by K. L. Kreig
But one look at Dev and she knew all was right with the world, she was where she was supposed to be, even as messed up as things were. She was completely lost in her own head when she glanced up and noticed Dev standing in front of the treadmill. Something was wrong.
She hit stop on the treadmill and jumped to the sides while it slowed down, pulling her ear buds out. She was barely winded. Being a vampire mate definitely had its advantages.
She couldn’t help but smile when she saw him. “Hi.”
He didn’t reply.
She frowned, her brows drawing inward. “What’s wrong, Dev?”
“Come with me.” His face was completely impassive. Completely unreadable. Not at all like the Dev she’d come to know.
He held out his hand, which she gladly took as she jumped off the treadmill. She loved touching any part of him and it never failed to deliver a large dose of lust straight to her core.
“Okaaay. You’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
No response.
He pulled her close and she felt the telltale dizziness that accompanied flashing. What the hell?
She was just getting her bearings, when she realized they were back in the underground room he’d held her in the night of their mating. She was already strapped down on that horribly hard table.
“Dev, what the hell are you doing?” she yelled. Something was terribly wrong here. She tried to struggle free, to no avail. Even her enhanced powers didn’t help her.
Then he simply stepped back and exited the room. He didn’t look at her or utter a word.
“What the hell is going on?” she screamed. “You can’t leave me like this! Dev, why are you doing this? I don’t understand!”
She continued to yell for several minutes into the complete silence of her barren prison. Dev didn’t return.
Chapter 47
Mike
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Mike said, pulling her into one of the interrogation rooms. He’d only met Giselle a few short months ago and she might be the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on, but the fact remained that she was a predator, just like the rest of them. Except, possibly even more deadly and volatile.
“Now, Detective, is that any way to treat a woman?” Giselle purred.
“No. But you’re not a woman, so the same rules don’t apply,” he responded, a smirk turning up the corner of his mouth. He was being an asshole, but he didn’t care. They hadn’t pried any more useful details from the professor in their earlier interrogation, he was still sporting the mother of all headaches, and he’d barely slept in days. So yeah, he felt like an asshole and she was the perfect target to take it out on.
She stepped into his personal space, licked her ruby red lips and ran a perfectly manicured fingertip down his chest. Mike was a tall guy at six foot, two inches. And at six feet tall, with her fuck-me heals on, Giselle was looking him straight in the eyes, their noses nearly touching. Her breath mingled with his.
“Hmmm…I can assure you I’m all woman. And it would be my pleasure to show you. After we’re done here, of course.”
Mike laughed, but it was humorless. The urge to take a giant Simon Says step backward was overwhelming, but he would not show any hint of weakness. What was Giselle doing here anyway? He had one very good guess.
“Not if you and I were the last living beings on earth, baby.” As he said it, though, surprisingly, he didn’t really believe it. Every time he saw Giselle, his cock was unexplainably drawn to her. And that pissed him the fuck off.
She frowned, her bottom lip pouting. “That’s not very original, Detective.” She looked in his eyes with undisguised lust. Then she leaned in, speaking directly in his ear. “And I assure you, baby, it would be pleasure beyond your wildest comprehension. You’d be begging me for more.”
His dick had gone rock hard the moment she’d stepped into his space, and at that comment, it throbbed with anger. Traitorous bastard. He needed to get both of his heads on the same page. A knowing smile broke out across her gorgeous face and she finally took a step back, as if she’d accomplished what she wanted. Another Giselle mind-fuck special. Bitch.
Still not moving, he responded, “And I repeat. What is it you want, Giselle?”
That infuriating smirk remained on her stunning face. “I want to visit our house guest, of course.”
“This isn’t the goddamn Ritz, sweetheart. Forget it. You can tootle on back home and report to Dev that I don’t take kindly to him sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. Nothing about our professor concerns you. Or him.”
“Now, now, Detective. Don’t be like that. You know this does concern us. We’re just trying to help solve a mutual problem, which is in both of our best interests.”
Shaking his head, Mike said, “Yeah? How’s that?”
Giselle dropped her sultry persona, becoming the ice-cold bitch that she generally was.
“Don’t be obtuse. We are both very much aware that this case has crossed the territory boundaries, and you are incapable of handling this alone. If you want to live, that is. So drop the high and mighty act. I will see our professor and I only stopped by to discuss it with you as a professional courtesy. Don’t mistake this as me asking for your permission. I’m not.”
“Are you threatening me?” Rage built deep within Mike. He balled his hands into fists, desperately trying to keep from strangling her. Or fucking her. She may be spot on, but he’d rot in hell before he let her know that. He was going to rot in hell anyway, so no more skin off his nose.
She had once again slipped back into her sex kitten act, stepping into his personal space. The rate at which she was able to do that was dizzying. Could vamps be bi-polar, he wondered?
“Of course not, Detective. You’re a very handsome man and I’m just trying to protect you.” She leaned in, her lips whispering over the shell of his ear again. “I’d hate for anything to happen to you before I had a chance to spend hours fucking your brains out.”
The way his body responded to her repulsed him. He simultaneously wanted to throw her down and bury himself deep in her, while thrusting a rusty, serrated knife into her heart, ripping it out of her sexy body. Christ, he was one sick bastard. And in desperate need of a vacation. Or another bottle of Jack. And clearly a lay. How he longed for the days of complete ignorance about vampires.
Giselle was no longer at his ear, but stood close enough that he could feel every breath she took on his lips. He knew two things with certainty. One, if Giselle wanted to see the professor, she would…by any means. And two, he wasn’t about to let her near him without being present, so he really had no choice but to accommodate her. Besides, this could work to his advantage if he learned anything new. If anyone could get additional information out of this guy, it was Giselle. And she was so smokin’ hot she probably didn’t even need her vampiric skills to accomplish it.
“After you,” he said, with a flourish of his hand.
Her eyes narrowed in skepticism, but she made her way toward the door, letting Mike lead once she’d exited the room. They entered another infrequently used interrogation room toward the back of the station. The intercom wasn’t currently working and he needed complete privacy for this conversation.
“Stay here while I get our perp.” He turned to leave as she called out to him.
“You’d better not fuck me over, or you’ll regret it.”
His face hardened as he turned and glided toward her, leaning down so they were nose to nose. “When I fuck you, Giselle, I guarantee I will regret it.” He turned and fled the room before she could respond. He’d been dead serious.
Ten minutes later Mike returned with Professor Bailey.
“Have a seat, Professor,” said Mike, gesturing toward an empty chair.
“I don’t know anything more than what I’ve already told you. I don’t understand why I’m in here again.” The professor had sweat dotting his pale balding head, slightly dripping down his temples, as his beady eyes flitted back and
forth between Mike and Giselle. They lingered longer on Giselle, of course.
Giselle leaned forward, grinned seductively, and put her elbows on the table effectively shoving together her…assets. Assets that were simply fan-fucking-tastic.
“I’m afraid I have a few more questions for you, Professor Bailey. It shouldn’t take too long and we’d really appreciate your help.”
Mike guessed the professor forgot where her eyes were located as he replied to Giselle’s chest…uh, request, that is. And for some godawful unknown reason, that supremely pissed him off.
“Y-Yes. Yes, of course. That’s fine. I want my daughter found and returned safely, so whatever you need from me, just ask.”
She whispered, “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
Chapter 48
Dev
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of being summoned to the great Lord Fallinsworth’s residence?” Esmeralda purred as she sauntered toward Dev’s desk.
Esmeralda was a stunningly beautiful woman and she knew it. At a tall five foot nine inches, she had voluptuous curves in all the right places. Her olive skin always glowed with a unique golden aura. He thought it was specifically designed to draw in her prey. Her dark chocolate eyes gave you a false sense of warmth and security. Her waist-length midnight, ramrod straight hair rounded out the entire sexy package. As sensual as she was, she’d never once made him hard. Not for lack of trying on her part, either.
Ren growled. Actually growled. There was definitely no love lost between those two. Dev wasn’t particularly fond of Esmeralda either, but she was a necessary evil at this point. He didn’t have time to track down another witch.
Throwing Ren a glare, Es turned back to Dev. “You really should learn to keep your pets on a leash, darling.”
Ren started toward her and Dev held his hand up, never taking his eyes from Esmeralda. He didn’t trust her enough to look away for a second. Ren retreated to stand by the door, beefy arms crossed, death glare pasted on his face.
“Enough. Es, I’m in need of your assistance.” Damn, it physically hurt to say that.
She regarded him for a moment, her dark eyes drawing him in. A smile curved her full, red lips.
“It will cost you, darling.”
Another reason he didn’t like to ask Esmeralda for help. She’d wanted to bed him ever since they met more than one hundred years ago. She’d tried just about everything. And since her sorcery didn’t work on him none of her advances had been successful. He was actually afraid that the witch might try to harm Kate when she found out about her, which was just about to happen.
“Of course it will. What’s your price?”
Esmeralda ambled slowly around the desk, stopping directly in front of Dev. In his personal space, as always. As she reached out to touch him, he grabbed her wrist, stopping her midstream. A flash of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly hid it. To keep a semblance of peace, in the past he’d always indulged her in these games. No more. He had a mate—even if she may be a traitor—and being touched by another female, especially Esmeralda, repulsed him.
Her mask firmly back in place, she seductively purred, “It’s not money that I want, Dev.”
He smiled, although he knew it looked cruel. “I’m afraid that’s all you’re going to get from me, Esmeralda. I’m bonded now.”
She immediately jumped out of his hold as if she’d been burned, shock forcing her mouth to hang open. “What? How can that be possible?” she shrieked.
“Oh come on, Es. You understand how vampire bonding works. I found my Moira, quite by accident, but found her nonetheless and the rest, as they say, is history. I don’t think I need to explain the bonding ritual to you in detail, do I?” He was pushing the envelope, but this was just a bit too enjoyable.
She blanched just a little. Her aura dimmed significantly. Wow, she was way more besotted with him than he’d originally thought. Fuck. This could end very badly.
“When?”
He straightened to his full height. “When is irrelevant. In fact, my mate is one of the reasons I need your help.”
A smug look replaced the one of shock. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smirk and she took a step back toward him. “Is that so? Trouble in paradise already then?”
Damn. This was such a bad fucking idea. “Never mind. I’ve changed my mind. Leave.” He should have asked Rom, who could sense the spoken truth, but he didn’t want the other Lords to find out about this possible subterfuge just yet.
“Now, Dev, don’t be like that. I can and will help you, of course. For just a small price. It’s nothing, really. And it doesn’t involve getting you into my bed. Although if you were willing, I wouldn’t turn it down either.”
His spidey senses were immediately on high alert. “You haven’t even heard what I’m asking of you.”
“It matters not. My price won’t change, regardless of the ask. But go on. What grave problem causes you to scrape the bottom of the barrel in asking for my help?”
He regarded her carefully. She was playing him, he was sure of it. If his instincts were wrong in asking for her help, all that he cherished could be at risk. But if he didn’t, all of the lives he was responsible for could also be lost. Goddamn it, he was backed into a corner and this may be his only way out. Esmeralda was the most powerful witch he had ever come across and he’d formed a loose alliance with her as he knew he might need her help from time to time. Unfortunately her services hadn’t been useful in uncovering Xavier’s home base and they knew he also must be working with a powerful witch to hide his whereabouts. No, he had to proceed with the plan. Whatever her price, he would have to pay it.
“Confidentiality goes without saying. If I find out you’ve spoken of this to anyone, I will personally tear out your heart and enjoy doing so.”
She laughed, throwing her head back. “Good luck, vamp.” Chuckling, she added, “I promise to keep your deep, dark secret, darling. Spill it. How can I serve his majesty?”
He glanced quickly at Ren. He didn’t know how much Ren knew about Kate and he didn’t want it getting beyond these four walls. He knew her life would be in danger from the other lords, should they find out.
“I recently discovered my mate is a direct descendent of the bloodline belonging to Xavier Illenciam. In fact…blood tests conclude he is her father.”
A collective gasp bounced off his office walls. Obviously Big D hadn’t told Ren.
“And I need you to determine if there was any ploy on the part of my mate. I need to know if she was sent here by Xavier to infiltrate my Regent and if she’s been reporting back to him or anyone under his employ.”
A wicked smirk lit up Esmeralda’s face. She was so easy to read. She clearly hoped this would end badly for Kate and she’d once again have a chance with him. Little did she know that regardless of what she discovered about Kate, his fate was already determined. As per vampiric mating rituals, he would be tied to Kate until either of their deaths. And if she were a traitor that meant that she would be his captive for eternity. He prayed with his whole being that was not the outcome.
“I’d be happy to help you, darling.”
Yes, Dev thought snidely. Of course, she would.
“I’ll need to spend some time with your mate, of course.”
“Not gonna happen. You will not be in physical contact with her.” Having her here was bad enough. There was no way in hell she was getting near Kate.
“I can’t do the ritual without being in her presence, Devon.”
“Bullshit. You’re the most powerful witch I know, Esmeralda. You can, and you will, find another way.”
She was quiet for several moments, finally slightly bowing her head in mock solute toward him. “I will get back to you on the specifics soon, then.”
“You will do it now.”
“Sorry, darling. No can do, not even for the great and powerful Dev. I need to determine what I need and do some cleansing rituals before I can perform the spell. I
will get back with you in a few hours with further instructions.”
She turned, walking toward the door. Ren didn’t budge, looking to Dev for instruction. Dev reluctantly nodded his approval for her to leave.
Fucking witch. This was about the most important assignment he would ask for her help with and it would undoubtedly be the last. He needed to find another witch whom he could actually trust. And fast.
Chapter 49
Dev
The lords were all gathered again in the boardroom. The chatter was incessant and he simply wanted to get the update over with. The only thing he could focus on was locked up in a room about fifty yards away from where he presently sat.
Dev had had a bad fucking day. He had to confine his mate in the rouge room this morning and spent the entire rest of it waiting on Esmeralda to get back to him on what she needed to perform her ritual. She was unnecessarily drawing out his agony and when he’d threatened to bring in another witch to help instead, she suddenly came up with the items she needed in order to determine whether Kate was telling the truth or not. Hair and blood. How utterly unique.
She’d given him some bullshit about needing to wait until “the witching hour” to perform the ritual, so while he was in this meeting, he’d asked Big D to collect Kate’s hair. They already had some blood in the lab from the previous samples they’d taken. He’d keep this meeting as short as possible, so he’d be done well before midnight and would have a few minutes to talk to Kate alone before Esmeralda started.
He was man enough to admit that he was being a pussy. He hadn’t visited her all day. He’d ignored her pleas. Hearing her begging through their shared connection was agony. She was confused and angry. She had no idea why she was locked up in that room, like some animal that had committed a crime. Had she? He truly didn’t think so.