Chosen by the Vampire, Book One: Cruel Selection Vampire Series, #1

By Atlas Rose

They're sinful. 

Beautiful.

Deadly. 

And more dangerous than the wolves who hunt us in the woods.

Three Vampires rule our world. 

And now I find myself in their clutches. 

Abducted in the dead of night, I'm taken to a market where eleven others like me are paraded in front of the Sinful. 

The Vampires want the perfect companion. The one mortal who'll not only sit beside them on the throne...but who'll occupy their bed.

We're to be judged, challenged...and selected one by one to continue the hunt.

They'll punish us. They'll seduce us. 

They'll take us from the light and leave us craving the dark.

Only I came with a secret of my own. 

They are the monsters I hate...the monsters who killed my family eleven long years go. 

I came for blood. I came for revenge, only as I'm drawn deeper into their deadly game my body starts to betray me.  

I crave surrender. I lust for them.

I need to be the last one selected. 

Can I go through with my plan? Or will I be claimed by the monsters I despise?  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atlas Rose
• Release date: Aug 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201634445

Book preview

Prologue

You understand what you have to do? the Vampire whispered from the shadows.

I closed my eyes, refusing to answer...refusing to see.

Sinful.

Deadly.

The words raced through my mind as his icy breath spilled down the hollow of my neck, making me tremble.

He was close...too close.

I couldn’t turn my head, couldn’t look into the shadows.

I already knew what I’d find.

Cold, stony, moonlight-kissed skin, and intense eyes that seemed to stare into my soul. But it was his mouth that captivated me. White fangs peeking from blood-red lips as he whispered commands like the devil on my shoulder.

But there was no angel on the other side ready to save me. There was just the darkness...just the need. I clamped my legs tighter, stilling the flare of heat that bloomed like a deadly rose between my thighs.

Open your eyes, Asena. Look at him.

I was helpless to defy him, drowning in a sea of desire. But hate swirled around me, and inside me, like a tornado filled with the terror of my past. I allowed that hate to consume me, battling the flames of unwanted desire that both disgusted me and intrigued me in equal parts.

Still, I obeyed...and opened my eyes.

My victim stepped through the open doors from a marble patio outside and into the ballroom, following three of his friends into the masquerade ball. Shy, quiet, his brown eyes glittered as he scanned the room and our gazes connected. A hint of a smile as he stared at me, and then a slow tilt of his head, an acknowledgement of my presence.

He stilled, and electricity charged through me like a live wire.

He looks as awkward as you do, Cassian murmured in my ear. Tell me how you’ll seduce him.

Music swirled all around me, soft music, seductive music. The beat mirroring the panicked thudding of my heart.

Seduce him.

That was the game. Their game. I swallowed the urge to tremble. I would not let Cassian scare me, not let him win. The mortal male broke my gaze and searched for his companions. He was good looking, with a ramrod-straight spine and relaxed shoulders. Wealthy. That’s what he looked like, kind, careful and well to do.

Tell me how you’ll walk toward him. How you’ll give him a hint of a smile, the monster in the dark murmured. "How you’ll brush past him just enough for him to be ensnared by the scent of your perfume...and how, when he turns toward you, you’ll do the same and smile, that sweet, innocent, seductive smile. How you’ll step backwards, drawing him closer and closer and you’ll angle your body so his gaze will be drawn by the swell of your breasts. How you’ll lead him into the darkness and press your spine against the wall, pretending he’s the one who trapped you, when it’ll be the other way around. How you’ll lean close and whisper into his ear, just so he can look into the plunging neckline of your gown. How you’ll make the poor sap blush with the whisper of your desire, how his body will harden and quake and that look of hunger will consume him."

I swallowed the bitter tang of acid in the back of my throat. "I won’t. I won’t do it. I can’t."

Oh, you’ll do it, the beast growled. "Or I’ll puncture his vein in the middle of the dance floor. I’ll spray your perfect sky blue dress with the warmth of his life, and I’ll make you watch while I drain him dry. You will do this, Asena. You will if you want to save him...and if you want to be chosen."

He moved closer, just an inch--but it was enough.

Enough to snatch my attention and trigger my fear.

You do want to be chosen by us, don’t you? The faint scent of blood wafted in the air.

Blood and death...and sex.

The frigid touch of his finger trailed down my arm before he leaned in and pressed those lips to my shoulder. I never flinched, never moved. I was frozen with fear, and excitement.

My body betrayed me, trembling, wanting. I could almost feel the tips of his fangs on my skin, almost feel the commanding touch of his fingers delving under my skirt.

Almost feel his body trapping mine. I wanted him. I hated him. Hated myself because of it.

I wanted to be used by him. I wanted to be taken by them all, every savage thrust, every brutal bite.

They were beasts...monsters. They were cruel and uncaring, and promised eternity in the slide of their tongue and the hardness of their desire.

I will make you mine, Asena, Cassian whispered. "I will lash those wrists to the headboard of my bed and ride that sweet body until you quake with fever, and beg for release. I will show you all the sins of this mortal world and all the rapture of mine, and you will know what it’s like to be chosen. You will know what it’s like to be owned by us."

My breath caught, and my pulse raced. To be owned by all of them. I glanced toward the others, knowing where they were by instinct alone...or was it need? Lorcan stood in the shadows near the entrance, watching the men as they stepped inside--like a moth to a flame.

We were that flame.

I skimmed the darkness to the right, where the glow of the fire didn’t reach, and felt a flicker of fear. Arkyn was back there, watching everything, deciding which one of us passed the test. He was the one I was truly afraid of. He was savage and calculated. He was the one Lorcan and Cassian obeyed.

Vampire.

They were almost as dangerous as the Wolves.

Cassian would kill this mortal if I didn’t seduce him. He’d make good on his promise to this mortal man...and to me. He’d make me stand there and watch while the spark ebbed in the man’s eyes, he’d tear my dress from my body and bathe me in the man’s blood. He didn’t care who watched...only about making me bend to his will.

I’m waiting, he whispered. The dance is almost over...and his time in this world is almost done.

Ten other women were imprisoned in this castle in the middle of the woods, they moved around me now. Some meek and terrified, casting careful glances my way, and others stalking the mortal men who came here tonight like prey. They never looked at me, or cared.

They were beautiful. Long, stunning dresses and plunging necklines. Lorcan liked them in bold colors, daring midnight blue, shimmering black, and drenched, blood red. But I wasn’t dressed like them. No, I was different.

I skimmed my hand along the pale blue chiffon skirt and lifted my hand. My fingers trembled, dancing in the air as I touched my lips.

I can’t do this, I whispered.

"Can and will, he commanded. You know what happens if you don’t. Pass this test, Asena. Pass it or else."

I shuddered at the words. I’d been forced here just like all the others, but there was one difference between us. I knew who these fanged monsters were.

Please....

Cassian’s voice filled my mind. With a surge of desperation and terror, I clenched my fist around the perfect blue chiffon, lifted my gaze to the mortal man standing all alone and took a step. He lifted his head at the movement, and his eyes widened with surprise.

My lips curled on their own, the smile yearning and playful as Cassian had urged.

That’s the way, Asena…

I’ll make you mine yet.

Chapter One

Two Weeks before

---

Are you ready for this? Jacob grabbed my hand. You can back out, it’s not too late. You can take longer to think about this. Make a better plan.

Make a better plan?

I stilled, sucked in an icy breath, and slid my hand from his. "Revenge has always been the plan, Jacob. You’ve known this for the last eleven years."

It’s been your plan. Not mine.

The words raged in his eyes. He was hurt. Betrayed. Already pining in my absence. I licked my lips and tried again, this time making my voice a little less cutting. I’ve waited a long time for a chance like this, and there won’t be another…

He turned from me, his fists clenched by his side, corded muscles in his arms trembling. He took a step away, as though to leave me behind, his voice a growl. "You know what they do to girls like you, don’t you? You know they bite them...they seduce them...they...fuck them."

My breath caught with the word.

He’d never spoken like that to me before, never used those kinds of words.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a little girl anymore.

He turned toward me. Hate raged in his eyes, still, he lowered his gaze in a slow slide along my body. "I have noticed, that’s why I don’t want you to go. They’ll ruin you...they’ll change you. They’ll take your innocence and turn it into something sick and depraved. I’ve heard the stories, and I’ve seen the girls when those Vampires are done with them. I’ve seen how they crave them, like a drug they can’t get enough of. They’ll do the same to you."

No, they won’t. I’m going for one reason, and one reason only...to drive a stake through their hearts.

The words sank deep, stilling the shake in my hands. The sky was brighter in the distance. Midnight blue blended to amber with the fires already blazing in the middle of town. They’d burned earlier tonight, hungry licks of fire warding off the beasts in the dark.

A lone howl cut through the night, sending goosebumps racing across my skin. The townspeople were scared tonight, and they had good reason to worry.

Wolves flanked the streets, and stole our children. Two were taken last night...one the night before. So we pledged our loyalty to the Vampires. Three infernal beasts who invaded our towns with their guards. We pledged with our honor to the Sinful...still, it wasn’t enough.

I’d waited eleven years for this plan. I smoothed down my dress and watched Jacob take a step until he towered over me.

There was a second when I thought he’d say something, where he’d beg and plead. Instead, he leaned close and brushed his lips across my cheek and slid his hands to my waist. Please, Asena. You trust too easily, and they’ll hurt you. Don’t go, he murmured, and yanked me closer.

His lips were on mine in an instant, bruising my mouth as he bowed my spine. I couldn’t think, couldn’t react. My thoughts were a flurry as he drew me harder against his body.

Then he broke away. I sucked in hard breaths, trying to understand what just happened. Jacob.

Sparks of hope flared in his eyes.

I have to, I answered.

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat and stepped away from him. My pulse was pounding inside my head. Panicked thoughts moved in, threatening to derail the entire thing. The flare of hope in his eyes hardened to stone. You’re leaving me...for what? Hate and bloodshed, or maybe you just want to leave? Is that it, Asena? Are you that blinded by your own need to get away from this town...or is it me you’re running from?

Jacob. I murmured his