1. Chapter One

Chapter One

Micah

“ Y ou are ruining torture for me,” I snarl, turning from the man hanging in chains to glare at Ryker and Saphira. “Would you stop chattering?”

“I don’t chatter,” Ryker says dryly, lounging in an old wooden chair like it’s a throne.

“I do chatter,” Saphira says brightly, and my eye twitches.

“Well, stop,” I demand. I love Saphira. I have known her since she was a toddler and raised her for years. Her brothers, Bishop and Laken, will be annoyed when they find out about her secret life.

“I thought you liked to talk during torture?” Ryker asks with a tilt of his head.

“I don’t like the topic of conversation.” I face the half-dead coyote I’ve been working on. He deserves everything I have dished out.

“You don’t want to hear how pissed Bishop and Laken are going to be when they know you have taken Saphira under your wing. Teaching her your torturous ways,” Ryker points out like an asshole.

“Fuck off,” I throw over my shoulder.

“We don’t have to tell them,” Saphira says hopefully.

“You think you can hide it forever?” Ryker asks.

“Maybe,” she mumbles.

“Right,” Ryker drawls.

“This is what I mean,” I hiss, turning back to them. “I am the most powerful fucking vampire in the world—I am not scared of two dragons. Can I please enjoy cutting off the rapist coyote's dick?” He has raped several humans, and I would like to bring justice to the women.

“I am not stopping you,” Ryker says, waving his hand at the whimpering man. “At least he’s not screaming—I hate that.”

“Because I influenced him before you sauntered in,” I sneer.

“Did you do it so I wouldn’t have to hear him cry?” he asks, tilting his head.

“Why would that be the reason?” I sigh.

“I hate it.”

“Fuck.”

“Can I ask a question?” Saphira raises her hand and continues without a word from me. “I have watched you tons of times—”

“Tons of times?” Ryker interrupts.

“You always torture while shirtless and shoeless.” She doesn’t even glance at Ryker.

“Is that a question?” I narrow my eyes.

“Yeah?” she scrunches her nose.

“I don’t like blood on my clothes,” I say simply.

“Why?” she asks.

“You love blood,” Ryker points out.

“Is this fucking therapy? I like what I like. Can you both shut the fuck up?” I swing my arms and grimace when his blood flies, landing on my chest.

Saphira pretends to zip her smirking lips.

Ryker raises his eyebrows, looking meaningfully behind me.

Holy fuck.

What was I thinking about moving here?

I focus back on the coyote.

I am a six-hundred-year-old vampire who has never had a home. I have traveled the world many times over but have never settled. A couple of months ago, I decided to move to Oregon to help Quinn, a bear shifter.

I mindlessly use the knife in my hand to cut off his dick.

Ryker is a five-hundred-year-old vampire whom I have known for almost that long. He has lived here much longer, and we have kept in touch over the years. He is a bit ruthless. He met his mate months ago, mated her, got her pregnant, and recently had his little girl. He was dangerous before, but with his mate and child in the world, now no one is stupid enough to piss him off.

No one but me.

He doesn’t scare me at all.

Saphira is a dragon shifter. She hides plenty from her brothers; this isn’t the first time she has watched me dispense justice. I was telling the truth; I am not afraid of her brothers. She is a grown woman. She can do whatever the fuck she wants, and I will defend her to the death. I do not have children or a mate, but I consider her my daughter. She traveled the world with me for many years. She didn’t go to a traditional school; I taught her everything I know.

“When are you going to tell them?” Ryker’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“Holy fuck,” I growl, reaching into the coyote's chest and ripping out his heart. I throw it at Ryker’s feet as I face him, grinding my teeth. “Why are you here?”

“Serenity wanted to have her friends over.”

“So, she was sick of you hovering over the baby and kicked you out,” I guess.

“Maybe,” he mutters. “Plus, you asked to use my dungeon. I have the right to watch.”

“Since you are here, and you cut my torture time short,” I start, walking to the table and picking up a rag to clean my hands. “You can help Saphira get rid of the body.” I take the towel to the small sink and scrub my hands and chest.

“Fuck no.” He frowns. “When the dragons ask me if I knew about her involvement, I want to be able to deny it.”

“You can’t. You were here,” I point out. I dry my skin and sit in a chair to put on my boots.

“Asshole,” he says, resigned.

“Fun,” Saphira squeals, jumping off the table she was sitting on. “I get to work with the ruthless Ryker.”

“Shit,” he exhales.

I smirk as I stand and put on my shirt. “Learn lots, doll,” I encourage, waving goodbye.

“I will, Daddy,” she says.

“Saph, I have told you for years: do not call me that,” I say sternly. “The only woman who can call me that is the one I’m fucking. I am not fucking you.”

“Eww…I know. I just like messing with you.” She smiles, and I hang my head. “Are you going home?”

“Are you still living with Bash?” Ryker asks.

“No.” I walk to the stairs. “I bought the building next to yours,” I say with relish.

“The whole building?” he asks.

“Yeah, we’re neighbors now. You’ve been too wrapped up in a new baby smell to notice.” I grin and take the stairs two at a time.

The music gets louder as I climb the stairs and enter the hall which leads to Ryker’s club. He runs it with the other deadly vampire I know, Bash. Ryker turned him about four hundred years ago; they have been close ever since. Bash also met his mate, Marie, a few years ago. She was human, just as Serenity was. They turned them and have been living with the gift of a loving mate.

I move through the bodies on the dance floor, making my way to the front door and nodding at the bouncer. He is a vampire, but I can’t remember his name. I didn’t bother to learn it. I don’t let many people know me outside the circle of shifters that are my friends.

I breathe in the night air and jog down the front steps. I don’t own a car. Why would I need one when I can blur? Vampires can move at such a high frequency our bodies blur as we move. A new vampire usually has a hard time controlling their actions. I know Serenity would pop into a new location with just a thought until she could get the hang of it. I have had many, many years to practice.

I am home in seconds.

I move through the dark building, not bothering to turn on the lights. Shifters, and especially vampires, don’t need the bright lights; with our enhanced sight, it’s as if we are walking through sunlight.

The building has four floors. The bottom floor, which I am going through now, is a wide open space. It used to be a lobby of some sort. I take the stairs past the second floor, which holds two apartments, the third floor with one, and finally, the fourth. I am living in a large apartment on the fourth floor. It needs some work. The building needs to be overhauled. I haven’t decided if I want to make the whole place one giant home.

I have slept in fields, barns, the street, and the finest hotels, but never a home. A home that is all mine. I will take the time to make it exactly how I want it.

I head straight to the shower, adjusting it to scalding. I need to wash away the stench.

Stripping quickly, I throw my clothes to the floor and step into the steaming shower. Living as long as I have, it’s difficult to find pleasure in anything anymore, but the pounding of the water always soothes me. I drop my head to the wall and let the water glide over my back. My skin is covered in tattoos from my neck to my feet. It took some time to find a tattoo artist of our kind to do them. They have to use a special ink so our skin won’t reject it and heal instantly. I felt the need to document my years and experiences on my body.

My hair falls on my face, and I stand to wash it and my short beard. My beard used to be very long, but I got sick of the upkeep. My movements are quick and proficient, the actions automatic after so long.

I shut off the water and get a towel, wrapping it around my waist and go down the stairs, and into the living room. I stand with my hands on my hips, looking at my bed. I don’t decorate. I don’t take the time to settle, but maybe I should. Fuck, I didn’t even get the bed into the bedroom. Instead, it sits in the middle of the living room.

You would think after so many years on this earth, I would have more possessions. All the things I give a shit about could fit in a bag.

I don’t bother with clothes, throwing the towel to the floor and sliding into bed. I pull the sheet over me and cross my hands under my head, staring out the windows that span the length of the room. Vampires sleep, and definitely not in a coffin. However, I have to confess I have done so before.

You try stuff. I thought it could be interesting. I was wrong.

I do love blood. The smell. The color. How it feels sliding down my throat. We eat food, too, but we need the sustenance blood gives us. I would rather have a live donor, but that isn’t always possible, so I make do with blood bags. I don’t drink the blood of the men I kill anymore. I believe blood gives us the power and strength of the person. I don’t want their essence inside me. The blood every vampire wants is their mate’s if they are lucky enough to find them. Once you are mated, you will never drink from another.

Ryker and Bash are lucky. They found the one meant for them. Every shifter and vampire wishes for the mate who the universe believes is the perfect person, or persons, for you. They are your fated mate and should never be denied. The moment you are in their presence, you will know. It starts with their scent. It calls to you. After that, the bond starts through your body, and you want them desperately. Our eyes change. A white ring will appear around the edge, signifying you are mated. Vampires are worse than shifters. We are natural takers. Our power pushes us to take what belongs to us, and the demon inside demands it. It is normal for shifters to have more than one mate forever. They thrive on physical touch and being in a group.

Vampires are solitary creatures. We do not share well. If I did find my mate, I would not share her—she would be all mine.

—If a vampire never finds his mate, he will slowly—or it sometimes quickly—go insane. Going so many years without someone to share it with isn't natural. I don’t think I will be lucky enough to find the one meant to be mine. I have given up hope of it. What woman out there could handle everything I am? Everything I have done?

I have killed countless people. Sure, they are the bad kind of people now, but the years after I was turned are a blur filled with bodies and blood. I didn’t and couldn’t control the beast within. I was always hungry. You suddenly wake up with this power; you can do anything, and it’s intoxicating. I could make anyone do anything I wanted. I could control humans, bending their minds to my will. My strength is unmatched.

Shifters are different from vampires. They usually only mate with one of their own kind. I have heard of some matings of different breeds, but it’s rare. If they have children, they will take after the same sex parent in the breed of animal. Anyone can mate a human, but then you are tasked with explaining what you are and what you want to turn them into. I don’t envy that.

Vampires can mate with anyone. Humans. Shifter. Vampire. We do not have as many restrictions on those we mate. Most vampires I know have mated with a human, but anything is possible. I would never deny any mate the universe gives me, but I can’t help but hope they aren’t human.

My hands are stained with blood. You can’t see it, but I feel it. I am not ashamed of it. I do not regret anything I have done. Those things have made me the man I am. They have helped me survive so long. I have learned to appreciate the important things. I have witnessed death, destruction, loss, and love. It’s interesting to watch those around me in the human world. I value their resilience and ability to find the good in people and in life. Even when they see the train wreck coming, they push through.

I can appreciate humans, but it doesn’t make me want to be one. I love being a vampire. My memories from before I turned are blurry, as if I were watching a movie underwater. They have faded even more over the years until I can’t recall if I had parents, although I must have.

I did have a sister. I woke up a vampire, and she was beside me. I smelled her scent, similar to mine. Maddy. We desperately clung to each other. Learning our new reality together. Killing together. Traveling together. She was my best friend. My soul mate. We raised Saphira together for many years as the fun aunt and uncle. Maddy loved her desperately. I couldn’t imagine being without my sister until I was forced to. One day, she was living, and the next, she was gone. She took my heart with her. For so long, she was my anchor in this world. I don’t remember the person who turned me into a vampire, but seeing Maddy’s face when I woke up made up for all the questions.

Ryker and Bash are family. Bishop and Laken are like brothers. Saphira is a daughter. Quinn and Heath are my brothers, but nothing compares to Maddy’s absence. She has left a void within me that I’m afraid will never be filled completely, no matter how many years pass.

If I do find a mate, she better prepare herself.

I am a deadly vampire, and I will never let her go.