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First Thirst (Craving 1)

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She was a persistent little thing. Aye, then, she was a lie detector. We had nae known that about her. How many other brilliant skills did she own?

“’Tis a long story and it isn’t pretty. Ye might hate me in the end,” I told her.

“I might and I might not, so spill,” she said.

Och aye, but I liked this Bobbie Skye. She wasn’t just beautiful of face and body. Her soul was enchanting. She was a beacon of loveliness. It was only fitting I tell her the truth, all of it.

“Right then, ‘tis a long story and it goes back a long way, back to 1875.”

“Whoa, okay, so now we have a starting point, but, first, who are you?”

“I’m Lord Devin MacLeod,” I answered her grimly.

Her violet eyes opened wide and for a moment I got lost in their depths. I watched her as she processed this information. “So…that was your portrait down in the Great Hall?” She nodded to herself. “I wondered why there were no other…newer portraits of MacLeod lords.”

“Aye,” was all the answer I meant to give on that score for the moment. I watched the expressions flit over her face.

“Are you telling me you were born in 1875?” she asked.

“Nae, I was in m’early twenties in the year 1875 and inherited MacLeod from m’uncle.”

“Right,” she said, and sat down. “Of course.”

I told her then, couldna stop even if I wanted to. It spilled from me like a broken dam with a force that required I give her every detail of m’life, m’death, m’one lapse as a vampire, and then m’struggles to control the thirst.

I told her of m’torturous years with Allora. How I had to forego all I cared about while I traveled with a female vampire I despised. I recounted how I was able to escape from Allora when all m’loved ones were gone and how I met m’bride and m’bride’s brother, Jeremy. I told her of m’guilt…of m’loss…” I hesitated then and fought back against the anger that welled inside of me. “I was married in 1976…and made the mistake of thinking Allora had forgotten about me.”

Her hand went over her mouth and she cried out, “Oh no…”

I blinked because I saw her thoughts collide in the flitting expressions on her face, so I dinnae spare any details. I wanted her to know how brutal Allora was and would be. I had to warn her who would be coming in the end…for her. She was the only one that could free me and Allora would want her dead.

“A vampire cannae enter one’s home without an invitation. Sarah didn’t know about Allora. That was on me. I should have told her. I should have warned her, but….”

“Your bride invited her in,” she said gravely, and closed her eyes.

I dinnae know why, but all at once, and for the first time in years, I wanted to howl to the heavens and release m’pent up emotions.

Bobbie spoke then and I responded to her soft voice, looking at her with wonder as she said, “I am so sorry…”

“Aye, Sarah invited her in and she brutally beheaded her.”

“Oh, my good gosh,” Bobbie said, and a tear made its way down her cheek. I wanted to assuage her discomfort, but she needed to hear the truth. She needed to protect herself because I was stuck on this side of the shield.

“Jeremy and I plotted to take Allora down after that.” I felt m’anger bubble up again and took a moment to control it. “I think revenge was what kept m’going, so I’ll nae apologize for it. Aye, then, afterwards…I wasnae successful at first. Allora is an ancient and I, even over a hundred years, was nae quite a match.” I looked away, remembering the day I nearly had her. “I had one advantage. Ye see, I was then, and I am still, a day-walker. She was nae. Nor could she ever be. I found Allora in the shadows and pulled her into the sun. She should have shriveled and died, but I had nae secured her and she broke free from m’hold and with her ancient vampire speed, she escaped. After that, I suppose she knew I had become a serious threat.”

Bobbie closed her beautiful violet eyes.

I had to tell her everything. She had to know the serious danger she was in. So I went on, “I should have expected her retaliation.”

“What did she do?”

“She arrived with yer grandmother, who had nae choice in the matter. Apparently her daughter, yer mother, had been threatened. Yer grandmother had already put yer mother on a plane to New York, but she knew if she did nae comply with Allora’s wishes…Allora would find her. So it was that Lisa MacForly reluctantly spelled me into this realm, and after yer grandmother did what was required, Allora beheaded her.”

“No…oh…so that is what happened to my grandmother. I am not sure if my mother ever knew,” she said, and tears flowed down her creamy cheeks.

“Allora knew, ye see, that yer grandmother would undo the spell as soon as she could and then find a way to protect both her daughter and herself. Allora is cunning and ruthless.”

“And I know this…only bloodline can undo an immortal witch’s spell,” Bobbie said on a heavy sigh. “Shit, shit, shit!”



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