Nightbound: Seducing the Vampire Slayer

By Ashlyn Mathews

Two houses at war…

When an ancient scroll is discovered and the interpretations made public, vampire slayer Phoenix Lancaster refuses to accept she's the Alpha, her kind's hope for survival. Or that her family's hated enemy, Zane O'Day, is the Omega, a vampire destined to love her and with her death, rule over all vampires. Phoenix will never give herself to the man whose father murdered her mother. And Zane is a coward hiding behind a mask.

In secret we meet…

Sam. He's the captain of the guards sent to "fetch" her by Zane's orders. As she and Sam struggle to survive in the deadly Forest of Sorrow, Phoenix soon realizes she's in danger of falling for the sexy and charming vampire protecting her every step of the way.

If we should meet again, how should I greet you, as friend or foe?

Sam—the name Zane gave the Slayer as she was being chased by pissed-off werewolves the first time they met. Contrary to the scroll's prophecy, Zane isn't after Phoenix's heart or her life. The Slayer deserves an honorable and faithful man. Not to mention a truthful man. That man isn't Zane. His father was a cheating bastard, and Zane believes he's cut from the same cloth. Yet Phoenix's courage, compassion and her knack for saving lives compel Zane to rethink his intentions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: First Bite Publishing
• Release date: Oct 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9780996380195

Ashlyn Mathews

Ashlyn Mathews is a registered nurse with an overactive imagination. Her interests and activities include taking a lot of pictures of her golden retrievers and flowers and posting them on social media (occasionally she’ll post pictures of her kids and hubby), binge-watching funny and romantic Netflix shows, reading books and magazines of various genres, eating a lot of carbs, and drinking A LOT of coffee. Hot, iced, blended… it doesn’t matter as long as it has coffee. For more on her romance series, visit ashlynmathews.com.

Book preview

1

Ahigh-pitched noise pierced the silence. A signal .

Hunched over, Phoenix inhaled a quiet breath, afraid of giving away her location. Since setting foot in the O’Day’s territory, vampires tailed her.

She surveyed the mouth of the alley for the telltale crimson uniform worn by her family’s enemies. Seeing nothing, she listened for the pounding of heavy footfalls on pavement. As the rumble of footsteps became as palpable as the rapid beats of her heart, Phoenix prepared herself.

Time to lock and load. Or so her brothers were fond of saying right before they ran into battle. Spine straight? Check. Feet planted, stance wide, and shoulders squared? Check. Wrists flexed, ready to snatch her swords? Check.

Never back down from a challenge. Fight to the last breath. The mantra of her family rang loud in her head. They were fierce words for one of two ruling families in the city of Williamsburg.

As a Lancaster, Phoenix would fight to the end. There’d be no returning to the safety of her family’s compound surrounded by electric fencing and monitored by security cameras and armed guards. And she couldn’t rely on her family’s name to get her out of trouble this time. Not after what she’d stolen from the wizards’ vault.

Phoenix, are you in the clear? Josiah’s deep voice in the earpiece she’d swiped from her brothers without their knowing.

I’m fine, and the others? Dimitri and Abbi, her friends and partners-in-crime.

Headed back to your father’s compound.

You’re next.

I stay, Slayer.

Not in the plan.

I safeguard your life for you saving mine.

She shook her head at the audacity of the werewolf’s claim. Buying your freedom is not equal to saving your life. You weren’t in danger, and you weren’t dying.

I don’t see it that way. When I take my rightful place as Alpha of my pack, I’ll swear allegiance to you.

Josiah?

Yes, beautiful one?

She smiled at his from-left-field flattery. Must be the adrenaline talking. Josiah hadn’t shown any interest in her before tonight.

How about we speak of the future when I make it out of the Forest of Sorrow? A dangerous place where the answers to her question of life and death waited.

Gotcha. Good luck.

And you, she said. I’ll pray my brother doesn’t kill you when he discovers our deception.

I’ll pray, too. Not for my life but the safety of yours.

The line went dead. Phoenix pulled out the earpiece and smashed it with her boot. She loved her brothers but they could be overprotective. Yet she understood why they treated her as though she was a wisp of cotton, at risk of being carried off and lost to the big, bad world. But this wasn’t the moment to think of their mother’s murder.

There you are. The masculine voice boomed in the emptiness.

Had the situation not been serious, Phoenix would’ve smiled and said, Yes, here I am. However, Sam was the enemy, sent by the rival family to bring her in.

With the moon as a backdrop, he stood alone, a vampire with the speed, strength and thirst to rip into her neck before she could scream.

I’m surprised they again sent a captain of the guards instead of an O’Day. Beneath the sliver of moonlight, the navy blue of his uniform disclosed his rank.

She baited him yet he didn’t bite. Interesting. During her prior encounters with Sam, she goaded him with better results.

How many months have we gone through this ritual of ours? he asked. Of me chasing you and you refusing to come willingly?

Not ready to speak to the vamp, Phoenix scrutinized him. How had she missed the determined set of Sam’s jaw and the sharpness of his stare? And he held his head high as if he were more than a captain.

The clouds moved over the moon. Darkness engulfed them. Phoenix had every reason to run far and fast from the vampire with a sword in his hand and a wicked smile on his face.

Long ago, a rumor swirled of a vamp’s ability to hypnotize their prey. However, the rumor was just that, possibly a tale spun by an O’Day. Then why did Phoenix’s heart race anticipating Sam’s next move, and her mouth watered at the sight of him, like a delectable meal offered after a fasting?

A tingle of awareness sent a pool of heat to the junction between her legs while a hand seemed to grab hold of her stomach and twist. Arousal and fear, two confusing blends of emotion for a woman with little experience with men.

Men might’ve kept their distance out of respect for her father or fear of her brothers, but Phoenix wasn’t ignorant of the temptation of a strong man’s body. She’d read books and had seen pictures. Sam’s body rivaled the pictures and… more. Goodness, Phoenix was certain there was a lot more beneath Sam’s tight uniform.

Beneath his navy jacket, she could make out the outlines of the bulging muscles of his arms. How many hours a day did Sam swing that large sword? Under his jacket, his shirt stretched across his chest and flat abs. Did Sam shave? Or does he have a sprinkle of hair on his chest that dipped low to his…

Phoenix tore her gaze away from the confidence of Sam’s stance and how at ease he was with the sword in his hand. What could he do to her body with his strong and capable hands?

Flushing, she feigned casualness and tipped her chin at the spot above his shoulder. Where are your men?

Gone. I told them I can manage the girl I was sent to fetch. A gleam of mirth sparkled in his eyes.

Phoenix straightened to her full height of five-foot-five. "I’m a child and a toy?"

He shrugged his massive shoulders, and her attention shifted to the expanse of his chest. She stared and for far too long. He cleared his throat. Her gaze met his. He raised a brow. Phoenix bristled. His arrogance should annoy rather than entice her.

I will never go freely to the house of O’Day.

She reached back for her bow and arrow. Phoenix needed to evade the vamp and not be seduced by him.

Why should I give myself to the man whose father murdered my mother? And why should I trust a creature that will rule over vamps if he kills me?

She pointed the arrow at Sam’s heart.

Take me forcefully. My family’s fury will rain down on vamps’ heads and blood will be spilled.

Is that what you want? he hissed, the heat of seduction gone from his eyes. If you won’t come willingly, Zane will take matters into his own hands. He will not sit idly by as Unnaturals grow in number. Soon, they’ll overrun us. Join with Zane. The two of you can take back the city, and Unnaturals can return to where they came from.

Ironville. She locked her jaw. Zane and his scheming ways. How could he believe she would buy into his crazy talk of them being a team? Or that she would want what he craved—power and control?

Some of those demons, witches, and warlocks you speak of are my friends. I won’t let Zane force them out of a city they call home. There is nothing but misery in Ironville.

Mutant wolves stalked the streets and flying demons perched on rooftops looking for easy prey.

Phoenix, we are running out of food and water.

She couldn’t refute the obvious truth. They hadn’t had rain going on four years now. My family has always provided. They will find the answers to our drought and famine.

It’s too late. Demons and witches are working together to hijack and hold hostage the city’s water supply. Warlocks have hidden stockpiles of food and are selling it to the highest bidders. The poor suffer while the rich continue to pay the high price. He extended his hand. Come with me. You and Zane can find the answers, together.

2

Phoenix shook her head. He stepped forward. Sensing the threat he posed, she spoke the words that would transform her from the hunted to the hunter.

Grant me the power to no longer be lost but found. Give me the night, and return me to daylight, victorious or dead.

Her sight cleared and her body hummed with power. Phoenix smiled. Six hours of heightened senses, agility and speed.

Step aside or I’ll go through you.

Answer my question first.

I don’t want bloodshed, Phoenix growled, admitting the emptiness of her threat. It’s your master’s fault we’re here. Nine years—

A vise squeezed her chest. The alleyway closed in around her. Breathless, Phoenix yanked the arrow until the line was taut.

It’s been nine years since I lost my mother.

The fletching of the arrow cut into her skin. A reminder of the sharp pain of loss the day she emerged from the Forest of Sorrow alive only to drop to her knees at news of her mother’s murder.

I’m sorry for your loss, Slayer.

He bent at the waist then straightened. He bowed to her? Your stall tactics won’t work. Step aside. Please. She didn’t want to hurt him.

Who says I’m stalling?

You’re a bat and have the hearing of one. You heard me speak the words.

He advanced, and she released the arrow. Phoenix had neither the patience nor the time to further spar with the annoying vamp. Her arrow whisked through the air and grabbed a small piece of skin off his ear.

He clamped his hand over his ear. Good god woman that hurt.

Phoenix winced. Her aim had been off. Run home and have your vamp lover lick your wound clean.

A wicked smile spanned his face. I’d rather drink the blood of a slayer. It’d be the most pleasurable manner to heal.

Her stomach churned at the thought of being fed on. Our blood as an aphrodisiac is a rumor.

I think there’s truth to it. Why don’t we find out?

You’re insufferable.

And you’re stubborn.

She straightened. My stubbornness keeps me alive.

I don’t discredit that, he said with a hint of admiration.

The corner of her mouth kicked up a notch even as her frustration grew. Sam shouldn’t be so agreeable. He’d been sent to fetch her.

He loosened the collar of his uniform, giving her a glimpse of tan skin. Holding his sword in one hand, he pushed the edge of the jacket aside with the other and hooked his thumb inside his pants pocket. Sam appeared ready to settle in for a late night drink and a long conversation.

Phoenix almost laughed at the crazy idea of her and Sam having a good, old-fashioned talk rather than their usual goading of one another.

Come with me to see Zane. He can safeguard your life.

Zane would protect me from his kind?

Four months ago a wizard discovered an ancient scroll at the site of a large sinkhole in the middle of Williamsburg. The twelve-by-twelve-foot hole equally spanned the O’Day’s and the Lancaster’s territory. Both sides claimed the interesting find.

The O’Day’s vampire advisors interpreted the scroll in their favor. If Phoenix Lancaster, the Alpha or the beginning, gave herself to Zane O’Day, the Omega or the end, vampire slayers would lose their innate powers. Vampires would have the advantage.

And with Phoenix’s death at the hands of Zane, Zane would rule over all vampires. Vamps opposing Zane as their master would want to kill Phoenix. He’d be fighting a war on two fronts, against slayers and vampires.

"Protecting you and helping the Hybrids is important to him."

Her father’s wizards