by Nina Bangs
“Not here.” Utah nodded to where Reed still lurked in the shadows beside the back door.
Without a word, they all climbed into the car. She drove for a block before stopping beside a small park. Even spending those few minutes closed in with Kione felt unbearable. She had an almost uncontrollable desire to reach over and slide her fingers between Utah’s thighs to cup his obvious arousal. For the first time, she wondered how Kione’s dark power was affecting Utah. She had visible proof it was doing something.
Lia couldn’t get her door open fast enough. She climbed out and waited in the misty rain as the others joined her. Then she went on the attack. “Look, no offense, Kione, but I can’t work with you.” She didn’t think she had to elaborate.
Utah spoke at the same time. “What the hell are you doing here? And don’t give me any crap about Adam summoning you. I think this is where you want to be.”
Kione’s smile was an Arctic cold front. “You’re right, I want to be here. I went to a lot of trouble to intercept the inbound demon and send him back to hell.” He fixed his gaze on Lia. “You’ll have to adjust because I’m not going away.”
“Adjust to what?” Utah sounded a little too casual.
He was a lousy liar. Lia thought Utah knew exactly what Kione was talking about.
Real humor touched the fae prince’s smile. “Everything about my power is amplified. Unfortunately for both of you, a large part of that power is sexual compulsion.” He shrugged and for a moment looked almost human. “I can’t make it go away, so you’ll both have to cope.”
“I didn’t feel a thing.”
Kione’s smile widened. “There is no shame in telling the truth. You lusted after me, but you hungered for Lia even more.”
Utah opened his mouth to refute Kione’s claim and then closed it. He didn’t look at Lia. And Kione conveniently forgot to explain why he was there.
Kione raised one dark brow. “Does anyone else have a complaint?”
“I do.” Jude stepped out of the shadows.
Utah tensed. A dangerous predator. Jude hadn’t bothered to rinse the blood from his hair or change his shirt. He breathed fury, his eyes narrowed, his stride a deliberate stalk. The beast in Utah responded to the threat. His soul stirred, licking its lips in anticipation.
Utah had focused his attention on Adam back in the tunnels—assessing his power, looking for weaknesses. Well, one of Adam’s weaknesses was staring at him now. He’d seen Jude in action. Utah wondered if Adam understood the mistake he’d made tonight.
Jude stopped about ten feet away, his gaze fixed on Kione.
Utah’s beast would love a fight, but not here. “Looks like you don’t need your car to get around.” He edged closer to Lia. If she thought he was being overprotective, tough shit. Jude’s eyes had turned completely black, his fingers curved into claws. He wasn’t here for a friendly chat.
The vampire shifted his gaze to Utah. “I don’t need the freaking car, but it’s mine, so no one else should be driving it.”
Utah saw a flash of something unexpected in Jude’s eyes. He had a sudden insight. Wow, didn’t have many of those. Jude wasn’t just pissed off about the car because of ownership issues. The car allowed him to fit into the human world. Maybe it made him feel more human. Hey, they were all trying to fit in, some harder than others. Utah could empathize.
Jude turned his attention back to Kione. “I didn’t say anything in front of that shithead who calls himself our leader because this is personal. I want you gone from here.”
Kione’s expression didn’t change. “No.”
“They’ll be here in a few hours.”
“Good.”
Jude curled his lip, exposing impressive fangs. “I won’t try to stop them.”
“I wouldn’t expect it.” Kione didn’t seem even mildly concerned.
“Am I missing something?” Lia moved a little closer to Jude.
Utah hissed his disapproval, but she ignored him.
Jude glanced at her, and some of his coiled fury seemed to fade. “No. This is between Kione and me.” He glanced at his car. “Put any scratches on it, and you’ll pay in blood.” Then he was gone.
“Do you want to explain what just happened?” Lia turned to stare at Kione.
“No.” Kione walked back to the car and climbed in.
“Gee, thanks for keeping me in the loop. I feel like a valued member of Team Kione now.” Lia followed him.
Utah stood alone for a few moments. It seemed like everyone had an agenda—Fin, Adam, Jude, Kione—that they didn’t want to share. Lia? He didn’t think so. She didn’t want to be with him. She was pretty upfront about it. He could respect that. Finally, he joined the others in Jude’s car.
“We need a plan to find this vampire-who-would-be-king.” Utah didn’t give a damn who ruled the bloodsuckers, but he was committed to the hunt.
Lia pulled away from the curb. She didn’t say anything, but her body practically thrummed with anger. She took each corner as though if she whipped around it fast enough, she could toss both Kione and him into the gutter where they belonged. She was sexy when she was ticked. He didn’t think he’d tell her that.
Kione stared out the window. “We search until we find a vampire. We ask some questions. If we don’t get the right answers, we find another one. Does that sound like a plan to you?”
“Not a good one,” Lia muttered.
Kione pulled his attention from the darkened streets. “You’ve been killing them, Utah. Where will we find good hunting?”
“Uh, did you miss the part where Adam said the vampire he questioned couldn’t answer?” Lia was in sarcastic mode.
Utah figured frustration fueled her sarcasm. She drove slowly now, glancing down every dark alley they passed.
Kione shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I can unlock minds.”
“Head for West Burnside around Morrison. I’ve had luck there.” Late-night crowds, booze, and dark places to hide. A vampire playground.
No one picked up the conversational ball. Utah thought about trying to pry info out of Kione about whatever was going on with Jude but decided against it. He had other things to worry about.
Whatever the unseelie prince was doing, it was messing with Utah’s sex drive. His gas pedal was stuck, and he’d just burned out his emergency brake. He rubbed at a spot between his eyes as though he could rub away what he wanted to do with Lia. Only with Lia. Kione had been wrong about that.
Utah watched her through half-lowered lids. She was tense. Trying to fight what the fae prince was putting out there? Utah hoped so. Lust loved company. What did she want? He sure knew what he wanted. He longed to glide his hand up her inner thigh until he found the source of all her heat and desire. Then he wanted to put his mouth . . . He shook his head. Not what he should be thinking about right now.
But no matter how hard Utah tried to concentrate on ways he could help Fin find Seven while he was tied up with Adam the asshole, his thoughts kept returning to Lia. To the image of her bared body stretched out beneath him, to the soft warmth of her breasts as he cupped them, to the taste of her as he slid his tongue over her belly and between her legs. Jeez, she was right. How could he get anything done while they were cooped up with the prince of freaking sex?
After what seemed like a thousand miles of darkened streets and sexual fantasies, Lia pulled into a parking lot beside a bar and grill.
She didn’t turn to look at them as she spoke. “This is it. We probably should take it on foot from here.”
Utah exhaled deeply. Just in time. Another few minutes and he would’ve lost the battle with his beast, who thought that reaching over to drag her onto his lap without regard to screeching brakes and twisted metal was a great idea. He almost launched himself from the car. Kione got out more slowly, drawing that damn cloak around him. The bastard was smiling.
Fury fought free, and he turned on the fae prince. “Get your jollies from all this, Kione? Like to feel all those sexual emotions? Do
they make you hard?”
“Hmm, and here I thought you were Mr. Stoic-and-Unmoved. Nice to know we’re having a shared experience.” Lia got out of the car and retrieved her sword.
Kione shrugged. “I feel no emotions, sexual or otherwise. They mean nothing to me.”
Lia looked horrified. “No emotions? That’s awful. Do any of the fae feel?” For the moment, she seemed to have forgotten her gripe with him.
“Some do. The younger ones. But emotions serve no purpose. They make you vulnerable. Humans are weaker because of them. I’m sure Utah will agree.” He turned and started walking away.
Yeah, Utah got it. Rap’s death had tied him into emotional knots, made him careless. In his past life, he would have remained coldly focused on what was important—the kill.
“The younger ones?” Lia caught up with Kione. “Guess looks are deceiving. You don’t look old. Maybe late twenties. Do you die from old age? Are there any limits to how many years you can live?”
Her questions seemed to bother him. Utah had the feeling Kione wished he could bat them away.
But Lia refused to be ignored. “Why all the mystery? The more you refuse to answer my questions, the more I’ll ask. Want to shut me up? Give me some answers.”
Kione finally looked at her. “No, we don’t die of old age. We live as long as we choose to live.” He glanced away. “When we tire of our existence, we end it.”
“Have you thought about ending it?” How do you end it? Utah would like to know in case the prince became more of a pain in the butt than he already was.
The pause was so long that Utah thought Kione might refuse to answer.
“Yes.” And that was it.
Utah felt conflicted. If Kione died, then the wanting would end. But if Kione died, the wanting would end. See? Conflicted.
Time to cut the talk and get on with the hunt. “We can separate and go in different directions. If we find anything, we communicate through Kione.” Utah had lost his cell phone in the car fire, and he didn’t think Kione looked like a cell phone kind of guy. Thoughts were a lot quicker and quieter anyway.
Utah wanted to order Lia to stay near the car in case they needed it. He wanted to suggest she check out nearby bars. But he knew how she’d react. She’d think he was trying to keep her out of danger because he didn’t think she could match up with a vampire. And she’d be right.
That bothered Utah. Once you started worrying about someone else’s safety, you lost focus. She wanted to be a full partner in this hunt? Then let her take her chances. The thought wasn’t as satisfying as he’d hoped.
“Can you handle this?” Kione studied him. “I’ve heard that you love killing vampires. Will you be able to control your bloodlust long enough to ask questions?”
“He has a point.” She pulled her long coat more tightly around her so her sword didn’t show. “I might forget we’re partners if I show up to find you surrounded by the bodies of my people.”
Annoyance warred with Utah’s still powerful desire for her. How the hell far away from Kione did he have to get before the effect dissipated? “They’re not your people. Humans are your people.”
Lia moved closer to him, and he tried to ignore her. Couldn’t do it. Warm woman and the night made a potent mixture.
“Vampires have always been my people. Warning: just don’t go crazy and kill them.”
He purposely ignored her as he answered Kione’s question. “I’m a hunter. I was a hunter when you spelled the word with a capital H. A hunter knows how to wait.” Utah knew his smile said predator loud and clear. “Just as long as I get the kill at the end.”
Kione simply nodded before fading into the shadows.
Utah turned to Lia. “Maybe—”
“Don’t say it. I’m an equal partner in this. I have my gun and sword. I grew up around vampires. I understand them. Don’t worry, I’ll do my part.” Then she disappeared into a small stand of trees beside the bank.
He stared after her. Either she was very good, or he was lousy at guarding his expressions. But she’d assumed he thought she couldn’t pull her weight. At least she hadn’t guessed that he was worried about her. She’d hate that. He hated that.
Then Utah tried to give himself up to the hunt.
Chapter Four
He was worried about her. Lia watched from the cover of the trees as Utah disappeared into the darkness. It amazed her that he could hate vampires so completely and not hate her.
But she was still a human to him. He didn’t see her as a serious contender for any kind of vampire leadership. He thought only power and strength mattered in the vampire world.
He didn’t understand how she could lead because he hadn’t known Katherine and how she changed the people around her. Growing up, Lia had fought to block the relentless parade of doubts her mind shoved her way—you won’t be fast enough, strong enough, good enough. And every whispered putdown had her mother’s voice attached. Well, she’d found a way to be smart enough, something Katherine never learned.
Lia didn’t bother searching around the outside of the bank. She didn’t sense any hunters here. Besides, why would any self-respecting vampire be out here in the cold and rain when the bar across the street held a full menu of drunken humans?
She crossed the street and went into the bar. The darkness inside cloaked her as she made her way to the ladies’ room.
When she got the chance, Lia would explain things to Utah. She absently pulled her small zipped bag of makeup from her coat pocket—the one that didn’t have her gun—and applied fresh lipstick, mascara, and some cheek color.
She’d tell him that her mother knew only one way to solve a problem—kill it. Katherine’s sole strategy was to throw all her vampires at the enemy and hope to overwhelm them with numbers and pure ferocity. Sometimes it worked, but more often than not she lost a lot of her people. The vampire population in her territory had dwindled while other regional leaders like Jude gained people.
Her mother never tolerated differing opinions, so over the centuries she’d killed off her brightest people. The ones left were cowed, obedient, and . . . lacked creativity.
Lia pulled open her coat to assess her battle gear. Leather pants, calf-high boots, and a cute top. She changed cute to sexy with some strategic unbuttoning. Before slipping her makeup case back into her coat pocket, she took out a pair of dangly earrings and put them on. Then she checked her pants pocket to make sure she had enough money for some drinks. Finally, she ran her fingers through her hair and let her curls do their thing.
Too bad she couldn’t take off her coat, but the sight of her sword would kill the party spirit and probably get her arrested.
Lia slipped out of the ladies’ room and headed for the bar. She thought about what else she’d tell Utah. Maybe that she had the one thing her people needed desperately—the ability to find ways to protect the territory without depleting their numbers. She’d make sure Utah understood that a winning strategy didn’t have to end with someone dying.
Lia chose a barstool that had no people on either side of her and ordered an Amaretto on the rocks. She loved sweet drinks. As she sipped it, she scanned the darkened room. Music blared and a few lethargic customers swayed on the dance floor. Her inspection stopped when she got to a man at the end of the bar. Vampire. Mid-twenties, pretty ordinary-looking, and probably hungry.
She went to work. Lia slipped out the straight pin she kept at the bottom of her gun pocket and pricked her finger. Then she squeezed until she had a pearl of blood.
Resting her open hand on the bar beside her drink, she waited.
Suddenly, the vampire’s nostrils flared and he turned his head to stare at her.
Lia cocked her head to the side, exposing her neck. She hoped he just thought she was studying her bloody finger. Then she pasted a drunken smile on her face.
His gaze turned predatory.
When she was sure she had his complete attention, she lifted her finger to her mouth and slowly licked the
blood from it.
He almost forgot to move like a human as he abandoned his stool and rushed to grab the empty one beside her.
Lia guessed he hadn’t been vampire long. Jude or Adam would’ve been more cautious.
Ten minutes later, she’d cajoled him into admitting he was vampire—after all, who would believe the word of a drunken woman?—and they were headed out to his car.
She looped her arm through his and giggled. “That is so cool. I’ve never met a vampire before.” Lia snuggled up to him. “Tell me everything about you.”
He—jeez, they hadn’t even exchanged names—was showing fang he was so anxious, but she knew he’d wait until there were no witnesses before he struck.
“I . . . can’t.” He shook his head. “I mean, I can’t remember much stuff.”
She stopped and widened her eyes. “Isn’t that strange? I mean, can’t you even remember the name of your head guy?” Lia shifted her expression to suspicious. “I don’t know if I want to get into a car with a vampire who can’t even remember his boss’s name.”
Lia waited for him to lie to her, to just make up a name. He didn’t. He pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead in an effort to remember. There was something a little endearing about his need to tell her the truth. This was one who might be saved if he got out of Portland fast.
Finally, he blinked and smiled. “The name is Chris—” That’s all he got out before pain dropped him to his knees. He clutched his head in agony.
Lia hated to add to his misery, but . . . She glanced around to make sure no one was looking before unsheathing her sword and plunging it into his back. Then she wiped the blade on a convenient patch of grass and returned it to its scabbard.
He was so shocked he didn’t even scream, just rolled over to stare up at her.
“You’re hurting, but you’ll walk away from this. Let me give you some advice. Leave Portland as soon as you can stand up. Adam is out to kill any vampires who’re joining up with the new flavor in town. And the new flavor is going down very soon. It’s a lose-lose situation for you.”
