A Vampire To Watch Over Me [Vampire Coven Book II] (7 page)

There was no abuse allowed in Tavish’s coven. Honor was covered in bruises. It was a rarity to see a bruise on any human in the coven. Especially a bruise from a raised hand. It was unheard of and perhaps until she healed, Honor should be kept away from the others. A human was expected to wear very little. Because of the heat, no one challenged the law. If she was exposed, many would become frightened.

When humans became afraid, it was bad for everyone. Tavish wouldn’t allow things to go back the way they had been a few hundred years ago when he first created his utopia. Humans had been terrified of the vampires; females were terrified of breeding. It was anarchy until Tavish changed the laws to protect the women.

There had been a scare at the coven not long ago. An ice dweller named Jarrod was executed for aiding in the murders of two pregnant females. Tavish felt the man put the entire coven at risk. Jarrod was a cousin to Tavish’s wife, Mercy. The man was taken, by Tavish, over the fence and dropped. Tavish’s Anivamps had ripped him apart. His screams rang in the ears of many for days after.

Jarrod was the first human in over a century killed for treason in the coven. The Anivamps were now allowed to roam the compound. A scary sight for many humans to get used to as they had been taught to fear the Anivamps. A wild boar named Rhino, a gorilla named Lucile, a white wolf named Lovel and a white tiger named Druid. All half-animal, half-vampire. There was one other Honor might be the most frightened of—she would know what a polar bear was and what it could do.

Ursus had been with Tavish longer than Laken. The female polar bear vampire was cunning, powerful and fiercely loyal to Tavish. Most often, the bear could be found following after Galf, Tavish’s son. The beautiful little blond baby was a hybrid human-vampire. It was a bit disconcerting for the humans to get used to the fact the baby boy could fly before he could crawl.

Laken wondered if Honor had ever seen a baby before. Sadly, the human population was close to extinction. Babies in Laken’s world were a cause for celebration. Tavish and his men had evolved once they gained power over the world. Not normally vampires of destruction, they had been admittedly cocky at their immortality and the seemingly endless supply of human blood, until it had almost vanished. With Tavish’s experience and knowledge, his coven had taken on the role of human-vampire self-preservation.

In his arms, Laken held survival for the coven. Each female was a gift. Ice dwellers were denied close contact. Laken hoped this little fighter could curb her disgust of being touched. It might take some gentle coaxing, but with a little luck, his Honor would learn a kiss wouldn’t kill her.

Chapter 4

Honor’s eyes fluttered. She heard Laken in her thoughts calling to her. It was time to wake. It would be easy to just stay hidden. She felt so tired, so disillusioned. Her clan had wanted her dead and now a vampire wanted her only to breed. Why couldn’t life just be lived without the damn laws? Honor was a good person, she had a conscience, shouldn’t that be what mattered most? She would never kill a person because of a cruel law.

Please? Honor?

Honor gasped, startled. It was Laken’s voice. He had asked, not commanded. No one, especially a man, had ever said ‘please’ to her. With some hesitance Honor cracked open her blurry eyes. When her eyes cleared she saw Laken smiling down at her. Another two men were close, they were so big. All three had dark hair and blue eyes. The two others were dressed identicallly to Laken in the strange dark material. They were so handsome and all were clean shaven—Honor was used to bearded men, their fuzz protected their faces, but the lack of chin hair made these men no less stunning. In fact, it made them seem a bit stronger—they didn’t look as though they were hiding. Many men were handsome until they beat you and commanded obedience. Honor would bet these men were no different. Her eyes narrowed onto them.

“What the fuck are you guys looking at? Dinner?”

“Told you she was a real charmer,” Laken said and laughed.

“My name is Tavish,” the largest man said; he had an uncanny resemblance to Laken: same dark, shoulder-length hair; same blue eyes; same height; almost the same build. “This is my coven. Caine—this man—is a healer and will look after you for a few days.”

Honor looked up at the other man indicated. His hair was cropped shorter, in her clan no man wore short hair, it was an odd sight, yet it suited him; he was very handsome. His eyes were also blue, another rarity in her clan as most sported dark brown eyes, some hazel. Caine had the most beautiful smile. She wondered if he beat women while he smiled. It was then Honor became aware she was still nude, but under a long white cloth of sorts. It wasn’t fur but felt soft to the touch, and it was so fine and so much thinner than a hide. She was warm; she had never before felt so wonderfully warm. Honor fingered the strange material with open wonder; it contoured to her body and even though she was hidden from view, she still felt exposed.

“It’s called flannel,” Laken explained. “It’s a blanket.”

“It’s so soft.” Honor pulled the material to her cheek but winced.

“Your face is bruised,” the man, Caine, said.

“Who hit you?” Tavish looked angry.

Honor’s chin rose in defiance. “Dylan did. Laken killed him. If you’re wondering what I did—I did nothing. I am sick of being told what to do by stupid men and stupid laws. Go ahead, beat me, but I will go outside.”

To her surprise, Tavish chuckled instead of being angry. “Good. Many ice dwellers are afraid to go outside. I encourage it.”

“I won’t be beaten or killed?” Honor was incredulous. He looked serious.

Tavish moved closer. Honor shied back—she couldn’t help it. This was the most intimidating man she had ever met. Power radiated off of him. Honor swallowed hard. It was going to be difficult to disobey him.

“Listen closely, little one,” Tavish said. His white eyes glowed bright and Honor was mesmerized, she was unable to look away. “This is
my
coven. No one is allowed to harm another in my domain. Never again will anyone raise a hand to you—and you will raise no hand to anyone here. Do you understand?”

It was a command she could live with. Honor only protected herself. “Yes.”

“You will also curb your swearing. I will not have the children here picking it up,” Tavish commanded.

Children?
Children could live here? Honor narrowed her eyes. “Boy children?”

“Do you not like male offspring?” Tavish’s look seemed guarded and Honor was certain he tensed.

“I haven’t seen a little boy in a long time. The last babe born to us was a little girl who was placed exposed on the frozen land, left all alone just moments after her birth. Her twin brother was allowed to live because he would be allowed to hunt—females aren’t allowed outside the polar caps. The men were going to expose me as well. I went outside and broke a precious law. The baby who was born a girl—she broke a law and didn’t even know it. Talek, our clan leader, said it was for the best, how could such cruelty be for the best? The men in my clan are all liars. It would be a horrible, cruel way to die.”

Tavish’s fangs grew, he looked thunderous and a low growl of fury emanated from the back of his throat. Honor was frozen to the spot or she would have fled the bed; he was terrifying.

“This ends now.” Tavish snarled.

Both Tavish and Laken moved so fast Honor was wondering where they went. She looked up at Caine, filled with shocked surprise. His look was grim.

“Don’t be afraid, Honor, Tavish isn’t angry with you. In his coven, it’s treason to kill a child—male or female.”

“What if a woman doesn’t want a child?” Honor challenged. She had heard the rumors of vampires needing humans to breed because they couldn’t have their own children. They needed human males almost as much as human females. That meant even if Laken did the sex thing with her she would have to do it with a human man.

“A woman is not bred until she does.”

Honor was skeptical. She knew a man put his cock inside a woman to have sex. She hadn’t seen the act herself—except glimpses of men and women in the furs. Until sleeping together arrangements were nullified. Men and women then slept alone in grooves on the ice filled with furs. Their cold life had grown colder. Did sex hurt? Honor wanted a baby; she had since the first time she had set eyes on that precious baby girl. She wondered how long the poor little thing had lasted and how her mother could have allowed it—how her own father could have done it. Honor would have killed Talek if he had touched a child of hers.

“Are you hungry?” Caine asked.

Honor was starving, but she wouldn’t ask for anything. “Will I really not be beaten if I go outside?”

With the two men gone, she was feeling less intimidated and studied her surroundings with interest. She lay with her head elevated on a long bed-like structure up off the ground. Honor could see strange flat walls in the room she was in. The ceiling overhead wasn’t high and domed or made of ice. Strange shiny things were on wooden tables; some looked like torture devises the old men in her cave spoke about. Wood was a luxury and yet there the item stood. In an ice dwelling, tables were made of ice.

The floors in this room were smooth, not lumpy; they also looked to be made of shiny wood. How could wood be so shiny and so abundant? It was such a confusing place. The air was warm and yet no fire blazed. Honor was tempted to go over to a stuffed piece of furniture and touch it. There was no fur covering it, and yet, it looked so comfortable. Honor had never before seen such bizarre material. What manner of animals would one kill to get such weird fixtures?

“I’m certain Laken will take you out soon enough, but not today. Your bruising is extensive. Nothing is broken, but I’m certain you must be feeling very tender. You’re dehydrated. I’m going to keep a close eye on you for the next forty-eight hours just to be safe.”

Honor frowned. Caine said that like he really cared how she felt. No one ever cared about her—except maybe her parents at one time. This man was a stranger. What had Tavish called him? A healer? It must be the term used for someone who helped people. In their ice dwelling people suffered in silence. If you were injured, you were useless and it was dangerous to complain of injury or ailment.

“I need clothes to go outside.” Honor cast a fast glance under the blanket to look at her high rounded boobs. She never realized they were so interesting. Looking at Caine’s chest she realized he didn’t have breasts like hers, his chest was contoured muscles. It suited him, like it did Laken and the leader, Tavish.

“If you eat and drink something, I’ll bring you clothes.”

“Blackmail.”

“Compromise.”

“Oh fine!” She was too tired for a war of words. Caine wasn’t commanding her; he was just trying to act concerned. Well, he could play his games as long as she could go outside—but not naked. Her boobs were beautiful, but Honor didn’t want anyone gawking at them like Dylan and the other men had.

At a strange knocking sound, Caine approached a piece of rectangular wood attached to the wall. He pulled on a handle and the strange wood opened but didn’t fall—it merely swung inward. Honor caught sight of an odd-looking tunnel that led from the room. A beautiful young dark-haired girl peeked past Caine. Honor would have gasped if her mouth hadn’t hung open so wide. The girl was so young—perhaps fifteen. A child. A female child permitted to live; she was even younger than Peter.

Her skin looked darker than Honor’s pale white color and she looked healthy. The girl wore very little and Honor was surprised. Normally the ice dwellers were always covered from head to toe—it was law. Besides, it was so cold it was more common sense than anything. A small shirt of the strangest pink covered the girl’s budding breasts, leaving her midriff bare. The same color garment hung low on her hips and hung half way down her thighs leaving her long shapely legs bare. Open flat things were perched on her feet with a single band between her toes holding them on.

What sort of law here permitted a girl to walk around free of obstruction? Wouldn’t she freeze? It seemed very cruel to Honor that these vampires allowed a child to freeze. But when the girl smiled at her, she didn’t look like she was under duress. The grin wasn’t forced; it radiated from bright happy eyes. Honor had little time to ponder. Caine smiled brightly at the child then took a flat tray from the girl, thanked her—
he thanked her
—then strolled over to Honor. What manner of man thanked a female? The men she was used to felt entitled.

“Some of this smells very hot. So you’ll have to blow on it,” Caine said.

He set the tray on a small table and pulled it in front of her. Honor looked at the food. It was strange fare, but she was so hungry she would be willing to try anything. It smelled delicious and she couldn’t wait for it to be her turn to eat. Honor waited. Caine looked at her with a kind expression.

“I know it’s weird and new to you, but it’s good. Try something.”

Honor felt her heart begin to pound. She had always eaten last. Was this a test? Would he beat her if she touched the food first? He was so big. Dylan couldn’t hit worth shit, but if this man punched her she would be lucky to ever wake up. She caught his gaze for just a second, and for that moment, she honestly thought his stunning blue eyes were filled with concern.

“What’s wrong, Honor? Why are you afraid of me?”

How did he know?

“I can hear your heart pounding,” Caine explained.

“If I touch the food, will you hit me?” Honor whispered.

Caine sighed. “No one is ever allowed to hit you.”

“Not even you?”

“Not me or anyone. Eat. I have work to do. There is nothing there that needs peeling or explaining. It’s pretty straight forward finger food; just remember to blow on it. I’ll be right in the next room. When you’ve finished, try to sleep.”

Caine left. He exited through another piece of inward swinging wood. It was so odd. It was as though a new room swallowed him or he magically disappeared. Honor looked at the fare before her and her mouth watered. There was no knife to use; she was used to stews and soups or dried meats. They ate with their fingers or sipped the soups and stews and speared the chunks with small ivory daggers.