Vampire's Forbidden Territory (Sídhí Summer Camp Series #2)

  Vampire’s Forbidden Territory

  Sídhí Summer Camp #2

  By Jodie B. Cooper

  Copyright 2012 by Jodie B. Cooper

  License Notes: See last page

  _____________

  I Thank God

  Without God’s grace, this book would not be possible.

  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

  PHILIPPIANS 4:13 (KJV)

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for choosing to read Vampire’s Forbidden Territory: Sídhí Summer Camp #2

  A YA paranormal adventure packed with intense emotion and life threatening danger. The story takes place immediately after Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire: Sídhí Summer Camp #1 and can be read as a stand-alone story.

  Please, take note, if you have not read the first book, the second book in the series contains spoilers. It also contains minor language, sexual content/innuendo, and multiple POVs.

  I hope you enjoy it!

  Jodie B

  Website: www.jodiebcooper.com - snippets for all books

  Sídhí World News Blog: http://sidhinews.blogspot.com/ - micro (or short) stories published as news clips.

  Dragon Flight

  Several days after the cavern collapsed, Katie was on her very first – and probably last – dragon ride. The brisk air caressed her skin as the morning sun quickly burned away the thin cloud cover.

  The black dragon surged through the sky. Guardian Alexander’s midnight wings swept upward, looking deceptively soft as calfskin. Matching ebony scales absorbed the silvery rays of sunshine.

  A rush of excitement streaked through her. Two weeks ago, before summer camp started, Katie would never have dreamed she'd be riding a dragon, especially not with her very own lifeMate sitting snug behind her. Honestly, she wasn’t sure how it happened. It certainly had been a fast and furious bonding. She was a halfling, an abomination in the eyes of most Sídhí, especially the uptight vampires of Clan Valley. It was still unbelievably to her that Jared really loved her. She couldn’t understand how he could look past her tainted blood and want her for a mate.

  Somehow he did. She knew he did, because she could feel his love pouring into her through their lifeBond.

  She threw her arms wide and laughed for the sheer joy of having her deepest dream come true, a lifeMate who loved her.

  “Enjoying yourself, Mia Cara?” Jared mentally asked her.

  Sighing in pleasure, she arched against his chest, rubbing her shoulders against the solid bulk of his muscle. She would never get tired of Jared calling her ‘his beloved’ in the old tongue. If she could put her joy in words, she would shout them to the world. As it was, her lifeBonded mate felt her bubbling emotions.

  Jared pulled her closer. His joy flowed into her body through their lifeBond. His deep laughter echoed through her mind a split instant before his warm breath tickled her pointed ear, her overly sensitive ear, making her laugh all the harder. There were times the elf half of her heritage was more enjoyable than the vampire half.

  “I love it.” Her enthusiastically spoken words included not only her first ride on a dragon, but the new road her life was taking. “We can see for miles up here.”

  Guardian Alexander was flying them across miles of rugged mountains located within Dragon Valley, a second dimensional bubble with the exact physical terrain as Earth. Hundreds of valleys dotted Earth, some small, some huge. Very few Sídhí Elders agreed upon how many dimensional bubbles actually existed or even how they had been created.

  One thing she knew for certain, there would never be peace between the valleys.

  Katie snorted, but not in humor. Creating peace between the Sídhí races was the official reason for gathering the warring races – vampire, elf, shapeshifter, fairy and others – together for summer camp, but creating peace wasn't why the children of the most influential politicians from several dozen of the most powerful valleys had been invited. Invited being a very loose term to what really happened.

  When The Dragon Council sent out invitations to attend summer camp, they expected immediate agreement. If any invitation went unanswered the dragons simply coerced the royalty (or politicians) of that valley into participating by closing that valley’s gateway to Earth.

  The concept of creating a peace camp sounded honorable. The reality of camp was not honorable nor peace inducing. Katie and her cabin mates found that out the hard way. Peace between the Sídhí races had nothing to do with the four-month camp. Finding dead bodies and becoming a walking target had that odd ‘wake-up and smell the roses’ effect.

  After the Khr'Vurr attacked Katie and her cabin mates, the black-scaled dragon had been placed in charge of keeping Katie's group safe. Protection duty was Guardian Alexander’s official job. Unofficially, the black dragon was more concerned with finding the people who tried to kill them, not that she disagreed with him.

  She desperately wanted the Khr'Vurr caught. She just really hoped he hurried. She was not a lover of bathing in ice-cold mountain streams. But until the guardians caught the guilty parties, the teens were safer away from the main campgrounds. At least, that’s what Guardian Alexander said. She had her doubts that anywhere was very safe. Truth be told, she felt like bait.

  Jared’s cheek rubbed against her hair. “I agree,” he said, letting her know he had been following her train of thought.

  Since they had bonded, several days earlier, they had maintained a feather-light mental touch on each other. Nothing intrusive, but glimpsing your beloved’s thoughts or having him answer an unspoken thought made her feel special.

  He chuckled, kissing her neck. A firm feeling of pleasure pulsed from him as he agreed with her unspoken view on sharing their thoughts. “As long as you keep your pert little nose out of my head at Christmas time.”

  “My nose is not pert,” she said, unsuccessfully trying to keep the laughter out of her voice, but knew it didn’t work. He felt her humor as clear as she felt his.

  “Hmmm, your sweet little nose felt pert last night when you...” he grunted to a stop as her elbow caught him between two ribs.

  Her face turned beet red as she snuggled deeper in his embrace. “Wretch,” she grumbled. “We agreed the nose episode was not to be spoken about, not ever.”

  “Mia Cara, having your nose, covering in whipped cream…”

  “Enough,” she groaned, covering her face with both hands.

  He snuggled against her neck, gently kissing her. “I love the taste of Mia Cara flavored whipped cream.”

  She snorted, knowing she’d never be able to drink another cream covered strawberry shake without glancing to see where he was. “Next time you ‘accidently’ bump my elbow when I’m drinking a shake, I’ll pay you back triple time. Got me, handsome?”

  “It might be worth it. Kissing the cream off your nose made it the best tasting shake I’ve ever had,” he said. His laughter and sincerity swirled inside her.

  He was hopeless.

  “Glad you thought so. Unfortunately, Council Woman Cornelia thought we were both insane.” Shaking her head, she abruptly changed the subject. “I don’t think the dragon council is going to give Sarah the info she needs to protect Trellick Valley. Do you?” she asked, worry over their failure to gain protection for Sarah’s home valley colored her thoughts.

  Katie knew she had to help Sarah keep Trellick Valley safe, but she didn’t have a clue how to manage it. The head of the dragon council certainly hadn’t sounded very encouraging. The woman hadn’t believed a word they said, even when Alexander – the council woman’s own grandson – told her
about testing Sarah’s story.

  The woman insisted they were exaggerating the truth, because no valley could be a portal hub. After four thousand years – in the council woman’s words – someone would have slipped-up trying to keep such a huge secret, because there was no way any valley could maintain hundreds of permanent portals into all the other valleys, especially Trellick Valley. The Dhark Lords would have jumped at the opportunity to invade all the other valleys, because it was common knowledge that Trellick Valley was a steadfast and very loyal member of the Dhark Empire.

  Katie’s back vibrated as Jared growled deep in his chest. “I pray the council woman doesn’t find out the hard way that Sarah is telling the truth.” All his previous teasing left his voice, leaving his words flat with anger. “If that spike-covered dragon actually saw Sarah form javelins from the synth in her blood then it won’t take long for her to make the only possible connection.”

  “That Sarah is Chi’Kehra,” Katie said. Dread filled her at the very thought of the dragon ‘freedom’ fighters finding out about a weapon more deadly than dragonfire. “Sarah would never willingly help the self-proclaimed freedom fighters.” The Khr'Vurr, as they called themselves, were a group of dragons who were infamous for kidnapping and torturing innocent people in a warped attempt to seize control of the dragon council.

  “I think that’s the real reason why Alex is using us as bait,” Jared said. His emotions flickered between sour acceptance and frustration. “He knows as well as we do that the Khr'Vurr would be unstoppable with Sarah on their side.”

  “She’d never help them,” Katie repeated forcefully. Without question, she trusted Sarah. Her gut instinct demanded that trust. And one thing she had learned long ago was to trust her gut. Her gut instinct had saved her family’s life more than once when they lived in the mundane world.

  “And if they kidnapped Nick? Threatened to kill him?” Jared asked softly, completely knocking the wind out of her argument.

  She shivered at the thought. The same instinct that demanded she trust Sarah twisted in a fleeting glimpse of the possible future. Without a single doubt, Sarah would destroy anything or anyone who stood between her and her destined mate.

  Alexander began slowing.

  She glanced downward. Not too far below, a camp site lay snug on the edge of a small meadow.

  She worried her bottom lip as she watched Mitch take an aggressive stand opposite several strangers. As obnoxious as her twin, Mitch, could be - which was most of the time - she still missed him like crazy. She was excited to be catching up with him and the others. Well, she looked forward to seeing most of the others, certainly not Clarisse.

  She groaned at the thought of crossing verbal swords with Jared’s ex-girlfriend, the red haired bloodsucker was a spoiled pain-in-the-backside. She sucked up her dislike and tucked it on a back burner, firmly repeating to herself that catching the killers really was worth the distaste of being near the redheaded vampire.

  Anyway, her twin was at the campsite and that alone was worth a whole bunch of discomforts.

  Alexander dropped several feet straight down.

  Katie's stomach plunged in shock. The rushing wind sucked the sound of her strangled gasp away.

  Jared's arms tightened around her. She felt her mate's anger and excitement fighting each other for a dominate foothold. The lifeBond connecting them together was still so new that occasionally his flood of emotions felt like an alien invasion.

  He chuckled, nuzzling the back of her ear, he mentally said, “This is an awesome way to hitch a ride, but I'll be glad to have both feet on the ground.”

  She grinned at his unspoken words, enjoying the feel of his lips as they caressed an upward path along her pointed ear. She knew what he really meant. He would be glad to have her feet firmly on the ground. Overprotective didn't begin to define a vampire when it came to his bonded lifeMate.

  His overbearing nature made her feel both cherished and exasperated at the same time. It was an attitude she was slowly learning to live with.

  Shifters

  Mitch grinned as Sarah coldly glared at him. Her low growl rumbled across the campsite and into the thick forest beyond.

  Anticipation built in the pit of his stomach. He’d been bored to tears until he realized agitating Sarah was the perfect diversion.

  Adrenaline spiked through him as the female vampire took a menacing step toward him. He couldn’t stand the pale-haired bloodsucker, even if her ethereal beauty reminded him of his mom, not in coloring of course, but in bone structure. Tall and willowy, Sarah personified pure grace, lethal and deadly, but graceful all the same.

  To his never-ending disgust, the dangerous young woman across from him was his niece. He hated that fact. She was one of the most notoriously evil vampires of the Dhark Empire, a true Dhark vampire who rarely showed emotion, except as she laughed when she tortured prisoners. At least, that’s what the rumors said.

  He heard branches swishing as someone ran through the trees. He didn’t need to look. He knew, by the deep rumbling growl, it was Nick racing back from the small stream that wove between the tall blue trees.

  He didn’t bother swallowing his chuckle. The morning was about to get interesting.

  A flickering movement caught Mitch’s attention. Glancing to his left, he immediately dismissed the two girls walking into camp. The strangers had to be hikers separated from their own group.

  He froze.

  Air hissed through his teeth as the image of the shorter girl registered, searing into his brain for all time. Jerking his head around, he stared at her. Lush. Rich. Gorgeous. Absolutely, the most gorgeous little thing he had ever set his eyes on.

  His brain tripped over the multitude of words that continued tumbling through his brain. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe her sun-kissed body.

  As tall as he was he didn't normally go after shorter girls, but her petite beauty demanded his unwavering attention. She was incredible. Satin skin the color of golden bronze. Her amber eyes glinted under the gloom of the trees, as if they contained a burning fire. Incredibly thick, multi-hued hip-length hair curled around her petite body.

  Her golden eyes met his and he took an unconscious step forward as if drawn toward her, like a bear to a bowl of honey.

  "Well, hello Short Stuff.” Mitch gave her his million dollar smile, a smile that had been known to blow the socks off a ton of girls back home. “Jeez, for such a tiny thing, you are stacked like Jessica Rabbit: big boobs, teeny tiny waist, and luscious hips that a guy can grab hold of.”

  "Mitch, you're so full of it,” Emily said from her perch on a dead furble tree.

  He held onto his smile, but grimaced as his newly 'adopted' sister berated him. He had grown to love the black-haired little twerp, but he didn’t need her interruption at the moment. Not when his newest summer play toy was looking at him like a bug she wanted to squish. He never got that reaction from girls. His own twin called him Casanova. Well, a sarcastic Casanova, but Katie’s description still counted.

  He groaned as Emily hopped off the smooth blue log. The cabin’s peacekeeper quickly stepped between Nick and Sarah. “Nick, it wasn't Sarah's fault. Mitch asked her if all female exiles... well, never mind, it was rude and I'm not repeating it. He was being a butt head, acting like a five year old, instead of seventeen."

  Always the diplomat, Emily couldn't have had time to suck in a breath before she whipped around, greeting the newcomers with a big smile and a wave. "I'm Emily."

  Mitch returned his gaze to his newest challenge, watching the gorgeous little thing with sunshine and bitter-chocolate hair as she murmured a polite greeting to Emily. He was quick to notice she kept a wary eye on Sarah. Smart girl. He couldn't wait to get to know her better. His summer was looking up. He'd never been so instantly attracted to any girl in his entire life.

  Emily shifted from foot to foot, drawing Mitch's attention from his plans to seduce the young woman. The young vampire’s blue eyes sparkled and Mitch groaned. He t
hought keeping his twin sister, Katie, in check was difficult. Emily beat his twin by a mile. The sweet vampire had more energy than ten people combined. Her curiosity, about everything, never ended. From the look in her eyes, she was about to launch into one of her more eager modes.

  “Oh! You smell human!" Emily cried gleefully, clapping her hands and hopping from foot to foot.

  Mitch growled menacingly, snapping a tight-fisted strangle hold on the instant attraction he felt toward the girl.

  Bloody ever-lasting crap! A mature Sídhí that smelled human could only mean one thing. His head pounded in anger, furious as his body continued betraying him with the desire he felt for the girl. His teeth ached, desperately wanting to sink his sharp teeth in her pulsing vein.

  "Oh, my gosh! I've been wanting to meet a shifter so bad. I mean, I know dragons are shifters, but that's different. What kind are you? Can you turn into more than one shape? Does it hurt? Can you only change shape under a full moon?”

  The taller girl, a leggy, hard-eyed blonde, shoved past the shorter one.

  The shorter of the two girls rolled her eyes and groaned as the tall one snapped at Emily. “That's rude! You don't ask someone what kind of shifter they are.”

  “Oh,” Emily said, a flush of embarrassment crossed her face, turning her golden tan bright red. She shuffled her feet, muttering an apology.

  “No harm done,” the shorter girl said, briefly touching Emily on the shoulder. "I'm Beth and this is Brianna. It would be impossible for anyone outside of Haven Valley to know our customs and such.”

  That was certainly the truth. Up until the start of camp, everyone believed shapeshifters (except dragons) had either been left behind on the home world of Sídhí or were extinct. Mitch snarled in disgust, wishing the worst Sídhí trash in known history had remained dead and buried.

  “Yeah,” Mitch said harshly. A snarl lifted his firm upper lip, revealing sharp fangs that ached to rip the shapeshifter’s throat out or drink her blood. His poor brain couldn’t decide which. He shuddered, internally chanting the common warning about shifters: The only good shifter was a dead shifter.