The Blood Trilogy

by K Loraine

  How had I gotten here?

  “Olivia?” Lucas’ voice broke through my thoughts. The door handle rattled, and my heart lurched. Then the damn thing turned and opened. Of course he had a key. Lucas stood in the entrance to the bathroom, concern written all over his features. “What are you doing? Roses?”

  “You said to be careful. This and staying put are the only things I could think of.”

  “You don’t need to cover your scent anymore, love.”

  I shrugged. “It’s just a precaution. It makes me feel safer. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay locked away in my tower much longer without going insane, so I did the one thing I thought might help.”

  His eyes flashed with hunger and I was thankful for the layer of bubbles at the top of the water which covered my nudity. “We’ve been summoned for dinner with the council tonight. I’ll…leave you to your bath. Join us in an hour.”

  Again my heart fluttered. I didn’t want to see any of them with their melodramatic cloaks and secrecy. I’d gotten good at hiding my thoughts from them, but what if I had a weak moment? What if they saw Cashel in my mind?

  I sank under the water, the heat covering my head and sending air bubbles rushing up my scalp. Then I washed my hair, scrubbed every inch of myself, and made sure there was no trace of Cashel on me anywhere. Except for the fingerprint sized bruises across my hips. I couldn’t do anything about those. But maybe there was a way for me to deal some damage to them all. Lucas had said my blood would make them sick. I had to get down to the kitchen before anyone else saw me.

  Stepping out of the tub, I wrapped a towel around my body and stared in the mirror at a woman I barely recognized. I was a liar. A cheat. And I was going to get revenge for everyone the Blackthornes and the council had taken from me.

  12

  Olivia

  In a black velvet cocktail dress, I made my way as silently as possible to the kitchen. I remembered the dinners I’d attended with Elias and family in the past. Food for me. A decanter of blood for them. I needed to do this as quickly and quietly as I could if it was going to get me what I wanted. Incapacitate them. Kill them. All of them.

  Sitting atop a polished platinum tray was exactly what I needed. A cut crystal decanter already filled with thick red blood. A second tray housed ten empty glasses, all cut to match the bottle. My pulse thrummed in my ears as I raced around the kitchen, searching for a knife. I didn’t know how much I needed to use. Would a drop do? Did it have to be more?

  Pulling open a drawer under the island, I grinned when I found a gleaming butcher’s kit. Knives sharp enough to cut through tendon and cartilage. Exactly what I needed now. I removed one from its case and prepared to slice along my wrist, but my hands shook. I had to do this so no one would notice. If I simply let the blood run into the decanter, it would leave a streak down the sides. I might spill.

  Instead, I grabbed a metal bowl, possibly the same bowl Logan had used to fill with my blood when he’d tortured me. Cutting myself, I let the blood run into the reservoir, watching as the dark liquid flowed and pooled. It barely hurt anymore, I was so used to being poked and sliced by my captors. But I couldn’t get it to stop. I squeezed my fingers around my wrist to cut off circulation until the bleeding slowed, then I ran to the sink and washed the mess from my hands. The wound seeped, and I swallowed hard. I had to get Lucas to heal this. A white dishtowel sat on the counter, and without a second thought, I wrapped it tightly around my cut. Then I searched the kitchen for the last tool I’d need. A metal funnel greeted me in the drying rack, and I thanked my lucky stars, or, more likely, Martin, that it had been left out.

  Popping the funnel into the decanter, I carefully poured my ruined blood into the already full bottle, forcing myself to breathe slowly and not give in to the rising panic in my chest. When the final drop was delivered, I returned to the sink and washed both the bowl and the funnel in water so hot my fingers turned red.

  “Miss Olivia, what are you doing in here?” Martin’s voice made me jump and drop the bowl into the deep apron sink. It rang and clattered like an alarm.

  “I was trying to get a sneak peek at dinner. It seems that with my husband back in the house, my appetite has returned as well.”

  His nostrils flared and his gaze zeroed in on my arm. “You’ve hurt yourself.”

  Cheeks burning, I bit my lip. “I…” My focus landed on the knife on the tray. His followed.

  “I see. You have to be cautious with these blades, Olivia. You never know when they’ll bite you, and your skin isn’t as strong as ours. Allow me to tidy up. Dinner will be served shortly. You should have your prince see to that wrist. Bleeding in front of a group of vampires isn’t something any human should willingly do. Even if you’re bonded.”

  I offered him a weak smile. “Thank you, Martin.”

  I left the kitchen, adrenaline coursing through me and threatening to take me down if I didn’t get to a safe space right the hell now. Rushing up the stairs, I took deep breaths until I got to the relative safety of my room. I slammed the door shut behind me and leaned against it, letting the panic come.

  “One, two, three, four, five,” I counted, willing my heartbeats to slow with my pace.

  “What on God’s green earth is wrong with you?” Lucas asked, amusement in his tone. My panic dissipated the instant he spoke, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a result of our bond.

  “I…cut myself. I had to get back here.”

  His gaze locked on my wrist and in the space of one breath, he was on me. His big body nearly engulfed mine. “How did this happen?”

  I shrugged. “I accidentally found the pointy end of a knife while I was in the kitchen.”

  Eyebrow cocked, he unwrapped the towel from around my wrist and inspected the wound. It wasn’t very large, but I could feel that it was deep. “You’re lucky we’re bonded, or you’d be dead on the floor right now. Someone would have found you and drained you dry.”

  I shivered and fought the urge to shove him away. “Oh, yes, so lucky.” Sarcasm dripped from every word. “Married to a man who doesn’t love me, forced to live forever as a creature I hate. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”

  “I could love you. If you gave me a chance.”

  He brought my wrist to his lips and flicked his tongue along the precise incision. Then he bit down, not asking, not waiting, just taking what he wanted. A wave of pleasure washed through me, the crest of it culminating between my legs, and I hated myself a little.

  When he released me, he broke his own skin and offered it to me. I shook my head, unwilling to share such an intimate moment with him. I wouldn’t feed from him again if I could help it. With a sigh, he shrugged. “Have it your way.” Then he pressed our bleeding wrists together and warmth spread along my skin until I knew when he lifted his arm, I’d be healed.

  “Go get cleaned up. You’ve ruined your knickers.”

  Embarrassment flooded me as he walked away, and I headed for the bathroom. I was never going to survive Lucas and Cashel both.

  After I changed and freshened up, and no trace of blood remained on my skin, Lucas escorted me back downstairs and to the dining room. We were late. I could tell just by the look on his face, but if my attempt worked, I didn’t care one bit.

  Anne sat at the head of the table, the same place Elias had taken when I’d first been brought to them. “So glad you could join us. It must have been hard to tear yourselves away from each other.” Her sarcastic tone left much to be desired.

  “Olivia had a bit of an accident. We simply had to clean her up. No harm intended, Mummsy.”

  Anne grimaced at Lucas’ term of endearment. “All is well, it seems. She looks no worse for wear. Unless the accident had something to do with being unable to wait for your consummation ceremony.”

  Lucas leaned in close to me and nibbled my ear. “She is delectable, but no, we’ve held to tradition and remained chaste. Though I can’t express how difficult that has been.”

 
In the back of my mind, a thought fluttered to the surface. I hadn’t been chaste. Not in the least. Lucas stiffened next to me and I threw my mental walls up in defense. He shouldn’t have gotten through, but I was preoccupied.

  “Sit, eat, make merry with us before we discuss less…amusing topics.” Anne swept her arm out in a gesture of benevolence, but I couldn’t see it as anything other than a threat. Every word, every gesture, every move she made was a danger to me.

  Lucas pulled out my chair and the two of us sat side-by-side, his arm around my shoulders, fingers playing along the sensitive skin of my upper arm. “Now, darling, you need to eat something. We can’t have you wasting away here before we begin our honeymoon.”

  Martin placed a plate filled with food in front of me. I had to admit, it looked delicious, but my stomach was churning with nervous energy. I needed this to be over so I could make a run for it, if Lucas would let me, that was.

  A vampire I didn’t know stared at me from across the table, anger burning in his eyes. He had so much hatred for me and I didn’t know why.

  “Where are the others?” I asked, glancing at the empty seats lining the table.

  “Oh, they’ll be here soon. You’re not the only one who likes to make an entrance, my dear.” Anne’s tone held nothing more than boredom. “I can’t wait for this to be over so I can have my manor back. I don’t like to share.”

  I bit my tongue, not willing to risk her anger with my smart ass retorts. She was the one who’d infiltrated Blackthorne Manor and taken it without asking.

  “Well,” Lucas began, “are we at least going to address the ridiculous notion of the consummation ceremony? I do not need a group of perverted voyeurs watching me fuck my wife just to observe some ludicrous tradition.”

  “There hasn’t been a royal wedding in centuries, my boy. Tradition stands for a reason. We need to make sure the only babe in her belly is a Blackthorne. Leaving the two of you to your own devices won’t ensure that. I can tell.”

  “If you’re suggesting that I don’t know how to please my wife—”

  “I’m suggesting that neither of you loves the other and both will look outside this marriage for affection. If the council gets word of this, she’ll be put to death and you’ll be exiled, stripped of your newly appointed title, and left for the wolves. You remember them, don’t you?”

  Lucas’ face paled, lips pressing into a tight line. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.” She grinned and tossed her head back in laughter. “Oh, this is so much fun. Perhaps I’ll call the pack round for dinner some night. They owe me a favor you know? I saved them from a witch many years ago.”

  “You have dealings with the wolves?”

  She placed her fingertip on her lips and her eyes flashed to the door at the end of the room. As soon as it opened, we stood and watched the figures glide into the dining area. Their heavy cloaks swished with each step.

  “Samson, darling, you’re amongst friends here. Do remove your hoods. It’s rude to hide your face at the table.” Anne pressed both hands to the wood and glared at the council members.

  Samson’s pale hands reached up and pushed the cowl backward, reveling a terribly beautiful face. He was young. Or at least, he looked young. Haunting green eyes, practically glowed in the candlelight from the table. His mouth was all full bottom lip and dangerous smirk. Not at all what I’d expected.

  “Did you think I’d be old? Decrepit? Unattractive?” His words shook me and frustrated me. I had done it again. Given in to my overwhelming situation and let my guard down.

  “Yes. Anyone as sexist and pathetic as you seems like they should be old and feeble.”

  Lucas gripped my elbow so hard I yelped. My bones shifted from the pressure of his warning.

  But Samson simply laughed. “She is a spitfire. You weren’t exaggerating.”

  Anne plopped into her chair and sighed. “You don’t have any idea what I’ve had to endure dealing with her.”

  The rest of the council sat when he did, and Lucas pulled me back down to my chair. “Stop goading them,” he hissed.

  Martin entered the room, a tray balanced in each hand. My belly clenched at the sight of the decanter. Had he changed it out? Did he know?

  He poured a glass for everyone, and Anne raised hers in a mockery of a toast. “To new horizons and alliances. To the hybrid we’ll have soon enough.”

  Before anyone could take a drink, the door burst open and my heart caught in my throat. There, standing like an avenging angel, was Cashel.

  He cocked his brow and said, “Miss me?”

  13

  Olivia

  Cashel stood in the doorway, a cocky smirk turning up the corner of his mouth. It confused me because everything about him being here was wrong, dangerous, deadly.

  “What is the meaning of this?” The council leader shoved his chair back and got to his feet, pulling his shoulders back in a defensive posture.

  Cashel held up both hands, a gesture of pure innocence, which I knew to be the calm before the storm. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m just returned home from a long period of recovery. After your emissary nearly did me in.”

  The leader scoffed. “My emissary? You murdered Eliana. I didn’t send her after you.”

  “I can only assume she was yours. Certainly Anne wouldn’t have tried to kill the only living male heir to the Blackthorne crown. That would have been…quite stupid.”

  Anne laughed nervously, which was curious, considering her complete and utter apathy only moments ago. She stood and strode toward Cashel. “Oh, my darling. It’s a miracle.”

  She reached out to take Cashel into her arms but he side-stepped her and left her grasping at empty air.

  The leader banged his hand on the table, rattling every glass enough that I feared they would fall over and spill all my hard work. My hand throbbed in memory of my sabotage attempt. Cashel’s gaze flicked to me, alarm flashing in his eyes. He’d heard me. He’d been inside my head.

  With smooth steps, he walked to the table and took a seat at the opposite end from where Anne had been sitting. Either side could have been called the head of the table. Was he making a claim, asserting his place?

  He wouldn’t meet my eyes. His gaze remained steadfastly on Anne. “I have to thank you for keeping my little bird under your protection, Anne. Especially with the threats outside of these walls to her safety. And to the Blackthorne crown.”

  Samson’s brows pulled together. “There are no threats.”

  Cashel let out a dark chuckle. “Oh, there certainly are. What do you think I’ve been doing all this time? I was captured and held by the remaining hunters. They would have killed me if I hadn’t escaped, but what’s worse is they now have a vampire working for them.”

  “You?”

  Cashel rolled his eyes. “Don’t be an idiot. Eliana was in league with them, plotting to overthrow the council and give all our secrets to Hector. I dealt her the punishment for treason, but not before she nearly killed me.”

  “And who is the other vampire?”

  “Someone of Anne’s own making. I assume you recall that she’s been amassing an army of made vampires?”

  Samson nodded. “I wasn’t aware she’d been turning hunters.”

  “Oh, yes. Two, in fact.”

  Anne squirmed in her seat, fighting to maintain her composure. The look in her eyes was pure fire. “Cashel, stop this. You don’t know what you’re saying. Clearly you’re mad.”

  Samson held up a hand. “Silence. I want to hear what he has to say.”

  “Logan and Knight, both hunters-turned-vampire, are missing from this manor. I doubt Anne has any knowledge of where they’ve gone.”

  Fear shot across Anne’s face before she schooled her expression. I didn’t know what Cashel was up to, but I didn’t dare butt in.

  “Anne, is this true? Do you have unaccounted for fledglings?”

  Anne looked around the room as though her world were crumbling be
neath her feet. “I…haven’t spoken to them in quite some time. But I sent Knight to accompany Sorcha on her journey to Scotland. Logan has been gone on assignment for me for a few nights.”

  Samson cocked a brow. “Is that the best you can do?”

  “It’s the truth,” she said, her gaze going steely.

  “I’m afraid we’ve all been played by her. She’s been working with the hunters from the beginning. How else did sun sickness infiltrate our walls? How else did my brother get taken from us as a child? She’s in league with the hunters. I heard more than enough in their minds.”

  “You can’t. You’re broken, Cashel, everyone knows.” Her protest was frantic now. “You’ve never been able to read thoughts.”

  “Can’t I? Many things have changed. Olivia has more magic about her than simply her powerful blood. Ours is a bond that can’t be broken.”

  Anne laughed and grinned wickedly. “Is that so? I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Cashel. Your Olivia isn’t yours any longer. She shares a blood bond with Lucas. They’re mated.”

  He sucked in a sharp breath and flicked his gaze to me. “It doesn’t matter. She isn’t the issue here. You are.”

  “Yes, I agree.” Samson stood and the rest of the council followed. Together, they took up a stance behind Anne. Fear twisted my belly, and Lucas gripped my knee to still me.

  Settling his palms on Anne’s shoulders, Samson tightened his hold enough to make Anne wince. “If you have nothing to hide, you won’t mind me filtering through your thoughts, Anne.”

  She attempted to wriggle free of his hold, but he wouldn’t budge. Then her body went stiff and Samson closed his eyes, frowning as the two council members behind him each placed their palms on his arms, then the next pair, and the next, all connected with each other.