. I’m sure that being the case means he’s feeling mighty hungry right about now.”
“You’ve got that right,” Charles agreed, grinning. “So, my friend, what sorts of ladies are around here to eat? Blondes? Brunettes? Redheads? Didn’t I hear something about you having a beach?”
“God, Charles, must you always be so horny?” Irene scoffed.
“You are free to use our hunting grounds, of course, fledgling,” said Zach with a smirk. “However, if you get caught, I shall kill you myself.”
“Wow! They really are brothers, aren’t they?” Charles snickered. “Do you know, Master Zach, that Will here told me the exact same thing? So, I’m afraid you’ll just have to get in line.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but Will is in line after me,” said Zach smugly. “In all things.”
“Well, all things but one,” Will replied as he reached for Irene and wrapped her into his arms. “This one is well and truly claimed already. There can be no doubt that she belongs to me.”
“Yes, well, I am pleased to see it, brother,” said Zach sadly. “I know that you left because Mary chose me. That sort of rivalry is not one I would wish to repeat.”
“What happened to her, anyway?” asked Will, watching Zach warily in case the question should set him off. “All I know is that Alex says she passed away.”
“Rival clans do still exist, brother; this you know,” he said, turning and walking toward the house again to avoid looking into his eyes. “One of the Carpathians—Vittorio, as I understand—kidnapped her and tied her to a pole, then left her there for an entire day. It was a death I would not wish on anybody, let alone my sweet wife. If I ever find him again, that vampire is going to pay.”
“Vittorio Manchenso?” asked Will. “It’s interesting that you should bring up that name, brother. He has recently been slain.”
Will told him about just how he’d been killed as they stepped inside.
CHAPTER TWO
“Well, that was a surprisingly peaceful exchange,” said Zach as he and Will left James lying in his room alone.
“I suppose it helped that he was practically dead already,” Will sighed in frustration. “And none of the mages can do anything, you say?”
“No, not against this,” Zach replied. “I’m amazed that he isn’t dead already. And I believe he was holding out for a visit from you. At least now, he knows all three sons are here, and we will ensure that he rests in peace.”
“Sir, shall I check on him?” asked Ebenezer worriedly as they met him in the hall.
“Dear Ebenezer,” Zach laughed. “Ever the devoted servant. It hasn’t been two minutes since we left him.”
“Still, as you yourself were just pointing out, he may have been waiting only to know all three sons are in residence,” he persisted. “It may be wise to look in on him again.”
“Go ahead, then,” said Zach with a shrug.
The two men paused until he came out and said, “He is resting peacefully, my lords. It won’t be much longer now. Perhaps you should round up young Alex, just in case?”
“Not a bad idea,” Zach agreed. “But I believe he’s gone off hunting with Will’s friend.”
“We can ask Irene to use their bond, if she didn’t decide to go along with them,” said Will. “She hasn’t tried to activate it as of yet, but it’s not that hard to do. She’s sure to get it right the first time.”
“You seem pretty impressed with her, brother,” said Zach. “If you trust her, then I will trust her too.”
“I would trust her with my life,” he replied, making Zach smile.
“I do not believe I would go quite that far myself,” he added with a chuckle.
“That’s good,” Will replied.
“Come, let us seek out your mate,” said Zach, smirking.
They easily found her lounging in the room that had been assigned to her, and it was obvious, since her laptop was out, that she had already been typing for a while too. Will chuckled, and Zach looked bemused.
“You’re not addicted to video games, I hope?” he asked curiously. “If so, it’s a good thing you didn’t mate with Alex instead of Will.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“He owns a few casinos to make his money, but also he is quite addicted to video games.”
“And what about you?” she asked. “Other than cattle farming, I mean. What do you like?”
“Me? I prefer to keep my hours my own,” he shrugged. “I do a fair bit of crafting things, though. Many of the tables and shelves and other objects around the place were made by me personally. As to the cattle, I do well enough with them, but I seldom go to visit the things.”
“Will told me all this isn’t just from the cattle,” she said. “Something about your family holdings?”
“Yes, well, not that you should pry, but my father and his brothers were all privateers for a time,” he told her. “There’s more booty hidden here and there belonging to us than you could count in a lifetime.”
She giggled. “Human lifetime, or vampire?”
“Eh, somewhere in between,” he shrugged.
“Anyway,” said Will, “We’re meant to be looking for Alex. I know you haven’t tried it yet, but we wondered if you could give Charles a bond-call.”
“What for?” she chuckled. “We have cell phones.”
“Consider it another lesson, pet,” said Will sternly. “Modern conveniences should not be a substitute for personal skill.”
“Okay, what do I do?”
“Just think to him,” he told her. “Tell him we need Alex to come home.”
Charles? Can you hear me?
She waited a bit, but there was no response. “He isn’t answering me,” she sighed.
“He may still be too weak to reply,” Will told her, giving her arm a squeeze. “Maybe we could reach Alex with a brother’s bond instead.”
“Should have thought of that in the first place,” said Zach dryly. “Always such a romantic, Will; you’ve got female on the brain. We will leave you to rest, sister dear. Get some sleep now, if you can. I believe our father is about to pass. Everyone in the household is meant to witness the ceremony.”
“Oh, okay,” Irene agreed.
Zach and Will tried to work together to call their brother home, but it had been a very long time since they’d done so. It didn’t seem to be working.
“It would be just as easy to call his cell phone,” Zach commented dryly.
“God, what is this world coming to?” Will complained.
“Why shouldn’t a vampire be allowed to grow and change with the times just like everyone else?” Zach asked. Then, he began to dial, and soon the phone was ringing.
“What’s up, brother?” asked Alex.
“Now that father knows Will is here, he seems to be fading fast,” said Zach grimly. “I think we’re going to need you to come home.”
“Yeah? But what about Charles?” asked Alex. “He’s still feeding.”
“He’s a big boy, isn’t he?” said Zach, shrugging. “I’m sure he could find his way back on his own. And besides, doesn’t he have a cell phone too?”
“Yeah, that’s true,” Alex agreed. “I’ll text him to let him know what’s going on. Only words that would be good for human eyes too, of course. No worries, bro.”
“Good,” said Zach. “I’ll see you soon.”
Keep It In The Blood: A Vampire Romance For Adults Page 1