Robert Read online

“I’ve seen a lot of women naked.”

  He pushed down on the accelerator. Yes, he’d seen a lot of women naked, but none of them with the alluring purity that she projected. William was pleased the only thing he’d done was dress her. He’d been many things in his life, but a rapist wasn’t one of them.

  “You’d never seen me naked before.”

  “Well I can scrub it off my list of women to see. May I also say the beauty spot on your hip is quite eye catching? I struggled to dress you at all. From the sweet honey smell coming from you, I’d say no man has ever seen you naked before. I’m privileged. Women in this generation have many lovers by your age.”

  He heard her growl of mortification but he couldn’t help but smile. He only spoke the truth. She was a beautiful creature and the sooner she got her powers under control the sooner she’d be able to grow and blossom. At the moment she was a shell, an empty vessel on the point of dying. He rubbed his chest, not liking the thought of her death.

  He could smell the blood flooding her cheeks. The poor woman was embarrassed. He would have to remember how innocent she was.

  “When will I see Sophie?” she asked.

  She wasn’t going to like the answer.

  “You’ll see her at the Council but you won’t be allowed to speak to one another.” He stopped the car outside the house where the Council would be meeting.

  He tensed, sniffing the air. No…it couldn’t be. He looked around but he couldn’t see any signs.

  “Why not?” she said, interrupting his searching.

  He shook his head. It must be all the alcohol he’d been drinking. Shrugging his shoulders, he got out of the car.

  “Showtime.”

  “Why not?” she asked again.

  “You’re being accused of withholding evidence. In vampire law, that is a serious offence. If you want my advice, stand, listen and keep your mouth shut.”

  “I can’t do this,” Katie said, fear striking inside her as she glanced at the dominating building.

  “You’ve got no choice. You and Sophie should have trusted us.” William made to grab her, but she pulled away, her hands going up to ward him off. “Don't even think about using your powers on me,” he warned.

  “Let me go,” she pleaded.

  William growled. Katie was begging him to let her go and, in his heart, all he wanted to do was let her run. The Council were not a friendly bunch and if they weren’t careful Katie wouldn’t be seen again. William hated the unfairness of their laws. It was one of the reasons he’d spent so long away from all that shit.

  “I can’t do it. I promised Robert I’d get you here safely, and that’s why we started the blood—” He stopped, cursing his own stupidity.

  “Started what?”

  “We started the small base of the blood ceremony. I drained you and you drank my blood. It’s why you feel revived. I fed you and we’ve started the connection. Look past your fear and you’ll sense it, as clear as daylight.”

  William watched her hand go to her throat, where he’d bitten down. The bite marks were still prominent but the bruising had lessened in the few hours they’d been alone.

  “How could you do this to me?”

  The pain in her words tightened his gut, the connection between them stronger than he’d anticipated.

  “I did it to save your life, and after this meeting, if you’re still feeling pissed and on your high horse I’ll give you permission to blow me up. Or—with your control—at least to try.”

  Katie nodded and William cursed as she started to run. He hated it when they ran.

  “For fuck’s sake, you crazy bitch. I promise to keep you safe,” he yelled. Her little escape attempt was pathetic, and he caught her within seconds of her running.

  “Never go up against a vampire when you’re already weak.”

  He grabbed her roughly by the elbow, slammed the car door and escorted her indoors.

  Chapter Nine

  Sophie stood before the Council, just as she had three years ago. They all seemed older and more tired. Robert stood at her back, his hand on her waist reassuring her of his presence.

  “I’m hearing some disturbing news, Robert, son of mine.”

  Robert turned to his father, showing him the respect he deserved. “What news would that be, Father?”

  Sophie glanced at the disapproval on the faces of each of the men.

  “This is ridiculous. How dare you come to the Council and pretend not to know the crimes this human has committed?” another councillor interrupted.

  Sophie bowed her head, shamed and mortified that she had put Robert through this.

  “Enough, Cedric.” His father rubbed his hands over his eyes, clearly tired of it all. “What do you have to say, girl?”

  Sophie was about to answer when a commotion interrupted her chain of thought.

  “Let go of me, you disgusting brute.” Katie came into the room, being pulled by a man who looked like Robert. Everything else about the man was completely different. His presence did not provoke the same respect that Robert’s did, and he also appeared half crazy.

  He took her to stand on the dais in front of the Council. As soon as he released her, Katie lashed out, striking William with an open-palmed slap.

  He didn’t move a muscle but immediately a hand print was visible on his skin. Sophie winced, pleased it wasn’t her face.

  William growled. He grabbed Katie’s wrists and yanked them behind her, holding them in one hand and placing his other palm over her mouth, attempting to silence her. Sophie tried to go to her friend but Robert stopped her, his bruising grip warning her not to move.

  “Who is this?”

  “The witch, Father,” William shouted for all to hear.

  The Council erupted.

  “How dare you try to fool us?”

  “Is this some attempt to keep us from punishing the girl?”

  “Blasphemy, I tell you!”

  “Silence!” Robert’s father yelled to the entire Council. “Who is this woman, William?”

  “She is, indeed, a witch. I’ve got a wrecked house to prove it. She is also the named female under the protection of the blood bond between Robert, my brother, and his mate, Sophie Ford.”

  Sophie watched as he whispered something into Katie’s ear, then slowly let her go. Katie glared at him, smiled at Sophie, then faced the Council.

  This had been the first time in years Sophie had seen her friend’s true spirit. She couldn’t help but smile. What had happened to her? She looked fantastic.

  “The blood bond between the mentioned parties hasn’t been completed. So she is not under anyone’s protection.”

  “Actually, Councillor Cedric, the bond is complete and the protection true and in place. I cannot allow any harm to come to either woman by our own bonded laws.” Robert spoke clear and true.

  The fuss began to build again.

  “Are you saying you’ll go against the Council’s word?” one of them asked.

  “By the Council’s own laws, I have no choice. You have a choice.” Robert saw that he had gained their attention. “You have a choice. Over there stands a woman, a first-generation witch. It has been centuries since the apparent extermination of their kind, but somehow one family survived. There may be more, but for now she is our one key to protecting our race, and the humans, from the annihilation and the corruption of the wolves. They are growing stronger by the second. You kill her, you kill our chances of balance and survival.”

  Robert was convincing. Sophie could feel the panic growing in her stomach.

  “What of the girl?”

  Robert glanced down at her and Sophie felt her heart melt under his searching gaze. “Without this girl, this woman—my mate—Katie wouldn’t have been brought to us. Everything they’ve done, they’ve done to protect each other. I don’t believe they should be punished. I think they should be congratulated.”

  “Your thoughts will be taken into account.”

  “I’d like to add
a few words,” William interrupted.

  Sophie was shocked to see how many Council members seemed to dislike him. William began without their permission.

  “Already, the wolves have attacked. I don’t know if they intended to kill or capture Katie, but they know who and what she is. Surely we must protect her?”

  The Councillors nodded, reluctantly taking on board what he had to say.

  “We’ll conduct this meeting and get back to you,” Robert senior said. The Councillors started to move out.

  Sophie turned to Robert, throwing her arms around him.

  Everything was going to be all right.

  Somewhere, glass smashed. Growls and screams erupted inside the house.

  Robert tensed. “Attack! We’re under attack.”

  Gunshots fired. The very ground beneath her feet began to shake.

  Wolves crashed through the main hall, going straight for the Council. Sophie watched as Katie reacted, her hands shooting out and blowing up one of the wolves before going for the next. Another and another came in. The commotion was loud, fast and horrific. Many of the Councillors were slaughtered where they stood before they had time to react. So much carnage between two races.

  Everywhere she looked, she saw destruction.

  Robert sheltered her behind his broad back, but no matter what he tried he couldn’t keep her from seeing.

  When some of the bodies hit the floor, they took on human form. Sophie whimpered. This was too much. They were supposed to be protected here. This was vampire ground.

  What was she supposed to do? They were everywhere. She was the only mortal being in the building.

  She felt so helpless as she watched death unfold.

  Robert felt Sophie’s fear and he lashed out. Everything he could get his hands on, he took out. He kept Sophie at his back. He couldn’t do anything more than protect her. William was helping Katie, but Robert could already see her power draining away. It was like all the life was being zapped out of her. The colour was disappearing from her cheeks. Her body looking more and more frail and brittle, like a zombie.

  He knew she hadn’t harnessed her power before and if she kept using it now she would be killed.

  She shot out one last bolt and collapsed to her knees, a few droplets of blood escaping her lips as she clutched her chest.

  Sophie screamed her name even as William was at her side, trying to move her.

  They were out of time.

  “Enough!” a voice filled with authority yelled at the room. The clapping of hands stopped everyone from moving. The wolves stopped, too, waiting for more orders.

  Robert turned towards the voice. A voice from his past.

  James, the Alpha of the wolves in Beyer West, stood in the doorway.

  “Wow, that was really easy,” he laughed. He looked a little insane.

  Robert held Sophie to him. No matter what happened, he needed to keep her safe.

  James swatted away the guard approaching him. Robert couldn’t believe the power the man possessed. He walked straight across the room to where his father stood. Robert tried to move his feet, but he couldn’t. Protecting his father was important but he couldn’t move. He looked over at William and saw that he had the same problem. What was stopping them from moving?

  The only being with that kind of magic was a witch. The only witch they knew of was collapsed in this room. What was going on?

  “So, you’re the main man causing me problems. You know this place is considered a deep, dark palace or a shrine to all the dead-walking vampires. Very few people will go past the doors to enter and be within these walls. I’ve never believed in the true power of the vampires and I’ve just proven to more people besides the wolves that your magic is not what it’s supposed to be.” James circled Robert’s father.

  Robert wanted to scream, to run, but his voice wouldn’t work.

  “What do you want from us?” his father growled.

  James chuckled. “I want you all dead.” He began laughing. “But I’ll settle for just you.”

  Claws shot from his fingers and he severed the older man’s throat. Robert tried to scream, and he saw William’s mouth open in a cry, but no sound came from their mouths. He’d just watched his father be killed and he could do nothing.

  James set fire to the body and whistled as he moved away. “Wow, that was easy,” he said again.

  A ball of rage grew inside Robert.

  James went over to where Katie knelt, spent, on her knees. She coughed and blood spurted onto the ground. White formed in the tips of her hair. Sophie was yelling for Katie to get up. Robert could see her shaking.

  “My little dove. It’s time for us to go.”

  “N—no,” she cried out weakly.

  Putting his hand beneath her chin, he pulled her to her feet. Katie didn’t have the energy to fight.

  “You’re mine and I’m taking you with me,” James growled in her face.

  “William,” she screamed as James went to pick her up. She batted his hands away.

  Robert watched his brother fighting to get to the witch.

  “Let her go, dog.”

  James glanced at William and Robert in turn. “You didn’t really think I’d allow my daughter to spend time with you, did you?”

  The confession sent a shock wave through the room. Never before had a wolf and a witch mated and created a baby. It was unheard of. Yet, it explained everything—her anger, her weakness and how she was able to blow up wolves.

  James picked Katie up and walked out of the room, leaving chaos and destruction in his wake.

  Robert watched William fight. His brother couldn’t move and watching her in their enemy’s arms was killing him.

  It was over an hour before Robert could move again. His father’s body was nothing but ash, the Council defeated and left reeling. William looked angry and lost. As the magic levels dropped, Robert charged over to his father’s body while William ran out into the street.

  There was nothing he could do.

  He went outside to join William. Sophie stood next to him staring up and down the street. There was no sign of where they could have gone.

  “Did you know?” William turned on Sophie.

  “Did I know what?” she asked, tears streaming down her face.

  “Did you know your little witch friend was a descendent of a wolf?” he yelled at her.

  Sophie hugged her arms around her body. “Up until a couple of hours ago I didn’t even know wolves existed! How the hell could I have known she was one?”

  Robert heard the grief in her voice and it was cutting him up. He grabbed her, protecting her with his body and his love.

  “That’s enough, William,” Robert ordered. “You need to think clearly. There is no way that Katie could be any relation to James.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Robert watched as William wiped the tears from his eyes.

  “Balance. Nature may be defiant but it still works on the balance of natural forces.” Robert was certain of it.

  “Fuck the balance. Did you just see what that prick did?” William pushed his brother away in his rage.

  “I was there. I watched him and I couldn’t move. Our father is dead and now everyone is going to turn to me for leadership.” Robert poked William’s chest, emphasising his point.

  William began to laugh. “You’ve been waiting your whole life for this. What are you going to tell Mother? Our family, everything we’ve been working towards…destroyed.”

  Robert hadn’t had time to process what had happened or to decide what he would have to tell his mother and siblings. It still hadn’t really registered that his father was dead. In this world there would be no justice for the killing of a vampire. The humans didn’t know that werewolves existed, let alone that they lived among them.

  “He was too strong. No werewolf has that amount of power.”

  “Unless he has a witch protecting him.” William confirmed what Robert was thinking.

  “We need to
find the witch and stop them.”

  Robert shook his head. “Katie can wait. I’ve got other, more importan—”

  William turned on him in an instant.

  “We have nothing more important. James’s witch is going to help him whether we like it or not. We don’t even know who his witch is. Katie is my top priority.”

  “We’ll find her.”

  William refused to listen. “I promised to keep her safe. I won’t stop until I find her. I’ll be the one to find her. I screwed up—me.”

  He moved away, limping through the debris left behind by the wolves invading the Council. To most it would look like a raid gone bad, but to Robert it signalled the start of the chaos he knew was about to begin.

  Robert watched his brother go. What was he supposed to do? He gazed back at the broken building where the Council had resided. This would break his mother. How was he supposed to take over from his father when he had no idea what he was supposed to do himself?

  Sophie touched his back. He felt her heart open up to him. He welcomed her affection. It was the only thing keeping him going. She hugged him. The comfort reassured him.

  “We have to go back inside.”

  Sophie nodded, placing her hand in his as he led the way back inside. They walked around the fallen bodies of his brethren.

  The remaining members of the Council were gathered around his father’s fallen body.

  “He was a good man. A good leader. He didn’t deserve to go like this.”

  They all murmured their agreement.

  Robert stood before them. “I’ll get my people to come and move the body. A quick burial should be sufficient.”

  All the Councillors turned to him. He could see the grief and sorrow on their faces.

  One of them spoke up. “You must take his place now, Robert.”

  Robert didn’t look to see where the voice had come from. He didn’t want to know.

  “The time for Councils and meetings is past. Did you see how easily they got to us?” That voice belonged to a frightened guard—one of the few who had managed to remain alive.

  “We should have killed the girl when we had the chance.” Cedric spoke harshly.

  Sophie gasped—it was clear his words hurt her.

  Robert growled at him. Without his father, with the death of an empire that had just happened, he didn’t care about protocol. This man didn’t deserve his respect and he would no longer get it.