Blood Twist (The Erris Coven Series)

31



LIZ



Glorious sun spilled around her. The rays, shining down, covered the meadow in rich gold and garnet tones. Laughing and dancing, Liz raced through the tree line. Her body was as light as air, her limbs working in unison as she moved beneath the cloudless sky. Braden was standing by a fountain, his muscular build reminiscent of Adonis. His beautiful eyes were the color of the sky. With his arms outstretched, she dashed to meet him. Just when their hands touched, the marble base of the fountain began to crumble, splashing its cool water in waves down their legs. Hand in hand, they turned and looked up. The cherub statue that rose up in the center unfolded its wings, shifting in form to a gigantic owl. Instead of water, blood poured from its beak, staining the grass, coloring the air, sticking to their skin. Parting her lips, she was about to scream, but Braden swept her into his arms, shielding her from the blood and crumbling debris. Sheltered within his embrace, she closed her eyes and melded against him. As the owl burst into the air, all she could feel was Braden’s hearts beating wildly with hers.

Opening her eyes, Liz breathed out the deepest of sighs. Even after the creepiness of her dream, she felt safe and sound. With her body pressed against Braden’s, she marveled how similar the sensation was to her dream. She could feel the double beat of his hearts matching her own. It wasn’t just the sound of them, reverberating near her ear; it was the bond between them, making them one.

I can feel him inside me…

Liz’s heart was so full, she could only smile. In the hours she had spent curled up with him in his childhood bed, arm to arm, lips to lips, it was so simple between them, like they had always been one. Just his touch, a gentle brushing of his skin or lips against hers and she knew the clearest sense of peace she had ever dreamed possible.

When he placed her hand against his chest and whispered that simple little phrase, she felt the most intense expression of love course through him and pass into her that her knees almost buckled. Without him having to show her how, she brought his own hand to her heart and repeated the vow, completing the circle.

We’re forever, just the two of us, kismet.

The idea of being his fate-partner made her want to find the nearest cell phone tower and shout to all the world how happy she was. No more would she be alone, no more would she be in the way. He explained the bond as being of “one flesh” – like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The damphyrs didn’t marry in the typical sense, consisting of legal documentation and blood tests – soul binding united them as man and women for eternity. Although he claimed he was the lucky one, having found her at the age of eighteen, Liz knew she was the one God did a service to and blessed. She had someone to belong to for the first time in her life. Nothing else mattered.

Liz trailed her fingers over Braden’s shoulder, following the swirling lines of his sunburst tattoo. She still recalled her astonishment when she noticed it back at the Thunderbird Motel. At the time, she was surprised a guy like Braden who was so serious and conservative would want to be inked. But, not anymore – there was an edgier side to her blond haired half-vampire and it suited her perfectly.

Earlier, while exploring each other’s bodies, she asked him about the tribal design. He told her it was a reminder of what he would lose if he ever embraced the darkness: sunshine, life, family – that he didn’t ever want a day to pass where he could look in the mirror and not think about those things.

In response, she showed him her tattoo, a triad with the words “Provehito in Altum” tattooed beneath in a beautiful script on her ankle. Raising an eyebrow he asked what it meant and for the first time, she told him the whole truth about her father, about Petty Officer Louis and how terribly alone she felt that first year in Connecticut. But, once she discovered 30 Seconds to Mars, her favorite band, their music changed her life. Through them she met other members of the Echelon and found the strength to put her life back together and to be happy. The words in Latin were roughly translated “launch forth into the deep” and encouraged her to work hard to follow her dreams, even if others told her she was a fool.

Liz loved that he didn’t laugh – that he didn’t give her the same “you got a band tattoo?” comment like so many others did. Through their bond, he could feel how important it was to her and in return, she could feel his admiration.

Rolling on her belly, she studied his still form. He hadn’t slept the entire time they were away, but now, with his head so heavy in the pillow, his breathing was slow and steady. After barely making it through the front door before stripping each other passionately, the two made love for the first time and spent the entire afternoon swept up in each other’s arms, talking, kissing, loving. He wanted to go tell the others, but they were both too swept up in being alone. They had all of the time in the world to reveal what they found.

Liz knew Endellion and Aileen would be quick to welcome her to the fold, to explain to her things she was unsure how to approach with Braden. Things she was sure Lexie had already been asking.

How much older will I get? Will I look eighteen forever? What do you cook for your damphyr mate? What will I tell Bev and the Captain?

She did know they would live forever as long as their fate-partners were alive. That the very first damphyrs in Braden’s family learned centuries ago that God blessed them with soul mates so that they would have strength in life, a reason to stay strong and resist the darkness.

The marvel that gave life to the coven was what legends were made for. The stories behind folklore were always her interest. Liz wanted to learn everything and hear all of the tales Braden grew up listening to. His history was now hers, his life was now her life.

He’s beautiful…

The shape of his jaw line, the curve of his lips, she wanted to feather him with kisses until every inch of him was submitted to memory. How he could feel so right against her body was baffling. Never did she want to live apart from his again.

Giving herself to him so completely was the only thing she could do. It amused her to think how long she lived believing she was immune to love, that any guy other than rock gods, Jared Leto or Danny O’ Donahue, were unworthy of her affections.

But maybe the reason wasn’t just because her Dad had hurt her. Maybe, if she understood Braden’s explanations of fate-partners, she was only meant for him all along. Without his touch, she would have withered away back in Connecticut, living a life of regret and what ifs.

Riley knew that, at least she thought that was what he meant when he told her Braden was as hooked on her as she was on him. She just needed to stop fighting and accept that Braden was hers and wouldn’t change his mind someday and give her away. No one really knew what life had in store, but she could count on him.

With that comfort, she wanted to move forward and learn to live in the moment. She didn’t want to end up like Maze, growing old on the inside and unable to evolve with time. But she didn’t want to be like Riley either and have a life of regrets.

The memory of him would be hard to live with. If they told the others of his existence, they would try to hunt him down. It wasn’t fair. Knowing he wasn’t the same as all of the other draugar, that he could control his thirst so that he didn’t take lives, left her wishing she could plead his cause. Even Braden saw that in the end – the human part of his brother was still fighting to exist.

The damphyr’s had their rules for a reason. It just saddened her that Riley was lost between the two worlds, not really fitting in with either. When he kissed her, she could feel his sadness. Although his words told her that he cared and wanted her to come with him, Liz felt something else that he didn’t say. Perhaps, he didn’t even know. It wasn’t Liz that he wanted – it was a life beyond the evil he had been surrounded with for so long. A life he would have had if he hadn’t turned.

Her last images of Braden’s brother gave her hope. Strix stood among them, declaring his loyalty to Riley as the new leader. Perhaps it would make his existence easier. Although the bloodbath they discovered at Sunnydale was alarming, she wanted to believe Riley wasn’t one of the corpses they found. That if he had died, she would have felt it. Even though the bond she forged with Braden was overwhelmingly stronger in comparison, a small part of her had an unexplainable connection with Riley, too.

At least he left Ruby’s cure before he vanished.

Glancing down at her lover, Liz longed to awaken him with kisses and discover just how delicious a life bound as one can be again. Stretched out in the bed with just a sheet draped across his legs, Braden was shockingly beautiful. Sculpted muscles, broad shoulders and soft skins, he had the kind of physique girls plastered all over facebook. Even while sleeping, her damphyr had a slight smile on his face. The dream she just had of him filled her with the sweetest tenderness imaginable.

Did he share it?

Liz thought of Lexie and the dreams she used to have of Torin. Her friend tried explaining it. There was a magic about their kind, one Liz didn’t fully understand. She only hoped her dreams were just the beginning. That now she and Braden were bonded, they would have dreams together they could someday tell their children about. Dreaming of forever finally felt safe.

Although she knew Braden could give her one hundred good reasons for staying in bed, Liz thought of Lexie. She hoped her friend wasn’t worried about where she was. The cell phone had stayed silent, so Liz didn’t think she had a search party out or anything, but having a little girl time with her best friend could be good.

Since we both found damphyrs, it puts a whole new meaning to best friends forever.

Letting her half-vampire rest was probably a good thing. She didn’t know how long it had been since he was able to sleep without worrying about his future and the safety of his family.

And in his own bed…

The old house was stunning. Just as beautiful as Torin’s family home, the stately Queen Ann’s rooms overflowed with antiques and photos that were probably attached to memories, many of which showcased Ireland and Lachlan’s childhood there.

Liz hoped that Braden would find a way to talk to his mother about Riley. Maybe if she knew that he was doing the best he can, it would help ease some of her pain. Although Brigid lived quietly in the small guest rooms next door, maybe if Braden and Liz brought life back to the family home, she would be able to live there again and find happiness.

Would I be any different if I lost Braden? A child? I don’t know.

Liz slid out of bed and headed for the shower. Lexie mentioned a candle light vigil for a teen in town who was murdered by Lexie’s sicko stepbrother. It wasn’t going to be an easy night for her best friend and she wanted to stand by her in support. If Ruby was doing better, Ella might be a little more stable too. The fact that Liz was now fated to Braden was going to be fun to reveal. She hoped when he awoke, he would come join her.

Grinning wildly, she knew the night was going to be memorable. And the best part was – it would be the first of many.





32



BRADEN





It was surreal awakening in his childhood home. The sounds, the smells, nothing had changed, accept at six and half feet, he was no longer a little boy and his feet hung over the edge of the bed.

We’re going to need some new furniture.

Sleep. It was so amazing. With Liz by his side, he slept deeply for the first time in months. No worrying about the coven, no being concerned about what would happen to Brigid if he died – nothing at all to keep him from finally getting some well needed rest. As a full blown damphyr, his kind didn’t require a quantity of hours spent dozing, but after Riley’s command to see him, Braden had somehow lost the ability to rest at all, until now. Now he had Liz. With her as his fate-partner, Braden had a future, someone to love and a reason to smile. Having come so close to losing it all, he would never allow anyone to threaten the life they had together again.

Stretching his arm across the sheets, he hoped Liz was still beside him, but he could sense that she was off with Lexie. Smiling, he wondered if she could feel him now: how happy she made him, how much in love he was with her, how he still wanted her here and now. The taste of her skin, her touch, her kisses – the passion she so easily gave matched his.

Sitting up, he brushed his hands through his unruly hair. The easy grin he couldn’t part with since Liz became his fate-partner wasn’t the only thing that matched Torin’s. His closest friend also had messed up hair and with good reason. They both found someone to make them lighten up. As crabby as the tow of them had always been, he imagined their family would benefit from their unions as much they did. Hopefully, Cian and Teagan would find their partners soon. This new beginning of his life was incredible, one he wanted his cousins to share in.

He had been so hard on Cian about Brooke. Constantly trying to protect their secret, he rode his cousin about not revealing who they were all of the time. It wasn’t that Braden disliked Brooke, she was outgoing and friendly, he just worried who she would tell if Cian opened up about their kind.

I was wrong.

Even though he had always been the self-appointed leader, he had to learn to trust his cousins. Not partially, not with constrictions but in the same way he trusted the elders. Torin proved that to him the other night when he was in the midst of going through the final phase of the change and could still direct his thoughts and concerns towards saving Lexie.

Cian and Teagan weren’t children anymore. None of them were. He had to let go of his need to control them and just help guide them along.

What do I know about girls and relationships anyway?

Cian had been smitten with Brooke for the last year. The two were constantly inseparable, even when Braden tried interfering and encouraged his cousin to back off. At the time, he believed because Cian hadn’t dreamt of Brooke, she wasn’t going to be his cousin’s fate-partner. None of the stories the elders told about their unions happened that way, even Torin dreamed of Lexie for a year – but after having fallen for Liz and having their soul-binding experience, he had no right to tell Cian that he was wrong.

Gathering his clothes so he could go find Liz, Braden tried to think. How soon did he start feeling a physical reaction to Liz? Attraction to her scent came first – he should have known right then and there that she was meant to be his. If not then, he definitely should have known when they touched – that day, on the plane, when she told him he wasn’t what she expected. It was like sending fireworks through his nervous system. Every cell in his body focused on her, wanting her close.

Was it like that for Cian? What did Brooke feel for him? Maybe he could have Liz do a little investigating. It would be a shame for the two of them to have such a big secret between them and not even know that they could be one without dreaming of each other first. Even though he was pretty sure his soul mate didn’t have a subtle bone in her perfect body, he would see what Liz could find out about Brooke. Meanwhile he would talk to Cian. If his cousin did dream about someone else, there wasn’t anything he or anyone else could do.

Once dressed, Braden felt a ripple of hunger lance through his stomach. He would need to hunt with the elders tonight. Other than that lifeless bird he fed on in Canada, he hadn’t taken in a sufficient amount of blood. Now that he was home and he had Liz to spend his nights with, he wouldn’t be dallying in the woods with nothing else to do. He would go out, drink enough to restore his energy, and come home to her.

Glancing at the time, Braden was surprised it was evening already. He hoped to find Liz and bring her over to see his mother. The others would be able to tell they bonded, but not Brigid. With Lachlan gone, the magic that bound them and made her immortal was gone too. Other than his goofy grin and Liz’s blushed cheeks each time he pulled her close, his mother wouldn’t be able to sense they were any different. He wanted to tell her himself. It would mean a lot to her that he found his fate-partner while she was still alive. Maybe even have a damphyr ceremony that honored his family’s past and their future.

He still recalled how amazing it was when he saw Lexie for the first time after she and Torin bonded. Although she looked exactly the same, the power that made their family special, emanated off her in the same way it did Endellion, Aileen, and Fianna. How it once did off Brigid. Calling it awe inspiring was an understatement. Knowing Liz now held that same power was humbling.

How could I have feared she wanted Riley?

His brother’s looks may have been more of a match for Liz, but Braden knew now that was the only thing Riley had over him. If Liz wasn’t a fan of his wardrobe, she could dress him any way she wanted. The idea sounded entertaining anyway. Clothing aside, there was one thing he was sure of, Liz loved him. When she grasped his hands and exchanged the pledge binding their souls, every single feeling she had for him swept through him like a sun going super nova. Incredibly powerful, he would carry the moment with him always. The sunburst tattoo on his shoulder would now stand for her – her burning intensity and the brightness she brought to his life.

Liz cared about Riley, like he did, but she didn’t want him in the same way. It was relief. The hesitancy she had been expressing before now was something else. Although they grew up in different worlds, her life was still a hard one. Rejection was her fear and for good reason.

How could her father have turned his back on her?

Stepping outside, Braden swallowed dryly. It would be difficult meeting that man one day and not showing him the same lack of courtesy he showed his daughter. Never again would Liz’s father be allowed to hurt her, Braden knew he would see to that.

“One flesh – made for each other,” he whispered. “Let no man come between us.”

The sky had already darkened. Closing the door behind him, he noticed Liz’s Chevy was gone. Torin mentioned the vigil being held in Courtney’s memory at the school. The girl made it a point to trouble others, but she never bothered him. Although she had a thing for Torin and acted out a few of Teagan’s fantasies, for the most part, Courtney spent her time bothering Brooke and her friends.

The night they found her body in the back field, Braden couldn’t help but grieve for the girl. Maybe she wasn’t the nicest member of Erris’s young community, but she had promise. It was difficult to say who she would have become if given time to mature. Although he knew that as damphyr, he would see a lot of humans come and go, it still struck him how sad it was for a teenager to die without having really lived first.

The elders did their best to bury her and Catherine Barry, the animal control officer, properly just south of Chamberlain Lake. There were dense parts of the forest untraveled by humans where the two could be put to rest without discovery. Alec killed them so viciously. Although Hollywood liked lumping vampires and werewolves together with subtle differences, the two were definitely different species. The pack mentality of the pricolici was nothing like the nest he discovered in Vancouver or like his coven here in Erris. It would be impossible for any of them to coexist.

Striding across the driveway, he was just about to check in on Ruby, when a familiar scent halted his steps. Tilting his head to the side, alarm heaved through him, causing both his eyes and teeth to shift. Carried on the breeze, a papery thin mildew tinted the air. It was subtle, almost unrecognizable, but he knew the smells of home and it didn’t belong. Having just spent twenty-four hours in Canada, he identified it immediately.

Draugr…but which one?

As soon as he thought it, the phone in his pocket buzzed. Looking down at the caller display, the number Riley had used to contact him appeared. Clicking on the text message, he wasted no time trying to second guess the meaning of the words.

“Finally home to mother, I’ll drain her first, then onto Liz? Or would you like to sacrifice yourself on her behalf?”

Giving way to his inner hunter, Braden lunged into the darkness, tracking his prey.