CHAPTER ONE
She’d lost sight of Theresa.
Again.
That, in and of itself, wasn’t worrisome. Theresa was free to party. That’s why they’d come to Las Vegas this time. Clubs were supremely easy to find here in the Nevada sin city. Eska frequented them often. It was her element. Prey was easy to find and easier to entice. She could flirt. Engage. Find a quiet corner. Partake as much blood as she wanted, although with her slight frame, she couldn’t handle too much from any inebriated parties. The night was still young - the hour hand hovered at midnight. Flickers of light touched on the crowd. Music thumped through the air and slid off all manner of skin. The dance floor was filled with gyrating bodies...in various stages of disarray. And all levels of fitness. Her canines vibrated against her lips, fighting her control. So many options. Such a feast.
All told, it was perfect.
Or, it would be, if she hadn’t violated a rule. She’d turned one of her friends into an undead. And then she’d set her loose. Eska scanned the sea of humans again. Theresa should be easy to spot. At five foot ten, she was equal in height to Eska, although her frame was a lot fuller. She sported a crimson and neon-yellow wig tonight. The girl was also dressed like a fairy, complete with little wings. It didn’t seem possible to miss her.
Unless she’d ignored Eska’s warnings, and left the club...
Drat.
Eska should have ignored Theresa’s pleas. Brushed them aside. She wasn’t a novice in this. She’d reached her third century of existence and knew the rules. Turning a human made her responsible, but changing Theresa had seemed so harmless! And things had gotten rather lonely lately. Every night was the same. Even the players all started to look alike. Being on the prowl used to create excitement she craved. A danger she chased. Endless entertainment.
Now?
Eska almost frowned. As a member of the Inupiaq tribe, she was betraying the native values of respecting others called qiksiksrautiqabniq, as well as irruaqjibeaieeiq, to feel no mockery. That was difficult. The relationship game felt like it had been reduced to the equivalent of a slot machine. With a little effort, a few pennies, and a pull of a handle, something passable for dating material could be cranked out. It was usually male, but not always. Normally good-looking. Most of them were fit. Well-groomed. Charming. But they always ended up being unmemorable. All she seemed to run into anymore were lowlifes.
Guppies.
Bottom feeders.
What she really searched for was a man equivalent to a King Salmon. One from legend. He’d need to be in his prime. Fighting for survival against the odds. They were the hardest to catch. Because they knew their worth. They were the best. The most worthy.
Oh, Eska!
What an absurd thought at an even more inane time! Any hope of finding her King Salmon had been dashed years ago. Even before this un-death had taken her senses and then deadened them.
“Hey babe! On a scale of one-to-America, how free are you tonight?”
Eska ran her eyes up the male who blocked her progress. Looks like she had attracted another guppy, but at least he had an entertaining pick-up line. Her eyebrow lifted as she considered him. He was tall. She had to look up, and she was in heels, making her a good six-foot-two. He didn’t appear to have imbibed too freely, making him a good prospect. He had a nice smile. White, straight teeth. Nice tan. His hair was sandy-colored, and his eyes were blue, both reminders that she preferred dark men. Black hair. Dark eyes. Deep temperament. This fellow obviously spent a lot of money on his dentist, and a lot of time in a gym, if the pecs and biceps he’d flexed were any indicator. All-in-all, however, he looked like a nice diversion.
Once she found Theresa.
Eska smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m looking for someone,” she replied.
“Well. You’re in luck. You found him.”
“I’m looking...for someone else,” she answered.
His grin wavered slightly, but only for a moment. The next second it was back in full force. He had laugh lines at the edges of his eyes in accompaniment. He resembled a poster boy for an All-American football player from the mid-twentieth century. Big. Blond. Buff. And entirely wholesome. He looked vaguely familiar, too. Eska almost snickered as it occurred to her. She’d probably run into his great-grandfather at a malt shoppe in the 1950s.
“Anything I can do to help?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“You can allow me to proceed.”
The grin didn’t even budge. “How about if I help? I’ve got great range. Who are we looking for?”
Mister All-American went on tip-toes and craned his neck, easily looking over her head, as if to demonstrate his prowess at it. Eska considered him for long enough he ended his scan and went back to his regular height.
“My friend, Theresa.”
“Is she as hot as you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Well, then. I haven’t seen her.”
This time both of Eska’s eyebrows lifted. “I have not described her yet.”
“No need. There is nobody here as hot as you, babe.”
Eska’s fangs tingled. She fought a smile that would reveal too much. “Where will you be later?” she asked.
“How much later?”
“Does it matter?”
“Well...they do last call at two around here. Can’t say where I’ll be after that.”
“I do believe I’ll be back for you,” she told him, “but you may not want that. It could be bad for your health.”
“Come again?”
“I am a vampire.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Nope.”
Eska tilted her chin upward, narrowed her eyes, and lifted her upper lip. She toyed with hissing, too, but considered it too theatrical. His eyes went wide. His grin died mainly due to how his jaw dropped. That expression lasted a couple of seconds and then he surprised her. He blinked. Licked his lips. Blew her a kiss.
“Oh. Baby! This is my lucky night!”
“You are not afraid?”
“Hell, no. Do I look scared?”
“No. But you will be.”
Eska darted around him and sped across the floor, doing her best to maintain a human-like pace. She failed. She was at the second floor balcony before Mister All-American turned around to look for her. He didn’t look up. And then he walked over to the bar. She hoped he wouldn’t drink too much. She really didn’t want the taste in her mouth. She licked her lips, moved her gaze, and scanned the floor again from this vantage. Looking for a dark red and neon-yellow wig. Iridescent fairy wings that glittered with every move. The little white dress that showed off Theresa’s full figure. Surely the girl knew better than to leave! Eska had warned her. She might be an immortal, but that didn’t mean they were invincible. There were hazards in every situation, especially for the newly-turned. And Hunters weren’t that stupid.
Eska sniffed the air. There wasn’t any hint of burning garbage smell. That was the tell-tale mark of Hunters. She was probably worrying for naught, but she needed to be certain. Theresa wasn’t in the club. That left one alternative - outside. She hoped the girl hadn’t drained anyone. Or worse, gotten inebriated.
“Hey there! Sweetheart. Kiss me if I’m wrong...but isn’t your name Richard?”
A form stepped into the space in front of her. Another male. This one was her exact height. He was dark haired, dark-eyed. Had some wide shoulders beneath his jacket. The slightest shadow of whiskers on his lower jaw. He was extremely handsome. Exactly what she liked. But his timing was terrible.
“I’m sorry,” she replied.
“What? You mean your name really is Richard?” he joked.
“I don’t have time for this right now.”
He leaned back, folded his arms and regarded her with a look that would have sent her heart racing if it still could. He was really gorgeous. Arrogant. Almost exactly what she most enjoyed. And a moment later, he sealed the deal. Any recollection of Mister All-American was lost.
And good riddance.
“Make time,” he told her.
“I really can’t. Not now. Perhaps later.”
“Maybe I won’t be available later.”
“Well...I guess I’ll just have to risk it.”
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Eska.”
“Hmm. Sweet name. I’m James.”
“Oh. It was nice meeting you, James.”
“What? Come on. I showered tonight.”
“What?”
“You’re giving me the brush-off. I’m not stupid. But I’m mystified. Is it my name you don’t like? My approach? What?”
“Neither.”
“Then why are you rushing off?”
“You are fairly attractive, James.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said—”
“I heard you,” he interrupted. “But I want you to know I’m under contract to a modeling agency. With a pretty sweet deal coming up.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“That means I’m not just fairly attractive. On any level.”
Oh my. He was exactly what she liked. Male. Dominant. Definitely in his prime. Knew his worth. She wondered if he was going to be hard to catch.
“I really have to go, James. I came with a friend. I need to find her.”
“What’s she look like?”
Eska described Theresa. He leaned toward her and flashed a smile. He probably expected more reaction than her blank expression.
“Oh. I met her. Theresa? Right? I danced with her earlier.”
“How long ago?”
“Not long. She’s your friend? Well...that figures. She’s good-looking. Sexy as hell.”
Damn everything. He was failing the King Salmon test. But then he winked and added something that codified his standing.
“Then again...I hadn’t seen you yet.”
Eska regarded him for a long moment. He matched her expression. She tried not to mesmerize, but it wasn’t easy. He had stunning eyes. Deep. Dark. She finally broke the gaze. Damn that Theresa! If only she’d followed instructions! Stayed inside. Eska could stay right here and find out how close James was to her ideal.
But...no.
She couldn’t.
Theresa was her responsibility.
“I will definitely look for you later, James.” She finally spoke.
“Wow. What a treat that will be. I might even be around waiting.”
“Why wouldn’t you be?”
“You are not the only hot chick here, Eska.”
Oh. He was definitely playing hard to catch. Eska didn’t bother hiding the smile. She watched his glance touch on her fangs. Then he looked back to her eyes. He didn’t even act surprised.
“Oh. You’re a vampire, too?” he asked.
Eska started. “Theresa told you...about that?”
“Yeah. And more.”
Oh.
Shit.
Alarm bells started sounding through her head. And a moment later, she caught the first whiff of an acrid burning smell.