Tortured Souls

By Eden Wildblood

Marcus Cole was the vampire with a heart of stone, until her... He has won against all odds, but will it ever be enough?
Wynter has a family to care about now and she will do whatever it takes to keep her vampire husband happy, but how far is she willing to go for the unyielding man, myth, and monster?

Can she simply accept the inevitable, or will they reach a point of no return?

Find out in this fifth and final instalment of the Blood Slave series.

***This series is intended for mature readers and is not suitable for those under the age of 18***

• Language: English
• Publisher: LMauthor
• Release date: Oct 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005132347

Eden Wildblood

Eden Wildblood is setting out on a journey to tell her dark stories to the world.She devours horror movies and books, and listens to heavy metal, and yet always wonders why people are still surprised when she reveals her dark side.But now, she’s using that part of herself to bring that darkness to life.To share her stories with the world...

Book preview

Blood Slave #5: Tortured Souls

By

Eden Wildblood

Licence Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please destroy it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

PLEASE NOTE

This story depicts explicit sexual relationships between consenting adults, including elements of coercion and intimidation, which may be a trigger for some readers.

This story is not suitable for those under the age of 18.

Cover art by LM author

Cover photographs courtesy of Deposit photos.

One

The first wedding anniversary for any couple ought to have been something for both parties to want to celebrate, but as hers approached, Wynter couldn't help but feel sad. She had lost so much that day, and as her memories of Jakob and the love she had bore him came creeping back into her usually so carefully locked inner core, she wanted to weep. They had been torn apart, literally, by the vampire who had then forced her to be his, and now he wanted her to commemorate the day?

Let's just stay home. I don't want to leave Rosa, she tried, but like in all things, Marcus Cole was resolute. She had learned the hard way how he always got what he wanted, and even though that had evidently appeared to be her, he sure wasn't smitten enough to let his wife bat her lashes and get her way. If anything, the less she fought, the more likely he was to yield, but even after all this time, Wynter still didn't have him sussed. There was only one time she had gotten what she wanted—when she'd turned up with a motherless child and told him in no uncertain terms that it was theirs. And, of course, she now knew why. He had welcomed baby Rosa into their home and openly adored the young child, and it wasn't because Wynter had asked him to.

Marcella, his priestess, had warned her of Marcus and his intentions for the future of their extended family. He was growing it with a purpose, and now had two Jinn beneath his roof as well as a powerful witch and her twin babies, plus Rosa who was going to become something else entirely. She was the offspring of a human and a werewolf and was inevitably going to follow in her father's footsteps. The bloodline was too strong, so she would one day turn lycan herself. It was inescapable without some sort of miracle.

Plus, of course, there was Marcus's vampire army who were now under her command, yet undoubtedly still at his mercy. But he apparently also had plans that didn't seem to include the hordes of soulless vampires she now had a strange maternal connection with. Plans that involved the children in his keep, rather than the forces by his side. Marcella's words regarding his brood still echoed through Wynter's mind, and she knew without a doubt that she was a big a part of it all as well as her darling husband. Without her, his world would crumble, and if he was ever going down, she knew he would take them all with him. That was not allowed to happen. Wynter had been forced to accept her fate, and now it appeared she was responsible for the next generations' survival too.

Fucking vampires. Why had she ever said yes to that job? She knew why. Like now, she had always been too weak to say no. Always ended up getting herself into trouble rather than be an adult and make the hard choice even if it was also the right one.

My sweet, Marcus simply said, his voice hard and low. A shudder went through her when she made eye contact with his incredible icy blues, and she shot cold, and then hot as the heart beating within her fluttered hard because of his intense scrutiny. As always, she was torn thanks to the heart that always had two ideas on how to proceed at any given time. Torn between wanting to tell him where to go and wanting to fall at his feet and offer her unending service to whatever his cause may be. The witch Mara was to thank for the latter, but at the same time, she knew now how it wasn't all her doing. Wynter's soul was merged with that of the vampire standing before her, so of course she wanted to give him everything he desired. Against all odds, and her better judgement, she loved him. The swine.

He wasn't going to budge on this, and so Wynter nodded in acceptance of his offer to take her away for the night. And actually, she figured it'd probably be quite nice to get a break from the mansion for a short while. Life with Rosa and the others was wonderful, but even in a huge house they could get on top of each other, and Wynter still felt as if Archie and Brodie were judging her. She was sure they talked behind her back about how weak she was and how she'd let Marcus have his way so readily and had caught the sideways glances they each often gave her whenever she showed any type of affection to her husband in their presence. They hadn't said anything in a long while to warrant it, but Wynter still had the feeling the pair thought she had let them down, and it was a tough one to shake because ultimately, she felt it too.

Just a couple of days? she double-checked, peering down at the little angel in her arms. Rosa was blossoming from a newborn into an alert and interesting little child and was beautiful with her bright eyes and the blonde ringlets that were beginning to grow at the back of her head. She didn't want to miss a moment of her development.

She won't even have the chance to miss us, he promised, and Wynter looked up to find a gentle smile on Marcus's face. He was looking down at Rosa too and, as always when it came to her, he seemed to soften. Wynter had never experienced much of his softer side, if he even had one, and once again thought how strange it was that the ancient vampire had taken to the newborn so quickly.

Okay, she replied, and then stood and headed for the doorway. Outside in the hall, she went straight down the stairs to Brodie and Archie's room. She found the door ajar and crept inside and was glad to find just her fellow Jinni there. Archie was still the more judgemental of the pair, and it was a relief not to have to explain to him where she was going and why.

The thought made Wynter laugh to herself. Out of all the creatures that lived in this huge mansion, after her vampire husband, it was the human who intimidated her the most. He truly was domineering, and not only with his boyfriend, but with them all.

Hey, what's up? Brodie asked, taking Rosa from her without question.

Nothing, it's just that Marcus has asked me to join him on his business trip, so I wondered if you could look after the baby? she answered, telling a white lie she knew Brodie could see right through. He didn't call her out on it, though. The two of them shared a bond no one could ever break, and because of that, Brodie knew her inside and out, and vice versa. He knew she was embarrassed about this stuff, and so let her be.

Sure, he simply answered, Rosa's welcome to stay with her uncles anytime.

You're the best, she replied before forcing herself away. But Wynter only made it as far as the doorway before she turned back with a frown. We won't be gone long. Two days max.

And we'll miss you, but we'll be fine, he pressed, and then looked down at the babe in his arms. She'll be fine.

I know, Wynter answered, and then forced herself away. There was no packing she needed to do, and of course Marcus had known it, so he was waiting for her at the top of the stairs leading down again to the ground floor.

Come, he commanded, and just like before, something stirred within her. Mara's heart adored the vampire standing before her and the magic power they shared did very little to close the void, bridging their combined consciousness. Wynter was in control now and forever, or so she had been assured, but as always there remained a burning desire to obey him. To give Marcus everything he demanded of her, and then some.

She faltered for the slightest second, thinking she might go and offer Rosa one last hug before leaving, and the vampire before her was on her like a viper who had been poised ready to attack his prey. Marcus was beside his wife in a second, and when he had her in his grasp, she sensed his impending rage. His skin was icy cold, as were his blue eyes, and she peered up into his face without faltering. She was a jinni who could take him down in a fight without question, but there would be the worst of prices to pay for doing so. Marcus never lost. Never let anyone stop him from having his way, and Wynter once again backed down.

Let's go, she whispered against his cool skin, and peered up into his face resolutely. Before I change my mind… Wynter added, and then gave him a playful smile so that Marcus didn't think she was being serious, even if she was just a little.

She then turned into her misty form and evaded his grip, before returning to her whole state a few feet away. Catch me if you can, she teased, and then took off down the stairs like a cloud speeding through the breeze. She was at the front door in half a second and took her human shape right before going through it, but he was still faster than her. Somehow, Marcus had made it outside before she could transform and make it across the magical threshold, which would've stopped her if she were still in her misty form.

After you, my sweet, he replied, opening the car door for her, and Wynter climbed inside what she knew was one of the vampire's most expensive and fully armoured vehicles. It didn't matter how powerful he was. Marcus had enemies, and she didn't need to ask to know he wanted to keep as much distance between him and them as possible. Her too. She could see it in his eyes.

The car in front held his handful of top soldiers, but in their vehicle and with his back to them sat his assistant Bryn. It appeared Marcus had promoted another of his Blood Slaves. This time to driver. Last she'd checked, he hadn't had a dedicated chauffeur, and yet she could sense the guy was warded with magic. Much like those who ran his clubs and had blood that was magically poisonous to vampires in a bid to keep them safe from harm, the man in the front seat was utterly off limits to all who might wish to feast on him. And Wynter was glad. At least he couldn't be turned against Marcus using the effects of a bite, and also that no one could ground them by incapacitating his driver.

Mr Cole, Bryn welcomed his boss with a smile, before dropping it, along with his courteous tone of voice, Mrs Cole.

She knew why he still hated her. She'd made him feel small in front of all the others back when Marcus had summoned his Blood Slaves to the mansion. Plus, there was the fact that he was clearly in love with his dastardly boss. He wasn't the first, though, and definitely wouldn't be the last. She pitied him. Which, of course, Bryn knew.

Wynter didn't respond. She simply watched out the window as the small convoy drove away and was grateful when Marcus took out his laptop and got to work during their long drive south to the London club.

It took hours, but she didn't care. She zoned out and left him to his work, but the entire time, she had this increasing sense of foreboding. Something was going to happen, she could tell, but her senses were unusually off and Wynter was sure it was Marcus's doing. Even though he took no notice of her and focussed solely on his workload and the assistant he was keeping on his toes in the front seat, her husband kept his hand on her thigh for the full duration of their drive. At first, it irked her, but then after a while she took a strange sort of comfort from his hold. The small show of dominance over her that proved to all who dared to look that she was his. That he owned her.

Ordinarily she would've hated it, but not today. All apprehension aside, Wynter knew she was his and couldn't bear the thought of him taking his hand away.