Blood Bought (Vampires of Veresian Book 1) Read online

  BLOOD BOUGHT

  KADY ASH

  Blood Bought

  Vampires of Veresian

  Kady Ash

  Published by Kady Ash, 2022.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  BLOOD BOUGHT

  First edition. May 6, 2022.

  Copyright © 2022 Kady Ash.

  Written by Kady Ash.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  CONTENT ADVISORY

  Chapter One:

  Chapter Two:

  Chapter Three:

  Chapter Four:

  Chapter Five:

  Chapter Six:

  Chapter Seven:

  Chapter Eight:

  Chapter Nine:

  Chapter Ten:

  Chapter Eleven:

  Chapter Twelve:

  Chapter Thirteen:

  Chapter Fourteen:

  Chapter Fifteen:

  Chapter Sixteen:

  Chapter Seventeen:

  Chapter Eighteen:

  Chapter Nineteen:

  Chapter Twenty:

  Chapter Twenty-One:

  Chapter Twenty-Two:

  Chapter Twenty-Three:

  Chapter Twenty-Four:

  Chapter Twenty-Five:

  Chapter Twenty-Six:

  Chapter Twenty-Seven:

  Chapter Twenty-Eight:

  Chapter Twenty-Nine:

  Chapter Thirty:

  Chapter Thirty-One:

  Chapter Thirty-Two:

  Chapter Thirty-Three:

  Bonus Content

  About the Author

  To Octavia. for convincing me that the worlds in my head were better enjoyed on paper…. and to all the people who have dreamt about a smoking hot, bad-boy vampire facefucking the life out of them. Here’s to you.

  CONTENT ADVISORY

  These aren’t your animal blood drinking vampires. This book contains vampirism, kidnapping, morally grey characters, a brief non-con scene between the FMC and a man who is not the MMC, forced servitude, instances of dub-con, graphic sex, graphic language, semi-graphic violence, and manipulation.

  Please be kind to yourself.

  Chapter One:

  I could feel them before I could see them.

  Vampires. Not just any vampires, strong ones. The kind that took their position of power in our territory a little too seriously, a little too far. They exuded this aura of darkness and magic, something that not even the worst witches in Hivell could compare to. No, this was something only Obsidian vampires – the true born – could pull off.

  And they were coming right toward us.

  “Kendall, up,” I whispered to my little sister. Human like me and all of thirteen years old, she wouldn’t stand a chance against one of them if they were here for her. “Come on, it’s time.”

  She glanced up with wide eyes. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Quickly.” I tugged her up from the table where she’d been doing her homework and rushed her to her bedroom, then watched from the doorway as she moved the faded pink rug and hid under the floorboards. It wouldn’t stop them from finding her, not for long, but it might buy our father a little time to get home from the market.

  The moment she was safe, I tugged my long black hair to the front and tried to hide my neck as much as possible, then stood by the door until I heard the knock.

  Here. They really are here.

  “Can I help you?” I yelled through the half-rotted wood.

  “We’re looking for the daughters of Senna Silk,” a man said, voice low and dripping with a century’s worth of malice. “It’s rude not to invite us in, you know.”

  Mom. It really is time. I swallowed thickly and opened the door, standing as tall as I could as I took in the two intruders. “She’s gone, then? My mom?”

  “Are you Adalind or Kendall?” the woman asked. “We were told to deliver this message to the eldest.”

  I glanced between them with my heart hammering in my chest loudly enough to make the red rings around their black eyes get a little brighter. They were both hungry. “Adalind Silk, and no, you cannot come in.”

  The woman snarled, twisting her beautiful face in a way that sent a chill up my spine. “You think we don’t have other ways to get to you, human? You know the bargain that was made.”

  “I don’t actually, seeing as how I was only a baby when it was made and my father hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with the details,” I argued, more firmly than I felt. “But your deal was with her, so if you’re here...”

  “She’s dead,” the man confirmed flippantly, flashing me a pearly white smile that contrasted stunningly against his sable skin and dark, natural curls. It was almost haunting in its beauty, especially since they were here to take me. “Seems she wasn’t as cut out for the job as she thought. Now, you can either let us in and maybe we’ll give you some choices, or you can refuse and we’ll simply wait here until one of you sets foot outside. I’d really rather not, so be a doll and just let us in.”

  “Hush, Malik,” the woman scolded. “Don’t give her options. You know how stubborn humans can be.”

  I stood my ground a little taller and tried not to let the news send me to my knees. It wasn’t as though I’d ever met my mother, anyway. “Whatever you have to say, you can say right here. I’m listening.”

  He nudged her. “You tell her, Aerin. It’s an incredibly boring story.”

  The way Aerin’s sharp features softened should’ve made me feel better, but it didn’t. Every inch of the tall, blonde vampire promised violence from her braids to the smudged black paint on her high cheekbones. That slender frame wasn’t fooling anyone. “Fine,” she snapped. Since Asa Silk didn’t see fit to share the details, let me bullet point this for you. You nearly died when you were thirteen months old. Your mother petitioned the Alphas for Obsidian blood to heal you, which she was given for a price. Thirty years of service as either bait or a bloodwhore. She started off the former, but they always break eventually. The guilt eats them alive. She was bait for eighteen years and only made it two years as a bloodwhore, which means the Alphas are owed an additional ten.”

  “See?” Malik interjected. “Boring. Tale as old as time.”

  None of that sounded boring — it sounded like someone I should’ve been raised by sacrificed her life and her death for me, and my father hadn’t told me. All he’d ever said was that she owed the vampires for something that happened long ago and refused to speak about her. No wonder he’s always resented me. It was my fault. “Ten more years?” I asked, stalling and praying he’d come back and we could somehow run away. “How does that work?”

  Again, Malik elbowed Aerin to get her to talk. “Simple. Either you or your sister will take her place. If you survive those ten years, you’re free to go. If you don’t, then we’ll come back here for whichever one of you is left. The Alphas always get what they’re owed.”

  I thought about Kendall, about her innocence and the life she had in front of her. About her mom and how badly she’d hurt if I sent her only daughter in my place. Even if I was selfish enough to send her to this fate instead of going on my own, I’d end up there myself anyway. She wouldn’t last a month being as young as she was. “So... what? That’s it, then? I just come with you and possibly never see my home again?”

  “In a nutshell,” he agreed. “We’ll give you the night to pack your things and say goodbye, but you should be aware that if you try to run or find a way out of this, we’ll slowly start picking off the people you love
one by one. Savvy?”

  Holy fuck. I couldn’t breathe — I should’ve known that they could read my every thought, my every intention, even the ones that hadn’t fully formed yet. Any chance of saving myself was gone before it even occurred to me. “Fine,” I said numbly. I refused to fall apart or beg or cry. Not me, not now, not for them. “Come for me at eight am, I’ll be here.”

  I slammed that door in their faces and tried to control my breathing as I felt that power slowly rescinding, but never quite disappearing. They hadn’t gone far, but at least now I knew that Kendall was safe.

  “Ken?” I called. “It’s okay, you can come out now.”

  I could hear her scrambling out of her hiding place and running toward me, but the sounds felt muffled and far away. “What did they want?”

  My options were grey at best. Tell her the truth and break her heart, give her a reason to try to take on the entire Veresian vampire clan to save me... or lie and quietly sneak out tomorrow. Less goodbyes, less tears, less worry. The end result wouldn’t change, but it was the path of least resistance. “Just to give me an update about my mom,” I said quietly, forcing a smile. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

  “Thank Brander,” she whispered. “Were they creepy? I felt something... weird in the air.”

  Yeah, thank that asshole. Not like he’s the one doing this to me or anything. I fought an eye-roll and a sense of dread simultaneously, then nodded. “I’ve only seen Obsidians a couple of times in my life. They normally don’t travel this far south in Veresian, but they’ve all been creepy.” Creepy and gorgeous. “Finish your homework now, Ken.”

  She seemed to have a million more questions on the tip of her tongue, but she nodded and returned to the table. Still, I could tell her attention was far away. Her curious nature was always one that got her into trouble, and in this case, the consequences could be dire.

  I found myself just watching her and the tongue she kept pinched between her teeth as she struggled with long division. In ten years, she’d be older than I was now. Her soft features would be hardened with the life of a human in a world of supernatural creatures, her golden hair longer. She wouldn’t be my little sister anymore, and I knew I wouldn’t be the same person either.

  Even if I survived, I had no way of knowing the damage it would do or if Kendall would ever be able to forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. I just didn’t see any other option — not one that would keep her safe, anyway, and though we were only half-siblings... she was the only one I had.

  I sat with her through her homework and made her dinner after without saying much, and when our dad and my step-mother came home, I nearly spilled my guts to them.

  Nearly.

  “How was the market?” I asked instead.

  “Packed as always. There was an uneasiness lingering in town, don’t know why. What did you make for dinner?”

  My step-mother checked on Kendall’s homework as she always did, giving us both an approving nod at the work we’d done. “It smells good at least,” she added, like she might not have complimented the dinner if she didn’t approve of our division.

  “We didn’t have much, so I made some of the salted pork and fried a few peppers from the garden,” I said quietly, then wrapped my father up in a hug he didn’t understand. “I’m glad you’re back.”

  Kendall, in her infinite wisdom and crusade to make my life harder, spilled the beans. “Addy got a visit from some vampires today. I wonder if that’s why the people at the market felt funny?”

  I felt my father stiffen, pulling away from me like I’d burned him as he looked me over, and one look into his eyes told me he knew. How he knew, I wasn’t sure, but he knew. “I need to speak with you, Adalind. Come outside.”

  He left without another word, so I kissed the top of Kendall’s head and told her not to worry as I ducked out after him. “Don’t, Dad. There’s nothing you can say or do to change it.”

  “How much time do we have?” he rushed out, pacing the porch like it might reveal some sort of profound answer that could save me.

  “Until morning. I lied to Kendall because I didn’t want to stress her out, but Dad... why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  It was obvious my question made him feel cornered, but he also knew there wasn’t any time to lie or sugarcoat. “Your mother was strong. I thought... I didn’t think I’d ever have to tell you. You didn’t need to live with that guilt.”

  “And I didn’t, so thank you for that,” I said softly. “I’ll make sure I don’t fail. They’ll never come for Kendall, okay? This started with me, apparently, and it’ll end with me, too. Just promise you won’t do anything stupid.” I reached out for his hand and squeezed gently, hoping he understood without me saying that fear and thoughts of retribution were worthless here. “Promise me.”

  “Addy,” he whispered, giving me a look he’d given me since I was a little girl. “I promise. I thought your mother was strong enough, but I know you are.”

  “It’s only ten years,” I agreed. “If she could do it for twenty, I can do it for ten. Just don’t give my room away, yeah?” I forced a smile and pulled him into another hug, a tighter one this time, and let him hold me. “I’ll be back one day.”

  “I wo—”

  “Finished, then?” Aerin interrupted as I stepped protectively in front of my father. “Why wait until morning when you’ve already said the only goodbye you’re going to make?”

  Fucking vampires.

  “You said morning,” I argued, panic overtaking me for the first time since they’d arrived. “I have one more night!”

  Malik appeared from around the corner and grabbed my arm. “Not anymore, you don’t. Brander wants you. Say goodbye quickly, Miss Silk. Your life here ends now.”

  I turned pleading, terrified eyes on my father, who wouldn’t even glance my way. His jaw was clenched and his fists were balled, but I knew he wouldn’t intervene even if I begged him to. He’d already lived through this once, and if he couldn’t save my mom, there was no way he could save me.

  This was happening... now.

  “I love you,” I whispered quickly as smooth hands dragged me back. “All of you. Please be safe.”

  My father nodded once and slipped back into the house, cutting me off from my family in a single heartbeat, and somehow, even in that moment... I knew it was forever.

  Chapter Two:

  Holding my shit together was easier said than done with five metric tons of ancient vampiric power swirling around me. Logically, I knew these weren’t the Alphas or the Sons of Veresian, which meant that what I was feeling right then was a fraction of what I’d be feeling soon.

  A fraction.

  “What are we doing here?” I asked for the third time, and yet again I was ignored as Malik hotwired a car. Neither of my captors said a word until I was bound with my hands behind my back and thrown in the back of that stolen rust bucket, and even then, I wasn’t sure it was relevant.

  “He’s not that bad.”

  Who? Brander? His fucking name is Brander, that doesn’t exactly instill confidence, I thought to myself. “Oh.”

  “That was his birth name,” Malik explained, apparently helping himself to my fucking thoughts. “He doesn’t brand his bloodwhores... much.”

  “Much?”

  Aerin’s chuckle felt like ice. “You think he’ll even want her? His tastes have changed in age.”

  “She’d better hope it’s him. Nyx will kill her outright if Idris takes her instead, and I’d hate to be anywhere near Dregan.”

  I’d learned enough about Veresian’s ruling families during school that I didn’t have to ask who they were talking about. While Brander was the true Alpha, in control of our territory’s Discipline, the other Alphas had their own strengths. Dregan’s was Hunting, which told me pretty clearly that I wanted nothing to do with him, and while Idris and his wife Nyx were in charge of Wealth, it didn’t sound like I’d want to cross them, either. “So what will he do with me
then?” I asked. “Why come get me at all?”

  “A debt is a debt. May as well be law to us,” Malik said plainly. “He gave up family blood to save your life.”

  Family blood. So it wasn’t his own that saved me, but someone close enough to him that he’d never let me go. Not until the debt was paid. “Who?”

  “Above our pay grade, Human. Stop asking so many questions.”

  We drove in silence for a while, and it was a testament to how sluggish my brain felt that I didn’t notice how fast Malik was driving at first. He was going at least a hundred and twenty miles per hour down roads that had broken down decades ago, but somehow, the ride was smooth. I was as impressed as I was scared for my sister’s life — not my own, because mine was over either way. But if I died like this... hers would be, too.

  “Could you slow down, maybe?” I asked, hating the high-pitched tone. “Just under a hundred, perhaps?”

  “This is already taking longer than it should,” Aerin snapped. “We should have just tossed her over our shoulder. Her comfort is the least of our concerns.”

  Malik scoffed. “Okay, Warrior Princess. You tell that to Brander, yeah? Tell him you were so impatient you felt a couple of cracked ribs were nothing to worry about. He wants her in one piece and preferably not puking on his floor.”

  That nickname had me taking a closer look at Aerin as they started to argue. She really did look like a warrior — several tattoos in addition to the Veresian clan sigil on her forearm, blonde hair pulled back in tight, intricate braids, and a look in those red-rimmed black eyes that promised violence. I couldn’t stop myself from wondering why she’d been sent to get me when I wasn’t a threat.

  “None of your business,” she snapped.

  Jeeze. Touchy.

  “I’m going to kill her.”

  “Didn’t know you had a death wish, Ae.” He slammed on the gas to go faster, swerving onto a dirt road, if it could even be considered a road. I couldn’t do much at that point but hold on and pray I made it there in one piece or an asteroid happened to slam into the castle before we could get there.