“I wouldn’t know. On the back.” He turned the ring. “This flat part has the targets. You just rub your thumb over it and then touch the person or creature you have identified as a target.”
She took the ring and slipped it on her right forefinger. “Can I practice targeting you a few times?”
“That’s the point.” His tone was as smooth as Matthias’ but laced with condescension. He wet his lips. “Did you practice in his lap?”
“I understand that is how it is done in the dens.” She ran her thumb over the back of the ring. “There is a sticky film. That means I’ve got a target on my thumb?”
“It does. You will feel it leave when you’ve done it right.” He put a hand on the wall beside her head and leaned in, talking in her ear. “Did he bite you here?” His other hand trailed over her chest and traced the line of her bra.
“What we did is of no concern to you as long as I am ready.” Alice reached up and ran a hand over his shoulder.
His muscles tensed under her touch.
She dropped her hand. “Did you feel it stick? Will they?”
“I did. They will. Do better. Don’t drag your finger or they will feel the transfer. You are not wiping it off. Press. One press.” He stepped closer. “I’m going to bite you.”
Alice flattened herself against the wall. “Did you feel that?”
“No. Do it again. It could be a fluke.” He twirled a finger in her hair. “I must be missing something. You don’t feel like dearling material. Maybe a sip will explain that.”
“Is that an order? You biting me?” Alice watched as his eyes grew solid black.
“It is. I’d do it anyway.” His smile showed both fangs. “Let’s wrap up the targeting and get to the fun part.”
“I did it.” She glanced toward his hand. “Your wrist.”
“Very good. Work some magic. I need a den quality sample.” He circled his tongue over his lips.
Alice called sparks to her fingertips. Since her magic triggered in his presence, it was easy to gather and form a ball of static energy.
Cold fingers brushed her hair off her neck. Fangs stabbed her flesh. Burning from the rapid feeding raced from the bite down her neck. He didn’t give her anything to soften the experience.
Amarok was right. He was a prick. She flicked the energy up and down in her hand.
His strong hands held her shoulders. Fingers pressed tight enough there would be bruises.
Her legs started to feel like jelly. Thoughts clouded. “That’s enough.” She pushed at his chest. “Stop.”
Reginald straightened. His pupils glistened under the artificial lighting. “That is lovely.”
She wiped her neck. Her fingers were tinted with her blood. “You didn’t heal it. What the hell?” The room blurred. “You drank too much. I’m…”
“Not ready. What do you think happens in the back rooms? Did he tell you about the private encounters?” He grabbed her throat with one hand and squeezed. “Now what? You can’t chant your witch magic. Are you trained to use elf magic against me? Did you imagine that if you resisted a trance, a vampire might just walk away?”
She dug at his fingers. The lack of oxygen stopped her thoughts from congealing. Killing. Not training. Focus.
He used his free hand to grab one of her hands and gnashed into her wrist. When he raised his head again, her blood was smeared across his face. “Now what, witch?”
Against instincts she stopped prying at his grip on her throat. Her blood was on him. She closed her eyes and used every bit of energy she had left to form a thought. Let me go.
He dropped her. The expression on his face said she shocked him. “That’s special, isn’t it?”
Deep coughs racked her body as she forced air in her lungs. “You.” The word burned. “You will be.”
“What, pet? Sorry? Is your master going to come get me?” He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth. “You want a master who can handle you?”
“You.” She coughed again. “Are not my type of monster.”
“Think twice before you become his dearling, little elf. Two minds with such openness and power will lay their darkest thoughts bare for each other.” He put a hand on her face, rubbing her temple. “Do you want him to see yours? Can you survive seeing his?” His hand grabbed her wrist and he gnashed again. “Fight me. Show me you are ready to go against the darkest vampire in the underground.”
She kicked his shin and shot sparks at his face. This was all training. Show him. Show them. “You will be violently ill until my blood leaves your system.”
His skin went from pale to ashen. He spewed blood on the floor and crumpled to the tiles. “Bitch. What did you do?”
“Elf magic. Bastard.” Alice leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Is that ready enough?”
The door slammed opened, crashing into the wall. “What the hell?” Amarok grabbed her wrist. He tore his shirt and tied it around the wound. “What did he do?”
She moved herself between them. “I cursed him. He drank too much.”
“Can you stand?” Amarok growled and crushed her in his arms.
Alice put her hand on his jaw. “He’s not worth it. I’m fine. I already handled him.”
Amarok walked with her under his arm and slammed the buzzer by the door. “Send an Aries medic. We have training injuries to an elite squad member.” He turned back to Alice. “I’ll take you to the med wing. Someone will come help him.”
“No one can help him. He’ll be ill until every drop of my blood leaves his system.” Alice leaned her head against Amarok.
“Good.” Amarok walked her to the med rooms and stood with her while they checked her in and assigned her a room.
They had barely settled when a morph appearing as a female human strode in with a chart in her hand. “I’ve ordered you a meal, and a transfusion. Everything else looks normal. You will be given your mission vaccines while you are here and discharged for your mission in a few hours.”
The swirly y symbol in the upper right corner of the chart caught Alice’s attention. “Vaccines? No one said anything about that.”
The woman made a note in the chart. “Someone will be in to see you in a moment.”
Alice wrinkled her features as the woman walked out. She gripped Amarok’s hand. “Rude people. We can’t ever let them make us live on this wing. Why is the Aries symbol on my chart?”
“Not here.” He glanced around. “Tell me about the training. Are you ready?”
She pursed her lips into a tight line. Why can’t they talk about Aries? “Training was good.” Good? Dark. Painful. Sexy. How could she tell him? She had to tell him. Soon. Unless… “Will we always be partners?”
He curled a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. “Yes.”
“Not the standard answer. I mean forever. Is there no reason you would dissolve our partnership?” She searched his eyes for truth.
“Hey, sweetie, no. I promise you. I’m here with you. You can’t get rid of me.” He softened his voice. “Not ever.”
“I don’t want to get rid of you. What about… you love me. Not enough to…” Tears stung her eyes.
“What did that son of a bitch tell you? I love you. That is why I would never abandon you.” He brushed away a tear that fell.
“But you can’t love me like this.” She clasped his hand in hers. “Not if we are partners.”
“I can’t. But if I let them separate us, I can’t protect you. I have sway, but only with you as my partner, because they want me too. If we separate they win. They get us, alone, and you will be vulnerable. Not happening on my watch. I love you enough to stay your partner and not have your love in return.” He kissed her nose.
“You have my love. Always, Amarok. But…”
His warm hand caressed her arm. “It’s enough for me.”
Her stomach knotted. Now wasn’t the time. “It’s not what we deserve.” She kissed the side of his face. “I want you to know love that can grow i
nto something intimate.”
“Sweetie, you’re going to be just fine. It sounds like you are leaving me a will or something. Vampires are scary but they don’t have anything on my elfling. Look what you did to Reginald. He’s the vampire. You took down the golden boy of the elite squad. That is so badass.”
Sarg El lumbered in. “Alice, after you’ve been released, I understand you have the ability to return Reginald to health.”
“He attacked her.” Amarok stood. “Sir. She was defending herself.”
“She isn’t in trouble. Training accidents happen. I expect they both understand things got out of hand. Heal him and you will be inserted tonight. I’ve watched the training tape. You are ready. Reginald signed off on your insertion.” Sarg El made a clicking sound and blinked.
Amarok balled his fists. “That asshole…”
Alice put her hand on Amarok. “I will heal him. I’m sure he will have no qualms about apologizing to me.” She raised her brows in a challenge.
“I will see to that.” Sarg El flicked his tongue. “Welcome to the team, Alice.”
Chapter Nine
A CHILL IN the air stood out against the warm ambient temperature as Alice traveled the unfamiliar streets. She stopped to double check the directions on her phone before she slipped it in her pocket.
Cats fighting in the distance added to the uneasy feeling creeping over her. She turned toward the direction of the cold sensation. A vampire. The same presence stalked her every night since her second night in town.
She fingered the thick business card in her pocket. Her fingers ran over the raised print. It had an address and hours, night hours. Someone slipped it under her door last night after she went to sleep. It could have been her vampire stalker.
Matthias hadn’t mentioned it in any of the texts he sent since she arrived, but he confirmed the address on it was the den location before he left for the bidding that night.
The presence moved closer. They must know a witch could sense them. Even common witches were in tune to their surroundings. Maybe they were urging her on. Did they want her in the den so they could get a nip without a struggle? “Hello?”
No one answered. They never did.
She took a few steps in the direction of the den and then sped up.
The vampire kept her pace.
Humans ambled by, most with their heads down, staring at phones. A man and woman brushed past. The man held a baby. The woman tugged along a little dog, who was more interested in the occasional patches of grass.
Three blocks later, Alice stopped.
A two-story brick building, like all the others she passed, loomed large over her. The gold-plated numbers seven-forty-five, made it the most important building in the whole town. This was it.
Dark purple curtains kept her from peering in. The sign hung in front of them read: PALMISTRY. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Sure it was. Alice smoothed the flowing, colorful broomstick-skirt she wore, and contemplated her introduction. She had one chance to get this right.
The black paint on the metal door shined under the bright streetlights. A bronze handle had a well-used dullness to its finish. Just like a million other storefronts. This was more than a door. It was the entrance to her journey into the bowels of the vampire underworld.
Several moths fluttered around the flickering light. Was she a moth flying straight toward the light? No. She was the light in the darkness. The vampires were the moths. Fanged moths. Killer moths, like in one of the black and white science fiction movies Chester and Harvey always tried to get her to watch.
She pressed the doorbell.
Footsteps grew louder inside. A single witch presence moved closer.
The small peep hole didn’t allow Alice to see them, but the sensation of being watched hung heavy on her. She smiled and peered toward the little hole.
There was a click and the door opened.
The scent of licorice and spices blew out on a cool wave of air.
A tall slender woman glanced over Alice with piercing emerald eyes. “Do you have an appointment?”
Alice held out the card. “No ma’am.”
The woman took the card. A burgundy fingernail that matched her obviously-colored hair, tapped against the back of it. “I see. Come in.”
Alice stepped inside and pulled the door closed.
To the right, a table with a red cloth and several candles took up the entire corner. Palmistry. It was probably covered in dust.
“You are a hybrid.” The woman crinkled her nose and circled Alice. “Have you done den work before?”
It always came to that. A hybrid who no one trusted. “I have. I am only looking for enough cash to move on. A week at most. I’m not on anyone’s radar, as I move around a lot.” Alice met her eyes again when she circled back to face her.
“I see. Wait here.” The woman walked away.
Alice ran her toe along the golden carpet, moving the short pile from one direction to the other while she waited.
Vampire presences emanated from below. A basement? Matthias was there. She knew he would be. One moved closer, along with the witch. Den master?
“She had a preferred customer referral.” The woman’s voice preceded them.
“Hybrids are risky.” A smooth male voice rolled across the spiced air.
Alice balled her fists, diffusing her magic. The room full of predators below them agitated her energy.
“I understand you wish to work for me for a short time.” A man in a suit glided across the room and extended a hand. “Nathan.”
She reached for him, despite her natural inclination to flee. “Alice. Yes, I would.”
He gripped her hand in a cold firm shake. “I’ll need a sample before we can entertain this any further. You understand hybrids vary.”
“Of course.” Alice called up a wave of magic.
He turned her hand, and rubbed his thumb over a vein. A cold kiss fluttered across her skin, followed by a slight pinch and a soft tug.
The witch stood with her arms folded across her chest. Her nostrils flared as she flicked her gaze down to watch. “Is she suitable?”
“Perfect. I will put her in the first bids tomorrow night.” His attention remained on Alice. “The bidding has already concluded tonight. You can stay one week. No longer.” He kept her hand in his and leaned down again, giving her another bite.
“Nathan.” The woman beside him spoke in a clipped tone. “Save her for the patrons.”
He straightened and let Alice’s hand drop. “Dearling, I must ensure she’s up to our standards. I am needed downstairs.” He winked at Alice and then swept his gaze over her in a slower assessment. “Those clothes are not appropriate. Come with me. I will show you around.”
Alice felt the irritation coming from the witch as they walked away. A den master’s dearling. She was probably a tasty witch to capture the attention of a vampire who sampled every witch who walked through his doors.
“Are you staying close by?” His arm wrapped around her and his hand rested at her waist.
“I have a room above the café on Hillard Street.” Alice let him guide her to a set of stairs.
“Perfect. You say you’ve worked dens. A lot?” His fingers circled on her back, working their way under her shirt.
Don’t pull away. Don’t smack him. “Yes.”
“Mind yourself. These are steep.” He started down the dimly lit stairwell, moving with supernatural grace. “Your blood is special.”
“I’ve heard. It should make us both a fair pull this week.” She walked the stairs behind him. The boards creaked under her feet. Matthias said her blood would be too tempting to them, but this one had a dearling. That was supposed to mean something. Wasn’t it? Or was that a vampire’s way to lure a witch to feeding him forever by making it seem like love? Make them pay, would be Morrigana’s advice.
His chill radiated with contentment. “I have no doubt it will. Have you been reported?”
Was he asking
about the PPK? That was forward. Ballsy. “No. As I said, I move a lot.”
At the foot of the stairs he stopped and started to lift her hand to his mouth again.
Alice stared at his eyes, doing her best to look submissive and seductive, not repulsed and annoyed by his lack of respect for his own witch.
He didn’t try to trance her. After a squeeze of her fingers, he dropped her hand. “As is the case in most places, you will see and experience a range of encounters. Most of our clients enjoy the sensual, tactile treatment. I suspect with the way your magic brushes with a light tingle, that will be what you receive here. Touching you is a drastic contrast to a common witch. If you are mistreated beyond rough biting, let me know.”
Some abuse allowed? Never mind a little rough biting? What the hell did that mean? The painful bites like Matthias gave her, or the gnashes like Reginald inflicted? “Thank you, I will.”
He opened the door and escorted her down a hall.
Magic pulsed. Sensations of pleasure rode on the waves of power. The vampire presences made the air thick with danger signals.
She sent out a wave of light and peace, filling the area around them.
“That’s very nice.” His voice vibrated in a purr that raced across her skin. “In here…” He opened another door. “Is the main room. All feeding is done in here. I do not offer private rooms as that leads to damaged…” He paused and scanned the room. “Witches.”
Witches? Merchandise. Table after table of couples who appeared to be necking filled the room. All of the vampires were busy drinking. Witches wore expressions that ranged from orgasmic to bored, as they toyed with glass balls.
Alice’s eyes drew naturally to Matthias’ energy.
He was sitting in the center of the room, in the first row of tables that were arranged in a circle around a small platform. Only the top of his head was visible.
A curvy redhead writhed in his lap with her eyes closed. The slight part of her lips and the way her head rested against him, said she was enjoying herself. Her free hand rested on top of Matthias’ on her thigh.
Alice looked away. “That’s a good policy.” She rubbed her wrist, drawing attention to the scar that Reginald’s bite left on it. Sarg El decided it was best to leave the bites from training to heal with a scar in order to add validity to her being experienced with dens.
Blood Relic Page 9