Marked: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance (9 page)

Quite unbelievable, the turn my life had taken. From starving college student to vampire courtesan in only three short days. Not something I was particularly proud of. If my father or brothers ever learned about any of this, I’d no doubt they would disown me. They were the sort who saw the world in black and white. Things were a touch grayer for me, but that hardly meant I was ready to involve myself with more vampires.

The rational part of me knew Delirium was far from dangerous. Hell, it was a licensed—and therefore untouchable—institution created for the sole purpose of feeding vampires. One of the only ones in the entire state. And the vampires reigning over it kept everything in check, including the safety of any visiting humans. Not to mention, Ethen would protect me. But one had to wonder how exactly the establishment had managed to build up enough of a blood supply to feed an entire city full of vamps.

“Winter. What’s wrong?”

“Hmm?” I glanced over to find Ethen watching me as we sat at a red light. “Oh, I’m fine.”

Sighing, he turned on his turn indicator and eased off to the side of the road. Once parked, he turned and gave me his full attention. “No, you’re not.”

“No, I—”

He tapped his nose. “I can smell your fear.”

For some reason, the knowledge that vampires could scent out emotions made me uneasy.

“Shh.” His hands curved around mine. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You can literally smell fear?”

His nostrils flared as he scented the air. “I can scent many things. The perfume you’re wearing, the associates who last handled your dress, the silver in your jewelry…”

I forced myself to swallow. Everyone knew vampires had keen senses, but to smell my emotions? I’d never expected such a thing. That complicated matters. “Can you sniff out everything? Like all the emotions?”

A wrinkle creased his brow. “Well enough. Lust, for example, is far more potent than sadness. The body’s chemistry changes with extreme emotions. Once a vampire learns to differentiate them, he never forgets.”

“I see.” What else was there to say? For the first time since Tessa and I had concocted this ludicrous plan, I was starting to see the flaws. Surely Alexei would know if I had impure motivations? And if I took my dagger, would he smell the steel? How did you trick a bloodhound?

“Care to tell me what this is about? I assure you, no harm will come to you at the restaurant.”

I forced a smile to my lips and nodded. “Can’t blame a girl for worrying about her neck, right?”

“Amelia,” he whispered.

My eyes flew wide, and I sucked in a quiet breath. The sound of my name on his lips was far more beautiful than I’d ever imagined.

“I give you my word. No one will lay a finger on you tonight.”

I nodded, though I couldn’t quell the fear. Delirium was hardly a thought. It was Alexei who filled my head. Tessa and I hadn’t properly thought this whole thing through, and as Ethen pulled back onto the main road, I found myself wondering if I’d make it out of this whole mess alive.

Chapter 10

At first glance, I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Delirium. When one imagined a restaurant that catered specifically to vampires, one had to wonder what it would look like inside. Coffin-shaped tables? Deep goblets meant for swishing blood? Bats hanging from the gutters? I certainly hadn’t expected to find an ordinary building with nothing more than a stately desk sitting in front of the entrance.

Camouflage
, I realized. While humans were quite aware of vampires, it seemed unwise to shove their faces in it.

“Shall we?” Ethen once again offered me his hand.

I took it without hesitation. If I was about to enter the equivalent of a blood factory, it had damn well better be on the arm of a respected vampire that many outright feared. Fingers wound tight, Ethen led me toward the door, then paused and waited for the hostess to acknowledge us.

Instead, she kept her head down as she marked off a seating plan. “We’re full up for the night.”

Even I balked. No eye contact, no welcome, nothing but a crisp and impolite brush off. I stole a glance at Ethen to find a darkness swelling in his gaze that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

I glanced back at the hostess, all the while praying that she’d look up from her seating chart before the vampire next to me snapped her neck. The cold Ethen was back, the one from the gala, and I honestly hadn’t a clue what he was capable of. I’d known he let his guard down in his own home, but it was disconcerting to witness the swift change that overcame him.

With a long sigh, the hostess lowered her pen and lifted her head. “I said—Oh, Mr. Rune!” The rest of her sentence ended in a pitiful squeak. “Forgive me, I didn’t realize—”

“My table, please.”

“Oh, of course. For you and your…” Her eyes flew wide once she caught sight of me. “Your…date?” The hostess’ face turned mottled red, and her lovely brown eyes pinched at the corners before she glanced back into the restaurant. “Right. If you’ll follow me, please. And I must apologize once again. I didn’t…it doesn’t matter that I didn’t…next time—”

“My table,” Ethen repeated in a clipped tone.

I barely managed to snort back a chuckle.

“Of course, Mr. Rune.”

I didn’t need vampire hearing to catch the litany of curses spewing from her mouth. Poor thing. She had no one to blame but herself, though. We followed her inside, and I took a moment to peruse my surroundings. The tables were oval-shaped as opposed to coffin, each lined with booths or chairs. All in all, Delirium had a modern carriage about it, including a bar that purveyed to humans, and loud music, likely to offer the patrons a bit of privacy from prying vampire ears.

“Your table, sir.” The hostess swept out an arm toward a table in the back corner.

Ethen led me around to the side, then pulled out my chair before I could sit. I was hardly surprised, but the hostess blanched at the sight, her eyes practically bugging from her head. Doubtless word would soon spread about this.

In one smooth motion, Ethen guided me in behind the table, then took the seat next to me.

“May…I start you off with some wine?”

“A bottle of red for the table,” he told the hostess with a cold look. “And a glass of A positive for me.”

Flustered, she nodded and vanished from our table, likely hiding in the kitchen to regain her senses. I hid a smile, equally amused and unnerved that he’d chosen my blood type.

Now veiled in the darkest corner of the room, Ethen turned toward me and smiled, a hint of mischievousness twinkling in his eyes.

“You little devil,” I laughed. “You purposely intimidated that poor woman.”

“I did no such thing,” he countered with a secretive, albeit wicked, grin. Everything about him stole my breath. With me, he was so open and honest, but for the public, he donned an almost boorish mask. “My associates will arrive shortly, I’m sure. I’m not known for tolerating any sort of tardiness.”

“Shocking,” I teased, my chin braced on the heel of my hand as I studied him.

“When they arrive, I suspect they will take much interest in you.”

I frowned. “What? Why?”

“I’ve never brought a lady to
any
sort of public gathering before. That you are here will rouse quite a bit of chatter, I fear.”

I waved a dismissive hand. “So, let them gossip.”

“I’m not well versed in social behavior,” he admitted under his breath, his dark lashes framing his bright eyes. “I prefer to keep to myself while many of my kind seek the attention of others.”

Emboldened by the relaxed ambiance and feeling a touch brave, I leaned forward and brushed a hair back from his face. “So, you don’t enjoy the company of others.”

“I enjoy yours,” he murmured, his hand catching mine before I could pull it back.

My breath hitched. “You do?”

“A great deal. For someone with no experience as a courtesan, you certainly know how to charm your way into a vampire’s life.”

“But you’ve only just met me.”

The tips of his fingers stroked my palm. “Does that matter?”

Did it? Truthfully, I enjoyed his company as well. Not only was he nothing like the monsters my family had described, but he was also far more civilized than the boys I’d met in college. “No,” I murmured. “I suppose not.”

“You sound surprised.”

I opted for a little honesty. “I had no intentions of liking you.”

“I find myself hoping for a
but
at the end of that sentence.”

“
But
…” I tossed him a bright smile. “Despite my better judgment, I do.”

“The horror,” he teased. “Whatever would your father say?”

The smile slipped from my lips. My father. I already knew what he’d say, and it wouldn’t be pleasant. But at what point did I stop living according to his beliefs and decide to live for my own?

“Winter?”

I shook my head clear of those dark thoughts in time to notice two others headed in our direction. “Ah. I assume those are who we’re waiting for?”

Our server returned with Ethen’s order the same moment his two associates joined our table.

“Perfect timing,” one mumbled as he seated himself across from me. As the server poured the wine, his gaze lifted to mine and his mouth parted. “Well, now, who do we have here?”

“Allow me to make introductions. Winter, this is Kade,” Ethen responded, gesturing toward the one who had spoken. With what I was sure was meant to be a charming grin, Kade pushed his hand back through his tussled brown hair while his tongue flicked against his teeth. “And this gentleman to his right is Alexei.”

The blood in my veins turned to ice.
Alexei
. My gaze instinctively leapt to his and I winced at the startling green peeking out from his long, blonde hair. What were the chances that this was the same Alexei? It was hardly a common name. It had to be Tessa’s hustler.

“Winter?” Ethen murmured.

Alexei lounged back in the chair as though he hadn’t a care in the world, his lean legs crossed at his ankles. Nothing about him screamed evil, and yet I couldn’t slow my pulse, a symptom I was sure they all had noticed.

“Winter,” Ethen called once more.

I snapped out of it and bobbed my head. “Nice to meet you both.”

“And you,” Alexei commented. “I must confess, though, I feel as though we’ve met before. Your name, it must be a surname, yes?”

Ethen’s gaze narrowed on me as he studied my reaction.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” I said, ignoring his question. I dragged my attention back to Ethen. “Where is the ladies’ room?”

He frowned but pointed me toward it.

I grasped my clutch and rose from the seat, noticing that Ethen had done the same. The entire walk to the restroom, I felt his gaze on me. How quickly a pleasant evening could take a turn. I couldn’t believe Alexei was here, and me without my dagger. I hadn’t thought to bring it. Where would I have even hidden it? This dress left little to the imagination. A steel blade would have stood out.

Once in the bathroom, I slipped into a stall, fished my phone out of my purse, and dialed Tessa.

“Winter?”

“Alexei. Does he have blonde hair and green eyes?” I demanded in a quiet whisper, trusting the surrounding din of the restaurant to veil my voice.

Her sharp inhalation was answer enough.
Shit
.

“Is he there with you right now?”

“I’m at a dinner with him.”

A flurry of words rushed through the line. “All right. It’ll be all right. He has nothing against you, just me—”

“Did you forget I stabbed one of his vampires?”

“With a kitchen blade,” she pointed out. “A minor annoyance, but no severe injury. I doubt he even cares.”

“Tessa…”

“Stick to your story. You became a courtesan to pay your way through college. Nothing else.”

“Don’t you think they can sniff out a lie?”

“A lie? No. They scent emotions and study body language. Don’t show fear and you’ll be fine.”

That was her advice, seriously? Fake out a walking lie detector? “Tessa…”

“Go,” she said. “Don’t give them a reason to suspect anything.”

Too late
. We ended the call with a series of well wishes, then I slid my phone back into my clutch, and paused to stare at my reflection in the mirror. I could do this. I could. If they questioned my motives as a courtesan, I would deviate the conversation back around to them.

Nodding, I turned and left the bathroom, only to collide into someone.

“Oh!”

Firm hands gripped my shoulders and steadied me, but it was my pulse that took a leap when I met Alexei’s gaze.

“I was hoping we would run into each other.”

“Really.” I glanced back at the table to find Ethen and Kade deep in conversation, their expressions serious.

He leaned toward me with a feral grin, then whispered in my ear. “I know who you are.”

My head snapped up with a wide-eyed stare. “What?”

“You think I don’t know about Tessa’s little roommate? Think I didn’t dig up every dirty little secret in her life?”

Good. Then there wasn’t any reason for me to pretend with him any longer. I stole another glance at Ethen, only to find him thoroughly distracted by Kade. “You’ll get your money, and when you do, you’re gone. Out of her life forever. But you touch one hair on her head, and I’ll end you.”

He tossed his head back as laughter erupted from his mouth. “How rich! Do you honestly think the money will save her?”

“No,” I admitted, my mouth a grim line. “But I will.”

“You’re adorable.” Amusement quirked his brow. “Such a brave little kitten staring down a lion.”

“And in this scenario, you’re the lion?”

He chuckled, the light catching the tips of his fangs. “I think I like you.”

“My dream come true,” I snipped. “Now if you don’t mind, I have a dinner to get back to.”

“Ah, yes.” His hand clamped down around my arm. “I must give you two some credit. Bravo. Rather ingenious, using the madam to procure the money Tessa owes me. I wonder what she would say, though, if she were to learn the truth. Or Ethen, for that matter. Does he know of Tessa’s debt to me? Did you inform him of my little relationship with her? Tell him how she broke the rules, and now you’re cleaning up her mess?”

Fear churned in my stomach. “Why would he care?”

“Perhaps he wouldn’t,” Alexei commented. “But he
might
care that you lied to him. I can’t imagine you were honest with him.” He gazed back at the table. “Ethen is an odd sort. He prizes honesty and loyalty above all else. And you, my dear, have already lied to him. How long until you betray him?”

“You don’t know a thing about me,” I hissed.

“Is that so?” Without pause, Alexei leaned down and once again pressed his lips against my ear. “I want my money. And I’m getting impatient. Tessa’s time is almost up, and when she fails, her life is mine as payment. As for you…you should be more worried about yourself. These are dangerous times we live in.”

I glanced at Ethen again. His head turned, and the moment he caught sight of Alexei and me, he pushed to his feet. I knew that look—it was the same one he’d worn when he’d rushed to defense against Luke. Hoping to avoid making a scene, I plastered a smile on my face and eased away from the vampire at my throat.

Alexei’s laughter made my skin crawl. “Oh, and don’t for one moment think I’ve forgotten about that little stunt you pulled on Calix.”

After a knowing wink, he made his way back to Ethen.

I followed him back to the table, my pulse roaring in my ears. While Ethen appeared troubled, he didn’t question my newly sullen mood. Instead, his hand found mine beneath the table and gave a reassuring squeeze.

The rest of the dinner passed in silence for me, my mind only half present as they discussed business. All I wanted was to go home.

Tessa and I were so screwed.