Victoria looked to the front door and rubbed one arm. “I’m darkness, and he’s the light. I can’t be the one to snuff out his fire.”
Jess shook her head. “You won’t. No matter what happens you won’t darken Lincoln. Though, if you take a chance you’ll learn you aren’t as dark as you think.”
“You don’t understand,” Victoria whispered.
Slater sighed. “You don’t understand, Victoria. You’ve had some shit times, but you never were a monster. Even in your worst moments, you fought to be yourself and break away from the hell you were trapped in.”
“Apparently Monty didn’t think my efforts were enough. He convinced his brother I’m a monster.”
Jess shook her head. “The guy in a cage? He’s a vamp now.”
“What? A vampire?” She looked to Slater, pleading for understanding. “Don’t you see? That’s my fault.”
“Did you change him?” Slater asked with narrowed eyes.
“No. He started to obsess and I cut off all ties. He thought he loved me, and maybe he did, but it wasn’t real. I helped clean up his life and tried to help him make a positive change. Then I turned my back, hoping he’d stay on his new path. Everything I’d helped him arrange must have fallen apart.”
“Then you are not a monster.”
“He sought out another vampire because of me.”
“Why? What did you do that was so bad, Vickie? Did you sleep with him? That doesn’t make you a bad person.”
She shook her head. “No. I found him playing his violin on the street. He was down on his luck. Talented. I gave him money, helped him straighten up. I never took his blood but he followed me one night. Figured out what I am. He wanted me to change him, told me it would solve everything, but I know better. That’s why I made sure he had everything he needed to have a great life, and disappeared. Even when I do good things, they get twisted, ruined.”
“Maybe he was a bum who couldn’t take care of himself. Maybe he wasn’t down on his luck due to misfortune, but laziness. Sounds like he squandered your gift, and wound up in trouble again. That’s not your fault.” Slater took her shoulders. “You need to stop blaming yourself for all the shit that goes wrong. It’s not on you.”
Victoria sighed and gave up the argument. She knew she’d never change his mind. She looked over at Jess. “Why is Monty in a cage?”
Jess shrugged. “Not a clue. At least we have an idea who to look for now. Maybe that will help the guys get to him.” She tossed a glance back to the window where she saw Lincoln in a chair, curled up talking to Dacia who sat on the couch. “Sure you don’t want to go back to him? He wants you, Victoria, and he’s well aware of what you are. He’s not afraid of you.”
“I need time to think. For now, I should make arrangements for those dancing lessons. And I don’t want to leave Dacia with nothing to do while her man is busy.”
Preston rolled his eyes. “She took pity on Lincoln when you shut him down. Dacia won’t mind if you go fix your mess.”
“Tomorrow, when I can spend time alone with him. Not tonight when I’m worried what hornet’s nest I’ve stirred. I want to do my own digging.”
“Stay in contact with us and we’ll do the same,” Slater commanded. “Sooner we deal with this, the better.”
Chapter 4
Lincoln slumped into the chair and stole a glance out the window at Victoria, who shut him out the moment Slater showed up. Feeling stupid, he turned toward to Dacia as she gracefully sat across from him.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips. “I was going to her house to watch a movie.” He smiled briefly, remembering the happy anticipation. “Stupid shooter ruined everything. She’s back to acting like I’m too naïve to take care of myself. Fine, I would probably suck in a fight, but I…” He dropped his head into his hands. “Who am I kidding? She could have taken care of herself. I didn’t actually save her. It was dumb luck.”
“You did save her.” Dacia smiled. “And she’s having a hard time ignoring you. She came over to hang out while we ate. She invited you to watch a movie with her. Victoria also mentioned dance lessons? What did I miss before we showed back up?”
His eyes snapped to hers, hope pulling the corners of his lips up. “You’re right. We’re still going dancing. She said movie after. Unless she blows me off.”
“Victoria’s worried about you. She’s probably thinking someone shot at her, because let’s face it, who the hell would you piss off? She doesn’t want you hurt. I don’t blame her. If she’s in trouble, she probably doesn’t want to drag you into the mess.”
“Not her call. I’m already involved.”
“Touché.” Dacia grinned. “Once she sets up your dance lessons, you’ll have to show her what you want.” She opened her mouth, then shut it, frowning.
“I plan to,” he answered. “Now, I need to figure out how.”
“I was going to say make a move, but I assume you want to take it slow.”
He let out a frustrated laugh. “I wouldn’t know where to begin. You do realize I’ve never made a move on anyone. Right?”
“Never?”
Shifting in his seat, he shook his head. “I’ve never kissed a girl, let alone a woman.”
Dacia smiled. “That can work in your favor.”
His eyes widened. “How?”
“You won’t make the same cheesy mistakes experienced men make. You won’t forget that it’s not about you, but about how you make her feel.”
“You can’t tell me Preston was inexperienced.”
“Ah, no, but he had no experience chasing a woman.” She smiled softly, glancing outside. “Sure, he knew his way around my body, but that’s not what I fell in love with.” Dacia looked into Lincoln’s eyes. “Preston paid attention to every single thing I said and did. He figured out what I needed and gave it to me.”
“You think I can be that for Victoria?”
She nodded. “You have a knack for taking everything in and remembering details. You read people, understand them, sometimes better than they do themselves. How many times, in the last few months, have you put a smile on my face when I was completely down?”
One corner of his mouth pulled up. “You’re right. But what if she wants more? I’ll fumble if things get… physical.”
“Which is endearing. You’re taking a chance. Putting her pleasure before your comfort. Do what you do, and find a way to put a smile on her face.”
Several cars fired up. Lincoln looked out the window to find Victoria and her car were already gone.
“When you have questions, ask. If you need a man’s perspective, Preston will help too. Now, let’s watch a movie. What do you have?”
“Your choice, pick one.”
She stood and walked to the shelves. Her face lit up. “Ooh, can you keep a secret?”
He returned her smile. “Of course.”
“You’re the third person to learn I’m a fan of comic book movies.” Adorably, she ducked her head and lifted a shoulder.
He couldn’t resist a chuckle. Lincoln placed a hand over his heart and dipped his head. “Your secret is safe with me.”
* * * *
Byron slid down the wall, watching his brother who sat behind bars. Throbbing, burning agony made it hard to concentrate.
“You’re bleeding. Should probably have that checked out,” Monty helpfully suggested in a bored tone. “What happened?”
“I found a demon with your whore sugar-vamp.”
Sighing, Monty muttered, “You don’t understand her. She didn’t do this to me. I did it to myself, hoping I could win her heart if I were like her.”
“How’d that work out for you?” Byron spat.
“Clearly not well. I told you, she despises what she is. She does good where she can, like with me. I’m too stupid to accept a gift. I begged for more. Now I understand.”
“Understand what? That you’re a monster now, like her? She used you, Monty, then threw you away.”
“You’re wrong.
She turned my life around. Then I got stupid and demanded what she couldn’t give. That’s when she left. To protect me.”
“She fucked you, then dumped your sorry ass after slurping on your blood.”
“It wasn’t about sex or blood. Never was. We didn’t sleep together. She never once drank from me. I did this to myself. She didn’t want me to be like her.”
“She should have left you alone,” Byron snarled, angry with how deceived his brother was. “If it weren’t for her, you would still be human.”
“I’d have starved to death, or maybe froze. She gave me a chance I never had before. You’re the monster. Only seeing darkness where there’s light because you can’t accept a world where you aren’t the strongest.”
“You’re wrong.” Byron pushed himself to a stand, and managed to climb from the basement. It was time to find Jones. He was finally ready to admit he was unable to take a vampire down alone.
Maybe if that damned demon hadn’t interfered he wouldn’t have to walk in there with his tail tucked between his legs. Or maybe Victoria would have shown her true colors and killed him like he deserved for not better protecting his brother.
Chapter 5
Sitting up from the depths of slumber, Jophiel was breathless. The dream felt unlike any other. A young man, who looked so much like him, protecting a beautiful woman from a shotgun blast.
He climbed from bed and made his way to the kitchen for sustenance.
Wings. The boy grew wings to shield the woman when the shot rang through the silence.
“Could it be?” he whispered to himself.
“Could what be?” Hadraniel asked with a warm smile.
He shook his head. “Did I give Ethyl a son?”
“It’s a possibility.”
Jophiel fisted a hand over his heart, the pain still fresh. “Why can’t I feel her anymore? I’ve searched, and searched, and I cannot find her.”
“I still think Jones or one of his minions did something to sever the connection to Ethyl. I’ve told you this. You’ll have to find her and reconnect.”
Slumping against the counter, he pushed his dreadlocks off his face. “Did I ever tell you about the letter I found when I went to the cabin I set up for her?”
“No. You were a mess, and I didn’t relish bringing you more pain.”
A tear tracked down his face. “She thought I was fallen. She expected me to come for her. I’ve tried for years, and I’ve never given up, but I can’t find a trace of her.”
“You’ll find her. Maybe this time have a shifter change her to keep her with you. I detest the search phase. You’re such a stick-in-the-mud.”
He nodded gravely, thumping his hand over his heart. “I pray she hasn’t given up all hope of my return. She’s made me a hopeless romantic. I don’t believe I could ever completely let her go.”
“Then perhaps you can finally make everything right. Good luck, my friend.”
“I may need it.”
“Now, this dream. Where are you going?”
“Edenton.”
“Why don’t I come with you? I’ve heard a rumor about HARP closing in on the town. Maybe we can put a dent in their numbers.”
“I appreciate any help you can offer, old friend.”
* * * *
Lincoln dragged his feet walking into In 2 Deep. He slumped into a seat at the counter and dropped his head into his hands. “Hey, Jess. Have any advice for me?”
Hooking her pale blond hair behind her ear, she came over with a crooked grin. “About Victoria?”
He dipped his head in affirmation. “Am I too innocent to convince her to take a chance on me?”
“No. I’m not sure there is such a thing as too innocent. Maybe that’s what she needs.”
“If we hadn’t been shot at, I would have gone to her house for a movie.” Sighing, he dropped his eyes. “I made progress before we were interrupted, and now she’s looking at me like I’m a kid again.”
“What do you want?” Jess asked simply.
“Victoria.”
She smiled. “How?”
He swallowed hard and met her gaze. “I want a chance to really get to know her. I want to taste her lips, caress her skin, and eventually make love to her.” He closed his eyes before sitting up. “I want her, and everything that comes with her. My mother would tell me I’m going to hell for lusting, but I don’t care. Whatever it is, I crave her.”
Jess rolled her baby blue eyes. “I seriously doubt you’re going to hell for lusting after a woman.”
He huffed. “Hope not, I can’t help but desire Victoria. I always have.”
Jess’ brow arched, surprise clear on her face. She shook her head and smiled. “I don’t believe love and lust were your mother’s primary concerns. She feared vampires in general.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Ethyl seemed to be waiting for someone. I’m assuming your father?”
He nodded. “After twenty-seven years, Mom was still in love with my father, a man she knew for a week before he disappeared.”
“What happened to him?”
Lincoln shook his head. “She never told me the whole story.”
Jess took a look around and gave him a sly grin. “No one’s here yet. Why don’t you start by telling me exactly what happened last night? In my vision, I saw you kiss her hand. She swooned until the crack of a gunshot rent the air. Then you had wings.”
“You pretty much know what happened then.”
“Tell me, from the very beginning to the end, because that was only a small part of last night.”
Lincoln did, every second, starting with his going to Victoria’s house to invite her. Then he asked, “Have you seen anything to give me at least a shred of hope I can sway her?”
Jess nodded. “There is definitely strong chemistry between you.”
“Now I need to figure out how to get through to her.”
“Talk to Slater. He knows her best, dark past and all.”
His head tipped to the side. “I’d rather her tell me the story herself.”
“See? This is why you have hope. You can get more details out of her if you try. Slater wouldn’t tell you her secrets anyway. He might be able to give you advice on how to approach her though. A way to sneak under her radar and remind her you are a man worthy of her attention.”
“Think he’d talk to me?”
“Would I suggest it if I didn’t?”
“Good point.” After standing, he moved around the counter. “Thank you. I’ll pay him a visit after my shift.”
* * * *
Byron sat in the tattoo seat, allowing Mena to sew his arm shut without pain meds. Not that they kept pain meds on hand. The theory being that if they were stupid enough to get hurt, they should have to suffer to remind them to be more careful against the beasts.
Mena was HARP’s medic but he would swear she relished her patient’s pain. Her body was long, lean, and all hard angles. Mena was built like a weapon, not a woman. There was no trace of softness on her deeply-tanned body.
His skin crawled every time he was in her presence. She watched him like prey. Jones wasn’t much better. The leader of their group was as hard as Mena. Onyx eyes cold as ice. His pale skin tattooed with strange tribal symbols. And yet, he’d learned to trust the pair, no matter how much he secretly feared them.
Jones recruited him to HARP when Byron found Monty in his new state.
Late one night, Byron walked home from his bouncer job at a bar in Seattle. His brother’s shout stopped him cold. He hadn’t seen Monty in over a year, but he knew that voice anywhere.
Monty shouted, “I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“You drank from an unwilling human!” another man accused.
“I hadn’t planned on it, but he attacked a woman. He nearly beat her to death. She’s lucky I got here when I did. So what if I killed the bastard, he would have killed her!”
Byron burst into motion and sprinted around the corner. H
e found a man aiming a strange-looking gun at his brother.
Monty didn’t look so good. It had been months since he’d seen him. Last time, Monty was dressed in a suit, playing his violin in some fancy symphony on a posh stage.
Now his brother wore raggedy jeans, wrinkled flannel, and a weeks’ worth of beard. His skin was pale, and dark bruises lurked under his bloodshot eyes. And was that blood at the corner of his mouth? He looked like death warmed-over.
“You killed a man, a human. You need to be put down like the beast you are.”
“Beast? I’m no beast!” Monty spat.
“Leave him be,” Byron growled, moving between his brother and the other man. “He’s sick.” Is he? There was a corpse on the ground. What in the ever-loving fuck is going on?
An evil laugh rumbled from the man with the gun. “Sick? Most vampires are. You’re going to defend a monster?”
“He’s a what?” Byron spun to look at Monty.
Monty gave a slight nod.
Byron turned back. “What the hell is going on? Vampires aren’t real. Is this some kind of twisted roleplaying game?”
“Nope.” The stranger nodded to the man crumpled on the ground with blood seeping from a pair of puncture wounds on his neck.
Byron’s mouth fell open as every vampire movie played through his head on fast-forward. “How the fuck?”
“You know this monster?”
“Monty is my brother.”
“Then we may be able to help him. Maybe. Slim, but there’s a chance he can be civilized. First, you need to agree to watch over him, and help us find the one who made him.”
“You’ll help Monty?”
“We’ll try, but he’s a vampire,” he spat the words, as if they tasted bad. “He may already have lost all ties to his humanity.”
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