Blood Traitor

by Kim Loraine

  “I think my little bird has grown into a beautiful phoenix. Fierce and fiery.”

  “Isn’t fire deadly to vampires?”

  He smirked. “It’s deadly to humans as well.”

  “True.” I rolled my neck, sighing.

  “Get changed. Callie needs us.”

  With that command, I knew he wanted our conversation to be over. There was no arguing with him. He turned me in his arms and unclasped the diamond collar from around my neck, his lips pressing a gentle kiss to my nape.

  I shivered and leaned back into him, needing the feel of his strong chest against my back. “I didn’t say this when I should have before. Cashel, I love you. I tried not to, but denying it is the same as lying. I was never able to get you out of my heart.”

  “I hate that they made you doubt me. And that they were able to get between us.”

  “Me too. On both sides. The hunters and your father.” His lips trailed kisses along my shoulder. “I didn’t know him before the day I escaped,” I admitted. “I swear.”

  Cashel released me and straightened. “What?”

  “You thought I’d been in love with Logan all this time. I wasn’t. Your father told me he’d kill you if I didn’t break your heart and release my hold on you. So I lied.”

  He backed away and shook his head. “I should have known. Should have seen it. He did the same thing with Eliana. The man couldn’t stand the idea of me being in love with a human.”

  “Eliana?” Jealousy bloomed in my chest.

  “He made it seem she’d been with him willingly. He raped her. He took her from me and made me think it was her choice.”

  I swallowed back the bile threatening to rise in my throat. I remembered all too clearly Elias invading my mind, taking my blood without my consent. I couldn’t imagine the damage that would have been done to my psyche if he’d raped me as well. “No wonder she’s so angry.”

  “She’s been dealt far too much trauma in her life. And I had a hand in that.”

  “Is there a way to help her?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  I took his hand and brought it to my lips, kissing the knuckles. “Let’s go see Callie.”

  16

  Olivia

  Cashel’s hand never left the small of my back as we walked quietly down the hall, but my heart must’ve been audible to every vampire in the estate, it was beating so hard. He murmured soft words of comfort in a vain attempt to calm me. I did my best, but being back here, on the path to the King’s rooms, brought back too many bad memories.

  “Be as still as you can, little bird. If they hear you, we’re all caught,” he whispered.

  I took slow breaths, bringing my body to a meditative state as he drew a drop of his blood and pressed it to the door. The magic infused in the wood never ceased to amaze me as the panel opened and the two of us stepped through into the King’s rooms. It looked the same as it had when Cashel had laid me out on the floor and pleasured me to within an inch of my life. The bite mark on my breast tingled as a phantom memory hit me.

  “I know,” he said. “It’s a strange feeling, being here. So many bad things, but also the beginning of something destined.”

  A crash in the distance had both of us tensing, the longing for connection pushed aside in favor of seeing to Callie. “Fuck,” Cashel muttered. “Stay here. It’s not safe for you until I’m sure she’s still restrained.”

  “No argument from me.” But as soon as he began walking toward the origin of the sound, I reached out and grabbed his forearm. He stopped and turned to face me, a question in his eyes. “Be careful.”

  He smiled, genuine and filled with love. So soft I was taken by surprise. “I’ll be fine.”

  I wandered the room, touching the rows of books along the walls, the marble desk, the fine gold pens I was sure Elias had used. How could such evil have lived in a place so beautiful? Sitting at the desk, I opened drawer after drawer, examining this capsule of Elias’ life. What did he use this for? What were the duties of a vampire king?

  My chest seized at the sight of colorful plastic beads strung together by a clumsy child’s hands. My clumsy child’s hands. Skin crawling, I pulled the bracelet out of the drawer and stared at the block letters that spelled my name. My birth name. Rosella. Unique and distinctive. I remembered making it with my mother when I was five years old. She’d promised me she’d always keep it. Why did Elias Blackthorne have it?

  “Everything all right?” Cashel asked, standing with one arm draped over the mantle, shirtsleeves rolled up, hair tousled as though he’d been struggling.

  “This is mine,” I said, voice shaking as I held out the bracelet. “I made it for my mom when I was five.”

  “Rosella?”

  “My real name. I haven’t been here since I was six. We moved and…” I brought my fingers to my lips. “Oh, God. She lost the bracelet. We moved because he found us.”

  “He never mentioned it. Why would we have spent so many years searching if he knew where you were all along?”

  “I don’t think he did. I’m pretty sure we got away.”

  “It makes sense. He knew you existed when no one else did. He was biding his time until he could get to you.”

  “Did he kill her?”

  He shook his head. “He wouldn’t. It makes no sense to kill the one we need.”

  “Lucas thinks it was the hunters, or witches.”

  “Or both.”

  He linked our fingers and pulled me to standing. “He said there was magic.”

  “Yes. Too much for it to have been a simple protection spell.”

  I pocketed the bracelet, unwilling to let it go again. “How’s Callie?”

  “Worse. She needs a donation from you. The regular supply of human blood isn’t helping anymore. The only thing that seems to sustain her for any amount of time is yours.”

  Nodding, I rolled up the sleeve of my soft gray shirt. “Go ahead.”

  He frowned, looking around for something. “None of my supplies are here.”

  “Do you have to use a needle? Can’t you just…bite me?” A thrill ran through me at the suggestion.

  “It will hurt.”

  “You can make it feel good.”

  Eyes flaring wide, he stared at me. “If I manipulate your mind.”

  “I trust you.” A flutter of excitement laced with fear filled me at the prospect. But when it came down to it, I had to make a choice.

  “When did you have my blood last? I won’t be able to compel you if it was this night.”

  “When I woke. Before the ball.”

  His expression turned somber. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to do anything to ease the pain then. I’m sorry.”

  “Callie needs this. A little pain is worth helping her.”

  He grabbed a wine glass out of the cabinet near the fireplace, then led me to a velvet chair and motioned for me to sit. In one smooth move, he knelt at my feet. “Take a deep breath and remember how much I love you.”

  I did as he instructed, and he dropped his lips to my wrist. “My brave little bird,” he murmured before all I felt was pressure against my skin and his teeth sinking into my flesh. I expected pain but all that followed were warm waves of pleasure.

  A low moan filled the air, and I realized it was coming from me. His lips on my skin, fingers clutching my forearm, my pulse thrumming in my veins. I felt his mind touching mine. Every emotion, desire, love, despair, jealousy—all of these things built together to create an overwhelming sensation of euphoria. Climax wasn’t the right word for it. Everything felt good, and I didn’t know why.

  He tore his mouth from my wrist, a gasp leaving him as he did, and with shaking hands, he coaxed the blood from the wound and into the glass. Together we watched my life spill into the cup that would give his sister more time. When it was nearly filled and my head was spinning, Cashel looked into my eyes and all I saw in his expression was gratitude. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my wrist, his tongue laving t
he torn edges of skin and sending a tingling burn through the nerves. When he lifted his head, the punctures were healed and his pupils were so wide they took up most of his amber irises. Feral hunger filled me, a need to have him touching me again pulling me closer.

  “Kiss me,” I begged, and he gave me what I wanted. He placed the glass on the small table next to us and moved toward me. His lips were warm from my skin and the rich taste of his blood danced across my tongue. It sent a rush of rightness through me, our connection strong and destined. I was sure of it now that he was kissing me. He loved me. He was mine and I was his. There was no doubt of what we were to each other. There was no one else.

  He pulled away, hands still holding me close. “Olivia,” he rasped.

  “It felt—”

  “Amazing,” he finished for me. “I…it’s never been that way.”

  “I could feel you…” I brought my hand to my chest, trying to express what happened when he was feeding.

  “I’ve never...this hasn’t happened before.” Brows pulled together, he assessed me. “I can’t. I haven’t ever been able to.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Brushing the pad of his thumb over my wrist where he’d bitten me, he whispered, “I heard your thoughts.”

  Cashel

  How did this happen? I was in her mind, in real time. I could hear everything she was thinking as though she were speaking the words directly to me. Was this what it was like for other vampires? Were they privy to every single thought?

  “You’ve been in my head before,” Olivia said, cocking her head to the side and assessing me. “How is this different?”

  “I’ve never been able to read thoughts. I can see past memories, but never knew what someone was thinking in this way.”

  “I think…this is going to sound crazy.”

  I smirked. “Try me.”

  “I could hear what you were thinking too. Or pieces of what was in your mind, maybe.”

  Confusion swirled in me. That shouldn’t have happened. She was human. Or at least, mostly human. There had to be some witch in her if her blood could carry the sun. “What was I thinking?”

  “There was love. Jealousy. The need to protect.”

  “All true. I love you and knowing you were with that hunter nearly sent me into a rage at times. And, I hope you know I’d die for you. To protect you.”

  “And there was one more thing. I kept hearing the word mate.”

  My stomach twisted. In truth, I’d heard that too. It was a strong, instinctive call to claim her as mine. Not because she had the blood of the sun. She was my mate. It made sense now. Her blood was nearly irresistible to me because she was my mate. “Mate,” I whispered.

  “Does that mean what I think it does?”

  “It depends on what you think.”

  “That you have some vampire urge to mate with me. To fuck me.”

  I shook my head and chuckled. “No. No, that’s not what it means.” Then I thought better of my response. “I want to have you all the time, but that isn’t what this means. It’s an instinct. Something I’ve been fighting since I first found you. I think…” I dragged my hand through my hair and forced myself to stay calm as I readied myself to take a leap I never thought possible.

  “What do you think?”

  I swallowed past the tightness in my throat. “We’re a mated pair. You’re meant to be mine.”

  Her eyes widened. “Like Laney and Matt?”

  I nodded and took her hands in mine, pressing soft kisses to her knuckles. “Exactly like that. Except it doesn’t happen in the same way for born vampires. It’s not as easy to tell. My heart already beats. Mattias’ had been silent in his chest for decades until he met Laney.”

  “Why now?”

  “I think it has something to do with you taking my blood.”

  She touched her fingers to her lips and small lines formed between her brows as she contemplated my words. “But I’ve had your blood before.”

  “Not by mouth. I healed you in the past with drops applied to your wounds. Twice now you’ve taken a taste. Both times your response was…powerful.”

  “Cash—” she began, but a scream came from Callie’s room. I stood and grabbed the goblet filled with Olivia’s precious contribution to my sister’s care.

  “I’ll return. We have a lot to talk about, but Callie needs this.”

  She took her bottom lip between her teeth and gave a curt nod. “Go. I’ll be here.”

  I didn’t want to leave her. We had a monumental conversation dangling in front of us. One that would shape the future. But my sister was in pain, and I had the one thing that would help her. I strode to the back of the room and down the hall, bracing myself for what I’d find when I got there. I opened the door but Callie was not where she should have been. Chained to the bed, safe, protected.

  “Callie,” I whispered, hoping to keep her calm.

  “I need to get out of here.” Her voice came from a darkened corner, tight with pain. “I can’t stay in here any longer, Cashel.”

  “Come, sit. I have something for you. It will help.”

  She whimpered. “You lie. Nothing helps. Let me die.”

  Walking slowly, I made my way inside, desperate to keep her distracted. If she got out, she’d go for Olivia. She wouldn’t be able to control herself. “Come here, sister. Please let me take care of you. We’re so close to a cure.”

  “No, we’re not. There’s nothing to stop this. It’s useless.”

  She crouched in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees. The broken shackles still hung from her wrists and ankles, burning her skin, but she seemed not to feel the pain. “Have faith. Olivia is helping us.”

  “Her blood isn’t going to stop this. I would have found a cure if one existed. Sorcha brought me the last of my work. The disease killed your mixed blood. It took it and burned it to a crisp. Didn’t she tell you?”

  My stomach dropped. “What?”

  “It’s a lost cause. I’ve done everything possible to find a cure. There is none. It’s the only explanation. It’s too late for me.”

  I knelt at her feet and held out the cup of blood. “Drink. You need your strength.”

  She took the glass and swallowed its contents down in three gulps, a sigh leaving her as she let the power of Olivia’s blood rush through her. “Take her. Run away from this place. Let Anne have her crown and be with Olivia.”

  “I can’t. There’s so much more wrong with Anne ruling the Blackthorne lands than her desire to sell Olivia for profit like a whore. Anne is a tyrant. She’s classist. She’ll have all made vampires as slaves before long and keep the rest of the bloodlines pure.”

  “There has always been a push from some clans for that very thing.”

  “And now that she has Olivia, she thinks she can make those clans her strongest allies. She’s mad.”

  Callie groans and her back arches. “God, it hurts. My body is screaming at me to go outside and meet the sun. I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.”

  “Come on. Back to bed. I’ll do what I can to keep you safe.”

  She stood, refusing my aid. “Don’t touch me. You can’t get sick. Olivia needs you. So do the rest of our people, it would seem.”

  I walk to the other side of the room, opening a large wardrobe to reveal the remnants of Callie’s research, files upon files, a laptop, vials of blood, and hanging above that, heavy chains and shackles.

  A soft gasp caught my ear, the sound sending dread through me. I turned to find Eliana with a silver dagger embedded in Callie’s chest. Callie reached up and stroked Eliana’s cheek with nothing but the deepest affection. “Ellie?” she whispered.

  My sister died before I could move, her body crumpling to the floor while my former lover watched on. “Oh, Cashel, you’re in so much trouble.”

  17

  Cashel

  “What did you do?” I screamed and ran at Eliana with a rage-filled growl, bare hands ready to tear
out her throat.

  “Not so fast, Cashel.” She pulled the dagger from the remains of my sister and held it out toward me. “One knick of this on your skin and you’ll be infected. I did her a favor. I ended her suffering, which is what you should have done instead of bringing her here.”

  “She loved you with her whole heart and you betrayed her this way?”

  “An unrequited love. I never shared her feelings. You know that.”

  “I was finding a cure. She was safe here.”

  Tutting, she stepped closer until the point of the blade brushed the fabric of my shirt. “Not safe enough.”

  “How did you get in here? These are the King’s rooms. Only I can open the door.”

  She grinned and pulled a small vial of blood out of her pocket. Anger burned its way through my body. “You should be more cautious. I found this in your room.”

  My blood. I’d been careless when Olivia had reacted to it. It was tucked away, but not locked away. “Why are you here?”

  “Oh, you poor lovesick fool. I’m here to exact my revenge.” She walked forward, the tip of the blade dangerously close to my throat. “I thought I might find something to help convince Anne to give you to me and let me make you my slave. Proof of your treachery. Instead, I found something better. You. Harboring an infected vampire and your pet.”

  “What did you do to Olivia?”

  “Nothing yet. She’s safe. But I’m not telling you where she is.”

  Relief mixed with fear and filled my bones. “Let her go and I’ll do whatever you want.”

  She laughed, bitter and tragic all at once. “I used to pray for those words. To hear you tell me I could have anything I wanted from you would have been a gift at one time. Now, they’re like ashes. Empty and bitter.”

  “I’m yours. If she’s safe, I’m yours forever.”

  Her lower lip trembled along with the hand holding the dagger. “You’re a terrible liar. She seems to have stolen that from you too.”

  “She’s stolen nothing.”

  I needed to get out of here and make sure Olivia was really all right. I couldn’t hear her heart beating. She was far from here. I had to see her and check over her body to ensure no harm had come to her. A buzz in my brain I’d never encountered before built in intensity as I continued my standoff with Eliana. Her thoughts. I could get inside her mind and possibly find out what she needed to hear. I had to talk her off the ledge.