Vampires Dead Ahead (2 page)

She tried to summon her magic to protect herself, but it was a vague attempt. As if she was poking at the male with a stick and hitting stone instead of a flesh-and-blood being.

The room seemed to spin as he raised his head and smiled. Blood coated his fangs. Real blood. Her blood.

“What …” The words came out as a forced whisper “ … did you do to me?”

“My lovely Monique.” The male spoke her name as if it were a beautiful treasure.

Confusion piled on top of confusion. “My name … how do you know?”

“I know much about you, Monique,” he murmured as he nuzzled her hair and breathed in her scent.

Her skin felt cold and her mind numb, as if she were trapped in a fall of snow, her body heat evaporating with every minute that passed.

“I do what I must for the survival of my people.” The male kissed the skin along her jaw. “You have now been bitten twice. With the second bite, you become one of us.”

Realization came to her but it was far too late. “You are a real Vampire,” she said slowly, her tongue feeling almost too thick to speak.

“And when you wake, so shall you be.” He raised his head and smiled. He still supported her limp body with one arm. He ran his fingers down her neck with his free hand. The place he’d bitten her tingled and burned. “A powerful Elvin Vampire, like no being ever known before.”

“Elvin Vampire.” The desire to giggle rose up inside her but she was too weak. “There is no such thing.”

“In ten days there will be.” The male scooped her up in his arms.

Her head lolled to the side as he cradled her to his chest. He carried her the short distance to the white coffin with the pale pink satin lining.

She thought she caught the scent of a human—but that was absurd. Why would a human be with her and her Vampire lover?

Dimly she was aware that he was setting her down inside the coffin. When she lay on the plumped satin, her head resting on a small pillow, she stared up at him. “Who are you?”

Triumph mixed with malice flashed across his striking features as he crouched beside her. He gripped the lid of the coffin. “My name is Volod,” he said right before he slammed the lid shut.

Volod.
The name was familiar to Monique’s fuzzy mind. But then it didn’t matter anymore as she passed into oblivion.

ONE

“Another Tracker is missing.” Rodán set his wineglass on the white tablecloth of our table for two in the exclusive paranorm hot spot Some Other Place. “Kennedy appears to be gone.”

The hum and buzz of the restaurant and bar filled the pause as I digested Rodán’s statement. Another Tracker?

A busboy stopped by our table and cleared our dinner dishes after asking if we were finished. I waited until he was gone before I responded to Rodán.

“Kennedy, from Seattle?” I frowned as I spoke. “Any idea what happened to him?”

Rodán slowly shook his head. “The Proctor Directorate’s investigation teams have found nothing.”

“That makes how many?” I asked.

“One Proctor along with eight Trackers.” Rodán’s handsome Elvin features remained amazingly impassive, his crystal-green eyes betraying no emotion as he spoke.

“What does the GG have to say about it?” I asked.

Rodán looked thoughtful. “The Great Guardian has other matters that concern her at this time.”

“More important than the disappearance of paranorms who are important to the safety of this world?” The GG drove me crazy in the ways she chose to “help.”

“It is not for us to decide where her attention is best suited, Nyx.” Rodán was gentle yet firm in his statement.

“I’m having a hard time believing what’s happening.” I shook my head, and my cobalt-blue hair tickled shoulders bared by my strapless Versace minidress. “There’s something very wrong going on.” A brilliant understatement.

Rodán gave a deep nod. “Exceptionally so,” he said, making me wonder for a moment if he meant my understatement.

I shuddered at my next thought. “Unless Zombies are back.”

“We are well and rid of Zombies, Nyx.” Just hearing Rodán say “Zombies” made me shudder again. It had only been a few months since we’d faced the threat, but it seemed like it had been days ago.

“Desmond thinks we’re rid of them permanently.” The silk of my dress slid across my thighs in a soft caress as I crossed my legs at my knees. My light amethyst skin contrasted with the black material of my dress. “I do have faith in him.”

“As do I.” Rodán took another sip of his Chardonnay and I watched the play of muscles in his arm, beneath his aidgolden skin. “Which is why I planned to speak of Desmond with you.”

I cocked my head. “What about him did you want to discuss with me?”

“The Great Guardian and I have spoken.” Rodán leaned forward, his forearms resting on the tablecloth. “I intend to offer the Sorcerer a position as a Night Tracker.”

Surprise made me blink. First of all, Rodán never told me about his choices for Night Tracker candidates. Second …
Desmond?

“Desmond has qualities that would benefit our team,” I said. “He isn’t the sword-and-dagger type, though.”

A slight smile curved Rodán’s lips. “Indeed he is not. He has other talents that would serve him well.”

I smiled, too. “I am not being negative, Rodán. The thought just caught me off guard. I actually think Desmond would make a terrific addition. Providing you can convince him to join the Trackers.”

“That may be a challenge.” Rodán gave a nod of acknowledgment, his long white-blond hair shimmering beneath the low lights with the movement and revealing the points of his ears. “Desmond has been a loner, but after seeing what he and the Trackers did together to strike down his enemy, Amory, I know the difference he can make with us.”

“Ah.” I sipped my Chardonnay. “I wondered why you were telling me about a candidate. You never have before.”

“That will potentially change, Nyx.” Rodán’s expression grew more serious. “I want you to take a larger leadership role.”

I stilled and set my wineglass down. “More than being in charge of special teams?”

“Yes.” Rodán studied me. “You have proven yourself to be an effective leader. You are respected by others, and you have a charisma about you which is not learned. You were born with it,” he said. “You will still primarily track but you would be involved in more strategy development, training processes, and team assignments.”

Surprise kept me from speaking as he continued.

“I am not considering you full-time in another position by any means,” Rodán said as he continued to study me. “However, having more responsibility in the overoperations will make better use of your skills.”

When I finally found my ability to speak, I said, “I had no idea you thought of me this way.”

Rodán’s gaze was focused, intent, as if he was evaluating even my response. “As a Night Tracker you have already provided balanced leadership, and your judgment is sound.

“I am thinking of one behavior, however, that must change,” he added. “This has nothing to do with my feelings for you outside of being your Proctor.”

“Okay.” My words were slow and deliberate. After what had happened during the Zombie op, I was wary of what he might say. “What in your opinion do I need to work on in relation to the soundness of my judgment?”

“The only cautitine only on I have, you have heard before,” Rodán said. “You are an exceptional Tracker. However, at times you have had no regard for your own personal safety. You need to think through what is best overall, before you jump into certain situations.

“For example,” he continued, “too often you have charged forward without waiting for backup. It has almost cost you your life on more than one occasion. An effective leader needs to remain alive or he or she cannot be effective. Do you agree?”

I wanted in some way to fire back that I’d done what I’d had to. As a Drow princess, I was raised around warriors. I had trained as a warrior myself. Dark Elves don’t sit back and watch, they act. But I knew Rodán was right.

With an inward sigh, I brought my fingers to the collar I’d worn to favor my father. When I considered the last operations, I had to admit Rodán was right. I’d put myself into some pretty bad situations, including getting injected by a deadly virus. Dark Elves are aggressive fighters, but they still lay battle plans and work as a team.

My restraint, to a point, during the last case may have had more to do with my team than me. They had been adamant that I not charge in on my own without them like I had during previous ops. They’d been right, and I’d known it.

“Yes,” I said, “that’s fair. It’s not easy for me, though. It’s my nature to give it everything I have, despite the dangers, but I understand what you’re saying.”

“Consider what I have to say.” Rodán wore a serious expression. “I believe you above all those others you track with have the skills necessary to lead the entire team. Under my guidance, of course. I don’t have all the details worked out, but I wanted you to know what I was thinking for your future.”

Wow. I took a deep breath. “It means a lot that you have so much confidence in me and my abilities.”

“You have earned it.” Rodán steepled his hands on the tabletop. “Time and time again on operations you have been assigned to you have proven to be an exceptional leader. I only have the one concern.”

“I think I understand.” I clasped my hands in my lap. “But I’m not management material. You
know
me—I can’t sit back and watch.”

“I would never expect you to do so.” Rodán smiled again. “That is not the Nyx Ciar I know.” I felt perplexed at his words, but he continued. “I am only asking for a little restraint on your behalf.”

“Can I think about it?” I brushed my palm over my belly, absently smoothing the silk of my dress. “I need a chance to let this digest. Not only that, but I do have my PI agency to consider. I’m not sure adding extra responsibility as a Tracker will help me in my day job as a PI.”

“Of course.” Rodán raised his glass and sipped his wine. I watched the movement of his throat as he swallowed, observed his fluid grace as he set his wineglass on the table.

“It is my intention to groom Colin to take a leadership role,” he said. “I would like him to start leading a special ops team.”

Warmth spread through me at the sound on> the sof Colin’s name. Yet that warmth was followed by the feeling of confusion that had plagued me ever since my and Adam’s breakup and Colin’s insistent pursuit of me.

Now was not the time to think of either of the two males. Detective Adam Boyd was no longer in my life, and Colin, a Dragon paranorm, wanted me to take things a step farther with him.

It was times like this—being comfortable with my Drow appearance in this paranorm restaurant, and not worrying about how I looked at night—that made me realize it could never have worked with Adam. I couldn’t look like I did right this moment and be out with him. However, I didn’t have those same reservations with Colin, as far as dating another paranorm went.

Still, at this moment there were more pressing things to consider than my love life.

“Is Desmond the only new Tracker whom you and the GG are considering?” I asked.

“I believe Tristan would make an excellent Night Tracker also,” he said. “The Guardian agrees.”

“My brother?” I thought about him as a Tracker candidate. Tristan had been locked in a stone for twenty-two years, but to him it had been as if no time had passed. He’d returned not recognizing me—I was no longer the five-year-old kid sister I’d been when he disappeared. He was now in Otherworld visiting with our parents.

“I hope he can be convinced,” I finally said. “Though he was an artist before he was taken, never a warrior, I think he could be a tremendous Tracker.”

“Tristan has always been a warrior,” Rodán said. “A warrior with an artist’s skills. It is time to use all of his abilities. As a Tracker he could add much to the team with some training.

“We’ll let him out in the field with you for a couple of days to give him an idea of what a Tracker’s night is like,” Rodán said. “Then we’ll send him to the training program in Chicago. Once he’s fully trained, we’ll team him up with an experienced Tracker in New York City.”

“Rodán!” The pair of voices exclaiming his name came from a pair of blond Nymphs who stopped at our table. They looked like excited, giggly airheads as they bounced up and down on their toes. I recognized them—they were backup singers for Festival, a new paranorm rock band that I’d seen for the first time last weekend.

“Trixie.” Rodán nodded to Nymph One. “Bubbles,” he said to Nymph Two.

Trixie and Bubbles. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. It may not have been the first time I’d heard their stage names but it still got me. By the looks of the pair of airheads, I wondered if those
were
stage names, or their real ones.

I settled back in my chair to watch. This should be good.

“We haven’t seen you for a while.” A small pout was on Trixie’s lips. “Bubbles and I were just saying how much—” The Nymph glanced at me then back at Rodán. “—we have missed you.”

I didn’t think that was exactly the sentiment she’d wanted to express.

Then Bubbles said, “After we perform at the Pit next, are you going to invite us back to your chambers?”

Uh-huh. That statement confirmed what I’d been thinking.

I toyed with the stem of my crystal wineglass as Rodán gave them a smile that was entirely sensual. Rodán couldn’t help it. He could simply have been trying to be polite, but no matter. His expression would still have the power to set a female on fire.

“I will talk with you beautiful ladies at another time.” Rodán said it in a way that was appealing rather than off-putting. “At this moment I am enjoying Nyx’s company.”

“Can’t wait,” Trixie said with a giant exclamation point in her voice. “We’ll see you soon.”

Bubbles nodded with enthusiasm, her blond curls bouncing. “We’ll be ready.”

I bet they would.

Rodán gave a slight inclination of his head. “Have a good evening, ladies.”

The bubbling airheads slipped into the crowd in the bar but I could still hear their giggles. I wanted to roll my eyes but I smiled at Rodán instead. “Your adoring public.”

Rodán leaned back, holding his wineglass. He looked at me for a long time without saying anything.

I tilted my head. “Are you all right?”

“You know that for you I would give up everything,” he said quietly.

My cheeks burned a little at the intimacy in his expression and in his words. “We both know you couldn’t, Rodán.” I continued even though he looked like he wanted to say something. “It’s how you’re wired. You’re a sexual, sensual being and I get that,” I said. “You would never be happy with one person.”

“With you …” He looked thoughtful as he paused. “With you everything was different. You make me want to be with you alone.”

I was surprised. I had never heard Rodán say this before in quite this way.

“Then why weren’t you?” I said, more out of curiosity than anything else. “You continued to see others while you and I slept together. If I made you feel different then why didn’t you stop inviting others to your bed?”

During the time I was with him, I’d never considered Rodán enjoying sexual pleasures with others as abnormal. He’d invited me to join in on the experiences, but I’d always refused. It wasn’t my thing.

“One female would never satisfy you. Oh, maybe for a time, but I refer to a lifetime,” I went on before he could respond. “I could never share the man I decide to be with. It just wouldn’t happen.”

His green eyes were dark with something I couldn’t identify. “For you I would give it all up.”

Warmth filled me as I studied the beautiful male sitting across the table. Rodán was truly like no other. Not a soul on this Earth Otherworld—or any Otherworld for that matter—could fully compare to myto ompare Proctor, former lover, and friend who was dear to me in more ways than I could count. What I felt for Rodán was different than my feelings for any other man.

“You know that I love you,” I said quietly. “But I’ve always known that you have desires, you have lust for others. And I realized, in the end, I couldn’t change that. I simply am thankful for our deep friendship now.”

Rodán opened his mouth to speak but I pushed back my chair and got to my feet.

As he stood, his slight smile and a slow shake of his head indicated his understanding.