Creatures ok anthology, p.56
Creatures of the Dark Anthology, page 56
“Excellent, my girl. A good selection,” Marco chimed unhelpfully, high-fiving Powna.
“We’re ready,” his mother announced from the landing above.
They moved into the adjacent room and rejoined their guests. Marco joined Finley and Kirill at the side of the altar. A robed officiant stood in wait.
Finely sniffed. “Did you wash today?”
Marco growled. “Be quiet, leech.”
Finely made a show of sniffing again. “Smells like wet dog…Ouch!” he grunted.
Jodhan ignored them and trained his attention to the arched doorway. Pink and white flowers with ribbons covered it, plus various other baubles his mother had fussed over. The entire house was richly decorated. He ignored all those details and instead tried to quell the nervous fluttering in his stomach. Any minute now, his mate would appear.
He stifled a moan when she did. Gods! She was beautiful. And that dress.
She looked like a blood goddess emerging from the depths of a blood lake, dripping crimson and glittering fire. Her lips were painted red, and he couldn't wait to taste them, bite into them. Laia was as regal as a queen. She was his queen and sovereign of his heart.
When she joined him, he took her hands and the bloodtie ceremony began. They followed the ancient tradition of Damurios—the joining by blood of two vampire souls with a mate bloodbond. And as they drank from each other and said the ancient words, their bond snapped firmly into place.
Laia’s fanged smile stirred his loins, and subconsciously, he pulled at the woven connection between them. It pulsed with new vitality. She’d be his for as long as they shared this bond, and he intended for them to have it for eternity.
When the ceremony was over, cheers went up, and they were officially registered as mates. Not that they needed the administrative procedure, but it was tradition, and he wanted to return Laia to a normal life. Although, he didn’t really know what that would look like. They’d adopted a human child destined to be a seer and who idolized his best friend, a werewolf. His brother was a hired assassin and his father-in-law was a war criminal. Normal.
“I can’t believe we did this! I love you, Jodhan. My Jodhan.” Laia’s crystal blue eyes shone at him and he was made momentarily speechless by what he saw there. Love, trust, and hope for their future.
“I love you, my Laia.” He took her mouth for a kiss that inflamed their passion.
It was only a couple weeks ago he’d been commissioned to rescue a lady from a castle. He’d followed a young girl and stepped through a wardrobe to find a beautiful lady in no need of rescue. Now that lady was his, and he’d never let her go.
He’d love her forever.
Epilogue
Five Years Later
Amir sat at his desk and read the note again. He remembered the spirited celebration that bustled around him as he’d seamlessly concealed himself within the shadows of his mother’s house five years before. His bloodgift allowed him remain hidden in plain sight, and it came in handy in his line of work. The couple was going to welcome their first young. He’d be an uncle.
Amir was happy for his brother. To find a mate was a blessing of the blood gods and not to be squandered. So, he hadn’t been surprised when Jodhan mated his Laia right away.
And he’d eagerly dealt with the threat to his brother’s happiness. Power was seductive to vampire lords, and greed afflicted many to their doom. Like Lord Lapnow. It was something he saw with growing frequency. The empty seat of the vampire monarchy enticed many to covet its gleaming promise. And right now, several families were making a play to grab the throne.
Business was booming.
But it was why Amir couldn’t stop thinking about the human child and her queer riddle.
“Blood of old soon awakes.
The queen teeters on the brink of a destructive fate,
She thirsts for fire and ash to blanket this world.
Bonds weave together or unfurl.
Men of war surround,
An anchor. A blade. A betrayer.
The new era comes unbound,
Death, servitude, and hope stir.
But the blood giveth life or taketh away,
You must choose, but for wisdom you must pay.”
What did it mean? It had to mean something. While he would have otherwise dismissed the human and her babble, the visions that bombarded his mind while the human’s little hands gripped his were horror inducing.
He’d seen an altar of bodies before him, piled on bone and ash. Rivers of blood lined a hazy landscape. Fire had licked at him, and he’d frozen in fear, awaiting his impending death. The queen teeters on the brink of destructive fate. She thirsts for fire and ash to blanket this world. The dark desires of a blood queen had ravaged them all.
A queen. Was Damurios soon to welcome a new queen? One so dark and vicious she would be the destroyer of their vampire race? But the blood giveth life or taketh away,
He was given the message for a reason, and he needed to know why. He didn’t believe in coincidences, and what he’d seen was too real to be fanciful.
Two days previously, a ripple reverberated across the blood of Damurios. He’d felt its chill—ominous and familiar. Half a mountain lay destroyed, crumbling and near burying the city of Tairos as the ground shook. The blood river had mysteriously emptied its banks to the air, raining blood on terrified citizens.
It was like a terrible heralding.
The Queen was here.
If and when this Queen revealed herself, he’d be there and ready. His duty was to protect Damurios even if it meant eliminating its blood Queen. And he had a feeling he’d meet her soon.
The story continues in Book 1, Dark Blooded Desires.
Alexios, a millennia old vampire finds a woman alone, asleep, and adrift.
But her face is one that’s haunted his dreams and filled him with longing.
How will he help her control dark desires churning within? And at what cost?
Series Reading Order
Prequel... A Vampire Loves Forever
Book 1. Dark Blooded Desires
Book 2. Jason’s Dilemma
Book 3. Queen’s Blood Claim
Short Stories
7 Steps for a Vampire Christmas
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Moon Craving
by
R.L. Kenderson
PUBLISHED BY:
R.L. Kenderson
Moon Craving
Copyright © 2019 by Renae Au and Lara Kennedy
All Rights Reserved
Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Knox Randall is a damn good police detective with a damn big secret. He’s a werewolf. Only he and his partner, Blake, know the truth. And, even though he’s attracted to his partner’s sister, he’s been avoiding her for her own good.
But, after Knox steps in front of Blake to keep him from getting shot, Blake knows he can’t take Knox to the hospital. Bleeding out isn’t an option either, so he turns to his sister.
Hannah Turner is a veterinarian, and when her brother comes to her for help, she reluctantly agrees when she learns Knox has been shot. Hannah’s had a crush on Knox for as long as she’s known him, but he has always gone out of his way to keep her at a distance. Despite not understanding his aversion, she welcomes him into her home, determined to mend him.
With the full moon approaching, Knox finds it hard to keep his hands off her. He must either use all his willpower to stay away or let the power of the full moon consume them both.
“Fuck.”
Knox Randall swore this was the last time he would let himself get shot. Of course, that was what he’d thought last time, too. Sometimes, being a police detective was dangerous. Thankfully, being a werewolf meant he’d bounce back faster than humans.
Knox pulled the wadded-up shirt away from his upper body to inspect the wound.
“Stop looking at it,” his partner, Blake Turner, yelled as he sped through downtown Minneapolis.
“I’m trying to figure out how bad it is,” Knox shouted back.
It would be damn near impossible to dig out the bullet and sew up his injury with one hand. He gritted his teeth as he put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.
It was going to be a long night.
Blake took a left at the next street when he should’ve taken a right.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m not taking you home with that much damage.”
“Blake, you know I can’t go to a hospital. I heal too fast. You have to take me home.”
“I’m not taking you to a hospital either. I’m taking you to Hannah’s.”
Knox cursed. “Blake, man, you can’t take me to your sister’s. There’s a full moon tomorrow.”
Blake glanced at him the best he could while keeping his eyes on the road. “I’m not letting you die when you jumped in front of me to take the bullet that is now lodged in your chest. Full moon or no full moon. Besides, you told me the old myth about being forced to turn into a wolf during the full moon was just that—a myth.”
It was a myth. He wasn’t forced to turn into a wolf during the full moon. However, he did turn into a sex-crazed maniac who wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off Hannah until they were both panting and exhausted.
Knox had wanted Hannah since Blake and he were rookies. Knox knew Hannah wanted him, too; he could smell her arousal whenever she was near. So far, Knox had played the good friend and gentleman by staying away from her.
As a werewolf, the moon affected his sexuality and lust, forcing him to find a willing female to sate his hunger. Usually, it was a she-wolf since her passion was affected as well. But Hannah was a human, a foot shorter, and a hundred pounds lighter than him. He doubted she could handle him and his craving for her. If she gave him and his wolf the go-ahead, he doubted he’d be able to control his desire for her. Or conceal his wolf.
“Fuck me.” He knew how stubborn Blake was, and Knox knew he needed help, so he didn’t argue further. “Okay, I’ll let you take me to Hannah’s. Will you promise to pick me up tomorrow before dusk though? I should be well enough to finish recovering at home.”
Blake rolled his eyes. “Fine. If it makes you happy. I don’t know what the big deal is. It’s not like Hannah bites.”
No, it was just that Knox might.
“Plus, she’s used to working with animals,” Blake said.
“Ha-ha. You’re hilarious.” Despite his attempt to keep a straight face, he let out a chuckle. “Ouch. Don’t make me laugh.”
Blake smiled at him, but it died when he glanced at Knox’s chest. “We’re almost there. Hold on.”
“It looks worse than it is,” Knox told his partner to make him feel better.
Knox knew he was losing blood quickly because he was getting light-headed, and all he wanted to do was sleep. He just needed to make it into Hannah’s house and lie down. Then, he’d be fine.
That was his last thought before he passed out.
Hannah Turner threw her long blonde hair up in a ponytail and ran out the door as the unmarked cop car pulled into her driveway. Her brother, Blake, had called her after Knox lost consciousness. Blake explained the situation, although she still didn’t understand why Knox couldn’t go to a hospital. Blake had said they had a legitimate reason for chasing down the suspect who had shot Knox. So, why wasn’t he going to a human doctor with medical equipment at a hospital instead of a veterinarian with a medical bag at home?
Blake swung his door open, and Hannah could tell he was worried. All her questions were pushed to the back of her mind. The important thing was to help Knox.
“Do you have a bed ready?” he asked as he came around to the passenger side.
“Yes. I put clean sheets on my bed, so we would have a bathroom close. Then, we won’t have to carry him upstairs to the guest bed.”
Blake opened Knox’s door. “He’s going to be heavy. Do you think you can help?”
She intertwined her fingers and pushed her palms out, cracking her knuckles. “I’m ready.”
Blake eyed her up and down.
“What? I work out.”
“Okay. If you say so.” He reached in to grab Knox. “I’ll grab his upper body, and you can get his legs. Let me know if you need to rest, so we can set him down. He doesn’t need us dropping him.”
She nodded. Blake took his upper body out of the front seat first. It was tough to grab his legs with the car door in the way, but she got them in her grasp.
She looked up at her brother.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready.”
“One, two, three, lift.”
Wow. Knox was not easy to carry. He was a big guy, and his muscular form had never escaped her eyes, but she never would have expected him to weigh so much. By the time they got to the door, she was sweating and panting.
“You okay?” Blake asked.
“Yeah.” Breath. “Let’s keep going.” Breath. “We’re almost there.” Breath.
They finally made it to her bedroom and got him on her queen-size bed. He made it look tiny. His six-four frame barely fit, but it was the only bed downstairs and was the largest bed in the house.
She swept his dark hair off his forehead. Knox was always forceful and dominant. It was strange to see him vulnerable and wounded. She ran her fingers over his eyebrows. The woman part of her wanted him to open his crystal blues and look at her, so she knew he was okay. The doctor in her was grateful he was unconscious because it was going to hurt to dig the bullet out of his chest.
“Hannah.”
She pivoted around to look at Blake. “Hmm. What?”
“I said, what do you need me to do?”
“Oh. Right. Um … can you go boil some water? I’m going to cut off his shirt and examine the injury.”
“I’m on it,” Blake said and headed toward the door.
She grabbed her scissors and knelt next to the bed.
Blake paused in the doorway. “Hannah?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
She looked up at her brother and gave him a reassuring smile. “You’re welcome. Now, go. We have a lot of work to do.”
Hot. He felt hot. He kicked his legs until he felt cool air wash over him. Pain. His upper body hurt. Lust. The soreness in his chest didn’t compare to the ache in his balls and hard cock. The full moon was close.
Female. He needed a female. Soon.
He inhaled a long, deep breath. There was a female close. Very close.
“Knox, how are you feeling?” It was his female.
There was movement beside him and a brush of fingertips across his shoulder. He moved fast, flipping her over and landing on top. He pushed himself between her legs. She sighed and relaxed, opening herself to him.
He put his nose in her neck and breathed her in. She was ready for him, and she was fertile.
He had to get inside her soon.
He moved his mouth to hers and kissed her hard and deep. She opened her mouth and kissed him back. She was warm and wet, and it only made him want her more. He ran his hand up her side and cupped her breast. Only a shirt separated her from him. She felt plump and full beneath him, and her nipple was a hard point against his hand.
She started rubbing her pussy against his cock. She was hot down there, too. Not much separated them, and he grabbed at her pants. He wanted to feel her wetness all over him.
Slowly, music pierced his brain, and he tried to ignore it. No one would stop him from taking her.
Except … the song was “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi. That was his ringtone for Blake.
He broke the kiss.
“Knox.”
He opened his eyes. Hannah.
Reality hit, and he rolled off her as fast as he could, ignoring the pain in his chest. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled a pillow over his raging hard-on. What the hell is wrong with me?
He couldn’t have sex with Hannah. She was too refined and delicate. And fertile. Just what she wanted. His kid.
Surprise, baby, in fifteen years, he’s going to turn and shift into a wolf, and once a month, he’ll try to screw every female he can get his hands on.
He scrubbed his hands down his face. That had been a close one. Werewolves were only able to conceive during the full moon, which was probably the reason they couldn’t control the urge to mate. Thankfully, man had invented the condom, and they were able to give Mother Nature the finger on procreating.
“Knox? Are you okay?”
Hannah placed her hand on his back, and he shot off the bed, barely keeping his junk covered with the pillow. Immediately, all his blood left his head, and stars lined his vision. She followed him and put her arm around him. He wanted to fight her touch, but he was wise enough to know he needed her help.
“Come on; let’s get you back in bed.”
Knox collapsed back on the bed and didn’t remove the pillow over his crotch until Hannah pulled the sheet over him. She placed her hand on his forehead, and he closed his eyes at her touch.
“You feel very warm. I think you have a fever.”
