The Warrior Vampire (4 page)

She eased up on the dagger, pulling it away from his chest. The sound of the magic's song quieted and, after a moment, grew silent. Naya took a steadying breath as her own body calmed, no longer responding to the magic's call. All right, so the guy had been a little wound up. She guessed anyone would have been in his situation. “I'm not going to free you,” she said as she took a couple of much-needed steps back. “But I still expect you to answer my questions.”

“Magnanimous, aren't you?”

A lazy, tantalizing smile stretched across his mouth. So wicked. Naya's lower abdomen tightened and her fingernails bit into her palms. The vampire was built for sin, every inch of him tight and bulky with corded muscle. A killer, that much was apparent, and she couldn't help but wonder if his appetite for violence would rival his appetites for other … things. Naya swallowed, forced the lust rising up through her chest back to the soles of her feet. This male was dangerous. He could kill her before she even had a chance to defend herself. No matter how good he looked stretched out and bound to her bed, she couldn't forget that he was an unknown variable. And Naya couldn't afford unknowns.

The vampire sighed in resignation and tried to stretch his arms, wincing with discomfort. Raw, angry burns marred his skin where the silver made contact, but it couldn't be helped. The silver would weaken him and Naya needed an equalizer until she decided whether or not to alert the elders to the vampire's presence. “For starters, I don't know your name, so I'm not going to be able to help you on that one. I've never seen you before today.”

Bullshit.
After he'd sacked her like a quarterback, he'd said her name. And that he needed to protect her. A surge of emotion rose up in Naya's chest. Tenderness toward this male that she couldn't afford to feel. Protect her from what? Why? Who was he to her? And what did he know that she didn't? This was
her
town. Anything supernatural went down and Naya knew about it. The only reason he was here now was because he'd passed out afterward. “You're lying. You said my name last night.”

The vampire let out a measured breath and Naya had a feeling that if his hands were free he would have raked his fingers through the tangle of his tawny hair. “I don't remember a gods-damned thing about last night,” he said. “I may be wrong, but I think we've been over this. I'm kind of drawing a blank here.”

Amnesia?
Sure, like she'd believe that pathetic excuse. “This isn't a soap opera, buddy. The my-memory-is-gone excuse is a little tired, don't you think?”

His mouth turned up in a half smile and Naya's stomach did a little flip. Damn, he was sexy. The way she'd bound him showcased his muscled arms and chest in just the right way. His shirtless state was a bonus as far as she was concerned. His loss was her gain. She gave her head a shake and tore her gaze from his body.
Gods, Naya. Focus!

“I never said my memory was completely gone. I just don't remember anything that's happened since I got to town.” He let out a chuff of breath. “Hell, I don't even know why I'm in this town. Maybe you could help fill in those blanks, starting with why I'm chained to your bed?” The question carried a decidedly sexual edge. Apparently he wasn't too nervous to nix the cocky attitude.

“You're chained to my bed because I was feeling charitable last night and decided not to kill you on sight. I tracked you to an abandoned parking lot just past downtown. Unchecked magic was leaching from you. Before I could get the drop on you, you tackled me to the ground, said my name, and that you needed to protect me.” She added, low, “And passed out. How's that for filling in the blanks?”

The mischievous glimmer in his emerald eyes dulled and was replaced with a calculating light reminding Naya that, good looks or not, this male was an unknown variable she couldn't risk letting loose in the town. His arms pulled against the bindings, more of a knee-jerk reaction than anything, rattling the chains behind him. “Protect you from what?”

His tone vibrated through her, the rough edge coaxing a shiver to her skin. “I have no idea,” she replied. “And since your memory has so conveniently failed you, I guess neither one of us will know anytime soon.”

He studied her with that same inscrutable gaze, as though he were peering right into her soul. His expression softened and the tension in his shoulders relaxed a fraction or two. “Sounds like we didn't have a proper introduction. Aren't you even curious to know
my
name? Or are you more of a cut-to-the-chase sort of female?”

His patronizing tone did little for her mounting temper. Naya didn't care what his name was. If he was a threat, she'd have to put him down. Knowing his name wouldn't make that any easier. “I don't need or want your name. All I
want
to know is how you knew who I was, why you think I need protecting, and how you came by the magic, so I can decide what to do with you.”

“Aside from my good looks, I'm not sure what magic you're referring to.” Gods, this male was insufferable! Arrogant, even at a disadvantage. Naya choked up on the hilt of her dagger and centered her energy, lest her own magic echo her emotions and become uncontrollable.

“How do you know about vampires, female? And what are you that you could so readily identify me?” That half smirk returned to his mouth, drawing her eyes away from his. His voice dropped to a smooth, mellow purr that made the tiny hairs on the back of Naya's neck stand on end. She felt that tug in her stomach again, a rush of excitement that had nothing to do with danger. Well, maybe it had a little bit to do with the danger.
Sexy bastard.

He thought he could control the situation. Manipulate her with his cocksure attitude and charming smile. Wasn't going to happen. Naya strolled to the window and let her fingers slide down the length of the blinds, enjoying the way his eyes narrowed and his brow pinched at the zip of sound. “You have fangs. I could sense the otherness in you, beneath the magic you've stolen. Silver doesn't seem to agree with you, though it glints in your eyes often enough. Of course, we could always put my theory to the test. Let a little afternoon sun in and see what happens.”

His smile faded and he opened his mouth to speak. Before he could get the words out, her cell rang, interrupting him.
Damn it.
Whoever it was had
stellar
timing. She made her way back to the bed and leveled the dagger at his chest. “Make a peep and I'll gut you,” she warned, careful this time not to let the blade make contact with his body. She checked the caller ID and rolled her eyes before answering, “What's up, Luz?”

“Paul told me to call and tell you to get your ass over to his place. I could be wrong, but I think he wants to see you.” Her cousin's tone was much too light and playful to make Naya anything but livid. As her apprentice Luz was sort of a personal assistant as well, but she had a wild streak that drove Naya crazy. Probably why Luz always went out of her way to be a sarcastic pain in the butt.

“Tell him I'll be over in a couple of hours.” She didn't have time for Paul's bullshit right now. She eyed the male chained to her bed, that amused half smile playing on his lips. “Better make that three.”

“Uh-uh. Not gonna happen. Noway, nohow. Sorry, Cuz.” How many more ways could Luz get her point across before Naya throttled her? Naya suspected her cousin was pressing her luck just to find out. “Paul said if you're not here in fifteen minutes he's sending Joaquin to pick you up.”

Shit
. The last thing she needed was to have Paul's son out looking for her. Joaquin would head straight for her apartment and there'd be trouble if he didn't find her there. He'd go out to look for her and wouldn't stop until he found her. Naya couldn't leave now, though. Not when she had this unknown element—very male, very muscular,
very gorgeous
unknown element—strapped to her bed like a sacrificial offering to some sex goddess. Joaquin didn't know about her house away from the tribal block and Naya wanted it kept that way. Especially since if Joaquin got a glimpse of the male chained to her bed, he'd go ballistic. If she wanted to keep her secrets protected, she had no choice but to leave. “Fine. I'll be there in a few minutes.”

“See ya then,
chica,
” Luz chirped before she hung up.

Great.
Now what in the hell was Naya supposed to do? She eyeballed her captive one more time, deciding that the best course of action at this point would be to keep him nice and unconscious until she got back. She sheathed the dagger and went to the dresser at the far side of the room. From the top drawer she retrieved several jars and bottles with the herbs and supplies she'd need. She tossed a pinch here and a dash there into a mortar and ground them with a pestle until the ingredients were a fine powder. Then she sent some of her own power into the mixture, focusing her energy and drawing on her magic. The sweet tinkling of chimes echoed in her mind as the delicate threads, like spiderwebs, pulled with a slight tug as the magic resisted leaving her body. She coaxed it further and the tendrils drifted from her fingertips and into the stone bowl.

“I wish I could be more helpful, but honestly, just because I
supposedly
knew your name last night it isn't exactly just cause for chaining me to your bed. I'm not judging or anything; maybe you're just into some kinky shit.” The vampire's tone was a little too playful considering the circumstances. A pleasant tingle drizzled from the top of Naya's head to the soles of her feet as she felt his eyes on her. She ignored his comments and continued with her work. “And since we're on the topic of kinky shit, you don't need to slip me a roofie, you know. I've never had to be coaxed to cooperate by a beautiful female before.”

Despite his playful tone, she sensed his suspicion. It made the air heavy and thick with tension. Power awakened in him with his anxiety, the sharp twanging tones of the now-off-tune music only she could hear. No time to waste, she'd be cutting it close as it was. Once she'd infused the mixture with her magic, Naya scooped a pinch of the powder into her palm. She swiveled her head, took stock of her captive's muscular form, and added a second pinch of the powder to the first. Better to give him a little more than he needed than worry about not giving him enough. She clenched the mixture in her fist and brought her hand to her side. Sauntering to the bed with a casual gait, she paused near the headboard.

“Whatever you're about to do,” the vampire warned darkly, “I'd reconsider.”

Naya worried her bottom lip as she took in the hard line of his jaw, eyes narrowed and brow furrowed. Going against her better judgment, she asked, “What's your name, vampire?”

That sparkle returned to his eyes. “Ronan.”

“I never reconsider my actions, Ronan.” Naya brought her fist up to her mouth and opened her hand. Ronan scowled, his eyes flashing silver as he fought against his bonds, the sound of his magic lowering from a soft soprano to a deep, urgent bass. She took a deep breath and blew the powder into his face. The music died, his thrashing ceased, and he lost consciousness.

“Have a nice nap, Ronan,” she said as she turned to leave. “Sweet dreams.”

 

CHAPTER

3

Naya circled the block until she found a parking space in front of the building the tribal elders conducted business in. She got out of the car and leaned against the hood, eyeing the front door. It might as well have been a portal into another land. The structure was one of a dozen old buildings in the area that had been rezoned and converted into office space. On either side were apartment buildings. Each unit housed members of Naya's pod. Her own apartment was just down the block in another building. An apartment she rarely frequented lately.

It wasn't any big secret why her pod had taken up residence in California. For centuries they'd followed the
caminos de la magia,
invisible highways that covered the globe. Only it was magic that traveled these roads, a trail of bread crumbs called simply El Sendero that the Bororo followed in their eternal quest to protect magic and prevent it from slipping into the wrong hands. From the thousands who made up their tribe they'd divided into smaller pods that consisted of a few to several hundred Bororo and spanned the globe. Naya's pod had been in Crescent City for almost a decade now. She had no idea how many generations it had taken before they'd wound up here. Naya's mother and grandmother had been born in what was now Brazil. Naya could only claim a century of years and all of them had been spent in the States.

Her tribe's history was well documented, though Naya had never been afforded the opportunity to sit down and study it. The sheets of old parchment and ancient animal skins that pre-dated her known history were locked away in a safe somewhere. The elders believed that knowledge belonged only to the worthy. And those not proven had no choice but to accept the mandates of their rulers. Which basically meant if you weren't a tribal elder—or didn't sport a pair of balls—you didn't know shit. Her grandmother had told her stories, though, and she knew that after the Conquistadors had ravaged South America the tribe had traveled north from the rain forests of Brazil and then later through Central America and Mexico before they wound up in the United States and scattered into their individual pods from there.

They followed El Sendero, choosing to vanish from existence, a tribe that for all intents and purposes had become extinct. They became like the chameleon, blending in. Imitating rather than assimilating. Their native language changed as they adopted a more common Spanish, which over the past forty or so years became mostly English. Naya suspected that in a few more decades they'd probably wind up in northern and then eastern Canada, adopting whatever language the locals spoke. French, more than likely. And after that? Alaska? The Arctic? What language did the Inuit speak? Maybe the Bororo would just keep going until they'd migrated their way back to South America so they could start all over again. Her grandmother said that the goddess had given Naya a gift and that's why magic sang to her. Whether or not any of it was actually true she didn't know. She simply did what she was told. Just like every woman in her family had done since the beginning of time. There were days, like today, that Naya felt more like a trained hunting dog than an actual member of a family. Paul had called her to heel, and here she was.