Destined for an Early Grave

  “Stay as long as you wish. After all, you owe me a debt. It might take me more than a few days to collect on it.”

  I gave him a tired look. “Don’t bet on it.”

  One thing could be said for staying with the uncrowned Prince of Darkness. He didn’t have a lazy, inattentive staff. After I was shown to my room by a vampire named Shrapnel, I asked what kind of plasmaless drinks they had. Shrapnel didn’t respond by listing them from memory—he brought me the entire beverage contents of the refrigerator. When I told him I would have gone down myself to see it, he stared at me like I was crazy.

  Well, he was right on that one.

  Vlad had dinner with me each night even though he didn’t eat. He was pretty scarce during the day, tending to his own affairs, I guessed. Not that I knew for sure. I spent most of my time in my room, brooding, my mood swinging wildly from anger at Bones to self-recrimination. Had my relationship been doomed from the start because Bones was incapable of changing his promiscuous ways? Or would everything have been okay if I just hadn’t left that day with Gregor? I didn’t know, and not knowing festered.

  I went to the dining room at nine. Dinner was served late, for obvious reasons. Vlad was already seated. His long brown hair was brushed and loose, and he twirled the stem of his wineglass as I took my usual place next to him.

  I started to fill my plate from the selections on the table. Rack of lamb with a rosemary reduction, marinated asparagus with mango salsa and tiny, tender red potatoes. Vlad just watched, drinking his wine. Living with a vampire, I’d gotten used to being the one munching while someone else just watched, so I didn’t feel self-conscious.

  After a few minutes of silent chewing, I paused. “This lamb is really good. Sure you don’t want to try any?”

  “I’ll eat soon.”

  Something about his voice made my fork poise over the next bite. Vlad didn’t sound like he was referring to the feast spread before him.

  “Are you mentioning that in passing, or prepping me?”

  “Gauging your reaction.” With a tilt of his head. “Your eyes aren’t as puffy tonight. And your manner is less downtrodden. Does this mean you’ve finally resigned yourself to Bones’s abandonment?”

  It was the first time in four days that he’d mentioned him. Personally, I could have stood to let it go longer.

  “Don’t worry, you won’t have to talk me off a ledge again.”

  “I’m pleased to hear that.”

  He leaned back in his chair, twirling his glass again.

  “You haven’t contacted Spade or anyone else since you’ve been here. Aren’t you curious to know if they’ve spoken to him?”

  That had me setting down my fork. I didn’t know where he was going with this, but Vlad did nothing without motivation.

  “What’s up, buddy? Trying to get my blood pumping? Tenderize me before you dig in? No, I haven’t talked to them, and I don’t want to. I don’t need more gory details.”

  “Like whether he has his hands on someone this very minute? Squeezing her, kissing her…holding her naked against him?”

  My plate hurled across the room to shatter against the stone wall. Even as I did it, I cursed myself, Vlad, and most of all, Bones.

  “You’re just seeing how quickly I’ll lose it, aren’t you? Gauging me? Well, I’m a little testy, as you can tell, so excuse me.”

  I grabbed my linen napkin and headed toward the broken dish, determined to clean up my own mess, but Vlad was faster. Still seated, he yanked me to him.

  “What are you doing?” I snapped.

  His hold tightened until he was almost hurting me. “Claiming my blood price.”

  I had time to tense before Vlad’s mouth latched onto my throat, and his fangs bit into it.

  A cry came out of me, but it wasn’t of pain. Vlad sucked harder, drawing more of my blood into him. Pulsing warmth spread through me with each pull of his mouth. Vampire venom. Not harmful, but capable of producing a false, very pleasant sensation of heat.

  “Vlad, that’s enough…”

  “No.” Muffled. “More.”

  He pulled me closer. Now I was half-sagged against him while those deep suctions felt like they went going straight through to my spine.

  Vlad ran his hands down my arms. I gasped. They were hot, so unlike a vampire’s normal temperature. Must be from his pyrokinesis. My blood couldn’t warm them that quickly.

  Just as fast as he’d grabbed me, Vlad released me. I leaned against the table, my knees far weaker than before.

  “That should give you something else to think about,” he said.

  “No, it won’t.”

  It came from me brokenly. All at once, I started to cry. “I still love him, Vlad! I hate him, too, maybe, but…I still love him.”

  His stare didn’t waver. “You’ll get over it.”

  Will I?

  I didn’t say it out loud, not that it mattered. Vlad could still hear me.

  “I’m not hungry anymore,” was what I did say, and left the dining room.

  Later that night, I’d just fallen asleep when the bed shifted. My eyes opened in alarm, then a finger pressed to my lips.

  “It’s just me. I want to talk.”

  I was awake now. People didn’t usually talk while climbing into bed, which described what Vlad was doing.

  “Really?” With heavy sarcasm.

  He made a dismissing motion. “Don’t white-knuckle the sheets, Cat. I’m not intending to rape you.”

  “Where I come from, when people want to talk, they do it while upright.” To punctuate my point, I sat up. Yes, I was gripping the sheets pretty good. “This smacks of coercion at best, pal.”

  Vlad just fluffed a pillow under his head and laughed.

  “What a perfect picture of outrage you are, Reaper, yet we both know I could burn these sheets to ashes if I wanted to. Come now, aside from your rigid Midwestern upbringing, do you mind that I’m here with you like this?”

  My grip relaxed on the bedclothes. He had several points. Vlad was much stronger than I am, so even if he couldn’t torch the sheets, if he’d wanted to force sex, he could. Plus, playing hyperappropriate when he’d sucked over a pint from me seemed a tad hypocritical.

  “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Your future.”

  I tensed. “You want me to leave. Fine. I’ll—”

  “Do you truly believe I came here to tell you I’m throwing you out?” he interrupted. “You should know me better than that.”

  “Sorry. It’s been, well, a rough week.”

  “Yes.” There wasn’t any false pity in his tone. “Your self-esteem has suffered a severe blow, and you’re very vulnerable. If I had a mind to, you’d be easy to seduce.”

  “Full of yourself, aren’t you?” I said with a snort. “But you’re barking up the wrong tree if you thought I’d be looking for a mercy fuck.”

  His lips curved. “I already told you, my feelings for you aren’t romantic. I’m here because you are a friend, and for me friends are much harder to come by than a fuck.”

  What I felt for him didn’t have to do with attraction either, even though Vlad was certainly attractive. No, I felt an odd sort of kinship with him instead.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” I said. It was true. I couldn’t handle this being around Mencheres, or Spade, or anyone else who would have taken me on out of a pitying sense of responsibility.

  Vlad squeezed my hand. “You will get through this, but before you can do that, you have to face him.”

  Him. Bones. I looked away.

  “I appreciate the sentiment, but for this topic, it’s wasted. I’m not going to see him. I don’t want to see what he’s doing, or with whom.”

  “Catherine, you’re being stupid.”

  I stiffened at the insult and my real name. “How so, Drac?” I snapped, using the name he never went by as well.

  “You haven’t truly started getting over him because you’re still wondering if he’s re
ally gone. It’s why you won’t let go. It’s also why you’ll end up getting killed, because you’re so distracted over that, you didn’t notice a vampire in your room until he crawled into bed with you. Settle things with Bones, once and for all. Then move on, either with him or without him.”

  “I know it’s over,” I said with a catch to my voice. “He told me loud and clear that it was.”

  “And you wonder if he really meant it. You’re wondering if he hasn’t done this just to hurt you, like you hurt him by leaving with his enemy during a battle. You’re making yourself crazy wondering if he’s waiting to see if you’ll go after him just like all those times he chased after you.”

  “Stop prying into my mind!” To hear my hidden speculations aloud was like surgery without the anesthesia.

  “It’s not such an ill-conceived notion,” he went on coolly. “He’d be inflicting your worst fears on you as you did to him. It’s a fair punishment, in my opinion. I just doubt Bones has the backbone to do it.”

  “Then why are you telling me to find out if you think I’ll only get shot down again?”

  “Because if you’re right, he’ll be knocking on my door soon anyway. If not, then you’re devastated but resolute since you’re much stronger than you realize.”

  I chewed my lower lip. Risk getting my heart trampled on again just to see if this was some sort of weird vampire power play? And if it was, could I forgive it? Would I want to?

  Either way, I’d know, which I guess was better than driving myself crazier hanging on to that slim thread of wonder.

  Vlad must have read it in my mind, because he nodded. “In the morning, call Spade and schedule your meeting with Bones. Bones won’t refuse to see you, no matter his intentions toward you. Then you’ll know if it’s over for good.”

  This was too much to contemplate with a low iron count and little sleep. I lay back down with a sigh, forgetting to be self-conscious about being in bed with him.

  Vlad settled next to me, putting his head on my pillows.

  “Ahem.” I cleared my throat. “Didn’t we just agree that we were only friends?”

  “Sex isn’t what I’m after. It’s just been a long time since I’ve slept next to a woman who meant something to me.”

  “Oh. Well.” A slumber party with Dracula? All things considered, why not? “Okay, but I snore.”

  He grinned. “I have been under the same roof with you for a week, so I already know that.”

  I gave him a dirty look but then stretched in bed as I normally would.

  Vlad put his arms around me and rested his head on my pillow. I should have been embarrassed to be in bed with him, especially since he was bare-chested, and I only had on a long sleep shirt over my underwear, but I wasn’t. It felt nice to fall asleep with someone again, even if he wasn’t the someone I’d been missing.

  “Good night, Cat,” he said, though it was almost dawn.

  I yawned and closed my eyes.

  “Good night, Vlad.”

  The knock at the door didn’t wake me. Must have been too soft and tentative. Only when Vlad said, “Come in,” in a less-than-pleased tone did I wake up. God, he was right. My reflexes were shit.

  Shrapnel stuck his head inside. I mentally berated Vlad for not giving me a chance to disappear into the bathroom. How incriminating did this look?

  “Forgive me, Master, but the caller says it’s urgent. May I give you the phone?”

  He held it close to his side, obviously nervous. Maybe Vlad was grumpy when he woke up.

  Vlad gestured. “Very well, bring it.”

  Shrapnel moved like a jackrabbit, then hurried out, closing the door behind him.

  “Who’s this?” Vlad snapped into the phone.

  Spade’s voice blared out loud enough to bolt me upright.

  “If you don’t put Cat on the line this time, I’m going to roast you alive in your own sodding juices—”

  I snatched the phone away from him. “What is it? I’m here, what’s wrong?”

  There was a loaded moment of silence. Too late, I realized what I’d done. Vlad lifted a shoulder as if to say, You’re stuck now.

  “I was told Vlad couldn’t be disturbed because he was in bed.” Each word was a blistering accusation. “That he was extremely indisposed. Lucifer’s bloody balls, is this why you haven’t returned my calls?”

  “I-I-I didn’t…” Good God, I was stammering.

  “Indeed!”

  “Look, don’t even!” My anger came to the rescue. “If something’s wrong, tell me, but if you’re just going to play Pussy Police, you should start with your best friend. He’s probably nose deep in one right now.”

  “He’s arse deep in danger, if you still care,” was Spade’s icy reply.

  That took all the hostility out of me. Spade wasn’t one for hysterical exaggerations. I clutched the phone like it was slippery.

  “What happened?”

  Maybe I sounded as fearful as I felt, because Spade’s voice lost some of its anger.

  “Fabian, your helpful ghost, has been in New Orleans trying to speak with him. From what he can deduce, Crispin will be forced to leave the Quarter soon. And Gregor’s lying in wait outside the city.”

  “What do you mean, ‘forced to leave’?” My voice couldn’t get more shrill. Vlad winced.

  “Crispin went to New Orleans to have a meeting with Marie. After it took place, from what I’ve gathered, Marie closed the Quarter to any more undead visitors, and Gregor’s assembled a slew of forces beyond the city’s outskirts.”

  I jumped up and began rummaging for clothes. Vlad scooted into my spot, unperturbed. “Are you there? On your way?”

  “We can’t, that’s the whole bloody problem! Because of you, Gregor has clear rights to take Crispin out under our laws. No vampire can come to his aid over this.”

  I sat on the floor, my knees weak. For a second, I couldn’t even breathe. Then I began to plan.

  “He’ll need to be airlifted out of there. A helicopter would be best. We can arm it with silver bullets. We’ll do a midair transport onto a plane. Did you say you’ve been leaving messages for me about this?” I gave Vlad a truly menacing glare.

  “I’ve been leaving messages for you to call, but we only found out tonight about Gregor’s ambush.”

  Vlad shrugged, unapologetic. “You said you didn’t want to speak to them. This part is news to me. I would have told you had I known.”

  I didn’t bitch at him. After all, it was my own fault for hiding, not Vlad’s.

  “There’s a problem with your plan, Cat,” Spade said tightly. “Else we would have already done something similar. No one of any line is allowed in the city, and that means above it, too. It would be sentencing them to death by Marie’s decree, and she’s too powerful to dismiss. I’d risk it myself, but if one vampire or ghoul crosses the line into the Quarter, Gregor and his people will follow. It has to be humans of no vampire affiliation, do you understand?”

  Yeah, I did. Now I knew why Spade was in such a twist to get ahold of me.

  “Give me your number. I’ll call you right back.”

  TWENTY-ONE

  TESTING THREE, TWO, ONE…YOU READ ME, Geri?”

  Lieutenant Geri Hicks, my replacement with Don’s team, coughed and muttered, “Affirmative.”

  She had a receiving line surgically planted under her skin, pumping my voice directly by her eardrum. If I shouted, she’d be in pain. Her microphone was less invasively located in her necklace.

  “What’s your location, Geri?”

  “Crossing St. Ann Street and heading toward Bourbon. The bird still show he’s there?”

  I checked the satellite imagery of the French Quarter on my borrowed laptop. The plane’s turbulence didn’t help, but I could still spot Bones. And the woman next to him.

  “Affirmative. There’s a small time delay, as you know, but he should be there. You doing all right?”

  Geri was nervous. I couldn’t blame her. She had to bring Bon
es in without getting him or herself killed. Yeah, I’d have been wigged, too.

  “I’m good,” Geri said.

  “Roger that. Now go get him.”

  I was the only person Spade knew who had human connections without direct undead affiliations and who could amass airpower and support complete with cutting-edge weapons and technology. Sure, it could be argued that my old team had connections to Bones, but none of them were under his command anymore since I’d quit. I owed my uncle big for this.

  Since she was human, Geri couldn’t see Fabian. He was there, though, trying to drop hints about our plan while not getting noticed by any of Marie’s people. That wasn’t an easy task. When this was over, I’d owe Fabian big, too. How does one repay a ghost? That was an issue I’d ponder later.

  “Approaching target, going silent,” Geri whispered.

  On-screen, I saw her nearing Bones. He was at Pat O’Brien’s, in the outside area, drinking what I guessed was his usual whiskey. His arm was slung around a pretty brunette, who was almost glued to him. Even now, her hand ran along his hip.

  I clenched my fists. Bitch, you and I are going to have a long, bloody chat after this.

  Cannelle couldn’t hear my mental warning, but Vlad could. He lounged in the chair opposite me, the jet’s turbulence not bothering him. We were on our way to the rendezvous point if all went well.

  “You really don’t like her.”

  I didn’t answer out loud. That might confuse Geri, since I was wearing a headset.

  No. I really, really don’t.

  “I know this is forward,” Geri purred through my earpiece as the satellite showed her reaching Bones and his companion, Cannelle, “but after seeing the two of you gorgeous creatures, I can’t decide who I want to fuck first.”

  “Attagirl,” I whispered. God, cheerleading someone to hit on the man I loved! Why couldn’t I have a normal life?

  Bones set his drink down. If he was surprised to see Geri, he didn’t show it. I sucked in a breath. What would he do? He had to know I’d sent Geri. Would he blow her cover? Or play along and get out of there?

  “Easy decision, luv.” Her necklace picked up every nuance of his accent. “Ladies first. Isn’t that right, Cinnamon?”