Blood Judgment (Judgment Series)

by Nickie Asher

  He roamed the streets in search of a cheap room. Every place he might be able to afford had a little sign proclaiming him unwelcome. Well, what did he expect? He wasn’t supposed to be in the Restricted Zone.

  After walking miles of city streets, he found a falling apart dump with a discrete sign which read, Vampires Accepted. He went inside and utter revulsion closed on him.

  A bored-looking clerk collected three days rent from him and handed him a key. “Room’s on the second floor. If you bring your blood partner in, keep it quiet. I don’t put up with a lot of racket around here. Too much noise from your kind and I’ll be shut down for violating the law.”

  “I’ll be quiet,” Julian told the repugnant little man and quickly ascended creaking steps.

  God, he hated being treated like a piece of shit. He didn’t think he would ever get used to it.

  A scent like decaying garbage permeated the air and turned his stomach, a prelude to the room itself. Devoid of color and smelling of mildew, it had the appeal of a public bathroom.

  He tossed his bag on the table. The room was a shit-hole all right, but he didn’t have anything better to crawl into at the moment. And hell, he didn’t deserve any better.

  STILL HALF asleep, Saranna reached for Julian. Then full wakefulness brought back the hurt and humiliation after her admission of love. She rolled over. Julian’s side of the bed was empty. She listened to the silence in the house.

  She launched from the bed and yanked on her discarded clothes. Heart pounding with foreboding, she skimmed over the stairs to the lower level. None of the others were awake. And Julian was gone. Panic dug deep into her.

  Maybe he’d left a note in the bedroom. She raced back up the steps. Nothing on the dresser or the little bedside table, but a scrap of paper lay on the carpet.

  She picked it up and read his scrawled words.

  Saranna, I need a few days to work things out. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Julian

  Ice formed in her belly. Her heart crumpled. He hadn’t gone because he needed to work through anything.

  He’d left her.

  Eyes burning, her vision shimmered through unshed tears. His things were still there. His violin case was there. He wouldn’t leave it if he didn’t intend to return. Would he?

  She drifted to the closet and opened the door with a shaking hand. His black duffel was gone, although he’d taken few of his clothes.

  Her legs let go and she sat on the floor in an undignified heap. And the tears wouldn’t be denied.

  JULIAN HAD one thing on his to-do list before he could think about Saranna and their relationship. And as soon as darkness settled over the city, he set out to take care of business.

  He hitched a ride with a woman who didn’t seem in the least afraid of him. Instead of putting him at ease, her lack of fear perturbed him to no end.

  He leaned his head against the window and pretended to sleep until she pulled over and touched his arm. “We’re here.”

  Julian straightened in the seat. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He opened the door.

  “Be careful around here. Some of the residents are pretty bigoted.”

  “I will. But thanks for the warning.” He slid from the car.

  He’d made a promise, and by God, he was going to see it through, no matter what happened between him and Saranna.

  His heart ached. He wanted to go home and take her in his arms and… What? Tell her he loved her? He didn’t. He desired her, wanted her, admired her, but he wouldn’t let it go further. Being away from her hurt enough. If he loved her and she left him, it would be too much. And if she ever found out what he’d been like, she would leave him.

  He walked with a ground-eating stride, purpose fueling his steps. When he reached the whorehouse, no light illuminated the second or third floors. The lower level was lit by a single light.

  What the fuck?

  Only one way to find out. His running shoes made no sound as he approached the front door. He knocked hard.

  A thin woman opened the door a crack. “Can I help you?”

  “I’m looking for Jeff and Bobby.”

  “They used to work here. But, Miss Margo … she was murdered. The house is closed.”

  “Oh, shi— Can you tell me where I might find them?” He hadn’t counted on the house closing down or them leaving the premises.

  “Probably at O’Shay’s. They spent most of their off time there.”

  “How far is that?”

  “About a mile. Straight down that way.” She pointed a finger through the crack. “But you won’t find them there. At least not tonight. They were heading out on a fishing trip.”

  Terrific. “Do you know when they’re supposed to be back?”

  “Friday. I’m sure they’ll head straight to O’Shay’s.”

  “Thanks.”

  Julian trotted down the walk. He kept up the pace until the pub came into view. Small and seedy, it screamed good ol’ boy hangout. He should go back home and face Saranna. But maybe a couple of days apart would give him some time to get his shit together. Maybe this was a good thing.

  SARANNA DIDN’T want to get out of bed. A deep, aching loneliness held her in an iron fist. Her heart beat, but was empty of anything but grief. She’d lost her mate and her body knew it thanks to her bond with him.

  She forced herself to get up and go through the routine of getting ready to face the night without him.

  She waited until she was pretty sure she was alone in the house before she left the bedroom. She didn’t want to see the pity in their eyes when she told them Julian had left.

  It was bad enough that he’d walked out on her without having to tell them about it. Though she’d only be able to avoid them for a little while, she’d take any reprieve she could get.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t make it down the stairs before Slade made an appearance in the great room. The moment he spied her, he stopped and waited for her.

  Terrific. She so did not want to talk to him about anything involving Julian.

  “Where’s Julian? He’s late.”

  “He isn’t here.”

  Slade plucked the ferret from around his neck and set the little animal on the floor. “I can see that. He’s supposed to go with us to do a little recon.”

  He wasn’t going to let it go. Slade hung on worse than a pit bull sometimes. She went into the great room. Afraid her knees might let go, she sank into a chair. “He left.”

  “What do you mean?” Suspicion reflected in his dark eyes.

  “He left and I don’t know when, or if, he’s coming back.” It broke her heart to say those words. Broke it into a hundred ragged pieces.

  To his credit, he didn’t smirk. “Why?”

  She couldn’t tell him the truth. It was too shameful, too painful. How did one come to terms with their mate leaving over being told they were loved?

  “It’s too personal to discuss.”

  “I see.” Now his eyes sparkled with anger and his lips thinned before he spoke. “I hate to say this, but I told you he was no good and would hurt you.”

  “Please don’t.”

  “Don’t what? Speak the truth about your precious Julian?” His tone seethed with hostility. She knew his anger wasn’t directed at her. “So how are you coping without him?”

  She knew exactly what he meant. “I need him.”

  “Of course you do. You bonded with the son of a bitch.”

  God, wasn’t that an understatement. If he didn’t come back, how was she going to deal with losing him? How long would her bond with him hold if he wasn’t there?

  Slade paced around the room. “I knew something like this was going to happen. He doesn’t have the bond to keep him with you.”

  She didn’t reply. She didn’t have to because he was right. Julian would feel none of the anguish that was ripping at her. She needed to be with him. Needed to mate regularly with him. It was nature’s method of ensu
ring survival of their race. And if he’d bonded as he should have, he would need those things, too.

  Her eyes burned and her vision distorted. She willed herself not to cry in front of Slade, but she lost the battle.

  “Son of a bitch,” he hissed. In a moment, he was before her and pulled her up into his arms. He held her and then the tears came hot and hard. He stroked her back and let her cry against his shoulder until the sobs tapered off to sniffles.

  At least she had him. He loved her. Her big brother protector. And she loved him. His love she could count on. Always. She stepped back and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’d like to skin him and feed him to the government’s dogs for what he’s done to you.”

  “For what it’s worth in his defense, I don’t think he can help it. Julian is broken inside. I don’t know why, but he is.”

  “I don’t care. All I care about is what he does to you. He isn’t worthy of you. He never was and he never will be. And you can take that to the bank, baby sister.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “For your sake, I wish that were true.”

  TWO NIGHTS later, after lodging at a flea bag motel, Julian was more than ready to get down to business and return to Seattle. He waited until ten o’clock and then went to O’Shay’s. The moment he stepped inside, he felt eyes bore into his back. He maneuvered through the patrons and sat at a table in the far corner where the shadows were deepest.

  A tired-looking waitress wobbled over on too-tall heels. “What’s your pleasure, hon?”

  “A beer would be fine.”

  “You got it.”

  Before she could turn away, he said, “I’m looking for Jeff and Bobby from Margo’s place. Are they here?”

  “Honey, you must be new in town. Everyone knows those dickheads. See the one in the red shirt at the pool table?”

  Julian nodded.

  “That’s Jeff. His buddy is Bobby. You be careful of those shitbags. You don’t look like their kind of company. They’re mean and they don’t fight fair.”

  “Thanks, babe. But I don’t want to fight with them. I just need a minute of their time.” They’d learn what mean was before he finished with them.

  She brought his beer and he slid her a tip he couldn’t afford. He settled in, suspecting he was in for a long night.

  FOUR HOURS passed before Julian followed Jeff and Bobby into the parking lot. He had to take them out before they got into a car. “Hey,” he called.

  They swung around in unison.

  “What do you want?” Jeff said.

  “You fuckers raped my mate.” Julian bared his fangs, leaving no question about what he had in mind.

  Jeff pawed inside his jacket.

  Julian launched onto the much slower man. They crashed to the ground. Julian buried his fangs in Jeff’s throat and drank fast, sucking the life from him and not concerned in the least that Jeff was screaming his head off.

  Bobby didn’t choose to be heroic. He fled the scene of Jeff’s slaughter. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t able to run fast enough to escape Julian’s wrath.

  SARANNA CREPT down the stairs on shaking legs. Gut-twisting pain ripped through her lower belly. She stopped and gripped the banister, nails biting into the wood.

  Another stab of pain. She whimpered and clung to the railing. This wasn’t hunger. This was something worse, something she’d dreaded for years.

  Though Julian couldn’t breed her, his frequent mating had triggered her first heat cycle. And now she had to face it alone.

  Adding to her misery, the others would soon detect her fertility. Getting through her heat would be awful enough without her brother and cousins smelling it.

  The cramps subsided and she continued on to the kitchen. She needed to eat a little something before nausea made it impossible.

  The refrigerator door closed.

  Oh hell. Someone else was still up. She entered the kitchen. To her combined relief and annoyance, Slade stood at the granite counter pouring a glass of chocolate milk.

  He glanced back and surprise touched his face. “Sis, you okay?”

  “No.” She covered her face with her hands.

  Slade crossed the distance between them in a couple of quick strides and pulled her into his arms. She laid her head on his shoulder and gave in to the grief.

  He stroked her hair. “Shh. It’s okay. You don’t need him. I’m here for you. I love you and I’ll take care of you.”

  “I can’t believe he took off.” She held him tighter. At least Slade was always there. Her brother would never abandon her.

  He inhaled and stiffened. His arms tightened and pulled her up against him.

  Saranna tensed. Uncomfortable with the contact, she put her hands on his hard chest and exerted slight pressure, signaling him to let go.

  But he didn’t release her.

  He sniffed again and she knew with horrible certainty he smelled her approaching heat. Her face burned.

  “Slade?” She pushed again.

  Eyes glittering with feral savagery, he growled. To her horror, he pressed his hips against her. His cock was rock hard.

  “Get off me!” She was unable to hide the fright in her voice.

  He jumped back as though she’d jabbed him with an electric prod. “Sorry. It’s your scent. It just happened.”

  Heart pounding, she swallowed hard and went around the island, putting its solid mass between them. Though it was natural for a male to react to a fertile female, no matter whom she was, his obvious desire turned her stomach.

  Slade looked away, but not before his handsome face reflected emotions she wanted to blot out. Inappropriate emotions.

  He put the milk away. “He isn’t good enough for you. I wish you’d forget him.”

  “It’s none of your business, brother.”

  “It is when I see you so unhappy.”

  She shook her head, but didn’t say anything.

  “Why did he leave?”

  She couldn’t tell him she’d driven Julian away because he didn’t love her. She’d made a fool of herself once, she wasn’t doing it again.

  A cramp tore through her, doubling her over. She clutched at the island to stay on her feet.

  In a flash, he was beside her, supporting her with his strong arms. The scent of his desire choked off her breath.

  “I can help you,” he said close to her ear, his breath hot on her skin. “Let me take you somewhere. No one will know. You don’t have to suffer through this. You just need to mate a few times.”

  She froze, too shocked to move or shove him away. Her insides churned. “You can’t—”

  “I’ll be careful. I won’t breed you.”

  Stomach knotting in horror, her paralysis broke and she slapped him with everything she had. “How dare you,” she choked out. “You’re my brother, for God’s sake. How can you even think such a thing?”

  “I… I just wanted to help you. Don’t you understand how bad this is going to be?”

  “I don’t care how bad it is. I’m not lying with my brother. I know it happens sometimes, but not between us. You’ve been on the brink of inappropriateness for years, but you’ve crossed the line.” She shuddered and fought to breath. “Don’t you ever say something like that to me again. Get the hell away from me.”

  Looking stricken, he rubbed his check. “Fine. Enjoy your heat. I only wanted to ease you.” He spun on his heel and fled the kitchen.

  She staggered to the sink and turned on the water. Her stomach rejected its contents. When she stopped heaving, she retreated to her room on shaking legs. She curled up on the bed and fought back tears.

  She wasn’t naïve, siblings sometimes mated during a female’s heat. But she would never have thought Slade would suggest it.

  Inbreeding happened. More frequently than most wanted to acknowledge. But the thought of her brother mating her brought her to the brink of vomiting again.

  How would she ever be able to look him in the
eyes again? How could she remain under the same roof with him? That was a no-brainer. She didn’t have anywhere else to go.

  Anger seeped into her. Not at Slade. In all honesty, it wasn’t his fault. Any male would respond to a female’s heat, no matter who she was. It didn’t help that he was unattached and lonely, though he would never admit it.

  This was Julian’s fault. He’d brought on her heat when he didn’t even love her. She pulled the blankets over her as the anger spread through her. He acted as though he loved her, but if he wouldn’t admit it, then that’s all it was, an act.

  Damn you, Julian.

  It had all been a lie. Those three little words were too much for him because he didn’t feel them. He’d broken her heart and damaged her relationship with her brother.

  She wished she’d never laid eyes on him. She wished she’d been anywhere else the night he’d fought to save her in that alley.

  She wished the rogue had killed him.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  JULIAN ENTERED the silent house. To his relief, the males weren’t there. He needed some time to talk with Saranna and make things right.

  He slowly climbed the stairs. God, this was going to be awkward. A moan floated from the bedroom. His gut plummeted toward the stair runner and he froze mid-step.

  Did Saranna have someone in there?

  Black rage closed over him, choking him with an iron fist that stole his breath.

  Saranna groaned.

  Hurt and anger ripped through his guts like nails. She’d betrayed him.

  He stalked up the remaining steps. The feral need to fight for what belonged to him shut him down to everything except getting in the bedroom. She was his mate. His. He would kill whoever was with her. He jerked the door open and stormed into the bedroom.

  No interloper had invaded his territory.

  Saranna was alone, curled under a mound of blankets.

  “Saranna?” His anger evaporated in a cloud of concern as he flew to her.

  She whimpered and arched off the bed. “Julian,” she moaned.

  “Are you ill?” He bent to take her in his arms. She smelled so good, like lilacs and … and…