Vampire Trouble

by Sara Humphreys

  Nothing about Maya was bland or ordinary. Her fighting abilities improved with remarkable speed, and he was eager for the rest of the coven to see the formidable warrior she was becoming. While her skills on the battlefield would be for others to see, Maya’s talents in the bedroom would be only for him.

  A sudden and dark surge of jealously gripped him at the mere thought of another man touching her, but he shoved it down quickly. Not only did he believe Maya had genuine feelings for him, but they were bloodmates and had performed the blood exchange multiple times. His brow furrowed when he recalled how strong the pull of the sun still was for both of them. Perhaps they would not become daywalkers like Olivia and Doug. Maybe the czar’s ability to daywalk was linked to Doug’s angel bloodline more than anyone believed.

  The string of unanswered questions that rumbled through Shane’s head was interrupted when Olivia’s voice mail picked up. Shane made a sound of frustration and hung up before quickly dialing Doug’s number. It was unlike the czar not to answer her phone, and he wanted to speak with her before he and Maya went to see Boris and Lillian. They’d been training nonstop for several days, and Maya had been asking to visit with the New Orleans couple to try to learn more about her past. As much as he wanted to help her, Shane still felt some reservations about making the trip.

  They’d managed to remain at Lottie’s home without being detected, but if they weren’t careful, a trip into the French Quarter could change that. New Orleans was a hotbed of supernatural activity and considered one of the few neutral zones in North America. While some supernaturals made it their home, no single supernatural group ran the city the way the vampires did in New York.

  “Hello?” Tight with tension, Doug’s voice rang through phone, interrupting Shane’s thoughts.

  “It’s Shane.” A tickle of warning flickered up his back. “What’s happened? Why didn’t Olivia pick up her phone?”

  “She’s having the baby.” Doug sounded terrified and frustrated. “So she’s kind of busy.”

  “Olivia?”

  “No, the Virgin Mary,” Doug said sarcastically. “Yes, Olivia. Right now. She’s in there screaming in pain, and they can’t even give her pain meds.”

  “No,” Shane said somberly. “Our bodies don’t respond to any type of pain medication.”

  “Yeah, well, Suzie, Xavier, and that fucking ghost girl kicked me out of the room—out of my own fucking apartment—and I’m standing out here in the hallway like a schmuck talking to you. I can’t even telepath with her because she cut me off, and I feel useless like tits on a bull.”

  “I-I’m sorry.” Shane felt like a jackass. He had no idea what to say or do because he was relatively certain Olivia was in an enormous amount of pain, and from the sound of it, so was Doug. Childbirth and handling a nervous father in the proverbial waiting room were definitely not his forte. “What can I do?”

  “Just keep your girlfriend out of trouble.” Doug spoke quickly, and Shane could hear him pacing back and forth, his footsteps echoing through the stone hallways of the Presidium. “That powwow of bigwigs will be finished in two days, and when Emperor Zhao hears that Olivia’s having the baby, my bet is that he’s going to get his old ass to the city in about two clicks. King Heinrich was already planning on coming because that little shit Horace is still whoring around Manhattan with his pack of degenerates.”

  Shane had planned on telling Olivia and Doug about the necklace and why the wolves were so intent on having Maya turned over to them, but given the current situation, he opted against it. Better to wait until there was more specific information to share because right now Shane had more questions than he did answers. The last thing the czars needed was an additional bunch of unanswered questions.

  “I had hoped Horace would give up and go back to where he came from.”

  “No such luck,” Doug said tightly. “He’s got a serious hard-on for Maya and is hell-bent on getting his paws on her as some kind of repayment. What a dick.”

  “Who is patrolling the city?” Shane asked. He felt like he was shirking his responsibilities.

  “Pete’s back on duty, and Emperor Zhao sent in a new recruit from Texas.”

  “A trainee?” Shane pressed his fingers against his eyes, attempting to contain his frustration. “With a pack of werewolves in the city?”

  “Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. Apparently the guy was military when he was human, so he’s already had plenty of training and he’s not that new. He was turned back in the ’50s.”

  “The 1850s?”

  “Oh for shit’s sake.” Doug growled. “The 1950s. Maya’s right. You are an old man.”

  “Perhaps, but that is still quite young to be a sentry in one of the largest and most populated territories in the world.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess a bunch of the old, experienced guys like you are working security at the summit with the Emperor. So we take what we can get.”

  “What’s his name? Perhaps I know him.”

  “Dakota.” Doug made a sound of frustration. “What’s taking them so long in there?”

  “I don’t recall a sentry by that name.” Shane rested one hand on his hip and glanced over his shoulder at the dimly lit house. Maya was upstairs getting ready for their one night out, and Lottie had already left for work. “I realize that it might be wise for us to return to the city now, but—”

  “No way. You two stay there until we give you the all clear.” Doug let out a short laugh. “I’m not throwing that curveball to Olivia right now. She’s kind of busy making a person, and something tells me that distracting her isn’t real smart. Why did you call anyway? Wait…hold on.”

  Silence filled the line for a moment, and Shane was about to apologize when he heard Xavier’s excited voice in the background. “It’s a girl, and Olivia is fine.”

  “Holy shit,” Doug shouted, letting out a loud laugh. “I have a daughter. I’m a father.” Shane smiled because Doug’s voice drifted from excited to almost reverent tones. “I’m a daddy. Oh man…I gotta go. Just sit tight, and we’ll call you later.”

  The line went silent and a funny feeling settled in Shane’s chest. It wriggled around inside him with irritating persistence, and he realized it was envy. Shane never even entertained the notion of having a child, and until just this second, he didn’t think he wanted to be a father, not to mention that until recently he never thought it was possible. Hearing the joyful and awe-inspired tone in Doug’s voice made Shane realize that everything he’d accepted about himself over the past four centuries was being called into question.

  Allowing himself to love again, to love Maya, was terrifying enough, but a child? Shane couldn’t begin to imagine the weight of that responsibility. He hadn’t even had the nerve to tell Maya that he loved her because the prospect of it was so unsettling. Being bloodmates and bonding with her was one thing, but baring his soul to her was quite another. Shane cursed at himself and shoved the phone into the back pocket of his jeans. He had more important matters at hand than thinking about his feelings—like finding out what magic Maya was capable of and why the wolves were so desperate to get it.

  The sound of the front door slamming shut interrupted his thoughts. A smile played at his lips when he heard Maya humming a tune as she trotted down the steps to meet him. Since they’d arrived at Lottie’s house and Maya began her training, she seemed less encumbered. Of course, a part of him hoped that their mating contributed to her free spirit too.

  Shane turned to greet her, but whatever he’d planned on saying went out of his head the moment he laid eyes on her.

  The woman was spellbindingly beautiful.

  Clad in sandals, a simple white sundress that came to just above the knee, and a sweater that matched the blue of her eyes, Maya looked every bit the beauty queen. Her long, blond hair flowed over her shoulder in loose waves, just the way Shane liked it, and she wore ve
ry little makeup. If a summer breeze could be embodied in a woman, it would look the way Maya did at this moment.

  Smiling, she tucked her hair behind her ear and closed the distance between them with her hands clasped behind her back. Stopping only a few inches from Shane, she popped up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.

  “Ready to go?” she asked before kissing him one more time.

  “You look positively fetching.” Shane slid his hands down both her arms and tangled his fingers with hers, holding her arms out to the side so he could look her up and down. He had asked her to be sure she brought at least one weapon with her, but he was unable to detect where she’d put it. “Where on earth did you hide—”

  Before Shane could finish asking her where she’d hidden the leather-handled throwing knives, Maya pressed one finger to his lips and shook her head.

  “Ye of little faith,” she whispered. “I’ve got it covered.”

  Maya spun around and pulled her sweater partway down her back to reveal a slim harness with the two knives discreetly tucked inside and easily accessible for her. Shane nodded his approval as Maya turned around, shifted her sweater back into place, and put her hands on her hips.

  “Not bad.” Shane’s eyes wandered over her from head to toe, and his body immediately responded. “As always, Maya, you are full of surprises.”

  Maya laughed and playfully avoided his grasp when he tried to pull her into his arms.

  “Nope.” She wagged a finger at him and placed both hands on his chest, holding him at arm’s length, which only made him want her more. “If we start that, then we’ll never get out of here before sunrise. But if you behave yourself now, then I promise I’ll make it up to you later.”

  “How?” Shane growled.

  “You’ll see,” she sang. “But first I have to talk to Lillian, and in case you were wondering, I have the necklace in my skirt pocket so she can look at it.” Maya grinned, but then her smile faltered. “Hey, did you talk to Olivia?”

  “I did.” Shane linked one arm around Maya’s waist and yanked her against him while his other hand found its way to the top of her ass. He didn’t do it to instigate sex; he simply loved the feel of her, and it made him happy to touch her whenever he could. Shane kissed the tip of her nose. “But you distracted me with your beauty.”

  “Well?” Maya giggled when Shane nuzzled her neck. Nibbling her lip, she linked her arms around his waist. “What did she say when you told her about the whole gypsy thing?”

  Shane stilled and lifted his head because he realized he’d totally forgotten about the conversation with Doug, which was highly unlike him. His feelings for Maya were cluttering up all of his senses. “I didn’t.”

  “What?” Maya’s body tensed. “Why not?”

  “Olivia had the baby.”

  “Oh my God!” Maya squealed her delight and hugged him ferociously. Tangling her fingers in his hair, she peered back up at him with wide blue eyes. “What did she have? I mean Suzie kept saying it was a girl. Are they okay?”

  “Doug said they are both doing well, and she had a baby girl.” Shane adored watching Maya’s joyous reaction and doubted that anything could make him happier than watching his mate smile. “Given the circumstances, I thought we should wait until we have more information.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Maya’s smile faltered and she started fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.

  Shane leaned back and tilted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye again. “What’s wrong, Maya?”

  “I miss them,” she whispered and let out a soft laugh. “Even Trixie.”

  “You’ll see them again soon. Contrary to the way it feels, we won’t be down here forever.”

  “No.” She shook her head and paused, struggling for the right words. “It’s not that…I miss hearing them, and it’s still strange not being able to talk to them anytime I want. It was hard enough when Olivia stopped telepathing with us and could only speak that way with Doug, but now…” She trailed off and looked away.

  “Now you can only speak that way with me,” Shane said quietly.

  “Yes.” She flicked her eyes back to him and grabbed his arms with both hands. “Please don’t be offended. It’s not that I don’t love…being able to talk to you like that,” she added quickly. “It’s just going to take some getting used to, that’s all.”

  Shane froze for a moment when she uttered the word “love” because he thought she was going to say she loved him, but she didn’t. To his great surprise, he was disappointed. But what did he expect? Up until a few days ago, she could barely tolerate his presence. Now, because they’d slept together a few times and the universe deemed them bloodmates, should he simply expect her to fall in love with him?

  With Maya staring up at him expectantly, waiting for him to respond, he realized that was exactly what he expected—and he felt like an idiot.

  “Shane?” Maya’s brows knit together. “Are you upset with me?”

  “No, youngling.” He stepped back and glanced toward the sky in an effort to shut down his feelings of stupidity. “We should leave if we want to have ample time for you to meet with Lillian. I don’t want to risk getting caught in the city after sunrise.”

  “I hope she can help me remember more.” Her voice wavered. “Even if this magic I can do is the blackest of all magic, I still want to know. The truth can’t possibly be worse than not knowing.”

  Looking back at Maya, Shane noticed the concerned expression etched into her features. He extended his hand and wrapped her fingers in his. When their flesh met, the line between her eyes smoothed and her lips curved into a smile.

  “Agreed.” Shane brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed them lightly. “Just remember, Maya. All creatures are capable of darkness, but not all choose to succumb to it.”

  As they leaped into the sky and flew through the night swiftly and silently, Shane couldn’t stop thinking about something Lottie said the night they arrived. Funny how the mind can choose what it wants to remember and what it wants to forget. Perhaps, he thought while they raced toward the city, some things would be best left forgotten.

  ***

  They landed silently in a dark alley at the edge of the French Quarter, but even along the outskirts, the lights and sounds of the bustling district could be heard. Shane linked Maya’s hand with his and walked down the quiet, dimly lit cobblestone street toward the corner of Ursuline and Dauphine. Holding her hand seemed the most natural thing to do. Though far smaller and more delicate than his, her hand fit in his like it had been made only for him.

  A pungent, familiar scent filled his nostrils and brought the reality of their situation crashing back in on him. Werewolf. The distinctly woodsy aroma slammed into him just before they reached the intersection where The Den was located. Maya stilled and her body tensed next to his. When he glanced at her, he was pleasantly surprised to see a ferocious, battle-ready look on her face.

  I smell it too. Maya’s voice touched his mind curtly. And I’m getting that weird feeling again, but it’s even stronger this time. Like an invisible rope pulling me toward them. There’s more than one, and they’re to the left, maybe a block or two away.

  There’s a pub not far from here that’s run by a pair of wolves. Shane nodded his agreement and scanned the area, attempting to pinpoint the wolf’s location more clearly. His search was interrupted when Maya’s hand squeezed his almost to the point of pain. The scent I’m picking up is coming from that direction.

  Shane. Her voice whispered into his mind on a rush. Look at my pocket…it’s glowing.

  He looked down to see that Maya was absolutely correct. The left side of her white dress now had an almost ghostly green glow emanating from the pocket where the necklace was. With shaking fingers, she pulled the necklace out and held it up between them. The large stone that dangled from the bottom of the gold c
hain was glowing as though lit from within.

  They looked from the stone to each other, and Maya’s expression was nothing short of amazement.

  “I don’t recall it lighting up like that at the club,” Shane said, looking more closely at the unique jewel. “Although I was admittedly…distracted.”

  “No. I’ve never seen it do this before.” Maya shook her head and laid the necklace in her hand, but once the stone touched her flesh, the light dimmed. “Whoa. That felt weird. It’s vibrating.”

  “Come here.” Shane took Maya’s arm and brought her into an alley across the tiny street, away from anyone who might pass by. Human or werewolf. He stopped and looked around before turning his attention back to Maya. “Let go of the stone.” Maya did as he asked, and they watched the stone begin to glow again. “Now, lay it in your hand.”

  Once the stone touched her flesh, the light dimmed.

  “It may not be glowing anymore, but it’s humming or vibrating or something.” Maya’s eyes lit up with excitement. “I bet I know why it’s doing this. It’s warning me that there are wolves in the area. I should put it on.”

  “No.” Shane grasped her forearm and shook his head. “Maya, we know there’s a werewolf in the area and that the wolves have it in for you because of this necklace or whatever they think it stands for.”

  “And we know that this necklace has magic or, at the very least, it’s connected to some magic that I’m supposed to have.” Maya’s chin tilted. Her eyes flashed and she pushed his hand away. “I’ve worn this necklace every day for as long as I can remember, and I feel naked without it—unprotected or something. Look, I can’t explain why, but I do.”

  “You’re being stubborn.” Shane folded his arms over his chest.

  “And this is news?” Maya asked playfully, putting the necklace around her neck and nestling the stone at the top of her cleavage. “See. It’s not glowing anymore, but I do feel that vibration. It’s really subtle, though, and like I told you before, when I was in that suite with all the wolves, my senses were going haywire. That’s probably why I didn’t notice it then. And I probably didn’t feel it when we were at The Dollhouse because that place is total sensory overload.”