Page 1 of Outcast Island

CHAPTER 1

MAGNUS

Pathetic.

That’s the only way to describe the Vampire Alpha on his knees begging for his life at my feet.

I let him plead even though there’s nothing he can say that’ll change his fate. His doom is as certain as the crunch of dead leaves beneath my boots and the moonlight filtering through the dense island tree cover.

The mild breeze does nothing to temper the molten desire tokillrunning through my veins.

A fire burns inside my chest, and pain radiates through my jaw. My fangs are longer than usual. They’re like a raging hard-on that won’t go away until I’ve sunk them into warm flesh, ripping and biting until the deed is done.

One death might not even be enough tonight. But that’s okay. I have other tactics to stem my needs.

Beg for your life,I mentally demand. He can’t hear me, but my power as a Vampire Alpha works on the sheer force of my dominance. It extends beyond me in a tangible wave and makes him stiffen as I snarl. I keep going until he bows his head in the submission I require.

I almost feel sorry for the vampire. But drawing out the kill helps my little rage problem.

Yes,I think as a refreshing wave of coolness sparks inside my soul. It only lasts for a moment, but this is how I temper the growing fire that will consume me whole if I ignore it.

I’ve tried to pretend the urge doesn’t exist. I let it grow too large before, and I nearly paid the price.

That’s why I am on Outcast Island. No one marked me for exile.

I did it to myself.

And because of my choice of exile, I know my victim deserves this humiliation before he dies.

Only the worst of the worst end up on Outcast Island. Meaning this vampire is a ruthless killer.

Perhaps I am, too, but there’s one thing I don’t share in common with the assholes who are exiled to this blood-forsaken place.

I protect the innocent.

Even if that means protecting them from me.

“You can have my rations!” he says, as if I care for the cold blood that Alpha Fare will give this worthless piece of shit. Sure, it might be Vampire Omega blood that’ll better sustain me, but I have my own means of procuring blood when I need it.

Only, leaving the island requires that my rage levels be at their lowest for me to safely venture out. My urges seem to climb to new heights every day, requiring more and more blood and violence until I feel like myself again.

Hence my little playtime with this asshole here.

“Why would I want your rations?” I ask as I slowly crouch. My leather boots creak as I settle and crunch more of the dead leaves beneath my heel. I grip his hair and yank his head up so I can see his face. His black eyes stare back at me with panic anda little bit of insanity that comes with a vampire who has gone without blood for too long.

He doesn’t try to run. He knows who I am and why I’ve targeted him. Alpha Fare might run this island, but we have an unspoken agreement. If any of his men disappoint him, or challenge him, they are marked.

This time not for exile, but forme.

The mark is easy to point out. If a vampire has Alpha Fare’s blood on him, he’s fair game.

I could scent the stench on this vampire a mile away.

Another reason he doesn’t run is that he knows the predator in me will take over if he does. I’ll rip his spine from his body and gnaw on it like an appetizer before he’s taken three steps.

And he wouldn’t get very far in his current state anyway.

He’s hungry. So am I, but that seems to make my magic stronger with its need to dominate and bend everyone and everything around me to my will.

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