“Cronos?” Honor whimpered.
“No, Cronos has left. But there are other creatures.” Laken felt Honor shudder, he didn’t blame her; Tavish was formidable when pissed.
“Meg, Nora and Cara can call to their vampires if they’re faced with trouble,” Laken said.
Laken was worried. Honor had broken a law by going over the fence; she hadn’t been punished. Nora and Cara might get away with it if they were found because of the circumstances, but Meg would be taught to obey the rules. That meant Honor might be as well. Laken took Honor by the shoulders.
“Go back to my room,” he commanded. “Wait for me.”
Honor looked from Laken to Tavish’s fury-filled gaze and fled the room. It was apparent Laken wasn’t the only one who had come to the same conclusion. Honor must be wondering what the other vampires would do if their females were killed. Tavish and Laken left the kitchen and took to the skies. The women wouldn’t last long in the jungle. They were met by Burke, Nora’s vampire. The three landed in the high foliage.
“Damn it,” Burke exploded. “Nora isn’t far along, but she wants this baby; why the hell would she do something so foolish? She told me she loves being here; she’s not afraid of me or her two breeder males.”
“Loyalty can make you do strange things,” Tavish replied and he looked none too happy.
“Laken, this is your female’s fault.” Burke was angry. “She should have been punished to prove a point. We’ve grown lax here. Vampires still rule the world; the humans should be listening and obeying the laws. Nora is expecting; she can’t be held responsible for her actions, but Honor can.”
Laken was furious but he saw the fear in Burke’s eyes. He cared for Nora and the loss of a child was devastating to the entire coven. But Burke was right—Nora would not suffer any consequences, if she survived. Next to join them was Dante, Cara’s vampire. He was livid. Dante had watched over Cara since she was born. Cara was a good breeder and had six children, all female. If something happened to her, Tavish would no doubt explode at the loss as well.
“What was Cara thinking?” Tavish scowled. “She knows better.”
Laken expected to get blasted again, but surprisingly, Dante’s anger was directed at Tavish.
“It was you who allowed the Anivamps over the wall, Tavish.” Dante said tightly. “As children, they were shown the dangers of the Anivamps, and as vampires, we knew it was minimal—but the humans didn’t know that. Now their worst nightmares are playing with them. They think we’re liars and a few are questioning—including Cara. They have no idea what else is out there—they weren’t shown.”
Tavish looked stunned for a moment, then ran a quick hand over his face. “We will discuss this as a group later; for now, we need those women back.”
Dante’s head cocked to the side and all four vampires were on the move in one direction. Laken heard Dante’s name cried over and over again. Cara was terrified of something. Collectively all four vampires breathed a sigh of relief when they landed. Cara was crouched in a tiny cave; a massive Kodiak was ripping at the stone and dirt with its determination to get to her with giant claws. Dante attacked the beast, his fingernail claws hooked into the flesh and fur on the bear’s back and he flung it away from the cave as hard as he could. The Kodiak was smashed against a tree. Its body jerked with a spasm and moved no more. A bear had no hope against a pissed ten-thousand-year-old vampire.
“Cara, come to me,” Dante demanded in a no-nonsense growling command.
Laken had never seen a human female move so fast. Cara was out of the cave and in Dante’s arms in less than a second. She was sobbing hysterically, while trying to explain her actions. Meg had talked Nora into going over the wall; Nora had gone out of loyalty, but tried to get Meg to go back to the coven. Cara had seen both women go over the fence; she didn’t want her friend Nora to be punished and so she hadn’t called Dante. Cara went on to prove their previously spoken suspicions about the humans being unafraid of threats over the wall, as the Anivamps seemed harmless.
Cara didn’t want to leave Dante and the coven and her children; she had tried to talk sense into Meg, but she wouldn’t listen. Nora tried to talk to Meg, but it hadn’t helped either. Nora and Cara gave up; they decided to go back over the fence and find Tavish but had been separated by the beast.
“Dante, what was that thing?” Cara said tearfully.
“A beast that would eat you. You must swear on your life you will never go over the fence again.” Dante’s tone was hard, but Laken saw the relief in his eyes as his hands caressed the frightened woman, and he would not set her on her feet.
“Never again, never ever, never, ever. Dante, I must warn my girls. Oh Dante, why weren’t we told of these awful beasts?”
“You will be,” Dante said.
Laken was surprised when Dante scowled at Tavish and flew off with Cara cradled to his chest. Dante had a great deal of responsibility with Cara and her six girls, if something had happened to Cara, Laken didn’t know how Dante would react. He would be overwhelmed taking care of a fifteen year old, a twelve year old, a nine year old, twin four year olds and the one year old. Dante wouldn’t part with any of them, and he watched over the brood like a rabid bear—Laken envied him at times. The brethren of Tavish was changing; Laken was uncertain as to what this meant, but there were still two females running around loose and in danger.
The tiny, frightened voice came from far away but they all heard it. Laken knew it was Meg. When they reached her, Meg was in a tree and Druid was in heated battle with a panther hybrid. The panther species had been introduced to the saber-tooth tiger—not one of the scientists’ smarter creations, yet one of the deadlier ones; it was supposedly created as a war weapon. The result was a black as night panther-tiger mix. The creature was twice Druid’s size and Druid was considered one of the largest white tigers on the planet.
The fight was extraordinary. Druid understood the laws of the coven, it was treason to try and harm a breeder female—death was the punishment. Druid must have been hunting and come across Meg; the Anivamp would have chased her back over the fence. The humans still maintained a healthy respect for the tiger.
Druid slashed at the saber-tooth panther in a flurry. Both had fangs of equal length, but at just over three hundred years old, Druid was deadlier and stronger. When the panther slashed at the tiger, his ripped flesh healed as fast as it was struck, while the panther wasn’t as lucky. It didn’t heal instantaneously. The panther was soon slashed to pieces and trapped under Druid, and the white tiger ripped its opponent’s throat open. The sucking and slurping of blood mixed with the whimpers of the female in the tree.
Tavish floated to Meg, and Laken could hear him trying to stem his rage. She was shaking so violently, Laken was surprised she was still seated. “You were almost killed; do you hate us so much that you won’t even call your vampire to save your life?”
“What vampire?” she whimpered.
“The name of your vampire,” Tavish snapped.
Meg looked thoroughly confused. “I don’t have one. I’m all alone. I don’t know where to sleep, so I sleep under the trees, but it rains so much and it’s so frightening in the dark, with no ceiling. I’m not used to being outside, but the main hall is closed for the vampires’ use and I can only go in when it’s time to eat. No one but Nora talks to me and she chose you over me. I thought, at least if I’m ignored out here it’s because I’m all alone. Not surrounded by people who ignore me on purpose and pretend I don’t exist.”
Now Tavish looked confused. Laken came forward and took Meg from the limb she sat on into his arms. She was terrified and looked so alone and defeated; her tears flowed like a river. Her arms fluttered in the air until, out of desperation, she wrapped them around Laken’s neck and clung for dear life. She sobbed against his neck. How could this have happened?
“Tavish, wasn’t she given to a vampire? Who brought her back?” Laken asked.
“Dash.” Tavish and Laken slowly
drifted to the ground. “Dash has been away. He asked me to find her another vampire. I was just so busy…”
“Nora is still out there.” Burke brought their attention back to the task at hand.
“Oh no.” Meg whimpered. “She’s the only one who ever talks to me.”
“She is out here because of you.” Burke scowled. “You purposely placed yourself and two other breeder females into this position. It comes dangerously close to treason.”
Meg’s face went a deathly pale; she knew what treason was punishable with—except Tavish wouldn’t kill a breeder female. All humans knew what the strong wooden boxes on the coven were for, apparently so did Meg. The last person held in a box was Jarrod, Mercy’s cousin, prior to being dropped over the wall for the Anivamps before they roamed the coven. It had been over a hundred and fifty years since a female was trapped in a box. No one liked the idea. Meg’s heart hammered so hard Laken was fearful she would die of fright.
“Enough.” Tavish’s voice boomed. “We can lay blame later, but it’s come to my attention there are extenuating circumstances. We may all be at fault.”
“But…” Burke spluttered out the word.
“This may be my coven, but we are all responsible for the health and well-being of each individual, regardless of who they belong to. We have already suffered one tragedy with the ice dwellers—let it end now.”
Laken nodded and Burke had the decency to look guilty. Tia’s death was a blow to the coven. The vampires had failed to help her; it looked as though they had failed Meg as well. Tavish was right.
“Spread out; Laken take Meg back to the coven and hand her over to Caine,” Tavish demanded. But first, he took Meg’s chin in his hand and his glowing white eyes gazed into hers. “You will be safe.”
“I was promised that last time. It was a lie; I was all alone in a strange new place. It was no wonder Tia died.” Meg tried to struggle from Laken’s grip; Tavish kept hold on her chin.
“You will never go over the wall again,” Tavish commanded.
“No, of course not. Being alone hurts but those creatures are hideous.”
“Until Dash returns, you are mine,” Tavish informed her. “If you are afraid, you will say my name and I will come to you.”
Meg stilled, she looked skeptical, but Laken couldn’t blame her. For weeks, she had wandered the coven alone and unnoticed, avoided. Perhaps now, Meg had some insight as to how Honor felt in the ice dwelling. It was a hard, sad lesson to learn. Laken gripped Meg tighter; Tavish released her chin and Laken took to the sky with Meg. She wrapped her arms around him in a death grip.
* * * *
“Did you find them? Are they alive?”
Honor watched as Laken strode into the room. She had been lying nude in the warm room, on his bed, staring at the ceiling. In the ice dwelling, Honor could on occasion see the ice ceiling, when the fire was stoked and the light bright enough. It had been beautiful; it looked like the polished glasses she now drank her juice from. The ceiling in Laken’s room was boring by comparison. It was flat, rectangular and there was nothing to speculate about anymore, Honor knew what the sky looked like now. Yes, this world was stunning, but there was something to be said about the outstanding originality of ice and snow. There was beauty in cold, when it took fantastic shape and form. At this moment, Honor was missing it.
“They are still searching for Nora,” Laken replied.
“Tavish blames me,” Honor said and sat up. “Will he hurt me?”
Laken was beside her in seconds. “Never.”
“I’ve heard rumors, Laken,” she began with worry. “I can’t be locked up in a box, I’d rather die.”
“You will not be locked up and you won’t die.” Laken snarled.
The clothing he wore hit the floor. He came at her fast. He came at her like the vampire he was—powerful, hard, huge and full of domination. Laken took hold of her entire body; there was no part that didn’t feel his strength, his emotion. He didn’t need to prove she was his—she knew. What she didn’t know until this very second was that he would never allow anyone to hurt her, not even another vampire. Honor felt it in his touch; she was astounded, and worried.
Honor had always wanted to be loved, but she knew it came with a price. Her father had died bargaining for her safety. What would it cost Laken? What price would Laken pay for her safety and his love? It was no wonder both love and hate were four letter words.
Laken’s hands were firm as he squeezed and kneaded her soft breasts. Honor’s back arched when he latched onto a taut bud; his teeth razed over her nipple until she cried out. He dragged his body down the length of her, with his arms overhead still working her breasts, while she gripped his wrists and wiggled beneath him.
For long, agonizing, heated moments, he licked at her. He laved her belly button before moving to her hip and gently biting. When his feet hit the floor, he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her down to meet his hips; he spun her onto her belly. Laken had never used such strength with her. It was frightening—and thrilling. Honor’s legs were spread and the bottoms of her feet only hit the floor for a second before he plunged into her heat, making her scream as she was thrust up onto her toes.
The punishing hold he had on her hips made her groan as he pounded himself into her at a dizzying pace. Honor could barely breathe; she made quick shallow pants. Each thrust of his hips and Honor was tossed higher and harder until she could no longer feel the wood beneath her feet. She dragged herself up onto her elbows and looked under her. Laken was a blur of movement; Honor could see the fast bobbing of her breasts as he rode her. Higher her hips were pulled until she realized Laken was floating, taking her with him.
Honor fisted the sheet within her hands, her face lowered to the bed and she bit at the soft blanket to muffle her endless scream as orgasm after orgasm bombarded her entire being. Soon she was lifted too high, her hands were forced to release the sheets and Honor watched as the bed slipped farther from her grasp. For long moments, she remained suspended high in the air with Laken’s frantic breaths filling her ears. Her hands hung limp with her vulnerability until Laken floated back to the ground. Finally, Laken began to slow his frantic pace; his hands roamed her bare bottom. Honor slumped forward, feeling the hard wood under her tip toes, and when Laken slipped his magnificent cock from her, he picked her up and the two lay side by side on the bed.
“I know what love is, Laken,” Honor whispered.
“Do you?”
“It’s making sacrifices for someone; it’s unconditional. It’s a feeling that grips your heart when you are with someone and away from someone. No matter where the person you love is, the need to see them in your thoughts takes your breath away. I know why my father spent his last breath on bartering to save my life. It was the cruelest thing Talek ever did to me. I should have heard my father call out to me, not Talek. My father should have told me he loved me, to be good and that everything would be all right.
“Instead, he had to yell to Talek to do the right thing. He spent his very last moments alive trying to save the one person he loved the most in the entire world. We never got to say goodbye.”
Honor could feel the tears streaming down her face. Laken wiped them away with his fingers. “Your father was a good man.”
“So are you, Laken. You are worth loving.”
Chapter 11
Tension was high as all forty-two vampires presented themselves in the main room. The curtains were drawn and all humans had been sent to their rooms with strict orders to stay put. Laken watched as Tavish strode to a table and jumped up on it to been seen by all. Near the table, his wife Mercy held their small son, Galf, in her arms. Tavish assessed his family of vampires.
“We all know why we’re here,” Tavish began.
“Because Laken’s female went over the wall and was never punished,” Burke yelled.
Laken was annoyed. Burke had found Nora, a little worse for wear but unharmed. Yes, she had been frightened, but she h
adn’t lost the baby.
“Honor never sent those women over the fence; they all went on their own,” Laken yelled back.
“They went because they felt they had nothing to fear,” Burke said in retaliation.
“And whose fault is that?” Dante boomed and glanced pointedly at Tavish.
“Mine,” came a small clear voice. Mercy stepped forward. “The fault is mine. I encouraged the Anivamps over the wall because I wasn’t allowed to read to the other humans. I was desperate to share my knowledge with someone or in my case something. We all have benefitted from the Anivamps. They bring even more laughter and love into the coven.”
“Meg going over the fence was my fault,” Tavish said.
“No, it was mine,” Dash said. He had returned, with six other vampires who had been hunting, hours earlier. “I should have realized how busy Tavish was; I shouldn’t have just dumped my new female in the coven and taken off to hunt another continent away. We all take for granted Tavish will watch our charges when we are away. We just pick up and leave. I think the blame rests with us all.”
“Dash is right,” Laken said, stepping forward. “Honor was already in a dark place emotionally, if Tavish had punished her and locked her up, she may have ended up like Tia.”
“Which was my understanding,” Caine said. “Honor’s sanity was hanging in the balance; I will not allow one of my patients to be placed under duress. Ice dwellers don’t understand our rules. The females, especially, are never allowed outside their dwellings, and when they’re brought here they are twice as terrified; some had never seen the sun—as was with Honor. They are expected to breed; they are told to go outside when both of those things were taught to be treason. Do you even understand how terrifying this all is to them?
“Burke, you’ve never been responsible for an ice dweller, until now. You have never had to cope with the fear Laken has taken on. Nora was older and had seen the outdoors; at one time she’d had the protection of a mate until he died. She had grown up with a mother and father, Honor hadn’t. Have you ever offered to help Laken?”
A Vampire To Watch Over Me [Vampire Coven Book II] Page 13