Thicker Than Water Series by Ann-Katrin Byrde

The origin story of the dhampirs...Witches. Vampires. Sex. And the start of a chain of events that would be centuries to come to fruition.10.000-word short story taking place approximately a thousand years before the events of Thicker Than Water Book 1. Knowledge of that book is not required to enjoy this one.

Other parents give their children toys and party games for their birthday. My dad gave me and my siblings wooden stakes and flash grenades. To protect us from vampires. From the moment he adopted us, he warned us about the dangers that lurk in the dark. Obviously, I thought he was crazy. Vampires aren't real, and I was already enduring enough panic attacks without buying into Dad's insane ideas. But then I met Talon... moreOther parents give their children toys and party games for their birthday. My dad gave me and my siblings wooden stakes and flash grenades. To protect us from vampires. From the moment he adopted us, he warned us about the dangers that lurk in the dark. Obviously, I thought he was crazy. Vampires aren't real, and I was already enduring enough panic attacks without buying into Dad's insane ideas. But then I met Talon. Talon has fascinating scars and a mouth I want to kiss and a body I want to feel--and fangs. Vampire fangs. Suddenly, the weapons Dad gave me start looking real useful.Only I don't want to fight Talon. I want to feel his teeth on my neck. I can't explain it. He makes my knees goes weak. I know it's wrong, but it feels right.It feels like destiny. When Talon bites me, I forget everything, even that he is a monster. Even that I shouldn't be falling for him. Even that his coven wants me dead. less

I used to think vampires were the stuff of fiction. Now my brother has a baby with fangs and there's bottle of blood in our fridge, so obviously, I was wrong about that. It's not the only thing I was wrong about, either. I'm a nerd, I'm supposed to be smart, but honestly? I'm starting to realize I can be pretty darn clueless.For one, I never realized that my best friend was in love with me. Not until after he died in a vampire attack. To protect me.His death shattered my whole world... moreI used to think vampires were the stuff of fiction. Now my brother has a baby with fangs and there's bottle of blood in our fridge, so obviously, I was wrong about that. It's not the only thing I was wrong about, either. I'm a nerd, I'm supposed to be smart, but honestly? I'm starting to realize I can be pretty darn clueless.For one, I never realized that my best friend was in love with me. Not until after he died in a vampire attack. To protect me.His death shattered my whole world. Seeing him again is like a miracle.Even if he has fangs now.Even if he doesn't remember his own past--or me.His new name is Crimson, and he's not who he used to be. I know that, really, I do. But I have to believe that I can remind him of all the memories we shared, all the years we spent together, geeking out over our favorite games and TV-shows.Because when he kisses me, I feel whole again.I don't get it. I've been straight my entire life.But maybe that's just one more thing I was wrong about? less

Do vampires deserve love?I should have died, the night I got stabbed. Instead, I was reborn as a vampire. New name, new identity--new master. My sire treated me like his pet. It was rough, at first, but I learned to adapt, learned to please him. Learned to follow every one of my sire's commands.Now he's gone, killed by a pack of mortals. Mortals who seem to think they've rescued me. One of them, Jared, claims that he knew me back when I was mortal too. I'm not the person I used to be, though... moreDo vampires deserve love?I should have died, the night I got stabbed. Instead, I was reborn as a vampire. New name, new identity--new master. My sire treated me like his pet. It was rough, at first, but I learned to adapt, learned to please him. Learned to follow every one of my sire's commands.Now he's gone, killed by a pack of mortals. Mortals who seem to think they've rescued me. One of them, Jared, claims that he knew me back when I was mortal too. I'm not the person I used to be, though. Truth be told, after three years with my sire, I'm barely a person at all.But Jared is stubborn. He doesn't seem to care how broken I am, and I can't resist him. He makes me feel things I didn't know I could feel anymore. He makes me want things I shouldn't want. He makes me feel like maybe I have something to live for after all.If only I could break my sire's hold on my mind. less

The fourth and final book in the Thicker Than Water series. I've never been in love. Never wanted to be, either. Love was always for other people. This vampire doesn't seem to get that, though. No surprise, he's only thinking with his little brain, after all. Again and again, he keeps trying to get into my pants. Again and again, I shoot him down. It's almost like a dance, like a game we play. Until he risks his life to save me and things become too damn real... moreThe fourth and final book in the Thicker Than Water series. I've never been in love. Never wanted to be, either. Love was always for other people. This vampire doesn't seem to get that, though. No surprise, he's only thinking with his little brain, after all. Again and again, he keeps trying to get into my pants. Again and again, I shoot him down. It's almost like a dance, like a game we play. Until he risks his life to save me and things become too damn real. Until I find myself craving his bite, the feeling of his teeth on my skin. I don't know what to do about these foreign feelings, but I can't ignore them. I don't want to ignore them. Problem is, I've seen him die in my dreams. Now I've got to find a way to change the future, because one thing's for sure: he may be a pain, but he's mine--and I'm not letting go. less