Vlad clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and ruffled my hair. “How can anyone claim romance is dead when you’re willing to sacrifice for me so?”
Our sweet moment was interrupted by an incredibly unfeminine grumbling from my stomach.
“Gracious, it seems my queen has yet another appetite she needs sated.” To my great regret, he untangled himself from our warm little love nest. “Shall I get us both a blood bag? I believe there are some in the ice box.” Bare-assed and utterly delicious, he padded across the floor to the mini-fridge in the corner.
“No one calls it that anymore, grandpa.” Even as I teased him, I threw back the covers and grabbed a couple of the items of clothing we had recklessly tossed aside. Vlad’s button-down shirt and my undies would provide adequate attire for a late-night snack run.
“I hate to point this out, my Queen, but Rau is my son and he has sired many vampires. Since we are wed, technically that means you are now the grandmother to thousands.” He turned to find me buttoning on his shirt. “You’re going? I was joking. I promise I will rip out the throat out of anyone who calls you bunică.”
Chin to my chest, I secured the final button that would keep all my parts hidden. “I don’t know what that means but thank you. I’m still human enough to need more than blood. I’m just going to grab some food. Pour yourself a cup of blood, and I’ll be back in time to lick its coppery flavor from your lips.”
Catching me by the waist, Vlad dipped me back and let the tip of his fangs tease over my exposed throat. “I ask only that you hurry back. The sun will be up soon, and I have at least one more trick I want to show you before I’m completely drained of energy.”
Feeling the twitch of his excitement against my thigh, I bit my lower lip at my own bubbling desire. “I’ll make it quick, and full of protein for the energy.”
One last lingering kiss and I bolted out the door before my libido convinced me it would be a good idea to give up on food and just bone him until I wasted away.
Lockwood Manor had grown quiet.
Daybreak was less than an hour away, and the majority of our vampire residents were already settling in for a well-deserved rest. Creeping down the grand staircase on the balls of my feet, I found the ballroom quiet with all of our patients quietly sleeping.
They were safe.
They were comfortable.
I did that.
If the cops stormed in tomorrow to lock me up in some prison constructed to hold me, I could go with my head held high. Secure in the knowledge that I saved my people from a cruel fate of violent servitude no being deserved.
Hearing the soft strums of a guitar, I followed them to the dining room, the cold marble tiles chilling my bare feet. I peeked around the corner, and saw Finn perched cross-legged on the kitchen island with an old guitar in his lap. While Micah poured out blood bags into steins for each of them with Batdog prancing at her feet, Finn sang a low-key version of “American Pie.”
Hanging back in the shadows of the dining room with the camera on her phone capturing every moment, Natalie watched the moment unfold with a small smile playing across her lips.
“The children of the night, what sweet music they make.”
Natalie’s head snapped around, her eyes bulging. Her phone slipped from her fingers and crashed to the ground.
Sucking air between my teeth, I bent at the knee to grab it for her—because no one needed to get mooned by the vampire queen. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. After your Bram Stoker comment earlier the Dracula pun seemed mandatory with a set up like this.”
Natalie’s gaze frantically flicked around the room in search of salvation… or an exit. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. I’m an early riser, and I didn’t sleep at all last night. Probably because Carter told me about that guy that was able to sneak into an entire mansion full of vampires. Little hard to sleep when you’re worried about the shadows coming alive.”
“Natalie, you’re safe. Really. I’d walk over there and give you a supportive chuck to the shoulder with the side of my fist if I wasn’t worried me touching you in any way would make matters worse.”
“Yeah, probably no touching.” Stuffing her phone into the pocket of what looked like a very expensive silk pajama set, Natalie folded her arms protectively over her middle.
“Not a problem. I just came down for a bite.” Only when I watched her visibly blanch did I realize my poor choice of words. “Of… food. Not you. Being a lab created vamp, blood doesn’t hold the same appeal for me.”
Natalie wet her lips, struggling with questions she hesitated to ask. “So, you’ve never fed off a living thing?”
“I have. But if I’m being honest a prefer a raw steak and a beer. You up for either?”
“It’s five o’clock in the morning, kind of early for a beer.” Natalie’s tense posture relaxed an iota.
“You haven’t slept, and I’ll be headed to bed soon. Technically, that means it’s not morning for either of us. Come on.” Careful not to venture inside of her personal bubble, I skirted around her and into the kitchen.
Finn paused his playing, palm pressed to the strings to steady them. “If it isn’t our fearless leader! I didn’t get a chance to tell you, I’m really sorry I missed watching you throw that guy like a frisbee earlier. It takes a lot to drive fear into the hearts of a room full of Nosferatu, but I could hear their knees knocking from upstairs.”
Micah swatted at him to shut him up. “The guy broke in to feed information back to Dorian Gray. He deserved whatever he got.”
Reporter instincts winning out over her trepidation, Natalie took a bold step into the room. “How did you determine he was planted here?”
Cracking open the fridge, I squatted down to allow Batdog to help me sniff through the wine and cheese stocked for our human guest in search of something more my taste. “Because he told me, right before he went airborne. By the way, Natalie, this is Finn and Micah. Finn and Mics, meet Natalie, our temporary live-in reporter.”
Natalie greeted them both with a firm handshake. “Nice to meet you both. Your playing was beautiful, by the way.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the charming smile Finn graced her with and decided to head that off at the pass. “I fell for that boy-next-door grin once. Then he slaughtered my family and left me for dead.”
Shoulders sagging, Finn rolled his eyes. “You know at some point you’re really going to have to let that go.”
Without a word, I nudged Batdog out of the way with the side of my foot and shut the fridge. Then, swiveled Finn’s way with an expectant stare.
Leaning back in her chair, Micah laced her fingers behind her head and crossed her legs at the ankles. “Sometimes it’s like you’re begging her to kill you.”
Proving he was more than a pretty face, Finn wisely retracted the statement. “I didn’t mean tonight. But… ya know… someday.”
Stone silent, I lifted one brow.
Setting his guitar aside, Finn brought his hands together in a sharp clap. “So, we have a reporter now. That’s cool. Let’s talk more about that.”
Natalie’s stare lobbed from me to Finn and back again before pressing on. “For a little while at least. I must say, I’m sorry I missed the incident with the spy. That would have been fascinating to cover.”
Stomach rumbling a reminder that it had been hours since I last ate, I returned to my search for nourishment... which Batdog celebrated with happy wags of his stubby little tail. “If we had any indication that was going to happen we would have told you to get your camera ready.” Unable to find meat, I settled for a couple of beers. Handing one to Natalie, I popped the top off the other and treated myself to a hearty swig.
Dejected by the lack of snacks, my pup laid down with a huff.
Brow creased with concentration, Natalie tapped her fingernail on the top of he
r can. “Maybe that’s the problem, too many opportunities to miss the real moment-to-moment struggles. We could set up a live feed that’s constantly running. That would allow the world a real glimpse into what’s happening here. You want them to know the truth? Show it to them. Unaltered and uncensored.”
All traces of humor scrubbed from their faces, Finn and Micah peered my way like our new friend had suddenly sprouted a second head. Which wouldn’t even register on the top five list of the weirdest things that had happened that week…
Leaning forward with her elbows on the table, Micah caught my stare and held it firm. “The more they see of the Dragon, the more determined the human population will be to hunt you down. That said, this would be the best possible option to educate people about the reach and influence of DG Enterprises.”
“I hate to say this,” Natalie cut in, “but it doesn’t matter what this Dragon everyone keeps talking about does. One way or another, they’re coming for Vincenza. No offense.”
“None taken.” Tipping up my beer, I drained the rest of the can. “And, I say, let them come. I’m done hiding. At sundown, let’s go live to the world.”
Chapter Eight
Vinx
I didn’t rest. That word implies a sense of peace and relaxation. Instead, I was dragged into a world of carnage and destruction. Fire and brimstone infected the Earth… all because of me. In this morbid nightmare I ruled a realm of death, one unleashed by the darkness within me I foolishly thought I could tame. Bones and ash were all that remained of those I loved and vowed to protect. In the distance, a shadow swelled. Growing and churning, its ravenous jaws snapped ever closer. The Dragon. Its every thought was to consume. To devour all that I am. I knew that… and didn’t run. There was no point. The battle was already over. Arms stretched out wide, I closed my eyes. As my head fell back I waited for the inevitable end to sweep over me…
I woke with a start and bolted upright. Dragging my fingers through my hair, I blinked hard and fought my way back to the here and now. Vlad slept peacefully beside me with one arm thrown across his bare chest. Batdog was in a ball between my feet. Careful not to wake either of them, I shoved back the covers and eased myself out of bed. After dressing in black jeans and an off-the-shoulder tee, I ventured out into the hall.
One step, and a firm hand closed around my wrist.
Moving on instinct, I spun. My forearm slammed the perpetrator against the wall. My fangs snapped from my gumline. Only then did I realize I had a wide-eyed and trembling Natalie trapped beneath my hold.
“Sneaking up on a vampire is a good way to shorten your life expectancy.” Retracting my fangs with a jerk of my head, I released her… but kept my arm raised until she was steady on her feet.
Swallowing hard, Natalie smoothed her trembling hands over her rumpled blouse. “I realize that now and am questioning my own intelligence. A far smarter plan would have been to patiently wait for you at the bottom of the stairs. However, in my defense, I haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours.”
Just when I thought I couldn’t feel worse…
Shoulders sagging, I squeezed my eyes shut for a beat. “How could I possibly expect you to? I tell you you’re safe, then throw a guy across the room and drop fang in front of you. To quote the great Alanis, isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?”
Lips pursed, Natalie’s nostrils flared with purpose. “First of all, nothing in that song is actually ironic. They’re all just really big bummers. Second, something huge has happened and I am not about to let unfounded fears stand in my way.” Once more, her hand closed around my wrist. This time she marched toward the stairs, dragging me along behind her. “There’s something you have to see.”
“If there’s a deer in the yard, you may want to wait. I’m starving, and the sight of me hunting will not help your insomnia issue.”
“This time it wasn’t fear that kept me awake. It was hope.” Taking a step back, Natalie jerked her head toward the wall of windows in the sitting room.
At first, I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing. Brow furrowed, I took a step closer. Three rows of blackout tents had been pitched across the sprawling yard. Each row had to be at least ten deep. Campfires had been built. Vamps draped in UV shielding blankets sat alongside humans as they waited for twilight to give way to night.
“What is this?” I managed.
“They saw your press conference and came.” She beamed.
“How? It was daylight.”
“From what I saw, each had a human that cared enough to help bring them here. Some are still out there finishing their set up.” Natalie leaned in and pointed toward a cluster of people gassing up a generator and plugging heat lamps into it. “These humans saw what was happening to the Nosferatu and wanted to help. See? My kind isn’t all bad.” Rocking my way, she playfully bumped my elbow with hers. “But it was your message that inspired them. An entire underground movement is developing because of you. This is it, Vincenza. Your people are rising. They want to stand with you against Dorian Gray.”
“It won’t be enough,” a weak voice croaked from behind us.
Natalie and I spun to find Rau propped up by Vlad, his arm hooked ’round his father’s shoulders. While he was a wilted form of himself, the look in his eyes was sharp and unyielding. “There is much you don’t know about our enemy. Details you will need if we hold out any hope of surviving what’s to come.”
“Let’s move this conversation into the dining room,” Vlad suggested, his jaw locked tight with concern. “My son needs to sit, and we have much to discuss.”
A knot of dread twisted in my gut as I fell into step behind them, my thoughts whisking me back to the nightmarish landscape still fresh in my mind.
“I am not your enemy, Vincenza,” the Dragon growled to me alone. “You have yet to realize that which Vlad could never grasp. I can be your salvation. The power you need to squash your enemies. Do not make the mistake of running from that which lives within you. Embrace it. Welcome it. And you will be… unstoppable.”
A crowd quickly gathered around Rau, hanging on his every rasped word. My crew, the magi, and even the freed prisoners filled in every available space to listen. Considering some of them still had traces of sulfur in their system, Batdog was safely shut in my room upstairs. With the stage set, Natalie positioned herself at the opposite side of the table, and live streamed Rau’s tale to the world.
Unable to stop the shaking of his hands, Rau laced his fingers together to steady them. “I was a prisoner of Dorian Gray for weeks. He held me captive within my own body, stealing my will, and morphing me into a monster.” Glancing up, his gaze locked with mine. “You saw the compound, witnessed firsthand how through a drugged blood supply he manipulated our strengths and abilities.”
“I did.” I nodded my confirmation. “And I set every vampire free before we broke out.”
A few hoots of gratitude rose up from the crowd.
Rau silenced them with the lift of one finger. “Which would have been a triumphant victory… if that was his only compound.”
The air crackled with a buzz of unease.
Hands in the pockets of her lab coat, Micah’s brain was already ticking to solve this equation. “You can confirm there’s more than one facility?”
Dragging his tongue over his parched lips, Rau nodded. “I was moved to at least six locations at Dorian’s insistence. But the one you found me at was my primary prison. I assume that to be because he was afraid you would find me. That said, by no means do I believe that’s all there is. He has limitless resources and funding, and is using them to form an army larger than any of us could imagine. The vampires held by him are dosed with sulfur at every feeding. Eventually, they are as addicted to that as any drug. I know, because I can still feel the ache for it throbbing through my veins. To them, Dorian is their blessed supplier who they follow without hesitation or regret. T
hat would have been me had it not been for our queen. For that, she has my undying appreciation.”
“It’s not needed,” I quickly countered, earning a knowing smile from my mentor turned stepson.
“Even so, what we must keep in mind is that these vampires are capable of unspeakable brutality without hesitation or regret. Their will is not their own. All they know now is unwavering loyalty to the man that ensures them their next fix.”
Sitting backwards in a chair with his forearms dangling over the headrest, Finn raised his hand. “I was drugged and turned into a killing machine. I can attest to the fact that these vamps will have no sense of control or be able to determine right from wrong.”
“Because you had such a solid grasp on those things beforehand?” I muttered, lips twisting into disbelieving smirk.
“Normally, I would agree.” Pacing the length of the table, Micah wagged one finger my way. “But I was drugged, too. At this estate, as a matter of fact. If there is an entire army out there of soldiers with that blatant disregard for life, they have the capability to destroying any and all sense of peace between humans and vampires. That fanged wave of death would burn all that we’ve worked for to the ground and force us back into the shadows simply to survive.”
The legs of Vlad’s chair squeaked across the floor as he pushed back from the table. “If you had to guess, what kinds of numbers are we talking?”
Rau let one shoulder rise and fall. “I couldn’t begin to guess. I spent most of my time in a drug-induced haze. Maybe he took me to six locations. Maybe it was sixty. I have no idea. What I do know is that after long periods of starvation where they refused the drugged blood, a ridiculous amount of the vampires gave in and ended up bursting at the seams with willingness to do whatever Dorian asked in order to keep riding that high.”
Hovering protectively at my elbow, Carter shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “If that’s the case, we need numbers and fast. The vampire population is a lofty one. We need to reach out as quickly as we can and gather people to stand between Dorian’s army and the humans.”
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