The sun had set a while ago, leaving a melting blue horizon in its wake. An imported sedan sat at the end of the freighter’s gangplank. No heartbeats inside the car, so whoever it was had come alone. Good. Easier to kill if need be. The voices cheered that idea.

He honed in on the pulse. Somewhere to the front of the ship. Trying to find a way in most likely. He dropped down a few levels, landing without making a sound. That’s when the perfume hit him. Wasn’t strong, but to his nose, it was enough. Why humans doused themselves in scent, he’d never understood. Soap, shampoo, lotion, washing detergent. Everything had an artificial smell. It was almost more than his nose could take at times. Blood, sweat, earth, rain, metal. Those were honest smells. Unlike the fake limey scent that marked his intruder like a flashing neon sign. He settled in among a stack of empty barrels to watch her. When she moved, he followed, always quiet, always a few steps behind. Once close enough to touch. But he didn’t.

She finally found an entrance that satisfied her. He leaned against the railing behind her. She knocked, almost making him laugh.

“Slumming, Madam Mayor?”

Pulse bumping a notch higher, she jumped and twisted to look at him. “You startled me.”

“I’m a vampire. If that’s the least I do, you should be thankful.”

Her smile was forced as she straightened her skirt. Nice legs. Not as nice as Chrysabelle’s. “I was wondering if we could talk.”

“Sure. Start with how you found me.”

“I have access to information most people don’t.”

He crossed his arms. “I’m completely off the grid. Have been for centuries.”

“I… I hired someone to find you.”

“That someone have a death wish?”

“Please, I’m not here to upset you.” She took a few steps toward him, proving she was either incredibly ballsy or insane. He inhaled, picking up the additional aroma of rum. He added drunk to the list of possibilities. “I know that my grandchild is in the hands of the ancient ones, as you call them.”

He nodded, the smart remarks dying away. He knew what it was to lose a child. “That’s what we believe, yes.”

“I have to get her back.”

“You have to get her back?” His brows lifted a few centimeters. “You don’t understand what you’re going up against.”

“Yes, I do.” Her heartbeat calmed slightly. “They’re demons. Fallen angels. Deadly, powerful creatures.”

“That only begins to describe them.”

“I can’t let them have her without a fight.”

He pushed away from the railing, causing her to jerk backward. He shook his head. “If I scare you, how are you going to face them?”

“That’s why I’m here.” She held her ground as he took a step closer. “I’m almost defenseless as a human. I want you to turn me into a vampire. Put me on a more equal playing field. Being turned will help me better serve the city, too. Understand both sides.”

He barked out a laugh, stunned by her idea. “I thought you were insane to come here; now I know you are.” Why did a damned eternity hold such appeal for humans? He turned to leave. “Answer’s no. Go home.” He wasn’t about to offer his or Chrysabelle’s assistance until everything with Chrysabelle had been straightened out. The child was half vampire. It was in good company for now.

“I’m siding with you. Don’t you understand that? I’m siding with your kind. When the war between varcolai and vampires comes—”

“There won’t be a war.” He kept walking. “Go home.”

She ran after him and snagged his arm, letting it go as soon as he spun to face her. “Please. I’ll do anything you want. Give you blood.” Blood blood blood. Her gaze skimmed his body. “Sleep with you.”

He stared at her. “Are you for real? Are you truly this clueless about who I am? About what I am?”

“Why do you think I’m here?”

“Because you’re crazy.”

She planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin, tossing her hair. “I take good care of myself, Mr. Bourreau. A lot of men would find me very desirable.”

“I’m not one of them.” You’re also not a man. Like he needed to be reminded of that.

With a touch of indignation, she sniffed, her hands dropping from her hips. “I’d do anything you want. Please, just make me like you.”

Faster than he knew she could follow, he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her close against his body. She gasped and began to tremble. He pressed his cheek to hers so that his mouth was next to her ear, then spoke as distinctly as he could with anger tightening his jaw. “I am not a man, Madam Mayor. I am a monster. The only part of me I want to stick into you is my fangs. Then I would drink your blood until there wasn’t enough left to keep your heart pumping. That’s what I’d do with you.” The voices went wild. She was warm against him, but still she shivered. “And you want to become like me? You are a fool.” He shoved her away. “I should wipe your mind of this, but I won’t because I’m afraid you’d just come back.”

“How dare you,” she whispered. “I offer myself to you and this is how you treat me.”

“Go home.” He walked toward the ship’s entrance. “Let’s both forget this happened.” Footsteps behind him alerted him to her movement. He dodged as she came after him.