Blood lust book 3 revers.., p.1
Blood Lust, Book 3: Reverse Harem Immortal Devotion Series, page 1
Blood Lust
Immortal Devotion Book 3
Raylin Marks
Raylin Marks
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter One
I sat quietly on the private jet that was destined for a former plantation home in South Carolina. Lucas and Roman had merged their covens into one, Lucas reigning as their sire after the two vampires rekindled their previous romance. Apparently, almost losing Lucas to Enzo’s collectors after they kidnapped my mom brought the former lovers back together again. At least something good came out of the psychopath vampire taking my mom so her life-blood could juice him up.
Thinking about my mom and Enzo made me cringe. I was in shock after hearing Enzo had fallen in love with my mother, and it raised so many questions. Did she love him too? Was she happy to be reunited with him? I had a hard time staying in the positive when it came to her. For all I knew, she was in love with him too, and that meant I was the love child of a maniacal psychopath and a blackout drunk. Par for the course in my unfortunate life it would seem.
“Hey baby,” Zac and his brilliant bronze eyes greeted me as he sat across the table from me in a high-back, cream leather chair of the luxurious jet.
I snapped my head up and forced a smile. “Yeah?” I answered, trying to get out of my head about all the bullshit that had taken place after that crazy witch had planted the magic fireball in me. It was seriously starting to fuck with my mind.
I hadn’t told my guys about it, and strangely enough, they hadn’t picked up on the subtle changes happening, but eventually, they would. I was hoping that the inner magic my ancestor, Morgana, had implanted in my DNA would be enough to handle this without sending everyone into a frenzy to help me.
“Damn, Elle,” Zac reached across the table and stroked my cheekbone. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like hell.”
“Maybe it’s just flying all over the damn globe to escape witches and all-powerful vampires that’s starting to wear on me,” I said, wondering if this lifestyle really was starting to catch up with me.
“No excuses,” Cole said, sliding a meat and cheese board in front of me. “Eat this, doll.” He half-smiled and studied my eyes with his green ones. “Your complexion is changing. Something isn’t right. How are you feeling?”
The question made so many thoughts run through my mind. How was I? Uh, not great, buddy. On top of the fact that we’d all narrowly escaped imprisonment and being forced into procreation by a vengeful witch the week before, and then with learning my biological father’s identity and being cursed all in the same day, I’d also completely lost any physical interest in my vampires. That wouldn’t be abnormal except for that fact it was one-hundred percent abnormal.
At first, I thought it had to have been the shock of everything that had happened, but too many strange feelings had been happening since that witch cursed me. Not wanting to be held or even touched by my guys was definitely not something normal.
“I’m fine. What about you guys? You haven’t fed, and since I’m the only one you can drink from, I know you’re not getting the nourishment immortal vampires need.”
Cole glanced at Zac who smiled and slid the charcuterie board closer toward me, encouraging me to eat. “The benefit of consuming life-blood is that it seems to last much longer than the average supernatural blood we’ve drunk our entire existence. It does much more than just make us stronger, it makes our senses much more acute, and it lasts an insane amount of time. It’s amazing.”
I swallowed what should have been a tasty bite of prosciutto and smoked gouda, but it was bland and tasteless. Odd again. “It’s only been a week or so since you all fed. What’s the normal length of time you go without?”
“Before you, the longest we would typically go is about three days. After that, we start to look…” Cole stopped and studied me closer. “Well, we sort of start looking like you are looking now.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You’ve seen it. Dark circles under our eyes, pale, ashy skin, and we sort of just slow down both mentally and physically.”
I ran my fingers under my eyes, guess the concealer I was using had faded. “I’m obviously not starving. I eat every time you put a plate of food in front of me.” I smiled at Cole, “Speaking of which, it seems I’m on an every two-hour feeding schedule.”
Cole nodded, “I’m about to up it to every hour until we figure out why you’re so damn pale and looking like a starved vamp, doll face.”
I licked my dry lips and took a drink of water. “I think I could use some rest.”
“Try to eat a bit more. Don’t forget, that witch fucked with you with her dark magic. This could be a side effect. You’re sure you’re not experiencing any other symptoms?”
“Food just tastes bland.” I forced another bite and swallowed, “You don’t think she forced some kind of magical spawn of Satan into me, do you?”
Zac laughed. “If that were the case, we’d hear a heartbeat. You’re not preggo, baby.”
“What if it didn’t have a heartbeat because it was some creation of hers.”
Both vamps’ expressions froze, and Zac rubbed his forehead as he looked at Cole. “Please tell me that warlock, Edgar, is going to be with Lucas and Roman when we get to the plantation.”
“He will be there.” Cole absently rubbed the back of his neck, “Whether or not he can do something witchy to see what’s up with Elle depends on how powerful he is. Don’t forget we are dealing with dark magic and an ancient witch too.”
“God, I can’t listen to this.” I stood up. “How much longer until we get there?”
“Long enough for you to sleep.” Zac took my hand and helped steady me after I got a head rush. He pulled me into his side and wrapped his muscular bicep around me. “This shit is starting to worry me,” he said to Cole. “Get Lucas on the phone and let him know what’s going on. Get that warlock prepared to help her after we get in late this afternoon. I’m taking Elle to lie down in the back.”
“Good call.” Cole nodded then peeked around at me. “Zac’s going to stay with you if you’re cool with that.”
“Actually, I am. I’m freezing. It’s like I’m getting sick or something.”
“First things first,” Cole said. “Let’s get you examined by Edgar and see if he can come to any conclusions.”
“Fucking dark magic,” Zac said, leading me to the back of the plane.
We walked into a lavish room with a bed that took up most of the space, and the oversized comforter was more inviting than anything else.
Zac stripped me down to my cami and lace underwear and pulled back the covers. “Jump in,” he said, crawling in behind me after I laid down.
Once Zac settled in behind me, I melted into his bare-chest and rock-hard abs. I felt him kiss my neck, then my shoulders while rubbing his hand over my arm and inching his fingers between my legs. “I’ve missed you, baby.”
I gritted my teeth, which was the last response I should’ve had, knowing the supernatural bliss he and his cousins had given me with every single encounter we’d ever had. Even so, I cringed at the thought of intimacy with them.
“Yeah. I just can’t believe how tired I am.” I’d hoped my response was nice but still enough to get the point across that I wasn’t in the mood for anything but sleep.
It was silent for a second, then Zac pulled his hand away and brought me into a warm embrace from behind. “Rest up, baby. You really need that.” I felt him kiss the top of my head. “I’m here if you need anything.”
I closed my eyes and let Zac’s warm body heat radiate into mine. I closed my eyes, and within seconds, I was out like a light. We could figure shit out later. I was beat, and now I had to move into another new home and start all over again.
Chapter Two
I woke to the sound of the engines shutting down on the plane. My heavy eyelids felt almost impossible to open. I felt like I’d never been this exhausted in my entire life. Zac mumbled something—I guess he’d stayed with me in bed for the whole flight—and I couldn’t manage to respond.
The next thing I knew, I was in the back seat in an oversized SUV, speeding away from a private airport. I tried to keep my eyes pried open, but it was like trying to deadlift hundred-pound weights. I sighed and heard Logan to my right. My subconscious mind picked up on whatever he was saying, and I leaned into a warm embrace, melting into my Logan.
“Hey doll,” I faintly heard Cole’s voice say with concern. Knuckles ran over the back of my cheekbone. “Baby?”
“Shit,” I whispered. “How long was I asleep?”
“Long enough to have slept the entire day away.” I felt him kiss my forehead. “Kidding. You’ve been out for a few hours, not counting the three solid hours after you passed out on the plane.”
I felt myself coming to, and I exhaled a breath of relief. “I really thought I was screwed when I couldn’t wake up coming off the plane. Glad to see I can actually keep my eyes open again.”
“It seems your human side has finally exhausted itself trying to keep up with the supernatural, doll face.” He squeezed me in his arms, “I’m just glad we’re here, and you can relax in the manor.”
I glanced over to see a stunning two-story white home complete with black shutters that graced the eight windows on the top and the bottom of the front of the house. Four huge white, carved pillars lined an enormous front porch that extended the length of this mansion-like home and swept off around the corners leading around the house.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful home in my life,” I muttered, totally in awe of the stately structure.
“It certainly has a rich history,” Cole said, stepping up the red brick steps that led up to the mahogany double front doors. “It’s been in Roman’s family for as long as he can remember. In the early 1800s, they created this place as a safe haven for the slaves. They did a lot of work during that time to help with the abomination the humans were creating by thinking they could actually own each other.”
Slavery. Damn, who would have imagined vampires were down here helping slaves escape their slavemasters.
“I can’t imagine how horrible that must’ve been,” I said, knowing there were no words to express to someone who actually witnessed the atrocities I had only read about in history books.
We breezed through the doors into a beautiful atrium.
“Yeah, it’s most definitely one of the darkest times in human history that I’ve ever witnessed,” Cole said as he set me on my feet. “And humans have the nerve to call us monsters. After the shit I’ve seen, I beg to differ.”
“I have no doubt of that,” I said before glancing around. “Wow. Everything looks like we just went through a time portal back to that century.”
“Everything but this,” Cole winked at me and flipped on a light switch.
An elaborate glass chandelier was overhead, illuminating the checkered floor in the atrium where we stood before a grand staircase that led up to an inside balcony with two hallways leading off of it.
“To the left is a small living area that leads off to a kitchen,” Cole said. “Off to the right over there,” he pointed to where luxurious sofas and high-back chairs were, “that’s another living area, and a few office-type rooms and bathrooms are past that. The entire back porch is accessible through a few sets of glass doors that line the back of the house.”
“Just another typical house, right?” I laughed and ran my hand down his forearm.
“It’s a safe place.” He smirked. “The bedroom will probably be your favorite part. Roman insisted you take his chambers,” he winked on that last word. “Given our relationship, I guess he feels we need a room big enough for the four of us.”
My stomach churned at what Cole was implying. The thought of being intimate with any of them made me want to shudder. Fuck! I could never let them know my sex drive dried up at the ripe old age of twenty-one!
“What the fuck, man!” I said out loud in frustration.
“What is it?” Cole asked, confused.
“I can’t explain it. Listen, you mentioned something about a dude named Edgar who can check on me, right?”
His eyes grew dark. “Edgar and the others are held up in Texas. A storm has had their plane grounded since this morning. They’ll be here tonight or first thing tomorrow.” He cupped my face, “Tell me what’s wrong, doll.”
I shook it off, “Where are the rest of the guys?”
His eyes narrowed some. “Scouting the town and property to make sure we’re clear.” He cocked his head to the side, “I need to know exactly what you’re feeling, Ellie.”
I rubbed my forehead and swallowed hard. “Is it normal for me to be completely turned off by sex?”
Cole’s cheek fluttered as he clenched his jaw. “Not at your age, no. Especially not with the bond we share. What else?”
“That’s it.” I tightened my lips in anger.
“It’s this fucking curse, baby. Hang in there, and just be assured that if you’re not into it, then none of us will be. That should go without saying. We’re here to take care of you and show you nothing but love and support until this shit gets settled.”
“And if it doesn’t?” I folded my arms. “What if this Edgar guy can’t help us? What if that bitch of a witch was too strong?”
“Stop!” Cole hit me with an authoritative look and tone. “Don’t even bring yourself to that conclusion. We’re going to get through this. No one fucks with you, baby. At least, no one fucks with you and gets away with it. We need to fix you first, then we track down this witch and fuck her up.”
“You saw how strong she was with all of us. You know what she wants too.”
“Well, the one thing she wants, she’s not obviously going to get since you have no sexual appetite.” He laughed. “So there will be no little Life Blood slash immortal baby for her stupid fucking ass.” He took my hand in his, “As for how strong she was, well, you managed to shut her down some with whatever help you got from your ancestor on the other side, and trust me when I tell you that we know people. So do Roman and Lucas. We have connections to the magical side of shit. She’s not the only witch in town, okay?”
“You’re sure?”
“Do I strike you as someone who exaggerates?” he said with a laugh as he brushed my hair away from my face and winked. “Let me show you your rooms.”
“Rooms? As in multiple rooms?”
Cole grinned as we walked up the stairway, “Yes, the master suite in this place is down the hall to the right and takes up about half that side of the house. There are multiple rooms inside of it and a master bathroom that is probably the size of a small apartment.”
“If Roman and Lucas are staying here and they just rekindled their romance with each other, I’m not taking their damn rooms,” I stated firmly.
“The fuck you aren’t,” Cole said as we reached the top and turned right. “Those two are keeping their asses on the lower floor and as far away from us as they can. Possibly even staying in the other houses laid out on the property.”
“No way,” I said, stopping our walk. “They’re helping us out. They should have access to the best parts of their home, they shouldn’t be kicked to the guest rooms or houses out here.”
“All I know is that I’m not listening to those two fucking all night,” I heard Logan’s voice coming up from behind us.
Cole laughed as we both turned to greet the gorgeous, blue-eyed vampire.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Cole agreed.
“Trust me,” Logan arched a thick, black eyebrow, “those two sound like hardcore porn turned all the way up once they get going. You will go insane listening to them.”
“That bad, huh?”
Cole nodded and laughed. “I’m not even going to try and guess what it’s going to be like trying to peel them off each other just to have a conversation. Once they get going, the whole damn world could fall apart, and they wouldn’t know it.”
“Glad at least someone is going to have a sex life around here,” I said, getting frustrated knowing that should be my guys and me.
“Did I miss something?” Logan asked, eying Cole then me.
“The witch fucked Elle over in the sexy time department,” Cole said. “She somehow killed Elle’s drive to have sex, even—”
