“Thanks. For some reason, the forties just really stuck with me.”
Like… the 1940s?
“See you in the morning,” Lionel called.
Which wasn’t all that far away. It was already 9:00 p.m.
I checked my messages walking back into the house.
I groaned at the notification banner. Forty-five? Fifteen were from Ricky. Looked like the next two hours would be catch-up time. Maybe I could get a few emails answered.
My gaze landed on a message from Stanley Yelnats, aka Gina. Crap, I forgot all about that.
I stopped on the entrance stairs to read it.
Sure. 10:00 p.m. at Gingers
Gingers? Opening a browser tab, I googled the name.
A nightclub in Black.
Not surprising I hadn’t been there. I avoided clubs in Black like the plague. Only social climbers and the elite went to them. I much preferred the rowdy places Tommy and her peasant friends frequented. Always made me feel like Rose from Titanic.
10:00 p.m. would allow plenty of time to reach Kyros Sky for my shift. And on a Wednesday night, the club wouldn’t be too packed with leeches.
See you there
That didn’t give me long to get ready.
I hustled upstairs, bellowing for Tommy.
“Miss Tetley is out with her boyfriend, miss,” Rosie said, bobbing in a hasty curtsy as I barrelled past.
“How dare she have a life,” I shouted at the maid.
Entering my suite, I kicked the doors shut and jumped into the shower to wash off the scent of hay and barn animals.
Hmm, tonight was a straight hair night. I hardly ever did it because my hair behaved, but I felt like going all out.
Drying off, I flipped my hair over and set to blow-drying the long strands. Then, while my straighteners were heating, I painted on my face, going heavy with the black eyeliner and mascara.
I was overdue for a clubbing night… I should drag Tommy out this weekend after our spa date and get some serious dancing in.
Crap! I had to leave in ten minutes.
I thumbed through my nightclubbing section. This was a night for something different. Something my grandmother wouldn’t have let me off the estate in.
Something that, most of the time, I was hesitant to wear.
Something like… this. The tight skirt was shiny silver, as was the sloped panel across the breasts. Fine black mesh connected two panels and formed thick shoulder straps. The back was fine mesh, aside from the skirt that would theoretically cover my butt. Tommy had rated the dress ten out of ten swanky-skanky when I’d bought it.
Yanking out my most lethal black heels, I swiped a small white clutch, shoving in a few cards and my phone.
I hoofed it down the hall like a baby giraffe, hollering for Laurel.
She met me at the bottom of the stairs. “Going to a nightclub?”
“Yep, Gingers? How many need to come?”
Her expression smoothed. “Most.”
“Okay, do you all need a minute to change because only Jessica Alba can wear black leather?”
I would convince them to change their ways.
Laurel didn’t laugh. “For Gingers, we’ll fit right in.”
“What kind of place is this?”
“An establishment owned by Clan Fyrlia.”
Fuck. “Oh.”
Laurel eyed me. “I thought it an unusual choice. It’s a Vissimo club.”
An unusual choice? Loz was the queen of downplaying shit. I hadn’t known vampire clubs were a thing. If Fyrlia owned it, I could expect most of the Vissimo there to be from their clan.
Dammit, Gina.
Laurel ventured closer, lowering her voice. “This is something Kyros will need to know. It will get back to him.”
When it came to meeting with Clan Fyrlia, I’d rather keep it in the open. I had a legitimate reason for being there—this time. King Julius would 100 percent have a problem with the meeting though. “Do what you gotta do. I’ll need at least ten minutes to speak with her. If you think he’ll come charging down, then please time it right.”
“He’ll charge, Basi. I guarantee you. If there is any way to change the location of the meeting, I’d highly recommend it.”
It was already 10:00 p.m. I pursed my lips. “No, it’s too late now. But thank you for the advice.”
Kyros charging was exactly what I was going for. He just needed to enter that possessive state of mind when he was powerless to resist the call of our blood bond. Me walking into the den of his enemies might achieve two things tonight.
Three SUVs left ahead of us to enter Gingers and scout. It was 10:25 p.m. by the time they’d given me the all-clear. In the midst of my crew, I was led to the front of the queue for the nightclub. The bouncer didn’t hesitate to let us in. A quick glimpse confirmed he was Vissimo.
He smirked at me.
Whatever.
A steady bass took hold of me as I entered the club. Strobe lights flashed over my body, catching on the silver panels of my not-so-classy ensemble.
A Vissimo with an earpiece approached and ushered us to the VIP section. He frowned at my crew but didn’t otherwise make a comment on my throng of bodyguards. This place was just a normal nightclub with a 100 percent vampire clientele. And they weren’t muting one bit. Even with my muted guards as a buffer, my legs shook.
Next time, I’d meet Gina for brunch.
I gasped as white-hot rage slammed into me, staggering from the force of it.
The rage wasn’t mine.
Laurel leaned down to put her lips close to my ear. “I’ve alerted Kyros. He’s running here. At worst, you have twelve minutes from now.”
No kidding.
Shit, he was not happy.
Doing my best to force his emotions away. I followed the male up to a room on the second floor with wrap-around windows on all sides. The sounds from the club cut off entirely as the door was shut behind us.
My crew fanned out to partner with the Fyrlia Indebted stationed around the room. Only Laurel walked with me to the eldest princess.
Gina sat behind a coffee table, draped on a red leather couch. The devil was her concubine. I’d said it once, I’d say it a million times.
Her dress was gold and glittery, and she’d paired it with white heels that I also owned.
“Gina, you picked a great meeting place,” I said sarcastically.
“This room is private,” she said, no flicker of apology on her face. “Sit down, Miss Le Spyre. I understand you have a question for me, and I assume our time will be limited.”
I took the seat across from her, crossing my long legs. “Did the triplets have anything to do with my grandmother’s death?”
Gina stared. “Now that I didn’t expect. A plea for us to protect you from Kyros. A way to escape, perhaps.” She laughed—a deep sultry sound that would act as a siren call for anyone vagina-inclined.
“Are you brave or stupid, Miss Le Spyre?” she asked.
I thought about it. “Depends how much I want to live.” I’d act stupid any day of the week around Kyros’s father.
A wrinkle appeared between her brows. “You expect me to tell you outright if my brothers paid a visit to Agatha Le Spyre before her death? Which leaves me to question whether you think I’m brave or stupid.”
“Neither,” I retorted. “You’re smart and tired.”
Her expression turned contemplative.
I leaned forward. “I’m certain I have something that would be of use to Clan Fyrlia. Or yourself, if you’re more inclined to a private deal. All I want is a simple yes or no.”
She perused me, one long finger tapping against her jaw. “The answers surrounding her death are worth a lot to you.”
“I won’t give you anything ridiculous, Gina. So be reasonable. There are other ways I can find out.”
Her hazel eyes flashed. “Yet you came to me.”
I consulted my phone. “We have about six minutes before Kyros smashes down your doors
. Best be quick about it.”
Had I ever felt him this angry? I couldn’t recall so. Nerves erupted in my stomach at the wall of wrath surrounding him. It was possible I’d severely underestimated how pissed he’d be.
She pursed her lips. “I know nothing about the events surrounding your grandmother’s death, but I’m your safest chance of finding out. However, doing so poses a moderate risk to my life. If my brothers were involved, they were working under my father’s orders. Asking questions could bring his attention and wrath on me.”
“I’m guessing your father’s wrath is not a good thing to have,” I said quietly.
Her gaze darkened. “Never find yourself alone with my father, Miss Le Spyre. He’s capable of acts that give centuries-old Vissimo nightmares.”
King Julius gave me nightmares too. “Noted.”
“In return, I ask that if Clan Sundulus wins Ingenium, you exert your power over the Sundulus royals to request my life be spared.”
I rested back, knowing our time was short. “I have no influence over King Julius. And little over Kyros.”
Especially in his current mood. I could only detect mindless fury.
“Untrue. I’ve heard that on occasion you deliver Kyros with direct orders.”
More like every day.
I hummed. “To piss him off, yes.”
“No one delivers Kyros with a direct order except a handful of clan kings. Doing so is tantamount to suicide. There are a lot of alphas in the world, Miss Le Spyre, then there’s Kyros. He could rule all Vissimo one day, but he’s a growing alpha. His control is still developing. Yet he allows you to command him. He listens. I saw him fight for you in the basement. Kyros should have been mindless with the thrall, but he was able to temper that enough to heed your warning, which shows that my eldest brother also cares deeply for you.”
Man. Forget meeting King Mikhail. Her analysis of my interactions with Kyros made me want to stay on the estate for good.
Her words interested me too. I’d wondered why Kyros behaved and was treated differently to his siblings. I’d chalked the difference to him being the crown prince.
It was possible I’d really, really misunderstood the danger of delivering Kyros with an order.
Oops.
“I can’t promise my request will help any,” I told her. “In fact, I’m certain it won’t help at all. Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer something more concrete in exchange?”
Her eyes glittered. “No, true mate of my elder brother. That is my request in exchange for delivering you with an honest answer.”
“Then you have a deal.” I stretched out my hand and she stared at it for a moment before shaking it lightly.
I had about sixty seconds to get as far away from Gina as possible. “Thanks in advance.”
“I’ll be in touch,” she purred.
Josie yanked the door open and I hightailed it out of there, hoping against hope I wouldn’t break a damn ankle on the stairs to the dancing level.
I was nearly to the bar when the dancing Vissimo scattered back from the entrance.
Fuckity fuck.
Kyros stalked through the entrance, green eyes blazing, and fangs lowered. His hair was windswept, the veins in his forearms leaping from the tightness of his clenched fists.
Even I didn’t want to approach him, but I squeezed between Laurel and Kelsea and hurried his way, keeping my gaze downcast because his eyes were too much to take in. “Kyros—”
He blurred, gripping my upper arms as he loomed over me. A terrible growl filled his chest, and I had no doubt every vampire within fifty metres heard it under the music though I could barely detect the sound.
He released one of my arms and towed me out of the club. I struggled to keep up in my six-inch heels.
“Slow down,” I seethed as we made it to the street. He stared at the ground, his blazing eyes forming two green patches on the pavement.
He didn’t respond, dragging me to an SUV where he all-but threw me into the passenger seat.
The door slammed shut.
Shit.
I’d officially pissed him off.
Glancing outside, I winced as he shouted in Laurel’s face.
Nope. I wasn’t having that.
I opened the door. “Kyros, Laurel didn’t know where we were going until we got here. I told her we were going to Black.” I focused on the décor of the club across the road, hoping that would distract him from my lie.
“Get back in the fucking car,” he said without looking my way.
“Don’t speak to me like that,” I replied, sliding out of the car.
He ignored me, shoulders heaving.
“Whatever,” I muttered. “Count me out of work tonight. I’m going back to the estate.”
I took one step in the direction of my usual black SUV.
Kyros slammed his hands either side of my head, and I choked on my scream, listening to the dull pop as the body of the car dented.
“Get. In. The. Car. I won’t tell you again.”
My insides quivered at the menace behind the words. My heart sputtered uselessly in my chest, my knees shaking in a way they hadn’t in a long time around Kyros. I dragged in a breath, unable to meet his eyes when they were blazing like this. It was akin to staring at the sun.
I shouldered him as I yanked open the passenger door. “What a jackass.”
He nearly ripped his own door off the hinges when he got into the driver’s seat. The wheel cracked in his grip as he gunned the engine and took off. I gripped the oh-shit handle as he screeched around a corner.
“Slow down,” I said, my voice shaking.
“But this is a thrill, Basilia,” he snarled. “You wanted your life in danger. Or else you wouldn’t have entered a club filled with my fucking enemies.”
I’d never seen him like this.
We screeched through Grey, and I folded my arms. “How about when you regain control, we can talk?”
“Enough,” he roared.
A scream tore from me as fear overwhelmed my senses.
Kyros didn’t stop. He didn’t leave the car. “Enough with pushing me away and wearing those glasses. Enough with living at the estate and calling your fucking past lovers. I can’t think straight, Basilia. And I need to fucking think straight or my entire family dies. You think the terror of hearing you’ve walked into that place leaves me in a good mindset to do what I need to do to protect them? What if Fyrlia had hurt you? What if I was picking up your fucking pieces right now? Do you know what I would become if you were killed?”
I was locked in place.
“Of course not,” he spat. “Humans have no fucking idea.”
Black filled my vision and I slumped forward in my seat, my vision blurring.
“I can’t even be angry with you because your human body can’t handle it,” he spat.
Reaching over, Kyros gripped my chin, forcing my eyes to his. “Breathe.”
I dragged in a breath that hurt my oxygen-deprived brain. A few more cleared the spots in my vision.
The car nearly fish-tailed when he drove into the garage, and I pressed fingers to my spinning head.
Kyros ripped my door open and pulled me out and into his arms.
Then we were running. I squeezed my eyes closed until I landed on a soft bed.
I stared up at the vampire, tugging my short dress down.
He shook his head, expression twisted and cold. “Stay here until I’m back.”
What? “You will not leave me locked in—”
Kyros left, slamming his door to his lair behind him. I was up on my heeled feet and at the entrance in an instant. Gripping the handle, I yanked.
My mouth dropped.
He’d locked me in here?
I kicked the door as hard as I could. “Possessive motherfucker!”
I was going to kill him.
19
The thing about being able to feel Kyros’s emotions was that I knew his ire hadn’t abated one single bit. That ma
de it very hard for mine to fade.
Only in the last hour had I made any sort of dint in my anger.
Sure, I’d known Kyros wouldn’t like it if I went into Gingers. I’d banked on him losing control—but not like that.
That was… terrifying. A long time had passed since I’d been scared of him to that degree. I got a glimpse at what other vampires and humans saw when they looked at him.
And I felt terrible that Laurel had borne the brunt of his anger.
Maybe if the entire club of Vissimo turned on me, my Indebted and Kyros wouldn’t have been able to save me. And yes, Gina picked that particular time and venue knowing it would knock him off his game.
Yet I couldn’t regret the move because I’d gone there about my grandmother.
Gina would dig into the triplets’ movements on my behalf. That was a victory. I wanted to know that my grandmother had died of natural causes more than anything. If the triplets had visited her that night, then I needed to know too. Regardless, my grandmother’s heart wouldn’t have been anywhere near as stressed if she hadn’t led the life she had against the clans.
Both were to blame. Just as much as my grandmother’s revolutionary spirit that wouldn’t allow her to roll over when she’d discovered the truth.
The door burst open and Kyros’s siblings poured into the room. Leaning against the bench as I sipped my water, I closed my eyes and opened them again.
They didn’t disappear.
Neelan shut the door, avoiding my gaze.
“What did you do to Kyros?” Lalitta hushed, her eyes rounded.
She thought I was the bad guy. Yeah, I pushed his buttons, but there was no excuse for how handsy and shouty and downright mean he got. I had bruises on my arms from his grip. Just like fucking Clint gave me. “None of your business.”
Safina strode forward. “If it affects the game, then yes, it’s our business.”
I met her cool gaze. “Then ask your brother.”
“He left the tower immediately after the video call with Father,” Neelan murmured, glancing at me.
“Guess that means I can leave too.” I gulped back my water and set the glass in the sink. Turning, I blinked at the wall of royals blocking me.
Vampire Debt: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers Book 2) Page 24