Harlan: Vampire Seeking Bride

by Anya Nowlan

  Katie looked slightly confused by that, but picked up the phone in front of her nonetheless. As she was making the call, Ruby stepped closer to Harlan.

  “Garlic bread? Really?” she whispered.

  “It’s a little inside joke,” he replied.

  “So garlic doesn’t repel you?” Ruby couldn’t help but ask.

  “If you’re thinking of kissing me after chowing down on a clove, sure, it might repel me,” he said, his eyes flicking to her lips and back to her eyes.

  Ruby felt overly warm all of the sudden as she crossed her arms in front of her in an attempt to close herself off from Harlan. She really shouldn’t have been surprised at how he had a non-answer to everything. Who knew how many decades he’d had to come up with all his little lines.

  “You can go up,” Katie announced. “I’ve unlocked the elevator button, so you can just press ‘penthouse’.”

  “Wonderful,” Harlan beamed at her, and it looked like Katie might just melt at the sight of his dazzling smile.

  If only she knew what he really was…

  “After you,” Harlan gestured toward the elevator doors, and Ruby stomped over to press the button calling it down.

  “You don’t have to waste your charm on me,” she grumbled, her mood growing even more sour for some reason. “I’m not going to fawn all over you like Katie.”

  “Do I detect a note of jealousy in your voice, Officer Danvers?” Harlan raised a brow at her as the elevator doors slid open.

  Ruby stepped inside the metal box with a harrumph. Jealous because of him, a vampire? That had to be the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard.

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” she scoffed, as the elevator began to move.

  Being trapped in an enclosed space with Harlan put all her instincts on edge. If he’d wanted to hurt her, he’d had plenty of opportunity to do so, that was true. But what if he had some other plans for her? What if she was going to be served up as dessert for his buddies as soon as the doors opened?

  Going along with any of this had been stupid and reckless, she realized that now. But it felt like this was all she had left – to bring that one last criminal to justice before she had to start her life all over again.

  On the bright side, if I die today I won’t have to start looking for a new job, she thought, giving in to the grim, macabre side of her.

  “Relax,” Harlan said, ever-so-gently placing a hand on her left shoulder. “I can hear your heart beating out of your chest. I didn’t think you were afraid of anything.”

  Looking up at him, she saw a softness in his features she hadn’t noticed before. So far, he had been too glib to come off as sincere, but this time, there seemed to be something akin to genuine concern on his face.

  “Just take some deep breaths and keep your eye on the ball. No one here will hurt you, I promise,” he assured her, and despite her better judgment, Ruby found herself relaxing a bit.

  “I’m fine,” she said quietly.

  It was time to pull herself together. She had been in stressful situations before. This was just more of the same. She still felt naked without her gun, as useless as it would be in this situation.

  The doors slid open just as she took in a deep breath, and she was entirely taken aback at what she saw in front of her. Having half-expected to walk into some sort of blood orgy, with everyone clad in latex, leather or fishnets, the cocktail party vibe of the place caught her off guard.

  All the men wore suits, which made her think that vampires had a dress code or something. The women looked matchingly respectable, draped in expensive looking dresses or business suits, with a few mini-skirts thrown in here and there. The bartender was set up behind a long marble counter near the far right wall, and he gave Ruby and Harlan a nod as they stepped inside.

  Looking around, Ruby thought herself relatively sure of who were vampires and who were humans. The grace, that kind of animal fluidity that wasn’t common by any stretch of the imagination, she had already observed in Harlan was now becoming easy to spot, especially when juxtaposed with the living.

  Every stride was measured and purposeful, every gesture planned and controlled. It made Ruby feel downright clumsy as she tried not to fidget or look around too much. At her side, Harlan was scanning the room, his eyes stopping at a small sofa near the back of the room.

  “There. I know her,” he said, before starting to walk over.

  Ruby followed suit, keeping close to him as she noticed a few of the patrons looking at her curiously. She might not trust Harlan, but she still knew him a bit better than all these other vampires milling about. He’d gone to the trouble of saving her life, so maybe he’d keep her alive, going forward.

  As they got closer to the sofa, Ruby could make out the shape of a woman, with auburn hair and a voluptuous shape. But she wasn’t alone. There was a man with her draped across her legs.

  Heart starting to pound again, she watched as the woman, dressed in all white, bent down at the waist and smiled down at the man before nuzzling her face into his neck.

  Oh god, she’s going to bite him, was all she could think as she numbly followed in Harlan’s footsteps. I can’t just let this happen.

  Harlan gave her a look that pretty clearly told her to stay back and let him handle this, but she couldn’t stay quiet. As the young, dark-haired man closed his eyes and let his head fall back, Ruby stepped forward.

  “Stop,” she called out, getting the attention of not only the redheaded woman, but a few of the other patrons.

  She could hear Harlan sigh beside her, but his presence barely registered, now that the woman was staring up at her, fangs exposed, a frown between her perfectly arched eyebrows.

  Well, shit.

  7

  Harlan

  “Lucinda. Long time no see,” Harlan said, drawing the attention of the woman whose meal he and Ruby had so rudely interrupted.

  Harlan could see Ruby blanch at the sight of Lucinda’s fangs, but she stayed her ground, staring the vampire down. Her fangs retracting, Lucinda turned to Harlan, her young donor still draped across her lap.

  “Harlan. I heard you were in town,” Lucinda smiled at him, her voice smooth as honey.

  Her words were somewhat lilted, her intonation influenced by more than one accent. With a thin face, narrow features, and red lips that matched the color her voluminous curls, she looked just as put together and self-assured as he remembered her.

  Considering they had some unpleasant history, Harlan hadn’t been too eager to approach her, but she had been the only familiar face in the place. And Lucinda was always up to date on the latest rumors.

  “I see you’ve brought your own snack,” she purred, glancing over at Ruby. “I don’t know why. The humans they have here are much more… refined.”

  Ruby bristled at that comment, but didn’t say anything.

  “I’m not here to eat. I need some information, and who better to help me out than you,” Harlan replied, keeping his annoyance well hidden.

  He didn’t like the way Lucinda dismissed Ruby. She had been through a lot, and it took considerable fortitude for her to come here with him. That deserved respect.

  “I’m kind of in the middle of something,” Lucinda said, trailing a manicured finger down the chest of the man in her lap.

  “Don’t,” Ruby said quietly, making Lucinda narrow her eyes at her.

  “Can you tell your pet to shut up?” she asked Harlan with an overly dramatic sigh.

  “I’m no one’s pet,” Ruby scoffed, clearly offended.

  “Be nice, Lucinda,” Harlan coaxed, even as his patience was wearing thin. “This is my betrothed.”

  “Her?” Lucinda asked, giving Ruby another once-over.

  Harlan could see Ruby stand up straighter under the woman’s gaze. She grimaced when Lucinda suddenly drew in a deep breath, her nose furrowing as she leaned closer to Ruby.

  “Ah, yes,” Lucinda said. “How embarrassing, I should have noticed it right away. It’s j
ust that she has that ‘chew toy’ vibe,” she laughed, the sound harsh and sharp as she glanced at the scar poking out from underneath Ruby’s sweater.

  “You would know about being a toy, wouldn’t you?” Harlan replied lightly, suppressing a smirk when he noticed Lucinda tense at that, before she pretended to be unfazed by the comment.

  “So, this one has managed to put a leash on the infamous Harlan? I can hardly believe it,” Lucinda commented, turning to Ruby. “I’ve heard women follow him around like lost puppies, just to get a taste of him. How long did you have to grovel before he made you his, hmm? Harlan, dear, you do know you don’t have to claim her to have your fun with her, right?”

  Something inside Ruby seemed to snap as she stared back at Lucinda with reckless anger in her eyes. Ruby’s pride had been wounded, and it didn’t look like she took that kind of offense lightly. Harlan was about to open his mouth to put Lucinda in her place, but Ruby had other plans.

  Stepping closer to him, she wrapped an arm around his waist and pressed herself tightly against him. Harlan didn’t let his surprise show as his hand slid over her shoulders. It felt good to have her close, to touch her… Her warmth seeped into his skin, and he found himself enjoying the contact more than he could have predicted.

  “I didn’t have to grovel at all. Why, did you have to beg? Did Harlan here turn you down?” Ruby asked, plastering on an entirely insincere smile.

  Lucinda tensed, looking like a predator ready to leap on its prey. Harlan gave her a look that said she would regret lashing out at Ruby, which seemed to take Lucinda’s attitude down a notch. Lucinda was clever, and powerful, but she knew she would be no match for him, if things came down to that.

  Lucinda threw a disgusted look at Ruby’s arm around him before looking away in feigned disinterest. Without even realizing it, Ruby had hit a sore spot with Lucinda. The woman had a reputation for getting everything and everyone she wanted. Except for him, that was.

  Lucinda might be beautiful on the outside, but no pretty façade can cover up the rot inside.

  “Uh, excuse me,” the man in Lucinda’s lap suddenly spoke up. “Should I go or…”

  “Yes,” Ruby replied.

  “No,” Lucinda said, laying a hand on the man’s chest.

  Sensing that Ruby was about to protest again, Harlan squeezed her tighter against him, and whispered into her ear.

  “Don’t argue. The man will be fine. We need Lucinda’s help,” he said, low enough that she could just barely hear him.

  “Now what are you two lovebirds up to?” Lucinda asked.

  “Just whispering sweet nothings into my sweetheart’s ear,” Harlan smiled at her.

  “How trite. Now can you give me an uninterrupted minute here or does your sweetheart have some more objections? Maybe she thinks I should marry this man first before sinking my teeth into him? Since you two are so awfully traditional,” she arched a brow at Harlan.

  “Go ahead. We’ll wait,” he replied.

  This time, Ruby stayed silent as Lucinda bent her head down and grabbed hold of her donor’s chin, tilting it to the side. Her tongue snaked out first, as she slowly circled the vein on his throat. The man sighed softly in her arms, eyes fluttering shut.

  Ruby looked to be mesmerized, watching on as Lucinda’s fangs popped back out and she slid them into the man’s flesh. She probably didn’t mean to, but she squeezed herself even closer to Harlan as Lucinda began to suck at the man’s neck. He moaned, fists clenching at his sides as Lucinda’s throat worked to swallow.

  It was all over in about a minute, as Lucinda pulled away and grabbed a pristine white handkerchief from her purse and dabbed the corners of her mouth before pressing the cloth to the man’s neck.

  “Thank you, Roberto,” she said, and he smiled back at her before getting to his feet.

  “Anytime,” Roberto replied, looking entirely smitten with her.

  He paused for a second to look at her before turning to leave.

  “Now, where were we?” Lucinda said. “Ah, you were introducing me to this interesting little creature you say is now yours. What was her name, again?”

  “I didn’t tell you her name,” Harlan replied. “And it doesn’t matter. That’s not why I’m here.”

  “But Harlan,” Lucinda argued, playing at being hurt. “You spend almost thirty years fucking every hot piece of ass that comes your way with no sign of ever wanting to pick out a bride, and now you show up here with a human you say you’ve claimed? Excuse me if that makes me a little suspicious.”

  “I grow tired of your games,” Harlan sighed, glancing down at Ruby. “How about you, my little jewel? Should we go spend our time some other way, and tell Julius we didn’t get any useful information?”

  “Julius sent you?” Lucinda immediately asked, before Ruby could say anything. “You didn’t say anything about that.”

  “I must have forgotten to mention it,” Harlan replied lightly.

  Lucinda looked worried for a second, before that poisonous smile of hers reappeared on her lips.

  “Tell me, is he still cross with you for not being his lap dog anymore?” she asked.

  Harlan was all out of patience as he glared at her. The only thing keeping him from wiping that grin off Lucinda’s face was the fact they weren’t exactly alone. That, and his manners, of course.

  “Have you met your lover’s Maker, by any chance?” Lucinda continued on, turning to Ruby. “Have they told you about their great adventures together, or did they start with their falling out? What a wonderful betrayal on Harlan’s part.”

  Letting go of Ruby, Harlan stepped closer to the sofa.

  “Watch your mouth, dearest Lucinda. Your tongue might grow back, but having it ripped out still hurts,” he warned, his self-control fraying.

  “Now that’s the Harlan I remember,” Lucinda laughed, but there was an edge of fear to her tone. “Does your little whore like that side of you?” she taunted, eyes flicking to Ruby. “She must be into some nasty stuff to be able to keep you on your toes.”

  Instinct took over as Harlan’s hand shot out, his fingers curling around Lucinda’s neck. Her feet lifted off the ground as he held her in front of him, holding back a snarl. He could feel the weight of eyes on him as other guests were no doubt starting to stare. But most knew well enough to stay out of vampire-on-vampire business.

  Harming humans was against the rules in these establishments, but Lucinda was fair game. Knowing the woman well enough, Harlan guessed that no one there would stand up for her. Lucinda wasn’t very good at making friends. Her skills lay in acquiring reluctant partners to aid in her endeavors, and picking up an enemy or two along the way,

  “You know that all I have to do to end your life for good is rip your head from your neck. You’ve seen me do it. So let me ask you, has your old age made you stupid, or reckless for you to taunt me like this?” he snarled, as Lucinda grabbed onto his wrists and tried to pry herself loose to no avail.

  “Harlan, dear,” Lucinda said, managing to smile at him. “You know how I hate boredom and love excitement. How could I resist the opportunity to push your buttons? You know I meant no harm.”

  “Do I?” Harlan asked, squeezing her neck until she was no longer able to speak. “Well, you can make up for insulting my betrothed by telling me everything I want to know. I think that’s a fair deal.”

  Lucinda nodded, and he loosened his grip.

  “Now, tell me everything you know about Grant Williams,” Harlan said, as he uncurled his fingers. “And for your own sake, don’t leave anything out.”

  8

  Ruby

  Ruby was feeling slightly shaky as she followed Harlan back to his car, a flashy black Corvette parked out in front of the office building slash vampire hangout. There was too much information swimming around in her head to process at once, and she was having trouble prioritizing.

  Harlan went around the vehicle to open the door for her, just like he’d done when they’d first driven here. The
chivalry seemed out of place after she’d just seen him threaten to rip a woman’s head off.

  Not that Lucinda didn’t deserve a little lesson in humility, she mused.

  Ruby’s distaste for that woman had been almost immediate, and even when Lucinda had purportedly told them everything she knew, that feeling didn’t lessen. Sliding into her seat, she barely waited for Harlan to get in the driver’s side before bombarding him with questions.

  “Would her tongue really have grown back if you had ripped it out?” she blurted out.

  It definitely wasn’t the most important question she had, but it was the one that had been on her mind.

  Harlan arched a brow at her as he started the car and pulled into traffic. Ruby stared at the profile of his face, the lines harsh yet beautiful. He was an intriguing combination of dangerous and charming, and she couldn’t quite figure him out.

  The fact that he had seemed to stick up for her to Lucinda had been kind of flattering. Then again, that could have been motivated by his need to sell her as his ‘betrothed’. It seemed he hadn’t been lying about the whole claiming someone as yours being a big deal in vampire circles, at least.

  “Telling you things is a gamble, my little gem,” Harlan remarked, maneuvering through traffic at breakneck speeds. “Anything I say could end up being used against me.”

  “You can stop with the pet names now. It’s just Ruby,” she huffed, despite her cheeks growing warm at the term of endearment.

  Harlan had the unsettling ability to cut straight to her core when he talked to her, or even when he looked at her in that way he did sometimes. It was way too easy to forget he was a cold, dead bloodsucker when those green eyes of his fixed on her, full of warmth.

  Stupid, sexy vampire, Ruby sulked to herself, staying as far away from Harlan as she could in the cramped cab of the car.

  “Now that’s no fun,” Harlan jeered, paying way too much attention to her and not enough attention to the road. “I can’t even make up nicknames for my future bride?”