Surrendered to the Enemy

By Lynn Howard

Rigby’s role in life is to protect her people from the vampires who now rule over humans. Risking her life is just part of the job. But when she and her best friend are captured and taken in as war criminals she realizes she has to guard more than just her life.

Ciro now holds Rigby’s freedom in his hands. As head of the Royal Guard, it’s his job to protect the Royal Family from those who wish to destroy them.

When his heart chooses the leader of the human Rebellion as his mate, he finds himself doing everything in his power to protect her from the very same family to whom he swore allegiance.

Once Queen Amari learns of Rigby’s lineage, Ciro risks everything to get her out of the Palace walls and back to her people.

But sometimes the consequences are worse than death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Twisted Heart Press LLC
• Release date: Jun 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781949447705

Lynn Howard

Lynn Howard lives in Cedar Hill, MO, where all her sexy Shifters exist. She lives and breathes hot Alpha males and sassy brassy females. She feels the most at home knee deep in mud and chicken muck and prefers to be outside under the stars, cuddled up under a blanket in front of a bonfire than in the big city.When not typing away or feeding her chickens, you can find her fantasizing about her next hot country boy for her next book or wandering the woods in search of wildlife. She loves all animals and insects...except spiders. Her favorite foot accessory is barefoot and she owns at least twenty sets of salt-n-pepper shakers, yet only uses one.Her first release, Gray’s Wolf, will be available January 11, 2019, with the second book in the series slated for release late March or early April. And just like in Gray’s Wolf, there are more hot country boy Shifters just waiting to their turn for a little love and romance.

Book preview

Surrendered to the Enemy

Entwined Souls Series

Lynn Howard

Reading Order

Big River pack:

Gray’s Wolf

Micah’s Match

Emory’s Mate

Reed’s Girl

Tristan’s Voice

Blackwater Clan:

Colton’s Kitty

Noah’s Fire

Carter’s Devotion

Luke’s Redemption

Ravenwood Pride:

Braxton’s Warrior

Aron’s Element

Daxon’s Heart

Mason’s Princess

Morse Pack:

Koda’s Challenge

Auddi’s Destiny

Zeke’s Revelation

Skullbone Flock:

Jude’s Rescue

Shifter Council Executioners:

Shift in Priority

Shift in Focus

Shift in Supremacy

Kingdoms of New:

Soul Alliance

Throne of Ash and Dust

Clash of Swords

Other Titles by Lynn Howard:

Surrendered to the Enemy

Laken (Immortally Yours)

Zac (Immortally Yours)

Her Heart to Mend (A Contemporary Romance)

Surrendered to the Enemy

Lynn Howard

@2022

Published by Twisted Heart Press, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Your non-refundable purchase allows you to one legal copy of this work for your own personal use. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload, or for a fee.

Disclaimer: This book may contain explicit sexual content, graphic, adult language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable. This e-book is for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Lynn Howard will not be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, businesses, and incidents are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual places, people, or events is purely coincidental. Any trademarks mentioned herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.

Chapter One

Ciro shot up in his bed, gasping and panting, fighting to get air into his lungs. His eyes searched the room, but there was no one there. He could’ve sworn he’d heard a female, a woman calling out to him.

The clock on his nightstand switched over to one thirty in the afternoon. It was the middle of the day. The sun was still up.

Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he sat on the edge and held his head in his hands. He’d dreamed about that voice so many times, and now he heard it in his own bedroom. Was he losing his mind? Or had his demons finally found him?

He cursed under his breath and shuffled into the bathroom. Did he know this woman, or had he known her before he’d been turned? He’d heard voices as long as he could remember, but this wasn’t the voice of one of the dead, nor chattering of the demons lurking in the shadows. He could tell the difference between the living and the dead, the Earthly and the condemned.

This woman was definitely alive, and definitely not a demon.

Stepping back into his bedroom, he glanced at the bed and considered trying to get some more sleep. But he knew that wouldn’t happen, not today. That voice, her voice was still so loud in his ears, so alive in his head. It would haunt him and his dreams if he even tried to close his eyes again.

Pulling on a pair of pants to cover his junk, he decided to head downstairs and maybe play some pool. The humans would be up. But the King, Queen, and Prince would still be fast asleep, as would the rest of the Guard.

The Shifters, however, would be willing to take his money on some bets.

A couple soft gasps met his ears as he exited his room and made his way down the long staircase. Maybe he should’ve worn a shirt. It wasn’t like he was insecure about his body, far from it actually. He knew he looked good. But the humans were terrified of him. They may be nervous around the others, but his talents of speaking with the other side had become so exaggerated that the humans actually believed him to be a demon or something much more sinister.

He smiled at one of the housekeepers as he passed into the game room.

Would you mind asking Zephyn or Jareth to join me? he asked, keeping his voice as saccharine sweet as possible.

It didn’t matter; her eyes widened as he began to speak to her, and he saw her cross herself as she rounded the corner to the tunnel where the Shifters stood guard during the day.

A few moments later Zephyn entered, his dark, bald head shining from the overhead light.

You ready to lose some more money already? he asked, a grin wide on his face.

As Zephyn racked the balls, Ciro’s mind turned to the voice again. God, he could not get that sound out of his head.

Every day, every single fucking day she was in his dreams, always calling to him, always crying out to him. Was it maybe someone from the other side asking for help? He wasn’t a Medium, and there was no way for him to help those trapped in the In Between. All he could do was listen to them, or alert others when the demons were present.

A loud click, followed by the sound of balls rolling across the felt table brought Ciro back to the moment. He walked around the table searching for a good shot.

What’s wrong with you? Zephyn’s deep voice boomed through the room. Why’re you up so early?

Ciro pulled his stick back and shot it forward making contact with the cue ball and slamming a few balls into the pockets. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the ones he wanted. He shook his head.

Don’t know.

Zephyn stared a hole into Ciro’s head until he finally raised his eyes to look at him.

Bullshit. You know. Them ghosts fucking with you again?

Ciro couldn’t help the laugh that escaped his lips. The Shifter was one of the very few who were not only unafraid of him but found his talent morbidly fascinating. The way he spoke of the ghosts was like they were real people, his enemies.

Again, he shook his head. No. Not ghosts. Well, I don’t think they are. I really don’t know what it is.

The large man circled the table, unsatisfied with the shots Ciro had left him. He stood his cue stick on end and leaned on it, studying Ciro. The wood groaned under his weight.

Tell me what’s up, he said, his eyes narrowed.

What was there to tell? At least what was there to tell without sounding more insane than everyone believed him to be?

After a few moments, he sighed heavily. I really don’t know how to explain it. I keep hearing a voice.

Zephyn stared silently, raising his eyebrows when Ciro didn’t continue.

Okay? You hear voices all the time. Don’t those…things constantly whisper in your ear?

He always made the situation sound almost romantic, like he was jealous he didn’t have the talent of sight.

No, it’s different. I mean, yeah, they do constantly chatter in my ear, but this one, I don’t know. She’s different. She keeps –

She? Well, there’s your problem. You know women bring nothing but problems, Zephyn said before turning to line up a shot on the table.

When Ciro didn’t laugh, Zephyn wiped the smile from his face. Okay, sorry. So you’re hearing some chick’s voice.

Now he wasn’t sure if he wanted to elaborate any further. Of all people, Zephyn would be the last to laugh at him, but at this point, he was ready to have himself committed.

He ran his hand through his curly brown hair and sighed. There’s really not much else to tell. She’s in my dreams, she’s constantly calling out to me, but I have no idea who she is or what she even looks like. I’ve never seen her face in my dreams. I only hear her voice.

The Shifter stared at Ciro for a few more moments making Ciro want to squirm under the scrutiny. Zephyn had the gift of sight, only it was the old school, look into your soul kind, not so much the supernatural kind.

Could this be your soul mate calling to you? You know, her soul calling to yours?

It was Ciro’s turn to laugh. Yeah, right.

Why not? Ain’t you getting tired of banging random girls?

He had a point. The biggest downside of being a vampire was the high sex drive. Sure, he was immortal, in a sense, but he never truly felt satisfied. Whether he fed or fucked, he always walked away wanting more.

You got a point.

Could there be such a thing as soul mates? Could that be what was happening? Every time her voice rang through his head his soul seemed to awaken and his heart swelled.

But just on the edge there was always a panic around the feelings, like she was or would be in danger. If he finally found someone to fill the hole in his heart after one hundred and twenty-three years and then lost her…

He shook his head and slammed the cue stick on the table. He had to get out of there.

What time is it?

Zephyn pulled his phone from his front pocket and glanced at the screen. One fifty-three. Why?

Dammit. He hadn’t been downstairs very long. There were still hours to go before he could finally leave the house. Well, there was always one way to pass the time.

Send Avery up to my room, will you?

The Shifter shook his head in disappointment but agreed.

At least he could pass the time while he waited for the sun to set.

****

Avery had volunteered to work in the Palace shortly after Queen Amari and King Alec had taken over the region. Her official title was a housekeeper, but she was also the pet of the Royal Family and the rest of the household, including the Guard. The only reason she tolerated the things she did, the only reason she came when beckoned and opened her legs to them was because she dreamed of becoming one of them. She had no delusions Ciro or Prince Sebastian would fall in love with her and take her as their own, but maybe if she earned enough favor with them, they’d allow one of the Guard to turn her.

Zephyn ordered her to Ciro’s room and she went without a single word.

One of the biggest perks of being available to them whenever they wanted was the constant access to the hot baths, the stylish and comfortable clothes, and a soft bed to sleep in. After all, they wanted her to remain physically appealing if they were to continue having sex with her.

Ciro was lying on his bed wearing a pair of sweatpants and nothing else. His arm was thrown over his face hiding his eyes, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t one much for conversation, at least not with her.

Are you hungry, my lord? she cooed, ensuring her voice came out in a sexy purr.

She knew he wouldn’t feed from her; none of them did. Again, they didn’t want to mark her flawless skin.

When Ciro shook his head, she climbed onto the bed, slowly crawling toward him. His length was already straining against the thin fabric; she knew this would not be a quick romp. Anytime she slept with the newly turned Guard it was quick; she liked it that way.

But with the King, the Prince, Ciro, and even sometimes Queen Amari, the sex could go on for hours. By the time she showered and left their quarters she was sore. Especially after laying with King Alec. He preferred things a little rougher, a little more animalistic, a little more painful.

Without a word being spoken, she slid the sweatpants down his legs freeing his erection. She loved his cock. It was thick and long and he knew how to use it. His tongue was just as tantalizing, but he didn’t do that nearly as often.

If she wanted a tongue down there, she had to go to the Queen.

Ciro hissed through his teeth when Avery took his length into her mouth. He was firm, the pulsing need of his release always right on the edge.

She continued to work her mouth up and down until he wrapped his strong hands around her long blonde hair. She began to hope he wouldn’t finish so quickly; Ciro was certainly her favorite. He was a rarity, always ensuring she orgasmed at least once.

After a few moments, he shot up and whipped her around, placing her on her hands and knees. The quick movement tore an excited and surprised gasp from her lips.

He pressed the tip of his cock against her opening and shoved forward, burying himself deep. He rarely screwed her from behind, usually demanding she look at him. What had changed?

She bucked against him, meeting each of his thrusts. The sounds of flesh meeting flesh moved through the room as sweat beaded along her brow and upper lip. His hands were on her hips, his fingers digging into the soft flesh. He kept the rhythm until she felt pressure building in her lower stomach; then stars exploded behind her closed eyes.

Avery yelled out with the release. Realizing she had come, Ciro increased the speed and intensity of his thrusts, his hips slamming against her ass until she was fighting to remain up on her hands and knees.

Ciro shoved her shoulders down, forcing her face into the mattress; again, so unlike him.

Moments later he tensed, pulled himself from her, and shot his seed onto her bare back. He rolled onto his side and resumed his position with his arm thrown over his face.

Something was different, something was way wrong with him. She stared at him for a few seconds then excused herself to shower. She wouldn’t bother with the lingering bath this time; it was obvious he wouldn’t be joining her.

****

Ciro knew he wouldn’t be fully satisfied after screwing Avery; he never was.

What he didn’t expect was the tremendous amount of shame and guilt that followed.

Not once in all his life had he ever felt ashamed of having sex. It was a huge part of his race, of what drove them. They required sex almost as much as blood and food.

Okay. So they wouldn’t die if they didn’t find release, but more than a few had gone mad because of it.

When Avery shut the door to the bathroom, Ciro sat up and pulled his sweatpants back up his legs and over his hips.

How many women had he screwed in one hundred and twenty-three years? And now he felt guilty? Really? He’d lain with Avery more than three dozen times since she’d been hired. She was the King and Queen’s favorite pet so she was usually unavailable. With her talented mouth, he could see why she was so sought after by the Royal Family.

But today, he just couldn’t stand having her mouth touching him.

Even when he’d turned her around, he couldn’t stand that he was looking at white blonde hair. Something in him kept wishing it was black hair, instead. When he dug his fingers into her ass, he kept wishing there was more to it. Avery was so thin, her breasts small. It had never bothered him before.

But today? Today he wished he was running his hands over curvy hips, a full bottom, and large breasts. What the fuck was wrong with him? None of the human women in the house fit that description. Every female brought into the home fit the Queen’s taste – bleached blonde hair, small breasts, narrow hips, thin build.

Avery exited the bathroom and hesitated at the foot of the bed. He peeled his arm from his face and studied her. She was a beautiful woman; there was no doubt about that. And she was more than willing to allow him to do as he pleased with her body. But….

Did you want more, my lord? She dropped her towel.

When he didn’t respond, she turned her back on him and bent forward, tempting him to take her again. She must’ve thought this was his new favorite instead of realizing he was fantasizing about burying himself inside of an imaginary woman.

His cock twitched at the sight of her spread and ready for him, but he dismissed her. He didn’t like the way he’d felt after screwing her. He didn’t like the shame that was eating at his heart and making his soul cry out. He had to find the source of this strange voice or he would go nuts.

After Avery left the room, Ciro sat up on the bed and leaned against the cold, hard headboard. Was the voice he kept hearing crying out for help? No. Not once in all the times he’d heard her did she ask for help. But there was always desperation, fear in the tones of her words.

He had to be conjuring this shit up in his own head. Maybe it was a manifestation of a fantasy, a combination of the human women he’d lusted after and made love to through the years.

Maybe his subconscious was telling him he needed someone in his life, someone real and not hired.

It sounded like he was sleeping with prostitutes.

But wasn’t he? Every woman he’d slept with through the years had either been hired as a companion or hired by the Royal Family. Every woman employed by the King and Queen knew what the job entailed. The only ones who weren’t there on their own volition were those from the Rebellion. Any time a human was caught trying to break the law or go against the Immortals they were taken as sex or blood slaves.

Ciro rationalized it in his head telling himself it was better than being drained dry or whipped to death.

Maybe he’d go down to the jail and peruse the prisoners. Surely, they’d rather keep him company than stay locked up or sold to some pervert. Maybe that’s what he needed, a change of scenery, a change of faces. He’d slept with the same humans for the past few years, rarely straying from Avery or a human woman he visited in town. He hadn’t had sex with anyone new in….

Wow. How long had it been?

If he went to the jail, he didn’t have to worry about waiting until the sun set. With the tunnels being buried so deep, he could follow it to the prison and pick out someone new. Maybe he’d find a dark-haired woman with large breasts while he was down there.

Ciro chuckled to himself as he dressed and pulled on a pair of shoes. Hell. Even if her hair was dark brown instead of black it would definitely fill his new fantasy and hopefully end the disembodied voice constantly plaguing him.

Chapter Two

Every cell was full as Ciro wandered down each row. The humans had been busy. Most of them were young, barely in their twenties, some in their early thirties.

He stopped at one cell and studied the woman in there. She had dark brown hair, large breasts, and a lovely face. But she wasn’t who he wanted. She cowered in the corner, her frame trembling. He refused to torture the woman, and if she was that terrified of him when all he was doing was looking at her, she would never willingly sleep with him.

He was a monster, but not an asshole.

As he walked, he kept feeling a pull, something calling him to the end of the third row.

Damn there were a lot of humans down here. There must have been another raid on the rebel camps. Most of the humans in the cells appeared fearful but were trying desperately to hide it. He focused closely on every dark-haired female he came across, but none of them was what he wanted.

An older man was sitting on the concrete floor, his back to Ciro and leaning against the iron bars. Ciro stopped in front of the cell though he didn’t know why. Obviously, he wasn’t looking for a male, and especially not an older male. This man looked to be sixty in human years. When the man turned to look up into Ciro’s face his breath caught – he knew this man. How did he know him? He didn’t truly know any humans, even the ones who worked in the Palace. What’s your name, old man?

Ha. Old? I’m sure you’re much older than me, demon. The male turned his back on Ciro again. Demon? Was he calling him that simply because he was a vampire or could he see the beings that continuously clung to his spirit, the beings who refused to let him be?

Ciro inhaled slowly and let it out in a rush of air. Sorry. I didn’t mean any disrespect. Do you know me? I mean, have we met?

Yes, I know who you are. No, we’ve never met, the man said, his back still turned. Thank God, he said under his breath.

The man was beginning to grate on Ciro’s nerves. He was trying his damnedest to be polite and respectful, but maybe this man didn’t respond to that. But could he really intimidate the man? Honestly, his name was unimportant to Ciro, but he just couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d met. When the human turned to look up at Ciro, almost like he was amazed to see him still standing there, Ciro was taken aback by the color of his eyes - they weren’t quite brown; they were so dark they were almost black but had green and gray flecks through the