Sleepless Beauties: A Rejected Mates Paranormal Romance (The Vampires Vendetta Series Book 1) A.K. Koonce (best novels for beginners TXT) 📖

“She never had a real relationship with anyone. She was close with Prey. They were friends of a sort, but I know there was a lot she never felt comfortable telling him.”

That does sound a lot like Kyra. Vampire Kyra, anyway. My twin, the girl I grew up with, she was an open book.

But I guess that’s just what life does to you. The dark parts consume all the good, and they don’t leave any room for trust.

“Rival and her had a strange relationship, but he was even further behind Prey. She just… she didn’t tell us things.” Vuitton pulls on his boxers, but he never leaves his place in front of me. “I was her guard outside of the house, and she trusted me to be that for her,” a line creases between his brows as he looks away toward the pale skyline.

The way my heart dives at the thought of his guilt eating him alive the same way it does me, I can’t help but reach for him. My fingers brush over his knuckles and I sit up to truly face him.

“You’re not responsible for this. Someone is, and they’re still out there. They’ve done this to women over and over again. And they’ll keep doing it, unless we can find and stop them first.” I hate how hopelessly fragile I feel right now.

Exposed and raw to him.

I’ll blame it on the sex, but really I know I’m getting too comfortable with Vuitton. I’m not ready to tell him my true thoughts or fears.

Whoever did this, they’re not human. They’re a monster.

A beautiful monster perhaps, parading around with a smile and charm that will kill anyone who mistakenly trusts them.

“In the basement, where they all sleep, there’s a big metal door against the back wall.” He looks me hard in my eyes as he speaks. “Take your finger and write Kyra Vega across the smooth plate there and enter slowly. You’ll find more answers inside.”

I blink at him. His admission leaves me stunned.

“How will I get answers there?” I ask as a prickling of strange energy tingles across the flesh of my arms.

But I never could have anticipated what he says next.

“Because the man locked inside will give them to you.”

Sixteen

Prey

I feel like shit.

For years, all I’ve heard these fucks babble about is how lovely it feels to be in love. To have a mate.

Perhaps they should limit that fucking hallmark feeling to mates within their race. Because humans, they fucking suck you dry. I’ve never felt so much goddamn self-loathing in my entire life.

The council continues to murmur on about the cases of human women being found murdered in downtown Chicago.

“A young one. Only eighteen years old was found in the park last night.” Pavel says as he sips from his glass of blood.

Nothing phases him, though. He’s far too old to care much about the fragile mortality of humans.

“Eighteen,” Acessa repeats with big wide eyes.

Rival shakes his head as he leans back in his chair, just to the right of the empty seat at the head of the table.

“Where’s Kyra? This is the kind of thing that Kyra should be handling,” Pavel sputters as he gets up from his place and starts wandering toward the door.

Fuck, I wish I could join him. Just walk right out and hope that the dead girl solves all our problems.

Jesus, Kyra would be able to solve all my fucking problems.

Like her sister claiming my mating mark.

The front door opens with a cool gust of wind and just a hint of the evening sun washes in across her long blonde hair.

Her… messy long blonde hair… Is that a twig in her hair?

“What— just what is that smell?” Rival asks with a scrunching motion of his nose.

Acessa smiles awkwardly, but rushes toward Kira’s side.

“Let’s go to your room,” the vampire instructs with a pull of the stupid human girl’s hand.

My eyes narrow when the scent finally hits my nose. It smells like mutt.

No, it smells like mutt and sex.

Then it hits me.

Something inside me flares up with anger and rage.

“You fucked Vuitton!” I announce to everyone from across the grand dining hall.

My words carry loud and clear, and even old man Pavel halts in his rickety steps. He turns, sunken eyes widen as he looks at her.

Meanwhile she just glares at me.

I can feel her hate like it’s my own.

Because it is.

Why the fuck would I put my mark on a human?

Because I’m weak.

And I deserve a weak love.

My fingers dig into my palms at that painful thought.

“Keep your thoughts to yourself, Prey. I’ll let you know when you’re needed.” Kira says, straightening her shoulders the way her sister used to.

“I think, you fucked a dog when you have a house of high vampires to choose from,” I say flatly, the mark over my heart burning like a flame across my flesh.

How the fuck did a human mark me?

How could she even have that ability?

Her heels click loudly across the gray tile flooring, but she’s in my face in the matter of half a second, glaring up at me with those intense gray eyes.

Kira’s eyes are so different.

Maybe the others don’t see it, but Kyra’s eyes were the lightest shade blue. While Kira’s are like the sharp edge of a blade catching the sunlight.

“You’re getting fast,” I whisper.

“And you’re getting arrogant,” she replies.

Her chest brushes mine, soft curves pressing into me while I go back and forth between wanting to claim her and wanting to kill her.

“Do not insert yourself into my life. You’re an assistant. Remember that,” she says harshly, and I can feel them all watching us.

I never would have challenged Kyra like this.

But I also wouldn’t have marked my only friend, either.

The urges to hold her and to also shove her off a roof wrestle in my mind. She has to keep her appearance as Kyra, and I have to maintain my appearance as her assistant.

Not