by Kayleigh Sky
“Is my what a secret?”
“Your name.”
“Oh.” He cackled this time. “It’s Jessa, short for Jessamine, which means jasmine.”
Otto didn’t know what the fuck his own name meant. Was that a vampire name?
“It’s French,” Jessa added as though Otto had asked his question out loud.
“It doesn’t do you justice.”
Jessa blinked. “Oh.”
By now, the princess had joined them. She reclined against the wall with her companions on either side of her, watching them. Odd. So maybe there was something wrong with the guy if they had to keep such a close eye on him. But Otto was about a hundred percent sure she’d sent the prince to him. Jessa had appeared attracted to him, but too shy to ever do this on his own.
“I have jasmine in my front yard,” Otto said. “It’s too heavy handed. It doesn’t sneak up on you at all.”
The guy’s eyes glazed.
Otto had no idea what he was doing. Trying to get close? Trying to get a feel? This was the guy he was looking for, the one who’d run. But he didn’t need to do this, didn’t need to feel glued to him.
“Why’d you ask me to dance?” Otto asked.
The guy stammered at first. “I-I-I… You’re human.”
“So are you.”
“Half,” he whispered, and Otto inhaled the sweet breath that came his way and fingered some of the hair falling over Jessa’s shoulder.
“It’s red.”
“My mother.”
It was soft as silk. Otto brushed it off Jessa’s shoulder and froze as ice rushed through his veins. He tore his gaze away from the tattoo half hidden by Jessa’s choker and stared into his stricken eyes.
“You’re a drainer.”
“Yes,” Jessa whispered.
Otto had no time to say anything more. The princess and her vampires surrounded them. Otto let go and stepped back.
She wrapped her arm around Jessa’s neck, towering in her heels, fangs grazing her blood red lip as she smiled. “Too close, Mr.…?”
“Jones.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Jones.”
“Right. Well, it is a school night, isn’t it?”
Her smile didn’t quite falter, but he’d surprised her by knowing her job. It wasn’t a secret, but her eyes darkened anyway.
“It seems you know me, but I don’t know you.”
Otto smiled. “You will.”
Then he turned to Jessa, but anything flippant he wanted to say died on his tongue, and all he managed to get out was “Sweet dreams, baby prince.”
A growl chased after him, but it was only alpha posturing by one of the vamps, and he ignored it. He pushed through the throngs on the dance floor, the notes of a melancholy sax following him outside.
The nearby lights pierced his brain but flickered and went out by the time he reached his car. He looked back. The door to the club opened briefly, still lit inside. They had their own power source.
Otto got into his car and drove to another bar a couple blocks away. He wanted to drink and not think about a baby prince with freckles on his vampire skin and a thin upper lip that didn’t match the plump bottom one.
He wanted to forget he’d have to see him again in just a few hours and pretend a potential murderer hadn’t already burrowed underneath his skin.
12
Cops for Guests
Bettina sang as she sliced strawberries for the tea. The sound mesmerized Jessa. He didn’t remember any of the words. Only the servants spoke Celes anymore. Jessa must have spoken it before the Upheaval, but now he only knew a few words.
The sound was sibilant and secretive like a whisper.
After adding the strawberries to the tea, Bettina wiped her hands off and turned her gaze on Jessa.
He sat at the long wooden table, the stone beneath him cool against his bare feet.
“Malia is waiting,” she said.
Only Bettina and Fritt called Mal by her real name and only because she hated it.
“Nobody’s here yet,” Jessa muttered.
Bettina shrugged. “Anger the prince as you wish.”
Actually, that wasn’t Jessa’s wish at all. He’d thought Rune would explode when he’d learned Jessa had not only taken his car to the co-op but had run from the police in it. The purple Rune’s face had turned had been alarming. Also, alarming was being grabbed by the throat, yanked into the air, and slammed into a wall.
“I might just throw you in the pit, Jessamine.”
Jessa had quailed at the threat though he was pretty sure Rune wouldn’t do that. Rune and Mal had always loved him, no matter that Jessa’s mother had been human and they were full vampires. The fingers around his neck hadn’t dug in, and Rune’s forearm, pressed against his chest, had held him up. He hadn’t really been afraid, but Rune’s reaction had clued him into how badly he’d fucked up. Nevertheless, he’d complained, “I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“That’s not the point,” Rune had growled. “I am responsible for you.”
And afraid for him. But it wasn’t like Jessa’s life didn’t go cock up every time he turned around anyway. His heart hurt when he thought of Rune and Mal tied to him forever. He didn’t want that life for them, and he knew what he had to do. With a sigh, he pushed his chair back.
“Can I have some tea?”
“Let it steep.”
He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his shorts and went outside. It was mid morning, and the sun was bright and high. He hugged the edge of the castle, keeping to the shade. Brightly colored umbrellas surrounded the pool where Mal sat in a swimsuit and wrap-around skirt. Jessa dragged a chaise lounge close to the sun and flopped down on it. His chest was bare, his hair pulled into a knot on the top of his head.
Mal set her book on the table beside her. “Remember what we discussed. Let us do the talking.”
“I’m going to defend myself if it comes to it.”
“You behaved indefensibly.”
Shame heated his skin, but it was mixed with a dose of outrage too. “Look. I know I panicked, but that’s because of you two. I can take care of myself, Mal, and I have a right to.”
She waved him off with a glower. “That’s not the point.”
“You sound like Rune.”
“That’s better than sounding like a petulant child.”
“I’m not a child.”
“You aren’t using your experience to evaluate this situation either.”
“What does that mean?”
Mal sighed. “You aren’t just a drainer, Jessa. You’re a Senera. We have to stick together. We have enemies who would like nothing better than to find a weakness.”
She tugged the string of her wrap-around where it tied at her neck, and Jessa resisted reaching for his own neck. You’re a drainer, Otto had whispered.
Had that been horror in Otto’s eyes?
“And I’m the weakness,” Jessa said bitterly.
Mal dropped her hand. “I didn’t say that.”
“This—” Jessa swung his arm into the sun, gesturing to the castle and gardens and mountains, “—is my prison.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. Don’t be so melodramatic. I took you out to the club.”
“You broke into my dance.”
Mal pursed her lips. “I changed my mind about him. I thought it might be fun for you to dance with a stranger, but something… I don’t know. I just didn’t trust him.”
Jessa had burned like a fire for him, and it had taken every ounce of his being not to fling himself into the guy’s arms. Mine.
But that was stupid. Romance novel stupid. He chewed on a nail, his stomach jumping with nerves as Fritt approached from the patio with the two cops following him. Oh no, that… that couldn’t be.
Fritt stopped before Mal who bobbed the foot of the leg she had crossed over the other, her elbow on the table, cheek resting on her fingertips. She looked so unflappable, so unimpressed with everything around her. Jessa
longed to copy her and stop worrying himself into a snit.
Fritt dipped his chin. “Princess Malia and Prince Jessamine, in your hospitality will you welcome Detectives Prosper and Jones?”
“Of course,” said Mal. Her gaze lingered on Otto, lips twisting into a smirk. “Well, well,” she murmured.
Jessa held his breath, focusing on making no movement at all, nothing to draw anyone’s attention his way. But then Otto stared at him, smirking too. “Prince.”
Jessa swallowed.
The other detective, a vampire, inched into the shade and dipped his chin low. “My honor,” he said.
“Ours,” said Malia, and Jessa echoed her.
A scowl crossed Otto’s face, brow furrowing as he glanced around. “Where is Prince Rune?”
“On his way,” said Fritt, who turned and strode back to the castle.
Rune was with Wen. Wen had a reserved temperament that was like cool water to Rune’s. But Rune’s temper was false and only mirrored his mother’s, whose furies were legendary. Rune was artistic and passionate, but the violence in his belly never rose to his heart, which was why Jessa wasn’t afraid of him. But it was good Wen was here to balance Rune’s mood.
For a moment the silence stretched. Jessa dipped his chin down, watching them from under his brows. The vampire cop shifted his weight from foot to foot and cleared his throat. Otto smirked at Mal again.
“You lied,” he said.
Light danced in Mal’s eyes. “Oh?”
“It wasn’t a school night,” he said. “It’s spring break.”
She grinned. “So it is, but I didn’t lie. You made the observation. I simply failed to correct you.”
“It’ll go much better if we’re open and honest.”
“Better than what?” she asked.
But Otto didn’t reply. A servant appeared, carrying the pitcher of strawberry tea and several glasses. She set the tray on the table under the umbrella and Mal smiled at her. “That’s all, Saria. Thank you.”
“Tea?” asked Mal.
“No,” said Otto.
Prosper cleared his throat. “Do you have any other family here today?”
“No. Only Prydwen. I suppose we can think of him as family.”
The cops shared a look, then Otto turned his frown on Mal. “Prydwen Wrythin?”
“Jessamine’s swain.”
Oh shit. Sweat broke out under Jessa’s arms. Of all the things to bring up. Don’t tell him. But she was going to, it was as clear as the calm blue water in the pool. Her smile widened, and Jessa’s stomach lurched. Wouldn’t it serve her right if he hurled all over the patio?
Otto’s brow furrowed. “Swain?”
“Fiancé,” she said.
Goddamnit.
Otto’s gaze shifted to Jessa.
I don’t love him, he wanted to bleat. It’s arranged!
But why in God’s name did he want to do that? He had nothing to explain. He was engaged. He was beyond lucky Wen had agreed to the arrangement. And Otto—as though reading Jessa’s thoughts—dropped his gaze to Jessa’s neck.
Beyond lucky.
“You tried to hide that,” Otto said.
Jessa frowned and shot Mal a look, trying to decipher Otto’s words. “Hide Wen?”
“Your mark.”
“Everyone knows,” said the vampire cop. He’d shifted farther under the umbrella, away from Otto, who now stood alone.
“Who is everybody?” Otto asked, directing his comment to his companion. “Not you.”
“Our business is no one else’s concern,” said Mal.
“That’s not the point,” said Otto. “The law is the law.”
“You saw it,” said Mal. “It was visible.”
Otto’s gaze returned to Jessa, slipping down his chest and belly. Jessa jumped up, poured a glass of tea and took it back to his chair. The cold from the drink spread relief through his body.
“What do you want with me?” he asked Otto. “I wasn’t sure who you were the other day.”
“Wait for Rune,” Mal said.
Jessa shook his head at that. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
“None of us do,” said a voice from behind them.
Every head snapped to Rune. He had a way of appearing out of nowhere. Wen was several yards back.
The vampire detective bent at the waist. “Your Royal Highness.”
“Who are you?” asked Rune.
“Upwood Prosper. This is my partner, Otto Jones.”
Otto and Prosper stood with their backs to him, but Jessa imagined them gaping. Rune was gorgeous. His hair fell to his shoulders with a bit of a wave and a few light brown strands in the umber mix. But it was the darkness of his eyes and the tortured depth of them that set him apart. He was a romantic character in every way. Jessa had sketched and painted him a dozen times and never came close to capturing his essence.
When Rune stepped under the umbrella and took the chair on the other side of Mal, Otto and Prosper turned again.
Wen took the chair behind Rune, and Uriah, who had followed them, came to stand beside Jessa’s chaise lounge. Rune concentrated on Otto. Jessa wasn’t sure why, but he ignored Prosper.
“I spoke with your lieutenant a few minutes ago. You want to know why Jessa ran when you accosted him? He’s a drainer. Of course, he’d run. We taught him to assume the worst and ask questions later.”
“I identified myself. Your precautions don’t extend to running from the police,” said Otto.
“They do, actually.”
“I wasn’t running from you,” said Jessa. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong, and I didn’t want to involve my family. And besides, anybody can say they’re the police.”
Jessa doubted his face had gone as dark as Otto’s, but it chafed at him to explain doing an ordinary thing on an ordinary day. Especially in front of Wen, probably adding to his stockpile of all the reasons Jessa would never be allowed his freedom. Wen already scoffed at Jessa’s co-op jewelry-making business. Hobby. It wasn’t like Jessa was gifted in any way. Not like Rune.
“It’s not safe for drainers,” said Rune. “You know that. You’re investigating the murder of one.”
“No. Brillen Acalliona was not a drainer.”
Jessa swung his leg over his chaise lounge and sat straight on the side while Mal’s eyebrows rose and Rune’s frown deepened.
“I don’t understand,” Rune said.
“The tattoo was fake,” said Prosper.
Mal’s glass clacked the glass table when she set it down. “Who would fake being a drainer?”
“Are you sure?” asked Prydwen after a glance between Mal and Rune. “That’s a terrible accusation. That means he was attempting to drink illegally.”
“If that was his motive,” said Otto.
“But what else could it be? What benefit could come from pretending to be a drainer? They are abhorred.”
Abhorred… abhorred...
The echo reverberated like a shudder through Jessa’s body until Uriah’s fingers closed on his shoulder and squeezed. Mal winked at him, and Rune glowered at Otto.
“Abhorring them is the kind of idiocy Jessa ran from. I’d like to know what you know.”
“Not much,” said Otto.
Rune swiveled in his chair and looked back at Wen. “He came to you, yes? Acalliona?”
Prydwen nodded. “I was… uncertain of him.”
“Why?” asked Otto. “You didn’t mention that the other day. I thought your investigations are routine.”
“Only if I approve of the references. Merely being a client is not a good enough reference.”
“There were no references listed on the application,” said the vampire cop.
“No. We are discreet.”
“Who was the reference?” Otto asked.
“A donor.”
“One of your donors recommended him? Isn’t there a protocol against that?”
“None of my donors is a blood whore if that’s what you’re impl
ying. I don’t control what they do outside of the house, but they know the rules. This particular donor worked for a time in a different center in the Basin District.”
“Who is the donor?”
“Mateo Lopez.”
“We have an appointment to see Isaac. Can this Mateo be available too?”
Wen scrunched his face and gave the same look he got when his Synelix came chilled. He always took it as a personal affront when that happened but would never complain or send it back. Sometimes Jessa was sure Wen thought of him the same way.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” Wen said. “At least not now.”
“And why is that?” asked Detective Prosper.
“I don’t know where he is. He hasn’t been back to the house in a few days. I’ll probably have to let him go.”
Wen wouldn’t do that, Jessa knew. To Wen’s credit, he had a good reputation with the donors. Some centers practically locked them in and paid them little. Wen allowed them to come and go and provided luxuries they’d probably never enjoy anywhere else. Wen’s one rule was that they didn’t displease a client. The rest of their time was their own.
“Did you report him missing?” Otto asked.
“I don’t know that he is missing,” Wen said.
Detective Prosper said nothing, but Otto glared at Wen. “Did you at least attempt to contact him?”
Wen stood, and Rune held up a hand, directing his words to Otto. “You were invited here. I could easily have brought Jessa into town to answer your questions, but I travel a great deal, and I dislike being away from my family, so I invited you here. You are guests in my home.”
“This is a criminal investigation.”
“And my district.”
Jessa held his breath, his gaze riveted on Otto’s face. Anger played under the surface of his skin, and his eyes narrowed.
Jessa jumped up. “Our family was together the night of the murder. I ran because I didn’t know who you were. You can arrest me, but you won’t find the murderer here, and badgering Wen won’t help you either. We didn’t hurt anybody or kill anybody and we don’t know anything.”
Otto approached him, and Jessa’s head swam at his proximity. Mine.
