by Joey W. Hill
Even so, the face punch sent him to the floor, hard enough his elbow cracked the tile. Son of a bitch, the guy could hit. But it confirmed Rand’s blood had done a good job for him. He didn’t feel any residual twinges from his previous injuries. No yelping.
Rolling to his back, Cai propped himself on his elbows. As he ran a thumb along his split lip and considered the blood, he angled a look up at the furious overlord. Deliberately, Cai crossed his ankles, squinting through the throbbing pain to blink at Greenwald.
“Should I stay down so you can do some kicking? Will that get her back faster? Make me talk sooner?”
Mason was up. For as fast as Greenwald had moved, the copper-haired vampire made him look like a snail. Which meant he could stomp Cai like a bug. Fortunately, Mason had more impulse control than Greenwald.
Greenwald struggled against Mason’s hold, but the Council vampire held fast. “Easy, my lord. His behavior may deserve your ire, but he’s correct. This is solving nothing.”
“I cannot tolerate this despicable…thing, in my home,” Greenwald said through gritted teeth to Lady Lyssa. Cai noted she sat quietly, with regal straightness, but her eyes were missing nothing of the interchange. “Pain is the only way to break Trads, my lady. We are wasting time.”
“Hey. Georg.”
The overlord’s head swiveled around, his eyes widening. “You disrespectful—”
“Georg’s your name, right?”
“Get to the point and do not goad him needlessly,” Mason said. The vampire’s gaze was cold, but it wasn’t the implied threat that reached Cai as much as the look behind it. While the vampire might understand the reason for Cai’s behavior, the even tone was a clear admonishment for Cai to grow up and be the bigger vampire.
Else Mason would rip his arm off to reinforce the point.
It wasn’t threats that brought Cai back to his feet, but he did try to tone his abrasive nature down. Somewhat. He squared off with the overlord. “Georg Greenwald? Did you escape from a Harry Potter book? Torture me all you wish, vamp. You can carve every inch of skin off my body and cut off my balls, and you’ll still get squat. But here’s what will work. How about some fucking courtesy? Instead of saying I’m your guest, actually treat me like one.”
Cai turned his attention to Lady Lyssa. She was five feet nothing and should have seemed diminutive compared to the males, and even the voluptuous Helga. Yet she was the only one he felt compelled to address by her title, even if only in his mind. That told him how he wanted to do this.
“I’ll provide the information you seek,” Cai said. “But I’ll tell you. Alone.”
Mason’s amber eyes glinted. Yeah, he was a scary bastard. So the fuck what? “You do not demand a solo audience with the Council head,” the vampire said.
“Why? Is a thousand-year-old queen afraid of being alone with a two-hundred-year-old vamp?” Cai tossed a look at Lord Georg. “It’s sure as hell not going to be here, with him interrupting every other word. She can share with him what she wants to tell him. Then I’m out of here, and fuck the lot of you.”
As the Council members stiffened and Cai thought he might truly be in danger of being limbless, clicking toenails brought everyone’s attention to the door. Rand shouldered open the cracked door and entered the room.
Without a word, he moved to stand at Cai’s side.
Leona had fallen asleep again, so when his ears, nose, and the mind linked to Cai had detected the blow, the blood and pain, Rand had left the room, run up the hall and bounded to the top of the stairs, passing a surprised Voltaire on the way.
It had been a kneejerk, protective response. He should have remembered Cai’s nature. Now inside the sunroom, Rand could tell the vampire father was quivering with a rage so overwhelming that the one called Lord Mason was staying close, as if anticipating having to restrain him once more.
Stop being asshole, he thought hard at Cai, but met only a silent wall. He was going to pummel the vampire himself.
The other vampires had broken off their conversation as he entered, and Rand was uncomfortably aware all eyes were on him. Evaluating, assessing… Lady Helga’s gaze coursed over him from head to toe, so thoroughly it might have been her hands. It suggested Lyssa had shared what she’d guessed he was with the other Council members. He didn’t think Georg knew, however, for the way his gaze passed over Rand, dismissing him, suggested he only saw a pet.
“Based on how I was brought here, and what you’re all so eager to know, I’ve earned the right to demand the terms for the information,” Cai said, continuing the conversation.
“Oh?” Lyssa’s brow lifted, her expression tightening. Rand noticed the room dropped by about twenty degrees. Everyone else registered it with uneasy looks. Could all vampires do that?
You think I’d be sweating my ass off in the summer if I could? She’s supposedly part Fae.
“What terms are those, Mordecai?” Lyssa asked.
Cai blinked. “Exactly what I just said. A solo audience.” His expression cleared, and he let out another harsh laugh. “You thought I was going to demand something for the information? Money, power? A position?” He snorted in derision. “You all have nothing I fucking want. Except an exit door.”
Lamb and pork chops in kitchen. To-go bag nice.
Where his earlier comment hadn’t penetrated, he saw an easing to Cai’s shoulders at that one, and a deprecating side glance from the vampire. Figures, a wolf would think with his stomach.
Better than dick. Live longer.
Blah blah blah.
Voltaire had slipped back in the room, taking his position behind Greenwald with another baleful look at Cai.
“Very well.” Lyssa drew Rand’s attention as she rose, stopping his internal dialogue with Cai. “You and I will retire to the study.” She paused, her head tilting as her servant, Jacob, who’d been standing attentively behind her chair, took a step from the wall. Her lips curved, her eyes reflecting mild reproof, but also something else. Deep regard. Rand sensed Cai’s surprise at seeing it.
Rand’s cousin had strong feelings for his female vampire, which were acceptable, but he’d told Rand that if a vampire had reciprocating feelings for a servant, they kept them hidden. It was pretty taboo, vampires being in love with their servants. But the connection between Lyssa and Jacob was impossible to miss, even without wolf senses.
“My servant will accompany us,” Lyssa said.
“Then so will he.” Cai jerked his head at Rand.
She nodded. “I’ll meet you there. Third door on the left down the hallway, once you exit these chambers.” Her gaze slid to the others. “We will return shortly.”
Mason looked the least thrilled by her decision, though no one looked overjoyed. However, they all held their comments, respecting the queen’s command. As she disappeared through an alternative exit Jacob opened behind her, Cai turned on his heel and strode out of the chamber, not giving anyone a further look. Rand followed.
Once in the hall, the heavy double doors closed behind them, though Cai caught a last glimpse of Voltaire’s sneering face. He was probably planning how to dissect Cai with the help of his buddies, Tyra and Chavez.
Rand bumped Cai’s leg, hard enough to knock him off track, and moved in front of him. He brought Cai to a halt with his body and an unexpectedly angry stare.
His daughter in danger. You play games.
Cai knew Rand’s emotions were running high, having just come from Leona’s side. But Cai was dealing with his own shit, and the accusation in Rand’s eyes knocked some of it loose. Maybe that was for the best. Letting it lead him, Cai shoved him out of his way. The wolf moved back, his eyes flickering with annoyance.
“Did I ask your opinion?” Cai bared his fangs, ignoring the wolf’s startled look. “If you can’t follow me like a good dog—the way they like their servants to act—then stay here.”
Rand laid back his ears. Cold-hearted bastard. Playing with heads. Hearts.
Cai curled a lip over the
steel fang, the rough edges of it a familiar reminder against his callused lip. “Go away, wolf. I don’t need you. Take off. This isn’t your world or your problem. Stop acting like it is. If you’re going to pretend to be something you’re not, do it with your own kind. Find yourself a happy little picket fence pack, if you can get another female wolf to be your beard.”
If not for the situation with Georg and his daughter, Rand would have taken the vampire down, right then and there. Cai saw it, that derisive sneer crossing his face, another taunt, before he pivoted, walking away.
“Anytime you feel lucky, wolf. You might spill a few drops of my blood on her carpets. She won’t think twice about putting you down for something like that.”
Cai headed down the hall. Rand stayed in place, trying to contain the red haze of temper. It would feel good to let the animal take over, go after him, wreak havoc. But he was no pup with impulse control issues, no matter that Cai seemed to have a unique ability to trigger them.
No, he hadn’t known the vampire long, and Cai didn’t act like he cared overly much for anyone or anything, but it didn’t seem his style to be deliberately cruel.
As the vampire reached the study door, he did something curious. Putting his hand on the door latch, he paused. A deep breath, then his shoulders squared, and he turned the latch, pushing the door open.
Oh, hell. Rand’s anger dissipated. He really had been away from human society too long if he’d fallen for the go away dog, I don’t want you routine they did in countless children’s movies.
Cai didn’t want Rand in that room. Rand just didn’t know why.
So Rand followed him. If Cai had closed the door, he’d knock the damn thing down, though the oak looked solid as a brick wall. Fortunately, the door was only pushed closed, not latched. Rand nudged it open and slid into the room.
Cai’s head turned just enough to show his profile, then he returned his attention to Lyssa. She was sitting at a desk, Jacob nearby, leaning against a bookcase, arms crossed over his broad chest.
Rand was surprised when the servant nodded to him. He would have been equally surprised if he’d given him that courteous nod while Rand was in human form. Maybe servants cut each other some slack, knowing that an asshole vampire didn’t necessarily make for an asshole servant. The servant might even deserve some sympathy for putting up with said asshole. And a stiff drink. Or a raw steak.
“So I am here,” Lyssa said. “Speak your words, Cai.” Her jade-colored eyes frosted. “If your reason for an audience is simply to wield power you have not earned, and not to give me useful information that will help Lord Georg’s daughter, you will sorely regret testing my patience. Be courteous and speak swiftly. I will not warn you to mind your manners again.”
“Yeah.” Cai sat down in the chair across from her. The one word wasn’t spoken as a sarcastic challenge, however. More as an absent-minded acknowledgement as he focused on other things.
“There’s only one enclave of Trads in the Appalachians. You’re sure they’re the ones that have her?”
Jacob nodded.
“How?” Cai asked bluntly. “And how did you know about my connection to them?”
Jacob glanced at Lyssa, and the queen spoke. “We petitioned the help of a sorcerer and his wife, who is a powerful witch with even more powerful friends. One of them performed a divination spell to determine how best to locate Dovia before it was too late. Your name and a few particulars came up. Not too many about you or the Appalachian group, unfortunately. Just that you had been with them, but were no longer, and if we found you, the chances were high you would have information and resources to help our purpose.”
“Oh, thanks. That explains everything.” Cai nodded sagely. “You went to a fortune teller and she told you a mysterious stranger would put you on the path to success.”
Rand winced at the caustic tone. He sincerely hoped the vampire queen wouldn’t kill Cai. If anyone was going to kill that annoying son of a bitch, it was going to be him.
Lyssa didn’t bat an eye lash. “Thanks to that sorcerer and his wife,” she said, “you were found within twenty-four hours. In the middle of thousands of acres of national forest, with the aid of an enchanted necklace.”
Cai blinked and a moment of silence reigned. Then he shrugged. “Okay. Fair point.”
Leaning forward, he laced his fingers between spread knees. Rand noticed a sudden tension in the way his hands were locked together, in the set of his shoulders.
“The ones who took her are a hardcore purist Trad sect,” Cai said. “Originally all born vamps. But Trads go through cycles when their numbers decrease and they realize they have to dirty their purist beliefs with a certain amount of made ones. They have a lot of protocol and ritual to it, both the choosing and the indoctrination process, which makes them feel better. They’ve had more applicants to choose from in recent years. Made vamps coming into their ranks from the outside, the ones who are disillusioned with your way of doing things.”
Lyssa’s expression remained flat. “We are aware of that trend.”
“They’ve only added to the existing hard-on that run-of-the-mill Trads possess to snag a born female vampire. That’s the ultimate prize for all of them. But for this Appalachian group, it’s the holy fucking grail. Doesn’t matter how slim the chances of conception are; to have a Trad born from that union would prop up their purist manifesto for centuries. They’ve got a whole chosen ones’ thing, about being the only ones smart enough to make it happen, and elevate the Trad race. Psycho and stupid, but that’s their crazy-assed MO.”
He took a breath. “They won’t waste time. They want her to conceive as soon as possible, and they’ll set aside hierarchy. Normally, it’s might is right and the strongest can take and keep what he wants, even more so than in your society. However, in the interest of having her conceive as quickly as possible, the guy in charge will share her with the rest of his select group of hangers-on.”
His voice became wooden. “They won’t be gentle about it, but they won’t be physically brutal, either. They don’t want the vessel or the potential conception to be at risk. They’ll feed her, see to her basic needs. Far better than they do for the human women they’ve taken and tried to breed with. They’re not as careful with them, because human women can be replaced more quickly and easily.”
Rand felt ill. Jacob’s face had hardened with unmistakable anger. Lyssa’s countenance still revealed nothing, but the room temperature was a different matter. Rand wouldn’t have been surprised to see icicles form a border on the front of the large desk. When she leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Cai like it could spear him. His wolf wanted to start backing up. “So, they have likely already begun this…process,” she said.
“Yeah. Kind of what I meant by ‘they won’t waste any time,’” Cai confirmed.
Those jade eyes sharpened in warning. “You know where this sect is.”
“Approximately, yeah. They like a particular stomping ground, but it covers a wide area. One of the most human-remote parts of West Virginia, deep-assed mountains, not much human activity. I can draw you a map.”
As Cai described some of the landmarks, Rand sat up taller, ears twitching. Cai glanced toward him. Rand hadn’t meant to draw attention, but if the location Cai was describing was where Rand thought it was, there might be at least one shifter pack nearby. Additional eyes and ears.
Not that he’d want that shared with the vampires. Hell, he kept forgetting about the mind reading thing.
Cai cocked his head, his firm lips quirking, but the worry Rand felt was quickly alleviated. Cai finished his explanation without revealing Rand’s thoughts. A cue they’d discuss it later, just the two of them.
Lyssa templed her fingers. “You’re a made vampire, Cai. A Trad.”
His lips tightened. “Yes to the first. No to the second.”
“How are you not? To validate your information and use that to help us retrieve Dovia, I need to establish your history with them.”
/> “Trust is your problem. You don’t need shit. I tell you what I want to tell you and—”
Cai stopped abruptly. Lyssa hadn’t moved, but something had changed about the energy around her. Rand felt a note of distress strangled from Cai’s mind, which was suddenly eerily open to Rand, yet obscured in a fog.
“Stop,” Cai managed in a choked snarl.
Rand didn’t think. Simply surged forward, gathering himself to leap, ready to land all four feet on her desk, his snapping jaws inches from her face. Why, he didn’t know, because he’d been ready to tear Cai apart himself. Maybe this second mark shit made his pack instinct override everything else.
Jacob met him halfway. Rand was startled that the servant could move that fast, but they came toe to toe and Jacob risked his fingers by throwing up an admonishing hand.
“Wait and watch,” he murmured. “She knows what she’s doing. Your Master will come to no harm unless he deserves it.”
Oh, he deserves it. That’s not the point. And not my Master, Rand added for good measure, though pointless since he was only talking to himself.
“You demanded this meeting out of courtesy,” Lyssa said quietly. “I demand the same from you, Mordecai.”
She did something that released him, for abruptly Cai’s body slumped as if cut from a gallows arm. He sprang up just as quickly, moving behind the chair and taking a defensive stance, fists up and face laced with fury. She didn’t move. Jacob stepped back, though he stayed close, in Rand’s peripheral vision.
“Don’t do that,” Cai gritted. “Ever again.”
“An improvement. You didn’t curse, though you didn’t say please.” Lyssa gestured to the chair. “Shall we try again? Explain to me why you’re not Trad, but you know so much of them.”
Cai stared at her. The vampire seemed conflicted about what to do next, but it surprised Rand when he returned to the chair. He sat on the edge of the seat, though, his body reflecting his tension.
If I throw that rock now, will you go?