Chapter 8

David hovered over my shoulder as I unlocked the door to my bakery. My inner vampire detector squeezed my chest, and it started to throb.

I turned. “Can you give me some space?”

He shot me an irritated look but backed up a few paces.

Despite him moving away, the pain intensified, making me wince. Something was very wrong.

“What is it?” David took a step closer but froze when my knees buckled.

“I can’t breathe,” I wheezed. “What are you doing different?”

“Nothing, I—”

A blond-haired male figure jumped from the roof, landing inches to my right. I stumbled backward, barely avoiding a collision with David.

Instead, he reached out, catching me by the shoulders, his vampire reflexes steadying me. I barely recognized the sting from David’s vampire touch before he shoved me out of the way and leapt in front of me, snarling.

My arms burned and I struggled to inhale, but that didn’t stop me from stepping forward to stand next to David.

“What are you doing?” he asked me, his voice low.

“Finding out what this vampire wants.” I turned to the stalker. “Want to tell me what the hell you were doing on my roof?”

The vamp reached out, nearly connecting with my arm, but David jumped between us, throwing a punch that sent the intruder scrambling back.

My wings twitched. Holy vampire wars. I backed up, deciding David could take this one. No way was I getting mixed up in some crazy vampire crap.

My stalker straightened, black eyes slanted as he stared David down. “Step aside, young one. That faery is my property.”

“Property?” I laughed and started coughing when I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs. In vampire language, property meant humans who had been turned or were slated to be turned into vampires. Otherwise known as children. “Faeries can’t be turned. It’s physically impossible.”

“Willow, go inside,” David said. He glanced back in my direction for just a moment, but long enough for me to notice the flicker of fear crossing his features.

“Not without you.” I took a step closer, unwilling to leave him. It was stupid. I didn’t have any physical advantage against either of them. I didn’t even have Link. We’d left him at the house.

“Now,” David warned.

The tone of his voice had me reaching for the unlocked door, but his vicious growl made me spin in shock.

He leapt, catching the other vampire by his neck. A loud snap crackled through the night, and David sank his teeth into the broken neck of the howling vampire.

Time stood still. I watched in horror as blood seeped into David’s mouth. The other vamp, despite his broken neck, grappled for purchase, clawing at David’s hands. David gripped tighter. The attacker gurgled, his eyes popping out of his chiseled, white face. His body spasmed and finally went limp.

David took one last gulp and threw the vampire backward. “Don’t ever come near her again.”

The vamp stumbled, but his quick feet kept him from sprawling out into the deserted street. His head flopped to one side, crooked and unnatural.

Disgusting. I made no attempt to hide the horror that no doubt was written all over my face.

The vamp’s eyes stared right into mine. With a slow smile, he brought both hands up and in one quick movement his head was sitting on his shoulders right where it should be. He adjusted it slightly to the left. His smile blossomed to a grin. “You didn’t think it was that easy to kill a vampire, did you?”

I gaped. Of course I knew a broken neck didn’t kill vampires. I just hadn’t known it wouldn’t hurt more…or at the very least wound them for longer than a few minutes.

“Leave,” David snarled.

“For now.”

“I’ll kill you next time.”

The blond vampire’s eyes turned from black to red as he glared at David. “Not likely.” He half-bowed in my direction. “Soon, my little faery princess.”

Before either of us could respond, he vanished into the night.

“Who was that? And why was he calling me his little faery princess?” My wings fluttered, and I rose a few inches off the ground.

“I think he works for the vampire who targeted you for abduction. That was his way of making sure I knew he was laying a claim.”

“But faeries can’t turn vampire,” I insisted.

David shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. They want you. That was their way of staking their territory.”

“I’m not anyone’s territory.” I curled my hands into fists as my wings fluttered faster.

David held the door to my shop open. “I’m not the one you have to convince.”

***

Yawning, I grabbed my phone and checked for new messages. Again. Not one phone call or text since the night before. I tossed it back on the desk and shuffled into the kitchen.

Damn it, Tal. Where the hell are you? Worry inched its way into my chest. He never went anywhere without his phone. And I couldn’t imagine him ignoring my message. If anyone was more dedicated to finding the truth of Beau’s death than I was, it was Talisen—the one man I knew I could count on. The familiar ache I’d lived with the last four years blossomed, and I had to fight down sheer panic.

He’s fine. Someone would have called if…

I couldn’t finish the thought. If anything happened to him, it would be like losing Beau all over again. I shook my head. No sense in being melodramatic; he wasn’t the one in danger. He’d call as soon as he could. He’d better.

Rummaging through the fridge, I scoured for something to settle my stomach. The Mocha in Motion had kept me up all night while I worked in the lab at The Fated Cupcake, but it left me queasy. Or was that caused by watching David drink the blood of another vampire?

The blood trickling down David’s mouth kept flashing in my mind, and I passed on the waffle Phoebe offered to cook.

Steel-cut oats would do the trick. I hoped. With the microwave set to high, I skipped the Mocha in Motion and settled on a cup of herbal tea—the regular kind, no magic. I needed a clear head to think. While my enhanced goodies didn’t necessarily impair brain function, they did sometimes give me a high, accompanying whatever magical ability they were supposed to enhance. Because my magic was used in the ingredients, the high usually came in the form of an adrenaline rush, causing me to overlook important details. Details I needed to focus on before David woke up.

I glanced out the window, noted the late afternoon sun, and opened the case file Maude had given me the day before. I scanned the document, my attention narrowing in on David’s statement. A rumor has been circulating in the vampire community of a plot to abduct Agent Rhoswen. No concrete suspects . Why would any vampire want to abduct me? I didn’t taste good, thanks to my Sunshine drink. Influence? Was that it? My favorite band—Incubus for a Day—started singing from my room, interrupting my thoughts. “It’s about time, Tal.” I ran for my iPhone and sighed when I read the screen—it was my roommate. “Hey, Phoebs.”

“Hey, yourself. I’ve got the background info on your Influence customer.”

“Hold on.” I hustled back to the table and picked up a pen. “Okay, shoot.”

“Good news or bad news first?”

“Good.”

“His Influence permit is valid. He works part time as a research assistant at the college.”

A weight I hadn’t realized existed lifted off my chest. That was good news. “Okay.”

“He’s also an independent courier. He opened his business sometime last year.”

More good news. “That explains why he was delivering a handwritten message. Looks like he was multitasking.”

“Maybe,” Phoebe said with a heavy dose of suspicion.

“What?”

“He’s also a file clerk at Cryrique.”

***

“Wake up!” I demanded, using my toe to nudge the limp vampire.

Link jumped in front of me and growled at David.

I let out a hollow laugh and backed off but didn’t close the closet door. “I need answers, Link. I can’t afford to sit around and wait for the dead to rise.”

My dog stared me down as if processing my words. He didn’t understand what I’d said, but he did very well at interpreting moods. He set his paws and shimmered as he shifted into full wolf form. It wasn’t a surprise considering the amount of agitation spiraling in my system.

Moving in, I tried to nudge David again, but Link cut me off, blocking me from getting near the vampire.

He was right to be wary. I didn’t know when or how David would wake up. The sun was moments from setting. Did dusk act as some vampire internal alarm, or did they wake on their own when they were good and rested? He wouldn’t get the chance if I had anything to say about it.

It was eerie how still he was, lying there as if he was…well, dead. Creepy. Why would anyone choose to be turned after seeing that? Especially David. It was a concept I couldn’t wrap my head around. He’d never fit the profile of questing for eternal youth. He’d even talked about growing old, sitting on his front porch with grandkids at his feet. What had changed?

Maybe he fell for a vampire.

That’s why they all turned in the romance novels. Could a warm-blooded male be expected to resist the eternal beauty? Is that why he broke up with me? The thought made me want to punch him.

Whatever. He’d turned. I needed to get used to it.

“David. Nap time is over.”

His eyelids flickered and my internal vampire alarm went off, only this time the sensation brushed against me, light and airy.

That was different. For the first time I noticed I hadn’t been aware of him while he slept. I stopped mid-step and studied him. Was that always the case? In the few years since I’d developed my ability, I couldn’t remember sensing one during the day. But then I wasn’t out patrolling for them, either.

“What’s wrong?” he growled, leaping to his feet.

“We’re going out and you’re coming with us.”

***

According to the file, Lester Daniels, AKA the messenger, had worked for Cryrique for over two years. Even though he was only a lowly file clerk, I didn’t believe for one moment Allcot hadn’t known Lester worked for him. Vampires like him made a point of knowing everyone they employed, right down to their cleaning crew.

“Is this the one?” I pointed to the dark shotgun house in a rundown block of Lower Carrollton. The overgrown vegetation blocked most of the crumbling path leading to the front door.

David nodded and took the lead. Link followed with his nose to the ground.

I watched them go and took a moment to settle before reaching for my magic. If any other vampires were around, I wanted to know about it. A ball of energy in my core spread out, searching as I focused. David filled my senses. Acknowledging him, I stretched farther. Nothing. My vampire radar remained quiet. Good.

I hadn’t expected to find another, but after the night before, I had to check. It wasn’t known vampire territory. This area hadn’t been touched by Katrina and wasn’t anywhere near Frenchmen Street or Midtown, where the vast majority of their kind dwelled.

David and Link had disappeared. I traced their trail toward the distressed front porch. Peeling paint and rotting stairs greeted me. Neglected, just like so many other old houses in the city.

I scanned the overgrown yard, seeing nothing in the shadows. Maybe they were inside already. I raised my hand to knock. Link’s wolf howl echoed from inside the house. I froze. Then, without thought, I tore into the house, following the sound. “Link!”

“Back here,” David called.

A table crashed to the floor as I ran, dodging tattered furniture and piles of old magazines. A growl sounded from the next room. I skidded to a stop in the tiny kitchen at the back of the house. Link stood in the corner, hackles raised and teeth bared, hovering over a crumpled form on the floor.

I rounded on David. “What did you do?”

He pulled out his cell phone and tapped the screen.

“David!” I stared at his back as he retreated to the other room, his phone pressed to his ear.

“Bastard,” I muttered and crouched next to Link, getting a better view of the victim. The shock of red hair and pale face matched Lester’s Influence ID perfectly. With a shaking hand, I reached out to check for a pulse.

“Come on.” My sweaty fingers slipped off his cold, clammy skin. Panicked, I turned his head and leaned in to check his breathing. Then I saw the bite marks. Angry tears burned my eyes as I stood. David hadn’t done this. Lester had been dead for hours.

Link continued to guard the body, pacing back and forth as if to protect the man.

“Cool it, Link. There’s nothing we can do for him.”

Link whimpered and came to sit by my feet. I searched for my own phone and swore when I came up empty. It was probably among the clutter on my desk. Again.

David reappeared, stepping next to me. “We need to go.”

“Give me your phone.”

To my surprise, he handed it over without protest. I took a step sideways, giving myself some room, and then scrolled through his contacts, found the number, and hit send.

“Davidson, I didn’t expect to hear from you again so soon,” the vampire drawled.

David hissed in a breath and grabbed for the phone. Ready for him, I fluttered to the other side of the room, near the ceiling.

“It’s Willow.”

A pause, then Eadric chuckled. “Ah. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

“We need to talk.”

“Davidson is with you, I presume?’

“Yes.” I spared a glance at my partner and nearly winced at the fury vibrating through him. It didn’t help that Link had shifted and had him cornered.

“And did he not advise you against calling with such demands?”

“He didn’t have a choice.”

“I see.” A lilt of amusement touched his voice. “How could I pass up such a pleasant offer of your company? I’m at my club. I’ll be available for the next hour.”

“Fine.” I hung up and called the Arcane about the body. They’d want to investigate.

After giving the investigator the address, I slipped David’s phone in my pocket and landed beside my wolf. “Link, back off. David isn’t going to hurt me.”

I hoped.

Link retreated with his hackles still raised. The look on David’s face made me question my earlier statement. The scowl and the tension in his arms suggested he’d like nothing better than to rip my wings off at that very moment. Instead, he turned his back to me and stalked out of the house.