by Lisa Sanchez
“Easy, carino. We need to talk.” He stepped into the apartment, closing the door behind him.
Shaking and disgusted with myself for being attracted to a creature capable of such monstrosities, I stared at him with hate filled eyes, unwilling to comply. “Monster. Let her go!”
His eyes traveled briefly to where Deanna hung trapped and struggling, and then to me. He shook his head. “You don’t want me to do that, carino.”
“Why the hell not?” Pretty Boy’s brain must have oozed out his ears. If he thought I’d stand idly by while he snacked on Deanna, he was out of his ever-lovin’ mind. His magic might be stronger than mine, but I was scrappy and fast on my toes.
His eyes never left mine as he raised an arm and pointed, Chuck still in his steely grip. “Look at her, carino. Really look at her, and then tell me you still want her freed.”
Addled, I hesitantly turned my attention back to Deanna once more, and was shocked by what I saw. A set of blood red eyes stared back at me with a look of pure, unadulterated hatred and…hunger. She wanted down, not because she was afraid, but because she wanted to drain me. Deanna was a newly turned vampire, and she was hungry. How had I not noticed from the start? Mr. Shmexy Bartender Vamp had my emotions way out of whack. I needed to pull myself together right quick.
An entirely new set of questions barreled into the forefront of my mind. Why would he sire a new vampire and then hold it captive? His actions made zero sense. Unless, of course, he was playing some kind of sick game and planned on bringing some poor unsuspecting fool up here to be Deanna’s late night snack. If that was the case though, why was she magically bound and gagged? Wouldn’t it be easier to just let her roam about free?
I turned to back to face him, my eyes full of confusion. “What the hell is going on here?”
He stepped forward and pegged me with a warm set of eyes. “I told you we needed to talk. Let me introduce myself. My name is Xan.”
Chapter 5
“Xan,” I whispered softly to myself. God…finally — finally, a name. I thrilled at my newfound knowledge, though I wasn’t quite sure why. It wasn’t like I had time to enjoy the sensual way his name rolled off his tongue, or savor the delicious tingling sensation that traveled up and down my spine at the mere sound of his voice. I was no expert by any means when it came to the laws of attraction, but I was pretty sure this wasn’t your run of the mill situation. The gravitational pull I felt for him wasn’t normal. And he was most certainly not your normal guy. I didn’t know who he was or what he was up to. And, much like a snowball that didn’t stand a chance in hell, there was no way I was going to let him know the kind of effect he had on me.
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back on my heel. “Okay, Xan.” I sounded like a snippy bitch, and I didn’t care. “Mind telling me what the hell is going on? Who are you, and why do you have a newly turned vampire dangling midair in your apartment?”
The corners of his mouth pulled into a seductive smile. “Mmmm…so many questions. You’re feisty, strong.” He paused for a moment, devouring me with his eyes. “I like that.”
One minute he stood across the room, the next he was before me, his face mere inches from my own. All masculine, his scent was intoxicating. A heady mix of summer sun and cool water with just a hint of woodsy freshness, it filled my senses and left me wanting more. There was something else as well — an odd familiar feeling that I recognized at once but was loath to admit. Comfort. Just being near Xan made me feel comforted. This, of course, was a contradiction in terms. Vampires by nature were not comforting creatures.
I swallowed hard and stood my ground. I wouldn’t back down. I would show no weakness. My traitorous heart? Yeah, it had other ideas. Refusing to go along with my head, it thundered away in my chest, each treasonous beat clearly audible to Xan and his superior vampire senses.
“Well,” I choked out, my body tense from his nearness. “Do you plan on answering any of my questions?” My palms felt sticky, and a weird swirly sensation whirled around in my stomach.
A small laugh escaped his perfect lips. “Yes, carino. I plan on answering all of your questions. Your stubborn persistence has left me no choice. Patience, little one.” He reached up and brushed a stray piece of hair out of my face, his fingertips blazing a gentle trail of sweet fire in their wake. My head warred with my body’s knee-jerk reaction to lean forward and close my eyes, delighting in his touch. My body won out. I simply had no control over myself when I was near him, and I was completely disturbed by it.
With his eyes closed, Xan leaned forward and breathed in my scent, before backing away. A set of razor sharp fangs glistened under the dim lighting as he smiled. “Mouthwatering.” He moved to sit down on his leather sofa and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, motioning me to join him.
Flashes of the two of us splayed out on the couch, limbs tangled in the throes of passion flooded my conscious thoughts. Whoa…I shook my head and stepped back. “I think I’ll stand.” I needed to keep a clear head, and that seemed impossible whenever he was near. Keeping him at a distance felt like the smart thing to do.
He stared at me, indifferent to the fact I was still standing, and spoke. “A new coven has moved into the area. I have a feeling last Friday’s attacks were just the beginning of what’s to come.” The playfulness he’d exuded moments before was gone, the tone of his voice dark and serious.
“A new coven?” He had my full attention. This was what I needed to know. I studied him for a moment, rationalizing the need to keep him around if for no other reason than to pump him for information.
“Yes.” He wore a grim look on his face and the muscles in his jaw tensed up as he spoke. “I’ve sensed a new power in this region. Not to mention, there has been an increase in the number of attacks around the club and surrounding area. The encounter you witnessed last week was not the first. And it’s not only humans that are being targeted. This new coven is taking out vampires as well.”
My eyes widened in shock as I let the information he gave me roll around in my head. More attacks? There hadn’t been anything in the paper, but I suppose that didn’t necessarily mean anything. Especially if Xan had stopped them. Besides, if I were your average joe who didn’t know about vampires and demons, and was attacked by one, I’d probably think I’d lost my mind. I couldn’t blame anyone for not wanting to report that kind of assault.
What was more upsetting, though, was the fact that he said this new coven was taking out their own kind. Aside from Xan’s attack on the rogue vampires the other night, I’d never heard of such a thing, and it left me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
He sank back into the sofa, crossed his feet at the ankles, and draped an arm over the side. “Vampires don’t play with their food,” he continued. “They won’t turn their prey unless they have good reason. Nor do they take out their own kind as a general rule. Not unless they are trying to establish dominance.”
“So, what you’re trying to tell me is that this new coven is trying to establish itself as the—” I totally busted out the air quotes, “—‘Big Bad’ in town?”
He placed a finger on his nose. I’d hit the mark. He leaned forward again, those warm mocha eyes capturing all of my attention. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you. Whoever is leading them is very powerful and very dangerous. I found this one,” he said, nodding his chin in the direction of Deanna, “feeding on a homeless man last night and brought her back here since I’d seen her face in the paper. If someone is attacking my patrons and turning them, I want to know who it is. She’ll lead me to her maker.”
I bit down on my lower lip. If he was trying to scare me by telling me there was an evil power player in town, he was doing a terrible job. I’d seen my fair share of monsters and killed almost all of them. I shook my head. “I’m not afraid. And I’m not going to sit back and let this keep happening,” I snapped, look
ing over my shoulder toward Deanna. “I’m taking this new coven down, one-by-one.” I jabbed a finger in the newly-turned vamp’s direction. “Starting with her.”
Pissed off and full of determination, I reached out, willing Chuck from Xan’s steely grip. The wooden stake sailed through the air toward my outstretched hand and then suddenly, stopped midair. Xan’s magic fought against my own, his hand reaching out for the object I desired.
I cast him an icy glare. “Stop that!” I reached forward again, fingers straining for my weapon to no avail. The stake wouldn’t budge and remained frozen in midair. I clenched my teeth and worked up a sweat straining for my weapon, but it was no use. The damn thing remained just as it was, painfully out of my reach.
Xan didn’t flinch. Damn him…he didn’t seem flustered in the least. “No. We need her.” His voice was so calm it was irritating.
My arm sliced through the air as I pointed to the newbie vamp. “We need to destroy her. That’s what we need.” Determined to destroy Deanna, I struggled once more against the stronghold of his magic, trying to will Chuck into my capable hands so I could carry out my task. His magic was stronger than mine (which I have to say, pissed me off to no end), and I lost my tenuous grip on the stake. It went flying back into his hands. Goddammit!
Xan stood up and took a step forward. “Carino, she’ll lead us to the coven. Her sire’s blood flows within her veins. She will instinctively go to him or her. We cannot destroy her.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. Seriously? Was he telling me he was going to set her free? Let her loose in the city where she could run wild and feast on any Tom, Dick, or Harry that she pleased? Hell to the no!
I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists, ready to throw down with anyone or anything that got in my way. “We are not setting her free. She’ll kill. I won’t allow it. There has to be another way.” My jaw ached from gnashing my teeth, and my head pounded like someone had cleaved it in two. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this angry. I hated the fact that his magic was stronger than mine. I hated the fact I was so drawn to him. And most of all, I hated the fact he was a vampire. The first guy I’d ever felt an attraction for and he turns out to be a vamp. Just my luck.
Xan moved away from the couch, shoving Chuck into the back pocket of his pants and took a step toward me. His hands were upturned, his expression insistent. “There is no other way. No innocent will come to harm. I assure you.”
“She was innocent,” I snapped, pointing to Deanna who continued to growl and thrash around in her magical bonds. “You sure as hell didn’t save her.”
His head jerked back, and he grimaced as though I’d slapped him. Before I knew what happened, he stood so close I felt his breath on my face. “Malagradecida! Ungrateful girl! That’s because I was busy. Saving you!” Wild eyes bore into my own as he stood before me, chest panting in anger, jaw clenched and fists balled up at his sides.
The force of his stare was more than I could manage, and I crumpled under the weight of it. Why did he affect me so? I never broke, never backed down. Until now.
I’d really put my foot in it this time. My temper had gotten the better of me more times than I cared to admit — this being one of them. Crap. I looked down at the floor, unwilling to meet his heated gaze. I felt like an idiot for letting my mouth run when I shouldn’t have. Truth was he had saved me and Taylor last Friday. As much as I hated to admit it, I’d been taken off guard, and if he hadn’t shown up, I might not be standing in front of him now. Instead of thanking him, I’d insulted him. I needed to make it right. I swallowed hard, looked up and prepared to eat crow.
The fire that darkened his eyes just moments before had died down to a smoldering burn. The soft lighting in the room bounced off the gold flecks rimming his chocolate irises like fireworks. God, for a guy, he had the most beautiful eyes. “Look,” I said, struggling to focus. “I’m sorry. I…” Apologies were not my forte, and I fumbled with my words. My chin fell forward, and I looked at my feet for a moment, trying to muster the courage to just be done with it already.
I looked back up, and my body relaxed the moment I saw his face. The tic in his jaw had disappeared, and the veins in his neck were no longer pulsating, ready to burst.
Satisfied he no longer looked as though he wanted to snap my neck, I tried again. “Look. I know I put my foot in it. I’m — ”
Xan’s finger cut me off mid-sentence as it came to rest on my lips. “Sshhh. It’s forgotten already.”
“But…” His finger stayed in place, making things like speaking near impossible. I frowned.
He dropped his hand and raised an eyebrow rose, daring me to defy him. A wide, crooked grin emerged, and I could see in his eyes he knew he’d won the small battle.
A flush crept over my cheeks, and I nodded in response. What in God’s name was wrong with me? Even the slightest touch from him sent my body into over-drive. I was pathetic. Moreover, I needed to get my head checked. What the hell was I doing chit-chatting with a vampire? Letting him touch me, and on the mouth no less?
My eyes flickered over to the newborn vamp that hung suspended in midair before returning to Xan’s. I needed some reassurance no one would die if we set her free. I was way out of my element. Normally, my instincts with regard to vamps and demons were to stake first and ask questions later. My willingness to set this one free, even temporarily, had me baffled.
As if he were reading my thoughts, he gave me a terse nod. “You have my vow. No innocents will suffer at her hand.”
Despite the fact that my head was crying out, begging my foolish heart not to trust him, I answered with a quiet, “Okay.” I cringed on the inside. What had I just done?
Xan looked visibly pleased. “Good.” He stepped forward, cupping my cheek in his hand. Those impossibly warm, brown eyes of his drank me in while his thumb ran back and forth, ever so gently across my cheekbone. My pulse spiked, and my knees turned to rubber. The moment was incredibly tender, and altogether too short, in my opinion. Long, meaningful stares and tender touches should last at least ten minutes, if you ask me. Maybe even longer.
He closed his eyes and breathed in through his nose. When he reopened them, the sexual charge that radiated between us was gone. Mr. Serious was back, and he was all business. “You should go back downstairs before your friends start to worry.”
I gasped, stepping away from his touch. Apparently, hot vampires with sexy accents not only made me act like a pathetic girly girl, but they made me forget about my friends as well. I held my forehead in my hand and fought the urge to smack myself for being so stupid, for getting caught up in Mr. Shmexy Vamp and his dreamy, caramel eyes. I could only hope Taylor and Jessica hadn’t gotten into too much trouble while I’d been away. The dynamic duo had a knack for finding trouble and placing themselves right smack in the middle of it.
“Come.” He grasped onto my wrist with one hand and placed the other on the small of my back. Little sparks of electricity flowed from his hands, radiating a delicious warmth where his skin made contact. He gently ushered me to the door. “I’ll set our new vampire free after the club closes tonight. She won’t have time to hunt as dawn will be approaching, and she’ll want to take shelter in the safety of her coven. I’ll follow and take her out before she goes in.”
It sounded like a solid plan, except for one little detail. I whirled around to face him. “You mean ‘we.’ I’m coming with you.” I stepped through the door into the narrow hallway outside his apartment. There was no way he was going to free Deanna without me. If there was a new power player in town, I needed to make sure I had a hand in taking them down. The chance the leader of the new coven was Lucian was slim, but it didn’t matter to me. I was still going. With or without Pretty Boy’s permission.
He shot me down quickly with a shake of his head. “I’d prefer you to stay out of this.”
I was just as fast. “I prefer steak to Hamb
urger Helper, but I can’t always afford it. We don’t always get what we want.” I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest, daring him to argue with me. “I’m going.”
A low moan came from deep within Xan’s chest, and he ran his hands through his hair several times. He shook his head before throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Terca nina! Goddamn, you’re stubborn.”
Curse my whacked out, pathetic body. The minute he spoke his native tongue a warm rush of pleasure made a beeline straight to my cherry, and my thighs went up in flames.
This is so wrong…
I was totally disgusted with myself. Here he was yelling at me in another language and all I wanted to do was jump on top of him and savor his delicious brown skin with my tongue. I didn’t act this way — ever. I needed to get a hold of myself, join a twelve step program and kick him like a bad habit. Absolutely no good would come with getting mixed up with a vampire.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, centering himself before meeting my gaze once more. His expression was one of controlled frustration.
I knew that look well. I often had a frustrating effect on people. With my lips pursed, I glared up at him, unwilling to back down.
The muscles in his jaw flexed. “Fine then. You may come — but fuck…” He jabbed a finger at me. “You’ll do as I say. Is that clear?”
I made a pssh sound. Who the hell did he think he was — my father? I didn’t take orders from anyone, and I damned sure wasn’t taking them from a vampire. “I don’t answer to anyone. You are not my parent.”
Just great, Martha. You sound like a five year old.
He peered down at me, his control cracking. He ran his hand along the back of his neck before looking away. With a low curse, he snapped his head around to look at me once more. “No, I’m your…” he started to say and then stopped, turning away from me as if he’d caught himself saying something he shouldn’t.
