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The large raven screamed as they relentlessly tried to reach him. Severin sealed his mind and banished all thoughts of anything human. He let the storm wind carry him wherever it would take him.

A tug on the link he kept separate from his blood family, the one tied only to his Clan, pulled him toward Earth. He landed on a thick branch at the top of a tall tree, folded the raven’s feathers close to his body, and opened the link.

“What is it?” Aside from the storm raging across the territory, silence surrounded him. Normally, he’d have rejoiced in the peace and quiet. But this wasn’t one of those times. He shifted into his human form and sighed. Seconds stretched into minutes before Uriel’s voice came through.

“Severin, why did you disappear from our link, and why did it feel as if…as if you were being killed? The Clan and I stormed your family estate as if the dogs of hell were on our asses, and those fools didn’t have a single smart thing to say. Together.” Uriel sounded like he wanted to beat the shit out of him.

Severin laughed dryly. “Sounds about right,” he agreed. “Your brother and his wife were fighting as we prepared to leave. He shoved her away and said harsh things that made her cry before she ran into the estate. Boss, you should know...Scepter said he was leaving the continent and his marriage. I sent the others off and stayed hidden, waiting to see what would happen next.” Uriel paused.

Time stretched as Severin wondered whether the other male had lost the ability to communicate. “Uriel?”

“Scepter gave your father instructions to take care of Bianca. He said he would sever their mate bond and do the same with you and the entire family.”

Severin tried to make sense of his second-in-command’s words, but he couldn’t. His brother, his best friend since before they were born, wanted to cut him off? He put his fist over his chest as a roar rattled out. The sound would’ve made the strongest wolf shiver with fear, and even a vampire would have shrunk back if they’d been close. Unwilling to allow his twin to do something rash, he flashed back to his family’s estate. The familiar scents he’d hurried home to embrace hours earlier didn’t soothe him, nor did the sweet smell of his bonded mate.

“He’s gone. Are you happy?” His father growled, stabbing a bony finger toward him.

Fuck no, Severin wasn’t happy. Fuck! How had his life gotten so screwed up in such a short time? He found his bonded mate, and now he’d destroyed his twin and their bond. So he either let Fate take away the female created for him and let his twin keep loving her, while he slowly died inside, or he took her for himself.

Yeah, he was fucked.

Chapter Two

Thana let out the breath she’d been holding, feeling exposed and fragile, her chest tight with fear that she’d cry and reveal her weakness to Severin. She shook out her hair, letting the spiked chopsticks fall onto her vanity. The sharp metallic clink as they hit the counter echoed through the room, mirroring her inner turmoil.

“Obviously, my flirting needs work.” Talking to herself had become a habit after she’d been held in isolation in a dark dungeon following her turning. She’d missed having her twin Thane around since he’d been there her entire life. The cold, dark walls became a different world as she turned the darkness into companions.

She left her bedroom and walked into the en suite bathroom without looking in the mirror. A grimace twisted her features as she ran her fingers through the long mass of hair that fell to her ass if she didn’t keep it up. She often contemplated cutting it off, torn between her desire for change and her fear of losing herself. It was stupid. As a grown female, she knew hair didn’t make her, but when she’d been held captive, they’d shaved her head repeatedly, as if the act made her less human. Gah, she hated thinking about the past. She felt the buzz in her mind, linking her to Thane on a private thread. Thana knew if she didn’t answer her twin, he’d flash to her front door. With a wince, she let his voice come through.

“What the hell is going on, Thana?” he asked. His deep, gravelly voice sounded strained.

“Nothing, brother. I just got home. I’m going to take a long, hot bath and sleep for at least eight hours.” Not a total lie, but she hoped he wouldn’t hear the slight falseness in the mind link. She felt guilty for hiding the truth from him, but it was either that or deal with his overprotective instincts.

“I buy that, but that’s not what I meant. I feel pain in my chest. It’s like a heavy weight pressing down. And before you say I’m crazy, the link goes back to you. I would know if it weren’t yours. Tell me the truth, deirfiúr beag.” Thane’s voice sounded hoarse, as if he’d been injured. Her stomach clenched at his words.

“Deartháir mòr, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m home, and getting ready to rest. I’ll see you tomorrow. No worries,” Thana said, injecting strength into her voice.

“You think calling me big brother makes me believe you? I know you, beag deirfiúr⁠—”

Thana growled, slashing her hand through the air. She cut him off before he could say more. “Enough, Thane. Please just stop and believe me when I say I am fine. You need some rest yourself. Tomorrow will be a new day to torment me.”

“Fine. I’d best see you at the club before nightfall tomorrow, or I’ll come hunting you myself,” Thane warned.

She didn’t respond with words, tossing him an image of herself preparing for bed, then severed the link. A long sigh escaped her throat the second her mind cleared of others. “Damn control freak, deartháir.”

Thana waved her hand toward the large tub. Steam rose from the massive porcelain depths. Her favorite scent, blackberry, currant, and vanilla, filled the air, shrouding the room in mist. She stripped off her clothes and tossed them into the closet, freshly cleaned and ready to wear next time.

As she sank into the fragrant water, Thana let out a sigh. “Men are fucking stupid.”

Her mind drifted back to her life before she became what many would deem a monster. She didn’t despise life as a vampire, but she hated seeing those she’d loved grow old and die.

In 1873, she and Thane were almost a quarter of a century old, too young to be dead but considered old among their peers for still being single. She’d been hopelessly in love and devoted to a noble man, saving herself for him and preparing for their grand wedding. Of course, she discovered the one she’d loved with all her being had fallen for another, and the bastard didn’t tell her until the night before their wedding. He wanted her to marry him and allow the other female to be his mistress. She, Thana, would be the lady of the manor, while the other woman would get his love. Thana would get the name and everything, the proper way of things. She’d been lucky enough to have Thane, who helped her say fuck that.

Now, she’d been a proper lady back then. Her mother wanted her to grin and bear it. Pretend all was fine and dandy. However, Thana wanted to destroy him and his new love, but Thane talked her down.

“I was the stupid one, giving what was left of my human life to mourn with a damn broken heart.” She wiped at a lone tear, feeling foolish all over again. It’s been over a hundred and fifty years, for Goddess’ sake. Now she feared she’d never find what others of their kind have—a true bonded mate who would give their life for those they loved.

She didn’t want to be stuck at twenty-five forever. In truth, she’d be over a hundred and seventy-five if she went by her natural birthdate and could count on one hand how many lovers she’d had. Now that was truly depressing.