Wanted: A Blood Courtesans Novel

by Kristen Strassel

  I sat on the couch, hands on knees, face buried in my hands. “I came here because I wanted to be turned into a vampire. Long before the police started looking for me. I’ve never been totally human. I’ve never fit in, anywhere. If it wasn’t jail, I’d be sent to a psychiatric hospital. I’m scared, Nash. For myself, and everyone else.”

  He was beside me, rubbing my back. I let myself take comfort in it. “That was never part of the agreement. I will keep you safe as long as you’re with me. I can teach you how to use your power, how to harness it, and how to use it when it’s absolutely necessary. Maybe even for good. Just because we live in the dark doesn’t mean we wallow in evil.”

  “How long will I be with you?”

  His smile melted all the chill from his touch away. “As long as you’ll have me.”

  My only option was to trust him. He’d given me no reason to do otherwise. No one turned me in when they saw right through my disguise. But I could still put Nash to the test.

  “There’s a girl who went to auction with me. Her name was Olivia. Really pretty blonde girl. She was sold right before me, for a low bid. I had a bad feeling about it when it happened, I can picture her in the woods, with those vampires.” I took a deep breath. The vision was back, more vivid than before. “I don’t think she has anyone to stick up for her. I know how that feels, Nash. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

  Nash nodded. I think he understood more than he wanted to. “We’ll find her, and make sure she’s safe. No matter what it takes.

  Chapter Nine

  Nash

  “Stop being such an asshole!” Sabrina sneered at me just before sunrise. A true courtesan, and a longtime companion of Desiree, she never confronted anyone. I could’ve reminded her it wasn’t her place to question me, but I wanted to confirm my suspicions about what set her off.

  The sun didn’t threaten me anymore, but it still drained me. “How’s that?”

  “She thinks you’re using her.” Sabrina could only meet my eyes briefly. “That you don’t care about her. You can’t toy with her, Nash. She’s so young. And lonely. It’s so palpable I practically choke on it when she’s in the room. Give her your heart, and she’ll give you the world.”

  “My heart hasn’t beat in over six hundred years. It will do her no good.” No surprise Sabrina shook her head at my answer. “I can give her something better than that. Respect. Pleasure. Power. She needs those things just as much.” Corynne feared all of them, she didn’t believe she was worthy. It killed me the other night when she thought letting go was the same thing as destroying something. I’d teach her to separate the two, night by night, she’d learn that she deserved all of those things.

  Sabrina laughed. “Have you ever actually dated a woman? Courted her until she fell in love with you?”

  There had been no chance of me taking a wife as a human. Alexandra had been destroyed before Sabrina was created. Our relationship was much less complicated than the one blossoming with Corynne. We’d wanted the same things. Peace and protection, and we could offer that to one another. Corynne was technically a vendor, but I really would be an asshole if I reminded Sabrina of that. Corynne had signed the contract. My money for her blood. Nothing else was promised. But like her, I wanted so much more.

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think so. You have to change your approach. Don’t roll your eyes at me. I’m not saying that you have to take her out on dates and get her flowers, but you have to knock it off with your old-fashioned attitude toward getting what you want. It’s not so black and white these days.”

  I didn’t often admit I was wrong, but Corynne confused the hell out of me. She was frustrated, and I liked that she hadn’t held back. She was a strong woman who spoke her mind and recognized her vulnerabilities. It wasn’t something I came across often. I wanted her—body, mind, and spirit. But I had no idea how to take care of a beating heart.

  “What do you suggest?” There weren’t many things that I was unfamiliar with anymore, but I was out of my league on this one.

  “Get to know her.” A dreamy smile played on Sabrina’s lips. She’d forever be a romantic. That was her power. “Not for her body, although whatever the two of you did the other night looked like it was pretty incredible. Find out what she’s interested in. Let her fall in love with you. Watch movies with her, take walks. Talk. Be her friend as well as her ally and her lover. But I only ask one thing.”

  I’d never take commands from Sabrina, but she cared about Corynne, and so didn’t I. “What’s that?”

  “Please don’t use her because she has something you want. It’ll backfire.”

  **

  “Tell me about Olivia,” I said to Corynne once she got settled that evening. As much as I’d liked the sexy gowns that left nothing to the imagination, I loved her casual clothes more. In jeans and a sweater, she had no problem curling up on my couch in front of the fire, with a pillow against her chest and fingers twirling in her ponytail. This was who she’d been before she came to me, and I hoped she’d someday consider this her home.

  Corynne’s face brightened with my question. “I don’t know that much about her, actually. I met her at the dinner before the auction. I know she’d been here several times before. I have no idea why she was so determined to get picked.”

  “Money, usually.” They wanted something they were willing to sell a piece of themselves for. Some things more admirable than others.

  “I’m not here for money,” she reminded me. “I liked Olivia because she wanted to help me. She didn’t have to do that. I realized she could’ve been giving me complete shit advice, since it was her third attempt at selling herself to a vampire. I figured it couldn’t have been so bad if she kept coming back for another crack at it. Even if she did need the money, I think she needed other things more; a friend, and someplace she belonged.”

  I leaned over the back of the couch and kissed the top of Corynne’s head. She looked up at me, dazed. Giving the pillow another squeeze, she smiled.

  I sat next to her. “Remind me what happened to her at auction, and at the reception. I only had eyes for you that night.”

  The grin that spread across her face was worth every cent I paid her to stay with me. “She went right before me. For two hundred bucks! At first no one bid. I was pretty horrified. She’s little, blonde, and beautiful. I figured I didn’t stand a chance if that’s what she got. And she was so excited about it. At the reception, her vampire got pretty frisky with her. Had her dress down around her waist, and she was covered with blood.”

  “That’s usually what happens at the reception. We feed, the girls get paid, and we go our separate ways.” I’d done it so many times. If I were just hungry, I’d bid on a girl with no V on her chest. The virgins were pure, but the other girls knew exactly what they wanted. “Most of the courtesans go for under a thousand dollars.”

  Corynne took a moment to consider that and frowned. “I had a bad feeling about what happened to her, even before I knew what the rogue vampires had done. Problem is, I don’t know if it’s a legit premonition or if I’m making it happen.”

  She looked at me, eyes wide, unblinking, full of fear. “Come here,” I said, holding out my hand to her. She crawled into my lap, and rested her head on my shoulder. That wave of power that I’d felt the night she was onstage slammed against me. Time to find out what it meant. “What are you thinking about?”

  “Olivia, ripped up and dirty, sitting on the ground. She’s got leaves stuck in her hair, and she’s bleeding. A lot.” Corynne squeezed her eyes closed and burrowed against me. “I’m scared for her.”

  “What were you thinking about the night of the auction?” I asked.

  Corynne picked up her head, her gaze full of disbelief. “What does it matter? I need to know that she’s safe, and not with some lunatic vampire who paid nothing for the chance to ruin her life.” She pushed away from me, off the couch. She stood in front of the fire, staring into it. “There should be a minimum
bid, to protect the courtesans.”

  I was behind her immediately, and she bristled at the intrusion. “You’re radiating the same power that you did the night of the auction. The one that drew me to you. If your thoughts are similar to that night, we can figure out if you’re simply worried about your friend or if it’s something we need to investigate.”

  “If I’d had anywhere to go, I would’ve run as far away from that stage as I could when she got that bid. I was terrified for her.” She turned to me, slipping her hands around my waist. I liked that. “Will Desiree show us her file? Then we could go to her house. See if she’s been there.”

  “That’s Lady Desiree to you.”

  Corynne rolled her eyes. “Do titles really matter at a time like this?”

  “Yes they do, if you expect her to help you.”

  She let go of me. “What’s your title?”

  “Lord.”

  “Oh, come on. Are you bitter because you’ll never meet him?”

  Her accusation stung in places I hadn’t felt since I was alive. My name honored my forgotten village, but my title honored my brother, and the life he could’ve had if given the chance. So much reminded me of him, even in these modern times. I pulled her back into me. “No. Lord and Lady. It’s an English title for someone in a position of authority who isn’t royalty. There is protocol here, and it’s for your protection.”

  “And your ego,” she muttered, but didn’t try to break away. “Those titles mean nothing if you don’t protect the courtesans you lure here. And before you tell me we came on our own free will, we came because of what you had to offer. Money, opportunity, forever. Olivia was probably here because she had nowhere else to turn. I need to know she’s safe.”

  “We’ll find her,” I said. Heat radiated from her body, flooding those same places I’d forgotten about. “And we’ll make sure she’s safe.”

  Chapter Ten

  Corynne

  Olivia lived in an absolute shithole apartment in a trash-lined neighborhood the rest of New York had forgotten. Just as I imagined she would. I’d be so relieved when something in our search surprised me. Desiree—oh, wait—Lady Desiree gave us the address much more willingly than Nash had led me to believe she would. They both insisted on waiting until the next sundown before we began our search.

  Nash and I weren’t on this mission alone. That night’s auction had been cancelled because we needed all the supernatural backup we could get. It comforted me and frightened me at the same time. Now we had a throng of pissed-off, hungry vampires lurking in the shadows, ready to take out their hostility on anyone who looked at them sideways.

  The girl who answered the door was a thin as Olivia, but not as pretty. She hesitated before answering me, a complete stranger with a six-hundred-something year old vampire hovering over my shoulder. I realized that Olivia might not be using her real name, or she could’ve given Desiree bogus info.

  A chill ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the vampire behind me. I’d done the same thing. Even the police had no solid evidence I was with the coven. No one knew where I was.

  “Haven’t seen her in a few days,” the girl finally said carefully. “Not unusual. Figured she got a movie or something.”

  “What do you mean by ‘got a movie’?” Nash asked.

  The girl clutched the door. I wondered if she sensed Nash wasn’t human. “She’s an actress. Or she likes to think she is.” She stopped and sighed, biting her lip as she considered us again. “You’re not the police, are you?”

  Shit. I hated that she even thought to ask that. “No, we’re not,” I said. Sabrina probably should’ve come to the door with me instead of Nash, but he refused to leave my side. I liked that as much as I hated it. Humans would’ve told me I was overreacting. Vampires seemed to know better.

  She relaxed, a little bit. “She’s been working with this producer. He’s been here a couple of times, and he’s shady as fuck. Hands all over her, always giving her compliments, but she never has any money. She always makes excuses for him, but she couldn’t make the rent this month. She swears she’s not doing porn, but that guy can’t be legit.”

  “What’s his name?” Maybe Nash would recognize it.

  “Wayne. That’s all I know. I could hardly stand to be in the same room with him. He gave me the creeps.”

  “Does Olivia have a job other than acting?” Nash placed his hand firmly on my back. The girl shook her head, and he sighed. “Do you have any contact information for her?”

  “Just her phone number, but it’s out of order. Probably didn’t pay the bill. Again.” The girl was getting uncomfortable. “Does she owe you money? Because you’re never gonna get it. I’d give you her stuff if I thought you could sell it, but she’s got nothing. Or else she wouldn’t live here.” She laughed, but it wasn’t funny.

  Nash handed her a card. “If you hear from her, would you please call us? She’s not in any trouble, and neither are you. My Lady is a friend of hers, and she’s concerned about her.”

  Several deadbolts tumbled when Olivia’s roommate shut the door. “It’s worse than I thought,” I whispered. “We have to find her.”

  “We will. I hoped we’d get something that would lead us away from the Greenwich Forest.” Nash didn’t let go of me, even though we had to walk single file down the dark, narrow staircase. I couldn’t wait to get out of here. When we found Olivia, I wouldn’t let her come back, either. She could mail her roommate any money she owed her.

  Nash didn’t say anything to the vampires lurking on the street. All he had to do was nod. I barely saw them, they’d managed to blend in so well. They all sprung to action, zipping into the sky so fast I didn’t believe my own eyes.

  “Can you do that?” I asked, pointing up at the sky. The vampires had already vanished. Nash nodded. “Why didn’t we do that tonight?”

  “Those vampires are using glamour. Only the people who are meant to know they’re involved will see them. We had to be seen tonight. And I wanted to bring the car in case we got separated. I assume you can drive.”

  “I’ve never driven a getaway car, though.” I pictured peeling out of the forest, Olivia riding shotgun. Nash could fly home.

  We weren’t the only ones who drove, several cars way too nice for this neighborhood lined the street, and I wasn’t surprised to see the police circling slowly, probably looking for some evidence of a drug deal. Crap. I hid behind Nash as they drove by us.

  He squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry, love. I glamoured them. They never saw you.”

  Getting in the car was so boring after watching the other vampires fly away. I’d make Nash teach how to do it as soon as he turned me.

  “That Wayne guy. Is he one of the forest vampires?” I asked as he pulled away, Olivia’s home growing smaller in the rear view.

  “I don’t recognize the name. But many of us go by pseudonyms. I’ll call Desiree. She keeps records on any vampires that aren’t part of our coven.”

  That reminded me. I pushed his shoulder. “So I’m your Lady, huh?”

  He glanced over at me. An army of yellow cabs zoomed by us, but that look made time stand still. “I like to think so.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I like having you around. You challenge me. It’s been a long time since anyone’s done that. I’m looking forward to getting to know you, and I hope you’ll stay for a long time.”

  “That’s sweet.” Sometimes I forgot that staying with the coven was voluntary. I could walk away from our agreement at any time. “Does that mean I have to call you ‘Lord’?”

  “Call me anything you want, as long as you keep coming to me.” His lips curled in a smile before he turned back to the road. He’d been carved out of ice, but he knew how to make me melt. He was old-fashioned and stubborn, but I liked that about him. And he’d ruined me for any human man in bed. There was no mistaking what he was, and as much as I liked to tease him, he did deserve his title. After all, he’d orchestrated
this search party for a wild goose chase across state lines to find a girl I’d met once.

  As we crossed into Connecticut, I started to panic. We’d be so close to my house. What if I saw my parents? Nash had directed the police back to the forest, so I’d have to avoid them, too. I did have an army of vampires with me; they could glamour anyone. But I couldn’t.

  Or worse, no one was looking for me. Their lives had to be easier with me gone. No more constant fear of what would happen next, or punishing me for things I swore I didn’t do. The threats from neighborhood kids would have stopped, and my sister had a chance at a normal life.

  Nash parked in an alcove hidden from the road. The vamps who flew had already arrived, hair and jackets fluttering the breeze.

  He killed the ignition and turned to me. “Tell me what you see.”

  That same vision of Olivia popped into my head, but now she lay on the forest floor, crying softly. Shit. “I’m scared I’m doing this to her.” I squeezed my eyes closed but it didn’t go away. “It’s the same as before, but worse.”

  He put his hand on my leg. “I see it now, too.” His tone was grim, confirming we shared the vision. “We’ll find her, and we’ll make it stop.”

  “I’m coming with you, right? I’ve lived here all my life. The forest was part of my home.”

  Nash laced his fingers in mine before we joined the other vamps. “Of course you are.” He stopped, taking both of my hands in his. “Stay by my side. If for some reason we get separated, think of me, nothing but me, and I’ll know where to find you.”

  “What if…” I didn’t even want to say it. “I bring you harm?”

  He kissed me, long and slow, pushing every horrible thought out of my head. If this was all it took to make the bad stuff go away, I was willing to kiss Nash forever.

  “Think of that, if you need to.” He looked over to the group waiting for us before turning back to me. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m older than every vampire in this coven. I created the vampire who colonized the forest. My biggest mistake. You’ve met him, he was the one who challenged me for you.”