Saeed swayed on his feet. Memories latched onto him, wound themselves around his limbs, through his body and mind, like tendrils of seaweed grabbing hold to pull him beneath the ocean’s surface. The room swam in and out of focus, blurring between memory and reality. He needed to feed. He needed clarity. But until he found her, until she tethered his soul, he was condemned to madness. Saeed cradled his forehead in his palm as he drew a cleansing breath. It had been a long night and an even longer week, and his continued search for his mate was beginning to take its toll.
He just had to keep it together until sunrise. After that he could collapse into blissful oblivion. He would persevere. The Collective would not get the better of him.
Saeed shook himself free of the hold of memories and walked further into the club. In most cases, the blaring dance music would’ve annoyed him, but instead Saeed welcomed the pounding bass into his ears and let the lilting, electronic tones distract his mind. He focused on the sound of the high trills and deep basses, the steady rhythm that thrummed like a heartbeat, and the tempo that built to a crescendo before calming once again.
An enticing scent hit Saeed’s nostrils and cleared his mind in an instant. The fog of the Collective evaporated, leaving in its place a laser sharp focus he hadn’t felt in months. His thirst ignited, burning through him like a fire through dry kindling. The scent of blood called to him and he let his senses lead him as he ventured deeper into the building.
All thoughts of the Collective vanished as Saeed tracked the scent of blood. His predatory instincts took over, his singular thought that of pursuit. Near the back of the club in the VIP section, he spotted a male holding court. Magic sparked the air and Saeed’s gaze narrowed. The mage. The male was everything Saeed had seen of him in the Collective: proud, powerful, menacing. And at the mage’s side, Saeed caught a glimpse of fire-red hair. He’d found her. The one thing he’d coveted for months.
Without a thought to his own safety or actions, Saeed advanced. His singular focus was the female who stood not thirty yards away and her inviting scent that beckoned him closer. He barreled into the VIP lounge, pushed his way past the mage’s supernatural entourage, toward the object of his obsession. Any creature that dared to try and stop him would meet a swift and violent end.
His actions were immediately interpreted as an act of aggression. The very female he sought to possess kicked out her chair as she stood. Light glinted off metal in a flash of motion as she drew a dagger from a sheath at her side. Her arm whipped around in a backhanded motion as she spun the dagger in her grip. She lunged toward Saeed and he came to a stop, the razor sharp edge of the blade pressed tightly against his throat.
Do it.
Even in his madness the thought made little sense. He wanted her to cut him. Wanted her to draw his blood. He raised his chin, inviting the slice of her blade, and her brow furrowed as she studied him.
“If you have a care for your life, vampire, you won’t move another inch.”
Gods, the sound of her voice. It resonated through the hollow cavern of Saeed’s soulless chest creating a deep, throbbing ache that nearly brought him to his knees. His eyes drifted shut as he waited for the moment of their tethering. Anticipation skittered through him and yet, he remained bereft of his soul.
Nothing.
If it were possible, Saeed felt even emptier. The tether should have been immediate. He’d witnessed it enough times in the Collective to know. Fear and despair choked the air from his lungs. The blood ran cold in his veins and icy fingers of dread speared Saeed’s heart. She was his mate. It was the only truth he’d known throughout these months of madness. Something was wrong. Saeed refused to believe otherwise.
“I meant no offense.” Saeed’s eyes came slowly open with his words. Maintaining composure seemed near to impossible while his world crumbled around him, but at the moment, it was his only choice. “I simply wanted to introduce myself to your master.”
A deep groove cut into the flawless skin above the bridge of her nose. Certainly she wondered how he would know such a thing, and it pained Saeed to have caused her any hurt or distress by pointing out she was nothing more than property.
“You’ll have to forgive Cerys,” the mage said with a smirk. “She takes her job pretty damned seriously.”
Her job. As though she had any choice in the matter. Saeed’s fangs throbbed in his gums as he was possessed of the urge to sink them deep into the mage’s throat and tear out the vein there. Giving in to that violent urge would only lead to ruin however, and so Saeed was forced to maintain his composure.
“Indeed.” Saeed pushed the word from between his teeth. “And who could blame her when she serves someone as powerful as yourself.”
The mage graced Saeed with an indulgent smile. He flung a casual arm over the back of his chair and regarded Saeed with a narrowed gaze. “What could a newly turned vampire possibly know about me to make that sort of assumption?”
Saeed knew how to play the game. How to play to the mage’s ego, lull him into a false sense of security. Had the fae tethered him as Saeed had expected, the arrogant male would be dead by now and Saeed would be escaping the city with his prize. Saeed was adaptive, however, and had learned long ago that things rarely went according to plan. He returned the mage’s smile and adopted a relaxed posture despite the fact his mate still held her dagger to his throat.
Tether or not, she was his mate. Saeed refused to believe otherwise.
“I know that Seattle’s supernaturals bow to Rinieri de Rege and wait to do his bidding.”
The mage broke out into raucous laughter that grated on Saeed’s ears. “I’d hardly say they wait to do my bidding. And please, call me Rin.”
The invitation for casual familiarity was a good sign. Saeed had expected open hostility and that Rin had so easily let down his guard was one less obstacle for him to surmount. He gave a slight nod of his head which was still hampered by the blade pressed to his throat as he offered up his own introduction. “Saeed Almasi.” His eyes slid to the alluring fae, and Saeed tried not to stare. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever beheld and her mere presence shook him to his foundation.
“Cerys Bain, meet Saeed Almasi.”
Cerys. Finally knowing her name after so many months was a gift Saeed cherished. He couldn’t wait to say it aloud, feel the roll of it off his tongue, hear the sweet sound of it in his ears. His eyes met hers, and Saeed was once again struck by the notion that the ghostly images of her ingrained in his mind hadn’t done her justice.
“Cerys,” Rin said with a flippant flourish of his hand. “Sit down and give our guest the opportunity to relax.”
Gods, but she was beautiful. No one could ever mistake her for anything other than a preternatural creature. Her hair truly was like fire; wild tangles of curls, multifaceted in their many shades of red and gold, framed her delicate face and made her body appear even more delicate and lithe. Her eyes were like starlight, unlike any color he’d ever seen. Indescribable. Like all of the fae, she was tall and thin—delicate—but he knew she possessed a ferocity and strength that fascinated him. She was beyond description, and worthy only of his awe and admiration.
“Cerys!” Rin snapped. “I said sit down.”
A violent urge spiked inside of Saeed and his hands balled into fists at his side. Anyone who spoke to her with such blatant disrespect should’ve been punished for the offense. Instead, Cerys shot a murderous glare Rin’s way before lowering the dagger to her side and dropping back down into her chair.
“She gets cranky when she’s hungry,” Rin offered the explanation with an air of boredom. “And she’s always hungry.”
The snickering that came from Rin’s entourage told Saeed the issue of Cerys’s mood and hunger must have been a running joke. One she obviously didn’t appreciate, and neither did he. His own thirst burned in his throat. It was a need Saeed knew all too well and it certainly wasn’t a laughing matter.
“Then I suggest you feed her.” He kept his tone light despite the indignant rage that continued to burn through him. “It seems prudent to keep a creature as deadly as her as happy as possible.”
Rin laughed. He held out a hand toward the empty chair beside him in invitation. Saeed lowered himself into the chair and forced himself to relax though he felt anything but calm. After so many long months, he’d finally found his mate. And she had failed to tether his soul.
* * *
Cerys watched the vampire from beneath lowered lashes, careful not to give him her undivided attention. If she showed any interest in him at all, Rin would find a way to exploit it. The last thing she wanted to give him was more ammunition to use against her.
“It seems unfair you know so much about me while I know nothing about you,” Rin remarked.
The bastard wouldn’t waste any time in learning as much about the vampire as possible. Cerys had been with Rin long enough to know the games he played and why he played them. Saeed seemed unconcerned with Rin’s curiosity. A lazy, indulgent smile spread across his full lips, revealing the wicked points of his dual fangs. Cerys’s stomach did a backflip before slowly settling back down into place. The reaction was unexpected, but not at all unpleasant.
Interesting.
“Like I said, I am Saeed Almasi,” the vampire replied. “Newly turned by Mikhail Aristov, and a former master of one of the thirteen covens.”
Dear gods, his voice. Smooth and indulgent like a molten chocolate cake. Cerys would’ve never imagined that a sound could be delicious but Saeed’s voice had managed to make her even hungrier than she already was. He kept his attention focused on Rin with only an occasional glance her way. But when they managed to make eye contact a thrill chased through her that took Cerys’s breath away.
“Former master?” Rin ventured. Saeed had managed to pique his curiosity. If only the vampire realized what a horrible mistake that was. “And why is that?”
Saeed gave a shrug that was meant to be casual. Cerys wondered if he’d realized how miserably he’d failed. There was nothing casual about the dark, deadly vampire. His wild gaze, lean, yet heavily muscled form, and the menacing air that surrounded him betrayed his attempt to appear unassuming. The male was deadly. Obviously a killer. Only a fool would let their guard down around him. She could only hope the vampire would realize early on that Rin was no fool.
“The vampire race is reborn,” Saeed said. “There is no reason for any of us who’ve been turned to remain in L.A.”
A corner of Rin’s mouth hitched in a half smile. He studied Saeed for a quiet moment and Cerys could practically hear the gears grinding away in his calculating mind. “I have to admit I’m pleasantly surprised to learn the rumors I’ve heard are true. The world has gone too long without the presence of vampires. But why abandon your coven? You could’ve brought them with you.”
Someone as power-hungry as Rin could never fathom why anyone would relinquish power. It would only make Saeed more appealing to him. Saeed’s dark gaze slid to the side once again and held Cerys immobile. Rin wasn’t the only one fascinated by this stranger. Her own curiosity was a very dangerous thing that could land her in a boatload of trouble.
“I have minded my flock for centuries,” Saeed said. “Protected them from the threat of slayers until such a time as Mikhail would rise from his ashes. I have done my due diligence, and my reward is my freedom.”
Eloquent. And old. Whoever Saeed was, he’d walked the earth for quite some time, confirming at least part of the rumors they’d heard upon his appearance. His words resonated with Cerys. His need for freedom echoed her own longing and it only served to further hollow out her chest. If only she could sever her own ties so easily.
“Besides,” Saeed added. “Mikhail Aristov holds the only true power in L.A. The entirety of the race bows to him.”
Uh-oh. Cerys sensed a move would be in their future. The combination of vampires and power would be too much for Rin to resist. He’d be drawn to the vampire king like a moth to a flame. No doubt it would bring them nothing but trouble.
Rin smiled. The son of a bitch was happy as a clam to have this new and very welcome distraction. It hearkened to the good old days—or the not so good old days—when they’d spent night after night making their way from one coven to the next. Rin had been even more ruthless back then than he was now. Cerys could only hope the vampire wouldn’t reawaken that ruthless bloodlust time had managed to temper, albeit little.
“Do you not wish to bow?”
Saeed let out a chuff of laughter. “On the contrary. I don’t mind swearing my allegiance, I’m simply eager to spread my wings. I won’t be the only one to leave Los Angeles,” he said. “The thirteen covens containing every dhampir alive have been forced to live within miles of the last vampire for centuries. Now that he is no longer alone in his existence, our shackles have been broken.”
Rin listened, rapt. “Is it true that Mikhail’s mate is extraordinary?”
Saeed’s jaw squared, a motion so quick and subtle that Cerys wondered if Rin had noticed at all. “She is,” Saeed conceded. “But to what extent I know not. Mikhail keeps her well protected and covets her secrets.”
Strike two. The vampire was either incredibly stupid or working an angle. That information was like catnip to Rin. Vague as it might’ve been, it was enough to entice him. If Saeed didn’t shut his trap, they’d be on the next redeye to Los Angeles. Cerys wasn’t interested in relocating, and she certainly wasn’t interested in seeing Rin revert to his old ways.
“How many of you are there now?”
Wow. He wasn’t beating around the bush. Saeed seemed unconcerned with Rin’s straightforward line of questioning and hiked his shoulder once again as he feigned disinterest.
“A handful or so.” His noncommittal answer earned him a couple of points. Maybe he wasn’t as stupid as Cerys had given him credit for. “It’s none of my concern anymore.”
“I see.”
Rin would play this close to the hip. No way would he show his hand so soon. As intrigued as Cerys was by Saeed, she said a silent prayer he’d come to his senses and leave Seattle as soon as possible. But why did the prospect of him leaving make her feel even more empty than she’d ever felt before?
“Then tell me, what brings you to Seattle?” Rin leaned forward in his chair and fixed Saeed with a serious stare. His lips curled upward with a hint of a smile. “Besides your desire for freedom.”
“You do,” Saeed said without an ounce of humor.
Strike three. Ugh. The hard-core ego stroking Rin was currently getting would no doubt make him even more insufferable. “Me?” Rin never could pull off humility convincingly. “I’m nothing more than a mage among many. Surely not as noteworthy as one of a handful of rare vampires.”
Saeed grinned, once again showcasing the wicked points of his fangs. “It all depends on your perspective. In Seattle, you are a legend.”
Cerys’s eyes rolled so hard she worried she might lose them in the back of her head. Give me a break. Rin was a lot of things, but legendary sure as shit wasn’t one of them.
“I’m humbled by the compliment.” No he wasn’t. “What can I possibly offer you, Saeed that you don’t already have?”
Now they were getting down to business. Saeed turned and looked at Cerys fully. The hunger in his midnight eyes froze her in place. The color gave way to a flash of bright silver and she shivered. The moment lasted far too long and her heart beat a wild rhythm against her rib cage. The intensity of his attention unnerved her and at the same time, she craved it.
“Employment for starters.” When Saeed finally tore his gaze away from Cerys to look at Rin once again, she let out a slow and shaky breath. “I might no longer be under Mikhail Aristov’s thumb, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in making a name for myself on my own.”
Rin chuckled. “Believe me, you’re very existence gives you notoriety.”
Saeed inclined his head ever so slightly as though to acknowledge the compliment. “Then allow me to put that notoriety to work for you.”
Rin settled back into his chair. He regarded Saeed for less than a second before he said, “How can I possibly refuse?”
Cerys’s gut bottomed out. A sense of dread welled up within her to the point that she found it hard to swallow. Nothing but ruin would come to the vampire by associating with Rin. He destroyed everything he touched, her included. The loud bass of the imposing club music drowned out her thoughts as their server stepped up to their table, a large round tray resting on her right palm. Cerys’s stomach growled as she let the food adopt her undivided attention. Some people ate their feelings. Cerys ate her lack of feelings.
“Thank the gods.” Rin’s dramatic tone made her want to sock him in the face. “Maybe now that you’ve got some food your mood will improve. You’ll see,” he said as an aside to Saeed. “Cerys is always hungry; she’d eat all day long if I let her.”
If she could feel embarrassed, Cerys was certain her cheeks would be flame red by now. But she couldn’t muster up the energy or the emotions to care one way or another what the vampire thought of her. His hungry gaze slid to her once again and Cerys suppressed the urge to let out a slow sigh. If it didn’t matter what the vampire thought of her, why did he evoke such a visceral reaction? And why did she sense his coming here had awakened something in her she thought long since dead? The vampire’s presence was like the promise of … something. And Cerys knew the only way she’d find out what that promise was, was to keep the vampire as close to her as possible.