All was right in the world.
Unless your name was Shane Quesada.
In that case, the world was turned completely on its ear and nothing made sense anymore.
After an hour of back and forth, he had finally convinced Olivia and Doug to have him transferred to Europe. Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed the new sentry when he landed next to Shane on the bridge.
“You are supposed to be patrolling Brooklyn,” Shane said without looking at the younger vampire. “This is not Brooklyn.”
“No shit.” Dakota sat down next to Shane. “I know you’re supposed to be a badass, but all you look like to me is pussy whipped.”
“What I look like is none of your concern.” Shane stilled and turned his head slowly before locking eyes with the underling. “Leave.”
“Damn,” Dakota said through a laugh. He took a lollipop out of his coat pocket, unwrapped it, and stuck it in his mouth. “Pete told me you were uptight.”
“Human candy?” Shane looked at him like he was crazy.
“What?” Dakota shrugged. “I still like how the cinnamon ones taste.”
“Do you have any reason for being here other than to irritate me?” Shane asked dryly.
“Not really,” Dakota said with a shrug. “I did a pass of Brooklyn and got bored. So I came to see where you wanted me to go next. Pete is back on paternity leave now that the wolves are headed out of town, so you are my go-to guy. So, where do I go? The sun is gonna be up in a little while.”
Before Shane could tell him to go to hell, the phone in his pocket buzzed. It was Doug’s number.
“Yes?”
“We have a problem,” Doug bit out. “Horace gave his father the slip at the airport. He told him he was going to use the can, but he never came back. Killian insisted his father go home with the others, but he’s staying behind to deal with his little brother. Looks like he doesn’t want the old man to have any blood on his hands.”
“When?” Tension radiated up Shane’s back along with an impending sense of doom.
The line was silent for a beat or two before Doug said, “Over an hour ago.” Shane swore loudly, but Doug shouted over him. “Killian just called me, man. He tried to find him on his own first but the trail went cold. He’s embarrassed, and I can’t say that I blame him.”
“Where is Maya?” Shane asked, leaping to his feet. Panic and fear filled him, recalling the look of outright fury on Horace’s face at the bridge. He was outraged when he realized that he’d been duped and Maya wasn’t coming to meet him. “Is she safe?”
“I’m heading over to the apartments now to check on her.” Doug’s voice was edged with frustration. “Olivia and the baby are finally sleeping, and I’d like to get this situation handled before she has to worry about it. Got me? I have Damien standing guard at the Presidium. You and Dakota head over to Rat’s place now because chances are that little shit, Horace, will try and hide out there. I told Killian to get a cab over to The Dollhouse, and I’ll meet you there once I check on the girls. Even if Horace isn’t there, Rat may know where he’s gone.”
“Understood.” Shane hung up and stuck the phone in his pocket. He flicked his furious gaze to Dakota and ground out, “Horace is back in the city.” Shane reached inside his coat, pulled out two magazines of ammunition, and handed them to Dakota who looked at him with curiosity. “These are liquid silver bullets. They’ll drop a vamp or wolf in a matter of seconds. It’s a guaranteed kill shot.”
“Far out,” Dakota rasped, making quick work of refilling his guns. “Pete was right. You aren’t a guy to fuck with.” He checked the mag and smirked at Shane. “This Maya broad must be somethin’ else if she’s got you all fired up like this.”
“She’s not a broad,” Shane bit out as he stuck the guns back in the holster. His jaw clenched and he pressed his lips together when reality hit him like a lead weight. No matter where he went or what he did, Shane would love Maya. It wouldn’t matter if he was in Europe or on the damn moon. Nothing he did or said would alter his feelings for her, and he felt like a Class-A fool for trying to deny it—to deny them. He only hoped that he would have the chance to make it up to her. “Maya is my mate.”
“Then I don’t know what you’re doin’ out here on a bridge all alone holding your dick in your hand.” Dakota smacked Shane on the shoulder and snorted. “You might be old, but you could stand to learn a thing or two, brother.”
Shane shot him a doubtful look before whisking into the sky. They flew swiftly and silently through the dark Manhattan night with Shane barely able to control his burgeoning anger. Dakota at least had the good sense to keep his mouth shut and followed Shane without asking any questions.
The two men landed in the alley next to The Dollhouse, and when they slipped along the sidewalk, Shane was grateful there were few humans in the vicinity. He stopped outside the club and held up his hand to keep Dakota from moving. Leaning against the door, he closed his eyes and reached out with the finely tuned senses of a sentry. When his eyes flicked open, three distinct scents filled his head with horrifying clarity. Amid the potent stench of blood and werewolves, he detected the fresh, feminine scent of Maya, and every fiber of his being hummed with rage.
Without thinking, he flung the door open and flew inside with his gun drawn. The club was empty, but he quickly spotted the pile of dead bodies behind the bar and remnants of at least two dead vampires. Dakota stood next to Shane with his gun drawn and pointed toward the stage. Written in blood on the white wall was one word…“Roof.”
Armed to the teeth, Shane and Dakota made their way up the narrow staircase toward the roof. When they reached the rooftop door, Shane pressed his finger to his lips and gestured for Dakota to hang back.
Shane threw a prayer to the universe, turned the doorknob, and slowly pushed the creaking metal door open. The sky had brightened considerably, and though he could feel the warning pull of the sun, Shane barely felt it because all he could see was Maya.
Maya was staked to the roof by her arms and her legs with chains of silver wrapped around her wrists and ankles. Aside from being able to smell her flesh burning, he could see wisps of smoke drifting up from the wounds. Sadie was staked out the same way, and Horace sat cross-legged between them with a gun against Maya’s temple. Every muscle in Shane’s body hummed with barely contained violent rage, and though he wanted to shoot Horace full of liquid silver, the gun at Maya’s temple gave him pause.
“If you want to live, then I suggest you let the women go,” Shane bit out.
“Let me think,” Horace said dramatically. “Nope. I took care of that scumbag, Rat, and his whore dancers. He was helpful at first but then he turned into a whiny pain in the ass, so he outlived his usefulness.”
“Shane,” Maya whimpered and winced in pain.
The sound stabbed at Shane’s heart like a knife, and he flicked his attention to her tearstained face. “It will be alright, youngling.”
Dakota stepped forward, raised his gun, and fired but Horace dodged the bullet, pulled a gun with his other hand, and fired two shots. One hit Shane and the other slammed into Dakota, who was sent flying down the stairs. Shane struggled to stay on his feet, but the silver bullet remained lodged in his chest. Although it missed his heart, the damage was severe. Pain burned through his veins when the silver festered in his body. He blinked and his vision blurred, but he kept his gun trained on Horace, who was kneeling between the two women.
The sun crept higher and Shane knew their time was running short.
Shane stumbled and fell to his knees. His left arm hung uselessly at his side, and he fought to keep the gun in his right hand, focused on Horace.
“Let the women go,” Shane sputtered and bit back the bone-melting pain. “You can have me instead. I’m a sentry for the Presidium, and killing me will be a much bigger coup for you than eliminating a couple of women.”
The world wavered and Shane steeled his strength before taking a shot at Horace. The bullet bounced off the edge of the building, missing his target completely. Horace’s bullet, however, did not. Two more rounds of silver penetrated Shane’s torso and sent him to the ground in a useless heap. He landed next to Maya and could feel whatever life he had draining from him along with the blood. With his last bit of strength, Shane turned his head so that the last sight he would see on this earth would be the woman he loved.
***
Blistering pain seared through Maya’s body from the silver burning her flesh, but nothing wounded her more than watching Shane get shot. She watched the life began to fade from his eyes and the sight turned her pain to rage. Her fangs erupted and she screamed with pure, unadulterated fury, which only elicited a laugh from Horace. Tugging on the chains at her wrists and with pain shooting up her arms, Maya screamed against the pain and kept trying to break free.
“I think I’m going to fuck you quick before I go,” Horace said in an almost matter-of-fact voice.
He placed the gun on the ground and began to undo his pants while he stood over Maya. She flicked her gaze down to see that he was fully aroused. He shed the rest of his clothing and tossed it aside. Dropping to his knees, he kissed her cheek and looked at Shane while Maya continued to pull against the chains.
“I bet you like to watch.” Horace scraped his fingers over Maya’s arms.
With his unwelcome touch and his disgusting erection pressing against her hip, every ounce of anger inside of Maya erupted. With a primal scream, she pulled the restraints out of the roof and rammed her hands onto Horace’s chest. A massive surge of energy, just like the one that night in the bayou, gathered in her chest, shot up her arms, and blasted into Horace. The look of shock on his face was almost as satisfying as watching him fly naked through the air and slam against the building chimney. He tumbled to the tar roof in a pathetic heap before pushing himself to a sitting position. A look of terror covered his face while he pressed his hands to his chest.
“What the fuck?” Horace whimpered. He ran his hands over his hairy torso, as though looking for something he lost. “You fucking gypsy whore. What did you do to me?”
Shuddering with pain, adrenaline, and fury, Maya ignored his babbling and pulled the silver off her wrists and ankles, not even feeling the burns to her fingers. Frantic, she looked at the sky blazing orange along the horizon and she knew she had to get Sadie inside. Weakened from the silver burns, Sadie wouldn’t survive even the smallest amount of sunlight.
Doug landed on the roof next to Maya just before Killian came bounding up the steps and burst through the door. Maya whimpered with relief at Doug’s arrival and crawled over to sit by Shane.
“She took my wolf, Killian,” Horace babbled from the other side of the roof. “That gypsy vampire bitch made me mortal.”
“You took his wolf,” Killian murmured, looking from Horace to Maya. “The magic wasn’t in the necklace at all…it’s you.”
“We can figure that out later,” Maya said quickly. “We have to help them.”
“Holy shit cakes,” Doug blurted out while running a hand over his short blond hair. Wasting no time, he went over to Sadie and, with gloved hands, yanked the silver off her wrists and ankles. “We’ve got to get her inside. The sun is coming up fast. Watch him, Killian.” Pointing at Horace, he said, “Better yet, just get him the fuck out of my city.”
“He’s no longer one of us,” Killian said with a voice edged in sadness. “But perhaps he never was.”
“What do you mean I’m not one of you?” Horace spat. “I’m your fucking brother.”
“You are an embarrassment,” Killian said tightly.
Maya cradled Shane’s head in her lap and encouraged him to drink from her. Killian stood by and watched the two of them, which was probably why he didn’t notice Horace had picked up the discarded gun. Screaming with blind fury, Horace squeezed off two rounds as he charged across the roof stark naked, but neither hit their marks.
The gun jammed and before Horace could shoot again, Killian shifted into an enormous black and brown wolf. With a rumbling growl, he leaped onto his brother’s chest. Horace flailed helplessly while Killian snapped his neck with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed through the air, and Killian lifted his head and let out a mournful howl that ricocheted around the Manhattan skyline.
“Fuckin’ A, Killian,” Dakota grunted. Stumbling through the door, he grimaced in pain before leaning against the wall and sliding down to the floor. “Remind me never to piss you off, man.”
“Come on, you gotta get up, kid,” Doug shouted to Dakota. He had Sadie, moaning in pain, draped over his shoulder and was pulling Dakota to his feet with his other hand. “I have to get them inside. Maya, I’ll be right back for you and Shane.” He gave a concerned glance toward the brightening sky. “Just sit tight.”
Still in his wolf form, Killian whined and lowered his blood-covered muzzle before trotting over to Shane and Maya. In a shimmer of light, he shifted back to his human form, snagged his ripped jeans, and pulled them on before kneeling next to Shane and Maya. He held his wrist out and nodded. “Here.”
“Are you sure?” Maya asked through a choking sob. She knew it was against the law to feed from a werewolf, but with the amount of silver in his body, Shane could die without it, and saving him was all that mattered.
“It’s the least I can do,” Killian said somberly. “After all the trouble my brother has caused.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Maya took Killian’s wrist in her hand and made a small incision before holding it to Shane’s mouth. Eyes closed and starving once the blood touched his lips, Shane grabbed Killian’s arm and drank ferociously. Maya watched with fascination when the three bullets emerged and tumbled to the ground, the bleeding slowed, and the wounds closed. After a few minutes, Maya gently pulled Killian’s arm from Shane’s grasp and licked the wound on his wrist closed.
“Am I dreaming?” Shane’s eyes fluttered open and he locked gazes with Maya. He reached up and cradled her face in his hand. “Or have I died and gone to heaven?”
“Nope. But that’s a really cheesy pickup line. Sure sounds like New York to me.” Smiling, she leaned down and captured his lips with hers, kissing him tenderly. When she broke the kiss, she ran her thumb over the beard scruff on his cheek as he sat up slowly to face her. “So, I thought you couldn’t love me.”
“I’ve been a fool, Maya,” Shane said flatly. He winced, leaning one hand on the roof to keep himself in a sitting position. “But I promise that for the rest of eternity, I will make it my full-time job to make it up to you. I do love you, Maya. I am hopelessly, uncontrollably, irrevocably in love with you. Can you forgive an old vampire for his foolishness?”
“I knew it.” She leaned in and kissed him again, reveling in the taste of him. Her hand fluttered over his shoulder, and Maya stilled when she realized that they were bathed in the bright, warm, golden light of the morning sun. “Shane,” she whispered in awe, holding her up hand in a ray of sunshine. “We’re daywalkers.”
“Bloodmate legend or not…” Shane murmured. He placed a kiss at the corner of her mouth and rested his forehead against hers. “Walking in the sun or an eternity of darkness, if I have you by my side…I will walk anywhere.”
“I was wondering when you two were going to notice that,” Doug said from the doorway of the stairwell. “Looks like this
pesky bloodmate legend is more than just some fluke. Welcome to the club, kids.”
“Two more daywalkers are now in the vampire ranks.” Sitting on the ledge, Killian was staring at his brother’s body with an expression that Maya couldn’t quite decipher. He flicked his serious gaze to Maya. “I will have to let my father know about the latest…developments.”
Maya scrambled to her feet with Shane at her side and snuggled against him, looking from Killian to Doug. Killian may have dealt the deathblow, but Maya was the one who took Horace’s wolf and rendered him mortal. She recalled what the king had done to the necklace, and studying Horace’s broken body, Maya wondered if a similar fate awaited her.
“I would never use my power except in self-defense, Killian,” Maya said adamantly. “I swear it!”
“What power?” Killian rose to his feet and looked at his brother’s dead body before giving Maya a sad smile. “My brother challenged me to a fight, and when an alpha is challenged, it is a fight to the death. That is what I will be reporting. That and nothing else.”
“How can we be sure that you won’t suddenly regain your memory?” Doug asked. He came out into the sunlight and stood next to Shane and Maya. “Not to sound ungrateful or anything but you know…shit happens.”
“He can be trusted,” Shane murmured with a steady stare at Killian. Maya looked between the two men and saw a glimmer of respect for Killian in Shane’s eyes, one she hadn’t seen before. He bowed his head in deference to the werewolf prince. “Thank you, Your Highness. You are a man of duty and honor. If you are ever in need of my assistance, you need only ask.”
“I thought you were gonna be in Europe protecting the Eurotrash,” Doug said with a pointed glance at Shane.
“I will remain here in New York—if you have no objections, that is.”
“Me?” Doug shrugged. “I got no objections, but now Olivia is gonna have to redo a bunch of paperwork, and that is a bitch. So in exchange, you and Maya owe us some babysitting time.”
Vampire Trouble Page 26
