ETHAN’S MATE (Book One: The Vampire Coalition) (2 page)

Sucking in an uneven breath, he tried to gain control
of the raging feelings boiling inside of him.

Get a grip, vampire. Think. You can’t save her if you
can’t function.

Shit…how was he supposed to function when his world
had been turned upside down by one tiny, weak voice in his
head?

He grabbed his cell phone and called his three
brothers with a brief explanation.

They popped in, literally, moments later.

Nathan arrived first with his usual flare. There was
nothing subtle about the oldest Hale brother. He was there in a
flash of light so bright that it hurt Ethan’s light-sensitive
eyes.

Ethan glared at him, knowing his eldest brother was
perfectly capable of showing up with a little less flare. Nathan
was powerful and could control the flash, but when he was
emotionally charged… he didn’t bother.

Rory arrived without the flash, but was suddenly
present with nothing more than a light popping noise that would
never be heard by
human
ears. It was only evident to
vampires because of their highly-developed hearing ability.

Liam…arrived like Liam. He faded in softly and
without making a sound.

Rory and Liam were twins, and almost impossible to
identify from just a glance. All of the brothers were similar in
general appearance. Muscular. Tall. Dark hair and the signature
brown vampire eyes. And at the moment, somewhat frightening in
their unity and intensity.

“Has she answered?” Nathan demanded in his booming,
low voice.

Ethan clenched his fists, feeling helpless and
frustrated. “No. Nothing.”

“She’s probably not sleeping yet.” Liam answered
quietly, always the voice of reason in the terrifying quartet.

“I can’t wait,” Ethan decided as he paced the floor,
his body tense, his emotions barely in check. “She’s weak and in
some sort of danger. I don’t know exactly what. I have to find
her.”

“What can we do?” Rory queried gruffly, knowing his
brother was in pain. Rory was generally the cheerful one, but he
didn’t appear quite certain how to deal with Ethan in his current
condition. None of the brothers were used to seeing Ethan in any
kind of emotional chaos.

“I need to know that she isn’t in danger from a
fallen
. She talked about being sought by another. Something
evil. Find out if there’s anything going on with our brethren or
another that might cause them to seek her out.” He struggled to
think rationally as he added, “Anything out of the ordinary.”

“Done,” Nathan answered. “I’ll investigate the
possibility of it being a
fallen
, while Liam and Rory check
with the others.” He motioned to his two brothers who nodded once
in agreement. As the eldest of the four, Nathan was good at giving
orders. It often caused conflict between the brothers, but not now,
not when they needed to come together to help Ethan.

“I’ll try to reach her, try to find her. I’ll call
you.” And just like that, Ethan disappeared without a sound,
leaving no evidence that he had ever been present.

The three brothers were silent for a moment, each
beginning to absorb the significance of what was happening to
Ethan.

Liam was the first speak, stating nervously, “He
can’t fail.”

“Ethan won’t fail,” Nathan replied sternly.

“If he does…he won’t survive.” Rory voiced what the
other two brothers
could not
and
did not
want to
say.

“Then let’s make sure that he doesn’t fail,” Nathan
demanded and he flashed away, the others following seconds
later.

Chapter 2

Ethan stood in the heart of the city, a place where
most normal people feared to walk alone after darkness had fallen.
He had fed well, knowing that he needed to be at full strength for
whatever lies ahead.

Any creatures in the area, human or otherwise, fled
as he stalked down an alley. It was as if they could feel his anger
and frustration. He was dangerous. There might be some mad, bad
creatures in this part of the city, of both the immortal and human
variety, but nothing could compare to a vampire seeking his mate,
especially when said mate was in danger.

Come to me.

Ethan stopped, his heart pumping, his adrenaline on
overload. “Talk to me. Help me find you.”

The connection was a little stronger this time.

He took a deep breath and opened his senses, trying
to find her essence.

I don’t know how.

“Just keep talking to me,” he demanded as he moved
steadily north, following her psychic trail.

I’m… afraid. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am.

Ethan’s heart ached as he heard the vulnerability,
something he had a feeling this woman normally wouldn’t admit to.
“Of what?” He gentled his thoughts, trying to send her comfort.

Ethan knew he was drawing nearer and her spirit was
stronger. He continued to travel faster than a human eye could
detect, trying to zero in on her location.

There’s something evil here. I know it sounds…
gothic… but I can’t explain it any other way. Even my cat, Mr.
Wiggins, is huddling under the covers with me. His fur is standing
up on end.

He was close, so very close. “Hold tight. I’ll be
there soon.” Ethan changed direction slightly and asked with amused
smile. “You have a cat named Mr. Wiggins?”

Don’t laugh at my cat. I’ll have you know he is named
after a very distinguished man. Wiggs is a very dedicated
companion.

“I’m not laughing.” Actually, he was, but he wasn’t
about to tell her that. Her indignant reply amused and delighted
him.

You’re laughing. I can feel it. Who are you?

Ethan sobered as he felt her anxiety. “I’m here to
help. I would never harm you.”

I believe you. I’m not sure why… but I do. What’s
happening to me?

The connection was strong and Ethan floated down to
the window of her house, finding it easily as the connection
strengthened even more. He flashed himself into her bedroom and
immediately felt the sense of evil that was stalking her. He braced
to confront it but as soon as he’d flashed into the bedroom the
presence seemed to flee, completely and totally, leaving only the
essence of his mate.

“I’m here now. Everything will be all right. You’re
safe.”

It’s gone. Thank you. I’m so tired…

Her voice trailed off and the connection broke. She
slept the sleep of the innocent.

Ethan moved soundlessly to the side of the bed,
looking down to get his first glimpse of his mate. His heart ached,
beating in a wild rhythm as he saw her light blonde hair peeking
out from a mound of blankets. She was beautiful and more precious
to him than anything he had ever coveted in his entire existence.
She was the one who held his soul and his future sanity in her
fragile hands.

She looked so…delicate. Ethan glimpsed the dark
markings around her eyes, taking in her slight weight, and the
worry lines around her mouth, present even in her sleep.

He reached forward to touch her temple lightly. It
was rude to invade her thoughts, but he wanted to know what caused
her angelic appearance to be marred with worry.

Whatever was worrying his mate would soon be gone.
He’d make certain of it.

Pain seized his body and he grunted as his fingers
found and sought a mind connection.
She’s sick. She’s dying.
He felt the pain of her treatments, the torture her body had been
through. She had fought bravely… but she was losing the battle.

He watched as her other memories sprang forth, most
of them happy. At least she had led a peaceful life until the
mysterious illness had hit her. He removed his hand, reluctant to
invade too much into her thoughts without her permission.

Dying.
Dying?
That
was so not going to
happen. Ethan knew exactly what she was dying from, and it wasn’t
the rare blood disease her doctors had diagnosed. She needed to
bond with her mate. She was twenty-eight years old. Almost
twenty-nine. Damn it! Why hadn’t he heard her sooner?

Ethan’s gaze caught a picture on her nightstand. His
mate was in the photo along with her mother, and either a friend or
a sister, someone he hadn’t picked up in the memories he had seen.
He smiled, noticing she looked vibrant and happy in the image, the
three women hugging each other and smiling.

He stroked her hair and kissed her on the forehead.
He could touch her while she was sleeping without consequence. But
the moment they touched consciously…

Ethan flinched. How in the hell could he mate her
when she was this fragile? The vampire mating and bonding process
was rough. The mating was volatile and he would be engulfed with
primitive instincts, completely wild. Once the vows were spoken and
marks were joined, there was no turning back.

Damn it…he needed time, and time was something that
this woman didn’t have a lot of, judging by her frail appearance.
The bond between mates was instinctual but he still wanted to get
to know her. She would be frightened at discovering the truth of
her existence, and she had to go into the bonding willingly.

Ethan left the bedroom and pulled out his cell phone.
He called his brothers to see if they had dug up any information.
Although vampires were psychic and could draw each other’s
attention through their minds, only mates could actually hold a
conversation easily. With anyone else it was easier to just pick up
a phone.

Nathan was the only one with any information. He had
heard a rumor about some of the
fallen
who were stalking
mates. They were picking the as yet unprotected mates who hadn’t
bonded.

Ethan slammed his phone back into his pocket.
The
bastards! They were preying on the weak. Mates who didn’t know who
they were yet! Mates who didn’t know that they guarded the soul of
a vampire!

Although drinking from another born vampire was
poison to a
fallen
, taking blood from a mate who had not yet
called her vampire to her was powerful. The blood of a vampire’s
mate was more potent than a normal human’s and its power would
absorb in the
fallen’s
system, making them stronger. If a
fallen
got close enough to a vampire’s mate, they could
smell her, sense her. Ethan shuddered at how close the son of a
bitch had been to his woman.

Just as he was about to head back to the bedroom to
look in on his mate, he felt an uneasy twinge that made the hair at
the back of his neck stand on end.

“Come on, you bastard, show yourself,” he whispered,
his voice full of malice. “I’ll show you your own asshole.”

The
fallen
appeared in front of him and it was
not a pretty sight.
Fallen
looked more demon than man with
their glowing red eyes and hairless, sunken faces.
Fallen
could never get enough blood to regain their former appearance.

Ethan didn’t know this
fallen
from its former
life, but it didn’t matter. He would have killed the bastard
anyway. Occasionally, he felt a twinge of remorse and sorrow if he
had known the former vampire before he had to slay a
fallen
.
Right now, he wanted to tear this one’s head off just for being in
close proximity to his mate.

The
fallen
landed the first blow, raking
razor-sharp claws over Ethan’s face. But Ethan struck hard and
fast, pulling a knife from a sheath at his waist as he struck the
grotesque figure in the chest, sending it flying across the
room.

He might not have time to conjure all of his fighting
equipment… but he could improvise.

The figure bounced back, striking at Ethan’s chest
with its claws, but Ethan rotated away with barely a scratch.

The
fallen
tried to stalk Ethan, who wasn’t in
the mood to play. He was a vampire protecting his mate and he
didn’t feel like doing anything but destroying the threat. He
struck hard and fast, landing blow after blow with his knife as he
kicked and weakened his foe.

Ethan took a claw to his back as he spun around,
trying to take the creature off balance.

Ethan didn’t have a full set of claws, but he had a
knife and fury on his side.

The battle raged on as the creature tired and Ethan
got his chance. He pinned the
fallen
into the wall, slamming
its left arm over his head as he plunged his knife deep, rupturing
the heart of the evil bastard that was stalking his mate.

Rupturing the heart of a
fallen
was the only
way to permanently vanquish it. While killing a vampire required
beheading, bleeding dry, or prolonged exposure to the sun, it was
necessary to annihilate the heart of a
fallen
to ensure its
demise.

Ethan watched without a twinge of remorse as he
muttered sarcastically, “Have a good afterlife, asshole.” He knew
there was no real afterlife for the
fallen
. They wandered
aimlessly, absolutely harmless and constantly tortured, for
eternity, in another realm. He hoped the bastard enjoyed it, having
no pity for any being that would have torn his woman to shreds.

The
fallen
dissolved until it was nothing but
a pile of ash on the carpet.

Ethan heard a gasp and instinctively whirled to
defend himself, still in fight mode. It took him only a few seconds
to realize that the exclamation had come from his mate.

She stood at the bedroom door, complete horror
evident on her face. He felt her fear and he didn’t like it. She
should never be afraid of him.

Okay… maybe she had a slight reason to be
afraid.
His eyes were still wild from battle, his clothing
covered in blood…and the living room looked like a war zone.

He shrugged. It was pretty much a normal situation
for him, but it was obviously making his mate hyperventilate.

Ethan quickly flipped his hand and the living room
righted itself in seconds. With another sweep he changed his
clothing and cleaned the blood from his body, new clothing
appearing in moments. He couldn’t immediately heal his scratches,
but they would disappear soon enough.