Find Me When the Sun Goes Down (Forged Bloodlines #3)

by Lisa Olsen

  “Wait! They’ll see me in here.” Her eyes darted to the door, and then flew around the room, as if looking for a place to step out of sight.

  “I’m pretty sure everyone on this floor knows you’re in here with me.” And exactly what they’d been up to from her very vocal outcry.

  Anja’s face flamed scarlet, her voice dropping to a whisper. “They’re totally going to know what we were doing in here!”

  “You’re the one who didn’t want to wait,” he grinned, full of male satisfaction. Every vampire within hearing distance would know who she belonged to.

  “I hope you get in trouble for keeping that harpy waiting.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

  “You mean Angel?”

  “Uh huh, be sure to tell her what you were doing when she called. That ought to get her panties in a bunch.”

  “I try not to think about my superior’s panties…”

  “Too bad she doesn’t do the same.”

  Where had that come from? “When did you even meet her?”

  “She sent for me today.” Anja cocked a single brow. “Don’t worry, it was strictly a recon mission. I think she wanted to size up the competition.”

  “Is that what you’re worried about? You think Angel is interested in me?”

  “Does the word duh mean anything to you?”

  Bishop repressed the urge to laugh, sensing it would irritate her. “Anja, she’s my boss, nothing more.”

  “Then there’s never been anything between the two of you.”

  Definitely not something he wanted to get into when he had to get moving. “Not in the way you’re thinking,” he hedged.

  “But…”

  “I really do need to go. We’ll talk more later.”

  *

  Angel’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits the moment he entered the briefing room. “Nice to see you finally decided to join us. Too bad the briefing is already over.”

  “I was busy,” he shrugged, making no apologies. Bishop was fast growing tired of her sudden schedule changes. If she expected him to cower like a noob, she had another thing coming.

  “So I heard.”

  Was Anja right? Was Angel jealous of his relationship with Anja? In the end it didn’t matter, he’d never had feelings for the cold vampire. Anything between them in the past had been physical only. At the time he’d thought she understood that. “I thought you said I had the rest of the night off. Did something happen?”

  “Yes, we have another two deaths.”

  Bishop swore under his breath. “Who was it?”

  “Shields and Montague.”

  Bishop knew the pair of vampires well and honestly couldn’t say he’d shed a tear over it. Mean bastards, the both of them. “Same as before?”

  “These two were killed without witnesses, so it’s difficult to say what happened. Their ash and personal effects confirmed the identities though.”

  “Then they could have been killed by someone else.”

  “No one else was seen going in or out of the room and their human is missing. I hardly think he was able to kill two vampires of their age on his own. Still, I want the human found for questioning.” She slid a printed photo across the table. “A very pretty young man by the name of David.”

  “I’ve seen him before,” Bishop glanced briefly at the photo. “Alright, he shouldn’t be too hard to pick up. Anything else?”

  “Report back to me directly when you find him.”

  Bishop bit his lip at the tone of voice she used with him, considering and discarding a few replies before he decided to lay things out on the table. “Angel… I don’t know if you think you have something to prove, that you think you have to be a hardass with me because I’m older and more experienced than you, or if you have some other personal axe to grind with me, but this has got to stop.”

  “Whatever can you mean?” She blinked, all innocence.

  “I mean the shit jobs you’ve been giving me since I got here, the way you’ve been ordering me around like your own personal errand boy. I think I’ve been pretty patient with you so far, but it’s coming to an end.”

  “You work for me, remember?” Her jaw thrust out pugnaciously and his fingers itched to hit it. “If I choose to have you clean out the stables, I can.”

  “Try it,” Bishop growled, his temper flaring. “I guarantee you’ll only do it once.”

  “You have no say in the matter, you’re beneath me. Though I recall you enjoying that position,” she smiled archly. “Perhaps if we revisited it you might remember how well we worked together in the past?”

  “That’s never going to happen, so get it out of your head once and for all.”

  “Never say never, isn’t that what you taught me? I remember your lessons well.”

  “What happened to you?” He shook his head in disgust. “I didn’t teach you to be like this.” Bishop picked up the photo and tucked it into his pocket. “Keep it professional, Angel, or you’ll regret it. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

  “You can’t threaten me. I’m in charge here.”

  “Only for as long as I allow it.” Bishop left before he set himself on a path he didn’t want to go down. It was an idle threat, but one he could back up if push came to shove. For the moment it was enough to remind her she couldn’t push him around anymore. If things didn’t improve… well, then he’d have some heavy decisions to make.

  *

  The thought plagued him the entire time he was out on patrol. If Angel continued to make things uncomfortable for him, he could go over her head and make a case for her job. His bloodline, experience, and sheer reputation in the Order warranted the position alone. But was that what he wanted?

  It would be nice to take control of the Vetis Order, really whip it into shape. Or had things degraded too much in the years he’d been away? Why hadn’t anyone noticed or cared that somehow or other they’d wound up under Corley’s thumb? That wasn’t what the Order was intended to be, at least not in the beginning, and he’d always tried to run the West that way.

  What he really wanted was to go home. Back to San Francisco, back to the way things were with Anja by his side, and then Angel could spend her time fawning over Corley all she wanted. Too bad Angel didn’t seem likely to let him go any time soon. Sure, he could appeal the transfer, but that would take time. Being away from Anja in dangerous times didn’t sit well with him either.

  Or was there another option?

  Admittedly distracted from what he was supposed to be doing, Bishop decided to take a break. Fishing out his phone to call Mason, he was eager to get some advice he could trust.

  Mason answered on the first ring. “When are you gonna get your ass back here and clean up your mess?”

  “That would be your mess for now, buddy,” Bishop chuckled.

  “Gee, thanks. Seriously though, the natives are growing restless.”

  Bishop could imagine, it was the normal order of things for the vampire population to test the waters every now and again. “There’s always a bit of unrest when we go through a change in office. Don’t worry, it’ll settle down soon.”

  “It’s not just that. People are getting antsy because tithing is coming up soon. You know how they get.”

  “You can handle it. Listen, have you had a chance to look over the intel I sent you about our hunter problem?” Bishop trusted Mason to keep the inquiry discreet, and he needed another pair of eyes he could trust.

  “Yeah, that’s some pretty serious shit from the sound of it, but you were kinda light on any hard data.”

  “That’s because our investigation has turned up embarrassingly little. All we have is what I sent you so far. There doesn’t seem to be a connection between the victims, they weren’t related by bloodlines, or age. Hell, one was visiting from Quebec. They were almost exclusively male, but one last month was a female, so there doesn’t seem to be a specific type he’s centering in on. I guess I hoped you might spot something I’ve missed so far.”


  “Sorry, Cochise, I got nothing. What’s the word on the street? Nobody’s seen him, even with all the witnesses?”

  “Nope, he’s using ranged weapons only.” Everyone was too busy being distracted by the burning vampire to notice where the shot had been fired from. At least the only witnesses so far had been other vampires. If the general populace got wind of a killer on the loose whose victims burst into instant infernos, he’d have another problem on his hands. “Hey, why don’t you show what I sent you to Trick? Maybe he can spot something we missed about the incendiary device.”

  “Sure thing,” Mason agreed readily. “But uh… aren’t you supposed to have your own team to use over there?”

  “I don’t trust them as far as I could throw them. For all I know there isn’t any hunter and the deaths are part of an in-house hit squad,” he snorted, giving voice to that theory for the first time. Stranger things had happened.

  “It’s not that bad out there, is it?”

  “Let’s just say I miss more about San Francisco than your smiling face.”

  “We miss you too, old man. Seriously though, are you stuck in Vetis for good?”

  Bishop let out a long breath. “I honestly couldn’t say. I’m thinking… I’m thinking about making a change.”

  “What kind of a change?”

  “I don’t know,” Bishop shook his head. He wasn’t ready to vocalize it, not yet. Not until he saw how a few more things played out. “Listen, I’d better get back to it. Thanks for lending me your ear.”

  “Anytime, brother.”

  An idea was forming in the darkest corners of his mind. Like a tiny grain of sand, irritating and inflaming the tender parts of an oyster until a shiny pearl emerged, it nagged the back of Bishop’s brain while he continued his patrol. It swelled and grew when Angel sent him on a wild goose chase, keeping him away from the mansion until the sky turned pink with the coming dawn.

  He finally returned to the swan room to find Anja sprawled over an easy chair, her head dangling at an awkward angle as she’d obviously tried to stay awake to greet him. For long seconds he stood admiring the elegant slope of her neck, the curves and hollows he’d grown to love more than anything but the delightful wit that passed through the lush pout of her lips.

  “Love you,” she snuggled against his chest when he scooped her up, and Bishop held her close for the short trip to the bed, inhaling the sweet scent of cloves and pink roses. Maybe it was time to make a change.

  A permanent one.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Bishop hadn’t woken me up when he came to bed, or when he left the next evening, but there was a single red carnation on the pillow next to me. Some girls might like roses or something more exotic, but carnations have always been my favorite flower. Simple and fresh, they always made me smile, this one especially because it was from Bishop. I took it as a sign that no matter how busy things got for him with Order business, he’d always find time to at least think of me, if not spend time with me.

  A knock sounded at the door and I shuffled to answer it in my sock feet, flower in hand. “Hi, Rob,” I greeted him with a sleepy smile. “What’s going on?”

  “Evening,” he nodded. “Bishop asked me to escort you downstairs when you’re ready. No hurry, I can see you’ve only just risen.”

  “Oh right.” I’d almost forgotten I’d agreed not to “wander” the halls on my own. “Do you want to come in while I get ready?” I held the door wider and he slipped in, taking a seat by the fire which had been built up again. “I’ll just be a sec, I promise.”

  “No worries, I’m in no rush.” He’d reverted back to his usual garb of a tight t-shirt with jeans and a leather jacket. Too bad, he looked good all dressed up.

  “No suit tonight, huh?” I asked, heading to the bedroom to pick out a dress to wear.

  “Didn’t seem to be a call for it. Most of the vamps in the territory have taken to staying in, what with the hunter on the loose. Why, were you planning on leaving the mansion tonight?”

  “No, not particularly.” Not that sitting around the house seemed like that much fun. It felt like I got out more back home than I did in a foreign land. Whatever I’d envisioned my vacation to be like, it wasn’t this. “Have you ever met a hunter before?”

  “Course I have.”

  “Is it really as bad as Bishop said?”

  “It can be, if you find one with proper skills. This one seems to have the locals with their knickers in a knot.”

  That’s what I was afraid of. “Listen, you don’t have any old friends in the area who might be able to help track down the killer, do you?”

  “Might could ask around a bit. Why, don’t you trust your boy to get the job done?”

  “I don’t know, his boss has him running all over. I get the impression he’s not able to run the investigation the way he wants to. But the sooner we catch this guy, the sooner things will get back to normal, and then maybe Bishop and I can move out of here and get a place of our own.”

  “Is that what it’s to be then? Settling into a flat in town?”

  “I guess so,” I sighed. It seemed the lesser of two evils. “It doesn’t look like Bishop will be able to get away any time soon, and wherever he goes, I go.”

  “Good, I could do with more time to see the old homestead.”

  I’d almost forgotten any decision I made would likely affect him as well, and I wondered how long Jakob would keep him on my tail. I’d gotten so used to having him around, it was weird to think that he could be re-tasked somewhere else at the Ellri’s whim.

  “How do I look?” I asked, stepping out of the bedroom in a simple skirt and sweater set. I’d probably be horribly underdressed, but the clothes I’d packed were woefully inappropriate for the most part and I hadn’t had much time to shop in London yet.

  “Like a breath of fresh air,” Rob smiled his approval and I hoped the others felt the same and weren’t offended by my lack of pomp. God only knew Corley seemed easy to prickle when it came to the social niceties.

  They hardly gave me a glance when I entered the hall on Rob’s arm though, and I savored my anonymity, settling into a chair out of the way. If I played my cards right, I could avoid the spotlight entirely and then steal away for a few rounds of gin rummy with Rob in my sitting room after a decent interval.

  “There you are, Miss Gudrun, I didn’t see you come in.” Corley’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, as usual.

  No such luck.

  “It seems to me I heard somewhere that you have quite a vocal talent. Please, won’t you honor us with a song?”

  “Oh no… I couldn’t,” I shook my head. “I’m not warmed up or anything”

  “I’m certain we won’t notice.”

  I would… Butterflies turned into swallows doing acrobatics in the pit of my stomach as I tried to think of a way out of it. “But I haven’t prepared anything…”

  Corley’s dark stare didn’t let up for one second, even though his next statement wasn’t directed at me. “Thomas, I wish to be entertained.”

  “Huh?” Thomas looked up from his chair where he was happily munching on something. I sniffed the air delicately and caught a whiff of chestnuts. Bully for him.

  “Ask your loyal subject to entertain us with a song.”

  “A song?” Tommy’s eyes lit up and I felt my heart sink. “I love to sing! We could sing a duet maybe. Do you know Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers?”

  As ridiculous a proposition as that was, it sounded a heck of a lot better than me singing in front of a room full of judgmental vampires by myself, but Corley didn’t go for it.

  “I wish to hear Miss Gudrun sing alone. After that you may continue in any hootenanny of your choosing.”

  “I’d like to hear you sing,” Felix echoed, and I barely resisted the urge to shoot him a dirty look.

  “She’s great if you like that old fashioned stuff,” Bridget supplied with a wink.

  “I wouldn’t mind hearing you myself,” Rob nodde
d encouragingly, and I realized there was no way I could beg out of it.

  “I don’t suppose anyone here can play?”

  No one stepped forward, and that meant I’d be that much more on the spot. Cool beans. Swiftly I considered and rejected a few songs, classics I knew backwards and forwards that might impress before deciding on a simple ballad. Standing with my hands together, eyes trained on the fire crackling in the fireplace, I took a deep breath and sang. “O my love is like a red, red rose…” I’d always liked the plaintive Scottish melody, and it seemed fitting enough.

  I was halfway through the second verse when I noticed Bishop standing on the fringe of the group. At the barest glance of the rapt look on his face, my upper lip started to twitch and my hands twisted together as my nerves got the better of me.

  I couldn’t look at him.

  Blinking rapidly, I did my best to focus on the music and the way it swelled and surged through me as my voice filled the hall. When the last note hung in the air, and applause sounded, I dared to look his way again, my cheeks hot. I saw pride and wonder in Bishop’s eyes, but I still hoped to God they didn’t ask me to sing another one by myself.

  Fisher approached me enthusiastically, as did Bishop, but it was another man who stepped up to address me first. I’d never seen him before. Though he was tall, his shoulders stooped, making him seem like an old man despite the lack of gray hair. He wore a long green tunic trimmed with gold that hung down to his knees over dark pants, his long hair loose around his shoulders. “That was lovely, my child. Such a melody as I’ve not heard for a long time,” he praised, his gray eyes crinkling with delight.

  “Thanks, it’s one of my favorites too,” I replied shyly, grateful when Bishop appeared at my elbow.

  “Anja, this is Sylvius, Elder of the House of Vetis.”

  Holy smokes, the Elder of Vetis? I’d started to think he was a myth from the way people talked about him. Was I supposed to curtsey? Come up with one of those long, flowery greetings about good hunting in his lands?

  “Sylvius, this is Anja Gudrun, daughter of Carys, daughter of Jakob,” Bishop continued.