Bonds of Blood (Blood Bond Series)

  Bonds of Blood

  by

  Shauna Hart

  Copyright 2013 by Shauna Hart

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT

  SHAUNA HART’S BOOKS

  PRAISE FOR

  Shadows of Ecstasy

  “One of those rare books that sucks you in from the first page and keeps you riveted to the last.”

  ~Whipped Cream Reviews~

  “Ms. Hart has written a compelling story that will keep you glued to the pages as you watch these two dynamic characters fight and struggle to find each other in a sea of opposition and politics.”

  ~Coffee Time Romance~

  PRAISE FOR

  Den of Desire

  “What can I say but hot, hot, hot. This is not only a love story with blow your mind sex scenes but a book you can't put down. There is suspense, characters you want to know more about and a fascinating setting. Joe is the man you would love to come home to, and Mara is the woman we women sometimes strive to be. Purchasing this book will leave you wanting to read more from this author. You will not be disappointed.”

  ~You Gotta Read Reviews~

  “Dynamite is the only word I can think of to describe this book. It will keep you reading with its short chapters and mind blowing sex scenes. The author is at her best with crisp and snappy dialogue from the characters. The suspense of the book makes it thrilling and sexy! By the end of the story I'm not sure who is seduced more, Joe, Mara, or the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story with more than satisfying sex scenes.”

  ~The Romance Studio~

  Dedication

  Thanks to all of my friends and family

  who have been so supportive of my work.

  To my sons, Anthony and Colton, for

  always making me smile.

  And, as always, thanks to my husband, Willchris,

  for giving me all of the love and support

  that keeps me going.

  Chapter 1

  She didn’t even know he was here.

  Each night, he watched her.

  To protect.

  It was his duty.

  She let out a low murmur as she twisted on the bed, the sheets slipping below her waist. The satin negligee she wore moved against her skin to reveal the side of her breast. Full breasts that he wanted to touch, to taste.

  His body went taut. Leaning over, his hand hovered over the sheet. As much as he wanted to take temptation from view, he didn’t trust himself to touch her.

  She was not for him, no matter how much he desired her. He had been chosen for this task because of his loyalty, and he refused to dishonor that. His job was quite clear. He was a Member of the Vigilate—he was only meant to watch, to protect.

  She rolled over, her long legs slipping out from under the sheet. He drew in a deep breath. His hand ached with the need to caress her thigh, to tease the hot center of her. Each night was like this.

  A lesson in torture.

  Each night as she slept, he watched her. He had to.

  A sound outside made his head turn. The scuffling sound broke through the normal sounds of music and laughter. The others would come if they found out the truth about her. He just hoped that he was strong enough to protect her when they did.

  Dawn was approaching.

  It was time to disappear.

  Standing to leave, Alec heard rustling in the bed. With lightning quick movements he slipped out the French doors to the balcony just as she sat up. Jumping over the edge, he landed on the street. Standing in the shadows, he watched her look out the small glass panes.

  She was searching.

  Searching for him.

  Luckily, the darkness was like a second skin. It enabled him to disappear. Still, her senses were developing fast. Quicker than anyone expected.

  Soon, he wouldn’t be able to hide.

  And then, she would know the truth about him…and herself.

  ****

  Kat Montague stared out the window into the French Quarter.

  It had happened again.

  Each night she woke up with the feeling that someone was there.

  Watching her.

  And each night she woke up alone.

  The rational part of her brain told her that she was most likely cracking up. Maybe the grief of losing her mother had finally taken its toll. After six months, she was finally beginning to move on with her life.

  So, why did she feel this…presence each night?

  Even now, she felt like someone was watching her.

  She threw open the French doors to step out onto the balcony. Below, a couple walked by, the man’s hands roving over the woman’s body as she giggled. Across the street a man sat outside the entrance to a bar signing a soulful tune. Despite the strange sensation she couldn’t shake, it was clear that no one even noticed her. She padded across the wooden floor on bare feet to slide into bed. Clutching the sheet around her, she lay down.

  It wasn’t just the sensation of being watched that bothered her.

  Ever since she came back to New Orleans, the dreams had become an unwelcome guest. Dreams of a man that she knew she belonged to. Dreams she hadn’t had since she was a child.

  Why had they come back now?

  She closed her eyes.

  But sleep wouldn’t come.

  ****

  The next morning she stepped out onto the street. The Louisiana heat was so intense that she could see steam rising from the pavement. She hurried through the throngs of tourists and street performers to glance down at her watch.

  Shit!

  She was going to be late.

  If it wasn’t for her addiction to the snooze button, she wouldn’t be in this mess.

  That and the dream.

  The dream had been so intense that she didn’t want to wake up. Maybe she had gone without for too long. After all, a year without sex was like seven dog years.

  It was a damned long time.

  Maybe that was why her subconscious mind was so fascinated with her mystery dream man. If she would’ve just gone out and found someone to enjoy, she might be on time today.

  Finally, she spotted Mina sitting at a small table at Café du Monde. The little café had begun long ago and become a fixture in the community. With its chicory coffee and legendary beignets, it was the perfect place to enjoy a part of the Cajun culture for tourists and locals alike.

  Mina in her black shirt and long billowy skirt definitely did not fit in with the rest of the patrons. Still, she had to hand it to the girl that she held her head high despite the curious stares. Mina had agreed to help her get an inside look at the underground vampire scene in New Orleans…for a small fee, of course. In fact, Kat would bet her last dollar that Mina was not the girl’s given name.

  She would also bet that her gray eyes were courtesy of contacts instead of genetics. A small gold loop pierced her upper lip. Despite the harsh glare of the sun, h
er skin was as pale as a ghost.

  “You’re late,” she observed. The blond roots of her black hair peaked through in the light. Her black t-shirt was ripped across the midriff, and she wore a fishnet top underneath it that had built-in gloves with the fingers cut out.

  Kat took a seat across from her doing her best to bite back an equally sarcastic comment. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn’t afford to piss Mina off. Not until she got into the club. Besides that, she needed this assignment. It wasn’t as if freelance reporting was a lucrative profession. In truth, she wouldn’t have been able to pursue it if it wasn’t for the money her mother left her. That and the insurance money was enough for her to buy the French Quarter loft and live comfortably for a year.

  When she first came to New Orleans, Kat had been running. Running from memories she couldn’t bear to face. Watching her mother die a slow and painful death from cancer had simply been too much.

  After a couple of months, she began to find her calling. Investigative journalism helped her push past her grief and get on with her life. And, so far, she’d done pretty well for a newcomer. She’d even gotten a couple of pieces published in the Picayune Times. When she proposed a piece on the underground Goth crowd, they had jumped at the idea. If she didn’t get into the club, she was dead in the water.

  That’s why Mina was so important.

  The girl had literally fallen into the palm of Kat’s hand when she moved into the lower level of her building. After a few conversations, Kat had convinced Mina to get her into the club. According to the girl, it was a who’s who of the local Goth scene.

  Mina’s eyebrows lifted. “What’s his name?”

  Kat shook her head. “It was nothing like that. I just had a bad dream.”

  The girl’s lips curled up slightly. “Must have been pretty bad judging from those bags under your eyes.”

  Kat tilted her head to the side. “Are you always so silver-tongued this early in the morning?”

  Mina let out a harsh laugh. “No, sometimes I let my fangs show.”

  Kat shook her head as the waitress walked up to take her order. She quickly ordered a cup of coffee and beignets. The jazz band outside began to play a slow sultry tune.

  “So, when are we going?”

  Mina leaned back in her chair, studying her intently. “Anxious?”

  “I like to think of it as interested.”

  Mina let out a long sigh. “I’m still not sure about this. Are you sure you’re ready? I mean, no offense, but you seem pretty vanilla to me. You sure you want to do this?”

  Squaring her shoulders, Kat did her best not to take offense to the comment. “Mina, it’s all I’ve thought about for the past three days. I’m ready.”

  Mina’s eyes narrowed, the tips of her fake vampire teeth peaking over her lips. “We’ll see.”

  Chapter 2

  She must really be desperate.

  After all, she definitely looked desperate.

  Kat stared at her reflection in the full length mirror. Thigh high black leather boots. A tight burgundy dress that revealed far more of her than it covered. She kept her long black hair loose so the curls hung down her back.

  She let out a heavy sigh.

  A part of her wished she could back out of this assignment, but she knew she couldn’t. If she found out the inside angle on the Dragon’s Lair club, she might even be able to get a staff job on one of the newspapers.

  Before she could reconsider, she grabbed her purse and walked out the door. Weaving through the tourists, she made her way down Royal Street. Nighttime in the French Quarter was an attraction of its own. An attraction that many people came to see. The gaslight lamps cast an eerie glow over the streets. The music from Bourbon Street drifted through the old buildings beckoning those that heard it. The only thing that interrupted it was the clip clop sounds of the horse drawn carriages.

  She spotted Mina at the end of the block. Her black lace dress barely concealed the black bra and panty set that she wore underneath.

  Mina’s gaze traveled over Kat’s length. A wicked grin revealed the tips of her fangs. “Nice,” she commented with a smile. “Don’t tell me you had this in your closet!”

  Kat answered with a look of derision. “Hardly.”

  “So what? Did you clean out Trashy Divas?”

  “Something like that,” Kat replied.

  Mina looked up at the sky, and the look on her face made Kat look up too. The moon was so big it looked like you could reach out and touch it.

  But that wasn’t what worried her.

  What worried her was the reddish haze that seemed to surround it.

  “Blood moon,” Mina observed.

  Kat’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

  Mina’s gaze never left the moon. “That’s what my grandmamma used to call it. Blood moon. She said it was a sign.”

  Heaviness settled in Kat’s chest. “A sign of what?”

  Mina’s eyes met hers. “A sign that someone is going to die.”

  Before she could contemplate Mina’s warning, Kat was hurrying to follow the girl through the narrow streets. Finally, they reached their destination.

  From the outside, no one would know that the house was a club. Large ornate iron gates guarded the entrance. The old Creole two-story building had a rich burgundy exterior. Windows adorned the upper and lower levels with black shutters. The wrought-iron balcony had hanging plants with multi-colored flowers. Mina stepped up to the side, her fingers punching a code on a glowing keypad on the right.

  The symbol of a dragon hung above the lighted pad. There was a click and the gate opened. Kat followed her through it into the courtyard. Moonlight illuminated the small area. The sound of trickling water caught her attention. A fountain with angels dancing was lit up to her right. A closer look revealed that demons danced in the water beneath them.

  A sense of foreboding crept up her spine as she followed Mina down the winding path. She stopped before a large wooden door with metal slats. Mina lifted her hand to rap her knuckles against it. It was opened slowly by a large, burly man with blond hair and blue eyes.

  Kat stepped inside all too aware of the curious stares that focused on them. The interior of the room was littered with plush velvet couches and chairs. The walls were painted a burgundy red. Ornate gold frames held oil paintings of a past not forgotten. Crystal candelabra hung overhead filled with flickering candles. The amber glow made shadows dance along the walls. A chill raced up her spine making her cross her arms over her middle.

  Glancing around the room, she saw two blond women sitting on either side of a man with brown hair. The man had his arm around the girl to his left, while stroking the other woman’s bare legs. Both women seemed to be completely enthralled by him.

  Were the women under the influence of some mind-altering drug? Before she could ponder long, the man’s eyes met hers. His lips spread into a slow grin.

  Unease settled into her stomach. Mina tapped her on the shoulder, breaking Kat’s concentration. “Friend of yours?” she asked her amusement clear.

  Kat’s lips twisted into a wry smile. “Hardly,” she replied.

  Before she could say anything else, a statuesque red head in a long black dress approached them. Her green eyes glinted in the candlelight.

  “Welcome,” she greeted, glancing back and forth between them before zeroing in on Kat. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you.” She held out her hand.

  Kat reached out to take it, noting that the other woman’s hand was ice cold.

  Mina turned to face her. “This is Kat. It’s her first time here. I hope it’s okay.”

  The other woman didn’t even look at Mina; her gaze remained focused on Kat. “Fine. Why don’t you get our new guest something to drink?” she suggested dismissively.

  Mina hurried off down the hallway obediently.

  “I’m Genevieve La Fleur,” she explained, her voice husky.

  “Kat Montague.”

  �
�Kat? Is that your given name?”

  Kat hesitated for a moment before answering. “Actually, it’s Katarina. But I’ve always gone by Kat.”

  Genevieve’s lips curled up in amusement as she tilted her head back. “Ah,” she said, finally releasing her hand. “So, are you enjoying our establishment?”

  Kat’s gaze traveled around the room. “It’s very nice,” she commented, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. It was the same sensation she had the other night. As if someone was watching her.

  She turned around, her eyes searching the hallway.

  But there was no one.

  “Ms. Montague?”

  Kat spun around to find the other woman staring at her with narrowed eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” Kat said, color creeping into her cheeks.

  Genevieve smiled. “I hope you enjoy yourself here. If you need anything, just let my staff know. And if you want to use one of the private rooms, please feel free to ask.”

  With that, the woman walked away. Kat watched as Genevieve seemed to glide through the room, the other occupants of the room moving out of her way at her approach.

  Shifting her weight back and forth, Kat looked around the room. The threesome had obviously gone to use one of the private rooms because they were nowhere in sight. Several other couples were in the middle of intense foreplay, while others stood around the room looking for a mate.

  She bit the inside of her lip as she searched for Mina. Several of the men that were alone began to stare at her, and her unease blossomed into full-blown panic. She was about to turn and leave when Mina appeared at her side.

  Mina thrust a crystal goblet into her hand.

  Kat looked down, her eyes narrowing. “What is this?”

  Mina’s eyes twinkled. “The house wine.”

  Kat lifted the glass to her lips, letting the sweet, salty liquid slide down her throat. “Mina, what are the private rooms used for?”

  The corners of Mina’s mouth tilted up. “Privacy, of course.”