Blood Slave Read online

  Viking Seduction: Blood Slave

  Brannan Black

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright ©2010 Brannan Black

  ISBN: 978-1-59596-815-9

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  Publisher:

  Changeling Press LLC

  PO Box 1046

  Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046

  www.ChangelingPress.com

  Editor: Margaret Riley

  Cover Artist: Reneé George

  Adult Sexual Content

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  Viking Seduction: Blood Slave

  Brannan Black

  Kierra’s been trying to get Dekker’s attention since they first met. His Nordic good looks and old world charm send shivers of heat straight through her every time she sees him.

  An invitation to a vampire themed rave seems like just the thing to help him see her as more than a friend -- until she discovers it’s not just a theme. And now she’s tangled up in a world she thought only existed in romance novels -- only these vampires are far from hunky knights in shining armor.

  It’s the twenty-first century. Who keeps slaves anymore? Other than really, really old vampires…

  Chapter One

  I swerved my chopper around yet another slow driver. Damn it. How could Kierra have believed that weasel Ferine? Like I would invite her to a vampire rave. Shit, I’d never even asked her out on a real date. Not in the three months we’d been hanging together.

  Maybe she’d read more into that choker I’d given her than I intended. How could I explain I’d had it magically enhanced to warn other vampires off without telling her about them? Of course then I would have had to explain I was one. So here I was swerving through traffic to save the ass of a young mortal who apparently wasn’t smart enough to stay out of trouble on her own. One I made the mistake of caring about.

  She’d left the message an hour ago. It’d take me another hour to get there, assuming I didn’t hit any traffic snarls. Shit. It’d be close. If Ferine hurt her…

  I shoved those thoughts aside. I’d already called Nate to meet me there. At least I wouldn’t be alone on Ferine’s turf. Hmm… Adriana. She lived near Ferine’s warehouse. Surely she’d side with me. Maybe we could avoid an ugly confrontation. The inner circle’s main job was to keep peace between the various vampire houses. Yeah, wouldn’t hurt to try.

  “Call Adriana.” I really love the wireless headset I had installed in my bike helmet. “Elder Adriana, got a problem.” I dodged another car and shot through the yellow light.

  * * *

  I saw Nate’s big 4x4 headed around front. Not wanting to have to fight my way in, I squeezed between a couple buildings and slipped down the alley behind the warehouse. Shutting the bike off, I rolled into the shadows.

  Muffled curses and a woman’s scream reached my sensitive ears. Son of a bitch. Kierra!

  Ferine’s muffled voiced goaded me. “Go ahead, fresh blood. No one who can hear you will care.” I clenched my jaw, listening to his sickening whine. “You’re my gift to the gathering tonight. Come on, mustn’t keep them waiting.”

  I hurried around to the back door and twisted the handle. Locked. A harder twist did nothing to budge it. Damn them, they’d beefed up their security.

  A rusting pile of old pipe lay nearby. Perfect. I swung once against the doorknob. Both pipe and knob shattered in a spray of metal. I kicked the door open with what was left of the pipe in hand, ready to strike, but no one guarded the back door, which led to a crowded storeroom. Guess I should be glad he was so damn cocky.

  Earsplitting techno music covered any sounds I made. I tossed the pipe aside and tested the inner door. Locked, but nothing special. One good twist and it broke. I stalked down an empty hall toward the central room. It paid to know the layout of your rival’s hangouts. Hallways split off, leading to offices, safe rooms and stairs down to where they kept their human cattle. But I figured Ferine would still be up front where he could show off.

  By the time I reached the main room, I could hardly hear myself, much less anyone else over the loud music. Pausing in the shadows of the hall, I closed my eyes to sniff. There, a faint scent of fear. Had to be her.

  The crowd in the main room didn’t pay any attention to me. The vamps were too busy feeding and screwing, and the mortals getting off being drained. Idiot bite junkies.

  Still I stuck to the edges of the crowd, looking over bobbing heads for any sign of Ferine and Kierra. Her scream came from an alcove to my right. I shoved a few bodies out of my way, not caring what or who they were.

  Bursting in, I saw Ferine had her pinned to the blanket-strewn platform at the back of the room. I grabbed his collar and shoulder and spun him into the wall. I spared only a glance at Kierra to make sure he hadn’t bitten her yet.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing with my claim?” I lunged, pinning Ferine to the wall with my forearm. He could almost look me in eye, being just shy of my six foot one, but he’d never carried much muscle on his slight frame. Me, well, I used to be a Viking. Nuff said.

  Ferine bared his fangs at me. “Fuck off, book boy. She’s not marked, means she’s fair game. And since I brought her here, she’s mine first. Get in line.”

  I shoved harder, driving breath from the other man. I wanted to remind him just how much stronger I am. “You know damn good and well I’ve been seeing her for over three months.”

  “Three months and not a mark on her. Fair game,” Ferine spat back. “Get off me, prick.” He struggled, trying to dislodge me. I hissed a warning through my fangs.

  The crowd parted to allow Adriana through. She looked like she belonged in a corporate boardroom with her grey silk suit and carefully coifed blond hair. Her perfect lips drew together in a little moue of discontent.

  “You summon me, Dekker, and then don’t even have the courtesy to greet me?” Her voice slid from her lips like warm honey, sweet and hypnotic.

  I stepped back, letting Ferine go, and offered her a slight nod of respect. “Forgive me, Lady Adriana, I was indeed rude. But had I waited, the matter would have gotten out of hand.”

  I glanced over at Kierra, who’d plastered herself in the back corner, as far from us as she could get. Her amber eyes looked like saucers, and the pallor of fear gave her normally tan face a sallow look.

  “I see. So this is the mortal in question?” She looked Kierra over with a slow languid gaze. “Not my type, but comely. I am surprised, Dekker. Didn’t think she’d be your type either. At least not for a blood slave.”

  Ferine swaggered closer. “He’s no right
to her. She’s not marked and I brought her here.”

  I turned to Kierra, trying to keep my anger under wraps. She’d crawled as far back on the platform as she could get. The red and black corset barely covered her ample breasts, especially with her chest heaving in near panic. Her honey gold hair swept around to one side and spilled down her chest. A few strands had come loose in her fight with Ferine. She managed to get most of her long, shapely legs under the short black pixy skirt. Damn, she looked good. I felt my cock growing hard despite the situation.

  “Where’s that choker I gave you? Your message said you’d be wearing it.”

  Her hand flew to her neck. “I, I don’t know. I had it. What the hell is going on here?”

  I couldn’t spare the time to respond to her right now. And the others might take it as a sign of weakness. I knew Ferine would.

  “Well, without it, there’s no proof he’s claimed her. And I brought her. Mine.” Ferine crossed his arms defiantly across his chest and arched an arrogant brow at me.

  I let a wicked grin stretch my face. “Oh, there is. The smith made the choker with my essence and protection spells specifically for her, you can ask him. And here’s proof you intended to poach my claim.” I whipped out my cell phone, dialed my voice mail and put it on speaker.

  Kierra’s voice echoed clearly from it. “Hi, Dek. It’s Kierra. Ah, your note said not to call ’til I got there, but I wanted to let you know I’m coming. A rave, sounds like fun! Debbie’s helping me find an outfit that will go with that choker you gave me. Wish you were coming to get me, I’m a bit nervous about getting in some strange guy’s car. Maybe I can talk Debbie into coming too. Hope that would be OK. Well, anyway, looking forward to seeing you. Call me. Bye.”

  I stared hard at Ferine. “Especially interesting since I didn’t leave her a note inviting her here. Pet, why’d you get in Ferine’s car?”

  “The note said your friend, Ferine, would pick me up.” Her brows drew down in some confusion, as if she didn’t understand why she’d done that.

  “Let me guess, you felt nervous until he touched you? Maybe took your hand and then everything seemed just fine?” She nodded, still with that confused look on her face.

  I crossed my arms over my chest and glared triumphantly at Ferine. “Had to vamp her, did you?” Maybe she wasn’t as clueless as I’d feared.

  All eyes turned to Ferine. He scowled and hissed angrily. “So you gave her a necklace. Doesn’t make it your claim. And who cares if I did use a little vamp persuasion on her? We do it all the time.”

  Adriana’s eyes narrowed and her voice chilled the room. “Ferine, you’ve broken more than one rule here. Knowing how you and Dekker feel about each other, I’ve no doubt you intended to poach his claim. Worse, you brought an unwilling and unknowing into our world. This endangers us all. I think your little parties are over. I hear of another one, and I always do, you’ll regret it.”

  “Unknowing? She works at the Slivered Moon. Unwilling? Look at how she’s dressed. I’d say she’s looking for something,” Ferine countered.

  We all looked at her and she drew even farther into the corner. I had to admit, she looked a lot like a goth hooker in that dress. A really hot goth hooker. We all stared at her, waiting for an explanation.

  It took her several tries to clear her throat and choke out an answer. “The note said to dress for a rave, and, well, Debbie thought this would look good…”

  Adriana smiled knowingly. “I suspect you wanted to dress for someone in particular?” Her smooth voice flowed out in an almost visible mist and she locked her clear blue eyes on Kierra. I could see Kierra’s eyes soften. Adriana had amazing powers, better than any truth drug known.

  “I-I wanted Dekker to see me, you know, like a woman. Not just a friend.” Her sudden blush and panicked confusion showed she still retained some of herself, even under Adriana’s power.

  “And were you aware of vampires before tonight?” That honeyed voice gave her no choice but to answer.

  “We get wannabes in the store all the time. But I’ve never seen any as sick and delusional as these.” Her eyes flew wide like she couldn’t believe what she’d just said.

  Adriana smiled at me, then turned to Ferine. “Ruling stands.”

  I gave Ferine a satisfied smirk.

  “Don’t get too cocky, Dekker. Dallying with mortals is dangerous, especially for someone already so tied to their world. You’ve a choice to make. Mark your claim on her right now, or she’s community property. There is no way she’s leaving here unclaimed. Understood?”

  Son of a bitch. I’d meant to protect her, not claim her. Although my aching fangs and hard as stone cock had other ideas. I had no choice but to nod my agreement.

  “Good. And Dekker, she needs to understand her place before she’s allowed out, and then on a very short leash.” Adriana’s cold grey eyes stared hard into mine.

  Maybe I could fake it? Say I would once I got home then make sure she got the hell out of Dodge? I nodded again.

  Adriana’s slight smile and cocked brow sent my heart sinking. “Well, what are you waiting for? Claim her now or be done with it.”

  Shit. She knew me too well. “Now? Here? Lady Adriana, you know I’m not the exhibitionist some are. And I sure as hell am not giving him,” I jerked a thumb at Ferine, “any gratuitous thrills.”

  Lady Adriana smiled a bit softer. “Of course, love,” she drawled in her honeyed voice. She turned. “Out, all of you. And Dekker, blood’s enough, though she might not thank you for waiting.”

  I offered her a respectful bow. “Ferine!” I stepped to the door and called after him letting all my anger show in my face and tone. “Mess with me again and I won’t seek mediation. We’re done dancing.”

  Ferine laughed. “Oh, so scared. Go play with your pet and stick to your stupid books. Everyone knows you’re all hiss and no fang.” He flipped me off as he turned away.

  Ferine had no idea who I’d been or the kind of trouble he courted. I had a feeling this wasn’t over.

  I turned to Kierra, who was still pressed into the corner. The wild look in her eyes hurt. And I was about to make it worse.

  “Dek, what the hell is going on? That man said he was your friend and then he attacked me. And… and those people out there…” She pointed out the door with a shaking hand. “They looked like they were biting each other. What kind of sick freaks are you hanging with?” She started toward me and then froze.

  I drew a deep breath. I wished it didn’t have to be this way, here, and now, but Adriana left me no choice. How to explain this gently? “Pet, you’ve stumbled into a world you thought only existed in romance novels. Only we aren’t nearly as nice. Those people are vampires and they’re biting and drinking off mortals like you.” I stopped to let her digest that.

  She looked at me like I’d gone nuts. “Vampires? Seriously? Dek, I’m not crazy. There’s no such thing.”

  “Then you tell me what you think you saw.” I crossed my arms and waited.

  She took a deep shaky breath. “I saw a bunch of sick fucks, crazy sick fucks, pretending to be vampires. And your buddy, Ferine, is the sickest of them all. Dek, he attacked me!” She took a step toward me, her eyes begging me to set her world back to rights.

  Only I couldn’t. “Sorry, pet. Real vampires. And Ferine is not my buddy. We’re rivals. No, after this, he’s moved to the enemy column, definitely an enemy. I know it’s hard to grasp, and it’s about to get worse.” I schooled my face into a cold mask. If she had any idea how hard this was for me, we’d both be lost. I had no choice and neither did she.

  She backed into the corner again. “Dek, wha… what are you doing?” Her voice quavered.

  I didn’t bother to sugarcoat it. “Pet, you have a choice, and not a good one. You can accept my bite, my claim, and go home with me as my property. Or, you’ll be thrown to the crowd.”

  “Thrown to the crowd? To do what with? And, what do you mean by property?” Her eyes widened in true fear as
I slowly approached. I’d known all along she found me as attractive as I found her. Maybe a little old fashioned seduction would make this easier.

  “You’d be my pet. I’d own you. Or…” I leaned close, hands resting against the wall on either side of her, lips almost brushing her neck. “Ferine gets to finish what he started and you’ll be like those you saw on the way in, a bite junky. One hungry, randy vampire after another, for as long as you survive.”

  I let my mouth brush her neck. I could smell her sweet hot blood pulsing below my lips. My fangs ached, wanting just a taste. Her clean, fresh woman scent filled my nose. I inhaled. Hmm. Fear, and what was that? Arousal? I hoped it was for me, and not some kinky thing. “I wonder, pet, how many do you think you could take before you passed out? And worse, you’ll crave for them to do it again and again. The pleasure is exquisite and highly addictive.” I brushed the rim of her ear with my lips. The arousal smell heightened. Oh, yeah, she wanted me.

  “Dek! Back off, you’re scaring me. I just want to go home.” She tried to push me away.

  I took a half step back to give her room to think. “Not happening. Sorry, pet. Me or them. Choose, now.” I made myself like a wall in front of her and waited. I could see the wheels turning as her gaze darted around, looking, no doubt, for a way out. I could have vamped her mind but I didn’t want to start things between us that way. She had to choose.

  “Please, Dek. I’m not someone’s slave.” She looked at me with those amber eyes brimming with tears. “Please take me home.”

  “Come here.” I took her arm and hustled her to the door. “Look out there. It’s them, or me. Choose.”

  She looked at the chaos around her. I tried to see it through her eyes. Gender didn’t matter, although there are always way more men than women. The bigger the body the more blood. Men tend to be bigger, so…

  Some sort of danced, brushing suggestively against each other. But the rest were biting necks, wrists and even thighs. And every one of the bitten looked to be in sexual ecstasy. Many were already indulging those desires right out in the open. I hated that we still allowed this kind of shit to happen. I heard her gulp in some air.