Revelation of Blood (Skye Morrison Vampire Series, #5) Read online

  Revelation of Blood

  By: J.L. McCoy

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

  Copyright © 2013 J.L. McCoy

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Cover by: Omar Rodriguez V.

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  Flickr: www.flickr.com/slave4britney

  www.omarslave4britney.deviantart.com

  Email:[email protected]

  Editing by: Virginia Cantrell

  Email: [email protected]

  Interior Formatting by: Katie Salidas/Rising Sign Books

  http://www.risingsignbooks.net/p/services.html

  Acknowledgements

  This book was so much fun to write, but as always, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wonderful readers and admins.

  So much goes on behind the scenes when I’m in the middle of a book, and sometimes it can get a little crazy, stressful, ect. Without the help of Virginia Cantrell and Jacqui Flanders, my Facebook admins, I’d have gone completely insane by now. They don’t just help me run the page, they go above and beyond every single day to help me make this series what it is. Their ideas and feedback have been critical to Revelation of Blood (SMVS, #5). The book quite literally couldn’t have been written without them.

  To V and Jax: Thanks for staying up late to brainstorm with me, the awesome suggestions, the virtual hugs, and most importantly your friendship. There aren’t enough words…

  My Alpha/Beta Team: Angel Herrera, Nichole “Nikki” Carriere, Ashley Pitts, Anita Smith-Shields, Lee Freidman, Virginia Cantrell, and Jacqui Flanders – Thanks for reading the manuscript and giving me your honest feedback. Best team a writer could ever hope for. I adore y’all!

  Fans/Readers/Facebook Followers: You guys rock my freakin’ socks on a daily. Your incredible enthusiasm for the series is my driving force. I write harder, faster, and better because of you. I seriously can’t thank you enough for your support and friendship. Please know that I couldn’t be more grateful for each and every one of you. *hugs!*

  Bloggers: I don’t know how I got so lucky to find a group of you that have supported and carried me since the beginning. Your posts, features, interviews, ect. give this series life and you help spread the word all over the world. Huge thanks to Justine Littleton and Bex from Bex n’ Books (Fun Fact: Bex was the very first blog to feature me! Huge thanks to her!), Cassie Hoffman and Cynthia from Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews and Editing, Natalie Idrogo from ~NarlyNut’s Book Lovers~, Katie Salidas from Written in Blood, and the rest of you beautiful dolls. I’m forever appreciative of all you do. You are the most selfless and giving group of girls I’ve ever met and I’m so thankful for your continued support.

  Tech Crew: Virginia Cantrell – (Editor), Katie Salidas – (eBook/Print Formatter), Omar Rodriguez V – (Cover Artist). Thank you for another amazing book! I couldn’t do this without all your hard work, support, and friendship and I consider myself truly blessed to have found each of you.

  Cover Model: Kellie Albanese – Little sister and ceramic painting partner-in-crime. Working with you is so much fun and I want to thank you for giving life to Skye. You’re the best and I love ya’, kid!

  My Fam: Hubby, Mama, Daddy, Meme, aunt Joy and everyone else. You fill my heart. There aren’t enough words to convey how much you mean to me. Thank you for everything. <3

  Thank you for buying this book and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

  If I’ve left anyone out, I sincerely apologize. All mistakes herein are mine and mine alone.

  For Smelly Kellie…

  Chapter One

  “It’s pointless,” I huffed as I rolled my eyes and threw my hands up in frustration. “I can’t do it! How many more times are you going to make me try this today?”

  “As many as it takes,” Hagan said stubbornly as he crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a look that plainly stated he was in this for the long haul. “Take a deep breath and try again, Morrison.”

  It had been a little over two weeks since I’d almost died in the showdown with Amun and the first day that I was given the green light by Archer, my boss and new boyfriend, to begin my training again with Hagan. Hagan said he’d take it easy on me today, since my wounds had only been completely healed for a day or so, but his idea of taking it easy and mine were two totally different things.

  It was early Wednesday afternoon, the day before we were set to fly to Boston for my Sacred Vow Ceremony with Cardinal Flannigan, and we were smack in the middle of the dance floor at The Mausoleum. Hagan had been trying to help me access my Divine Power of teleportation for the last two hours, but it was no use; nothing was happening.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing, sir,” I sighed and rubbed my pounding temple. My headache was steadily increasing in intensity with each try I made. “I don’t even know how I was able to teleport the first time. Are you sure it wasn’t just some freak occurrence?”

  “Yes, Morrison,” Hagan chuckled as he cocked one eyebrow at me. “If it happened once, it will happen again. You just need to tap into that part of yourself and cultivate the ability. Keep trying.”

  I shot daggers at him with my colorless eyes and huffed unhappily as I prepared myself to start again. I ignored his amused smirk and I closed my eyes as I tried to center myself. Systematically, I blocked out all the sounds around me; the traffic outside, the liquor bottles softly clinking in their boxes as the delivery driver unloaded them into the stock room, and the sound of Hagan’s breathing. Once everything was still, I silently willed myself to teleport.

  Okay, Skye…teleport! Shit. Nothing happened. Okay. Well, go on. Do something! Vibrate, damn you. White light! White light! Shit. Hmm… Uh…red team go, I silently commanded but nothing happened, as usual. Balls! I think I’m broken.

  “I think I’m broken, sir,” I pouted and slumped my shoulders in defeat as I opened my eyes. “Nothing’s happening.”

  I looked up to see Hagan’s face scrunched up as if he was in pain and his shoulder’s shaking. No sooner had I made the assessment, then he was exploding in thunderous laughter that had him gripping his sides as his body quaked.

  “Good God! You should have seen your face, Morrison!” he guffawed as he leaned over and howled. “I thought you were going to bust a blood vessel! Your face-”

  “Dammit! It’s not funny!” I growled as I took off one of my black Converse chucks and launched it at him.

  He barely reached up in time to stop it from hitting his head. “I assure you, kid…it was hilarious,” he hooted and wiped at his eyes.

  “Ass,” I pursed my lips unhappily and crossed my arms over my chest. I hated being made fun of…especially when I had a headache. “I’m trying here!”

  “I know, I know,” Hagan breathed, holding my chuck up in surrender as his other hand gripped his side. His lau
ghter slowly died down and he tossed my shoe back to me. “Ifreann na Fola. I haven’t laughed that hard in at least a century.”

  “Glad I could amuse you,” I sarcastically puffed out as I put my shoe back on. “I’m taking five. I need a damn drink. My head is killing me.”

  “I bet it is, with all the facial calisthenics you were doing,” Hagan started to chuckle again and I scowled as I passed him on my way to the bar.

  “Not another word or you’ll be pulling my shoe from your handsome Irish arse next time.”

  He made a zipping motion across his lips with his fingers as his eyes danced with silent laughter. I couldn’t help the slight twitch in my lip as I fought a tiny smile of my own.

  Hagan and I had bonded quite a bit over the past few weeks. I was forever grateful to him for standing up for me and saving me when Ruarc and his army wanted to kill me when I first awoke to this new life. After Amun was captured, Ruarc had given him the unprecedented choice of returning to Ireland with him and his brethren or staying in Austin, Texas to continue training me. I have to admit I was pretty shocked when he told me he had decided to stay, but I was also glad. I had really grown to like Hagan. Pádraig had also decided to stay with us, but the decision caused a bit of strife between him and Ruarc. Turns out, you can’t just quit the army; once you’re in, you’re in until the final death. But Ruarc and Pádraig must have worked out some sort of deal because he was living in Archer’s house and bunking with his boyfriend, and my vampire best friend, Trey for the time being. Archer happily found a spot for Pádraig working at The Mausoleum bouncing the first floor and helping us handle the occasional rowdy customer.

  Walking behind the bar, I grabbed a bottle of Merlot from the shelf and poured Hagan and me a tall glass.

  “Why do you think I’m having such a hard time accessing my Divine Power?” I asked Hagan as I took a seat next to him on the barstool. “The Empath thing is easy for me; I just feel it. It’s the same with the Telekinesis; I just point or motion to the object I want to move and it does. Why is teleportation giving me an issue? I thought this Divine Power stuff was supposed to be easy.”

  Hagan took a long sip from his glass and then licked his top lip appreciatively. “It normally is. I have a feeling you might be overthinking things, though. If we can’t get you to teleport on your own, I fear our next option is to recreate the events which caused you to teleport in the first place.”

  I started choking on my wine and hurriedly set the glass down on the bar as I grabbed a napkin to wipe my mouth. “Recreate the events?!” I screeched, my eyes wide with fear. “You can’t be serious! That requires the Sword of Saint Patrick and probable death! Thanks but no thanks, dude. I’m not going through that shit again. I’ll gladly live out the rest of my immortal life and contend with having a stunted Divine Power. Nothing is worth going through all that again.”

  “No, Morrison,” Hagan rolled his eyes. “I’m not talking about using the Sword of Saint Patrick. I’m not that reckless. I’m talking about a battle; attacking and injuring you enough where we will push you to your ultimate limits again. Hopefully we can trigger the shift and you can lock on to that part of you that allows you to do it.”

  “Okay, so you don’t want to kill me, you just want to mess me up pretty good,” I nodded my head sarcastically then scoffed. “I don’t think so, big man. I’m not too keen on the idea of pain at the moment, seeing as how I just spent two weeks in nothing but.”

  “Lose the sarcasm, princess,” he rolled his eyes as he set his drink down on the expensive Italian marble bar top.

  “Never,” I grinned wickedly. “I’ll have you know that sarc happens to be my second favorite –asm.”

  Hagan’s eyes got wide with surprise and I threw my head back and laughed. I loved messing with him. It was a lot of fun, but I quickly learned never to underestimate him. The man could dish it just as good as he got it. My face had spent a good amount of time surprised by his actions and words, too.

  I heard Archer’s stairwell door open and Hagan and I turned to see Archer and our three new temporary employees filing out. We had been painfully understaffed with Jameson out on tour and with our beloved Seamus dead. But now that Archer and I were heading out of town for a few days, we were in dire need of employees; employees of the vampire persuasion, that is.

  Archer contacted some friends he knew and scored us Thorin, Aziza, and Nola, three of Grayson Mead’s youngest children. Archer told me the hotel they had worked at, which had been owned by Grayson before his untimely death at the hands of Amun, was sold to a human company last month and they were temporarily jobless until their sliocht leader found them another within their organization.

  “I half expected an unexpected visit from you, Skye,” Archer winked as he confidently sauntered down the steps to the bottom floor. “So, I’m taking it you had no luck with teleportation?”

  “Nay,” Hagan shook his head. “Girl has convinced herself that she can’t do it. Stubborn like that.”

  “I am not stubborn, thank you very much,” I huffed as I raised my chin a bit in said stubborn fashion.

  “Aye,” Hagan cocked his eyebrow, “you are as stubborn as the day is long. I keep telling Ruarc that I’m going to be the death of you someday.”

  “Ha!” I gasped and laughed in surprise as I playfully swatted his arm. “You cheeky brat. You did not!”

  Hagan shook with quiet laughter as Thorin, Aziza, Archer, and Nola joined us at the bar.

  “Love this place,” Nola sighed as she took a seat two stools down from me. “The cages are totally bitchin’. I bet nights get crazy in here, yeah?”

  Nola was drop dead gorgeous but somewhat a tomboy. She had a short blond pixie cut and large blue eyes that stood out on her small, heart-shaped face. I was guessing, by her lingo, that she couldn’t have been turned longer than twenty years. She had this distinctive early-nineties look about her from her flannel over shirt and ripped jeans to her retro Vans skateboard sneakers. I had liked her as soon as I met her.

  “The club gets very busy,” Archer nodded as he turned to survey the surroundings. “Customers come for the music but they stay for the drinks and dancers. You might get a bit overwhelmed your first night at the main bar, but Hunter and Ducky will be there to give you a hand.”

  “No worries, Mr. Rhys,” Nola winked. “I can sling bottles with the best of ‘em.”

  Archer smiled as Aziza spoke up.

  “How’s VIP?” she asked in a smoky smooth British lilt.

  Aziza, in her skin tight black jeans, red cowl neck sweater, and stiletto peep-toed ankle boots, was a sight to take in. On a scale from one to ten, her five foot, ten inch body was banging in at a twenty-five. Aziza had dark chocolate skin, honey-hazel eyes, long curly black hair, a sexy, raspy voice and a thick apple bottom that made men want to fuck her and women want to be her. I had it on good authority (my newly acquired empathy skills) that Aziza was batting for Team T&A. The first time I shook her hand, I felt her attraction to me. Outwardly, she hid her feelings well though, and I knew it was only because I was considered off-limits now that I was the big boss’ woman.

  “Things in VIP and PVIP run a bit differently,” Archer said as he slid his arm around my chest from behind and pulled me to him. He dropped a few light kisses along my neck and I bit down on my bottom lip to keep from moaning and embarrassing myself in front of our new company. Archer and I hadn’t had sex since I’d been injured and I was positively dying for a go at him now that I was fully healed. Hopefully, I’d get my chance tonight. “Lochlan will be here in a few minutes and I’ll have him go over a few things with you before tonight’s opening.”

  “The tips are killer,” I whispered over to Aziza with a wink. “Kill-er.”

  “Nice,” she smiled widely as she winked back.

  “So I guess that means you’re our new bouncer?” I asked, gazing over at Thorin.

  Thorin was my own personal walking wet dream. He was tall, ex-military, and built like a br
ick house. That man had muscles for miles and an ass that could make even straight men stop and stare. Thorin knew he looked good, too, but I was willing to overlook the cockiness on account of the stellar ass and all.

  “I hear Seamus was a good man,” Thorin nodded his head once and everyone but me (I still wasn’t familiar with vampire customs) crossed themselves reverently at the mention of his name. “He left some mighty big shoes to fill, but I aim to do my best by you all.”

  “Seamus was a wonderful man,” I whispered sadly as I stared down into my wine glass, remembering his gruesome death.

  “I’m sure working the entrance will be boring work for someone with your particular skill set, but I appreciate you filling in for us just the same,” Archer said as he rubbed my arm and kissed the top of my head, no doubt mentally picking up on my inner turmoil.

  “I’m happy to do so, sir,” Thorin nodded again before his eyes briefly darted to mine. There was sadness in his eyes and his emotions spoke of his own experience with loss.

  “Feel free to grab a drink and make yourselves comfortable in VIP,” Archer said, changing the subject. “Lochlan, Hunter, and Quinn will be here shortly to go over your duties and answer any questions you have before we open tonight.”

  I gave each of them a warm smile before they turned and made their way up to the second floor. Archer then turned me around on the barstool to face him and gently cupped my cheeks.

  “You have to stop thinking about that night,” Archer whispered as he looked deep into my eyes, obviously reading the guilt I was feeling over Seamus’ death. “It was not your fault, Skye.”

  I shook my head, disagreeing with him, but said nothing. This was a tired conversation and one that I didn’t want to have again. Seamus’ death was on my hands, no one else’s. If I had been more careful when I ran out of The Mausoleum the night Amun kidnapped Trey, Seamus would still be alive today. It was a regret that had played over and over in my mind during the last two weeks.