Alliances

Toni L. Meilleur

Bloodlines 1: ALLIANCES BY TONI L. MEILLEUR Venus Press LLC

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Bloodlines 1: ALLIANCES

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

BLOODLINES 1: ALLIANCES Copyright © 2006 by Toni L. Meilleur ISBN: 1-59836-306-9 Cover Art © 2006 by Steve Cook All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without permission, except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. Printed and bound in the United States of America. For information, you can find us on the web at www.VenusPress.com

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Dedication:

My Kenny, thank you so much for helping me to make time to write. I love you!

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Chapter One

Earth Year 2172 “Oh come on, baby,” the beautiful brown girl cooed at him. “Look at me. You know I could pleasure you.” She wiggled her slender hips in emphasis. Snuggling up to him at the morally questionable P&B bar. Its legal name was Plasma and Blood bar, built especially for vampires and other bloodsucking creatures, but through the centuries with owners changing, so did the quality. Unofficially, it was now called the Pussy and Blood bar. “I’m not interested in what’s between your legs, girl, maybe a little higher.” The vampire grinned lewdly. Staring at her average size but firm breasts that were barely contained in the white crop top she wore with her jeans. He clearly wanted blood in the most erotic way. “If that’s your game, I’m playing. You paying?” she said slyly. “What’s your price, slut?" He palmed her breast roughly. “Thirty credits,” she answered, watching his face for a reaction. When he merely nodded, she guessed she hit the jackpot. Another rich aristocratic vamp looking for a thrill in the low-end. She’d show him a thrill. “Let’s go out back to the alley for a little privacy.” She grabbed him by the hand and, inwardly shivered careful not to let him see her revulsion. He snaked his hand away from hers and wiped it on his pants leg. Some nerve, she thought, as if she were the scum. She pointed to the exit sign barely lit at the rear of the smoky, smelly bar and followed cautiously. No way was she letting a vamp at her back. She giggled as she walked, trying to appear intoxicated and slutty. Her curly black hair bounced around her face, at least the face she was wearing tonight. Her body wasn’t spectacular, it’s appeal lay in the fact that it was so well proportioned she could have been made from a perfect mold. Slightly above average height, with chestnut brown eyes that made men melt, vamps totally ignored them. No matter, she had other things to 5

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entice a vamp with. The cold air was welcoming, though not fresh. Anything surrounding this bar was stale and rancid. The vamp turned to her, his cold eyes not even looking her in the face so much as staring at her chest, and sniffing the blood just under her skin. Selfcentered bastard, she thought. Pretending to stumble, she reached in her back pocket for the small handheld injector. She giggled coming closer, her arms outstretched to cradle his head to her chest. Oh, sure that touch he welcomed. He growled his anticipation and began to bend down, his eyes never leaving her chest. Good boy, she thought before she squeezed the contents from the injector into his neck. “What the fuck?” He stepped back from her. His eyes unfocused, he curled his hand into a ball ready to strike her. It wasn’t his day. She’d done this way too many times. She ducked, shot her slim leg out and tripped him. She wasn’t foolish enough to try to hurt him--they didn’t go down easily. Besides, she’d do more damage to herself than to him anyway. He tumbled down and twitched as the chemical temporarily paralyzed him. “Let’s see what you got old man,” she muttered to herself. Then smiled, this one was loaded. “Who are you anyway?” She fumbled in his pockets for more. Then he began to convulse. She frowned, that never happened before. Curious, she stepped back a few inches. The convulsion strengthened until he began flopping about in the dirty alley. “What’s wrong with you?” Her heart fluttered in alarm. Something wasn’t right. All the injection did was immobilize them for ten minutes, this, this just didn’t look right. Then just as quickly as he started, he stopped. His wrist was the last thing to flop about. It turned his hand palm up, and what she saw on his wrist made her gape and draw back. No! No! No! But even as her mind screamed, it denied it as well. She picked up the money and ran as fast as she could. As she fled she changed faces. Her hair became blonde and waist length, her skin honey colored. Her eyes though still chestnut, now slanted up. She couldn’t afford to be identified. She was now a murderer, responsible for the death of the brother to the reigning executioner.

**** He watched the woman run and made sure she was out of sight before he knelt in front of the body. The tattoo identifying his clan seemed to glare in the night. All was going according to plan. Now the girl was on the run. He had her scent and could find her anywhere, anytime. His time had come. 6

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Another figure joined him, flicking his cigarette at the body. Humans and their annoying disgusting habits. “You want I should call this in?” “No, let the locals find it. It’ll cause more attention.” “And the girl?” “Girl?” The vampire looked amused. “Yeah, the slut that took him out.” “Your eyes deceive you, but I expect no less from humans. She’s a shifter. Your kind would never find her, well maybe you, but leave her to me.” “You plan on having a little fun with her?” He poked the vampire in the side. Only to be greeted with a cold stare. ”Sorry,” he mumbled. “Fun?” He seemed to be alien to the idea. “I guess you could say that. Stay low until I call you.” The other man fished around for another cigarette, and then looked up to say, “ When will that be?” But the vampire had already vanished. “I hate when they do that creepy shit,” he said to himself then picked up the tossed cigarette butt and relit it. “Can’t leave any clues behind.” Smiling he left the alley.

**** Allantra waited one more minute to make sure no one would see her before she shifted into a form appearing to be male and made her way up the three story flat. Her now black eyes--glancing around quickly—seemed too big for her, uh…his face. “C’mon Jah, answer the damn door!” She practically yelled. She heard shuffling inside and muffled voices, a fumbling of the locks, and then Jah’s face appeared between the crack in the door. “Dammit, Allantra. Do you have any idea what time it is?” he asked in a hostile tone. “Apparently time for you to get your rocks off?” She glanced down at his pants that were not as fastened as he thought. The tip of his still hard penis poked out. Hastily he adjusted. “What do you want?’ “Whoever is in there get them out. Something went wrong tonight.” “L-Look, just go, w-we can sort this out tomorrow.” The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Jah was stuttering. He only did that when he was into something he got caught at. Then a thought occurred. She stared closely into 7

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his eyes. Yep, right there, barely discernible was a yellowish cast to his eyes. “You saw me through my glamour, Jah,” she chided softly. His eyes bulged. “Lucky guess, who else would it b-be this late.” He tried to lie. Allantra kicked the door so hard it slammed into his face and then closed. She quickly opened it before he could lock it and stepped into the small apartment. Her eyes immediately adjusting to the dark. She wrinkled her nose at the smell as she spotted the figure huddled on the bed in the two-room apartment. “Get him out of here before I get violent,” she said coldly. Not needing a second warning, the figure rose quickly, grabbing a pair of pants and hastily adorning shoes. Allantra snorted, smelling the drugs in the junkie’s system. He paused and looked at her then hurried out the door. “I’m sure you could find a human with untainted blood, Jah,” she sneered. “I-I like it this way.” His tiny fangs didn’t help the stutter. “It doubles my bang.” “You’ll never mature into a full-blooded Vamp with that stuff in your system.” “Not ready to grow up.” He sounded petulant. “Besides, I like my life.” “Which brings me to my next point, you sold me a tainted injector. I suspect you know that” “Tainted?” he squealed out. Inching away from her and towards the small stand near the bed. “Move another muscle and I’ll be willing to rip your head off before I get my answers.” Abruptly he stopped moving. “Why, Jah? For an enhancement that will only last a week?” “The cops are getting close. I need to know who they are so I can stay in business.” “I knew it,” she said quietly. “That’s how you knew it was me. Who paid you to do it?” “I don’t kn-know.” “You’re lying.” “N-no I’m not.” “Last chance.” Allantra stepped forward letting her hands shift into claws.” Tell me what I want to know or be like Peter Pan and never grow up.” “Some guy, he said to sell it to you. I didn’t even make it, Allantra. He gave it to 8

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me. Said it was a one time thing and no one would get hurt.” “And you believed him?” “No,” he said quietly. “Look, it was business, Allantra. He gave me the enhancement for free. All I had to do was give it to you. I knew you wouldn’t be injecting it into yourself, so I...” “Thought if would be fine.” She finished for him. “”Did it ever occur to you it was meant for someone else to be hurt?” “They’re all low life’s at that bar you scam at. Who cares if it’s one of them?’ “I do. You do realize I’ll be wanted for murder if they ever find out I was the one who injected him.” “Shit, Allantra, that’s a tough break, but that is your business.” He shifted on one foot, his greasy black hair falling over his eyes. Skin and bones is what came to mind when one saw him. “Your’s now, too.” “Yeah? How so?” “The vamp died, you moron!” “Vamp?” He swayed. “Do you know the penalty for killing a vamp?” “Yeah, asshole, and guess who the vamp was?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Demetri Buscan.” Jah paled visibly. “Demetri Buscan as in brother to the Executioner?” he squealed the last part. “You got it, Bones and if I go down, so do you. So you better tell me what this guy looks like.” “He was this tall.” Jah held his hand over his head. Allantra shifted to make herself taller. “Brown hair, no not that shade, lighter, yeah and uh shorter.” When Allantra finished shifting into Jah’s description of the man, she ordered him to get a camera. “Keep your hands where I can see them. Remember, I’m still willing to rip off your head,” she growled. Allantra’s mind raced as Jah clicked the camera, and then gave her the small disk with her, or rather the picture of the man she had shifted to. Shifting back into the man she originally came as, she said, “Get the hell out of town, before...” She never finished the sentence. Jah’s door burst open and she quickly pressed the picture to her wrist and covered it smoothly with her skin, concealing it. Lights flashed in her eyes as a tall vamp stepped forward. His jet-black hair pulled 9

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back into a ponytail that went past his shoulders. His exotically shaped hazel eyes stared coldly at her. He wrinkled his aristocratic nose at her; she’d seen a nose just like that tonight. His full lips snarled, showing long pointed fangs as he formed the words, “Arrest her.” “Well, that was quick,” she muttered to herself. “No sense keeping up appearances.” Then she shifted back into her given form of Allantra. The vamp cocked his head to the side as if suddenly puzzled by her. She could smell him, he smelled wild. Against her common sense, she wondered in the middle of being arrested how he would taste. She shook her head. What the hell was the matter with her? When she should be thinking about her life being snuffed out, she was wondering what the executioner tasted like.

**** She wasn’t in the least what he expected of a cold-blooded killer. She was small to say the least; certainly not the type of creature he ever thought would take care of an Elder vampire like Demetri. She was a low-ender so no telling what else she was capable of. He shot a derisive look at the young male vampire named Jah. He smelled of drugs and sex, for a second he thought maybe he and the female…? But no, Jah smelled like another male. He couldn’t understand why he even bothered to make a connection. She meant nothing to him. Years of training taught him to show no emotion, however he found it extremely fascinating to watch her shift forms. She was a talented shifter; she made no sounds of pain or discomfort most made during the change. His breath caught in his throat at her final appearance. She was breathtaking, with dark brown skin that looked forever kissed by the sun. Long, straight black hair fell almost to her waist. Eyes slightly wide and almond-shaped and chestnut brown that made him think of satin sheets and dark rooms. Mentally, he shook his head--this was no way to start an investigation. Even with that self-reprimanding thought, his eyes momentarily strayed to her body, while not overly endowed it was perfect in its proportions. She looked like a handcrafted doll, made with the finest care. “Ms…” he began, cocking an eyebrow. “I have no last name. You know us low-enders. No class. No money. No last names,” she snorted at him. Hmm, feisty little creature despite the fact she was the fish hooked on the end of his pole. 10

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“Mind if I call you then, Allantra?” he questioned, loving the way her name rolled off his tongue. ”Fine,” he continued, not waiting for her approval. “You were scented by our tracker as the last person seen with Demetri Buscan. Several of the bar… patrons,” he hesitated using the word patron, “said they saw a young woman leave through the back door with him, that would be you, Allantra.” “And.” She barely looked at him, seeming more interested in her scuffed shoes. “What reason would you have to kill Demetri Buscan?” he asked smoothly. He was rewarded with a sharp uptake of her head. “I didn’t kill him.” She ground her teeth at him. Her eyes flashed at him in challenge. Didn’t she know who he was? He held out his large hands that held the injector the other inspector had taken off of her. “We found this on you, did we not?” He bent his head to the side; really curious as to how she would defend herself. The guilty tended to get desperate. “Maybe. If someone hasn’t switched it. Seems I’m being set up. Wouldn’t put it past you.” “You suspect me of framing you, little girl.” His head tilted back as he laughed deep in his throat. Now, that was a new one on him. He paused in his laughter and looked around at the drab apartment. It was much too small to conduct a proper investigation and she looked damned uncomfortable in that wobbly wicker chair. The renter of the drab property looked green, so to speak, no doubt coming down abruptly from whatever he’d been on. “Jah M’kiel, have you anything to say in your defense?” The small vampire looked up with slightly yellow-tinged eyes. How ironic, he thought, here this young vamp had been enhanced, no doubt to spot a cop a mile away, and yet he had an apartment full of them, sure did get his money’s worth. “I don’t know anything.” “I’d be willing to back that up.” The girl said sarcastically. “Take them both down to the Quarter, separate rooms. I don’t know if they’ve had time to get their stories straight, but there’ll be no synchronizing on my time.” “Yes, Executioner!” His men answered quickly, snatching Allantra up roughly. “Be careful with the prisoners. I don’t want to see unexplained bruises when I come to visit them.” He warned his men. They were good men normally, but somehow when it came to the low-enders they tended to get a little overzealous. On more that one occasion low-end prisoners often came to the Quarter dead or halfway there. Low-enders were people who live on the low 11

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end of town, usually shifters, witches, various symbiotic parasites and their hosts. The council liked to keep them together in one area where they could be watched. He often thought it unfair, but then again, one man can’t change so much. He could just see to it that people got fair trials, as well as fair executions. Somehow, he could feel in his three-hundred-year-old bones that this case would be different and she would be trouble. He indulged himself and watched the sway of her hips for a second as she was led out the door. He felt his cock twitch before he diverted his attention to the young male they were dragging behind her. Seeing how easily she turned him on perhaps he needed a good lay, he thought. He couldn’t remember the last time he got laid. With that thought, he teleported back to the scene of the crime.

**** “What else have you come up with, Hound?” The executioner asked the man, carefully surveying the area. “I hate when you call me that,” Hound muttered under his breath. Out loud he said, “Nothing more than before. Just what I told you. Locals found the body almost immediately after it expired. See here?” He pointed to the ground. "Looks like the girl kneeled down and kicked out. No doubt she’s the type to take care of herself. There were no marks on his body, not one scratch. Even if she attempted to hurt him.” “Attempted?’ “From the markings in this filth,” he snickered at his surroundings. “ It looks like a purely defensive move, you know, just to disable.” “And Demetri?” “Like I said, no markings except from where she injected him. Sorry about your … loss?” Hound finished uncomfortably. “It is noted,” The Executioner replied. “So, she didn’t appear to attack him. She claims she’s being set up.” “Yeah, like you could set up a low-end whore!” Hound laughed. “Let’s keep away from any prejudices while working with me, eh, Hound?” The Executioner growled low. Hound swallowed and nodded. “Call if something new pops up.” “Oh…” Hound began then saw that he was gone. “I hate when they do that creepy shit,” he said to himself fumbling for a cigarette. 12

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“So you keep saying to yourself,” came the low drawl behind him. Hound cursed and dropped his cigarette in the alley for the second time that night. “Wish you all would just stop doing it.” “You did well,” the figure said behind him. “You said do the job as normal. That’s what I did.” “Exactly, you see, the Executioner can smell a lie a century away. If you don’t lie there’s no tell-tell body odor to give you away. Besides, we need him confused.” “Where’s my money?” “In due time, human, your job isn’t over yet. You need to keep tabs on him for me. Besides, his brother just died, everyone’s a suspect. A sudden unexplained influx in your account could draw his attention. Do you really want to draw his attention?” His voice dropped almost to the level of a threat. “No, not really.” “Good, I’ll be in touch.” Hound didn’t have to turn around to know the vampire had popped out. This time he ground the cigarette in the ground and pulled out a fresh one. It had been a long night.

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Chapter Two

“Get the fuck out of my face.” She whispered it so silently, the cop didn’t know if he heard her, but there was no mistaking the threat in her voice. “Or you’ll what?” he leered at her. “Shift into a fucking tiger and bite your fucking face off!” she yelled back “Like you can do that,” he laughed. “Can’t I?” she threw back sweetly almost daring him. He looked a little uncomfortable. He licked the side of her face before he stood up and walked around the table. “Bitch.” He tossed over his shoulder. “I was just thinking the same about you.” She countered, smiling. Offended beyond belief, the cop came back around the table and poised his hand to strike her, when a much stronger force stayed it. “I thought I said no unexplained bruises.” The Executioner said in a warning tone. “She was sassing me, sir. She needs to be reminded of her place.” “And who appointed you that job?” “Nobody, sir.” The cop backed down. “Has her blood been drawn?” he asked “Yes sir, her process is complete.” The officer finished then slunk out of the room. “Is it a past time of yours to piss people off?” The Executioner asked her. “I don’t consider that asshole people.” She retorted idly, rubbing her arm where they had taken a sample of her blood. “Why is it process to take blood?” she mumbled. “To keep track of prisoners,” he answered smoothly. He hid his smile. Nothing but fire in her veins. He told himself he was just looking her over to make sure no harm had been done. His eyes lingered a bit too long on her breasts, when he looked up she was staring at him. “Care to lick me as well?” she taunted him. 14

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He ignored her comment. She didn’t know why she’d even said that. He made her nervous as hell. It wasn’t lost on her one bit that she goaded the very man that held her life strings. Not to mention, she found him sooo very attractive. Just her luck to meet the most handsome, sexy, pain in the ass, legal killer of a man, when she was in deep shit. Some girls had all the luck. “So what happens to me now?” She sounded braver than she felt. “Well, given the evidence all points in your direction…” He let his sentence die. “So that’s it. I’m going to die?” She gulped. “It was your choice, Allantra,” he replied with no emotion. He was one emotionless bastard. She knew as a vamp aged, their emotions diminished. And this one was old and powerful. If it were his life in danger would he be so casual? Probably. “I had no intentions of harming him.” “Yet you said you injected him?” “I never said that.” “Did you?” “Yes.” “With the intention of killing him?” “No. Look, I was just going to rob him.” The vampire’s eyes rose up. “Are you trying to trade one felony for another. Because I assure you, they both end in death.” “Only because it was a vampire and your brother,” she shot back. Then quickly wanted to take it back. This was no way to get on his good side. He seemed unaffected by her outburst. She took a deep breath and started again. Knowing this session was being recorded somewhere. “Look, we both know if it had been a low-ender there probably wouldn’t even have been an investigation. If I wanted to kill someone and rob him or her, wouldn’t I have chosen a low-ender?” She almost pleaded. “Perhaps you wanted bigger fish.” “Or perhaps I just wanted to eat and keep a roof over my head,” she said defeated. No matter what she said, she was low-end and that meant death. “Why not just get a job?” He came around the table and perched on it so that his thigh--his very thick, muscular thigh--rested just below eye level. It took everything in her not to gape at his thighs. He motioned for her to lift her hands. With a blink of his 15

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eyes, the handcuffs came undone and he caught them in his hands so quick she wondered if he didn’t just will them there. “How many low-enders do you have on payroll?” she questioned him as he rubbed her wrists. He seemed taken aback by the question and then paused to begin a mental count. Only to realize the sum remained zero. Not even a low-end janitor. He had so much work to do when it came to changing things. “Exactly. No one hires low-enders not even low-enders. I’m a security risk. They feel I could morph into anyone and steal God knows what.” “I can see their point,” he mused. He loved the heated look in her brown face. “Back to my question, am I dead?’ “Well, one of two things, Allantra. Either you’re really stupid and have no idea how to cover up a crime or you’re being set up. As long as there’s a question in my mind, I’ll investigate before I execute.” He didn’t miss the release of the deep breath she had been holding. “Which brings me to my next proposal.” “Which is?” Her curiosity piqued. “If you stay here you’ll be under someone, doing things you’ve never dreamed. Or you can come home with me.” “How dare you!” she bellowed. He held up a hand to cut her off. “I have a minimum security cell built into my home for prisoners that cannot be trusted in these confinements. This way I insure the safety of the public and on occasion the prisoner. What do you say?” “Seems I have no choice.” “We all have choices, Allantra. I’ll get started on the paperwork.” He stood in front of her now, inhaling her scent. She just sat and refused to be intimidated. He had to give her kudos for that; most men cowered when he was near them. He watched as she idly scratched her right wrist. Curious he noted to himself, and then left the room.

**** The ride to the executioner’s house was long but scenic. Her mind barely took in the scenery as her situation refused to be ignored. She was in deep shit. Worse, she had no idea why this particular man chose to set her up. She couldn’t recall him being a customer of hers so to speak. But in all fairness, there had been so many, she couldn’t 16

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possibly recall each and every one of them. Her wrist itched where she hid the picture and she longed to pull it out and examine it. Maybe seeing it would jog her memory. Then again, maybe it wouldn’t. She sighed. The sound caused her captor to shift his eyes to look at her in the rearview mirror of the police car. The interior of the car smelled stale and old; no doubt it wasn’t washed back here too often. She momentarily held his hazel gaze before she looked away. Sometimes it seemed his look went too deep. Allantra wondered how many female prisoners he took to his home. She didn’t miss the lustful gazes he sent her way when he thought her unaware. Truthfully, she was wondering if she could use it to her advantage. But of all the stories she heard about the executioner, none suggested in the slightest that he could be seduced into letting a prisoner go. Another sigh escaped her; there was no getting out of this. She barely noticed when the car stopped. It only dawned on her when the scenery didn’t change anymore. Hazel eyes watched her with the slightest hint of amusement through the glass. How could she miss almost seven feet of luscious man looming outside and staring down at her? Embarrassed, she looked away as he opened the door. She slid out of the car unencumbered with handcuffs, apparently he didn’t think her enough of a threat to make her wear them. Just as well, maybe if he underestimated her enough she’d have an opportunity for escape. “Are you done dreaming?” Though he wasn’t smiling she heard it in his voice. “Try being accused of a murder you didn’t commit and see how much your mind wanders,” she retorted, not caring at this point. She wasn’t coming out of this alive. “I’ll put it on my list.” He mocked her, this time not even attempting to hide his humor. Her mouth gaped at the size of the house. Did she say house? She meant mansion at the very least. It looked like a miniature castle with stone outer walls and everything. “Humph, where’s the moat?” she chided him. “I decided against it,” he said as if deadly serious. “Well, then there’s hope for you yet.” She cocked her head to the side to prompt him to lead the way. “Are you in such a hurry to be confined? I thought you might like a slow walk around the grounds before your…uh… incarceration.” “Something like a dead man’s walk?” She looked him in the eye. “My 17

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grandmother always said get the difficult stuff out of the way first, then enjoy the small stuff.” “Meaning?” He raised his eyebrows in question. “Meaning what’s the use of prolonging it, it has to be done. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to enjoy nature later in my life.” “Perhaps.” Was all he answered. He dismissed the car and rambled through his pockets until he found something that appeared to be a blindfold. “You’re assuming a lot of things about tonight aren’t you?” Her tone dripped, offended. “This is to prevent you from getting a layout of the place in the unlikely event that you escape your cell.” “Somehow I doubt your cell can be escaped.” “Anything’s possible, don’t let arrogance tell you otherwise.” “Thank you for your words of wisdom for today.” She turned her back to him waiting for darkness to engulf her. It appeared this vampire lived in some sort of living maze. They seemed to turn down halls, go up stairs and down stairs. It took a full ten minutes before his hands landed on her shoulders in a gesture for her to stop. She suspected they doubled back a couple of times to throw her off. A house couldn’t be that big could it? She heard keys being pushed into a pad then a swoosh, swoosh, clang sound. No doubt she was not escaping this cell. She felt his fingers lightly behind her head then pushed the blindfold off. Allantra blinked a time or two before she got her bearings. “This is supposed to be a cell?” she asked incredulously. “Just because you’re a prisoner doesn’t necessarily make you an animal,” he commented offhandedly. Her eyes doubled in size. Five star hotel rooms didn’t look this luxurious. A full bed stood a foot off the ground, adorned with--and she was not an expert--what appeared to be silk sheets and a goose down, red comforter. Deep, blood red cloth adorned all the walls as if it were wallpaper. He even went through the trouble of having a fake window, with computer-generated birds flying occasionally by. She looked down at her feet and gasped. Her boots almost sunk into the red carpeting. So he loved red, surprising for a vampire. On the left and right walls were bookcases stocked with what she imagined to 18

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be almost every type of book. “How come I get to sleep in the most luxurious room of my life when I’m about to be executed? Doesn’t seem fair.” She went over to the bed and stretched out on it, moaning at its softness and comfort. Never had she slept in a bed like this before. She came out of her pity party of what-she-never-got-to-do when she heard an intake of breath and sat up to see the vampire standing near the bed. His lustful gaze boring down on her. The last coherent thought she had was, please let him touch me.

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Chapter Three

How he got across the room and to the bed, he didn’t remember. All he could see was her perfect body laid out on the bed, and then she moaned. She was like a siren from the Greek stories he’d read as a child. He stared down at her, absently licking his lips as he watched her breasts go up and down in the deep breath she took. She had crooked one leg up on the bed; he couldn’t help but wonder how hot she was at her core. Letting his common sense take a vacation, he lowered himself on top of her inhaling her scent. She backed up just a bit on the bed so that his full length could cover her. His lips took hers so fast the sweetness of them made his blood roar. He slipped his tongue into her mouth, sweeping the insides for the honey it had to offer. Then her returned the favor, even wrapping around his fangs for a second before her tongue massaged his again. One hand finally nestled into her soft, silk hair while the other explored her sculpture perfect body. His hand, like an expert scout, found her breast and began to tease it through the thin shirt she wore. Just a little tug and one breast popped free. He tore his lips away from her mouth; his breathing ragged as his tongue slowly licked and teased her nipple. She rewarded him with a puckered little mountain of nipple and a moan. While his mouth explored the firm lusciousness of her breast, his hand traveled further down until it reached the junction of her thighs. She was so hot here. He rubbed her through her pants. His sensitive nose picking up the scent of her arousal and he rubbed her harder and faster. She moaned louder, he could feel the vibration of her moans through her breast and his senses went crazy. Unable to stand the temptation any longer, he settled his weight on one arm and began to ground his cock at the core of her. She gasped and responded by grinding her hips into his in a circular motion. Still he sucked at her breast, grinding himself faster into her, knowing the extent of her arousal, he inhaled the scent deep into his nostrils. Her hands came around him, running up his back scoring him lightly with her 20

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nails. Then holding him for dear life as she rubbed herself shamelessly against his hard cock. A scream tore out of her throat as her orgasm hit her. She convulsed under him, digging her nails in his back as she came again and again. One hand left his back to reach for his pants. He lifted away from her slightly to allow her small hand to invade the space. When she rubbed his cock, he moaned. Her hands trembled as she blindly fought to undo his pants. With a mere thought from his mind, his pants came apart. Her small hand reached inside and pulled his cock out. She squeezed him, and then with her thumb rubbed the small patch of pre-cum around his cock and used it to lubricate him as her hand pumped him. He sought her mouth and melted at the hot sweetness of her. She mumbled something in his mouth. “Yes?” he questioned, his voice full of arousal. “Fuck me,” she moaned. Without another word, he fully intended to service the lady. Then his communicator went off. He froze. It was the one he kept especially for the Quarter to get in touch with him. Reality set in. He cringed at the insistently ringing sound. If he didn’t answer they would assume something was wrong and swarm the place. He jerked up, tearing the device out of his blazer. “What?” he answered irritably. “Routine, sir. Just making sure the prisoner is secure,” came the voice on the other end. “Prisoner is secure,” he muttered then immediately disconnected. He looked down at his siren. Her eyes still slightly glazed from her orgasm. And was almost drawn back to the bed as he gazed at her beautiful exposed breast. But he had already crossed the line. “I’m sorry, Allantra that shouldn’t have happened,” he said gruffly, buttoning his pants. “You’ll find everything you need. If I’ve missed anything, ring the button on the wall. It’s connected directly to my room. I’ll bring you something to change into.” He headed towards the cell door. “So that’s it?” She sounded angry. “Did you suddenly realize who I was or what I am?” She challenged him. “I can’t change being a shifter anymore that you can a vamp.” “That’s not it.” “Then explain why you were getting ready to fuck my brains out a minute ago 21

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and now you give me the cold shoulder.” “Jailers don’t fuck prisoners. It’s against regulations.” “Pity you didn’t remember that rule a second ago.” She turned on the bed adjusting her breast and effectively dismissing him. He couldn’t blame her; he’d acted like an ass. That being said, he closed the three sets of cell doors and licked his lips, the sweet taste of her still burning his lips. She couldn’t have been more embarrassed if she tried. With blurry eyes she turned away from him, waiting after his last remark to hear the shutting of her cell doors. She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth like when she was a child trying to comfort herself. What was she thinking of anyway? She was damn near convicted and he was her jailer. Perhaps that alone explained the connection. Maybe it was a last ditch effort on her part to connect with someone else one last time. So determined to believe the lie, she didn’t explore it any further. She closed her eyes, feeling the wetness between her legs that he had caused. Her grandmother would be so ashamed of her. Allantra stood up slowly scratching her wrist. She looked briefly down to see that her skin was now irritated and flaming red. She had to remove the disk or an infection would set in. Like it mattered. He said he would bring her clothes to change into, no doubt prison issue. Deciding to take her mind off the executioner, she thought about her plight, which in all good sense required more of her thinking time than him. Bastard! She decided to give him one more thought.

**** What the hell was he thinking! He roared in his own head. He was but a second away from plowing into that firm body. Never had he felt so out of control before. What was it about her that unhinged his discipline? His cock still semi-hard from her previous ministrations reminded him exactly what it was about her that unhinged him. If he were the type to squirm, he would have. With an idle thought from his mind, a set of prison issue clothes appeared in his outstretched hands. These clothes would not do her body justice. He shook his head; he couldn’t possibly go back to her this wound up. He turned and followed the plush carpeted stairs down into the very bowels of the mansion where his bedroom was. He could have teleported but he needed to work off some extra energy. Quickly, he undid the mental locks on his door; with an almost inaudible swoosh his doors opened on tracks. 22

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It was a true vampire’s room. Minus all the surveillance monitors on the wall that saw around the property and into her cell. She was standing, idly pacing deep in thought, her eyes showing no emotion. He stood in front of the monitor watching her pace, his eyes never leaving the sway of her hips as she slowly walked back and forth. Hips that he could grab and pull himself deeper into… He muttered an oath and threw the clothes on the bed and set about removing the pants that now seemed way too constricting. Surprise! His cock seemed to say. I’m still hard! No shit, he said to himself. Briefly, he let his discerning eye scan the dark room, done in total black. Only one picture adorned his wall, a huge photograph of a setting sun. The one luxury and regret he had in his long life. A huge bed stood in the center of the room, surrounded by sheer curtains all around. It looked to be the room of a man who had never known anything but the strictest values in life. His eyes returned to the monitor with her on it. A wicked thought formed in his head and he saw no reason to reject it. With his eyes glued to the monitor he watched her, envisioning in his mind’s eye her kneeling before him taking his cock into her hot mouth. Slowly, his hand fisted his cock and squeezed. He could practically feel her gentle suction like she did when she kissed him as he stroked up and down. Her lips swallowing the length of him so slowly and sensually, he began to stroke faster never once taking his eyes off of her. Then she did the oddest thing, her eyes seemed to glaze as if she felt his desire. She climbed onto the bed and lay back against the pillows. His breath caught in his throat as her hands slowly went down the front of her pants. He couldn’t believe she was doing this. He stroked his cock harder watching her. His balls tightened. He watched her hands massage herself, and then he could tell she slipped a finger inside as a low moan escaped her. If it were possible, he got even harder, his breathing coming in smaller intervals. Then a peculiar thing happened, their strokes became in sync. When he stroked down she stroked in. His rhythm picked up, hers soon followed. Using her free hand she played with her breasts, alternately squeezing and teasing the nipples. He licked his lips, remembering how she tasted in his mouth. With a final tightening of his balls he came hard, spilling his seed over his hand. In her cell she came as well, her hips bucking wildly and a small scream tore from her throat. For a few moments, they both panted heavily. And then it seemed she looked him right in the eye, he stared back unflinching. Of course she couldn’t see him, but if he had to swear at that second he would have to admit he wouldn’t be so sure. He looked down 23

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at himself. Finally relieved but not in the way he wanted, still it was better than nothing. She just pulled her hands from her pants and lay back with her eyes closed. In moments he knew from the rhythm of her breathing that she had fallen asleep. He decided to shower first before he went back in her presence. He willed the clothes into her room at the edge of the bed then headed for the shower.

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Chapter Four

“What’s going on?” the vamp asked the human, his demonic eyes surveying the people in the small coffee shop. “He did just as you predicted. Took her to the cell in his house.” “Did you get a feed from his monitors?” “Oh yeah, got some good shit too,” Hound said gleefully. “Like what?” the vampire asked coolly, though he already had a hunch. “Almost fucked her, not too long after they got to the house.” The vampire just shook his head. The thing about being predictable was it made it easy for one to trap another. Khaelen needed to get laid. That much he knew from having him watched. He handed Hound the packet under the table. “Just a bonus, you understand.” He smirked at the human then asked, “Where’s my copy?” He felt the human take the packet and in return slide a small disk cover into his hand. “This is the goodie?” The vamp brought the disk into view, his long fingernails fingering it lovingly. “Got an erection just looking at it myself.” Hound eagerly responded. He could see by the look on the other’s face he had shared way too much information. “Good. Then we have him by the balls so to speak.” The vamp chuckled. “Do we go into phase two?” “Yes, Hound, we go into phase two. Get ready for the shit to fly.” And with that, he left the human sitting at the table rubbing his greedy little hands together.

**** Allantra woke to find clothes at the end of her bed. She had slept soundly after her second orgasm. She had no idea what had came over her, one minute she was trying to figure out how to defend herself and get over this mess and the next, a strong wave of desire totally flooded her senses, among other things. Before she could even think through what she was about to do, her hands went…she blocked the memory out, pleasant though it was and wondered briefly if the executioner hadn’t entranced her. But 25

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then what good would that do if he wasn’t even in the same room as her? And yet it was like she still felt him. It was one of the best orgasms she ever had. She shook her head trying to clear her lewd thoughts. What she wouldn’t give for a shower. With that thought, her eyes wondered up to the small camera she just knew was up there but could not see. Was he watching her right now? Had he watched her earlier pleasure herself? Her cheeks flashed hot just thinking about it. She wasn’t adverse to the thought of being watched by him. Allantra spotted a small sink she had missed earlier, due no doubt to the enthusiasm of finding the comfortable bed. A small towel lay folded on the corner. She washed her face then removed her two-day-old clothes and settled with a thorough washing from head to toe out of the sink. It wasn’t a shower, but she felt much fresher. Padding naked to the bed, she donned the sickening plain, scratchy uniform he left for her. “How romantic,” she mumbled to herself. Allantra knew the executioner would be sleeping now that day had broken through. It would give her the time she needed to really try to either, A: break out, which by the way didn’t look good--no cracks or openings anywhere for her to try her latest feat--or B: think of a strategy to defend herself. She, of course, would get a court appointed defender but since they were primarily second-class vamps, she doubted whoever it was would whoop up her defense. There was always Jah, however. A huge smile covered her face. While it was true Jah had gotten arrested as well and he was in fact drugged up, he still could be a credible witness to her defense. All she had to do was strike some sort of deal with him to tell the executioner how she came about that injector. Getting him to confess wouldn’t be too hard. No doubt they’d searched his apartment and found he made and dealt heavily in drugs. She just had to think of something that would make him want to help defend her. Suddenly she was excited. Allantra thumped herself upside the head. It was only now she realized this was when the vamp would be sleeping most of the day away and she would have to patiently wait for him to rise to toss him her suggestion. Surely he wouldn’t refuse to help her? Yes, he could be cold and rigid in his dedication to his work, but he also seemed honest and fair. He was a confusing piece of fine, male specimen. She walked over to one of the walls and browsed the titles on the bookshelves. Looking for something to occupy her mind while she waited for him to rise.

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Just how long did it take for the damn sun to go down? Allantra thought irritably. The book she had been reading, while interesting on the cover, sorely lacked story in between the pages. But to be fair, it could be the fact that her mind was elsewhere. She ran her hand through her long hair and decided to braid it. Slowly she entwined the separated pieces while her mind wandered. To think two days ago she never would have thought this to happen to her. She knew no one would miss her. She had no more family. It did occur to her that was exactly why someone was setting her up. Her wrist began to itch. She cast a suspicious eye at the camera, and then tried to casually inspect it while she braided her hair. It was getting infected. It now was a blazing red with raised bumps. She knew she had to get rid of the picture and soon. How could she explain this to the executioner? Would he even believe her? What if he was in on the set up? He had just as good a motive as any. As long as his brother was alive he could never get full Caste. Full Caste meant the Elders recognized him as the one and only leader of his clan and thereby he got the treatment due a king. She gasped at that thought. She was being accused of killing such a person. It wasn’t like she had killed a regular vamp. Demetri Buscan was a Caste member appointed by the Elders. Who was she fooling? They would never let her go. She was definitely going to burn for this one. On the other hand, she thought as she pulled a small string from the end of her uniform and used it to tie the end of her hair, by the executioner being made full Caste since his older brother was now dead, maybe he would show pity on her. Of course she neglected that idea as soon as it formed. Allantra let her arms drop listlessly on her laps and faced her wrist upwards. She hunched over slightly to hide the view from the camera as she pulled her skin back and let the picture pop forward. That felt so good! Awkwardly, she turned the picture in her hands and studied it for the first time. He certainly looked familiar. She just couldn’t form her brain around a memory. Maybe her grandmother had been right, perhaps she did need to spend a little more time on current events. After burning the picture into her memory, she thought it wise to switch the picture to the other wrist. As soon as the sun finally set, she let out a deep, exaggerated breath of relief. He was an old vamp surely he was up already? That sounded impatient even to her own ears. A half hour into the evening, the executioner finally came; the now familiar swooshing 27

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sound rang in her ears as he entered. “Allantra, please follow me,” he said, so cold and professional as if he was not the same man that had been ready to plow into her the night before. “Yes, sir,” she returned with the same cold tone. He showed no signs that her tone bothered him in the least. He allowed her to walk past him before he sharply told her to stop. She felt a cloth quickly pushed into her hands and snorted in disgust, before she tied it around her eyes. “Prisoner is successfully blinded,” she retorted, one hand resting lightly on her hip. She thought she heard a small sound that could have been interpreted as laughter, if it were not for the company she was keeping. They walked for what seemed like hours, but were merely a few minutes. So many twists and turns up and down stairs, she suspected as before they were merely doubling back to confuse her. She was successfully confused. He touched her arm lightly; her senses told her they were entering a very warm room. She could hear the crackle of a fire and almost smell its heat. It felt good. He guided her until the back of her knees touched the front of a seat. Reaching blindly, she felt for the arms of the chair and found warm polished wood. Then she sank down into the softest chair she thought possible. “Remove your blindfold,” his voice told her. She did so slowly, blinking once or twice. Her mouth gaped at the richness of the room. It was extravagant. That was the only word that came to mind. She looked down at the seat she was sitting in, letting her fingers brushed the red jacquard material. The wood she had touched earlier was cherry in color and gleamed in the soft light of the fire. The fireplace was huge! It warmed the whole room. She couldn’t help but smile. She had only seen such luxury in a magazine. She shyly touched the table in front of her, gleaming cherry red with intricate carvings around the outer edges. It looked old but well maintained. It had to be worth a fortune. “I’m glad you approve.” The executioner commented, pride in his voice. “How could I not?” she answered the questioned so quickly she forgot for just a second to keep her guard up. “I’ve never seen such a profuse exhibition of wealth.” “It is not an exhibit, these are family heirlooms, pieces collected through our family history. They are more historic and sentimental treasures, than monetary.” There was a bit of censure in his voice, as if he disapproved of her assumption that he was 28

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showing off his wealth. “I meant no offense.” She sobered remembering where she was, why and with whom. “Why are we here?” “Questioning,” he answered as if it were obvious. “In here?” she questioned, incredulously thinking this inspired more relaxation. Oh… she thought, now she got it. It was to get her defenses down. “You expected a cold room with one chair and light bulb?” It was the first time she heard any attempt of humor on his part. “As a matter of fact, yes.” “ I am not a barbarian, Allantra, despite whatever picture the press paint.” “I told you everything at Jah’s apartment and to that other officer at the Quarter.” “So tell me again.” “The story doesn’t change.” “Let me judge that. And yes, it is being recorded for posterity. For as much your protection as mine.” His voice strained on the last part, they both knew the law couldn’t give a rat’s eye about her protection. “Look, I thought about something earlier, a way to clear this mess up. All you have to do is bring—” she began before she heard his personal communicator ring. He held up a hand to silence her. She huffed and puffed inside, hating to be treated like his subject, but she remained silent. He talked quietly, his eyes briefly flicked to her before lowering again. Then he snapped the device closed. “How about this, Allantra, I’ll ask the questions and when I’ve asked all of them, you can tell me whatever it is you want, deal?” It didn’t sound like a bargain the way he said it. It sounded like an order, one that she begrudgingly heeded. She leaned back in the chair then idly scratched her left wrist. His eyes seemed to zero in on her scratching, and she immediately stopped. He wrote something in his book. Then began to shoot all the same questions at her. Two hours, one dry throat, a whole set of frayed nerves and one hungry stomach later, the inquisition finally ended. He set a plate with a cold sandwich in front of her and she quickly began to wolf it down. He clicked his pen and walked slowly around her chair then cocked his handsome head to one side as if expecting something from her. He moved so gracefully back to his seat, almost willing her to –what? “What now?” she croaked out, the sandwich sticking in her throat. 29

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He got up and went to a small movable bar and poured her a glass of water before he answered. “You had something you wanted to share, that was the deal remember?” Gratefully she took the water he offered, their fingers brushed. It felt like a tiny jolt of energy jumped between them. He tried to hide his surprise behind hooded, bored eyes, but she could see he felt it too. She took several small sips of the water, savoring the taste of the cool liquid before she proceeded. “We could have been done with this two hours ago. ” She looked him in the eye. “I know my word means nothing in the eyes of the law, but a vamps’ does. Just check Jah’s apartment, the vamp that got arrested with me. You will see he makes injectors, and I’m not lying. He can tell you about the scam I run, he’s been my injector supplier for years. He can describe the guy that gave him the injector to give to me.” She finished, satisfaction in her every breath before she began drinking the water again. “I could do that,” he said slowly. “Then just do it.” She finished for him, irritably. Did she have to tell him how to do his job too? “If he were alive.” This time his eyes narrowed, watching her reaction. “What?” She sputtered water all over the front of her uniform. “What do you mean if he were alive? You saw him yesterday?” “Yes, that’s true. We searched his apartment and saw no signs of injectors being made, only the drugs he took.” “That’s not possible, shit was laying around...” “It was a thorough search, and according to police records. Other than a few personal drugs there was nothing illegal in the apartment. He was released before you were even transferred here. He mentioned nothing about a guy.” “Did you guys ask him?” She was mad now; clearly someone was going through a great deal of trouble to get her ass fried. “He was questioned and released. That call I got was to inform me that his body was found in a hotel with a prostitute. Apparently he tried to get more than he was paying her for. It ended with them both inflicting fatal wounds to one another.” All the air went out of Allantra’s lungs. Someone was framing her good. She couldn’t think of anyone who hated her so much. While Jah’s death was a surprise, it was no love lost. He was merely a business acquaintance. 30

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Then a thought struck her. “You said her?” she questioned him. “Excuse me?” His eyebrow cocked up, not understanding. “You said he was trying to get more from the prostitute than he paid her. Right?” “Yes…” The vamp seemed to think for a moment. Remembering the smell on the young vamp that night. “Well, he was gay!” she practically shouted. “Doesn’t that seem a bit odd? You have to believe I’m being set up here. You just have to!” With that last statement, anger and frustration combined into a powerful force that wrought tears from her beautiful brown eyes and made her small body shake. She slumped over, her elbows on her knees, her head hung between her hands. She cried silently, at least she tried to, but he heard her tears. Every gulp, every wretched choke. He could smell her innocence. Before he could stop himself, with a wave of his hand he stopped the cameras from recording and went to her. The chair made a loud scratching noise on the wood floor as he turned her chair towards him, and then gently took her shaking hands into his. Her head bounced up quickly, surprise and curiosity swimming in her eyes. He tilted her chin up. “I believe you,” he crooned in a deep voice. She offered him a weak smile, though it was filled with gratitude. “Thank you,” she whispered. His long, strong fingers tilted her chin up just a little bit more and he brushed his lips softly against hers. Tasting a trace of the salty tears that had found a path to her lips, he swept his tongue over her lips until no trace of the tears were left. And then plunged his tongue into her mouth. Loving the feel of her soft, firm tongue as it met his own and caressed it. She slid her small hands from his and tentatively traced his jaw then dipped them into his pool of ink-black hair. It felt like silk. She sighed in the kiss. He pulled her gently to her feet and turned her just slightly enough to prop her against the antique table. His hands roamed until he found the end of her braid, pulled the small string and with a thought unraveled it so that it spilled over his hands. “Such beautiful hair she should not be bound,” he groaned into the kiss, sweeping her mouth with his tongue. Gently and efficiently he took one long muscular leg and prodded her legs open until he fit between her thighs. He began to grind his cock against the very thing that made her a woman. He felt so hard, so full, and so ready to burst inside her. His large hand stealthily snuck under 31

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the top of the uniform finding bare, unbound breast. He remembered how they tasted and immediately his desire to taste them again overwhelmed him. He broke the kiss, leaned her back and drowned in the plump sweetness of her breasts. Nestling his nose in between, inhaling her personal scent then he licked right up the middle. She moaned and he could feel the energy of her excitement. He popped one swollen nipple into his mouth and sucked, drawing on it like life itself was inside. And being a fair man, he showed the other breast the same amount of attention. She raised her leg, rubbing it against his while she writhed under him. Mewling her desire in a low, sexy tone that drove him wild. Hastily he began to rip the uniform top from her heated body until it fell in tatters on the floor. Her eyes wide, but obviously loving his display of desire for her, she was not afraid--she wanted him inside her. She cupped his cock through his pants and gave it a light squeeze. “Don’t touch me again unless you’re ready to finish,” she said, challenging him. “I have every intention of finishing,” he growled at her, showing her his fangs as if to scare off. “I’m not afraid of the big bad wolf,” she teased, trying to undo his pants. With what she suspected was his immense powers, his clothes disappeared only to reappear at their feet, along with the rest of her clothes. Her mouth formed an appreciative O as she looked at the huge cock that now seemed to be pointing directly at her core. “I am no wolf.” He stepped closer, his cock brushing up against her; she could feel the warm pre-cum against her skin. “I am far more lethal,” he finished. One hand went to the nape of her neck as he brought her in for another one of his wit-scattering kisses. His other hand delved into the junction at her thighs feeling the hot, moist heat, his finger slipped easily inside her. He then slipped another in and began to pump her slowly, making her ready for him. He did not want to hurt her she was so small and tight. But a wanton she proved to be as she gyrated on his fingers, brushing up against his painfully erect cock. He knew he could not take much more and pulled his fingers out and turned her roughly around. Pinning her hands to the table, he guided his cock inside her from behind, loving the view of her ass as he entered her heated channel. They both moaned out loud from the sensation of soft and hard finally meeting. Slowly he pushed inside her until his balls met the mouth of her hot womanhood. When he pulled out, she pushed toward him thinking he was pulling all the way out, only to gasp as he slammed into her 32

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again. Both hands moved to her hips, taking full advantage of the leverage they gave him as he slammed into her over and over again. She milked him, her juice making his cock slicker and hotter and he dove into her. He took one hand and moved her long hair over her shoulder to the front then ran his hands down her spine, she shuddered and he pumped her harder. Her blood called to him as it sang in her veins. It was illegal to drink from a shifter; it would give him an incredible high. He bent over her body and sank his fangs in at the base of her neck, an erogenous zone for a shifter. She wildly bucked against him. He pumped harder into her and drank deep of her blood, it screamed in his ears, his veins. It clouded his head, he ran his tongue over the puncture wounds to close them then his thrusts became more fervent. Their bodies in perfect unison, sweating in a room that at first was just warm, now the heat was unbearable. She cried out and he could feel her walls convulse and grip him in spasms; she was coming right on his cock! With that thought he released himself, spurting ribbons of his seed deep in her. It felt like a dam had burst in him, he jerked and jerked inside her until his body sagged in relief and exhaustion. His mind spun from her blood. She was quite literally intoxicating. “You are lethal indeed,” she said softly. Her knees buckled, she would have fallen but he caught her and sat in the chair behind them with her on his lap, their bodies still joined. “You are intoxicating, Allantra,” he murmured against her hair, rubbing his face against it as if he were putting his scent on her. “So are you…” she paused, realizing for the first time she had just fucked someone that she didn’t even know his name. “Khaelen,” he said, amusement in his voice. She turned slightly to see his face, amazed at the difference in his beautiful face when he was smiling. “Khaelen Buscan at your service.” He smiled at her, showing off his fine fangs. “I can do that too.” She laughed, elongating her teeth so they resembled fangs. The smile dropped from his face as he stared at her. “Oh, let me guess,” she began to get angry, “you just remembered what I am!” She twisted to move away from him, but he held her tight. “No, not that,” he said in wonderment, turning her head so he could look into her 33

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face. “ I suspected you were a talented shifter. I just didn’t know how talented. I’ve never seen a shifter so at ease with their abilities.” He kissed the side of her neck. She relaxed. “My grandmother used to say she thought I was from the original line of shifters, before they began to mix with the humans.” “I think your grandmother might be right.” He agreed, capturing her in a bear hug. “Where is she now?” She hesitated, wondering if this was Khaelen asking or the executioner, but in the end she decided it didn’t matter. “She died many years ago. She wasn’t my real grandmother, she was a nice lady who took care of a toddler she found wandering the low-end.” “Your parents abandoned you?” “I don’t think so. My grandmother said she found me at the time of the Mass Execution, back when they were capturing and killing low-enders, especially shifters, they thought we were…” “Polluting society with disease and rampant violence.” He finished for her breathing heavily, that was when he decided it was time for a new executioner namely himself. “Yeah, poor excuse, but enough to allow for my people to be murdered.” “So you could very well be from an original line.” He thought out loud. That could change things in her favor if they could prove her innocence. “As much as it pains me to say this, you and I need to put on some clothes.” He nudged her up and made a new uniform top appear on the table. “We have work to do. I believe you about your acquaintance Jah. There is something amiss in my department and I do not like it.” His voice sounded angry and determined. Allantra thought she would not want to be the one who double-crossed him. As soon as they were both dressed he pulled her into his arms. “I will find a way to prove your innocence.” “Fine words, Executioner,” a voice said from the doorway. They both turned to see two uniformed men from the Quarter. Khaelen frowned, irritated by the fact that he hadn’t heard them or smelled them. Hell, why didn’t his security system prevent them from even entering? “I know what you’re thinking, sir.” The voice came from Wulf, his first in 34

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command, before the vamp came into view. “But the Elders thought we should have access to your house in case of emergency, they implemented a program that will allow us to do just that.” He sounded truly sorry. His blonde hair tied back in a ponytail; blue eyes stared at the couple. He was as tall as Khaelen but not nearly as handsome. His lips too narrow, his nose too big. His body seemed slim but fit. “Why are you here?” He pushed Allantra behind him in a gesture of protection. “Some very damning evidence of your involvement with the prisoner came to light. The Elders thought we should monitor you for signs of corruption. After the live feed stopped from her interrogation, we received permission from the Elders to launch the program.” “Me, corruption?” Khaelen sounded outraged and offended. “Sir,” Wulf took a step towards the couple lowering his voice, “given the fact that you two were embracing when we entered the room does not help. Please just cooperate and we will straighten this out at the Quarter, the Elders are being gathered right now…” “For what reason?” Khaelen bellowed. “To decide if your integrity as Executioner has been compromised, and to investigate the possibility of your involvement with your brother’s murder.” Wulf hung his head as if it pained him to say the words. “You believe this?” Khaelen asked him, disbelief evident in every syllable. “You know me, Wulf, better than anyone, better than my own brother.” “Yes, that is true,” Wulf answered, a strange light passed in his eyes. “That’s why I need you to go willingly, please don’t hurt your own men. We will straighten this out, no one blames you for this dalliance with this low-ender. She is quite the cookie.” He tried to smile good-naturedly, however, his comment was anything but. “Do not address her in that manner,” Khaelen said coldly. Wulf lowered his head in apology. “But I will come willingly, under the condition that she is handcuffed to me. I am no fool, Wulf; there are men in the Quarter who would kill her before morning. This point is non-negotiable!” He looked Wulf in the eye, and knew the instant he had won by the slump in his friends’ shoulders. “Cuff them together, but use these.” He tossed the handcuffs to one of the uniformed men before he backed up to let them do their job. Khaelen caught sight of the cuffs. “These are not issue where did you…” 35

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“The Elders, they said no one is ever above suspicion. They had these especially made for you and your particular talents. You cannot get out of these without a key. Neither can you.” He directed at Allantra. “If he can’t get out, trust me, baby, neither can you.” If Khaelen had not known better, he would have sworn he heard a note of smugness in his tone. “We will figure this out,” he whispered to Allantra, though as of yet, he did not know how.

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Chapter Five

She was handcuffed right wrist to his left. Between the irritation from the picture and the handcuffs, she was in skin irritation hell. She squirmed in the seat trying to get relief from the incessant itching. “What are you doing?” Came his dry tone. “I’m itching, Sherlock,” she retorted, trying to scratch her wrist with the handcuff. Khaelen looked at her in puzzlement. If memory served him right, it was the other wrist at first that was itching and now… “What’s going on with you?” he questioned softly, so the two uniforms couldn’t hear. “What do you mean?” she muttered, still trying to get satisfaction from the cuff. “Your wrist, it was the left one before, now the right. Something you wish to share?” She stopped squirming long enough to ponder the question. If this was a ruse to get her to open up to him, it was one hell of a plan. Though she really couldn’t conceive a man with his dignity allowing himself to be handcuffed just to get a witness to talk. Still, she heard of more elaborate plans to catch a criminal. Now wasn’t the time to tell him about the picture, not with the acute hearing of the vamps’ in the front seat. Then tell me this way. A voice in her head droned What the…? Don’t be alarmed. It’s one of the reasons vamps aren’t allowed to drink shifter blood, it gives them the power of telepathy. I don’t have telepathy, you idiot. She replied angrily. Then how do you explain our conversation? She could hear the amusement in his voice. When she turned and saw his right eyebrow cocked up, she felt her heart speed up. This isn’t happening. 37

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If wishes were raindrops… he chided her How long have you been reading my thoughts? Only since you kept complaining in your head about your wrist and something about a picture? Damn! We both are. If you have something to help us, spill it. I may have a picture of one of the people trying to set me up or rather since it’s been updated--us up. How long have you had it? Since you had me arrested. Why didn’t you give it to me? Right, give the only evidence of my possible innocence to a man with the job title of Executioner. Point taken. Where is this picture? In my wrist. IN YOUR WRIST! He yelled into her head. Oww, stop yelling. How is it in your wrist? Allantra looked him in the eye then glanced purposefully down at her wrist until she was sure his eyes followed. With another quick glance up front, she shifted her skin back to reveal the picture. He turned his head slightly to see the photo. His vampire eyes flaring slightly to adjust to the lack of light, he studied the picture. Khaelen’ eyes flared in anger this time. Hound. Who? The guy the Quarter uses to track down criminals, it’s how we found you. At least that’s how I thought we found you. Cover it up; we don’t need them to know what we know. She shifted her skin back in place, the momentary relief over much too quickly. So now they had a name and a face, but were locked up. Exactly when did good people get the break her grandmother always preached about? Seems as if the good people were getting royally screwed. He’s not smart enough to do this alone. 38

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Great, set up by an idiot. Really, the only thing I see him getting out of this is money. It’s a great motivator. Yes, but what is motivating the guy paying him? You’re giving me a headache. Who’s the mastermind? “Oh, well you’re going to have to come up with that, I may be just an insignificant pawn, just another shifter that's expendable. Khaelen grew silent for a moment. Allantra tried invading his thoughts but felt as if she kept running into a brick wall. He was deliberately keeping her out of his thoughts, while he just ran rampant in hers at will. Arrogant bastard. Two could play that game. She began thinking about all sorts of walls, brick walls, cement wall anything that could keep him out. I get it. Excuse me? I blocked you so you block me, right? You started it. We’re getting nowhere with this. Then this had better be fifty-fifty. Suddenly, he smiled at her. He liked that in her. She was defiant and demanded respect, not that he intended to slight her, but it was good to see someone stand up to him honestly. Not the cowardly way someone was setting him up. Deal. I was just trying to work something out. What did you come up with? Whoever is using you as a pawn, more than likely are not aware that you’re probably from a direct pure bloodline. Khaelen, we’re not sure about that. I am. Even if you’re not, I’ve been around long enough to know a pure shifter when I see one. What’s your point? They’re not aware of your capabilities. I’m not even sure of all of them myself. I’ve merely been fooling around with things. 39

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Good. I like a girl who fools around. Allantra had the nerve to blush after what they had done together. The car came to a smooth stop in front of the Quarter. Khaelen pulled her gently across the seat so that she could exit through his door. He didn’t trust them not to accidentally grope her as she left the car. They were led into the bowels of the building, which hinted they were expected to be there a while, and it was the safest place to harbor a vampire criminal. Khaelen had instructed her not to mind link with him while in the corridors, there were devices discreetly set about to monitor their brainwaves for that possibility. They were led into a room Khaelen himself hadn’t even known existed. “When did this get here?” he asked no one in particular. The taller of the two uniforms answered. “I hear it was built a year or two after you made Executioner.” “I see, trust no one…” Khaelen replied impatiently. To think that the entire time he had served the Quarter and the Elders, they had expected him to go rogue. He knew he was powerful and dangerous. His suspicions were now confirmed. Over the years he knew the Elders were beginning to view him and his capabilities as a possible danger should he ever go rogue. He didn’t know until now just how deep their fear went. He looked around the room and smelled pure silver; no doubt crosses built inside the room to slowly sap his strength, to deem him more controllable. He was already beginning to feel the effects. The glass was reinforced, twice; he noted in dry amusement. The Elders had definitely been keeping an eye on him. One table and four chairs served as the only furnishing in the room. Khaelen sat in one and pulled Allantra down next to him, trying to appear relaxed, but his strength was seeping through his very pores. “What’s wrong?” she whispered, eyeing the two guards at the door. “Silver,” he said, almost breathlessly. “Silver crosses.” “Oh,” she said understanding. A second later, one guard opened the door and set a small projector on the table and aimed it at the wall. “Oh, great, a movie.” Allantra rolled her eyes in boredom. Wulf entered the room with Hound. She tried to appear as if she had never seen him before. But it was hard hiding her rage. He was the reason she was here and he had something to do with the fact that Khaelen was here as well. “Yes, my dear.” Wulf grinned, baring his canines at her. “And guess who’s the star?” 40

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“What’s this, Wulf?” Khaelen sent Wulf a piercing gaze. Wulf returned one in sympathy. “I’m sorry, old friend. This came into possession at the Elders Meeting Chambers, they instructed me to play it, and then ask you some questions. I wished this weren’t happening.” Wulf let his shoulders slump, his eyes saying sorry to Khaelen. Khaelen nodded in acknowledgement. “This is classified stuff guys, you have to wait outside. I’ll yell if I need help.” The two uniforms looked pissed but slowly left the room. “If I catch you trying to peer through the glass, I’ll dump the both of you down to street cleaners,” he threatened. Then he dimmed the lights and pushed a button on the projector. Allantra stared horrified as she saw herself grinding against Khaelen. She looked horny and in desperate need of a good fuck. Her cheeks flamed red when she heard herself tell Khaelen to fuck her. She sounded like a slut. Her eyes dropped to the table unable to watch the screen. She heard Khaelen answered his communicator then Wulf shut the machine off. “The Elders would like to know how long you’ve know Allantra?” Wulf questioned. “This came from video feed from my house. This was obtained illegally?” Khaelen ignored his question. “Why are the Elders allowing this as legal evidence?” “Given the nature of the crime, Khaelen. I know there is no love lost between you and your brother but he was Full Caste, appointed by the Elders. His death cannot go unpunished simply because of evidence obtained illegally or not. The Elders want this dealt with, they don’t want it ‘open field’ on vampires. Allantra and who else is involved need to be dealt with swiftly. Now, please answer the question.” Khaelen did not answer right away. He seemed lost in his thoughts. A thin sheet of sweat appeared over his brow. His strength was weakening fast. “Only since I arrested her,” he finally answered. “Have you had relations with her since this video?” “Do you have more videos to show us?” “No.” “Then, no, I have not.” Allantra did not show a reaction to the lie; Khaelen was assessing the situation and was trying to defend them both. “Have you bit her?” 41

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“It’s illegal.” “Have you bitten her?” Wulf repeated the questioned, slightly annoyed. “It’s illegal, Wulf. The only illegal thing I’ve done is almost have sex with her, since when did that warrant special cuffs and a special room?” “Since the criminal is you, Khaelen. We are aware of your power, I’m sure even now you can feel yourself weakening. I appreciate your concern for us, you could have easily taken us all out, but you didn’t. That’s why I insisted on bringing you in. I knew I could count on you to do the right thing.” Wulf half-smiled. “Yes, you can.” Khaelen agreed softly. A dozen more inane questions followed that basically kept getting around to the same subject. Did he set up his own brother’s murder? It did not escape his notice that Hound stayed in a dark corner, eyeing Allantra with feverish eyes. Khaelen could smell his arousal and wanted to kill the human. Not only for his disrespect but also for his treachery. His eyes noted the way the human kept brushing his hands across his cock and licking his lips. There was no way he was leaving Allantra alone with these monsters. Why hadn’t he seen these traits before? He knew why, because like most vamps he looked at humans as slightly more intelligent than monkeys. His arrogance had cost him. “I’m afraid we have to put Allantra in a separate cell.” “I said no deal.” “You said arrested together, you didn’t specify the cell situation.” “You’re splitting hairs, Wulf,” Khaelen growled. “I’m sorry, but she’s scheduled to be executed in the morning.” “What!” Allantra jumped up jerking the cuffs. Khaelen pulled her back down. “How has she been found guilty? There has been no trial.” “The Elders decided no trial was needed, she is involved. She admitted to injecting him. It does not matter what her intentions were, it was the injection that killed him.” Khaelen seemed to mull the point over in his head. Outrage filled Allantra’s being. How dare he even consider what they were doing any type of justice! Calm down, hellcat. Khaelen slid into her mind. We need to think clearly. You’re going to just let them take me? Do you really think I’m that gullible? They won’t wait until morning. They’ll kill 42

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you as soon as you’re out of my sight. Allantra paled visibly. Wulf eyed her suspiciously. “Is something wrong?” “No, just my own murder!” She said out loud. This seemed to satisfy Wulf, he turned to Khaelen. “Old friend, I’ve something to ask and tell you.” He pulled the key from his pocket and tossed it to Khaelen. “As a show of good faith, I’ll allow the two of you a moment alone, but not before I talk to you, deal?” “Deal.” Khaelen agreed, snapping the cuffs off. Allantra immediately began to scratch her wrist. Khaelen walked to Wulf at the other end of the room, keeping a wary eye on Hound, who stood in the far corner, his lustful gaze never leaving Allantra. “What is it?” He sounded gruffer than he intended, but his strength was waning and he had no patience for the situation. He had to get Allantra out of here. “This doesn’t look good for you, friend.” Wulf began before carefully plunging on. “The council has agreed that your record up until now has been spotless, they are willing to hear any recommendations for your replacement.” “Replacement? I’m being replaced for kissing a prisoner? I know uniforms who had done much worse with lesser fines and penalties.” “Except they weren’t the Executioner, a public figure and weren’t suspected of being in league with a low-ender to kill a Full Caste Member.” Wulf sighed dramatically, trying to get Khaelen to see how desperate the situation was. “If you don’t name a successor, they’ll make it a public event and anyone can run, that means anyone can win. It was the reason you ran, to keep dishonesty and corruption out of this system.” “Though that’s what I’m being accused of.” Khaelen smiled wryly. “Yes, but I have reason to believe you’ll be exonerated, but given the publicity and the tarnish job it would do on all your work here, they more then likely won’t reinstate you. Recommend someone you can trust.” “Would that someone be you, Wulf?” A light clicked in Khaelen’s head. “No, it doesn’t have to be. Just someone you trust.” “But you don’t want the position?’ “Are you kidding? All that responsibility, sleepless nights always on call, not my first choice buddy.” 43

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“Give me the form.” Khaelen reached for it as Wulf pulled it out his breast pocket. He scratched a name where it needed a candidate, signed his name and handed it back to Wulf. Wulf glanced at it and his eyes grew large. “Me? Are you crazy?” “Sounds like the best man for the job is the one with the conscience. Good luck and watch your back. I’ll take that moment with Allantra now.” Khaelen looked imploringly at Wulf, who shook his head slowly in astonishment. He beckoned for Hound to follow. “You have two minutes. We’ll be right outside.” Khaelen waited for the door to shut completely before he took Allantra’s hand in his own but refuse to speak out loud. I’m weak. I need your help. When they come back, I’ll take down Wulf. You can take down a human, right? Of course, Shifters are naturally stronger. What are you planning? Can you change my appearance as well? Khaelen quickly projected an image in Allantra’s mind of what he wanted to do. She nodded. I will need to touch you physically, or else I can’t do it. You will figure it out. When the door opened they looked into each other’s eyes. Wulf came into the door first then Hound. As soon as the door clicked shut, Khaelen rushed Wulf.

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Chapter Six

It was a flurry of movement too fast for the human eye to see. Khaelen barreled his hard, muscled body right into Wulf. The result was a resounding surprised ‘oomph’ from his lips. The force was so great that Khaelen felt Wulfs’ chest give in with a small cracking sound. Khaelen pushed on impervious to the impact until Wulfs’ body was firmly wedged into the hole his body made in the wall. He watched his friend’s head slump, his body going into stasis to repair itself. They had very little time. Exhausted from the brief excursion, he put a hand on the wall to hold himself erect; he could feel the power of the crosses warming his hands, searing them. Small wisps of smoke began to emit from his hands, curling slowly then floating into the air. Khaelen turned his head to see Allantra’s hands extended into claws like the legendary grizzly bear; she slashed mercilessly at Hound’s neck. Blood spurted in arcs out of his neck. Khaelen licked his lips hungrily then lunged for him. Clamping his mouth over the vicious wound, he drew upon it desperately, trying to regain whatever strength he could. He didn’t even stop when he heard the heart slow then completely stop. Khaelen drained the body of every, last drop of blood, before it even began to slake his hunger. Allantra just watched him silently. He felt no judgment, no horror nor repulsion. She merely held her hand out to him and he took it. “Do not let go of me, I cannot sustain the illusion without contact,” she told him. Khaelen nodded in understanding, feeling better, thought the crosses were draining him every moment he stood here. A lesser vampire would have died within five minutes of being encased in this room. “We have to go.” Khaelen let Hound’s body slump in a boneless fashion to the floor. She stood next to him lightly grabbing his hand. Khaelen felt no different. He opened the door; she stayed close enough behind him so that the guards outside would 45

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not notice the handholding. As soon as he was out of the room, he felt a surge of strength return. “We’ll be back to question the prisoners. The Executioner is in a surly mood, I’d advise you both not to enter.” “Yes, sir.” Both guards responded to who they believed was their present leader Wulf, accompanied by that weasel of a human, Hound. “What about the girl?” one of them questioned, “can we have a little fun with her, she’s going to die tomorrow anyway.” He snorted. “That’s up to you, uniform. Do you chance going in there alone to retrieve her while the Executioner is in there?” Wulf raised his eyebrow at them. The guard quickly cast his yellow eyes down to the floor and mumbled something about it not being worth it. Khaelen felt his hackles subside, he had no idea there was so much corruption in his own department. Just who was the innocent here? He wondered. He felt his heart speed up in anticipation. He was almost at full power now and quite a force to be reckoned with. He walked quickly, Allantra did not slow his pace in the least she just took bigger steps. He liked a woman who could hold her own and not complain. They rounded the last corner when the sound of bullets erupted behind them. “Time to go, sweetheart,” he clipped, practically dragging her now. He knew the bullets wouldn’t harm him, but she was a different story, that is unless the Elders, just in case, especially made them, he thought sarcastically. Two seconds later, his sarcasm was rewarded with truth. A small fire erupted in his right arm as a bullet tore through it. Allantra yelped in surprised. “Run,” he growled low, sure she heard him. They began to run full out now. The sound of footsteps echoing in the halls, warned them to go faster. Without even bothering to stop and open the door, Khaelen crashed right through it pulling Allantra behind him. Whatever damage was inflicted would be nothing compared to what would happen if they got a hold of them. “Can you run and shift?” he yelled back at her. “Lead the way!” Her voice almost sounded as if she were having fun. He nearly grinned. “Do not let them get away!” They both could hear Wulf barking at the men behind them. 46

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Khaelen shifted into his wolf form, a beautiful black wolf with amber eyes. He was huge and looked as if he could swallow any man whole. As he ran, corded muscles responded in synchronized beauty. His slightly open muzzle gave a hint of wickedly sharp teeth. Huge paws almost like saucers gained purchase as long claws grabbed at the ground. An equally beautiful smaller wolf followed him. She was a gray wolf; her body equally muscled for her size, keeping pace with the larger one quite easily. They both ran for the opening to the woods just outside the Quarter, the sound of footsteps beginning to dim. There was a cry from a hawk above, it sounded angry but eventually it too faded from their hearing. Still, the larger wolf made them run, it seemed now more for the pleasure and feeling of freedom than anything else. But the smaller wolf was game and joined in the frolicking. It had been too long since they had both tasted any real freedom. His running tapered off until he was just loping across a small clearing. He turned his huge head to beckon the female to hurry he didn’t want to be caught in an open area. She raced past him but not before playfully nipping him on his haunches. He tore after her swiping her legs from under her with one huge paw. She rolled for a second then found she was pinned by his furry body. Laughing she shifted back into her human form. For a second the black wolf watched her, mesmerized by the beautiful sight she made, before lust took over and he too shifted back into his vampire form. With mere desire he made their clothes disappear then reappear beside them. Allantra gasped but did not shy away. Her eyes strayed now to the huge erection that hovered just over the part of her that wanted it inside. Despite shifting, he stilled growled low and deep in his throat, sending chills through her. She was frightened and turned on at the same time. He had both her hands pinned over her head; he dipped his head to nuzzle her neck all the while still growling, as if he was her alpha male. She felt a small nip then a lick. His silky hair now unbound flowed over her breast, making her nipples harden. “I can smell how much you want me,” he rumbled in her ear. “It’s not a secret,” she whispered. “I don’t think I’ve ever made it a secret.” Before he knew what she intended, she flipped them both over. Though strong, she knew it was only because he really wasn’t holding her down tight. He stayed down, curious to see what she wanted; he would let her be in control this time. She began to purr, sniffing him. Licking him on the neck. Inching lower, she took 47

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his nipple into her mouth and swirled her tongue around, she smiled to herself when she felt his cock jerk against her stomach. She ignored it and teased the other nipple. Lower still she licked and nipped. When she got to his hip, she bit him hard, his cock jumped against her throat. She let her mouth lightly graze his cock and balls as she passed over them, giving him a hard bite on the other hip. She kissed her way down his thigh, feeling his hands on the back of head urging her to do other things. She would make him wait. She shook her head, letting him know to let go; he let his hands flop to his sides letting out sounds of frustration. She smiled, this was her game. “You’re killing me,” he said gruffly, bucking his hips in an attempt at more advanced hinting. Still, she ignored him. Allantra parted his legs, kissing the inside of one thigh then the other, inhaling as she took in his male scent. She began to lightly rub her face over his genitals. She could feel rather than see his hands hanging in mid-air at either side wanting so badly to push her mouth onto his cock, but knowing that was against her rules. Again, they fell defeated to his side. He hissed as finally she let her warm, wet tongue give one long lick from the base of his cock to the tip, tasting the tiny beads of salty moisture that oozed out. She groaned, loving the way he tasted. She sucked each ball separately, running her tongue over them until they seemed to harden under her ministrations. She pulled her knees under her, ready to finally take the whole of him into her mouth. She grabbed the base of his cock and aimed it straight at her face then speared her hot mouth with his cock. This time he groaned loudly. “Oh fuck, that feels so good!” he said in stunned pleasure, feeling his cock go all the way to the back of her throat. She swallowed him again and began humming in her throat, letting the vibrations arouse him further. His cock felt like stone, smooth, long and hard, her tongue caressed it undulated right under the head. This time she allowed him to take hold of her head as he pumped his cock like a piston in and out of her mouth. She took him down so easily; no woman had ever been able to take him down her throat. Thank God for shifters, he thought in pleasure. “Oh no, big boy, you’re not coming now. I want that cock in me, I have needs too you know.” She pulled back, sitting on her haunches. Without further invitation, he got on all fours and crawled behind her. With one hand he fondled her breast and used the other to guide himself inside her hot entrance. She was so wet and slick, he just slipped inside. Her walls immediately grabbed him, 48

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deliciously squeezing him. He closed his eyes and just felt her. He pumped in her slowly, too much tension, too much desire wouldn’t let him hold the pace and he thrust faster. He pushed her upper body further to the ground so that her ass rose up to him. What an ass it was! He slapped it playfully, she yelped and gripped him tighter. He fucked her like that for a few more minutes until he wanted more. He withdrew from her and grabbed her by the hips pulling her up with him, and pushed her backwards to a nearby tree. “Hold on,” he said, more in warning. She reached over her head and grabbed a thick branch, her legs shaking just a little; he was scary and so damn sexy at the same time. When he saw her lock her hands together, he lifted up her lower half then settled her right onto his cock. She wrapped her legs around his waist and could feel her own wetness as she fidgeted waiting for her pleasure. He did not disappoint her. He began pulling out and stuffing his large cock back into her over and over again. Her eyes rolled with pleasure as she clung to the branch. He reached for a breast with his mouth and she arched forward. When he clamped down on her nipple she let out a scream of pure ecstasy. He sucked hard on it then switched to the other nipples. She arched her neck forward further until he did what her body craved. He bit her. Unbearable tension began to build up around her clit and deep inside of her, she strained against him seeking the ultimate pinnacle. As he fucked her, he sucked her. Delighting in the taste of her, all tastes of her. Her taste was an odd mixture of a strong, wild, predatory force, tapered with sweet sensuality. As it coursed through his veins it sang sweetly to him, tempting him to taste just a little bit more. It drowned him in warmth and spice, addicting him. His senses now completely overloaded, he could feel himself on the verge of exploding. She screamed again as she came on him, coating his cock with more of her juices making her hotter and wetter. With one final thrust, he spewed his seed, what felt like rivers of cum emptied inside her. At one end, he was giving and at the other he was taking. Finally he sealed the punctures in her neck, and his cock throbbed in memory of what it had just done. She slumped against him still jerking every now and then from a stray ripple left over from her orgasm. Her arms hung limply to her sides. His legs 49

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buckling, he carried them both to the ground; she now sat in his lap. They listened to the fast rhythm of the other’s heart his arms protectively around her. She felt a blanket being wrapped around her and looked up in surprise. “How do you do that?” she asked. “A very advanced form of telekinesis,” he answered her easily, she not realizing he usually wasn’t such a well of information. “The item has to already exist and I know where it is. This came from my house.” He smiled at her, his hazel eyes still warm from their lovemaking and perhaps he was feeling a slight high from her blood. “No wonder the Elders are afraid of you,” she said softly, tracing his face with her fingernails. “Not afraid, wary. It makes no sense, they outnumber me greatly.” “Yes, but I think they suspect you are probably more powerful than they are or that one day you will be.” “There might be some truth in that.” He concurred, pulling the large blanket around him as well. “We can’t stay here. I have a house that they don’t know about, at least not right now, we can go there and figure out what it is we need to do. Besides, unlike you I am not a sun-dweller so we will need to move quickly.” “I didn’t know vampires could shift.” She looked at him, wanting him to volunteer information not having to pull it out of him. “Some of us from certain bloodlines can, only the more powerful can assume more than one shape.” “How many can you assume?” “Three,” he answered truthfully. “The wolf is my favorite.” “What three forms?” she asked, truly curious now. “The wolf, the falcon and for a short time I can appear completely human.” Allantra’s eyes widened, he liked shocking her. "Why human?" "It comes in quite handy when the dawn finds a vampire unawares. It gives me a small window to find shelter." “Why don’t people generally know this?” “Because we are vulnerable in our animal states, we can be killed far more easily. That’s not information a dominant species wants to give out.” He grimaced suddenly. “What’s the matter?” she looked at him in alarm. “Did I hurt you?” 50

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He threw his head back and laughed. She punched him in the arm, which caused him to abruptly stop laughing and groan again. She pulled back the blanket and looked at the spot where she had hit him. It was where he was shot. It seemed to be trying to heal but was having a difficult time. “Why isn’t it healed?” Her brow furrowed, staring at the wound. “Any damage done by holy items takes longer and is much more painful to heal,” he answered her, looking over the wound himself. “Blessed bullets?” She laughed at that. The Elders certainly were an odd lot. “No, my guess is the bullets were dipped in holy water. No human will bless a bullet. Sacrilege.” “Oh.” She shook her head in agreement. “So lead the way to your castle.” “We travel by wolf, but keep to the trees. Wulf can only shift into a hawk and he’ll definitely be searching for us.” He made the blanket disappear. They rose and he took her head between his hands and kissed her. Hip tongue going deep into her mouth, and she moaned. “Like that do you?” he teased her. She smiled and shook her head yes. “Wait until my tongue tastes your other places, you’ll love it.” He promised her with a devilish glint in his eyes. “Promises, promises,” she teased back. A moment later, two wolves hidden against the trees began to make their way through the dark forest.

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Chapter Seven

“So, Wulf, you’re telling us you failed to secure both prisoners? Prisoners that were already arrested and in your care?” an Elder questioned him, displeasure prevalent in her voice. Wulf tried to make out the shape of her, but the Elders always remained blurs, never definite shapes. He took a deep breath looking around the Elders’ meeting chambers. Not a chair to sit in, not one piece of furniture to make one feel remotely welcome. The Elders remained hidden in the many shadows of the room. No one actually ever glimpsed any of their faces. “I did not expect him to fight.” “What reason would he have to do so?” “I suspect he cares for the Shifter and did not want her to die.” “Is that all?” came another voice even more reprimanding. “I can only guess at his reasons Elder, that seems the most logical to me.” “He is suspicious of us now, he thinks we mean him harm. He can become quite dangerous. We elected you to take him in because you know him best and assured us you could do so without incident.” Censure soaked in every word the Elder spoke. “He can be recovered.” “But there has been death already, you yourself smell of a recent injury.” “I can handle…” he began. “Yes, you will do well to handle this, Wulf. The Elders do not need word of any of this to get out to the general public. Mayhem will ensue and you know as well as I our numbers have declined, there is strong evidence that we might not be the dominant species anymore.” “I know that, your Excellency, it is a secret we will hold well and near to our heart.” “Khaelen was a fair Executioner, the people liked him and therefore feared but 52

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respected our race, he kept them well under control. Without a new strong Executioner we will perhaps need another Mass Execution to remain dominant.” “He has appointed me Council, to act in his place. I have served alongside him, the people know me as well.” “But do they respect and fear you?” an Elder challenged. “They will. I will make an example of Khaelen. I will show them no one is above execution. I will be willing to do what he was not.” “Perhaps we have acted hastily in having him arrested. It was but a small infraction on his part. There is no evidence other than the girl to support he even killed Demetri.” An Elder began to rationalize to the others. “Why would someone fraternize with their kin’s killer if they were not involved? I love him like a brother. But he lied during interrogation.” “Oh, about what?” came the reply. “He said he had not had relations with her and had not bitten her. There is another disk that says otherwise.” “How is it you came about this evidence, Wulf?” came the suspicious question. “When Hound was killed a uniform found it on him, obviously he was corrupted as well. Maybe he needed something to keep Khaelen from killing him. Perhaps they are in this together.” “Doesn’t sound like much insurance,” an Elder laughed rudely. “I agree. Still, we need to believe that Khaelen may have been corrupted. If not, give me the chance to prove his innocence.” “Very well, we will supply you with what we have to help secure him. However, if you fail, your death will surely follow. The Council does not approve of failures.” “I will not fail.” Was Wulf’s last remark. A series of whispers and a cool draft let him know the Elders had exited the room and he was alone. This night did not go well. The sun would be up soon, come sunset he vowed this would be over one way or other.

**** Allantra swore she could feel every bone, every muscle God put into her. All in all she had really enjoyed this night. She and Khaelen had arrived at his small shack of a house; only on the outside of course, inside it was warm and modestly furnished. It only had three rooms, a living room that doubled as a bedroom, a bathroom and a tiny kitchen. 53

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On the outside there appeared to be windows, it even looked like you could see inside of the small cottage. But it was all clever artistic carpentry. There were no windows at all. A vampire haven. She was curled up naked in the blankets, fatigue beating at her like a drum. He puttered around in the bathroom, trying to remove the bullet he discovered was still lodged inside his arm. He made no sounds of torment and it amazed her how much pain he could take. I’ve had years of practice. Oh, we’re back to this again. Yes, I like it. Especially when you don’t realize I can hear your thoughts. All the time? No, only when I reach out for you. Allantra didn’t know why she liked the idea of him reaching out to her so much but she damn well did. She heard the lights flick off in the bathroom, but that was all. She couldn’t hear his footsteps or even the sound of his breathing. The feel of the mattress dipping under his weight was the only indicator that he was near. He settled in naked next to her and pulled her into his arms. There was no mistaking the pulsing cock against her ass. “Did you get it out?” she asked, inquiring about the bullet. “And up, too,” he answered her wickedly. “You can’t be serious?” “Oh, do you need to rest? I forgot Shifters aren’t really a match for a healthy male vamp.” He turned over as if to dismiss her. She punched him in the back. “Asshole,” she shot in his ear. “But you didn’t deny it.” He laughed, his powerful shoulders shaking from his laughter. “I’ll do you one better,” she whispered seductively in his ear. “Promises, promises,” he mimicked her. She answered him by nibbling on his ear, which stopped his laughter immediately. Her tongue swirled around the crevices of his ear while she blew lightly into it. He groaned and turned to lie flat on his back while she explored his neck then down to his chest, loving the salty taste of him. He was quite literally good enough to eat. Then in a second much too blinding to comprehend, he had changed their position 54

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so that now he hovered over her. He put one strong knee between her legs nudging it to one side then pushing her other leg until she was spread wide and he was settled comfortably in between them. On all fours above her, his mouth latched on to her bare breast, addicted to the taste of her nipple, the texture when it puckered for him. She pulled his head closer. His hand explored her perfect tight little body, finding the very core of her spilling over for him. He slid his middle finger inside her, while his thumb worked her clit. She began to writhe beneath him. His finger moved in and out and she moved with it, trying to achieve satisfaction. But he wouldn’t let her have it, not this way at least. He broke away from her breast. “I need to taste your juices,” he rasped at her. She shivered in anticipation and watched his dark head descend lower down her body until she felt his hot gaze boring through her. For a creature with such preternatural speed, he was going awful slow, she complained in her head. It’s my game now, little girl, and my rules. He said in her head. He was getting back at her for torturing him. But what sweet torture this was. She wanted to grab his head as he had done and pull his mouth down onto her. But she would not give him that satisfaction. So she settled for agonizing squirming. And when he finally licked her nub that was so swollen with lust, she nearly screamed. His mouth felt so warm, his tongue doing lazy circles around her clit. She ground herself against his mouth and tongue. It felt so good. When he slipped his tongue inside her lapping at her from the inside out, the scream would not leave her throat; she was just too keyed up. He laughed and continued his lapping, pushing his face between the apex of her thighs as if he wanted to crawl inside, and if he could have, she would have let him. While his tongue went in and out of her, his thumb rubbed her clit. This vamp was so talented and attentive she might just keep him around, she thought to herself in bliss. She felt the beginnings of her first orgasm and held his head tightly to her while she bucked, giving his face a wild ride. Khaelen loved the taste of her; she was sweeter than anything he ever had in his three hundred years. She was hot just for him. He loved the way she pulled him closer, urging him on. And when she came right on his tongue, he believed he now knew what a taste of heaven was. She fucked his face for all she was worth, holding him tight while spilling herself right into his mouth. When she settled down he lifted his face, now covered in her cream and slowly trailed his way back up her body. He held her gaze; her 55

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eyes were dilated with passion. Without warning he shoved himself into her—hard. She hissed in pleasure and lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. “Do not look away from me,” he ordered her, “look at me when I come in you.” Her eyes never left his, she watched him as he fucked her. Pounding into her, she grabbed his ass pulling him as deep as he would go. The room was quiet, save for the slapping noises their bodies made. “I’m coming in you!” he roared. She came again as well, feeling his hip jerks as he filled her with his semen, her eyes never left his. He was truly magnificent, she thought to herself, shuddering against his cock. After the waves of pleasure subsided, he kissed her softly and stroked her hair. “We need to rest.” Was all he said. The sun was beginning to rise taking his very strength from him. He settled in next to her, holding her so that her ass curved against his manhood. Almost instantly, they both fell asleep.

**** It was the sound of steps in the grass that awoke him. Whatever or whoever it was, was only about five hundred feet away. He jerked up and could feel the sun had set at least a half hour ago. Normally, he would have never slept past the first minute of sunset, but the bullet wound had required much of his energy to heal and romping with Allantra hadn’t help matters. Still he wouldn’t trade it. They had time to get away. He nudged her awake, shoving the clothes he recovered from the forest into her sleepy hands. Dressing quickly, he scanned the area with his mind. There were six outside; they had maybe two minutes before they attacked. Wulf had found this house no doubt with the help of the Elders. Allantra now fully dressed and looking sexy in an after sleep tousled state, looked to him for answers. The Elders could find out about the house but not what was inside. He had carved the tunnels out himself, in case he ever was in a situation when he couldn’t escape because of the sun. He took Allantra’s hand and went to a wall in the bathroom; he pushed a series of panels before the wall slid to the side and revealed a small cubicle like an elevator. To Allantra’s surprise that’s exactly what it was. The panel slid back into place and they descended at an almost sickening speed. It stopped abruptly and the door opened, revealing a tunnel. He turned to her and said, “Follow these tunnels in the direction they go. When 56

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you reach the end, push the darkest rock you see, it’ll let you out into the forest, go some place safe. I have to deal with this on my own. I can’t risk anything happening to you.” “I fight my own battles, Khaelen.” “Well your battle turned into mine. Now go, we’ll talk later, I promise.” It was at that moment that Allantra realized she really didn’t know that much about him. And she dreaded the thought of never getting that opportunity. Sure, they had great sex, but there was something about him that she could not explain. Something that made her feel like she knew him. Knew his soul. She nodded and prayed that God would keep him safe, for her. A selfish thought, but it was true nonetheless. It isn’t a selfish thought; it’s exactly why I’m sending you away from me. I told you to stay out of my head! She half-heartedly chastised him. Like you meant it. He laughed at her. With one last squeeze of her hand he closed the panel, leaving her in sudden darkness. Shifting her eyes into those of a cat, she could immediately see clearly. She had taken no more that two steps when she heard the sound of bullets. Were they regular bullets or the ones blessed? She thought frantically. Allantra was torn between doing as he asked and wanting to help him. She tried to reach him mentally, but either the connection was fading or he was dying. Her heart stopped in her chest for a second with that thought. She came to a decision. Shifting into a large rat, she went inside the crude elevator shaft and began to make her way up.

**** For the first time in his life Khaelen was afraid. Afraid of dying and not getting to know the one woman who had gotten under his skin. Afraid of dying and not being able to protect her from the malignant laws that would surely follow her and hunt her down. Even as the small elevator rose to the main floor of the cabin he knew he would fight to the death for her. Why? He couldn’t even answer that for himself. He just knew she was important, and important to him as well. As soon as the panel slid open, he crouched down on the floor, covering his eyes from the remnants of wood that splattered as the bullets sprayed into the small cubicle. Instinct told him these were the bullets that would hurt him. He closed his mind to Allantra, in the event he got hurt he didn’t want his pain to slow her down. That was the 57

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only consolation to the situation. At least she would be getting away. He moved quicker than even the vamps could track. There were two men in the cabin and four outside. The first one he passed too quickly for the vamp in uniform to protect himself. He snapped his neck; the sound of broken bone the only indication the event even took place. The second guard, now on alert when he saw the body of his comrade fall, did a slow circle aiming the gun ready to shoot at the smallest movement. Khaelen blended in with the shadows of the cabin and watched him. Slowly he entered his mind, urging him to end his own existence instead of dying at the hands of the executioner who would show him no mercy. The guard shook his head to ward off the powerful suggestion, but Khaelen’s power of persuasion was much stronger, and in a second the guard pointed the gun to his own head and fired. He fell in a macabre display, the body not quite catching up to the mind telling it, it was dead. In a flash of light, he turned to ashes, the blessed bullets making short work of the vamp. Khaelen knelt by the corpse of the vamp that he had broken the neck of and twisted his head off, he couldn’t risk the vamp rising again and having him at his back. “Very impressive, friend,” came Wulfs’ voice. “I aim to please,” Khaelen shot back, his hazel eyes glowing from the bloodlust. “I take it we can’t talk this out?” Wulf sounded genuinely disappointed. “I don’t want to hurt you, Khaelen, we’ve been friends too long.” “Correction, friend,” Khaelen returned sarcastically, “I’ve been a friend, you’ve been an enemy in disguise.” “Pardon?” Wulf tried to sound hurt and puzzled, but Khaelen wasn’t buying it. “It was you all along. You killed Demetri. You set up Allantra and me. My question is of course, why?” “Why do you think?” Wulf spat out, no longer even trying to keep up the pretense of innocence. “I’ve watched you all these years. Watched your potential for greatness just wash away by your bleeding heart. At first, I thought it was because of Demetri that you didn’t aspire for more. But the closer I watched I realized you had no intention of taking Full Caste away from Demetri. You never wanted to be leader of your bloodline, you settled!” He said the last part with such disgust Khaelen wondered why he hadn’t seen his disloyalty sooner. “I find no comfort in pompous behavior. My job is to keep the peace and see that justice is dispensed.” 58

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Khaelen noticed the other three guards silently entered the room. He laughed to himself; surely they didn’t think they were unnoticed? So all of this just to become Full Caste, it seemed petty even to Khaelen. Wulf wasn’t even of their bloodline what could he possibly gain…? “Oh, I see our star pupil has worked out the math puzzle.” Wulf laughed seeing the understanding on Khaelen’s face. “Don’t you see? You were in a position to keep our people dominant, but you screwed it up. You with your fair trials and letting people go.” “What are you talking about?” Khaelen now was truly puzzled. “You became part of the problem, old friend. Under your reign more low-enders have survived than ever. They have lived to breed. Their numbers have greatly multiplied, their numbers are almost dead even with ours. Again.” “And if they realize that, we have a civil war on our hands, one that does not guarantee we would come out the victors.” Khaelen finished for him. He couldn’t stomach such pure hatred of other species. It was absolutely sickening to see the mad light in Wulf’s eyes. What did he mean by ‘again’? “Yeah, you and your bitch girlfriend could make things difficult. But it’s not too late. We could use her as an example. Kill her. We could start another Mass Execution and decimate their numbers before they even realize they had a fighting chance.” Wulf began to advance. The sickness in him seeping through him pores, Khaelen tried not to inhale the stench. “Stop!” Khaelen warned. Willing to kill Wulf, but not wanting to. “Look, even now you want to give me a fair chance, don’t you?” he chided Khaelen. “No, Wulf, I just don’t want to stain my hands with your filthy blood. You will not leave this cabin alive. You’re sick.” “I’m right. I have the support of the Elders.” Wulf proclaimed, pride abundant in his stance. “Do the Elders know you are the one who set this whole thing up?” “They know what I want them to know. You know sometimes a person or a group,” he laughed to himself and continued, “can think they’re so smart. They want us to believe that they are omnipresent, but I suspected long ago they were not. They’re just cursed.” He began to laugh, hysteria taking hold. “Cursed? That sounds far-fetched even for you, Wulf.” Khaelen tried to distract 59

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Wulf as he caught wind of a familiar scent, and cursed inside his head. Wulf however, lifted his nose ever so slightly to scent the air as well. He smiled then. Khaelen’s heart began to beat right out of his chest. Damn her! Why couldn’t she listen to a simple order! “What’s that I smell, Khaelen?” Wulf said in a singsong voice. “I think I smell a bargaining chip.” He turned to his men. “Look carefully for a small animal, don’t kill it just train your gun on it. I think we might have a way to subdue our very powerful friend here.” Wulf smiled showing his fangs. Saliva dripped from one as he too began to search the cabin. Dammit, Allantra, I told you to leave! He hissed at her in his mind. I couldn’t leave. I thought you were wounded. Khaelen took a deep breath. He had to get her out of this. Leave now. I’m by one of the guards, if I move he’ll see me. She whispered back in his mind. Khaelen tried for a diversion. Quickly he grabbed the gun from one of the guards that he had killed, dropped to the floor and shot two of the men. Light flashed from their bodies, ashes rained on the cabin floor. “Now that wasn’t very sporting of you, Khaelen.” Wulf bit out clearly pissed off. “You’re going to die for killing uniforms under the Reign of the Elders.” He tried to make it sound like a legal and official warning. To hell with that, there was nothing legal about this situation. “I’m willing to take that chance.” With that comment, Khaelen shot the remaining guard. “Leave, Wulf,” he advised in a grave tone. Truth was, Wulf couldn’t possibly hurt him, but he could hurt Allantra before he could save her. He could deal with Wulf later when he was sure Allantra was far away. “I can’t. I promised the Elders I would bring you in, and that’s what I shall do!” Wulf quickly threw a disk at Khaelen, and though he sidestepped it, it did not do any good. The ring seemed to reach for him and wrap itself around him, squeezing, rendering him immobile. Wulf smiled at him cruelly. “Now, where’s that bitch you’re trying to protect, she’s still here I can smell her. Maybe I’ll have some fun with her before I kill her. I hear shifters can give one mean blowjob. They can unhinge their jaws like a snake and take down some serious cock!” Wulf rubbed his now aroused cock as he said it. Khaelen’s whole body burned, it felt like he had been caught in full view of the 60

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sun. Smoke began to rise in spirals around him. He wanted to scream but he would not, there had to be a way to get out of this thing. However, as it stood right now, he was as useless as a babe on a battlefield. “I can smell her cunt, Khaelen, boy it smells like one of the good ones. I smell you on her too. Fucked her have you?” Wulf stood in front of him now, taunting him. “Is she a good fuck? Must be the way your eyes are bugging out. If you’re good I’ll let you watch as I fuck her.” It was at this time Khaelen saw that Allantra chose to scurry into a different hiding place. It was the wrong time; Wulf had been on alert for any movement. He whipped out another disk and caught the rat as it tried to scurry under the bed. The rat squeaked in pain. Immediately, Allantra began to shift back into her normal state. Her long hair singed by the ring. “Well, well, well, look what we have here, a treat for Wulf.” He turned his back on Khaelen, confident the powerful vamp could not possibly touch him or save Allantra, and so far he was right. “You know,” he said conversationally to Khaelen as he approached the now struggling Allantra. “The Elders specifically designed these new weapons for vamps and shifters, I must say it’s some of their best work.” “Don’t touch her.” Khaelen’s voice dropped very low. It sounded very lethal; any one with sense would have heeded it. Wulf however, did not. “Or you’ll do what?” Wulf laughed, pulling a syringe of out his pocket. He looked Allantra full in the eyes. “I thought what a hot fuck you would be when I first saw you at the P&B. Don’t worry my dear, this is what you should have had the night Demetri was killed. I developed the other stuff, took me two years, and it was beautiful seeing it work on Demetri. I never could stand that bastard, hated him more than Khaelen. This will relax you and give us a chance to get to know each other.” He stepped closer to Allantra. Blind rage filled Khaelen before realization hit him. He knew how to get out of the ring! With a mere flexing of mind muscle… Just as Wulf was about to deactivate the ring to inject Allantra, he heard the sound of steel hitting the wood floor. Curious, he turned in time to see Khaelen rush him and knock him into the wall behind Allantra. The wall gave beneath Wulf’s back letting him sink into it. “We’ve done this before, haven’t we?” Khaelen quipped, baring dripping fangs. His eyes glowed brighter than Wulf had ever seen them. 61

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“How did you…?” Wulf began. “Get out?” Khaelen laughed finishing his question. “You said the rings were designed for vamps and shifters.” “You’re a vamp there’s no way you could…NO…you can’t…you can change into human?” Wulf gulped. “Just long enough to fool a device or say, an idiot like you!” Khaelen ripped Wulf’s throat out in a matter of seconds. Feeding on his very life source. He could feel Wulf began to slump and still he suckled. He did the one thing he promised himself he would never do. He sucked every last bit of fluid from him, Wulf became just a husk of a being. His eyes sank in as if he had been mummified. Only when he felt the dry, flaky skin did Khaelen stop and dropped the husk to the floor. It immediately became a pile of ashes. Khaelen wiped the blood from his mouth and turned to Allantra, who was moaning in pain. He walked quickly to her and turning human for just a few seconds, grabbed the ring, which immediately stopped glowing. “Step out of it,” he ordered, when she did he threw it on the other side of the cabin. She ran into his arms hugging him tightly, her hot tears seeping through his shirt. He cradled her to him like she was the most precious object in the world. To him, she was. When she got her crying down to a few sniffles, he gently put her away from him to see her face. Her eyes were slightly pink and puffy. “Why are you crying?” he asked her gently. “Did the ring hurt you that much?” “No, you idiot,” she sniffled. “I thought, I thought...” “What did you think, Allantra?” He sounded so calm and reasonable she hated that she was falling apart like this. “I thought he would win. I thought I’d lost you,” she gulped out. Not caring that at the moment she sounded like a raving lunatic. Not caring that she hadn’t known him long enough to be carrying on. Not even caring that he didn’t share her feelings. She was just glad he was alive. “It’s not over yet, we still have some stuff to sort out,” he said gruffly. Much more gruffly than he wanted. He wasn’t used to anyone caring and he didn’t know how to handle it. It was easier to just put it aside for now. He knew he hurt her. But he would make it up to her as soon as he got his own feelings in check. “What do we do now?” she asked. Letting him ignore the real question she was 62

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asking only because she knew he didn’t want to explore it yet. It was just as well; she had known from the beginning they would never make a couple. “We go see the Elders.” “Are you crazy? They’ll kill us on sight.” “I don’t think so. I believe I just stumbled upon something. Trust me, will you?” He grabbed her hand, lifted it up to his mouth and kissed it. She nodded, too breathless to say anything. She was now beginning to hate the effect he had on her. It couldn’t last, this thing between them. “We need to get moving, when Wulf doesn’t check in they’ll send another unit. I, for one, am not in the mood. We need to bring the fight to the Elders on our terms.” “We have terms?” she asked, surprised at the update. “Yes, Allantra, we have terms. I’ll give you what details I can on the way. We’ll take one of their vehicles, they won’t be needing them.” Allantra followed Khaelen out of the small cabin; this was the most trouble she had ever gotten into in her life. Her grandmother would not be surprised.

**** The ride through the woods in the jeep was bumpy at best, but Allantra wasn’t complaining. The events that unfolded left her emotionally confused and pathetically aroused. For some reason she could not explain, and yet she knew a psychiatrist would have a field day with this one, the thought of someone trying in vain to kill her left her with the need to fuck. If that wasn’t a cry for help she didn’t know what was. Needless to say, the jeep was frustrating and helpful at the same time. She tried not to give such long sideway glances at Khaelen, but she couldn’t help it. He had saved her life and had been willing to give his in the process. That is where the confusion took place. Why? Except for a few romps in the sack they really had no ties, and yet they felt tied together in some way. She couldn’t even guess what his favorite color was; let alone what he liked to do in his spare time. She didn’t know what he did to relax or even what he was capable of when he was angry. She just didn’t know enough about him to feel the way she did. Yet here she was, more than willing to show her gratitude for being saved. Allantra shuddered to think of the reason why she had sex with him those other times, other than it had felt right. She barely took in the woods as he drove as fast as he could through the foliage. 63

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They were going to the Elders. It was the equivalent of lying down in a lions’ mouth. What did he hope to gain by doing that? The Elders were said to be the most powerful beings on the planet, having lived hundreds of years. What could Khaelen and she possibly do to gain the upper hand? She sighed silently to herself. If she died, she wanted at least one more taste of the gorgeous vamp driving. His corded arms though relaxed while he drove, looked as if he could rend a cow in two. Odds were he could. His long legs strained against the dark pants he wore and she could almost make out the individual muscles in his thighs. The same thighs that brushed against her when he plunged that long, thick cock into her. She shivered but not from the cold. Smiling wickedly to herself and ever so casually, she let her hand flutter to his thigh. His head quickly jerked in her direction but she pretended the touch was merely casual. If she had turned her head she would have seen the knowing smirk on his face. Allantra idly stroke his right thigh, feigning to enjoy the view. His muscles tensed under her hands and she pretended not to notice. Her hand strayed further up until she reached the bulge between his thighs. Her fingernail grazed where she guessed the tips would be. He hissed under his breath. “Are you trying to kill us?” He sounded irritated. However, his growing erection denied it hotly. “You’re immortal,” she reminded him tartly, ignoring his irritation and now openly massaged his cock through his pants. “I’m also driving.” He tried to sound authoritative, but please, he had a raging hard-on. “You mean after three hundred years you can’t chew gum and walk at the same time?” She openly laughed at him. “I can do quite a few things at the same time.” He relaxed, realizing the futility of trying to deny her. He was just as confused as she was, and this sex thing wasn’t exactly clearing anything up for him. “Well don’t mind me, I can amuse myself,” she said sweetly. Using both hands, she unzipped his pants and pulled out the most beautiful cock she ever seen. Already glistening with his taste. He adjusted himself in his seat helping her get all of him out of his pants. He tried to keep his eyes on the road as he watched her stroke his cock from base to tip in 64

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agonizing slow motion. He was leaking all over the place, she merely used the moisture to make his cock slicker and easier to stroke. “Oh my. Yes, I can definitely amuse myself with this,” she murmured, slipping the head of his cock inside her warm mouth. The jeep jerked, narrowly missing a tree. She looked up to see his eyes practically glowing with lust and staring at her. “Keep your eyes on the road, Executioner,” she said huskily. Immediately he began to slow down, with what looked to be an intention to stop. “If you stop this vehicle, I stop sucking your cock,” she told him, with another flick of her tongue tasting the moisture that leaked from the tip. ”Mmm,” she added as an incentive. “I surely would hate that, I love the way you taste, the way you feel so hard and hot in my mouth. Wouldn’t you hate it if I had to stop?” She flicked her chestnut eyes up at him in innocence. He responded by flooring the gas pedal, the jeep move under heavy protest. “That’s a good boy,” she said softly, humming while engulfing him in her mouth. Khaelen didn’t know how he was going to get them to the Elders’ Council Quarter in one piece; she was sucking his brain right through his cock. He instinctively brought his hips up to pierce her delicious throat deeper. By God did she have to hum? Making his whole body vibrate. He rested his hand lightly on the back of her head encouraging her, as if she really needed it. Khaelen loved the feel of her soft tongue stroking his balls, sucking them into her mouth and out again, it was exquisite! She wrapped her right hand at the base of his cock and sucked hard. It was somewhere between pain and pleasure and he could only groan for her to continue. He was openly pumping her mouth now. Her head bobbed in a sensuous rhythm that promised to make him come soon and hard. “That’s it, baby,” he breathed raggedly, “Take all my cock down that lovely throat!” His words seemed to spur her on, and she attended to him with even more vigor. “I’m not going to last long, baby,” he moaned, pistoning between her lips. She seemed not to care. He felt his seed boiling in his balls and work its way into his cock like a tsunami. He tried to warn her, “I’m…I’m…” Was all he mustered as he tried to pull her head up, but she refused to budge, still sucking at a feverish pace. His cock exploded in her mouth, hot cum slid down her throat. He could hear the swallowing noises she made as she drank him down. The walls of her throat caressed him 65

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tightly, wringing all his seed from him. He panted heavily in satisfaction. She licked him a few more times until there was no trace of his seed anywhere on his cock, before she brought her glazed eyes up and moaned. “You taste so good.” She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. Her pink tongue darting out to swipe her own swollen lips clean. “You’re aroused, I can smell it,” Khaelen said thickly. “I’m pulling over.” He meant to bring the vehicle to a complete stop but she reached blindly and with great accuracy grabbed his arm. “Keep driving.” Her voice sounded demanding and he glanced over at her. His vampire vision making it easy to see her in the dark, he glanced down at her crotch. She had slid one hand inside her pants and was working her clit furiously. “Let me do that,” he offered, watching her intently. “No, but you can watch,” she said between breaths. Allantra had no idea what was wrong with her. She had never in her life been so open and bold with sex. Yet with him… She thought about the taste of him on her tongue, the way he pushed himself down her throat and she was on fire. She began pushing her hips harder against her hands, rubbing her clit as she thought about it. It aroused her even more to know he was watching her. She could feel his gaze on her; it was the same as when she was jailed in his house. She just knew without looking he was watching her. She could feel her own slipperiness as she worked her clit. She felt a hand on her breast, gentle at first then squeezing. She moaned loudly. Khaelen teased her nipple through her shirt, sending jolts through her body. One, two then three of her fingers slid inside, the friction was wonderful. A second later, she felt her own cunt contract on her fingers. Her hips bucked, she grabbed Khaelen’s leg needing something to ground her while she felt as if she were being electrocuted. After her spasms finally subsided, she took a deep breath and pulled her hand from her slick sheath. Khaelen grabbed it and licked every one of her fingers separately, paying particular attention to the ones that had been inside her. She smiled, loving the feel of his mouth. For the moment she was relaxed, right now was all that mattered. The jeep bumped and jerked in the dark, no running lights on, Khaelen didn’t need them, he knew exactly where he was going. She prayed this wouldn’t be the last time she saw the woods. 66

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Chapter Eight

Khaelen cast a quick glance at Allantra. She looked pale and tired. His vampiric eyes scrutinized her closely and realized what the problem was. He deftly stopped the vehicle and turned off the ignition. Allantra deep in thought took a moment to notice. “What are you doing?’ She looked around, not seeing as clearly as he but clear enough. “You look awful,” he stated blandly. Her beautiful chestnut eyes widened first in surprise then in indignation. “Sorry, I don’t keep so well under the pressure of being hunted,” she retorted, and would have effectively turned her back on him if she hadn’t been belted in so snugly. She settled for a defensive pose of her arms resting across her chest. “What I mean is,” he continued, amused and ignoring her grouchy behavior. “I understand Shifters don’t have to eat as much as humans. When was the last time you ate?” “I--I don’t know…at your house maybe?” she stammered softly, genuinely surprised that she didn’t know the answer. Come to think of it, she did feel a bit peckish and lightheaded. “That’s what I thought,” he said in triumph. “I’ll be right back.” He unfastened his belt and she snapped her ahead around. “Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded, puzzled that he picked this time to bail out on her. “Do you mistrust everyone?” he asked softly, pausing in his exit to brush her cheek softly with his hand. “I’ve never been given a reason to.” She jerked her head, not hating the touch but not comfortable with such tenderness. Only her grandmother had shown her such affection. 67

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“Well, I think I’ve proven I can be trusted, Allantra.” He sighed deeply as if he had a heavy burden. “I’m going to get you something to eat. Would rabbit be ok?” He cast his hazel eyes her way and she melted, he was so damn gorgeous and he was being nice. It was almost too much. “Fine,” she grumbled unsnapping her belt. “But I want to come too.” “Not a good idea.” He outlawed the idea before she even got it going. “You’re already low on strength, you really don’t have it to spare.” “I’m not a child, Khaelen Buscan, so stop treating me like one. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.” “Then why don’t you let someone else do it for a change,” he challenged her in a low voice. Why did he have to use that voice. The one that made her feel like crap just because he was trying to help her. He had no right expecting her to just get all-weak in the knees because the big, bad executioner wanted to get her dinner. Despite the fact that it did make her weak in the knees, she didn’t like all these new emotions ambushing her at once. So she did what any mature adult would do when out of their natural element. “Whatever,” she said sulking. “I’ll be right back.” He gave her hand a squeeze before he exited the jeep. She watched him, trying not to be obvious, but he was a fascinating specimen to watch. He shifted into wolf form so gracefully; if she didn’t know any better she would have sworn the wolf had been there all along. The huge wolf bowed his head to her once, and then took off into the deep part of the forest. “Show off,” she said under her breath smiling. She sank down into the seat and took a deep breath. This was the first time she had been alone in days, in peace, alone. You’re not alone. Came his voice in her head, she didn’t jump in surprise, and that surprised her. He was growing on her. Not with you invading my head. She playfully scolded him. Would you like me to break off contact? Allantra paused for a moment. Her heart lurched. Did she? In truth she did not. Though strange at first, she really liked talking to him this way. It was different. It was intimate and it was so much more comfortable to do when she didn’t have to look into those gorgeous eyes of him and try to remember what she had been trying to say. Where are you? She chickened out of the question. She didn’t want to encourage 68

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him. I‘ve spotted a nice fat hare for you. Oh goody, I am famished. I’ll be there in moments. I need to feed as well. He whispered in her head before he broke off contact. Allantra wondered how long this would last. Did the connection only last as long as he continued to take her blood or was it permanent? Could she invade his mind? She tentatively tried to reach out to him, there was nothing. Frustrated, but willing to try again, she concentrated. At first, it seemed as though she were traveling down a small tunnel. Then a burst of light sparked then dimmed. She was chasing a hare! Wait, no, that couldn’t be right. She puzzled for a second before realization dawned. She could see through his eyes. Her mouth gaped open as she strived to keep the connection. His Vampiric vision was amazing! She saw colors she didn’t even know existed. Technically, being a shifter she saw so much better than humans, but this was even better! She could practically taste all the scents in the woods. She could hear his heart pounding in an adrenaline rush. She could feel his satisfaction now that the blood of a different hare sated his hunger and he concentrated on the kill. The wolf in him was excited about the kill. He ran faster and faster. She saw a huge black paw swipe the legs of the hare, it stumbled and before it could regain its footing the wolf was on it. Sinking its long canines into that sweet spot where the neck and spine meet. The snapping of the hares’ neck sounded so loud in her head. She could taste the small amount of blood that leaked out of the puncture wounds where the wolf now carried it in its mouth. She felt the exultation from Khaelen as he relished in his kill. No matter how small, no matter how innocent, it was the hunt that excited it. Suddenly it seemed the wolf was aware of her in his mind. It seemed to look up to the sky like it could find her there. She broke contact, shaking in excitement and dread. What did she think Khaelen was, the boy next door? He was a predator first and foremost. Could he kill her as easily? Was he really as ruthless as people whispered? Allantra shook her head trying to scramble her thoughts and reorganize them. He was trying to get her something to eat, fact number one. She would have hunted the hare as well, though she wasn’t sure if she would have taken as much satisfaction from the kill as he did. 69

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Don’t be so sure. Came his censure, he had been in her mind, listening to her confusion. I have never killed and relished it. She replied defensively, not being able to recall a single instance when she had to kill. Perhaps it is only because you have not hunted in a predators’ form. You are a true blood, Allantra, when you shift you take on all attributes of the animal. Do not fool yourself into thinking you would be different. You merely coexist, the beast rules until you shift back. He waited for her to respond, knowing she was trying to think through what he had said. It is true I have never hunted in predator form. If that is what it is like, perhaps I will not. You fool yourself, woman, you will. You can only deny the call of it for so long. I am almost to you. Then he broke contact with her, leaving her with heavy thoughts.

**** When Khaelen returned there was a distinct air of silence. Allantra had much to think about, and Khaelen was trying to give her room. She had no full knowledge of what she truly was and he imagined it could be quite frightening. He would tell her slowly over time of course, but he knew she would be able to deal with it. Khaelen watched her tear into the rabbit he had prepared by cooking it quickly over a fire, and just as quickly extinguishing it. A quick mental scan of the air showed that the brief fire had not drawn attention. He tried prodding her mind lightly, but being a shrewd creature, she had found a way to completely block him from her thoughts. He sighed heavily, and chose to ponder the situation at hand. No doubt the Elders had backed Wulf, he knew that by now the Elders would be alarmed because Wulf had not checked in yet. If a Search and Obtain crew had not already been sent, it soon would be. He and Allantra had to reach the Elders before they waged an all out search, then there would be no chance for the simple plan he had been conjuring to work. “Thank you.” Her voice was so light, as if she didn’t want him to hear her. “You are most welcome,” he replied, trying again to very lightly see if the shields had been let down even a little bit. Of course, hell had not frozen over yet. “I hope I did not offend you, your…ah um…zest for what you were doing caught me off-guard.” Allantra explained. “Never forget what you are dealing with, Allantra,” Khaelen responded gravely, 70

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“It could get you killed. Besides, I was not offended. I am what I am. I just hope one day you too can embrace all sides of yourself.” He raised a hand to quiet her when he saw her about to protest. “There is a lot about yourself you do not know, so you are going to have to trust me on this. I know a lot about your people. I studied them for a long time trying to figure out what reasons the vamps had that would make them want to wipe them out.” “What did you find?” Interest peaked in her voice. She shifted on the huge boulder she sat on, planting her hands on both sides and leaned slightly forward in anticipation. The posture made for a nice cleavage view, he kept that to himself as his eyes feasted discreetly. “Nothing. It seems some of the records have been purged, some parts just completely gone. Perhaps now is the time to find out what happened to cause the Mass Execution.” “There had to be more of my people. I cannot be the last or the only one, can I?” she asked in an almost childlike wonderment. “I seriously doubt it, there has been rumors for years about a rogue band of True Blood Shifters that had escaped the execution, the Elders deny it however.” “Perhaps they didn’t want to seem weak.” Allantra volunteered her eyes taking on a thoughtful hue. “Whatever the reason, we’re going to find out. You need to know a little bit of family history.” “And what of your history, Buscan? I know nothing of you.” Khaelen grew quiet and pondered her statement. It was true, he had kept revealing details about his family away from the public. He was private by nature and it had proved to work in his favor many a time. He had not shared his body with another for so long until now, perhaps it was time to share a little more of himself. “I am the youngest of three brothers. My oldest brother Jacques died before the Mass Execution, this let the Full Caste mantel to fall to my older brother Demetri. I have never had an interest in being Full Caste. I always wanted to assist my people.” “Blah, blah, blah,” Allantra sneered at him. “You sound like a bio in a news magazine, tell me something of yourself. Something no one else knows about. How did your brother die?” she asked as an afterthought. He bit his lip to keep from strangling her. One, because she was right and two, he secretly hoped she would let him get away with it, and was angry because she did not. 71

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“My brother Jacques died from his own stupidity. He took blood from a Shifter, several actually, and became so disoriented and out of his mind that he allowed himself to cook in the sun, by being too stupid too seek shelter when the sun rose.” “Were you the one who pushed for it to be illegal to drink from a Shifter?” There was way too much wisdom in one so young, Khaelen thought to himself. “Yes, I pushed it. I suspected he got a hold of True Blood. Their blood was much too potent for him.” “Yet you drank from me,” Allantra pointed out, not accusing just stating a fact. “Yes, I am not proud of that fact. You can be quite—distracting.” He allowed a tiny smile to play on his handsome face. “However, I will not make excuses, your blood was intoxicating but it did not render me helpless.” “What a way to charm a girl,” she teased him, smiling. It was the first time Khaelen noticed she had but one dimple in her right cheek. She was absolutely adorable. He was willing to admit he felt far more for her than he had felt for anyone, and yet he did not know her very well. He knew her nature however; she was just the right combination of woman and warrior. Not self righteous but having a healthy dose of morals, not to mention when it came to fucking she was hot as hell. If he wasn’t careful he might find himself falling in… Abruptly, he let the thought seal itself. This was not the time for this. “So, are you going to tell me something about you that no one else knows?’ she queried again, not allowing herself to be put off. “Are you familiar with the hierarchy of Vampire clans?” he asked her solemnly. When she shook her head vaguely, he continued. “We try to keep some things away from the common people.” He smirked seeing her indignation flare then settle. “A father is Master of his clan, when he dies the eldest son is Full Caste, you know what that means, yes?” “It means they have a Masters’ position without the family, meaning wife and kids.” “Very good,” he teased before he went on. “My father died a mysterious death, his ashes were found inside of his sleeping chambers not too long after my mother mysteriously died. The family knew that my father’s mistress had murdered her in order to become Lady of the family. My father refused an investigation into my mother’s death, claiming it to be no more than an accident. How one can accidentally be beheaded is 72

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beyond me.” Bitterness laced Khaelen’s words. “The mistress claimed she was attacked by a Shifter when she was walking on the estate’s gardens. She ran and, grabbing a sword left by a guard while on break, she swung without looking, not realizing my mother was taking her nightly constitution as she always did upon rising, this was a fact known to everyone in our home.” “You must have been angry at your father for betraying your mother like that. Not once but twice.” “Yes, I was. I could no longer love this man, only despise him, but I hid it from him. I arranged a meeting with my father in the very gardens my mother died. I trapped him and tied him to the bench she sat on every night to watch the stars. I let the sun have him. The next night, I returned, put his ashes into an urn and dumped them into his sleeping chambers in the middle of his bed. I then pretended to be the worried son. Asking who had seen my father last. No one ever suspected that I was the one who’d done it. My brothers hating the mistress as much as I, believed and accused her of killing my father as well as my mother. They had her beheaded as well.” In that small area of the woods that Khaelen and Allantra now occupied, was complete silence. It was almost as if the woods’ natives knew the enormity of what had been revealed and did not want to intrude upon the heaviness. Allantra sucked in her breath as Khaelen finally exhaled. He had never told anyone that, not even his brothers. To confess to such a crime meant instant death. He had given Allantra a lot of power. No more power than you have over me. She whispered in his mind. How do you figure that one? You know what I truly am. I would be put to death instantly as well. What a pair we make. Yes. She agreed. Out loud she said, “Thank you.” He merely nodded his head in acknowledgement. “So what’s the plan when we get to the Elders?” “Try to convince them of Wulfs’ treachery.” “And if that doesn’t work, which by the way I’m quite sure it won’t.” “Then I have my suspicions, but I would need to speak with them first. You might be the bargaining chip that save us.” “It will be morning in a couple of hours, we should go.” 73

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“Yes, we should.” They piled into the jeep. Khaelen tried not to show his surprise and pleasure when Allantra laced her fingers with his. He gave her hand a squeeze and ventured into what he hoped was not the end of their lives.

**** The Elders’ council chambers looked all but deserted. Khaelen knew that to be a ploy. This place was heavily guarded, but he knew a way in. He turned to Allantra who was crouching behind him in the small area between two buildings that face the council chambers. One was a museum that had been closed for twenty years or more, due to the council’s ruling that only the privileged could enter by arrangement only. It had its own built-in security system and since no one ever tried to break in, the council did not waste men on guarding it. Not with the council across the street. Guards could be there in seconds. The other building was a church only the Elders attended, apparently too good for the masses. It was deserted now and this is where they crouched. “What’s the smallest animal you can shift into?’ “Why?’ “Just answer the question.” Damn, why did she always have to question everything? “A rat.” “Perfect.” He smiled, showing perfectly white sexy fangs. Sexy fangs? What was wrong with her? A few good runs in the sack and she sounded like a whelp. “Perfect for what?” she cleared her throat, and simultaneously tried to clear her libido. “This place is heavily guarded against anything wanting to go through those doors.” “So a rat is not going to work for me.” “We’re not going through the doors.” He deliberately cast his eyes skyward then back at her. “Rats can’t fly, Sherlock.” She let the sarcasm drip freely. “Falcons have been known to fly.” He crossed his powerful arms across his chest waiting for her to latch on to his idea. “Oh no, you want me to ride piggyback on you! Are you crazy!” she hissed at him, panic and anger in abundance. “What if I fall?” 74

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“Then hopefully you’re talented enough to shift into something that might make landing easier.” He wasn’t openly laughing at her but she felt that he was. “Bastard,” she grumbled in a lower voice. “No, truly, my parents were married for one hundred and fifty years.” And this time he laughed low, sending shivers straight through her. “Fine, is this the only way?” “It’s the safest and surest bet we have into getting in undetected.” “If you drop me, so help me, I’ll turn into a dragon and burn you to a crisp!” She bit out before shifting, not even bothering to see his reaction to her threat, no doubt he would find it amusing and piss her off even more. She watched in rat form, her beady chestnut eyes waiting for him to shift. And truly he was beautiful as a falcon, black as midnight, which would make it much easier to hide in the night. The bird lowered its head in an elegant and inviting fashion, she scrambled on top of its back and purposefully dug her tiny but sharp nails into its feathers. The falcon did not flinch. With its eyes closed, the rat wrapped its tail closely to the falcon’s body. The sensation of flying was both terrifying and exhilarating. She dared not look down, not that she would see much. She concentrated on feeling the muscles of the bird work beneath her body. She felt as if they circled twice, and then felt a quick drop in her stomach as they began to land. With one hop the bird stopped, waited then began to slowly hop. Keep holding on, this is the tricky part. He said in her mind. She kept her eyes squeezed shut and just went with the feeling of movement. They descended slowly down what was probably a flue of some kind as she heard his wings brush metal a few times. There was a bump then he stopped. She felt him lower his head, and she opened her eyes. They were in the largest fireplace she had ever seen. They hid in the shadows far away into a corner while she looked around. The bird cocked his head to listen. Seeming satisfied, he told her through their mind link to shift, but to try to remain hidden in the shadows. No sooner had they shifted and thought themselves to be alone that they realized their grave mistake. “I told you they would come to us,” said the voice of an Elder. “Won’t you two please come out and greet us properly?”

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Chapter Nine

Khaelen grabbed Allantra’s hand as they half crawled out from the shadows of the fireplace. The room was cold and not furnished. Sconces lined the walls giving the room an eerie glow. Shadows flicked here and there. Allantra thought she saw the form of an Elder only to have it move so fast she couldn’t be sure as it blended into the shadows. “Elders, I greet you,” Khaelen said in his loud formal voice. “I believe you know my companion, Allantra.” “Companion?” the Elder scoffed. Its voice could not be pinned down to any particular shadow in any place in the room. “You are aware we have seen a disk that make the two of you slightly more than companions, Executioner.” “Yes, well, I am aware now that you have seen it.” “She is a Shifter, yes?” another Elder inquired. They seemed to keep moving; a trait that always annoyed Khaelen. “Yes, Elder. But neither she nor I were responsible for the death of my brother.” Khaelen stated boldly. “She admitted to injecting him, and we were told he died from an injection, surely you can see the logic that she indeed is responsible.” “She was set up.” “By whom?” purred the voice of a female Elder. “Wulf.” “We sent him to arrest you, where is he now?” the voice continued to purr, and softly move around the room. Allantra kept turning her head, trying to track them to no avail. She couldn’t even make out a single form. “Dead.” The Elders grew quiet with this information and seemed to whisper among themselves. Allantra squeezed Khaelen’s hand for support. These Elders were creepy, they reminded her of ghosts. 76

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“That makes two deaths at your hands, Executioner,” came the verdict. “Death was necessary to ensure our survival.” Khaelen voice sounded hard not in the least bit impressed by the power the Elders were generating. “Why would Wulf want to set you up? He seemed reluctant to be appointed in your place. What need would he have of your death?” Another much deeper voice of an Elder joined in this time. Much more ancient. “He wanted another Mass Execution.” Khaelen let the words hang in the air before he continued. “He felt you were giving me much too much power and that the low-enders were multiplying too fast. He felt it was time to clean house, as the humans say. He could only do that as Executioner.” “You’re argument has some merit. However, you broke laws, Executioner, you took blood from this Shifter, a law you yourself put into existence. You fucked her and you have sought to protect the one person responsible for your brothers’ death. It looks like treason to us. She cannot be allowed to live and, you cannot be allowed to as well. We cannot look weak in the face of those we rule. All are subject to our laws and punishments, including you! ” Came the ancient voice, bordering on anger. Khaelen turned to Allantra and with his eyes, begged her to trust him. She assented and allowed him to disentangle her fingers from his, leaving her feeling vulnerable to these powerful creatures. Khaelen disappeared quickly, only to reappear on the other side of the room. He seemed to merge right inside a blurry form of an Elder. The Elders gasped and sought to hide further into the shadows. Khaelen followed, always seeming to appear inside of their forms. He materialized at her side and grabbed her hand again, he never looked at her just took it for granted she would offer her hand, and she did. “It is what I have suspected for a long time, Elders.” Insolence was apparent in the very timbre of his voice. “How dare you speak to us in such a manner!” The female voice raged, she brushed by them sending cold air down Allantra’s spine. “We will murder you where you stand.” “Then do it, Elder. Show me your great power!” Khaelen challenged. The voices went up in a flurry. It seemed to roar in Allantra’s ears. The sounds and whispers brought her to her knees. She wrenched her hand from Khaelen’s and placed both of her hands over her ears, trying in vain to drown out the voices. They kept 77

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telling her terrible things, terrible things about the man in front of her. Tears streaked down her face from the pain of the voices. It’s not real. She chanted to herself. Khaelen knelt down beside her trying to reach her mind. But the Elders told her what he was. He was demon. He wanted her soul. Look at him they beckoned. See the monster. Kill him; as long as he lives you’re tainted. The voices whispered continuously and Khaelen sounded so far, far away. “Don’t listen to them, Allantra, they can’t hurt you.” She wanted to hear Khaelen but the voices got louder. Look on the wall, it’s a weapon for a demon, wield it and you destroy him! Allantra’s eyes went to the far wall; a small glimmer caught her eye. He can’t touch it. It’s holy. They whispered to her. “No, Allantra, don’t do this. They speak to me as well, drown them out.” Allantra could only see the demon in front of her with golden eyes and a huge gaping jaw full of razor teeth. It drooled as it spoke to her, not wanting to die. But it had to die. Yes, it has to die! The voices agreed. She approached the wall, Khaelen firmly refused to let her move. “Listen to me, Allantra.” Don’t let him touch you. He’s full of tricks. The octave of the voices rose even higher, trying to drown out Khaelen. Demons and their tricks. Allantra tried to fight the voices, but they were trying to save her. We want to save your soul. “Can’t you see they’re using you to try to kill me? They have no power, they haven’t had any in over a hundred years!” Khaelen practically screamed at her. Perhaps it was the sheer volume of his voice. Perhaps it was the desperation, but something clicked and Allantra struggled hard to turn down the voices in her head. “That’s it, baby, fight them.” Khaelen encouraged staying at arms length, not wanting to frighten her. “They have no power, take what little they have from them,” he begged her. In that moment Allantra fought hard inside of her own head. The voices felt evil. Khaelen’s did not. This time when she looked at him, she saw her handsome vampire; his arms outstretched waiting to stop her, with no intention of hurting her. The voices in her head stopped as she blocked them out at last. 78

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“You bastards!” she sneered at the blurry forms. “Stay out of my fucking head!” The forms in the room grew quiet. Stunned that they had been found out. Khaelen’s next words sent them into a panic. “I’ll make a deal with you scum. I won’t tell the public that their very much feared Elders have no power at all, if you tell me what I ask of you.” The voices murmured and shapes flitted about the room in agitation before one spoke. “You are wrong, Khaelen. We are not completely powerless. We have reigned as long as we have by controlling mind, getting others to do our bidding and making them believe we executed the actions. We were afraid you would one day be too strong for us to handle. However, we can summon a number of guards in here to kill you on the spot, we are not without our resources.” “If I teleport us out of here, what then, Elder? By the time your men find me your secret will be all over the world.” The predator in Khaelen surfaced. The Elder hesitated before he spoke. “What is it you want to know?” “Do not think me foolish, I can hear your men outside. If I hear a knob turn, I will take Allantra and be out of here faster than you can blink. Do you want to take that chance, Elder?” The guards outside the door halted as the Elder gave them a mental command. Allantra more curious now than mad, sensed something truly historic was about to happen, and a low-ender such as her was about to witness it. “Proceed,” came the ancient voice. “Am I right in assuming you would have never made Wulf Executioner?” “Yes,” said the female voice in a guarded tone. “You never believed I killed my brother did you?” “No, we did not,” came the collective answer. “Then why try to have me killed?” “You were becoming too powerful, we feared you would one day not be susceptible to our mind machination. We feared you would… figure things out. Wulf merely provided the perfect opportunity to get rid of you.” The last was said with great weariness. “We could not risk him becoming Executioner, he wanted another Mass Execution, thereby possibly killing any True-Bloods in the melee’.” “You are not substantial forms, I suspect have not been since the Mass Execution. 79

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This in some way ties in to why only Shifters blood is tested when arrested. Explain.” “Do you need to open that particular book? We have helped you enough…” an Elder began before Khaelen cut him off. “Allantra is a True-Blood,” he declared. “If you do not answer my question I will not give you what you have been seeking.” “Excuse me?” Allantra turned to Khaelen, clearly offended that he had reduced her to a bargaining chip. Go with it and shut up. He said the last part gently but she knew he meant it. Bastard! She shot back at him but pinned her mouth closed, she trusted him. “Do you know this for certain?” the female voice piped up, clearly excited. “Yes, I have witnessed it myself.” Khaelen replied, pleased they took the bait. “We must witness this for ourselves before we go any further,” another voice said, one that had not spoken before. Khaelen turned to Allantra and spoke so that only she could hear them. Please do this for us. This might be the key to stop us from running the rest of our lives. I know it’s humiliating, I would not ask if it were not important. What would I have to do? I assumed they would want you to perform, so to speak, for them. Fine, but when this is over, your ass is mine! She hissed in her mind I was hoping you would say that. He countered lewdly, and in spite of the circumstances she found herself getting hot for him. “What would you have me do?” Allantra asked calmly, trying to focus on one form but finding it extremely difficult. “A True-Blood,” came the snooty voice of one spectral form, “can change into any form chosen.” “Let me remind you Elders, she is a young True-Blood and is not yet in full control of her abilities. However, I assure you, what she can do will impress upon you her Royal birth.” My royal birth? She shot into his mind. What aren’t you telling me? “You can thank Wulf for this gift, if he hadn’t targeted her, you would never have known of her existence.” He finished. There is a lot I’m not telling you, but all your questions will be answered, patience. 80

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“Fine, let us see a tiger,” piped one Elder. Khaelen looked to Allantra. She shrugged her shoulders as if to say too easy and then shifted into a beautiful orange and black tiger with chestnut eyes. “Snake,” came one request followed by “dog.” Twenty shifts later, Khaelen shouted that that was enough. Allantra broke out into a light sheen of sweat, but only from continuous movement not pain as was common with shifters bred with humans. “She is young yes, and has much to learn as you say. The Council concurs she is True-Blood.” “Ready to open that book now?” Khaelen gloated. The Elders let out a sigh of resignation. “Brothers and Sisters, it is possible the day is upon us when this curse can finally be broken. All in favor of ending this curse knowing the consequences say Aye.” The ancient voice directed to the others. One by one ‘Aye’ sounded in the room, until it was echoed seven times. The ancient voice spoke. “Know this Executioner, we do this only to save ourselves. The humans nearly wiped themselves out fighting and killing amongst themselves with their prejudices. They realized much too late that Vampires, Shape Shifters and the like were very real, and by then we had already seized control of the crippled human empire. We ruled for quite a long time without incident, without resistance. We truly believed no other species could rival us. “Until a hundred years ago when a group of Shifters True-Bloods came to the Council Chamber. They informed us that after much study their numbers equaled ours and demanded Shifters be let on the Council to adequately and fairly rule both majority people. Our hatred of them was costly, to say the least. We did not want to share power and could not allow the information of their great numbers leak out to the world. If the world knew a mere rebellion could change…” “The whole government.” Allantra finished in a stricken whisper. Awed by the realization that her people had once been powerful enough and in great enough numbers to overthrow the vampires. “That’s correct,” the vampire continued, undaunted by her interruption. “They threatened to tell the world if we did not agree. They were trying to avoid a war between our people. We asked them to give us two days before we could present it to the people, and they did. They did not expect our betrayal. We invited them to stay in our Chambers. 81

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They were a powerful race and dealt in much magic. We decided we could not give them such power. We arranged for their deaths in the Council Chambers as they slept. “Unfortunately, we did not know that a few had slipped out into the night because they did not trust us. Upon returning to the Chamber and seeing their brothers and sisters dead, they tried to flee, but we conquered them and discovered a Shaman that had almost made it to freedom. We captured them all and ordered their deaths but not before the Shaman in the group cursed us in this form. They each tore open their wrists and flung their blood upon us, locking us into this state. Immediately we could feel the effects of the curse. I ordered Dominica to have three of them killed and let the Shaman live, determined to torture him and break the curse. He refused. So I killed two birds with one stone, as the humans say. We needed to lower the numbers of the Shifters as well as have leverage to get the old man to speak.” “The Mass Execution.” Khaelen supplied, finally seeing the pieces falling into place. “We almost completely wiped them out. Told the people they carried disease so no one would question and we would not suffer any losses.” The ancient voice fell in shame. “After learning what I had done, the Shaman told me I would need four TrueBloods to break the curse since four started it. Then he died from his injuries. Of course before I knew this I nearly wiped them out, ran the others in the Savage Outlands. Now I desperately needed four, and over the years nothing but mix breeds were found. It was proof that they still survived and were breeding with humans, escalating their numbers.” “That is why all Shifters are tested, you’re trying to break the curse.” Allantra looked upon the spectral forms in disgust. “You thought yourselves better, you wiped out my people!” “Yes, and still we are not willing to share government,” the female voice said. “Quiet!” The ancient bellowed at the woman. “ Yes that is why,” he finished. “So you need me alive.” Realization dawned upon her and now she was glad Khaelen had seen fit to reveal her parentage. “Yes, we need you alive,” another voice concurred. “So it seems we’re at an impasse.” Khaelen declared. “It would seem,” the ancient one agreed. “What are your terms?’ “You mean to deal with them. Why not hunt them down? Take our chances the public will not believe them, we have much mind power…” 82

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“But for a whole nation…?” the ancient one cut the voice off. “No, it ends now. I cannot stand this form any longer, if we have to start a new government, so be it.” There was grumbling amongst the forms. Eventually an argument broke out. Allantra could not believe these beings had the nerve to wipe out her people and cheat them out of what was their right, an equal government. Yet and still they wanted the curse lifted and to remain in power, forever enslaving her people. What a bunch of assholes! “This is the deal, fellas,” Allantra said loudly. Khaelen watched her, letting her take control of her own future for the first time in her life. He smiled to himself; she was a fantastic woman. “I will be willing to go on a quest.” She let her words sink in. “A quest?” snarled the female voice. “We don’t need you on a quest!” “Shut up, Dominica! This is the last time I say this to you!” the ancient one roared. Allantra heard a sound close to a ‘humph’ before he continued. “Go on,” he ordered. Allantra ignored the tone, she understood he was used to being listened to; an argument right now wouldn’t solve anything. “I am willing to go on a quest in the Savage Outlands to seek and bring back True-Bloods to break the curse for you, only on the conditions that Khaelen goes free and my people join the ranks of the Elders.” “You bitch!” Dominica raged. “You dare propose we put nothing more than sewer rats on council!” “Dominica!” the ancient voice roared. “I warned you!” Whispers sounded in the chamber then quiet. “I have silenced her, please continue.” Allantra was not about to ask how; she simply didn’t care as long as the cow didn’t interrupt her anymore. “The curse will not be broken until a new Council is formed with human and shifter alongside vampire. A representative of each majority people is in order. The lesser forms will choose one human as their candidate and the humans will choose the other. And if in case I didn’t mention it before, Khaelen goes free. Completely. No mention of his treason whatsoever.” “Sweetheart, I never committed treason,” Khaelen drawled. “Shut up and go with it!” she snapped. “Now what say you?” She adopted the 83

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formal tone. “Council, everyone except Dominica what say you? Do we take this glimmer of hope of the curse ending or do we risk losing everything?” “Let her go.” “I agree.” “Let’s end the curse.” “I agree.” “Yes, let her go,” the voices concluded. The ancient voice sounding extremely weary addressed Dominica. “Dominica, since you are cursed, in more ways than one,” he muttered under his breath, “what is your vote?” “No! I cannot sit on council with that piece of shit or any like her, let alone a human!” her voice spat out. “Then let it be said here and now, when the curse be broken, Dominica shall retain her present form.” Dominica shrieked beginning a long dialogue of curses before the ancient one finally shut her up again. A cold draft went swiftly by, signaling her exit from the room. “She will prove to be a problem,” he said almost to himself. “If she ever retains her true form, she will be a force to reckon with. We will have to see that does not happen.” “Fine, “Allantra replied, pride in her voice at what she had accomplished. “You will start this journey tomorrow,” the ancient voice ordered. Allantra was about to protest but Khaelen effectively cut her off. “If it pleases you, I will remain and retain my position as Executioner. If this is to go through, we cannot have unrest among the people. They must believe the government is, as they know it to be. They trust me.” “What you say is true, Executioner. We apologize for…” “Trying to kill me? ” Khaelen smiled a deadly smile. “ I assure you, if you try this again in your true form, I will kill all of you.” There was an air of astonishment in the room at his declaration. “I would expect no less.” The ancient one laughed at last. “Come, Allantra, the sun will be rising soon, one does not sleep in the camp of the enemy.” 84

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Together they exited the building, shifting into wolves and running with blinding speed all the way to Khaelen’s house. Secretly, Khaelen hoped they made it before his body became heavy with the sun, he had plans for Allantra. Oh, do you now? Yes, I do. If I recall, I said your ass was mine. I recall that fondly. Then speed up old man! She laughed, already feeling herself getting wet for him.

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Chapter Ten

They made it to Khaelen’s house in record time. As they shifted back into their original forms, Khaelen put his fingers to his lips in the universal sign for ‘be quiet’. Allantra, a bit irritated by his request as if she were a novice, flipped him off but remained quiet. Khaelen laughed to himself; this woman had way too much spirit. He grabbed her by the hand and led her into the surrounding woods of his house, before he spoke to her quietly. “I do not know what awaits us inside. When the uniforms came to get us there is no telling what they have done. Wulf could have ordered traps in case we returned when we escaped the Quarter.” Allantra begrudgingly admitted only to herself that she had not thought of that. Then again, subterfuge was his business; he wasn’t called the Executioner for nothing. He removed debris from a spot to reveal an old wooden door in the ground. Mentally he willed it open, and it creaked loudly in protest. Steel lay under the door that looked impenetrable. She glanced down at her dirty shoes to avoid what she was sure was a smug look of his face. Stiffening her resolved she looked up to meet his eyes, when to her shock he was not there. “Damn, teleporting is annoying as hell,” she grumbled to herself. Casting a wary eye around her while she waited, she began to ponder the responsibility she had undertaken. Who was she to go on a quest? She never even had a real job before. Why would a True-Blood want to come back and live in the Civil Lands she did not know. How was she supposed to even convince them? She shook her head as more questions than answers popped up. She toyed with her long braid listening for Khaelen. “Stop doubting yourself, you can do this.” His deep voice boomed behind her. Allantra jumped, she did not like to be surprised. “Don’t do that!” she snapped at him. “I told you to stay out of my mind.” “You’ve said a lot of things you don’t mean,” he murmured, closing in on her. 86

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She could feel the heat off of his body melting into her. Immediately his heat cooled her temper, but starting fires other places. “I mean everything I say,” she shot back, her voice sounding much too aroused to do any damage. “I guess that means, ah…how should I put this delicately… ‘My ass is yours’?” He grabbed her around her slim waist and ground his very impressive erection against her. “Is it all clear?” she managed in between breaths, her pussy practically leaking for him. She reached up and followed the smooth texture of his hair that led to his ponytail and ground her hips into him as well. “Not really, the upper floors have some booby traps, nothing I can’t take care of later. But since Wulf didn’t know about this part of the house, it’s free for us to play. I just needed to check all entrances and exits to be sure. The tunnel is safe.” This time his mouth was next to her ear and she shivered as he licked the edges of her ear and nipped it lightly. He knew at that moment that he couldn’t wait for the time it would take to travel by tunnel. “Then take me insi…” she began before she realized she was now in a bedroom. She felt slightly woozy. “I didn’t know you could do that,” she said in wonderment. “Alone, I can go a nice distance, if I’m taking someone along for the ride, a very short distance.” “You were bluffing!” She laughed. “You couldn’t have teleported us out of there.” “No,” he agreed. “I could have, but we no doubt would have wound up in the midst of the uniforms. I was betting since they Elders didn’t know the extent of my powers they wouldn’t want to take a chance.” He pulled her closer to him, loving the feel of her breasts pushing up against his chest. “So are you going to explain this Royal birth thing?” she asked conversationally as she began to maneuver his pants past his hips. Then gasped in pleasure as his cock sprang forward, totally at attention, all for her. “Hmm,” he moaned. “I do recall a Royal couple in the council that approached the Elders, it was rumored they had a child with them.” He moaned louder as she sank to her knees and practically swallowed his cock down her throat. She pulled him out of her mouth just long enough to order him to keep going. “All rumors I believed, since there 87

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was never anything solid to prove it. But something the…” He pumped into her mouth, momentarily distracted by the sensations. “Something the Elders said made sense.” This time his large hands captured her head and gently but firmly slowly pushed his cock in and out of her mouth, he was so deep he could feel his balls slapping up against her chin. “Oh yes, baby,” he moaned. Keep going or I’ll stop. She threatened, loving the power she had over him. Knowing how hard it was for him to think while she sucked at him. “They said some left the Chambers, I think your parents suspected treachery and tried to take you somewhere safe. Oh, you’re killing me.” He pulled his cock from her mouth and stood her up, “Bend over.” This time he was the one giving the orders. She didn’t even try to pretend she was offended she just did it, as she shook with desire wanting whatever he was going to give her. “Grab your ankles,” he said gruffly. Hands shaking, Allantra did as she was told, for the first time in her life, without arguing. Her body vibrated as the feel of his tongue slid along the lines of her nether lips from behind. He licked her so slow as if he savored the taste of her. His hands planted on either side of her ass held her in place as she squirmed. He pushed his tongue in deep, coating it with her own special blend. He hummed against, her making her clit vibrate with sheer joy. She felt his right hand leave her ass cheek, and then felt three of his fingers slip easily inside her. Instantly, she bucked against him. “Like that do you?” he said arrogantly then took one finger out and inserted it into the opening of her ass. She jumped at the new sensation. “Go with it,” he breathed against her, using his tongue to aid his fingers to stimulating her. He could feel her relax and begin to enjoy it. “That’s my girl,” he crooned at her, bringing himself up to his full height. “Relax.” His voice wrapped around her so sensually she hardly felt him insert two more fingers into her ass. Now that she relaxed it felt sooo good! She had never had or never let anyone do this to her before. Prepare for me, he whispered in her mind. She hardly took notice of his words as he took his hand and began to rub her own 88

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juices over her asshole. Then she felt the tip of his cock against the puckered opening. Relax, baby. Trust me. She willed her body to relax as she felt him gently push inside stretching her. The sensation was strange but it felt wonderful. The head of his cock was fully in her and she began to wiggle, trying to quickly get more of him into her. You adapt fast. He laughed into her ear, then surged forward causing her to cry out in a mixture of pleasure/pain. Soon it turned into pure pleasure. He rocked behind her pushing his cock so deep in her ass she moaned. Khaelen could barely hold on to his control. She was so tight, grabbing his cock and squeezing it that his eyes really felt like they wanted to roll to the back of his head. He pounded into her at a frantic pace. One hand reached around to her front and found a very wet clit just aching for his fingers to play with. He rubbed her as he fucked her, loving the sounds she made. He felt himself ready to explode, his thrusts so deep his balls slapped up against her ass. He felt her orgasm as the walls to her slippery passage contracted in unison with her ass, sending him over the edge and spilling his semen deep inside her. Wave after wave erupted inside her, he held onto her hips to support his spent body. A few more shudders and he was completely drained. He pulled his semi-erect cock out of her slowly, picked her up and laid her on the bed. He quickly plopped down next to her, his breathing ragged. “I thought I said your ass was mine,” she chided him in fake anger. “Well, due to biological circumstances, I don’t believe that’s possible.” He laughed. She loved the sound of his laughter she suspected he hadn’t laughed a lot in his life. “The sun will break the sky soon,” she said, turning serious. “Yes, I know,” he said quietly. “Thank you, Khaelen, for everything.” She connected their hands. “Do not thank me, Princess, you have no idea what you have done for me.” He turned his head, his hazel eyes staring deep into hers, looking more gold from arousal. “You have to be careful on this journey, I do not want to lose you.” It was as close as he could come to telling her he loved her. That somehow she had become his whole world. The very essence of his life. Now was not the time, there would be later. 89

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“I will be careful,” she whispered. Seeing the sun beginning to take its toll on him. Khaelen scanned the area around them and sensed no one lurking. The door in the woods closed and locked itself at his mental command. He made the dirt and leaves cover the entrance so there were no telltale signs of its existence. “You have until tomorrow to start your journey. Rest with me, we’ll talk more tonight.” He gathered her in his arms a moment before the day completely robbed him of another morning. Allantra closed her eyes and allowed herself to sleep a few hours. When she woke, she suspected it was noon. She looked down at Khaelen’s peaceful face and kissed him on the lips. “Goodbye, Khaelen, my mate. I love you,” she whispered to him, aware that the first time she declared her love to him, he would never know it. She could not say goodbye to him if he was awake, it would be too hard. She certainly did not want to wait another day. Allantra removed herself from his tight embrace and stood beside the bed looking down at him. She blew him one last kiss, and then shifted into her wolf form and tried to follow his scent that might lead her to the door she saw in the woods. After a couple of dead ends, she found it. She sat on her hind legs and prepared herself for the shift she had been working on for the past two years. She concentrated hard; since it was still so new to her. After minutes of deep concentration she felt her body go light, so light until it matched the weight of the air. She was nothing but a fine vapor and she streamed through the hinge openings, as soon as all of her emerged she fell in a heap in the grass. Resuming her natural state, she took off in an easy run, trying desperately to see through the tears that were for Khaelen.

**** Rage consumed Dominica as she floated angrily to the secret rooms she had built in the chambers. She glided past the mindless guards guarding the door and drifted right in. The dark cell reeking of feces and rotting food, it was a good thing she couldn’t smell it, she knew it was bad from the way the guards reacted when they entered from time to time. Chained to the wall, two prisoners of Royal Birth hung almost lifelessly. The woman’s dirty hair curtained her face. She was conscious, Dominica had entered her mind and knew the terror she struck in her. The man unconscious from repeated beatings. 90

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Beatings they both have endured for what seemed an eternity. “Look at me, bitch!” Dominica snarled at the woman. The woman slowly and painfully raised her head. “Isn’t it wonderful that Shifters have such a long lifespan to endure so much torture?” Dominica said in an almost fanatical childlike voice. The woman’s chestnut eyes looked glazed and empty, the drugs rendering her helpless and unable to shift. “I saw your whelp today,” she spat at her. The woman looked blankly at her, until the realization of what she said dawned on her. Her Allantra? Alive? Impossible! She knew her brother was dead, she saw Dominica kill with her own eyes. She had told her parents, the reigning king and queen, it was foolishness to try and reason with them, but they insisted on trying in a peaceful way. But the woman, her brother and her husband did not trust them. When she had felt the injuries of her mother and father, she had told Allantra to hide and they would come for her. But in trying to rescue her parents they had been captured, only to learn they were already dead. This evil vampire told her stories of how they had massacred her people. She did not think any True-Bloods had survived in the Civil Lands. “I will kill her!” the vamp declared, venom in every word. “She seeks others like yourself and when she finds one, I will have enough of you to reverse my curse!” Dominica approached the woman, floating in front of her, she couldn’t physically touch her but she could certainly cause mental pain. She reached inside the woman’s mind and showed her hideous pictures of her husband torture. Making her relive every moment. When the woman’s screams reached the pitch she liked, she abruptly cut off the images in her mind and called the guards into the room. “Follow her, when she acquires another like herself capture them by any means necessary, but do not kill them. Be absolutely sure, they are True-Blood!” she ordered. The human guards with no mind of their own, save for what Dominica left them to serve her, exited the room. “Now, my pretty, where were we?” Dominica smiled cruelly. To be continued…

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About the Author

Toni L. Meilleur is a resident of Michigan where she lives with her two children and husband. Currently she is pursuing her certification as a personal trainer. In her spare time she is active in community theatre.

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