Made By Design (Blood Bound Series Book 2) (25 page)

Caius took the scalpel, meeting my mom’s eyes and almost pleading with his own. Then he ran the sharp edge along the lower part of Mom’s belly. She shrieked through the towel, instant tears spilling from her eyes as blood poured from the long cut. Caius moved fast and shoved his hands inside her. A blood-cloaked baby girl was yanked free. He dragged the scalpel along my tiny infant belly, and I winced, feeling the cutting pain. A glittering red vial appeared in his hand, and he poured the contents into the gash. Without waiting, he plunged his hands back inside my mom, tearing the second baby free. The cutting process was repeated. Except this vial was filled with a dark, silvery substance. The cut along my infant body was gone, and I watched as my baby brother’s shrunk to nothing. I heard the second their tiny lungs inflated, instantaneous cries wailing from their throats.

We’d already been torn from our mom’s womb before Caius poured the contents of the vials into us. So why was I labeled IBB? Did IBB mean infected before my first breath of life? And if Dorian was IAB, did that mean he’d already started breathing when Caius ripped him from the womb?

“Are t-they al-right?” Mom gurgled, eyelids drooping and head lolling back.

Caius wrapped the babies with white mink blankets and went to her side. “They’re fine. It worked.” Fear transformed his face as he bit into his wrist, before pressing it against her mouth. “Hold on,” he said. “
Please
hold on.” He lifted her upper body, causing more blood to gush from her carved belly. Then he sank his fangs into her neck. Long moments passed, the patter of my mom’s heart fading to almost nothing. Caius tore his fangs free from her neck and bit into his bottom lip. He removed his no-longer bleeding wrist from her mouth. “Do not die on me!” he shouted, then pressed his lips to hers.

Crimson drops escaped from between their mouths, and then I heard it. Mom’s dwindling heartbeat increased in strength then began racing.

Her eyes flung open, startlingly silver. No longer the eyes of a human, but the eyes of a vampire.

The first thing I felt as the vision faded was a cool hand against my cheek. “Are you okay?”

I was cradled in Kendrick’s arms, my head against his firm chest. We were in the foyer at the bottom of the stairs. He frowned at me, stroking my hair back and looking worried. His pulse was elevated…and damn, he smelled good. I kicked free of his hold and stumbled back against the wall.

Dorian flew from the kitchen and steadied me before shoving a full bottle of blood into my hands. “What’d you see?”

After emptying the bottle I sunk onto the lower steps, my knees still wobbling.

Kendrick took the glass bottle. “Did you see the damned?”

“Or Caius?” Dorian interjected.

With my brain beginning to throb, I rubbed my thumbs over my temples. “Mom forced Caius to infect us. It was her idea to have us all turned…”

The moment I’d finished recounting what I’d seen, the wooden front door swung open and Mom strolled in. She caught sight of us as she dropped her keys into a glass dish on the foyer table. “Oh, you’re all home. I’m so happy you’re—”

Dorian shot forward. His hands wrapped around her shoulders and his eyes captured her startled ones. “Why did you make him turn us?”

Kendrick and I crept closer, but kept quiet. Dorian’s compulsion always worked better without interference.

The shock left Mom’s face, replaced by muted confusion. “Turned who? Where?”

Dorian’s steel gaze narrowed. “You made Caius turn Amelia and me into vampires.”

Watching the turmoil as our mom’s eyes became distant, darting with memories, I held my breath. It felt like an ant nest had been obliterated in my gut, and a million ants were trying to crawl up my throat to freedom.

Finally Mom spoke and my breath released. “I never did that. It all happened when…when the rogue vampire attacked. His blood and venom mixed into mine to make you vampires, even before you were born.”

Caius’s compulsion is still holding strong,
Kendrick said wordlessly.
The alchemist mark on her shoulder must still be working.

I leaned forward and whispered in my brother’s ear. He nodded and lifted Mom’s hand over her blouse to the hidden scar across her now flat stomach. “Then why did you make Caius cut us from your body?”

Mom frowned, moving her hand back and forth over the long scar. She frowned, creating lines in her youthful complexion. “You were going to be born vampires. I didn’t want that. I didn’t want you to be forced into their world. I made Caius do it to keep you from them. To make you appear human. To keep you safe.”

Dorian questioned our mom over and over. Still no matter how hard he forced his compulsion, the responses were the same. In the end we let it go, and after wiping the encounter and putting Mom to bed, Dorian met us back in the foyer.

In the time he’d been gone, my brain had been spinning on overdrive. Her turn of events just couldn’t be true, because she was still human when Caius had torn us from her body. If the rogue vampire—who was actually Caius—had attacked earlier, she would already have been a vampire. There was only one believable explanation.

“Caius compelled her to think we were already turned, and the one way to keep us human was to poison us.”

~

As Dorian directed his Cabriolet around the sharp bend of a cliff, the rising sun spread a rippling orange hue over small ocean swells. The anticipation on his face was unmissable. Today we were training at the beach. But not just any beach. Rye on the Rocks was secluded, and in these chilly weather conditions would remain abandoned.

After passing a few miles on Route 1-A, we arrived at our destination. Bone-chilling wind howled, whipping sand past us. Dorian replaced his car’s hood as Kendrick and I got out.

Ty was already waiting, and pushed off the log-framed barrier to wrap me in his arms. “Morning, beautiful.” His lips met mine for too short a moment, breaking away as Kendrick and Dorian sidled up.

Slight distaste swelled from Kendrick, but he kept a lid on his emotions. His hatred for Ty was slowly decreasing.

Ty’s body straightened to maximum height and his gentle voice hardened. “Okay, let’s get started.”

Ty led the way down the rocky incline to the small sand and rock-filled beach. Then he nodded to Dorian and Kendrick. “Amelia and I will grapple. You two watch.”

“I have to fight you?” I said as Ty pulled me into the sandy clearing. Although I’d known what we were coming here to do, I hadn’t considered the possibility of forcefully trying to hurt him.

Ty smiled. “Experiencing your strengths and weaknesses first hand will give me the best idea on how to train you.” He glanced over to the others. “After Amelia, I’ll take each of you on.”

Dorian and Kendrick took spots on a large, pitted rock in the shade, watching us.

I gulped when Ty turned back to me, not just because of what we were about to do, but also in morbid anticipation of Ty and Kendrick duking it out. “O-okay,” I said. “What do I do?”

Ty leaned forward, lips brushing my cheek. “Try to hit me.”

My eyes widened. “Hit you?”

“If you can.”

Ty smiled in the way that always got my pulse racing. It raced now, but not for the same reason. Adrenaline flooded my veins as I let his arrogance grate on me. I pushed aside the fact that the guy I loved stood before me, and clenched my hands. Then I struck out, aiming for his stomach.

Ty reacted, catching my fist to shove me back. “You’re eyes betrayed your action.”

I stumbled at the force, the heel of my glittery silver Vans hitting a rock before I regained my footing. My knees bent and I lunged. Ty blocked my attack, bringing my feet back to the ground. I struck out, aiming for his face. His forearm came up in a flash, blocking my hit. I struck out again and again, but each and every hit was met with anticipation. Breathing hard, I stepped back. “I suck at this!”

“Not if I have anything to do with it.” Ty clapped his hands together. “Go again.”

Using all the strength I could conjure, the hits began to fly. Each time I would meet Ty’s fist, or arm. Even more embarrassing was when I hit nothing but air, stumbling forward as he spun fluidly out of my reach.

Ty’s expression remained focused, and he made no attempt to fight back. “You’ve got legs too,” he said. As if I didn’t already know that. “Use them!”

With a frustrated cry, I continued my attack, bringing my legs and knees into the action and aiming for any and every part of him. Even with the wind chill, sweat slicked my face and body. My hair stuck to my neck and arms, and my clothes latched onto my skin. This fight had been going on for ages. The cloud-cloaked sun was higher in the sky, a gentle glow of mid morning. When my stamina began to ebb and frustration at my lacking skill enraged me, I kicked for Ty’s groin. He didn’t even blink, catching my foot and throwing it away. I spun at the power of his thrusting arm, my back suddenly to Ty.

And then it was all over.

Ty had one arm around my waist. The other was clamped around my neck. “Never turn your back on your enemy,” he said, vampire fangs grazing my neck. “Or you’re likely to become their lunch.”

Ty spun me out of his hold and I tripped on a rock. Challenge radiated from his eyes while his expression darkened. “Try harder!”

The harsh demand in his tone caught me off guard. His hard alpha stare made me pause. To me Ty had always been gentle. I’d never had this other side of him directed at me. The demand. The anger. The formidable hostility. I got to my feet, brushing the sand from my tank top and wondering if this was what he’d received growing up. Was this how real fighters were made?

“Take it easy,” Kendrick called, rising from beside Dorian off the rock.

“Saving your skin isn’t easy,” Ty said, glaring at him. “I’m doing this to save her life. All your lives.”

Kendrick stalked forward and I held a hand up. Regardless of my fatigue and initial surprise at Ty’s harsh treatment, this is what we’d come here to do “No. It’s fine.”

Kendrick kept walking. “This is not fine. He’s treating you like you’re one of his pack. Like you’re his to boss around.” He pushed my arm away and fronted on Ty, shoving him in the chest. “Back off, tick magnet.”

Ty smiled and the look had the lethal malice of a bloody dagger. “Don’t hold back, vampire. I know you’ve been waiting for this.”

“Guys, please,” I pleaded.

Kendrick swung before I could stop him. The strike was quick as a catapult and connected with Ty’s ribs. He barely flinched, making me wonder if he’d expected the landing. Then he struck out at Kendrick’s face. The whipping breeze became glacial as they continued to lash out at each other. And I didn’t step in. For one, they’d brought this on themselves. And two, with the whole bond threesome thing they both needed to blow off some steam.

Dorian met my side and nudged me with his elbow. “Want me to break it up?”

I caught my flailing hair and used the elastic around my wrist to tie it into a ponytail. “Not yet.”

Kendrick had somehow gotten Ty in a headlock and was punching into his side over and over.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Ty laughed then threw Kendrick over onto his back. He landed on his chest and clocked him in the face. An instant bruise flared across Kendrick’s cheek and around his eye.

My best friend screamed out as I yanked Dorian forward. “Okay. Now it’s time.”

Before we could reach them, a swirling gust of wind kicked up clouds of sand and knocked both guys onto their backs. It kept up a battering force, the thick windblown sand separating both guys and holding us back.

Then just as suddenly the wind was gone.

Ty sat up, swiping blood from his split lip with the back of his hand. At the same time, Kendrick rolled onto his knees and clutched his ribs. Purple and black bruises scored their bare arms and faces, turning mustard in color as they both began to heal.

“What’s with the crazy wind?” Ty asked.

I shrugged, wrapping my arms around my body. “Don’t know, but usually crazy lightning follows.” I scanned above. Clouds slid like billowing smoke beneath a now slate-black mass. “Can we take off before that happens? Or are you two not done yet?”

Ty jumped up and Dorian hauled Kendrick to his feet. “Sounds good,” Kendrick said, the puffiness from his eye receding.

Ty took my hand and began walking. He glanced over his shoulder. “Not bad, Kendrick. For a beginner…”

Kendrick ignored him with a grunt and jogged past us. Dorian took after him.

Ty squeezed my hand, full lips thinning into a straight line. “Sorry. I let that get out of hand.” I began to tell him it was okay, that I understood, but he kept talking. “I know this wasn’t easy for you. Seeing me like this. I wish I didn’t have to be so tough on you. But I do.” He released my hand and curled his arm around me, hugging me against his side. “You can handle it. I know you can. You’re strong, Amelia.” At my look that said,
yeah right,
he smiled. “Think about it. When the damned attacked us on the boat, you didn’t run or hide. You risked your life to save me. You’re a fighter, Amelia. And with practice I know you can be as menacing as any opponent. It just takes time.”

I put an arm around him and squeezed. “So I’m not a lost cause?”

Ty laughed, tightening his hold around me. “Far from it.”

I drove my Ducati up the long driveway to Ty’s house on Friday. Mr. Malau was out of town,
thank God
, and after five days of beach and bush training, my alpha boyfriend had a new location in mind. The personal training arena below his house.

I stood before the formidable front doors, trying to force my racing heart to slow. Kendrick had had enough this week, but Dorian’s car was already parked. If Mr. Malau were here there’d be no way my brother would hang around. I saw a note on the door and snatched it.

‘Around back. Door’s unlocked.’

Past the tall rendered walls and reflective windows that watched me like eyes, I found the door. I kicked snow from my Vans, which had begun to soak through, and went in. It was pitch black inside, my vampire sight leading me along the blank sterile corridor. At the end was an open trap door that led down a wooden ladder. I dropped down through the trapdoor, found the door handle, and pushed.