Blood Threads: The Star Seamstress Book One

by Noella Royce

  Looking down at the stage, I saw the vampire I was hunting, except there was nothing vampiric about him.

  He was like a completely different man.

  "Misconceptions about Caesar persist to this day, many of them stemming from the holes in our own knowledge about Rome's first emperor. Your task on this assignment is to separate fact and fiction." His voice was measured and to the point, its deep timbres pleasant and lacking any of the dark threat and growl I'd experienced in our three encounters. His hair was brushed back from his face and he was wearing rimless glasses that gave him an undeniably intellectual air. His euro-style button-up blue shirt and jeans showed off his form well, but were otherwise utterly unremarkable.

  His body language was relaxed as he paced the stage, and nowhere did I see any signs of the sexy predator with glowing red eyes who'd haunted my dreams the last couple of nights.

  Despite the lack of vampiric markers, he was still awfully dreamy, and his charisma was undeniable. Hell, I was pretty sure the girl next to me was drooling, she was so fixated on him, his movements, and his pleasant, deep voice. But was he otherworldly? Not that, no. If I were to meet this guy in a bar, I'd only notice how stunning he was; the possibility of him being a nightstalker wouldn't even cross my mind.

  This was a relief, I decided. I'd choose this guy to interrogate over the scary creature I'd pressed myself up against on Saturday night.

  Don't think about his body, don't think about his body... Unfortunately, my brain kept categorizing every inch of him, and his hazel gaze swung to meet mine.

  Hopefully that didn't mean he could read minds.

  I blinked at him innocently and his eyes narrowed. He turned back to his class.

  "Any questions?"

  A young man raised his hand. "Professor, I have tons of other assignments due this week. Is there any chance of an extension?"

  Adin looked amused. "Two weeks for a five-page paper is more than enough time, Delany. If you ask again, the due date becomes Thursday, not Friday." There was a cascade of groans, and someone threw a pen at the back of Delany's head.

  I waited for most of the students to shuffle out, although there were several who went down to talk to him. I followed behind, trying to look like just another eager learner. So what if I happened to be ten years older than anyone else?

  "Professor," said a young Asian woman who was staring at Adin as if he hung the moon, "would you recommend any particular books about Pompey and Crassus? I want to write about the triumvirate and how Caesar's relationship with his two co-leaders shaped his subsequent decisions."

  Adin's expression was amused and thoughtful. "Very interesting idea. Unfortunately, there aren't any substantive books in our library on only the triumvirate, but our text book's section on their relationship is solid. All of the Roman Empire overviews in the library have a different take, and you can probably draw some interesting conclusions from the aggregate. But don't get too ambitious, Maria; this is only a short assignment. If this topic continues to interest you, you can consider this subject for your final paper."

  Maria nodded and stared at him with naked adoration in her face. I tried not to grin. Maybe I would have stayed in college if I had a professor this delicious.

  Several more students tried to get his attention, but he held up his hand and they quieted instantly. "I have to speak to a colleague of mine. Please come to my office hours with any further questions."

  The students were displeased but accepting, and they left quickly, leaving me and Adin alone. When the door closed behind the last one, he gave me what I could only describe as a cold glare.

  "What are you doing here?" His tone made it clear he wasn't exactly happy to see me, but it wasn't all deep and rumbly like it was at night.

  I shrugged, feeling bolder now that we were here in the middle of the day, many people had seen us together, and this Adin just wasn't as scary. "I had some questions for you, and figured that finding you in your workplace was the easiest way to track you down." I looked around at the echoing auditorium. "I guess you're really not a drug peddler, huh?"

  "You never know what I do on the side," he said dryly, the glare turning into something like a smile. I leaned forward, peering up at his face. He furrowed his brows. "What?"

  "Are you sure you and the guy I spoke to Saturday are the same person?" I looked closely at his eyes and features. "You look the same, you have the same voice, but you're like a totally different man. Maybe you're twins? One's a vampire drug dealer, the other's a human professor?" Now that I thought about it, I'd totally read that book. "That makes more sense than this."

  Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. "I am the same person, yes."

  "Huh! That's absolutely amazing. So you really are able to walk around in the day, but the exchange is you're less scary and predatory?"

  "Is something really less frightening because it's hidden?" His tone was conversational, but I heard that slight growl then, the one he kept out of his teacher's tone. "Or is it even more fearful, simply because you never know when it'll appear?"

  That sent shivers down my spine for all the wrong reasons. "I don't know. Are you going to go all undead on me now for confronting you?"

  "I could, but it seems too obvious." He tilted his head. "I'd hate to be obvious. Also, I somewhat admire your boldness, although it could easily be mistaken for stupidity."

  There was a touch of flirtation there, and I was suddenly painfully aware of his proximity. Our chests were awfully close to touching, and I caught his scent. Man, he smelled delicious, and that one thing didn't change from day to night. Resisting temptation, I stepped back, creating distance. I swear the bastard smiled in response. Motherfucker knew I was very attracted to him, and apparently found it highly amusing.

  That pissed me off and made me even bolder. "Okay, so you're not going to turn me into lunch. That's good, because I have questions."

  "Be careful, Veda, or I might just change my mind on the whole 'going undead and eating you' thing." He lowered his voice and his brows. "If you think you're safe here, alone with me, you're sorely mistaken."

  Something snapped in me at the threat.

  "Look, Professor, from what I can tell, there is nowhere in this godforsaken town where I am anything even remotely resembling 'safe'. I've just been informed I might have some sort of weird-ass sewing magic, I'm blacking out regularly and rivers talk to me. This town is run by vampires and necromancers and kids are disappearing, probably because one or the other of you have some nefarious use for them. Oh yeah, and more about me—I can't even walk home at night without being attacked, trailed by a vampire, or witnessing some poor boy be kidnapped." I bundled my fists. "My roommate's boyfriend was the last to be captured, and she is the only damn person I think I can trust in this insane town. If you're going to hurt me, just goddamn do it. It'd be better than living with this constant tension and fear about what else is happening in Maywen." I grit my teeth."So fuckin' bite me, baby—I probably won't even notice."

  Adin, damn him, was suddenly grinning, and I noted his mouth currently looked perfectly human. I hated how handsome amusement made him. "Your little outbursts are so adorable. I take it Frank Barnes has finally told you a few things about Maywen and your skills." He grabbed his briefcase and brushed by me. "Follow me to my office." He indicated the cameras that sat in the corner of the auditorium. "We'll have more privacy there."

  "Wait, isn't that like saying I'll be less safe?"

  "Trust me; you're not safe with me anywhere."

  "Lovely," I muttered, but followed him. At least talking to him might get me some more information before I died. I'd be a better-informed corpse.

  We ended up on the fourth floor, in a massive corner office that had two windows that looked out on the quad and the teaming throng of students throughout. A large mahogany desk dominated the room, and there were bookcases on all the free walls filled with impressive looking tomes that seemed mostly to be about history. "Nice digs," I muttered.


  "Seniority." He sat in his stately leather chair.

  "How long have you been teaching here?"

  "You don't want to know, but if you're crafty, you could figure it out." He took off his glasses and gave me a narrow glare. "You said you had questions."

  "Does that mean you'll answer them?"

  "No, it means I'm willing to entertain a few, in exchange for a promise you'll never bother me here again."

  I shook my head. "Nope. This is the only place I know you'll be. I'm not giving up the chance to pester the hell out of you whenever I need to."

  "Delightful. What do you know?" Adin leaned his head on his fist, looking languid and all too much like a model.

  I ran through what I had learned from my boss and coworkers and told him about Thalia, which seemed to pique his interest. "That's not an enemy you'd like to have. But the witch queen is too stubborn and proud by half."

  "How can she be my enemy when I don't even know why she hates me?"

  "Sometimes that's how it goes." He shrugged. "The most effective enemies are the unseen ones. They can slip right next to you before they're noticed, and by then it's too late. Are you also aware that she'd be enraged if she knew you were talking to me right now? She'd see it as proof that you're not to be trusted."

  "Why? Everyone is so afraid of you, and always telling me to stay out of your way, but I don't understand why. You were sucking Erica's blood, but she seemed into it, just like Amari was with Leslie. You're kind of a sarcastic prick, but that's a really minor crime. You also saved me from evil dudes in hoods, so I owe you one. What are you doing to other people that makes you so scary?"

  His smile was sharp and mirthless. "You'll need to discover the answer to that one on your own. Having lived my story, I'd prefer not to tell it to anyone else."

  This was not an auspicious start. "Will you tell me how old you are?"

  "Hundreds of years."

  "How much more powerful are you at night compared to day?"

  There was a glint to his eyes that made me lean back. "Very."

  "Can you invade dreams?"

  He tilted his head, and his gaze was piercing. "In very specific circumstances, and with preparation or a great need, but not as a matter of course. Dreams are powerful things. Why? Did you see me in one of yours?"

  I didn't want to answer that one, so I moved on. "Do you ever kill people when you drink blood?"

  "Not usually. I also don't need to feed or drink more than once a month or so. Do you truly plan to waste your limited time with me—and it is running out rapidly—on vampire trivium? Leslie would be a more willing subject for such banalities."

  He had a point. "Fine. Are the hooded assholes necromancers?"

  "Yes."

  "Why are they kidnapping young men?"

  "I don't know. I've spoken to several members of that sect with the goal of finding out, but they're scared and claim ignorance."

  "So they're lying."

  "No, only certain members are involved. The leaders of the Ash Order have left town, and someone is going to extremes to win and gain control of the whole of the necromancer network in their absence. Their methods are effective, and I suspect they've been given tacit approval to play these little games. This sort of ambition Hunger Game is how the Order incubates talent. Unfortunately, I can't ascertain this mastermind's identity."

  "Okay. What does being a 'Star Seamstress' have to do with them? Thalia suggested the witches had killed others with this power in the past to keep them away from the necromancers."

  "You can simply call them the Ash Order, or 'Ashers'; this is how the locals refer to them. They like to claim that any magical power outside of the witch or shifting realm belongs to them, and that means most mages who work in town are often conscripted, voluntarily or otherwise, into their group. That's been true of the Star craftsmen as well." A shadow passed over his expression. "With those they can't cajole or overpower, they tend to turn to more fatal methods."

  I sat down in one of the seats on my side of the desk, my legs suddenly weak. "So if I don't become one of them, they might kill me?"

  "Yes."

  I swallowed. No wonder Frank held off telling me this stuff; very little was good news. "So what do I do with this power of mine? Frank makes it sound like I'll be able to save the town or some weirdness like that, but one sparkly skirt with electric powers isn't going to do diddly squat. And what the hell am I saving the town from?"

  "The dark forces. I would have thought that was obvious, Miss Geroux." Adin picked up a pen and began spinning it between his fingers at an unnatural speed. I was briefly transfixed before tearing my eyes away. The extent of his allure was almost insulting. "Whether you actually have the capability to do so, well, only time will tell. You have the raw skills, but many people do. To become a full practitioner of the art takes something beyond that, and you're right; a black skirt isn't particularly impressive."

  "Okay, then to become some sort of pro, do I have to make super fancy outfits, like that red velvet number you had on last week? That getup seemed pretty damn magical."

  "Well spotted, and yes, that was made by a star craftsman; one of the best."

  "Okay, so I make a beautiful outfit, add a whole bunch of voodoo to it, and in the end, I'll be a sartorial warrior and save Maywen from shadowy forces. Got it. That makes perfect sense." This conversation wasn't really helping me, and I was just as confused as before. "Can you tell me how to improve?"

  "No. I have no idea how to sew, or from whence your magic comes. Barnes would be your best resource."

  "God, you're useless!" I burst out. "You're a goddamn vampire, hundreds of years old, and clearly you know more than you're telling me, but you refuse to help." I hit the arm of the chair in frustration. "You're just like everyone else, spouting cryptic bullshit and refusing to give me any goddamn details at all. No wonder everyone hates you—you don't give a damn about this town, and just like to skulk around biting super-hot women in public and being creepy!"

  I gasped as he was suddenly next to me, faster than I could blink. He wasn't only standing there; he was looming, and there was a red spark in his eyes that most certainly hadn't been there a moment before. I'd hoped those eyes only appeared at night.

  Maybe poking the vampiric bear was a bad idea.

  "You dare," he growled, "claim I don't care about Maywen? You, a lost, penniless human who's running from her past? You presume to judge me?"

  "No?" I sunk as far into my chair as possible. Damn it, I should have stuck to the facts about him being creepy and cryptic and stayed away from sweeping comments about him and Maywen. "I'm sorry; you're right. I don't know anything about you, or who you are in this town. I'm just frustrated, and I'd kill for one source to tell me what I am, or what to do." I gave him a scared smile. "Please don't eat me."

  Adin looked less angry, as if he accepted my apology, but instead of stepping away, he actually moved closer. A lock of black hair fell over his forehead, and I was trapped in his gaze. I was suddenly painfully aware that my blue Henley was kinda low-cut, at least from his lordly angle. "You also accused me of skulking around and biting attractive women; as there's a very rude one in my office at the moment, what's to stop me from taking a taste?"

  My heart rate doubled at the thought of those lips anywhere on my person. "You prefer redheads?" I joked, my voice shaking.

  "Only when necessary for survival." One of his long, beautifully formed hands brushed my cheek, and then moved to take my chin. My skin burned where he touched me. "Listen to me, human. I don't have to answer your questions; I did so only as a courtesy. You don't understand my relationship to Maywen, and I wouldn't recommend you try. I keep my own council, and you coming to me for answers will only make you enemies."

  I pulled my face out of his fingers, annoyed that he was both turning me on and threatening me at the same time. Damn, was I hooked on the way he smelled. "Fine, you're not my friend. Then why do you keep saving my ass?"

&nbs
p; There was that maddening half smile again. "Maybe I find it a particularly nice ass."

  I couldn't believe I was flattered by that. Man, hot creeps were the worst type of creeps, what with the way they could confuse the hell out of a girl. "Great, now I've been sexually harassed by a vampire. My day is complete."

  "Aw, poor Veda." He leaned in closer, and he was staring at my mouth. I bit my bottom lip anxiously and he laughed. I was sure he was done with his little game and was about to pull away, when he kissed me.

  And, damn it, even though I saw him coming, I didn't stop him. I felt like I physically couldn't.

  His lips were firm and teasing, his tongue parting my lips and dancing with mine. Groaning into his mouth, one of my traitorous hands was suddenly buried in his shirt, my knuckles brushing against his very firm chest. He'd buried his fingers in my hair and I was trapped, caught as much by the fire he'd awakened inside as by his grip.

  Right when I began to desire a hell of a lot more than just a kiss he pulled away, leaving me open-mouthed and stunned.

  What the fuck? There was no way he was going to convince me vampires didn't have some crazy sex magic, not with the way he had me reacting to one measly kiss.

  As for him, he looked as cool as an undead cucumber. "Leave; you'll get no more answers out of me today." Moving back around his desk, Adin picked up his glasses and put them on. I watched as he transformed into something human again, his lips pursing and his eyes relaxing. "I also have seventy-two quizzes to regrade, because my TA is an idiot."

  "You didn't answer my last question, the one about the stalking." I was trying to pull myself together, fighting down the flush on my cheeks.

  He shrugged. "Boredom and curiosity."

  This utter asshole. He saves, teases, and flirts with me, and then makes it clear he gives negative fucks about my fate.

  I stood, straightening my shirt and glaring at him. "You really are useless and creepy."

  He lifted one epic eyebrow and sat down at his desk. "How delightfully mature." I swore he was laughing at me. Then he smiled, sharp and mocking, and I knew he was.