Away With Me: Book Two of the Newborn Trilogy

By Shayn Bloom

Heartbroken by the gorgeous and tormented wizard who can't love her, Nora Saynt-Rae is on a journey to rediscover herself. She's not alone. At her side is her loyal and dependable werewolf, Wolfgang Ronfaro. Thwarted by the complications of Gabriel's heart and flattered by the attention of Wolf's, Nora has a decision to make: should she risk her friendship with Wolf for a chance at love?

While fighting through her daunting emotions, Nora discovers a secret about Gabriel's past - about the shadows and circumstances that brought him to Evergreen in the first place and the twisting, dark unknowns lurking at the Bureau of Magic. Armed with the truth about her wizard, will Nora forgive him?

Or will she fall for Wolfgang - the madly handsome and dogged friend who never turned his back on her - the one who was always there for her, who never left? Wolf is by her side now as she journeys into Gabriel's past and her own future, trying to figure out her feelings for Gabriel and Wolf.

Gabriel, that tormented soul of a wizard.

And Wolf, who dares to say run away with me...

This book contains strong sexual content and explicit language. Word Count: 80,000

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shayn Bloom
• Release date: Jan 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310941856

Shayn Bloom

Shayn Bloom was born in Moscow, Russia and has been a writer since the age of thirteen, penning novels, poems, essays, songs, articles, short stories, and novellas. Shayn lives and writes in Denton, Maryland.

Book preview

AWAY WITH ME

Book 2 of NEWBORN TRILOGY

Copyright 2014 Shayn Bloom. All rights reserved.

For more information about the author and series:

shaynbloom.blogspot.com

Edited and formatted by Kye Fehrenbach.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Preview of DO US PART

Chapter One

Away with me.

Holy geez…

I’m staring at him.

Through blurred vision.

Russet hands still grasping me.

What? I ask in disbelief. He can’t have – couldn’t have meant what he just said. Not Wolf – not after Gabriel… well, not after Gabriel reacted how he did. I must have misheard him. Must have. There’s no other explanation. What? I ask again.

Run away with me! Wolf repeats, black eyes alight, his cheeks burning. Before he finds you. He’s not going to like this!

Who? I gasp, knowing the answer.

Releasing me, Wolf takes a step back. The wizard, he answers. "Gabriel can’t know you’ve… Turned." He utters this last word with anguish.

My brain is racing madly. Should I tell the werewolf I had already talked to Gabriel? That the wizard already rejected me outright? No… I can’t, that would only make the situation so much worse. For what if Wolf were to change his mind? What if Wolf, upon hearing about Gabriel’s reaction, decided to react the same way? Decided to reject me or – so terrible to imagine it – kill me?

Black eyes are boring into me. Who bit you?

I’m staring back blankly, my recent tears making the skin around my eyes hard and irritated. I don’t –

Wolf growls, It was Amoretta, wasn’t it? Or was it Mortimer? Fury is coarsing through his veins. Why I’ll –!

No! I exclaim wildly. It… it was Jack, Wolf. It was Jack!

Black eyes grow wide. Jack? Surprise is registering across a russet face, replacing his sudden anger. You mean…

Yes, I tell him, unsure of what I’m confirming. It was Jack who bit me…

Geez, I’ve never seen his eyes so wide.

Nora, I – I’m so sorry, Wolf tells me, his entire form deflating in front of me as his eyes search for mercy. "This is all my fault! I lost Jack… I was certain he was trying to escape. I didn’t know he was still looking for victims! I figured he was just trying to escape those wizards…"

His words trail off, his ears no doubt hearing the excuses, the self-justifying tone of his explanation. He’s left staring at me, looking as forlorn as I’ve ever seen him, but I’m too distracted to feel sorry for him.

For I realize what he’s saying. Wolf thinks I’ve been changed recently – not months and months ago, long before he knew me. I have an opportunity now to tell him the truth. How would he react? Not well, I imagine. I think back to when the werewolf and I were in The Mousetrap. He seemed angry that I’d kept Gabriel a secret, even though we’d discussed wizards. Should I learn from that mistake? But if he’d witnessed the scene with me and Gabriel. And seen me murder that Releaser…

Hey, like being alive? my alter ego asks. If you do, shut your trap!

Gotcha, I reply.

I meet Wolf’s eyes. It’s okay, I say to the werewolf. "You tried to get Jack – tried to track him down. Gabriel and I got separated and then Jack came and had his way with me, I invent hurriedly, too far in to turn back. Strangely, I’m spurred by the shock in Wolf’s eyes as I go on. Jack left me on the ground to turn and ran off. I haven’t seen him or Gabriel since the attack."

Wolf collapses to his knees. Horror spilling from every pore to cover his russet face in a wild sheen, he looks up at me, dark eyes pleading as he clasps my hands. Forgive me, Nora, Wolf moans, his face sinking. "I – I can’t believe you were raped and changed! This is all my fault, look what I’ve done by letting Jack escape! I can never live with myself after this, Nora. I’m a failure!"

Oh geez! Now look what I’ve done. My lies are already biting me in the ass.

Stand up, Wolf, I say quickly, blushing madly as I look around the surrounding loam. It’s okay – I already told you that. It’s not your fault Jack – uh – raped and bit me. I mean, Gabriel wasn’t there either!

Bizarre as it sounds, it feels good to get back at the wizard. Even in a way as infinitesimal as this. I will take that wizard down, one lame, irrelevant white lie at a time until I have my revenge!

Shaking his head, Wolf stands, towering over me. It all makes sense, the werewolf remarks, his eyes glistening as he stares into me – his expression drenched in agony. "I saw you were changed, but I didn’t understand the tears… Nora, I’m going to murder Jack for what he did to you! I promise!"

The vehemence in his words surprise me so much I take a step back. But I’m pleased all the same. This is good. Wolf is so furious about my being raped that he won’t think about the vampire thing as much now. That was some pretty big news until the bigger news came of my being ravaged by Jack.

I know you will, I respond, trying my best to look downtrodden and victimized. Secretly, I’m whooping inside. Now I don’t have to worry about Wolf killing me! And Jack shouldn’t prove any trouble later, for he did ravage me… in a way. A long time ago. I know you’ll bring Jack to justice.

The werewolf is murderous. It’ll be a painful death for him!

I’m about to respond when I hear something. A voice in the distance: Find them! Bring me the wizard! The voice is loud and booming, the kind that instantly demands authority, and I recognize it at once.

Mortimer, Wolf breathes, his expression deadly.

The scent of werewolf, another one yells, closer this time – a male. Just picked it up, sire! They’re this way!

I gasp the forest air as Mortimer yells, After them! They’ve ruined our home! Bite them! Kill them!

I’m gazing into a stony russet face. We have to run, Wolf!

I just promised you revenge.

Stealing myself, I reach out and take his hand. "Not now. Not yet. There’s too many of them, they’d overrun you. I want revenge against Jack, I really do, but not in exchange for your life! Black eyes bore into mine, looking for judgment. I breathe, Run away with me."

I see them! yells a voice.

Whirling around, I see Seamus – the young male vampire I’d seen at the compound – pointing at us from fifty yards away.

He yells, They’re here, they’re here! Sire! Amoretta! They’re here!

Now my eyes are pleading. Run away with me!

Wolf exhales his answer. Fine then.

We run for it.

* * *

We’re sprinting through the trees. This way and that, around bushes and over the loam we pound the forest earth. I feel I’ve surpassed my quota for running today, especially considering I hate to run. But I have learned something: when your life depends upon it, your feet will do what they have to.

Well, most of the time…

I trip over a protruding tree root and go flying. Just as my bosom is about to collide with the dirt I feel strong hands grasp me around the middle. Wolf has me! We’re up again and running like crazy. Lucky break I suppose. But god I hate this – this feeling of being sought after. Hunted!

Irony, anyone? my alter ego asks. Now you’re the vampire and you’re still being hunted!

Shut up and help me! I gasp at her. As I expected, she goes silent.

From behind our steps, cries are ringing in the forest air: This way! and I can still see them – faster!

My blood is chilled in my veins, gasping for breath like my tired mouth as I throw my legs forward. We have to lose them! There’s no way Wolf and I can take them, however many they are. Truth is, I’m safer than Wolf. A bite from a vampire won’t affect me – I’m already poisoned.

But poor Wolf… I see him lying on the ground in the compound, collapsed and gurgling foam as his body fights to stave off the poison. It looked like agony. Probably because it was agony. No – I won’t have that happen to Wolf again. Not to my Wolf. No! Fury filling me, I throw on an extra burst of speed.

* * *

I’m such an idiot!

Why did I take out my contacts back there with Gabriel? Now every passing tree is a great brown blur. Every bush is a green tinge on my periphery. And the forest floor is almost completely incomprehensible. It’s a miracle I haven’t been tripping forward more often. I attribute my luck to my close proximity to Wolf – to the warmth of his body next to mine, our figures touching as we run.

Get them, fools, before they escape! Mortimer screams behind us. "Make them pay for burning our home!"

Desperate, I stare at the werewolf beside me. Wolf, I –

Run! he exclaims, cutting me off, and we throw ourselves into it anew.

My strength is running out. Running out fast. Not surprising, I guess. First I was running from those Releasers, and then from Gabriel… Now from vampires, a whole coven of them on our tail, and this group is by far the fastest. The Releasers had spells to use. Gabriel – well – I’d like to think Gabriel’s heart wasn’t in his pursuit. That perhaps he didn’t chase me at all. But vampires don’t have wands. They – we– have two things: legs and teeth. Those combined are a formidable weapon.

From behind, we hear Amoretta shouting, Don’t worry, sire! I’ve almost got them!

Wolf! I gasp, unable to deny my failing legs – it’s as though they’ve turned to jelly beneath me. Maybe I’m fainting. I –!

I think I see a clearing, the werewolf says from beside me, interrupting. Up ahead. We’ll be able to gain some distance there!

My words half failing me, I cling to his arm. Wolf! I – I can’t run anymore! And, as though forcing an illustration, my legs buckle beneath me. Exhausted, I collapse to the ground beside a bush, gasping, "Go! Escape without me, Wolf! They can’t turn me into a vampire again. Run!"

The werewolf is staring down at me, his eyes calculating, though from my vantage point I never actually see him consider the idea. Here, he says, black eyes gazing past me to where Amoretta just appeared between the trees a distance away. He picks me up off the ground, cradling my form in strong, muscular russet arms. This is the only way, Nora. Hold on!

We’re off, sprinting through the woodland foliage.

I see them! Amoretta screams from behind. They’re so close!

Utterly exhausted, I cling to Wolf. This is easier said than done. His thick neck provides the best security, but it’s slippery with sweat and more than once I lose my hold and go tumbling from his arms. He catches me both times. His expression is set as he runs, his face resolute and dripping.

I feel guilty for failing him back there, but my body gave in. There’s no other way to describe it. I simply couldn’t keep running. Now it’s up to Wolf to save both our necks with my leaden weight in his arms.

Peeking over his shoulder, I see a painted face appear behind us. Amoretta! I gasp into Wolf’s ear. She’s gaining on us!

With a mad exclamation between a yelp and a bark, Wolf throws on an extra burst of speed. We’re practically flying now – rushing over the loam and leaping off tree roots expertly. At least now I don’t have to worry about tripping and halting our progress that way. Squinting, I try and make out the painted face.

Nothing. She’s disappeared into the forest. Somehow, not seeing her is even more frightening. She’s gone, I say in the werewolf’s ear, hearing my own surprise as I say it. Vanished somewhere. Hurry!

Swiveling my head around, I gaze forward. I see what Wolf was talking about. The trees are thinning, an inevitable white line in the distance. What could that be? A clearing? A beach? I have no idea where we are now. Somewhere on the Olympic Peninsula – I know that much. But where?

We reach the tree line. Coming to a swift halt, Wolf is gasping for breath and soaked, his black eyes roving madly over the clearing before us.

The space is expansive and lush – a field of green bordered on all sides by trees. It seems completely random, as though once upon a time something of significance had been here and a section of forest cleared for it. Now it’s open space. Sweeping the area with blurred vision, I look up into Wolf’s spent face.

Bad idea, I murmur. Let’s stick to the trees. It’s too easy for them to see –

My breath catches in my throat as the werewolf takes off again across the wide open field.

See? my alter ego remarks. Not even the werewolf takes your advice seriously!

Silence! I growl at her.

I’m staring behind us over Wolf’s shoulder. What a nightmare! Any second now I expect to see gleaming faces and jagged smiles appear amid the trees there. None come, though every now and again I see swatches of color in the loam, as though they are seconds away from arriving at the tree line.

Here! Wolf gasps. Suddenly we’re making a beeline to a gigantic rock on the side of the field. I see an opening!

Gazing backward, I see the colors amid the trees growing more dominant. They’re almost here, Wolf! I’m practically gasping in fright despite being safely carried in the werewolf’s arms. A blurry someone is standing amid the trees on the far side of the field. Wolf, they’re here!

We duck as one and the sky is blocked out by darkness. Blinking crazily in the sudden blackness, I feel Wolf set me down. Swiveling hurriedly, I take in our new location. We’re inside the rock! It’s not a huge space, but big enough for Wolf and me to stand in. About the size of an igloo. The opening is small and squat, and I see why we had to duck to get in here. Will we be safe here?

Wolf sinks to his knees, gasping for breath and closing his eyes against the sudden onslaught of sweat enveloping him now that he’s stopped running. Going to him, I mop his brow with my hand and bring it away dripping. Ugh! Raising my hands, I make as though to pull off my turtleneck.

Shaking his head, Wolf stays me with his hand. He swipes off his own black T-shirt and mops his features with it.

Oh geez!

Wolf shirtless and sweaty is too much for me right now. I can’t take it – not when my heart is racing madly and the blood is pumping in my veins from the adrenaline of being hunted. But all the same… I graze his body with my eyes, enjoying the way his pontoon abs shine with his exertion.

Fuck, am I really getting turned on right now? I could die at any minute. Well, maybe that’s as a good a reason as any to take in some candy. You know, while I still can. With difficulty, I wrench my gaze from his sodden form and approach the mouth of the rock. Making sure to stay within the confines of the hidden space, I angle myself to see outside in the direction we came.

I clear my throat gently. They’re by the trees, Wolf. Must be talking. It’s lucky they didn’t see us!

Maybe they did.

I turn to see the werewolf mopping his chest with his shirt. Wonderful… That makes no sense, though, I inform him. If they know we’re in here, how come they don’t come right over? Before we escape or something?

Wolf tosses his soaked shirt aside. Maybe they’re anticipating we’d think like that. We don’t know yet.

Blinking against the darkness, I try and take in the rock’s craggy inside. Hard without my contacts. Can you do ‘Lumio’ please? I ask him without thinking. I wanna make sure this place isn’t crawling with bugs!

First of all, Wolf begins tonelessly, are you saying you’d go running into the open and into danger if there are a few beetles around? And second, what’s ‘Lumio’?

Oh geez! I slap my head with my hand.

Idiot! roars my alter ego. Nice one, pea brain!

I know, I know! I tell her.

Nothing, I say to him, blushing, it’s nothing.

From the light emanating from the rock cave’s opening, I see Wolf’s black eyes boring into mine. You thought I was Gabriel for a moment, didn’t you?

Well, what’s the point of lying? I nod once, blushing further.

Sorry, I say, abashed, won’t happen again.

Better not, Wolf growls, his tone uncharacteristically harsh. If you can’t tell the difference between the guy who considers you inferior to his race and the one who –!

"Won’t happen again, I repeat, louder this time. My bad!"

His eyes dislodge themselves from mine. By now the werewolf’s sharp gasps of exertion have died away, leaving him restored if only partially. Whether his legs will take any more abuse is another question entirely. I back further into the small cave as the werewolf stands and goes to the opening.

I see them, he tells me, squinting his eyes against the sudden sharp light. Amoretta, Mortimer, and a younger one.

Seamus, I answer.

They’re coming this way, Wolf continues, scratching his head with a russet hand. Right for this rock, actually. Here – help me with this.

Wolf begins digging in the dirt near the entrance with his bare hands. For a second I’m paralyzed, unsure of what he’s doing. Then I see: he’s blocking the entrance with dirt! Crouching to my knees, I hastily begin to assist. Gathering dirt in my hands from the corners of the rock’s interior, I heap it near the front where Wolf condenses my findings into a sturdy wall, blocking out the sunlight.

Before long only a sliver of light exists atop the dirt pile, and Wolf and I are plunged into near total darkness. Thank heavens, for if we can’t see each other the vampires can’t see us. Well, unless they already have…

You know, I begin loudly, I’m beginning to think –

Wolf claps his hand over my mouth, silencing me. I writhe, indignant, but grow still as I begin to hear voices outside of our rock hideout. Most unfortunately, I recognize these voices all too well.

It doesn’t make sense, Amoretta is saying in her high, breathy voice. A second ago I was on their tail and now they’re gone. Escaped! But I could see the weight of the girl wearing the dog down. I don’t get it!

Silence for a moment.

I know what happened, adds another voice.

"Oh, do inform us, seer of all things!" Amoretta rasps furiously, but her attack is cut short by nothing we can see.

Continue, Seamus, murmurs Mortimer’s voice, dangerously calm and serene now – its booming quality temporarily dispatched.

A second passes in which I imagine the young vampire glaring at Amoretta with a smile. It’s obvious what happened, remarks Seamus’ voice. That wizard – Gabriel – found them and then translocated them to safety!

Amoretta’s tone is impatient. You’re talking nonsense!

Translocation, continues the young vampire, is when a wizard disappears from one place and then appears in anoth –

I know what it means! Amoretta shrieks madly. I so easily picture her painted face, alive in the firelight of a late night campfire and wreathed in fevered delight. I shudder. There’s no evidence that happened at all!

Seamus says, Translocation doesn’t leave evidence.

You’d have us give up the hunt! Amoretta cries. You’d have us –!

Enough, breathes their leader, and Amoretta’s words die in her throat. Enough arguing, you two. We haven’t the time or energy to embark on such conflicted endeavors. We must save our wits for the capture.

Exactly! Amoretta exhales. "And that involves not giving up at the first sign of resistance, Seamus!"

My eyes find Wolf’s. We’re so close to one another now, our heads practically touching the dirt mound obscuring the entrance to our hideout. Our adversaries sound so very close, as though they’re mere feet from where we’re listening in. If only they knew… All evidence to the contrary, luckily…

Have the others found the wizard? Mortimer asks.

Silence.

The vampire leader breathes, In that case, I take it –

They’re still looking, Seamus says hurriedly, as though frightened of being attacked by his chief. "But not yet, sire. They’re searching every possible place he could be. They’ll find him, sire – I’m sure of it!"

Mortimer is unresponsive, as though contemplating these words.

What about Jack? Amoretta asks, her tone rising with her doubts. Where has that traitor escaped to?

Traitor? Seamus repeats in surprise. I didn’t –

Realize? Amoretta suggests, her voice a purr of satisfaction at his ignorance. "Jack ran for his life when he should have been trying to save Mortimer. Ran for his life instead of trying to save our home!"

Is it true? Seamus asks in disbelief.

A long moment.

Yes, Mortimer sighs, as though wrenching the word from very deep inside himself. Jack has let me down immensely. Perhaps he will be able to explain himself sufficiently when caught, but I can’t begin to imagine how. It seems the death sentence of my favorite is all but inevitable!

A giggle escapes me. Wolf instantly covers my mouth, but not fast enough.

What was that? Amoretta says. I heard something!

Let me explain myself a second, because I don’t want you to think I’m a terrible person. Obviously I don’t think the idea of someone getting the death sentence is the stuff of great comedy. But when Mortimer called Jack his favorite right to the faces of the other two, I couldn’t help myself.

Seamus remarks, You heard your own disbelief at not being number two!

How dare you! Amoretta bellows. I’m going to –!

You may be, Mortimer says quietly, but nevertheless the other two vampires go silent at once. "You may be my number two now, Amoretta – now that Jack has deserted the good of our coven for the good of himself. Suppose I said you could be my second in command?"

A thump as knees hit grass. I’d do anything, sire! Anything!

The coven leader lets this sit in the air for a moment before continuing.

Find the girl and the werewolf, Mortimer instructs. We can leave the wizard for now. I have other plans for him… But I want the girl and dog alive, Amoretta. Bring them to me and you’ll be my number two!

Amoretta’s voice is shrill with glee. Thank you, sire! Thank you!

Hang on, interrupts Seamus, indignant, "what about me? What if I find them?"

Mortimer laughs, then resumes his serious tone, saying, "Then it’s you of course, Seamus. You’ll be my number two!"

Amoretta’s voice is a gasp, "Don’t even think about it, Seamus! If you find them first I’ll murder