BloodSworn (27 page)

“I want something in return.”

Trina’s body grew taut at the offer. Dorian held back as
well, letting Merrick know that he was alone in his desire to kill the bastard.
“Explain.”

“Her blood.” He nodded to Trina. There was hunger there, but
not for something as simple as food.

“No.” Merrick grabbed Trina’s arm before she promised
something stupid, and Trina rammed her pointy little elbow into his ribs with
surprising force.

“The deal isn’t with you, shifter.” The vampire didn’t move,
didn’t even turn his gaze away from Trina.

“He’s right. It’s my choice.”

Dorian looked torn. He knew the danger of Trina’s blood, but
he couldn’t give up this last hope of saving his love. Merrick sympathized and
knew he’d get no help from that quarter.

If Trina were in trouble, he would do whatever it took to
save her. No, he blamed the sister for all of this. She’d left Trina alone to fend
for herself. She was the eldest, it was her job to protect Trina, and she’d
failed.

They were going to have a talk when they met.

First, though, they had to rescue her.

The thought of this guy’s fangs anywhere near Trina had his
beast growling. The vampire met his gaze for a second, the fear and desperation
in them a dangerous combination.

“One vial only.”

Merrick had no doubt if they didn’t agree, the vampire would
try to take what he wanted by force.

Trina cocked her head. “You understand that the blood wouldn’t
be any good. The properties in it don’t hold. Once it leaves my body, the magic
deteriorates too rapidly to be of use.”

The vampire stood unbending, and Merrick knew she was going
to agree to the devil’s bargain. They really didn’t have any choice. They’d
lingered too long already, but that didn’t mean they had to give it away. “Lead
us to the woman first.”

The vampire shook his head. “I’ll have no guarantee you will
fulfill your part of the bargain.”

Merrick crossed his arms. “And you’ll take her blood, lead
us farther into the castle then vanish on us.”

“How about a compromise?” The vampire aimed his words at
Trina. “I’ll lead you to your sister if you give me your word.”

“And that’s good enough for you?” Trina sounded baffled.

Merrick agreed, suspicious at the easy capitulation.

The vampire shrugged. “Everyone knows you can’t trust a
shifter, but if
you
give me your promise, I’ll accept it.”

“Just like that.”

“You’re the scepter.” He said it like that was answer
enough.

Dorian cleared his throat. “In the old days, a scepter’s
word was law.”

Before Merrick could protest the deal, Trina spoke.

“Agreed.”

He grabbed her arm. “We should talk about this first.”

“The deal’s done.” The stubborn chit just shook her head and
turned away as if everything had been decided.

The vampire hesitated at their exchange then dropped his arm
away from the witch’s throat at Trina’s promise. He stood rigid as if expecting
the traitorous shifters not to keep their word and attack anyway.

The witch scrambled to safety, still clutching her arm. The
shifters around them tensed, and Merrick snapped a command. “Halt.”

Though the vampire kept the others in view, he watched Trina
as if he were afraid she would disappear. Merrick recognized that expression
because he knew that feeling all too well.

“You don’t even know what he plans to use it for.”

“I think I do.” Trina waved her hand as if to brush away the
conversation. “We need to get moving. We’ve been here too long.”

Their new guide turned and pushed at a set of stones behind
him. A section of the wall opened up, and Merrick realized how he had been able
to sneak up on them without a sound.

How easily he could’ve just snatched Trina without revealing
himself and offering a bargain.

Death and decay spilled out into the hallway.

Drew grimaced. “Not another tunnel.”

The vampire raised his hand and everyone fell silent,
following single file in the cramped space. Merrick’s shoulders brushed the
walls as they walked. The restricted space would be a nightmare if it came down
to a fight, and he crowded closer to Trina.

Holes dotted the walls, and he realized that the passageway
was a spy center. He had no interest in exploring the vampire’s lair further,
knowing that nothing good would be on the other side.

Trina’s steps had slowed then stopped, and he whirled.
“Don’t.” But it was already too late. He quickly backtracked and saw the room
that’d caught Trina’s attention. Three humans dangled by chains, long dead given
the advanced stages of decomposition.

“Come,” he prodded her, “you can’t help them anymore.”

Trina nodded. He expected tears. Instead, anger brightened
her eyes. “Bastards.”

The vampire ahead just shrugged. “Not all of us are like
that. Those people sold themselves to their master. If it makes you feel any
better, they deserved what they got.”

“No one deserves to be treated that way.”

Another shrug. “You’d be surprised.”  

They went five more minutes before drawing to a halt. “We’re
here. I’ll open the door but this is where I leave you.”

Merrick hated to have the vamp at his back, not knowing when
he’d reappear. And there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. “Stay and
fight with us.”

The vamp’s eyes flashed a pale blue as if he was considering
the idea, then they faded brown. He shook his head and withdrew a syringe. “My part
of the bargain has been fulfilled. I can’t take further risk by being caught.
Know that not everyone is averse to you being here.”

The rest of the group went ahead. Merrick watched Trina
insert the needle in her arm, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth at the
trade. As the blood splashed into the vial, he glanced at the vampire, expecting
to see hunger. What he glimpsed was a terrible hope. It was too similar to the
shifters’ hope for her blood for him to feel comfortable.

When the vial was filled, Merrick passed it to the vampire, still
not convinced that the other man wouldn’t lose control at the sight of blood.
The man cradled the vial in his fist and nodded in thanks. Without a word, he
turned and vanished down the hallway.

Trina paused by the hatch, more nervous than fearful. Her
sister was on the other side of that wall. Merrick’s hand rested at the small
of her back, giving her courage, and she stepped through the opening.

And into a transformed courtyard half the size of a football
field where an exotic garden bloomed in wild abandon. A balcony lined the four
walls, but all the entrances were sealed off by bricks. A pergola stood in the
center of the garden. Sunlight filtered through the slats. 

When Merrick joined her, the door slid shut behind them with
a whoosh of air. Trina whirled, but couldn’t find even the tiniest seam.

Merrick ran a hand along the wall then shook his head. He
turned, snapping out orders. “Judith and Dorian are with us. The rest of you
spread out and search for another exit.”

Everyone moved, quickly becoming lost amongst the thick
greenery. Flowers filled every available space. Many of the blooms were closed as
if waiting. “Night flowers.”

She almost regretted not seeing them in bloom. Night flowers
were rare and some say the most beautiful. The rest of the garden was just as gorgeous.
Statues of men and women, thousands of years old, were scattered throughout the
courtyard. Granite benches were placed at intervals.

The King’s retreat.

Eden was here.

A noise caused Trina to whirl. The beauty of the garden
dimmed as her mind noted all the places someone could set up an ambush. She
unsheathed her amathe, her heart racing as she waited for someone to jump out
at them. Merrick pushed his way in front of her, silent for one so large. Trina
didn’t protest, his presence a balm to her ragged nerves.

They rounded a bend, and Trina stopped dead, her throat
clogging with tears. She’d been waiting for this moment since she’d left the
coven.

“Eden.” It had been years, but she’d recognized sister
anywhere. She was the spitting image of their mother.

Her sister’s blond head shot up. “What the hell are you doing
here?”

Okay, so Trina hadn’t really expected her to jump for joy,
but the greeting stung.

Merrick was instantly at her side, glaring daggers.
“Rescuing your ungrateful hide.”

Dorian hurried forward and embraced Eden. He ran his hands
over her as if to assure himself she was alive before crushing her to him again.
Their obvious love stung after Eden’s cold reception to her.

“You fool. You should’ve left me here.” Eden roughly pushed
him away, but the lie was in her eyes as her gaze devoured him.

After the shock of seeing her sister wore off, Trina took a
step forward, only to have Merrick block her. Protecting her. She ducked from
his too-perceptive gaze, hating to feel the inadequacy of being dismissed in
front of him like a nuisance child by her sister. “We have to hurry.”

He grunted and reluctantly dropped his arms. She instantly
missed his warmth.

As she neared the couple, she got the first clear look at
her sister in a decade. Her hair was snarled and a dusting of light bruises dotted
her arms, but she appeared to be in relatively good condition. The years had
been kind to her. Despite signs of captivity, she was beautiful. A little
ragged and dirty, but healthy for being in the vampires’ care for three weeks.

Dorian grabbed Eden’s chin and twisted her head gently to
the side to check her neck.

“He didn’t hurt me. Can’t damage the goods. They took a
little blood, but by normal means.” She shoved away Dorian’s questing hands.
“You have to get her out of here.”

Trina dropped her gaze from the sister she’d once adored.
The same sister who had yet to truly acknowledge her. Instead, she focused on
what needed to be done.

Getting her free.

A deceptively delicate golden chain encircled her sister’s
ankle. Trina concentrated on the magic in the room then blinked in surprise to
find so little available. The majority of the magic rested in the chain. It had
an odd glow that she didn’t readily recognize, and she squinted to see it
better. The magic was more of a dark shadow hovering over it then the bright burn
of color she was used to seeing. The shadow felt vaguely familiar, echoing
inside her with a twang.

“What do you see?” Drew came to her side, peering at the
chain as if he looked hard enough, he would see it, too.

“The chain is binding my powers.” Eden looked both affronted
and horrified.

Though it was awful of her, Trina was glad that Eden knew
what it was like to be bound and have everything taken away from her. Then she felt
bitter and hateful.

“Let me see.” Dorian crouched next to Trina and reached for
the chain.

“Don’t.” She knocked his arm away. “There is something wrong
with it.”

“I was afraid of that.” Eden kicked at the chain in
frustration. “It reacts to magic. Let the shifter give it a try.”

Trina glared at her sister, shocked that she would so
casually risk injuring a shifter. When she would’ve opened her mouth to
protest, Merrick’s hand settled on her shoulder. “I’ll do it.”

Merrick nudged her over and reached for the chain. His hand
hovered over the metal, and she heard the crackle of magic react to him. He stood,
followed the links to the anchor in the wall and shook his head. “It’s solid.
This is a supporting wall. We won’t be able to rip it free without taking the
whole thing down with it.”

Trina gazed down at the chain. “But a vampire can touch it?”

“Yes.” That was the first word her sister spoke directly to
her that wasn’t an accusation.

“It feels like a vampire.” Her hands hovered over the metal
and static crawled up her arms. “Aren’t vampires supposed to be allergic to
magic?”

“Not me, thanks to your blood.” The King stepped forward. “I
can manage a few basics, but I don’t have a natural affinity for it the way you
do. It fights me.”

He gave a smile, his fangs flashing. “Much like you did the
first time I tasted you.”

 
Chapter Thirty

T
rina
couldn’t move at the sound of the voice she’d heard so often in her nightmares.
Memories of pain and blood clouded her vision. Images of her mother’s broken
body and her father’s death haunted her as she’d watched helpless as the life
faded from their eyes.

Anger and rage grew. Her power reacted to her emotions, building
under her skin, eager to be used. She glanced at the vampire for the first time
since he’d nearly killed her and then froze.

He lingered in the shadows, mostly hidden from view. She
recognized his golden hair, but his pale blue eyes no longer danced with mirth
like they once did. When her fingers twitched to cast, the vampire swung into
motion, snatching Drew around the throat before she could raise her arm.

Trina shot to her feet, but Merrick quickly caged her in his
grip when she would’ve charged forward.

“Let me go, vamp.” Drew struggled, but he had no strength
against the man holding him. He pulled out his knife. He might as well have
just handed it over for the ease in which the vampire took it from him.

Not to be outdone, Drew leaned forward and bit the arm loosely
collared around his throat. Retaliation was lighting fast. Like a snake, the
vampire struck back. A taste only, releasing him when the shifters moved
forward as one.

It sickened her to see Drew’s blood on his fangs. As if he
knew it bothered her, he licked his lips and smiled.

“What I want is very simple. Everyone can leave without
retaliation for entering my territory uninvited.” He paused dramatically. “In
exchange for our little Trina.”

She found her gaze swallowed by his. Her anger mellowed. His
words sounded so reasonable that Trina hesitated.

Everyone else would be safe.

Merrick stepped between them, and she blinked. What made
perfect sense just a minute ago now sounded insane. Revulsion filled her at the
ease in which he’d slipped into her mind. It chilled her that he knew her so
well that he was able to pick the perfect thing to tempt her. “You would start
a war with my blood.”

“No, I wish only to resume our rightful place in this
wretched world.”

“The pact was set for a reason.” Dorian stood in front of
Eden. One hand held a weapon, and the other was stirring a spell.

“Humans would become an endangered species.” Merrick refused
to back down. “There are reasons that vampires are relegated to the night.”

“You are no better, hiding from the humans, slowly dying
out. If you had the cure within reach, would you let it go?”

Merrick stiffened slightly, and the King laughed nastily.
“That’s rich.” He gave Merrick an assessing look. “There’s no need for us to fight
over her. We can split the blood between us and both get what we want.”

Trina glanced between the two men, horror tightening her
throat at the thought of being at the King’s mercy. “Merrick?”

She’d willingly offered him her blood, so why did he appear
to be considering the deal. He had a plan, and Trina had a feeling she wasn’t
going to like it.

“Release the boy, and we’ll talk.”

The King sighed and shook his head. “Now why don’t I believe
you?”

“Taking me will only land you more scars.” Each place her
blood had torn through him had left behind a tangle of knotted scars. She
touched her shoulder, pleased she hadn’t been the only one left with a reminder
of their meeting.

The vampire stepped forward as if to strike her.

And walked directly into sunlight.

The sun’s rays didn’t affect him…that was if you discounted
the way his skin went translucent enough to see the muscle and bones beneath. His
once-pretty face was destroyed. Pockmarks riddled his jaw, his lips twisted so
they didn’t line up anymore.

She couldn’t resist a taunt. “I bet it makes luring your
victims much harder now. If you weren’t king, I wonder if you would even be
able to survive.” Merrick’s hold tightened like he wanted to strangle her.

The King smiled, his face twisting into a grotesque mask
that made the muscles bunch underneath the skin. The vicious coldness in his
eyes turned her stomach liquid.

“You want the boy?”

A sharp sting of fear lashed through her at his question.
Trina swallowed, knowing it was a trap, but she couldn’t stop herself from
answering. “Yes.”

“He’s yours.” He dropped his arm and shoved Drew, knocking
him on his hands and knees.

Then he tossed the knife next to Drew’s hand.

Trina would’ve shot forward if Merrick hadn’t held her back.
Of course she knew it was a trap, she just didn’t care.

As Drew scrambled to rise, he grabbed the knife, one hand to
his throat to cover the wound that still sluggishly dribbled blood. He turned, backing
away from the vampire.

The King leaned against the wall as if he didn’t have a care
in the world.

Something wasn’t right.

“Kill the shifter.”

Drew spun around, his eyes widening comically as he took an
unsteady step toward Merrick and lifted the blade.

His panicked gaze met hers. “I can’t stop.”

Trina’s attention flicked to the King to see him absently touch
the worst of the scars. She’d taken away his most prized possession, so now he
was going to take Merrick from her.

Terror swamped her, and she wanted to rage at the King. He’d
taken everything from her once. She refused to let it happen again.

Trina stepped in front of Drew. She could save him if given
the chance. “You exchanged blood with the vampire, but that doesn’t mean you’re
his servant. You’re a strong witch. The magic won’t let you become enslaved.”

“How?” Drew continued to advance, his feet dragging as he
tried to resist.

“Call up your magic.”

As soon as the air grew charged, Drew sucked in a startled
breath and whimpered, his shoulders hunching. “It hurts.”

Trina wished she could help him but knew he had to do this
himself. “You are not the same boy who screamed in fear at the sight of
shifters when we first met. You survived the witches. You survived the human streets.
You will survive the vampires, too, do you hear me?”

He nodded, but sweat already darkened his hairline.

When he continued to resist the command, the King ventured closer
as if he’d never seen one of his puppets disobey before now. Merrick quickly
countered the movement, protecting her back, and the two faced off. Though she
was desperate to see what was happening, she was afraid to look away and lose
Drew.

“I want you to go over to Eden and break that chain.”

“What?” His voice squeaked, his concentration wavering. A
trickle of blood ran from his nose as he struggled for control. “But neither
Merrick nor Dorian could release her.”

“You took vampire blood, the blood of a king. You can break
his spell.”

Drew took a step to obey, and the King straightened, a frown
on his face as if he no longer found it amusing to see Drew disobey. “Halt.”

Only Drew didn’t stop. He lifted a hand over his shoulder
and flipped him off. Body hunched in pain, Drew shuffled forward and dropped
down next to the chain. Dorian was immediately at his side.

“Go.” Merrick nudged Trina. “I’ll buy you time. The rest of
you, find a way out.”

Before Trina could protest, the King moved in a blur of
speed while Merrick was distracted. A brush of air was all she felt when
Merrick vanished from her side.

The bodies collided with an audible thump, but neither man
went down. The two leaders grappled in an even display of strength, their muscles
shaking under the strain.

Somehow, she ended up on the wrong side of the fight,
separated from the rest of the group. She pressed her back against the wall,
inching along to get out of the way.

Until the wall behind her moved.

The damned door they were searching for was disguised by a
thin stone veneer. No wonder they didn’t spot it. It was just like the one they’d
entered through.

And someone was trying to get inside.

Trina eased away without a sound. As a vampire entered, one
foot over the threshold, she threw her weight against the door. The man
screamed when his skull became crushed between the slab of stone and the heavy
wooden frame. He stuck his arm through the opening for better leverage and managed
to free his head. But then the door slammed, firmly catching his arm. Despite
her weight, he pull on his arm, the skin scraping from forearm to wrist, peeling
off a thick strip of flesh.

If he managed to get free, he would easily overpower her.

Merrick must have seen her predicament and head-butted the
King. The vampire’s grip lost its purchase, and Merrick slashed the King’s
throat. Blood welled, but the vampire refused to relent, striking out with his
boot.

Merrick stumbled but didn’t go down. Trina had seen enough.
He would get himself killed trying to help her. “So help me, Merrick, if you
don’t watch your own back better, I’ll come over there and kick your ass
myself.”

Then Judith was there, her arms crossed, a little smile on
her face as if enjoying Trina’s predicament. “Having some trouble?”

She was almost glad to see the she-wolf. The vampire had nearly
freed his arm when Judith slammed her shoulder against the door. The vampire
screamed, and they watched as his amputated fingers fell to the floor.

A roar rang in her ears, and she jerked her head up. Both of
the men’s clothes were in tatters, blood staining the fabric. Each bled
profusely, but they also healed amazingly fast.

As the shifters and witches gathered around the fight, the King
seemed to realize that he was outnumbered and cut off from support. He hissed
at her in some garbled words, vaulted ten feet to the balcony above and
disappeared.

When Merrick crouched to follow, a slight burn of magic
warned that if she lost sight of him, she’d never see him again. Trina threw
her arms around his waist and clung to him with all the fear in her soul. “It
would be suicide.”

“He’s injured. He’d be easy to track. I can stop him from
coming after you again.” He easily untangled her arms, and panic crawled up her
throat.

“It’s almost dark. The guards are waking, I can hear them
scratching at the door. The chances are that you’d never reach him before they
tore you apart. If you want to keep me safe, get us the hell out of here.”

Merrick wanted to rage at being denied. He almost ignored her
pleas in favor of vengeance…until he scented her fear. It calmed Beast enough
for him to realize she was right.

Now that the battle was fading from his mind, he heard fists
pounding on the door. The assault reverberated through the room. “When I said
find an exit, I meant one that didn’t have a hoard of vampires on the other
side.”

Judith rolled her eyes. “Some help here would be good.” She
was losing the fight with the door. Inch by inch, her feet slid across the
floor. An arm reached through and swung wildly in her direction. Without
blinking, Judith pulled out her knife and pinned the arm to the door.

The vampire yelled and pulled. The knife sliced through
flesh as he withdrew, and black blood dripped down the door. Trina ran over to a
statue that was a few feet away and pushed. Merrick quickly joined her and the
naked woman that had to weigh half a ton crashed to the floor in front of the
door.

Judith rolled away then gazed up at them as she
straightened. “This won’t hold them long. Whatever you’re going to do, you need
to decide now.”

Drew spoke in a panic as if the order was directed at him. “I
can’t break the magic.”

Dorian squeezed Drew’s shoulder then looked at Trina. “The
magic doesn’t burn him, but he doesn’t have the training to unravel the spell.
The magic is tainted somehow.” He held up his hands.

Both palms were blistered and weeping, angry red and blotchy
white welts cover his fingers, the edges of the sores blackened. “I can’t guide
him without touching the chain, and I’ve not yet been able to break the spell.”