Choices: Alpha City, Book 3 (4 page)

“You found out I was a vampire?”

“Yes, you’re a vampire. And for most of my life I have hated your kind. But I care about you, Maggie. I’m so attracted to you that it’s hard to look at you sometimes, but there’s this nagging voice that pops up in my head, reminding me that you’re a vampire, and I say stupid stuff and do stupid things. But I want to try to make this work. You’re my mate, Maggie Lamont, and I want this to work, and to do that I’ll need your help. Will you help me?” Judd’s breath blew against her neck as he waited for her to answer. Her butt was lying right on his cock, and his body demanded release. Then, he did something that shocked even himself; he hugged her body closer, thrusting his pelvis up against her.

“Let me go,” Maggie said, her voice small and gravelly. “Why are you doing that?”

Pushing up into her back, Judd asked, “What?” He could hear her heart speed up as he rubbed against her again.

“Damn it Judd, please stop doing that. What do you want from me?” Maggie whispered.

Pushing her hair off his neck, Judd whispered, “I want it all, Maggie.” Judd wrapped his legs around her, holding her down more. “I want this.” He wrapped his hands over her breasts. “And I want this most of all.” Judd placed his hand over her heart. “I just need some time. Do you think you can help me with that?”

Holding his hand over her heart, Judd waited for her to answer. He could feel her heart as it beat faster. As he waited, he licked her neck, then nipped her earlobe and sucked it into his mouth. “I would say what you’re doing is cheating.”

“Whatever it takes, baby. I never said that I played fair.” Judd rolled her so that her back was now on the floor and he was lying on top of her. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.” Leaning his head against her forehead, Judd inhaled her wild scent.

“And what will you do to make it work? Run again?” Maggie asked. “You already said you can’t take it. What if I did this?” Maggie released her fangs. He wanted to flinch, but he knew if he did, she’d never trust him again. Instead he lowered his head and took her mouth. Her taste was sweet and wild, just like her scent. She tasted heavenly. He wanted more, so much more from her. Lowering his body on top of her, he rubbed against her, feeling her heat as she wrapped her legs around him.

Pulling away, he whispered, “I won’t run except to chase you, Maggie. Just give me a chance?”

“I can’t take being hurt again.” Tears shone in her eyes as Maggie answered.

“Take a chance. Take a chance on me.” Judd stood up and held his hand out to her. His heart dropped when she squeezed her eyes shut. He wouldn’t give up, even if she denied him. He’d keep on trying.

Finally, Maggie opened up her eyes. She sighed, then held her hand out to him.

He pulled her up, and they stood and stared at each other. “Okay.”

It was only a single word, but it was the grandest one he had ever heard. A smile tugged at his lips as they stood staring at each other. “You can’t take it back, either, or have your fingers crossed,” Judd said with a smile.

“You are so weird.” Maggie smiled back at him.

M
aggie sat
in the back seat with Judd as they drove to a place called the rock. Nobody seemed to feel like talking, so they all rode in silence. She rubbed her temples as the emotions from all the passengers filled the vehicle. Usually she could block everyone out, but today was different. She needed blood, and she didn’t have any left from the blood bank. She doubted that anyone wanted to be her donor, and anyway she didn’t want to infect anyone.

Needing to break the emotional tension inside the vehicle, Maggie leaned over and whispered in Judd’s ear, “What’s the rock?”

“It’s hard to explain. I think once you see it, you’ll know why they call it the rock. Once we get there, we’ll have to get out and walk a few minutes to get to it.” Judd looked up at her. “Are you okay?” He picked up her hand. “You still look pale.”

“Sure,” she replied, but she could tell he didn’t believe her.

“Maggie, what’s wrong?”

Glancing around at everyone in the vehicle, Maggie whispered again, not wanting to scare anyone. “I need blood to get my strength back. I’m kind of getting shaky.”

“We should have gotten you some before we left. Here.” Judd held out his arm to her.

Flinching, Maggie backed away from him. “No. You’ll turn if I do that. No.” What was he thinking? “I’m fine. I can wait until this is over.” She looked away, hoping he’d drop the conversation, but no such luck.

“Maggie, you don’t look good.” She could hear the concern in his voice as he held her hand up to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her palm. Snuggling up to him, she closed her eyes. His presence alone calmed her. Right now the hunger wasn’t so bad she would attack anyone, but her energy level was very low. She’d used a lot of energy and blood to heal her cousin. After Judith got back today, she’d planned to go and pick up some blood for her to drink after the meeting, but this happened and now that was put on hold.

She could hear the vehicle stop as her eyes fluttered open. “We’re here. Are you okay to walk a little bit?” Judd asked.

“Of course.” Maggie took Judd’s outstretched hand. He kept hold of it as they walked down a trail. Usually she could hear the birds chirping and small animals running around in the woods, but not this time; they were hiding, as if they knew predators were near. All she could hear was the sound of their boots crunching against the dry leaves as they walked toward the rock.

Finally the area became less dense as they came to the end of the trail. She stopped and just stared. It looked like something out of medieval times. It wasn’t just one rock, but several gigantic rocks positioned in a circle. Each rock was a different shape and size. As she walked closer she saw that each rock was in a different shape: assorted animals, an Elf, and a woman.
How strange,
she thought. She had never heard about this in all her reading about Alpha City. She’d need to ask Judd about it. There was a circle in the middle, and that was where they had Morris tied to the ground, his mouth covered with Duck tape. She could smell the salt that surrounded him. There were several members of the Alphas’ covens standing around him. They were all holding hands, except for Me-Len and Meryl.

She watched as Me-Len got the nod from Ryder to begin. As soon as Me-Len and Meryl joined hands with the coven members, they started chanting. She had never heard the words or the language they were speaking before. White smoke billowed above Morris as his body twisted and turned on the ground. The rocks vibrated like nothing she had ever seen or heard of. What in the hell was this place? She had been around witches before, but never had she felt this kind of power. The magic was pulsating from the rocks and going directly into Morris. The strong scent of ground cloves, rosemary, and coriander permeated the air. Judd pulled her to the edge of the circle around the rocks. The smoke began to coalesce as the chanting got louder and faster.

Maggie watched in fascination as a woman appeared in the smoke. Judd pointed, “That’s Claudia Blackwood.” They continued to watch as Claudia ran into the arms of a man—Jamal, the dragon. There was no doubt about his identity; power flowed off him as fire flickered around him. The tension could be felt among the group as they watched Jamal hold something out toward Claudia. The smirk on his face told the group that he held something important, but they couldn’t figure out what it was until she reached out for it—he’d given her a book. They could see the markings clearly as she grasped it, but Maggie didn’t recognize them. However, there was a look of pure joy on Claudia’s face when she realized what she was in possession of.

Me-Len and Meryl broke away from each other as both of them flew back and landed on the ground. Ryder and Brody raced forward to help them up.

“She has the book.” Me-Len’s voice was clipped with fear. Maggie had never seen the woman ruffled like this. Whatever was in that book scared her, as well as the other coven members.

“What does she have?” Ryder demanded.

“The
Book of Thoth
,” Me-Len answered. A look of defeat and fear crossed her face as she responded.

That couldn’t be right. Maggie shook her head and spoke up, “The
Book of Thoth
was destroyed a long time ago.”

“I’ve never heard of it,” Judd said, wrapping his arm around her shaking body. It was in the history lessons she’d been taught when she became a vampire.

“The
Book of Thoth
was supposed to have been destroyed a long time ago. It’s a legendary book containing powerful spells and knowledge, said to be written by the God Thoth,” Maggie answered. It had been part of the history lessons she was taught when she became a vampire.

“Then why are you so scared of it, Me-Len?” Judd asked.

“Because the markings on the book are the same as the ones in the legends. Somehow Jamal has found the book. If she uses the spells, she would be more powerful than even Jamal, and she knows it, though I’m sure she didn’t tell him that. The book will corrupt her soul to pure evil and drive her insane. It isn’t meant for humans to possess, not even powerful witches like her.”

“Then how do we get it and destroy it?” Brody asked. Although it sounded like a simple question, they all knew it wouldn’t be so easy to just waltz in and take that book. It was terrifying to think about how Jamal got his hands on it. The lessons she’d been taught said that witnesses had watched as the book was burned until nothing was left but ashes.

“Me-Len, during my transition, I was taught about vampire history and that the
Book of Thoth
was destroyed by the Vampire Council hundreds of years ago. They believe that, so how does she have it now?” Maggie asked, not understanding how it could have been destroyed but still end up in the hands of their enemies.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. How do you get a book back after it’s been destroyed?” Me-Len walked over to the stone wall and sat on top of it. She stared at Morris where he lay on the ground. His eyes were wide with rage as he stared back at her.

“Unleash his mouth,” Me-Len demanded. Morris screamed in pain as Brody yanked the tape off his mouth. She smiled, knowing that the tape had taken some skin off with it.

“Now you know. Claudia has the book,” Morris spit out. Maggie could see the madness grace the man’s face. He actually thought that this would turn out okay for him if Claudia were in charge.

“She’s warped your mind. You know that the book isn’t meant for a human, Morris. At least I hope you aren’t that stupid,” Me-Len answered dryly.

“Who said Claudia was going to be human?” Morris regretted his words as soon as he saw Me-Len smile.

“Not even a shifter can use that book. Only a god can. They all said you were the smartest one, Morris. Now I’m not so sure, if you really think that,” Me-Len taunted him. She needed him to continue to talk and tell them what they needed to know.

But Morris just arched an eyebrow and smiled.

“You can’t conjure up a god, Morris. It doesn’t work that way.”

“Just because you say that doesn’t make it so. She can conjure one up, and when he appears she can take his power and then his magic,” Morris declared with triumph in his voice.

“No, she can’t do that,” Me-Len said sharply.

“You thought she couldn’t bring the dragon Jamal back from the depths of Hell either, but as Thorn saw firsthand, he lives here on earth.” Morris smiled. “He was just the first. Jamal will take more, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Either give her what she wants, or die like Thorn did.”

Before the man could blink, Kayden had shifted into his panther form and ripped one of Morris’s arms off. His powerful jaws bit clean through skin, muscle, and bone, jerking until nothing was left except Morris screaming in pain. Spitting the arm out, Kayden leaned into Morris’s face and growled, then shifted back and grabbed him around the neck. “You don’t even get to say his name.”

“Please help me, please!” Morris screamed, but not one person moved. He had betrayed his own kind, and now he was helping the witch and the dragon.

Maggie had to look away. Her body needed blood, and Morris’ blood was pouring out of the stump where his arm used to be. Her fangs descended as she forced herself to walk away from everyone.

She hadn’t suffered from bloodlust since she had first turned, but then she usually had a steady supply. Judd moved to her side as she sucked in deep breaths. “What’s wrong?”

“I need blood,” Maggie whispered. “And it’s everywhere.”

Her body started shaking as the fresh scent permeated the area. She didn’t have to see him to know that he was about to die if they didn’t stop the bleeding and get him some help.

“He’s dying,” Maggie told him.

“He deserved what he got,” Judd answered.

“Yes he did, but if you need more information out of him, he’s fading fast and you’ll never get the answers you need. I don’t know if you’ll have enough time to get him more blood before he bleeds out.” Maggie’s body ached as she inhaled the scent. Control. Control was what she needed, but it had been too long since she last had blood, and now…

“Shit.” Judd walked off and told the group what she’d said.

“Can you heal him, Maggie? We need more information out of him.” Me-Len rushed over.

“She needs blood. She can’t heal him without it,” Judd answered.

Maggie glanced up at Judd. “There is a way, but we’ll have to keep him chained up with silver for as long as he lives.”

“No, Maggie. No!” Judd barked. “It’s too dangerous.”

Her eyes widened. “It won’t hurt me, but he won’t enjoy the pain of the bite. Then comes the transition, and that will be painful too. But once he changes he will be strong—very strong, Judd. Stronger then you and the others, for a while. That’s why you’ll need the chains. Don’t feed him unless he gives you information. He’ll tell you everything he knows if that’s the only way he’ll get blood. He won’t be able to help it.”

“No, Maggie. He’s a piece of crap. He doesn’t deserve to live,” Judd argued.

Maggie reached up and touched his face. “We don’t have a choice, Judd. I can hear his heart slowing to the point that he’s about to take his last breath. We need that information. I won’t do it unless you say it’s okay. Tell me what to do.”

A look of shock covered Judd’s face. He never expected her to say that. Maggie looked over at Morris, whose heart was about to stop, and then back at Judd.

“Do it,” Judd said.

Maggie needed what blood Morris had left. In a blink of an eye, she was on the ground behind him. She picked his head up and sank her fangs into his neck like a snake.

“I think she’s too late,” Brody said as they watched her. Judd walked over and bent down behind her. He wrapped his hands around her, giving her strength as she sucked the last of Morris’s blood out of his body. She knew what was coming. The venom sprinted through his body, changing him as it went. Maggie let Morris go and leaned back against her mate.

Her stomach was in knots, knowing that once they killed him, she’d feel it. The pain would be unbearable, and she might even die. She couldn’t tell Judd that, though, or he wouldn’t have allowed her to do it. They needed Morris alive. He had valuable information, and this was the only way to get it.

Maggie’s voice was low and shaky. “Get the silver chains and wrap him in them. He will be strong once the change is complete. We need to get him into some kind of cell. He’ll want to feed, so nobody should get near the cage. When a vampire first changes, they’re at their strongest.”

Pennson and Jamie had already gotten the chains and started wrapping his body up. “Let’s move him now before he wakes up,” Ryder ordered. The two Betas hoisted him and started carrying him to the vehicles.

Judd stood and scooped Maggie into his arms. “Come on, baby. You need to rest now.” Maggie laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes as he carried her to the car. She needed to rest, or she wouldn’t be of any help to anyone. Her last thoughts were of the danger that was coming.

J
udd stopped again
in the middle of pacing the room to watch her. Shit, who was he kidding—he was eyeing her like a dog in heat. Her shirt rose up just a little bit, exposing a strip of pale skin. Everything about this woman tempted him. All he wanted to do was taste her and never let her go. Could he make this work? Would the fact that she was a vampire stop him? No, he told himself. No, she was his. The fates wouldn’t have paired them together if this was wrong. Maggie was a kind woman who just happened to be a vampire. He’d work through his feelings, and they would look back on these times as ones that almost kept them apart, but he wouldn’t allow that to happen.