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    One More Bite Book Three: One More Bite, #3
    One More Bite Book Three: One More Bite, #3
    One More Bite Book Three: One More Bite, #3
    Ebook184 pages2 hours

    One More Bite Book Three: One More Bite, #3

    By Odette C. Bell

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    About this ebook

    Now Xerel has the chance to capture me, he won't give up. He'll break this whole city – and everyone in it – just to get to me.
    But I'm not in this alone. It's finally time to understand why.

    ….

    One More Bite follows a rare witch and the vampire who'll do anything to use her as they fight an ancient force. If you love your urban fantasies with action, intrigue, and a splash of romance, grab One More Bite Book Three today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOdette C. Bell
    Release dateMay 21, 2020
    ISBN9781393464518
    One More Bite Book Three: One More Bite, #3

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      Book preview

      One More Bite Book Three - Odette C. Bell

      1

      I might’ve been able to sink my teeth into Alysia’s neck, but I couldn’t drink. The second I bit her was the second she reached around, grabbed my head, and smashed it against the headrest. But the damage was done. I’d distracted her when she needed it least.

      There was the sound of revving, and Varn’s car suddenly smashed into ours. I might not have been prepared for it, but the point was, Alicia certainly wasn’t. She couldn’t accommodate the move, and our car smashed into a railing beside us. As she struggled to grab hold of the wheel, I pushed in again. My head was discombobulated. After being thrown around, it felt like I was a pinball someone had shoved into a glass jar. It didn’t matter. I let my instincts do what they had to. As I crunched forward, I bit her neck again. This time she was too distracted to even throw me off. I got the first taste of her blood. All I needed was a single droplet. It was like a tiny spark on a dark night. It was an indication that, with just a little bit more, you could throw back the veil of darkness and see again.

      She grabbed my head, but this time I kept my neck pressed forward, my teeth locked into her throat, and my force all around me. I might not have that much magic left, but what I had, I used as a defensive barrier.

      I could feel her growling, the vibrations shaking up through her chest wall, powering into her neck, and shuddering into me.

      She locked a foot on the accelerator, and we shot forward, just out of the range of Varn’s car. We’d already left the residential area and reached a kind of highway. At least it meant that there were no late afternoon dog walkers to disturb. What it did mean, however, was that there were other drivers. As Alysia’s car shot forward, she rammed a truck right in front of us. It started to spin.

      I saw it out of the corner of my eye, but I just paid attention to what I was doing. I told myself that unless I brought Alysia down right now, there’d be more avoidable deaths. And I couldn’t allow that.

      For whatever reason, despite the fact my fangs were in her throat, I could not drink. My magic was pushing into her, trying to break past her defenses, but it didn’t count. Alysia was stronger somehow.

      I’d had a question before – one she hadn’t answered. Apparently, I was Xerel’s eighth. I didn’t know what that meant? Was I his eighth median? Or his eighth turned? Whatever it meant, Alysia was his first. And as I tried desperately once more to drink from her but failed, I realized that meant she was far more powerful than I would ever be.

      With a roar, she finally grabbed me and threw me off. I smashed into the back of the car. My bloody fingers slid down the glass. But she had a problem. She’d thrown me with such force, I cracked the glass.

      That was all I needed. My satchel was still around my shoulder. And that crack required just a little bit of explosive encouragement. I shoved a hand into my bag, pulled out one of the potions, and threw it at the glass. There wasn’t a great deal of distance between me and the back window, but that didn’t matter. I’d already been through hell – a few more scrapes and bumps wouldn’t count. Sure enough, as the potion exploded and the back window shattered, glass shot toward me. It cut my cheeks, sliced along my brow, tumbled over my bare arms, and caught the last scraps of my jacket, practically disintegrating it. I didn’t care. You know what I also didn’t care about? Throwing myself out of the back of a speeding car with abandon.

      I had no strength anymore. I was pretty much the old Gina. But the old Gina with a sense that she had to get through this, no matter what. And that propelled me out of the back. I rolled across the broken trunk and fell.

      I was aware that there was a screech of tires. A car came right up behind me. It stopped, its front nudging me. But it didn’t run me over.

      My eyes were closed. As I shivered, I opened them, one by one. I rolled over, turned around, and looked up just in time to hear a door opening. Someone jumped out. Then there was an expensive set of loafers. I didn’t have the energy to jerk my head up and stare at Varn. Instead, it was a painfully slow affair. I felt like I was a sapling growing into a tree. It would take me decades until I managed to reach his gaze. But I didn’t need to reach him – he reached me. He shoved down onto his knee and locked a hand on my shoulder.

      I was aware that behind me, Alysia came to a screeching stop. By the sound of it, she turned her car around. If she intended to ram Varn, she was fresh out of luck. He shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled something out. I only had a chance to see a crackle of magic. It was red, reminded me of blood, and importantly, was powerful as all hell. He threw it just behind me. It erupted in a cloud of flames and symbols. I might’ve been on the edge of unconsciousness, but I recognized that it was a powerful barrier.

      I thought I heard Alysia swearing.

      With one hand still clamped protectively on my shoulder, Varn tilted his head back and stared at her. I’d finally managed to reach his eyes, and his gaze was aflame with determination.

      Alysia didn’t try anything more. I heard another screech of tires, and she powered off.

      That just left me… that just left me at Varn’s feet. Because I’d made a decision. But now it was time to reap the consequences.

      2

      I really didn’t have the strength to be that afraid. Don’t get me wrong, I was still trepidatious. The little bit of my mental control that was given over to my fear and wasn’t completely wrapped up in my agony felt nerves dancing through my gut. They wriggled and writhed their way up my back. Then they reached the back of my head. They shunted forward into my jaw and propelled my lips open. I… don’t kill me, I stammered.

      I don’t know why of all things I chose to say that. I had called him to save me. I knew that he wasn’t interested in killing me, anyway. Even if he went back to being the devious vampire I half suspected he still was, killing me was not on the books. Maybe there was something primal about this experience that was doing it to me, though – like recognizing that he was one of the most powerful vampires in town. I was reverting to the old days of being Gina, the weak one, the pathetic girl who couldn’t do a damn thing but lie in her bed and wait for other people to save her. But the thing about waiting for someone to save you is if you get the wrong person, they won’t save you. They’ll condemn you.

      As I looked into his eyes, I waited for that condemnation to rise. It didn’t. His lips pulled to the side ever so slightly. He reached down and plucked me up. You’re very injured. Try not to say anything. Try not to move.

      That was easy enough to suggest, but as he picked me up, I felt a little spark of energy from somewhere. It rushed through my chest and pushed my lips open. I….

      He might’ve told me not to speak, but as I managed to push that word out, he still tilted his head down and locked his gaze on my lips.

      I think we were having some kind of moment. Or at least, I was. And boy was it an intense one. Cars came to a stop around us, and the smell of burning rubber was everywhere from the car chase. The wind was still picking up, and it was whipping at my torn clothes, sending my blood speckled hair scattering over my face. It was dramatic. Of course it was. But that wasn’t the kind of moment I was trying to describe. As I looked up at Varn, and importantly, as he looked down at me waiting to hear what I would say, I could feel this energy building between us. It was the most expectant moment I’d ever had.

      But it didn’t last. His phone rang in his pocket.

      He didn’t have an arm free to reach it, so he simply said in a guttural growl, Answer.

      I could feel his phone. It was pressed up against one of my limp legs. It vibrated once.

      You got her? someone asked in a deep tone.

      Before I had a chance to stiffen, he nodded, Yes, prosecutor, I do.

      Prosecutor…?

      It took a while for my addled brain to work through that word. For some reason, I had a mental block. I didn’t even know what it meant. Until suddenly, I did.

      The last strength in my body was used to clench every single muscle in place as I stiffened like a steel pole.

      His gaze flashed down to me. It’s not for you.

      Sorry? that deep male voice asked.

      I wasn’t talking to you, Jeff. The answer is, yes, I have Gina.

      But do you have the other one? Alicia? His voice dropped down in a growl. I didn’t know who Jeff was, but based on his vocal range, he sounded like a really pissed off baritone opera singer.

      I’m afraid she managed to get away.

      Jeff swore. I wouldn’t translate exactly what he spat, because damn was it colorful. Just as long as he doesn’t have a new one. Call me when she’s ready to meet us. With that, Jeff ended the call.

      We reached the back of Varn’s car. Before he could place me down in it, I gripped a hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes. What was that? Why does that guy want to speak to me? And why did you call him a prosecutor?

      Because he is one.

      I’m….

      You’re not in trouble.

      So why do you want me talking to a prosecutor? And how—

      His lips twitched ever so slightly. You want to know why I’m working with the DA considering, according to the papers, at least, only several days ago, they were investigating me?

      Yeah, I did want to know that. Maybe now wasn’t the exact right time to question, considering I was still in his arms and he was leaning over to place me in the back of his car. But screw circumstances. This was a question that had been niggling at me for a long time.

      My attitude toward Varn completely hinged on what I’d read in the paper. So it had to be right, didn’t it?

      As I’ve already told you before, I work with the DA. I have been working with them for some time. The investigation was a sham. I was attempting to lure someone in. It failed. So the investigation is over. My assistance for the DA will now be in the public sphere. I have nothing more to hide.

      With that – and with one damn intense look right into my eyes – he placed me in the back of his car.

      I groaned. I grabbed my shoulder, soon letting my fingers drift down to my stomach, then up to my cheek, then down to my back. My entire body felt broken, scratched, and torn to shreds. I didn’t even want to look at my arms. They’d been bitten so many times, they looked like pincushions.

      Varn took off his jacket. He gently placed it over me.

      That’s when I realized I was cold.

      Cold and… God, how to put this? As a vampire, like I’d already said, smell was my strongest sense. But you never really lack scents, do you? It isn’t like warmth – it isn’t something you require to stay alive. But as soon as he furled his jacket over me and I caught a hint of his scent, I realized I’d lacked it for so long. It was engaging on every level. And importantly, it tore my mind off my pain.

      For a few seconds. Then I got a mighty distraction. He leaned down on one knee. I was propped up just inside the front door. I was close enough that as he got down on his knee outside, his neck was right there. And yeah, the proximity of his neck was by far the most important factor.

      My gaze locked on it.

      He didn’t have to say anything. I knew exactly what he was offering me. My gut suddenly tumbled in freefall. I did not, however, reach my mouth forward, let my canines push out, and bite him.

      My stomach kicked and tumbled, and my every vampire sense told me to do it, but instead I gazed at him. I have too many questions.

      And I will answer them. You need time to listen to them. Which is not something you’re going to have unless you eat. I’m surprised you’re still conscious, he added.

      Was that a slight proud smile flicking over his lips? Maybe.

      It didn’t matter if he was impressed by the fact I was still conscious – I wouldn’t lean forward and drink. I had spent too long forbidding myself from drinking his blood – even if I had reneged and snacked on that vial of blood earlier.

      I—

      It’s all right. It doesn’t mean anything, he added. It was seemingly out of the blue, and yet, it was exactly what I needed to hear.

      It didn’t mean anything? If I reached in and drank from his neck on the side of the street, with other people watching, it wouldn’t mean anything?

      If I gave into my greed around him – a greed that was much more powerful than my hunger toward anyone else – it wouldn’t mean anything?

      I could give in to my heart, just this once, and it would be irrelevant?

      He looked at me once more, then he nodded.

      So I did it. I pushed forward. I wouldn’t say it was just greed that shoved me forward. There was a lick of passion somewhere in my gut. It rose high, commanding my muscles, forcing me to snap around his neck.

      I might technically have no energy, but somewhere inside me, there had to be strength. I used it now. I gripped his shoulders.

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