by B N Miles
“Well,” Cassie said brightly. “This is fun.”
“Not what you expected?” Jared asked.
“Oh no, I always expect to get in a fight with some random Vampires.” Cassie laughed. “Or at least I should when you’re around.”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” Jared said. “This one’s on Jessalene.”
“I refuse to take any responsibility.” She grinned at them. “Okay, maybe a little bit.”
Cassie leaned toward Jessa and draped her arms around the Dryad’s shoulders. She kissed her cheek and hugged her. “Don’t worry, we love you anyway, Jessa.”
Jared smiled and reached out. He took Jessa’s hand in his. He wanted to kiss her, kiss Cassie, and hold both of them. He felt like he’d been neglecting them a little bit since Lumi showed up, and he vowed to himself that he wouldn’t let himself get distracted. Each of them was important to him, and he needed to give them all his attention.
“What are you people?” Caz mumbled.
“Mind your business,” Jessalene said. “You’re just jealous you’re some lonely old man.”
Caz rolled his eyes and Jared couldn’t help but laugh.
Anita came back into the room a minute later and frowned at the group. Lumi remained standing off in the living room, apart from them, but still nearby. “Nikita will be here shortly,” Anita announced. “She sounded… happy on the phone.” She shared a strange look with Caz.
“Your boss likes Jared,” Cassie said. “Likes him a lot, for some reason.”
“It’s definitely not his charm,” Jessa added. “Or his good looks.”
“Hey now,” Jared said. “I’m rakishly handsome.”
“You’re handsome,” Cassie said, nodding. “But not enough to pull in a Vampire Underlord. I was thinking she’s just attracted to any old Magi, and you happen to be available.”
Jared sighed and looked at the ceiling. “You ladies know how to help a man with his self-esteem.”
“This just got weird,” Anita said.
“They’ve been doing it since you left,” Caz grumbled. “I don’t get what’s happening.”
“I think they’re all… together.” Anita cocked her head. “Is that right, Magi? Three girlfriends?”
Jared shrugged and smiled at his girls. He knew it was a little strange for people, even for Vampires. They tended to be somewhat traditional when it came to marriage and relationships, although they tended to be more open when it came to pure sex. Vampire covens were notorious for how amorous and dirty they could be.
“Two girlfriends,” he corrected. “And a third on the way.”
Jessalene laughed. “Presumptive.”
“But true.”
“I can hear you,” Lumi called out.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Jared said, smirking.
She smiled back and shrugged but didn’t say anything.
“Your banter makes me want to puke,” Caz said. “Can’t you be like all the other MetaDept guys?”
“What’s that like?” Jared asked.
“Quiet and serious. But mostly just fucking quiet.”
Jared laughed and shrugged a little. He was about to argue when the door opened and a figure blurred into the room.
Jessalene tensed and was half to her feet, but Jared turned to face Nikita. She was grinning ear to ear. Lumi walked over to the door and shut it behind the Vampire Underlord as Jared slowly stood.
“My little darling Bechtel,” she said, coming over to him. “What are you tangled up in now?”
“I’d love to ask you the same question,” Jared said. “You do realize your people attacked a federal officer?”
“Please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’re a Marshal. Does that even count?”
“It does,” Jared said. “What’s going on here?”
“Sit down,” Nikita said. “And I’ll tell you.” She looked at her underlings. “You two, back on the street. Watch that house and make sure nothing moves.”
Caz gets to his feet. “Gladly, Nikita. Although I have to say, I’m not sure what you see in this guy.”
“Doesn’t matter what you think,” Nikita said with an edge to her voice. “Get outside.”
Caz gave a half bow and walked. Anita hesitated before bowing and following her partner. They exited the house and shut the door behind them.
Lumi wandered over as Nikita sat down in the chair Caz had just vacated. She looked at the group, her bright eyes happy. She wore a tight black tank top and yoga pants, like she was just working out. Her body was lean and gorgeous, her breasts full, her lips inviting. She grinned and showed her fangs, likely noticing Jared’s eyes moving down her figure.
“Sit,” she said. “Let’s talk about our little assassin.”
36
Jared took a seat and leaned toward Nikita. “Assassin?”
She frowned. “You didn’t know?”
“We know he killed Wen Bet,” Jessalene said. “He’s an Elf that lived on my clan’s land.”
“Ah,” Nikita said, leaning back with a sigh. “I see. I was wondering what he was doing here for so long.”
“You called him an assassin,” Cassie said.
“I did, dear, yes I did.” Nikita frowned. “What name do you know him by?”
“Hank,” Cassie said.
“That’s just one of his many aliases. Let’s stick with it for now, though I know him by a different name.” She frowned at the group. “What exactly is the Marshal Service doing hunting a known assassin?”
“We didn’t know he was an assassin,” Jared said. “As far as we knew, he was just a lone Dryad that had gotten mixed up with a man we were hunting.”
“Hunting?”
Jared nodded. “It’s a long story, but there’s a warrant out for Wen Bet. Now that we know he’s dead, we’re looking for proof. Your friend Arman told us about Hank, and here we are.”
Nikita nodded slowly. “Yes, now it’s coming together.”
“What are your people doing here, and why did they attack us?” Jared leaned toward Nikita. “They said it was because we’re Magi.”
Nikita frowned and looked away. “Yes, well. It’s complicated. I’m not sure you really want to know.”
“I definitely want to know,” Jared said, an edge to his voice.
Nikita’s eyes flicked out to Lumi, who was lingering closer. She slowly stood and paced away from the table. “Hank got into town several weeks ago.” She paused. “No, more like two months ago now. Sometimes time is a blur when you’re hundreds-of-years-old.” She smiled and went on. “When I heard a known assassin was in town, I had some of my people watch him. Standard procedure, really. Just making sure he’s playing by the rules and staying the fuck away from me and mine.”
“How did you know he was in town?” Cassie asked.
“Please, darling. I’m the Vampire Underlord of a major city.” Nikita gave her a look. “I know everything in this town. I know when a politician takes a bribe. I know when the cops sleep with their wives. It’s my job to know.”
“But who brought him here?” Jessalene asked. “And who wanted Wen Bet dead?”
“I can’t answer the latter question,” Nikita said. “But I can tell you the former.” She looked at Lumi again.
“My family,” Lumi said. “The Medlar.”
“That’s right. Word was, they hired Hank for something. I didn’t know what, but I’m not stupid enough to think I’m safe. I don’t necessarily get along with the Medlar.”
“That’s why you ordered your men to attack any Magi that showed up,” Jared said. “You thought we’d be Medlar.”
“I didn’t want them to attack you,” Nikita said with an edge of annoyance. “They were meant to bring you in for questioning. I supposed they got a little… overzealous. It’s a boring job, watching a house for two months. I suppose they jumped the gun.”
“Either way, they were looking for Medlar.”
“That’s right.” She sighed and shook her head. “I d
on’t like having that Dryad in our city. He’s a funny one, you know. Dryads don’t make natural killers.” She glanced at Jessalene. “No offense, dear.”
“None taken, and it’s true. Our magic is about life.”
“Exactly. But this one, he’s strange. Kills with poison, or at least so I’ve heard.”
“Makes sense.” Jessalene tilted her head. “Lots of plants are poisonous. He could be growing them at his place, making his poisons right there.”
“Is he still in that house?” Jared asked. “Right now?”
She shrugged. “As far as I’ve been told, yes. He’s been hiding there for a week now.”
Jared glanced at Jessalene. “We’re here to take him,” Jared said.
Nikita laughed. “Good luck. He’s a known assassin. Meaning he’s not to be trifled with. The ones that make a name for themselves and keep on surviving tend to be very difficult to deal with.”
“Either way, we need him,” Jared said. “We need him to prove Wen Bet’s dead. Beyond that, I don’t give a damn what he does.”
“I don’t think we can just knock and ask him,” Cassie said. “I mean, maybe we can? Maybe we can pay him?”
Jared shook his head. “He won’t break his contract with the Medlar. And besides, if he’s still in town after a kill, I bet he has something else to do.”
“Very good point, my Marshal,” Nikita said with a grin. “I have to admit, I am delighted that all of you are here right now. You and your very pretty girlfriends.” Her eyes swept over Jessalene and Cassie, who both seemed to blush a little bit. That was an interesting reaction. He’d have to ask them about it later.
“Nikita, I know you’ve helped us enough already, but—”
“But you’re about to ask for more help.” She tilted her head. “What can I do for you, Marshal?”
“Backup,” he said. “We plan on taking him. If you could offer us your men…”
“I might be willing to do that,” Nikita said. “It would be nice if you solved my assassin problem for me.”
“Mutually beneficial,” he said.
“But unfortunately, I can’t coerce my people into doing anything, and I suspect Anita and Caz won’t be willing.”
Jared’s jaw tensed. “Is there any way I could… convince them?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Nikita met his gaze with a little smile. “I suppose if you let their Underlord feed from you, then they might be willing.”
Jared stared at her for a long moment before looking at Cassie and Jessalene. Both of them looked surprised. Cassie was shaking her head. “You don’t have to do that if you don’t want it,” she said. “We don’t need their help.”
“You might,” Nikita quipped.
“Do you know what happens when a Vampire drinks from a Magi?” Lumi asked, stepping up next to Jared.
Nikita nodded. “Oh, very much so.”
“It’s like what happens when two Magi sleep together.” Lumi looked up at Jared. “She’d feel you. Sense you. Get a taste of your mind.”
Jared nodded. He knew that already, which was why he’d avoided this. Vampires fed on humans all the time, and they got a sense of their personality, of their position in space, that sort of thing. It was like a bond, but a very vague thing. It connected a Vampire with a human, nudged them together.
With Magi though, it was stronger—a lot stronger. It likely had to do with the priori in his blood. Nikita would connect to him in much the same way he’d connected with Lumi during that earth-shaking orgasm they’d had together. Except in this instance, it would be a one-way thing. Nikita would get parts of him, but he’d get nothing of her.
“I think I have to decline,” he said after a long pause.
She let out a sigh. “You’re a tough one. But it’s okay, I’ll feed on you sooner or later.”
“At least give us permission to move on Hank,” Jared said. “Keep your people away from us.”
“I’ll do that, since you’ll be helping me either way.” She gestured at the door. “Do what you need to do, Marshal. I’ll be watching.” She moved back to the door, her steps graceful and fluid. She was a predator, Jared knew. An old, powerful, beautiful predator.
And some strange part of him wanted her to feed from his body.
He didn’t know what it was. Maybe it was the magic all Vampires had, the ability to pull in their prey. But he doubted that. He didn’t feel her using her magic, and he wasn’t so sure she really needed it. Not with the way she looked, perpetually at the peak of her beauty. She knew what she looked like, and she didn’t hesitate to use it to her advantage.
But he didn’t need it. He had three beautiful girlfriends to keep him happy and content. Nikita was interesting and alluring, and she clearly wanted Jared in a way he didn’t fully understand, but he couldn’t go down that road.
Not yet, at least.
Nikita left the house, leaving him alone with his girls. He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a breath. He heard Jessalene and Cassie get up and come to him.
“You okay?” Jessalene asked.
“I’m fine.” He opened his eyes and smiled at her. She stood close to him and kissed his lips. Cassie came next, kissed his cheek, his neck, and his lips.
“Scary lady,” she said. “But hot. Really hot.” She grinned.
He laughed. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Nope, not even a little. You made the right call, though. We don’t know what she wants.” She turned and looked at Lumi. “Come here.”
Lumi hesitated. “I don’t… I mean, it’s your…”
Cassie beckoned for her again. Jessalene tensed for a moment, and Jared thought she might object. But she relaxed as Lumi joined their little group, snuggling in between Jessa and Cassie. Jared reached out and touched her cheek for a moment. Cassie beamed and Jessalene frowned, but she looked more interested than upset.
“You ready for this?” Jared asked.
Lumi nodded, then he leaned down and kissed her.
They stayed like that for a moment, the group of them touching, standing close together. Lumi was integrating into their relationship, that much was obvious. He could feel the ways she was making room for herself, slipping into the spaces, filling the gaps. She’d make them more complete, stronger, better together.
That was the real power of his relationship with these women. They made each other stronger, but they also made him better. Cassie brightened his day, Jessalene kept him on track. And Lumi brought raw power and intelligence. They were a formidable group, and he knew he was the luckiest man alive.
“Let’s go catch an assassin,” Jared said.
“And save my damn land,” Jessalene added.
Cassie laughed, kissed Jessalene, and then kissed Lumi. She seemed surprised, a little blush coming to her cheeks, but she liked it. She half-turned away, looking at Jessalene.
Jessa hesitated, then reached down and kissed Lumi on the cheek. “I’m not over it yet,” she said. “But I’m getting there.”
Lumi gave her a grateful smile.
Jared broke away from the group and walked to the door. “Come on. Let’s get in position and watch that house.”
Cassie groaned and caught up with him. “Surveillance.”
“You know it.”
“You’re the worst. You’re evil. You know that, right?”
“I know. But you love it.”
“I do.” She grinned at him as he opened the door and stepped out into the night.
37
Jared and Cassie took first watch while Jessalene and Lumi got some sleep. He was a little worried about leaving Jessa and Lumi together, but he figured it would be good for them. Force them to be alone with each other, and maybe they’d start to work on the bond he saw slowly forming between them. Around four in the morning, they swapped places, and Jared managed to grab a few hours in the back seat of his car with Cassie snuggled up against his chest.
Right at seven, Lumi woke them up. “It’ll be time s
oon.”
Jared grunted and gently moved Cassie. The pretty redhead blinked her eyes open. “Hey,” she said. “Good morning.”
“Morning to you. I think my arm’s asleep.”
She laughed and shifted her weight. Jared let out a sigh of relief as feeling came flooding back to his fingers.
“Any action?” he asked.
“None,” Jessalene said. “I saw those Vampires just before sunrise, though. The guy gave me a thumbs up. I think they’re leaving.”
“Good,” Jared said. “All right, then. I think we have the green light from our favorite Vampire Underlord.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to move against him in the daylight?” Lumi asked. “Vampires can’t help during the day.”
“No,” Jared admitted. “But I don’t want to wait until it’s dark, and we needed some rest.”
“It’s a quiet neighborhood,” Jessalene said. “Shouldn’t be any bystanders.”
“We don’t know what he’s capable of,” Lumi said, her voice low. “We have to be careful.”
Jared nodded in agreement. This Dryad was much more dangerous than he realized. For some reason, he’d assumed the guy was just a loner that got caught up in something. He figured Arman had picked him up, offered him something he couldn’t turn down, and got him tangled up in a murder.
But an assassin made more sense. Hire a professional, make sure it’s done right. The Medlar wouldn’t mess around with amateurs.
Jared wasn’t sure how Arman fit into this, though. Likely he was some kind of go-between for the Medlar and the assassin. That damned Vampire knew exactly what he was sending them to, and if Nikita hadn’t warned them, Jared might have rushed right into that house and gotten himself and his girls killed.
He needed to be more careful going forward. His desire to clear this case couldn’t outweigh his need to protect his girls, no matter what.
Jared got out of the car and the girls followed. He looked at them, one after the other, and he was tempted to tell them all to stay behind. This was going to be dangerous, and he couldn’t live with himself if any one of them got hurt.