by Cynthia Eden
“No! Karen, dammit, no! Talk to me!” She couldn’t go, not yet. “Who took Cammie?”
“C-cl-aws, t-teeth…like…” Blood gurgled past her lips, “a-animals.”
Karen wasn’t like him. She didn’t know about the supernatural beings that roamed the earth.
Or, rather, she hadn’t known, until they attacked her.
Claws and teeth. Had it been shifters? Vampires? Demons?
“L-laughed.” She was shaking now. “B-bit me and l-laughed.”
The full moon shone brightly down on them. He could see the marks on her arms, her legs. Her neck. Very gently, he turned her head to the side.
He knew that bite.
Vampire.
“Did they say anything?” he demanded as the fear turned to rage. “Anything?”
“Th-that…she’d…g-gif–t…N-Nas-sor…”
Her gaze drifted from his. Her eyes looked up at the moon. At the heavens. “F-forgi…” Her words ended in a final gasp for breath.
Her eyes were open when she met death.
“No!”
Maya dropped Adam’s hand. Dammit, she’d hadn’t wanted to see that woman’s last moments.
They were too much like her own.
Only the bastard who’d attacked her had managed to get a few drops of his blood into her mouth. She’d tried to spit them out, but, well, since she was now one of the undead, that hadn’t exactly worked for her.
“I’ve been telling you the truth.” Adam’s voice was calm.
She gave a jerky nod. She hadn’t really thought the guy was lying, not about the girl anyway, but she’d needed to test their link.
“Did you see enough?” He gritted.
“Yeah.” Enough to know they were going to have one hell of a fight on their hands. Nassor. Sonofabitch. She’d hoped Adam had been wrong about him.
There weren’t many things in this world that scared her, but Nassor was at the top of her list.
She’d been aware of him from the moment she’d woken as a vampire. It had started as a vague stirring in the back of her mind. A need to go somewhere, to search.
To find him.
In vampire land, the hierarchy was simple. The Born vampires, those rare bastards who’d been born with a thirst for blood and a curse of immortality, were the rulers. The strongest. The Born or the Blood because the power of vampirism was literally in their blood. Physically, psychically, they were the alphas. No one fucked with them—not L10s, not shifters. No one.
You didn’t mess with a Born unless you wanted to die. Slowly. Very, very painfully.
The Born were the ones who’d spread the disease of vampirism. Because, yeah, she thought of it as a disease. Made her feel less like a horror movie freak. They’d bitten, exchanged blood, and infected thousands.
But the thing about the Born, whenever they created a new vampire, a Taken, well, that vamp was tied to the Born Master. And so was that Taken’s next changed human, and the next and the next….
New vampires discovered that in addition to the perk of living forever, they had a not-so-nice voice whispering in their heads. The Master’s voice. They could feel the Master. Feel him calling when he wanted them.
So far, Maya had been able to ignore that call.
She had a feeling that was about to change. “You know about me, don’t you?” she asked Adam. “You know Nassor created the bastard who changed me.” Tyrus. He’d been the one to attack her in that alley. He’d been old, according to the gossip she’d heard. Two centuries. And one of Nassor’s favored assassins.
“Yes.” That deep emerald stare of his never wavered. “I know you can take me to him.”
“Not that simple, Slick.” Oh, if only. “Nassor’s been in the ground for the last couple of years.”
A faint line appeared between his brows. “What?”
“He’s in the ground. Healing.” Or so the whispers said. “The guy was injured, pretty damn bad from all accounts, a little less than five years ago.” If the rumors were true, he’d gotten a stake through the heart and his head had been partially severed by a hunter.
He’d lived through the attack and killed the hunter. And the hunter’s family.
Nassor scared her. A lot.
“His injuries were so severe,” and well-deserved in her book, “that human blood wouldn’t heal him. He had to seek the darkness.” Total darkness. Deep in the earth. “His body’s been regenerating since the attack.” So the tales went.
“Are you certain? Absolutely certain?”
“Yeah.” Because the moment the ground had sealed over him, that damn call in her head had dulled to the faintest of drones and she’d been able to stop fighting the near constant need to head east.
To go to him.
Not that she was planning to ever just priss over and join his psychotic little army. Sure, she felt the call, but Maya had promised herself that if she ever gave in to the summons, she’d go to kill Nassor, not to pay homage to him like some mindless sycophant.
“You can find him, though, can’t you? You can track him. Find his resting place.”
“Yeah.”
He exhaled.
“But it’ll be guarded by his best assassins, and I don’t think it will do us any good—”
“What the hell? He’s got Cammie! We can—”
“He doesn’t have her yet.” She knew what the vampires in the vision had meant when they’d referred to Cammie as a gift. Every Born Master awakening was a sacred event in the vampire world.
Such an event would deserve a very fine gift.
What finer gift was there than the innocent blood of a child?
“The vampires that attacked, they haven’t delivered the girl to him yet.” Because the bastard was still entombed in the ground.
But she had an unfortunate feeling he’d be rising, soon.
That droning in her head, it had started to get the tiniest bit louder.
Not a good sign.
But, on the plus side, at least the girl was probably still alive. Maya really hadn’t been expecting that development. Plans began to race through her mind.
“How do you know that he doesn’t have her?” Adam asked quietly.
“Because I know he’s still sleeping.” Getting stronger, more powerful every day. “And that’s a very good thing for us.”
Adam shook his head. “How the hell is that a good thing? You can’t track the other vampires—”
“Sure I can.” Who did he think he was talking to? Some rank amateur? “I can’t feel them muttering in my head, but, believe me, there is one thing in this world that I know how to do very well…and that’s hunt.”
For a moment, hope flashed across his face. It was followed immediately by doubt. “You really think you can find them?”
For a guy who was paying her two hundred grand, he sure seemed to be lacking faith in her. “I know I can.” But while she was thinking about the cash…Maya pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket and tossed it to him. “Before we track down those vamps, there’s the little matter of my fee.”
He’d caught the phone automatically in his left hand.
Maya held up a slip of paper. “I need those funds transferred to this account.” Then they’d go hunting.
“Promise me that you aren’t bullshitting me.” The edge of desperation that she heard in his voice gave her pause. “Promise me that you can help me track those bastards and find Cammie.”
“Don’t worry, Slick. I’ve got connections.”
The guy still didn’t look reassured.
“I’m your best bet.” So true. Without her, well, he’d just be screwing around in the dark. But she wasn’t going to promise him that they’d find the girl. She wasn’t sure that was a promise she could keep. She’d try. Try her damnedest.
But she wouldn’t promise.
Besides, the guy should really know better than to trust the word of a vampire.
Her fingers tapped on the sofa’s armrest. “You’re wasting ti
me. If you want my help, then make the call.”
His gaze drifted to her lips. “I thought you wanted more than money.”
Ah, she did. Maya smiled. “I’ll take that payment, too, later.” She’d fed well the night before. The bagged, ice-cold blood from the hospital had been more than enough to sustain her. Sure, it hadn’t given her the wild rush that came from the blood taken straight from a source’s neck, but she’d gotten that rush when she’d sampled Adam.
The man’s taste—Hot, rich. She’d never had anything like it.
His blood, the tangy flavor, the power.
Emotions and needs had ripped through her when the first drop of his blood spilled onto her tongue. Hunger. Lust.
Sex. Orgasm.
Life.
She had a feeing that Adam’s blood could prove to be addictive.
She wondered if the second taste would be as good as the first.
Watching her, Adam slowly lifted the phone. Punched in the numbers and, after a few moments, ordered the transaction.
Maya smiled.
Time for the hunt.
“What the hell are we doing here?” Adam snapped, climbing slowly off the back of the motorcycle and glaring up at the elaborate building with its gleaming glass windows and sweeping arches.
“I need to meet a friend.” Okay, so “friend” wasn’t quite the term she should be using. Maya knew Josette wasn’t exactly going to be thrilled to see her, but she needed to ask the lady a question.
The art gallery’s parking lot was full of fancy cars. Big ones, with shiny rims and perfectly polished exteriors. Through the gallery’s front windows, she could see men and women in formal attire, talking and laughing.
Josette had sure as hell come a long way in the last six years.
Homeless to high society.
Maya admired her.
Josette pretty much hated her.
Such was fate.
Maya marched up the stone walkway, her head high. The valet approached her, frowning.
“Miss—”
“The bike stays put, dude. We’ll only be here a min—”
“You’ll be here less than that,” Josette said, her voice still tinged with the faint southern drawl she’d acquired while living in New Orleans. She stepped away from the gallery’s entrance and into the soft lantern lighting.
“Ah, Ms. Dusean, should I—”
Josette strode forward until she was approximately ten feet away from Maya. Then she stopped and ordered the valet, “Leave us alone.”
Maya eyed the distance between her and Josette. The woman had always been like that. Not wanting to get too close to the vampire.
Can’t blame her, not with her history.
But that didn’t mean she had to like the woman’s attitude. Hell, just for sport, Maya was tempted to bite her right on her elegant neck.
Josette was a beautiful woman, no getting around it. The soft lighting made her look all the more stunning. Perfectly defined cheekbones. Wide, red mouth. Eyes the color of the night. Skin a dark cream.
“You going to stare all night, vampire? Or are you here for a reason?”
Beautiful, but the lady sure could be a bitch.
“You didn’t have to walk outside to meet me,” Maya murmured softly, aware of Adam’s silent presence behind her. “I was planning to come in and find you.”
Josette’s lips thinned. “I bet you were.”
“You’ve come a long way.” The gallery was Josette’s. The fancy pictures. Everything was hers. Not bad for an immigrant from Haiti who’d barely spoken English when she’d arrived in the U.S.
Josette didn’t respond. Just stared with ice-cold eyes.
Maya tucked her hands into her back pockets. “How’d you know I was here, Josie?”
“Could feel you.” Her stare drifted to Adam. “You always know when evil’s around.”
No, most people didn’t know, but Josette did. And so did her grandmother.
So as fun as this walk down memory lane was…“I need to find Marie.”
Josette stiffened.
“Where is she?”
“How the hell should I know?” Josette turned away. “Get out of here and—”
Maya lunged forward and grabbed her arm, holding tight. Adam never moved.
Josette shuddered at her touch.
“I need to find her. It’s very, very important.” Josette might have turned her back on the old ways, but Marie hadn’t. She never would.
“Rete! Let go.” The words were gritted between clenched teeth.
Maya dropped her hand, but didn’t step back.
Josette glared at her. “I haven’t talked to grand-mere in months. I have no idea where she is—”
“Bullshit.” Sure, Josie might have stopped the visits and the phone calls to protect her new image, but Maya didn’t buy for one minute that she didn’t know where Marie was. “You’re probably sending rent money to her. All I need is the address.”
Adam stalked forward, and Maya was suddenly, fiercely aware of him at her side.
Josette stumbled back a step, her eyes widening.
“Josie….” Shit, she didn’t have all night.
“Mythlin Street. 208.” Another hurried step back.
Jeez. Had that been so hard? Maya waved to a guy in a tuxedo who’d poked his head out of the gallery’s entrance.
“Josette?” Uh, oh. Mr. Elegance looked worried.
“I’ll be right there, Martin.” Cool, calm tone. Wild, desperate eyes. Josette lowered her voice and said, “You cannot come here again, understand? I am out of that life now. All of it. I don’t want demons, vampires,” those wild eyes darted to Adam, “anything coming around. I want to be normal, okay?”
Normal. Check. “You won’t be seeing me again.”
Her breath caught. “We’re even?”
Not really, but Maya nodded.
Her chin lifted, some of the hard arrogance coming back. “Then get the hell off my property, vampire.”
“Charming friend you have,” Adam drawled as they made their way back to the bike.
Maya grunted.
His anger spiked. Adam grabbed her arm, jerking her around and against his chest. He had the feeling she was dicking around with him, and he didn’t like it. “Why the hell did we come here?” The way he saw it, they were wasting valuable time. They needed to be out there, tracking down the vampires who’d taken Cammie.
Not screwing away time at some gallery.
Maya’s teeth snapped together. Her hands balled into fists and pressed against his chest.
He should have let her go then, but he didn’t. Her eyes were wide, swimming with emotion, and damn if he didn’t want to kiss her.
She’d gotten her taste of him last night. Now he wanted his turn.
She smelled of roses instead of death.
What would she taste like?
“You’re overstepping your bounds, Slick.” Her voice was a warning growl.
Oh, the vampire was getting angry. Good. He liked to see her with some kind of passion in her eyes.
The valet lifted a hand as he approached them. Adam stared at him, let the fool see the rage he carried.
The young guy nearly tripped running away.
Maya wasn’t struggling within his hold. Her breath came hard and fast, but she wasn’t trying to break free.
Good thing that. Because the mood he was in, he’d just hold her tighter, vampire strength be damned.
Then she’d know he wasn’t just a man.
Her chin lifted as she stared up at him. “Do you know,” she began quietly, “just how many vampires there are in the world?”
Too fucking many.
“Hundreds of thousands,” she gritted. “And they are everywhere. In every country that you know and even in those small-ass ones you don’t. They hide in plain sight. Drink when they want. Kill when they want.” Her fangs glinted.
She wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t know. His fingers tightened aroun
d her. “Your point?”
“My point is that finding them can be like hunting in the dark. You don’t know what’s out there until it’s too late.” She shook her head. “I wanna know what’s waiting. Who is waiting.”
“And this Marie—she’s going to tell you?”
“I think she will.”
His hand fell away. “Fine. Then I’ll trust you, for now.” But he didn’t want to waste any more time.
“Hey, you came looking for me, remember? If you don’t like my methods, hit the road.”
The woman truly didn’t understand that she was playing with fire.
He caught her chin in his hand. Soft flesh. Tender. Her mouth was close to his. Just inches away. Such a full, tempting mouth.
And one that could spew insults so quickly.
“I’m not leaving you yet.” Not until Cammie was safe. Because he truly didn’t doubt that Maya could find her.
He just knew that Maya was going to keep pissing him off along the way.
His thumb brushed over her bottom lip.
“Wh-what are you doing?” Her breath feathered against him. No more belligerence in her voice. Confusion filled her eyes.
He wasn’t sure. He was furious, impatient, and…hungry. For her.
Just a taste.
One taste, that was all he’d need, and then this ridiculous hunger for a vampire would disappear. She wouldn’t taste sweet. He wouldn’t like the touch of her lips against his. Her teeth—they would repel him.
Yes, just one taste. That was all he’d need. And this insanity would end.
“Adam…”
Her mouth was open. Perfect.
His lips covered hers.
She gasped softly into his mouth and he stole her breath, locking his mouth onto hers and feeling the soft press of her lips beneath his.
His tongue pushed inside, swept against hers and—
Her taste. Adam shuddered Her taste was unlike any other.
His mouth tightened on hers in sudden demand.
Not bitter, dammit. Good. So fucking good.
Sweet like honey. Rich like wine. And the flavor of her—it was making him drunk. Making him crave. More.
More.
His fingers locked around her waist, and he pulled her tight against him so that he could feel her nipples pressing into his chest.
Her tongue met his. Just as hungry. Just as wild.