Blood Traitor

by Kim Loraine

  Cashel

  The fire in the hearth crackled and danced, casting its glow across the dark library. I took another long drink straight from the bottle of wine in my hand. Olivia was everywhere. In my thoughts, my home, my memories. I couldn’t close my eyes without seeing the hatred in her expression or feeling her lips move against mine. My chest still stung from the bite of her blade on my skin. She’d been close enough to kill me. All she’d needed to do was sink that dagger into my heart and I’d have been a goner. So why had she stopped?

  The clink of bottles rolling into one another pulled my attention from my inner turmoil. “God, brother, how much have you had to drink?” Lucas stood to my left, his focus on the five empty wine bottles turned on their sides.

  “Not enough.” My words were slurred, but only slightly. It wasn’t enough to dull the pain. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d left us all for dead.”

  “Afraid not. I had to…sweet talk my way out of trouble with a coven, but you know me. What I lack in breeding, I make up for with devastating charm.”

  “Callie is going to die.”

  “We’ll find a cure.”

  “I know. Olivia is upstairs in my room right now.”

  Lucas scoffed. “So you took her again.”

  “She wouldn’t come otherwise.”

  “That didn’t help last time.”

  I shook my head. “Everything is different now. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Why? Because you love her?”

  “Yes.”

  He snatched the wine bottle from my hand and took a long pull. “Well, that’s a solid answer.”

  “She loves someone else.” I grabbed the bottle from him and tipped it up, only to find it empty. Fucking asshole.

  “She can’t possibly.”

  “It’s true. She’s in love with him. Father was right. Always was.”

  “Do you honestly believe that?”

  I thought back to the moment I’d asked her if she loved him. At the cabin after we’d escaped Blackthorne Manor, when I’d told her I loved her and she hadn’t responded. I should have seen the signs. She never lied and said she felt more than lust. But I’d been blinded by my connection to her. “I was a fool.”

  He snorted. “You still are. You said she almost killed you?”

  I pulled open my shirt to show him the angry burn over my heart. “She had a silver blade.”

  Brows raised, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Seems to me like she loves you.”

  “Death threats aren’t typical expressions of true love, brother.”

  “Well, if I’m seeing things right, she didn’t kill you when she had the chance. She let you go because she desires you.”

  I didn’t want to let him strike the spark of hope in my chest that was already smoldering despite all evidence of Olivia’s hatred. So, I ignored him. I returned my attention to the flames as they licked the wood and listened to the hisses and pops of the fire. But the seed was planted now, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to let this go. She’d spared me when she could have killed me.

  “So, where’s the Queen bitch?” Lucas said, taking a seat in the wingback chair next to mine and stretching his long legs in front of him.

  “Out doing God knows what. She’s gone more than she’s here.”

  “And our sisters?”

  My gut clenched at the thought of Sorcha and Callie. “Callie is safely tucked away somewhere no one can find her. I’m tending to her. Sorcha is…in the well.”

  “Are you having me on? The fucking well? Get her out of there.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t. Anne has to be the one to let her out. But I’ve been taking care of her. She’s all right. Angry as a hornet, but no worse for wear.”

  “What happened to you? Why aren’t you fighting?”

  Indignation curled in my gut. “I am. In my own way. This is something we have to handle with care. We can’t just raid the castle, swords drawn.”

  “Sounds good to me. Cut off her head and take the throne.”

  “No. She’s the reason I wasn’t executed by the council. If I kill her, I’ll be right back where she found me. A traitor. Facing my death rather than making plans for change.”

  His head fell back onto the chair and he let out an exasperated sigh. “This is why I’m the naughty prince. Diplomacy is no fun.”

  “You shouldn’t be here at all. Anne will have you tossed into the dungeon before you can blink when she finds you.”

  A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Ah, you’d think so, wouldn’t you? But I have something she’ll want.”

  “And what’s that?”

  He reached into the pocket of his blazer and pulled out a red diamond necklace that matched my mother’s ring. “This.”

  “Where did you find that?”

  “The coven has had it since your mother died. Apparently it was part of the crown jewels. A sign of power amongst the clans. They had it hidden for safe keeping until…I stole it.”

  I was honestly shocked that he would put any effort into something like that. It didn’t serve him. “Are you telling me you risked bringing a coven of angry witches down on us for a damn necklace?”

  He blew out a breath and held the necklace up in the light. “They won’t even notice. Besides, they stole it from us first.” One brow cocked, and he tilted his head in curiosity. “Brother, your pet is loose in the house.”

  A frantic pulse caught my ear from the stairs. Olivia. Of course she was roaming the house rather than cowering in my bed. My senses were dulled from the alcohol, everything tracking slower than usual. I should have sensed her moving around upstairs. Hands balled into fists, I forced myself to stand slowly and with a level of control I doubted I would have had only a few nights ago.

  In the space of a few of her heartbeats, I found her. Beautiful in one of my shirts with her long, dark hair braided to one side. Her fingers trailed along the wood panels lining the walls as she took in her prison for the second time since we’d met. “It hasn’t changed,” she said. “I kind of expected it to be like when a new president takes office. Everything gets re-decorated in an attempt to wash away the ghosts of the former leader.”

  “Not how the Blackthornes work. We are creatures of history.”

  “You’ve lived through so much more than humans have.”

  “Yes. But by living through so many years, we lose more too.”

  “Like your humanity?”

  Lucas chuckled and stepped out from the open library doorway. “Oh, darling, most of us never had any of that to begin with. Though you seem to spark it in us.”

  “Lucas,” she said, ignoring me and walking toward him.

  “I must say, Olivia, you wear that shirt much better than my dear brother. Either that, or your legs are doing it a great favor.”

  I hated that he was looking at her, possibly imagining her with nothing on. “Hands to yourself, Lucas, or I’ll throw you in the well with Sorcha.”

  He laughed. “Oh, believe me, I know better than to get between a vampire and his mate. It’s not a pretty sight.”

  I stiffened at the word mate but let it go. No use compounding more revelations on Olivia tonight. She looked from him to me and wrapped her arms around her waist in a protective gesture. Fuck. She’d heard him.

  “Little bird, you need to eat. I can sense your hunger.”

  “Stop being so creepy,” Lucas said, taking Olivia’s arm. “Come along, darling, you’re spending too much time with the boring brother. I’ll make you something to eat, then we can have a little chat. Catch up and pretend you’re not here against your will.”

  “She can leave whenever she wants. But, as we discussed, I’m not the only vampire who wants her. Not the only creature either.”

  Olivia turned wide eyes on me. “Creature?”

  “It’s not just the Blackthornes. You know this. If the hunters want you and the vampires want you, then the witches and shifters will as well. The blood of the sun me
ans power.” I shrugged, working to control my possessive nature. “None of them will have you.”

  “You mean, if you can’t have me, no one will?”

  “Now, now, children, no fighting.” A chill rolled down my spine at the sound of Anne’s voice carrying from the entryway. “And, Olivia, that’s exactly what he means. You’re mine.”

  11

  Olivia

  Cashel put himself in front of me without a second’s hesitation, and I didn’t protest. The woman at the end of the hall was a force of nature. Terrifying and beautiful. But there wasn’t a shred of humanity in her. Her pale skin glowed with an almost ethereal light, and stretched tight over razor-sharp cheekbones. Coupled with her dark, deep-set eyes and scarlet lips, she was the definition of a stereotypical vampire. And she looked at me like I was an expensive jewel she wanted to put in her crown.

  “Oh, look, it’s the bastard. Lucas Blackthorne, are you going to give me trouble as well?” Anne, the new queen, glided down the polished wood floor toward us. It was eerie, and it made me wonder if the Blackthornes had done something to make themselves seem more human in front of me.

  “Oh, I’m trouble, but I think the only kind I’ll offer is the kind you’ll enjoy.”

  She laughed, the bell-like sound filling the space. “If you think I want the half-breed, watered-down version of my first husband, you’re an idiot. I’ve had the original. I don’t want to experience it again.”

  The shocked bark of laughter that came from Lucas should have alleviated some of the tension in the house, but it only added to the problem. “I wasn’t propositioning you, wicked stepmother. It’s too close to incest for my liking.”

  Lucas tugged at the cuffs of his shirt before bringing his gaze back to Anne. “I have something for you, my queen,” Lucas said. “A token of my loyalty, if you will.”

  Her expression barely changed. “Go on, then.”

  Lucas pulled out a beautiful necklace, glittering with diamonds and a deep red stone in the center. It must’ve been special, because Anne’s face went from bored to elated. “The Blackthorne crown jewels.”

  She snatched the jewelry from his hand and stared at it, transfixed. My stomach churned. I didn’t want to be here. I backed away, hopeful I could slip out unnoticed while Lucas had her distracted, but Cashel took my hand and squeezed. It was a warning. Don’t move.

  “Ah, my darling Olivia. Trying to run?” Her tone was light and sweet, but I knew there was nothing but malice underneath the sugar coating.

  “I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but we both know that would be a lie.”

  Cashel’s fingers tightened again.

  “Come here, girl. Let me see what it is that’s so delectable I can smell you from here.”

  My heart flipped in response to the mention of my scent. I hadn’t used rose oil. I hadn’t protected myself. I was so caught up in my fight with Cashel that I forgot. Oh, God, I fucking forgot—in a den of vampires. I was stupid. He couldn’t protect me from her.

  I hesitated, and she was on me before I could see her movement. The fine bones of her hand wrapped around my throat and held me still as she ran her nose up my neck. Then a stinging sensation raced across my collarbone. I winced, and she released me, licking the blood she’d spilled with one razor-sharp nail from her finger.

  “Cashel, I see why you want to claim her as yours. She’ll do nicely as our prize.”

  “I’m actually not—”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, you think you have a choice?” She leveled her gaze on me and smirked, the twist of her lips making fear coil in my belly. “Eliana, dear. Come over here.”

  Eliana. Why did that name sound so familiar? A dark-haired beauty came out of the music room, her body cloaked in a tight, black velvet dress. It was scandalously low cut, but she didn’t seem to be shy. “Your Majesty,” she said, dipping into a curtsey.

  “Such a loyal darling, isn’t she?” Anne motioned for Eliana to rise. “Olivia, I don’t think you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Cashel’s paramour. This is Eliana.”

  Memories of past conversations with Cashel came flooding back. Eliana. The woman he loved and lost. “You’re dead…”

  “Undead, technically,” Eliana said, slinking across the hall toward us. Her gaze landed on Cashel’s hand holding mine. “Didn’t Cash tell you?”

  “Tell me? I don’t know what you’ve heard, but Cashel and I are not together. I’m here because he kidnapped me and, believe me, the first chance I get, I’ll kill you all in your sleep.”

  Cashel sucked in a sharp breath, and Lucas shot me a surprised glare. But Anne just giggled. “You didn’t tell me your little pet had claws.”

  “She’s been sharpening them of late,” Cashel said.

  “I like a little fire.” Anne turned to look at Eliana. “Don’t be rude. Bring Olivia her welcome gift.”

  Eliana smiled, a wicked light gleaming in her eyes. “My pleasure.”

  She was gone in a blur of dark hair and fabric. Then she returned, but this time she strolled toward us with an evil grin and one of the hunters I’d trained with trailing behind her with his hands bound in front of him. Dark blood stained his shirt and throat. He was pale and looked weak and in pain.

  “Liv,” he said on a harsh whisper.

  “Oh, God. Knight.”

  Cashel released his hold on me as though my touch burned him. “You brought a hunter into this house?”

  “So did you,” Eliana spat.

  “She’s not a hunter, she’s…”

  “What? Yours? The blood of the sun? She killed two vampires. She’s a hunter.”

  “What are you doing to him? Why is he here?” I asked the question even though I already knew the answer.

  “Collateral. It’s really very simple, Olivia. You care for this man’s well being. I have him. If you want him to stay alive, you won’t make waves.” Anne’s voice was cool and calm. “Cashel has his plaything, now so does Eliana.”

  “I’m…”

  She held up a hand to stop me. “Don’t patronize. You’re the object of his darkest desire. I’ve seen it inside his head.” She tapped a finger on her chin and looked from me to Cashel and back. “Now, where to put you two?”

  “Olivia will stay with me,” Cashel growled.

  “Oh, no. That won’t do.” Anne’s words were colored with amusement. “Do you take me for a fool? I think the dungeon will suit both of them during the day. At night, you can parade her around all you like, but she must know her place.”

  “I hope you like to watch,” Eliana said. “Because I fully intend to make use of this delicious man of yours.” She kissed Knight’s lips, but he barely responded. “Poor boy is so weak from my…vigorous feeding. Don’t worry, Liv, I made it feel good for him.” She winked at me, and bile rose in my throat. “Come on, lover, we’ve still got a few hours until sunrise. Let’s make use of them.”

  I watched, helpless as she led Knight up the staircase. He didn’t even look back, just followed her like a zombie.

  “Leave him out of this,” I demanded, staring hard at Anne. The vampire queen could easily kill me. I was unarmed and no more dangerous to her than a sparrow was to a lion, but I had to do something.

  “No harm will come to him if you do what you’re told.”

  “And what is that?”

  “I’m glad you asked. In order to show our strength, we’ll be hosting a coronation ball. You will attend.”

  “Escorted by me,” Cashel said, but Anne immediately shook her head.

  “I don’t think that’s wise. The clans know your connection to Olivia is what caused your treason. Lucas, you’ll be on duty as Olivia’s guardian for the ball. But, as a gesture of goodwill, we will be serving a special blood cocktail. Each drink will contain one drop of your blood, given willingly. Understood?”

  “You can’t spill her blood in front of the clans. They’ll go mad with want.” Cashel took my hand again and pulled me closer, as though that would stop her.

&nbs
p; “Oh, we won’t. You’ll be taking her donation. I hear you’re quite skilled at that.” She narrowed her eyes. “I suppose I should let your sister out of the well. She’ll need a pet of her own. Perhaps we can collect her a human while searching for your companion for the ball as well, Cashel. You have a thing for brunettes, yes? I’m sure I can find another.”

  “I’ll be glad to get a chance to woo our pet. She’s been untouchable since Cashel claimed her.” Lucas slid an arm around my waist. The rage coming from Cashel seemed to have its own pulse.

  “Cashel, I need to speak with you. Let Lucas reacquaint your pet with her surroundings. It seems as though he’s not had a turn with her.”

  “He doesn’t need a turn.”

  Lucas chuckled. “You never liked to share.”

  “That’s right. You touch her, I’ll rip your arm from the socket and beat you with it.”

  Anne tutted. “Boys, boys, there’s enough to go around. Cashel, you’ll just have to remember she’s not yours. She’s ours, and if anyone is sharing her, it’s me.”

  I hated being discussed like I wasn’t there, and even more being called a possession, but this was how vampires worked. They didn’t care about humans. They cared about power. And I was the ultimate show of that. The Blackthorne vampires had me in their grasp, and if I wanted Knight to survive, there was nothing I could do about it.

  “You’re looking ravishing as always, darling,” Lucas said as he led me to the kitchen.

  “Ravishing isn’t the word I’d use. I’m wearing the shirt of the man who kidnapped me because I have no clothes.”

  “As I said, ravishing.” He turned away from me and grabbed a plate before opening the cupboard and pulling out a box of crackers.

  “Hungry?” I asked.

  “No, not me. I ate on my way here.”

  A shudder rolled through me. Who did he eat? I watched him rummage through the huge stainless steel refrigerator and gather cheeses and meat before arranging everything artfully on the plate.

  “Here. Protein, carbs, fat. All things humans need to survive.” He slid the plate toward me, and I took it without question. I was starved.