Illusion: Volume 3

Volume 3 begins were volume 2 left off. Lillian is caught between three different worlds: the hunters, the renegades, and the vampires. She attempts to find her parent's killer, but she isn't sure who she can trust. To make matters worse her feelings for Aubrey are only getting more intense.

The Lillian Rayne Series

Volume 3: Illusion

Ella Price

This book is a work of fiction, and does not
represent real events. Characters, names, places, and incidents are works of
the authors imagination and do not depict any real event, or person living or
dead.

Copyright © 2014 by Ella Price

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or
distributed in any printed or electronic form.

First Edition: February 2014

Cover by AEPBOOKCOVERS.COM

I
stood staring at Aubrey. Normally my first instinct would have been to attack,
but I was frozen. I couldn’t even process what he said. “What did you say?” I
asked again as my mouth went dry. I felt my anger boiling just below the
surface.

“I
said if you want someone to blame, blame me. I am the reason your parents are
dead,” he said smoothly like he had before.

I
realized he was still holding my wrist. I yanked my wrist free of his grasp. He
didn’t respond, he just watched me. “I don’t believe you,” I said softly. I
couldn’t believe him. Part of me refused to believe he had anything to do with
my parent’s death.

His
expression darkened. “How do you not believe me? When a vampire says he killed
your parents I would expect you to do something about it,” he said angrily.

I
backed away from him. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t tell if he was telling
the truth or not. I didn’t really know why it even mattered. The old me
wouldn’t have even questioned him.

He
watched me, and I could tell he was confused. He expected me to attack. “What
are you waiting for?” he growled stepping toward me.

I
didn’t speak. I couldn’t. I didn’t know what I was waiting for. He shoved me
back against the wall and glared at me. His face was inches from my own. “I
should kill you just like I killed them,” he said angrily.

I
looked into his brilliant turquoise eyes, and I never felt so lost. I didn’t
believe him. I refused to believe he had any part in my parent’s deaths. I
didn’t know why I was so determined to believe he didn’t do what he was
claiming.

“Damn
it say something to me,” he growled as he pressed his body to mine. He was
inches from my face. I fought the urge to kiss him.

“You’re
a liar,” I said softly finally speaking.

His
expression changed to relief. He pressed his lips to mine. He kissed me
aggressively. I was confused, but I returned his kiss. I didn’t understand why
he would claim my parent’s murder. “Why would you say something like that to
me?” I asked after I broke the kiss.

He
looked at me for a minute then looked away. “I wanted to know if you trusted
me.”

I
ran my fingers down his cheek. “I trust you too much,” I said softly. I gave
him a quick chaste kiss on the lips, and slipped out of his arms. I hoped I
wasn’t misjudging him, and making a huge mistake. “Please keep Nick safe,” I
said quietly then walked down the hall toward the exit.

Normally
I felt better once I left Aubrey’s club, but for some reason I didn’t feel as
safe as I had when I was with him. I knew there was a death marshal somewhere,
and I was guessing he was looking for me. I saw blood on the ground not far
from the clubs entrance. I knew it was Nick’s blood. The marshal was watching
the club. He knew I was here, and he had to be waiting for me. A scuffling
noise to my right caught my attention. I turned and pinned a hooded figure to
the brick wall.

“Rayne
it’s me!” Tanner squeaked startled by my sudden movement.

I
yanked his hood back, and he smiled apologetically. “Why are you running around
when there is a marshal somewhere?” I asked angrily. Sometimes Tanner didn’t
think, and it was annoying.

He
shrugged. “I was just trying to find you. I wanted to make sure you were ok,”
he said quietly.

I
released him and scanned the area. There was no one in sight, but I still had
the odd feeling that someone was watching me. “It’s not safe,” I growled.

He
shoved his hands in his pockets and shifted nervously. “I know, but I wanted to
come thank you. I know my parents wouldn’t save me over protecting our people.”

I
watched him for a minute not sure what to say. He was right. My uncle was all
about the survival of his people. I never put anyone above the people I loved
like Tanner, and as much as I hated to admit it Aubrey. “You should go back
home,” I said softly and turned away.

Tanner
caught my arm and I looked at him. “Rayne…” he started, but trailed off.

“What
is it?” I asked as I watched him. He looked like he was trying to decide
whether he should speak. He obviously wanted to say something.

He
dropped his hand and shook his head. “Just don’t trust anyone,” he said softly.

Before
I could ask him what he meant he turned and hurried toward the alley opening. I
tried to figure out what he meant. I turned to look back at the club. Before I
completely turned I was being thrown against the wall. The impact knocked the
air from my lungs. I slid to the ground disoriented. A figure appeared in front
of me, and I knew it was the marshal. He had the same necklace as the last
marshal. He was also handsome just like every other male vampire I met. His
hair was dark brown and curly. It was shorter, and it went well with his green
eyes. He was wearing a black leather trench coat and black leather pants. Like
most vampires his clothing was expensive.

“Well
this is disappointing. I thought you would put up more of a fight,” he said
amused.

I
smiled as I climbed slowly to my feet. “You know what the difference between a
hunter and a vampire is?”

He
looked slightly intrigued by my sudden question. “Do tell.”

I
brushed myself off and looked at him. “A hunter wouldn’t take a cheap shot when
a vampire’s back was turned.”

His
smile widened. “That rule doesn’t apply to all hunters. I did however hear that
you are one of the more honorable ones, as some would call it.”

“What
would you call it?” I asked trying to distract him with conversation. I slowly
moved my hand behind my back and grasped the wooden stake I had hidden there.

“I
call it gullible and weak. You are going to end up dead because of your so
called honor,” he growled.

I
looked at him confused. I didn’t understand why he was talking to me like he
was warning me. I was under the impression he was here to kill me. “Try; you
will find I am not as gullible and weak as you think.”

“I’m
not here to kill you Lillian. If I were you would be dead,” he said amused.

I
scoffed. “Well I will kill you regardless. You are a marshal and you are in my
territory.”

He
tilted his head and watched me like he was contemplating something. He was
extremely odd for a marshal. “Your father wasn’t so quick to kill, maybe you
are not as honorable as you think.”

“You
attacked my friend,” I countered as I stepped forward.

He
looked a little confused. “I just got here. I didn’t harm anyone.”

“What
the hell do you want?” I asked brushing him off. It wasn’t like I could prove
he did it. Normally if he did he would have been gloating not denying it.

“I
want an agreement between us,” he said watching me.

I
scowled. “I will never agree with anything the vampire council or the marshals
have to say.”

He
crossed his arms like he was getting annoyed with me. “I want a truce between you
and the marshals. The marshals are working on revolting against the council.
You are stirring things up and causing chaos. The marshals cannot focus on
fighting the council if we are worried about being taken out by an over eager
hunter.”

I
laughed. “The marshals are suddenly worried about the council? Why? The council
gives you free reign.”

His
expression darkened. “It is vampire business, not hunter business. All I need
from you is to lay low. Let me make the council think you died. If they think
you died the alert will go down, and we can get back to our plans.”

“Why
would I want the marshals in charge? The council keeps you in line even though
it isn’t much, it is still something,” I said refusing to help him gain power.

He
stepped forward and I could see the annoyance glint in his eyes like he trying
to decide whether he wanted to kill me or not. “Like you I am sworn to a higher
power. My higher power has lost its way as yours has as of late. I refuse to
ignore it. The council will fall whether you cooperate or not. If you do not
cooperate more people will die I can promise you that.”

I
watched him for a minute. I didn’t know what to say. I was afraid he was being
honest, and I didn’t want to get my people hurt. I also didn’t want to trust a
death marshal to keep his word. “What guarantee do I have that you are not
lying?”

“You
don’t get a guarantee. There are no guarantees,” he said angrily as he stepped
forward again.

“I
wouldn’t,” Drake said from behind the marshal. I didn’t even hear him approach.
I was too distracted by the marshal’s presence, and he was obviously distracted
by mine because he was caught off guard.

The
marshal turned so he was able to keep his eyes on me and Drake. “You have no
business here wolf,” the vampire growled. He was obviously used to dealing with
werewolves.

Several
other werewolves stepped out of the shadows. There had to be at least twenty of
them, and I didn’t hear any of them approach. The thought was a little
unnerving. “Who are you to say what wolf business is, and what isn’t?” Drake asked
amused.

The
marshal glanced at me then looked around. He was in a tight spot. “So this is
how it works now? Hunters in league with werewolves.”

“First
off, I am no longer a hunter so you will not get a truce with the hunters
through talking to me. Second is it really so hard to believe that werewolves
and hunters can coexist?” I asked feeling a little braver because I had backup.

The
marshal glared at me. “Why are you even a concern if you are not part of the
hunters? They said you killed a marshal on hunter’s orders,” he said annoyed.

I
laughed. “You know better than that. The hunters are scared of marshals. I
killed that marshal because I wanted him dead. He threatened someone I love so
he paid. You will to, if you do not leave my city now.”

He
watched me for a minute then his expression darkened. “You are a renegade like
your father,” he growled.

“My
father was a good man,” I said defensively. He was acting like my father was a
horrible person.

“Your
father was a trouble maker. He brought havoc. I don’t suggest you follow in his
footsteps,” the marshal growled.

“Let’s
just kill him,” Drake said moving forward.

The
marshal stiffened like he was preparing for a fight. “No,” I said softly. Drake
looked at me startled. He was prepared to attack. The marshal even looked
surprised and confused. “You may leave. Don’t come back,” I growled and pushed
past him. He wasn’t the marshal that hurt Nick. I wasn’t sure how I knew I just
had a feeling he wasn’t.

“Rayne
we can’t…” Drake started.

“We
will not just kill. We are not animals. That is what separates us from them.
Let him leave,” I ordered cutting him off.

Drake
pressed his lips together like he wanted to argue, but he decided against it. I
continued on my way. I needed to go back to the warehouse. I wanted to know
what other information I could find on my parents. There were so many different
stories and opinions. It was getting confusing. I didn’t know who I should and
shouldn’t trust.