Redson (VLG Book 10) Read online

  Redson

  VLG – Book Ten

  Vampires, Lycans, Gargoyles

  By Laurann Dohner

  Redson by Laurann Dohner

  Rescued as a child by her grandpa, the powerful Vampire Malachi, Emma has been on the run for nearly forty years from a Vamp determined to see them both dead. When he enlists the aid of assassins from the Vampire Council, their luck runs out. Forced to separate, Malachi sends Emma to a trusted VampLycan for protection.

  Redson knows trouble when he sees it, and sure enough, the gorgeous, mostly human female seeking shelter immediately disrupts his future plans. His father swore a blood oath to her grandfather, and Red is honor bound to protect her. He’s surprised when his instincts demand so much more—protect…claim…mate.

  Their attraction is explosive, but Emma refuses to consider mating while her grandfather is in danger. She needs Red’s help…but is he Malachi’s savior? Or his biggest threat yet?

  VLG Series List

  Drantos

  Kraven

  Lorn

  Veso

  Lavos

  Wen

  Aveoth

  Creed

  Glacier

  Redson

  Redson by Laurann Dohner

  Copyright © June 2018

  Editor: Kelli Collins

  Cover Art: Dar Albert

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-944526-90-0

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.

  Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental.

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Redson - VLG – Book Ten

  By Laurann Dohner

  Prologue

  Thirty-six years in the past

  Emma stared in horror at her neighborhood. Someone had dragged a recliner into the street and set it ablaze. A home down the street also had fire shooting out of the top-floor windows. A faint scream sounded from nearby. Her mother cursed softly.

  Two men seemed to appear out of nowhere. They had pale skin and wore all black clothing with matching caps. Both reminded Emma of robbers she’d seen in movies on television, minus the masked faces.

  Her mother jumped between her and the men.

  “Why are you doing this? You’re not allowed to attack us!” Her mother’s voice rose in anger and she reached back, yanking out the long blade that she’d shoved into the waistband of her skirt belt. “We’re under the protection of Master Malachi. Stop this, Eduardo.”

  One of the scary men stepped forward. Emma saw his sharp fangs and the blood that covered his cheeks and lower mouth. “We don’t take orders from him anymore. He’s grown soft.”

  “This is wrong!” Emma’s mother shouted. “Leave these people alone. Are you trying to bring attention to our kind? You can’t attack humans without facing consequences. You’re killing them!”

  “Our kind? You’re nothing like me. These humans are harboring some of you half-breed bastards. They deserve death!” He spat blood on the ground but then a cold smile curved his lips. “You offend me, Kallie. I can imagine why Malachi wants to keep you around, but you’re an abomination I refuse to abide anymore.”

  “You think he won’t kill you for this?”

  “He made me. I’m the chosen one!” Eduardo snarled. “You’re a birthed mistake. Is that your child lurking behind you?”

  Emma’s mother shook her head. “I only babysit her. Stop slaughtering my neighbors. They don’t even know what we are.”

  “You should be aware of history.” Eduardo withdrew a sword. “Life isn’t fair, and people die all the time after making the wrong associations. They deserve to be wiped out. I’m going to remove your head and then suck that child dry.”

  A roar tore through the night—and another scary man advanced. This one wasn’t dressed like the others and didn’t wear anything to hide his head. He had long white hair, wore jeans and a gray sweater, and he held two long swords in one of his hands. Emma had seen him before. He sometimes showed up late at night after she was supposed to be asleep. Her mother let him inside their home and they’d talk in whispers.

  “Eduardo!” His deep, rumbling voice sounded terrifying. “I forbid you to attack them. Cease this nonsense immediately!”

  The one threatening her mother spun to face him. “I don’t listen to you any longer. And I don’t trust them being so close to our nest, Malachi. I don’t care who she is to you. They could kill us while we sleep!”

  The white-haired man moved fast, grabbing the other man by the throat and throwing him. The body sailed a good fifteen feet until it slammed into a tree. He then attacked the second man. He fisted a blade in each hand, running one long sword through him. The second sword removed his head. It hit the ground and rolled. The body turned into white ash, blowing away in the light wind.

  Emma whimpered.

  “Run,” the white-haired creature hissed softly, glancing at her mother. “I can’t hold them all back. He brought in another nest. Take the child and I’ll keep them off you.”

  “Can’t you stop this?” Her mother lowered her weapon.

  “There are too many. Mine are refusing to take orders from me. Eduardo has made them paranoid that you’ll turn on us. I sense at least two dozen unknown Vampires coming from the other nest. Those idiots started a fire on the roads leading in here. Your only way out is through the woods. Run, Kallie. Take the child and go.” Agony twisted his features. “I’m sorry. I thought this could work. I never should have put the nest together. I believed you’d be safer with our protection. Instead, it’s put you both in danger.”

  “I’m the one they’re after.” Her mother glanced back, tears streaming down her face. “I love you, Emma. Remember that, baby. You do whatever this man tells you. Always trust him. He’s not evil, and he’ll do anything to protect you.”

  “Kallie,” the man took a step closer but her mother darted away.

  “I’ll distract them and lead them away. You’re fast enough to outrun them. Get her to safety. She’s what really matters. I love you.” Her mother ran down the street toward a group of men who stepped into sight. “Here I am!”

  “No,” the white-haired man hissed. “No!”

  More of the black-clad men rushed from the other side of the block to surround her mother. The blond man spun, storming toward Emma. He dropped his weapons and lifted her from the ground. “Hold on, my sweet. Bury your face against my chest.”

  Tears blinded Emma. The blond stranger secured her tighter in his arms and sprinted as if their lives depended on it. She glanced to the side once but he moved so fast it made her feel sick.

  The screams faded, the darkness complete. Sometimes she felt him jump, a sense of falling, before he’d land. His arms cushioned her from the worst of it.

  It seemed forever before he stopped. He bent, setting her on her feet. He then sat, pulling her onto his lap. The sounds of his soft sobs and his chest heaving told her he cried. He rubbed her back.

  “It’s nearing dawn and we’re inside a cave. They won’t fin