Chapter Fourteen
Trixie triggered Viktor’s protective instincts. It had been a kindness to set Nick free. He understood this in a cerebral manner, but in their world such weakness would be preyed upon. She needed a predator’s skillset to survive as a vampire and he wanted to be the one to provide it, but he had an interspecies incident to prevent. She deserved a better environment to learn in than running into the heart of dangerous shifter territory blind. What kind of sire was he to place her in that situation?
A selfish one.
The largest vampire nest was in the center of New Port. All nests in the tri-city area called him Master, but he was not attached to any of them so as not to show favoritism. Being old and powerful also meant being alone. Trixie needed teachers and a safe place to stay until his return. She could not afford for him to be possessive. Time among her people would allow her to grow strong. Staying at his side? Well, he had never been known for his self-control.
He sped down the road winding down the dragon’s mountain, glancing in the review mirror repeatedly for a glimpse of wings. So far, their escape was undetected.
In the passenger seat, Trixie clung to the bar overhead, knuckles white. The tires screeched when he took the corners at high velocity. Her chest heaved and the scent of fear tinged the air.
“I have not crashed in years.”
The lines around her mouth deepened. “Not helping.”
“You are safe with me.”
“You know what? I’ve never crashed. Not once. That’s what safety means.” She pointed to the curvy road that descended at a steep angle. “At this speed, this is not what I’d call safe.”
“When Eoin discovers we are missing, he will hunt for us. Ever been hunted by an angry dragon?” Unfortunately, he had. Not always Eoin. Over the centuries, he had had the pleasure of angering a few others of the dragon race. Those memories occasionally plagued him in nightmares.
She shook her head, eyes growing darker. She glanced back at the castle. “He wouldn’t kill us.”
“No, but that would be a mercy in some cases.” He took another sharp corner. “I need to be in Riverbend before dawn otherwise I will be trapped on the road until he finds me.”
“Wait a minute. You said I. Shouldn’t it be we. I thought I was going with you.” Her glare was sharp, filled with determination. He kept thinking of her as weak, but she proved him wrong. There were not many people who argued with him. Maybe that was one of the things that had lured him to her?
“I am leaving you with a local nest.”
“Why make me leave the castle?”
“Because the dragons cannot teach you anything about being vampire.” He wanted her to have all the things he had not had as a new born creature of the night.
“Eoin is going to find me.” She gasped. “Are you using me as bait to draw him away from you?”
He grabbed her hand and pressed his lips to her fingers, her words shards of glass. “Is that truly your opinion of me?” Every action he had taken since her birth had been to protect her.
The steel in her gaze softened. “No.” She paused as if in thought, then he saw her conclusion dawn on her face. “You’re drawing Eoin away from me. You’re hiding me.” She yanked her hand free. “No, no, no. That wasn’t the deal. We escaped the castle together and go after this crazy witch in Riverbend. I want a piece of her. She almost wrecked Betty’s life and may be doing it to others. I’m going to stop her.” She crossed her arms, chin held high as she glared ahead.
He admired her loyalty and envied her friend. Trixie sought vengeance and retribution for the wrong doing. She would also get them both killed. “You need to learn control over your hunger first, among other things, before you can become a warrior.” He merged into traffic on the highway that led into the heart of the city. “You must listen to me.”
“Must?” She quirked an eyebrow.
He recalled how she’d laughed at the thought of calling him Master. “Should listen to me. Remember what happened when you ran to your sister?”
She flinched.
He hated to use that as a weapon, but she had to understand that he was not rejecting her. Not abandoning her. He needed her safe. He also realized she had to agree to stay of her own freewill, otherwise she would run. Viktor would use whatever means necessary to ensure her cooperation.
Trixie’s shoulders sagged, her gaze dulled. “Fine.” He knew she did not want to cause harm to an innocent. Nor did he want her to.
Silence blanketed the vehicle until they parked behind the most exclusive club in the city, Onyx. He exited the stolen car and opened her door before she had unbuckled her belt. He offered his hand; her long fingers hesitated before placing her hand in his palm. He helped her out.
“That was…different.” She tugged the hem of her T-shirt over her jeans.
“My speed? That comes with time as well.”
“Not that.” She laughed quietly. “I don’t know any guy who would open a door for a girl.”
“That does not say much for the men in your life.”
“No, it doesn’t. That’s why I don’t have any in my life.” She looked at the club’s entrance, the obnoxious neon lighting painted her hair in shades of purple and reds.
He grinned at her declaration of being unattached. He hadn’t the chance to ask directly, but had not seen or smelled evidence of a man in her bedroom.
A red carpet led under a canopy, where one of his soldiers guarded the nest door in guise of a bouncer.
“Onyx is a vampire nest?” She stared at the guard with wide eyes. “I’ve always wanted to go inside.”
“What has stopped you?”
She snorted. “The cover charge is more than I make in a day.”
“Master.” The bouncer’s gaze took in Trixie, lingering on her long legs.
“Bruce, nice to see you again.” He moved into Bruce’s line of sight, blocking the view. “Where would I find Paulo?”
“He’s below, attending business.”
“Hello, Bruce.” She held out her hand. “I’m Trixie.”
The guard gently shook it. “Miss.” Bruce opened the door.
She leaned close and whispered, “Who’s Paulo?”
“Paulo is one of my lieutenants. He takes care of the nest’s daily problems, and technically, the nest is below the club.”
Viktor set Trixie’s hand on his arm and led her inside her new home. “Night life, income, and a hunting ground all in one place.” Compared to the old days, this was a paradise. Trixie would want for nothing.
He led her farther inside. Laser lights flashed over the crowded dance floor while the music pounded in his bones.
Trixie glanced down at her attire then at his. “We need to get you a shirt.” She rose on tiptoe to search the crowd. “Everyone looks so posh. There’s no way Ruby and I would have gotten in.”
He would not apologize for that. If anything, it gave him relief that she had not been one of the nest’s victims.
“Do any of these people know vampires live here?”
He chuckled. “Did you?”
She shook her head. “Hiding in plain sight. Living in the shadows. You know, most people suspect you exist. I mean, if shifters and magical creatures do, why not vampires?”
“I will not be in any hurry to ever give television interviews like the wolf pack’s alpha.” He could not imagine a faster way to get staked. “We prey on humans. It’s only natural that they would fight back eventually.” As a race, they had seen it happen time and again. As soon as a nest grew too confident in their relationships with humans, they were wiped out. It only took a small percentage of the humans to lead a mob. “No one likes being food.”
Her gaze followed a young woman gliding to the bar. “Then these people don’t know they’re on the menu?” Her grip on his arm tightened. “That seems wrong. The nest doesn’t kill any of them, do they?”
“Who said anything about killing?” Her reaction eased some of his worry. Her soul was still mostly human. “I have not heard of any massacres on the news.” He winked. “If we feed every night, then we don’t require much. The humans are not even aware.” He pulled her toward the elevators, her eyes still full of wonder.
“How can they not know?”
“Shh, not so loud,” he whispered, amused by her conspiratorial glance. “Our bite contains a toxin. Once bitten, their memory is malleable. A bite becomes a kiss or a nip on the throat.” They entered the open elevator and road it to the lower levels. “It also helps the bites heal quickly.”
“We have roofie venom?” Her lips curled with a sinister smile. “That’s terrible.”
“Well, not so powerful that the human loses consciousness. The effects are short term and are to detract from attention, not draw it.” He ran his hand over his face. Once Trixie’s hunger returned, her charming morals would vanish and the dancers would be dinner. He wouldn’t let that happen.
The elevator dinged open and they crossed into a cavern. The walls were left as natural stone but modern comforts, such as indoor plumbing, were readily available. Thick carpets absorbed the sounds of their footsteps and electric lighting lit their way.
Paulo stood in the center of the large gathering room, dressed in pale gray slacks and a white shirt, button undone at his throat. He set aside the file in his hand. “Master Viktor.” His gaze traveled slowly over Trixie from head to toe, absorbing every little detail. “Hello.” He dragged out his greeting and cupped her hand to kiss her knuckles. “I am Count Paulo Luis de Corcoles, lieutenant of this nest. Who may you be?”
“Patricia Russell.” Breathy voice. “Everyone calls me Trixie.”
Viktor moved, forcing Paulo back and breaking his hold on Trixie. She had never told him her full name. “Introductions are over.”
Paulo bowed. “Patricia of the pink hair, a pleasure to meet you.” He gave Viktor a knowing smile. As soon as he had a moment alone with the Count, Viktor would remind him again who was master in this city. But in all honesty, that would not matter to Paulo when it came to a woman. The little bastard would wait until Viktor turned his back to seduce her from him now that he had had a taste.
“Where is Callencia?” Viktor smiled back, with fang. He would hand Trixie’s training over to Paulo’s second in command. She would guard his innocent fledgling from the likes of Paulo or other males in the nest.
“Alas, she left.”
A muscle in his eye twitched. “Again?” Who else could he leave Trixie with? He rushed through a list of names in his head.
Paulo’s smile turned sharp enough to cut. “Yes, again.”
“What did you do?” Viktor knew Paulo well enough that he was most likely at fault. Especially when it came to Callencia.
“Her pet liked me better.”
“That is bad manners even for you. No wonder she left.” Vampire pets were cherished humans that could be trusted to keep the nest secret. Viktor kept a tight leash on his vampires having pets. Too many humans knowing about them was risky.
“She was growing too attached to him.” Paulo examined his fingernails.
Viktor resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “What of Jaya?” She was not a lieutenant but a respected business woman. She could be a good influence on Trixie.
“Business conference in Japan.”
“I have been away.” Viktor blinked, trying to relieve the discomfort.
“I noticed. How is the dragon?” Paulo’s grin widened. “Would you like an updated roster of the vampires in the city?” He opened a file on his phone.
Viktor ran over the names. So many were too young. Or too male. He watched Trixie as she soaked in all the details around her with wide eyes.
Paulo maneuvered around Viktor, his gaze carried a predatory gleam. “Can I offer you a drink, Patricia?” He waved for her to come closer. “Please, come in. Sit beside me.” He gestured to the loveseat made for two.
“No.” Viktor blocked Trixie’s way. Why had he expected Paulo to resist Trixie when he could not? His lieutenant was a brilliant with finances, but terrible with women. If Callencia or Jaya were here, he would feel safer leaving Trixie in their care. With Paulo, Viktor suspected Trixie would end up in his bed. He could not leave her here. Not with his lieutenant taking Trixie’s lingerie measurements in his head. “Our visit is brief.”
“And?” Paulo prodded.
Viktor pressed his lips together. Well, he was not going to admit his true intentions had been to leave Trixie here. “I am going to Riverbend for a few days. Watch over the city for me in my continued absence.”
Paulo raised an eyebrow. “Don’t I always?”
Inside his head, Viktor silently stabbed him in the heart repeatedly until his imagination was soaked in blood. “Keep up the good work.”
Trixie turned her questioning gaze in Viktor’s direction. The only betrayal of her emotions was how she bounced a couple of times on her toes. “And to borrow a shirt,” she added.
Viktor nodded. Once in Riverbend, he doubted they would have time for him to shop.
Paulo stripped off his and held it out, displaying himself to Trixie. “Will this do?”
He snatched it out of his lieutenant’s hand. “Yes.” Then swept Trixie ahead of him back into the elevator. Instead of leaving her in the safety of the nest, he would keep her with him as she’d requested, because he was a selfish bastard.
He pulled on the shirt, busying himself with the buttons.
Once the elevator doors closed behind them, she slowly turned, crossing her arms, a huge grin on her face. “You like me.” It was more of an accusation than a declaration.
“Of course, I like you.” The doors opened on the main floor and blaring music stopped him from describing how much and what he planned to do about it.
Who was this woman who blurted that out? It couldn’t have been her.
But Trixie had seen the sharp edge of jealousy in Viktor’s eyes when Paulo had kissed her hand. Paulo’s carnal interest was palpable. She wasn’t a stranger to those looks. She was a full-blooded relative of Ruby’s, after all, but whenever she went out with her sister, Ruby outshone her. The looks other men gave Trixie changed once they met Ruby.
Except Viktor. He had barely noticed Ruby half-naked.
If Viktor had left her behind, she wasn’t sure what would have happened, except Paulo would have been the proud owner of a brand new black eye.
Even after Viktor’s mini rant about her learning to control her hunger, he had changed his mind the moment Paulo had come into the picture. The only factor in this situation that made any sense was Paulo’s flirtation. She was right. Viktor like liked her. Her heart fluttered.
The club music thumped against her eardrums with a primal beat that stirred other pounding needs. Viktor’s answer had sounded nonchalant but his predator’s glare had daggered her to the spot. She had met werewolves and dragons and gargoyles. None of them flamed her hidden desires like Viktor. None of them tempted her.
Like a lot of kids in the city, she and Ruby didn’t have it easy. The neighborhood was rough. The people rougher. There were a lot of good times, and some not so good ones. Ruby had learned early to use her beauty as a weapon to get what she wanted, what they needed. Trixie had learned to hide hers, not draw any attention to her body, to disappear behind Ruby’s dazzle. She’d seen what her sister did to survive and the pieces of Ruby’s soul it cost. Trixie wasn’t as strong as Ruby. She’d chosen a different path and learned different skills to help with money. Trixie’s body belonged to her and she would give it to someone who deserved it.
The elevator suddenly seemed very small and the air too thin. Viktor closed in, his arms trapped her, each hand by her head as he leaned his solid body forward until their lips almost touched. “What will you do about my liking you?”
Her brain overloaded. She blinked. “What?”
His lips were so invitingly near. Full and sultry, the kind of mouth a woman wanted to kiss all night long. He raised an eyebrow. “Are you teasing me, Patricia? That is a dangerous game to play.”
Pure male heat. That was what she saw in those vampire eyes, raw and hungry and dominant. She pressed her thighs together. Viktor would take over in bed. She had no doubts. The vampire liked control.
He licked her bottom lip. A delicate touch that sent a shiver straight to her core.
She sucked in a breath, breasts rising. She was buried so over her head that when Viktor was done playing with her, nobody would find her corpse. Her teasing him? More like she hadn’t a clue what she was doing. No, she’d seen her sister flirt enough times. Trixie knew how it was done. She just didn’t know where to start or stop. What she wanted was to run her fingernails over the hard edges of his muscles. She groaned at the image in her head.
Yeah, he liked her. Now what the fuck was she going to do about it?
She pressed her hand to his chest and pushed. It was the single most difficult thing she’d ever decided to do. “I’m not teasing. I wouldn’t do that. But I’m not the kind of girl you want.” No-bed-skills-Trixie. Viktor needed a woman who could fulfill his every desire. Do things that she couldn’t even imagine. Not flounder in the sheets like a fish out of water. Maybe this whole virgin thing wasn’t such a great idea after all. She’d finally met someone who spun her head and she feared her lack of experience would bore him.
She tried to take deep, calming breaths before she hyperventilated.
He leaned his weight on one elbow giving her room to escape. Before she could move, he whispered loud enough for her to hear over the music, “I like women, not girls. You do not think you are woman enough for me?”
She cleared her throat since her mouth had gone so dry her tongue stuck to the roof. “Nope. You’re definitely out of my league.”
A smug smile. “Fair enough.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. “But I do like you.”
Oh no, what had she done? She’d gone from sizzle-her-panties-off to little-sister chaste kiss. She pushed away from the wall and headed for the nearest exit, blind and deaf to her surroundings. She didn’t want to be shoved into the friend zone.
They left the club.
Viktor opened the passenger side door for her. So lean and tall, he hadn’t enough extra flesh for her to bite. The ends of his fabulous black hair fluttered in the breeze. He looked like a dark angel.
Yeah, she cared. She didn’t want to be just friends. She wanted it all and she’d screwed it up. Backing off now would only confirm to Viktor that she was off limits. She had to act though all her gut instincts told her to run.
She rose on tiptoe and looked him in the eye. “I really like you too.”