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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Vampire Wars

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  About Violett

  Coming Soon!

  Copyright 2018 by Violett Skye.

  All Rights Reserved.

  Lovers ever run before the clock.

  -William Shakespeare

  1 Dillan

  It was a long and quiet drive back to the mansion. A tense silence between them filled the car.

  Dillan looked at Ella from the driver’s side. Her shoulders were hunched over, and her eyes had a vacant look in them. Clearly she was overwhelmed and rightly so. There was so much for her to understand. Her new life. Vampire Wars. Someone trying to kill her. Dillan knew it was a lot to heap on her at once, but he had to tell her. He’d dreaded this moment since he brought her back to his family home to complete her transition.

  She hadn't said anything since he drove her out to the forest and dumped the history of the supernatural onto her. He knew, watching her scared eyes darting around the Stone Forest, that this information terrified her. It was just too much for her to take in. He couldn't get that image of her, frightened to her core yet trying to hide it, out of his mind.

  He snuck another glance at her in the passenger seat as they approached his long driveway. Tears ran down her cheeks. Her tears began to fall at the cemetery and hadn’t stopped coursing down her cheeks since. She made no sound, and she only occasionally moved to wipe the wet off her cheek.

  Her mood had been erratic over the last couple weeks, but that was to be expected. Dillan understood how much pressure Ella was under. First there had been the car accident. Then she died—no small thing to process—and discovered she was a vampire. Just learning what an immortal life looked like was overwhelming enough. Now, just because the universe loved last laughs, Ella discovered that her new life was in danger. Instead of learning how to deal with her new life, there was a murderous werewolf out there—bent on destroying what life she did have and she was forced to learn how to protect herself. She was understandably overwhelmed and terrified. Dillan ground his teeth together in frustration. The blows kept coming, and Dillan worried about how much more she could take.

  No, he didn't blame her for the tears. He wished, however, that she’d let him comfort her. He wanted to reach out and hold her hand, hug her, and dry her eyes. But the anger in her eyes showed that she still saw him as the enemy. His touch wouldn't bring her peace, only pain. A reminder of everything she had lost. Lost because he had taken it from her. Still, his body responded to thought of her wrapped in his arms; the touch of her skin on hers. He’d not forgotten how it felt when she’d clung to him, kissed him, begged him to stay with her. But there was no chance at having any kind of future with Ella as long as Cedric remained a threat.

  Damn it, Cedric. Will I ever be rid of you?

  Dillan vowed, as he closed the garage door behind them, that he would find a way to remove Cedric as a threat as soon as possible. In the meantime, he reset the magical wards around the house, hoping that they would protect Ella and serve as an early warning system. There, he thought, that will give us some time. I hope. Now if I just knew what Cedric was planning. Cedric was cunning, imaginative, and Dillan had no idea what he would do to exact revenge. If he decided to strike before Isabella was restored, he wasn’t sure he would be able to stop Cedric. And Isabella would be the last one to be affected by the breaking of the spell. She was first in, last out.

  What mattered now was to be ready for when Cedric did come out and attempt something. No more curses suspending him in time. This time, Dillan knew that he would do whatever it took to end this feud forever. He wouldn't stop until Cedric was dead and Ella was free—or as free as she could be now that he'd taken everything from her that mattered.

  2 Ella

  Ella wiped the tears off her face as she stumbled from the dark garage and into the house. Meandering through the mansion, she found herself standing in front of the monstrous fireplace in the living room with the fire that never seemed to go out.

  There must be employees around here that take care of this. It struck her odd for she never saw Dillan clean the house or stoke the fire or even cook. Yet the little details like the never-ending fire made her think that someone must also be on the property, making sure that the household ran smoothly.

  She needed distraction from all that Dillan told her in the Stone Forest. She turned and watched Dillan, wanting to speak but not sure where to begin. He stood near the ever-ticking grandfather clock. His eyes tracked her as she moved around the room. He always seemed to watch her with an unreadable face. Ella wondered which Dillan was he right now? The kind and caring man, or the monster that bared fangs.

  She gulped and decided she didn't care. She craved a distraction and needed him to provide that for her, no matter what mood he was in. Her stomach did a little flip as she remembered the passionate embrace they had shared.

  “Dillan," she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

  "Ella."

  She rolled her eyes at his response. So it was the sarcastic version, not the scary side of him right now. The one that irritated her, but didn’t frighten her. She’d take it.

  "Who helps you run this house?"

  "Nobody. Why do you ask?"

  "Uh, well, the fires are always lit, for one. I've never seen you cook or clean, yet…"

  She looked around, emphasizing her train of thought.

  "There is no dust. The entire house is immaculate. If I've never seen you do it, then there must be someone who does.”

  "Magic," he said flatly.

  "Really? You keep your house clean with magic?"

  He nodded. “Of course.” His answer was stilted as if he had grown bored of talking.

  She stared into his eyes, hoping he’d elaborate on the magic, but realized that he wasn't going to expound any further.

  Annoyed, she rolled her eyes and turned back to the fireplace. Over the crackle of the fire, the grandfather clock started to chime. Another wave of irritation washed over her at how normal it all seemed. She couldn’t wrap her mind around how a vampire, someone who was surrounded by the supernatural, could have something as mundane as a grandfather clock to keep the time.

  Why even care about the time at all?

  She picked up the fireplace poker and decided to test his limits. She muttered under her breath as she stomped towards the clock. “I’ve had enough of that clock. It has got to go before it drives me crazy."

  Ella felt like the clock mocked her. Time was meaningless now, and the ticking it made only reminded her of what she lost. She gripped the poker tightly, and when she got close to it, she swung, anxious for the sound of shattering glass and the clattering of disconnected chimes no longer able to mark the passing of time.

  She even closed her eyes, a left-over human instinct done to protect them. When her hand made contact with the clock, the only sound she heard was an uneventful thud. The glass didn’t shatter. The chimes still gleefully sung their tune, mocking her. Ella opened her eyes to see what the poker made contact with. Dillan held tight to the other end of the metal weapon.

  Ella sighed in frustration. "I hate that clock. Make the chiming stop. Please. Just make it stop."

  "What did the clock ever do to you, dear Ella?" Dillan asked. He continued to grip the poker firmly, even though his voice seemed quiet and easy.

  "It's just—I hate it. It ticks so loud and chimes every fifteen freaking minutes." She lifted her arm, hoping to shake Dillan off so she could raise the poker for another attempt at battering it down. Unfortunately, Dilla
n’s grip was solid. He wasn't relenting.

  "Don’t destroy that clock today, Ella. Or any day for that matter. It was given to me by a dear friend, many years ago. It means a great deal to me, and I won't see it ruined because you want to throw a temper tantrum."

  Ella growled under her breath, frustrated at the outcome. Is this some sort of world conspiracy? She let go of the poker, which Dillan now held. Spinning on her heel, she intended to storm back to her room. But before she had the chance, Dillan threw the poker to the floor, a clanging echo sounding throughout the foyer. Ella sucked in a gasp of air as he gripped her arm and turned her toward him. She couldn’t help but feel just a little bit afraid of him.

  “It’s just a freaking clock? What is with you? You’d think I’d be entitled to a bit of a tantrum given all that I’ve been through. Jesus.”

  She didn’t know what to expect. She braced herself for a vocal lashing, but it never came. Without breaking eye contact with her, he stepped forward and kissed her so fiercely she forgot all about the clock.

  With his lips on hers, she forgot all about how she wanted to keep her distance from him. She forgot how he rejected her only a few nights ago. Her whole body and all her senses filled with Dillan Stone, immortal vampire.

  She kissed him back, her hands exploring his back, his hair, and his waist. Her hands made their way to his face, and she traced his features. Soon, she forgot all the things her hands were doing because his were engaged in distracting her thoroughly. One hand rested on the small of her back, pulling her in to him. His other hand gripped her neck roughly but somehow gentle— it made her heart beat a thousand times faster than normal. However, what Dillan did with his lips drew all of her attention.

  Her whole body tingled. She could barely breathe, and as she got weak in the knees, Ella grew aware that her lungs drew no breath. It startled her a bit, but she recalled that technically she was dead, and that vampires had no need for air.

  I guess there’s a positive side to this whole situation, she thought. Breathing, food and water, sleeping—these things were all done as a secondary thought, a leftover habit from a human existence which required those activities. All of these activities were unnecessary now, and Ella marveled at the advantage that not needing to breathe provided, freeing her body up to focus her attentions on Dillan—and what he was doing to her.

  His lips moved to her neck, causing her to reflexively inhale sharply. Her whole body felt alive. Her mind reduced to goo. She didn’t even care who was doing this to her. Her whole attention was devoted to their embrace.

  A sharp pain shot out from her shoulders. Ella noted, somewhere in the back of her mind, that his grip dug into her skin. This brief shot of pain excited her even more. He held on to her arms tightly as he kissed her thoroughly. She felt her fingers going numb. She wondered why this made her feel so good when it should have warned her to get away. The tightness of his grip was intoxicating, even as she felt his fingers digging into the flesh of her upper arm.

  Can vampires bruise?

  Torn between breaking their lip-lock or asking her question, her ears filled with an ear-splitting, high-pitched clanging sound. Ella broke off their kiss as Dillan dropped his hands and stepped back from her. Ella put her hands on the side of her head as the sound pierced her brain like a knife.

  In a single fluid movement, Dillan spun around and tucked her behind him protectively. She stood between his body and the fireplace and looked around frantically for the source of the awful noise.

  Quietly, she hissed into his ear. “What is that noise, Dillan?"

  "The wards. He's here. He’s trying to get in."

  Ella stood speechless, gathering her thoughts.

  Dillan grabbed her hand, and she eagerly accepted. "Follow me. He can't get in. You are safe."

  She nodded but didn’t believe him. He stood too rigid, and there was an edge in his voice that betrayed the words he spoke. A chill moved down her spine.

  Dillan dragged her through the house. They ran through the familiar rooms of her new home until they came to a new door. A room she never dared go through before—his bedroom. Frightened as she was, she didn’t have time to question his decision or feel awkward for being in such a personal domain. The obnoxious sound would fade out, only to begin again and again. It was almost like the house had a pulse.

  "Is that Cedric?"

  "Yes."

  "What is happening? Why does it keep repeating?"

  "Each time he tries to breech the ward, it makes that sound. I set it up that way. It’s a warning."

  "But he can't get in, right? You said he can't get in."

  “No.” The commanding sound in his voice calmed Ella down a bit. He sounded more convinced. "Isabella's magic is powerful. Nobody could break through it, certainly not a werewolf without any magic of his own”

  "So what does he want?"

  He replied emotionless. “You. Dead.” Dillan looked at Ella, the pain visible in his eyes.

  She gulped.

  The pronouncement of an impending guaranteed death didn't faze her like she thought it should. All she thought about was how worried Dillan looked.

  He steered her over to his bed and gently encouraged to sit.

  “Here. Just sit here,” he said. “I know you are worried, but I’ll keep you safe. This isn’t my first run-in with Cedric.”

  Leaving her on the bed, Dillan moved to the window. He gazed out into the darkness, appearing to look for signs of Cedric and what his plans were.

  "Yeah, right. Nothing to worry about. Everything is just fine,” she mumbled under her breath.

  Every time Cedric prodded the magical wards that protected the house, a new wave of sound washed over her. He seemed to be relentless in his attempts to get inside.

  Dillan continued to speak, his voice haunting. "Really, it's going to be fine.”

  His voice was flat, he spoke with no emotion. His words sounded hollow to Ella as she saw the lie in them. She gasped at how emotional Dillan’s eyes were. She wanted to run to his side and hold him.

  "It's not fine, Dillan,” Ella responded. “I can tell you’re scared as well. He wants to kill me! That is not fine.”

  "It's going to be fine because he isn't going to be able to kill you,” he said, gripping her hands and holding them to his chest. "I love you, Ella. I might as well tell you that now. You will be safe because you have to be. I love you, and if you were not safe, I couldn’t live without you."

  Ella squinted her eyes in confusion. How can he even think about love when death is all around us?

  She stared at him as a tear fell from his eye and rolled down his cheek as he mentioned her death.

  “No, I don’t believe you. There’s something else you aren't telling me. I can see it in your eyes. You keep repeating that you'll keep me safe and alive, but that’s not what’s in your eyes. I see death in them."

  He let go of her hands and went back to the window, mindlessly adjusting the curtains. He gazed out the window in silence. Ella knew he was buying himself time.

  His deep sigh sounded like resignation. When he spoke, she heard the chill of death in his voice. "I will kill him, Ella. And you will be safe. But yes, you are right. There is something else. He and I are bound. When he dies, I will die. The spell that Isabella cast to imprison him that allowed me to live entwined our lives together. Only she can undo it. But, as you’ve seen, she hasn’t awoken. So the only choice I have is to kill him, and myself by necessity, in order to protect you. A worthy trade. It’s the least I can do to make up for what I’ve done to you.”

  He didn’t give Ella a chance to respond because he turned his attention back to the window and started up again. “I’ve lived a long life, Ella. I don't grieve for what I’m going to do. I grieve for you. For what I have done to you and now for forcing you to face this life without me before I can teach everything you need to learn to stay safe.”

  “So, that’s it? There's no hope. Nothing you can do? You are just going
to die and leave me alone? What about my happiness? Don't I get to have any say in this plan? Never mind. I don't want you to answer that question. I already know. Why would I think that now I’ll suddenly have a voice in my own life.”

  She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see the pain and bleakness in his. She sagged her shoulders.

  Breathe, Ella. Just breathe.

  A soft press of his hand on the back of her neck caused her eyes to open and meet his green eyes. He raised her chin with his hand.

  "Ella, look at me. There is hope. For you, there must be hope."

  That cold, unfeeling voice had been replaced with a soft, ragged, yet tender one. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. Ella had never heard the fierceness in his voice. It did bring her hope.

  "I'll stop him, Ella. He can't kill you if he's dead. When we die, the spell Isabella cast will lift. My brother, Robert, will emerge from his prison, and I’m certain he will take care of you. You won't be alone. And Isabella. She’ll sense her own magic used here tonight when she arises from her own tomb and she’ll track you. Explain what happened. She’ll not leave you unguarded or alone.”

  Ella closed her eyes, grateful to hear the strength in his voice. He had a plan, and he wasn’t leaving her alone. She didn't want this new life, but she didn't want to be dead, either. But a life without Dillan—what would that be like? And her was currently her only friend or ally. The only person—creature?—who knew she even existed anymore. Whatever else he’d brought into her life over the last few weeks, she couldn’t deny that things were interesting.

  "But—"

  When she opened her eyes once more to express her concerns for her future in a world without his protection and knowledge, Dillan wasn’t in front of her. He was gone.

  3 Dillan

  He heard her call his name as he left, but he refused to go back to her. He paused in the dining room, looking out the window once more. Cedric was not in sight. The alarm of the wards stopped. Dillan hoped that it meant Cedric was no longer trying to get in.