Catch

by Annie Nicholas

  “Okay.” The thought of Luckard trying to get inside my head turned my stomach. It quelled my anxiety enough to allow Tane access to my mind. This was all I needed, two Nosferatu taking a field trip in my brain.

  Tane stared at me, I didn’t sense anything around my shield though. Not a good sign.

  He nodded. “All done. Have you had similar dreams?” I retold the one I’d had yesterday afternoon before asking Gwen to take me outside for some fresh air.

  “Sleep the rest of the day here. My presence will shield you.” He stood and retrieved a blanket from a trunk then spread it over me as I lay across the soft couch, too tired to argue.

  Something struck me as wrong at that moment. The fog cleared. “What are you doing awake? Is it later than I thought?” I sat up and scanned the room for a clock.

  “I don’t need to rest during the day like the others.” With one finger on my shoulder, he pushed me back into the plush cushions. “This is usually my quiet time, though.”

  “When dawn arrives you don’t shut down?” The incredulity in my voice was apparent, even to myself.

  He sighed as if trying to grasp at some patience. “I’m old enough to resist it.

  Sometimes I sleep because I’m bored.” He tucked the blanket under my chin. “Rest.”

  “Can all Nosferatu stay awake?”

  A low growl rumbled in his chest “You’re driving me nuts. Sleep.” His last word snapped like a command.

  I pulled the blanket up to my nose. Tane’s reassurance that Luckard couldn’t reach me didn’t ease my fears. What if they were just nightmares from my sick and twisted mind?

  He knelt next to the couch so we could be eye to eye. “Sometimes I forget how young you are. What are you, twenty-five?”

  “Twenty-nine.”

  The color of his eyes was such a dark brown they almost seemed black. They softened at my response. “I can’t remember being twenty-nine.” He chuckled. “I’ll tell you something a wise man passed on to me once. You’re going to live longer than you expected, and bad things are bound to happen. Let them bounce off you. Grieve, cry, fight whatever you need to survive, but don’t cling to it. Move on.”

  “I tend to cling.” When my husband had died, I clung to a bottle of rum for a year.

  “What’s bothering you?”

  All I could do was sputter. His question struck me speechless. “Where do you want me to start?” I flung my hands out.

  He frowned. “Patience has never been one of my virtues, Connie.”

  “Luckard, the bond and having to stay here.” I took Tane’s hand. The expression of confusion on his face as he stared at our melded fingers made me want to smile except I couldn’t. “I feel trapped and helpless.”

  “Is this the same woman who refused to choose sides in Budapest, and once told me she’d build her own damn boat to brave the political storms?”

  “I’m not feeling very brave this morning. Luckard broke something inside me, and I don’t think you can lick and make it better.”

  Tane gazed at me as if not sure what manner of creature sat on his sofa. “I wish I could. The best I can offer you is revenge.”

  I nodded as he slipped his hand out of my grip. His red silk robe hung open and the wound on his chest peeked out. I reached to touch the edges. “It’s not healed?” He flinched as if it stung. “Wounds caused by wooden weapons heal slower. It will be gone by tonight.”

  Tracing my fingers across his chest, I examined the injury, the one he took for me.

  “Did you catch the person who tried to kill us?”

  “No.” A simple word, but the angry tone told me of his frustration. “I have it under control, though.”

  “Really? You planned getting a cross bolt through your chest?” Sometimes I wish I could pull back the things I’ve said. I couldn't have alienated Tane more if I tried.

  He stood and his robe closed. “If you need me, I’ll be in my bedroom reading.”

  “Wait.” I sat up and offered a rare act on my part. “I’m sorry.” Apologies grated on my nerves, especially when the person deserved one.

  “Control over your words will be essential if you wish to survive in this court. You need to practice restraint.”

  “Rurik’s told me this already and it probably won’t happen anytime soon. I’d rather not be alone right now. Can you read here?”

  Tane turned slightly, his gaze traveled along my body. He then retrieved a thin, brown leather bound book from a drawer in the side table. “Scoot forward.” He sat behind me and straddled his legs on each side of my hips. “Lean back.” When I didn’t move he sighed. “The least you can do is keep me warm.” I leaned into his chest and pressed my back to the soft silk of his robe.

  He tucked the blanket around us, leaving his arms free with the book resting on his thigh. Without a heartbeat to compete with, his deep voice resonated in his body.

  Reciting a poem about a frosty lake, Tane droned on and on, until I lost the meaning of the words and heard only the rhythm.

  My eyelids grew heavy as my warmth encompassed us.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Someone wrapped a curl of my hair around their finger then unwound it with a gentle pull, only to start the process again. I pressed my cheek into the soft silk of my pillow, but it didn’t budge and it didn’t feel stuffed.

  Rubbing my face on the surface, I sensed a nipple under the material. I must be sleeping on Rurik again. When did he start wearing silk? The man would go around naked twenty-four seven if I let him.

  In a languid stretch, I raised my arms over my head and rubbed my body against him.

  He stiffened.

  Not the response I expected. I opened my eyes to meet his clear blue ones except they stared at me from across the room.

  My heart stopped.

  I twisted to find Tane still in his red robe with a little drool stain on his chest where I had slept.

  He gave me a crooked smile. “Sleep well?”

  I wiped the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand. Some women awoke looking beautiful. I’m not one of those. As I checked my surroundings, I found Archios sitting in a chair next to Rurik. “Good morn—evening.” I cleared my throat. My curls moved on my head as if they had a life of their own. I’d gone to sleep after the bath without drying them. No makeup, drool on my face and a ball of blonde fuzz on my head—a picture of elegance.

  “Good evening.” Archios shifted in his seat and couldn’t meet my stare. He wore a white dress shirt buttoned to his neck and gray slacks perfectly creased. A stack of files and papers sat on the table in front of him. He flicked at some imaginary dirt on his lap.

  Rurik, dressed in black shorts and t-shirt, quirked an eyebrow at me while he leaned his chin on his hand. No anger apparent on his face or outraged rants after finding me with Tane again. Not happy, though. He didn’t bother to hide the hurt in his expression.

  “You’re thinking too hard.” I offered him his favorite accusation and got rewarded by a small twitch of his lips.

  “No, not thinking. Maybe feeling too deep.”

  Tane shifted his weight behind me. “Archios has brought paperwork for you to sign.” At the mention of his name, the vampire sat straighter. He plucked a folder from the table, opened the file and offered it to me with a pen, then turned to my lover. “I’ll need a copy of your passport as well, Rurik.”

  “I have it in my luggage.” He started to rise from his chair as if anxious to leave the room.

  Tane lifted his hand. “Don’t go yet. I wanted to finish discussing Colby with both of you.”

  I snapped the folder shut. “What about Colby?”

  Rurik sat forward, clasping his hands in front of him. “Tane saw him running through the jungle while hunting the assassin.”

  “You invited him here last night.” I glanced over my shoulder. “He came to examine the body and where we found it.”

  “A body?” Archios’ exclamation surprised me. I guess Tane hadn’t informed him.<
br />
  Oops.

  I heard my master sigh. “Rabbit and Gwen found a body in the jungle. An investigation team was asked to come.”

  “I wasn’t aware of any of this, Master. Why not use our own people to take care of this problem?” I understood his confusion. It would be easier to have Tane’s werewolf force make the problem disappear.

  “Can I trust all of them?” Tane plucked the file containing all my new bank information out of my hand and flipped through the pages. “My own home has a traitor.

  Someone is trying to undermine my power and make me look weak.” His voice deepened and took a threatening tone, which made me scoot away from him on the couch. “These jackals in court are circling me like a wounded animal, but I will stick to our laws. No tolerance. Whoever is killing these humans will be brought to a public trial and executed.” He closed the file and set it on the side table then stood, resettling his robe.

  “As for Colby,” he turned to me, “I saw him last night two hours after his team left my property. He carried a crossbow. I think my enemies are gathering to destroy me.”

  “Really?” I couldn’t deny the possibilities. Colby hated Tane. “He wanted to kill me too?” That stung deep. We were never friends, however we respected each other. Ever since I left the team to be with Rurik, my relationship with Colby became strained, but I never would have thought he’d try to murder me. Even if the second arrow was a misfire, trying to kill Tane would mean my death too.

  “Colby doesn’t know about your blood bond to Tane. He still thinks it’s between us.” Rurik, my voice of reason, offered this slight reassurance.

  “Crap.” I leaned back into the sofa cushions and stared at the ceiling. Talk about conflict of interests. “Are you sure it was Colby?”

  “No other person could have evaded me like he did. I hunted him until the dawn saved his ass.” Admiration for my former boss was apparent in Tane’s voice. “I can’t allow a wild card like him running around. There is too much at stake.”

  “You should send your brothers out to hunt him,” Archios offered.

  “They would kill him.” Rurik responded before I could.

  Tane’s silence answered us.

  I untangled myself from the blanket and rose to my knees on the seat cushion so I could touch Tane’s hand. “Don’t.”

  He frowned.

  “Everyone deserves a trial. Let him explain.” Who was this rational, calm person speaking? Oh yeah, me.

  A stubborn set in Tane’s shoulders told me I hadn’t changed his mind. This vampire came from the eye-for-an-eye age, kill-first-ask-questions-later era.

  “For me, please. Master.” I forced that title from my mouth. If Colby got proven innocent, I’d make my former boss pay. Otherwise, he’d get what he deserved.

  Rurik’s eyebrows rose high enough to disappear under his bangs. I didn’t need to be psychic to read his thoughts when I called Tane my ‘master’.

  “What do you suggest we do then?” Tane crossed his arms over his chest.

  “We use bait.”

  He barked a laugh. “You want me, I take it, to lure Colby into a trap.”

  “What a brilliant idea.” Archios gaze glinted with interest. “He would definitely show up, but it would have to be away from the mansion.”

  “Absolutely not,” Rurik added. “We can’t risk Tane. What if Luckard shows?” I shook my head. “Let me finish. Using Tane would be obvious. Colby’s not stupid, he makes a living running these kind of operations. If he hasn’t already left town, he’ll be looking for information.” I glanced from Archios’ blank stare, to Tane and Rurik’s introspective ones. “I’m his go-to girl."

  Rurik stared at me. “Do you have his cell number?”

  “No, he’ll know the call’s a trap.” Tane rubbed his chin in thought. “We’ll use Rabbit’s idea. I’ll have a rumor spread tonight that she’s left Rurik. By morning, Colby’s contacts should hear about it.”

  “How will he find me?” My heart raced. The irony that I was bait for the man who taught me how to lure vampires to their death wasn’t lost on me.

  “We’ll set a hotel room as the trap and take him down when he comes to you.” Tane nodded to no one in particular while he stared at the rug.

  “We can devise a better plan without involving her.” Rurik, the only one who remained in his seat, crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Perhaps, if we had more time. My informants have been watching the airports, train and bus stations. They tell me Colby hasn’t left the city yet, but that may change.” Archios frowned. “Why didn’t he run?”

  My exact thoughts. Colby was a smart guy. You didn’t try to kill a Nosferatu then stick around. He should have been halfway around the world, digging himself a hole to hide in.

  As if perplexed, Tane rubbed his chin. “I don’t know. Maybe it is a good idea to capture him alive. I’ve a few questions that need answering.”

  “How do you plan on protecting Connie?” My lover asked in dead seriousness, his dislike of the plan obvious.

  Tane faced Rurik. “If you’re concerned about Rabbit’s safety then I will place some of my wolves, which I know I can rely on, hidden in the room.”

  “I want to be in there too.”

  “Impossible.” Tane shook his head. “This will probably take place during the day.

  Colby won’t move at night. He knows we’re hunting him.” I could almost hear Rurik grind his teeth across the room.

  We’d been in Tane’s apartment for a while, yet still hadn’t touched. It was a rare occasion that Rurik didn’t physically come in contact with me in some manner—a touch of his fingers, a kiss on the head, or a brush of his body passing mine. I missed him.

  “You don’t care if she gets hurt.” Rurik vaulted from his chair to confront his master.

  “She’s just a toy to you.”

  Tane tore open his robe and pointed at the almost healed wound. “Does this look like I don’t care? Colby won’t hurt her.”

  “He shot at both of you.”

  An uncomfortable silence stretched across the room as they glared at each other.

  Archios found solace in his files and I stepped away. The last time they had a confrontation the walls took a beating. I didn’t want to get in the way.

  “Very well. I’ll stay in a nearby room as back up. Satisfied?” Tane held out his hand to shake.

  “Yes.” Rurik took it.

  “I’ll need you to stay at the mansion, though.” Tane held onto Rurik’s hand as he tried to pull away. “You will only divide my efforts. Remain here under guard while you sleep then join us in the evening if we haven’t returned.” Rurik nodded with a frown on his face.

  “You’re dismissed.” The command behind his voice snapped both Rurik and Archios to attention. I hated to admit it, but this impressed me.

  I, on the other hand, wasn’t conditioned to jump at orders.

  “Master?” Archios asked. “I still have some things to go over with you.” He held more files in his hands.

  Tane sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Rurik grasped my hand and yanked me out of the apartment.

  The moment we turned the corner toward our room, I swung around to face him.

  “Please, tell me you’re not angry.”

  “For finding you in Tane’s arms again? I’m not furious but…” He shrugged and tried to get around me, yet didn’t put much effort into it since I stopped him with my hand.

  “I had another nightmare of Luckard. Tane thought it best to shield my sleep in case that monster was trying to get into my head.”

  “And I was unavailable to help you.” He stared over my head, not meeting my gaze.

  A muscle ticked along his clenched jaw. “Useless again.” Wrapping my arms around his slim waist, I pulled us together. “You make me feel loved.”

  “And he makes you feel safe.”

  My head cranked back to look him in the eye. “What makes you say that?”

 
; “I don’t need to read your mind. Your face is an open book. You didn’t hurry to me after waking as you would have a few days ago.”

  “I was—”

  “Comfortable.” He finished my sentence then touched my curls. “I love it when your hair gets crazy like this.”

  A wellspring of doubt bubbled from my heart and it made me sad. “How long did I sleep with you in the room?”

  “About an hour. I was beginning to wonder if he drugged you.” A heavy, nauseous ball grew in my stomach. “I must be getting used to Tane.”

  “That’s not a bad thing. Your lives are connected. Don’t let me upset you. I’m just a little jealous. If things grow between you and Tane, I’ll step aside.” His statement slapped me across the face like a wet glove. I retreated from his arms.

  “Step aside?” I punched him in the shoulder. “Just like that?” His eyes grew wide and he laughed. “He’s a fabulous lover. I wouldn’t deny you that.”

  Too much amusement tinged his voice for me to take him seriously. I slapped his ass. “He hasn’t offered.” Not outright.

  As our gazes met, his eyelids lowered to form dark crescent moons from his lashes.

  “What if he offered me?”

  The sense of play vanished from the conversation. “He offered you his bed?” It hurt to speak since my throat constricted. Had Tane already stolen Rurik from me?

  Rurik chuckled and hugged me tight. “No, but if I keep finding you both together I’m going to start feeling left out.”

  I rested my forehead on his chest. Nothing reassuring to say came to mind. Could the blood bond draw me to Tane? Or was it that he’d risked his life for me last night? Rurik would have done the same, except he loved me. I gasped and stiffened in his arms.

  “What?” His piercing gaze met mine.

  “Nothing.” I was a terrible liar, but what could I say. Maybe Tane loved me too?

  When the hell did that happen? Had I stepped into an alternate reality?

  “You look pale. Did Tane feed from you again?”

  “No.” The word came out as a whisper.

  “What about your iron pills?”