by Dannika Dark
I held up the chain around my neck, causing the pendant to swing back and forth. “Say hello to Wyatt.”
Christian gave me a black look. He reached out for the necklace and bent down to face it. “Hello, you little shitebag. Having a good time, are ya? Tell you what. If I come home to an endless supply of free candy, I won’t scrub your memories. If you recorded this or tell anyone, I’ll glue your arse cheeks together and force-feed you ten pounds of chili from Raven’s favorite diner. You got that, Spooky?” Christian tucked the necklace inside my bra so that Wyatt was now facing my nipple.
I glanced around. “It’s dark. Maybe he didn’t see anything.”
“Is that equipped with audio?”
“I doubt it. While I was on the train, I kept asking him to send a cab to the next station to pick me up. Maybe he’s busy trying to make sense of what happened tonight. I don’t think Blue has any cash on her, and I didn’t want her calling Viktor. He wouldn’t risk sending someone to pick me up anyhow, and I need to talk to him in person.”
“I might be able to take you in the morning.”
“This case goes deep, and I want to find out how deep. I can’t do it without Viktor’s permission, and I’m afraid after what Wyatt saw tonight, they might move in prematurely.”
He opened his wallet and handed me some large bills. “Then you better get going.”
I took the money and stuffed it inside my bra. “This transaction feels all wrong.”
“I’m sure it’ll give the numpty across the way a lot to ponder.”
I wrapped my arms around Christian’s neck and gave him a long and lingering kiss. When it tapered off, I nibbled his bottom lip. “We’ll swap stories when this is all over.” My fingers grazed his tattoo. “Just remember who you belong to.”
Without another word, I sprinted across the roof and catapulted off.
Christian leaned over the edge. “You always need a dramatic exit, don’t you? Careful not to fall and crack your skull. I was hoping to prop it on my mantelpiece someday.”
I held onto the branch and swung my legs to a lower one so I could descend the tree. Instead of answering him with a sharp reply, I smiled and treaded across the soft grass. Christian had rare moments when he showed his romantic side, but that wasn’t what I loved about him. It was the fact that he never changed. I could always count on his boorish remarks, veiled threats, and dark humor. We got each other in a way that no one else could. I didn’t want a gentleman; I wanted a loyal man who made me laugh. I wanted an equal who saw me as such. Someone who brought me coffee in the morning and cheered me on during a fight.
When I reached the tree where I’d left my boots, I circled it in search of them.
“Looking for these?” Lenore stepped out of the shadows, holding my boots between two fingers. Her gold gown captured the ambient light from the house like a net, and the pink lilies embroidered on her matching slippers looked like flowers in the grass.
I took the boots and put them on, waiting for the inevitable questions, like what I was doing on her roof and why I was dressed like a tramp.
“Do you like to read?” she asked. “I love reading. Knowledge soothes the soul. There is so much to learn from books. Writers have unfettered imaginations, and they’re often the ones who pen ideas before they’re ever conceived by the rest of the world. Some of them write about our world, you know. Not because they’re a trusted human or have inside knowledge but because deep down, they know we exist. It could be that some of them do know about us, but we don’t regulate works of fiction.” She closed her eyes when the wind swept through her beautiful hair. “I was reading a fascinating story about the cosmos until a peculiar sound coming from the fireplace caught my interest.”
“Why do you suddenly need protection?”
She opened her dark eyes and stared at me so intensely that I lowered my gaze. “Anyone in my position of power requires protection.”
“That’s not his job anymore. Hire a bodyguard.”
“It’s my understanding that Christian had no assignment, and I trust him. Darling, this is only temporary until the threat passes. In the meantime, I’m reviewing applications. Trusting a stranger with my life is no easy task. Money doesn’t always buy loyalty. If I had a dollar for every guard who accepted a bribe to give up secrets, sabotage their employer, or even kill the person they were hired to protect, I’d be a rich woman. Well, a richer woman.”
“I need to go.”
Lenore captured my wrist. “Dear, oh dear. It’s not jealousy that brought you here, is it? You’re a strong woman, Raven. Jealousy is a weakness.”
“Why are you always giving me unsolicited advice?”
“Because I recognize potential when I see it. When you reach my age, you let go of pettiness. You’re still young and don’t yet understand how ancients think.” Her grip tightened. “But by sneaking onto my property and distracting my guard, you made me vulnerable. I’m certain it wasn’t your intent, but this will not do. I don’t bite, Raven. If you want to see Christian, you’re more than welcome here anytime. Just knock on the door next time so I can make arrangements for any security risks.”
I pulled my arm out of her grasp. Great. I’m sure Viktor would love nothing more than to find out that Christian put a higher authority member’s life in danger by shirking his duties to have sex on the roof. “That wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry I busted in like this, but I needed to see Christian for work reasons. He was alert the whole time.”
“I’m sure distractions are unwelcome when you’re on a dangerous assignment. Am I right? I only ask the same courtesy.” She looked toward the road. “Did you park nearby?”
“No. It’s a nice night for a stroll.” I inclined my head and walked down the long driveway.
“I can have my driver take you wherever you need to go,” she called out.
“That’s okay,” I said quietly, knowing she could hear me just fine. “God gave me these legs for a reason.”
Chapter 23
When on guard duty, Christian usually stayed outside all night so he could hear everything. Footfalls in the grass, an approaching car, a racing heart, clothes rustling in the breeze—they were all easy to pick up without the obstructive walls inside a house or building. And because he knew how being inside could interfere with Vampire senses, he was certain Lenore hadn’t heard anything—there were enough walls between the basement and the roof.
“Christian, may I see you downstairs in the study?” Lenore asked, her voice distant but loud enough that he knew it must have been carried up through the bathroom pipes.
The pipes.
“For feck’s sake.” He finished drying off his face with a towel. After shutting off the faucet, he headed to the first floor in no great hurry. Christian had no desire to be anyone’s puppy, and yet Lenore still treated him the way she had all those years ago.
Her heartbeat wasn’t within range, but clinking noises drew him to the downstairs bathroom. He knocked.
When she didn’t answer, Christian slid his jaw to the side and turned the knob. The first thing he saw was Lenore in the bathtub. All four corners of the square monstrosity were alight with candles, but none penetrated through the milk she bathed in. Small silver pins held up her hair as Lenore continued pouring a pale green liquid into a brandy glass.
“Absinthe?” she offered.
His eyes skated over to the glass block window beside the tub. They were old-fashioned and probably original to the house.
“At least close the door behind you.”
“As if the draft is bothersome.”
“No, but Wilson poured my bath, and he hasn’t gone to bed yet. I hear him stirring like a little mouse.”
“As if showing off your body to random men is bothersome.” Christian closed the door behind him and flattened his back against it.
Lenore placed a sugar cube on a flat absinthe spoon and laid it across the glass rim. The candle beside it flickered when she moved her hand to lift a smal
l glass bottle. It had a spout, and by the looks of the condensation, the water was chilled. It wasn’t the traditional fountain enthusiasts used. Lenore slowly poured water over the sugar cube until it dissolved into the crystal glass. Once finished, she lifted the milky alcohol and held it in front of her face. “Beautiful, isn’t it? Everything we do in life should have a ritual—a series of planned steps that raises every action to an art form. Not reckless and sloppy, like having sex on a rooftop.” Lenore lifted the glass to her lips and drank.
Christian averted his gaze. “I see you’re still bathing in milk.”
“You’re welcome to join me.”
“I’m afraid I’m lactose intolerant.”
Lenore set the glass aside. “It’s not the same as fresh milk from the cow. No one knows where food comes from anymore. It’s just cartons on a shelf.”
“That’s udderly fascinating.”
“Perhaps I should purchase a few goats.”
“You’ll need a lot of teats to fill that tub.”
“Puns are for the common folk. Your humor was always your weakest asset.”
“If you called me here to reprimand me, save your breath. I’m a grown man, and I’m fully aware of what the parameters of my job are.”
“Are you? Before you were spirited away by sexual impulses, your full attention was on keeping me safe.”
“I thought she was an intruder.”
“Do you seduce all your suspects?”
Christian studied his fingernails. Lenore sounded jealous, and that gave him a measure of amusement.
“If you want to have sex with her, I can arrange something. It’ll require my finding a safe place, and we’ll have to time it. How does a church sound?” She flicked the milk and sent a few drops in his direction. “It would be trite of me to report such an infraction to Viktor, but if our relationship deepens, I can’t make any promises to protect you when mistakes are made.”
“You should set your sights a little higher than a man who pays a few misfits to lock up criminals. There are powerful players in this city, Lenore. How many people do you think would respect you shacking up with Viktor Kazan?”
Her eyes danced with amusement, and she stood. White milk cascaded down her pale body, her nipples the darkest feature about her aside from her eyes. It would be impossible for any man not to notice she was shaved smooth between her legs.
Lenore slowly stepped out of the tub and finished her absinthe. She wasn’t making sexual advances for a reason. In her mind, every man’s weakness boiled down to two things: a beautiful woman and power. She craftily wielded her sexuality, making sure she never gave anyone too much, always leaving them wanting for more.
And they always wanted for more.
But Christian was wise to her tactics. He flicked a tiny washcloth at her. “I’ve had my share of gorgeous women since we last met. There’s nothing you can show me that I haven’t seen a hundred times over. Dark, light, tall, large—they’re all flowers in a garden, and you’re just one of many. Nothing about you impresses me anymore. I don’t covet your body, and I sure as shite won’t allow you to use it on Viktor.”
“You may have walked in the garden, but I’m a flower you haven’t plucked.” She set down her glass and glided toward him. Droplets of pale milk dripped from her fingertips and left a messy trail on the blue tile. When she reached him, she tipped her head to the side and gazed deep. So deep that Christian redirected his attention on her pointy chin. “I’m curious what entices you these days. Certainly not looks, and it can’t be blood. Mage blood is weaker than Vampire blood, so that wouldn’t be enough to bond you to her. It’s not power, and it certainly isn’t money based on her dreadful circumstances. Oh, Chrissy. Is this really the life you imagined for yourself?”
“This is the life I made for myself. There’s a difference.”
Christian could hear all the droplets of milk splashing against the floor, the steady beat of her heart, and even the wet sound of her licking her lips.
“This feels so familiar,” she said. “You and I are the same. Leave Keystone, and I will give you power, money, and protection—anything you desire. You won’t have to hide in the shadows anymore. Everyone in this city will know who Christian Poe is. What you do for Viktor is respectable, but they’re not your family, and he’s certainly not raising you to the level that you deserve.”
“I have other commitments,” Christian pointed out. No job was forever, and he knew better than to get emotionally attached to Keystone. Though he had no intention of accepting her offer, the temptation lingered. Not for her, but for something he’d never had—her approval. Why had he ever allowed himself to love Lenore Parrish? He felt like a dog kicked repeatedly by its master that keeps coming back, hoping for a scratch behind the ear.
Lenore straightened a wrinkle on his shirt. “You’ll have to leave her behind as well.”
Christian tensed.
“You can’t love her, Chrissy. A Vampire’s heart is too black and not made for love. We can’t feel the way they do, because the ancient blood in our veins forbids it. Love is insidious, and now that you’re older, you understand this more.” She jerked his wrist when he tried to move back. “Have you ever seen an ancient with a life mate? No, because it can’t be done. I can be with you or I can be with Viktor. Either way, I gain a strong alliance. You need to ask yourself how far you want to get ahead in this life. Love held you back the first time—don’t let it happen again by making the wrong choice.”
Christian didn’t even flinch. “Never. Keystone won’t always be here, and I’m bright enough to have figured that one out. But I won’t sacrifice Raven for anything. Not even your empty promises.”
“They’re not empty. You know what I’m capable of when I put my mind to it.”
He shook his head. “She’s the only thing I’ve got that makes me feel like a man and not a monster. I’ll not give her up.”
“I wonder if she wouldn’t give you up after I make my advances on Viktor. Think about what might happen if Viktor finds out that you harbor resentment toward his new mate. When he tosses you out, do you think Raven would give up Keystone for you? If you love her, you won’t put her in that position.”
Lenore reached behind him and retrieved a silk robe hanging from a hook on the door. Even though her naked body had brushed against his, there was no hint of arousal moving through him. Not even a renegade twitch. She was testing him, getting close enough to make any male yearn for her invitation.
The baffled look on her face said it all. She couldn’t figure out why his heartbeat ticked at a sedate pace and why his eyes didn’t steal glances of her breasts and bald fanny.
If Lenore infiltrated Keystone, Christian’s hands were tied. But he couldn’t complain to Viktor—not without knowing her true motives. And what would he have to say that wouldn’t constitute as slander? Power couples weren’t uncommon, and Viktor might find her useful. Christian had just enough information on her past political maneuvers to besmirch her reputation, but she had blackmail on him threefold. Damning her would be damning himself. He’d hoped she would stay busy with her new job and forget about him, but fecking hell, she just kept showing up at the mansion like it was her home. Making enemies with Lenore would be like kicking a hornet’s nest.
Lenore slipped on the white robe but left it open in front. “You’re much quieter than you used to be. I quite prefer it.” She headed back to the bathtub. “You had a tendency to ramble on and on about the latest thing you read. Technology was exploding all around us, and all you could talk about was dinosaurs and whales.” She blew out the candles one at a time. “Remember that time you released all the animals from the zoo?” Lenore stood upright and baited him with a charming laugh that was infectious.
He couldn’t help it. He smiled at the memory of a rhino chasing a man on a bicycle in the middle of downtown traffic. They never found all the lions, and one ostrich maimed three men who attempted to catch it with their bare hands. “If those eej
its had bothered to read a book, they might have learned that an ostrich can run up to seventy miles per hour. Cornered, they can kick a man to death.”
“If you wanted to free exotic animals, you should have purchased them.” After wiping off her hands on a towel, she closed the distance between them. “Impulsive behavior never reaps the rewards. You have to meticulously plan and think ahead.” She sighed while tying her robe at the waist. “I’m sorry. I’ve spent years mentoring immortals, and it’s difficult not giving advice.” Lenore reached up and touched his beard. “I remember how your smile could charm a room. Now it has a peculiar quality… like thorns on a rosebush.”
“Don’t waste your time on compliments. I don’t give a shite about your approval anymore.”
Lenore backed up a step. “You and I both know that’s a lie. In fact, my approval is more important than ever, given my position. I do wonder what it will take to get yours. You seem… distracted these days. That’s not like you. No matter how many years have passed or what hardships you faced, I still see the man who lives to please. That’s why you’re with Viktor, isn’t it? Maybe working on your own as a guard wasn’t rewarding enough. Your clients didn’t appreciate what you did for them, and you had no one else to tell you how talented you are.”
Christian bowed his head and stared at his shoes.
“Every man wants to be seen,” she said softly, drawing nearer. “To have his talents, his work, and his trophies admired by all. Or even by just one.” Lenore reached down to grip his wrist, and she held it like an iron shackle. Not to show tenderness but to feel the electrical impulses of his heart. To read his emotions with every flutter, with every quickened or skipped beat, and use it to her advantage. “I see you for what you are. I don’t wish to ruin you. But this is my time. I’m going to rise to power, and Viktor will be part of it. You’re so young and can’t see that far ahead, but I’ve already calculated the moves needed to climb to the top.”
“You’re already as high as you can go.”