Midnight Poison (Paranormal Poisons Saga Book 1)

by A and E Kirk

  “Of me?” Kiara said. “What would she be jealous of?”

  “Oh, that’s easy.” He offered a conspiratorial smile and leaned forward, whispering loudly, “Everything.”

  Looking into his eyes, Kiara felt a rush of warmth. She twirled the guns like the cowboys in her favorite westerns and pretended to tuck them into imaginary holsters at her hips. Then she cocked her head demurely and said, “Why, thank you, sir.”

  She took a moment to stick her tongue out at the annoying witch, then went back to smiling at the guy who called her a savior. Whatever else that was supposed to be bothering her could wait.

  A bit more relaxed now that a gun was not pointed at his head, Alpha shot Nicolette a look that promised later fury, then he tried for a civilized tone. “Leontes, you remember my youngest son, Jaeger.”

  Kiara did not see a resemblance, but she kept looking. Gladly.

  Through eyes that shimmered with too much confidence, he stared right back. He raked a hand through hair, the pale blond of whipped butter. The soft waves streaked with dark golden hues of sunrise glistened, still damp from his recent shower.

  Kiara caught his fresh woodsy scent. It smelled familiar. When she lifted her eyes from assessing his many attributes and caught his smoldering gaze, her throat constricted. One corner of his full mouth lifted in a lazy, knowing grin. She felt Leontes’ look as he registered her reaction, but Jaeger’s intense eyes held her captive. She could not look away, nor stop the blush to her cheeks. She felt like she knew him.

  Because she did. Sort of.

  A smile slid across her lips. “Hello, Mr. Snowball.”

  Jaeger’s appraising look ran the length of her body. “Hello, gorgeous.”

  He reached out a hand. Kiara stepped forward and offered him the guns. He did not take them. Instead, he gently turned one of her hands over to brush his lips against her knuckles, then placed both his hands on her waist and effortlessly lifted her off the table and down to the ground. He looked down into her eyes, fingers tightening around her body.

  In a voice threaded with tension, Leontes said, “You can release her now.”

  Jaeger’s lips lifted in a heart-stopping smile aimed at Kiara, his eyes sparkling. “Who in their right mind would ever let her go?”

  CHAPTER 25

  The blood would be mopped up later. Leontes was relieved to have been correct in that there were no dead. All the wounds would supernaturally heal in short order. The great hall had been cleared except for Alpha, Nicolette, and Leontes, who were all seated at the table, and Kiara, who paced in front of the blazing fireplace, and Jaeger, still shirtless and leaning casually against the wall. Despite his outward appearance of calm, Jaeger’s steady gaze tracked Kiara’s every move.

  Alpha raised his glass to Leontes. “Crazy to be thanking a vamp for saving my granddaughter.” He took a hefty swig of whisky.

  “Thank Kiara.” Leontes nodded toward the fireplace where Kiara diligently replaced the knickknacks she had knocked from the mantle.

  “Even crazier to be thanking Olean—Kiara. Although she did stab my son.”

  “For all she knew, I was working with the shifter,” Jaeger said, eyes never leaving Kiara.

  “What were you doing at the safe house, anyway?” Alpha asked Kiara. “How did you find this Oleander?”

  “She does not remember,” Leontes said before Kiara could answer.

  She understood. Lie. She rubbed her forehead. “Yes, it’s all very…fuzzy. But I do know I saved the baby.”

  Jaeger nodded. “That you did, gorgeous.”

  “Still has that memory problem, does she?” Alpha asked. “So guess no luck getting closer to finding the Midnight Poison?”

  “Of course not,” Leontes assured him. “Queen Rusila would have informed you of such an important development.”

  Alpha snorted. “Hardly. We all know Kiara is Rusila’s big ace in the hole, giving the queen first crack at it. If Kiara ever remembers, the queen will keep it secret until the end when she can change from Queen of the Undead to Supreme Sovereign of the Supernatural, with everyone bowing to her will.”

  “I am sure the queen only has everyone’s best interests at heart,” Leontes replied.

  Alpha barked a laugh. “The fact that you can say that with a straight face tells me just how much of a bullshitting diplomat you truly are. Nice one, Ambassador.”

  “I accept the compliment,” Leontes said.

  “It wasn’t a compliment,” Alpha replied. “Look, you’ve got a job to do. Fair enough, but we all know the Institute’s labs have been trying to recreate the potion for years. As far as I know, nothing has ever come close. Thank God.”

  “So the Midnight Poison is real?” Jaeger said. “I thought it was just a myth. Like Kiara here. Although no one ever said how beautiful she was.” He gave her an inviting smile.

  Kiara smiled back.

  Leontes growled.

  “Careful, Son,” Alpha said, warning Jaeger on many levels. “Kiara is living proof that the potion she and da Vinci concocted all those years ago is real. She’s part vamp, part witch, and part shifter, but doesn’t have any of their weaknesses.”

  Leontes added in a rush, “But she no longer has many of the associated supernatural powers since the…extended exile.”

  “Wow,” Jaeger said. “So if a shifter drinks the Midnight Poison, the moon loses its control over them?”

  “That’s the idea,” Alpha replied. “Plus, iron wouldn’t hurt the fey and they could lie, which is a damn scary thought. And witches wouldn’t age when they use magic. I wonder how old you actually are,” he said to Nicolette. “Care to drop the magic on your façade and show us what you really look like?”

  The witch glared. “This is no façade.”

  Jaeger looked Kiara up and down. “So you don’t have the vamps’ aversion to sun? Or their blood lust?”

  “Nope,” Kiara said.

  “How about just plain lust?” Jaeger gave her a playful smile. “The good old fashioned kind that would find the two of us naked, sweaty, and moaning with pleasure.”

  Kiara blushed.

  Leontes jumped to his feet.

  “Jaeger!” Alpha shouted.

  The muscles on Jaeger’s chest rippled as he shrugged. “Just curious.”

  “Shut it down,” Alpha said and raised a calming hand toward Leontes. “So, Kiara, she is impressive. Although it’d still be nice to know how she tracked Oleander dow—”

  Jaeger cut in. “I’m sure the vamps will scrutinize the evening’s events, right Leontes? All that really matters now is that she kept Giselle safe.”

  “Yes,” Kiara said. “That was me. Saving the baby.”

  Alpha turned to his son. “Where were you? Could’ve used your help when Kiara went,” he rotated a hand in the air, “all Kiara on us.”

  “Funny you should ask,” Jaeger said pleasantly. “I was in my room, door locked, taking a shower when someone snuck in and took my clothes.” He stared pointedly at Kiara.

  She froze.

  For the first time since her dramatic entrance, Leontes noticed what Kiara wore under the oversized fur coat. A man’s T-shirt and boxers. And nothing else. Leontes rubbed his jaw with his knuckles and groaned.

  Kiara faced the men and winced. “Sorry. But my other stuff got dirty and…”

  “I don’t mind,” Jaeger assured her. “I’m just sorry you didn’t join me. We could have gotten clean…and dirty, all at once.” He gave her a playful wink.

  Kiara giggled.

  “Jaeger,” Alpha warned, his voice tired.

  “Yeah,” Kiara said. “Be careful. I’m the most scourgy, scary deathbringer around.”

  Jaeger gave a nonchalant lift of one bare shoulder. “I’ll take my chances.”

  Kiara narrowed her eyes. “You’re not scared of me?”

  “I’m just saying…” Jaeger peeled off the wall and sauntered over to stand before Kiara, eyes playful. “I’m certain that your company in my shower would
’ve all kinds of made up for you stabbing me. Whatever the ultimate consequences.”

  Kiara felt shimmering waves of heat roll off Jaeger’s naked torso. It was an unusual, but undeniably pleasant, experience. Intoxicating even. Vampires were never warm, and at Nightmare Mansion, body heat was non-existent. She stared at his shoulder where her knife had penetrated just below his collarbone, the skin an angry red but already healing with supernatural speed. Healing and pulsing with blood.

  Alive.

  She raised her hand to touch him. To see what the warmth felt like against her fingertips.

  With a rush of air, Leontes suddenly stood between them, gripping Jaeger’s elbow and leading him back to the table. “It has been perhaps seven years since you have been gone. You were five, six?”

  Jaeger stole a glance at Kiara, but gave Leontes a good-natured smile. “It’s been about ten. And I was fourteen. But who’s counting?”

  “My mistake. What brought you back?” As they arrived at the table, Leontes folded his arms and planted himself between Jaeger and Kiara. “I seem to recall rumors of bad blood between you and your father.”

  “Things change,” Alpha said. “You know that, Leontes. Kind of like letting Kiara out of the Institute.”

  Nicolette’s smile was ugly. “Yes, I thought the rule was the freak stayed in her cage, and— Is that my coat?”

  Kiara flipped off the horrid fur and threw it in the fireplace. “It reeks.”

  “How dare you!” Nicolette snatched the fur from the flames, swatting it with frantic motions.

  Leontes smiled and addressed Alpha. “In regards to the recent string of killings, I understand you believed we were responsible.”

  “He left Kiara’s death mark and that Midnight Poison calling card at every scene,” Alpha said. “What were we supposed to think?”

  “That I don’t go killing people for sport!” Kiara snapped.

  Alpha sent an incredulous look toward Leontes. “Is she serious?” He indicated the shambles of the room and asked Kiara, “Are you serious?”

  “Well…” Kiara puckered an irritated pout. “I saved the baby.” She returned to rearranging pieces of shattered knickknacks back onto the fireplace mantle.

  With thumb and forefinger, Alpha rubbed his bloodshot eyes. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I do know that this new killer, this fake Oleander—”

  “Fauxleander,” Jaeger offered.

  “Fine,” Alpha said. “This Fauxleander has been killing my allies across the country. I thought you vamps—”

  “Were executing some sort of power play,” Leontes finished. “A completely understandable conclusion, and a false one that I am convinced this Fauxleander intended to perpetuate. He has murdered our people, too, including three vampire masters. We thought it was you. We have both been played.”

  “But why?” Alpha tipped back the last of his drink and stared at the empty glass. “He nearly killed Giselle’s father. My son’s still recovering upstairs. I was moving Giselle around because I thought it would keep her safe.”

  “And what of the baby’s mother?” Leontes asked.

  “Died in childbirth,” Kiara said.

  Alpha eyed her. “How did you know?”

  Kiara winced under Leontes’ sharp stare. “I hear things.” She lifted a shoulder. “I’m a lurker. Lurkers hear things.” She turned away and sighed, feeling a pang of regret for Giselle never having memories of her mother.

  Although not all memories were good. Like the ones where everyone called you a murderer. If she was a murderer, Kiara had no recollection nor felt any connection to the deaths she had caused. Besides, in her world being dead was not always the end.

  “Oh look, a unicorn!” She beamed with joy.

  By some miracle, the small, glass figurine was still intact except for the horn broken off. She picked up both pieces off the wooden floor. Kiara was about to ask if the shifters had any glue, but the “grownups” seemed in a deep conversation.

  “Thanks to Kiara, we know the killer is a multi-shifter,” Leontes was saying. “Which explains how he could have infiltrated the various venues so easily unnoticed. But those are extremely rare. Do you know of any in your group causing problems? Any who might harbor a grudge?”

  Alpha studied the vampire a moment, then his mouth twisted sideways. “First, let’s get Giselle back. Then we’ll talk about cooperation.”

  “Like saving your princess wasn’t enough?” Kiara repeatedly pressed the broken horn to the unicorn’s head, hoping it would magically stick together. It did not.

  “Kiara,” Leontes admonished.

  “I’m just saying,” Kiara muttered, still irritated by the unicorn’s stubborn refusal to bend to her will.

  Leontes gripped his hands behind his back. “To demonstrate our good faith, you may choose a representative to follow us back to the Institute where we will hand over your granddaughter.”

  Nicolette brushed the last of the ashes from her tattered coat. “I’ll do it.”

  “Wait,” Jaeger said. “I’ve got a better idea.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Nicolette trailed Alpha down the front steps of the lodge. “You can’t trust them. Especially her.” The witch jerked her chin at Kiara, who stood in the courtyard by the car.

  “Give it up, Nicky.” Jaeger jogged past her, his torso covered with a Henley shirt and a leather bomber jacket, a tattered duffle bag over his shoulder.

  “It’s Nicolette!” she screamed and stamped her foot. “And this is a terrible idea!”

  “I disagree,” Jaeger said. “VLAAD has security and glamour, and it’s the last place Fauxleander would think we’d send Giselle, which makes it the safest place. I’ll be there to protect her and help with the investigation. It couldn’t be more perfect.”

  Leontes shot him a dubious look, less than crazy about the idea, but after Jaeger had convinced Alpha—and Alpha had spoken with Rusila—the deal was done. It was considered a milestone for vampire and shifter relations.

  “Love you too, Nicky!” Kiara blew the witch a kiss, then turned her hip out and slapped her bottom. “You can kiss my cute little—”

  Leontes clapped a hand over her mouth and shoved her into the passenger seat. “Hardly appropriate.”

  Nicolette snarled and reached for her guns, which Leontes now realized he had made the mistake of giving back to the witch upon their departure.

  Leontes jumped in front of Kiara, who rolled her eyes. Jaeger slung his duffle into the backseat and bolted across the courtyard, kicking up a wake of dust. In movements so lightning fast that even Leontes was impressed, Jaeger snatched both weapons and pressed the muzzles under Nicolette’s chin, the hammers cocked and ready to fire. Her eyes blazed fury at finding herself on the wrong side of her own guns—again.

  Jaeger’s voice growled from a dark and dangerous place. “We need Kiara to help keep Giselle safe. Threaten her again, and I’ll take you out myself. Understood?” Something rumbled from Nicolette’s throat. “Good.” Jaeger lowered the guns and sauntered to the car.

  “Hey,” Nicolette called after him. “My guns.”

  Jaeger studied the weapons and smiled. “You’re right. We could use more firepower. Thanks.” He threw one onto the top of his bag in the backseat and tossed the other to Kiara.

  She caught it and squealed with glee. “Oh, goody.”

  CHAPTER 27

  As they drove away, accompanied by four black SUVs full of Alpha’s guards, Kiara stared at the weapon in her hand. “She may be a witchy wench, but she sure has nice taste in firearms.”

  “Give it back,” Leontes said after they had cleared the estate’s gates, which were open but still warped from Kiara’s earlier escapades.

  “Please let me keep it. It’s rude to return a gift.”

  “Yeah,” Jaeger drawled. “I’d take it as personal insult.”

  “See?” Kiara said with hope. “Don’t want to insult the shifters and damage relations. I promise I’ll be careful. That l
ast incident with the vampire master was a fluke. I swear.” She made the crisscross motion over her chest.

  “I’ll even show her how to use it,” Jaeger offered.

  “Pfft. I know how to use guns,” Kiara said. “I mean, I was a big-time killer. Although the guns were different way back when I was alive. Or were there guns at all? How long ago are we talking? How bad was I when I was this Oleander person?”

  “What do you remember?” Leontes asked, clearly concerned.

  “Nothing,” she replied with annoyance. “As usual. That’s why I’m asking. Is that why they put me in the coffin for hundreds of years? Because of my horrible murdering spree?”

  Leontes said in a rush, “No, that had nothing to do with it.”

  Kiara frowned. “So you’re saying I did go on a murder spree. Did I kill babies?”

  A deep noise rumbled in Leontes’ throat. “I did not say that. Quit manipulating my words.”

  “Wait a minute.” Jaeger shook his head. “Coffin? For hundreds of years? Were you alive? Awake the whole time?”

  “Yep. Some of that I even remember. Not that there is much to remember. Dark, cramped, and cold is about it. With a whole lot of nothing to do.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Jaeger breathed. “No wonder you went—” He stopped himself.

  Kiara finished the thought. “Crazy? Yeah, that’s what Dr. Lyons says.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “My psychiatrist.” As she spoke, Kiara began taking apart the gun in her lap. Then she put it back together. She did this over and over again, all the while looking everywhere but at the weapon. “He says I have to remember at my own pace. No pushing or I could have another one of my ‘episodes.’ ” She paused the disassemble-reassemble of the gun to use air quotes, then she started again, metal clicking in a steady rhythm.

  Jaeger watched her work, her fingers sure and unhesitant, as if she had done this a million times before. “What was your episode?”

  “Don’t remember, because someone,” she shot an irritated squint at Leontes, “won’t tell me. I just know it was bad. And nobody wants to risk another one.”