The Vampire Heir

by Juliana Haygert

  With that, she walked off to the side of the balcony. I stared after her, wondering how strange it must be, to get visions, feelings, and not know what to do with them. Reynard, though, he always dug until he found a meaning. If he didn’t find one, he created one.

  But this was the first time in the almost five hundred years I had been with Reynard and Sarki that she had talked to me when foretelling something. First time it was for me.

  Distracted by these thoughts, I only sensed the new presence two seconds in advance. My head snapped to the side as a woman came rushing up the stairs and threw herself at me.

  “Please, help me,” she rasped between sobs. “Please, save me.”

  I froze.

  Her arms were warm around my waist and her scent … I tried not to breathe, but it was impossible. There was blood smeared all over her clothes. I had no idea if it was hers or someone else’s. At this point, my brain didn’t care anymore.

  She pulled back and looked up at me with big, brown eyes. “Please, sir, help me.”

  Why she had come to me, I had no idea. Perhaps because I was the only one away from the massacre? The only one not dirty with blood, with my teeth still retracted?

  But temptation was right here, facing me with desperation on her face.

  I had been so, so good. I could endure a little longer—

  She turned her face to the floor below, exposing her pretty little neck to me. She let out a cry. “Can’t you see? It’s madness.”

  Oh, I could see it. I could see the madness that the pulsing vein in her neck was driving me to. I could hear her blood rushing, her heart thumping.

  My control snapped.

  I sank my teeth into her neck.

  Her deliciously warm blood flowed into my mouth and down my throat, and I practically purred in delight. Fresh blood was the best thing on this Earth. Every time I tasted it, I wondered why the hell I resisted it so much. Why did I prefer the bottled version? Not that it was much worse. Our servants put together the bottles from blood bags we got from hospitals and labs, or from draining the humans we kept alive during the feast, the blood slaves we saved for later.

  Because I wasn’t an animal.

  I pushed the girl back before I drained her, disgusted with myself. If she hadn’t been dazed with the elixir, she was dazed now, after having half her blood taken.

  Gently, I helped her to the ground, and then sidestepped her, trying not to feel too guilty for something that was supposed to be natural for someone like me. Even after almost five hundred years, this never felt natural.

  Wishing there was somewhere better I could hide the woman, I fished a handkerchief from my tux pocket and cleaned the corners of my mouth.

  My gaze returned to the bloodbath below, looking for a distraction to occupy my mind before I finished what I had started. Right in the center of the ballroom, an unusual scene caught my attention. A young woman hugged another one tightly against her chest, trying to keep her upright, while dodging the blood-crazy vampires. Eden, one of Alex’s guys, advanced on them, and she blocked his hands with her upper arm, and then landed a beautiful front snap kick right to his chest. The vampire stumbled back, only to bare his fangs at her.

  In two seconds, I was standing between the young women and Eden.

  “Leave them alone,” I said without really thinking.

  Eden snarled at me. “Are you laying claim on them, prince?”

  Then, Alex, with his lips smeared with blood, was right beside Eden. “My man here was going for them before you, Drake.” Alex looked at the young women, his eyes shining with lust and hunger. “Unless you intend to claim them, I’ll have the blond one.”

  “And I’ll have the redhead,” Eden said, his voice too eager.

  I glanced over my shoulder at the girls. The blond didn’t seem affected by the elixir at all. She was holding to the red-haired girl as if her life depended on it, while still aware of all that occurred around her. From her stance, I knew she was ready to land another nasty kick to whoever got too close.

  Her light gray eyes met mine, her despair stamped on them, and a chill ran down my spine.

  I lifted my chin and faced Alex. “Yes, I’m claiming them.” I pointed at the two young women and said louder, so everyone around us could hear me. “I lay claim on these two girls. They are mine.”

  5

  Thea

  I thought I wouldn’t panic, but the moment the vamps jumped us, my heart went through my throat and I realized I was so, so wrong.

  I was not prepared for this.

  The vamps took their first victims and I wanted to scream. People should be shrieking, they should be running, but they were too dazed, too high on whatever was in our drinks to do anything other than stand there and wait to be turned into a meal.

  I had to act as such, too. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to slow my racing heart.

  My eyes snapped open when Judy huffed. A vampire had grabbed her. I should have let him do it; I should have let him kill her right then.

  The vamp bit her neck. Judy moaned and became a limp mass in his arms.

  I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let them take her like that.

  Abandoning all reason, I kicked the vampire in the hip, hard enough to get his attention, to make him release his mouth from her skin. He stared at me, fangs bared, and dropped Judy on the floor like a discarded soda can. Then, he came for me.

  I stood my ground as the brooch, now tucked inside my cleavage, warmed enough to hurt my skin.

  The vampire halted a foot from me and scrunched his nose. “What the hell?” He took a step back. “Your blood smells … spoiled.”

  I ignored his comment and knelt beside my friend. “Judy.” I brushed her hair from her face and lifted her head. “Wake up, Judy.” She moaned in response. “Shit.” With the little strength I had, I hooked my arms around her shoulders and hauled her up. “Please, help me,” I said to her, but I knew, she was too high on the elixir and the bite to carry her own weight.

  Around us, the vamps feasted—drinking their victims’ blood and feeling up their bodies. Nausea revolved in my stomach, and it was all I could do not to throw up.

  I didn’t know how much time had passed, but soon, most of the guests were pushed aside on the floor. And, in one corner, a few satisfied vamps rounded up humans—the blood slaves they were saving for later.

  “Come on,” I groaned at Judy, trying to pass her arm around my shoulders so it wouldn’t be too hard to keep her upright. “We gotta go.” I jerked my chin toward the cattle-like humans.

  As I turned, hauling Judy with me, another vampire appeared right in front of me. “Hm, what do we have here?” He leaned closer, and like the other one, scrunched his nose at me. “What is wrong with you?” He sniffed once more, and probably catching the blood on her neck, his eyes landed on Judy. “She smells nice.”

  He reached for her.

  Without thinking, I kicked him square in the chest, sending him back a couple of steps.

  The vampire snarled at me, ready to rip my throat out.

  Shit.

  Then, another vampire—a prince—appeared out of nowhere between Judy and me and the enraged vamp. I felt like I was in a daze as a second prince showed up, and they discussed our fate. I wanted to butt in and say something, but what? My thundering heart and sweaty palms didn’t help. I had to slip away and go to the corner with the other humans who would be kept alive.

  I inhaled deeply, ready to sprint, if I had to.

  Until the prince looked over his shoulder at me. The moment his harsh green eyes met mine, I froze.

  The prince—Drake, that was what they had called him—returned his gaze to the other two vampires. “Yes, I’m claiming them.” He pointed at Judy and me, then said in a louder, steadier voice, “I lay claim on these two girls. They are mine.”

  What did he mean, we were his?

  That filled me with frustration, and questions, but with the number of vampires closing in on us w
ith their shiny, sharp fangs out, those questions would have to wait. At least this vamp, this prince, had his fangs hidden, and he was the only one who didn’t seem smeared by blood and didn’t have his clothes rumpled from tangling with the humans.

  In my arms, Judy moaned again, still riding the high.

  The other prince let out a hollow chuckle. “Typical. Prince Drake taking on the peasants.”

  Drake took a step back and stood by my side. “Do you have a problem with it, Prince Alex?”

  Alex sported a sly grin. “Oh no, not at all.”

  After a showdown of testosterone, Drake turned to me. “Give me your friend.” Even if he weren’t a vampire, his height, the width of his shoulders, and the sheer power in his voice would have intimidated me. I only held Judy tighter. “If you want to live, I suggest you hand me your friend and come with me.”

  His green eyes looked so bright, so deep—too human. No, not human. This man was not human. I had to keep in mind that none of them were human. However, it didn’t seem like my first plan would work. The cattle-like humans were on the other side of the room, and I knew, I knew the moment I stepped away from this prince, the others would be all over me. Perhaps they wouldn’t want to drink my blood, but they could kill me with a snap of their fingers, and they could take Judy.

  I didn’t have many options here.

  “Okay,” I muttered, loosening my grip around Judy. Drake scooped her up as if she were nothing more than a ragged doll.

  Next, he took my hand and curled it around his elbow. “Stay with me,” he said with a bark. An order.

  With Judy secured in his arms, Drake guided me across the ballroom, toward the staircase. He glanced up, to the side of the balcony, where a gorgeous woman with black hair and dark skin and an elegant burgundy robe stood, watching us with a tight smile on her lips.

  The oracle.

  I averted my eyes.

  “W-where are you taking us?” I asked, afraid of his answer. For all I knew, he could simply take us both to another room, lock us in there, and feed on us.

  “To safety.” He glanced at me again. “I’m Drake. What’s your name?”

  I paused for a moment, wondering if I should tell him. I couldn’t find any reason not to. “Thea.”

  He looked down to his arms. “And hers?”

  “Judy.” One vampire made a pass at me. Drake noticed and turned toward him, ready to strike or defend, I didn’t know. But the moment the vampire smelled me, he snarled and retreated. Without wasting a second, Drake tugged at my arm, and we resumed marching across the ballroom. Wasn’t he curious about why the others couldn’t get close to me? I was curious as to why he could. “That other … vampire,” I paused, trying to pass surprise and incredibility when pronouncing the word as if I hadn’t known until tonight vampires were real. “That vampire back there, he said my blood smelled spoiled to him. Isn’t it the same with you?”

  He halted at the base of the staircase and glanced at me again. “No. Your scent is …” He sucked in a sharp breath, and then shook his head once. “Your blood smells fine. Just fine.”

  That was a surprise.

  I opened my mouth to ask more—I had to understand how he was getting around it—but I swallowed a gasp instead.

  The ballroom went dark.

  My heart stopped for a moment, and a chill went down my spine as screams and loud bangs and rapid movement filled my ears. Drake’s arm tensed under my hand. Something like a growl came from him. He moved forward, but my foot caught on the stair, and I fell on my knees. This time, I couldn’t contain the yelp that ripped out from my chest.

  I was in a dark room full of vampires.

  Tears of despair and fear burned behind my eyelids. I was blind here, but the vampires weren’t, not completely. They couldn’t see as well as if the lights were still on, but they could make out a few silhouettes and masses.

  Fingering my surroundings, I stood and reached for Drake. Only to find an empty space where he had been a moment ago.

  “D-drake?” I called quietly, afraid that someone else, another vampire, would hear me. Who was I kidding? I could whisper, and they all would hear it.

  A heartbeat passed. “I’m here,” Drake said, taking my hand in his. He tugged me close to him. “Just … stay quiet.”

  I wanted to ask him what was happening, but the likelihood that he would answer me was low. Besides, I was afraid of the answer.

  The lights flickered on.

  I gasped in relief, and then I gasped in horror.

  Along the perimeter of the room, half a dozen vampires were pinned to the walls by thick swords pierced through their shoulders, and thick wooden staves were driven through their chests.

  My hands flew to my mouth.

  Beside me, Drake sucked in a sharp breath. I followed his line of sight, and atop the stairs, I saw a seventh vampire nailed to the wall.

  Drake rasped, “Lord Reynard.”

  6

  Drake

  I blinked once, twice, three times. But the man who took me in, who made me feel less disgusted about what I was, was now pinned to the wall, a stake deep in his heart.

  My insides became fire, and rage swept over me. I turned around and shouted at the frozen people in the ballroom. “Who the hell did this?”

  Alex, his eyes rimmed with red, was right in my face in a second. “Who says it wasn’t you?” He glanced at Judy and Thea. “The human lover.”

  I fisted my hands, reigning in my rage, willing myself to not rip his throat out right then. Hell knew I had wanted to do that since I first met him hundreds of years ago.

  “That man was like a father to me.”

  Alex snorted. “Father. That’s another human word. Vampires don’t have fathers. We have allies, we have companions, we have partners, we have servants.” Once more, he looked at the girls with me. “We have slaves.”

  I growled, advancing on him. Dorian’s arm shot out to stop me. “This is not the time,” he said, his voice harsh. “The other vampires seem confused, and the remaining humans are waking up from their stupor. We need to do something. We can discuss other matters later.”

  I took a long breath. “You’re right.”

  Alex didn’t seem too convinced, but he nodded and stepped back.

  “We should clear the room,” Aston said, appearing beside us. “Starting with the humans.” He, too, glanced at the girls.

  “Then do it,” I said, swallowing an exasperated sigh. “Take the humans to their place. I’ll take care of these two and meet you here in a few minutes.”

  I didn’t wait for their responses. I turned, and with Judy in my arms and Thea beside me, I marched out of the ballroom through one of the doors in the first floor.

  Thea’s rapid breathing and heartbeat told me she was scared and tired, but she held on and didn’t question me. She simply followed close—too close, her sweet scent teasing me—while I took them through the wide corridors, up two flights of stairs, then through another winding corridor.

  “Prince Drake,” Thomas said, appearing around the corner. The young boy rushed toward us, his eyes wide. “What happened?”

  “I don’t have time to explain.” I handed Judy to him. Thankfully, the boy was strong for a sixteen-year-old human and was able to pick the girl up easily. “Just take them to my quarters, put them in a spare bedroom, and keep them there. If you can, find the valerian salve from the infirmary and give it to this one.” I jerked my chin to Judy. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Thomas nodded. “Yes, prince.”

  Then, I turned to Thea. “Do not try to escape.” I stared at her. To her credit, she didn’t even flinch as I towered over her, over her delicate frame, and poured some of my anger into my features. “You won’t get far if you try, and it’ll only make things worse. In fact, I don’t think I can save you again. Do you understand?”

  She swallowed hard. “Yes,” she said, her voice firm. She flipped her long blond hair aside, as if trying to prove she wa
sn’t afraid. But her visibly shaking hand proved otherwise.

  If chaos didn’t wait for me in the ballroom, I would have never let her alone with Thomas in the castle’s corridors. But I had no choice. Right now, I had to trust she would listen to me. Hopefully, she was still dazed from finding out vampires were real, and scared by the gruesome deaths in the ballroom, to try anything stupid.

  Without another word, I rushed back downstairs to the ballroom.

  The humans had already been cleared out, and the bodies of Reynard and six of his personal guards had been taken down from the walls. They had been placed side by side in the center of the ballroom.

  The princes, the oracle, Reynard’s consorts, and a few other members of the DuMoir house surrounded the dead. And around them, twelve vampire guards formed a loose ring—if to keep someone in or out, I wasn’t sure yet.

  “There he is,” Alex said the moment I joined them. “Where were you when the lights were out?”

  Everyone turned to me. I bit back a growl. “Escorting the young women out of the ballroom.”

  “Yes, of course.” He clicked his tongue. “The human lover was stacking up more humans for his little side of the castle.”

  “That has nothing to do with what happened here,” Nolan said. “Yes, we all know about Drake’s particular tastes—” He gestured toward me as if I were a mere mortal. “—but we need to focus on the problem at hand.”

  Albert stared at Nolan. “And where were you when Reynard was killed?”

  “That’s nonsense,” I muttered. All eyes fell on me. “We were all in the ballroom,” I said louder. “Almost every vampire living in this state was in the ballroom when the lights went out. It could have been … any of us.”

  Alex clenched his fists. “What are you implying?”

  I exhaled. “I’m not implying anything. I’m stating a fact.”

  Patrick tsked. “Well, it did seem you were implying something.”

  Hell help me.