Birth of a Vixen (Shadow Faith Book 1)

by Colleen Tews

  I laughed that gleeful laugh one does after exhilarating sex. “I don’t know. It is kind of early still. Plus I’m sure you have places you have to be.”

  He groaned, throwing his arm across my waist. Raphe snuggled his face into my hair. “Don’t talk like that.”

  “Why not?” I poked his side.

  “Because I do have a meeting tonight with Meisha and Grump, and I don’t want to go. I want to stay here with you.”

  “Are you meeting with them to talk about Lucian?”

  He rolled away onto his back again and stared up at the ceiling. “Yes. Damn it, I really hate that guy.”

  “Just think, you won’t have to worry about him too much longer if you can figure out how to stop him in your meeting tonight.” I rolled onto my side, draping my arm across him. I kissed his forehead. Then kissed his cheek, his chin, neck and continued down his chest.

  “Oh man.”

  I eased my body over his body, straddling his legs as I worked my mouth further down. “Then again.” I whispered across his sensitive chest. “You could blow off the meeting and stay with me all night.”

  “I could.” My lips reached his inner thigh. I traced the edge of his inner hip joint with my tongue down between his legs. “Oh god I could.”

  “You could what?” I asked before licking the lower edges of his over stimulated parts.

  “No, I can’t. I can’t” He bolted up. He gently grabbed my shoulders and set me aside. “But damn I want to stay.”

  My shoulders slumped. “Then why can’t you?”

  “Because I have to keep my promise to make sure you and the rest of the city remains safe I have to go.”

  “I understand.”

  He cupped my face and caressed me with his thumb. “You’ll come back tomorrow night?”

  “If you’ll have me.”

  His eyes widened. “Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked.” With his hand still on my face he pulled me in for a deep kiss that reminded my body of what we did. We held one another close, losing ourselves in that kiss, eager for more, but resilient enough to hold back and wait until tomorrow.

  Chapter 17

  During the drive home from Raphe’s house I called Sasha.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey Sasha. It’s Veronica.”

  “Hi. How did things go with the sheriff, or are you just heading out to see him now?” She sounded bubbly as usual.

  “I’m heading home from his place now, and I’ve got some good news and some bad news. Which do you want first?”

  I heard her sigh on the other end. “What’s the bad?”

  “I still don’t know what freaking House Raphe belongs to, but it isn’t for a lack of trying or just forgetting to ask like last night. He doesn’t know either.”

  “What? That is ridiculous. Anyone who tells you they’re Houseless is lying. He is either really, really stupid and doesn’t know jack shit about vampire society, and I can’t see him becoming sheriff if he is that dumb, or he just doesn’t want anyone to know.”

  “I’m guessing the latter.” Raphe didn’t come off to me as stupid. I could see him keeping his House a secret so no one knew his strengths and weaknesses. Although, his weakness for women was a given. “Maybe he is a Cemalian. He’s pretty enough to be and he seems to have an open fondness to the opposite sex.”

  “How much of an open fondness?”

  Unsure how much I wanted to give away to her; I kept quiet. I wasn’t sure if it was because it was none of her business or the fact I assumed she would squeal to Lucian before I had the chance to tell him. I concentrated on the icy road.

  “Veronica?” She did that slow quiet tease that most people did, girls especially, when they tried to be sly about a question. “Veronica?” She repeated. When I didn’t respond, except for the embarrassed grin on my face that she couldn’t see, she snapped. “Veronica!”

  “What?” I pleaded the question and felt like a childish schoolgirl. She had a way of making me act younger than I was. Maybe it was because I never really had a lot of girlfriends growing up.

  “What happened between the two of you?”

  I answered her question, not ashamed but reluctant. “We had sex.”

  “Did you have fun?”

  The phone slipped from my ear to cheek. “Shit.”

  “V?” Her muffled giggle grew louder as I slid the phone back into place.

  “Of all the questions you could ask me next I was not expecting ‘Did you have fun’. Of course I had fun; it was sex. Hell it was the first time I’ve had sex in over three years. Not to mention semi-kinky sex to boot.”

  “Kinky, you mean like with midgets and jumper cables and a clown suit? Oh my!” Her voice went down as her interest level went up.

  “Do you want to know the good news or not?”

  “I thought we were talking about the good news. What else could be better than you getting your groove on again?”

  I chuckled and shook my head as she laughed loudly over the phone. “I have better news for Lucian.”

  “Oh, well that is different.” That got her to sober a bit. “Because you getting it on with the sheriff may not be the best news he’s had tonight.”

  “Do you really think he would care?” I thought I knew Lucian well enough to know he wouldn’t get jealous, but her comment made me doubtful.

  “Let’s put it this way…” The phone fell silent.

  “Hello?”

  “Yeah, I’m still here.”

  “Sorry you were so quiet I thought I lost you there for a second.”

  “I was trying to think of a delicate way to phrase what I needed to say. Lucian is the most territorial vamp I’ve met to date and he really, really cares about you. I think he may actually love you. So, I don’t know how well he’s gonna take it.”

  A shiver went down my spine. It was time to change the topic to a lighter, happier note. “So the good news then.”

  “Yes. Please share.”

  “I think Raphe tried to give me his blood tonight. He had two glasses filled with blood before I arrived. I didn’t bother mulling over the taste so I don’t know if it was from a vampire or a human. I just sent it to that pocket.”

  “How is that good news?”

  Now for the question I had waited to ask. “Is there a way to know for certain the difference between human and vampire blood?”

  “Yes, but it will take a couple days. Lucian has an associate who specializes with preternatural blood types and owes him a favor. If it was from Raphe he should be able to tell us what House he’s from, too.”

  “When do you want to get together?”

  “I can swing by your place in a minute and we’ll figure something out. Thankfully we don’t need Lucian’s buddy when I retrieve it. He’s an ass. Considering all the other bastards you’re tangled with I’d like to spare you the opportunity of meeting another fucktard.”

  “Got it. Staying away from blood-testing assholes is a bonus.” I parked the car in the garage. “How do you want to handle this? Are you going to hold my hair back while I puke in a bucket?” I imagined Raphe’s blood coagulated into a gigantic ball in the base of my throat and having to upchuck. Not fun.

  “Something like that. I’ve been thinking of some ways to get it done. Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll have it all figured out before I get over there.” Her tone carried that evil playfulness that it had when she worked on my reconstructive surgery/extreme makeover. It didn’t sound good.

  Chapter 18

  A few hours later a gentle tap rapped on the front door. Lucian stood on the front porch looking as yummy as ever, if not a little agitated, wearing an open black trench coat over a woodsy brown sweater and black slacks. His golden hair hung across his shoulders. He smiled, but his eyes held a humorous disdain. The mixture of emotions must be because of what Sasha told him.

  She was in the kitchen with Albert. They were collecting tools she had in mind for the blood extraction. She had muttered somethi
ng about needing a big bucket.

  On her way over she had a break through. Instead of having me vomit the blood she planned on cutting and removing it by hand. She realized that if I were to vomit I would be using the wrong muscles. We would end up with only my blood. Thus she decided to slice my throat. I guessed my night wouldn’t be complete without an equal amount of pain to balance out the level of pleasure I experienced earlier.

  She mentioned that there was a chance Lucian would stop by. Sasha told him the good and bad news I told her over the phone, minus the sex. I appreciated the fact she kept quiet because if anyone were to tell him what I did it would be me.

  “Hello Veronica. Two nights in and I hear you are already making progress.” He removed his coat and set it on the brass coat rack next to the door.

  “Yuppers, I’ve got the sheriff under control. Things are looking hopeful. I expect to be made Commissioner soon.” I thought about giving him a welcoming hug but changed my mind just as fast. I hadn’t taken a shower since I was at Raphe’s house. I smelled him on me. I bet Lucian did, too.

  He folded his arms. “But still no word about Raphe’s House?”

  “He said he was Houseless.” Awkward as the conversation was I backed up into the living room. I swiveled on my heel and looked at anything, but Lucian. Guilty conscious, who me?

  “Don’t I get a hug any more?”

  “Of course. Sorry it’s been a little hairy lately. My nerves are still a little rattled.”

  I went back to Lucian, still standing in the foyer. I couldn’t look him in the face. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek against the cool fabric of his sweater.

  Then the world decided to take a trip down a rocky road of insanity. I heard Sasha laughing with Albert as they entered the foyer. “I knew you wouldn’t have that big of a problem with her and Raphe. Although I will say I did have a moment of doubt, but you two are way too cute to let some innocent fuckin’ spoil what ya got.”

  I became welded to Lucian’s chest. Shocked didn’t cover the ‘oh shit’ moment my thoughts rampaged through as I figured out the right words to say. In the end, there were no words only an image of me throttling Sasha.

  Without letting go. “I thought I smelled something.”

  “I fucked Raphe.” I mumbled into his sweater. Then pulled back enough to look him in the face. The moment I said it I wished I hadn’t let it slip out so matter of fact.

  He arched one eyebrow and gave a slight nod with his head. “I see.”

  “No, Lucian it-” He didn’t let me finish. He raised his hand signaling to me I stop before I said something I regretted. All I was left to do was stare up at him uncomfortable.

  He stepped away from me. I assumed it was to get away from Raphe’s scent and hoped it wasn’t because he was ashamed of me. “Veronica, I only have one question.”

  “It meant nothing I swear.” I blurted out. I didn’t know what to do or say. Somewhere deep, deep, down I knew I had lied to him.

  I figured he would be fine with anything I had to do to get Kent for him. That certainty vanished. Considering everything that had happened tonight that steadfast ball of courage I felt in my gut earlier became nothing more than a quivering mass of pudding.

  With both hands this time, Lucian gestured for me to shut up. He closed his eyes. That gentle smile never wavered which made me feel more humble and awkward. He was so hard to read. When he opened his eyes I had no clue what would happen.

  A part of him looked dead. Which was an odd way to describe the deadened glaze over his eyes considering what we were but it was as if a part of him fell away from him. “I told you before that you were going to have to go above and beyond the call of duty with this assignment. I understand what this sort of job entails. My question, if I can get it out, is; did you sleep with him before or after you believe he gave you his blood?”

  Taken aback I said. “After.”

  “Good.” He nodded. That released some of the tension from his shoulders.

  “I thought if he was trying to bind me I should act like it worked. If he wasn’t then at least he would trust me a little more after getting as close as we did. It all happened so fast. I went with the flow.” There, easily justified.

  He cupped my face, caressing my cheek with his thumb. “It’s fine. You made the right call. Now you have to be extra careful not to waiver in your affections towards him. He has to believe he is your whole world.”

  I held his hands to my face and took in what little warmth they held. “You aren’t mad?”

  “You knew I wouldn’t be.” He smiled down at me. All the frustration that lingered in his hazel eyes when he first found out was replaced with pride in me, in my work, with a small touch of concern. Or was he shielding his true feelings from me again. “We do what we have to do in order to survive in this crazy world.”

  Sasha groaned. “Now that all the lovey-dovey stuff is done can we get this party started? Some of us do have things to do this evening that don’t involve the opposite sex.”

  Lucian withdrew his hold on me. “You’re right, Sasha. We do have other matters that need attending to before daylight.”

  Albert remained in the living room while the rest of us made our way upstairs to the bathroom. The room itself was as nice as the rest of the house. A dark cream tub was set in the floor against the far wall. A large collection of glass block cubes created a picture window above it. The shower was like the one Lucian had at his place in the opposite corner. His and her sinks were to my right as I entered the room. The floor tiling was the same as Lucian’s bathroom, only bigger. When I first saw it I wondered if he had the same interior designer decorate both houses.

  Sasha set a blue bucket in the tub. “Get in the tub so there isn’t too much of a mess for Albert to clean.”

  Once inside the tub I removed my shirt so it wouldn’t get a bloodstain. It was one of the most troubling issues we vampires faced. So many wonderful clothes had to be chucked out because of awkward little stains. The worse part was when it happened in public. Try talking to a random person on the street after you fed and spilled blood from the side of your mouth onto your shirt. It was down right embarrassing.

  “Lucian, could you get me a hair tie out of the cupboard please?” I was already pulling my hair back out of the way.

  Without a word Lucian did what I asked of him. He handed me a black elastic band. “Thank you.” After it was secure I leaned over the blue bucket. “Ready when you are.”

  Sasha stood in the tub with me. She didn’t remove any items of clothing. I supposed after one reached a certain age and had financial security you stopped caring about the little things.

  She started with small instructions. “Lucian grab her ponytail and pull back her head tight. I need her neck taut.”

  He secured his fingers around the hair-tie and tilted my head back. I kept my back hunched over so everything fell into the bucket.

  “You good?” He asked with a teasing tug.

  That one little tug sent shivers down my spine to lower places. I closed my eyes reveling in the sensation. A muffled moan echoed through my tight-lipped mouth. “I’m fine.”

  “Alright you two, this isn’t the time for anything kinky let’s keep this strictly business-appropriate.” Sasha stated.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She steadied her aim. The short hairs on the back of my neck and arms pointed to the heavens in anticipation. Her free hand reached for my throat. That instinctive fight or flight sensation readied my legs for a quick escape out of her reach. I held off from making any quick movements. Lucian readjusted his stance to help. He wrapped his other arm around my waist and held me in place. I felt Sasha’s power flare to life like someone lit a match under her. Then her hand touched me and all bets were off.

  A brush of her hand, a not so gentle scrape of her nails, and my throat ripped open. Sasha reached into my neck and dug out the plump, squishy blood filled sack. It slipped and sagged in her hands, bulging
between her fingers. The rank smell of warm, old blood mixed with the fresh blood of my wound. It caught the soft updraft from the heating vent across the room. Tendons stretched and muscles strained as she pulled that artificial smooth muscle baggage out. It felt like more of my insides wanted to follow with each tug.

  Unless you were heavily medicated one should not see organs dangling outside the body. In order to cope with what I saw my mind played tricks on me. I imagined she played with a water balloon that was tied around my neck. I was not sure if I was hungry again or if I wanted to vomit.

  “Hang in there. It’ll be over soon.” Lucian said in my ear. Despite the fact that he meant well there was a primitive resonance in his voice. I felt him fight against that ancient desire to feed with every fiber of his being.

  Sasha steadied the limp sack that dangled from my throat into a careful resting position in her other hand over the bucket. With surgical precision she punctured the bag. It burst open and spilled coagulated clumps of blood into the bucket with uneasy wet slushy thumps. The smell of the old blood worsened.

  With both hands she pinched the edges of the sack close. The thin tissue mended without a scar. Then she slid it back through the gaping hole in my throat. It settled into its easily concealed hidey-hole. She healed my neck as if this had never happened.

  “Voila!” She raised her bloody arms in a grandiose gesture.

  “I think I’m going to be sick.” I whimpered with a sore throat. I stood straight and rubbed my neck. I couldn’t get past the ick-factor.

  “Don’t be such a baby. You’ll be fine.” Sasha gave my shoulder a friendly thump.

  I glared at her with one of those you-got-to-be-kidding-me-looks. Fuck this. I punched her face. She slipped back and tripped over the tub’s edge.

  Lucian snorted softly; fake coughed, and offered me his hand. He helped me step out of the tub. He pulled me in close, hugging me. I rested my head on his chest. “You’ve done well tonight.”