Arizona Thunder (Vyro Creek Book 2), page 1
Arizona Thunder
Vyro Creek Series
Book Two
Natasza Waters
Sensual Romance
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Arizona Thunder (Book Two) Vyro Creek series
Copyright © 2020 Natasza Waters
E-book ISBN: 978-0-9952598-9-8
First Publication: August 2020
Cover design by Dawné Dominique – DuskTilDawn Designs
Editor – Write Right edits
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Vrykolakas Lexicon
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Arizona Squall Preview
Other Books
Message from Nat
Dedication
The differences between us are no match for love when it comes calling.
Acknowledgment
To my husband, who holds the fort while I hover over a keyboard.
Sheri Fredricks, my crit partner, you have an eye for beautiful prose.
Thank you Carolyn Shelly Depew owner of Write Right Edits, the lexicon was a brilliant idea.
Dawné Dominique, I hope your well of creativity never runs dry.
For my readers who enjoy a cup of romance with a twist of steam.
Thank you for taking the time to review my books.
Lexicon – Vyro Creek Series terms and definitions
Ágiros – Translation Ageless – Commonly called Biological vampires or Pure Bloods. (Ágiros are birthed from a human woman. The sire (father) is a Biological vampire)
Akáthartos – Translation Impure – Commonly called Second Bloods or copies. (Akáthartos are created through the process of exsanguination and blood share from another Second Blood to give immortality. Second Bloods can be identified by two narrow perpendicular ridge lines on either side of the forehead)
Anastíthike – Translation Resurrected (A human turned by a Biological vampire)
Archí – Translation Principle (One male or female chosen as the highest ranking member of the Presbuteros until their death)
B-juice – Commonly used term for stored blood versus fresh from the vein
Cuisle – Used like the endearment Darling but literally means pulse or vein
Dimiourgós – Translation Creator (A Biological or Second Blood who creates an immortal being through the exsanguination process)
Entolés – Translation Commandments (Written by the Prime Vrykolakas. A document outlining the laws of the Vrykolakas and the protection of human kind)
Grintaller Disorder – Occurs when a vampyr is blood starved. Initial warning sign is permanent aging. Some Vrykolakas use this to alter their features. If blood consumption ceases for a prolonged time the disorder progresses into the final stage which cannot be reversed and results in death.
Máthair – Translation Mother
Presbuteros – Translation Elder (Thirteen male or female Biological vampires sit on the Vrykolakas council. Can be used in reference to the term elder or the council)
Prime Vrykolakas – Legend states the Prime was the first vampyr. Responsible for writing the Entolés and creating the first Biological vampyr and the original Second Bloods.
Prostateftiká – Translation Protection (Biological warriors known as Protectors selected to participate in the mating ceremony)
Queen se Anamoní – Translation Queen in Waiting (A woman, human or immortal, who is or will become the mate of the first born male of a Biological (king) Vasiliás)
Seanmháthair – Translation Grandmother
Sire – Translation Biological father
Ταίρι – Translation Mate
Vampyr – General term sometimes used for the undead who drink blood to survive.
Vrykolakas – General term used for all vampire kind. Greek in origin. The species have two distinct strains.
Vrykolakas Hierarchy
Mate: Highest ranking Vrykolakas or human in a house. Rare in occurrence. Initially accomplished by the “mating mark” followed by the “mating secretion” injected by a vampire into his future mate. Requires a ceremony witnessed by the Presbuteros. Binds two beings for eternity. Cannot be cleaved. Generally occurs between a Biological and a human.
First Wife: Human or vampyr. Ranks above all other wives and blood slaves except for a mate. Relatively rare since the male vampire cannot break the pact. Only the female can cleave the union. In the case where there are both human and vampyr wives in a house, Vrykolakas defaults to First Wife.
Wife: Common term for human or vampyr that agrees to join a vampire’s family in a pact. Only the wife can cleave the union.
Blood Slave: Human who agrees to provide a fresh source of nourishment to a Vrykolakas.
Name Pronunciations
Aine – Awy-na
Ágiros – Ág-ir-os
Akáthartos – Ak-ath'-ar-tos
Anastíthike – An-as-ti-thi-ke
Aogan – Egan
Cian – Key-an
Máthair – MAW-her
Padraig – Paw-drig
Prostateftiká – Pro-sta-tef-tiká
Seanmháthair – Shan-a-WAW-her
Prologue
Ariana, Lynn, and Tess purchase a ranch in Saguaro Gulch, Arizona with no idea that their lives will change forever.
At the end of Arizona Lightning, the introduction to the Vyro Creek series, readers were drawn into the rising conflict between Biologicals and the Second Bloods. Both referred to as Vrykolakas, commonly called vampires, but with different abilities.
Illegal breeding nests and rogue vampires were popping up in Arizona, causing three brothers who run the Vyro Creek Ranch great concern. Mysteriously, ranchers are denied their grazing leases by the Bureau of Land Management and in danger of losing their livelihoods.
Quinn Connelly and his brothers, Connell and Donnor, wanted to protect Ariana, Lynn, and Tess from being dragged into the dangerous world of immortals. But destiny had other plans.
When Quinn and Ari investigate the BLM, they learn of a company named AIMACor. Worse, Quinn realizes the Second Bloods have gained power and wealth over the last three hundred years. He suspects it’s for one reason. Another rebellion is coming.
Connell agrees to protect Ellie Sharp, who’s abandoned at the Tucson Hospital when her mother dies of an overdose. She’s an intriguing little girl with a beating heart but shocking abilities of the Vrykolakas. Until they learn more, the Connelly brothers accept her into their clan.
Quinn was forced to take the rogue named Naomi as a wife to extract what she knew of the breeding nests and the vamp responsible. With no choice, he swept Ariana’s memories of his love for her away, and with them his heart.
Connell resists his overpowering attraction to Lynn, uncertain what his exiled wife Ivanna will do now that she’s learned of Lynn’s existence. Connell’s instincts are correct. Ivanna is a deadly threat and she won’t step down without a fight.
Tess lives with no knowledge that their handsome neighbors are vampires. But soon that will change.
Word of the Second Blood rebellion is spreading, and reinforcements are on the way. Saddle-up for Arizona Thunder and a wild ride into book two of the Vyro Creek Series.
Arizona Thunder
Vyro Creek Series Book Two
By Natasza Waters
Chapter One
The bell clanged above the door of the Tiny Trading Post. Tess grinned at the past proprietress of the store. “Morning, Mrs. Dowland, how have you been?”
“I’m wonderful, ladies. I spend my mornings with my granddaughter, and I have two knit blankets that should be finished by the end of September.”
Ari refolded a set of bath towels and nodded a hello. Her mind was on the barn. It had been five weeks since she’d seen Quinn. Connell dropped by earlier to let her know the barn would be finished today. When she asked about the oldest Connelly brother, he had told her Quinn was on a project twenty miles away. A Vyro Creek foreman named Bill had been put in charge and he’d done a fine job of keeping the men working and listening to her ideas.
She wanted to get back to the ranch because the men said she should drive in the last nail. Ari and the girls had put out an invitation to the entire area to come celebrate tonight. She wanted to thank Quinn personally. He’d be impressed with the changes.
“You know, I’m not one to gossip,” Mrs. Dowland began, but she and Tess knew the woman adored sharing news from ranch to ranch. She was making her rounds and that meant the gossip had to be juicy.
Tess’s big green eyes rounded. “What? Do tell.”
“Rumor is the oldest Connelly brother is finally off the market.”
Course, Connell and Lynn’s relationship was blooming, but they were taking things slow. Tess and Donnor had an off again, on again relationship since the blonde was doing her best to keep her wits about her. She’d admitted to Ari that Donnor was the one man who posed a real danger to her maintaining a bachelorette status.
Mrs. Dowland had both their attention now.
“Quinn?” Tess asked.
“Yes, that handsome rogue has finally been caught. I dropped by last night to offer my congratulations to the couple. His amore is absolutely stunning, but I didn’t expect anything else, considering Quinn is a very fetching bachelor.”
“Wow, that’s, um, great news,” Tess said, and shot a worried look at Ari. “Where did he meet her?”
“Kind of a love at first sight thing, as I understand it. They met in Mesa. She was working for a contractor and Quinn dropped by for some equipment. They’re already engaged. Least, that’s what Naomi told me. That’s her name. She’s so incredibly beautiful.”
Ari’s heart squeezed tight for no other reason than she was glad someone as nice as Quinn had found someone special. “Well, we wish them years of happiness.”
She finished folding the towel and stashed it on the shelf in color coordinated fashion, then reached down into the box to unwrap another of the plush bath towels. She held the soft fabric to her chest for a moment, as if it could sooth her pounding pulse and give her comfort.
“Mrs. Dowland, you’re bringing your family to the barn raising party tonight, aren’t you?” Tess asked.
“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it. I’m the president of the ladies committee for Saguaro Gulch as you know, and we’ve arranged for everyone to bring tables and a little potluck. We’ll be there an hour before the party to help you set up.”
Ari nodded and put her attention back on folding. Once Mrs. Dowland left the store, Tess strolled to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Tess paused. “His loss.”
“Don’t be. I’m fine.”
“I don’t think you are.” Tess tugged the towel from Ari’s fingers and nudged her to turn and look at her. “I know we haven’t seen eye to eye on many things. You put up with me because of Lynn. And…maybe I do the same, but as much as you dislike me sometimes, I consider you my dearest friend. You’re not the kind of woman who likes to share her feeling, but I know you had them for Quinn. There’s always been a fire that burned in your heart for him, hasn’t there?”
“Nah. He’s a good guy. Good business partner.” The fantasies she had about Quinn were wistful daydreams. He’d emailed her a couple times about the horses. All three of her mares were in foal. On the last email he’d apologized for his absence and wished her well. Quinn had never hinted at a relationship. “It’s just a business partnership.” Tears welled in her eyes. Having a severe case of the blues didn’t make sense.
Tess hugged her. “Oh, gosh, please don’t cry. You’re the strongest out of the three of us. We had a rough go with our first husbands. Doesn’t mean love is our enemy. I haven’t treated any man who’s spent time with me as anyone other than another guy who’d eventually lie to me. But I think it’s time we were a little more open to giving love a chance. Don’t you? Look at Lynn. She and Connell are so happy together. Eventually, she’s going to move out. She deserves it after all, but we do too.”
Ari swept the tears away. “I’m just happy for Quinn. He’s a nice man, and I don’t think he’s the type who would cheat on a woman once he’s made a commitment.” A debilitating ache squeezed the air from her chest as if she’d told an enormous lie.
Tess nodded. “Until love comes knocking, we’ll just keep ourselves busy. Speaking of which, Morgan called a little while ago. He said my frames are finished. I want to put them around those two displays on the wall. Would you mind getting them?”
“Sure. Is Lynn coming back for lunch?”
“No, I think she’s staying with the quilting group this afternoon. She took Ellie with her. She just loves that girl. Not to mention quilting.”
“Maybe we’ll each have a new blanket this Christmas.”
Tess’s shoulders rose. “Hope so. They’re beautiful. Speaking of which, let’s make it a working lunch. I want to show you my ideas for the Christmas decorations I’ve got planned for this place.”
“Christmas already? It’s only August.”
“Gotta stay ahead of the game.” She winked. “I really want your input.”
“Sure. I’ll drop by the hotel and grab us some lunch.”
“And, I have other big news.” She clapped her hands together. “I took your advice and hired a girl to cover the three to nine shift. She’s so sweet. Her name’s Clara, and she’ll be here today to start her training.”
Ari smiled, although she felt completely stone-cold dead inside for some reason. “That’s great, Tess. Where did you find her?”
Tess picked up the cardboard box once Ari removed the last towel. “Total luck. She’s new in town. When I interviewed her, she just struck me as a gal I could trust.”
“I’m glad. Can’t wait to meet her.” Ari tucked the last towel on the shelf.
“You were right. Lynn needs to help on the ranch, and it’ll give me time to work on the expansion of the store.”
She nodded. “I’ll head over to Morgan’s. See ya shortly.”
After picking up the frames from the mercantile and taking them back to the store, Ari walked into the eighteen eighties replica of a fine rail town hotel. Long bannisters of polished wood and dark, retro floors creaked from a person’s weight. The hotel was a quaint establishment that always smelled a little like a museum with aged artifacts. The murmur of voices and the clatter of dishes met her ears as she strolled into the small restaurant.
“Hey, Ari.” Linda, the restaurant hostess, greeted as she pulled a wisp of brunette hair from her cheek. “Box lunches again?”
“Two, please. I’ll have whatever the special is and Tess will have a—salad.”
Her heart danced in her chest when she looked across the dining room and saw Donnor and the oldest Connelly brother sitting at one of the round tables closest to the front window framed with a lace curtain, Quinn’s gaze already on her. He nodded politely, and she walked to their table.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
“Ari, how are you?” Donnor asked, then glanced at his brother.
“I’m good. Working hard.” She paused, clasping her hands together. “Quinn, I hear congratulations are in order.”
