Vengeance (The Captive Series, Book 6) Read Free

causing his fangs to lengthen. He’d gotten more adept at controlling his cravings, but he’d have to make a trip to the blood bank later. The blood drinking was still his least favorite part about being a vampire; he couldn’t quite get used to the cloying way it felt sliding down his throat. He disliked that he enjoyed the taste of it so much, that he craved the warmth of it, and now had to have it to survive.
    He hadn’t become a monster; he now knew all vampires weren’t monsters. However, he couldn’t help but feel like one when he consumed blood, even if it wasn’t from a person, and he hadn’t harmed anyone in order to get it. It didn’t matter he’d never fed from a person before, and most likely never would, he couldn’t shake the feeling it was wrong to use a human in such a way.
    Stomping the snow from his boots, he stepped back into the kitchen. Ellen glanced up and smiled at him. He nodded to her before making his way into the main room. Their friend Timber, whose massive frame dwarfed the chair he sat in, had joined Max, Daniel, Xavier and Aria at a table.
    To this day, Timber was still the largest man he’d ever seen. His head nearly hit the ceiling when he stood in the tavern; his thighs were the size of most men’s chests. His brown hair fell past his shoulders and his brown eyes shone in the glow of the lanterns filling the room. His nose had been broken so many times over the years it had a perpetual turn to it and a bump in the middle.
    William shrugged off his coat as he made his way over to them. He was almost to the table when the front door swung open. A swirl of cold air and snowflakes swept through the room, blowing out some of the candles on the tables closest to the door. Braith and Jack wiped their feet on the mat before they stepped inside. Aria’s face lit up; she rose to her feet when Braith started walking toward her.
    Turning away, William slid into his chair and tipped it back to lean against the wall. He stretched his legs out before him and ordered an ale from Millie when she arrived at his side. Jack settled into the chair across from him. His black, brown and gold hair was damp from the snow and curled about his face. The candlelight lit his gray eyes and caused orange flames to flicker within them.
    “Wedding plans all done?” William inquired of him as Millie placed his tankard of ale down.
    “I think so,” Jack mumbled. “But every time I think they are, something new arises.”
    “It could be worse,” Aria said. Braith sat in the chair beside Jack; he pulled Aria into his lap and held her against his chest. “You could be getting married in the palace, with everyone watching you.”
    “You’re right, that would be much worse,” Jack agreed. He ran a hand through his hair and took hold of the mug placed beside him.
    The weather had kept many of the regular patrons at home; few felt up to braving the elements to come into the tavern for a warm meal. William barely heard what the others said as they talked until the moon was high in the sky. Long after the tavern had closed for the night, and everyone else had gone to bed, William remained sitting at the table in the quiet dining room.
    The alcohol seeping into his system did little to ease the fury festering inside him ever since Kane had ended his natural life. He could still feel the warmth of his own blood pooling around him and seeping into the ground. He could vividly recall the feeling of helplessness that filled him as he lay dying.
    His hand wrapped around the wooden tankard of ale while he watched the dying flames within the fireplace. As soon as this wedding was over, he’d set out to find Kane. The first place he planned to look for him was the mountains.
    Somewhere out there was the vampire who had killed him, and he was going to do everything he could to find him and destroy him.

CHAPTER 2
    The shouts resounding down the street pierced the night and pulled her from her sleep. Blinking in