Vampire Debt: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers Book 2)

by Kelly St Clare

  “I hope she’s feeling better.”

  A shadow flickered across her face. “Right as rain.”

  I studied the clear blue sky. “Well, it doesn’t look like rain. So how about I get to work and you offer me a cheese and onion toastie?”

  The glint returned to her eye. “You enjoyed that, huh?”

  “Understatement,” I replied, picking through the new marigolds to the hose. She’d weeded recently, so this wouldn’t take long. The irony of what I was doing when I had a team of gardeners in my employ wasn’t lost on me.

  When my parents died, I’d learned that matters of the heart didn’t have to make sense at the time.

  Such things always made sense in the end.

  Want a new job? Triple your current pay. <3

  I need to buy your house off you, plz. K thx <3 <3

  I fired off the text to Tommy, sliding open the desk drawer to deposit the phone out of sight at a knock on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Laurel slid in, shutting the door behind her. “Basi.”

  “Thanks for coming.” I crossed the room, pressing the noise-cancelling button.

  She blinked several times. “That’s uncomfortable.”

  “The ear-popping? It’s uncomfortable for humans too. What does it feel like for you?”

  “As though I’ve lost one of my crucial senses and I’m more vulnerable to attack.” The vampire moved her jaw around. “What is it?”

  I smiled. “No one outside this room will hear our conversation.”

  She lowered her hands. “That explains your eight-hour silence four days ago.”

  Smirking, I returned to my chair and gestured to the empty seat on the opposite side of the desk.

  As the Vissimo lowered into the cushioned seat, I released a pent-up breath, trying to shove down my nerves. “I have one personal question to ask. Is that okay?”

  Her cloak descended, smoothing her features into an impassive Indebted mask. “Depends on the question.”

  “You’re two hundred and forty years old. Are there any Vissimo in Bluff City who can compel you?”

  She leaned back, kicking out her leather-clad legs. “King Julius can compel me with blood—if he should so choose.”

  Drat.

  I tapped a finger on the desk, eyes darting over the papers covering the surface. “Not ideal.”

  “I assume there’s something of great import you don’t wish leaving this room?”

  “Not until the right moment.”

  She didn’t outwardly react to the statement.

  “How often do you encounter King Julius?” I asked.

  “Five times in one hundred and twenty years. It would take a great deal for him to tie himself to an Indebted with a blood exchange. For a king to exchange blood with a slave would cause huge loss of face in the community. He trusts my integrity. As does Kyros. I held a high position before my father went berserk.”

  High position, huh?

  My ears pricked, but her expression closed off again.

  I pondered her answer. “I’d planned to bring you into the fold later, closer to the time when I could free you. However, I need some reassurances before I make a choice that will affect the rest of my life.”

  She froze, blue eyes widening. “Free me?”

  “Laurel.” I struggled to find the right words. This was crucial to my strategy, but more than that, I’d be playing with peoples’ lives. “How many Indebted are in Bluff City?”

  “Two thousand. Sundulus keeps twelve hundred. Fyrlia, eight hundred.”

  “I don’t know what the total debt owed is—”

  “570 million dollars,” she answered without hesitation.

  Not as much as expected. “I’d like to free you all, pay off the debt of those in Clan Fyrlia and Sundulus.”

  I studied her sudden tension. Her expression hadn’t altered but she’d stopped breathing.

  Better keep going. “To do that demands an irreversible sacrifice on my behalf.”

  “You’d need to exchange blood with Kyros three more times,” she whispered.

  I had to exchange six times in total to be capable of owning Indebted. “Correct.”

  She burst to her feet in a blur. “Why would you make such an offer?”

  This was the part I didn’t feel 100 percent ethical about. “I’m glad you asked.”

  The tension drained from her body. “Oh.”

  Here goes.

  “I’m working against Clan Fyrlia and Clan Sundulus in secret.” My heartbeat quickened as the words left my lips.

  Her eyes widened. “Working against how?”

  I had to let Laurel in enough for her to gamble on me. Not so much that my grandmother’s work would unravel if King Julius took a dip into her mind.

  “By playing their game as a third, unknown player as my grandmother did before me,” I replied calmly.

  Laurel sat with a thud.

  “They won’t own Bluff City, Laurel. Not while I’m standing.”

  She looked at me like I’d sprouted a third eye.

  “But,” I said, sighing, “I’m human. My ability to defend myself against Vissimo is almost zero. In return for the freedom of those in debt, I ask for protection for the period of one year after I complete the sixth blood exchange with Kyros. All who join me will be paid a fair wage. All will have two days off each week, with twenty days of holiday leave annually. You will be provided house rentals at a discount while you get on your feet. When the one year is up, employment will be offered to any who wish to remain.”

  I couldn’t tell how long Ingenium would go on. I dabbled with the idea of asking the Indebted to remain for three years, but I just couldn’t do it—not when some had been enslaved their entire lives.

  Laurel stared at me, the blaze of her eyes surging. I struggled to stay still as my body demanded I turn tail and run.

  “You want to win so much?” she whispered. “I thought you hated games.”

  I inclined my head. “There’s only one way out of Ingenium for me now, and that’s to head further in. Innocent people are being hurt because of the pride of two kings. That needs to end.”

  “What you ask… if it failed, if the Indebted were caught, the repercussions to us would be catastrophic.”

  “I know. Which is why I don’t want the others to know until I’m in a position to uphold my end of the bargain. I wanted to make the deal without involving you, but…”

  She pressed her lips together. “We will attain our freedom and you will lose yours.”

  What remained of it.

  “You know what your sisters and brothers need and want,” I told her seriously. “If you believe they’ll take my offer, then that’s good enough for me to forge ahead. If you’re unsure in any way, I need to know that too.”

  The vampire held my gaze. “They’ll take it. Without second thought.”

  Okay. “Those from Clan Fyrlia as well?”

  “Without a shadow of a doubt.”

  I relaxed and then tensed all over again.

  I’m really going to do this.

  Laurel fixed me with a level look. “Your relationship with Kyros. What you feel for him by the sixth exchange will be much stronger than what you currently feel.”

  If the first three were anything to go by, the change would be drastic—almost unbearable.

  She leaned forward. “He’ll be able to hear your thoughts at the sixth exchange.”

  I shivered, but I’d considered that possibility. “That’s better than expected, actually. I’d feared it might happen at the fourth or fifth. Can he hear my thoughts always?”

  “Only within a certain distance, or so I believe.”

  That was one silver lining. “Then that will be the period of highest risk. Though once I have the protection of your force after the sixth exchange, it won’t matter what he learns from my head.”

  I hope.

  The vampire didn’t seem convinced. “What about what you might feel for hi
m by the sixth exchange? Or even at the next?”

  Over my dead body would I feel anything for Kyros ever again.

  I spread my hands wide. “I loved my grandmother more than anything in this world, Laurel. I’ll uphold her legacy until my dying breath. I swear to you that the bond with Kyros will not change our deal. I say that with certainty—because if I could free you all without any of this bullshit, I’d do it in a second. What the bond makes me feel for him may heighten, but who I am will not alter.”

  Her expression cleared. “When did you find out about your grandmother’s hand in the game?”

  “Four days ago.”

  She stretched out her hand. “You have a deal.”

  Uh.

  “That was sudden.”

  “You offered to buy our freedom that day at the waterfall while still at the tower and ignorant of your grandmother’s work. Your offer comes from the heart.”

  I scowled. “It annoys me that you lump me in with everyone who has shat on you.”

  Amusement flickered in her bright eyes. “One day I might not.”

  I rounded the desk. Having the Indebted at my back was the cornerstone of my midterm strategy. Her agreement on their behalf felt like a massive battle won.

  “Would you like me to send Fernando in?” she asked, following me to the door.

  “Is he nervous?”

  “Extremely.”

  I smirked. “Another day to stew will help build character then. I’ve been meaning to ask what the penalty would be if Kyros got wind of Fernando’s betrayal.”

  Her expression darkened. “Kyros lost face. His true mate nearly died. Five of his Indebted were killed. The penalty for that is death. The debt of Fernando’s mother and his new debt would be passed on to his eldest child. Barring that, the closest family member. Which in his case, would be his only sister.”

  I whistled low. “Shit. That was a helluva risk to take.”

  “The desperate aren’t known for 20/20 vision. His actions reflected poorly on all Indebted, however. He’s being treated accordingly.”

  I wasn’t surprised. I’d do the same. “If you see Fernando, please tell him to meet me here at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.”

  Laurel bowed.

  I couldn’t stop myself fidgeting this time. “Please stop bowing to me. I’m not your superior in any way, shape, or form.”

  She straightened. “No.”

  “No, you agree?”

  “No, I won’t stop.”

  Alright then.

  “You need to exchange blood with Kyros three more times,” she said, searching my gaze. “Has he agreed to that?”

  Less than two weeks ago, he’d been pretty fucking eager. If he suspected anything suspicious about my return, the password to his pants would be as impossible to crack as the code to his lair.

  Priority number one was infiltrating Kyros Sky.

  Priority number two?

  Seducing the fuck out of a one hundred and forty-nine-year-old vampire.

  12

  The door to my suite cracked open.

  Biting back a shriek, I bolted upright in bed.

  Clutching my chest, I stared at the woman illuminated in the doorway.

  “It’s me. Josie.”

  “And the Pussy Cats,” I answered.

  “What?” she hushed, wrinkling her nose.

  “Pinocchio,” I croaked, then shook my head a few times until the haze of sleep receded. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Josie looked torn between horror and hilarity. “Sorry, Basi.”

  I narrowed my eyes, hissing, “You’re not sorry one bit.”

  I twisted to check Tommy hadn’t woken. A vampire in the room in the middle of the night was just what she needed, especially now she’d finally worked up the courage to walk around the house.

  Josie sobered. “We have visitors.”

  Why didn’t she say so?

  I shoved back the bedspread, swinging my legs down. “Who?”

  “Triplets.”

  Shit, shit, shit.

  “That didn’t take long,” I murmured, knowing they could be listening to this conversation. Clan Fyrlia officially knew who I was now. The psychos had to have more spies in Kyros Sky. Unless Fernando was still doing a bit on the side.

  I slung a silk kimono over my nightwear and slid into matching slippers.

  I padded out the room. “What’s the situation? Have my staff detected their presence too?”

  “No, they’re yet unaware. The triplets are alone and scouting the perimeter. Laurel wants to speak to you regarding battle strategy.”

  Battle strategy. Was I a fucking army general?

  Laurel was waiting in my office. In the dark. When I entered, she clicked the soundproof button and flicked on a lamp.

  My ears popped. “Well?”

  “They haven’t entered the property, but a show of force is necessary. Not to reveal our full numbers, but to show the Fyrlia princes how many Indebted Kyros has provided for his true mate.”

  Right. A pissing contest.

  “What do you need me to do?” I asked.

  “Confront them head-on with twenty of us as backup.”

  Ah, fuck nuts. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.” I glanced down at my lace and silk purple nighty and kimono combo.

  “Would you like to change?”

  I blew out a breath. “Nothing says I don’t care about your threat like showing up in your pyjamas.”

  Her teeth gleamed in the low light.

  Pivoting, I paused in the threshold. “I’m not going to die, am I?”

  Laurel’s grin turned feral. “Not today, Basi.”

  Reassuring.

  Attempting to crack my neck and failing, I swung the door open and strode through the attached lounge and the music room to reach the main hall. Heading for the lobby, I peered back as my crew of seven fell in behind me.

  More I didn’t know joined, a mixture of male and female. All of them dressed from head to toe in black leather.

  “You guys know that only Jessica Alba in Dark Angel can wear that kind of getup, right?”

  I didn’t care what the second thrall made me do once. As long as they wore leather, they’d hear about it.

  Laurel snorted. “So you’ve told us, Miss Le Spyre.”

  I gathered from her formality that the triplets were now within hearing distance.

  Squaring my shoulders, I left the house, adjusting course for my golf cart by the roundabout. I’d parked it in the middle of the driveway, so someone had moved it.

  A few snickers reached my ears as I slid onto the seat and twisted the keys in the ignition.

  “It’s a long driveway,” I defended. And those fuckers weren’t stepping a foot inside my fence line.

  I gunned down the driveway, knowing the Vissimo would have no trouble keeping up. Parking by the front entrance, I hopped out and swung the gates wide.

  “Here, Tonyi, Tonyi, Tonyi.” I whistled for good measure.

  This time my crew’s snickers were louder.

  “You’re brave with twenty Indebted at your back, Basilia Le Spyre.” The cold voice slithered from the shadows and wrapped tight around me.

  My heart sputtered and I worked to catalogue the fear. I’m scared because a predator wants to hurt me. I won’t underestimate him. For my mind to operate, fear needs to take a back seat.

  Which it did.

  “Don’t be shy,” I said back after a beat. “It’s not like I haven’t seen your ugly mugs.”

  The first triplet left the shadows.

  Where were the other two?

  “Ugly? I think not. We could have you in our bed in a second.” His eyes roamed over my thighs and breasts.

  The brothers shared their bed partners? Uhm, gross.

  I wrinkled my nose. “By all means, try and see how Kyros reacts.”

  “You’re his true mate,” a second voice came from the left of the gate. Another triplet stepped from the shadows. “Yet you are no
t in his tower.”

  Fuck me, they were like Ursula’s eels from The Little Mermaid.

  “Well, no,” I said, lifting a shoulder. “He stays here.”

  They froze, staring past me to the house.

  I smiled. “Just kidding, boys. You should have seen your faces.”

  Their almond-shaped eyes blazed hazel, and my palms slickened with sweat.

  “Our master has placed twenty-five of us here permanently,” Laurel stepped forward, chin tilted high as she surveyed them. She peered straight ahead into the dark as well to where the third must be lurking.

  “Twenty-four hours a day,” she added.

  “Do not speak in our presence, Indebted,” the third hissed before slipping from the shadows to stand in the middle of his brothers.

  My chest clamped at the sight of the three vampires who’d attacked me and Rhys. If not for the fourth Fyrlia prince down in the basement and the intervention of Kyros’s siblings, I’d be ash right now. “That’s some elitist complex you’ve got going there.”

  “Spoken by a fellow elite—though a mere human one,” the third purred, stepping closer.

  Indebted flanked me in a blink. Hands bunched in the back of my nighty, ready to yank me from danger.

  Headlights blared bright, the roar of engines bearing down on us. Two black SUVs screeched to a stop and the back door of the front vehicle was flung open.

  My eyes registered a grey blur before one of the Tonyi triplets doubled over.

  I focused on the new arrival, drawing her name up from my time in the basement. Gina. The eldest royal child of Clan Fyrlia—though she considered herself the second, with Kyros as the real crown prince of their clan.

  “Get in the car,” she snarled at her brothers.

  The triplet on the right sneered. “You—”

  She snapped out a fist and he reeled away, clutching his nose. “Father has been informed of your little trip.”

  Their expressions smoothed.

  Whoa. At least someone had these psychopaths in check. I did not want to meet the man who’d spawned them. Actually, make that either king. Their spawn were scary enough.

  The triplets shot three matching smirks my way before stalking to the car.

  Gina turned, scanning me from head to toe. I did the same right back as the car containing the triplets sped away.