Chosen By Blood Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  EPILOGUE

  Teaser chapter

  PRAISE FOR

  CHOSEN BY BLOOD

  “A gripping tale! In Chosen by Blood, Virna DePaul creates the perfect blend of danger, intrigue, and romance. You won’t be able to put this book down.”

  —Brenda Novak, New York Times and

  USA Today bestselling author

  “DePaul’s debut novel, Chosen by Blood, snap, crackles, and pops with action, adventure, and a heart-pounding romance. She builds an intriguing world populated by fascinating characters. You won’t want to miss this one!”

  —Karin Tabke, author of Blood Law

  “Sexy, suspenseful, and very, very smart. I couldn’t put it down.”

  —Eileen Rendahl, national bestselling author

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada

  (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

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  (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

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  South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  CHOSEN BY BLOOD

  A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PRINTING HISTORY

  Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / May 2011

  Copyright © 2011 by Virna DePaul.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-51433-7

  BERKLEY® SENSATION

  Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  BERKLEY® SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  To Craig, Joshua, Ethan, and Zachary,

  You have been and always will be my true happy

  ending, as well as my beginning and middle, too.

  I love you, always and forever.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  There’s a saying that to be a writer, you might as well open a vein and bleed on the page—that’s how personal and often painful the process can be. Such is life. Sometimes, however, no matter how short an acquaintance, a seemingly minor connection can have a major, positive impact on a person’s dream. In the best of circumstances, lasting relationships are formed and strengthened.

  To everyone who helped me achieve this dream (you know who you are), thank you. We struggle together, celebrate together, and even prop each other up and carry one another out of the darkness and into the sun. I think it’s made me a better writer and human being.

  In particular, I want to thank:

  My awesome agent, Holly Root, and my wonderful editor, Leis Pederson, for loving my stories, taking a chance, and making my work shine;

  The copy editors, art department, and all the other behind-the-scenes people at the Berkley Publishing Group who helped get this book ready and in stores;

  Susan Hatler, for being a wonderful critique partner, as well as a friend willing to e-mail, call, Skype, and fly across several states to stay in touch;

  Brenda Novak and The Scarlets, for helping me get started;

  Nia and Len Fishler, who, from the moment I saw them together, radiated “recognition”;

  Lori Wilde, Nina Bruhns, Mary Buckham, Dianna Love, and the other RWA instructors and writers I’ve met, for teaching me and cheering me on;

  Margo Lipschultz, Matrice Hussey, Kim Whalen, Karin Tabke, Hilary Sares, Lori Foster, Brenda Novak, Larissa Ione, and Eileen Rendahl, for believing in me and spending time/ effort on my behalf;

  The F5 (Rachelle, Jeannie, Tiffany, and Julia) for walking “the darkness” alongside me and shining bright;

  Vanessa Kier, Cyndi Faria, Karin Tabke, Poppy Reiffen, Tawny Weber, Tina Folsom, and Grace Chow, for being my comrades-in-arms, and helping me be a better writer while making the journey a blast;

  My friends in BDRWA, SFARWA, SVRWA, Sac Valley Rose, and Calgary RWA for your support; ditto for those at savvyauthors.com and online elsewhere;

  My very large family (DePaul; Meyers; my sister, Carol; brothers; nephews; nieces; aunts; cousins; in-laws; and variations thereof) for giving me a safe place in a crazy world to become who I’m meant to be, even if it sometimes confounds you. I love you all;

  Cora and Vince DePaul (aka Mom and Dad), for sacrificing more than I wanted you to so your kids could be happy; and

  My boys, Craig, Joshua, Ethan, and Zachary, for loving me no matter what.

  They will be pulled from the darkness only to be placed in another kind. First, the dark red of blood unites them, a wall of strength against the tide. Then, the blackness of despair weakens them, ripping them apart. Six only shall remain, linked arm in arm. Love and hate. Pleasure and pain. Life and death. Greed and compassion. Blindness and clarity. Strength and weakness. Felt by all but then rejected, until the choice is made.

  Only one shall survive.

  —FROM THE MAGE’S ANCIENT TEXTS

  Dear Readers,

  Please sign up for my newsletter at www.virnadepaul.com to access free bonus material about the Para-Ops team, including a short story on Wraith’s “awakening.”

  Thank you for your support!

  Virna DePaul

  PR
OLOGUE

  VAMP DOME

  PORTLAND, OREGON

  One downside to being a vampire’s best friend was knowing she could read your mind.

  Not that Noella ever would, at least not without good reason, but still . . . Something about the way Noella looked at her tonight put Felicia on edge. There was a certain knowledge in her eyes that hinted at questions to come. Questions that Felicia had to avoid at all costs.

  Now, as the two of them strolled the perimeter of the grand ballroom’s dance floor, Felicia turned to her friend. “Every vamp in the nation must be here,” she marveled. “Maybe every vamp in the world.”

  Noella St. Claire Devereaux laughed and hooked her arm through Felicia’s. “Just about. Those well enough to travel, anyway.” As they continued to walk, she peered at Felicia from beneath her eyelashes.

  “What?” Felicia groaned good-naturedly.

  Noella patted her hand. “You’ve certainly made an effort to greet them all. All except a certain dharmire, that is. Has Knox upset you?”

  Felicia stumbled slightly. Inwardly cringing, she stopped walking and forced herself to smile. “Of course not. He’s been busy playing host, that’s all. With magnificent results. It’s been a wonderful party,” she said truthfully. The food had been delicious, the grounds beautifully appointed, and the guests charming; the fact that Felicia was miserable was beside the point. “The perfect way to celebrate your ninth wedding anniversary.”

  After a slight pause during which Felicia held her breath, Noella said, “Acknowledging I’ve been married that long makes me feel old. It also reminds me how long it’s been since I last saw you. You really must try to visit more often, Felicia.”

  “The Bureau’s struggling right now. Federal crime is at an all-time high with the recent insurgents. Every agent is working overtime.”

  “I don’t care. I miss you.” Noella pouted. “Don’t make me sic Knox on you.”

  Flushing despite herself, Felicia covered with a mock shudder. “Okay, okay. I’ll visit more often. Believe me, I know how ruthless you can be when you want something.”

  “Dear Goddess, Felicia, whatever do you mean?”

  Felicia snorted, both at Noella’s innocent act and her invocation of the Earth Goddess Essenia. Many Otherborns had changed religion over the years, but most of them, especially vamps, still worshipped the Goddess. She was thought to be only one of several deities, but she was the most revered because of her allegedly steadfast devotion to all living creatures. “Dear Goddess nothing. Your ability to take down the clan’s most sought-after bachelor is rivaled only by your ability to wrap your husband around your finger. Annette Bening could have taken lessons from you when she was courting Warren Beatty.”

  For a moment, a furrow marred Noella’s perfect skin and her mouth twisted ruefully. “Take him down, huh? Sure, it was a piece of cake. It just took a hundred years or so for him to give up his odd notions about soul mates, and I’d already waited almost two decades before even trying to convince him to. He was over three hundred years old when we finally married. That’s practically unheard of for a vamp’s first marriage, full vampire or not.”

  “Who knew Knox would play so hard to get?” Felicia said the words lightly, almost tauntingly, knowing that Noella would take the bait and rise to Knox’s defense. “He should thank the Goddess Essenia every day that you didn’t turn your sights on someone else.”

  “He wasn’t playing hard to get, Felicia. He just views marriage more seriously than most vamps. When Knox loves, he loves fiercely. He couldn’t imagine marrying more than once, so he wanted to be sure. Sure he married the woman he could love for eternity.”

  For eternity, Felicia mentally echoed. Because he needed to marry another immortal. She took Noella’s hand. “And he did.” Felicia swallowed hard and forced out the words. “You are his soul mate, Noella.”

  Raising one hand, Noella cupped her cheek. “Sweet Felicia,” she whispered, her dark eyes flaring brightly before going blank. “I’ve never believed in soul mates. Most vampires don’t. Knox’s romanticism comes from his father’s line. I’ve envied it at times, but I’ve also cursed it.” She shook her head as Felicia’s eyes widened. “Please. Don’t misunderstand. Knox has made me very happy, and I think the children and I have brought him happiness as well.”

  “Of course you have,” Felicia interjected. “You—”

  “But,” Noella said firmly, “I know he’s never felt truly complete, either. He married me out of duty and, yes, even affection, but I’ve never been the soul mate he wanted.”

  Felicia took a shaky breath and struggled for the right words to reassure her friend. Finally, she said, “A person can have more than one soul mate, Noella. Maybe it’s just taken Knox time to . . .”

  Noella spotted something over Felicia’s shoulder. Grinning broadly, she released Felicia, raised her arm, and waved. “Speak of the devil. Knox!”

  Felicia had already started to panic with Noella’s talk of soul mates, but now that panic magnified tenfold. “I need to get this.” Felicia gestured to the sleek communicator hooked to her evening bag.

  “But I didn’t hear—”

  Swiftly moving away from her friend, Felicia called, “I’ll catch up with you in a bit. Go dance with your husband.”

  Moving toward the ballroom’s double French doors, Felicia vaguely heard the band start another song. It was a haunting melody, romantic and slow. She couldn’t quite place it, but it made her heart ache all the same.

  At the doors, she turned just in time to see Knox take Noella in his arms. Her friend was feminine and petite. She looked a little pale and tired, and she was definitely getting thinner, but she was still the perfect foil to Knox’s decadent good looks, even down to their matching silver hair. In the corner, Knox’s mother, Bianca, and his brother, Zeph, watched the dance, too, matching smiles on their pale, gaunt faces. Felicia couldn’t help wincing at the evidence of their decline.

  Damn that filthy vaccine, she thought. The U.S. government had made it available to almost every human over eight years ago, before the start of its Second Civil War; almost everyone had taken it, thus changing their blood so it no longer provided vamps the nourishment they needed. Even now, when peace had been declared and the Others were being integrated into society, there was no way to reverse its effects. That meant vamps continued to starve. And suffer.

  At least vamp children, Felicia consoled herself, had no need to drink blood until they transitioned at puberty. Noella and Knox’s twins, Joelle and Thomas, were flourishing. And thankfully, as a dharmire, Knox had been relatively unaffected. Although he required blood, he didn’t need as much of it because of his human DNA, a benefit he’d hopefully pass on to his children. She knew how guilty he felt because of his continuing strength, but his clan was lucky to have—

  The music stopped.

  Suddenly, Knox looked up and their eyes met. The pull toward him was so immediate that Felicia actually took several steps forward. But then Noella’s gaze shifted toward her, making her freeze.

  It was definitely time for her to leave.

  Unlike Noella, Felicia believed in soul mates. In the notion that certain individuals were two halves of the same whole, one soul divided in two and never completely fulfilled without the other. She was also open to the notion of multiple soul mates, just as she was to the concept of multiple lives. Unfortunately, however, she strongly believed in the sanctity of marriage and that an individual was entitled to claim only one soul mate at a time.

  Knox had claimed Felicia’s best friend before they’d ever met.

  She whirled, only to run right into a broad chest. With a gasp, she took a step back. Bony fingers squeezed her arms in a punishing grip. It was Dante Prime, Zeph’s father and, she’d been told, the most recent addition to the Vamp Council.

  Felicia couldn’t stand him, and the feeling was mutual. That was how she knew Prime’s,“Lovely party, isn’t it, Felicia?” was meant to draw blood. She, however
, simply raised her chin and said, “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

  When she tried to pull away, his grip tightened. “ Aren’t you going to congratulate me on my appointment to the Council, Felicia?”

  Angry, she tore herself out of his grasp, not caring how it might look to others. “Congratulations, Prime. I’m sure Knox will appreciate your advisement on the occasional matter.”

  As she’d expected, he took immediate insult to her statement. “Advisement?” he sneered. “How dare you? The Council is the equivalent of the humans’ judicial and legislative branches. Composed of our most respected elders—”

  “Whose decisions can, ultimately, be vetoed by the executive branch, namely Knox or his mother.” She feigned confusion. “Or am I wrong? After all, while the Council can pass laws, Knox can strike them at any time. That sounds advisory to me.”

  “Why you . . .”

  Prime’s face suffused with blood, but Felicia shook her head. “Don’t bother showing me out, Prime.”

  Leaving him fuming, she strode onto the patio.

  Leaning against a stone column, she willed her pulse to calm. She wasn’t distraught over the run-in with Prime, she realized, but still feeling the aftereffects of seeing Noella and Knox dance. Each clamoring beat of her heart seemed to call out: No, no, no. No, I want him. No, it’s not fair she saw him first. No, it’s not fair she can give him what he needs and I never can.

  Closing her eyes, she clenched her fists, furious at her weakness.

  Taking several determined breaths, she checked her pager, but the Bureau was leaving her alone for once. She forced herself to walk the lush beauty of the Devereaux gardens. High above her, the top of the Dome blended with the night sky, seeming to disappear so all she saw was the twinkling of a thousand stars. Come daylight, it would shield vamps from the harmful rays of the sun. The Dome that Knox had designed and helped build was in many ways reflective of himself—a blend of modern convenience and old-world charm, separate from the rest of the world even as it thrived within it, a bubble where trusted Others and humans alike were allowed to gather in peace and friendship, but only on his terms and when he felt it was safe.