The Van Wilden Chronicles Box Set Books 1-3 Read online

  Jessica Gleave

  The Van Wilden Chronicles Box Set

  Contains:

  Straight Through The Heart Book 1

  Over Their Ashes Book 2

  Taste of Revenge Book 3

  Jessica Gleave

  Copyright 2020 Jessica Gleave

  All Rights Reserved

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, real people, and real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, organizations or places is entirely coincidental.

  All rights are reserved. This book is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author. All songs, song titles, and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.

  Disclaimer: The material in this book contains graphic language and sexual content and is intended for mature audiences, ages 18 and older.

  ISBN: 978-0-6488333-0-7

  Editing by Swish Design & Editing

  Proofreading by Swish Design & Editing

  Book design by Swish Design & Editing

  Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design

  Cover Image Copyright 2020

  First Edition 2020

  All Rights Reserved

  Straight Through The Heart – Book 1

  Love wasn’t part of the mission.

  For the last hundred years, Morgana Van Wilden has worked alone. Half-human, half-vampire—a Dhampir. She is one of The Council of Order’s top agents. Recently, The Council received reports of mysterious killings in the small town of Oak Wood Hills. This development forces The Council to reunite Morgana with two of their other best agents—her parents. Along the way, the family encounters two mysterious local Daywalkers, Gareth and Alastor. Could they be the vampires attacking the humans in the woods? Complicating matters, Morgana finds Gareth alluring, sending the family of vampire agents down a more dangerous path to find their target and uncover the truth behind the motivation of the attacking vampires.

  Meanwhile, Gareth Lloyd isn’t about to let the new vampire family in town ruin the life he and his best friend, Alastor, have built for themselves in Oak Wood Hills. He can’t help but sense there’s something strange about the Van Wilden girl. But he struggles to get close enough to uncover her secret. Refusing to heed the warnings of a former tragedy he fights to keep buried in his past, he is drawn to Morgana, putting himself, Alastor, and possibly others, in grave danger.

  Over Their Ashes – Book 2

  Every family has their issues, but for vampires, they can last for years.

  Gareth Lloyd’s creator turned him into a vampire and left him to die. He has hated her ever since. Imagine his surprise when he finds out Mariza is in town. And she’s related to the Van Wildens.

  Alastor McLoughlin saved Gareth the night he turned. He can’t fathom how Mariza treated Gareth. He’d do anything for his best friend. Even kill.

  Morgana Van Wilden should have told Gareth about Mariza, but she has her own issues with her sister.

  Mariza’s arrival in the small town of Oak Wood Hills threatens to blow their mission cover, but there is a bigger problem at hand—Ragnorok and his Forest Clan have gone missing. In their search for answers, the Van Wildens discovers the reasons for Ragnorok’s revenge.

  Why couldn’t this mission have been a simple one?

  Taste of Revenge – Book 3

  Loved ones to fight for. Unexpected allies. A clan to take down. Just another day for the Van Wildens.

  Everything is going perfectly for the Van Wildens.

  The Council is on the verge of approving the eradication of the Forest Clan.

  Morgana and Gareth have put their issues with Mariza behind them and are madly in love—even making plans to travel the world together after the mission is over.

  Alastor, while he feels guilty for killing Mariza, is feeling good about being an agent. And his girlfriend, Ava, has an interview for her dream job at a big-city newspaper.

  Oscar is ahead in the mayoral campaign, which may mean he’ll be able to stay in Oak Wood Hills, prolonging his human charade a bit longer.

  Everything seems perfect.

  But when The Council’s decision comes through, everything turns pear-shaped.

  Ragnorok’s original plans may have been thwarted, but he isn’t going to let a few obstacles get in the way of his revenge against the Van Wildens, and even more importantly, bringing down The Council, especially since he now knows Morgana’s weakness.

  He’s going to make them all pay.

  Starting with her.

  Dreams are achievable. They’re within your grasp. All you need to do is take it.

  Primus Vampyrs – Born or alive vampires, originating from the old country.

  Primus Vampyr Elders – The oldest of all vampires, the first vampires to walk the earth. Each Primus coven’s leader is also their Elder.

  First-generation Primus – The first Primus children born from their Elder parents.

  Human-turned – Humans who were turned into vampires upon their death.

  Daywalkers – Vampires that wish to still live amongst humans.

  Night Dwellers – Vampires that only hunted at night and believe they are above humans and only see them as prey.

  Dhampir – Half-human and half-vampire. There is only one known Dhampir in existence.

  Apotropaic – Substance used to weaken a vampire.

  Wolfsbane – Has two uses—to weaken a human-turned vampire, and has the ability to mask a Primus or Dhampir’s presence.

  Vampire lore – The supernatural laws that governs the race of vampires.

  The Council of Order – A group run by the Primus Vampyr Elders to oversee the vampire race.

  Agents – Vampires employed by The Council to undertake the tasks of investigating whether a coven has gone bad or not.

  Clan – Name given by The Council to vampire covens considered bad.

  Coven – Name associated with vampire families.

  BATHERAS COVEN

  Batheras (nickname Archi, prefers Batheras) married to Davina (deceased)

  Their daughter: Xandria (daughter) married to Palmer (deceased)

  Xandria and Palmer’s son: Huntyr

  VAN WILDEN COVEN

  Octavius aka Oscar married to Delizera (deceased)

  Their children:

  Jonas

  Hector

  Mariza

  Oscar remarried to Vivienne

  Their daughter: Morgana

  OLDERMAN COVEN

  Gregorius married to Zora (deceased)

  Their children:

  Titus married to Nari

  Their children:

  Nardo

  Travon

  Ezra (deceased) – married to Cabrini (deceased)

  Their children:

  Dontelle (also Agnor’s granddaughter)

  Nadine (also Agnor’s granddaughter)

  Zephyr (has daughter, Clarita with Hammadi’s daughter, Laphis)

  HAMMADI COVEN

  Hammadi married to Jaelyn (deceased)

  Their children:

  Persiphine married to Endre (deceased)

  Laphis (has a child, Clarita with Zephyr)

  Walid (deceased)

  OLDERMAN/HAMMADI COVEN

  Clarita (daughter of Zephyr and Laphis - unmarried)
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  KALU COVEN

  Jelani married to Veynor (deceased)

  Their children:

  Eshe

  Yafeu (deceased)

  Ulyara (deceased)

  EYDIS COVEN

  Agnor married to Matteo (deceased)

  Their children:

  Endre (deceased) married to Persiphine

  Cabrini (deceased) married to Ezra (deceased)

  Matthias (deceased)

  GETTYBOURGH COVEN

  Cleva married to Phoenius (deceased)

  Their children:

  Palmar (deceased) married to Xandria

  Randalf

  OHANA COVEN

  Ohana (deceased) and married to Akineri (deceased)

  Their children:

  Kaiya married to Hadwyne

  Nari married to Titus

  WELLCHIDE COVEN

  Eleanor married to Leighton (deceased)

  Their children:

  Hadwyne married to Kaiya

  Dorcarthy aka Doc

  Patricia

  DOVKOSKY COVEN

  Ion (deceased) married to Theresa (deceased)

  Their children:

  Bronten (deceased)

  Dieter (deceased)

  Vera (deceased)

  This book has been written using US English but contains some euphemisms and slang words that form part of the UK/Australian spoken word. This series is set in various countries of the world including the UK and Australia.

  Please remember that the words are not misspelled, and form part of the every day UK/Australian English lifestyle.

  If you would like further explanation, or to discuss the translation or meaning of a particular word, please do not hesitate to contact the author—contact details have been provided, for your convenience, at the end of this book.

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Glossary

  The Primus Vampyrs Blood Lines

  A Note For The Reader

  Table of Contents

  Straight Through The Heart – Book 1

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Over Their Ashes – Book 2

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Epilogue

  Taste of Revenge – Book 3

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Other Books by Jessica Gleave

  Acknowledgments

  Connect With Me Online

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Morgana spotted her target. A blur of brown and pale-blue streaked past her hiding spot.

  The chase was on.

  Dirt, the color of reddish-brown brick, crunched under Morgana’s feet as she chased after the human-turned vampire. The Outback sun beat down on her. She could already feel the burn of its rays spreading across her partially human skin. Before leaving the house she’d been renting, she had lathered on sunscreen, but her skin was still wilfully reacting as if allergic to the sun. I really don’t want to get burned by the sun right now, she thought, mid-stride.

  She’d woven her long, dark brown hair into a French braid to avoid loose strands whipping across her face while running. At the speeds she can reach, it’s painful to have her hair lashing at her face. To avoid overheating—because unlike other vampires, she can still feel different temperatures—she had dressed in a white singlet over khaki shorts and hiking boots.

  Lara Croft, eat your heart out.

  Though as she ran, she realized the boots were clunky and heavy, not an ideal choice. Her feet were going to be sore later on. She chastised herself, you should know better by now. The bright sun rays forced her to squint her eyes. She scrubbed a hand over her brow. Damn, I should have worn sunglasses as well, or a hat, at least.

  Morgana and the vampire weaved through sandstone cliffs rippled with color like petrified orange sherbet melted across the region called James Range in central Australia. If she had the time, she would have stopped to appreciate the magnificence of the terrain. But this vampire was quick. He darted in and out of the sparse shrubbery, bounding over the tall rocks. There was no place for him to hide out here.

  The local Aboriginals had a spec
ial understanding of this vampire. But they wouldn’t divulge to her any details, no matter how much she threatened or demanded. They didn’t trust her with their sacred stories. She couldn’t blame them. She was different from them, after all. Even if she could pass off as a human, she suspected the tribe elders sensed her secret. No matter, Morgana had other ways of rooting out information.

  One of their ‘dreaming stories’ about a creature who swallows its victim whole then regurgitates it was very telling. The way her target fed, it certainly looked like this was the same creature.

  He had to be one of the nastiest creatures Morgana was ever tasked to spy on. He would completely drain the blood of his victims while feeding them his blood to keep them alive—barely. Once the victim had replenished their own blood, he would hunt them down again and again. This draining and replenishing process gave the victims a bloated appearance.

  After her numerous reports, The Council had concluded he had to be stopped. He was ‘feeding’ on far too many humans than were necessary for a single vampire to survive. A gluttonous beast, his actions had also begun to attract the attention of the local human police.

  From the intelligence she had gathered, this vampire had once been part of the local Aboriginal tribe, but now he fed on his fellow tribesmen. Unfortunately, she had been unable to determine which of the other vampires in the area could have turned him. Whoever it was, had taught their protégé cruel ways to feed.

  Her mind had wandered, and the perp was increasing the distance between them.

  “Not today,” she growled.

  The vampire looked back over his shoulder when she spoke. He flashed a cheeky grin, then raced through a dry creek bed toward the caves hidden in the cliffs. Morgana could sense the presence of more vampires as they neared the caves. He was leading her into an ambush.

  What he didn’t realize, though, is she knew it was a trap.

  She glanced down at her waist—still plenty of stakes left in her holster. Each had been whittled out of the native gum trees growing in the area. Sometimes it was easier to utilize the resources in each country while on her missions. Besides, it looks mighty suspicious trying to get hundreds of wooden stakes through customs. And she didn’t have the time or patience to be stopped and interrogated under suspicion of terrorism.