Vampyre | Book I of Bloodlines | Free on Inkitt & Kindle Unlimited
A Shared Premonition

Viola

Given everything that has transpired, I’m so emotionally depleted that I have no energy left to mourn for Amber. Poor, young, and lovely Amber, with her entire life ahead of her, was cut short because of Stefan.

I’m uncertain of Stefan’s intentions, but Darius insists that we must leave tonight. With William’s protection charm, Stefan will be immune to Darius’s powers—our only defense against him. And since Stefan is older than Darius, he’s apparently much stronger.

Stefan’s ability lies in influencing emotions—anyone whose blood he drinks, he can manipulate. Darius suspects he may have consumed a drop of Elliott’s blood to better control him, which could explain why Elliott wasn’t afraid of him even after potentially witnessing Amber’s death.

Darius mentions that I might also develop magical abilities, but it can take up to 20 years to see signs of such a gift. That might not seem like a long time in Vampyre years, but it’s longer than we can afford to wait with Stefan at our doorstep.

Sophie opens a book she found in William’s office—a witch’s tome discussing the origins of Vampyres and Dhampirs.

Darius leans against my dressing table, and wrapping his arms around me, positions me between his legs in preparation to listen to whatever Sophie found after a day’s scouring. I rest my head against his chest and do my best to pay attention, but with Darius looking so dangerously handsome in his new suit, it’s nearly impossible.

Sophie clears her throat and glances at us to confirm we’re paying attention. “Dhampirs are not artificially created or turned; they are naturally born through. According to Vampyre lore, only a living human female can conceive a Dhampir with the assistance of a male Vampyre. This reproductive process is fraught with danger for the female, as the growing Dhampir child gradually drains her life force to sustain its own growth until birth. Despite this perilous origin, Dhampirs possess the same physical attributes as Vampyres. They remain forever beautiful and have enhanced speed and improved sight. It is unknown whether a Dhampir may inherit a father’s wings, as flight is an extremely rare talent only unlocked by the most disciplined of Vampyres.”

I glance up at Darius, thoroughly impressed by him, as he continues to hang on Sophie’s every word. He must truly be amazing to have the ability to fly.

“A Dhampir can consume both blood and regular food, reproduce, and intriguingly, they can transform humans into Vampyres using venom produced within their fangs in the same fashion a Vampyre may turn a human.”

Sophie moistens her thumb before turning the page and continuing. “There are no documented instances of a human or Vampyre successfully transitioning into a Dhampir. As of the writing of this text, such a transformation remains purely speculative within Vampyre mythology.”

“I was dead, Sophie. Are you sure there was nothing else?” Darius inquires.

“No, I suspect what happened to you cannot be replicated. The circumstances are far too unique,” Sophie says as she closes the book and presents a diagram she’s drawn to illustrate her theory.

“You, Darius, had consumed so much of Viola’s blood that some of the life force of Willow’s soul also flowed through you. When Viola made the choice to be only half Vampyre, half of Willow’s soul was still within you. Viola’s intentions must have been powerful enough to bring some of you back. She is a half-witch, after all,” Sophie theorizes.

Darius’s eyes lock onto mine. His knitted brows seem to soften as he smiles at me, and I blush under his intense gaze. I can’t help but look away as I feel myself burning up right on the spot.

“Viola, do you remember your strongest emotion was when you spoke to your mama?” Sophie asks.

My cheeks flush even hotter. I know exactly what it was—my one burning desire at the time. Glancing at Darius, whose eyes remain fixed on mine, I feel a mix of vulnerability and excitement. This is a topic we haven’t discussed yet amidst all the chaos.

“Yes, I remember, Sophie,” I murmur, looking down at my hands, feeling exposed.

I sense Darius’s yearning for me growing, and I share his desire to have Sophie leave the room as quickly as humanly possible. I feel him willing my eyes back up to meet his, and I can’t help but obey.

“Well, what was it?” Sophie prods impatiently.

I smile, hesitant to voice the words aloud. When I see amusement in Darius’s lifted brows, I slowly begin to speak, keeping my eyes on him to gauge his response. “I wanted to be alive because I wanted to conceive a child…with Darius.”

A surge of love so powerful courses through my connection with Darius that it nearly knocks me off my feet. Before I can react, Darius slips his hand around my neck, claiming my lips as if to say, “Let’s make that wish come true right this moment.”

Both of us attempt to draw each other closer, but it’s not enough. Darius growls with anticipation as he lifts me onto the desk, deftly unbuttoning my dress.

As Sophie leaves, I hear her sigh, “Ah, l’amour,” as she closes the door.

The door clicks shut behind her, and I’m finally alone with Darius. My Darius.

I do my best to remove his new suit quickly without damaging anything. When we’re finally free of our clothing, I can’t help but admire his chest. I haven’t seen many men without a shirt, but I can’t imagine the sight getting better than this. He’s muscular without being brutish, tall and imposing, and exudes a strictly contained strength.

Darius pulls me close against him, resting his forehead on mine. “Viola, did you mean what you said about wanting a child?”

I nod vigorously, wanting nothing more than to have him inside me and leave a piece of himself behind to take root within my belly. “It’s never something I’ve ever desired before, but you’ve changed me in ways I can’t begin to describe. I want to give you everything. I want to be bound to you in every possible way.”

Darius averts his gaze and composes himself, clearing his throat before speaking. “I never envisioned a future for myself until you, Viola. You’ve given me everything, and I will strive to be worthy of you.”

His kiss is tender and worshipful, making me weak at the knees. I surrender entirely to him, relishing how he diminishes my strength with his own.

Laying me gently on the bed, Darius lifts my arms above my head, his eyes tracing patterns of desire over my skin. When his lips replace my breast, I can barely think straight. His fangs graze my nipple, sending me almost to the brink.

As his mouth works its magic, his fingers explore my eager core. The chemistry between us is explosive, addictive even, and I’ve never felt so alive. Before Darius, my life was mundane and constricted. He’s shattered those barriers, inviting me into a boundless world built for two.

When I feel the release coming, my jaw tightens in an effort to keep my orgasm quiet. Alas, when Darius continues to touch me, I lose grip on reality and relinquish control of my body. My feet begin to tingle, and before I know it, Darius is chuckling with his hand once again stifling my moans.

When I look down at him, he watches me with a proud radiant smile before slowly releasing my mouth.

“No one’s supposed to know I’m in here,” he says quietly moving to hover over me.

“I don’t care, let them hear,” I say deliriously.

When Darius kisses me I feel his member teasing my entrance, my body ready for him, but he pulls away and watches me closely.

“Don’t tease me, Darius,” I urge.

With a mischievous smirk and a thrilling flash of his fangs, Darius thrusts smoothly into me—his eyes fixed on mine as he moves within me.

We move together seamlessly. Somehow, the link that connects us adds to our synergy.

“Bite me,” I hear myself whisper, and Darius doesn’t waste another second.

Darius takes my wrist in his mouth, his fangs pierce my flesh I feel his venom pump into me. My orgasm sends us both over and I’m embraced by a warm golden light.

I don’t understand it at first, but my instincts guide me to follow whatever is presenting itself before me—it’s a choice—there’s a decision being put towards me.

When William took me, all I did was beg the universe not to conceive, and now the universe is asking me if now is the time, and I choose the affirmative. Yes, bind this man to me for all eternity.

Darius growls as he fills me with his seed, and I know without a doubt that this is the moment his child will take hold in my womb.

Piercing through the golden light, I see her brown eyes opening to meet my gaze. They are so much like Darius’s eyes, but ones are set in the face of a little girl with wild dark hair. Red light shimmers within her gaze, her rosy cheeks full of life, and her plump, pouty lips full of mischief.

Darius lets go of my wrist, and his glowing red eyes lock onto mine, full of questions.

“Is that…is that who I think that is?” he manages to get out as his body continues to spasm within me.

“You see her too?”

“Yes, darling, I see our daughter. The timing was a little awkward, though,” Darius laughs, dropping himself onto me.

I laugh. “I’m sorry, It just came out of nowhere.”

Darius turns my head away from him, exposing my neck to his roaming lips.

“Whenever I drink from you, it feels like I carry a part of you within me.”

I wrap my arms around him as far as they will go, basking in the love we share.

“I love you,” I whisper.

I feel Darius hardening inside me, ready to go again, and when he starts to move, I feel my orgasm building up within me almost instantly.

“Viola my love, let’s guarantee this child comes to be,” Darius lifts my knees, pressing my thighs up to my chest as he watches himself moving in and out of me.

I burn up under his gaze, embarrassed at how much of me he can see.

“Perfection,” he whispers, taunting my gaze up to his.

The moment my eyes meet his red glowing ones, I’m done for. I give into him and let him do as he pleases with me all night, determined to accomplish his mission for the evening. When he was done with me, I was unable to tell where my body ended, and he began.