Dangerous Sacrifice (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 6) Read online

This man had no idea what would likely be darkening their door if the word really got out. No one liked the hunters or the killers chasing her. If the Tueur came here, they’d burn it to the ground. They didn’t care who died in the process.

  They were animals.

  In a way, she couldn’t wait until Flynn took over. If he ran it, at least she knew he wouldn’t slaughter their kind for no reason.

  ‘I wouldn’t. I love our people,’ he offered in her mind.

  ‘We love that about you,’ Jolie added for herself and Jacques, and it was true.

  “I apologize for not contacting you, Master Connor. In hindsight, we should have. All we ask is that we can stay a couple more days, and then we’ll leave for France. Pregnancy isn’t easy. I’m carrying twins.”

  There were nods of agreement from the women behind him. Apparently, this society was very family orientated.

  Jolie, for a brief second, felt a wave of relief.

  “Personally, I’m okay with your request, Jolie. If the rest of the council agrees, then you may remain here safely in Cork until your departure. You’ll have our protection.”

  Both men at her sides relaxed.

  Well, as much as they could.

  Ireland might be a cakewalk. They might not have anything to worry about after all.

  “We’ll vote.”

  He stood and faced the clans. As he raised his hand, he spoke, “Those in favor of allowing Jolie and her family to remain, please raise your hand.”

  Half the group raised their hand.

  Jolie crossed her fingers, as did her mates.

  Liam continued, “Any against allowing Jolie and her family to stay, please raise your hand.”

  Jolie was disappointed as three primuses raised their hands to object.

  “Crap,” she muttered under her breath.

  If rules here were the same as in France, they might have to deal with the three—their mates, plus the guardians.

  This could mean, at the least, fighting nine people. The other male guardians were still missing.

  Liam asked the three to stand. “What is your concern or disagreement?”

  The first woman stepped forward.

  “How do we know she is who she says she is?” asked the blonde woman. “She reeks of death. What if she’s lying?” the woman inquired.

  Shit!

  Shit!

  Shit!

  They’d picked up on the darkness in her. Normally, she could hide it. Lately, combined with Flynn’s, it was much more difficult to bury.

  They were the epitome of death. It lived in them.

  “If she’s dealing in death, how do we know she’s not messing around with the dark arts?”

  Flynn glanced over at Jolie. ‘What the hell? Why do I feel like we went back in time?’

  ‘They’re not progressive vampyres. They like many of the old world traditions. They prefer witchcraft, which is against use of black magick. They won’t tolerate anyone working dark spells around them. Voodoo would freak them out. If they saw our tattoos, they’d lose it.’

  They were forced to focus on the vampyres when the head of the council spoke.

  “Mistress Saxton brings up a very good point,” added Liam. “How about you next, Master Patrick? What are your feelings about this?”

  “We’ve followed her around, and she was seen going into the witch shop. They raced out of there after the witch threw them out.”

  Damn!

  Damn!

  Damn!

  This wasn’t looking good at all.

  “Again, that’s damning evidence,” Liam admitted. “One of our local witches chased you away. That doesn’t happen if you’re on the up and up.”

  Jolie could see a fight coming.

  She didn’t want them to challenge her. Honestly, she was sick of the killing. She didn’t have a vendetta against these vampyres. They were running out of safe places to hide. With each kill, they left a legend and rumor behind.

  “What of you, Mistress Selene?” he asked the final woman.

  “I think we must see what kind of power she has. If we allow her to stay, we don’t need our community tainted.”

  She hated that they’d found the one batch of vampyres in the whole damn world that liked magick. They were going to shit a ton of bricks when they found out she was the Harbinger.

  If they found out Flynn was a demon?

  Yeah, it was going to be ugly. That was as black as you could get when dealing with death and magick.

  “I don’t buy her story. If she is on the run, she will bring trouble here. This community is peaceful, except for the occasional black magick that has been plaguing us.”

  Liam considered it.

  “I think we need to test her. If she passes, we let them stay. I don’t have anything against her babies, but we have ones of our own. What if she’s running from the hunters? Do we really want them here hunting us?”

  Jolie was a little relieved that they thought the hunters were their only issue. They might have a chance.

  “You have a point, Mistress Selene. I think a test would be a wise thing.”

  Jolie sighed as both her mates tensed. This was what they didn’t want to happen.

  There would be blood spilled—and not their own. Once they fought, the families there would see what they were up against. The only way they’d escape, without rumors flying, was if they slaughtered them all.

  ‘I will do it if need be,’ Flynn whispered into their minds. ‘I will kill them all if I have to save my mates.’

  They were aware, and they couldn’t let that happen. That would surely bring the hunters.

  “I’m not the one using black magick. I can promise you that.”

  And she wasn’t.

  Jolie was carrying death. That was their mistress, and not evil. “While here, I can keep my eyes and ears open to help find the ones using it.”

  Liam glanced over at Mistress Saxton. “How does that make you feel?”

  “I would be willing to change my vote if she did that.”

  Jolie pulled the Celtic knot from around her neck. “The witch you saw chasing us visited us the next day. She gave me this for protection for my children. The only reason we were running from her shop was she didn’t want vampyres in there. You know witches and vamps don’t mix. After having some time to think, she came to apologize.”

  He thought about it. “That would explain it. Master Patrick, does this answer suit you?”

  The vampyre thought about it.

  Then he focused on the man beside Jolie.

  “Stand please.”

  Jolie squeezed his hand. ‘Be careful,’ she whispered into his mind.

  He did as they asked.

  “Are you Irish?” he asked.

  Flynn knew he wasn’t going to be able to pull off a French accent, so he went with the truth. Lying to vamps was never a good idea.

  “Yes, I am. My father was Irish, my grandfather was right off the boat, and I’m back alley Irish.”

  There were whispers among the vampyres.

  “You’re American?” Liam asked.

  “Yes.”

  There were more whispers.

  “Your grandfather was from where?” Liam asked. “What was his name?”

  “They were from County Galway, and his name was Colin Brogan.”

  They talked amongst themselves.

  “Well, Master Patrick? Is he Irish enough for you?” asked Liam, trying to appease all three vampyres who were hesitant. “He has direct ancestry here.”

  “It suits me. I will change my vote. We have no issue with a fellow countryman. I don’t smell a lie,” he said, sitting down.

  “What of you Mistress Selene?”

  Selene faced Jolie. “I’m sorry, but she reeks like death, and that worries me. I honestly don’t feel safe with them here. I’m not satisfied with their explanation. I feel like they’re leaving something out.”

  Oh, they were, and this vampyre was going to be sorry that s
he even went there.

  Liam stepped between them.

  “Then are you issuing a challenge, Selene? Are you willing to challenge Jolie for safety in our community?”

  “Yes,” she said pulling her red curls back into a ponytail. “I don’t believe that her story is completely true.”

  Jolie didn’t want to kill this vampyre. The last thing she wanted was to take down one more of her kind, especially an innocent woman who had good instincts.

  Selene was right.

  She wasn’t telling the truth.

  Once they found out she was the Harbinger, they’d fear her, but it would also out her to any vampyres who heard the Tueur was after her.

  Jolie debated telling them more, but felt both mates touch her mind.

  ‘Don’t,’ whispered Jacques.

  ‘I’m with him,’ whispered Flynn. ‘We can fight three.’

  She had to trust her mates.

  Still...

  She tried to talk the woman out of it. “Selene, don’t rush into this. I know you look at me, see me as a pregnant vampyre and believe I’ll be easy. I won’t be.”

  She laughed. “My, my, my, someone is full of herself,” Selene mocked, “or do you think because you’re from Paris, and I’m mere country folk, I can’t fight as well?”

  This wasn’t going the way she’d hoped.

  At all.

  “No, that’s not it. I simply don’t want to kill you to prove a stupid point. It’s a senseless loss of life. Can’t we find another way to work this out?”

  The families all made a ‘ohhhh’ sound, and it egged the vampyre on. Now she was offended.

  Shit!

  “Mistress Jolie, we’ll fight. Before, it was only going to be a challenge, but you’ve insulted me by thinking I can’t handle a little fight with some French vampyre. We’re just as strong and equally deadly. Now I call for death.”

  If she only knew she’d be getting death in the end, she might be running home as fast as she could.

  “Don’t do this.”

  “Stand, Jolie,” Liam stated, raising his hand. “The challenge sits. Selene, call your warriors.”

  That one word had her attention.

  Jolie raised an eyebrow as seven large guardians headed from the trees.

  It just got worse.

  Liam explained to Jolie, “We follow new traditions. In order not to have the few primuses we have killed, we allow them to choose their soldiers—if you will. Since you only brought two, you may call your mate and your guardian to fight.”

  Jolie got mad.

  They’d been waiting for this.

  This had been a set up.

  She didn’t buy for a single second that they had any chance of escaping a fight. These vampyres were going to force a fight from the start. The pleasantries, questions, and explanations had all been part of the act. The whole thing was a sham, and they were the victims.

  Shit like this pissed her off.

  They had no intention of protecting them or allowing them to stay in their territory. County Cork wasn’t as welcoming as they said it was.

  They killed visitors to prove a point.

  Well, they were about to get their wish.

  They wanted bloodshed, and they would get it.

  She glanced at her mates. “Hold nothing back. They never intended to be welcoming. It’s an act.”

  Liam laughed. “Did you think we wouldn’t punish you for coming into our territory without our permission? Jolie, you’re a fool and have a lot to learn.”

  She smiled at him. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d been told that.

  Then she glanced over at Jacques. “You were right about the skirt. You can pick my clothes any time you want.”

  He smiled with his fangs out.

  Jacques handed his mate two silver blades as she stood there. “And that’s why I always pack spares.”

  Flynn shrugged. “I don’t need them. I’m going to make them bleed.”

  There was laughter from the families. They actually thought he was a joke.

  Flynn was a big man, but the guardians there were huge compare to him.

  They expected him to die.

  “Liam, you were just as sneaky. I accept the challenge. At first, I felt bad. Now I have no intent to have mercy.”

  He laughed. “You felt bad?”

  Jolie and her mates headed to the circle. “I did, and you’re about to see why.”

  The families were amused until Jolie and Flynn got to the center of the circle. She took his hand in hers.

  “My love, shall we?”

  His eyes bled black. He could feel Jacques covering their back. They faced down more of the guardians, but they also had Flynn, and he was a killing machine.

  “We shall.”

  His tattoo began getting warm as did Jacques’s. They both hissed, ready to fight as the guardians and Mistress Selene entered the circle.

  “I’m the second oldest vampyre here, Jolie. I’m going to kill you, and your babies.”

  Flynn laughed, and it sounded like lightning crashing around them. They all jumped.

  “You think you’ll touch my mate? You won’t even see me coming. If for some reason you do touch her, I’ll tear you to pieces before your family.”

  His fangs slid into his mouth, lengthening. “She’s mine.”

  Jolie smiled. “I’m double your age, Selene.”

  There was a gasp.

  “Liar. You’re pregnant.”

  She laughed even more. “I have more bad news. I’m the Harbinger. That’s what I didn’t tell you.”

  The second she said it, the darkness flooded out of her. The power of it, combined with Flynn’s energy, leveled everyone in front of them. Flynn took that as his sign as did Jacques.

  They were off.

  They began moving through the guardians as they fought to get up. Flynn removed the heads of two of them before they even made it to their feet.

  Jacques buried his blades in two hearts before they saw it coming.

  Selene began chanting, and Jolie’s skin felt like the moisture was being sucked from it.

  The vampyre was going to use magick?

  Really?

  Then she had no mercy. Jolie wouldn’t get into a fistfight to prove a point. She would make sure her babies were safe.

  “Rinnon, I need you,” she called to Flynn as she tried to keep calm. He would protect them, as would Jacques when he was done with the guardians.

  Flynn heard her as did the darkness in him.

  He howled as soon as he realized she was hurting, so he raced toward her.

  Jacques continued fighting.

  ‘Protect our mate,’ he whispered into Flynn’s mind.

  Oh, he would.

  When he reached Jolie, he scooped her up in his arms to protect her from whatever spell Selene was sending their way.

  There was a flutter of wings, and the pain stopped.

  Jolie felt their energy combining.

  Flynn protected their mate. “Death, come to me.”

  The tendrils wrapped around them, and he moved right toward the chanting vampyre.

  Jacques joined them, and the inky blackness wrapped protectively around him too.

  The two guardians screamed as the tendrils moved around them.

  The families gasped at what they were seeing.

  They’d heard Jolie call the Irish name, and they couldn’t believe it.

  It couldn’t be.

  Rinnon was legend in their country among the Irish vampyres.

  The clearing was rocked with power as death feasted on the vampyres. When Selene was alone, she started backing up.

  “Stop!” Flynn called.

  His body rippled as Jolie was against him.

  “My love, she’s yours. She won’t hurt you. Consider it a gift from your mate.”

  He lowered Jolie to her feet.

  She crossed to the woman. “Selene, I told you this was a horrible idea. You and Liam made a giant mist
ake. You forced us to do this.”

  The woman needed to know.

  “Is he really Rinnon?” she asked, her eyes filling with tears. It was clear she was going to die.

  “Yes. He lives in my mate.”

  Flynn crossed to her. When he picked up her fingers, he lightly kissed their ring.

  “Tá tú mo ghrá.”

  Everyone there knew what he’d said.

  “You are my love,” he translated from the old Celtic language.

  Since Jolie knew Flynn didn’t speak that language, she knew who she was dealing with. Gently, she touched his cheek. “I love you too, Rinnon.”

  His eyes dilated at her words.

  “What do we do with her?” Jolie asked her mates. “They tried to trick us. I know they were angry because we entered their lands, but this was full of lies.”

  Jacques didn’t care. He would back up his mates’ decision. All he was grateful for was that they weren’t dealing with the Tueur. Tonight was a good night for them.

  “I leave it up to you both,” he offered.

  Flynn shrugged. “You’re the mistress. I’m simply here for the party.”

  Jolie couldn’t do it.

  They didn’t deserve to die for being angry.

  “Let them go, Flynn. I don’t want to kill them. There are too few of our kind here.”

  He did as she said.

  There was a collective sigh that it was over, and they weren’t going to be slaughtered.

  Liam went to move forward, but he was knocked out of the way as Selene surprised them by going for Jolie.

  The vampyre made contact.

  Jolie fell.

  “Rinnon shouldn’t be with anyone but his kind,” she hissed, pulling a blade from a sheath at her side.

  Jacques dove to catch Jolie before she hit the ground. His body covered hers as they rolled. He wasn’t taking a chance that Selene would throw the blade at their babies.

  Flynn howled in rage.

  That one act of aggression was all it took. Flynn saw his precious mate tumble, and he knew what needed to be done.

  In that moment, he didn’t care if they were friend or foe. Someone had put their hands on his mate.

  His pregnant mate.

  The rage exploded from him in a wave of darkness.

  They didn’t have a chance.

  Flynn Brogan lost control of his tattoo.

  And he attacked.