Blood Gods: Rebel Vampires Standalone Novella (Rebel Legends Book 1), page 11
One…two…three… The clawed triplets slunk on one side… Christ, Kathy, I’m so bloody sorry…four… There was an alley down the side, if I could make a break for it…five…I was bleeding well going down fangs and fists…six…
“I don’t believe that I have your attention.” Maverick tapped the side of my head, and I jerked back.
I huffed. “I’d wager that you’d be distracted by your impending death, too.”
Maverick’s mouth twitched. “And why do you think that you’re about to die?”
I cocked my head. “Because as much as you helped me before, you have to avenge the murder of your leader…?”
He snorted. “You mean Mr. Too Big for His Own Britches?”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s the one.”
“Hell, you haven’t been listening have you? I told you that I loved you and your First Lifer and that I wanted us to be family.”
“Look, I know all about obsessive love, but you don’t even know us.”
Maverick’s gaze darkened. “I’ve watched you for longer than you know. I figured that you’d have the guts to kill Versailles, even though I should’ve done it myself, long before you. But I loved him and let him hurt me so many times. I’d imagine slicing him open with his own knives…” When I edged backwards, Maverick’s gaze softened. “I told you, I’m not fixing for a brawl.”
I took another glance around the square: six shadows and Maverick. “So, if you’re not here to fight me, what do you want?”
That ghost of a smile, as Maverick bent closer: suede, sweat, and wet horse, like he’d swept in from a day’s riding, rather than a night stalking Paris. “You’re a brat, but you should be my brat.”
Maverick’s fingers gentled across the inside of my elbow, light and intimate.
The poppy pulsed on my chest. It was Kathy’s claim…humanity’s.
I shook my head. “Sorry, mate, I’m no one’s, but I’m still taken. I think that I also need a break from the excitement of your god, if you don’t mind.”
Maverick’s eyes, just for a moment, flared with sudden fury.
Buggering hell…if I could just push myself to my knees before…
Then Maverick’s gaze cleared, and he shrugged. “I can wait.”
I tore a blade of grass: rip, rip, rip. “And while you’re…waiting…are you taking up the orphan killing and baby-snatching business? Because then we have a problem.”
Maverick rolled his shoulders. “I guess that you could call it inheriting the business.”
I struggled to my knees, but lithe as a big cat, Maverick pounced, pinning me. His body was hard against mine, as he clutched my wrists and pulled my arms out to the side, crucifixion-style. He rubbed his cheek against mine. “If you’d be good enough to hear me out—”
“Have I got a choice?”
Maverick’s lips curled. “I wouldn’t say as you do.” I shivered, as he licked a hot trail — just once — down my throat. “Versailles was a man of ritual. Ancient ways, but dead ones. I’m a man of the future, and you’ll wish that you’d taken me up on my offer because my Blood God is a trifle more powerful than you can imagine.”
“Good for you, but the baby sacrificing, that’s all stopped, yeah?”
Maverick pushed himself up, brushing down his jeans. “Do you trust me?”
I eyed the Blood Lifer who’d both hunted and saved me. I didn’t know what type of leader he’d make for the Moon Cult, but so far he’d kept his word to me, and if he promised not to sacrifice kids then I was taking what I could get. My lips quirked. “Again, do I have a choice?”
Maverick returned my smile. “With me, Little Stallion, you’ll always have a choice when it matters.”
Maverick held out his hand, and I stared at it.
Had I just killed a monster, only to take the hand of a devil?
Sod it.
I clasped Maverick’s hand, and he swung me onto my feet, steadying me, before he placed a single kiss on the back of my hand. Then I shuddered at the tenderness, as his fingers stroked up my arm.
“I’m not like Versailles, and those orphans and babies that you have a mind to keep safe…? They won’t be harmed because you don’t want them to be.” At last, I understood how Kathy felt: Maverick was offering to save the First Lifers because of his love for me. I’d never had anyone make their decisions solely because of me before. “I won’t forget you, no matter how long it takes for you to want me.”
“You don’t need the wankering cult,” I burst out. I was flooded with the desperate need to save Maverick, just as he’d protected me. For a family. “Just leave and make that family with Kathy and me…”
Maverick’s smile was soft and sad. “A man has to keep his word, and I swore it to the Blood God.”
Then he turned hurriedly away like he could hide the way that his eyes gleamed with tears. When he sauntered away, I could still feel him in my blood.
I only realized then that the six assassins in the square had already vanished back into the shadows. I’d been freed before I’d even chosen First Life over Blood.
Maverick waved his hand, as he shot over his shoulder, “Be seeing you, amigo.”
His glance over his shoulder at me was dark, longing, and possessive.
18
SATURDAY 26th NOVEMBER 1977 PARIS, FRANCE
My Kathy,
Rip open the parcel. Go on. It’s a copy of “Heroes”, so that you can lose yourself in our song, whilst I travel home to you.
I’m coming home today, Kathy. You’re my home. Me? I’ll be the penitent on my knees, whilst your lips will thin and your arms will cross; you’ll either snog or clout me. But I hope…
Sodding hell, you’re my Moon Girl, and I’m your Light.
Hidden? Safe? Alone? Bugger that.
I’m done playing hero. I’m a predator and I’m free now to become a man or Blood Lifer, whether unleashed or tamed, what does it matter if I get to choose it? Because you’re who I hunger for in this glorious second life.
If the world crawls with wickedly beautiful monsters, then we’ll stalk the world as monster-killers. Then again, maybe we’re just lovers kissing by a wall in a dangerous world. Yet it’s our dark world, and that’s truly beautiful.
Your Light
The End…For Now
Continue Light’s adventures in BLOOD DRAGONS, Book One in the Rebel Vampires series.
Download the complete Rebel Vampires box set, books 1-3 here!
If you enjoyed Blood Gods: Rebel Legends Book One, let me know by leaving a review!
AUTHOR NOTE:
The complete REBEL VAMPIRES trilogy is now out on box set, so you can continue Light’s adventure straight away!
I love wickedly beautiful monsters and the battle between predator and prey. This story is special to me because throughout writing the Rebel Vampires trilogy, I had it planned as well: what happened between Light and Kathy in the 1970s? Were they hunted? Did Light ever slip back into the dark? And did he crave a family?
I’m excited to be able to finally share it with you, and if you haven’t read the rest of the trilogy, even more excited for you to discover the dark world of Blood Life!
You’re total stars for your recommendations, word of mouth, and reviews because it’s how my books reach new readers. It means the world to me.
Rebel Legends will be an awesome collection of standalone stories from my different series. Follow me to make sure that you don’t miss each release (because some will be surprises…!)
Thanks, you’re awesome - my Rebel family :)
Rebel here, yeah?
Rosemary A Johns
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REBEL ANGELS
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The beautiful…naked…vampire gazed up at me. I stared in shock at the soft cat ears that poked out of his hair.
“How flexible are you on collars?” Ash smirked.
“He’s adorable. Can we keep him?” Mischief’s gaze darted to mine.
I grinned at my angel and vampire lovers, before sitting cross-legged in front of the Cat Vampire. He shied away, curling his tail around himself to shield his modesty.
“I’m not adorable,” the Cat Vampire hissed, “I’m Tiger.” He nuzzled his chin against the studs in Rebel’s jacket, scenting them. Then he peeked at Mischief.
“And I’m not the one with sparkly hair, angel.”Mischief arched a brow. “Meow, the cat has claws. I hope he knows that I scratch back?"
Continue Violet’s adventures in VAMPIRE HUNTRESS, Book One in the Rebel Angels series.
About the Author
ROSEMARY A JOHNS is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning fantasy author, music fanatic, and paranormal anti-hero addict. She writes sexy angels, savage vampires, and epic battles.
Winner of the Silver Award in the National Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards. Runner-up in the Best Fantasy Book of the Year, Reality Bites Book Awards. Honorable Mention in the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards.
Shortlisted in the International Rubery Book Awards.
Rosemary is also a traditionally published short story writer. She studied history at Oxford University and ran her own theater company. She’s always been a rebel…
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Rosemary A Johns, Blood Gods: Rebel Vampires Standalone Novella (Rebel Legends Book 1)
