She stared into those clear green eyes and wondered how much longer she would benefit from that protection if she didn’t do whatever it was that his queen wanted her to do.
How long would it be before they were served up like fatted calves?
Chapter Four
After Natalie and Bishop were ensconced in a very comfortable-looking living room in Duncan’s suite, Duncan drew Kimber into another room, this one dominated by a four-poster king-sized bed on a raised platform in front of a large window.
Even while her body quickened with interest, her thoughts winging back to that kiss he’d given her before they’d left her apartment building, her mind balked. “Whoa, now, just wait a minute,” she said, pulling her arm away from his light grip.
He flashed her a scowl. “I thought you might like to clean up before you see Maddalene.” He gave her that irritating one-shouldered shrug. “But if you’d rather go in with zombie goo on your face and hoodie, that’s fine with me.”
She was surprised at his thoughtfulness then irritated by her surprise. Duncan, for all his arrogance, had never tried to force her into his bed. It was unjust of her to suspect that would be the first thing he’d do now that he finally had her in his bedroom. No, when she found herself in his bed, and she had a feeling it wouldn’t be much longer because her resistance was waning, it wouldn’t be because he had forced her there.
He’d been there for her, through all of this mess, without asking anything of her in return. What more did she think he could do to prove himself? He was her protector, her friend, and only her own stubborn fear over his vampirism kept them apart.
“Sorry,” she muttered. Embarrassment made her less than gracious. “It’s just…”
Another frown curled his lips down. “Yeah, yeah, I got it, Kimber. You have no interest in sleeping with me.” He motioned toward another door. “Bathroom’s through there. Clean washcloths and towels are in the linen closet just inside.” He turned away. “I’ll get you one of my T-shirts to wear.”
She reached out and clutched his forearm. “Wait.” He paused but didn’t turn to face her. She sighed and dropped her hand. “Duncan, I’m sorry. But you keep me so off-kilter, and then drag me into your bedroom… I’m sorry,” she said yet again. “I jumped to conclusions.”
“Yes, you did.” He did turn then, his gaze steady on hers. “Though I will have you in that bed, Kimber. Soon.”
His deep voice skimmed over her, electrifying nerve endings that hadn’t been alive since before the Outbreak. As his eyes traveled the length of her body, fire raced through her veins. Her heart drummed against her ribs, and as his gaze intensified she could have sworn she felt his big hands stroking her bare skin, urging her to take him deep inside her.
To her relief and disappointment, he shook his head and added, “Just not today.” Regret deepened his tones. “Get that goop washed off. Maddalene’s waiting.”
Glad to put some distance between them, Kimber went into the bathroom. She closed the door and stripped her hooded sweatshirt over her head. She was happy to see no blood had gotten on her bra. Just the thought of not having that additional barrier, that protection, was more than she wanted to think about now. She couldn’t handle Duncan knowing she was naked beneath one of his shirts. That the only obstruction between her nipples and his hands, his mouth, would be one thin cotton tee.
Beneath the sheer white satin of her bra, her nipples tightened into hard buds. Traitors. They knew what they wanted, regardless of how hard Kimber fought against it. “But you can’t have it,” she muttered at her chest.
She sighed. It was official. The zombie apocalypse had turned her into a loon. She was standing there talking to her boobs. But just because she hadn’t had sex in more years than she cared to count, hadn’t had a decent orgasm in over a year except by her own hand—never mind that she’d fantasized it was Duncan doing carnal, dark things to her—didn’t mean she had to keep lusting after him. Even if he was such a sexy, sexy man.
“Just forget about it,” she told her nipples and her now-thudding clit. With another sigh she grabbed a washcloth from the narrow linen closet next to the toilet and wet it. She had just rinsed it out the final time and was craning her neck to make sure she’d gotten all the blood off when knuckles rapped on the door. Before she could say anything, the door opened far enough for Duncan to reach his arm through, a navy blue T-shirt dangling from his fist.
“Thanks,” she said as she took it from his grip.
“No problem.”
The door closed and she stood a moment, staring down at the soft cotton in her hand before slowly bringing it to her face and breathing in through her nose. The shirt smelled fresh, no lingering scent of Duncan on it anywhere. Of course he would give her a clean shirt, but she couldn’t deny the disappointment that rolled through her. With a muttered curse she dragged it over her head. The shoulder seams came halfway down her upper arms, and the sleeves ended below her elbows.
She opened the door and saw Duncan standing next to the bed, staring down at its surface. When she walked into the room he turned, and she bit back a gasp at the raw sensual hunger in his eyes. The look vanished in a second, replaced by the indolent arrogance she was used to seeing.
“Ready?” he asked. His deep baritone husked across her nerve endings, setting up a shiver along her spine and a dull throb in her nether region.
She drew a bracing breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she responded, happy to hear her voice was mostly steady. “Let’s get it over with.”
They walked back into the living room. Natalie and Bishop looked up. Kimber noticed a wood fire blazing in the fireplace. Duncan must have started it after she’d gone into the bedroom. It was cool in the room and would get even colder as the night wore on. It had been a thoughtful gesture for him to provide warmth for her friends.
“You’ll be safe here,” Duncan told them. “I’ll have two guards posted outside.”
“We’re prisoners then?” Natalie asked, her tone challenging.
“Do you really think it would be a good idea for either of you to wander off?” he asked, his voice cool, unfazed by her defiance.
She scowled. “No.” She crossed her arms over her breasts and glared at him.
His shoulders lifted with his sigh. “Look,” he said, running one big hand through his dark hair, “I know you’re nervous about being here. But I give you my word, you’re safe. The men outside that door will fight to the death to protect you.” He looked at Kimber. “Let’s go.”
She exchanged glances with her friends then took the hand Duncan offered and let him draw her out of the room. She tried to ignore the way his cool flesh warmed from the contact with her skin, tried to ignore how good his slightly callused palm felt clasped within her hand. Tried to ignore the fluttering of need low in her belly. She had other things to focus on, things that could get her killed if she wasn’t paying close enough attention.
They walked down the hallway to the next door across the hall. Duncan rapped twice with two knuckles. “This is convenient,” Kimber sniped. “You being just across the hall from her.” It wasn’t jealousy flaring, she told herself. Why should it matter to her how close Duncan’s suite was to his queen’s? He was her second in command, after all. It would make sense they would live close together.
His only response to her comment was to slant a dry glance her way. As the door opened and they entered, she took a few seconds to look around. At one time she supposed it had been a separate condo, but now it served as Maddalene’s throne room. That was the only way Kimber could describe it. Gleaming hardwood covered the floor and a floor-to-ceiling window along the southern wall made the space look larger than it was. Heavy dark green drapes hung on each side of the window, ready to be drawn to protect Maddalene against the sun once daybreak came.
There was a small seating area near a raised platform that held, instead of a throne, a plush aubergine chaise, upon which the queen of the vampires lounged like a, well
, queen. Two tall, muscled men clad only in black boxer briefs stood slightly behind the chaise, one on each side like hunky bookends.
“Kimberly!” Maddalene rose to her feet in a fluid move and glided forward, hands outstretched. She wore a long black dress that was sleeveless with a high collar. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head in an intricate up-do. All in all, she defined elegance. “I’m so happy you were able to visit.”
Inherent good manners and a healthy streak of common sense made Kimber clasp Maddalene’s hands and let the vampire brush air kisses near one and then the other cheek. “I wasn’t aware I had a choice,” Kimber murmured as the vampire queen let go of her hands and took a step back.
The ready smile that curved lusciously painted red lips didn’t reflect in her nearly black eyes. “My impatience got the best of me, I’m afraid. I’ve been trying to see you for so long.”
“And now you have.” Kimber ignored Duncan’s warning glance. She was through with the social amenities. “So what can I do for you?”
“To the point. I like that.” Maddalene walked back to the chaise and settled onto it with such a graceful move that Kimber felt like a lumbering elephant in comparison. The vampire queen studied her a moment and beckoned to the man on her left. “These are my pets,” she said as he went to his knees in front of her. “Well fed and cared for.”
Even from where she stood Kimber could see the many puckered scars on his neck and forearms. Maddalene stroked from his shoulder down to his hand and then brought his wrist to her mouth. She bit down. He gave a low grunt and then a soft groan. Maddalene fed from him a moment, her gaze never leaving Kimber. The vampire released the man and waved him away. He retook his stance behind her, looking a little pale, but he seemed steady enough on his feet. His cock was a hard ridge beneath the cotton of his boxers.
Kimber had known there was a sexual element to a vampire’s bite. She just hadn’t seen it demonstrated before now. She clenched her jaw and fought against sidling closer to Duncan. It would be a show of weakness. She wasn’t sure why Maddalene had decided to feed in front of her, other than to freak her out.
The vampire queen stared at her a few more seconds and seemed to come to some kind of decision. She gave a short nod and said, “I’ll be just as direct as you. I want you to raise someone from the dead.”
Kimber crossed her arms and stared at the other woman. “Why me? If all you needed was a necromancer, there are others that can take care of a Lazarus.”
A slight smile edged Maddalene’s full lips. “Ah, but this isn’t just any Lazarus. This one died a human death over a hundred years ago.” Her gaze became tinged with silver. “And for his raising I want the best. Which is you.”
Kimber felt Duncan stiffen next to her, but she didn’t look away from the vampire queen. “It can’t be done,” Kimber said, shaking her head. “And even if it could be, it’s a really bad idea. A really, really, really bad idea.”
“Why?”
“When we raise someone from the dead, someone who’s newly dead,” she stressed, “there’s still a spark of their soul left behind, something that the Unseen can latch onto in order to reanimate the corpse.” She turned her attention back to Maddalene. “But with someone who’s been dead for over a hundred years…” She shook her head. “It would take too much of the Unseen for reanimation to occur,” she protested, not adding that it might very well drive her insane. She had the feeling Maddalene wouldn’t care about that. “What was brought back wouldn’t necessarily be that person. There might be a spark of a soul left to attach to, but not enough.”
“I couldn’t care less about his soul,” the vampire queen said. “I just want him.”
“Who?” Kimber asked.
“That is irrelevant to you.” Maddalene’s tone was as imperious as Kimber had ever heard it. “What is relevant is what I can do for you if you perform this one task for me.”
Kimber had no interest in trying to raise a century-old corpse, but she was curious as to what bribe Maddalene thought to offer. “And what would that be?” Kimber asked.
“Protection for you and your friends. Safe passage anywhere in the city, with my vampires keeping the zombies at bay. Or, if you’d prefer, a guarantee of your safety to stay here. With Duncan.” Her gaze cut to her second in command and one perfectly shaped eyebrow rose.
It shouldn’t have surprised her that Maddalene knew about Duncan’s desire for her. But it did. And it unsettled her.
“That’s a tempting offer,” Kimber said truthfully. To get even one night’s sleep without waking because of the worry zombies would break in was more attractive than she wanted to admit out loud. “But I’m sorry. It can’t be done. It shouldn’t be done.”
Maddalene’s eyes narrowed and irritation shot silver through her dark irises. She beckoned to the man on her right and, when he knelt before her, she leaned over to whisper in his ear. He inclined his head. He stood and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
“Then let me amend my offer,” Maddalene said in a soft voice that nevertheless held steely determination. “Do this for me, or you and your friends’ lives will be forfeit.”
Ice slide down Kimber’s spine and spread through her belly.
“No! Maddalene, you’ve gone too far.” Duncan took a step forward. “We’ve talked about this—”
“And the time for talk has passed.” The vampire queen rose to her feet and stared down at Kimber. “I will give you forty-eight hours to think on this, Kimberly. After that, your fate and that of your friends is in my hands. Whatever the outcome, know that it’s because of your decision.” She waved one hand. “You may rejoin your friends while Duncan and I chat further.”
Kimber fought down her panic and left the room without looking at Duncan. She was afraid of what she’d see—either a reassuring glance that wouldn’t convince her, or an expression of frustration and dismay that would only increase her own alarm. As soon as she left Maddalene’s chambers she realized that the two vampires who’d been guarding the door to Duncan’s suite were no longer there. “Shit,” she muttered and sprinted to Duncan’s. With another grumbled imprecation, she threw open the door. Natalie and Bishop both looked up from where they were still seated, alive and well, on the sofa. Relief weakened her knees so that she almost fell. She closed the door behind her.
“What is it?” Natalie cried out, jumping to her feet. She rushed over to Kimber and grabbed her arm. “What’s wrong?”
“The guards are gone,” Kimber whispered. “I was afraid…”
“We’re fine,” Bishop said, coming over to them. “We didn’t even know they were gone.” He glanced at Natalie and then looked at Kimber again. “I wonder why they left.”
Kimber remembered the vampire queen sending the human out of the room. “I think Maddalene’s making a point,” she said softly. She wandered over to the sofa and plopped down. The other two sat beside her. “She wants me to resurrect a Lazarus that’s over a hundred years old.”
“What?” Natalie leaned back against the arm of the couch. “She can’t be serious. No one’s ever raised one that old.”
“And there’s a good reason why,” Kimber said. “I’ve only once had to reanimate someone who’d been dead twenty years, and I slept for a week afterward. Well, when the nightmares would let me sleep.”
“Nightmares?” Bishop asked, bracing an arm against one thigh.
While Bishop had seen her in action as a necromancer, he’d never seen the aftermath. “Whenever I tap into the Unseen,” she told him, “I have nightmares afterward. Most necromancers do. I think it’s the residual magic of that plane lingering inside me, and it has to have an outlet.” She gave a slight shrug. “Apparently terror works well.”
“I had no idea.” Bishop leaned toward her. “And if you tried to reanimate a corpse that’s over a hundred years old?”
Kimber shook her head. “I don’t even want to think about it,” she said with a sigh. “That week, the one where I
had nightmares every time I fell asleep… I thought I was going to lose my mind.”
She didn’t want to think about that week. It had been before the Outbreak, before Duncan had come into her life. It had been just her and Natalie, and thank God Natalie had been there with her, soothing her every time she screamed herself awake. She never wanted to go through that again. Ever.
She glanced at her friends. “To do what Maddalene wants me to, I’d have to tap so deep into the Unseen, I don’t know if I’d survive it.” She glanced at her friends. “At least not with my sanity intact.”
Before either of her friends could respond, the door opened. Rather than Duncan, three gaunt, red-eyed-with-hunger vamps walked into the room.
“Oh, shit,” Natalie breathed.
Kimber agreed completely.
* * *
“You’ve gone too far, Maddalene.” Duncan paced in front of her chaise. “Threatening Kimber and her friends isn’t the way to get her to cooperate.”
“I think it’s the perfect way.” The vampire queen’s upper lip lifted in a snarl, showing the sharp tips of her fangs. “If I cannot cajole her cooperation, I’ll coerce it.” She stabbed her forefinger at him. “And you will help.”
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I think I misheard you, my sweet. What did you say?”
“You heard me right, Maddalene. I’m not going to coerce Kimber into raising Eduardo for you. I’m not even sure it can be done, especially now. It’s the magic of the Unseen that has given us our current zombie…problem. We ourselves are nothing but reanimated corpses, perhaps even by the same magic.”
“Exactly! Zombies have no real impact on our way of life. There are still plenty of humans to go around. Why, we could even offer them a safe haven from the hordes. For a price of blood of course. This may have been the best thing that could have happened to us!”
She was crazy. He’d suspected it before, more than once, but for her to think that the zombie apocalypse was good for vampires was the ultimate insanity.
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