Rebel Vampires (The Royale Vampire Heirs Book 1) Page 2

  “If you don’t set her down, I’ll fucking kick you in the cock next.”

  I hit my knees on the ground and fall over. Pain radiates through me, begging me just to give in. The other vampire, Everett, kneels beside me and eases me onto my back. He hovers a foot above me, his dark blue eyes capturing mine with his stare. Stubble peppers his cheeks, and I can’t stop myself from looking everywhere else. I already know what he plans to do, and if I give away the fact that he can’t control my mind because I’ve consumed Laredo’s blood not that long ago, I’ll be dead.

  Everett’s eyes flash silver as he locks me in a vampire staring contest in an attempt to control my mind. “You’re safe. I’m not going to hurt you, okay?”

  I relax my shoulders the best I can. “Okay.” I keep my voice even, acting like a zombie. Laredo and I practiced this technique for over a year.

  “What’s your name?” Everett asks.

  I consider lying, but I know that the closer I stick to the truth, the better. And telling this guy my name won’t mean anything. “Gwen.”

  He smiles without his fangs. “That’s a pretty name.”

  Hell, did he just compliment me? I nearly react by making a face.

  “Hurry up, Everett. Morning’s coming. We have nine other donors to take in for registration. You can interrogate her when we get to headquarters.” The asshole, Bronx, stands over us, glaring down at me.

  Shit.

  Darting my eyes from Bronx and back to Everett, I pray to the universe that neither of them noticed that I broke Everett’s stare, an impossible task if I were truly under mind manipulation.

  “Did she...?”

  Shoving up my hands, I ram them into Everett’s chest, knocking him off me. I scramble to get to my feet, but my legs buckle on me. I roll over and drag myself a few inches away until two black boots stand in front of me.

  “She was either bitten with venom or is a Blood Rebel,” Bronx says, grabbing me by the wrists. He hoists me up, dangling me a foot off the ground. “That shadow dweller lied. I doubt she’s a minor. What do you think? You’re the donor expert.”

  “She is well developed,” Everett says. “Under twenty-five, though.”

  I spit in Bronx’s face. “I’ll kill you both!”

  Bronx laughs, turning to glance at Everett. “Damn. I’ve never seen anything like her.”

  Everett materializes right next to Bronx and touches his shoulder. “Be careful. She’s hurt already. Scared.”

  “No way. I’ve seen plenty of scared donors. She’s not one of them. Even all those guys in the warehouse looked ready to piss themselves.”

  “Yeah, right.” My damn mouth. I know better than to talk.

  “Still, Bronx. She was with an unregistered vampire, obviously bit against her consent. You don’t want to traumatize her even more.” This is a first. I’ve never met a vampire who was concerned about my wellbeing. Who the hell is this moral compass asshole?

  Bronx groans without looking at me. It’s annoying that they talk like I’m not even here. “Well, Mr. Donor Health Keeper, we can’t manipulate her mind. What should we do?”

  I thrash, using my last bit of energy to break myself free from Bronx. Either that or the jerk purposely drops me. I crash to the ground, heaving a breath, the force of my fall knocking the air from my lungs.

  Everett slides his hands under my knees and around my back, lifting me into his arms. “Just go to the others, brother. I’ll handle her.”

  “What the hell ever. That’s your dick on the line,” Bronx says. He disappears from sight without another word.

  “Hey, Gwen. My name is Everett,” Everett says. “We weren’t lying about not hurting you, but you need to calm down. The others on my team aren’t always as nice.”

  I clench my jaw without a word, but I stop fighting.

  He offers me a small smile. “I see that you’re unregistered. If you tell me how you got into Crimson Vista, you won’t get interrogated later.”

  Still, I don’t answer.

  “Was it the vampire you were with?” he asks. “The one who bit you? Did he claim you?”

  I must make a face, because Everett hums under his breath.

  “May I take a look at the bite? I have medical training in human health. You’re not bleeding much, so I don’t think he ripped an artery, but it’s better if we make sure just in case. If you need a transfusion, I’ll have to call it in.” He keeps his eyes trained in front of him instead of at me.

  I clear my throat. “I-I’m fine. The others you found...?” I can’t get my mouth to finish the sentence. I’m terrified of the answer.

  “Five adult males and four minors,” he says. “One of the minors was badly injured. It’s doubtful that he’ll make it, but we’ll do our best.”

  I tense. Not because of the minor, but because he said five adult males. That means one of my brothers is missing.

  He mistakes my reaction and inwardly groans, the noise barely sounding on his lips. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that. Are they your family?”

  I don’t respond.

  “You will all be okay,” he says. “Donor Life Corp will assure it.”

  I open my mouth to tell him that he’s full of shit, but he suddenly tightens his hold on me and stops walking. Everett releases a deep, threatening growl from his throat. The hairs on my arms stand on end, and I can’t get my fear instincts to calm the hell down.

  “Let her go.” Grayson’s voice draws my attention away from Everett, and I stretch to catch sight of my brother. “If you don’t, I’ll punch your heart out.”

  I don’t have time to move or scream. I can’t even react. The world spins, and Grayson stumbles away. Everett strides toward him, baring his fangs. Grayson reaches for his gun and yanks it free. Aiming, he pulls the trigger.

  But instead of hitting Everett, he shoots another vampire that materializes in front of us. The vampire blurs out of the way and reappears behind my brother. Pulling the trigger again, Grayson fires the gun without realizing the vampire already relocated.

  Pain explodes through me.

  “Gwen!” he shouts.

  I don’t get the chance to scream out his name.

  The world blurs.

  Chapter 2

  Ball Kicker

  LIGHT ENGULFS ME AS EVERETT rushes through the tinted door of a towering building. I can’t tell how far he ran, but it hasn’t been long. At least, I think. I blacked out for what felt like seconds. Could’ve been minutes.

  “Please drink more, Gwen,” Everett says, pressing his bleeding arm to my mouth.

  I flare my nostrils, my body humming like crazy at the strong, sugary scent of his blood. I don’t know if he expected me to hesitate or what, but his eyes widen when I mold my lips and begin to suck. We watch each other in silence, his blood sending tingles through me unlike anything I’ve ever felt. And hell. I don’t like what it does.

  “That’s enough, Gwen. Your wound is coagulating,” Everett murmurs, releasing a soft hum from his throat.

  I don’t release him. I can’t. My body knows better. Because, shit. He or the asshole, Bronx, killed Laredo. I can’t survive without my blood source. I can go two or three weeks at the most before I get sick. I once made it to a month in an attempt to see how long I could last, but it’s been too long. And I’m seriously injured. I was...

  “My brothers.” Thoughts of Grayson get my mouth to let go of Everett. “Where are they?”

  I lick my lips and stare into Everett’s deep blue eyes, now sparkling with flecks of green in the lighting of the quiet building.

  Everett searches my face for an uncomfortable minute, his bottom lip puffy with his breathing, his eyes suddenly flashing silver with a hunger I’d recognize.

  I shove my hand into his shoulder. “Tell me, damn it.”

  A whistle cuts through the silent lobby of wherever the hell we are, snapping Everett’s attention away from me. Three vampires, including the asshole Bronx, materialize in the buildi
ng at vampire speed.

  From over Everett’s shoulder, I lock eyes with the same vampire Grayson shot. Ruby blood creates a blossom on the front of his light blue T-shirt, stretched across his broad chest. The guy’s arm muscles flex as he clenches his fingers, his stare capturing mine. He lifts his lips, baring his fangs at me.

  The fourth vampire, one I haven’t seen before, roars a laugh and smacks the guy on the back. “Careful, Mikkalo. I hear this donor’s a real ball kicker.”

  Bronx shoves the guy into Mikkalo, but neither of them falls over. The fourth vampire materializes in front of me and tilts his head with a smirk.

  He doesn’t reach for me, though he looks like he wants to. Something stops him. Possibly the fact that Everett tightens his grip on me. “I bet Bronxy deserved it, huh?”

  “Get back, Jameson,” Everett says, shifting me slightly away. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was protecting me. More like being possessive. I’d recognize that because of Laredo. He always got a little bit clingy after I’d drink straight from him. “She scares easily.”

  I scrunch my face and glare.

  Jameson doesn’t heed Everett’s warning. Instead, he leans closer to me and whispers, “Boo.”

  Swinging my arm out, I attempt to punch him in the face, but the bastard snatches my hand like he knew I would try to fight him. Everett roars, and I mean deep, guttural, holy shit I might die by his hands, roars. The world falls out from under me, and I screech, unable to prepare myself.

  Someone catches me and tosses me onto their shoulder. I suck in a sharp breath of air through my teeth at the pain exploding in my side. Everett yells, and I arch my back in an attempt to get a better view of the craziness that unfolds.

  Bronx and Jameson grab each of Everett’s arms, restraining him. He gnashes his teeth at them, struggling to break free. “Put her down. You’re hurting her,” Everett calls. “Mik, please.”

  Mikkalo doesn’t listen, and I jerk my hand out and slap him right on the ass. He startles at my bravado, flipping me back over and into his arms. “Strong little thing, isn’t she?”

  “She consumed blood,” Bronx says.

  Mikkalo raises his eyebrows. “Shit. Everett, you didn’t.”

  Everett snaps his teeth. “She had already done so before me. But yeah, I gave her more. She was shot. So please, just put her down. I need to get another look at her to make sure she’s okay.”

  “I don’t fucking think so,” Bronx says. “You said she could’ve been bitten with venom too.”

  Jameson groans next. “Really? What the hell? I knew I should’ve been the one to go after the outcast.”

  “We don’t know for certain,” Bronx says.

  Jameson releases Everett, closing the space to me and Mikkalo. He reaches out and brushes my hair off my neck, ignoring the fact that I try to punch at him. Tightening his jaw, he studies Laredo’s bite.

  “Looks deep,” Jameson says. Turning, he glances at Everett. “You good now, brother? I need your opinion.”

  Everett squares his shoulders and strolls at a human’s speed next to Bronx. And hell, do I wish they’d all back up. All four vampires crowd around me, searching over my body like they’ve never seen a bitten human before. Mikkalo rubs his hand across his smooth, dark skin like it’ll help him figure me out. His nearly black eyes flash silver. Everett inches closer, cautiously reaching for my neck. He surely thinks I’m a wild animal about to bite. I consider it. It takes everything in me not to. He still smells so good. And he’s hot. All of them, actually.

  What is wrong with me? I’ve had years of practice denying Laredo even though he was attractive as hell. And he begged me. These guys don’t. My dumb body wants to just throw itself at them and not only to taste them.

  Laredo’s bite really must have knocked the good sense out of me.

  My stomach twists, my muscles tightening with hunger the longer they smolder me with their intense gazes. And not just normal hunger. Batshit blood hunger. The kind after starving myself for a month.

  “Don’t touch it. It hurts like hell,” I say, swatting at Everett’s hand. “Don’t think I can’t break your hand.”

  Everett stops short, curling his fingers. “Is this your first bite, Gwen?”

  Ugh. I wish he didn’t ask.

  “It is,” Jameson says, speaking up. “I’d know that look anywhere.”

  I blush harder, my cheeks burning so badly that it’s nearly as painful as the bite on my neck. “Shut the hell up. You don’t know anything about me.”

  Jameson puckers out his bottom lip. “I’m sorry that asshole ruined what should have been a pleasurable experience for you.”

  Ah fuck. Laredo always swore it was supposed to feel good. Maybe for twisted masochist vampires. Nothing about his bite felt good. But damn it if I don’t believe Jameson and his wide green eyes. He looks just as concerned as Everett.

  Everett releases a soft growl but doesn’t do anything else to react. “I’ll have to run some tests to be sure, but I think we got to her on time. I don’t think she’ll transition.”

  “Transition? What are you talking about? I’m not going to transition. I was vaccinated against the Blood Hunger Plague,” I say, licking my lips. My stomach lurches again, and I heave a breath, pain burning through me.

  Bronx releases a deep laugh. “Good one.”

  Everett glowers at him. “She wouldn’t know, Bronx.”

  “Know what?” I know I shouldn’t ask. I know better than to talk to these guys, but damn it. They just continue to stand around me, caging me between their muscular bodies while Jameson continues to cradle me.

  “All vampires have venom they can release to transition a donor. It’s against the law without prior approval from Donor Life Corp,” Everett says. “But don’t worry. I don’t think your...master—?”

  “Laredo wasn’t my master,” I snap. He had a mutual agreement with my family. I know better than to call him my blood source, though. Donors are blood sources, not vampires. At least to those associated with Donor Life Corp.

  “Then your keeper,” Everett says.

  “Enough, Ev,” Bronx says. “She doesn’t need answers. You need to take her to the clinic, make sure she’s good to go, and then send her on for interrogation. She’s a criminal. Unregistered.”

  Mikkalo pats Everett on the shoulder. “He’s right, brother. I know she’s hot and all, but we have to follow protocol. We wouldn’t want Zaire suddenly to renounce and outcast us. You know the board position got to his head.”

  “Zaire?” My dumb mouth. It’s just as rebellious as the rest of me.

  All four vampires ignore me.

  “You’re right,” Everett says, tightening his jaw. He looks disappointed. “I’m sorry. One of you should give her a bit more blood to speed up her healing process. The last thing we need is to have to admit we let a donor best us in our own region.”

  None of them respond. They all just look at Everett like giving me their blood is crazy. And what the hell? Laredo enjoyed it. I didn’t think I was that repulsive...what am I even thinking?

  I shake my head, trying to control my deep-seated nature that just loves the idea of tasting the rest of these vampires, who look nothing like the usual shadow dweller. I thought Laredo was attractive enough, the fact that his blood was delicious helped, but these guys?

  I squirm in Jameson’s arms at the thought and inhale a breath.

  Fuck. Me. I sniffed him.

  “Damn.” He meets my gaze, his green eyes a far prettier shade than mine. “Damn it, fine. I’ll do it. But turn your backs.” His words make me frown. I guess I do repulse him.

  “We’ll wait outside,” Bronx says, slapping his back. “Gotta check on the rest of the donors anyway. Just don’t get carried away. I don’t need to pry her off you.”

  My eyes widen, ignoring his last comment. I hope they do have to pry me off. One less vampire to fight. “My brothers are here?”

  Bronx ignores my question, motioning to Everett and M
ikkalo to follow him toward the door. None of them glance behind them at us, and Jameson continues to stare at me until I return my gaze to his.

  “Do you always ignore donors like this?”

  His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. “I’m going to sit in the chair.”

  “I guess that’s a yes,” I quip. “Why do you sound nervous for being a big, scary blood drinker?”

  Ignoring me, Jameson strolls to a small sitting area and eases onto a chair. His stiff posture makes this awkward as hell. He turns his gaze away from me and bites his arm. I can’t stop my automatic intake of breath.

  “Go easy on me,” Jameson murmurs, drooping his shoulders to force them to relax. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done this.”

  I scowl. “Go easy on you? Are you kidding me? I’m a prisoner. You separated me from my family. Your team or whatever killed my blo—vampire friend. I’m not going to go easy on you. I’m going to devour you. Now, give me your damn arm. You smell delicious already, and I’m in so much pain that it’s taking everything in me not to—”

  “Damn.” The second the word escapes Jameson’s tight mouth, a bulge pokes my ass.

  I hop up at his sudden erection, heat flooding my face. Jameson lets me go, and I take advantage of the situation and bolt for it, gathering all my strength to get my legs to work despite the burning in my neck and side. My body is in full-on escape mode. I’m getting out of here, even if it means I have to crawl on my hands and knees.

  I trip, releasing a string of fucks, and glower at the ceiling. “Come the hell on!” It seems I will have to crawl out of here.

  If only a few droplets of dark blood didn’t splash on the pristine white tiles. I freeze, flaring my nostrils. My body kicks into action, and I launch at Jameson, knocking him on his back. I straddle his waist, ignoring the fact that he’s still turned on by me. He doesn’t fight me or push me off either.

  Locking me with his intense green eyes, he smiles and licks his lips. And my damn mouth. I smile back at him, caught by surprise at how hot he looks fully prepared to let me ravage the hell out of him.

  I’ve never had a vampire—not even Laredo—lie under me, giving up their control. Of course, my experience with vampires only encompasses nasty-ass shadow dwellers, usually starved beyond sanity. Gross, vicious, growly as all get-out. Animalistic.