by Arthur, Keri
We exited the building and made our way down the street. Though I heard no sound, the hairs on the back of my neck rose.
“We’re being followed,” I said softly.
“I know. But the closest one is not a vampire—the heartbeat is too regular.” His fingers tightened on mine. “Let’s head for the car and see what happens.”
We didn’t alter our pace, just kept walking. The tall buildings around us blocked out most of the wind’s fury, but though it was after midnight, the night was far from quiet. The moon was riding high and wolves were celebrating all over the city. Even the traffic was heavier than normal.
Yet through all the noise came a whisper of movement. It was more a sigh of air than anything else, and it was coming at us fast. I caught the sharp tang of musk and man, and anger surged through me. It wasn’t Gautier.
I pulled free from Quinn and swung round, catching Talon’s reaching hand before he could pull the wig from my head.
Surprise ran through his eyes. I squeezed his fingers a little harder, and the surprise became pain. “And what do you think you’re doing?”
“I gather you know this gentleman.” Quinn’s voice was flat and yet I sensed the amusement in it. Maybe he liked the sight of pain being inflicted on others.
“I’d use the term ‘gentleman’ loosely. But yeah, I know him.” I released Talon’s hand, throwing it back against his chest. “What the hell are you doing here? And how did you find me?”
He grinned, but it never touched his eyes, which were cold and hard as his gaze moved from me to Quinn and back again. “A wolf always knows where to find his mate.”
“This is your mate?” Quinn’s voice was scathing. “Good Lord, I thought you had more taste than that.”
“Mate as in sex partner, not mate as in permanent relationship. This jerk has just decided he needs a kid from me and has laid claims without my consent.”
“There are laws against that, you know,” Quinn said conversationally. “Though I’ve always found a good beating works as a far better deterrent.”
“Now, there’s a thought.” I pushed Talon hard in the chest, knocking him back several steps. Surprise flickered in his golden eyes.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I continued sharply. “What right have you got to come here after me?”
The false smile slipped away, and what remained was cold and hard. God, what had I ever seen in this man? “You’re mine, little wolf, and I don’t intend to share. Even with a dead man.”
“I belong to no one but myself. And how do you know he’s a vampire?”
Talon snorted, his expression impatient as his gaze briefly swept past me. “It’s Alan Brown, isn’t it? Seen him on the recruiting ads.”
If it had been Alan Brown, Talon would have been dead meat. Brown was another of those vampires who didn’t treat fools—or those who didn’t respect his so called “superiority”—lightly. “So how did you find me?”
“Easy. I checked out what shifts you were supposed to be on this week and came here to wait for you.”
He was lying. Why I was so certain, I didn’t know. Certainly there was nothing in his eyes or his expression that gave him away.
“You broke into my apartment?” And how could he have found my schedule in all that mess when half the time I had trouble?
He shrugged, his gaze sliding down my body, becoming heated when he saw what I was wearing. Or almost wearing. “I like, little wolf.”
For the first time, the fierce burn of his aura had little effect. It was as if some sort of veil had been raised between us. I felt the caress of his desire but it no longer stirred the fever. Maybe because I’d finally glimpsed the real Talon and hadn’t liked what I’d seen.
He reached out to touch me, but I slapped his hand away. “Have you given up on that crazy idea of yours?”
“It’s not crazy. And a child of ours would be perfect.”
Maybe it would. If it lived. If I lived. “I have no intention of having a child with you, so get over it.”
His expression was hard, determined, but I saw something else in his eyes that scared me—amusement. Gloating. “You will have no choice in the matter, little wolf. I intend to ensure you do not find relief with anyone else. Including dead men.”
Anger surged, and I hit him. I’d never condoned women hitting men any more than I did men hitting women, but right then, with the smug smile teasing his lips and the I-know-something-you-don’t look in his eyes, I just couldn’t help it. He didn’t see it coming, and it landed on his chin with every ounce of strength I could muster. Which was quite a lot. His head snapped back, and he was out before his back hit the concrete.
“Good punch,” Quinn commented. “Remind me never to make you angry.”
“All you have to do to avoid it is remember that this particular wolf doesn’t take people trying to take over her life too lightly.”
Which, in many ways, was what Jack was trying to do—but at least he was giving me maneuvering room. Talon wasn’t—he was making his statements like it was already a fait accompli.
I knelt beside Talon and felt for a pulse, just to ensure the smack in the back of the head hadn’t killed him. The pulse was there, nice and steady. He was just knocked out.
I scanned the street as I rose. Our other watcher was still out there, hidden in the shadows, watching the proceedings. If it was Gautier, we could be in serious trouble. Even if he didn’t suspect Quinn, he’d probably be more than a little suspicious of my identity by then.
“Let’s get back to the car.”
Quinn nodded, placed his hand against my spine, and escorted me the remainder of the way. “So tell me,” I said, once we were in the car and zooming out of the city, “why would you think I’d be willing to make love to you if I had a permanent mate?”
He gave me a look that suggested he wished I’d missed the intent behind that particular statement. “Because I’ve heard the promises wolves make, and I’ve never met one who actually keeps them.” He slowed the car as the lights ahead changed to red.
“What happened between you and Eryn was about money, not promises. You said that yourself. Don’t condemn a whole race because of the actions of one goddamn wolf.”
“It was more than one.” He looked at me, blue-lensed eyes flat and hard to read. “I seem to have a somewhat fatal attraction to your race.”
Ire swam through me. I was sick and tired of other races judging werewolves and deeming us unworthy or lacking. Why? Because we saw sex as a celebration, something that should be enjoyed rather than something that must be hidden away behind doors and darkness? Vampires drank blood to survive, and many killed their food supply, and yet the world in general deemed them more worthy of respect than us.
It made no sense, especially given sex was used to sell everything from Band-Aids to cars. I mean, whom did we really hurt with our moon dances? Sure, the aura of a wolf could make the unwilling willing, but few wolves bothered using it. We didn’t need to when we could get what we wanted within our own race.
“You know, most of the vampires I work with are little more than stinking killing machines. That doesn’t mean I think the whole damn race is the same.”
His shrug was nonchalant, and yet the fierceness of his grip on the steering wheel suggested he was taking this conversation anything but casually. This Eryn—and whoever else was behind his less-than-stellar opinion of werewolves—really had done a number on him. “What I personally think of werewolves has nothing to do with anything.”
“It does when you think we’re nothing but prostitutes—and remember, you’re the one who said you’d prefer to avoid pros.”
The lights turned green, and he drove off at warp speed. “I don’t consider wolves prostitutes—you don’t sell yourselves, for a start. But I do think you are all far too free and easy with your bodies.”
“And yet you seem all too willing to jump in and enjoy the offerings.”
He gave me a somewhat amused
look. “Underneath the vampire is a man—and no man in his right mind would say no when the packaging is as delightful as yours.”
“That is such a human attitude—hate the race, but won’t pass up the opportunity for a freebie all the same.”
“At least I’m being honest—more than what your so-called mate is being, I’d say.”
I let the change of topic slide. We could argue forever on his all-too-human grievances against wolves and never get anywhere. “Talon has always been arrogant, but I never thought he’d go this far.”
“How long have you been together?”
“Two years.”
“Is that not a long time for a wolf? Maybe that’s why he thinks you have an agreement?”
My smile felt tight. “We’ve never been exclusive. At this particular moment he has seven other lovers, while I have one.” I glanced at him. “And one prospective. In years past, he’s had up to ten, and I’ve had three or four others. And he has no intention of giving up his harem for anyone.”
“A wolf with lots of stamina, obviously.”
“Yeah.” Talon was all stamina, no finesse.
“Then what’s the problem?”
I crossed my arms. “The problem, as I said before, is the fact he’s decided I’d make the perfect mother for his children.”
Quinn seemed to contemplate this for a few seconds, then said softly, “There’s nothing wrong with wanting children with the woman you love.”
“No, there’s not,” I agreed sourly. “Only we’re not soul mates and he doesn’t love me. He just wants to implant me with his kid.”
Quinn glanced at me. “You don’t want this?”
“No. I told you, we’re not soul mates. I enjoy the sex, but that’s it. And I’m certainly not about to risk my life having a kid with someone I don’t love.”
“Why would you be risking your life?”
I sighed. “Because of what I am. I can’t conceive naturally, and my specialist doesn’t know if I’ll ever be able to carry to term. He’s even suggested that pregnancy could actually kill me.”
His surprise rippled around me. “Why?”
“Because recent results suggest my system might consider the fetus a foreign body and attack it. And, in the process, perhaps kill me.” I shrugged. “He is of the opinion that if I want children, it could only happen with the help of drugs and under strict medical supervision. Even then, there is no guarantee.”
“Not something you’d risk for someone you didn’t love.”
“Exactly.”
He paused for a beat, sweeping onto the Tullamarine Freeway, then asked, “Do you want children?”
“Yes. If I ever meet the right wolf.”
“You’re young yet. Plenty of time.”
I’d heard the same thing from Rhoan many times, and I didn’t believe it now any more than I did then. What wolf wanted a women who might never be able to give him children? The ideal of family, of passing one’s genes on to the next generation, was as ingrained into the werewolf culture as the moon dances and sexual freedom. We could no more help the desire to breed when we found our soul mates than we could the urge to celebrate the rising moon. It was part of what we were.
Which is the other reason why Rhoan and I had been allowed to survive. Half-breeds or not, we were at least another generation in a pack that had fewer and fewer pups every year. Our genes were pack genes, even if watered down.
Quinn swept the Porsche into the middle lane and pressed the accelerator. The car shot forward to something resembling light speed.
“There is a speed limit on this freeway,” I said dryly.
“It’s after midnight. Can’t think of a better time or place to test this baby out.” He glanced at me, the blue lenses in his eyes gleaming brightly under the freeway lights. “So basically, the problem is the fact he won’t accept no for an answer. Why don’t you just use telepathy to force him to accept it?”
I frowned at him. “I can’t.”
“Because he’s blocked?”
“Because I’ve known him for two years. I can’t force my will on him like that.”
“As I said, why not? Sounds to me he’s trying to force his will on you.”
Well, yeah, but that was Talon. His wants had always come above everyone else’s. But using words and strength was far different than using psychic talents. Besides, if I did do that, I’d be no better than he was. “Telepathy is a defense. I refuse to use it for anything more.”
“Yet you used it at Moneisha just fine.”
“That’s different.”
“It’s not, you know.”
“Rescuing my brother is defense of pack, nothing more.”
“If you say so.” He glanced in the rearview mirror, then said, “That wolf doesn’t seem the type to accept his wishes being denied.”
“He’ll get over it.” Yet I remembered the look in his eyes, remembered his vow that he always got what he wanted, and wondered.
I shifted in the seat and studied Quinn for a moment. “So what about you?”
He didn’t return my look. “What about me?”
“How long did it take for you to get over Eryn?”
His smile was both wry and bitter. “I think current evidence suggests I’m not.”
It certainly did. “So how long were you with her?”
“Nine months.”
“When did you discover what she was doing?”
His expression was grim. “Not nearly fast enough.” He hesitated, then added, “Four months ago.”
Only four months. No wonder he was still hurting. No wonder he was still so angry. “And how long has Eryn been assigned to the whorehouse?”
“Two months.” He shrugged. “It took time to buy her company.”
“And are you intending to leave her there?”
“Yes.”
“The punishment doesn’t fit the crime, you know.”
His sudden grin was savage. “She created her bed. Let her lie in it for eternity. I don’t care.”
The harshness of his words was a sharp reminder that this was a vampire I sat beside. A rare vampire, granted, in that he apparently still had the capability to feel, but a vampire all the same. And he could obviously be as cold and as cruel as any of his race.
“If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have reacted so harshly,” I noted.
He didn’t say anything, but we both knew I was right. He looked in the rearview mirror again, and a prickle of unease ran down my spine.
“What’s wrong?” I twisted around, saw the distant flash of red-and-blue lights. “Cops or emergency services?”
“Cops, I think.”
I grinned. “So much for the theory that this was a perfect night to test this beastie’s speed.”
“True. But unlike you, I’m not above using my psychic skills to get me out of trouble.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You obviously haven’t read the papers lately.” Not that I actually had, either. Jack had told me the news over lunch one day.
He glanced at me as he slowed. “What do you mean?”
“All police and emergency services have been issued with psychic deadeners as part of their everyday kits.”
He swore softly. I just kept on grinning. Behind us, the blue-and-red lights drew closer, revealing the candy colors of the police car. Quinn pulled over to the side of the freeway and two cops climbed out. One moved toward Quinn’s side, the other to mine.
We both lowered our windows, and Quinn said, voice ultrapolite, “Is there a problem, Off—”
His words were cut off by an odd popping sound. He jerked wildly, then became still, and though my concern surged, I had no chance to see what was going on.
Not with the barrel of a gun appearing two centimeters from the end of my nose.
Chapter 10
Don’t move,” the cop behind the gun warned. “Or you’ll taste lead.”
What happened to the right to remain silent and all that crap? That they didn’t ev
en bother to say the words meant they were after us specifically.
Obviously, it had been Gautier in the shadows. But why would he send state coppers after us rather than Directorate personnel?
Though we had stopped, maybe the reason was that simple. We would have been more suspicious of an unmarked car swooping down on us so quickly.
My fingers tightened around the door handle, but otherwise, I obeyed the cop’s orders. The fact that Quinn hadn’t reacted in any way had me worried. Until I knew what was going on, I intended to play along with the current scenario.
“We were only speeding,” I said, forcing fear into my voice. “Surely pointing guns at us is a bit of an overreaction?”
The cop ignored me, looking over the top of the car again. It suggested they considered me no threat. They’d learn soon enough just how wrong they were.
“The vamp out of action?” the cop with the gun asked.
“Yeah. The new tasers certainly do the work.”
Tasers. Great. That was all we’d needed. Though the weapons had been around for a while, it had only been recently they’d developed one with the right electrical current to affect vampires every bit as efficiently as humans. Quinn would be out of action for hours.
A hand reached into the car and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the wig being tugged off. “It’s definitely not Brown.”
So Gautier had been suspicious of Quinn rather than me. I wondered what Quinn had done or said to tip him off.
“You want to call the retrieval in to headquarters,” the gunman continued, “and ask what they want us to do with them?”
The other cop made a grunt of agreement and walked away. I waited a few more seconds then grabbed the gun, wresting it from the cop’s hand as I thrust open the door.
He staggered backward with a yelp of surprise. I threw the gun into the back and flowed out of the car, knocking the cop out before he knew what had hit him.
A booming retort bit through the silence. I dove for the shadows along the side of the road, heard the scream of air, and the sharp sting of pain as the bullet scraped my rump, then I hit the ground and rolled to my feet. Wrapping the shadows around myself, I ran toward the other car. The second cop was still standing near the car door, his gun aimed at the spot where I’d disappeared from sight.
