She licked her lower lip seductively and slipped her hands under Shane’s coat, settling them on his waist. As she tugged his hips to her, a grin cracked her face, widening when the evidence of his desire pressed against her hip.
“You want what all men want.” Her honeyed voice wafted over him as her fingers slipped beneath the edge of his shirt and curled temptingly against his flesh. She popped up on her toes and flicked her tongue over his lips, testing every ounce of his resolve. “Don’t you, Shane? Do you think I’ll let you take it? Taking my blood is one thing, but taking my body is quite another.”
He held his ground and admitted to himself that Maya wasn’t entirely wrong. Shane wanted her more than any other woman, human or vampire, but the taunting tone of her voice, combined with the familiar look in her eye, gave him pause.
It was the same stone-cold look Maya gave her prey.
“No,” he said flatly. Shane abruptly pushed himself off the tree and immediately put distance between them. “You will find that I am nothing like the men you’ve dallied with, human or vampire. I tasted your blood because that will allow me to track you anywhere, if I have to. With the wolves in town, it will provide an extra measure of security.”
It was a partial truth—and a cruel one, at that—but it was the only one he was prepared to reveal at the moment.
“What?” Maya’s mouth fell open and her fangs retracted as she stared at him in disbelief.
“And there is something else you will soon realize.” Shane pulled his leather gloves out of his pockets and tugged them on, not to protect himself from silver but to resist the urge to touch her again. “No matter how many men you dominate, Maya. No matter how many countless humans you glamour and feed on…” Shane took another step back and whispered, “Nothing will erase what happened that night in the alley.”
Maya flinched from the sting of his words and her eyes filled with tears.
“I knew it,” she whispered. “You saw the whole thing, didn’t you? Just stood there, watched it all happen, and did nothing to stop it.” She swiped furiously at the tears that spilled down her cheek, her expression hardening. “Well, since you like to watch, you’re in for a treat because I’ve still got about thirty minutes before the sun starts to rise. Enjoy the show.”
Shane’s brows knit with confusion, and before he could say another word, Maya shot into the sky like a bullet. Shane grew more and more bewildered, repeating her words in his mind—I knew it. You just stood there, watched it all happen, and did nothing to stop it. Did Maya believe he was actually there that night? That he would stand by and watch her be attacked and do nothing, or had she seen him in the dreamscape?
Shane swore under his breath and flew into the sky after her. Keeping his distance, he followed her while she hunted, staying close enough only to assure she was safe. With the werewolves’ impending arrival, he had little intention of allowing Maya out of his sight.
Over the next thirty minutes, Maya glamoured and fed on two men, both of whom bore a striking resemblance to her attacker in the dreamscape. As with the man in the park, she spent more time glamouring them than she did feeding on them.
He followed her back to the nightclub and landed silently on top of a building across from The Coven. He watched her fly down to the slate roof of the old church and open the hidden entrance next to the steeple. A gust of brisk wind whistled through the tapestry of buildings, lifting her hair off her shoulders.
Shane expected her to disappear immediately into the building but she didn’t. Maya paused and turned her face toward the orange glow of the horizon. He crouched low on the rooftop of the neighboring building and waited for Maya to go inside. She continued to stare at the brightening sky, and the sad, lost look on her face tugged at him.
Panic gripped Shane. He didn’t need to look at the sky to know how quickly the sun was rising. An ache deep in his chest warned him of the impending sunrise, and with the growing internal warning came apprehension.
Not for himself but for her.
He was far older and could recuperate from sun exposure with more ease than a youngling like Maya. If she stayed exposed much longer and didn’t seek cover, the sun would consume her, turning her to dust. Shane rose to his feet, and just as he was about to call her name, he heard her.
Please, Maya’s wavering voice, laced with sadness and regret, drifted into his mind. No more nightmares. Eyes closed, her hand went to the necklace nestled safely against her breasts, and Shane’s heart tugged in his chest at the sight of tears streaming down her cheeks and the tormented sound of her voice. Please make it stop.
Shane’s fangs erupted violently and his body tightened from the delicious, erotic effect of their minds connecting. It was like being bathed in desire, longing, and the sweet torture of unfulfilled lust. The flames of desire were extinguished at the sight of the protective shadows shrinking amid growing patches of light.
With the sun creeping up in the sky, the ache in his chest turned to a burning sensation. Just when he thought he’d scream with frustration, Maya dropped out of sight into the building. Jumping from the roof, Shane let out a sound of relief and landed silently in the empty street below.
Normally, he would fly back to the Presidium’s offices, but given how close the sun was, even he couldn’t outrun it. He yanked off a manhole cover and descended into the sewer. Whisking through the network of underground tunnels, he made his way toward the Presidium’s offices and his apartment. He couldn’t stop thinking about the surprising effects that had engulfed him when her mind touched his.
Maya wasn’t his sibling, his maker, or his progeny. He should not be able to hear her in his head, and he knew there could only be one other explanation. Bloodmates. Like all vampires, he had been told the legend not long after he’d been turned. According to the legend, if a vampire found his or her bloodmate and bonded, the two became daywalkers, vampires who could withstand the sun’s rays. Olivia and Doug’s bonding had not only proven the legend to be true but had revealed far more in the process.
Olivia and Doug could only telepath with each other.
Picking up speed, Shane growled with frustration and swept through the tunnels like a ghost. He hadn’t imagined it. Shane definitely heard Maya in his mind. But did that mean she was his bloodmate? That would certainly explain his overwhelming attraction to her and the fact that he was pulled into the dreamscape for the first time in centuries—and not into just any dream, but into Maya’s. What about Maya? Would it matter to her if they were bloodmates? As far as Shane could tell, she loathed him, and at the moment, he couldn’t blame her.
Maya must have seen him in the dreamscape last night and was now under the misguided impression that Shane had been there that night and had allowed her to be brutalized. He was filled with confusion, anger, and a fair amount of frustration. It was an appalling idea to think that Maya believed him to be that kind of monster.
He swore loudly, his voice echoing through the dark, dank tunnels. He was confused and didn’t like it one fucking bit. His life as a sentry had been clear, well defined, and orderly, but ever since he’d come to New York City and met Maya, his life had been anything but.
Shane came to an abrupt halt when he reached the entrance of the Presidium. Without even looking for it, he pressed the rectangular stone along the top of the wall. He made a face at the rats that ran past his feet and let out a sound of relief when the hidden door swung open, revealing the brightly lit halls of the Presidium’s New York facility.
He stepped into the sunny yellow hallway and the door closed silently behind him. The sound of his boot-clad feet hitting the red marble floor echoed through the corridor. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and glittered, giving the hallway the illusion of sunlight. The walls were lined with the portraits of past czars. Olivia and Doug had yet to add theirs, and he suspected they never would. It wasn’t their style.
Shane stopped in front of the massive wood-and-steel door and tugged off his gloves. He pressed his thumb against a small black panel, and a moment later, the heavy, medieval door swung open, allowing him entry to the central halls of the Presidium network. He was immediately greeted by Van Helsing, Olivia’s German shepherd and the newly appointed guard dog at the Presidium.
“Good morning, Van.” Shane scratched the enormous dog behind his ears, and the hall was immediately filled with the insistent meows of a cat. The dog sat on his haunches and watched Shane squat down to give the attention-craving feline a pat on the butt. Purring like a freight train, she rubbed up against Shane’s leg and accepted his greeting. “Hello, Oreo. I see that you’re keeping Van company again tonight. I’m surprised the two of you aren’t parked at Olivia’s feet.”
“Well, close enough,” Olivia said as she came around the corner.
Shane stood up quickly, feeling embarrassed at being caught coddling the animals and for allowing Olivia to sneak up on him. Maya had him off his game in more ways than one. Olivia laughed because Oreo kept brushing herself against Shane’s leg, leaving white hairs all over his black pants. Shane made a face, which only elicited a bigger laugh from the czar.
“Sorry.” Olivia shrugged and rested both hands on her belly, which looked even bigger than it had a few hours ago. Dressed in a long, green silk robe, she looked nothing like the Czar of New York City, or at least not what Shane was used to. Most czars were formal and aloof, but Doug and Olivia were the opposite. “I can’t sleep and they’ve been walking the halls with me. Doug wanted to come too, but I insisted he get some rest. With the wolves coming into town, he’s going to need to bring his A-game.”
“He’s not the only one,” Shane said with a polite smile. “Everyone is going to have to be on alert. I would be lying if I said I’m not concerned about you in your condition.”
Olivia didn’t respond but simply nodded. She walked with him down the hall toward his apartment with Van and Oreo close behind. He knew she was unsettled by the pregnancy, more so than anyone else, but whatever feelings she had about it she kept to herself.
“You’re not the only one who’s concerned. Millicent has been combing the Presidium’s archives, looking for any scrap of information about anything remotely like this that happened before—but so far nothing.”
“Yes, well, Millicent is tenacious and the best record keeper the Presidium has,” Shane said firmly. “If anyone can find something, it’s her. She must have been one hell of a sentry in her day.”
“She was.” Olivia smiled. “Millicent trained me when I was a sentry, and don’t worry, I’m pregnant, Quesada, not an invalid,” she said with a laugh. “I can still kick ass with the best of them, and thanks to Xavier’s latest weaponry inventions, we’re all armed to the teeth. We can handle whatever the wolves throw at us.”
“Have you been able to reach the Emperor yet? Has he spoken with King Heinrich?”
“Yes.” Olivia’s tone was one of wariness. “Apparently, King Heinrich was equally surprised to hear about Horace’s arrival. The poor guy apologized profusely and said if the kid and his pack caused any trouble, he would deal with it at once. He also offered to have his oldest son, Prince Killian, come to the city to keep an eye on his kid brother, but I told him that I didn’t think that would be necessary. A pack of six wolves is bad enough, no reason to make it seven. I’m not looking for a fight, and taking the king at his word is a good way to start.”
“A wise choice.”
“I hope so.” Olivia’s hands rested on her large belly. “But we have to err on the side of caution, and if something does go down, I want my coven prepared. That said, Doug is going to do some battle training with the girls. Sadie is already well-schooled and Trixie is a natural fighter, but Suzie and Maya need some help. Suzie’s afraid of her own shadow, but she has to learn to defend herself. We could always use your input.”
“Of course. So…Maya has had no training.” Shane kept his voice low, even though his head filled with memories of Maya being dragged into the alley. “No battle experience.”
“No.” Olivia paused for a moment. “I’ve tried, but she’s shown little interest in any kind of fight training.”
“May I ask you something?” Shane kept his gaze straight ahead. “It’s…personal.”
“Sure,” Olivia said with some amusement.
Shane stopped in front of the door that led to his apartment and turned to face Olivia. He clasped his hands behind his back and wrestled against four hundred years of pomp and circumstance.
“It’s okay, Shane.” Sensing his unease, Olivia smiled and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Just ask.”
“What can you tell me about Maya?”
“Maya?” Olivia let out a sigh and Van whined at her feet in empathy. “How much time have you got?” Shane’s look of confusion elicited a loud laugh from Olivia. “Let’s just say that there’s a lot more to that girl than meets the eye. I can’t tell you Maya’s story.”
“I understand.” Shane nodded. “It’s not your story to tell.”
“No.” Olivia frowned. “Well, the problem is, I don’t know her story. Not her full story, anyway.”
“But you’re her maker. You turned her and drank her blood, which gave you her blood memories. Olivia, you should know more about her than anyone.”
“I should,” Olivia said quietly, “and to some extent I do. I know what happened on the night she died, and that was pretty fucking horrible, but that’s it. For some reason, one I’ve never been able to figure out, I could only see the night she died. Her entire life before that is a blur, and the only one who will be able to shed any light on Maya’s past is Maya.”
He nodded his understanding because of his similar experience when he drank Maya’s blood. Shane refrained from mentioning that part to the czar. Before he could ask anything else, a gust of wind blew into the hallway and Doug appeared next to Olivia with a look on his face that hovered between concerned and annoyed.
“You’re killing me, woman.” Doug linked his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek, which had her smiling wistfully. “You have got to come back to bed and get some rest.”
“Fine,” Olivia said, feigning an angry tone. She looked back at Shane and gave him a sad smile. “Whatever you do, Shane, go easy. Maya may act tough, but it’s all bullshit. Which is one reason I’m less than thrilled she’s going to work for Rat.”
“No she’s not.” Shane folded his arms over his chest and ignored the smirk on Doug’s face. “I will not allow it.”
“Good luck with that ‘not allowing it’ shit, man.” Doug shook his head. Linking Olivia’s fingers in his, he started pulling her toward their apartment. “That’s a surefire way to piss off any woman, human or vampire.”
“It’s not up to you, Shane, or me,” Olivia said. “Maya is not my property—she’s my family. She’s got every intention of starting work at Rat’s club tomorrow night, and as you know, I gave her my reluctant blessing.” Shane opened his mouth to protest, but Olivia held up one hand, silencing him. “I am letting her do this because I’m assigning you as her personal babysitter. If it will make you feel better, you can tell her that you’re her bodyguard. And I’m only doing this because the wolves will be hanging out there, okay?”
“Good move, babe.” Doug tried to pull her down the hall, but she held her ground. “Shane can handle Maya. After all, she’s a youngling and he’s older than dirt.”
Shane ignored the jab because Doug was even younger than Maya. His angel bloodline and the bloodmate bond with Olivia had not only made his transformation seamless, but had also fast-tracked all of his abilities. Doug may have been turned only a few months ago, but he was one of the most powerful vampires Shane had ever met. “I already told her that was the deal, and she’s about as happy about it as you would expect.”
“What ab
out my sentry patrols?” Shane asked out of duty, not because he wanted to be away from Maya. “We can’t leave the city unprotected.”
“Doug can handle things,” Olivia said with a wink to her mate. “Besides, the big concern is the wolves, and they’ll be hanging out at The Dollhouse. We kill two birds with one stone. You can keep an eye on Maya and the wolves at the same time.”
“Bed.” Doug swept Olivia off her feet as she shrieked in protest. “Now.”
“Remember what I said, Shane,” Olivia shouted through a laugh while Doug carried her away. “And don’t let her out of your sight around those wolves.”
Shane watched the czars disappear down the hallway, with Van and Oreo close behind, and his thoughts immediately went to Maya. He opened the door to his apartment and stepped inside, and when the door closed shut behind him, Shane marveled at the silence. His gaze flicked around the large studio apartment with a new perspective. The place was decorated in shades of gray, void of all color, but this was the first time Shane felt the dullness.
Shedding his clothes, he made his way to the queen-size bed, still unmade from the day before, and slipped between the sheets with one thing on his mind—Maya. If he got pulled into Maya’s dreamscape again, he would do a hell of a lot more than watch. He drifted into a quiet slumber, and as his eyes fluttered closed, Shane hoped for the first time in centuries to dream.
Chapter 4
The comforting blanket of darkness ebbed slowly like fog lifting off the ocean, and with it came a rush of bone-chilling fear.
It was happening again.
The world around Maya came into focus with horrifying clarity, bringing a rush of memories she desperately wished she could forget. As she anticipated what was surely about to happen, a pathetic whimper escaped her lips. The same horrible event plagued her sleep night after night, and every time there was no escape, no one to hear her cries for help.
There was no one to save her before, so why would this time be any different?
Vampire Trouble Page 5
