Chapter 2

 

 

Vampires abducting humans and Others. Why in the abyss hadn’t the vampire elders stepped in? Either they were involved, or they were afraid of something worse than vampires. Maybe a little of both.

The Elders didn’t fear much. The only thing he knew they all feared was the entity that had a hand in creating vampires. Not much was known about Crom Cruach.

Zoe stepped into his office and shut the door. Pinning Brent with a penetrating stare, she dropped into a seat across from him. “Amelia is on the way. You going to tell me what’s going on?”

Brent had found Zoe working for some shitty little paper that chased after urban legends. And she was cracking everything wide-open, but before the Silver Council could put a stop to that, he hired her and brought her under his wing to tell the stories she wanted to tell in a way that didn’t endanger them all. And now, Zoe was one of his most trusted friends. However, he wanted to protect the harpy. She was a new mother after all.

“No, best if you don’t know yet,” Brent insisted. There was a chance Amelia would be smart and avoid everything to do with these disappearances.

“Why?”

Brent sat back in the chair. “Let me find out if Amelia is willing to take the story first. If not, it’s not going to matter. I don’t currently have anyone else who would be able to take this on.”

“You’re hiding something, Brent. And when you hide shit, that’s when you find yourself in trouble you can’t get out of. Why don’t you tell me what’s up, and I promise not to come after you unless you’re gone for too long.”

“If this happens, we’ll talk,” Brent assured. “In fact, I already have something prepared in case shit goes down before I get that chance.”

“But you’re not going to share yet, are you?”

He shook his head, his lips pursed. “Sorry, Zoe. I need to approach this investigation my way.”

“As long as I know what I’ll need to do to bail you out if you get too damned deep.”

“Shouldn’t be an issue. You have my word, you’ll know either way.” He’d already sent a packet with what he knew and what he suspected.

“All right then.” Zoe hopped up, swept her blond hair over her shoulder, and headed toward the front as Amelia walked in.

Once again, he was struck by Amelia’s beauty. Auburn hair fell in waves around her white blouse and pencil skirt. Her pale skin glowed. Her cinnamon eyes immediately sought his.

His heart sped up and he fought any visible sign of his desire. Though if she were to pay attention, she’d smell his desire, notice his pulse, his breath.

Her gaze lingered as she smiled at whatever Zoe said. And he could hear what they discussed with a spell, but he gave them their privacy. He’d learned long ago that unless it was life or death, it was better not to know.

Brent placed the envelope on his desk and focused on the window, trying to wait until Amelia made her way to his office.

 

* * * *

 

Zoe propped a hip on the front desk as Amelia walked in.

As usual, Amelia’s attention was drawn to Brent. And for the longest moment, his eyes stayed on hers. The magnetic pull was almost too much to take.

Whatever Zoe said, she missed. Amelia was too caught in the heat of Brent’s stare.

Then he looked out the window and Amelia focused on Zoe, who had taken her under her wing and had taught her a little about her newfound strength. Vampires and harpies were very different, but they were on par in physical strength, something Amelia had to practice with since the change.

“Sorry, what were you saying?” Amelia asked.

“Whatever the story is, say yes.” Her lips were twisted into a knowing smirk. “Go in there and tell him yes.”

Amelia glanced at the ceiling and back. “Why are you so happy about this?”

“Because this is exactly what you need to get the guy.”

Amelia stole another peek at Brent. “Doubt it’s that simple. I’d better get in there, though. Kiss Nyla for me.” Zoe had the cutest little blond bundle of joy at home with her mate.

“You got it.” Zoe went through the door and locked up.

This was probably the first time she’d been alone in the building with Brent. She’d either been left alone to work the late shift after becoming a vampire, or there were a few other people around. And Brent was never there if she was the only other person in the office.

Right now, it was just the two of them. She made her way past the cubicles and stepped through the open office door. “You wanted to see me?”

His stormy blue eyes swept through the room and latched onto her. “First, you can say no to this story. It’s not going to be an easy job. There are a lot of problems with investigating something of this magnitude. And if you’re not comfortable, we simply tell the Silver Council we can’t help.”

She crossed the room and took a seat. “Stop with the scare tactics. Tell me what’s going on.”

He tossed the file across the desk. “Vampires are abducting humans and Others alike. Those who know about vampires. I have a couple theories as to why the vampire elders haven’t stepped in, but I won’t know more until we find some answers. If we take the case.”

Her brows shot up as she picked up the envelope and riffled through the information. “Let me guess, because I’m a vampire, I’m the only one who’s able to get close enough.”

“You’re the only choice. Declan and Consuela are out because they would know what Consuela is. Victoria is too well-known with older vampires. I don’t trust Jared to even attempt something like this.” Brent rubbed at his face. “And there’s another problem. If they are taking blood slaves, you’ll be expected to drink from someone. So, if I go in as your pet, your cattle, or whatever you want to call me, you won’t have to drink from random Others.”

Amelia sat up straighter. “Wait, you’re volunteering to be my first Other meal? Something I’ve been told a million times not to taste?”

He sat back in his seat and looked out the window. “I told Preston and Toryn this was a terrible idea. That you don’t trust me.”

Amelia watched him closely, paying better attention to Brent. He was nervous. She scented rejection, which made her pause.

Gripping the arms of the chair, she tipped her head. “Declan made sure I knew what could happen if I drank from Others. Skip the bullshit. Don’t assume you know what I’m thinking or feeling. Just tell me what could happen if I drank your blood.”

And the thought was far more thrilling than she wanted to admit.

“In moderation, you should be fine. And there is something we can do to dampen the effect, but that won’t help when you have to drink from another Other. And in this investigation, you will likely have to.”

“What can dampen the effect?” she asked.

“Two things actually. Sorry, you need all the information. The first, and probably the easiest, is to have Consuela help us form a bond. That should counteract my magic in your system. It won’t be foolproof, but as long as you don’t drink me dry, you should be able to manage, especially if I help you. The other, and it’s not a guarantee, is we trade blood, possibly forming a blood bond, but there’s no way to know if you and I will. Not to mention, you aren’t ready for that.” Though the darkness in his eyes said that hurt to admit.

Her eyes narrowed. He was wrong. “Why am I not ready?” she demanded.

He stood up and paced away with a sigh. “You haven’t come to me. I can only assume you no longer want me.”

Brent couldn’t have been more wrong if he told her the sky was pink. After a year of chasing after him, trying to get the tiniest bit of attention, she’d given up. Then he said he would wait for her, and she assumed he’d give her hints he was still waiting.

But nope. He kept his distance, hardly looked at her, only spoke to her when he needed to for a story. Feeling unwanted, Amelia gave up once again.

She shifted in her seat, her heart pounding harder. “You were waiting for me to come to you?”

“I’m a man of my word. If I tell you I’ll wait for you to decide, I’ll wait.”

Anger and jealousy twisted through her. “What about Tiana?” The name left a bitter taste in her mouth.

His brow arched. “She tried to rekindle that flame. There’s nothing but ash left. And she brought news about Stefano and Eloise. We are not warming each other’s beds. Unlike you and your friend, who wants so much more than you can give him.”

Guilt made Amelia pause. “What do you think you know?”

 

* * * *

 

Brent’s heartbeat picked up. Had he waited too long? His voice was rough. “Am I wrong? Have you fallen for him?”

A gasp left her lips. Then she shook it off and met his gaze head-on. “I broke it off. It wasn’t supposed to be emotional.”

“Is it for you?”

“No.” Her shoulders dropped. “And it breaks my heart because he deserves happiness and to have love. I don’t know how he got so attached so fast.”

Relief washed through him. “Sometimes it happens when a vampire is close to someone before feeding, and they feed regularly from that one person.”

“Did Tiana drink from you?”

He dropped into his chair. “No. She wanted to. And in an emergency, it might have been all right as she is not a Shadowstalker, but my blood has been known to have powerful effects on even the most mundane vampires.”

Her gaze locked onto his. “What do you mean? How many have had your blood?”

He held still, avoiding the shudder that wanted to rock through him. “I was a blood slave when I was young.”

“How? Why?”

He let out a breath. “That’s a long story. If you choose to investigate and drink from me, I’ll tell you everything. For now, all you need to know is my past experience can help you, and all of the vampires who would remember me are dead.”

“You killed them?”

He tipped his head from side to side. “I had help.”

“What did they do?”

“They boosted their power with my blood while preparing to use me as a vessel for the entity that created vampires. They weren’t successful.”

“Do you think this could be related?”

He shook his head. “It’s possible, but we need proof.”

She sat up straighter. “Then what are we waiting for?”

“Does that mean you’ll drink from me?”

“Yes. Did you really think I would say no to this story?”

Brent wanted her fangs deep in his throat, her body pressed tight. He’d dreamed of that moment since before she became a vampire.

Wait, did she say story? “Can I ask you something?”

Amelia nodded.

“Have you lost all interest in me?”

She licked her lips. “You’re all I think about. But we need to find the vampires involved and stop them.”

“Very true.”

Her gaze never wavered. She didn’t even blink. “Then I’ll have to deal with whatever happens when I drink from you.”

“If you don’t take much, you should be able to control the cravings for Other blood. And if I drink from you, it’s possible a bond forms.”

Her head tipped. “You don’t think it will.”

It would, but would that scare her away? “We could have Consuela help, in case you learn something you can’t accept from me.”

She shook her head, looking at the file. “No. Better if they don’t know. Besides, if I have to drink from you if we get in, I may have to drink from another Other. May as well learn to cope. Victoria manages her cravings. I’m sure I can learn to do the same.”

“You can.” In all his years, he’d never met someone so determined. And her determination was how she became a vampire in the first place.

“We have two options then. We attempt the bond, or I simply drink, and I’ll have a head start on resisting the thirst.”

“No bond yet, not the first taste, Amelia. You may hate me before this is over.” And he’d give her the worst of his memories before she could make a decision. He couldn’t enter into a bond without her knowing he spent years slaughtering vampires thanks to his time as a blood slave.

“Why?”

“I have secrets. Many secrets. Some so damning I don’t know how anyone could love me.” Especially her.

“Yet, you’ve loved human women before.”

“You were human,” he countered.

“Does that take me out of the running for your next lover?”

His brow arched. That wasn’t what he expected her to say.

“No, it doesn’t. I only want you. Now, examine what we have. We can figure out what we need to do from there.”