First Drop of Crimson

She took a deep breath. "I'm calling it off, everything. Whatever you were intending tonight with Web, looking for Nathanial, all of it."

Frustration covered his desire in a blink. "Not this again. I've told you a dozen times; I'm not letting you go after Nathanial on your own."

"I'm not intending to go after him at all," she said, defiance and resignation competing in her voice. "You're right, I couldn't begin to find him without a vampire's help, and no vampire but Bones would be crazy enough to help me, aside from you. We both know I can't get Bones involved because of Cat, but if you continue to look for Nathanial, you're going to get killed, and I can't...I can't live with that."

He stared at her in amazement. "What about your family?"

She bit her lip. "They'll have to hide with me. There's not that many of them left; my parents, my cousin Felicity, her fiance, and a few second cousins. I hate doing that to them, but Bones has people all over the world. He could set it up where we'd stay with one of them, like other humans do, only without the blood exchange. He could even trance them so they wouldn't know their lives were in danger, or be miserable, feeling like they were imprisoned on the far edge of the world..."

Her voice cracked at that last part, but after another deep breath, it was steady again.

"No one has to get killed this way. You don't have to risk your life. It's the only logical solution."

Spade took her hands, always covered with long gloves to hide the tattoos and the brands underneath them.

"Then you'll never get these off, Denise. You won't ever be human again, and you have no idea how long you'll live this way, because the brands have obviously given Nathanial an abnormally long lifespan."

She met his gaze. "I can stand that, but I can't stand for you to keep risking your life for me. If I let you get killed, I'd feel like more of a monster than these brands would ever make me."

Triumph flared in him. If she'd sacrifice her humanity in order to keep him safe, she had to care for him as deeply as he cared for her. And in that case, she had to be willing to become a vampire once he returned Nathanial to the demon and she got those brands off. After all, that was an infinitely better prospect than being a demon-branded shape-shifter.

He reached out to caress her face, savoring how her scent changed from determined anxiety to something far richer. Then, slowly, his hand curled around the back of her neck. Her heartbeat sped up as he leaned in, closing the distance between them, his mouth parting in anticipation of the sweetness of her lips.

A bang on the door had Denise jumping back even as Spade turned around with a curse.

"Go. Away." A threatening growl any intelligent person would heed.

"Sire, my apologies, but you have an urgent call," Alten said.

"Someone better be dying," Spade muttered, vaulting up to open the door.

Alten held out his mobile phone mutely. Spade took it, barking, "What?" into the receiver.

"Why haven't you been returning my calls?" Crispin asked coolly.

Denise was still reeling from that almost-kiss when Spade turned to her, covering his cell with his hand.

"I need to take this," he said, and walked out.

She stared at the empty doorway for a second, stupefied. Had she just imagined the intensity of that moment? Had the emotions on Spade's face as he bent toward her really been there, or had her feelings only cast an illusion of what she wanted to see? That must have been it. Spade sure hadn't looked anything but aloof when he walked out like nothing had - almost - happened between them.

Disgusted, Denise went over to the tray and began eating. Her stomach didn't care that she'd just been left hanging; it still growled and gurgled demandingly. She thought about spending the rest of what might be a very long life like this - hiding from Raum, her body no longer recognizable to her in many ways, outcast from her world and not accepted into any other.

Was this how Cat felt, being a half vampire, not really fitting into the human world or the vampire one? If it was, it sucked.

Of course, Cat actually had useful powers. All Denise had from her new abnormalities was an insatiable appetite and the occasional hand deformity. Villains of the world, beware! I can eat you under the table AND gross you out with my monster paws!

She shoved her plate away after eating the fries and the chocolate cake. Having a pity party was useless. She had to start moving on with her life, such as it was. First she'd get cleaned up. A shower would at least take care of her hygiene needs. Then she'd thank Spade for everything he'd done and call Cat, explaining to her friend that she needed her family in the vampire version of a witness protection program. Even though she'd been a horrible friend to her recently, Cat would help her. She and Bones were good people like that.

And Spade could get on with his life, without her risking it or turning it upside down anymore. It was the right thing to do all around.

Spade left Denise's room and kept walking all the way down the stairs and out the front door before he replied.

"Hallo, mate. Sorry for the lack of response. Been a bit busy, I'm afraid."

"Indeed." The single word had the same emphasis as if it had been bollocks.

Spade waited, not about to start saying anything that would sound defensive or raise Crispin's suspicions. Either Crispin knew something or he didn't. If he didn't, Spade wouldn't make it easy on him to find anything out, but neither would he lie to his best friend, if he could avoid it.

"Don't you have something you want to tell me, Charles?" Crispin asked after the silence lengthened.

Spade almost smiled. "Certainly don't." That was the unvarnished truth.

"Right." Spade could almost picture Crispin's face hardening. "Why don't I help you out? You can start by telling me what you're up to with Denise MacGregor."

Ian must have said something. No one else had recognized Denise except for him, untrustworthy sod.

"It's nothing you need concern yourself with," Spade replied in the same cool tone Crispin had used.

A snort. "We must have a bad connection, because you didn't just tell me not to concern myself with my wife's best friend, did you?"

Spade closed his eyes at the open challenge Crispin threw down. "I know you feel protective toward Denise because of her friendship with Cat, but she's not one of your people," Spade replied carefully, each word measured. "You'd need to have bitten or bedded Denise for that, and you've done neither. So with all the affection I have for you, Crispin, I say again, this doesn't concern you."

Now the snort on the other line held a tone of amazement. "Bloody hell, Charles, what's gotten into you? I didn't believe Ian when he said you were acting barmy, but now you've more than proved him correct."

Better Crispin believe he'd lost his mind with lust than discover what was really going on. He was close to finding Nathanial. He could feel it.

"You're not going to be reasonable, are you?" Crispin said, anger sharpening his tone when Spade didn't answer.

"If by reasonable you mean asking your permission before I consort with a willing woman, then you're right. I'm not going to be reasonable," Spade replied.

"Put Denise on the phone. Let me hear from her that she's choosing to be with you for no other reason than enjoyment of your company," Crispin said curtly.

Considering his last conversation with Denise, Spade wasn't about to put her on the phone until he talked some sense into her.

"She's indisposed at the moment. I'll have her ring you later."

Crispin's tone went from cool to icy. "You realize you're leaving me no choice but to assume you're hiding something."

"It's unfortunate you feel that way. I'd talk more about it, but I have to go now. Oh, one more thing." Spade made no attempt to lessen the anger in his voice as he went on. "Tell Ian I'm keeping the house."

He clicked his mobile shut, cutting off whatever Crispin's reply might have been. So much for canceling the party to have a romantic evening with Denise. He had even less time to find Nathanial now that Crispin knew something was amiss. Still, best mate or no, he wouldn't let Crispin interfere out of a mistaken sense of responsibility.

Denise was his, as Crispin would soon find out.

Chapter Twenty-one

After a nice long shower, Denise came down the stairs. On the first floor, several people she'd never seen before scurried around, preparing things for whatever event Spade had scheduled tonight, she guessed. Now Spade could consider it her going-away party, because she intended to be on the first plane tomorrow, headed to wherever Bones and Cat were. All she needed was the number where to reach them, but for that, she needed Spade, and this Mediterranean house was as big as it was beautiful.

"Have you seen Spade?" she asked one of the people who passed by.

"Who?" the young man asked, balancing an overflowing tray and giving Denise a look that said it was heavy.

"Never mind," she murmured. With Spade's hearing, if she really wanted to find him, she could just yell out his name. Even amid all the commotion and the rest of the people talking, he'd hear her. Still, that seemed rude in the extreme, so she settled for looking through the first floor of the house. It was gorgeous, with marble throughout, huge windows overlooking a harbor in the distance, crystal chandeliers throwing elegant sparkles in the light, high ceilings, and archways leading to more fabulously decorated rooms.

But for all its beauty, there was no tall and dark vampire amid the pale, tasteful decor. Denise didn't want to bother anyone else by asking for him, so she went outside. If the car they'd arrived in was there, she'd know Spade was still here, somewhere.

There were several cars in the long driveway. Delivery vehicles, it looked like. The cynic in Denise was shaking her head at all the food and spirits being carted in. This was a vampire party, after all. They ate from arteries, not hors d'oeuvre trays.

After a quick search of the grounds that revealed only exotic flowers, plants, and a few really nice statuettes, Denise went back inside. The activity seemed to have kicked up in the last twenty minutes, judging from the increased bustle of people.

"Denise!"

She turned in relief at Spade's voice, but that faded when she saw him. He strode toward her, brows drawn together, handsome face wearing a thunderous expression.

"Why would you wander off without telling me?" he almost snapped.

She bristled. "Since I'm not a child, I don't consider walking around outside as 'wandering off.' And I was looking for you, by the way."

The tightness left his face. "Didn't mean to bark at you. Just got worried when no one seemed to know where you were. Come on, you need to get ready. There's not much time."

He took her arm, gently propelling her back up the stairs. Denise didn't reply until they were back in her room, even though with all the noise in the house now, she doubted anyone would hear her except Spade.

"I told you before; there's no need for you to have this party. If it's too late to call it off, I understand, but I don't even need to come downstairs. You can just eat, drink, and be merry without me. We don't need to worry about looking for Nathanial anymore."

Spade rolled his eyes. Actually rolled them. "If you think I'd let you martyr yourself on my behalf, then you don't know me. And you should know me enough by now to at least know that."

"Oh, but I'm the type of person who should let you get killed, or at best, kill a bunch of people for me?" she flared. "Things changed. Neither of us knew what Nathanial was involved in when this started. Even when we found out, I didn't fully understand all the implications behind it, but I get it now, and I said it's over."

He stared at her as if contemplating whether she meant it. Denise didn't blink. She wasn't making a fake offer just to assuage her conscience later. She would not let another man she cared about die because of her.

"You're right, it is too late to cancel this evening," he finally said. "And it would look odd if I didn't greet my guests with my lover at my side, since I invited them to meet us both specifically. You don't know vampire etiquette, but that would be considered quite rude. Might even cause issues for me later."

Her bullshit alert was going off, but Spade's expression was bland, offering her nothing. Maybe a no-show tonight from Spade's supposed girlfriend would ruffle feathers.

The knowledge that after tomorrow, she'd never see Spade again was like a kick to the gut. Despite her best intentions, she'd gotten in way over her head emotionally with Spade. Why oh why was Spade the only man to inspire feelings in her she thought had died with Randy?

"All right," Denise said at last. "One more act, if it'll help."

He smiled, something glinting in his gaze. "Oh, it will indeed."

Spade stood in the alcove on the first floor, concealed by shadows, watching Denise as she came down the stairs. Ravishing, he thought, taking in the dark lavender gown hugging her upper arms while leaving her shoulders bare, the deep decollete, fitted waist, and full skirt swaying with her steps. It was late eighteenth century, modernized with a zipper instead of multiple tiny buttons, and made of the finest Italian silk. With the diamond and amethyst necklace, matching earrings, amethyst-studded clips securing her hair, and the long, white gloves that came to Denise's elbows, she looked like a queen.

He stepped out of the shadows when she reached the bottom, taking her gloved hand and kissing it. "You're incredibly beautiful."