Catch Read online

  Moonlight poured through the jungle canopy and added to the soft yellow exterior lights.

  Gwen held out a chair from a table for me to sit, but a tinkle of water from the side caught my attention.

  I pushed aside some wide, dark green leaves to find a Jacuzzi. Note to self, find my swimsuit.

  “Will this do?”

  “It’s perfect.” A set of French doors set in the dark masonry of the building drew my attention. “Where do those go?”

  “Master Tane’s apartment. No one is usually allowed out here, but since you’re his companion, I’ve made the exception.” She winked. “Sit.” The chair she held contained a thick cushion so I eased my sore ass onto the seat. My pain flared for a few seconds and I bit my inner cheek.

  “My pack has strong ties to the Nosferatu clan. We have always guarded the ruler, the Main Prime.”

  The wheels began to creak inside my head. “So all the guards are werewolves.” Gwen leaned her elbows on the table; her chocolate brown eyes stared into mine.

  “Yes.”

  “Then you must have guarded Dragos?”

  She nodded.

  “I don’t remember werewolves in Budapest.” You’d think a bunch of beasts would have stuck out in my memory.

  “We didn’t accompany him.” Staring at the stone floor, Gwen avoided my stunned expression.

  The wheels in my brain kicked into second gear. Rust flecked off my synapses as they sparked and connections came together. “You knew Tane was trying to kill him.” Holy conspiracies, Batman! I twisted in my seat and flinched from the sharp ache in my tush, and whispered in desperation. “Your pack knew what Tane planned.” She glanced at me without moving her head. “A great ruler’s power comes not just from him but those who support him. It’s something Dragos forgot.”

  “And Tane hasn’t.” I fell back against the chair as more pieces fit into place. The amount of effort and planning needed to take down Dragos. “Wow, your pack helped kill Dragos by not being there to protect him.”

  “I heard you had a pinnacle role as well.” She gave me a wolfish grin.

  “People know?” Fear strangled my words. The last thing I needed was a Dragos supporter looking for revenge.

  “Not many. Tane told me about your bravery in allowing Dragos to drink from your body to save Rurik. How it almost killed you.”

  “Bet he left out the part where he was the one who brought Rurik to Dragos.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “How else could Tane get his assassin in the house?” I opened my mouth to respond, except nothing came out. The wheels ground to stop as too many thoughts gummed up the works. “Why are you telling me all this?” Gwen shrugged. “You seem frustrated about your new situation.” I sighed. “More like I feel trapped and helpless.”

  “Some people would kill to be in your place.”

  “I’m willing to trade.”

  “Really?” She tilted her head as if seeing me for the first time. “You’re bound to some of the most powerful beings on the planet.”

  “I don’t care about power.” We stared at each other.

  “In my book, that makes you the most dangerous of the three.”

  “How?” I felt my expression screw up in confusion.

  “Because a person who doesn’t want to wield power, usually does it the best.” She stood and gave me a little bow. “I did a poor job of guarding you tonight. I won’t let you down again.” Then Gwen stalked the deck’s perimeter.

  Handed a huge platter of thoughts to chew on, I listened to the sounds of the dark jungle. So often when I think of the wilderness, I think of tranquility, a peaceful, quiet place, but really the jungle was just the opposite. It was so busy, everything moving and growing, battling for survival.

  It was an intimidating place to be and suited Tane’s kingdom.

  Gwen hinted to my so-called power, yet what’s the point if I didn’t know how to use it. I couldn’t smooze or seduce like Rurik, hiding behind a mask of false interest. Neither could I scheme like Tane, who made the CIA appear simple.

  What power did I hold? I depended on Tane for life and Rurik for love. They didn’t need anything from me.

  The sound of the door opening distracted my circular thoughts.

  Tane stepped onto the deck after the guards conferred with Gwen. He swaggered to the table, dressed in red silk pajama pants and robe, then sat across from me.

  I pulled knees to my chest and leaned my chin on them. “What now?” With a gesture of his hand, Tane caught the guards’ attention. “Leave us.” They looked at one another, then at Gwen, who nodded and went into the building.

  “You can use this area whenever you wish.” He stared out at the jungle and sat so still I could have mistaken him for a statue. No emotions, nothing. What was he thinking about? “I want…” He cleared his throat then chuckled as he rubbed his nose. “I’m sorry for losing my temper. I shouldn’t have laid a hand on you.” My mouth dropped open.

  He fixed me with a stare then winked. “You have to admit it was a little fun.” I felt my eyes widen. “No, I won’t. My ass,” I pointed at it, “still hurts.” Considering me for a moment, he rolled up one of his sleeves.

  “What are you doing?” I set my feet to the ground and leaned forward.

  “I’m offering to open a vein for you, Rabbit. My blood should heal your aches.” He set his arm on the table.

  The hunger didn’t rear its ugly head as I expected. Since last night, I hadn’t felt it stir. “Shouldn’t I be healing on my own?”

  “Yes, faster than a regular human, but not as fast as a vampire. Eric used to take half a day at most. If you drink you’ll heal instantly.” He posed a sharp nail over his skin.

  “Then I’ll wait.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t offer this lightly.” He raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m not hungry and want to savor the feeling. A little pain isn’t a high price to pay.”

  “No, it’s not. I admit to being curious as to how it feels to have the hunger gone. It’s been so long.” No evidence of envy could be heard in his voice, only curiosity.

  I swallowed. What did my hunger disappearing mean? Did Tane’s blood cure me? I remembered Belatia’s curse and my heart drummed. My curse observed me from across the table. “I feel normal for once.” I wanted something though, some kind of assurance from my—my master. “If it returns, will you promise to never withhold your blood from me?” I clenched my hands, hating that I asked.

  “I’d never do that.”

  “No matter how angry I make you?”

  “I’m not the monster you think I am.”

  “Even if I set all your knickknacks on fire and mow over your garden?” He narrowed his midnight eyes. “I’d be more worried about my strangling you.”

  “I don’t want to become like Bel.” A weight lifted off my chest once I admitted my deepest, darkest fear.

  “I wouldn’t allow that to happen. You’re my companion and your care reflects upon my rule.” He tried to give me a reassuring smile, but a dragon could have done a better job.

  “How?”

  “What kind of leader mistreats his family? Not a very good one. Vampires are far from stupid, they watch—”

  “And wait for any excuse to overthrow you.” I sat back and rested my hands on the armrests. The jungle appeared less threatening with Tane present, a tiger in his kingdom.

  Sharp, solid fangs glinted in the moonlight as he grinned. “I do appreciate your candor, Connie. You treat me as if—as if I were a man.” His smile faded and he went back to observing the trees. An emotionless mask veiled his face once more.

  The use of my real name caught me off guard. I’d forgotten he’d known it.

  Something haunted him and I suspected it bore icy, blue eyes with jet-black hair. I sighed as I chewed on my inner cheek. “But it’s not me you want acting this way.” He twisted his neck to face me with a bland stare.

  “It’s Rurik you want.” Dread clutched my soul. I�
�d never had to compete against a man before. Was I nuts? Rurik never gave me the impression he swung both ways.

  Tane’s mask crumbled and he allowed me to see his anguish. It pulled at my compassion to see the loneliness in his expression. I understood being alone. “He can’t see past my crown. If I asked him to leave you, would he do it because he wanted to or out of duty?” He ran his hand over his bald head. “How I wish for the old days when neither of us had responsibilities.”

  The fist of dread clutched tighter. Old days? Sometimes I forgot Rurik had a past. He never liked talking about himself and always used his charm to distract me when I asked.

  Yet here sat Tane, complaining like a girl scorned. “Excuse me. I’m sitting across the table.” I waved my hands in the air in case he couldn’t spot me.

  He rolled his eyes. “Not to worry. You’re my companion, I’d share. We really need to educate you on your role.”

  “My—” I blinked. “You—” My tongue wanted to go one direction and brain the other. The son-of-a-demon-whore wanted to steal my vampire. “I. Don’t. Share.” I spat out each word, getting a hold on my thoughts.

  “That’s not fair.” The expression of shock on his face looked genuine, but how could I ever tell with a millennia old Nosferatu. He probably schooled himself in controlling all his emotions.

  “Too bad, who says I play by the rules?” I leaned forward and pointed my finger at him. “Keep your sharp claws off Rurik.” The gall Tane had to casually try to take over my relationship. “You know, I came out here for some peace and quiet. I don’t remember inviting you to sit with me.”

  “It’s my deck.”

  “Our deck, baby. I’m your companion now. You better watch out or I’ll start demanding to move in with you next. Think I’m a bitch now, wait until I PMS.” I began to understand what Gwen hinted at about power. As Tane’s companion, he needed to treat me well, especially since he started this campaign for zero kill tolerance and keeping humans as Rurik did in Budapest. A strong vampire lord should be able to dote on his pet. I smiled at him. “Rurik’s mine. Everyone here knows it.”

  “So you’ll keep me from him forever. Trapped in this bond, yet unable to fulfill my desires?” He echoed my earlier worries and it stunned me.

  Could I be so cruel? I shrugged. Sure.

  Standing in a smooth motion, he spun and left in a furl of red silk. At the door, he stopped and faced me. His robe loosened, exposing his well-muscled bare chest. “If he comes to me of his own free will, I won’t refuse him.” I ground my teeth. “If he does then you can keep him.” A twang rang through the air from behind me. Something whistled through the air and made the curls by my right cheek flutter.

  Red bloomed from Tane’s left shoulder, like a great amaryllis flower with a stick as a stem. Time slowed.

  I squinted at the image and frowned, Tane had an arrow sticking out of him. A wooden shaft worked just as well as a stake

  He wobbled on his feet, staring wide eyed at the injury.

  I steadied him before I even realized I’d run over to help. Growing up on the streets taught me the ability to scream like a banshee when needed. It sometimes scared trouble away or better, attracted help. I screeched with everything I had and it echoed against the mansion.

  The French doors flung open and guards poured out as another twang sounded.

  Tane shouted. “No.” He grabbed my elbows and twisted me around so we exchanged positions. A shudder ran through him as another red spot bloomed from an arrow point protruding through his chest next to the first wound as he took an arrow meant for me.

  A splatter of blood landed on my face, its salty flavor in my mouth.

  Tane dropped to his knees and dragged me with him.

  Gwen knelt next to us, gun drawn, as more guards flooded the deck and surged into the jungle. I could have sworn I saw a flash of fur as some ran by, but most of my concentration lay with Tane.

  He saved me.

  Gwen reached for the arrow point that faced me and stabilized the shaft sticking out his back. “I need to pull these out before you heal around them, Master.”

  “Do it.” Tane’s grip on my arms tightened.

  I tried to give Gwen better access, but he held me firm.

  She didn’t hesitate like I would have. With a snap of her wrist, she broke the point off and pulled the shaft out. “We should bring you inside before the shooter tries again.”

  “No.” Tane shook his head. “Did you send for my brothers?”

  “Of course.” Gwen grabbed, snapped, and removed the other shaft from his shoulder.

  “Only two remain. The others have left for their own territories.”

  “I know.” Tane’s wounds didn’t knit together.

  “You’re not healing, what does that mean?” I touched the edges of the wound on his chest. It didn’t bleed anymore. I glanced from him to Gwen.

  He released me and stood, dropping the robe from his shoulders. “It means I’m a vampire that just got stabbed with wood.” He turned his attention to the door as two Nosferatu stepped onto the deck. “Take her inside, Gwen.” Without a word, the three of them leaped into the jungle.

  “What are they doing?” I grasped Gwen’s hand as she led me to the narrow corridor entrance.

  “Joining the pack in the hunt for the assassin, as it has been for centuries.” Chapter Sixteen

  In stunned silence, I followed Gwen to my room. Tane saved me. This thought kept going round and round in my head.

  Why would he do that? If the arrow killed me then I’d be out of the picture. Rurik would be unattached, and Tane would be free of the blood bond. My death wouldn’t affect him, things would be better for him.

  I stood at the entrance to a tidy room and stared perplexed. The luggage had disappeared. “Where’s our stuff?”

  Gwen peaked over my shoulder. “Housekeeping must have put your things away.” Scurrying across the room, I pulled open the closest drawer. My clothes lay neatly folded inside. “Nice. Thank them for me.”

  “For what? Doing their job?” She snorted and placed her hands on her hips. “Do you need anything before I leave?”

  “Where are you going?” The fear in my voice made me cringe. I cleared my throat and gathered what courage I still owned.

  “Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. Rurik is on his way.” She tapped the radio at her hip. “I have to help coordinate the hunt. I’d hate for one of the Nosferatu to mistake a guest for an assassin.”

  “Colby!” I gasped his name, forgetting he’d come to the estate to examine the body we’d found in the jungle.

  “He left two hours ago.” She gave me a wiry smile. “Otherwise, he’d be on top of my suspect list.” With that comment, she exited.

  “Yeah,” I whispered to an empty room. The party made it impossible to meet with Colby and Red. Inviting a couple of slayers to a vampire celebration would have been tasteless to say the least. Should I inform them of what happened?

  Torn between old loyalties and new ones, I stuck my thumbnail in my mouth and chewed. I hated having a foot in both human and vampire worlds. Life seemed so much simpler two years ago when I thought all vampires evil. A shiver ran through my limbs.

  The door banged open and Rurik stormed in.

  I startled at the sudden noise.

  He surveyed me head to toe and spun me around to run his hand down my back, all the while speaking. “I heard the news. Are you injured?”

  “Not yet, but if you keep manhandling me like a prize turkey you might break something.” Another shiver hit me. “Did someone turn down the freaking AC?” I rubbed my arms.

  He brushed his palms over my goose-pocked skin. “You’re freezing.” My teeth began to chatter.

  “I think you’re in shock.” Rurik tore the blanket off the bed and wrapped me in it then carried me to the sofa. “I’ll go fill the tub.” Too tired to argue, I allowed Rurik to care for me. Shock? After the past two days, my abused body decided to call the shots. The sound of run
ning water came from the bathroom. A hot bath would feel great. All the muscles in my back ached from the tension I carried and my ass still throbbed.

  Rurik returned and gathered me in his arms as we waited for the tub to fill. Lines of worry marred his handsome face. He pressed his cheek into my hair and squeezed me tight. The comfort and care he offered brought tears to my eyes. How could I ever doubt his love? “You were supposed to be sleeping. What were you doing outside?” He stroked my curls.

  “I needed some air.”

  “Open a window next time. How the hell did you and Tane meet again?” My shivers continued. “H—he wanted to apologize.” I kept our argument to myself.

  Rurik went still. “Really?”

  “I know. It surprised me too. Maybe that’s why I’m in shock.” Hugging me tighter, he chuckled and kissed the top of my head. “I love you.”

  “Do you think it was Luckard who shot those arrows?” I leaned into Rurik’s chest.

  “Probably. He must have balls the size of watermelons to step onto Tane’s estate with other Nosferatu still present.”

  “Tane calls them brothers. Are they related?”

  “No, the clan is a brotherhood, no women. For some reason females can’t complete the transformation. They’re a very close knit group, but not all of them came to support Tane.”

  “Not a surprise. Tane always seems to be on the fence, waiting to see who wins.

  Why wouldn’t they all be like that?”

  Rurik tilted my chin so he could gaze into my eyes. “That’s very perceptive and you’re right. They’re like jackals waiting to see who will come out on top.”

  “So this fight will remain between Luckard and Tane until one of them is dead.” I sighed. “Two of his clan went with him to hunt down the assassin. Will they really help?”

  “I don’t know. I doubt even Tane knows.”

  “He’s all alone.” Surrounded by people, yet unable to trust, confide, or truly depend on any of them. I could relate, being homeless was similar. I snuggled closer to my lover, trying to steal what little warmth he produced. “What happens when a women tries to become Nosferatu?”