Three Werewolves and a Vampire Queen

MONTO

clothes I owned. My 'wardrobe' was minimalist by necessity-the discarded rags of

only thing that got me through the agonizing week after the Sire's whipping. I had re

the night of my Ascension, was finally here. I had ne

of vampires. I crouched by a tree with a hollowed-out center, stuffed my bag inside, and cover

r the next few hours, my job

d the Fledgling Quarters. She stood

d I forge

al pre-Ascension meal, and you were already gone. Ton

me. Lili was my one true regret in leav

ed to speak

ticed my sparse belongings were gone, but she didn't

nst the dirt floor. How

away. I cannot tolerate this existence anymore. I am broken,

eyes. "You cannot do that, Elara. You were destined for more h

y snapping to high alert. No one ever mentioned my parent

rly touching. "I knew who they were. You are meant for great power, E

ore now?" Pure anger surged. Years

am forbidden to speak of it. But please, kno

d. "Tell me about th

her hand sliding from my grip. "They would not want thi

etting answers, only for t

r received. The Blood Moon hung high, full and ominously luminescent. "I know your de

Lili had stopped. The sadness in her eyes s

ears. "Not tonight. I will see you

I steeled myself and walked away, making

h Clan members, all huddled near the treeline, leaving the six Fledglings isolated in the

as if I carried a foul contagion. They can laugh all they want. Tonigh

oomed. "Those of you here for your

in place, I was a wreck of nerves. My stom

ing darkly as he stared past me. He chose not to ackno

ill en

own to my ear. "To show the Clan how utterly magnificent my Bloo

nstrous words, hoping my power would manifest as a monstrous, unseen force

dark brows in a furious knot. He had expected me to f

the Sire's voice rose. "Let us shed the bindings

started behind me-the whooping and hollering mixed with comments about my scarred ba

look, future Sire.

he Sire stepped before u

inside me. Every bone felt like it was breaking and reassembling. My fangs pushed painfully through my gums. I was on my knees, barely able to cont

are his, and fa

. They knew. Every single vampire knew th

ooted, staring at me, his

does not

e of freedom. But my newly awakened power was focused only on hi

lked over to Vikki, whose pureblood status made her the socially acceptable choice, and took her hand. H

My heart shattered, the newly activated power within me fracturing into a million stin

ose of a Blood-Bond was sanctity; it was sacred. And my fated partner had cho

e here was a recipe of pain and rage, and his

ing myself to walk away. The power, the bond, the r