Mistwalker

by Fraser, Naomi

  Simone heard the warning about feeding and dropped into Willem’s thoughts. If he didn’t like it, he could take it up with her gun. If he was setting a trap for her, she would disappear, but to her surprise, he did have work to do. Paperwork for Sanchez, and he was trying to help her. Help Juliun, too.

  Willem had been told to ensure her safety. She didn’t want to press too hard into his thoughts.

  What to do?

  She didn’t want to be a coward, and this would be a good weapon to utilise with skill. Something to help Tammy. “Let’s move somewhere darker.”

  They walked over to the narrow corridor, and Willem stepped behind the bar, patted the servers on the back and entered a small dark room. He held open the door for her. “This is the back office. No cameras.”

  “All the better to drink you dry.” The lights were off, and she couldn’t see anything flashing. She had the sudden idea that it was perfect she do this, that she needed every advantage in her arsenal.

  “You’re funny.” He laughed. “Focus on me. Imagine taking me with you when you fade. I have trust in you. Being who you are, you cannot fail,” he said.

  Her eyes burned. Stung fiercely. A familiar lightness rushed through her, and a prickle of heat fired in her veins before they teleported to where she’d been chained to a chair. She glared around the room, bristling in memory. “And it doesn’t work on humans?”

  “Ah, no. I—”

  “Simone?” Juliun’s dark voice exploded from behind her in a massive sigh of relief. “You came back,” he said, his tone velvet passion encased in steel.

  She stopped breathing, her heart up in her throat, and she spun around. “Don’t come any closer,” she warned tremulously, back-stepping slowly. “Stay right where you are.”

  His eyes were aflame, surging shades of simmering grey, and he leapt over the desk. His long black hair tangled over his shoulders, the grey silk shirt buttoned all wrong. Parts of his ripped chest gleamed bleached ivory in the gaps. He raked his hands through his dark hair and let out another big sigh.

  “I thought something happened to you,” he said, worriedly and took another deep breath in.

  “Something did.” Her pointed gaze took in his dishevelled figure, falling from his dress pants to his bare feet. Huh. Her eyebrows rose. She’d never seen him look less than immaculate. Deep lines etched his forehead, the corners of his mouth and eyes. “You happened to me,” she tacked on, but her words lacked heat. Was he sick? Hungry?

  He stepped toward her, and she gasped, turning the edges of her body turning to mist.

  He stopped, holding himself unnaturally still, palms up. “You are safe here, poppet. I guarantee it.”

  Just like in her dreams. That dark, enticing aura breached the walls of her guard, and her heart thumped crazily. His voice was sinful. The dream world and reality merged into one, and her eyes widened. What did it mean? Asking him would forge their bond, she didn’t know how she knew that, but it was impossible to ignore her instincts. Even more so now that she was a vampire.

  “I want to protect you, Simone,” he said. “It is who I am. Who we are together. You are in great danger.”

  “And who’s going to protect me from you?” she whispered.

  Astonishingly, he shook his head, but he didn’t lower his gaze. “I doubt circumstances would be different if our meeting was repeated.” His cheeks paled further. “Lars is my friend and my subject. I cannot take back what I have done to you. I do not ask for your forgiveness, I know I will not get it. Only that you let me protect you from the rogues hunting you and from your hunger.”

  “She has fed, Your Highness.”

  Willem’s voice broke through the strange possession Juliun held over her senses, and her breathing slowed. She didn’t know what to say. She wanted to give in and ask for his help with Tammy, but she couldn’t trust him.

  “I can’t trust you,” she blurted, her legs and stomach turning into black mist. “I can’t stay.”

  He turned back to the desk, stiff and jerky. “You have my deepest thanks, Willem.”

  Willem left the room quietly, obviously dismissed, and then Juliun glanced back at her. His caressing voice filled the room. “Stay here one more moment, love. I wish to talk to you longer.”

  “No.”

  He turned back to the desk, hunched over slightly and said,

  “And so she came,

  Fierce and steady,

  Inky depths of pain

  To sustain,

  A loneliness vaster than a sea,

  Heart dead to all else.”

  Her jaw clenched, and she allowed the mist to encroach.

  “What does that mean?” She couldn’t hide her panic. She didn’t want to be left here, in this room, where for the first time her very being literally collapsed into tiny molecules. Even though she could escape anytime, that knowledge wasn’t enough. Could this place steal her soul—could he?

  Juliun’s gaze locked on hers, and they stared at each other, a thousand thoughts flying through her mind, a mask with scorching eyes settling over his glorious face.

  Mist ate her body. Freedom. Independence.

  Being alone meant no one could hurt her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Simone readied to turn into mist a block away from The Python, but nothing could ease the turmoil raging inside of her at her inexplicable and extremely erotic dreams of Juliun. She tried not to think about them, yet that only led to her dwelling on the image of his body sliding so sensuously over hers.

  She couldn’t remember how he’d found her in the dreamscape. There had been a full moon, a river, tall trees at the edge of the bank and rolling hills that stretched forever. He appeared bare ass naked, and that was a sight to behold. His long hair free flowing over his back, like a black silk curtain. The ripped muscles in his shoulders and back bulged with his forceful strokes upstream. Leaves swayed with the light breeze, and there was only the two of them. He’d exited the water, rivulets gliding down his muscled chest, lean hips and...

  She’d lifted her gaze to his face, and he smiled. She blushed. In that moment, something arrested in her heart, and reality infused her dream. Just as the dream had become reality. He never said a word. He was hers, and she, his.

  His lips tasted of life. Her blood ran hot at the touch of his lips, and she’d whimpered, her desperate hands clawing his body that radiated such a supernatural heat wrapped in cold water. His muscles were so slippery, hard and dominating. Her thighs parted, and he entered her with one powerful thrust. Only then she looked down and realised that she was naked. Her wet hair twined around the back of her arms and soft, fluffy grass padded her back which smelled faintly of fresh dew.

  He lifted his head and gazed down at her with his wide smile, incisors glinting and grey eyes steady. Starlight circled in a celestial crown around his head. Even now she could feel his hard, penetrating thrusts, the silken steel of him, his overwhelming strength, sinking again and again into her, slow, deep and long.

  The excitement built slow and increased into such an overwhelming ecstasy that her scream more resembled a crashing crescendo which ultimately resulted in her opening her eyes to the cupboard door in Vinnie’s spare bedroom. It had been so intense. She could honestly feel things. Damn, she was getting all flustered again thinking about it.

  Deep breaths. Deep breaths. A few more and she materialised on top of a slender overhead rafter inside the club, wrapping her hands around the steel supports. She balanced on the balls of her feet in a low crouch. Faint snatches of conversation floated up to her, but she focused on words or thoughts concerning recent attacks. Twice that night she’d tried looking for Tammy in the hospital without luck.

  It was ironic as hell the way karma worked: hunted became the hunter. She prayed she would gather information before she succumbed to bloodlust and indulged the beast inside of her that craved satisfaction.

  The scent of spilled blood and acrid sweat rose in the air. Her nose could distinguish hu
mans amongst the vampires, dopey looking cattle under the influence of hard liquor, recreational drugs and something else far more dangerous than any chemical. The effect of vampire glamour.

  Hard rap pumped from massive speakers. ‘Yep. Yep. Yep. You’re gonna bleed, can’t escape my black deed. Hungry greed, bleed, bleed, bleed. A blade ain’t as sharp as my teeth, alone in the dark, you’ll know it’s me draining your heart. Yep. Yep. Yep. You’re gonna bleed, bleed.’

  Six solidly-built males in black and red suits pushed their way forward through the entry. Couples wrapped up in each other jumped out of the way. The hard asses blanched, no longer lording up their corner of the club, looking keen to bolt. Except the vampires masquerading as doormen muttered into their walkie-talkies and looked ready to rip off heads if anyone coughed in the wrong direction.

  Simone fought down the urge to laugh and released the support to grab the .44. But Lissanne walked through the crowd, regal in a simple ivory gown, and Simone almost fell off the damn rail. Juliun would never let his mother come to a place like this, would he? What was he thinking? Didn’t he realise this crowd was dangerous?

  Juliun filled the doorway, every inch of him declaring to all they could take their chances if they wished to die. He stalked through the crowd with a powerful, leashed authority. The superb cut of his dark suit caressed his broad shoulders.

  He turned his head, his deadly grey gaze inspecting the club, the faces, hunting and searching, and then she knew why he had come.

  The rest of his entourage followed him into a luxurious room filled with low, modern chairs. The walls didn’t reach the ceiling, so she had a perfect view from her vantage point.

  Sanchez, Vaughn, Klaus, Willem and an unfamiliar woman sat down as the bodyguards did a sortie through the room and then stood guard in each corner. Two of the guards in red and black protected either side of Lissanne. They drew their crossbows at the ready.

  A rush for the exits couldn’t have been more obvious. There would be no information accidentally spoken or thought about with the prince of vampires in attendance. Simone sighed. She couldn’t escape the dreaded fact that this might be her only chance to save Tammy. If saving her meant dancing with the devil, Simone would do it. She’d vowed, and she never had that chance with her mother. The loss afterwards was unbearable.

  The crowd merged, covering up the path, and the music resumed its brain shattering pulse. A waiter glided into the room, pouring glasses of blood from a wine bottle. It would be warmed, fresh.

  She inhaled the sweet, rich aroma, and longing grew inside of her, swift and inescapable. She clenched her jaw to stave off the hunger, but the scent curled and teased. Utter despair bloomed in her chest knowing that she couldn’t escape without the nourishment she needed or without helping Tammy. She needed to do this.

  Simone dropped to the floor, floating an inch above the ground, and then she landed gently on her feet. Immortals gasped, glancing up at the roof with astonished faces then back down to her.

  Juliun’s stare fixed on her every step through the open doorway.

  Chills skittered across her skin, and her tongue grew thick and unresponsive in her mouth. Every nerve jangled and heat pooled low in her belly. Her heart raced. Two guards stepped together and blocked her entry. She faded to mist and reappeared behind them, still walking.

  Vaughn chuckled.

  Another guard opened a wine bottle that rested in a silver bucket on a coffee table in the middle of the room. Hungry shivers spread from her spine to her fingertips, and she welcomed the gnawing, twisting agony in her stomach. Pain steadied her thoughts. She didn’t want to step that far into the room.

  Juliun waved a hand, and the waiter neared her. She took the empty glass from his hand, trembling as blood flowed inside. The smell bound to every cell in her body, and her eyes closed. No chemicals in the brew. Her lashes lifted, and eyeing Juliun over the rim, she tipped the glass, and warmed blood slid over her tongue, down her throat, into her belly—so satisfying and delicious she finished within seconds. The hard rap echoed in the room, sexy lyrics filling in the silence.

  No one moved.

  She licked her lips, ears tuned to every breath and watching every gaze cast her way. She felt warm and steady. The guard shut the door behind her.

  The fleeting thought of escape filled her mind, but she’d come this far for Tammy and had no intention of backtracking.

  “Take a seat, poppet,” Juliun invited with a conspiratorial, wicked smile on his lips. “No need to stand on ceremony with me. It is very good to see you again. You look hungry. Tired.”

  That startled her. Had he known she dreamt of him? She rubbed her forehead and looked away. She spied an empty chair furthest away from him and materialised onto the soft leather. Her gaze settled somewhere safer. Lissanne.

  “I never imagined you would be here.” Simone replaced the .44 in its holster beneath her jacket. “It’s too dangerous.”

  Lissanne waved down the two guards on either side of her chair, shooting them a steely glare. “Please.” The disgust smoothed from her face as she turned back to Simone. “She won’t hurt me. I am glad you paid us a visit.”

  Sanchez flexed his wrists, his fingers curling with those deadly nails. Klaus’ crooked and bruised nose caught her attention. Simone glanced back at Lissanne. “I thought you were expecting me.”

  “Well, Willem mentioned you,” Lissanne floundered. “That is, we...” She grimaced and turned to her son.

  Juliun set down his glass and rubbed the fingers of one hand together. His eyes glittered, but his movements were careful and utterly controlled. “I believed you would be back here. If you need blood, Ravenkeep is always open to you. Would love to see you there.”

  “I bet. I like where I am, thanks. Ravenkeep is not an experience I wish to repeat in a hurry.” Tears swelled behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “I’m here because Willem explained that you will help me save Tammy. If you have any ideas for that, I’m willing to listen. I believe it’s the least you could do.”

  A tall blonde walked across to Lissanne and smiled at Simone from the other side of the room. “Hello, I’m Madalina. Lissanne’s cousin. You probably don’t remember me from Ravenkeep, but we imagined this location would feel safer for you.”

  “Nowhere feels safe for me,” Simone muttered. But it wasn’t Madalina’s fault. “I’m sure in other circumstances it would have been nice to meet you, Madalina.”

  Juliun frowned darkly. “You would have no need to fear anything if you would consent to staying at Ravenkeep. Rogues cannot enter, and I would protect you with my life. I swear it now—”

  “Juliun.” Lissanne shot him warning glance and turned back to Simone. “I hoped you wouldn’t mind others being present at this meeting to ensure your safety and the protection of your friend. Being a newly changed vampire can be so daunting.”

  Juliun reclined back in the only high-backed chair in the room. He looked elegant and regal, too young to be the prince of his kind. The sheer size of his body intimidated. Influential and immortal. He leaned back, his raven hair falling in a smooth circle around his shoulders. That untamed part of him.

  He looked so much like he had in her erotic dreams that she shivered.

  “The mist is not something that can be transferred without dire consequences. It was not only for your benefit that I urged you to stay. You are one of us now. We protect our own. I will not harm you.” He stared at her. “You must believe that.”

  Her heartbeat sped up, and she struggled to look away. His muscled thighs were clearly visible beneath his dress pants, and his lean hips tapered up to a taut abdomen, broad chest and wide shoulders. His piercing grey gaze met hers again, and she flushed, lowering her lashes.

  “Willem tells me you can’t drink blood from source in case you transfer the mist. Does that apply to me? I hope not.”

  A growl escaped Juliun before his lips clamped, and his brows lowered. His strong hands shook as he set down his
glass on the table beside him.

  “That’s a yes?” she asked with narrowed eyes. “Great.”

  He cast a grim smile to his companions and leaned forward. “Who?” He spoke to all, but gazed only at her. The air around them tunnelled with intense sensation.

  “Who what?”

  “Who have you fed from, Simone?” he asked, casually.

  Simone wasn’t fooled. His grey eyes were on fire, smouldering, and the shifting flames held her spellbound. She drew in a deep breath and forbade herself to tremble. She lifted her chin. “Answer my question first.”

  “The Council believes it would be dangerous to allow others to transform into mist. Too many lives would be lost,” Madalina said.

  Simone snapped her gaze to Madalina. “The Council? Who heads this Council?”

  Madalina shrugged. “We have delegates from around the globe. Of course, Radu, Juliun and Lissanne, as royals, are on the board of ministers, but the Council is run by seven different species in total. Radu is the chairman of the Council.”

  “And Radu is…?”

  “My grandfather.” Juliun cast Simone a penetrating look. “The oldest and wisest.”

  “Ah,” Simone said. The old man with the icy eyes.

  “The mist makes it possible to move an entire immortal army in the blink of an eye,” Juliun said. “Drinking blood from another, be it vampire, human or animal means transference. Grandfather and I do not drink from source. It is too great a temptation for others.”

  “For your entire lives?” Simone grimaced. “And how long has that been?”

  He leaned back in the chair, nestling one ankle against his knee, his thighs spread. An intense gleam filled his eyes. “Royal blood runs in my veins. I age slower than other vampires. Grandfather fed from source before he attained the mist.”

  A shock darted through her. “How…creepy.” Although, she couldn’t throw stones. She might as well add her name to the list of bloodthirsty immortals racking up the years and never growing old. He made her feel too unsettled, and she didn’t want to examine why right now. She turned to Lissanne. “What happens to the vampires who’ve broken this rule?”