Hey, book bae!
Here’s the first full chapter for Diesel. Bloody Fairy goes live tomorrow! I’m dropping the link as soon as I wake up in the AM, so I highly recommend you sign up for my mailing list if you haven’t already by texting BLOVE to 42828 and confirming via email. Please note: Bloody Fairy will ONLY be available as a paperback in the holiday novella set!
Diesel —
Diesel’s cloudy-gray eyes roamed the crowded bar they were in. Something was off, and as one of the leaders in his crew, it was his responsibility to find out what. They were in Hulel, known as the Thin Line neighborhood of Ettez-Nav. In Hulel, you were more likely to find all forms of supernaturals coexisting. Sometimes it ended in peace, and others, it ended with bloodshed. That was the risk you took when you visited Hulel, but most times, it was worth it.
Standing, Diesel looked around the bar in search of what had his senses heightened. His eyes landed on the crowd of people outside the doors. Sniffing the air, his jaw clenched. Though he smelled death… he also smelled salt. Sweetness. Sea.
She was here.
Making his way through the crowd, Diesel opened the door and spread the small group of people with his arms. Sure enough, Syena was huddled inside, shivering. Her body may have shown her fear, but her face did not. She looked up at him, bright-blue eyes shining.
“She’s mine,” he claimed, pushing the red-eyed vampires away from her. Their eyes and protruding fangs were all the proof he needed that they were just seconds away from feasting on her. Had Diesel been anyone else, they probably would have tried to jump him for her. But luckily for her, he wasn’t a vampire that could easily be messed with.
With a foot of space between them, they walked away from the bar. Diesel went to the right, heading toward Fiezel—fairy territory. She didn’t live directly in the neighborhood but right in front of it. He’d be safer around them than she would be around his people. Though there had been a longstanding hatred of fairies from vampires because of the goodness they represented, Diesel always had a thing for them. Maybe it was forbidden desire or him being attracted to their sweetness, softness, and light. Whatever the case… defiling a precious fairy had always been on his to-do list, but he had yet to get around to it.
Honestly, the reward didn’t seem worth the risk. If anyone found out that he’d been with a fairy or even befriended one, he risked banishment from his neighborhood, Vulderward, or being staked. Still… when he saw Syena trapped this morning… he had to save her. Diesel still hadn’t figured out why.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Diesel scolded, voice low. “Especially alone. Where are the rest of your friends?”
“They wouldn’t come when I told them I wanted to find you.”
He looked down at her. There was about a difference of two feet between them. She was so short and tiny… yet beautiful. Those piercing blue eyes, sculpted bones and pointy nose. Full, curvy lips.
“Why are you looking for me?”
“I wanted to thank you. You saved my life.” Syena paused, determination covering her face. “I also wanted to ask why.” She looked up at him briefly, pulling her hands behind her back. The blue, thin dress she had on was spaghetti strapped and flowy at the bottom, stopping just above her knees. Its hue looked beautiful against her walnut-brown skin. Her blue hair was wet and slicked back, stopping at her underarms. “We all know vamps hate fairies, so why did you save me?”
Diesel sighed and looked straight ahead. He placed his hands in the pockets of his cargo pants. “I don’t know.” He paused for a beat. “And vamps didn’t start out hating fairies. In the beginning, we were extremely attracted to and lured toward fairies. Your blood was intoxicating to us.”
Syena smiled as she looked up at him. “I know. Not sure how that love turned into hate, but I’m sure that’s how things always happen.” Diesel nodded. “Did you want to kill me yourself? Is that why you’re taking me home now?”
The left side of Diesel’s mouth lifted into a smile as he looked down at her. When he realized she was already looking at him, he smiled fully.
“If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so this morning instead of putting you back in the water.” Syena sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. As onlookers stared at them, she stepped closer to him. “You stink.”
Her head jerked in his direction, mouth wide. “Hey, that’s not nice.”
“Well… it’s the truth. That might be why people are looking at you.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “They are looking at me because I’m walking with you… not because I stink.”
“So you know you stink?”
Diesel held back his smile as Syena’s brows wrinkled. She was clearly flustered, but in her true nature, she couldn’t get angry with him and actually disrespect him or be mean.
“I can’t help it,” she muttered. “I’ve been washing all day, but it won’t come off.”
“Why not?”
With a huff, Syena ran her fingers down her hair. “It’s a long story.”
Diesel shrugged. “I got time.”
“Okay,” Syena agreed quietly. “I’ll tell you when we get to the sea.”
They continued their walk in silence. Diesel often wondered why she chose the sea as her dwelling place. It was by the woods with only a small patch of white sand versus the ocean, which was closer to Fiezel, where she would have been around more fairies. Diesel could only assume it was because she was a loner, but he didn’t know for sure. It also made Syena more susceptible to encountering danger… like she was earlier.
When they arrived, Syena led him to a hidden oasis she’d built for herself on land. She pulled a small wicker basket from inside a hole she’d dug. Inside was a blanket, a few flashlights and snacks, and a couple of books. As she grabbed the blanket, Diesel did too. Before their fingers could touch, Syena pulled her hand away quickly.
“I-I could hurt you,” she whispered.
“What makes you think that?”
“I’m not like most fairies. My touch is extremely cold. I will freeze wherever I touch, and you’ll never feel warmth there again.”
A few seconds passed before Diesel said, “That must be lonely.”
She chuckled as she placed the blanket on the small patch of grass. It was perfectly sectioned in the center of the trees just before the small patch of sand and sea. The location shielded her from onlookers while still giving her an amazing view.
“You have no idea. I can only touch other fairies, which is fine, but…” She shrugged. “I’m still a loner because there aren’t a lot of aquatic fairies around here.”
“Why won’t you go to Fiezel? I’m sure there are more there.”
Her head shook. “Not my age. I prefer my space here anyway. My parents settled here right after I was born and made their own little world together. I haven’t had it in me to leave.”
Before Syena sat on the blanket, Diesel grabbed her hand. She gasped, eyes widening as she looked down at their connection. Her touch did immediately cool his hand. Ice patches seeped through his skin, but they instantly closed because of the warm fire inside of him. Syena stared at their connection in awe, making him smile. Diesel couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled from such small things.
“You can’t hurt me, Syena,” he vocalized, though that was clear. “And… you’re safe with me too.”
Not only did he have instant healing capabilities, but his naturally warm immune system counteracted her cool one.
Her throat cleared quietly. “I see.” Syena gently pulled her hand from his and sat down.
Sitting next to her, Diesel stared at the side of her face. She avoided his eyes as she blushed. Unfortunately, his body was reacting to her beauty and shyness. His dick was getting hard, and he had to remind himself this night wouldn’t end in sex. It was risky enough to be seen walking with her.
“So… Why does someone as beautiful as you smell like literal shit?”
Syena giggled. “I’m in my last life cycle, Diesel.”
This was the first time she’d ever said his name, and it made his heart skip a beat.
“So you know who I am?”
“Of course. You’re very popular. Not only do you run with a tough crowd, but you do a lot of stuff with the council. I’m surprised you know me.”
“You’re the most-beautiful being in Ettez-Nav.” He paused, waiting for her eyes to find his. “Of course I know who you are.”
Syena smiled and licked her lips. “That was very sweet. I didn’t know vampires were capable of saying such things.”
“I’m not the average vampire, but shit, your beauty is no secret… evident by the group of vamps that were ready to devour you at the bar.”
Her hand slid down her silky hair. “You’re… very handsome too. I know we’re supposed to stay away from each other, but I’ve always wanted to talk to you.”
“Here’s your chance.”
Her head shook as she looked toward the stars. “I can’t even take advantage. All I can think about is dying.”
“You haven’t prepared?”
As she released a long, slow breath, her head lowered. “No. I haven’t done nearly enough for my life to be over soon.” With a pout, she placed her elbows on her knees. “I just wish I had more time.”
“What would you do if you had more time?”
Their eyes locked. “I would definitely go above. Experience life among humans. Face my fears and go to the underworld.”
“Fears?” Diesel chuckled. “What are you afraid of?”
“Aren’t there actual monsters down there? Like… not the shape-shifting kind, but real monsters.”
He laughed harder. “I mean… yeah. But that’s not all, and as long as you don’t go in their domain and bother them, they won’t bother you. But the underworld is amazing.”
“You’ve been?” she asked, sitting up straighter with a wide smile.
“A few times.”
“What’s it like?”
“I can’t really explain it. It’s something you have to encounter. Everything is just… better. The bright is brighter, darkness is darker. The fruit and vegetables are amazing. There isn’t any technology or anything like that, so it’s peaceful. Real connection. You should definitely check it out.”
Scratching the back of her neck, Syena sighed as she stared into the distance. “That sounds wonderful.”
“What else would you do?”
“Hmm… travel. I want to get a map and fly nightly since I can’t be in the sun. Try different oceans and seas. New fruit. Meet new people and actually connect. I want to have sex.”
The last part caught Diesel so off guard he snapped his mouth shut when it fell open. “You’re a virgin?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “No, but I just didn’t have a lot of sex. I waited until I was about to get married, but he really just wanted some magical pussy.” They shared a soft laugh. “After we did it for a few months, he ghosted me, and I didn’t really try to be with another fairy since.” Syena shrugged and locked eyes with him briefly. “There’s no match for me here anyway. Maybe he’s above.”
“Or maybe he is here and he’s just not a fairy.”
Her smile dropped. “Then what would he be?”
Diesel’s hand slid down her hair. Her eyes fluttered when it lowered to her neck. Diesel gently pulled her closer. The moment their lips connected, the spark that zapped them caused him to pull away. She whimpered as he quickly stood.
At the sight of her touching her lips, he mumbled, “I gotta go.”
As Diesel charged out of the woods, he scolded himself. He should have just made sure she got back safely and left it at that. Talking to her only made him want her more. And that kiss… That kiss opened a portal in his heart that wouldn’t close until her love was there.
Not only was she forbidden… She was dying. He’d be a fool to let himself get close to her. Even with that truth, Diesel found himself thinking of ways he could help her enjoy her life before it was over—if it had to be over at all.
