A Venetian Vampire

by Michele Hauf

  “He’s cut his hair and taken up the task of pissing me off. He’s got his hands on something I need. The bastard actually had the nerve to protect one of my blood children, to defend her. He needs to die.”

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic, brother dearest. Dante is too pretty to waste on anger over a female.”

  “It’s not the woman I care about. She is disposable. But I sent her to steal a Fabergé egg that contains within it an important spell.”

  “Is this the spell you’ve been searching for for decades?”

  “The very one. The one that destroys vampires for miles within range.”

  Margot—rather, Bunny—tapped a black-gloved finger against her bloodred lips. “You have thought about the one small complication to enacting such a spell?”

  “That it would destroy me, as well?” King chuckled. “I don’t intend to be the one to enact the spell. And I will be safe inside a protection circle.”

  “I certainly hope you give me a heads-up when you do. I’d like to live a few more centuries, at the very least. So many adventures yet to be had. So many men begging to be conquered and put out to pasture.”

  “What if I offered you eternity?”

  Bunny scoffed. “That’s the other spell you’ve always quested for.”

  “I have that spell. It’s just missing a vital ingredient.”

  Bunny sat up. “Really? Eternity? Like, to never be killed?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I’m in.”

  “Great. But it will not happen unless I can get the egg from Dante, who has taken ownership of it. I sent three knights after him and just received a report of one casualty and two serious injuries. And when the werewolves showed up things did not get any better.”

  “I love me a wolfie man,” Bunny cooed. She sat up straight, spreading her long legs before her, then leaned onto the desktop with her elbows. “Let me talk to Dante for you. I’ll get you an egg, hell, a dozen eggs. Whatever you desire, brother dearest.”

  King stood and walked around the desk. He stroked his sister’s hair over her ear and trailed a finger down to her mouth. She kissed his fingers, then dashed out her tongue to lick them.

  He gripped her under the chin and squeezed. “Watch it, little sister. Never forget who is the better in our family.”

  She pried away his hand. “Our family consists of but me and you now. Although I wonder about Henri some days. You changed him—I know you did. And I’d be foolish to think you’d ever come down from that self-imposed, rusting throne of yours. Of course, you are the best, Charles. Always have been, always will be. Now. Do you want me to talk to the Casanova of vampires, or are you going to send more knights after him to be hobbled and humiliated?”

  He walked around behind her, threading his fingers up through her hair as he did so. Twisting the luxurious strands about his hand, he didn’t pull hard, but he tilted her head back. He bowed and kissed her red mouth. “Do it.”

  Chapter 14

  Once dropped off at the train station, Dante thanked his friends, then strolled to a locker and locked the egg inside. Kyler questioned the security, but he said it would serve the purpose he intended and walked back outside.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” she said as they strolled before the Gare du Nord and down the street. Dante had expressed a need for coffee, of all things. “That thing is dangerous. So many people want it. Men with stakes! Werewolves! Why the werewolves?”

  “Caution, Kyler.” He took her hand and squeezed as he veered toward a less crowded street. “We’ll talk once we’re out of the tourist shuffle and can find a few minutes of privacy under one of those striped umbrellas, yes?”

  “Coffee,” she muttered. “After you nearly died fighting hunters. I don’t get you.”

  “Is there some rule that says you need to get me? Besides, you exaggerate. Nearly died?” He chuckled. “I am in one piece. And we should stay off the main streets. I much prefer maintaining a modicum of secrecy. Though, come to think of it, you know much more about me than most.”

  “I doubt that.”

  Then again, maybe she did. While Dante claimed to stand with his arms wide-open to the women of the world, Kyler had learned actually gaining access to the man behind the charming facade was another deal altogether.

  “I know little about you,” she said. “Only that I can’t seem to walk away from you. You’re like a magnet, and I am a tiny iron filing that doesn’t stand a chance against your powerful pull.”

  “Come, Kyler. You’re a strong woman.” He had said that to her so often she was actually beginning to believe it. “You’ll make it through this. I know you will.”

  She would. With him by her side.

  They paused at a street corner, and Kyler reached up to swipe a smear of blood from Dante’s temple where he must have been wounded during the fight. All healed now, save for some fading bruises on his jaw and knuckles. “Thanks for having faith in me.”

  “It comes easily. No more blood?” he asked.

  “You’re good. I can see the bruises fading as we stand here. Remarkable.”

  “Yes, but I wish the pain faded as quickly. One of them punched my ribs through a kidney. Or so it feels that way. Either way, I’m thankful for the vampire’s remarkable healing capabilities. This direction.”

  They filed through a scatter of iron-topped café tables and found a small nook set against the outer wall of a brasserie, shaded by a bright red-and-white-striped awning. The evening was growing long and the streetlights were already lit owing to the clouds and further promise of rain. A waitress immediately showed and grinned widely at Dante. Kyler could but smirk at her obvious swoon. Dante ordered café Americans for both of them, no cream or sugar.

  That was fine with Kyler. She needed a good strong jolt to shock her out of the shock. Vampire hunters had almost killed Dante and two of his friends. And how had the werewolves found them?

  Now that she sensed he’d relaxed and there was no one close by to overhear their conversation, she asked, “Do you think they were from the same pack as the wolves in Venice?”

  “I suspect so. They probably scented their own pack members on the egg.”

  “Really?”

  “The werewolves’ sense of smell is remarkable. They can track prey miles away. I wonder for what reason they want the egg. They could do much with a weapon designed to kill off vampires, I guess.”

  “Kill off vampires? Though you’ve teased about it, you haven’t told me the real purpose for the spell. I’ve been told it would grant eternity. It was the reason I risked stealing the damn thing. But now you tell me it’s not? King was adamant about wanting eternity. Why would he lie to me?”

  The waitress set their coffees on the table and again smiled widely at Dante. He thanked her in French and suggested she return in a bit for a refill. She eagerly nodded and toddled off.

  “You want to manhandle her and get it done with?” Kyler asked.

  “What?” He sipped, but behind the cup she saw his smile. “I love women.”

  “Right. When are you going to step beyond loving them and start getting to know them? To care about them?”

  He pressed the cup to his jaw. Perhaps the warmth eased the lingering pain. “I thought we were discussing the spell in the egg?”

  He avoided his truths like King avoided holy objects. Kyler decided to give him a pass. He simply wasn’t the settling down and happily-ever-after kind of man. And she would do well to remember that every time she got lost in his mesmerizing gaze.

  “Tell me what it really does,” she said. “And why you’re so eager to get your hands on it.”

  “As I’ve explained, the egg was given to me to protect. Both as an object of historical value, and as the container for the spell. A spell that, once spoken, can wipe out va
st populations of vampires. All the vampires in Paris? Gone.” He snapped his fingers. “Like that.”

  Kyler gaped at that information. She would have never purposely involved herself in stealing something so horrible. She had no reason to believe Dante would lie about such a spell.

  “That’s about as far from granting a vamp eternity as it gets,” she said. “Yet if King were to enact such a spell, he’d be killing himself. That doesn’t make any sense to me.”

  “Or me. Of course, he could have a proxy perform the spell while he hightails it out of town. That would make the most sense to me. What does not is why? Sure, he heads an organization that exists to take us out. But the Order has always been discreet and just. They only ever pursue those vamps who have proven a danger to humans. They’re not staking every other vampire who strolls by. So why take us all out now? King never alluded to anything of the sort to you while you two were...”

  “We were?” She sipped the coffee. It was so hot she gasped and set the cup down with a clink. “We were friends for a couple days while he gave me less than a few pointers on being vampire. I’ve told you I was seduced by the dream of immortality. But you know, we never got close. We did have sex. Once. The first night I met him. And as for personal conversations about life and the future and what drives us or—apparently, what our real jobs were—we didn’t broach such deep chatter.”

  “I find it startling that he did not have sex with you more than once.”

  “Why?”

  Dante spread his hands before him. “Look at you.”

  Kyler basked in the warmth of his easy admiration. It felt great. And it wasn’t something she had ever felt with King. Caught up in the fantasy of a dark, eternal lover, she had thought she could fall in love with a vampire and share immortality with him. Until he’d walked away from her after the bite and said he’d see her around. And even then, she’d rushed back to him when he’d called her about the egg.

  What a fool.

  “So you two are still together? I mean, he sent you after the egg. I can’t imagine he called you up after a few months and asked you for such a favor.”

  “As I’ve told you, he called me about a week ago about the emergence of the egg. And when he said he would share eternity with me, I was in. He mentioned my mother, as well. And only now I realize he was playing on my grief. My God, I’ve been such a fool.”

  “You didn’t see that he was manipulating you.”

  She sighed. “I did not. But I do now.”

  “The man is very powerful. And he doesn’t care who he steps on to stay on top.”

  “I’m realizing that more and more as the hours pass. How could I have been so stupid?”

  Dante clasped her wrist softly. “You’re not stupid, Kyler. The vampire’s thrall is powerful.”

  “But we can’t enthrall one another. Can we?”

  “I’ve never created another vampire, but I suspect your blood master might have such an ability. King wields charm as a weapon. I suspect you hadn’t a chance after a few minutes with the man.”

  “Like you?”

  “I do not wield my charm so cruelly.”

  She’d give him that. And yet, the man couldn’t realize that his amorous attentions cut into a woman’s heart and left a wanting, open scar ever after.

  “Be thankful you’re thinking clearly now. Yes?”

  She nodded. “What about the two of us? Could you enthrall me?”

  He shook his head. “We didn’t bond when we bit one another. It would require a longer drink and a mutual agreement. Then? Yes, we’d be able to enthrall one another. Which wouldn’t be right for me. I’d only bond with another if I felt a close connection. And then to even consider putting someone I love under thrall? Never.”

  “That close connection of bonding is your idea of love?”

  He shrugged, and Kyler knew that his form of love was vastly different from hers.

  She let him off the hook. “So do you think the werewolves want to take out a bunch of vampires?”

  “Possibly. There are still some packs that harbor a ridiculous vengeance for vampires. The two species were once enemies. Wolves used our kind for vicious blood games. And some still do. And we once hunted them for sport. I’m not sure vampires participate in such hunts anymore, but anything is possible.”

  “Why can’t we all get along?”

  Dante smirked. “The world would not be such an interesting place if it was all peace, love and happiness, would it?”

  “Might be a nice place to visit. For a while, at least. So, what’s the plan? We could have hunters searching for us right now. You put the egg in such a vulnerable spot, so I’m assuming you have plans for it. Do you want the wolves to sniff it out?”

  “You see? You are a very smart woman—oh.”

  Kyler twisted her head in the direction Dante’s gaze had suddenly fixed. Approaching them from across the street with long, confident strides was a tall woman with flowing black, model-perfect hair and a lithe, sexy body clad in skintight black from gloves to thigh-high boots. She looked like every man’s fantasy times ten. At the sight of them, her red lips parted in a knowing smile.

  “Who’s that?” Kyler asked.

  Dante’s coffee cup hit the saucer with a hard clink that cracked the underside. “Trouble.”

  Chapter 15

  The woman, whom Kyler could only term a glamour slut, glided around the few café tables with the ease of an approaching black panther. Brown eyes feathered by lush black lashes fixed on Dante. She walked right up to him, straddled his lap with her long legs and leaned down to kiss him in a move so stealthy and seamless Kyler almost wanted to flip up the “10” paddle.

  But she was kissing Dante. And he allowed it to happen. His hands initially shoved at the woman’s hips, but now one of them actually curled around her. She moaned and twisted her head as the kiss grew deeper.

  Kyler picked up her coffee cup and set it down with a clank.

  Dante shoved the woman he’d called trouble off him.

  She stood over him with the vainglorious smile of a snake who’d eaten the kitten who’d stolen the cream. “It’s been a long time, D’Arcangelo, but you still taste like dark, delicious things.” She ran a finger along her red lips. “Another?”

  “Margot, that is enough. Let me introduce you to Kyler Cole.”

  About time he got around to remembering she sat but two feet away from him.

  “Oh. Yes.” The woman didn’t turn toward Kyler and barely offered her a glance. “The little mouse sitting in the serpent’s shadow. So, Dante...” She pulled one of the metal chairs close and sat, crossing her legs and shoving her knee into Dante’s thigh. She leaned in and trailed a finger up to his chin. “Want to get laid?”

  Seriously? The woman was going to tear the man apart right before her?

  “Dante.” Kyler leaned forward. “Who is this person, and how do you know her?”

  “Margot.” He pushed her groping hands away from his chest. “Please, Margot. Kyler, this is Margot de Valois.”

  “It’s Bunny now. Has been for decades.”

  “Bunny?” Kyler scoffed and tilted her head in scorn.

  “Bunny.” Dante twisted his head away. He couldn’t move his chair away from the woman because it was up against a brick wall. He seemed more nervous that Kyler sat there. Should she leave the two of them to make out?

  Not on her life.

  “Interesting name choice,” Dante said. “It’s been what? Almost a century since we’ve seen one another? You haven’t changed. Still dominant and thoughtless as ever.”

  “Works for me,” Bunny chimed in and cast a wicked eye toward Kyler. “Are you Dante’s latest? Don’t tell me you’re actually in a relationship, Dante. He has always been known as the lover, you know.”


  Kyler felt her temperature rise and fought to keep it normal. She didn’t want a blush to give the woman any triumph. The lover? She’d figured that one out on their first date and was still kicking herself for ever ignoring her heart’s insistent warnings to avoid him.

  “We are lovers,” he offered before Kyler could be forced to actually summon a clever comeback to the Bunny bitch. “What brings you to Paris, Margot—er, Bunny?”

  “Visiting Charles. You know my brother.”

  “He’s still alive, as well? Together the two of you must prove quite the menace.”

  “We don’t see each other all that often. He’s ever busy. Though I am on an errand for him.” She leaned in again and nuzzled her nose against Dante’s jaw. He didn’t move away from her. “You have something my brother wants, lover boy. If you give it to me, I won’t damage your little mouse.”

  “Threats? I thought you had more class than that. Besides, she’s not a mouse—”

  “No.” Bunny turned and looked at Kyler now. “She’s my brother’s blood child.”

  “Your brother’s—” Dante grabbed Bunny’s shoulder and shook her. “King is your brother? I thought his name was Charles?”

  Bunny shrugged out of his tight clasp and stood. She tugged at the hem of her short skirt. “Really, Dante, I thought you were smarter. Didn’t have that one figured out? Pity. The mouse has some stupid Fabergé egg. King wants it. You going to hand it over?”

  Dante flashed a look to Kyler, but it said nothing; in fact, his eyes looked dark, almost black. But within a few seconds gears seemed to turn inside his brain and he suddenly nodded and said to Bunny, “Yes.”

  “What?” Kyler had found her voice. She didn’t like that Dante intended to give something so valuable—and deadly—to the bitch with fangs. “That’s not yours to give away.”

  “It’s not yours to keep, Mouse.” Bunny rapped matte violet fingernails on the café table. “My brother sent you to Venice for it, and you agreed to bring it back. You have it on you?” she asked Dante.