Revelation of Blood (22 page)

“It’s nothing you need to worry your
beautiful head about, babe,” Dean said a little gentler. “We’ve
just got a bit of a situation at my shop. Can you put the
bloodsucker on? We’ll talk later, toots, I promise.”

I frowned, really worried now as I agreed and
handed the phone to Archer. I watched as Archer listened to Dean
and the frown on his face grew from annoyed to pissed off.

“When?” he barked into the phone followed by
short pauses. “How many? He said what? Hell no!” Archer growled
fiercely then and I watched his eye color begin to fade with anger.
“Careful, dog. That’s your only pass with me. You’re lucky my mate
likes you.”

“No fighting, boys,” I tsked loud enough for
both of them to hear. “Don’t make me spank you.”

Dean must have said something saucy because
Archer growled again as his fangs lowered. “Over my dead body,
mutt.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Dean was always poking
the bear.

“We’ll be there in ten minutes,” Archer
barked then handed me back the phone. I ended the call and locked
the touch screen.

“What’s going on at Tricky Dic’s?” I asked as
I grabbed onto his arm.

“
Dark Ones
,” Archer spoke in my head.
“
Dean’s got several groups hanging around the bar. Don’t say
anything out loud, just get up and have Hagan take you out back. I
don’t want us drawing the attention of the Dark Ones in the club.
I’ll meet you outside in a minute. I need to make a call
.”

I pursed my lips unhappily and nodded my
head. “
What the hell is going on, Archer
?
I thought vamps
stayed out of werewolf establishments
.”

“
They do, baby
,” he said as he leaned
over and gently kissed my lips. “
I’ve got a bad feeling about
this
.” I watched as he got up and made his way over to his
office stairwell and disappear behind the private door.

“Care to fill me in, Morrison?” Hagan asked,
his brow furrowed with worry as well.

“Let’s take a walk,” I smiled tightly and he
nodded his head in understanding as he got up and put his hand at
the small of my back, escorting me out of VIP and down the stairs.
As soon as we were in the employee parking lot, I looked around to
make sure it was empty and then turned to Hagan.

“Which car did you take today?”

Hagan dug into his pants pocket and brought
out the Audi R8 keys. “Pádraig wanted the Escalade. Aoife and
Lochlan rode with him and Trey.”

“It’ll be a tight fit, but it will have to
do,” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “We need to get
our asses over to Tricky Dic’s. Dean’s got company.”

Hagan frowned as he walked with me to the
Audi. “You’re kidding, right? Don’t tell me Dark Ones are there
too.”

“Yep. And there are more than a few.”

Hagan stopped walking and looked thoughtfully
at the ground. I was just about to ask him what was wrong when his
head popped up and he gave me the strangest look. “They’re making a
power play.”

“A what?” I asked, thoroughly confused.

“A power play,” Archer said softly behind me
and I jumped. I hadn’t even heard him approach.

“It’s the only explanation,
dheartháir
,” Hagan nodded. “Why else would any vampire walk
into a wolf’s den?”

“They’re making a statement,” Archer cocked
his head to the side, “and using Cruz to do it.”

“Okay,” I sighed, holding my hand up, “I’m
lost. Would someone care to fill me in?”

Archer held his hand up and Hagan threw him
the keys. “Get in, baby,” Archer commanded as he hit the unlock
button. “I’ll explain on the way.”

I waited for Hagan to slide into the
passenger seat then I sat down on his lap and closed the door.
Archer started the R8 and gunned it as he took off down the
alleyway.

“Dark Ones, hell most vampires for that
matter, stay away from wolves at all costs,” Archer explained as he
down shifted and railed around the corner. “Them being at The
Mausoleum is one thing, but showing up at Dean’s speaks volumes.
Vamps know to stay away from there. Dean does not like us and
everyone knows it, even the Dark Ones. He only tolerates me because
of you, Skye.”

“And vice versa,” Hagan growled lowly.

“So what’s this shit about a power play?” I
asked, grabbing on to Hagan as Archer blazed around another corner.
“And where’s the fire, baby? You’re doing sixty in a thirty-five.
Are you trying to get a ticket?”

“No cop in this city is going to give me a
ticket, babe,” Archer chuckled. “I’m friends with the mayor.”

“He’s a vampire too?” I gasped.

“No,” he chuckled again. “He’s human. But I
helped him out of a sticky situation last year and we’ve been
friendly ever since.”

“I don’t think I want to know,” I groaned as
we crossed the Congress Avenue Bridge.

“Text Dean and tell him we’re coming in the
back door,” Archer said as he passed Tricky Dic’s and took a right
on the next street. “I don’t want the Dark Ones to know we’re
here.”

I got out my phone and started texting Dean.
“I still want to know what you guys mean by a power play, Archer,”
I said in a frustrated growl as I hit send. I was the only one who
didn’t understand what was going on and it made me
uncomfortable.

Archer pulled into an upholstery shop parking
lot a block away from Dean’s, parked, and killed the engine. “I’ll
explain everything when we get inside, baby,” he said as he leaned
over and took my head in his hands. “Promise.” He kissed me soundly
and got out of the car. I saw a flash and then he was gone.

“He left us?” I asked in shock.

“He’s just making sure they don’t have
sentinels stationed around Dean’s,” Hagan said as he patted my arm
and chuckled. “Come on. We’re taking the long way in.”

By the long way, he meant walking at human
speed. It took us about five minutes to cross streets and make our
way to the back lot at Dic’s. When we approached the door, Archer
swung it open for us and nodded up at Hagan.

“All clear outside,” he whispered as he
stepped back and let us through. “We’ve got seventeen inside plus
their human companions.”

Dean popped his head out of the office door
and ushered us quickly inside. His office was small and cluttered
and could have definitely used a woman’s touch. There were papers
covering his desk, old coffee cups were strewn about, and last
year’s Biker Babes calendar was still on the wall.

“Looking good, toots,” Dean smiled widely as
he held his arms out to me. I smiled and shook my head as I
sidestepped Archer and went to him.

“Looking pretty good there yourself, mister,”
I chuckled as I hugged him. Dean wore ripped jeans, a black muscle
shirt that showed off his full sleeve tattoos, and black biker
boots. His brown hair had grown out some and it looked really good
on him. “How’ve you been?”

“These Dark Ones are fucking with my Zen, but
apart from, that I’m good babe…even better now that you’re here.
You getting tired of pretty boy yet? Ready for a real man?”

Archer growled lowly behind me and I backed
away from Dean. Dean was eyeing Archer over my head, daring him to
do something and I held my hands up.

“Stop it, the both of you. This is not the
time for a ‘my dick is bigger’ contest,” I frowned and then turned
to Dean. “And, why do you always have to start shit, honey? We were
doing just fine until then.”

“It’s fun, babe,” he shrugged his shoulders
and looked down at me with a wicked grin.

“Not for me,” I sighed, looking up into his
eyes. “I love him, Dean. Genuine love, not infatuation. And I’ve
got a real man, trust me. I’ve seen every inch of him and there is
absolutely no doubting it, love.” Hagan snickered behind me and
quickly turned it into a fake cough in a sorry attempt to hide
it.

“I still can’t believe you’re a fucking
vampire sometimes,” Dean frowned as he sighed and sat down at his
desk.

“Believe it, wolf,” Archer growled as he sat
down in one of the chairs in front of his desk and pulled me onto
his lap. He slowly ran his nose along the hollow of my neck and
smiled. “And she’s all mine.”

Dean narrowed his eyes at Archer and turned
his computer screen towards us. There were four CCTV images of the
bar on the screen and he motioned to a large table of men. “This is
why I called you.” He pointed to a man in all black sitting in the
middle of the group. I watched as the Dark One picked up the hookah
hose from in front of him and took a long drag. “He says his name
is Wesley or some shit. Came in here about two hours ago ordering
my newest employee around like he owned the joint. Gavin is human,
but he’s taking the pack mark next full moon. He knew these guys
were looking for trouble so he called me. I’m just lucky Zephyr and
Sayer have the night off. If those vamps walked in when they were
on duty, there would have been immediate bloodshed.”

I leaned in to get a better look at the group
of vampires and frowned. “I’ve never seen any of them before. Have
you?” I asked, looking over my shoulder at Archer.

Archer glanced over at Hagan and Hagan nodded
his head. “That,” Archer said, leaning forward and pointing out the
man sitting to the right of Wesley, “is Stanus Octavius, the oldest
living blood child of Calethwy Moors. Atticus killed Calethwy in
1913, thus taking his place as leader of the Dark Ones. Stanus
wisely left the United States after that. I guess he decided it was
time for another visit.”

“Wesley,” Hagan spoke up, “is actually Weston
Ley, Stanus’ favorite blood child and sometimes lover, well last I
heard. He’s a devious little bastard. Rumor has it, Weston likes
torturing human teenage boys, though we have no solid proof.
Someone has worked very hard to cover their lover’s tracks. Mr. Ley
has been on The Faithful’s radar for the better part of the last
decade.”

“Well, why the hell are they here?” I asked,
standing up and crossing my arms over my chest.

“Better question,” Dean growled, “why the
fuck are they in my bar?”

Archer and Hagan looked at each other again
and sighed at the same time. “Well, there goes my theory,” Hagan
shook his head as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned
against the door.

“Aye,” Archer agreed and then turned to Dean.
“We thought the Dark Ones were making a move on Austin to force
Skye into submission, but it looks like we were wrong. Stanus hates
Atticus, so his being here would have nothing to do with him.”

“Wait,” Dean stood angrily, holding his hand
up. “Force Skye into submission? What the fuck do you mean force
her? What am I missing here?”

I walked over to Dean and put a calming hand
on his shoulder as I explained my recent kidnapping in Boston and
subsequent meeting with my father. When I was finished, Dean
growled loudly and gave Archer a murderous look.

“You are supposed to be protecting her! It’s
your duty as her mate and sire. Allowing her to be taken by those
psychotic fucks is not protecting her, Rhys! If you can’t handle
the job, pretty boy, I’d be more than happy to take that sweet ass
off your hands.”

Archer flashed to stand and growled a fierce
warning at Dean; his eyes white with rage. Dean took a step toward
Archer and Hagan flashed to Archer’s side, growling as well. I
looked back at Dean just in time to see his body start to ripple in
anger and I threw my hands on his chest and backed him into the
corner of the room.

“Good lord! Will you all please just shut the
fuck up?!” I hissed as I glared at each of them in turn. “They will
hear you!”

“Step away from him, Skye,” Archer commanded
angrily through clenched teeth as he held one hand out to me,
beckoning me to him.

“Not happening until you all calm the fuck
down,” I bit out, my brow furrowed in annoyance, then turned my
eyes to Dean. “And you! Say shit like that again to my mate and
I’ll start taking serious offence, you get me Dic?” Dean growled
and started to argue with me but I cut him off. “It was MY fault I
was taken. I left the party we were at, where security was in
force, and went for a walk. NONE of this is Archer’s fault. He
actually tortured people to find me, Dean. Tortured. People. Cut
him some fucking slack and stop talking shit! I love you but I will
totally kick your ass if I have to.”

Dean’s body rippled one last time as he
stared at Archer and then slid his eyes down to mine. I watched as
he took a deep breath in and got control over his anger.
Eventually, his frown turned into a smirk and he smiled down at me
as he tucked my hair behind one ear. “That’d be one ass kicking I
wouldn’t mind taking, toots.”

“Ugh!” I growled in frustration, throwing my
hands up and stepping back to Archer’s side. “You are
incorrigible!”

“You like it,” he winked sexily as he took a
seat in his office chair and put his heels up on his desk.

Archer and Hagan visibly relaxed and I pushed
Archer down into the chair and resumed my seat on his lap. I leaned
back against his hard chest and reached my hand up to softly stroke
his neck, the action further calming him.

“So what do we do about these bloodsuckers?”
Dean frowned, eyeing my fingers on Archer’s neck. “I don’t want
these filthy bastards in my shop and I definitely don’t want them
thinking they can push around me and my employees.” He lowered his
legs and sat up straight. “Oh, I haven’t told you the best part
yet. When I came in, I did my regular sweep of the floor; saying
hello to the customers and such. When I made it clear to Weston
that I thought they should call it a night and get the fuck out of
my bar, he just smiled at me and said they’d be staying for a
while. No other vampires have ever stepped a toe into Tricky’s. The
balls on that motherfucker are astounding. He has the nerve to come
into my house and drop his dick?! I wanted to rip his head off on
the spot. The only reason I didn’t make a scene is because I’ve got
humans occupying most of my tables out there. So that’s why I
decided to call you and see what the fuck was up.”