An Unnatural Worth

By Mya Lairis

 

Lexis had everything, beauty, grace and a powerful coven, but through a feat of arrogance, he loses it all. Even his sight and his freedom are taken from him. Imprisoned and humiliated by humans, Lexis sinks into a depression so thick that not even a chance at freedom is welcomed. A headstrong werewolf, Bryce frees the broken vampire from his cell and back into life. Despite Lexis' resistance, Bryce shows the vampire that weakness only enhances strength and that to him, he has an unnatural worth. When a ghost from Lexis' past returns to threaten the union of vampire and wolf, it is up to Lexis to find it in himself to fight for himself and the man he loves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mya Lairis
• Release date: Nov 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223579090

Book preview

Prologue

Forever in a newborn stage, enveloped in darkness, and cushioned by a firm mattress, I dreamed of fireflies, at least my mind’s remembrance of them. Balls of yellow-white light were the easiest to recollect, much more so than the features of animals, the details of architecture, or scenery.

Faces were much too painful for me. I might have occupied my time in hell a bit better with scenarios of past seductions, women with necks like pastries, and men with throats like main courses, but my bravery left me along with my sight.

That loss was a hard one, much harder than ending up a prisoner to humans.

Prodded, stuck with needles, shocked, and burned —the humans and their curiosity were far crueler than I had been with any of my contributors. The act of bloodletting was a sensual, orgasmic delight. Often after feeding, I could smell the air, thick with the perfume of blood and come. Mine. The contributor’s...

Gone were such smells. They had been replaced by the scents of rubbing alcohol, bleach, bandages, and drugs I couldn’t begin to describe. There would be no seduction or art in the humans’ exploration of a vampire, of me. There was only the cold and cruel methodology of science.

It was called the Institute for Evolutionary Divergence —I.E.D. —and it was where I would live out my final days, of that I was certain.

Kept in a stone cell, when I wasn’t strapped to a gurney, my days consisted of testing, my nights of fireflies.

I AWOKE TO THE SOUNDS of a man screaming for his life, an animalistic roar punctuating the symphony of chaos. I smelled fire, not the sort fueled by wood but from complex chemistry. People screamed, things were broken, and panic, my new best friend, suggested my death would come soon.

Clinging to my sheets, I heard a man pleading. Please. Please don’t kill me! I never did anything to hurt you!

A feral, deep baritone gave its reply. No, you just watched, just wheeled in that fucking cart and watched. You can watch in hell for all I care.

My mind scrambled for an explanation as I heard the grisly sounds of death. The institute was under attack by nothing human. The gnashing of teeth, the shredding of flesh and screams turned to a sickening gurgle. All of it made me tremble.

Surely one of the experiments had gotten loose. Over the months of my imprisonment, I had heard about other supernatural test subjects: a selkie, a young witch, an empath, and a werewolf with unbelievable strength. I assumed that the werewolf was the one slaughtering the lab assistant.

"Come on, Bryce. We need to go now! There could be reinforcements, soldiers even." It was the voice of someone I didn’t recognize. They were close to my cell.

I heard a sizzle, a hiss, and a loud clang of metal hitting the ground before the door to my cell whined open.

Strong hands grasped my arm and pulled me to my feet. Come on. You’re free, you miserable creature. Whatever you are, you need to escape now. This place is going to burn to the ground. Unless you’re looking to die, you should come with us. Now!

What would I do with freedom? The sudden gift tasted sour in my mouth. The day after I had been blinded, I was captured. A life without walls was not as alluring as it should have been. What’s going on?

No time to explain. You’re free.

I pulled my arm back unsure. No. I...I’m staying here.

What the fuck’s wrong with you? The werewolf grabbed both my arms this time.

His friend seemed to have a much gentler demeanor. He’s a vampire. Looks like they did something to his eyes. Maybe he thinks the sun is high. Maybe that’s why he’s afraid, Bryce.

Part of me wanted to beg for help, for them to guide me away, but it was more than I could ask. Pride had once been my downfall. As it swelled in me anew, I could not be their burden. I’m not afraid of the sun, and I don’t care if it’s pitch black outside. Go. Leave me.

It’s called trauma, the nice one spoke.

I don’t give a damn what it’s called. We’ve all been through hell, but for my soul, I wouldn’t want to die in this place, said the werewolf, Bryce apparently. Yanking me forward, he was set on imposing his will upon me.

I was just as determined. "Then go! I don’t need your help. I told you so. They’ll catch you and torture you. They’ll kill you for sure. You have to leave me."

I don’t have to do a goddamn thing but breathe. As easily as lifting a child, the werewolf pulled me over his shoulders to freedom.

Chapter One

Ipanicked up until the time I was deposited into the first automobile. It felt so good to feel air, real night air, upon my face that it overshadowed the fear of my looming independence. It also helped the pungent smells of destruction and flames. After all of the explosions, the yelling, and the screaming, the quiet motion of the car lulled me to sleep.

My two rescuers switched cars after a few hours. Lifted by the werewolf from one car into another, I felt like telling him that him that I could walk, but it really was easier to be carried. Effortlessly, he deposited me into the new car and closed the door.

It took a moment before I realized I wasn’t alone.

The sound of a heart beating, the thud of a pulse, and the alluring smell of thick blood drew my attention to the human beside me. Slender fingers gripped my arm.

Help! Help me, please. They’re monsters. They’re going to kill me. It was a young woman’s voice.

Excuse me?

The men that captured me. They’re monsters. They have these long teeth, and they hijacked my car. I think that they’re going to kill me!

Two doors opened, and the car dipped with the added weight of my rescuers. The woman’s heart went from nervous to outright panic, its movement loud to my ears.

Please. Please, don’t hurt me, she pleaded over the turning over of the engine.

Hurt you, scoffed the easygoing one. Do you have any idea the last time I had human for dinner? Before your kind snatched me out of my warm bed and threw me under a microscope. Five years ago, was it?

The werewolf laughed. You’re full of shit, Cheetah.

No, I ain’t. I’m bitter. There’s a difference.

Their combined laughter rang out in front of me, while the woman at my side sobbed harder. Please...please, sir. Help me.

Leather creaked as the one called Cheetah addressed the whispers in the back seat. What are you talking to him for? He’s one of us.

That convinced the woman to let go of me. What exactly are you?

Cheetah explained. Well, we’re not the same species, but the principal still applies. I’m an alchemist. The tall, strapping rogue driving your car is a werewolf, and you’re sitting next to a vampire. I mean, the worst one of us is driving, but after Bryce, that guy you’re sitting next to is the most dangerous being in the truck.

Dangerous, but utterly harmless, I wanted to add.

You’re lying, her voice trembled with the realization of truth. You’re all some sort of goth freaks! Please, let me go. You don’t want me.

I like you. You’re feisty. May not need the hot sauce for that one. Cheetah sighed menacingly. Just some salt, pepper, and oregano, and she’ll be fine.

I couldn’t tell whether he was joking, but I could hear the werewolf’s deep chuckling.

How are you feeling, vampire? Cheetah asked me.

What does it matter?

Whoa. Bryce, there’s a full on pity party in progress back there.

Leave him be, Cheetah. He’s tired. We all are.

The leather creaked again, and the more jovial voice of Cheetah sighed in relaxation. Yeah, we’re all tired and hungry. Don’t start munching on her without us, vampire.

His acidic sense of humor was more than I could take. Moody, I was too concerned with my future and too disturbed by my handicap to think as lightly as he. Vampire isn’t my name.

Bryce, the one I had decided I liked between the two, asked, What is it then? Lab experiment Omega2075?

No. It’s Lexis.

After the car?

If it was supposed to be a joke, I didn’t get it. Between the woman sobbing next to me and the butterflies swirling in my empty belly, my need for his brand of comedy was wearing thin. Look, can you just tell me where we’re going?

"Is there somewhere you’d like to go, Lexis?"

Going back to my coven in New York was out of the question. They would sooner run a stake through my heart than welcome me back. No. Nowhere in particular.

The woman sniffled. I’d like to go home.

And people in hell want ice water.

Unable to fight the grin forming at the corners of my mouth, I allowed myself to laugh at Cheetah’s words. I couldn’t help it. The woman only sobbed louder.

Bryce chuckled as well. Don’t worry, hon. We’ll do right by you. You too, Lexis.

My fears softened in response to Bryce’s words. Lulled by the motion of the car, I arrived at the conclusion that the safety I had become reliant upon in the facility was a false one.

I wasn’t yet ready to trust my rescuers. For the moment, I would enjoy the ride.

WE STOPPED AT A REST stop just short of Baltimore, so Cheetah told me. True to his word, Bryce released the woman with her purse and a staunch warning about things that lurk in dark shadows. We kept the car.

I didn’t need my sight to know she took him very seriously.

Quite the joker, Cheetah made me laugh every time I thought it was safe to slip back into worry. He had endless quips about appreciating freedom, the allure of lunch time back at the I.E.D., and how he would tell human horror stories to children he hadn’t yet conceived to frighten them. It made the time pass quickly.

His comments about werewolves were particularly interesting. Curious as to the silent one behind the wheel, the one who had hefted me to my freedom, I began to wish that he would say more. Cheetah talked about how Bryce had destroyed the I.E.D. and freed the supernaturals there solely because the lab assistant caught him on a bad day.

"If I had known it was that easy to be free, I would have hit you in the nose with a cattle prod, Cheetah said. You have unusual motivations, man."

My nose is extremely sensitive. And I was trying to sleep. Besides, the lab assistant hadn’t fastened my manacles correctly. But you forget that you played a role, too.

"What can I say? I was inspired when you tore that doctor in half. I mean, no amount of tranquilizers could numb that shit. You were awesome. Off the chain even!"

You and your sense of humor. Bryce chuckled deeply. I should have left your ass to run off with the others.

And I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. We’re good company, right, Lexis?

Shrugging my shoulders, I wasn’t wholly sure.

We made it to a motel just before dawn. While Cheetah assured me the Stardust Motel was a fine place, I was sure that he was lying.

IT WAS HARD TO DEFINE myself as a burden stretched across a ratty motel sofa and listening to the latest reports of international wars and local ones on the television. While neither Bryce nor Cheetah