Vows of a Vampire by Ann Cory Page A

“Like hell. First I’m going to fuck your little mortal and then I’m going to feed from her again. Once I do I can claim her and make her mine.”
    Rage erupted inside Varick. He charged toward Luke but a blast drove him into the wall. He slammed into it hard with his back, all the wind knocked from his lungs. When he looked to see what hit him, Denzen picked him up and sent him flying into the wall on the other side of him.
    Gasping, he pointed at Luke. “Call off your guard dog. This is between us. Are you such a weakling that you can’t fight me on your own?”
    He knew the comment would sting.
    “Denzen, leave him be. Come here and make sure the woman doesn’t move.” Luke stood and made his way toward him.
    Varick picked himself up, ignoring the tremendous pain in his back.
    Unsteadily he motioned to his brother. “We’re going to settle this feud between us, once and for all. I’m sick of taking all the blame for your problems. I’ve done nothing to you.”
    Luke’s black eyes narrowed to slits.
    “Is that what you think? Unlike you, I wasn’t born a vampire. I didn’t even ask for this lifestyle. When Dante took me in, I had no idea what he planned for me. He promised I’d live richly and have everything my heart desired. He gained my trust and took away the only world I knew. I was six. I didn’t know what I was getting into.”
    “He gave you a new chance. You had nothing.”
    Luke smirked. “When I finally learned to live like a vampire and accepted Dante as a father, you came along with your pity story about being abandoned by your traitor of a father. After that I didn’t exist where Dante was concerned. Everything became about you because you were a true vampire. He discarded me like I was trash.”
    Varick wanted to shake him. “Who cares about the past? Has it been that bad, there has been no enjoyment in your life at all? Dante took you away from the abuse and pain you were subjected to you by people you loved and trusted. He did you a favour.”
    His brother’s lip stiffened. “He led me to believe there was more to this immortal life than there really is. There’s no freedom here. I’m a prisoner to the coven and you expect that I’ll obey you?”
    He raised his hands to mid-waist, palms up. “Again, I couldn’t control how Dante responded to you. I was a kid myself, just as screwed up as you. And I didn’t ask to be leader, in fact I begged him to choose someone else. We need to get beyond this and find a way to live together under the same roof without driving each other crazy.”
    It was clear his long time enemy would have none of it. “I’ll never forgive you, and I’ll never accept you as a leader. I will however accept the beautiful offering lying on the ground. If you’d tasted her blood, you’d know what I mean. It’s the sweetest taste in the world, and it’s all mine.”
    Varick had enough. He’d tried reasoning, but it failed. He lunged and flew straight into Luke knocking him down.
    “Get off me.”
    Luke tried to roll away but Varick grabbed him and bit into his wrist. Careful to not drink from him, he spat out the blood and gripped his hands around his brother’s throat. “You’ll pay for biting Aubrey.”
    “Big deal.”
    Varick struggled to keep a good chokehold against his brother’s prying hands. “You’ve been drinking tainted blood. You’d better hope she has one hell of an immune system or she could get deathly sick.”
    “Wrong. First I’m going to kill you, and then I’ll turn her. The bitch will be mine.”
    Luke kneed him in the gut and slashed Varick’s arm in the same place Melenge had dug her nails. He bellowed in pain and went to strike Luke when he was punched in the stomach. The fierce blow sent him reeling. When he tried to stand, the room tilted. Damn. He should have replenished himself. “Stay the hell away from her or so help me, I’ll destroy you.”
    “I’d like to see you try,” his brother chortled. “Just so