Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella, Rebecca Zanetti [best novel books to read txt] 📗

“No. There’s no demon blood in me.” He grimaced as if the mere thought was distasteful. “When you mate a Kurjan, it’ll happen with a bite and sexual relations. No branding. So that should make you happy.”

“None of this makes me happy.” She turned as if to retake her seat and instead leaped around him and ran as fast as she could toward the corner and her purse.

He snatched her out of the air by her hair, whipping her up. Pain raced along her scalp, and she screamed.

The door burst open, and two male bodies barreled in.

“Mariana!” Raine bellowed.

Relief caught her a second before she plowed her fist as hard as she could into Jon’s eye. He yelped and dropped her. She landed on one knee, and pain ricocheted up her leg.

Raine ran toward Jon as the guy at the door started fighting with the two guards.

Jon punched Raine in the face, and Raine punched him back, moving so quickly he was only a blur.

Mariana swung around and pushed to her feet, running for her purse. The sounds of punches, kicks, and grunts filled the space behind her, but she yanked her weapon free and turned around to aim.

Raine took Jon down to the cement floor, whipped a knife out of his boot, and plunged the blade into Jon’s neck.

Mariana faltered. Her stomach lurched.

One of the guards tackled Raine from behind and sent them both sprawling across the vacant hangar. They punched and grappled on the cement, fighting for purchase.

The two at the door battled furiously.

Mariana tightened her grip on the gun and tried to point it at one of the Kurjans, but everyone was moving so quickly.

Jon gurgled and reached for the protruding knife handle to yank it out of his neck.

Mariana stepped back. How had he done that? He’d bleed to death now. Yet he sat up, fury dropping those fangs to his lips.

She retreated a yard.

He stood and turned toward her, looking nothing like a human. Slowly, the wound on his neck healed.

She gasped and then stopped breathing. How had he done that? He stepped toward her, and she lifted the gun automatically, firing several times. She hit him dead center in his chest, and he winced but kept moving toward her. She fired again.

Nothing. He didn’t even wince this time. The four bullets popped out of his chest and fell onto the cement floor, pinging loudly. “That’s impossible,” she whispered.

He reached for her, and Raine manacled him around the waist, the momentum propelling them into the solid block wall. The cement crackled from the impact and shards rained down.

Mariana turned to see the Kurjan soldier Raine had fought down on the ground with his head cut off. She gagged. Panic seized her, and she ran toward the door, skirting the battling men and yanking it open. Rain slashed her as she ran outside, desperately looking around the quiet airport.

There were several hangars and one long landing strip all surrounded by forest land. She rushed toward a Camaro parked near the SUV that she’d been kidnapped in and jumped inside, searching wildly for keys. They had to have left the keys. No.

Damn it. She hurried out and ran toward the SUV when the door banged open.

Raine stood there with blood on his face and rips through his dark shirt. His eyes were an unreal green—definitely not human.

It was true. Somehow, it was all true. She took a step back.

He moved toward her with his friend behind him. “We have to go. Now.” His voice was grittier than she’d ever heard it.

She shook her head wildly as the rain poured over her face.

He grasped her arm and pushed her into the back of the Camaro before taking the driver’s seat and shutting the door. It was only a two-door. She couldn’t get out. Just as she scooted to the other side, the passenger door opened, and the other guy got inside. He shut the door.

Raine accepted the keys from the guy and ignited the engine, quickly turning around and driving away from the hangar. “It’s still storming, but we have to hurry out of here before their reinforcements arrive.” The rain hadn’t washed all the blood off his face, and he looked deadly in the rear-view mirror. “Put on your seatbelt, Mariana.”

She did so immediately, her mind almost blanking. It was too much. All of it.

The other guy turned. “Hi. I’m Cade.” He had light blue eyes, a rugged jaw, and dark hair. The resemblance to Raine was unmistakable. “I’m Raine’s much younger brother.” His smile would’ve been charming had he not had a healing hole in his neck and lower jaw.

She shrank back.

Cade sighed. “You really should’ve told her about us.”

Raine kept silent and punched the gas, whipping onto the main road by the small airport. “I had no idea she’d be kidnapped by Kurjans. How the hell had they found her?”

“I’m right here,” she snapped, forgetting her terror for a minute. “I told my friend in Dallas about your tattoo and drew it for her. In trying to find my stalker, she conducted a search on the Internet, and—”

Cade groaned. “The Kurjans are monitoring for mating marks. That actually makes sense.” He turned and looked at her again. “You’re not supposed to share that kind of information, Mariana.”

She gaped at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

Cade turned to his brother and grinned. “I like her. Lots of spunk. Mom will love her.”

Raine zipped onto the Interstate. “Would you just shut up?” He flipped a switch and increased the speed on the windshield wipers. The rain and wind increased in force.

Mariana kicked the back of his chair. “Are you a demon?” She could not even believe she asked that question.

Raine sighed. “Let’s talk about it when we get to your place. You’re going to need to pack. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to move again.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she burst out. “Start talking now.”

“No.” Raine flicked on the