The Legacy (Rosewood Book 2)

Book summary

In "The Legacy," Candra's once-secure life is upended by a shocking revelation about her true identity, thrusting her into a perilous world where even her own family poses a threat. As she embarks on a quest to confront her enemies, she crosses paths with Lazar, an enigmatic immortal with his own motives. This tale explores themes of family, unwavering loyalty, and the struggle to trust in a world built on deceit. When deception has been your constant companion, can trust ever find its way back into your heart?

Excerpt from The Legacy (Rosewood Book 2)

The brightness of the blood near Eldon’s head reminded me of a halo, a devil’s halo. I did not mourn. Why should I? The man wanted me dead, wanted Kane dead, and thought that he had done so, but we surprised him, the fool. No, I didn’t mourn, I reveled in it.

My gaze drifted to Kane; half of me celebrated, while the other half, still confused and exhausted, wondered what was next. I knew who and what I was, but not everything. Things about my life were held from me, things that I should have known, and didn’t. I was a Rosewood, at least part of me was. I felt deep down the mother I had always known, grew to love and missed, was not my true mother. How? I’m not exactly sure myself, but something inside me, something I sensed, an innate feeling that I couldn’t explain told me so, and that were where Kane came into play.

The smell of burning flesh and clothes filtered through the crisp winter air. Bits of charred clothing fibers and soot floated up, a soul of someone who was once was my relative, now gone.

I walked away.

Standing there, in the doorway, the staircase before me, dark, I wondered what was to come next. I knew, but it didn’t register in me, nothing had. All my life I’d been living a lie and I was mad. Why did they keep it from me, my Birthright? Who was I? I knew I was powerful, but how, why?

Footsteps came from behind, then arms wrapped themselves around my waist and pulled me in close. Their warmth settled my confusion, warmth that was safe, made me feel whole.

“What are you thinking? You’re so far away, where are you?” his soft voice, whispering in the dark, asked.

I wanted to cry but held back the tears. I would not show weakness, not now, not ever. I was like my father, that I knew. His power, the strength I had felt as a child, was now in me, living. I smiled. “Do you know who my real mother was?”

Kane loosened his grip around me but only for a brief moment as he took a deep breath. “No.”

I turned to face him and for the first time, I saw Kane for what he was. It wasn’t that he was my bodyguard; it was more of a union that held me fast to him, and I saw eternity in his eyes. I finally understood what the four marks meant. That realization brought inner peace, something I hadn’t had in a long time. My life had a purpose now, even though pieces of the puzzle had yet to be found, to make me whole, and that part still hurt.

Feeling my pain, he leaned in so his lips gently caressed my neck, which made the pain ebb just slightly. Before he could go further—and I wanted him to—I had to make sure I had it all straight, that nothing else was left out. To put it short, I didn’t want any more surprises.

“Let me make sure I have this straight … no, let me make sure I understand all that has gone down. You were hired to protect me … from all this.” I had to laugh, I mean, granted he did do just that, but somehow his protection seemed to have some holes in it, because I’d almost been killed, at least to my recollection, three times. “My life was in danger, as well as my parents. That’s why we had planned this trip to Europe, the one they never got to take.” I bit my lip, forcing the tears back in their place.

The touch of his hand was most comforting. Even in its coldness, I felt such warmth, that the tensions I had been feeling seemed to ebb.

“Yes, I was hired to protect you, but I also wanted you, your soul, to be mine. That part was not in the deal. You were like a jewel, rich, and expensive, something I desired and needed. No other in this world gave me what you did. Your energy was explosive, addictive. How could I stay away, even if I wanted to, even if I chose not to protect you? I had to, not because your parents asked me, but because you are and always will be my life source.” He took me over to the couch and sat me down.

“Your father’s family members were always vampires. They had come to Utica in the mid-1800, a time when the town was just taking off and land was available at a good price. Your father helped build the town and invested his money wisely, but one night, while coming home from work, he met a man.”

I was uncomfortable with the fact that he’d spoken the truth, finally, but that’s what I wanted wasn’t it—to know? He aroused old fears and uncertainties, the same feelings I had tucked away when I arrived that first day way back. I had an idea where he was going with this. The same place it had always gone to when it involved me or my family.

I held my hand up for him to stop.

“I’m not going to like what I hear, because… ” I placed my hand on his cold, hard chest. He quivered at my touch, “… it deals with me, doesn’t it?” His expression hardened and filled with dislike, as his eyes betrayed a remembrance of pain that was alive and well within him.

Those eyes never wavered from me, holding back nothing. In them burned the remembrance of a time when he was human—all of which had been taken from him.

“Thralls, as they are called, are bitten and fall immediately under his control. They are his servitors who are charged with the well-being of the master vampire and his lair during the daylight.” The contempt in his voice chilled me as he spat each word out as though it were poison.

“My parents weren’t under any control. Were they?”

The anger further hardened his features. Grasping both my arms, he forced me to look at him closer.

“Candra, don’t you see, your family had to lure other victims into the fold promising these innocents immortality in exchange for their … their unholy services. They had to go and make minions for this great plan.”

I was somewhat confused still.

Then, he handled me with such force that, before I could blink, I was up against the wall. As he glared, tension infused every part of his body and, for the first time, I was scared of him.

“Who killed your great-grandfather?” he spat out.

“Timothy… ”

“Who killed your parents?”

“Timothy… ”

“Who killed Timothy?”

“Kane, you know…”

“Who?” he shouted.

“You… ”

“Who killed Eldon?”

“We did… Kane, where are you going with this?”

He glowered at me then turned away to pace the floor. I wanted to say something but kept quiet. I knew if I didn’t, I’d be up against the wall again.

“They are looking for you.” His anger became a scalding fury so immense, that the windows began to quake.

I didn’t understand. “Why me?”

“Candra, you were never human to begin with, you’re special,” he said, more cautiously.

“How special, Kane?”

The ensuing pause didn’t bring much comfort. I felt this in him too often to know that nothing good came from it.

“I’m not sure, but from what I’ve seen so far and how I can never sense you, it would seem that you could be a Dhampir, but that’s just speculation. Your father did tell me that your mother lost the only child they could have in childbirth and he didn’t want to continue this path of destruction that his family was planning. He knew of a way to do just that, but didn’t say anything more.”

I didn’t know if I should laugh, cry, scream, or yell. It was ridiculous, absurd. Here again a new speculation: Dhampir. Whatever that was, I didn’t like the sound of it, so again I had been thrown into something I didn’t understand and yet, all of this was normal to my parents.

“It makes perfect sense!” Kane added.

“I’m glad to see you understand all this because I sure don’t!” I wanted to throw something, anything! Just give me the satisfaction of lobbing something at a wall and have it shatter─ a vase perhaps. I didn’t know who to be angry with, or at! My parents for hiding who they were or Kane for not knowing anything more? I couldn’t see the logic yet, and I hoped that maybe down the road I would.

“If I’m a Dhampir that would explain why Eldon had such difficulties in connecting with me! Okay, so is this a different kind of vampire or what?” I instantly became wide awake now that a new piece of the puzzle emerged.

“A Dhampir isn’t a Vampire, but part of one. They are known as Vampire Hunters. They have the ability to go and do things during the daylight hours and not have it affect them, the same with silver or anything hallowed. The unbelievable strength that you have, Candra, could very well be a killing machine.”

“So how are Dhampir created, that is if I am one?”

He became still and wouldn’t look at me. After a few quiet minutes, he sighed.

“Dhampirs are created when a male vampire mates with a human female.”

I paused. “But you said my mother couldn’t have any more children, so how… ”

“You’re right, she couldn’t. I’m not saying that’s what your father did.”

“What the hell are you on about? Stop being so damn cryptic and come out with it already!” Even in his old age, the man could be charmingly difficult.

Cupping my chin, he searched my upturned face. For a few seconds we just stood there, silent, and then I knew. I needed a moment to reorient myself, as my heart refused to believe what my mind told me.

“Candra, you’re making yourself all upset over something that may not be the case. It’s just a wild guess!”

“Wild guess? I know that look and you wouldn’t be saying … I mean, looking at me like that if it wasn’t true! Relations with another woman?” I shoved him hard, but not quick enough. He clutched my shoulders just as he went falling backward. Holding me still, he looked into my eyes and I let my rage show. How could he have thought such a thing? My father was an honorable man, a respected man. He’d never have done that to Mother.

“Mother! Did she know? Of course, she’d have to have known!” I searched Kane’s face for answers that weren’t forthcoming.

“Candra, if you would calm down for a second and look at things logically, I didn’t say he did that, it’s just a wild guess.” He didn’t let go, which was good because had he done so I would have punched his lights out.

I stared down at him, the anger seething well within me. Damn, where is a vase when you need one?

“Explain.”

“You’re sure? I mean, if I continue, Luv, you’ll forget about ripping me to shreds, right? I need an answer first.”

“… Yes… ” Still seething, but at a slower rate.

“The only thing I know I already told you.”

“Not helping.” Rage shot right back up.

He rolled his eyes. “Neither are you, sweetheart. Let me finish, okay? The only thing I know about Dhampirs is that they hunt Vampires. Now, from time to time your father and I have had discussions, small ones, but he did say that he hated his family, that they were becoming difficult to handle, and that he felt threatened. So, if you put two and two together, you’d see where I was going with this.” He tentatively let go of my arms and waited.

“What you’re saying is unbeknownst to my mother.”

“But I’m sure your mother knew of your father’s plans. I mean, he was a respectful man and all, right? But again, I’m not sure that is what he did! We need to find out what you truly are.”

“Fine, but humor me for just a moment. If I am a Dhampir and he had relations with another woman to create me, I am what you call a hunter of Vampires.” Feelings of disbelief, anger, and discomfort still nagged at me, but I calmed down.

“Yes…” he said hesitantly.

“And in doing so, he wants me to destroy our family and anyone else they’ve created. Correct?”

“Yes, I think we’ve hit on it. I mean, that would be logical, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Wait you said something about a Dynasty a while back.”

“Candra, your family wants to use you to create a Dynasty of powerful Vampires.”

“Do you think they know what I am?” When I straddled his hips, I got a distinct impression that he was enjoying himself.

His hands now on my thighs, he lay there so still, as if genuinely concerned for my welfare. Yeah, right. I proceeded to get off him when he dug his fingers into my legs.

Smiling, he proceeded with modest care. “I’m not sure, they might and if they do, that doesn’t make things easier on us.”

He pulled me down toward him, which I fought back, but he does have his ways of getting me to do what he wants. So, after failing miserably, I gave myself freely to the passion of his kiss, which sang through my veins. It was a kiss for my tired soul to melt into. I needed the distraction. It seemed that in the past few days, weeks even, I’d been finding interesting things about my life and I’d just come across another. Kane, distract me all you want. I will relish, and bathe in the delights you freely give and then continue my quest to finish what my father had planned for me to do … Kill.

Hours went by. I lay on our bed, watching Kane as he slept; he looked so peaceful. I trailed my finger along his strong, chiseled jawline, cool and rough.

“You want something?” he spoke seductively, as his eyes opened.

How I loved their color, so clear and blue—intoxicating.

“I already have all that I want.” Claiming my lips, he crushed me to him.

“Kane, what else can you tell me of my family?”

“Let’s not spoil it, dearest I just want to lay here with you and ravish you all night. Let me.”

Twisting in his arms and arching my body, I sought to get free. It took all my strength to stop him.

“Kane, I’m serious.”

He nuzzled my neck and shoulder. “So am I.”

“No, stop!” I shoved him aside and gave him a curt look. “Tell me now, and then you can do whatever you want all night. Deal?”

”I honestly don’t know anymore. This is where the road stops. Now it is up to us to figure this one out. Somewhere, maybe back in your so-called home or what’s left of it, your father left you some clues. I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud here.”

“Do you know why they were killed?” I know I was treading on thin ice, but these are things I needed to know.

“Unless—I’m guessing here so don’t get your feathers ruffled—but maybe they knew who you were and the only way that they could get to you was killing those who meant the most to you.”

“And if not… ”

“And if not, then we both die.”

“We both die, Kane, that’s it! They must know because … because, I don’t remember when it happened, but I met up with my grandmother.”

He suddenly sat up and true, deep concern etched his face. “When was this?”

“I don’t remember, but I ran her over, or I thought I did, and I got out of my car to look to see if she was dead, and she was dressed so oddly. Then, something—a feeling I can’t explain told me to get back in the car and drive away, fast. I got back in but couldn’t start it up. That’s when Grandmother, out of nowhere, appeared sitting beside me on the passenger seat. Kane, she made the car move on its own, faster and faster. I was losing control, I almost hit a tree!”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before? Candra, this was… I can’t believe you kept this to yourself! Don’t you … what else did she say?”

“That if I wanted to live I had to give you up. So, of course, I said I would, but Kane … you know I wouldn’t.”

“Is there anything else you have forgotten to tell me?” A shadow of annoyance crossed his face.

“I had come into Eldon’s house when I was greeted by an insane waitress. Apparently, she too was a vampire and tried to kill me.” I noticed that Kane stiffened as though I had struck him.

“Damn you, Candra. Don’t you realize how important these two events were? They know! Now I can confidently answer your bloody question and say without a doubt, they know you are a Dhampir.”

The name hit me hard, but he was right all along and I knew it to be true even though I wished it not to be. I felt like a little kid who got her hand caught in the cookie jar. “It’s not like I did it on purpose. God, every time I turned around, sneezed, or left my house, something or someone was out to get me!”

“So, when was I going to find out about this? When, tell me? When we were in the clutches of one of your insane family members’ hands, ready to get our heads broken off? Is that when?”

His eyes blackened over, fangs drawn and muscles tensing up. His vampire mode was set—set to do what I wasn’t sure, but I had angered him big time. All I knew is that he just stared me down, eyes vacant, cold, and deadly. Then the windows started to rattle, softly at first, and then the shaking intensified. I thought they would shatter, so I ducked down into a ball, covering my head waiting for the shards of glass to rain down … they didn’t. When all was quiet, I lifted my head ever so slightly and saw two black shoes before me… Kane. Then a hand reached for mine.

“Better now?” I chided him but found that to be another big mistake on my part.

“Don’t get smart with me. What you did was foolish and unthinkable. Now we’re in bigger trouble than I thought, thanks to you.”

I didn’t say anything; I thought if I kept quiet things would calm down. Kane got closer and continued his rant without batting an eye. Words flowed from his lips so easily, usually, when people are angry, there’d be some hesitation, catching of one’s breath, but not Kane. He wasn’t making things easier for me though and he probably sensed that, so he became more practical.

“I think your father wanted you to have a life that was as normal as possible, no matter what, but he also knew that things were becoming tense within the coven. That’s where I came into play. You never knew that while you were at school, I was there, watching. Then when you came back home after their deaths, I had to make myself known to you. I hadn’t realized that, in watching you, I’d become obsessed. God, you were electrifying, full of life. I never knew anyone like you, and I had to have that energy, had to have you. We connected so well, I don’t think your father realized just how much, but he may have had an idea after a while.” He paused for a moment. “I thought the surest way of protecting you was to make you one with me, body, and soul. That way no other could have you, or kill you.”

I remembered that day as if it were yesterday. Something about him connected me to him right away and it not only thrilled me but frightened me as well. Such an odd feeling, really odd. I couldn’t pinpoint it either, because I never felt that way before, but it was almost addictive and that scared me.

“Then my mother knew that—”

“She did, she had to have known it wasn’t only for her protection, but yours as well. Your father was a very shrewd man; he knew what had to be done and how to go about doing it.”

I could see he was watching for a reaction, but I gave none.

“Candra, if you want my trust and protection, you have to be honest with me and not hide things. Besides, we are wasting time, so if you will allow me one more try, I will see to your safety as I have always done. They are trying to kill you. We have to go.”

He wanted to take my hand, but I resisted.

“We’re staying. This is my home now and if they want a fight, I’ll give them one.”

“You can’t be serious. Do you realize that we could be outnumbered? I may be an old vampire, but not that old, and your family’s been around longer than me. Candra let us go.”

“I said no. I vowed when I came back that I would avenge my parent’s death and I’ve only just begun. Let the hunt begin. Then when all that is left of the Rosewoods is me, we will go. Do you know where the Rosewood Coven might be?”

“No, but I’m thinking that’s next on our agenda.”