Caressed by the Edge of Darkness (Rulers of Darkness Book 5) Read online

  “All your hatred and lovely determination has made you powerful beyond measure. A true beast among demons.” The Madame had celebrated and feared his strength. He always knew when she planned to visit his cell. The guards would begin their ritual starvation and beatings, careful not to trigger the madness of bloodlust and always attacking in packs like cowards. Then he’d be wrapped in chains and left to await their lady’s every desire.

  Gabriel snarled. No one would ever own him! Never again would he be a slave. The taste of freedom was too sweet, so incredibly delicious. He’d never let it go.

  The sound of pounding horse hooves shook the night as shouts drifted on the breeze. He could scent the flames of torches. The guards.

  His demon howled. They hunted him. They wanted to shackle him and drag him back to his cell, locking away their Madame’s favorite slave and hiding her most dangerous secret. Gabriel knew little about vampire law, but he was well aware he was a blood bastard. A human changed without the approval of the Chieftain, an insult to the Clan, a disgrace to vampire society. Once it was known that she’d unlawfully created a fledgling she’d be punished and he prayed he’d see her burn, if he wasn’t able to kill her himself.

  Gabriel sprinted, covering ground with shocking speed. He was almost there. He could see the fence Dimitri had spoken of.

  The thunder of horses grew louder, closer. Gabriel didn’t look back. He increased his pace. A rain of arrows hissed past him. Focused, he charged on. More arrows fired. One grazed his ear, another sliced his bicep, a third embedded in his left shoulder blade. He didn’t slow. Another arrow struck, buried deep in the center of his back.

  Gabriel lowered his shoulders and braced for impact. The wooden barrier that marked the limit of Madame Sideth’s reign splintered and he crashed to the ground. Gabriel slid through the snow, his momentum propelling him forward. He tumbled again and again, the arrows tearing free from his muscles, blood darkening the snow.

  With furious curses, the guards drew their stampeding steads to a sudden stop. The horses stomped and snorted in protest as they paced along the border.

  “Slave, return at once!” the commander shouted.

  Gabriel slowly rose to his feet, his shoulders shaking with a baleful laugh.

  “Fucking blood bastard.” The Commander dismounted and stepped over the shattered fence.

  Gabriel growled. He’d waited centuries to destroy the leech. As Madame Sideth’s lover, they’d brutalized and murdered countless innocents, human or vampire it made no difference. But even with him she wouldn’t share her best slave. The Commander had stood outside Gabriel’s cell and watched as his lady tortured her favorite pet until he was covered in lashes and blood, his skin frayed and burned. Then he’d eagerly offer her the putrid salve that she’d spread over Gabriel’s loins to make him erect. With a depraved spark in his eyes the Commander would stroke his own cock as the Madame mounted her slave and took her pleasure.

  “You were always headstrong and foolish. Pity, I’ll have to end your miserable life for my lady did so enjoy your company,” the Commander sneered as he drew his sword.

  A crazed, demonic roar tore from Gabriel’s chest. He’d gut the wretch, muffle his wails of pain with his own intestine, gouge out his eyes, then ripped out his heart, and finally he’d use the commander’s sword to claim his head.

  Throwing his arms wide, inviting the challenge, Gabriel flexed his fingers. The moonlight sparkled over his blood stained claws.

  “Enough!”

  The Commander froze, dropping his sword in mid swing. His gaze flickered with fear. Frowning, Gabriel turned. Dimitri stood just feet away. The blond vampire was dressed in pure white, his shoulder length hair pulled back and tied with a leather strap. His ice blue gaze as hard and harsh as the winter landscape. Gabriel felt his inner demon bow and retreat, showing reverence to the older vampire. He glanced toward the guards and his frown deepened. They had all fallen to their knees, their right fists pressed over their hearts, their heads hung low.

  “Sire Arsov,” the Commander whispered.

  “You dare trespass on my land,” Dimitri’s deep, even tone exuded power.

  “Deepest apologies, Sire.” The Commander sheathed his weapon and swept down into a deep bow before straightening his spine. “We meant no disrespect.” When Dimitri didn’t respond, he nervously continued, “We were hunting an Outcast and tracked him to your territory.” He nodded toward Gabriel. “If we may, we’ll collect him and be on our way.”

  Dimitri held up a hand, silencing the Commander’s next words. “I grant this vampire asylum. He is under my protection,” Dimitri announced.

  “Forgive me, Sire, but—”

  Dimitri’s eyes flashed white as lightning cracked the sky. The scent of terror spiked the clean winter air. “Speak another word and it will be your last.”

  The commander’s jaw clenched.

  “Return to your Clan. There is nothing more for you here,” Dimitri demanded.

  Gabriel watched as the Commander claimed his mount. His men had already turned back, but he remained. Gabriel held his gaze and bared his fangs in challenge. With a stream of curses, the Madame’s lover kicked his stead into a high gallop.

  Kill him, the demon hissed.

  I will, Gabriel assured the beast. He’d have their revenge. Never again would he be enslaved. Never again would anyone take from him.

  Chapter One

  Present Day

  “Gabriel, don’t! Shit.”

  Gannon’s words barely carried over the gun fire and chaos, but they didn’t stop his king from charging into the fray.

  Going for his Glock, Gannon slammed the van door closed. Rounding the vehicle, he pounded his fist along the side. “Get them to the safe house. Silvie will be there. Go!”

  Without hesitation or question, the driver sped off, tires screeching. The pungent scent of burnt rubber mingled with the fragrance of sea air, gun powder, blood, and death.

  Just another Saturday night, Gannon thought as he sprinted across the cement dock after his friend.

  Joining his soldiers, Gabriel Erhard, King of the Tapof Clan, crashed into battle armed with only a pair of daggers and a set of throwing stars.

  Naturally, Gabriel brought blades to a gun fight. Gannon knew his king and mentor was a Maniac, but he wasn’t sure if he should tag on Homicidal or Suicidal to the beginning of the title. There was one thing for certain, Gabriel was crazed and impossibly graceful as he fought. Slicing, cutting, stabbing, dodging bullets and hurling stars, gliding through the carnage with deadly elegance. He made murder and mayhem beautiful, like a true artist.

  Gannon emptied a clip and loaded another as he barreled into the boathouse along with their soldiers. Boras’s guards were retreating, but they had no chance or hope of escape. None would survive, Gabriel’s orders. Not that anyone cared or would dare question their new king. As Clan leader, Gabriel’s word was law.

  Gannon snarled as a bullet grazed his right shoulder, ruining his favorite leather jacket.

  Son-of-a-bitch!

  He fired back, taking down three more of Boras’s lackeys. More bullets whistled past him as he fought to reach Gabriel’s side. With a storm of gun fire surrounding them, Gabriel continued to strike, his gaze fixed on Pavlo who, according to their intel, was the commanding officer of this pack of slave traders.

  Pavlo turned, abandoning his men. He ran toward the back of the boathouse. In a blink, Gabriel was in front of the cowardly vampire, blocking his escape. Unleashing an Earth shattering roar that drowned the thunder of the gun fight, Gabriel grabbed Pavlo by the throat. The weaker vampire struggled, scratching at Gabriel’s leather clad hand as he was lifted off his feet.

  Silence slowly rolled over the waterfront like fog as the last of their enemies fell. Limbs, weapons, and shell casings scattered the floor of the weathered boathouse.

  Gannon reloaded, but didn’t advance. He remained as if stuck in cement boots. The Tapof soldiers did the same. Gabriel’s d
emon had joined the party, making their king as volatile as a nuclear missile. Ready to detonate at any moment.

  As his current target of frustration, Pavlo was experiencing Gabriel’s violence full force. The commanding officer flew through the air and bounced off the side of an old fishing boat. The sound of cracking bones hissed through the air as Pavlo rolled over bodies, his broken limbs flailed until he tumbled to a stop at Gabriel’s boots.

  Gannon wanted to ask if anyone had seen their king move, but he kept his mouth shut.

  Gripping a dagger in each hand, Gabriel slammed the blades into Pavlo’s shoulders like meat hooks and hauled him through puddles of blood. The commander’s flesh and muscle tore as he thrashed helpless against Gabriel’s strength and fury.

  Kicking open the door labeled “Manager’s Office,” Gabriel threw the vampire inside sending him crashing against the cinder block wall.

  Gannon holstered his gun and followed his king. “Find the security room. I want every recording. And take anything you find that could be of value. Plant the bombs, we’ll destroy what’s left,” Gannon instructed the soldiers.

  The sound of sirens rang in the distance. Mortals would be here shortly. Gannon hoped Gabriel would be quick with his interrogation. They needed to torch the place and split.

  Gannon stepped into the office and closed the door. Gabriel towered over Pavlo, who was now bleeding like a sieve. Gabriel pulled the daggers free, wiped the blood on the guard’s shirt before returning the blades to their sheaths, which were strapped to his forearms and hidden by the sleeves of his tailored black jacket. With gentle fingers, Gabriel drew a photo from his inside, breast pocket. A chill raced down Gannon’s spine. The woman’s image had triggered Gabriel’s savage, relentless rampage and decision to destroy Boras.

  He shoved the image in Pavlo’s face. “This female, where is she?”

  No answer.

  Gabriel pressed his boot into one of the vampire’s mangled shoulders. “I know she was here.”

  Gannon frowned. What made Gabriel believe the woman had been here? There hadn’t been an empty cell when they freed the mortals and when questioned, all the slaves had said they hadn’t seen her. Then again, the guards may not have kept her with the rest of the humans.

  He bit back a weary sigh. Gabriel was tipping over the edge of madness and there was nothing Gannon could do to stop him. So, he would join him. He didn’t mind. Shit, he’d follow Gabriel into the Devil’s domain no questions asked.

  Gabriel had been infatuated with Jordan Culver, the mortal woman in question; ever since he found her photograph at the first slave warehouse they’d raided. He’d spared no expense to locate her, convinced that she would be Boras’s next victim. Gabriel wanted to protect her and save her from the torment that no doubt awaited her if she fell into their enemy’s hands, but Boras’s men had gotten to her first.

  After her abduction, Gabriel snapped. Over the past four months, they’d raided half a dozen slave warehouses, burned nearly every one of Boras’s clubs and attacked the depraved vampire’s allies, dismantling all of their businesses, claiming their territory. Still, they discovered no new information.

  “Where is she?” Gabriel commanded.

  Pavlo’s voice was a harsh hiss, “Fuck you.”

  Gannon rolled his eyes as Gabriel slammed his foot down on the guard’s shoulder again. Pavlo yelped in agony.

  “Where is she?” Gabriel roared.

  The weaker vampire’s head lulled back. “She was m-moved,” he croaked, choking on blood.

  Gannon’s heart jumped with a twinge of hope. He was as desperate as Gabriel to find the woman, but for an entirely different reason. Gabriel wouldn’t admit it, but he wanted the human female. No. Wanted wasn’t a strong enough word. Gabriel craved her. Never had he seen his boss so twisted up over a woman. And there was the little fact that Gabriel had endured the torment to become a Chieftain so that he would have the power and authority to shut down the mortal slave trade for good, a move that ignited a war amongst the Outcast Society.

  Gannon took a step forward. “When and to where?”

  More blood dripped from Pavlo’s lips as he laughed and shook his head.

  “Talk!” Gabriel demanded.

  The vampire didn’t answer earning him a vicious left hook.

  Gannon’s fingers twitched for his gun. He wanted to plant a bullet between the bastard’s eyes, but they had to rescue the female. “Share or die. Where is she?”

  The guard laughed, spitting blood. “You’ll never find her.” Then the corners of his mouth lifted with a taunting smile. Gannon whispered a curse and stepped back.

  “Wrong answer,” Gabriel rasped past his fangs as a blade dropped from its sheath into his palm. With an effortless swipe, he decapitated the commanding officer. Blood spouted like a fountain and Gannon took another step back. He inwardly groaned. Oh, shit.

  She was here and they’ve taken her from me!

  Rage.

  It sank into Gabriel’s bones, invaded his heart, and threatened to obliterate what remained of his soul. The sensation was nothing new. It had been his constant companion of late, drawing his demon to the surface. Fury heated his blood and honed his vision, turning his crystal green eyes obsidian. Red flames sparked within his gaze, his lethal fangs glinted in the darkness. Demonic shadows sharpened the harsh lines of his face.

  This was to be a routine raid: infiltrate, rescue the human’s, kill the guards, and demolish the building. He hadn’t intended to fight, but as he helped the human’s into the van Gabriel had caught Jordan’s soft jasmine scent on the breeze. The light fragrance whispered to him, summoned the darkness within him. His demon uncontrollable, Gabriel drew his daggers and charged into battle. Slicing through his enemies with cold, calculating precision, consumed with the need to find her, free her. To have her.

  Gabriel stroked the pad of his leather covered thumb over her photo before he tucked it safely away, restoring the image to its resting place over his heart. The delicate paper settled and pressed against his slave brand, the sensation intensifying his anger.

  Gannon’s shoulders quaked with an exasperated sigh, “Pavlo must’ve been lying.”

  Normally, Gabriel would agree but—he took in a deep breath—he could smell her. The scent was faint, but he knew she’d been here, in this very room, locked away. Kept from the general population.

  Like he had been.

  As a mortal man, the Madame had feared exposing him to other humans that possibly carried disease, worried that he may develop attachments to others, finding loyalty, developing relationships, and hope.

  Alone. He’d always been alone. Until the Madame came to him…until she changed him…until humans had been brought to him…locked in the cell with him…

  Gabriel’s fury erupted, the memories fueling his rage. He lashed out. Wooden desks and chairs disintegrated as they collided with the cinder block wall. Shreds of paper cascaded through the air like confetti as he tore apart filing cabinets. Finally, with nothing more to destroy, Gabriel unleashed an unholy roar, shattering the windows. Glass exploded, shards shot out like shrapnel. Pieces landed on the tips of Gannon’s boots and tore at Gabriel’s jacket.

  Gannon remained silent and unmoving.

  Smart.

  Gabriel’s wide shoulders shook as he struggled to suck in calming breaths. Air hissed past his fangs. Closing his eyes, he focused on the soothing sounds of the night and the ocean. Waves softly broke against the rocks below the windows. The salted air mixed with the sweet scent of jasmine, burning his heaving lungs. Oh, how he loved it. The darkness within him cherished the torment her scent inflicted upon him.

  “God, damn it!” Gabriel rasped. He was going mad.

  Gannon muttered a tired curse of his own. “We’ve had our eye on this place for days. If the girl had been here, we’d have known.”

  “Her scent,” Gabriel whispered, briefly closing his eyes as he inhaled her soft fragrance again. “It is light, but I’ve no
doubt she was here.” He could feel it in his bones.

  “The men are collecting the security tapes as we speak, but…Shit, man.” Gannon rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze dropped to the floor. “We’ve been searching for the girl for months and nothing has turned up. I hate to say this, but don’t you think it’s time you let her go?”

  Gabriel scoffed. Did Gannon really think he hadn’t tried to forget about the mortal female? He hated how she plagued his thoughts, ignited his need, his hunger, his rage. She was a rare beauty, tempting beyond imagination, but obsessing over her was insanity at its finest. As the days had turned into weeks and weeks became months, he knew only by divine grace would he find her alive. He’d prayed to any deity that would listen to grant her a quick, painless death. And despite how futile it was, every raid, every attack on Boras’s territory, every reconnaissance mission, he allowed himself to hope, like a dumb bastard, that they’d find her. That he would be able to take her in his arms and release her from the hell she endured. Yet, every attempt produced empty results and the guilt had devoured him, the sorrow haunted him, and self-loathing settled even more deeply into his soul. He’d failed to protect her, just as he’d failed his tribe and wife all those centuries ago.

  But Jordan is alive. She was here.

  His hand flattened over his chest, his palm pressing against Jordan’s photo.

  Gannon lifted his gaze, paused on Gabriel’s hand, and then met his king’s harsh stare. “I want to find the girl too, but we’ve been chasing a ghost. You’ve tried harder and much longer than anyone else ever would. There’s only so much you can do.”

  “She resided on my territory, Gannon. She was one of my subjects. Boras had no right to enter my domain without permission let alone take what belongs to me,” Gabriel harshly explained.

  The Outcast Society didn’t adhere to vampire law set forth by the Clans, but they did live by a straight code and Boras’s transgression demanded war.