Dark and Beautiful Nights (The Vampire Covenant Series Book 3)

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  Upcoming Novels

  A Look Into: When Hunter Meets Seeker

  Author Bio

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Her body quivered as consciousness seized her mind, slamming her back to reality. Her glossy, marble eyes blinked repeatedly—the memory of the dream too fresh. Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth where her own fang had embedded into her lip. With urgency, she wiped away the blood, smearing it into a lengthy smudge along her cheek. With trembling hands, she tilted on one elbow. Her comforter swam through the air. Her feet hit the floor as she squeezed the bridge of her nose. Pinching her eyes forcefully, she tried to forget the images of the gruesome nightmare.

  She swayed as she raised herself onto her feet. Through her door, across the hall, and a few knocks had her trudging into Alex's bedroom. Sympathy spread over his face as Alex motioned for her to come in. She stepped onto the bed, laying flat on the comforter as he sat up, his head against the headboard. He licked his thumb and ran it across her cheek, erasing the smudge of blood.

  "Another nightmare?"

  Kayci nodded. "Worst one so far."

  "It's the dark magic. It's taking its toll on you."

  "It's been over a month and we still haven't found a way to unbind him."

  "I know how important it is that you find a way, but you can't keep doing this to yourself. If you continue at this pace, you'll become crazed in a matter of months."

  Her voice lowered, sounding tremulous. "I can't let him go, Alex."

  "I didn't say let him go, but I am saying, you need to live."

  "How do I live when he is trapped in a different realm? He doesn't deserve what's been done to him."

  "Do you think he'd want you suffering like this?"

  Kayci remained silent, her thoughts in a whirlwind. "It doesn't matter. If my spirit were trapped in another realm, he wouldn't give up 'til he got me back."

  His tone firmed. "You can't bring him back if you're dead."

  Kayci let out an exasperated breath. Even if she didn't want to admit it, Alex was right. She couldn't continue to dabble in the dark arts as she had been. Its cruel seduction had already latched onto her, luring her further into its powerful embrace. Her bloodlust had become nearly uncontrollable, leaving her to feed only when others were around to stop her if she lost control. She'd become dangerous, worsening the self-condemnation she carried with her daily.

  "Maybe you should call Cass."

  "No," she snapped, clenching her teeth. The thought of his stunning wolf eyes and dangerously handsome smile agitated her further. "He doesn't belong here. He belongs with his clan."

  "If you don't call him soon that wolf is going to become unhinged. He calls me twice a week to check on you, wondering if you'll ever speak to him again. He cares deeply for you. You know that, right?"

  The memories flooded her—the night he'd comforted her when she feared for Adrian's life, the way he held her when they'd danced, his full lips, his electrifying touch, his piercing wolf eyes that could send instant heat to her thighs and make her quiver at the sight of them. She warmed from the memory of the last time he'd pressed his lips against hers. She grumbled at how easily her body became aroused from the thought of him.

  "Yes," she said softly. "I know."

  "Why haven't you called him?"

  She hadn't called him because she didn't trust herself around him. He was a distraction she didn't need. Her focus needed to be on keeping the Covenant stable and searching for a way to bring Adrian back.

  "I can't…" Her words trailed off as guilt pummeled her. "I can't think about him right now."

  Alex wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger and tugged at it playfully. "I have an idea. There's a new club that's opened. It's a club specifically for us supernaturals. It's called Safire. You have to reveal yourself to get in, like a door pass."

  The news of the club intrigued her. Kayci's mouth contorted into a wicked smile. "Which should I choose—fangs or fire?"

  Alex grinned. "Both."

  ***

  Cass slammed the magazine into the Sig Sauer .45 and pounded half a dozen rounds down range. His fangs extracted as his pent up energy released with each board-blowing shot that penetrated the target. With a now emptied magazine, he set the gun on the waist-high stand and pressed the magazine release so he could reload. His thoughts drifted to Kayci and he growled. It'd been difficult enough to watch Logan find his mate and live in a state of perpetual happiness and then he met Kayci—a vampire sorceress who brought out a relentless amount of hunger and desire—like nothing he'd ever experienced. Yeah, he'd had women, too many of them, and he'd had strong feelings for a couple, but nothing like what he felt for Kayci. When she was near him, he barely managed to keep from tossing her onto any surface and plunging so deeply inside her that she begged for sexual release.

  What made his suffering worse was his werewolf instinct had declared—yours, since the moment he'd met her. He didn't believe it at first, for the whisper had been quiet, indiscernible. He'd never heard it, so therefore, he had no experience in adhering or listening to it. The second time he'd seen her, she'd come to the hotel he and Logan had stayed at for the Covenant meeting. As soon as they were alone, the whisper came louder—claim, it had said—she's yours.

  After a cold rejection and seeing the fear of him in her eyes, he had no choice but to resist his urges. Though luck or fate would have it, she came to stay in the home of the previous clan leader, his grandfather, Markus. There, he'd been given the opportunity to explore the bond between them. Only, she wasn't open to him. Love for another clouded her judgment. Even after the vampire's spirit had been trapped in another realm, she still refused him. He'd never been so miserable in his life.

  Cass slammed the loaded magazine into his Sig and pulled the trigger with repetitive bursts. Aggression filled him now, from the frustration and anger of not being able to have his mate. Part of him wished his werewolf instinct had never recognized her, the other part of him reminded him what a fool he was and that it'd only be a matter of time before she was his. She was his mate, after all. Nothing could change that.

  ***

  Kayci stepped out of her sporty, charcoal sedan. Her normally long, straight, milk chocolate hair fell in loose curls. Mascara, eyeliner, and lip gloss accentuated her smoky blue eyes and full, pink lips. Her black leather jacket hung open over a cream satin blouse matched with dark-denim skinny jeans and ankle boots.

  She had enjoyed getting dressed up to go out tonight. It had been a while since she'd had a reason to have fun. Having fun had become a distant memory ever since Adrian's spirit had been trapped in another realm, one she couldn't remove him from without first removing the spell that bound him to Natalia. She would give herself tonight, at least, before retu
rning to her grueling search for answers.

  As she and Alex neared the line to the seemingly chic, edgy club, her senses went on high-alert. It was a supernatural club all right. Vampires, witches, and werewolves were scattered throughout the lengthy line like spots on a Dalmatian. Sure enough, she recognized members of the Naples vampire coven; the one she'd avoided for the last month. She had enough doubt and questions jumbling her mind, she didn't need their badgering questions about Adrian as well.

  She let her eyes roll over the group of three vampires and gave an amicable nod as she passed by them. They stared at her with justified interest. She eased into the back of the line, comforted by the amount of humans and supernaturals between her and the coven vampires.

  As they moved farther up the line, closer to the entrance, she noticed the humans were taking out their cell phones and revealing some kind of invitation to the bouncer. He'd look at the phone and then wave them in. That procedure had her curious. She studied the outside of the club—a brick building that looked like it used to be a different business altogether, now remodeled into this new, chic club. In blue lights, a sign above the entrance read, Safire. It wasn't obnoxious, but it could be seen from a distance. Her eyes caught a security camera attached to the brick wall near the entrance. She stared at it, wondering who might be watching her on the other side.

  They reached the bouncer, clearly a werewolf—big, broad, and bald with a tribal tattoo on the left side of his skull. He studied her and Alex with bright, reddish-brown eyes.

  "Invitation?" a deep carnal voice asked.

  Kayci flashed her golden eyes at him.

  "Step inside," he replied, all-too-causally.

  They entered a dark-walled room with double frosted glass doors on the other side. Beyond it, she could see a multitude of figures walking around and blue lights pulsing in the distance. Another werewolf stood by the doors, blocking their entry. His shirt read, STAFF, across the front, his shaggy brown hair was a mess and his expression serious.

  "Invitation?" he asked.

  "Witch and vampire," Alex responded.

  "Demonstrate," he said, simply.

  Alex lifted his outstretched palm, revealing flames. The werewolf nodded and Alex extinguished the flames.

  "And you—" He stared at her expectantly.

  Kayci smirked. Her eyes flashed dark gold as she lifted both hands. She let the energy come and when it did, the werewolf jerked forward, surprised. The doors behind him opened as the draft swept through the little, dark room.

  He stared at her with apparent curiosity and shock. Her lips pulled back as she and Alex moved past him into the club. As they entered, she immediately took notice of the dark and edgy interior design as well as the extensive size of the place. Dim, blue, sparkling wall lamps gave miniscule lighting to the surroundings. Mist puffed out of dispensers in the easily fifteen-foot ceiling. Black metal cages hung from the ceiling with scanty-clothed human and non-human girls dancing in them. A bountiful circular bar claimed the center of the club with tall, black leather barstools and more neon blue lights fastened under the bar counters. Mirrors and endless shelves of liquor and other unidentifiable liquids filled the bar walls.

  To the right of the bar, two sets of steps led to a raised area where a DJ pumped out edgy dance music for the enthusiastic dancers on the floor. To the left, was a lounge area and hallway to restrooms and what she assumed to be offices.

  "Bar," Alex suggested.

  Kayci gave a nod and followed. She slid onto the barstool next to Alex as he gave the attractive, muscular bartender with a sleeve of tattoos a nod. The guy came over, flipping a bar towel over his shoulder.

  "New to the bar?" he asked with a friendly tone.

  "Yeah," Alex replied.

  The bartender nodded. He pointed to Alex. "Witch." He looked at Kayci. "Hmm. Can't get a read on you."

  Kayci grinned. He glanced at her fangs. "Aw, vampire. I've got a drink you'll love."

  She tilted her head, curious.

  "Yep, you heard me right. Give me a minute to whip it together. What will you have?" He looked at Alex.

  "Flaming B-52, two shots."

  The bartender nodded and grabbed four glasses. Bottle corks were removed and liquid poured. He picked up two of the glasses, taking them to the back counter. His back faced them, but she could see a black bottle being removed from below. Red liquid poured out of the black bottle into the two glasses. The scent of blood immediately filled her nostrils. The aroma sent a shiver over her body. She watched as the bartender sealed the bottle and put it away, before bringing out a dark green bottle and pouring a watery bluish-green liquid into the blood. He waved his hand over it, evidently completing some kind of spell.

  He brought the two glasses back to the counter and lined all four in a row. He pulled a lighter from under the counter and waved it over the glasses. Flames lit up over the two glasses Alex had ordered. He pushed the drinks toward them.

  "Enjoy."

  Kayci picked up the shot intended for her. "What's in it?"

  "Blood and a potion. It absorbs into your blood. It's safe for vampires to drink. It'll give you a better sensation than alcohol."

  Alex lifted one of his shots, blew out the flame, and raised it. "Bottoms up, Kayc."

  Kayci raised the glass to her nostrils, sniffing it. The sweet, delightful fragrance instantly soothed her muscles. She put the glass to her lips, gulping it down as Alex did his.

  "What's it called?" Kayci asked, instantly noting the pleasant warming sensation spreading throughout her extremities.

  "Red fiend," the bartender replied. "Made it myself. Let me know later if you like it." He departed as more patrons arrived at the bar.

  "What do you think?" Alex asked, as he blew out the flame on his second shot.

  She heard him, but the drink had her indulging in its numbing pleasure. All her agitating thoughts faded. Her guilt gone. Her sorrow squashed. She gave a satisfied grin as Alex raised his second glass.

  "It's delightful." She lifted the second shot and swallowed it down.

  "Let's dance," he told her with enthusiasm. She caught him eyeing a small group of women on the dance floor and noticed the extra swagger he put in his step as he made his way to them.

  Kayci slid off her jacket. Sweet release swept over her as the stress rolled off with it. She tossed it on the counter and pulled her thin wallet out of her back pocket, laying a hundred on the counter. She caught the bartender's attention. "For the drinks. The rest to make sure no one takes my jacket."

  The bartender nodded and grabbed both. He tucked the jacket under the counter and walked to the register as she headed toward the dance floor.

  Chapter 2

  The thumping of the music pounded through her body. She swayed, delightfully lost in the rhythm, the scents, and sounds a muffled blur around her. Every heartbeat and heated body drummed in her ears, arousing her senses. A strong hand grazed over her skin, his tantalizing touch energizing her. His firm hold guided her into him, moving her with him, against him. His fingers lifted her hair, giving him access, bringing his face to her ear, his lips within a lover's whispered reach.

  "I hoped I'd see you again."

  Adrian. Her heart skipped a beat. She firmed her grasp on his hand at her waist and leaned into his solid chest. Having him so close warmed her, soothed the yearning she'd had for his touch.

  "I've missed you," she breathed softly.

  "You did?"

  Her excitement waned when she heard the surprise in his voice. Is he angry with me? She turned her body gently in his arms. When her eyes adjusted, disappointment slammed into her like an anchor crushing the ocean floor. The numbing bliss diminished as the seconds passed.

  Baby blue eyes stared down at her. Those baby blues belonged to a tall, muscular, blond-haired human—Brad. Yes, she remembered. She'd almost killed him outside Elise's apartment. She grimaced at the memory.

  "What are you doing here?"

  He pointed to the ex
it of the dance floor, then to his ears—the music too loud for him to hear. She followed him to the bar and perched atop a stool next to him.

  "I almost didn't recognize you. I like the curls." He flicked at a loose curl with his finger. The touch surprised her and stimulated her, no doubt motivated by the effects of the potion.

  "Thank you. I wanted to try something new."

  He stared at her with glossy eyes. "Looks hot." He motioned to get the bartender's attention. "Want a drink?"

  The livening sensation of the shot had already begun to wane. She didn't want its numbing pleasure to end. "Yeah, I would."

  The bartender came to the counter. "Miller," Brad told him. "And whatever she wants."

  "Same as before."

  The bartender gave a pleasant smile and dashed off to make the drinks.

  "You don't have to buy my drink. I'll get yours. It's the least I can do after slugging you."

  Brad laughed. "Shh, don't make that public." He gave her a wink. "And I don't let women buy my drinks."

  The corner of her mouth curved. He had manners. She could appreciate that.

  "How's the girlfriend?"

  The bartender brought the beer and shot to the counter and slid them over. Brad put down cash before raising the beer in his hand.

  "I broke up with her like you suggested. You were right. I didn't love her and she didn't deserve my bull." He took a swig of the beer, never taking his eyes off her.

  "I must have knocked some sense into you."

  The bartender returned with change. Brad left a few dollars on the counter and pocketed the rest. He shrugged. "You made me admit something I was already thinking about."

  Kayci brought the glass to her lips, taking in the sweet fragrance. She parted her lips and gulped it down, closing her eyes a moment as the warmth spread.

  She brought her attention back to Brad, his eyes glimmering with attraction and interest. She studied his face—blue eyes like a pool of water with tiny purple specks throughout, spikey blond hair styled perfectly, a slightly crooked nose clearly broken a time or two, wide, pink lips above a strong jaw. She imagined women swooned over him often. He caught her staring and grinned.