Tall, Dark, and Deadly: Seven Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance

by Laura Kaye

  “Where are we going?”

  “The Order.”

  A shiver of excitement ran through her. Graham had said the Order was ultra-secret. There would be vampires and maybe other things. But why would Christian take her there now? What was so important about the talisman?

  The familiar weight of the locket comforted her, but she couldn’t shake the conviction that Christian knew more than he was saying. And what he knew wasn’t good.

  “Just one thing,” Christian said. “When we get to the Order—”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t do anything and don’t say anything.”

  Chapter Eight

  The drive to the Order took them along the embankment beside the river Thames, where the lights of the pleasure cruisers glinted on the water. Then past the London Eye, the giant Ferris wheel that rotated languidly above the city, and into the business district. They finally turned down a ramp and pulled into an underground parking garage.

  Christian glanced at his passenger as he switched off the ignition. She’d finally stopped shaking. She was rattled and who could blame her? He was rattled himself.

  He took a risk bringing her here—Piers wouldn’t like it—but he wanted one of the Order’s witches to take a look at Tara’s talisman. Maybe a witch would be able to identify the warlock who’d made the charm. They often left some sort of signature easily recognizable by others of their kind.

  “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get this over with.”

  He was about to get out when she put her hand on his arm. She licked her lips, her small pink tongue flicking out, and he remembered the taste of her; hot and sweet with just an underlying hint of bitterness to balance. Addictive, and he wanted more. Much more.

  As the memory washed over him, he had a sudden flashback to the good part of the evening. The earlier part before he’d made a huge error of judgment and decided that getting down to business was the sensible move. He should have just kissed her some more. They might be in his bed now, not in an underground car park about to face six-foot-four of pissed off vampire.

  “Christian?”

  “Sorry, I was miles away.” Back in his bed with Tara sprawled naked on top of him. “What is it?”

  “I wanted to thank you.”

  He smiled. “I’m just doing my job. It’s what you hired me to do.”

  She searched his face. “Is it just a job?”

  She appeared so young and so uncertain that he leaned across and kissed her on the mouth. It had been meant as a reassurance but instead of the quick kiss he’d intended, his lips lingered against hers, relishing the taste of her. Definitely addictive. Finally, he remembered where he was and drew back.

  “Does that answer your question?” he asked.

  She licked her lips again as if tasting him, and heat flared in his groin.

  She nodded. “Let’s go.” Without waiting for him, she opened the car door and jumped out. Christian sat a minute longer, willing his body under control, then followed her.

  He’d called Piers from the car, and someone waited at the elevator to escort them. Tara sized up the guard.

  “Is everybody here a vampire?” she asked quietly.

  “Not everybody, but most of the agents. We’re actually here to see a witch.”

  “Ella?

  Christian frowned.

  “Graham mentioned her,” she said.

  He made a mental note to have a word with Graham. Though he had told him to tell Tara whatever she asked.

  “Hopefully not Ella,” he replied.

  “Why? Graham told me you used to be close.”

  Yes, he was definitely going to have a word with Graham. “Not that close,” he said. “And a long time ago.” Why was he worried that Tara might believe him involved with Ella?

  “Ella is not a big fan of mine anymore. But the Order employs other witches. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  The elevator came to a halt, and the doors opened. Piers waited for them and, as expected, didn’t look happy. Without speaking, he whirled and strode off down the corridor.

  Christian put a hand to Tara’s waist. He directed her after Piers, glancing down at her once or twice as they moved through the building. It was obvious she tried to be subtle as she stared—and failed totally.

  Piers led them into his office and slammed the door.

  “What the fuck is she doing here?” he demanded. “You know it’s against Order policy to bring unmarked humans.”

  Tara stood straight and stared back, but Christian smelled her fear. And that meant so could Piers.

  “Unless,” Piers continued, “you plan to kill her afterward.” He grinned as the little color in Tara’s face fled. “I could take care of that little job if you like.”

  “Piss off, Piers.” Christian turned to Tara. “Go sit over there for a moment while I talk to this moron.”

  Tara frowned at the command, but decided now was not the time to exert her independence. She sat on one of the leather and steel chairs in front of Piers’s desk.

  “I want one of the witches to have a look at her talisman,” Christian explained. “Maybe they can identify who worked the charm.”

  “What do you think it’s doing? And why’s a human wearing such a charm?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

  “Okay, but you’re going to wipe her memory of all this, aren’t you?”

  Across the room, Tara stared at the floor, hands clasped tight on her lap. As though she sensed his attention she glanced up and smiled, and something shifted inside him. Something he had never expected to feel. Certainly not for a human.

  “Perhaps. When this is over.”

  “You need to mark her, Christian.”

  “I’m not sure she’ll agree.”

  Piers stared at him in total amazement. “If I explain what will happen if she doesn’t agree—she’ll agree.”

  Christian stilled. His eyes narrowed and his gums ached as his fangs elongated. “Don’t touch her,” he growled.

  “Perhaps you should explain then. It’s the one safeguard we have against the humans turning on us. There can be no exceptions.”

  Piers spoke the truth, but the time was coming to an end when they could live in secret among humans. They should plan how to move forward when that time came rather than cling to the old rules. It was an argument he had had with Piers many times.

  “I’ll talk to her, but alone.”

  Piers nodded. “I’ll go speak with Ella.”

  …

  Tara wasn’t going to admit it, but she was terrified. Had been since they walked out of the elevator and she realized she was deep underground, surrounded by the undead, and all that stood between her and a horrible end was another undead.

  She watched as the two men, or rather two vampires, spoke. Their voices were pitched too low to hear, but the exchange didn’t seem friendly. Despite the difference in coloring, they were curiously alike. Both tall, pale skinned, and stunningly gorgeous. She wondered whether it was because they only chose tall, handsome men to change into vampires or if something happened during the change.

  She knew, by the way they frequently glanced her way, that Piers and Christian were discussing her. Piers appeared angry—Christian must have broken a few rules to bring her here. Then again, he didn’t strike her as the sort of person who bothered with rules. Ever.

  Unlike herself, who had lived the first twenty-two years following a set of rules given to her by a dead woman. At the thought of rules, her hand went to her locket. She’d broken Rule Number Three, and it hadn’t turned out any better than number two. What had Christian seen that was so bad? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

  “Tara.” Christian held out a hand to her. She stood and walked toward him. As his fingers wrapped around hers, she instantly felt better.

  “I’ll leave you two to talk,” Piers said.

  Christian nodded. “Thanks, Piers.”

  He left the room.

 
; Christian pulled her toward the desk then pushed her shoulder until she sank into the chair.

  Alarm flickered through her. “I’m going to need to sit for this?”

  He took the seat opposite and sat for a moment, watching her closely.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Vampires have remained secret among humans for thousands of years only by following a strict set of rules. One of the Order’s jobs is to ensure that everyone upholds those rules.”

  “I guess you broke a few by bringing me tonight.”

  “A few. I thought it was worth it to get the information we need, but perhaps we should have had this conversation before I brought you here.”

  “What difference would it have made?”

  “We have two ways of dealing with humans who discover our secret. The ones that survive the experience, that is. The first is to erase their memories.”

  “You can do that?”

  “Short-term memories are easy. The longer the memory is in the mind the harder it becomes, and the more likely we are to cause some sort of permanent damage, so we try to do it as soon as possible. It’s how we deal with those humans we feed from.”

  “Have you ever done it to me?”

  He shook his head. “Sometimes I hunt, but I don’t need to feed with much frequency any more. Most vampires have humans who they feed from regularly.”

  “Like you and Graham?”

  He nodded. “Those we feed from more than once, we bind to us by the second method.”

  “And that is?”

  “We mark them.”

  “Mark them with what?”

  “It’s not a physical mark. It’s a” —he thought for a moment— “psychic mark.”

  “You mark their brains?” Tara shuddered. She didn’t like the thought of anyone doing anything in her brain. Christian watched her closely, and she realized where this was going. “You want to mark my brain, don’t you?”

  “I don’t want to, but I have no choice.”

  “You always have a choice.”

  “You’re right, but perhaps I should set the choices out before you.”

  She swallowed. “Go ahead.”

  “The first is obviously that you allow me to mark you. I promise you the process will be painless.” His eyes swept over her, suddenly hot, and she had a flashback to the feel of being enclosed within his arms. Heat coiled low in her belly as though it had been waiting for something to set it aflame again.

  “You might even enjoy it.” A shudder ran through her at the dark promise in his voice.

  She stared into his face for long moments then broke the link between them. “And the alternative?”

  The smile faded from his face. “That Piers marks you by force, and I can’t promise that won’t hurt.”

  Shock flashed through her. “You’d let him do that?”

  “I don’t think I would have any say in the matter. I’m strong, but perhaps not that strong. We’re surrounded by over a hundred vampires. Of course, I would fight—you are, after all, my responsibility—but in all likelihood, I would die. So I think the question you need to ask yourself is would you let me mark you now, or would you prefer I’m killed and you’re held down while Piers rapes your mind.”

  “You’re trying to scare me.”

  “Perhaps. Am I succeeding?”

  She took a deep breath. “So maybe you’d better explain this whole marking thing, because I’m not letting you into my mind without knowing what you’re up to.”

  Amusement glinted in his eyes. “It will tie you to the vampire who marks you.”

  “Tie? In what way tie?”

  “There would be some… compulsion involved.”

  “You mean I’d have to do what you say? I don’t think so.”

  “Tara, we have the ability to make any human do as we say, it just takes less effort with those that are marked.”

  “Let me get this straight. You can make me do what you want.” He smiled again and nodded. “Have you?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Could you?”

  “I believe so. What else is it you wish to know?”

  She found it hard to move past the whole compulsion thing. “Tell me more about this tie.”

  “Your life would be bound to mine. If I were to be destroyed, in all likelihood you would die.”

  Her heart skipped a beat, then sped up as she realized it was the thought of Christian being destroyed that upset her, rather than her dying in response. When had she started to care about him?

  “And are you planning on that happening anytime soon?” she asked.

  “Not planning, no.”

  She could live with that. “So, last question. Is it permanent?”

  “I’ve never tried to remove a mark. Perhaps it’s possible. Most humans are happy with the benefits of belonging to a vampire.”

  She remembered Graham with his designer suits and his dreamy expression when he thought of Christian feeding. Then her mind focused on one word and her whole body tensed. “Belonging? I don’t want to belong to anybody.”

  He sighed. “I think you must trust me on this one, Tara. I promise I’ll not abuse the mark, and afterward, if possible, I’ll remove it.” He took her hands. A sense of calm washed over her, and she wondered if he were doing something to her mind. “And Tara, there are benefits.”

  She eyed him warily, not quite convinced that her idea of benefits and Christian’s would coincide.

  “You will be stronger,” he said, “and live longer. I would take care of you—you’d be my responsibility.”

  “The stronger and living longer bits I’ll take. The responsibility thing you can keep. From now on, I’m nobody’s responsibility but my own.”

  “So you’ll allow me to do it.”

  “I don’t see that I’ve got a choice.” She sighed. “I can’t believe you didn’t think about this before you brought me here.”

  He appeared about to speak, but the door opened, Piers stepped in, and Christian dropped her hands.

  Piers focused on Christian. “Has she agreed?”

  Christian nodded. Piers studied her for a moment. She shuddered at the expression in his eyes. He wanted her, she could see that, but it was what he wanted her for that worried her most. All he said was, “Pity.”

  “So what happens now?” she asked. Christian had promised it wouldn’t hurt, but her whole body clenched at the thought of the unknown.

  “It will be done in a moment. Turn and face me.”

  Christian moved closer and put his fingertips to her temple. “Relax.”

  She stared into his eyes. For a moment, her mind opened to him, as though he were becoming one with her. Then everything locked, and she was back in her own head alone.

  Christian frowned. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing.”

  His fingers tightened on her forehead. He stared at her again but this time her mind remained her own.

  “What’s going on?” Piers asked.

  Christian dropped his hands. “It’s not working.”

  Piers moved to stand over them. “What do you mean ‘not working’?”

  “I’m not marked?”

  Christian shook his head. He turned to Piers. “I can’t get in. Her mind is shutting me out cold. I’ve never felt this sort of block before.”

  “Shall I try?”

  Christian’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “No,” he growled.

  “What’s happening?” Tara asked.

  “We spoke of compulsion, a vampire’s ability to force a human to do something. I want to see if it works on you.”

  “What are you going to make me do, act like a chicken or something?”

  He smiled though he didn’t appear happy. “Nothing like that.” He thought for a moment. “I’m going to make you stay seated in that chair. I want you to try and get up and walk across the room.”

  “When?”

  “Now would be good,” Piers said.

  Tara got
up and crossed the room. “Is that it?”

  A look passed between the two men. Christian frowned but Piers turned toward her. After a moment, he shook his head. “Nothing.”

  “I told you to stay out of her mind,” Christian snarled.

  Piers held up his hands defensively. “Hey, I didn’t get in.”

  “What’s going on?” Tara asked.

  “You seem to be able to keep us out of your mind. Which presumably also means we can’t erase your memories.”

  “Is that going to be a problem?” she asked.

  Piers looked at her, and his eyes were cold. “Is it going to be a problem, Christian?” The question was asked in a soft voice, but Christian tensed.

  “Don’t lay a finger on her,” he said. “Not one finger.”

  “Actually, fingers didn’t come into what I had in mind.” Piers shrugged. “What do you suggest?”

  “It may have something to do with the talisman. Maybe the magic keeps us out.”

  “Then she must take it off.”

  “Not here and not until we know more about it. Look Piers, I’ll vouch for her. Keep her close, she won’t betray us.”

  Piers regarded them silently for a moment, then nodded. “But you are responsible, and you mark her as soon as you can. Now, let’s get Ella in here see if she can tell us something about this talisman.”

  The door opened and a woman walked in. Tara had been predisposed to disliking Ella but she needn’t have bothered. A wave of revulsion washed over her as the woman stepped inside. Tara couldn’t rid her mind of the idea she was in the presence of something evil. Dressed in black leather trousers and a black shirt that clung to her full breasts and flat stomach, Ella was a female version of the vampires, but she wasn’t a vampire. She ignored Tara, her attention on the two men. Strolling up to Christian, she stroked her scarlet tipped fingers over his chest.

  “You wanted me?” she purred.

  It set Tara’s teeth on edge. She took a step closer to Christian, only just resisting the urge to place a possessive hand on his arm. He glanced at her and back at Ella.