“C’mon, you sons of bitches!” She shouted as they shuffled closer to her. The one on the left was Lance, the computer genius, and she grinned bitterly at him as he bared his fangs at her. Lance leaped toward her and she plunged her sword into his fat belly. He screeched like a wounded cat and she used her other sword to slice his head from his body. It tumbled to the ground, rolling across the floor of the training room to bump up against the wall. It turned to ash as she heard the loud clashing of swords. As the other leech slinked towards her she glanced to her right. Chen, his swords flashing and dancing in the light, was battling Samuel.

  She gave a small moan of dismay. The vampire was incredibly quick and she knew neither her nor Chen would be able to defeat him. From the corner of her eye, she saw the last leech pouncing at her and turned and swept her right sword across his legs. It cut through his thighs like butter and he fell to the floor, screaming his outrage as he tried to drag himself away from her. She chased after him and cut off his head, ignoring his pleas for mercy, before turning back to Chen and Samuel.

  She raced forward as Samuel raised his sword and brought it down in a blinding flash of steel and light. She stumbled to a stop as Chen’s sword fell to the floor. He was staring down at his left arm and she cried out with shock. Her master’s arm ended at mid-forearm in a bloody stump and, as she watched, Chen swayed and fell to his knees.

  Samuel, his sword covered in Chen’s blood, grinned at her. “Limb by limb, Hannah.”

  He raised his sword and cocked his head at Chen. “Shall we take your other hand, Master Chen? Or should I just take your head?”

  He paused. “Your head, I think.”

  Chen, his face pale, stared up at him as he clutched at his bleeding stump and Samuel laughed. “Beg me for your life, sword master, and perhaps I’ll spare it.”

  Chen shook his head lightly and raised his chin, baring his neck to him. Samuel frowned at him like a petulant child. “You had your chance, human.”

  He swung his sword towards Chen’s exposed throat and gave a soft grunt of surprise when his blade met steel. Hannah, her face grim, stood next to Chen with her left sword blocking Samuel’s blow and her right sword held tightly at her side.

  Without a word, she thrust her right sword into Samuel’s side. He hissed and backed away, the sword tearing from his body. Hannah stared at the black blood on her blade before moving protectively in front of Chen.

  “That hurt!” Samuel pouted.

  She raised her swords in the fighting position as he arched one eyebrow in amusement. “Do you really believe that you can defeat me, Hannah? I have defeated your master. Is the student really better than her master?”

  She didn’t reply and he sighed with annoyance. “Honestly, Hannah. This is a waste of my time. I do not wish to fight you. Put down your swords.”

  She raised them higher in response and said softly, “Begin.”

  “Very well.” He snapped and raised his swords. He thrust his right sword at her and she parried the attack before lunging at him with her left. It narrowly missed his throat and he gave her a look of delighted surprise.

  “You’re better than I thought.”

  He looked behind her at the motionless Chen. “You’ve taught her well.”

  He ducked back as she swung her swords at him and she charged forward. Every nerve in her body was on fire and her mind went blank as she thrust and parried and swung her swords. Samuel blocked each one, a look of amusement on his face, until with a quick twist of his wrist, he knocked her left sword from her hand. It slid across the floor and Hannah gave it a brief glance before raising her right.

  “Enough, Hannah.” Samuel said with a touch of impatience. “By now, my followers will have turned all of your friends. Your master lays dying behind you. You have nothing left. I will defeat you and turn you.”

  “Never!” Hannah spat at him. She was panting heavily and soaked with sweat, and she could feel her tired arms trembling.

  He sighed. “Why do you insist on making this so difficult for yourself? You and I both know you cannot defeat me, and you have nothing left in this life worth living for. Become one of us and fulfill your destiny.”

  An image of Will flickered through her head. It gave her a surge of hope and confidence and she grinned at him. “I’m going to kill you, just like I killed Marcus.”

  He hesitated and then smiled cheerfully at her. “I killed your love, you know.”

  She jerked in surprise and his smile widened. “That’s right. Your precious dog, Will, is dead by my hand.”

  “You lie.” She whispered.

  “I do not. It was surprisingly easy to capture him and that she-bitch while they were out hunting. All I needed was a silver net and some silver chain.”

  She took a step back and he followed her. “He died cursing your name.” He taunted. “Of course, I did make it quite painful for him. You mustn’t judge him for that. As he was dying, I carved open his chest and ate his heart. It was –“ he paused and winked at her, “delicious.”

  “YOU LIE!” She screamed and charged towards him. He dodged her attack and swung his sword. It sliced across her thigh and she shrieked with pain and shock as blood flowed down her leg.

  Balancing on one leg she turned to face him. He was licking her blood from his sword with his long, grey tongue, and a shudder of pleasure went across his face. “So tasty.” He whispered. He shot across the short space that separated them and Hannah blocked his right sword. His left slipped under her arm and cut her across the ribs. She screamed again as the hot blood coursed down her side and he chuckled merrily as she backed away.

  “Do you see, Hannah? You really have no chance. You’re too slow.” He held out his hand. “Come. Let me end your pain.”

  Panting, tears slipping down her cheeks and blood pouring out of her side and thigh, Hannah raised her remaining sword. “Begin.” She whispered softly.

  Anger slipped across his face and he snarled loudly. “Fine. Have it your way.” He snapped.

  As he circled around her, Hannah, feeling lightheaded and weak, struggled to keep her focus.

  Will is dead! He killed Will! Her mind screamed at her.

  No! It’s lies. Don’t believe him! She scolded herself fiercely.

  It doesn’t matter. You’re not getting out of here alive. There’s only one way to kill him and you know it.

  She suspected that this dark voice, so different from her usual internal one, was the voice that spoke for the true core of her. The voice that revealed itself only in matters of life and death, and it whispered to her now in the cold and calculating tone of someone who realizes death is imminent. The frantic, howling gibbering in her mind stopped abruptly and she listened intently as the cold voice spoke again.

  Will is dead, your master is dying on the floor behind you and this creature is the reason why. You know what you need to do. Don’t die a coward’s death.

  The pain in her side and thigh faded as a calmness filled her entire body. She smiled radiantly at the leech in front of her and Samuel’s grin dropped from his face. He gave her a look of uncertainty as she took a deep breath and lifted her sword a final time.

  “Hannah, what are you doing? Don’t make me – “

  He was cut off as Hannah sprinted towards him, her eyes glowing with a mad, fierce light, and a scream of rage and defiance slipping past her lips.

  * * *

  Will shot down the hallway towards the administration wing. Behind him, he could hear the heavy panting of Mannie and, much further back, the lighter footsteps of Reid and Selena. As he turned the corner, he heard Hannah scream and a shot of adrenaline surged through his body. He could smell Hannah now, smell her fear and her anger, and he howled loudly as he bounded toward the main training room. He skidded into the room, his paws scrabbling madly on the slippery floor, just in time to see Hannah charge at Samuel. She grabbed his right arm with her left hand, blocking his sword as she raised her own sword. Samuel broke her left arm with a sickening crack and she screamed hoarsely as he yanked her into his embrace and thrust the sword in his left hand hilt-deep into the middle of her chest. The tip of his sword ripped through the back of her shirt and Will stared horrified at the blood-soaked tip.

  He shifted to his human form as Mannie crowded up behind him and the dark-haired vampire bent his head to Hannah’s.

  “I’m going to turn you now, Hannah.” He whispered. He dropped his right sword to the floor and stroked her blood-soaked hair back from her pale face. “You’re too valuable for me to just let you die. Together we will – “

  He paused and stared with mild astonishment at his hand. The skin was blackening and he blinked before looking down at his own chest.

  “How…” He whispered.

  As he had pulled her into his embrace, Hannah had thrust her sword deep into his chest and she grinned up at him as blood poured out of her mouth.

  “Not so slow.” She whispered hoarsely as he stepped back, pulling his sword from her body. She fell to the floor as he grabbed the handle of the sword sticking out of his chest and yanked it free.

  “No.” He whispered again. “No, you can’t do this to me. You can’t – “

  He burst apart in a huge shower of ash and blood, Hannah’s sword falling to the floor, as Will screamed Hannah’s name and scrambled towards her. He dropped to his knees beside her and cradled her body against his.

  “Will.” She breathed. “You’re alive.” Tears trickled down her cheeks and Will kissed her bloody mouth gently.

  Vaguely he was aware of Mannie cursing and kneeling beside the fallen Chen, but he ignored him completely as he kissed Hannah’s mouth again.

  “No, I’m fine. And you’re going to be just fine too. We’ll get you to a hospital and get you patched up. You’ll be just fine.” He babbled.

  She smiled at him. “No, honey. I won’t.”

  “Don’t leave me, Hannah. Please.” Will begged her as tears began to flow down his cheeks. “I can’t live without you.”

  “I’m sorry.” She said weakly as blood bubbled out of her mouth.

  “It’s okay.” He kissed her again. “Please honey, I need you to just hang on for a little longer.” He pressed his hand against the wound on her chest, trying to stem the blood. “Just – just be strong and brave and – “

  “I love you.” She whispered.

  “I love you too. Don’t leave me, okay? Don’t – “

  He watched as Hannah’s eyes slipped shut and he lifted his head and howled as Reid and Selena sprinted into the room. As they ran towards them, Will stared down at Hannah’s face.

  “Forgive me.” He whispered as his mouth widened and his fangs lengthened. With another short howl of pain and despair, he bent his head and sunk his teeth deep into her neck.

  She cried out, her entire body arching upwards as her blood, warm and deliciously sweet, filled his mouth. He bit deeper, holding her body against his as she struggled weakly in his arms. With a loud growl he tore his mouth from her neck and howled again, his lips ringed with Hannah’s blood, before staring down at her.

  Selena, panting harshly, dropped to her knees beside them and touched Hannah’s cold hand. Her eyes were closed and her face was pale, and Selena glanced at Will. “She’s dead.”

  Will shook his head and Selena touched his shoulder gingerly. “Will, she’s – “

  Hannah took a large breath, her entire body heaving with the effort and Selena gave a small shriek of surprise.

  “Oh my God.” Selena whispered. Colour was returning to Hannah’s face and she reached out with trembling fingers and ripped open Hannah’s shirt. She watched as the gaping wound in the middle of Hannah’s chest began to close, the flesh knitting itself together before her eyes.

  “Holy shit.” Her eyes dropped to Hannah’s side. There was a long, deep cut across her ribs that was rapidly healing over and she slid back as a soft growling began to rise from Hannah’s chest.

  Selena bumped into Reid’s legs and she glanced upwards at his pale and shocked face. Hannah’s eyes opened, their former dark brown colour a brilliant shade of jade, and she stared unblinkingly at the ceiling as Reid looked at Will with horror and disgust.

  “What have you done?”

  End

  Thank you for reading my book. Please take a moment to leave a comment at the site you downloaded this book from. I appreciate and encourage feedback!

  * * * *

  Please enjoy a sample of The Recruit (Book Three)

  THE RECRUIT (BOOK THREE)

  By Elizabeth Kelly

  * * * *

  Copyright 2014 Elizabeth Kelly

  “He’s avoiding me, Douglas.”

  The old Lycan sighed and sipped at his cup of tea. “He’s ashamed at what he’s done, Hannah. He needs some time to figure it out.”

  Hannah stared into her own cup of tea. “He shouldn’t be ashamed. He saved my life. If he would talk to me for just one goddamn minute, I’d tell him that myself. I’d tell him how grateful I am for what he did and how much I love him. But he won’t even step foot in the facility.”

  Douglas reached out and squeezed her hand. “Generally speaking, it’s frowned upon by other Lycans when one of our kind turns a human. Will is reacting to that. He knows you love him.”

  She gave him a curious look. “Why is it frowned upon?”

  He looked decidedly uncomfortable and she pressed him further. “Douglas? Why is it frowned on?”

  He stood and poured them both more tea. “They, and trust me when I say that not all Lycans feel this way but a great majority of them do, believe that humans are weak. And humans who have become Lycans through a bite are thought to be, well, unpredictable and dangerous.”

  Hannah didn’t reply and Douglas sat down next to her. “Centuries ago, it was common practice for Lycans to turn humans. They did it for a variety of reasons – sometimes it was just for sport, sometimes they had no choice, and at one very dark time in our past, they did it to keep the bloodlines going.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “There was a – a type of Black Plague that swept through the Lycan race many, many years ago. It took out sixty percent of our population and in desperation, Lycans began turning humans.”

  “So why is there such a problem with it now?” Hannah asked.

  Douglas gave her a hesitant look. “There is some truth to the belief that humans who have been turned are unpredictable and dangerous. There have been many documented cases of them turning on other Lycans and humans. They can have a difficult time controlling their Lycan side, especially during the full moon, and many of us who were born Lycan began to worry that their inability to control their wolf would expose us to the humans. There were more than a few who were afraid of these – these hybrid Lycans for lack of a better word.”

  Hannah stared thoughtfully at him. “Are you afraid of me, Douglas?”

  He shook his head. “No. You’re strong and have a good heart. You won’t hurt me or anyone else.”

  She gave him a small smile. “Truthfully, I don’t feel that much different.”

  He nodded. “That’s because it’s only been a few days, Hannah. Over the next week or so you’re going to start noticing changes. Your sense of smell will heighten, your eyesight will improve and you’ll be faster and stronger.”

  She gave him a look of doubt and he patted her hand gently. “It’s true. I know it’s hard to believe, but it will happen. Some humans just take longer than others. I knew of one human, years ago, who took nearly six months before he shifted for the first time.”

  He took a sip of tea. “When you do shift for the first time, it can be painful and disorienting. You shouldn’t expect to have full control of your Lycan side immediately. Constance and I, and Will, will teach you how to control it. You’ll be fine. I promise.”

  “Will won’t be able to help me do anything if he won’t even talk to me.” She said moodily.

  He cleared his throat nervously. “There’s something else you should know, Hannah. There are quite a few people in the facility who believe that Will turned you because of his issue with humans and Lycans mating. They – they think he did it on purpose so that you could be together without any of the stigma attached.”

  She gaped at him. “Are you kidding me?”

  He shook his head. “I wish I were. There’s been enough talk about it that the Board of Directors has become involved. They’re considering firing Will as an instructor and asking him to leave the facility. The rumour is that when the new head of the facility arrives, he’ll be evaluating Will’s performance closely and making a decision on whether to keep him or not.”

  “They can’t do that!” Hannah stood up abruptly. Her hands clenched into fists and knocked her cup of tea off the island counter. It shattered on the floor but she paid no attention to it as she glared at Douglas. Her eyes were fading from brown to green and Douglas held his hands up in a soothing manner as her body began to swell and hair sprouted on her cheeks.

  “Calm down, Hannah.”

  “Calm down?” She arched her eyebrow at him and then growled. “You want me to calm down, old man? The man I love – the man who saved my life and countless other lives – is going to be thrown from the very facility that he’s spent half his life defending and you want me to calm down?”

  “Yes.” Douglas said firmly.

  She was panting harshly and the seams of her t-shirt were beginning to rip. She glanced down at herself and then gave Douglas a look of fear and confusion. “Douglas? I feel so strange.”

  “Take some deep breaths, Hannah. I know you’re upset about the situation with Will but your anger and your fear is bringing on your first shift. This is neither the time nor place for it. If you relax, it will stop.”

  She shook her head, her eyes wide with a combination of fear and anger. “I can’t.”