by Jenna Barwin
Hell, it was better to keep them all at arm’s length. The treaty may afford her certain protections, but they were vampires, after all.
“If you’re going to be on the Hill for a while,” he said, “maybe we could go out sometime.”
“Thank you for asking, Zeke, but I don’t think I’ll have any free time.”
He looked disappointed. Still, it couldn’t be helped.
They danced through another song before she asked him to return her to the mayor’s table. He took her hand and walked her back through the maze of partygoers. The glances following them didn’t look friendly.
Damn. I should have worked harder—there must have been a diplomatic way to decline Zeke’s offer to dance.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, she locked eyes with a dangerous-looking vampire who’d glanced her way. His eyes beckoned to her while his lips played the straight man. She felt a jolt of attraction deep in her solar plexus, the electric buzz traveling south to tickle her root chakra.
Whoa, who is that? She didn’t recognize him—another missing dossier. Her vision narrowed until all she saw was him. He sported a long black ponytail and had skin the color of dark caramel. Did he come from Latino origins? He looked terribly handsome in the tuxedo he wore.
His eyes started to blacken, drawing her in like iron ore to a magnet. She pulled hers away and then glanced back as she passed closer to him.
Oh yeah, those eyes. Fully black now, his eyes dared her to dance for him, dared her to strip for him, dared her to trip him and fall to the floor with him.
Not good.
Ari had warned her years ago: If you spot a guy and feel that jolt of lust, run the other way. Nothing good could come of it.
She walked right past the ponytailed vampire and shook her head to clear it. Remember what you told Zeke. You’re here on business.
When they reached the mayor’s table, Zeke pulled out a chair for her and asked, “Would you like some wine?”
“A glass of Cabernet would be nice. Thank you.” The Hill was known for its Cabs; she couldn’t go wrong ordering it. She snuck a quick look in the direction of the ponytailed vampire, but his back was toward her now. Nice shoulders. The tuxedo jacket nipped in at his waist, fitting him perfectly.
Zeke walked off to the bar, and a full-figured woman with a determined stride brushed past him. “Winston, what’s so important you’ve dragged me off the dance floor?”
Oh well, back to business.
Gaea Greenleaf stopped in front of the mayor, her hands firmly planted on her broad hips. Leopold had described her as Rubenesque. Her pale white skin—quite abundantly visible thanks to a strapless dress—looked like it had never seen the kiss of sunlight, not even in life.
“We have a guest,” the mayor replied. “Dr. Cerissa Patel will be joining our community for a while. She’s Leopold’s envoy. I thought she might lodge with you.”
He continued his explanation while Gaea’s eyes skewered Cerissa. Now she knew what a specimen under her own microscope felt like.
“Hmm,” Gaea said, one finger poised on her chin. “She’s welcome to stay the night at my place. If I decide I don’t want to be bothered with her, you can make other arrangements.”
Cerissa exhaled, but stayed silent. Her envoy training had taught her to wait until directly addressed.
“Tell me, dear, are you tired?” Gaea asked. “Would you like to leave now? If you’ve just come from the East Coast, you must be jet-lagged. We can leave any time you want.”
Cerissa gestured toward the other partygoers. “It would seem strange to retire now, with the dance just getting underway. Besides, I’m eager to start meeting members of your community.”
Eager? Anxious was more the word—crashing the party might end up dooming her project. I was right and Leopold was wrong. We should have delayed this.
“Well then,” Gaea said, “you’re sure you won’t mind waiting here for me?”
“Not at all.”
Gaea pulled the mayor out of his chair and stepped a few yards away, lowering her voice. The remaining council members—except Rolf—started vying for Cerissa’s attention, telling her about themselves. The way they flirted so aggressively made her skin crawl. She briefly glanced over at the ponytailed vampire. Why did his attention generate a different feeling?
Not the time to think about that. She refocused on the vampires in front of her and cocked her head in Gaea’s direction, splitting her awareness. She kept her face from revealing she heard every word Gaea said to the mayor.
“Well, Winston, do you think she is what she says she is?” Gaea asked.
“Rolf verified it with Leopold.”
“How long will she be staying?”
“She didn’t say yet.”
“Hmm. I don’t want her as a long-term guest.”
“We can work it out later,” the mayor replied. “For now, have her luggage and car searched for weapons.” He pointed a finger at Gaea. “And you can’t let her go roaming about the Hill until we know more about her. Make sure she has an escort wherever she goes.”
“You needn’t remind your elders how to protect the community.” The edge of Gaea’s voice was sharp enough to cut bone.
The mayor flinched and looked away. “I didn’t mean to give offense.”
“You may be mayor, but remember who you’re speaking to in the future.”
The mayor nodded and looked at his feet.
“For now,” Gaea said, tapping her chin, “I’m going to treat her with the respect due an envoy. If we find nothing suspicious, we’ll wait for her to play her hand.”
“I don’t mean to sound intrusive,” he said, his face still pointed at his dress shoes, “but you should take extra precautions to protect yourself during the day.”
“I appreciate your concern for my welfare, Winston, but you needn’t. I haven’t lived this long without learning a thing or two.”
“Do you want me to tell Leopold to direct payment to you?”
“That will be fine. And there’s no need for you to return to the table.” With a dismissive flip of her hand, Gaea left him standing there alone.
Cerissa suppressed her smile. Good. At least this part is going as planned. When the mayor didn’t return but proceeded across the room, Rolf strode off following him, an auburn-haired woman in tow.
The chief of police took a seat at the table. Cerissa smiled at the nice-looking mortal who joined the chief. He wasn’t introduced, and he wasn’t in her dossiers either. His lapel pin read “Captain Jayden Johnson.” He was of African descent, but she suspected his ancestors and the chief’s had originated from different tribes. He was shorter than the chief—his muscular shoulders made him look more like a boulder to the chief’s stick, and his coloring more like a latte to her espresso.
Before she could greet Captain Johnson, Zeke appeared at her elbow with a glass of wine. “Thank you,” she said, accepting the glass.
She took a sip, skipping all the other winetasting steps. In spite of Leopold’s instructions, swirling and sniffing at a social event like this seemed gauche.
Zeke started to sit down, but Gaea stepped in, grabbing his arm and pulling him back up. “She’s staying at my place. You’ll get another opportunity to talk with her.” She waggled her fingers at him. “Now shoo.”
“But Gaea, I thought I’d show her around—”
“Don’t you have responsibilities at the door?” the chief interrupted him.
“I reckon I do, chief. Cerissa, it certainly was a pleasure meeting you.” He picked up his hat from the table and tipped it in her direction. “I hope to see you again real soon.”
Zeke sauntered off. Still standing, Gaea leaned over, her abundant bosom almost popping out of her dress. “You’ll have to be careful. He’s one of our biggest players.”
“That’s good information to have.”
“So, my dear,” Gaea said, taking the mayor’s vacant chair with a graceful swoop, “are you going to wait he
re for them to line up, or shall I take you around the room and let your purpose be known?”
“I suspect they already know—nothing travels faster than gossip.” As if to prove her point, Rolf had left the mayor and headed straight to the ponytailed vampire. They were now deep in conversation. From the glances headed her way, her arrival was the topic. “What do you suggest?” she asked Gaea.
“I think we’re better off getting you out of here and making you seem more mysterious. Vampires are used to being the hunters, not the hunted.” Gaea stood up and motioned to the door. Abandoning her wineglass, Cerissa grabbed her purse off the table and joined her.
“You know,” Gaea continued as they walked through the crowd, “it may take a while for them to accept an envoy. You’re not bound by the loyalty bond—that will be a problem for them, let me tell you. We’re very protective of the Hill. The loyalty bond must first seal the mortal’s lips from speaking of us before they’re brought here.”
“I understand. While I’m not bound by blood, I have signed an envoy contract, and I understand the penalty for violating it.”
Gaea paused near the doorway and turned to look at her. “What’s your project going to do?”
“Biologics. I’ve perfected a cloning technique—it uses biological processes to produce medicinal products.”
“I’m not sure I understood even half of what you said.”
“Let’s put it this way. You can create medicines such as aspirin by combining chemical compounds. Or you can use live tissues to produce a medicinal product—insulin for diabetics can be made that way.”
“And what you do—you use human tissue to create something?”
“Exactly. I’m going to need a sizeable parcel for the lab, one that can accommodate our expansion as the business grows.”
Gaea looked thoughtful for a moment. “And if you decide our little community doesn’t work for you?”
Leopold had prepared her for this question. Even though he wanted her project in Sierra Escondida, this would be a business negotiation. It meant they couldn’t seem too eager. “I have letters of introduction to the other treaty communities. I’d prefer a rural setting, but I’m not absolutely tied to it. So I’d probably try the rural communities first.”
“And the mayor would lose face with Leopold if we didn’t make you feel welcomed here,” Gaea said. Cerissa started to protest, but Gaea cut her off. “That isn’t your problem, although we’ll have to proceed carefully. I don’t want the mayor becoming territorial about you, deciding who you can meet and who you can’t. He can be a real jerk when he wants to be. I guess I should know—I’m the one who made him what he is today.”
“You’re the power behind the throne?”
“No, you misunderstand. I’m the one who turned him. Wait here while I gather up my latest boy toy, and we’ll leave.”
Chapter 6
Enrique Bautista Vasquez—or Henry Bautista, as his current driver’s license read—was deep in conversation with a fellow founder when he heard someone approach from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Rolf, his business partner, come to an abrupt stop. He felt a few stray hairs brush his jaw when he turned his head, and he swept them behind his ear. The rest of his shoulder-length hair was tied back in a ponytail, the same way he had worn it when he died at twenty-four years of age.
“I’m not happy Leopold has imposed her on us,” Rolf said, almost shouting to be heard over the band’s rendition of “We Are the Champions.”
What was bothering Rolf now? Rolf’s girlfriend Karen, in stilettos and an evening gown hugging every curve, was walking toward them, trying hard to catch up with Rolf while also maintaining a semblance of grace. Did Rolf resent being shorter than his mortal mate when she donned high heels? Rolf had never said anything, but then, he wouldn’t.
“Leopold?” Henry repeated.
“Dr. Patel is here on his behalf.”
He glanced over at the young woman in question, sitting at the mayor’s table. So that explained her unorthodox entrance. He had noticed the arrival of fresh blood and the familiar way Zeke had touched her arm, but she wasn’t Zeke’s mate. He would have heard if Zeke had gotten lucky.
When Zeke escorted her from the dance floor, Henry had stared at her because an unmated mortal didn’t belong here. He had also stared because her figure rocked the business suit she wore. The closer she walked toward him, the more he reacted to her enticing scent. At the time, he couldn’t stop his eyes from challenging her—but at least his fangs had stayed sheathed.
“Just a moment, Rolf,” he said, and turned back to the tall blonde he had been talking with. “I will email you the proposal. The hedge fund takes a contrarian view—I think their approach will pay off if this country keeps fighting senseless wars designed to make rich those who are in the business of war.”
He’d seen history repeat itself time and time again. Though disappointing, betting on mortals to act against their own self-interest had made him very wealthy.
“Thank you, Henry,” his fellow founder purred at him. She laid her pale white hand on his jacket sleeve. “It’s difficult planning for the future when mortals can spin this country into such deep debt. There are times I wonder whether we were smart to avoid national politics and limit ourselves to the Hill. Can you imagine what it would be like if one of us ran things? On a global scale, I mean.”
“Indeed,” he replied, with a slight nod. “I am sure if you were in charge, Mistress Abigail, you would whip them into shape in no time.” One corner of his mouth turned up at their inside joke. Then he grew serious again. “Short-term thinking by mortals is a burden we will continue to bear, but it’s still possible to make a profit in spite of it.”
“With your advice, I’m sure I will,” she said. “Have you spoken with Yacov since he was attacked?”
“I hoped to see him here tonight. I returned yesterday and only then learned about the attempted carjacking.”
She leaned in close, and he almost felt her lips on his ear. “I must say I’m jealous,” she whispered. “It’s been more than a hundred years since I drained a mortal. I hope someone tries to attack me.” Rolf took that moment to clear his throat. Her lips left a quick imprint on Henry’s cheek before she backed up and looked down her nose at Rolf. “Well, your business partner sounds like he’s about to wet his pants. Ta.”
The tall blonde strolled off, and he reluctantly turned his attention to Rolf. “I noticed Dr. Patel’s arrival,” Henry said, “but you’ll have to fill me in on the details.”
“Leopold sent us his so-called envoy. She wants community members to invest in Leopold’s business, so she can live here and run it.”
“Is she Leopold’s mate?”
“Nein.” Rolf made the word a short staccato sound. “She’s unmated and doesn’t belong here. Her presence will trigger a return to the old days when we fought over mortals, ignoring the property rights of the vampire who’d laid first claim.”
Henry raised an eyebrow at Rolf’s brazen attempt to lecture him. “You don’t have to recount the history to me—I lived through it.”
“Mark my word, there will be battles over her,” Rolf said with a disdainful snort.
“Oh pooh,” Karen chimed in. “You’re being ridiculous.”
Rolf narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t you have someplace else to be?”
“Not if we’re going to dance,” she said.
“Does it look like we’re about to dance?”
“No, it looks like you’ve forgotten your promise.”
Rolf glared at her. “Go get something to eat. I’ll find you when I’m done here.”
“Fine,” she said lightly. “I know when I’m not wanted. Besides, I saw Haley over at the buffet. She always likes to hear the latest gossip.”
“Be careful what you tell her,” Rolf said, just short of a snarl. “She’s part of that uppity group of mortals who want voting rights. As if we’d ever let Hill mortals vote for our council.”
Karen picked a piece of lint off Rolf’s lapel. “Don’t worry. I won’t encourage her. I just thought she’d like to hear about the envoy’s arrival.”
She leaned over and kissed Rolf, who sneered back at her over the public display of affection. Henry suppressed a grin. He’d seen this scenario played out many times. Rolf still carried old-fashioned attitudes about such things, but Rolf’s reaction never seemed to bother Karen. She took off in the direction of the buffet.
Rolf gave a low growl of disapproval. “The mayor is a fool to let Leopold’s envoy stay here.”
Henry brought his eyes back to Rolf and kept his opinion to himself. Under the treaty, it would be a diplomatic faux pas for the mayor to turn away a visiting envoy. “What kind of business is it? Leopold has never been interested in winemaking before this.”
“Medical research. I don’t like it. Her presence will invite lawlessness.”
Rolf’s doom-and-gloom scenario seemed unlikely. The community had too many safeguards built in for one woman to set them back, but her presence raised another concern. “If she is not mated in blood, then how are we safe with her among us? She has no loyalty bond.”
Rolf curled his upper lip. “The mayor seems satisfied, since Leopold vouched for her.”
“This makes no sense,” Henry said, rubbing his gold crucifix, his tuxedo shirt between his fingers and the sacred object. “If she is not already mated, why would she seek to live among us? She cannot want a vampire mate. We are unable to give her children, and we stay young while she grows old. Unless her work really is all she cares for.”
“Who knows what her real reasons are. She said she wants to be part of the community so she can manage Leopold’s research lab. She was quite clear on the subject.”
Why the Hill? Henry rubbed the crucifix one last time and released it. “Nothing in the treaty requires us to let Leopold build his project here.”
“Don’t you think I know that? The town council will vote with me,” Rolf said, turning toward the mayor’s table, motioning in the envoy’s direction. “Her project will never be approved. It’s the next few weeks I don’t like. She shouldn’t be allowed to roam unfettered among us. How could we sign such a treaty?”