GIFT OF BLOOD was my first try at a vampire book. I wanted to do my own breed of vampires, however, so I created a new race called Vectors. They do drink blood but they are not bound by the usual vampire rules. Sunlight bothers them but really only during puberty. They are not immortal in that they can be killed by various methods. I hope you enjoy visiting Jaeger as much as I did.

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CHAPTER ONE - GIFT OF BLOOD

My life had been the sun but now I have no choice to be who I am. After all these years I notice that to the lonely moon there are also stars in the sky. A single, bright star will affect my existence. Rhiannon. She shows me that the moon is actually not an enemy but a companion.

—Toni Griffing

Jaeger looked down at his hands. They were shaking. Hell, his whole body was shaking. His gaze moved to the unconscious young boy sprawled on the ground. This was insane; totally mad. Jaeger raked one hand through his hair and took several steps away.

His gaze swept over the surrounding fields. Grazing land, mostly, but a thick copse of maple trees stood on either side of the lane, plunging it into cool, blue-black darkness. The trees had hidden Jaeger, and he spooked the child’s horse when he stepped into the open without warning. Now, guilt raged through him as he once more approached the unconscious youth.

How could I have done this? He’s a child, just a child. Still…

He hunkered down beside the boy and ran one long, slender finger along the child’s neck. The skin was soft and warm; the vein pulsed with each heartbeat.

Jaeger’s mouth watered at the thought of the blood surging through it, back and forth, never ceasing, giving life…

A soft moan startled him. He drew back as the boy roused.

“What happened?” The child’s voice was groggy.

“You fell from your horse,” Jaeger said with a calm he didn’t feel.

The boy glanced at the horse grazing nearby. “I’ve never fallen before. “

“Perhaps my sudden appearance alongside the road frightened your animal.”

 The boy shot another quick glance at the horse, then looked back at Jaeger. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“I’m but a passerby.”

“You’re trespassing,” the boy snapped, getting unsteadily to his feet.

Jaeger lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh? I saw no boundary signs.”

The boy sneered at him. “You imbecile! Everyone knows these lands belong to Lord Dain.” He brushed his leathers clean with disgusted short strokes.

“Ah, Lord Dain. Then you must be his heir, Fellowes.” Jaeger regarded him thoughtfully. He was a nice-looking boy with a mop of golden hair and wide, expressive brown eyes. His clothing was expensive, his boots of the finest leather. He wore a gold crest ring on his smallest finger and some sort of gold medallion about his neck. Overall, he seemed the picture of innocence. So, his next words surprised Jaeger.

“You’re not as stupid as you look,” he said.

Jaeger drew a slow breath, holding back his irritation. “As far as stupidity goes, I am not the one falling from my horse.”

Anger reddened Fellowes’ face. He stomped over to the horse. “Well, it’ll be the last time this old nag throws me!” He snatched his riding crop from its holder on the saddle, and before Jaeger could stop him, brought the whip down sharply against the horse’s flank.

The animal cried out in pain, attempting to dance aside, but Fellowes had a tight grip on its halter. He raised his hand to deliver another blow.

Jaeger leapt forward, seized Fellowes’ wrist and tore the crop away from him.

“How dare you!” Fellowes raged.

“No. How dare you?” Jaeger countered, his voice cold and soft. “The horse was not at fault here. She deserves no punishment.”

Fellowes struggled against Jaeger’s grip. “She will be punished if I say she will. She’s my horse.”

“No longer.” With his free hand, Jaeger removed the horse’s halter and loosened the saddle girth. A sharp slap on the rump sent the animal bolting, rearing, and kicking to escape the saddle. It hit the ground with a solid thud, and the mare tore away into the surrounding grasslands.

Fellowes gasped in open disbelief. “Who the hell do you think you are? My father is going to hear about this. And when he does, your life will be forfeit.”

Jaeger paused, his grip on the boy’s wrist tightening. “No, I think not,” he said softly, then drew the boy close, his mouth hungry for the pulsing vein and the blood therein.