Vampires’ Shared Bride (Dark Lords of London #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Greater Seattle Area

Washington State, USA

Meadow Vale was lost in the book she was reading when a loud clatter came from the kitchen, and she froze.

Since she lived alone in her one-bedroom apartment and didn’t have a boyfriend, her place should be quiet. Especially since she didn’t have any pets.

As the last echoes of a pan hitting the floor filtered through the wall, she tossed aside her ereader and went to the door. Pressing her ear to it, she held her breath and listened.

Silence.

And yet, her stomach churned, and her heart raced.

After being forced to live in hiding for nearly six years, she was jumpy to begin with.

But those years had also taught her to take notice of anything out of the ordinary, especially once her siblings had stopped contacting her nearly three years ago.

Pushing aside the sadness at what might’ve happened to River and Yesenia, Meadow reached for her baseball bat as she simultaneously gathered her magic. As much as she hated her abilities, she would use them to save her life.

After a few more beats, her powers sensed a pair of males nearby. Her magic itched to reach out and manipulate them, but she held back. For now. Because she didn’t want them to try forcing themselves on her. No, if she were patient and concentrated, she might just get them to follow her commands.

Although it wasn’t a guarantee.

Not wanting to think about her lack of magical training compared to other fae witches, Meadow breathed evenly and focused as much as she could, given the intruders. Her gathered magic pulsed, waiting, and she tightened her grip on the baseball bat.

After a few more beats, her bedroom door crashed open, and two vampire males rushed into her room.

Since she stood behind the now-open door, they couldn’t see her yet. And as they spun around, she drew on her power and directed it at the closest of the two males, letting her magic wrap around him.

He’s the one you want. You want each other. You must be together, or you may as well jump out the window.

The first male she’d targeted stilled and faced his companion. His eyes turned heated, and he stalked toward the other.

Then Meadow wove the same spell on the second vampire. Within seconds, they were kissing and lowering to the bed.

Not waiting around to see what happened, she grabbed the small packed bag in the hall she always had at the ready, put on shoes and a jacket, grabbed her purse, and dashed out the door.

Thankfully, it was late at night, so she didn’t run into any of her neighbors beyond a few high school kids drinking and smoking weed in a car.

However, they didn’t even notice her as she hurried across the parking lot, out of the back gate and into the small woods behind the apartment complex. The ready escape route was yet another reason she’d picked this place, beyond it being cheap.

Then she ran, heedless of the bushes and branches that scraped her skin. All that mattered was getting away from the vampires, the ones who’d been looking for her and her siblings for years.

Ones that might’ve killed her brother and sister already.

Not now. Think of that later. Meadow kept running until her side hurt, and she looked for some thick underbrush to hide in. Once she managed to squeeze her way inside some ferns and bushes—grateful there weren’t any nettles—she drew in deep gulps of air, thinking maybe she should take up running.

You have bigger things to worry about now, don’t you?

She’d always known that one day either her father or Derrick Yates—a vampire mob boss that her father owed money to—might find her.

And yet, after so many years of living under a false name and always looking over her shoulder, she’d thought maybe, just maybe, they would’ve forgotten about her.

But considering two vampires had just broken into her apartment, the odds weren’t looking good. And now? Now, she had no idea what to do. If she went to her mentor, Stacey Green, she would probably put the female in danger.

Which left one option—to run and start over. Again.

For a few beats, her eyes heated with tears.

All she wanted was a quiet life, one where she could have a normal job, read books, and never have to use her magic again.

The ability to control lust and desire had always been a burden and a curse for her.

She couldn’t even attempt to date, always afraid she’d let her powers out and the male would want her for the wrong reasons.

And worst of all, her siblings might’ve died trying to protect her from their father and Derrick Yates.

River, Yesenia, where are you? She’d always held out hope that they’d find her, but after so many years, she wasn’t so sure. The pair loved her fiercely and would make contact if they could.

Slumping to the ground, she propped her head on her knees and willed herself not to cry. She needed to plan what to do next, all without endangering the only other person who meant something to her around here—Stacey.

But how?

Tears trickled down her face, and she didn’t fight them. While she sobbed silently—she wasn’t stupid enough to want to draw attention—she wished she could have a normal life. One full of love and laughter instead of fear and resentment.

But who was she kidding? That wasn’t the life for her.

Her sobs quieted, and she turned to lay her cheek on knees and listened to the summer sounds of crickets and some distant frogs.

Just as the sounds started to soothe her, something tugged at her. Before she could look to see if the vampire males had found her, the tugging increased, and the world went black.