DAWN POV.I screamed, trashing around on my bed that felt like wet sticky blankets coated in blood. I gasped awake, my eyes opened wildly as I searched around for the monster that had attacked me, then I stared in horror at my chest trying to stop the warm blood from spurting out, looking for a hole that wasn't even there. I was sweating crazy when I finally realized that my heart was still intact. I wiped the sweat from my eyebrows, my cheeks, and down to my neck as I took calming breaths. It was just a bad nightmare. No demonic woman was trying to carve my heart out. I got to my feet, feeling exhausted and I screamed when I saw Gracie just leaning against the wall watching me. She must have just come in because she hadn't been there while I had searched around. My hand clutched against my rapidly beating heart. I inhaled slowly, then let it out. "Gracie? What are you doing walking around? Aren't you hungover?". I walked towards her and felt her forehead to check her temperature.
Cafe.Dawn got to work after the initial shock of seeing that the vampire who had kidnapped her and drained her to the point of death was standing right back at the cafe she worked. The customers were starting to trope in and she decided to busy herself with work and not acknowledge his existence. He was like a nightmare that refused to go away no matter how much she wished it would.She could feel his eyes on her. Dawn found herself always aware of when he laid eyes on her. He was the only one she knew who watched her in that manner. His eyes were full of hatred and yet she could almost sense a longing in them when he laid eyes on her. His emotions seemed to be guarded or maybe he just couldn't feel any.But If he could feel anger, then he could definitely feel the other types of emotion.Seth was seated at a secluded booth. Mason had gotten more serious and was helping out. Gracie took care of serving and displaying the cakes while simultaneously keeping watch on the door and chewin
PAST."Catch me if you can Seth!" Masika yelled and dashed behind the huge tree that stood at the center of the garden. Her voice sounded like smooth water running through the desert, it beaconed to him and forced a light smile to tug at the edges of his lips. He carefully moved towards the tree only to find her gone. He had not taken his eyes off the tree even once but they were surrounded by trees and bushes, so she might have crawled away.He looked around cautiously and only his fast reflex saved him from getting hit by her arrow square in the chest. He caught it mere inches from his chest in the air and finally found her crouched on the floor as she put another arrow through her bow.He smiled as she aimed at him once more, mischief dancing in her dark blue eyes that the sun kept lightening up whenever it had the chance. It was as if the sun was trying to compete with him. It couldn't get enough of her just like he couldn't."It's good to know you have your wits about you even w
The past."Mother is dying! We need to take her away from her father" Seth shouted, the veins on his neck standing out at the pressure he exerted. "How can we Seth? You heard the sorcerers and the physician. No one is allowed to go into her chamber""So we are just going to sit here and watch her die?" He roared, his hand fisting by his side."She's not going to die!" He growled back, matching his son's rage. "How do you know that? Answer me, how do you know that?"He suddenly grabbed at Seth's robe in anger. "We can not take her now. Don't you trust me anymore? Just a little more time and she will be ok" he said letting go of him slowly and looking suddenly weak.Seth puffed out air, his heart twisting in his chest. "Fine! You're the king, father and your word is the law, but if anything happens to my mother. I'll never forgive you" he promised, then ran away from him, jumped on his horse, and rode into the night.It was the witching hour when Alaric approached the Pharoah, looking
DAWN POV I opened my eyes slowly and stretched out my arms feeling more relaxed and different. The out-of-control way I felt yesterday seemed to be abated and, I felt fluid and stress-free. Silky sheets grazed over my naked skin as I wriggled around on the bed. I froze in realization. Oh my gosh! I looked into the sheet and I was indeed naked.Why was I naked? Who took off my dress? I asked myself stupidly. It was Seth who came to get me last night. Last night when I had gotten shit-faced drunk to quench the burning desire that had suddenly gripped me out of nowhere, I was sure Seth also had something to do with that.I pushed the blanket away and took in the condition of my skin. I gasped as I saw dark Hickey and bite marks littering over my chest, my arm, in between my thighs, and I felt sore all over. The headache also started registering to me because it was suddenly causing my head to bang as I stared at my state. He bloody took advantage of me like he always did... Just like
Persephone watched as the clouds gathered in the sky. It was a good night to hunt. It was dark, and the occasional lightning that rends the sky cast ghostly shadows over the whole terrain. "What a pretty sight this is." She could already picture it, everyone would be indoors and the unlucky prey who ventured out into the night would become a meal that even the gods would approve of, but she was not in the mood for it. Seth had not returned after their little quarrel that Fatimah had interrupted. The girl had been her nemesis for decades. There was nothing but bad blood shared. "I wish I could get her, just once. Maybe watch her bleed a little before I let her off".Persephone sighed. She missed Seth. He was never around these days. It felt just like when he had been in love with Masika in the past. He had loved Masika so much that no one else had existed where she was concerned and it was the same now.Even if it was a completely different girl and Seth was only after her blood. It w
PAST. SETH POV.I woke up in agony and I knew I was different. I also felt thirsty, very thirsty. My throat was parched as the desert sand and It felt as if I was going to die if I didn't get a drink soon. I was also sure it was not for water.I saw father talking to the sorcerer in a low whisper but I heard it like a loud drum beating in my ear. He was different. I was different. Persephone stirred beside me and I knew she was different too. Glancing around the room, I could see everything clearly even tho the whole room was shrouded in darkness.The sorcerers approached me with my father behind. Seeing his face made the hate in my chest, mingled with confusion grow like molten lava waiting to erupt. Father offered me a bowl and the scent was so wholesome it had my mouth watering and fangs I didn't know I had elongated shocking me. I couldn't stop myself from snatching the bowl from him and draining the red liquid. I gasped in shock, staring at the bowl I held with trem
Fatima entered the club and saw the cute bartender still serving drinks. She grinned, knowing exactly what might have happened after she left the bar. Silver was always looking for competition, so he must have undone her spell she reasoned.It was tough for her to decide which side she stood on. Seth didn't want her, and neither did Alaric, even tho he claimed to. She was waiting for the confirmation and with the way the sky rumbled and howled, she felt that she didn't have to wait long. The bar was pretty much empty. Either all the drinking folks hadn't felt like drinking or some person by the name of Silver had come to Clear them out.She turned towards the bartender. "I remember I told you to hang yourself right, so why didn't you do as you were told," she asked sweetly and he looked surprised."What?! I'm sorry, but what was that question? I don't think I heard you right"She ignored his bashful rumble. "Oh that's right, you won't die for me because you love someone else".His br
Epilogue. Getting back home took three whole days, but Dawn enjoyed every bit of it as she learned more about the extent of her powers. Seth taught her how to haunt, and after their hunting session, they explored and strengthened their mate bond until it felt as if their heart beat as one.Dawn could hear all of Seth's thoughts after she drank from him twice during their journey back home. She tried to keep it from him, but he soon figured it out when she kept laughing and blushing around him even when he was quiet. His thoughts made her feel good because they showed how whipped he was for her since he couldn't stop thinking about her. It was as if he totally changed from the brooding chaotic vampire to a lovable cuddly one with a dazzling smile that made her heart skip thousands of beats anytime he directed it at her.Seth pulled closer to her as they finally stepped foot into Syracuse."I'm thirsty" he whispered and Dawn looked at him incredulously."Are you never not thirsty"."Y
Masika blinked her eyes open as she waited, and felt nothing on her skin. Seth stood in front of her, his hand mere inches from her exposed throat. Masika dropped her hand, and stared at him, waiting for him to cut her down. "You will not be performing your stupid sacrifice tonight Masika, and look at that," he said pointing at the little hole in the walls. "The sun's already rising, and the little portal that would have provided you with your indestructible armies closed up," he told her, pointing to the charred circle where the two crosses stood.Masika looked at it, then at the red lights slipping through the holes in the wall. It was all over. Even if she wanted to perform the sacrifice it would take another century before she could attempt opening another gate to the underworld, and during that time, Seth would have gotten stronger and his Mate would no longer be a fledgling. It was all for nothing, but she wasn't going to accept defeat. She wasn't going to go down alone after e
DAWN POV.I'd welcome the cold feeling of both pain and pleasure as he gulped down my blood, and every euphoric feeling he felt overwhelmed me until it felt as if my heart was going to stop and for a second it did, or maybe it was more because I found myself floating through an endless spaceI saw and heard nothing. There was only thick darkness, and I felt cold, too cold. Voices seemed to reach me from a faraway place. I could tell that a war raged on and that the room was filled with supernatural beings trying to kill each other, but the pain of a particular person seemed to rend through my heart each time his voice reached my ear. My Mate. Seth. "You do not get to touch her" he roared, and I could feel him punching the various beings in the room as they rushed at him."You are not strong enough to stop me. I am the most powerful sorcerer, and I am going to finish this sacrifice even if I have to use your dead heart and hers." Masika screamed and a blast of dark energy was sent h
Seth gasped, his eyes flying open. And without even checking for Dawn, he could feel the heat that surrounded him from the warmth of the mate bond he shared with her, but she was different. Her scent was stronger and that awoke a hunger in him that had his fangs aching."Seth" her voice reached him and he turned to face her, his eyes greedily taking in every inch of her as he struggled with everything in him that wanted him to follow his instinct and quench his fiery thirst. "Are you alright" he forced out of his throat Instead, his fangs ached and refused to retract.Dawn stared at him before a smile touched her lips and that alone made him feel that his dead heart was suddenly thrumming in his chest and trying to beat its way out."I never thought I would be so happy to see you," she said, shaking her head as she stared at him, her gaze piercing through his soul.Seth swallowed, his throat parched dry as he watched her. His mate. The one he was destined to be with all his life."I
"What do you mean not to involve the cops? My daughter has been missing for two whole days. Are you going to keep lying to me that she is on an errand... I bloody know she is not, so you both better start talking" Amore yelled, her chest heaving as her gaze darted from Gracie to Gabriel. "Say something" she screamed when they both remained quiet."You wouldn't believe it if we told you. You'll think we were a bunch of raving lunatics" Gracie got out in a small voice as she twisted her fingers in worry, her gaze darting towards Gabriel, an unspoken question of what to do in her eyes each time."Bunch of raving lunatics... What the hell are you talking about... Just tell me where Dawn is, or I am going to go to the cops and you both will have to explain yourself there" she yelled, her hands making wild gesticulations in the air just to get a reaction out of them.Gabriel rubbed his hand over his face as he released a big sigh, his shoulder sagging dramatically.Amore lost her will to sc
A DAY LATER."I found her" Alaric announced as he stepped into the room where all the preparations for the sacrifice were being made. "She put up a good fight for a fledgling dragon, but there was nothing I couldn't handle on my own, especially with the substance you gave me." He bragged, his gaze fixed on Masika's back. A group of vampires accompanied him, and in their midst was a huge cage where Dawn lay. Her eyes were closed, and the pained expression on her face distorted her features even as she lay unconscious. Masika let out a loud sigh, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table she stood against. "Can you believe it father" she got out gravelly, her fingers tightening against the edges of the desk she stood in front of. "Seth choose that pathetic being over me... I thought I was the love of his life, I thought he had hated you all this while because he thought you were the reason why I betrayed him, so imagine my shock when he told me that it was never because of me and
SETH POV. The energy around us burned as it started fading away and then we were all standing in the middle of the apartment. Masika had managed to get us to the island in a day with her dark powers. The blood I had taken from Fatimah-although not much-still flowed through my veins and it dispelled all the weakness that I had been facing all the while.Once, the energy of her powers faded away, the scent of Dawn's blood wrapped around the house thickly and my fangs elongated, my heart warming up at the thought of seeing my mate again, that was until the putrid scent of the dead vampire who laid a few feet from us distorted the scent in the air."Where in the dark hell are we? What the hell happened here" Fatimah asked, looking around the building before gazing back at me. She moved towards the body, her eyes taking in every little detail of it. "That is a gruesome way to die, but I must say it looks so clean, it's like a piece of art," Fatimah said as she inspected the severed head o
Gracie forced an assuring smile on her face as she walked towards the table where Gabriel was seated with Dawn's mother. They had managed to calm her down but she still looked agitated, especially since they couldn't exactly tell her that Dawn was missing and that they might never be able to find them."Where did you say Dawn went to. I have been trying to reach her and she's not been answering my calls. Do you think she is angry at me"."Of course not, Miss Amore, Dawn loves you so much, she is not angry with you"."Then why won't she pick up my calls? I was so worried, I had to rush here. I've... " She faltered, her throat moving as she swallowed. "I've been having nightmares".Gabriel reached to take her shaking hands in his and the woman finally managed to take in a deep breath."It's ok Miss Amore. Dawn will be back before you know it. She's on an errand right now, but I assure you she'll be back soon. You just have to be patient. "I know. I know" she said in a shaky voice and h
Dawn POV.The world was quiet, but inside me, a fire raged and I couldn't even scream out anymore. I closed my eyes, welcoming every scorch and the pain that accompanied it. I was changing into something I didn't know and I could tell that it was triggered by the bite of Seth on those countless occasions that he'd almost drained me dry. Speaking about Seth, I could feel him getting closer, and with that feeling came a certain level of relief, then dread because without opening my eyes I could see everything that was bound to happen once they got here. Masika would be able to carry out her sacrifice and Seth was going to die at the hand of the woman he loved, the one who killed his mother and destroyed his whole life without ever finding out the truth. He was going to die at the hands of the woman who made him into a monster and drove him to run from anyone that tried to understand and love him.I didn't know how or when but I'd learned to accept Seth for who he was. He wasn't perfe