Drought Of Blood: City Of Blood, #2

By Laura Greenwood

Turning someone into a vampire is illegal, which is a problem when Chloe has done just that.

 

The Rebellion is over, and the members executed. But I'm still alive...for now.

I did the one thing I wasn't supposed to, putting myself and others in danger. Now, it's just me and the illegally turned vampire living in my one bedroom apartment against the world. Unless we can persuade Catherine to help.

Preferably before we get caught.

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Drought Of Blood is book two of City Of Blood, a complete urban fantasy dystopian series filled with cut-throat vampires, undercover spies, and a slow burn m/f romantic subplot.

 

If you lovely deadly settings, vampires on the side of both good and bad, action-packed urban fantasy, and life-or-death stakes, start the City Of Blood series today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drowlgon Press
• Release date: Oct 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393996668

Laura Greenwood

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between. You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in The Paranormal Council Facebook Group. Happy Reading!

Book preview

Chapter One

I glance up at the sky, uneasy with how bright it is already. Dawn is nearly here, and I need to get home before it does or risk being burned. But sometimes, it almost feels safer to return to my flat this late. It makes the chances of people following me lower.

In theory.

At the moment, every day I'm not dragged away by the police feels like a victory after all the things I've done wrong. But clearly, the members of the resistance they have in custody haven't given out any names or descriptions. If they have, then nothing's been done about it. I'm not sure why. Perhaps they're trying to catch us doing something even more incriminating.

I cross the street, trying not to move too quickly and arouse suspicion. I managed months in the City Of Blood as a spy without overthinking things, but since the resistance's failed assassination attempt, I've found myself doing it more and more.

Perhaps because I committed a crime that'll be counted on the outside as well as within the city walls. But I can't regret it. Not when it means Oscar is alive. If being a vampire counts as being alive. Personally, I think it does. But I'm biased.

It only takes me a few minutes to get inside my building and to be twisting my key in the lock. The moment it's shut behind me, I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Oscar? The moment between calling his name and getting an answer is always the worst. As if a small part of me thinks he's going to be gone.

In here.

His voice washes through me, and I make my way to the living room. I drop my handbag onto the side table.

How have you been?

Bored, he admits. And struggling. He glances at the windows, and I understand instantly.

He wants to go outside.

Maybe we can try and visit a coffee shop tomorrow before I go to work? I suggest.

Shock registers on his face. I've been so insistent on him staying inside. But I can tell he needs it more than we need to be extra careful. And I don't want him to come to resent me for what I've done for him.

It's not just that, he admits.

You miss the sun. It makes sense, I probably would if I knew what I was missing.

I almost pressed the button to open the shutters today. I know I shouldn't. He runs a hand over his face.

My heart breaks for him. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have turned you.

He reaches out, moving the mound of blankets which have piled up on the sofa now he's staying in here. Not for the first time, I wish for a bigger flat. One with two bedrooms instead of one. He curls his fingers around mine.

It's not your fault, Chloe. You did what you had to do. Without you, I'd be dead.

But maybe that's better than the alternative. I had no right to make that decision. Tears spring to the corners of my eyes, but I blink them away. I don't want him to see how conflicted about the whole situation.

I have too much to live for to want to be dead. His gaze bores into me, revealing the truth behind his words, and something else I'm not sure I recognise.

When it all becomes too much for me, I look away. I have to close the sun shutters, I mutter, getting to my feet.

Can't it wait a moment? Oscar asks.

You know I can't.

Oh. Right. Yes.

I grab my phone from my bag and click onto the app. The familiar whir sounds and darkness falls throughout the flat as the shutters close in, blocking out the sun and saving us both.

Are you hungry? I ask, wanting to pull his attention away from the lack of daylight in his life.

He thinks for a moment. Yes, but I'm not sure for what.

Blood. I've seen it enough times to know for sure. New vampires always need more blood than the rest of us. And they often don't know it's what they want either. I'll get some for you.

I'm out of the room before he can answer. I flick on the kitchen light and start preparing two mugs of blood. We're getting short, I need to go to the shop and get more. Between the two of us, we've gone through my spare stock. It's making me a little anxious, but I should have enough money in the bank account Dimitri set up for me to use to replace it all.

I stick Oscar's mug in the microwave and set it off. I don't like my blood to be hot, but it's a trick I learned to help new vampires get used to the taste of blood.

While it's running, I take out my second phone and pull up the messaging app to check if there's anything from Bram or Dimitri. Nothing. I haven't heard from them in weeks, and I'm starting to get worried about it. The last thing I want is to be alone in the city with no chance of getting out of here. It's strange, because up until recently, I never really believed I'd get out of here alive.

I glance in the direction of the living room, though I can't see Oscar from here. Maybe it's because now I feel as if I have a reason. This isn't the way I ever intended on meeting a best friend, but I'll take what I can get.

A loud beep cuts through my thoughts and announces that the blood is done. I stash my secret phone away, then pull Oscar's mug out of the microwave, then grab my own from the side and head back to the other room.

Here you go. I hand it to him, our fingers brushing as he takes it from him.

Thanks. He takes a sip, even though it's probably too hot. I thought it'd be harder to get used to drinking it, he admits.

You didn't have a problem with it before, I point out. I asked him about it once, mostly because I hadn't wanted to make him feel awkward by drinking blood in front of him. I can understand how it may make humans uncomfortable.

It's not the same.

I drop down onto the sofa beside him, conscious that this is now his living space and I don't want to make him think I don't want to respect his privacy. I suppose not. Maybe it's something to do with being turned that makes you forget about the bad things associated with blood?

He shrugs, then takes another sip. Are there any studies about it?

I have no idea. It's never something I've given much thought to. Drinking blood has been part of my life since the day I was born.

Babies drink blood?

Vampire babies do. Though they need milk too.

I guess I'll find out one day. He leans back in his seat.

Guilt floods through me. No, you won't.

True, I'm likely to end up dead before I have kids at this rate, he quips.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to think of the best way to break the news to him. That's technically true...

But?

I'm sorry.

What for? He sits back up and stares at me as if I'm saying the most interesting thing in the world.

I swallow the lump that's forming in my throat. It's better if I get this over with. I could lie about it, but that'll only hurt him further down the line, and I don't want to do that. Made vampires can't have children.

Oh.

I'm sorry, Oscar. If I'd thought there was another way...

You have to stop apologising. I know why you did what you did. And I'm not angry at you for it.

"Maybe you should be. I took so many things from you, and I didn't even ask your permission."

Because I couldn't give it. He sets his mug down, then reaches out for my hands again. You need to stop blaming yourself for what happened.

But maybe it's my fault, I whisper. If I hadn't tried to stop the mission...

Then we'd be captured like the others.

Maybe that's what we deserve.

It isn't, he assures me. If everyone is dead, then no one can carry on the work of the resistance.

So you think we should start a new one?

He