by Mandi Casey
Dale squinted against the bright sun, holding his hand over his eyes to shield himself. I looked at him suspiciously. “Dale, what’s up with you? Did you have a late night last night or something?”
His grin was that of a naughty young man who’d just spent the night hanging out with his friends doing nefarious activities while his parents believed he was pulling an all-night study session at his friend’s house. Word to all parents, that’s the basic lie kids will tell you when they plan on partying with their friends.
The walk from Mountain Bean to Morning Sun was but a block. We arrived at my store in a few short minutes.
“Nothin’s up with me. I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sydney.” He closed the store’s front door behind us as I went straight to the fireplace to get a fire started. Outside, the morning air was frigid, making the store chilly inside. The walls of the store’s old building weren’t well insulated.
I peered over my shoulder. “Why don’t I believe you, Dale? You’re hiding something. You know I don’t like being held in the dark. So spill it already.” I turned my attention back to the fireplace to position the kindling into a pointed structure.
Dale sat on the couch next to the fireplace. Nervously massaging his chin while trying to feign interest in an object against the far wall, he tapped a shoe against the floor while remaining silent.
After lighting the fire, I went to the couch to sit next to Dale. I positioned myself close to him, knowing my nearness caused him discomfort. Dale had a crush on me. It would never turn into anything because he wasn’t the werewolf who held my heart in his temperamental paw, but I was the Selected. I had a responsibility to stay informed, even if that meant using Dale’s feelings to get information I needed.
No longer able to stand the silence, Dale cracked under my scrutiny. “Okay, fine. I was with my family last night. You were right, Miss Sydney. We were up pretty late.”
“Uh huh. What were you and your family doing up in the wee hours of the morning?” I scooted closer to Dale on the couch while making sure we didn’t physically touch.
He frowned. A thin sheen of sweat broke out on his brow while more glistened above his top lip. I couldn’t help but smirk. My ploy, albeit not a nice one, was working.
“Miss Sydney, that’s what I was going to tell you. You see, I’ve told you my family has certain abilities. We’re well aware of what kinds of people live here in Kenosha. Well, we try to stay out of their business. For the most part they stay out of ours. We keep a watchful eye on what they’re up to, but we don’t intervene unless we have to.” Dale lifted the cup of coffee to his lips and took a long gulp.
I put my hands up, motioning for him to continue his story. Patience was not one of my strengths. “Did something happen last night, Dale?” I knew he was leading up to telling me something, but his stalling was driving me into a state of annoyance.
Dale put his head down, staring at his jean-clad knees. “Sydney, last night a few members of my family and I were working on something out in the woods. We were approached by a vampire who tried to bribe us into working with him.”
My lungs iced while a chill ran down my spine. I couldn’t take another betrayal from someone close to me. Liam, Kieran’s second-in-command, had betrayed us all. There was a time I had considered him a close friend of mine. I didn’t intend on making that mistake again. Had I with Dale?
“Dale, what are you saying? What did the vampire want?” Kieran told me his coven knew about Dale’s family. They served as the watchers of the city. The coven leader never mentioned his vampires were in communication with the witch family.
The mailman lifted his leg to place an ankle on his other knee. He jumped when our thighs grazed each other’s. A laugh caught in my throat. I couldn’t bring myself to let my emotions flow free. I struggled between laughing in a hysterical fit and screaming about the injustices that made up my life.
“Sydney, we can’t tell when vampires are rogue or not, so I’m not sure if he’s a member of your vampire friend’s coven. He approached us in the woods asking us to help him get information. The vampire said if we don’t help him get what he wants he’ll hurt the women of our family.” Shame pinked his cheeks. He refused to make eye contact with me.
“Dale, what information did the vampire want?” The icy chill stayed wrapped around my spine but began to travel through my chest, making my body vibrate.
Dale got to his feet, leaving me paralyzed, but shivering. He scratched his fingertips against his scalp in a nervous act. “The vampire wanted to know about you, Sydney.” He held out his hands when I started to get up. “There’s more. I don’t think you’re the vampire’s main target. The bloodsucker was more interested in your association with the Judge, the one that helped with security at the vampire ball.”
“Kasdeya? What would a vampire want with her? She’s a Judge. She works for the vampires. There’s no reason why a vampire would go around asking questions about her. They should be able to ask her themselves.” Then realization hit. “The vampire must not be part of the royal family or the local coven. That’s why he’s going around behind their backs, trying to get information on her.”
I wondered what about Kasdeya they wanted to know. The demon Judge was contracted to the vampire king, but she also had a ruthless, angry ex-lover searching for her. What part of her life did the mysterious vampire want to find out about?
Dale shrugged. “No one from my family has ever seen this vampire before. He kept asking questions about where she lived, who she associated with. He wanted to know where they could find her. They asked about you, but only in terms of your connection to the demon.”
“Did the vampire say what he wanted with her?” Kasdeya wasn’t my best friend, but I’d be darned if I was going to allow something to happen to her. We were kindred acquaintances, of sorts.
Would she protect me if given the opportunity? I wasn’t so sure she would if she didn’t have the vampire king’s contract hanging over her head, but I had to give her the benefit of the doubt. We had been dealt lives with factors beyond our control. Determined to help her, I’d do whatever I could to find out about the mysterious vampire. I needed to warn her.
Dale went to the counter to put space between us. Luckily for me, Dale was too shy to push the boundaries of our friendship, so I didn’t have to deal with any pressure from him.
“No, he just said he needed to find her. He also said he didn’t have much time to complete his task. The vampire mentioned something about his master exacting punishment upon him if he didn’t follow through with his orders. Sydney, if that vampire doesn’t find out where the demon is, he said he’d suck dry every single female in our family. If he still doesn’t find out where she is, he will go after our children.” Dale’s voice wavered with worry. I didn’t blame him. Vampires could be ruthless, especially when they thought they were in danger.
“Don’t worry, Dale. I’ll talk to Kieran about the vampire to see if he knows anything. I’m sure he won’t be too happy having a vampire in his territory going around making threats like that. He’ll see to it. Think nothing more on the matter.” Taking Dale’s hand in mine, I gave him a reassuring squeeze.
I didn’t know for sure if Kieran would help with the issue of the mysterious vampire. Kieran may already know about the vampire, but I knew he couldn’t have anything to do with wanting to know where to find Kasdeya. Kieran had a direct line into where the vampire’s Judges spent their spare time, so he wouldn’t be looking for her through the local witch family. What the vampire wanted was what had me confused. I’d have to speak with Kasdeya to see if we could figure out the vampire’s intentions. Then we’d take care of it before Dale’s family got hurt.
Dale smiled but the expression didn’t quite reach his widespread eyes. “Sydney, I know you mean well, but I gotta take care of my family. We’re going
to put our women in hiding until this vampire business is over with.”
I nodded in understanding. “Good, make sure they stay safe. I’ll do what I can to help.” We headed for the front of the store. “Dale, you make sure you stay safe, too, you hear me?”
He laughed, finally relaxing a bit. “Miss Sydney, I always hear what you say, even when you don’t think I’m listening.”
The tips of Dale’s ears pinked when I gave him a peck on his cheek.
After Dale left, I finally had time to clean up the store, water the plants by the front door, and work on ordering stock for the shelves. I’d stay all night if that was what it took to keep the shelves full. Aunt Judith and I needed the store’s sales to keep us afloat. Too bad being the Selected didn’t pay the bills.
The thought of staying all night at the store was more appealing to me than where I’d planned on spending my night, or at least most of the evening. The meeting at the pack house was scheduled for ten o’clock. Morris had scheduled it that way so I could be there. I didn’t have warm fuzzy feelings toward having to see Blake. It seemed we were capable of arguing, but not much else. Being together complicated matters because we couldn’t be together as a couple, despite both of us knowing how the other felt. I knew tonight wouldn’t be different than any other Blake encounter.
We’d talk.
We’d flirt.
We’d update each other on what’s been happening.
Then we’d fight.
He’ll start in on the life-mate speech I’ve heard multiple times. He’s heard my logical reasoning behind us not being together just as often. Blake didn’t care about those things. He cared that we weren’t spending all of our time together, working toward making a life and a future for ourselves.
A cool breeze blew through the store, but the door hadn’t opened. Vampire. A member of Kieran’s coven approached. The door chimes jangled as Daire strutted in wearing a well-tailored black suit. Despite my man troubles with Blake, my body reacted to Daire’s masculinity. The material of his suit stretched across his toned thigh muscles while hugging the bulges of his arms, showing off his sexy build.
The vampire wore sunglasses despite it being night out. His eyes must be blazing red like the rest of the vampires in Kieran’s coven. According to Kat, vampire eyes changed after a certain amount of years, meaning Daire was a lot older than his physical appearance led me to believe.
I circled behind the counter, grateful the vampire wasn’t able to detect my reaction to him like Blake could. I lifted an eyebrow at his presence, making him laugh. He did nothing to hide the long white fangs extending from his otherwise perfect set of teeth.
“Sydney Sedrick, how nice to see you again. Although, I thoroughly enjoyed our encounter when you fell out of the sky like an angel, right into my arms.” He lifted his arm in a grand gesture to show the garment bag draped over his bicep. He placed the bag on the counter that kept me a safe distance away from the sexy vampire. Despite the wood and glass structure between us, I couldn’t help getting a whiff of his cologne. The smell emulated electrified fresh water, turning the dial of my attraction to him up ten notches.
“So, you’re Kieran’s new errand boy. I get it. Thanks for the dress. Now you should probably be on your way.” He needed to leave. Actually, I needed him to leave. I had enough complications in my life. I didn’t need him to add to the ever-growing list.
Daire tipped his head awkwardly. Yep. Yep, he must have been born a vampire. Vampires, who were once human, possessed human-like movements and expressions. Those born as vampires struggled to replicate human gestures. Kieran put forth an effort for my benefit, but they were funnier than he meant them to be. He’d probably be ticked if he knew I often had to hide a laugh at his expense because of how foolish he looked while trying to act human.
On the other hand, Daire’s expression was awkward, but somehow sexy at the same time.
Ugh, why me?
He licked his lips slowly. I did everything in my power not to imagine having him glide that tongue along my skin, but I was helpless.
“I thought we could talk awhile. My boss has assigned me to your care. Since the failure before me did such a poor job, I’ve decided to make a better effort in ensuring your safety.” Daire’s smile was disarming. I turned my back on him to get a grip on my feelings and my body’s reaction to him.
What was wrong with me? I didn’t want a vampire vying for my attention.
Who was I kidding?
I wanted his attention.
Bad.
I swung back around to glare at him. “I appreciate the fact you’re doing what you’ve been told to do by your boss, but I’m doing fine on my own. I didn’t need Liam around to take care of me. That means I don’t need you hanging around, either.”
My words were more pointed than I intended, but I needed him out of my sight.
Standing in front of me, Daire took his glasses off. Placing them on the counter between us, he dissolved into a blur only to stand next to me in the blink of an eye. We no longer had the counter between us to give me a false sense of security.
Coughing, I swallowed down the lump stuck in my throat from the surprise of his swift movement.
Daire towered over me. I stared anywhere but into his eyes. “I think you should go, really, I have a lot to do before I leave.”
He gently placed the tip of his finger under my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Sydney, I only want to spend time with you. Why is that so bad?”
My cheeks flushed. I felt them become heated, knowing my face was turning pink. Now I was nervous and didn’t know what to say or do. Guilt flashed over me in how I’d used Dale’s attraction for my own advantage. I wouldn’t do that to him again, now that I knew what it felt like.
“I have more men in my life wanting to spend time with me than I know what to do with, so you’ll have to take a number.” I used sarcasm as a defense mechanism, so sue me.
He smiled, letting his fangs hang over his bottom lip. For the first time since finding out vampires existed, I wanted to be bitten, by Daire.
“Are you able to glamour me? Kieran told me I wasn’t able to be controlled because of my Selected powers, so how are you doing this to me?” I demanded. What powers did he wield that other vampires didn’t?
Daire brought both his hands up, placing a hand on either side of my face. The coolness of his touch felt refreshing against the flush of my burning skin. He leaned in close, so close his lips grazed mine as he spoke.
“Sydney, Kieran told you the truth. You can’t be influenced by glamour, not by any vampire, including me.” He didn’t move when he finished talking so I shimmied out of his grasp.
I needed space.
“That doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never been drawn to a vampire before, no matter how attractive they may be. So whatever you’re doing to me right now, stop it.” I spoke through gritted teeth as I struggled to regain a normal pattern of breathing, because at that moment I was hyperventilating.
Daire crossed his arms over his chest, making those luscious biceps bulge tight against the arms of his suit. “Sydney, I’m not using glamour on you. I haven’t even tried. If you’d like me to give you a whirl . . .”
I put my hands up to signal for him to stay across the room, right where he stood. I didn’t want him so close to me. I feared I’d give into my primal urges that were kicking into high gear. The need to throw myself at him burned deep. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t know anything about the vampire except he worked for Kieran and he was now assigned as my personal keeper.
“You stay right where you are. I don’t know what’s going on, but mark my words I will find out. You’re doing something to me to make me react to you. I know I wouldn’t want you right now if you weren’t making it happen.”
I didn’t believ
e a word he said. There was no way I’d be so willing to have sex with Daire without him manipulating me with his vampiric powers.
“Sydney,” he said while he slowly made his way toward me. “I promise you, I’m not—”
“Stay where you are, vampire. Someone had to put you up to this. I don’t think your boss is going to be too happy when he hears what you’re doing to me. Where did you say you came from?”
He ignored my demand. Not answering my question, he kept coming forward. I took a step back.
In a blur, he once again stood before me with his hands on my arms. I struggled against his grip with no success. “Take your hands off me. Who do you think you are?”
Daire flashed his sexy, confident grin. “Sydney, I’m now your official bodyguard for the Kenosha vampire coven. You’re going to be seeing a lot of me, so we might as well be friends.”
He didn’t take his hands off of me at my request so I glared at him for his lack of compliance. “We aren’t friends, Daire. We’re never going to be. You should leave before I call Kieran.”
The smug look slowly melted from his face into a more businesslike expression. “Sydney, no matter what nonsense the boy wolf fills your head with, I have not used any vampiric influence upon you. Your reaction to me is genuine. I don’t take my women by force.”
I scoffed at his statement. “Geez, I don’t know how you get that big head of yours through doorways.”
He rubbed his hands up my arms. I flinched from his touch. That was a gesture Blake did. Daire made Blake seem insignificant. My reaction to the vampire was making my relationship, whatever it was, with Blake not such a big deal.
It wasn’t right. The feelings I had for Blake were real. I may even be in love with the werewolf, so why did my body scream to let the vampire have his way with me?
Finally letting my arms go, the vampire put his opened palms on his hips, accentuating his narrow waist. “Sydney, I’m bound by honor to protect you in my service to Kieran.”
