Revived

By Vilhelmina Ullemar

Murder at the family mansion—and Dirk Crewe is the obvious suspect.

For as long as he can remember, Dirk Crewe’s family have made all his major decisions for him—including who he’ll marry. Born a Crewe, Dirk knows he has to give up everything for the sake of his family’s rise within society. About to marry a woman he does not love, Dirk has resigned any hope for his heart’s truest desires. But when he finds his fiancée Corelia in the arms of another man, Dirk sees the chance to walk away from a loveless marriage and find love on his own terms. However, Dirk does not venture far once he learns Corelia has been murdered. Unless Dirk can prove he had nothing to do with Corelia’s death, his last chance at agency might as well be ruined.

A mysterious stranger, and the deadly secret that could save—or destroy—them both.

Becoming a vampire was never Rhys’s first choice. However, no matter how he tries to be better than the man who turned him, he still faces life in self-loathing isolation. But when Rhys meets Dirk, something about the mortal resonates with him—and age-old defences begin to fall apart. Though something about the death of Dirk’s fiancée isn’t right—and Rhys knows it better than anyone. Together, they set to discover the truth behind Corelia’s death in hopes to settle the past and determine the future.

REVIVED is the first book in the queer vampire romance series FOREVERERS.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vilhelmina Ullemar
• Release date: Jun 20, 2020

Vilhelmina Ullemar

Vilhelmina Ullemar writes fantasy fiction and thrillers with a touch of romance. She finds her ideas in the middle of the night, where they’re usually coiled up in a comfortable darkness. It takes a special kind of persuasion to make them assume the tangible form of words—that, and a backdrop of suitably dramatic music.When not writing, Vilhelmina spends her days working as a medical doctor in Stockholm, Sweden—though she firmly believes attempts at making long dead things come to life are best saved for fiction.You can connect with Vilhelmina on Instagram @ninavilhelmina , or visit her website http://books.vilhelminaullemar.se for more information about her work

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REVIVED

COPYRIGHT

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, places or events is unintentional or fictionalized.

Copyright © 2017 Vilhelmina Ullemar. Previously published under pen name Nina del Arce.

All rights reserved.

http://books.vilhelminaullemar.se

This book and its contents may not be reproduced or redistributed without express written permission from the author.

For any inquiries regarding this book, please e-mail [e-mail]

Second edition, 2020

Edited by Whitney McGruder

http://www.witandtravesty.com

ABOUT THE BOOK

Murder at the family mansion—and Dirk Crewe is the obvious suspect.

For as long as he can remember, Dirk Crewe’s family have made all his major decisions for him—including who he’ll marry. Born a Crewe, Dirk knows he has to give up everything for the sake of his family’s rise within society. About to marry a woman he does not love, Dirk has resigned any hope for his heart’s truest desires. But when he finds his fiancée Corelia in the arms of another man, Dirk sees the chance to walk away from a loveless marriage and find love on his own terms. However, Dirk does not venture far once he learns Corelia has been murdered. Unless Dirk can prove he had nothing to do with Corelia’s death, his last chance at agency might as well be ruined.

A mysterious stranger, and the deadly secret that could save—or destroy—them both.

Becoming a vampire was never Rhys’s first choice. However, no matter how he tries to be better than the man who turned him, he still faces life in self-loathing isolation. But when Rhys meets Dirk, something about the mortal resonates with him—and age-old defences begin to fall apart. Though something about the death of Dirk’s fiancée isn’t right—and Rhys knows it better than anyone. Together, they set to discover the truth behind Corelia’s death in hopes to settle the past and determine the future.

REVIVED is the first book in the queer vampire romance series FOREVERERS.

CHAPTER 1

London, England, 1866

Dirk

IT WAS HIS ENGAGEMENT PARTY, BUT Dirk Crewe wasn’t happy.

He had tried. On the surface, there was every reason to be. Corelia was a vision—everyone told him so, just before they emphasised how lucky he was. They spoke of her pleasant manners and good education, and he could not object. The woman had a set of favourable qualities, to be sure—but none of them changed the fact that Dirk felt absolutely nothing for her.

Not that he expected to feel those things—love, infatuation, or even attraction—for any other woman, either. There seemed to be little point in hoping for something he knew he couldn’t have—at least not in a way society would approve of, if it was with another man.

On the positive side, Corelia also came from money—even more so than Dirk and his sister Anna Crewe, who’d had to fight their way back into society’s good graces, after their parents died. Anna had spent a pretty penny to achieve that, for which Dirk supposed he should be grateful. It meant something now to be one of the Crewes—something good. This marriage would further improve the elegantly crafted image—benefitting not just Dirk personally, but the family.

It would look a lot better, though, if his bride-to-be actually bothered to show up for the announcement.

Dirk did his best not to attract attention to himself, dodging through the crowd of guests gathered in the parlor of the Crewe’s town mansion. Still, he could feel attentive eyes turning his way, a silent signal going through the flock alerting everyone of his presence. His solitary presence.

Naturally, Anna noticed, too.

Dirk tried to avoid his sister, but she crossed between the groups far faster; like the floor was the sea and she knew exactly where to navigate, holding some natural talent that Dirk evidently lacked.

She caught up with him soon enough. Putting her hand on Dirk’s shoulder, Anna reeled him in. Dirk Crewe, she said, "exactly where do you think you’re going?"

Away, if only I could. Escape to the continent, for a start. Sadly, such thoughts were reserved for dreaming—in reality, there was no feasible way he could get away with it. Dirk sighed, turning towards his sister.

To check on her? he suggested, because it was always best to tell Anna what she wanted to hear. It was not like he had a choice, anyway.

Good thinking, his sister said, approvingly. She pulled her hand back, the storm held at bay for now. Well? Go.

He didn’t want to, but he went. The first part of the way, while still within the line of sight of the others, Dirk even made a point of looking like he was in a hurry. Only when he came into the foyer, standing below the grandiosely arching stairs sweeping their way to the upper floor, did Dirk take a moment to pause.

Was this how his life was going to be? As lavish as the surroundings were, did he really want to spend all his time in what felt like a gilded cage?

Dirk glanced to the side. The door was right there. He could leave now, and perhaps only now—before he became irrevocably tied to this life. He still had a chance at some freedom.

But he’d made promises. He had obligations. If he walked away now, he would break them all. He’d never be allowed to come back.

And who said life on his own terms would be any better?

Dirk looked away from the door and headed up the stairs.

Upstairs was almost eerily quiet. He didn’t see anyone, which he couldn’t help but wonder if it should be a cause for concern. If Corelia had been late because she spent too long getting ready, Dirk would have expected her ladies’ maid to be running back and forth. Instead, there was nothing.

He stopped in front of the door which led to the room they’d offered to Corelia for her stay. It was one of the mansion’s better bedrooms—with a balcony, even—every little detail they could think of to keep her satisfied. Was she still not happy? Or did she linger because she had second thoughts?

He hoped not. To see this engagement fall apart when it was all but announced would be a setback he wasn’t sure he would easily recover from. What was worse, Anna probably wouldn’t forgive him—whether it was actually his fault or not. He’d end up having to make up for it until his sister's temper calmed—which might take a long, long time.

A chill crept down Dirk’s spine. He wasn’t sure whether it was due to his anxiousness to leave, or if it was a change in the air. Maybe the hallway had a draft. The house was old, after all. Or maybe he was just looking for any excuse to linger out here.

Dirk took a deep breath, gathering himself before he finally knocked on the door. Corelia?

There was no reply.

Dirk knocked again, harder this time. He spoke louder, too, thinking she simply hadn’t heard him. You really should come down, they’re all waiting for you. For us.

He waited. And waited.

Although he would rather not start off the relationship with his future wife in an argument, Dirk grew impatient. Who was Corelia to think herself so important that she could keep an entire party waiting? Didn’t she see she put both of their reputations on the line?

To think he was giving up his freedom for something like this.

Corelia, are you in there? Dirk asked, no longer bothering with the attempted politeness his tone held before.

And yet, silence still reigned on the other side of the door.

He had no choice but to enter the room, breaking the rules of propriety as he might be; at this point he could no longer afford to care. Dirk pressed down the handle and stepped into the room.

Within plain sight was Corelia—his fiancée—in the arms of another man.

* * *

Given that the man's face was mostly obscured—buried against Corelia’s neck—Dirk couldn't see who it was. Nor did Corelia see Dirk; her head was arched back with her eyes shut and mouth slightly open.

Frankly, it wasn't a sight Dirk wanted etched into his mind. He turned around and left. He kept walking through the hallway, towards the stairs.

Of course he would have to confront her—them—eventually. But how?

The engagement couldn’t go through. Dirk couldn’t see himself married to a woman who was . . . otherwise attached. Especially not if said attachment was so graphic.

His only consolation was that he was the only one who knew—so far.

Not that it would last very long. As soon as Dirk stepped down the stairs, Anna all but pounced on him.

Dirk? How did it go?

He hesitated. Dirk knew he should tell his sister—if only because she was bound to find out, and perhaps sooner rather than later. But something about the sheer shock of what he'd just seen kept the right words from coming. Not because of the