by Tina Folsom
“I’m afraid Robert has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar,” Abel said, his voice even. Then he looked back to the man before him. “It’s a grave offense. I’m sure you’re aware of it.”
“I didn’t steal it. I—”
Abel lashed the back of his hand across the other vampire’s cheek, slicing it open with the diamond ring he wore. The scent of blood instantly saturated the air.
Faye’s fangs involuntarily itched in their sockets, despite the fact that the blood she smelled wasn’t human. She knew it was a survival instinct, because whenever vampire blood was in the air all vampires close enough to smell it became more aggressive. They were like sharks in that respect.
“I won’t take any excuses! Be a man! Stand by your crime!” Abel ground out. “You’re the only one apart from myself who has a key to the supply room. Are you telling me I was the one who removed two gallons of blood from our cellars?” Abel flashed his fangs at Robert.
One word came over the lips of the accused. “No!”
“Who did you sell it to?”
Robert raised his head by an inch, lifting his lids to shoot a defiant look at Abel. “I didn’t sell anything.”
A violent slap across his other cheek produced another cut from which blood began to drip. Though it was healing just as quickly as the first side, the insult had to hurt a proud man like Robert.
“Won’t you hear him out?” Faye interfered. “Maybe he didn’t do it.” She’d known Robert to be an honorable man, one who took his duties seriously. One who’d become a close friend over the last year.
Abel turned to look at her. “Very well. I’ll let him talk.”
Robert took a deep breath before he spoke. “I didn’t take money for it.”
“You gave it away?” Abel thundered. “To whom?”
“The unfortunates who ask for our help. We’ve always done it. We’ve always helped those of our kind who needed our help. A few pints of blood to those in need don’t hurt us.”
Abel took a step toward the vampire. “You are giving our supplies away without my consent?”
“They were in desperate need.”
“I don’t care! I’m not running a charity! If these losers can’t go and hunt for human blood themselves then they don’t deserve to be vampires. Do you get that? No more handouts!”
Faye winced. Robert wasn’t the only one who gave handouts to vampires in need. She was just as guilty as Robert, though she’d not taken anything directly from the cellars, but rather taken some of her own supplies and shared them.
“And now that that’s clear, lock him up downstairs,” he instructed the guards. “I’ll teach you to obey me.”
“No!” Faye yelled out before she could stop herself. “Not the cellars.” She knew what would happen to Robert there. “Don’t torture him.”
“You want to save this man? Why?” Abel asked, giving her a curious look. “Don’t you see that he defied my orders? As king I can’t allow such behavior. I have to be firm.”
“I beg you, please show mercy.” Faye wrung her hands, her heart beating rapidly and uncontrollably. She had grown to care for so many of the vampires in this clan since she’d been accepted into their midst.
She loved them like her own family and couldn’t bear any of them being hurt.
Faye took a few steps closer, approaching Abel. His gaze traveled over her. “It’s not easy to be a fair ruler and make the right decisions. You’ll have to understand that.” He paused. “But as my queen, you would have the power to sway me. The power to make me change my mind.”
His eyes locked with hers. She looked deep into them, searching for an answer there.
“I’m not infallible. But if you help me, if you could be my conscience, then maybe I can be the kind of ruler this kingdom deserves.”
His beseeching words sank deep into her. Could she make this sacrifice for the people of her clan? Could she truly help him be the ruler they needed?
“Marry me,” Abel said softly. “I won’t punish Robert if you don’t wish it. Be my queen. The queen you were always meant to be.” He motioned his arm toward the window. “They love you. They need you. I need you.”
Faye glanced past him where Robert still stood, now a hopeful sheen on his eyes. There was so much goodness in him and in the other members of the clan. She wanted to preserve that, preserve what Cain had fostered during his reign. And she could only do it if she had power.
She would stop grieving and go on with her life, for her people, and for Cain.
Slowly Faye turned her face back to Abel and nodded. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Abel took her hands into his. “You’ve made me the happiest man on this earth!”
When he leaned in to kiss her, she turned instinctively, offering her cheek. “I’d better leave you to your business,” she said quickly, not ready for anything more than a kiss on the cheek.
“Of course,” Abel said and released her.
When she rushed outside, she tried to breathe, but her lungs didn’t seem to be able to get any air. Had she made the right decision?
***
Abel motioned for the guards to clear the room. “Send all of them out, except Robert.” When a moment later, the guards closed the door, he was alone with the accused vampire and his personal guard Baltimore.
“Thank you, Abel, for your generosity,” Robert started.
Abel chuckled. “Oh, don’t thank me yet.” He exchanged a look with Baltimore, who had a smirk on his face.
Noticing Robert jolt, Abel continued, “Don’t worry. I won’t kill you. Nor will I torture you. You’ll remain free and in your position. However, you’re in my debt now.”
Robert bowed. “Yes, Abel. I understand.”
“I don’t think you do.” Abel moved closer and flashed his fangs at the other vampire. “You’ll do what I say from now on. I’m your master, the only one whose orders you’ll follow, no matter the law. I’m the law you’ll follow now. Or Baltimore’s stake will find its target.”
The light from the lamps in the room reflected on the six-foot-five-inch tall vampire’s bald head. He didn’t have an attractive face. He was downright unappealing, but that suited Abel fine. People feared Baltimore because of the way he looked, when they should fear him for the things he did. Brutality was his way of life, sadism his favorite pastime. A criminal during his human life, Baltimore had perfected his profession after becoming a vampire.
Robert nodded, clearly frightened. Abel had always found that frightened subjects made obedient subjects.
“Good. Now go! I will call upon you when I need you.”
With a quick bow Robert opened the door and disappeared outside. When the lock clicked shut again, Abel turned to his guard, concerned with another matter.
“Where the fuck is he? Have your men found him yet?”
Baltimore shook his head. “John is nowhere to be found.”
Abel slammed his fist onto the desk. As much as he couldn’t stand the guard who’d been so loyal to Cain, he needed him. John was the only one left now who could pass on information only the king and the leader of the king’s guard were privy to. He needed John at least until the coronation, until he’d passed on that information to Abel as the new king. “I don’t like it.”
“I figured that. That’s why I kept looking. It appears that John isn’t quite as devoted to his duties as he used to be.”
Abel whirled his head in Baltimore’s direction. “What are you saying?”
“I found his Achilles Heel.”
Abel let a genuine smile curve his lips as his guard’s words sank in. He could always count on his loyal Baltimore to come up with something useful. “Perfect.”
7
Cain stepped into the private jet and looked around. There was space for a dozen passengers. The leather seats looked roomy and comfortable, just like they should in this specially equipped Learjet that transported vampires associated with Scanguards around the country. This was more lux
urious than flying first class on any commercial airline.
The door to the cockpit stood open, and he could see the pilot and co-pilot go through their pre-flight check. They were human and fully aware of the precious cargo they were transporting. And for their loyalty and secrecy they were compensated more than handsomely.
“That’s very generous of your boss to let you borrow this plane,” John said from behind him.
Cain nodded, turning.
“Though I guess he’s not your boss anymore.”
“It’s to be seen if I’m king and your story checks out.”
The other vampire inclined his head slightly. “I understand your caution.”
“Good.” Cain motioned to one of the comfortable leather seats. “Make yourself comfortable then while we wait for the others.”
“The others?”
“You didn’t think that I would go to New Orleans without protection, did you?”
John puffed up his chest. “But I’m your protection. I’m your personal guard.”
“Yeah, so you say. Yet under your watch, I was nearly assassinated if I believe your own words. Don’t mind if I stack my odds of survival with a few trusted friends, do you?”
He wanted to trust John. But everything he’d said was fantastical. Nobody at Scanguards had ever heard of the King of Louisiana, nor had the name John had given him—Cain Montague—yielded anything during a web search. During his time with Scanguards Cain had learned that it couldn’t hurt to have backup. And judging by the sound of footsteps on the stairs, it seemed that his backup was arriving this instant.
Cain glanced at the open door and watched as Thomas, followed by his blood-bonded mate, Eddie, entered the fuselage. The two blonds wore their usual biker outfits, consisting of leather pants, jackets, and black T-shirts.
“John, meet Thomas and his mate Eddie. They’ll be joining us on our trip.”
John’s eyebrows twitched for a short moment. Clearly, where John was from, gay vampires, and ones who were mated on top of it, seemed out of the ordinary.
Thomas appeared to notice John’s hesitation and stiffened visibly. “Cain,” he said with a nod. Then he waited.
“Nice to meet you, Thomas,” John quickly said, extending his hand.
Thomas shook it briefly. “Likewise.”
“Hey,” Eddie said lightly and shook John’s hand. Eddie had always been the more laid back of the pair. Maybe because he was a good hundred years younger than his partner and didn’t carry the emotional baggage Thomas did.
“Eddie,” was John’s reply. “I assume you two are working for Scanguards?”
“Bodyguards, yeah.” Eddie grinned. “I hear you’re a guard, too.”
“The king’s personal guard,” John corrected, pulling his shoulders back.
Cain heard the prideful tone in John’s voice and couldn’t help but feel that if John was indeed telling the truth, then Cain would be lucky to have such a loyal man in his service. But he was getting ahead of himself. First, he’d have to confirm John’s story. The rest would follow.
“Is anybody else coming?” Cain asked. “Samson wasn’t sure who else could be spared when I spoke to him.”
Thomas squeezed his hand luggage into one of the compartments underneath the windows, before turning to him. “He’s shifting assignments. Of course, not knowing how long we’ll be gone means we can’t take Amaury, Zane, or Oliver, since they’re blood-bonded to humans and won’t be able to go without their mate’s blood for long. And Gabriel and Samson need to stay put.”
Cain nodded. He was aware of that fact. “So who does that leave us with?”
“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me,” a gravelly voice came from the door.
“Maybe an ex-vampire hunter isn’t too bad a choice.” Cain grinned at Haven, as the witch-turned-vampire entered the cabin. He was bonded to Yvette, a vampire, and therefore able to consume any human’s blood despite the bond. Haven’s beefy frame filled the entire door. He’d been strong even as a human, fighting vampires most of this life after his mother, a witch, had been killed by one. Only after he’d fallen in love with Yvette and realized that not all vampires were bad, had he switched camps and sacrificed his human life to save the vampire world from certain destruction at the hands of an evil witch.
“You might change your mind once you hear who I brought,” Haven answered and motioned to a spot behind him.
The moment he cleared the door, Cain saw what he meant.
“A human?” John asked, before Cain could say anything. “You’re bringing a human?”
“Hey, guys!” Blake greeted everybody, a broad smile on his face. “This is great! How cool! I’ve never been to New Orleans. We’re gonna have a blast.” The dark-haired clothes horse, who generally meant well, was a dufus, but he was family.
“This is not a sightseeing trip,” Cain admonished.
John tossed him an annoyed look. “He can’t come with us.”
Blake fisted his hands at his hips, puffing up his chest. “Why not? I’m a bodyguard, too.”
John took a step toward Blake, who to his credit didn’t flinch. “Because no humans other than blood donors are allowed in the palace or its grounds. So unless you want to turn into food, I’d suggest—”
“He’s coming with us,” Cain interrupted, though a moment earlier he himself had wanted to deny Blake a seat on this plane. However, he couldn’t allow John to think that he could be easily influenced. It would undermine his authority. Even though he wasn’t keen on having to keep an eye on Blake, he now had to take him to New Orleans just because John didn’t want him there. “And nobody is going to turn him into food.”
John’s head whirled to him. “With all due respect, that’s unwise. Your friends here at Scanguards may live side by side with humans, but I can promise you, your subjects won’t like it.”
At the word subjects Cain wanted to shake his head. Did he really have subjects?
“Blake isn’t just any human. He’s the grandson of a vampire.”
John tossed him a quizzical look, then sniffed at Blake. “He’s not a hybrid.”
“No, he’s not,” Cain agreed. “But he descends from a vampire, who started the line when he was still human. But that’s beside the point. We need a human with us to give us flexibility during daytime hours. My decision stands.” Cain held John’s gaze until the other vampire lowered his lids in acquiescence. “It’s settled then. Blake, take a seat. We’ll be leaving shortly.”
Cain turned to the open cockpit door while the others took their seats and put on their seatbelts. “Are we ready to leave?”
The co-pilot looked over his shoulder. “Ready when you are.”
“Good, then let’s close the door and get this show on the road.”
The co-pilot acknowledged his request with a nod. “Yes, Cain.”
Cain walked to one of the empty seats and noticed how Thomas and Eddie had taken the two seats in the back of the plane. Thomas’s hand lay on Eddie’s thigh, and the two were talking quietly, their heads close together. They looked happy, and the fact that they were a blood-bonded couple could only help while checking out John’s story: Thomas and Eddie could communicate telepathically via their bond, and it was possible that they would encounter situations in which such a skill could come in handy.
Cain sat down and fastened his seat belt when the co-pilot exited the cockpit and pulled on the door handle in order to lift the stairs and shut the door.
“Wait!”
The panicked request was echoing from the outside of the plane and the co-pilot cast a puzzled look over his shoulder.
Cain rolled his eyes and looked at Haven, who sat across the aisle from him. “Really?”
Haven shrugged and lifted his arms in surrender. “I didn’t tell him.”
“Wait!” the voice called out again, this time closer. A moment later, Wesley appeared on the stairs and stepped into the plane. He was out of breath and had clearly rushed to catch them. He was a little
shorter than Blake, but a few years older, though not any wiser than his fellow Scanguards trainee.
He set a large bag on the floor.
“Phew! That was cutting it close!” he said.
Before Cain could show Haven’s overeager brother the door, John leapt from his seat and pinned Wesley against the nearest wall.
“Fucking witch!” John snarled, flashing his fangs at him.
Cain reacted within a split second and was out of his seat in the same instant as Haven jumped up, too. They both reached John and Wesley at the same time.
Haven snatched John by his collar and pried him off his brother. “You harm a hair on his head and you’re dust!”
“What the fuck?” John growled, glaring at them.
“He’s my brother.”
Disbelief spread over John’s face. “A witch?” He turned his head to look back at Wesley, looking him up and down before turning to Cain. “You can’t be serious! What is this? Scanguards employs humans and witches? What kind of vampires are you guys? How can you consort with witches? They’re our enemies.”
“They’re not,” Cain said. “Maybe where you come from, but we’ve found that witches can be our allies.” He motioned to Wesley. “And Wes is family.”
“And he isn’t a real witch anyway. Half his spells don’t even work,” Blake piped up from his seat.
“Watch your mouth, Blake!” Wesley yelled back.
“Oh, yeah, or what?” Blake asked, leaping from his chair.
“I’m gonna turn you into a—”
“Nobody is gonna turn anybody into anything,” Cain interrupted, glaring first at Wesley, then at Blake. “Sit down, Blake, or I’m gonna boot you off the plane.”
Quickly, Blake took his seat again, keeping silent, though Cain could tell that he had a response already sitting on his tongue. Whenever Blake and Wesley were together, trouble wasn’t far behind. The two Scanguards bodyguards-in-training couldn’t help themselves; they always had to compete with each other. Inevitably, quarrels would ensue. There was no way in hell he’d take both of them on the same mission.