A Vampire To Watch Over Me [Vampire Coven Book II] (2 page)

It was his last valiant effort as a powerful warrior and protector and proved too much, Laken slumped to his side. His chest was wheezing in a strange odd way. His right arm was bent back and try as he might, Laken couldn’t get it to unfold from the odd angle it sat in. A warrior should die straight.

The image of another spirit walker moved within Laken’s sight. It floated to him from a tree until a man stood less than a pebble’s toss away. Laken looked up. The man was as big as Laken and blocked the setting sun from his view, dressed all in black fur. His hair reached the tips of his shoulders and was dark as night. His eyes were as white as the bear’s. Fangs glistened from his mouth. Another hybrid oddity.

“I will not beg,” Laken said, his breath came in short pants. “I only ask you keep this beast from harming my people. There have been too many losses. If you kill many more warriors my people will not survive the cold season. Prey on someone else for a time.”

The man-creature squatted near Laken. He cocked his head for a moment then reached to touch Laken’s chest. Laken cringed but he would not cry out. If the beast and man wanted to play with him there was nothing he could do.

“You are dying.” The man’s tone was neither smug nor amused.

“I know,” Laken muttered. Once more little Nanya’s face flashed before his eyes and Laken couldn’t stand the thought of her dying, or being cast out. “Please.”

“I thought you would not beg.”

“Not for me—never for me.” Laken was gasping for air. “My tribe—leave them be.”

“You mean leave your female be?”

The hybrid man was astute. “Nanya could harm no one. She is small in stature, afraid of bugs. She cries if I bring home a dead rabbit. Funny, I know. But she is sweeter than air after a rain storm and as helpless as a newborn fawn. She would be little more than a snack for a bear so large.”

“Ursus, my bear friend, stopped eating female flesh long ago.”

“And you?”

“I do not eat flesh. Blood is more to my liking.”

“Then take mine before it all spills to the forest floor and be done with it.”

“I will give you a last chance to beg for your life. I may find it amusing to spare you.”

“I cannot. I have made my peace with the elements. I will beg no man. I am no coward.”

The hybrid man turned and looked at the white beast. “What say you, my friend? Shall we treat ourselves?”

The bear offered a gruff reply in return, and Laken couldn’t help but think the man and creature were talking. The man smiled and nodded. He then sighed. The hybrid man reached out to take Laken’s hand in his. It was a touch of compassion.

“My friend thinks I have walked the earth alone for too long with only a bear for a companion,” the hybrid man muttered. “A thousand years is a long time.”

“A thousand years alone?” Laken’s voice was little more than a whisper. “No wonder you are so cruel. Sadness can do many things to a man.”

“If I were cruel, I would ram my hands against your broken bones.”

“True enough. Please, just leave my little Nanya alone.”

“You are dying.” The man hybrid reminded him again. “I can fix you.”

“How?”

“Do you wish to live?”

“Yes, but how…”

“You must follow my rules, or there will be consequences. If you choose to obey, I can make sure you watch over your little Nanya for the rest of her life.”

“I will follow you into death and beyond,” Laken swore.

For some reason the hybrid man laughed. Everything went dark as Laken felt sharp fangs pierce his throat.

* * * *

When Laken woke he was in a strange cave stretched out on a huge pile of furs. The polar bear was lying near his feet watching him. The next thing he noted was his arm that had been at an odd angle looked fine and straight. His knee was back to normal, he could still be a warrior. There was also no wheeze in his chest, he could breathe fine.

“How do you feel?”

The hybrid man suddenly appeared from nowhere. Laken was startled but not afraid. In fact, he felt invincible.

“I am hungry,” Laken muttered. No, he was starving. But he needed to see Nanya.

“I will help you hunt after a while, once you have learned my demands.” The man was assessing him.

Laken was annoyed, he needed no help to hunt, he was a warrior.

“You are the first human I have turned. Do not make me regret it.”

Turned?

“You will need to obey my laws.”

Laken supposed he owed this man his life—in a strange way. It would not hurt to humor him for now.

“Just what are your laws?”

“You are never to turn anyone without my permission.”

“Turn how? Why do you keep saying that word? Did you flip me over?”

“In a sense, I suppose I did. You must also be careful on who you feed. Taking a leader of a tribe is serious. When the head of a tribe dies there is lawlessness and fear and confusion. Our kind could be in danger if this happens.”

“Our kind?”

“You are a vampire, my friend. What is your name? Mine is Tavish.”

“A vampire? I do not understand, Tavish. My name is Laken, and I must return to my tribe.”

“You can never return to your tribe.”

“But you said I could watch over Nanya.”

“Yes, you can watch over her for her entire life. But you mustn’t go near her, trust me on this. Your urges are new. You are too young to resist; in time, I can teach you. For now, be still; I will find you what you crave. Then we may talk more.”

Tavish left, taking the bear with him, trusting Laken to obey. Laken wasn’t a man who took orders—he was the son of the tribe leader, he gave them. With a mere thought, Laken was moving faster than he ever had in his life, away from the cave. He had never felt stronger. Nanya would be well pleased with her new mate. No one else could have what was Laken’s, no one would dare harm her now, or cast her out; her safety was all that mattered.

Laken found his love by a stream near their tribe, with waterproof bladders and stomachs of animal kills to fill for the night. Nanya looked so beautiful. The orange of the dusky setting sun as it slipped down to the tree line shone on her hair making it glisten like the sleekest of pelts. Water had dripped between her partially exposed breasts and as he watched, a droplet slipped from his view. She cupped the fresh liquid that dribbled over her small jaw in tiny hands. Laken could hear her breathe; he could hear each droplet of water as it splashed to the ground. He heard the thump thump of the organ in her chest. It beat for him, she breathed only for him. Laken ached to hold her, she was his after all. Nanya stood and began to walk away. She cried out in surprise when Laken suddenly stood before her from the shadows.

“I was so worried about you,” Nanya said. Her hand lifted to caress the side of his face.

“I will always find you,
I swear it,”
Laken said and smiled. It was something he told her often, a warrior’s vow of honor. Honor was everything, so was she; Laken would always find her now—he had cheated death. He was unstoppable. Nanya would have the best mate in the entire tribe. Laken’s children would have the best sire, he would be a great provider and many children would adorn his hearth. Little ones brought such pleasure and pride to a man’s home and he wanted an entire handful of strong sons and beautiful daughters.

“You are covered in blood,” Nanya chided, but she grinned. “I knew you would get the white bear. I had been so frightened, but you promised. I am lucky you want me.”

Lucky?
Laken was the lucky one. No one could be so lucky—she was everything to him and more. She looked so tiny next to him. Small and fragile. She was a woman who needed a powerful warrior to take care of her. Her mother had been frail, like Nanya, but Laken didn’t care. He was a man who could protect his woman. Nanya would be safe with him—he would care for her and she would live a long, long life.

“I am so hungry,” Laken muttered. The backs of his fingers caressed her cheek.

“I have made you your favorite food, my strong, fearless hunter.” Of course she had, she always wanted to please him. “Only the best and sweetest berries are for you, my love. Your furs are cleaned. I have chilled your desired drink in the river. I will make you a good mate, you will see.”

Laken already did see—he saw so much more. Nanya moved into his arms. The top of her head pressed onto his chest under his shoulders. She was so tiny—so perfect. So beautiful. Her black hair became more prominent, as did her white skin. The foliage around them became black and white. Laken’s breath increased, he could smell her sweet scent. He wanted to taste her luscious skin. Laken leaned down and kissed Nanya’s cheeks. His lips trailed a path to her chin and throat, her beautiful white throat that pulsed for him. Her veins held a substance that drew Laken closer, closer like a river of flowing sweet nectar, the sound of the rushing calling to him.

Nanya groaned and tried to pull back as Laken’s fangs settled into her throat, piercing her skin with tenderness. She couldn’t escape his grasp—she must know better. He did this for her, he wanted her, needed her. She belonged to him; he loved her more than life. Laken had begged another for her life; only for her would he ever beg.

“
Look, Nanya,”
Laken heard the words in his mind as he spoke them into her thoughts. He showed her the dark-haired baby boy he envisioned them having. A handsome son with his sire’s blue eyes and a sweet grin on his face and two precious bottom teeth showing in his happiness. The white bear rug was in their hut, cushioning his small son’s hands and feet as he crawled to them. Nanya was smiling and laughing up into Laken’s face in the image he created for them. A roaring fire burned to keep his Nanya and the babe,
his
babe, warm. Her belly was huge with another child already—they would be so happy. Laken’s heart nearly burst with the love he could feel.

Nanya welcomed the vision—he felt it. She relaxed in his arms wanting more, pleading for more. In the vision Nanya, was strong and healthy; Laken was her protector, her lover, her mate. Laken promised he would care for her forever. They would have many children; he would take care of them all. Their cave would fill further with his prowess in hunting. He would teach his strong sons to be brave, to be honorable warriors. Laken would protect his daughters until only the best and most powerful suitors could be chosen. They would have so much love, his family.

The slight grip of Nanya’s gentle hands slipped from Laken’s shoulders. It didn’t matter, he held her close. She wasn’t strong—he would be for them both. His little one tired easily, his love, his life.

Warm delicious wetness slid down Laken’s throat. What was it? He wondered. It was so sweet, so wonderful. Nanya was giving him what he needed as she always did. The flavor was unlike anything he had ever tasted. His little flower was so pure. He needed to take her back to the tribe; it was growing steadily darker, the sun was almost down, Nanya might get chilled. He wanted to mate her now, with his new power he didn’t need Tavish’s bear; he would get another—and another. Laken was loath to release her, wanting to share more. He forced the images at her when she became lethargic. Nanya needed to see how breathtaking their lives would be, Laken would make certain of it.

Moments passed and Laken could no longer force the images at Nanya. Her mind was blank. It made no sense, the emptiness. Nanya was frail but had sharp wit. Reluctantly Laken withdrew his mouth from her sweet throat, he felt sated. There was no more angry protest in his being. With some dismay Laken scooped Nanya up when her knees buckled, her body was limp.

“Nanya?” Nanya didn’t respond. Laken took her closer to the stream, knelt with her and dribbled water over her face. “Silly little Nanya, wake up. It is time to begin our lives together. To do what I showed you. Nanya? Why will you not open your eyes for me? Your fierce hunter wishes to gaze into your beautiful dark eyes.”

“She cannot wake up.”

Laken looked over at Tavish who was standing on the bank. He then looked back at Nanya who lay so peaceful in her weary slumber. Laken was confused. Of course she would wake; he couldn’t mate her whilst she slept.

“She must wake—she made my favorite dinner. We will sit together after she serves me, we always sit together to eat. I will tell her how much I love the way she cooks—but she already knows. You do know, Nanya?”

Tavish moved closer and Laken heard him sigh. “You have killed her, Laken. I warned you to stay away. I warned you to disobey would cause consequences. Your little Nanya is a consequence.”

Laken was horrified. “You killed my Nanya because I did not stay away?” Tavish must have—the alternative was too much.

“You are now one of the world’s biggest predators, Laken. You must obey or more will die. If you kill too many we will not survive.”

“What have you done to me?” Tavish was close enough for Laken to see the whites of his glowing eyes reflected back at him in Tavish’s blue eyes. Two bloody fangs, sharp as spear points hung almost past his bottom lip with his mouth open in his shock. He looked like a monster.

Nanya had no sound in her chest. Laken listened for the thumping but it would not come. He could no longer hear her breath. Where was her sound? Pitch blackness of night had draped a death blanket over them and yet Laken saw everything. Tiny hands lay on the banks, lifeless at her sides. Glistening droplets of moisture rolled from Nanya’s pale face. Why was she so pale? Where was the berry color her cheeks had just had? Puncture marks on her neck blazed on her translucent flesh. There was blood where Laken had sucked. Had he done that? He had, those spear sharpened teeth had done this; he
was
a monster.

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

“I have made you my brother, Laken. My brother, I am sorry for your loss. You can blame her death on me if you choose—if it is easier. I am, in a way, responsible. I should have left Ursus with you. Right now, I am all you have. Will you listen now?”

Laken could barely see through the tears coursing down his cheeks at this revelation. Nanya’s death was his own fault. He didn’t listen, he had been warned. Her hair lay over his waist and hips. Laken had done this. His life, his love was gone and he was responsible. There would be no young ones at his hearth. He could never face his tribe in his shame. He had killed a female who could never protect herself. Laken felt vile with self-loathing. The tribe would cast him out. He would cast himself out—he was not worthy of a family. Laken was alone—except for Tavish. It was better to have someone than no one.