Lover's Bite: Book 1

By Ella Price

Ellie lives the life of a typical teenage orphan. The group home she lives isn't that great, and the only person she can trust is Zoey, her best friend and fellow orphan. Their lives change forever one night, when they have a run in with creatures that they once believed were myths.
Ellie meets Azrael, a vampire that has been pining for the woman he loves for hundreds of years. As Ellie and Azrael's relationship develops Ellie experiences abilities she never knew she had. Her abilities shed light on what happened to Azrael's love. The only problem is the truth could destroy both Azrael and Ellie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ella Price
• Release date: Aug 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370152698

Ella Price

I have been writing since I was eight. I started out with poetry. Eventually, I moved on to short fantasy stories, then eventually books. I have always loved books, whether I was reading them or writing them. Books have always been a perfect escape from reality. When I was growing up, I admired authors and I always imagined I would eventually be one. The primary genre I write is fantasy romance. I love creating tough heroines and sexy vampires, werewolves, Fae, and every other supernatural creature I can come up with. I also write new adult romance when I am in the right mood. I want my readers to get the same joy from reading my stories that I do when I read some of my favorite authors.

Book preview

Lover’s Bite

Book 1

Ella Price

This book is a work of fiction, and does not represent real events. Characters, names, places, and incidents are works of the authors imagination and do not depict any real event, or person living or dead.

Copyright © 2016 by Ella Price

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.

First Edition: April 2014

Cover by AEPBOOKCOVERS.COM

I cursed softly as I waited by the car for Zoey. It was freezing, and she was standing outside the library hitting on some jock looking idiot. She had the keys because it was her car, so I was stuck waiting. She finally batted her eyes one last time and hurried over to the car all giggly.

I so got a date Saturday night, Ellie! she said excitedly as she unlocked the car.

Good for you, I said with as much pretend enthusiasm as I could muster. Zoey was the pretty blond that always got asked out. She had the perfect hair and big blue eyes. I, on the other hand, had long chestnut hair and dark green eyes. I was always called beautiful, but the difference between me and her was she had a bubbly personality … I didn’t.

It was after dark, so I knew Mrs. Jones was going to be mad. Mrs. Jones was our current foster placement. She ran a house for girls, which is where Zoey and I were currently staying. You know she is going to be mad, I said quietly.

Zoey scoffed. I could care less … that old harpy never lets us have fun.

I smiled at her total disregard for how Mrs. Jones felt. Zoey always had a way of getting us out of trouble with her. I watched out the window as she drove toward the house. Out of nowhere, someone or something darted in front of us. Zoey screamed as she hit the brakes, but it was too late. She plowed right into whatever crossed our path.

I cussed as I was shoved forward into the airbag. The airbag hit Zoey directly in the face. She was momentarily dazed, but she quickly recovered. Oh my god! What did I hit? she squealed as she undid her seatbelt.

Zoey, wait. I quickly undid my seatbelt, but Zoey hopped out of the car before I could stop her. Dammit, I muttered as I climbed out. I met her at the front of the car to see what she hit. I froze when I saw she hit a guy, a really hot guy. He looked young maybe around our age.

Oh my god! Is he dead? Zoey squeaked, kneeling next to him.

My eyes darted around nervously. Zoey … let’s just call the cops … it was an accident. I pulled my phone out. I was shaking from adrenaline, and I could barely dial the number.

She screamed, catching my attention. The guy had pulled her down to him and it looked like he was biting her on the neck. I dropped my phone and jumped on him in an attempt to pull him off her. I started hitting him with my fists. He growled in annoyance and released her after a few seconds.

She stumbled backwards, and I rolled away from him. He was some psycho that bit people; that was just my luck. I got to my feet and grabbed Zoey’s hand. I started to pull her with me. I knew we had to get away from him; I just didn’t know where we were going to go. The only thing that surrounded us was the park, so I ran into the darker part to find a place to hide. I was hoping he wasn’t pursuing us, but I wasn’t about to stop and find out. I stopped running once we were hidden behind a large tree.

Zoey was holding her hand to her neck, and she looked pale even in the dim light. Let me see, I whispered frantically as I moved her hand. Blood was slowly flowing from two holes in her neck. It actually looked like a vampire bite from the movies. I quickly dismissed the comparison as ridiculous because vampires weren’t real. I quickly took my jacket off and pressed it to her neck. Maybe the guy had his teeth filed … I’d heard of it before. He had to be some vampire fanatic.

Is it bad? The fear in her voice was evident.

No, I lied trying to calm her down.

Why the hell would he bite me? She sounded as confused as I felt.

I didn’t have an answer for her. I don’t know. I tried to see through the darkness. I felt my heart race when I heard male voices. Fear shot through me when I realized they were looking for us.

They are this way I can smell the blood, one said quietly.

Zoey’s eyes widened, and I placed my hand over her mouth to keep her quiet. When I say to, we are going to run. I spoke in barely a whisper, hoping they wouldn’t hear me.

She nodded and grasped my hand for dear life. Now! We ran, running deeper into the woods. I heard the men yell when they apparently saw us or heard us. They came crashing after us.

Zoey was wearing high heels, and she was getting tired, so it was hard to move very fast at all. One of them caught Zoey around the waist, and the other tackled me. I elbowed the guy in the gut and he cussed. I rolled out of his grasp and kicked him. As I was moving away, I realized it was the young guy we hit.

The other guy was just as handsome as the black-haired one, but he was blond. Zoey was in his arms either passed out or knocked out.

Damn! Wait … we aren’t going to hurt you! the black-haired boy snapped sounding annoyed.

You bit my friend! I’m sorry if I don’t completely believe you! I yelled as I stood up facing them.

The black-haired boy stood up and continued to watch me cautiously. I didn’t mean to bite her … I was injured. It was just my kind’s reaction. He spoke as if the explanation made perfect sense to me.

I looked from one to the other, then back. What the hell does that mean?

We are vampires … My name is Adam, and this is Eric, the black-haired boy, Adam said calmly.

Are you going to kill us? They sounded crazy and I didn’t know what to do.

Adam shook his head. No, of course not. We just want to make sure I didn’t hurt your friend. We are going to take your friend to our house for treatment … she’s lost a lot of blood. You can either come with us, or you can leave.

I scowled. I’m not leaving her with you!

Okay then … let’s go. He started walking back toward the road, and Eric followed him carrying Zoey.

I pressed my lips together as I started to follow them back to the road. I was trying to devise a plan, but it was difficult because Zoey was unconscious. It wasn’t like I could grab her and run. Adam opened the back door of a white Mercedes and stepped aside for me to get in. I hesitated but got in when Eric placed Zoey in the backseat on the other side. They both got in the front seat and set off in the opposite direction that Zoey and I had been headed.

After about fifteen minutes of driving in silence, they pulled up to a huge gated mansion. There was a brick wall all the way around the place. Adam punched a code in, then pulled through the gate. The house was unbelievably large … it looked more like a castle than a house. They parked next to several other cars that were parked on the lawn.

We should go in the service entrance until we get a chance to speak to Azrael, Adam said quietly.

Eric nodded, then climbed out and went to Zoey’s side. He picked her up, and I followed them both to the side of the huge house. The door led into a long tunnel. Adam was apparently nervous, he was checking around every corner not wanting to run into anyone. I followed them up a set of side stairs into another more open hallway. He led us to a door and ushered us all in. It was a bedroom. There were two double beds done in purple velvet. There were two dressers and vanities. There was a closet door and what looked like a door that led to a bathroom.

Eric laid Zoey on the bed, then went back to Adam’s side. We have to go talk to my brother, you will be fine here just please don’t leave, Adam pleaded.

I nodded as I sat down on the bed Zoey wasn’t occupying. He gave me a quick smile, then they both disappeared out the door. I sighed as I looked around. There was a TV, but I wasn’t sure if I felt like watching TV. I checked Zoey. She was still breathing, so I paced by the windows trying to take in all that had happened.

Adam claimed to be a vampire, which was crazy, but he did bite Zoey like one would. On top of that, Zoey was going at least fifty miles an hour when she hit him, and he was up and walking around like nothing happened. I guess I didn’t have a choice but to believe him until I could prove otherwise. I hesitated when I heard male voices outside in the hall. They were speaking a different language. I could hear Adam speaking low and quick like he was nervous. Another male was speaking low, but he sounded angry. A third one would chime in, but he didn’t sound angry … he sounded kind of amused.

The door opened, and I stood frozen by the window. A tall man walked in. He was breathtakingly beautiful. His hair was thick and black like Adam’s, but it fell to his shoulder. His skin was a beautiful copper. He had intelligent brown eyes … they were so dark they almost seemed black. He was wearing leather pants and a loose-fitting white shirt. He looked like a fairytale prince … the one little girls’ dreamt about.

His eyes found Zoey first, then they fell on me, and his expression darkened. You said there was one girl, Adam.

Adam scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. Yes … well … I was getting to the second, but you cut me off, Adam said huffily.

The other male looked similar to Adam and the man who appeared to be in charge, but he appeared nicer. He was wearing a pair of slacks and a polo shirt. He smiled at me, which made me feel a little better since the others were scowling. Hi, I am Marcus. The man in the polo shirt extended his hand as he approached.

He was being nice, so I figured I would return the favor. I accepted his hand. Elizabeth.

Marcus smiled kindly. Pleasure, this is my older brother, Azrael, and of course you know my younger brother, Adam.

I nodded, then glanced back at Azrael and Adam who were currently watching me. I nodded toward the bed. That’s Zoey.

Marcus looked at her. Is she your sister?

I hesitated. Not by blood, but I consider her one. We stay at the same girls’ home and have for years.

Oh … so you guys are orphans then? He sounded a little more interested than I liked.

Yes. I was hoping that wasn’t the deciding factor in whether they killed us or not.

Marcus gave me a reassuring smile. We aren’t going to hurt you. Adam was just worried he hurt Zoey.

I could have just taken her to a hospital, I said quietly.

We prefer not to deal with the authorities. It was an accident from what I understand you two hit him with a car, Azrael said speaking for the first time. When he spoke, he sounded accusatory, which was annoying.

I looked at him trying not to get annoyed. He ran across the road like a stray dog. We weren’t trying to hit him. He attacked her when we got out of the car to help him.

Azrael glared at Adam, and Adam smiled sheepishly. I didn’t see the car.

It doesn’t matter now. We would like you guys to stay the night, then we can discuss what we will do when everyone has recovered and rested, Marcus said obviously trying to ease the tension.

Is Zoey okay then? I decided to ask since no one bothered to even mess with her.

She’s fine … she just needs to rest. Azrael’s clipped tone tone was starting to irritate me.

Marcus smiled. Well … we will leave you to rest. Please let us know if you need anything.

I nodded, and they all left, shutting the door behind them. I sat back down on the bed and turned the TV on. I checked Zoey one more time before I fell asleep.

I woke up feeling like I was being watched, and I was right. Azrael was standing near the end of my bed. There was light trickling in from the hall, so I could barely see his face in the shadows.

I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just checking on you. His voice was low and calm, easing my discomfort.

Oh … I’m fine, thank you. I was trying to be polite even though he scared me.

Do you need anything? He sounded more like he was asking out of politeness.

Umm … no, I’m okay, I said nervously as I continued to watch him.

Good, well if you need anything just call. He didn’t move immediately. It was like he was waiting for me to say something.

I heisted. Thank you.

He gave me a brief nod, then he turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

I laid back down trying to slow my racing heart down. He was terrifying and handsome all at the same time. I had yet to see him smile, which was odd … it was almost like he wasn’t made to smile. I eventually fell back asleep thinking about him and worrying about what would happen next.

I was being shaken awake, so I reluctantly opened my eyes. Zoey was looking down at me with her scared, blue eyes.

Zoey … you’re awake, I said excitedly as I sat up and hugged her.

Where are we, Ellie? Zoey asked as she nervously glanced around.

I sighed. At Adam’s house … the guy we hit. They wanted to make sure you were okay.

She frowned, confused. Why not just take me to the hospital?

Umm … well they said they are vampires, and they don’t like authorities. I didn’t like saying it. I felt like I was losing my mind when I said it out loud.

She looked at me startled. And you fell for that?

No, of course not. They had you, and they said I could come with you or stay behind. I didn’t really have a choice, I said defensively.

Oh. She hesitated, thinking about everything I said. So are they crazy?

I shook my head. No, I think they might really be vampires. Adam is walking around like we didn’t hit him, and the bite mark on your neck screams vampire.

She went over to the mirror and looked at her neck. So what do they want with us?

I shrugged. They said they would decide what we should do when everyone was rested.

There was a knock on the door, and Zoey’s eyes widened as she hurried back over to me. She sat down next to me obviously terrified.

Come in. I tried not to sound too terrified myself.

Marcus came in smiling. A woman followed him carrying a large tray. I have food for you. I am also having clean clothes brought up, so you can shower and change.

Thank you. Zoey … this is Marcus, one of Adam’s brothers, I said introducing them.

Hello, Zoey said nervously as she glanced at me.

Pleasure to meet you. After you eat and get dressed I will take you down to speak with Azrael and Adam. He continued to smile at us, and I felt a little less threatened. Marcus definitely had a way of making me feel more at ease.

I

Reviews for Lover's Bite

[Roed Trillo Tahil · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The general plot is interesting but the storyline and sequence of events were confusing.

Elizabeth, the protagonist was helpless and a doormat. There’s no character development at all.