Love and War (Marked by the Vampire Book #4)

By A.N. Meade

Marc is back in this fourth installment of the Marked by the Vampire series. When Aimee finally gets some stability in her private life, she is thrust into a conflict with the Fey. The war is here. Navigating this kind of minefield in both Love and War is no easy task, not even for a Blood Queen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.N. Meade
• Release date: Aug 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310455124

A.N. Meade

I'm an avid reader of anything Paranormal Romance (I especially love vampires). I'm the author of my own Paranormal Romance Series: Marked which is published on amazon and available in Barnes and Noble. I'm married to my high school sweetheart, and we have two sons and a daughter. I drink way too much sweet tea, mostly when I'm staying up all night writing down the scenes in my mind.Some of my favorite authors are: Anne Rice (of course), Laurell K. Hamilton, H.P. Mallory, Annie Nichols, Christine Feehan, and Christine Warren.

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Love and War (Marked by the Vampire Book #4)

Copyright 2015 A.N. Meade

Published by A.N. Meade at Smashwords

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 enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Love Lost

Chapter 2: Howl at the Moon

Chapter 3: Cherry Wine

Chapter 4: School of Wayward Souls

Chapter 5: Magic Man

Chapter 6: The Lunar Effect

Chapter 7: Hail to the King

Chapter 8: Can't Kill the Beast

Chapter 9: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 10: House of Cards

Chapter 11: Ever the Fighter

Chapter 12: Promises to Keep

Chapter 13: Mid-Summer Night's Dream

Chapter 14: To Have and To Hold

About the Author

Other Books by A.N. Meade

Connect with A.N. Meade

Love Lost

The toughest thing about breaking up when you’re immortal is that you have to live with the pain of betrayal for an eternity. Aimee was pouring over a stack of plans for the new school that Damian had given her to approve. She was sitting at his desk in his office, leaned over in complete focus, one hand holding the page she was reading and the other rested firmly in her hair by her temples. The sound of the door opening drew her attention, but she couldn’t have prepared for seeing his face when she looked up. Marc was standing there, leaning on the doorframe. His sandy blonde hair was clean and free from the mess of blood that she had seen soaking it last. His blue eyes with streaks of green slashing through the irises were staring back at her and he forced a small, half smile. Tears began to fall from her eyes despite her futile attempt to hold them back. They welled in big blood tinged droplets and fell down her face, staining the papers below. She wiped them off quickly and pushed the paperwork farther in front of her on the desk. A single, involuntary sob escaped her lips, and Marc came running over.

            Aimee, don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.

            She refused to look up, trying not to let the sounds of her crying escape again. Don’t say that! It makes it harder to hate you.

            Marc wiped at her tears with his fingers. Do you hate me? His voice broke as he asked the question, and Aimee lifted her eyes to see him crying too.

            No, she answered, and that’s the worst part. She looked at him, now. He looked as she remembered him. He was whole again. Seeing his face reminded her of the last time she saw him like this, and the tears began to fall in steady streams again. I was so cruel to you.

            Marc fought back his own sobs, I’ve been through worse.

That was hard for Aimee to imagine. She knew that he had a long history, but they had never been through his past hurts during their conversations. I didn’t want it to end that way for us. I would have never hurt you like that.

I forced your hand, and look at the pain it has caused you. I am so sorry, my love. I made a terrible mistake.

            Aimee pushed back against him, Don’t, please Marc.

            I need to tell you. I made a terrible mistake and it has cost me everything. It cost me you. It’s my fault you are here. I knew your history and that makes it all the worse that I abandoned you here. I needed a chance to try and make amends.

            How will you do that? Please don’t ask me to forgive you.

            I’m not asking you to forgive me. Marc gathered his composure and ran his right hand along her cheek, bringing her eyes back to meet his. I’ve pledged myself in service to Damian again.

            What?!

            I should never have left you alone here. I won’t leave you again.

            You bastard! Aimee shoved him hard, leaving enough space to hit and slap at him. You were free, and then you did this. Now, I have to look at your face every day. Every day I have to see you in my mind with her! You son of a bitch!

            Marc wrapped his arms around her, trying to hold and comfort her. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, he kept repeating.

            Aimee looked at him then, letting the anger wash over her in warm waves. Her eyes grew wild and she threw him hard to the floor, pinning him with her arms. She bared her fangs, growling her rage in one low yell. Instead of fighting back, Marc had a blank look flash across his face. He turned his head, and bared his throat in acceptance.

            Just then, Damian burst through the door. She flipped her head back to see who had come in, and her hair fell in a wild mane around her face. Damian looked at her, a mix of shock and desire flashed in his eyes. He put his hands out in front of him. Aimee, I was hoping to speak with you before you saw him.

            Her jaw tightened, You let him pledge himself to you?

            Damian’s lips were parted and his stance was squared and careful. He started to move a little toward his left, just enough that he wasn’t in such a great position if she decided to rush at him. He nodded yes, and said I only accepted his pledge so that I could present him as a gift to you.

            Aimee scoffed, but let up on the crushing pressure she was applying to Marc’s shoulders. To be so old, Damian, you don’t know a lot about women if you think a good first gift is an ex-lover.

            Damian cocked his head to the side, You don’t want him?

            Aimee stood up, and turned her attention toward Damian. He’s mine. You gave him to me, so I will decide what to do with him. If I don’t want him, I’ll kill him.

            Damian smiled, letting his stance relax. How would you do that?

            Aimee stepped toward him. Don’t mock me! You swore to tell me about those things. Besides, if I wanted to know right now I could rip it from your head. She let her power surge into him in one sharp stab.

            He recoiled. I’m sorry, my beauty. I offended you and that was not my intention. I’m confused. I thought you’d be happy to see him recovered, especially since it was because of the blood that you gave to him.

            Aimee trembled with frustration. Her face flushed, revealing the embarrassment that she would have liked to have hidden. I am a woman, and it is my prerogative to have mixed feelings. She used her right arm to push past him and storm out the door, shouting at her guards behind her back. Fredrick, you should not have let him in. Damn it!

            Aimee made her way down to the gym where she could work off some of her aggression. She would have went for a run, but she was dressed for business and not for running. She grabbed her gear from her locker downstairs and started using the punching bag. It was really satisfying, she just imagined Marc and Damian’s faces.

            She had spent the better part of a month with Duncan at his cottage in the woods. Now, she found herself longing for the solitude and open spaces. It wasn’t the first time these walls had felt like a cage. With every swing, she tried to let her frustration go, but instead of finding release, she felt energy building inside her. Duncan had taught her to recognize her power, and he had taught her how to use it. She let it roll through her. It moved over her skin in a familiar warm wave. She was curious what it could do with her punches, so she concentrated and let it wrap around her fists as she swung. Her vampire senses let her observe every detail keenly. The room slowed, and she put all her concentration into the next punch. It landed with an explosive sound, denting an impression of her fist in the bag that she watched as it flew across the room. The force of the hit had snapped it free of its binding. It landed by the door, breaking the mirror that it fell against. The shattered pieces fell to the floor, and Aimee admired their beauty. They glinted like diamonds in the light, and she smiled.

            It wasn’t until then that she noticed Fredrick standing there in the doorway. She saw more than shock on his face. There was fear. The predator in her instinctively took a deep breath, like you would see someone smell a rose. Fear was a sweet, intoxicating scent all its own. 

            I’m sorry, he began. I didn’t realize that you would be angry that I let Marc through.

            Aimee started to take the wrappings off her hands. I’m the one that’s sorry, Fredrick. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. You’re not the one I’m mad at.

            He glanced over at the mess by the door, I’m glad of that. Fredrick walked over and started picking up broken pieces of mirror. You need to feed, he said.

            Aimee smiled at him, letting a little fang show. You offering?

            Fredrick had become especially attuned to her needs because of all the time that they spent together. He was a good feed, but there was never more than just sexual tension and some heavy flirting between them. It was all for the best, she didn’t need another lover.

            Fredrick smiled back at her, with a knowing glint in his eyes. I would, gorgeous, but I know how you can get when you’re in a mood.

            Aimee feigned her best pout. What, you don’t like it a little rough?

            He laughed, letting some heat build behind his eyes. You offering?

            She giggled at his clever rebuttal. Fredrick could always lighten the mood. Some people have that special talent, and it was a gift of his. Aimee knelt down beside him to help pick up the mess she had made. One of these days. She winked at him, and kept working.

            Looks like I missed all the fun, Hex added from the doorway.

            I was practicing.

            I think you nailed it. Hex smiled and bent to help her clean up the broken mirror, while Fredrick lifted the punching bag and carried it out to the trash.

            It gave her a minute alone with Hex, which she had been looking forward to. I wanted to ask you about some changes that I have noticed lately.

            Sure, what’s going on?

            I know that I don’t have a wolf like Fredrick and Nero do, but since I’ve become more involved with the pack I feel like I have this desire to run.

            Hex smiled. It’s not the time you’re spending with Nero or Fredrick. It’s the bond that you made with Nero. The blood bond is giving you a glimpse of what he feels. You’re sharing that part of him, and I think that’s where these feelings are coming from.

            That makes sense. Is there anything that I can do to help things? I feel so stir crazy.

            I can think of something. Hex started to take off his shirt as he explained. You can sort of shift in a way with your magic. You can take the form of a spirit wolf. It’s less shifting really, and more like transmutation. Duncan can take on many forms, but I’ve only been able to master the wolf so far. Hex undid his belt and slid his pants off to join his shirt in a pile on the floor.

            It wasn’t uncommon to encounter nudity at the mansion. Vampires were not shy at all and shifters tended to run around naked pretty often for more practical reasons. If you didn’t want to ruin your clothes, you had to lose them. Aimee still found herself blushing and staring at the floor. She had grown no more comfortable with casual nudity as she had with casual sex. How does it work?

            You imagine an inner wolf. Focus on that energy that wants to run free. Focus on the forest and on the form of your wolf running toward you. You let the power build and then you open up and let it take you. Hex closed his eyes. The only thing he was wearing was a smile. In an instant a mist formed around his skin and his shape just suddenly changed. It was very different from when she had seen wolves turn. This was fluid and graceful. It wasn’t crude or violent. It was beautiful. Standing in front of her was a grey wolf with Hex’s pale blue eyes staring back at her. She brought her hands to her mouth in awe and excitement.

            Fredrick’s laughter broke the mood. You call that a wolf? He motioned toward Hex, who was in truth much more like a modern wild wolf. Werewolves were much bigger, and looked more like dire wolves of old. If you want to see one, I can show you, he offered in nearly a whisper by her ear.

            Aimee turned, narrowing her eyes at him. Don’t be mean, Fredrick. I think it’s impressive.

            In another blink of an eye, Hex was back to his normal form. Hex loved to show off. He took a bow before he strutted past them to pick up his clothes.

            If you like more of an adolescent look, sure. You want to see a grown one, let me know.

            Hex flipped Fredrick the bird over his shoulder as he strolled down the hall.

            A car pulled up when I was tossing the punching bag in the bin. Farrah just got here, I was wondering if you have time to meet her? Farrah was Fredrick’s twin sister. She was a fierce fighter, just like he was. Aimee had been excited to hear that she wanted to come and be a part of her security.

            Yes, definitely. Aimee scooped the remaining mirror fragments into the trash can, and looked up to see Farrah walking down the hall toward her. She and Fredrick favored each other very much, except her hair was more of a strawberry blonde than an all-out red. They both had the same green eyes. She was tall and slim, but considerable muscle strained at the fabric of her jeans. She was fit, and not someone that you would want to come up against in a fight. Fredrick had talked about her love for martial arts and her success in MMA. She was beautiful, and she could break your arm like a twig. Aimee smiled, and wiped the dust off her hands before she reached out to Farrah. Nice to meet you, Farrah. Fredrick’s told me so much about you.

            Farrah took her hand, but instead of shaking it, she knelt down on one knee. Pleased to meet you, my Queen.

            Sometimes formal greeting still threw her off. Aimee tried to move past it. I don’t have a lot of time right now, but maybe we could go out for drinks later? Then we could get to know each other better.

            Farrah smiled a big, genuine grin. I’d like that.

            Fredrick was right. She needed to feed. Her game had cost her more than she’d expected. Her first thought was Enric. He’d be enough to take the edge off. Not long ago, Fredrick had come up with a system for identifying donors among the staff. Aimee was grateful for the options, but it was the difference between a nice gourmet meal and take out. It would do in a pinch, but it didn’t satiate like a feed from someone she was already bonded to. Besides her own need, they hadn’t exchanged blood since he had met her at Requiem. She missed the closeness.

            She was lucky to find him before he headed out to the property that they were renovating for the children. Enric had taken on an integral role in the renovation. His expertise with furnishings and restorations was invaluable. He was the perfect candidate to head up the project. He smiled when he saw her approaching. Hello, Aimee. Did you have a chance to go over the plans?

            I was interrupted actually, but I liked what I did get to see.

            Good, but if you’re not here because of the plans, what is it that you need?

            Aimee tugged gently at her bottom lip with her teeth. It was a habit that she had as a human when she