Scarlet Night (Limited Edition) (37 page)

Serena hissed, “Us? ‘
Us
’? Are you
insane
!”

Zane frowned and looked from the strange newcomer to Serena, “How do you know this…
?” he paused as Serena sprinted by, charging at her.

“I’ll fucking
kill
you!”

Kristine shook her head, “Not before
I kill you, bitch! And
not
before I take him back!” her purple aura seized and withdrew into her body, causing Serena to pause and backtrack.

“Wh-what? You’re an a
uric? But… you and Devon… were
hunters
! H-how could you
hunt
vampires if…”

“
You stupid bitch!
Yo
u
of all people should understand! I
knew
he wouldn’t have me if he knew what I was, and cutting a few of our kinds’ heads off to try and bag him was
more
than a fair trade, wouldn’t you agree? But that’s ancient history and I want him!”

Serena frowned, “What are you—”

“Devon, you stupid bitch!” Kristine shrieked, “I
know
he’s with you! I
saw
him fuse with your aura the night you killed him and I want him—”

“
I
killed him?” Serena lunged at her, only to be thrown back as the auric threw out a wave of energy.

Kristine sneered, walking towards her, “
Where
is he?”

“He’s gone.”
Serena glared, pulling herself up.

“Don’t lie to me!” Kristine hissed, “I’ve come too far for that!”

Serena frowned, “It’s not a lie, you
psycho-bit
—” she was cut off as she was forced to dodge another auric blast from Kristine and cried out as one hit her in the leg and dropped her to the ground.

“Serena!” Zane glared and turned to Kristine, his
tattoos beginning to glow as his body started to shift.

“This doesn’t concern you
!” Kristine glared at him, charging for another attack.

Serena’s eyes widened, “No! Leave him alone!”

“Oh?” Kristine looked at her, “Might this be a
new
love? Serena…
two
men at once? I mean, I
knew
you were a tramp, but—”

“I already told you
; Devon’s
dead
!”

Kristine shook her head, “
If
that’s true, then I
owe
you for taking Devon from me!”

“You’re crazy!” Serena stood, “
You
started that fire at our weddi—”

“
NO!
” Kristine glared, “Devon would’ve
never
married you! It was all you! All your fault!” she glared at Zane, “And I
will
take what I’m owed!” She smirked as she threw out her aura at Zane.

Serena’s eyes widened as the blast hit Zane, “No!” she ran towards him as he slammed into the ground, “Oh god! Please no! Not again!”

But his aura was already gone.

His tattoos
; cold and black.

His body
…still.

Dead.

“Turn around, bitch! I’m not done with you, yet!” Kristine said, her soft steps approaching behind Serena.

Serena dropped to her knees, tears welling in her eyes, “Zane…”

Kristine’s aura slammed into her back, knocking her to the ground. “Don’t think I’ll kill you so easy! I’ve waited too long for this! Now
turn around
!”

Serena sobbed, trying to suck in a breath through her aching lungs as she clenched her eyes.

“Zane… no, please! Please don’t let it be true…”

Kristine grabbed her shoulder, “Turn arou—”

“Would you mind terribly if I asked you to try that once more?”

Serena looked down to meet dark brown eyes on Zane’s face.

Serena blushed as she saw Zane stand and, after dusting himself off, look at his hands and smirking.

“Z-Zane?”

He didn’t respond but, instead, smirked at Kristine and took a step towards her, “Oye! You hear me, girlie? I said I want you to attack me!”

Kristine frowned, “No… you’re not you. You can’t be…”

Serena bit her lip as a bright green aura shimmered and grew from his body, writhing and bubbling into life.

Serena struggled to her feet, starting towards him, “Zane!”

Frowning, he shifted his dark eyes to hers for the first time and took her in absently, “I’m afraid not, luv. Not anymore, at least.”

To be continued in
book #2

of the
Behind the Vail
trilogy:

“
Scarlet Dawn”

Megan J. Parker

**Preview chapters**

Serena sighed, sitting in the front row under the circus tent. Looking around, she noticed that there was no sign of an audience—a ragtag mythos circus—she shook her head at the craziness.

The group had finally gotten comfortable in their tents and Axle had shown them to their seats. She bit her lip thinking back to Axle’s stare, he seemed so intent on showing her his work…

…As if it would impress her!

Shaking her head to ignore the thoughts of Axle, she heard the music begin and a loud voice call out over the speaker, introducing Axle to the front stage. She watched him step out
with a large beautiful golden tiger and watched as he winked over at her and bowed teasingly. Rolling her eyes, she glared and looked away, hiding the blush that was threatening to invade her cheeks.

Since when did she blush?

He
was
good looking!

Turning back, she realized he was now standing face-to-face with a tiger and he grinned, grabbing a large ring and setting it on the stand before turning back to audience.

“I need a volunteer! Any takers?” he grinned, turning to Serena. “How about you?”

“
Hah! Fuck that!” Serena glared.

“Come on, Serena! Do it!” Zoey giggled
, snuggling into Isaac’s chest. “I’m too busy.”

“Wha? You too, Zoe?” Serena sighed and nodded, dropping her head for a moment before jumping to the stage in a graceful stride.

As she reached him, he was petting the tiger’s chin and the tiger gave a loud purr and rubbed against him more. She smiled, watching him and found she enjoyed just watching him pet the tiger. She bit her lip, shaking her head quickly of those feelings and smirked.

“So, what do I do?”

She gasped as suddenly he lifted her and spun her around, placing her on a different podium right in front of the ring.

“Lie down.” He smirked.

“Well, that’s not a way to get a girl in your bed!” She smirked teasingly.

A hint of humor reached his eyes and he smirked, “Oh, I know. You haven’t seen my methods for that yet. Now, lie back!”

Serena laughed, lying back on the stand and watched out of the corner of her eye as Axle turned back to the group and asked for a cheer. The group let a few hilarious hollers and in a flash, the ring was set on fire and the tiger was running towards the ring…and her!

She gasped, watching the tiger’s movement and chewed her lip nervously for a moment. The tiger gracefully jumped straight over her and through the ring, landing perfectly on the other side.

“My turn!” Axle grinned.

She watched as he did several backflips towards her. Landing on his hands for the last flip, he pushed his
arms out and his legs came flying over her and pushing through the circle of fire.

Then, as if time had stopped, their eyes met and she froze, biting her lip at the intensity in his gaze. She watched as he smirked and winked at her and then he was gone. She frowned, quickly shaking her head at what had just transpired and quickly jumped off the podium.

His hand caught hers and the fires from the ring sparked in his eyes and she turned before he pulled her to him. She gasped as his lips found hers…

His lips were soft yet passionate.

They begged for something she was afraid to give.

And, more afraid of the feeling, she was afraid that if they asked again…

…she would fall.

Quickly, she pulled away and bit her lip befo
re glaring and lifting her hand, slapping him hard across the cheek.

“Don’t
EVER fucking do that again!” She growled before turning and rushing to her tent, not bothering to wait for any of the others to follow.