Havenfall Harbor: Book One

by Albany Walker

  As accepting as Quinn is, I have no idea if she’s ever been with a supernatural. She seemed relatively clueless when we talked briefly about mates and the vampire equivalent. How is she going to feel knowing that once we act on that bond—and we will, since there’s no stopping it at this point, not with Griff or me, it’s as inevitable as the sun rising—that it’s more than just being committed? It’s unyielding, there are no take backs. I’m not sure how she’ll respond to knowing that we want her everything.

  “Never thought a human woman could be so terrifying,” I admit.

  Griff grunts again. “Do you think she’s afraid of us?”

  I turn over on my side, inching that much closer to Quinn, even though she barely has any room between us. I let my gaze fall over her sleeping form. I can only see her profile because she’s resting on her side. Her head is nestled into the pillow, while one hand rests over her belly. “No.” I almost snort, even though it’s hard to believe.

  She looks like she’s sleeping peacefully. If she was experiencing fear, I don’t think she would have drifted off to sleep, not to mention Griff and I would have already known that.

  “Yeah, doesn’t seem fair. We scare everyone but her, while she’s the only thing that scares us.” Griffin hits the nail right on the head with that one.

  “She’ll definitely keep us on our toes.” I lay my head back on the pillow. “How much should we tell her?” I get to the real meat of the conversation.

  “Enough that if someone else says something, she’s not completely blindsided.”

  “Think that will scare her?” I close my eyes, more content than I ever remembering being.

  “Shit, I have no idea. She does the opposite of what I expect half the time,” Griff grumbles, but I can hear the pleased tone in his voice.

  “Well, looks like tomorrow could be an exciting day.” I curl on my side and mirror Quinn’s pose, even though I’m not really fully touching her, and allow sleep to overcome me.

  Chapter 23

  Griffin

  I wake up with Quinn pinned to my side. Her head is on my bicep while I’m flat on my back, not that I’m complaining. I couldn’t have been asleep long, though I’m not sure what woke me.

  I can hear the heavy seesaw of Evan’s breathing right next to Quinn. I tilt my head down and see he’s curled around her like a child with a stuffed teddy. His leg is thrown right over hers, keeping her in place. It’s a wonder he hasn’t crushed her.

  “I’m sorry if I woke you,” Quinn murmurs, her voice sleepy. “He’s an aggressive sleep cuddler.”

  A chuckle works its way past my lips at her description. “Want me to wake him up?”

  “Uh-uh, he just took my pillow.” Quinn pulls her head off my arm and places it back on the mattress. Sure enough, Evan’s head is on her pillow.

  I twist until I’m on my left side, facing Quinn, and scoot back a little, pushing my pillow closer to her. “Here, I’ll share.” I could get her another pillow, but I like her close to me.

  Quinn just barely lifts her lashes and leans her head over. There’s not much she can do about the rest of her body, Evan is holding on for dear life.

  She lets out a little sigh, nuzzling her head until she’s breathing against my neck. I freeze as her little pants of air warm my throat. A quiver of anticipation makes my pulse jump. Quinn isn’t even capable of biting me, yet the thought of her taking from me has me reaching over her and palming the back of her head to bring her closer. Quinn stirs again, her nose rubbing against my neck, and I’m about done for.

  I imagine our positions switched, with my face near her neck, and my teeth ache with need as venom pools in my mouth. I let out a hoarse groan, and Quinn reaches over and pats my hip as if to comfort me from a nightmare. Her hand grows increasingly heavy until her fingers slip off and come to rest in the tiny space between our bodies.

  I dip my face down and rest my lips against her hair, taking a quick inhale of her scent as I do. Fuck, I knew I wanted her, and once I taste her blood, I know nothing else will ever suffice. My stomach feels hollow, but the thought of drinking another bag of nondescript blood makes me feel like retching.

  Evan was right, this human is terrifying.

  I lie here for what feels like hours. Quinn barely stirs the entire time. I end up closing my eyes and counting her heartbeats until I eventually fall back to sleep.

  Quinn

  Evan’s dick is poking my butt. That’s my first aware thought. I’ve shifted a few times to try and wake him without making it obvious, but it’s no use. The man must sleep like a log. He woke me up a few times last night, sounding like he was sawing logs, but it was really just his snores. Thankfully, all I had to do was reach back and pat his thigh and he would stop.

  I’m thinking I’ll need a more direct approach to wake him up now, although his morning wood is wide awake already. I open my eyes slowly. Where are all these thoughts of wood and logs coming from? Oh yeah, the trunk-sized dick poking my butt.

  It would be so embarrassing to be a guy. I can’t imagine there being physical evidence like a boner every time I got turned on, not that I think he’s turned on now. Contrary to popular belief, erections, while sleeping, have more to do with increased hormones while in REM than it does a guy needing to go pee, or being extra horny, but testosterone levels do play a part in that.

  Well, now I need to pee. First, I pull my face away from Griffin’s chest, doing a quick check to make sure I didn’t leave any drool behind. Satisfied, I start to shimmy down the bed until my toes feel the edge. Once I’m free from hands and other body parts, I sit up and inch down until my feet hit the floor.

  I take a moment to orient myself. I’ve been in and out of Griffin’s bed enough times to know the bathroom should be over to my left. With sluggish, dragging feet, I shuffle in that direction, my hands out in front of me searching the dark just in case.

  It takes me a few seconds to walk past the wall with my hands, but I find the opening to the bathroom. That comment about Griffin needing a night-light is true—well, not really, I guess. It seems he can see perfectly fine in the dark, and sadly, that needs to be the last night I sleep in his bed. I don’t want my head getting any ideas my heart can’t handle.

  I push the door closed behind me before flipping on the light switch. I have to shield my eyes, it’s so bright.

  My shirt has lost its shape, having been stretched out while I was sleeping, and it’s only now when I realize I was quite warm sandwiched between them and my back is clammy. Gross. I was probably sweating all night. A sleepy, dreamy smile covers my lips while I’m peeing as I think, if I were to ever sleep with them again, I should lose the pants altogether.

  Glancing at my watch on the counter while I wash my hands, I see it’s still really early. When I’m done, I grab my bag. I need to head home, take a shower, and figure out how I’m going to handle the lock situation.

  Sneaking out of the room is easy. I haven’t done many walks of shame—none, really, unless you count sneaking out of my boyfriend’s room so I could get to class without waking him, but the procedure is the same.

  Quiet as a mouse, I tiptoe out of the room, only cracking the bedroom door enough so I can slide through the opening. I don’t look at the bed. If I did, I might be inclined to crawl back in, sweaty mess or not.

  Escaping Griffin’s room is just as easy. I make sure the handle is locked behind me before shutting the door quietly. The hall is empty.

  I take a few fortifying breaths before heading over to my door, only to see the brand-spanking-new doorknob winking at me. “Shit!” I doubt the key I have will work, that would defeat the whole purpose of a new knob.

  I try it anyway. “Great.” I look around. I have a few options. I could bang on Griffin’s door like a crazy person until I woke them up, if I was even able to, or I could go down and see if someone at the security desk has a key. I dismiss that thought faster than psycho neighbor. I don’t want to deal with Bill if he’s still at the d
esk. Finally, I could head down to the cafeteria and hang out there for a while until other people start waking up, or until the shift switch at the front desk.

  I pull my loose t-shirt away from my body and give it a sniff. I don’t have BO or anything, so I settle on the last option.

  Eventually, I’ll get a key to my room. At least I know the door is locked, maybe the new lock was all I needed.

  I feel silly toting the overnight bag with me, so I tuck it into the alcove of my door. It’s only filled with dirty clothes and toiletries at this point anyway.

  Of course on the way downstairs I would run into Noah. His eyes go a little wide when he sees me. I tug at the hem of my shirt and plaster a smile on my face. “Hey,” I call out breathily.

  “Um, hey?” he responds, looking behind me like I’m hiding someone. I turn and glance over my shoulder. Weird.

  “I’m just heading to breakfast,” I tell him lamely, wishing I wouldn’t have spoken to him at all.

  Noah’s eyes dip over me again and I feel super self-conscious. Maybe I should have just sat in the hall or tried my luck at the security desk. He’s staring at me like I’m really doing a walk of shame.

  Noah glances behind me again and skirts closer to the wall, avoiding me. My face must flush bright red, I didn’t even think about enhanced senses. To him I probably smell like a pig farm.

  I open my mouth to tell him I got locked out of my room, but he’s sliding against the wall to get away from me. “Bye,” I blurt, and rush down the last flight of stairs. There is no way I’m going to the cafeteria now. I know there are a few common rooms down here, so I head in the opposite direction I was and look for an empty lounge.

  There’s an exit sign posted at the end of the hall with an arrow pointed to the left. I haven’t been down this way before, so I head in that direction. Some fresh air will probably do me good. I reach for the lanyard around my neck to make sure I have a way to get back into the school. The corners of my keycard poke into my palm.

  A heavy wooden door looms at the end of the hall, and ‘Exit’ is posted above it with glowing green letters. Perfect.

  The early morning air is chilly as I step outside. The heat of the sun hasn’t yet warmed the stones of the building as I slide my hand over the wall next to me. I take a moment to glance around, leaning over the railing that runs along the pathway. I see the road we traveled on to get to the hangar behind the school.

  Following the pathway, I turn a corner and spot a huge balcony jutting out from the back of the building. I must be approaching the middle section where classes are held. I bring my palm up to my forehead. Why didn’t I think about going to my office? At least there I can wait in comfort and make a few calls to see about getting my key.

  Destination in mind, I start to walk a little faster. A door slamming nearby has me halting in my tracks. I pivot, thinking I missed an entrance, but don’t see anything. After a few seconds, I start walking again, but a noise from behind me has me turning once more, just in time to see something coming at my head. I lift my hands to block it, but I’m much too slow. The blow to my temple takes me down with one strike. My eyes close in slow motion as nausea wells up in my stomach. The stupid thought that I’m glad I hadn’t eaten sloshes through my mind.

  Then the pain hits, not just my head, but my hip and elbow, too, from hitting the concrete. I curl my legs up and cover my head with both arms. I still have no idea what hit me, but my body reacts to protect me.

  “Oh, shit!” A voice I don’t recognize vibrates around in my head, sounding slow and dull. “We have to go.” Those words are spoken even slower. My eyes are too heavy to keep open. I feel something warm trickle down the side of my face—is it raining? The warmth pools around me and the sounds of feet running away grow muffled as if someone is covering my ear.

  I have the cognizance to know I should get up, but it just seems way too hard right now. If I just close my eyes for a little while longer, I’ll be able to get up soon.

  Evan

  My first inhale brings a grin to my lips. Quinn’s scent is strong. I reach over and I’m met with the cool sheet where I know she was. I lift my head, the slits of my eyes only wide enough to see the big lump of Griffin’s body a few feet away from me.

  “Quinn?” Her name is more of a moan, I’m barely awake. I scrub my hand over my face and try again. “Quinn.” The bathroom door is open, and no light is coming from inside, so I slide out of bed mumbling about her needing to learn to sleep in. “I had to get up early yesterday.”

  I hit the pisser first. With one hand against the wall to prop myself up, I pee with my eyes still barely open.

  Griffin is glaring at me when I exit the bathroom. “Did you really need the light on for that? You could have closed the door.” His voice is lazy.

  “Quinn’s awake,” I tell him instead of answering, and walk out into the living room. The place is empty, quiet as a tomb.

  I pop my head back into Griff’s bedroom. “She’s gone.”

  That gets him moving. “Where the hell did she go?” He stomps over to the bathroom, not bothering with the door or the light and I hear him piss.

  “Don’t know.” I see the new key to her door sitting on the entrance table.

  “Her bags aren’t here, she must have gone back to her room.” Griff’s face is wrinkled up with aggravation.

  “Not without this.” I hold up the key.

  “Shit,” he curses.

  “She’s probably eating breakfast, she gets up early.” My words come out as if I’m offended on a personal level.

  “Well, let’s go get her then.” Griff jerks his door open and stalks out into the hallway. His head tips back and he inhales deeply. When he lowers his chin, his eyes are damn near pinpricks, the freaky blue is so bright it looks like they’re glowing.

  His head turns to the side, examining Quinn’s door. Her bag is on the floor, tucked into the corner. “Should have given her the key last night,” I comment.

  Griffin resumes his prowl down the hall with me by his side, neither of us even bothered with shoes. “She shouldn’t have left. We should have woken up.”

  “Don’t be pissy when we find her,” I warn.

  “I’m not pissy,” Griff snarls as we bounce down the stairs, hitting the main floor quickly.

  “Ah, yeah, you are. She’s not going to understand why you’re freaking out, so rein it in, Griff.” A little irritation seeps into my tone as we turn down the hall that would take us to the dining room. I stop mid-step. This entire time I’ve been following Quinn’s scent. It wasn’t even a conscious decision, but as we turn the corner, I realize her trail is no longer fresh. She didn’t come this way. “Wait.” I grip Griff’s shoulder to stop him. “Not that way.” I shake my head, certain Quinn didn’t go to the cafeteria.

  “Where?” Griffin demands.

  I head in the opposite direction, confused why she would go this way. I end up in a near jog as we head farther away from the common areas until we’re all the way at the back of the building. When an exit door looms before me, I pause. “She must have gone outside. Don’t be a dick.”

  Griff hits the door with his shoulder as he turns the knob. I end up slamming into his back when he comes to a dead stop, the doorknob still in his hand. “Blood.” He says the word so low, I think I didn’t hear him right. Before I can ask, Griff is gone, moving much faster than even I can track.

  That’s when it hits me. Quinn’s scent, strong and coppery, floats by as if carried on a breeze. There’s no time to think or wonder, I burst into action, and my hands grow heavy as a partial shift overtakes me from the perceived threat.

  Caught somewhere between man and beast, I bound forward, half running, half clawing my way to get to her. Just short of the balcony, I find Griffin crouched on the ground, his back to me. It takes my mind a moment to process the rest of the scene.

  Quinn’s lying on the concrete, with a halo of blood around her head which is now cradled over Griffin’s arm, and the
ends of her light hair are stained red.

  I take note of the black pants she went to bed in, one shoe is on her foot while the other is bare, her painted toes as perfect as they were when I last spied them.

  With lumbering steps, I move closer, afraid of what I might find. “You can’t move her.” The voice is mine, yet not. Griff curls his back over her more, and when I finally step around him, I get the full picture.

  Quinn is embraced in Griffin’s arms. If it wasn’t for the blood in her hair and the crimson liquid oozing from the side of her head, she would look like she was sleeping. Her eyes are closed, her lips just barely parted. I drop to my knees, already reaching for her.

  I can hear her heartbeat, slow and sluggish, but it sounds like a fucking drum in my head. “Is she breathing?”

  Griff’s face is pale as he clutches Quinn to his chest. His eyes are locked on her face. I don’t even know if he knows I’m here. The perceived calm is shattered in the next second when Quinn starts convulsing. Griffin falls on his ass and rearranges his hold on her. Quinn’s head is tipped back over his shoulder while he tries to force her body into submission.

  I look around the empty balcony. There’s no one to help us. I reach forward and grab the sides of her head, holding it tightly. The slick blood under my hand is still warm as it gushes over my fingers when I apply pressure.

  I watch in horror as Griff opens his mouth and snaps his head down on Quinn’s neck. He gathers her impossibly closer, a growl leaving his chest. Quinn’s body jerks a few more times, but not nearly as violently.

  Almost as fast as it happens, he releases her. Blood now slowly trickles from the bite on her neck he was careless to seal. But it’s not much, the flow is way too slow and thick. Bringing his arm up to his mouth, Griffin rips into his wrist. The sound is like nothing I can remember hearing—fleshy and wet. Uncontrolled, his blood spurts forth, spraying in an arc all over Quinn’s shirt and me.

  I blink, too shocked to even wipe my face as Griffin forces his ravaged wrist to Quinn’s mouth. Jumping into action, I release her head and pull down her jaw. Her blood on my hands stains her chin.