AnEllora’s CaveRomantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Sins of the Flesh
ISBN # 1-4199-0733-6
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sins of the Flesh Copyright© 2006 J.C. Wilder
Edited by Sue-Ellen Gower.
Cover art by Syneca.
Electronic book Publication: August 2006
This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written
permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.®1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH
44310-3502.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or
locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used
fictitiously.
Warning:
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers.This storyhas been
rated S-ensuousby a minimum of three independent reviewers.
Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels ofRomantica ™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-
rotic), and X (X-treme).
S-ensuouslove scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination.
E-roticlove scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall
word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find
objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth.
E-ratedtitles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words
such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature.
X-tremetitles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storylineexecution. Unlike E-rated titles,
stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.
Shadow Dwellers:
Sins of the Flesh
J.C. Wilder
Dedication
To my fellow “Serious Writers”—Beth, Carol, Donna and Rosemary.
Thanks for kicking me in the backside when I needed it.
Acknowledgments
Writers may work alone but we don’t work in a vacuum. Many thanks go out to the following people
without whom this book would have never been completed:
MissBinta , friend extraordinaire!
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Stuart, who still thinks everyhero is modeled after him and he just might be right…
alittle anyway…
Debbie,thanks for the laughs.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the followingwordmarks
mentioned in this work of fiction:
Armani: GAModefine S.A.
BaccoBucci:BaccoBucci Holdings, LLC
Chanel: Chanel,Inc .
ColeHaan:ColeHaan
Mont Blanc:Montblanc-Simplo GmbH
Polaroid: Polaroid Corporation
Chapter One
Nother, please let it be anyone but her.
AlexandreSaint-Juste, vampire and head of the Council of Elders, looked up from the photo of a burned
corpse he was studying to see a figure hesitating in the doorway. She was little more than a shadow in the
dim lighting but he knew it washer . The soft, citrus scent of her perfume and the musical jingle of her
bracelets gave her away.
Sunni.
He closed his tired eyes. He was slipping. As an Elder, it was near impossible for another vampire to
sneak up unawares. He’d trained himself to be mindful of his surroundings at all times and the talent had
saved his life on numerous occasions. But he’d been pushing himself too hard lately and, if he didn’t take
more care, the next time a stranger arrived in his doorway just might be his last.
He rubbed his forehead. Maybe she’d be gone when he opened his eyes? That would be his wish.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Maybe his weary subconscious had conjured her and instead it was his houseman waiting for his
attention. Could he be that lucky? He dropped his hand and opened his eyes.
Damn, she was still hovering in the doorway.
Inwardly he groaned and shifted his stance. Right now he had his hands full and the last thing he needed
was this flighty, empty-headed little vampire.
As she stepped into the room, he dropped the photo onto the others scattered across the top of his
desk. Knowing Sunni, he’d not get any work done until he could get the little busybody out of his house.
He made a mental note to fire his houseman, Nelson, who’d obviously let her in the front door. He was a
sucker for a pretty face.
“What can I do for you, Sunni?”
“A lot actually.The question is, will you?” She gave him a wide, sexy smile as she advanced, her
sandal-shod feet making no sound on the thick carpet. “But today I’m going to do you afavor .”
His mouth went dry as he watched her approach. Sunni was tiny—barely over five feet—and she
resembled a young Mia Farrow with her cap of short, silky blonde hair, doe-brown eyes and delicate
features. Dressed in a sheer, yellow, cropped shirt over a matching bikini-style top, she was bare from
the bottom of her insubstantial shirt to the waistband of her skirt.
Slung low on her slim hips, the cotton skirt looked as if it had been left wadded in the back of a drawer
for months. The rainbow-coloredmaterial swirled about her slim legs, briefly outlining each delectable
inch as she walked. Tiny she may be, but she was exquisitely formed from her pale hair to the tips of her
petal-pink toenails. Damn, she was beautiful.
Alexandreswallowed hard against the unfamiliar rush of lust, his toes curled in hisBaccoBucci shoes.
Startled by the strength of his reaction, he stepped back and then sat hard in his desk chair.
He must be more tired than he thought.
Slick with pale gloss, a bewitching smile played about Sunni’s mouth as if she could read the lascivious
thoughts dancing through his mind. His gaze shifted from her mouth to skim her pert breasts and dropped
to her hips, which swayed provocatively with her easy gait. The air in the room seemed suddenly in short
supply.
What the devil was wrong with him?
He’d never had a reaction to a woman like this, and certainly not with a woman like Sunni. She was
luscious…no, no—annoying, that was the word. Annoying and exasperating. That summed up the little
vampire. He reached up to loosen his tie. His reaction to her was simply a combination of his need to
feed and lack of rest. Yes, that was it. A few hours of sleep and a quick prowl would set his world to
rights once more.
Fighting for a cooldemeanor , he fixed a bored expression on his face before meeting her gaze.
“What kind offavor would this be?” he asked.
“Jennifer sent these over to you.” From behind her voluminous skirt, she withdrew a medium-sized
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
manila envelope. “Knowing I was headed this way she asked if I’d drop it off.”
Alexandresilently cursed his old friend as he reached for the offering. Jennifer knew Sunni annoyed the
hell out of him on a good day, which this definitely was not. Her eyes gleamed with secret amusement
when she reached the edge of the desk and leaned forward, offering him a glimpse of her cleavage as she
handed the envelope to him.
“Thank you.” He took it, forcing his gaze away from her shadowy cleft.
He’d been waiting for this information since he’d received word of its arrival. He tried to ignore the
delectable creature before him as he opened the envelope and withdrew a folded sheet of paper and
several photos. A quick glance told him the photos weren’t of the greatest quality. Fuzzy and indistinct,
he nevertheless recognized the features of Cassiopeia, the woman who’d betrayed the Council of Elders
by siding with the vampire Mikhail in an attempt to overthrowAlexandre’s rule.
The ever-present pain in the back of his neck made itself known once more when he stared at the blurry
face of his one-time co-council and lover. With the distinctive features of middle-eastern descent, Cass
was intelligent and charismatic, an excellent conversationalist and breathtakingly beautiful.
Her thick dark hair was piled on her head with a few tendrils allowed to escape and curl against her
slender throat. With deep brown eyes framed by sooty lashes and a curvaceous figure usually covered in
the finest of silks, she was an exquisite woman to behold and an elder vampire to be feared.
She was also cunning and devious as only a woman could be.
Curse her black soul.
He flicked the photo to the back of the pack and scanned the others. All were of either Cass or the
immortal revenant Miles. As one of Mikhail’s creations, he’d beenrumored to betraveling with Cass for
the past month or so, acting as her personal servant. He was intelligent and ruthless, an adversary to be
wary of. He was also the keeper ofElsabeth’s diary, a tome sought by everyone in the preternatural
world.
He flipped through the photos once more, noting that all of them had been taken in Vienna.Nothing new.
She’d been in residence for the past few weeks while Miles had been seen in various parts of Austria and
the Carpathian Mountains.
He dropped the photos in his lap and flicked open the note to scan its contents. Val andShai were
currently in Vienna on Cass’ trail. According to the hastily scrawled memo, they’d lost both Cass and
Miles several days ago. He frowned. Those two could be anywhere in the world within twenty-four
hours.
“Damn,” he muttered.
“Problems?” a sweet voice sounded in his ear.
Alexandre’shead jerked upward, and he was startled to find Sunni standing beside him. Her perfume
teased his nose and her provocative scent caused a shaft of heat through his body. The warmth of her
skin radiated against his arm when she leaned in close.
She’d fed recently, giving her skin the blush and warmth characteristic of a live human. She licked her
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
lips, and he felt the sensual draw of her presence like never before. His breath caught in his throat as she
moved in, her breath soft on his cheek.
She was going to kiss him!
He shifted away then froze when she reached out, the silver rings on her fingers gleaming as she aimed
for his lap.
Oh, no.
The last thing he wanted her to see was the evidence of his arousal. If she ever found out how much her
presence affected him physically, he’d never get rid of her.
Then he realized she was merely reaching for the pictures in his lap.
Half relieved, half disappointed, he caught her wrist. Pushing her back, he gentlymaneuvered her against
the desk, away from the photos and his lap.
“No problem that I can’t handle.” His words came out more abruptly than he’d planned.
She placed her hands on the edge of the desk and, to his surprise, boosted herself onto the polished top.
“Your reaction certainly indicated there was a problem.”
“You’re mistaken.” Her soft brown gaze was fixed on his face as if committing it to memory. Disturbed
by her nearness, he gathered the photos and prepared to rise. She crossed her legs and he heard the soft
tinkle of bells. He caught a glimpse of her slender ankles, barely visible beneath the skirt hem. A finely
wrought gold anklet with a row of tiny bells encircled one of them.
A rush of desire hit, rendering him so dizzy he had to look away. He didn’t dare move, especially since
his increasing erection would tell her exactly what effect she had on him. Trapped by his wayward
impulses, he dropped the photos in his lap, hoping they sufficiently covered his body’s betrayal.
“Hmm.”She began to swing her leg, the sound of the bells causing him to grit his teeth. “I assume since
it’s from Val that the news is about Cass?”
Alexandrefrowned, irritated with her and himself. He shifted, trying to ease the ache in his groin. “What
would you know of the situation?”
She shrugged.“Probably as much as any spectator. Mikhail invoked the Law of Seven and challenged
you for the rule of the Council. To aid him in his cause, he enlisted your right-hand people, the vampires
Edward and Cass, thus vacating two spots on the Council. Mikhail’s bid for your position was thwarted
when he ran into Mac…a very talented Druid from what I understand.”
She leaned forward, and her voice dropped. “It’srumored that Mikhail was blinded in the ensuing battle.
Since they lost, Edward, Cass and Mikhail have been on the run for the past fifteen months. The majority
of the preternatural world is looking for them but you’re determined to find them first.”
“For a spectator you seem to be remarkably well informed.”
Sunni straightened and flashed him a bright smile. “What can I say?” She shrugged. “I’m observant and I
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
pay attention.”
“So it would seem. However, the one thing you forgot to mention is that Edward is dead, killed last fall.”
Her expression turned thoughtful. “I hadn’t heard. So now you’re looking for the remaining two?”
Cass, Mikhail, Miles, the diary, and a few hundred of their supporters, but that was none of her
business.
He nodded. “Somethinglike that.”
“I might be able to give you some assistance with this.”
“Indeed?” He swallowed a laugh, fighting to keep his tone level. He couldn’t imagine any way she could
be of help to him. “How is that?”
“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I am a woman.” She leaned forward and he caught another whiff of
her perfume. “I might be able to give you some valuable insight into what Cass will do and where she’ll
go next.”
Alexandrecouldn’t contain his snort of laughter and he covered it with a cough when her eyes narrowed.
He cleared his throat. “Thank you for the kind offer, Sunni. I’ll certainly keep you in mind should
something come up which would requireyour ,er …particular talents.”
A hurt look came into her eyes and she leaned back, dropping her gaze.
Damn, why do I feel as if I’ve just kicked a puppy?
“Sunni—”
“I saw him.” She pointed to the top photograph in his lap.
She was pointing at a clear photo of Miles. “Where did you see him?”
“Here in New Orleans.”
He stifled the urge to groan. This was just great. She was so intent upon helping him that she was seeing
things. There was no way Miles or Cass would even consider entering his city. As prey, it was too
dangerous for them. They knew he was on their trail.
“Sunni—”
“It was a few days ago, I guess.” She frowned. “I don’t remember for sure. Maybe three days? I went
out to pick up some henna and cloth and he was standing in Jackson Square.”
He looked at the picture once more. Could Sunni be right? Was Miles here in New Orleans? He picked
it up and beneath it was a fuzzy photo of Cass and there, beside her in the shadows of the PalazzoGrassi
, was the hulking figure of Miles. He flipped it over to look at the date. Nine days prior they were
together in Venice. He shuffled through the rest of the photos. None of the others showed them together,
just that one. Were they still together?
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He looked at Sunni and held up the clearest one of Miles. “Are you sure it was him?”
Shenodded, her expression earnest. “Yes. I couldn’t miss him to save my life—he’s huge.”
“Was anyone with him?”
“Not that I saw. It was late and not terribly crowded. He was standing by one of the flowerbeds looking
around as if he were waiting for someone. I only noticed because he’s a revenant.” She grinned. “I’m
getting better at picking them out.”
He ignored her last comment. Chances were,if Sunni was right and Miles was here, then Cass was with
him. But why would they come to New Orleans? They both knew he and several other Elders lived in
and around the city. They certainly knew they were being hunted. The Council had levied a death
sentence on Cass for treason. For now, Miles had no charges against him, but his transgressions were
mounting with each passing day.
“Who is he?” Sunni plucked the photo of Miles from his fingertips.
“An old acquaintance.”He retrieved the picture.
She snagged the next one, a close-up shot of Cass taken several days before the photo with Miles.
“How old?”
Alexandrereclaimed the second photo and opened thecenter desk drawer. “Not too old.” He scooped
everything—photos, the letter and the documentation he’d been reviewing before she arrived—into the
drawer then closed it, safe from her inquisitive eyes.
“Was there anything else you needed?” He rose from the chair.
“Is he mixed up with Mikhail and Cass?”
She slipped off the desk, her skirt brushing his pant legs. Standing so close to him, he was once more
assailed with the warmth of her skin and the scent of her delicate perfume.
He ground his teeth in frustration. She was maddening. There’d been many times he’d had to restrain
himself from throttling her. He’d noticed her as a man would a beautiful woman on several occasions,
then she would spoil the illusion by opening her mouth and irritating the hell out of him. The logical side of
his brain knew Sunni could never keep him satisfied as a mate and a relationship with her would be a
disaster for both of them.
His job as an Elder and the head of the Council was to look out for the health and welfare of all
preternatural beings. Regardless of how he felt about her sexually, he didn’t want Sunni anywhere near
him when the carnage began. He would do anything in his power to avoid the coming battle, but it was
inevitable. Cass and her ilk would see to it. Blood would be shed, both mortal and immortal alike.
He ruthlessly tamped down his wayward desires. His position required it.
“No, he is not mixed up with them.” He moved around her.
“Then why is he in a picture with her?” She stepped in his way. Her gaze was direct as she placed her
hands on his chest to prevent his escape. “You’re lying to me.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He encircled her wrists with his hands. A shock radiated through his palms at the feel of her skin against
his. “This may come as a surprise to you, Sunni, but it’s none of your business.” He gently removed her
hands before moving away.
“It is my business if it concerns the Council.” She moved to intercept him, crossing her arms over her
chest. “I’m a vampire and the Council is supposed to represent all of the Shadow Dwellers. If this man is
wanted by the Council then I, as a citizen, have a right to know.”
He fought the urge to roll his eyes. She was, without a doubt, the most exasperating female he’d ever
met and he couldn’t get her out of the house soon enough. “First off, he isn’t a wanted person and we
have little interest in him, only Cass. Second, there isn’t much of a Council in power at this point. Only
Fayne andmyself are left—”
“It’s said that Val will be stepping in for Cass and you’ve asked Quinn to assume the position vacated
by Bliss’ death.”
Damn, whom is she talking to?
“That is a possibility, but as of yet, nothing has been decided.”
“Alexandre—”
He held up his hand to stem the tide of words. His patience had reached the end and it was time to take
off the kid gloves with the annoying little blonde. “Look, I appreciate your interest, but right now I have
my hands full with this and other matters. Everything is under control and there’s nothing to concern you.”
“Nothing to concern my little head about, is that what you mean?” Her eyes were sharp and she placed
her fists on her slim hips. “I just want to help, so why won’t you let me? I might be able to find this man.
Really, I’m very stealthy and…”
She moved backward and her foot caught in the hem of her skirt, causing her to stumble.Pinwheeling her
arms, she gave a squawk and reached for the desk to stop her fall. Before he could give it a thought,
Alexandre’s hand shot out and he caught her arm, pulling her upright. The warmth of her skin singed his
palm as a jolt of awareness shot up his arm. Stung, he released her and stepped back.
“So I see.Graceful too.” He winced inwardly at his sarcastic tone. What the devil was wrong with him?
He never gave in to his emotions, especially where his constituents were concerned.
Her expression turned annoyed. “It was an accident and it could have happened to anyone.”
“Anyone wearing a skirt that’s too long, you mean?”
Damn, there I go again.
She cocked her head to one side.“Since when are you the fashion police? You probably own twenty
suits, all in the samecolor and style.Black.” She snorted. “That’s original.”
His teeth snapped together so hard he feared he might break a canine. “Look, I appreciate your bringing
the envelope over to me.” He ushered her toward the door, reluctant to touch her but desperate to get
her away from him before he did something unforgivable—like kiss her. Or strangle her. Both were
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
possible right now.
“I need to ask you to leave. I have many issues I need to attend to post haste and I really don’t need any
help at this time. If I do, I will certainly contact you.”
She stepped to the side, her expression remote. The warmth and fire that had inhabited her eyes as
she’d entered the room were now but a memory. Her gaze chilled his skin with its coolness. “Of course
you will. As long as the task requires—how did you put it—my ‘particular talents’, I believe?” She
turned to exit the library. “Don’t patronize me,Alexandre . I’m not a child and I’m fully capable of taking
care of myself.”
“Sunni—” He followed as she stalked into the hallway.
“Piss off.” Throwing open the front door, she fled into the New Orleans night in a flurry ofcolor and
bells. The door slammed shut behind her.
He dropped his head and fixed his gaze on the tips of his polished shoes. Silence surrounded him,
broken only by the ticking of the grandfather clock in the far corner of the hall.
Damn.
Chapter Two
“It isn’t working.” Sunni stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth as she completed a graceful
sweep of the peacock’s neck. The tip of the henna cone moved alongMaeve’s skin in a slow, practiced
arc, leaving the thick paste to mark a trail. Themehndi tattoo was taking shape—the peacock would be
eye-catching when it was complete. Only the beak and a few tail feathers remained to be finished. She
shifted her position and started outlining the beak. “What do you think I should do?”
“Seduce him.”
Sunni’s hand jerked. A sound of annoyance escaped her when the unexpected movement left a smear of
henna in the wrong place. The beak now had a definite dip in thecenter . Great, a peacock with a cleft
palate would adorn her friend’s back. Setting the tube on a small table, she grabbed a cotton swab to
dab at the bobbled beak before the henna could stainMaeve’s skin.
“Alexandredoesn’t strike me as a man who can be seduced.” Her friend, Jennifer Beaumont, lay on her
stomach on a padded massage table a few feet away. Henna marked her left shoulder in a pattern of the
sun and moon.
“He’s a man, isn’t he?”Maeve asked. “If he has the necessary equipment and is of the proper sexual
persuasion, he can be seduced.”
“Oh, I’m sure he has the essential equipment. He’s just very…formal. The perfect gentleman, you might
say.” Jennifer shook her head and reached for her glass of wine. “I’ve known him for years and I’ve
never seen him even look at a woman.”
“Maybe he’s gay,”Maeve offered.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Sunni laughed. “He’s not gay, just reserved.” She leaned back to inspect her clean-up job. That looked
much better, like a real beak.
“Very reserved,” Jennifer agreed.
“He’s gay.”Maeve reached for her glass of wine.
“Quit moving.” Sunni poked her in the shoulder with a finger. “He’s not gay. Maybe he’s shy?”
“Uh-huh, that’s probably it, he’s shy.” Jennifer nodded.
Maeveemitted a disbelieving snort.
Sunni dropped the cotton swab into a trashcan and leaned over her friend’s back once more. Picking up
the tube, she continued the finishing touches on the beak and neck.
“About thirty years ago there wererumors of him with a woman,” Jennifer mused.
“Who was it?” askedMaeve .
“You won’t believe this, but it was Cassiopeia.”
Sunni stifled a groan as she bobbled the beak once more. Annoyance streaked through her.Next time,
no talking while working.
“Really?”Maevelaughed. “I don’t knowAlexandre well at all, but that’s an unlikely pairing, if you ask
me.”
“Me too.Mac mentioned once that it was short-lived and ended amicably. It broke off when she
ascended to the Council. KnowingAlexandre , he decided it wasn’t proper to have a sexual relationship
with a fellow council member.”
Jealousy burned under her skin and Sunni gritted her teeth. If Jennifer was correct andAlexandre had
had an affair with the outlaw, this was yet another reason to hate the lovely Cass.
“I still think Sunni needs to try seducing him,”Maeve offered.
“I’ve never actually tried to seduce a man.”
“That’s the problem. You need to learn how, my dear.” Jennifer reached for the wine bottle.
“That’s easier said than done.” Sunni shrugged. “I’ve never been the seductress type.”
Maeveshook her head. “You’re a woman. You can learn.”
“Well, I haven’t managed it yet. I grew up in the early twentieth century. Women rarely voted, let alone
seduced men.”
“When did you become a vampire?” Jennifer refilled her glass, thenMaeve’s .
“Nineteen-thirty-eight, I was twenty-five.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Maevesnorted.“A twenty-five-year-oldvirgin ?”
“Times were different then.”
“No kidding.”Maeve’s tone was wry. “What happened in the sixties? Didn’t you learn how to handle
men in the age of free love?”
“Well, no. It was the age of free love but I wasn’t very free with it.” Sunni dropped the empty henna
cone into the trash and reached for a fresh one. Clipping the tip with a small pair of scissors, she started
detailing another feather. “It just never seemed…right, I guess. I wanted more than just emotionless
couplings.”
Maevewhipped her head around, her face registering disbelief. “Are you saying you’ve never had sex?”
“Damn it,Maeve .” Sunni reached over and shoved her friend back into her previous position. “You
keep moving around and your peacock will look like amolting chicken.” She snatched another cotton
swab to repair the damaged feather.
“Are you?” pressed Jennifer.
“I never said that.” She dropped the swab in the trashcan and reached for another. “I’m not a virgin.
How could I have stayed chaste for over sixty years?”
“Not very easily,”Maeve drawled.
“Okay, Sun.” Jennifer placed her glass on the table with themehndi supplies. “What do you want to
accomplish with this seduction?”
Uncomfortable, Sunni shrugged. She could barely remember a time when she hadn’t been in love with
Alexandre . Since the day they’d met in 1947 when he’d rescued her from a gruesome death by
sunshine, she’d been head over heels in love with him.
She frowned. There was definitely something pathetic about being in love with the same man for so many
years and never making a move. He barely knew she existed, and it was her own fault. She’d been too
much of a coward to make a move.Until now.
She discarded the swab and straightened. The time had come for her to muster her flagging courage and
deal with him once and for all.
She took a deep breath and spoke in a rush. “I either want a relationship withAlexandre or exorcise him
from my life forever.”
“A relationship?”Maeveasked. “You want a relationship?”
“What’s wrong with that? You’re in one now.” Jennifer grinned. “Quinn has certainly tamed the angry
woman that was once inside you, my dear.”
Maevesighed, her tone dreamy. “And then some.”
“Back to Sunni’s problem.”Jennifer looked at her. “KnowingAlexandre , you’ll need to be subtle.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“I still think he’s gay,”Maeve grumbled.
Jennifer ignored her. “You need to take him by storm. Seduce him, but make him think it’s his idea.A
subtle yet ruthless assault on his senses.”
Sunni bit her lip as she contemplated the idea. Could she seduceAlexandre ?
Not in a million years…
She shook her head. “It doesn’t sound like something I can do.”
“If you want something bad enough,” Jennifer said, “then you’ll do anything to get it.”
“Try showing up naked.That seems to work for most men,”Maeve said. “After that, getting him into bed
will be the easy part.”
“I don’t know how,” Sunni wailed, narrowly managing to not stomp her foot. “I just told you guys that
my education was stunted in this arena.”
“That’s an understatement if ever I’ve heard one,”Maeve said.
“You’re not helping,” Jennifer ground out.
Maeverolled her eyes.
“We need to come up with a plan.” Jennifer’s expression turned thoughtful. “Let’s think about this. In a
woman, what would appeal to a man likeAlexandre ? What would he value in a potential mate?”
“Well, if he had a relationship with Cass, let’s take a look at her. Other than poor judgment and the
penchant for treachery, what positive qualities does she possess?”Maeve said.
“She’s beautiful.” Sunni picked up the henna tube and reapplied herself to completing the peacock.
“Very. But so are you.” Jennifer eyed Sunni’s short blonde locks. “You’re as light as she is dark.”
“Cass is very beautiful.Polished.”Maeve held out her hand and counted off as she spoke. “Intelligent.”
“So is our Sunni. Even though she tries to hide those long-haired books she reads.” Jennifer nodded
toward the slim volume of Rimbaud half hidden under a hastily tossed towel. “I cannot imagine why
you’d do that.”
Sunni ducked her head. As a child, her mother had pounded the idea into her head that men didn’t like
intelligent women. While she knew it wasn’t true, such ingrained habits were hard to toss aside.
“He strikes me as someone who appreciates subtlety in a woman,”Maeve offered.
Jennifer nodded in agreement.
“That’s pretty much the last thing I am.” Sunni sat back to admire her handiwork. One more feather and
it would be done.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“We’ll have to work on that,” Jennifer said.
“No,we don’t have to work on anything.” She drew the spine of the feather in a graceful dip, following
the gentle curve ofMaeve’s own spine.
Under normal circumstances she loved nothing more than to lose herself in amehndi design. The
traditional Indian patterns were herfavorites , but she enjoyed the freehand designs her clients often
requested. Unfortunately, with her two friends in the shop and the recent downward spiral of their
conversation, there was no way she could lose herself to the creative process.
“I’ve got it.” Jennifer sat up, swinging her slim legs off the side of the table.
“What?”Maeve raised her head, forcing Sunni to shove her flat once more.
“You need to make yourself indispensable.Alexandre values goals, logic and intelligence above
everything else, even beauty. He’s a man of science. That is the language he speaks.”
A quiver of excitement ignited in Sunni’s stomach. This could very well be the answer to her dilemma. If
she could make herself indispensable toAlexandre , maybe then he’d look at her as something other than
a silly woman with more hair than sense. She knew she was intelligent, now she had to clue him in on the
fact.
She nodded. “You might be on to something—”
Maeveshook her head. “I disagree. Sunni is definitely not a woman of science. She’s more a child of
nature. Nooffense , my dear, but you don’t think before you speak and you never look before you leap.”
Stung, Sunni straightened. “That’s not true.” She tossed the used cone into the trashcan. “I do think
before I speak. I simply choose not to censor myself.”
“Which gives people the impression that you’re a bit…flighty,”Maeve replied. “You’ve just illustrated
my point.”
“Yeah, well… some people don’t know how to have fun.” Sunni stepped away from the massage table,
the peacock complete. “Now don’t move. We have to let this dry before you can get up.”
Maeveraised her head. “How long do I have to lie here?”
“At least three hours.”
“I have to go to the bathroom,” she wailed.
Sunni shot a pointed look at the wineglass and the almost-empty wine bottle. “You should have thought
of that before you guzzled all the wine. Besides, that’s what you get for calling me flighty.” She grinned
when Jennifer burst into laughter andMaeve’s scowl deepened.
Revenge was sweet, indeed.
* * * * *
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The New Orleans night surrounded him like a humid blanket.
Alexandreinhaled the thick air, scented with the sea and the crush of humanity on Bourbon Street.
Brightly dressed crowds moved along the legendary street, imbibing Hurricanes and partaking of the
eclectic mix of music which poured from the nightclubs scattered along the avenue. MardiGras . There
was nothing like it in the world.Drunkenrevelers dancing in the streets, women flashing their breasts for
strands of cheap beads. It was cheap, tacky and ill-mannered.
It was good to be home.
He moved down the street, weaving between groups of bewildered tourists and drunken partygoers.
Normally he’d find a place to watch, unobserved. Nothing intrigued him more than humanity, and he
considered himself a scholar of such creatures. As a vampire hundreds of years old, he barely
remembered how it felt to be mortal. Some memories stuck in his mind, such as the warmth of the sun on
his skin, the sensation of eating food, the heady effects of a bottle of fine merlot. But now that’s all they
were—mere shadows of memory. By studying humanity though, he maintained a tenuous grip on his
sense of former self.
However, tonight he had no time to linger.
He stepped into the street to avoid a couple of drunken men as they staggered along the sidewalk.
Stepping back onto the walk, he continued his journey, ignoring the brightlycolored store windows and
the raucous music. Barely clothed women danced in the windows of one nightclub, trying to entice men
to come inside, and he barely spared them a glance.
Raphael was waiting andAlexandre could only hope the young vampire had the information he sought. In
the past twenty-four hours, two disturbing deaths had occurred in the city. Both vampires, each younger
than fifteen vampire years, had been found dead, their bodies charred beyond immediate recognition. So
far, nothing had surfaced as to the cause of their deaths. Was it murder?Suicide?Or something even more
sinister?
Alexandresuppressed his frustration at how little he knew of the situation. Younger, streetwise vampires
known as Street Rats were reluctant to give information to an elder such as himself, and it was this
information he needed in order to get to the bottom of the situation. Without Raphael’s assistance, he
knew he’d be going into the situation blind. The young vampire could gather information that few others
could as he’d lived in New Orleans for all of his vampire life. He was well known among the Street Rats
and could certainly get information thatAlexandre wasn’t privy to.
A peculiar sensation, not unlike that of a low-voltage current, rippled across his skin, bringing him to a
halt. He raised his head and scanned the area with his vampire senses. The noise of Bourbon Street
faded into the background.
Another vampire was nearby.
Alexandrescanned the area to pinpoint the vampire’s location, his gaze coming to rest on a brightly lit
storefront across the street. Bold golden letters were scrawled across the front:
S&S Designs
Tattoo andMehndi Artists
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The vampire was within.
He stepped into the narrow, congested street and moved toward the store. Looking through the
window, he scanned the room, his eyes narrowing as he found her.
Sunni.
He glanced at the window again and noted the smaller lettering,Sunni andSasha , Owners, Artists and
Resident Goddesses.
His brow rose. Through the brightly lit window he saw there were three people in the storefront but he
was only interested in one. Sunni wore yet another messy-looking skirt, this one in the palest of pink
swirled with streaks ofgray . A slim-fitting tank top in matchinggray completed her ensemble. She sat on
the edge of a massage table, swinging her bare feet as she spoke to a massive, tattooed man seated in
what resembled a dentist’s chair. Another woman stood beside him with her back toAlexandre as she
was working on a tattoocentered on the man’s beefy right shoulder.
Sunni’s golden hair gleamed and she gestured with her hands as she spoke, her expression animated, her
eyes sparkled. Her nails were painted shell pink. Her fingers were bare of rings save one on her left index
finger, the jewel a blood red.
The oversized customer grinned and said something that caused Sunni to shout with laughter, her entire
body vibrating in merriment.
The sounds of her mirth reached his acute ears through the glass. He watched as she tipped her head
back, exposing her soft throat to his gaze before bending double. One of the first things he’d ever noticed
with Sunni was her propensity for laughter. She was almost always merry, and laughing was a
whole-body experience for her. He hadn’t a great deal of time with her, but he’d lost count of the
number of times when he’d see her bent double with glee.
She sat upright and her misty eyes were dancing with amusement. She licked her lips and his groin
tightened. The man spoke again and Sunni shook her silky head, andAlexandre couldn’t help but wonder
she was as unrestrained in bed as she was in public. Heat seared his cheeks.
Down, boy.
Annoyed, he swung away from the window and continued down the street, his stride lengthening, and he
shouldered drunkenrevelers out of his way.
What was it about her? Under normal circumstances, Sunni wasn’t anything he looked for in a woman.
She was blonde—he liked dark hair. She was tiny—he preferred tall, statuesque women. She didn’t
seem to be terribly bright—he admired intelligence. She had the maddening habit of laughing at
everything, even herself. To her, everything in life could be amusing. It was rare that he’d ever seen her
totally serious and the most maddening of all, she was never quiet. Even herjewelry and her clothing were
noisy.
Lately he’d been thinking about having another affair. He snorted. As if he didn’t have enough on his
plate. It had been too many years since his brief, ill-fated liaison with Cass. His mouth tightened. That had
certainly turned out to be a huge mistake as ultimately she’d betrayed him in the worst possible way. She
was a smart woman and she knew too much about him, how he would react in certain situations, and had
almost managed to bring about his downfall and that of the Council. Never again would he open his heart
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
and, more importantly, his mind to another woman.
Even if he did decide it was time to seek a female companion, vampires need not apply. Sunni’s lovely
face drifted through his mind. Not a chance. Even if she were the last person in earth, it would never be
Sunni. She owned half of atattooparlor for heaven’s sake. Not to mention the fact she was never
dressed properly. To him, it appeared as if her mantra was the less clothing the better.
Not that he minded her attire from a male point of view. As a man he certainly appreciated a glimpse of
her legs, the creamy flesh of her stomach,the shadowed hollow between her breasts. However, he
wouldn’t consider having a relationship with a woman who eschewed shoes as she obviously did.
Then again…
With an absent flick of his finger, he moved a drunken man from his path and almost tossed him through
a window.
Sunni was as sexy as any woman he’d ever met. Every movement of her lithe body hinted at her raw
sensuality. If she behaved in bed as she did when she laughed, with such unabashed delight, she’d be a
force to be reckoned with. Images of her tiny body, nude in his arms, crowded his mind. A rush of lust
caused him to falter then come to a complete stop.
He blinked, looking around as if he’d awakened from a deep sleep. Where the devil was he? He turned
around and stared dumbfounded at the street signs. Damn, he’d missed his turn by two blocks.
Annoyed, he started back the way he’d come. He’d been so engrossed in thoughts about Sunni that
Cass could have walked up behind him and taken his head without him even being aware of her
presence.
Resolutely, he shoved all thoughts of the annoying little blonde from his mind. She was nothing but
trouble and he had enough of that as it was. Vampires were dying under mysterious circumstances and it
was up to him to find out why before there were more victims.
He reached the street where he needed to turn and immediately sensed another vampire in the vicinity.
The energy pulse was weak like that of a very young preternatural.
Raphael.
Now was not the time to ponder a physical relationship with any woman, let aloneher . He had
obligations to attend to and he knew above all else, duty came first.
Chapter Three
What the devil was he up to?
Sunni ducked behind a group of young men when she sawAlexandre come to a stop in the middle of the
sidewalk. He looked around as if confused. His expression turned annoyed then he turned around and
stalked toward her. Had he missed his destination?How very unlike him to not be paying attention.
Dodging her inebriated cover, she moved down the street in an attempt to stay in front of him, unwilling
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
to let him see her if she could help it. If he caught her, there’d be no end to his irritation.
She stepped into a recessed doorway, her gold bracelets making a soft musical chime when they
connected. Clamping her hand over the offendingjewelry , she peered around the corner to see where he
was.
Alexandrecontinued in her direction, his expression remote as he effortlessly moved through the throng.
This was no mean feat as thousands of people packed the narrow street. When he neared, she caught
her breath and shrank against the door, hoping to evade detection. He stepped into her line of vision, or
at least his sleeve did, when he stopped to look down the intersecting street, which ran a few scant feet
from her hiding place. After a slight hesitation, he moved out of view and down the street to her left.
Exhaling, Sunni stepped from the doorway. What was he doing on Bourbon Street? He usually stuck to
theVieuxCarré where the avenues were lined with elegant mansions and everyone dressed in stuffy
clothing. Life on Bourbon Street was earthy, sometimes sinister, and a party was always in progress.
It truly was the perfect place for her.
Sunni grinned as she ventured down the narrow street inAlexandre’s wake, leaving behind the bright
lights and loud music. Moving cautiously, she walked in thecenter of the brick street, senses alert for
danger and the location of the man she tailed.
Although littered with trash from the latest parade and a few, privacy-seeking couples groping in
doorways, she wound her way around the obstacles of the street, never losing sight of her prey. Her eyes
narrowed as she sensed the pulse of another preternatural—a young vampire to be exact.
Concentrating, she scanned the area. A hundred yards ahead, the street was blocked off with police
barricades and the only light was a weak pool from a fluorescent fixture overhead. The bulb flickered as
if about to give out. In the ghostly, shuddering glow stood a slender young vampire and he appeared to
be waiting for someone.
She moved closer and when she caught sight of his face, she immediately recognized him as one of the
Street Rats.
Raphael.
The vampire slouched against the old brick wall, head down, his posture telling her he was unabashed by
the appearance of the Head of the Council of Elders. Dressed in blue jeans and a tie-dyed Grateful Dead
shirt, his blond hair was pulled back in a long, sleek ponytail. His features were sharp while his gaze
darted from side to side, at odds with his careless posture.
Being the social creature she was,Sunni had met Raphael on several occasions. He was relatively young,
around thirty vampire years, and was known for his love of Jamaican music and herb-smoking lifestyle. It
was also well known that when information was needed, he was the man who had it. His good ole boy
demeanor fooledmany, consequently, few hesitated to speak in front of him.
Alexandrestepped into the weak light to greet Raphael. The young vampire spoke but she couldn’t hear
him as she was too far away. Drat, she needed to get closer.
Don’t say anything fun without me, kids!
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Keeping her back to the wall, she scampered to her right. Her bracelets sang and she winced, again
wrapping her fingers around them for silence. Ducking behind a dumpster, she dropped to a crouch and
leaned forward, concentrating on what they were saying.
“I’ve heard nothing about the deaths.” Raphael’s voice carried a distinct New Jersey accent. “Norumors
, no nothing.”
Alexandrenodded. “Keep your ears open. Someone somewhere has to know what’s going on.”
Raphael glanced from side to side once more before pushing away from the wall. He leaned in toward
Alexandre and spoke low, as if fearing he’d be overheard. “Word is that you’re looking for someone.”
“I might be.”
“And I might have information for you about a vampire named Cassiopeia and a certain book in her
possession.”
“And I might have recompense,”Alexandre’s tone was dry, “depending upon the timeliness, of course.”
“Oh,” Raphael smiled. “You’ll want to pay for this. The lady’s been seen here but word is she’s staying
somewhere north of the city. She’straveling with an immortal and no one seems to know who he is. He’s
staying in the Quarter and he’s been up to no good. I hear he’s been procuring medical
supplies—syringes, saline and heavy-duty narcotics. I’ve heard they’re gearing up for something big and
it involves you.”
“I’d already received this information last night.”Alexandre sounded bored. “The only important item
you’ve conveyed is the immortal’s extracurricular activities. That information does have a certain amount
of value.”
“That’s all I have for now.” Raphael bobbed his head. “I’ll get you more.”
Alexandrereached into his jacket and withdrew a large wad of bills. He peeled off several and handed
them to his companion.
Raphael glanced at the bills before returning his gaze to his benefactor. “Wait, I might have something
else.”
Alexandreshifted, turning his back to Sunni, effectively blocking the other vampire from her line of sight.
She squirmed. Darn it. Now she couldn’t see their expressions.
“I also heard—”
She was being watched.
Her head came up and her attention shifted from the two men to the alley’s Bourbon Street entrance.
Against the backdrop of bright lights andrevelers , she saw a large, hulking figure in the street. Her eyes
narrowed when the newcomer slowly backed into the light and she recognized the immortal from the
photos.
She darted a glance atAlexandre , then back in time to see the revenant turn and walk out of sight.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Now what?
She looked back toward the two men, but they appeared oblivious to the immortal’s presence, as they
were still deep in conversation. If she drew their attention,Alexandre would know she’d been following
him. She bit her lip. That she couldn’t have. He’d never let her live it down.
She slipped from her hiding place and ran toward Bourbon Street. She had to move quickly, as it
wouldn’t take long to lose him in the crowds.
The street abounded with a kaleidoscope of humanity in various forms of dress. She cursed the
slow-moving crowd as she hurried along the sidewalk, catching only glimpses of the man she followed. A
large crowd exited from a popular nightclub, stopping her in her tracks. Within seconds he was
swallowed by the hordes.
“Drat.”
A drunken man jostled her to the side. Looking around, she spied a signpost with a wide base. Grasping
the pole, she stepped onto the base, gaining over a foot in height. Ignoring the hoots from a few
inebriated observers, she scanned the crowd.
Her gaze locked on the dark brown head of the revenant as he moved steadily through the crowds
toward Esplanade.
Gotcha!
She jumped from her perch and took off, darting through the crowd before coming to a halt when a
warm hand curled around her arm. She stumbled backward into a warm, very human chest. She turned
her head to see an intoxicated college student dressed in a university T-shirt and smelling of liquor smiling
down at her.
“Hey baby, whereyagoin ’ so fast? Whydon’tchastay and party with me and my friends here?”
Sunni looked around at several others dressed in a similar fashion before dropping her gaze to look
pointedly at his hand on her arm.
“Is this how you pick up women?” She pulled away and turned to face him, crossing her arms over her
chest. “Tell me, stud, does this technique actuallywork ?”
He let out a guffaw and held out his arms as if to give her a hug. “The women love me, babe. I’m a hell
of a lover and I’ll make you come lots of times.” He grabbed his crotch and rubbed it suggestively as his
friends shouted approval.
She rolled her eyes. “That might work on a drunken cheerleader maybe.” She turned away and made to
slip through the crowd.
“Now wait.” He grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her around to face him.
Teeth bared, she spun. “Back off, asshole,” she snarled. She took great satisfaction in watching his eyes
grow wide when he caught sight of her pronounced canines. His plastic liquor-filled cup hit the sidewalk,
splashing his jeans and he stumbled into his friends. Wetness spread across his crotch and she chuckled.
Bet he wasn’t so proud of his equipment now.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Dude, she needs a dentistbad ,” one of his friends whispered.
She shook her head and walked away, moving with ease around the mortals. Normally she loved the
hubbub of MardiGras , but right now she’d settle for fewer drunken fools on the streets.
Stepping into the relative quiet of a shop doorway, she climbed the step to get a better view of the area.
After a quick scan, she realized her prey was nowhere to be seen.
Damn.
She continued toward Esplanade, searching the faces of those she passed. Maybe she could catch him
on a less crowded avenue.
She’d barely taken five steps when a cool hand wrapped around her arm and almost yanked her off her
feet. A squeak caught in her throat as another hand covered her mouth and someone hauled her into the
darkness. Her breath rushed from her lungs as she was slammed into a brick wall, her head connecting
with a sharp rap.
She blinked and looked up into the cool blue gaze of the immortal, once her prey, now her captor. With
his massive body pressed into hers, he held her in place against the wall.“Hello, little vampire.”
A chill ran down her spine at the sight of his manufactured smile and flat, expressionless gaze. He was
trying to frighten her with his mere presence and strength but she was hardly as helpless as she might
appear to be. Her eyes narrowed. He was only a revenant, an immortal just one step away from being a
vampire. Didn’t he realize that as a vampire she had at least three times his strength? There was nothing
she hated more than a bully, and this man was definitely a bully with a capital B. She leaned into him and,
to her surprise, he didn’t budge. Her eyes widened and she tried again.
Nothing.He didn’t so much as shift an inch.
She was a small vampire and a relatively young one at that, but she’d never had problems dealing with
mortals or immortals of any size.
Until now.
“Are you surprised that I’m as strong as you?” He removed his hand from her mouth, but his grip didn’t
loosen one bit. Evil radiated off this creature and she resisted the urge to cringe from his particular brand
of darkness.
“Just a bit,” she admitted.
“Why are you following me?”
“Why are you followingAlexandre ?”
“Ah,” he nodded. “You’re one ofthem .” He moved back a half step to allow her some space, his other
hand remaining in place on her arm.
“One ofwho ?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“The mindless legion of females who are attracted toAlexandre and would do anything for him.It appears
his strength and handsomevisage have attracted a following, not to mention the mantle of power he wears
so precariously.” That odd,humorless smile curved his mouth. “That fact alone brings women to him in
droves.”
A spark of jealousy ignited at the thought ofAlexandre with other women. “I’m not one ofthem ,” she
ground out.
He chuckled. “Denial is a bad habit, my lovely.”
“Why are you following him?” she asked again, ignoring his comment.
“Why are you following me?”
“Because you were followinghim .”
“As you were also.”
Sunni remained silent. No way was she going to admit it even though it had been very apparent. It was
one thing to be caught, something else to actually confess.
He shrugged as if her lack of an answer told him what he already knew. “I don’t care what you do. I’m
telling you now, don’t ever follow me again. The next time I catch you, I won’t be as nice.”
She flinched when he drew a finger down her cheek, stopping at the corner of her mouth. The darkness
that surrounded this man increased, threatening to swamp, drown her in its corruption. Whoever had
made this revenant had a dark heart indeed. She shuddered.
Young though she was, she’d encountered evil before. Human evil was familiar, but this was different. It
was darker, deeper and more ancient. She’d never felt anything like it.
“Give the Elder a message from me.” His breath was hot against her cheek. “A plague has been cast
among his people and with it comes a cry for order. A new leader shall rise and all will be as it should.
Can you remember to tell him that, my dear?”
Wordless, she nodded. Her flesh prickled as the sensation of evil crept under her skin, threatening to
envelop her. She swallowed, trying to remain calm as her stomach churned.
“Good.” He placed his palm over her forehead and a strange energy invaded her body. Her muscles
grew lax as her vision dimmed. She wanted to run but her muscles refused to respond to her mind’s
urgent demand.
What is he doing?
Gathering her flagging strength, she concentrated inward, curling it around her throat. Within her mind,
she began to scream.
Alexandre, help me—
She barely felt her head slam into the wall before darkness surrounded her.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Alexandre, help me—
He jerked to a halt as the scream tore a blazing trail through his mind.
What the devil?
A myriad of people flowed around him on the sidewalk, few paying him a second glance as they went
about their business of drinking and exposing body parts best left covered. He lifted his head, his elder
vampire senses as keen as the edge of a blade. Through the noise and smells of Bourbon Street, he
detected the faint presence of another vampire in the vicinity and this time he was sure it wasn’t Raphael.
Sunni.
Panic exploded in his system as he pinpointed her position. There, just east of him. Shoving hapless
pedestrians aside, he ran toward her, his heart pounding in his ears in time to the thud of his shoes against
the street.
In the distance he caught sight of Miles exiting an alley just a block away. The revenant stepped onto the
sidewalk and straightened his loose-fitting linen jacket. His gaze metAlexandre’s and he gave a dark,
half-smile. With a slight nod, the immortal acknowledged his presence before turning away.
The need to follow gnawed atAlexandre when he reached the alley but he knew where his duty lay. He
had to ensure Sunni had come to no harm.
The darkness in the alley wascomplete, no lights illuminated the narrow space. With his enhanced
senses, he peered into the black, dismayed to see a human form lying in the gutter. Heapproached, his
chest constricting as he recognized the pale gold of Sunni’s hair. She lay on her side, her hand out-flung
as if seeking assistance in her unnatural slumber.
He dropped to a crouch beside her, scanning for signs of obvious injury. Finding none, he reached for
her shoulder and rolled her onto her back before picking her up to cradle her in his arms. Her head lolled
back and he moved his arm to support it so he could see her face.
She couldn’t be dead or he’d never have been able to find her. He patted her on the cheek but she
didn’t stir.
“Oh, Sunni.”He dropped his head to press a light kiss on her forehead. Her citrus perfume swirled
around his head and for a second he felt dizzy. “Wake up,” he breathed against her skin.
She moaned and he pulled back in time to see her eyelids flicker then open. Her expression was
unfocused, confused. She blinked several times, growing more alert with each movement.
“Are you injured?”
“What happened?” Her voice was raspy.
“You tell me.”
She struggled upright, moaning as she turned her head. He helped her into a sitting position, bracing her
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
back against his leg.
She felt frail against his hand, her bones fine beneath her pale skin. He well knew the incredible strength
of a vampire, even for one as young as she. In her case, however, her body size would always be a
detriment to her physical safety. Even if she made it to the age of an Elder, she would be no match for a
three-hundred-year-old, medium-sized male. She was simply too small.
His lips firmed. She needed someone to look out for her or she’d fall prey to any preternatural who
wanted to victimize her. The Shadow Dwellers were living in dangerous times. Silently he cursed Mikhail,
Cass and Miles as he watched their latest victim gather her wits.
“What happened?”
She raised a hand to her forehead, a frown curving her mouth. “I was walking…” Her eyes widened and
she dropped her hand. “It was him, the immortal—”
“I saw him leave. Are you okay to sit a few moments alone?”
She nodded, her movement cautious, as if she were in pain.
“I’ll be back.”
He rose and ran out into Bourbon Street. He looked in the direction where Miles had headed. If
anything, the crowds had increased in the past few minutes. He jogged down the street, jostlingrevelers in
his wake as he engaged his vampire senses to scan for the revenant. The crush of people made it hard
and after several blocks he slowed and admitted defeat. There were quite a fewpreternaturals in the
crowd and it would be impossible to find Miles by senses alone.
Defeated,Alexandre retraced his steps. What were Miles and Cass doing in New Orleans? If he were
Cass, it would be the last place in the world he’d try to hide. They had to know that sooner or later he’d
stumble across one of them. He’d lived here for many years now, knew every nook and cranny of the
city. Thepreternaturals who lived in the city were loyal to him, except for the werewolves. His sentries,
the Shadow Hunters, were thorough and their constant vigilance ensured very little escaped his notice.
He walked back to the alley and it took a second to register that Sunni no longer sat where he’d left her.
“Sun?”
“I’m here,” she stepped out of the shadows. “Did you find him?”
His eyes narrowed as he assessed her physical condition. A smudge of dirt across one cheekbone and
another on her shirt were the only external evidence of her unexpected encounter.
“No, he vanished in the crowds.” Anger ignited in his gut. She was lucky, she could have been killed.
Miles wouldn’t have thought twice about separating her head from her lovely neck.
Her movements were cautious as she wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be.” Fury vibrated his entire body and he struggled to control it. “Miles—”
She brightened. “His name is Miles?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He ignored her. “He wouldn’t have approached you without reason. He wouldn’t have singled you out
in a crowd. That isn’t how he operates. What did you do to him?”
She lifted her chin. “I was following him.”
“You were—” He bit off the flow of irate words. Shouting at her would accomplish nothing as the little
ditz wouldn’t hear anything she didn’t want no matter how loud he yelled. He took several deep, calming
breaths before he spoke. “What did you think you were you doing?” He was pleased to hear he sounded
calm.
“Trying to help you.”
“Well, next time, don’t. Miles is dangerous and he’d kill you without a second thought. With Mikhail as
his master, he has powers you could only dream of.”
She raised her head and her smile was faint. “So I noticed.”
“What did you think you could accomplish?”
She cocked her head, her expression turning speculative. “I saw you standing outside my shop.”
Alexandretensed, dismayed. He’d only stood there a few seconds and she’d given no indication that
she’d been aware of his presence.
“I thought maybe you wanted something,” she said.
“I saw your window and I was curious.”
She stepped forward, her expression light. “You were?”
Inwardly he cursed. The last thing he needed was to encourage her.
“I couldn’t imagine a pair ofwomen owning a tattooparlor . It seems so…common.” He balked at the
sound of his words. It made him seem like a snob.
Her expression froze and the light died in her eyes. “Yes, well,” her tone was cool, “it’s like creating
living art. Our work actually lives and breathes. It has life.So unlike you and me.”
He fought the urge to smile. “That’s one way of looking at it.”
“That is exactly how we look at it.” She frowned, holding out her hand as if to implore his understanding.
“Alexandre, I was only trying to help—”
He cut her off. “I don’t need your help, Sunni. You need to realize that these are dangerous times and
the world isn’t the safe place it used to be. You’re fragile and at the mercy of anyone who wishes to
victimize you.” He held his hand up as she bristled. “You need to lie low until some of this is resolved.
That means no following anyone and no more ‘helping’ me. Do you understand?”
“I can help you, though—” She stepped closer.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Sunni…” He fought to contain his impatience but he’d reached the end of his rope. “Look, I didn’t
want to address this, but you’ve given me no choice. I know you think you’re in love with me, but you’re
not. It’s time to put this infatuation away and move on with your life. I’m not the man you think I am and
trust me when Isay, marriage is the farthest thing from my mind.”
With each word her back stiffened until he feared her spine might shatter. Her expression grew cold.
“Miles gave me a message for you.”
“What is it?”
“He said a plague has been cast among your people and with it comes a cry for order. A new leader
shall rise and all will be as it should be.”
A sinking feeling hit him in the stomach. It was starting all over again and this time in his city, his home.
More innocents would die in the weeks to come.
“Do you know what he meant?” she asked.
“Nothing you need worry about.”
Her lips tightened and she moved around him, her bearing stiff and starched. She was angry with him.
Good. As long as she stayed away from him and the storm that was brewing in New Orleans, she would
be safe.
“I want you to stay out of this.”
She turned, her eyes impersonal as they raked him from head to toe and he had the impression she
found him lacking. For a split second he regretted his hasty words about her feelings toward him. Already
he missed the welcoming warmth of her smile.
“For future reference, my personal life and feelings are none of your business. I’llendeavor to steer clear
of you from now on.” She paused to catch her breath. “You’re right,Alexandre , you’re not the man I
thought you were.”
With that she turned and slipped into the crowds, leaving him with the bitter aftertaste of something
resembling regret.
* * * * *
I lied to him.
Tears stung as Sunni settled into her bed in the fortified attic above the store. Her body ached from head
to toe, but she knew the pain would be gone when she rose in the evening. The same couldn’t be said for
the pain in her heart. She had a feeling that would linger for years, not just hours. Curling onto her side,
she gave a watery sigh. The silk and velvet of her bed was comforting and welcome against her body.
If nothing else,Alexandre was right about one thing. She was in love with him. She’d been in love with
him for many years and she’d never, in her entire life, loved anyone as she did him.Never wanted to.
She’d known shortly after meeting him that he was the man for her. He’d saved her from death and had
held her in his arms until she’d awakened from her dark slumber. When she’d opened her eyes and seen
his dark face over hers, her heart was branded with his name, his face. She’d never seen such concern
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
and desire, at least not when a man looked at her.
The moment he’d realized she awakened, it was as if a mask had fallen andAlexandre had become
remote. He’d chastised her about the dangers of straying too far from one’s lair close to dawn. He’d then
escorted her home and left her with a formal goodbye and the memory of the strength of his embrace.
She closed her eyes, the memory sustained her still. Over the years she’d run into him any number of
times. Some were engineered while others were strictly by accident. Each time he’d remained distant as if
they’d never spent that long ago night in each other’s arms. But that didn’t deter her for she remembered
it well enough for both of them.
Then tonight had been almost like a replay from sixty years ago. He’d held her in his arms once more,
only this time he’d kissed her.On the forehead, at least. But that made no difference, a kiss was a kiss.
She lightly rubbed where his mouth had touched her skin as a shiver of delight rippled through her.
Then he’d embarrassed and chastised her before tearing her heart out. She dropped her hand as tears
threatened once more.
Damn him.
Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he needed her help with Cass. While she hadn’t proven it to him
yet, she was a valuable partner when subterfuge was needed. She could be resourceful, useful.
Now she had to convince him of that. A delicious thrill ran through her as she tugged the sheets higher,
tucking them under her chin.
He was wrong about something else. He was the man she thought he was no matter how much he
denied it. He was kind, generous and heroic, if a bit formal, but this added to his magnetism. In some
ways, it made her want him all the more. She saw through the façade he showed the world to the man
within. He was the man she’d fallen in love with, not the Council Elder that everyone else knew.
Exhaustion claimed her as the rising sun tugged at her dark self. Sleep descended as quietly as a breath.
Chapter Four
This was getting old.
Midnight had passed whileAlexandre walked along Bourbon Street, once more in pursuit of Raphael.
Lowgray clouds hung in the sky and a light, misty rain fell. Like last night, the streets were crammed with
people. The persistent rain and mist combination had done little to dampen their MardiGras enthusiasm.
The shop windows were lit and the bars bulged at the seams asrevelers sought to evade the weather by
taking their parties inside. Judging from the loud music and the roar of human voices, the night would be a
financial success for the Bourbon Street entrepreneurs.
He couldn’t resist a glance at Sunni’s storefront as he passed. He was half relieved to see it lit by a single
golden light and that the CLOSED sign hung prominently in the window. It would appear the little
vampire and her partner had taken the night off.
He continued his walk, mindless of the rain that dampened his clothing. He had serious business to
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
attend to and he only wished he could exorcise Sunni from his mind once and for all. She was distracting
him from his responsibilities.
The energy of another vampire prickled his skin when he neared the rendezvous point. He ducked into
the alley, his gaze fixing on the secluded doorway where Raphael waited. The vampire paced the narrow
confines of the space, sheltered from the rain by a rickety-looking balcony. His movements were quick
and jerky as if he had too much energy to remain still.
Curious.
Raphael had never struck him as someone who was overly physical. In the past, he’d been laid back to
the point thatAlexandre wanted to shake him just to ensure he was awake. He couldn’t remember ever
seeing him quite so animated before.
“You have something for me?”Alexandre spoke.
Raphael jerked and spun around, his fangs bared, his expression panicked. When he recognized
Alexandre , he relaxed and hid his fangs as a sheepish expression crossed his face.
He is a bit jumpy this evening.Interesting.
“I have a message for you.” Raphael sounded breathless.
“Go on.”
The Street Rat danced from foot to foot, looking very much like a three-year-old in dire need of a
bathroom. His hands shook with fine tremors and a light sheen of sweat tinged with blood had broken
across his face. Sweating wasn’t completely unheard of in a vampire, especially in the warmer, humid
climates such as the bayous. Yet, in all his years,Alexandre had never seen a vampire sweat like Raphael,
especially not in February in Southern Louisiana.
“She wishes to meet with you.” He leaned against the building, still for a few seconds before pushing
away from the wall to dance from side to side. “Cassiopeia asked that you meet her atRiverwalk across
from Jackson Square three nights from now, at one a.m.”
Something wasn’t right. Raphael’s energy was off, way off. Vampire energy resembled a low voltage
current, cool and blue with very little fluctuation. Raphael’s energy seemed to come in waves, as did his
jittery motions. As his movements grew more erratic, the sensations became stronger, unpredictable.
During the few moments when he’d stilled, it had dropped to a barely perceptible level.
“Did she indicate why she wished to meet with me?”Alexandre spoke.
“No, she said nothing else.” The vampire continued his odd jitterbug shuffle. And the rain began to fall
harder.
“Are you feeling well?”
Raphael gave a wan smile. “I think I got some bad blood or something. I’m feeling a bit shaky.”
Alexandrenodded. That would explain the young vampire’s oddbehavior . With new diseases, drugs and
addictions in humans, vampires were more susceptible to “illnesses” though in their case it was never
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
lethal. If a vampire fed from a drunken human witha high alcohol content, the vampire would feel the
same effects as the human. Of course, they didn’t last nearly as long thanks to their amazing restorative
powers. But that explained Raphael’s inability to remain still. He’d obviously gotten hold of a human
who’d done some sort of amphetamine and now he was feeling the affects of the drug coupled with the
rush that accompanied a normal feeding.
“Thank you for the message, Raphael. Now, go feed, this time on a clean human and try to get some
rest. By tomorrow you’ll feel like yourself.”Alexandre handed him a small roll of bills as payment for his
services.
A look of relief crossed Raphael’s face as he accepted the money. “Thanks. I’ll keep my ears open for
more news.” His expression turned serious and his movements stilled. “Manypreternaturals are leaving
New Orleans now that word has gotten out thatthey are here. Most feel that something bad is about to
go down.” He shivered and rubbed his skinny arms. “Even the energy of the city has changed. Can you
feel it?” He shook his head. “Most of those who will stay are too young to know any better.”
“Yourselfincluded?”
He flashed a toothy grin. “I’m leaving shortly.” He held up the wad of bills. “I just needed a bankroll to
make good my escape.” He pocketed the money and stepped out into the street. “Thanks to your
generosity, I can leave in style. I’ll gather my woman and be little more than a memory within twenty-four
hours.”
“Where will you go?”
“I’m thinking San Francisco maybe. I’m tired of the humidity. There are times when I wake up and I
smell mildew only to discover it’s me.” Whistling an off-key tune, the vampire proceeded up the alley
then turned left onto Bourbon Street and out of sight.
Alexandrefollowed more slowly, his mind whirling with possibilities. So Cass wanted to see him, did
she? Was it possible she was going to try and kill him or did she want to surrender?
No, not her.Cass wouldn’t submit to him unless her life was in danger. If anything, she would issue yet
another challenge to his rule. That would be more her style.
The rain had increased to a steady downpour and he silently cursed. At this rate, he’d be drenched
within minutes. He’d been so preoccupied lately. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d neglected to
bring an umbrella or his trench coat when the forecast called for rain.
It was allher fault.
No, he wasn’t going to think abouther . Time would come soon enough that he’d have to deal with
Sunni, just not yet.
He raised hishead, the rain pelted his upturned face. Shaking the hair out of his eyes, he found himself
staring at the brightly lit sign for the Chat Noir—afavorite preternatural hang out. Normally he disdained
such places, but at least it would be dry until the rain slowed and he could make his way home without
drowning.
Beneath the wrought iron balcony sheltering the entrance, a young male vampire manned the front door
flanked by a small group of scantily clad young woman. As their gazes met, the younger simply nodded in
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
acknowledgement and motioned forAlexandre to enter.
The club was small and packed from wall to wall with both humans andpreternaturals alike. The scent of
alcohol, fried food and warm humans swirled about his head as he made his way though the crowd. The
lighting was low and the music rich, hot jazz. Overhead, ceiling fans stirred the thick air but did little to
lower the temperature.
“Fancymeetin ’ you here.”
He looked toward the bar and saw a familiar face. Damien St. James was standing behind the bar mixing
a drink. A vampire of almost seven hundred years,Sinjin , as he was called, was an old and
well-respected acquaintance. The last timeAlexandre had seen him was almost four months before when
they’d laid the immortal’s one-time love andAlexandre’s co-council, Bliss, to rest in the highlands of
Scotland. Her death had been yet another in a long line of senseless killings by one of Mikhail’s
followers.
Their gazes met andSinjin’s expression turned solemn in remembrance of their last meeting. Reaching
behind the bar, he retrieved a white towel, which he tossed atAlexandre .
“Yerdripping on my floor.”He indicated an empty barstool. “Grab a seat.”
Alexandreglanced at his damp clothing and grinned. “So I am.” He seated himself andtoweled the excess
moisture from his hair and clothes. “What are you doing here?”
“Workin’.I bought this place a few months back. Came in for a visit and ne’er left.”
“You didn’t let me know you were in town.” He handed the damp towel back to his friend.
“You’ve been busy.”Sinjin tossed the cloth into a small bin before picking up a clean one. “Heard from
Val a few days ago and he said he’s come up with nothing. He lost her trail.”
“I called him last night to formally ask him to take an open council position. Lucky for us, he’s
accepted.”
Sinjinnodded.“‘Tisgood news.”
“As for Miles and Cass, they’ve surfaced here.”
His brow shot up.“InN’awlins ?”
Alexandrenodded. “Cass sent word that she wants to meet me tomorrow.”
“Doya think that’s a safe move?”
“Safe enough.”He shrugged. “She wouldn’t attempt to kill me without an audience. Knowing her as I do,
she’d want the world to witness the day she and Mikhail best the Council, me in particular.”
Sinjinpicked up a glass and polished it. “Do ye think they’re stillworkin ’ together?”
“I’ve heard nothing to the contrary.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Now that he’s wounded, Mikhail’s more dangerous thane’er .” He set down the glass and selected
another. “Let me know if ye need backup, I’d be happy to go with ye and kick some arse.”
Alexandremet his friend’s gaze. “Thanks, but I think you have enough on your plate as it is.”
Sinjin’sexpression froze,then turned inward, almost lost. His hands stilled. “Icanna help it, I miss her
more every day.”
“I understand.”
“We were apart for many years before her death. I’d thought I’d learned to live without her, but now,
I’ve lost part of my soul.”
They were silent for a moment, two men sharing the loss of a loved and a well-respected colleague.
Bliss’ murder had been a devastating blow to the preternatural community as a whole. She’d been a vital
link between thepreternaturals and the witches, a group that adamantly refused to join the Council. She’d
been a rare voice of reason during a time of upheaval, and all who’d been lucky to know and love her felt
her absence keenly.
Alexandrecleared his throat. “Now how did you end up owning a bar?”
“In December I came to New Orleans to lose myself and, instead, found a business.” A grin broke
acrossSinjin’s face and he set the glass down. “Love it, just love it.”
“Will you return to Scotland?”
He shook his head. “Icanna lie, I miss my home in the Highlands. It is my heart and soul, the blood in my
veins and the breath in my lungs, but Iwillna return, ne’er for a long time. Lily stepped in and she’s taken
over the records.” He grinned. “She’s even talked of computerizing them. Computers! Imagine that.” His
smile faded. “For now, I only have to live from day to day. As she told me before I left, the only
responsibility I have is to breathe, everything else is incidental.”
“Sounds like good advice.”
Sinjin’sgaze turned sharp when a stunning brunette swayed up to the bar. Barely contained in a miniscule
burgundy dress, she gaveAlexandre a sleepy smile before she leaned into the polished wood, her breasts
threatening to spill from her straining bodice. Her gaze latched ontoSinjin and she licked her lips as she
set her glass down.
“Shug, can I have another?”
Her accent was pure southern honey and her body, judging from the luscious curves outlined by her
skimpy dress, would be illegal in a few states. She climbed onto the barstool next toAlexandre , allowing
one leg to dangle off the edge. Her skirt rode high, showing off her perfectly shaped thighs.
“My pleasure.”Sinjinrefilled her glass with a yellow liquid and several shots of amaretto before setting it
on the bar before her.
“Well, it certainly could be.” Her voice dropped. “Your pleasure, that is.”
Sinjin’ssmile sharpened when she leaned forward to retrieve her drink, a totally unnecessary movement
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
as the glass was mere inches away. Their gazes locked as she took a tiny sip of her drink. She gave a
delicate shudder then set it down, a soft pout curving her mouth.
“It isn’t very sweet,” she breathed. “Can you make it…sweeter?”
Alexandrefought the urge to snort with laughter. Human women were so obvious.
Sinjinleaned forward, his mouth mere inches from hers, his eyes heavy. “I think I can do that.”
“I was hoping you could.” She pressed closer, missing his mouth bycentimeters because he picked up
the glass and turned away to fix her drink.
She sighed and leaned back. Her dark eyes fixed onSinjin’s back and she licked her lips once more.
Alexandre could smell her arousal, the musky scent of her skin. For a split second he found himself
thinking about another woman, a petite blonde who preferred the scent of citrus and loose, flowing
clothing.
“Try this one.”Sinjin returned with the glass. “I think you’ll like this much better.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will.” She leaned over the bar and this time her destination wasn’t the drink. Red-tipped
fingers curled around the placket ofSinjin’s shirt and she pulled him toward her.
“Hey now.”He juggled the drink and spilled a few drops on the gleaming oak bar.
The woman fastened her lips on his and kissed him for all she was worth. Mouth open, she ate atSinjin
as if shewere starving and he was the sweetest nectar. For his part,Sinjin didn’t look too abashed when
he grasped her chin and gave asgood as he got.
From a table behindAlexandre came shouts of delight.
“You GO, girl, show him how it’s done.”
“Eat him alive,Moni .”
“He’s sogorgeous .”
“I’m next.”
“Warm him up for me,darlin ’.”
Alexandrehad always found public displays of affection unnerving, which was a contradiction since he
lived in New Orleans, a city known for its vices. This wasn’t to say that he didn’t indulge from time to
time, just not in a public arena. He turned away fromSinjin and his new friend to scan the interior of the
club.
The area nearest the bar was occupied with small tables filled with people clustered around them.
Candles flickered in smallcolorful votives as cocktail glasses and dinner plates vied for space. Several
barmaids navigated the crowded room with ease as they delivered drinks and emptied ashtrays.
At the far end of the room was the stage upon which a light-skinned black woman was belting out the
classic song, “Summertime”, throwing her body and soul into the evocative piece. In front of her was a
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
large dance floor filled with people grinding to the sensual heat of the ballad. Surrounding the dance floor
was a large number of small tables like those near the bar.
Monibumped intoAlexandre , her gaze still locked withSinjin’s when she slid from the stool. Her lips
were ripe from their heated kiss. She retrieved herdrink, her eyes throwing promises atSinjin , a saucy
smile curved her mouth. She presented him with a nearly naked back and pert ass then sashayed back to
her table.
“It’s a tough job.”Alexandre turned to his friend. “Think you can handle it?”
“Are ye volunteering to give me a hand?” He grinned. “I could always use a good bartender.”
Alexandreshot a glance at the woman, his gaze lingering on her well-rounded backside.“Tempting.” He
looked back atSinjin . “But I don’t think so.”
“She grabbed me, ne’er the other way around.”
“And you fought her off with all your strength,”Alexandre grinned.
“Man’sgotta do what a man’sgotta do.”Sinjin shrugged and picked up the towel.
“You’re right about that.”
“Can I getye a dram?Yer looking a bit peaked.”
“You have something?”
“Of course.This is a hot spot amongpreternaturals and I have something for everyone’s palate, even the
most discerning.”Sinjin grinned. “And I have something I think ye could use right now.”
Withdrawing a small silver key from his pocket, he unlocked a small cabinet in the wall behind the bar to
reveal a black thermal carafe sitting on a coffee warmer. He withdrew the carafe as he picked up a small
black glass the size of an espresso cup, minus the handle. He poured a small amount of liquid into the
glass before carefully locking the carafe back in its niche. Turning, he set the glass in front ofAlexandre .
“What is it?”
“Something ye need, my friend.” With that he moved down the bar to refill another patron’s drink.
Alexandrepicked up the glass and took a tentative sniff. It was blood, the warmth of the liquid radiated
through the china to caress his hand. He sniffed again. It lacked the hot tang of fresh blood. He peered
into the glass. This blood was darker, thicker and it reminded him of the most coveted blood of all,
shapeshifter …werewolf to be exact.
He sat back, stunned. Where hadSinjin procuredwereblood ? Most wolves eschewed allowing
themselves to be used as dinner for a vampire. In the last two hundred years, they’d become so
standoffish that they were rarely seen in the company of another preternatural, least of all a vampire.
He inhaled once more, this time detecting another, fainter scent, like that of a flower he couldn’t quite put
his finger on. He closed his eyes and his senses sprang into full alert. If he were human, his mouth would
be watering. It had been hundreds of years since he’d last tasted the coveted blood of a werewolf.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
On stage the singer swung into a rousing rendition of “MackThe Knife”, as he took a tentative sip. The
taste rolled across his tongue, not unlike the bite of fine whiskey. He swallowed, resisting the urge to
cough. It was warm, spicy,almost sensual inflavor and he wanted more.
As he took another sip, the rush that accompanied a feeding slammed through his body, his senses
sharpened and his flesh warmed. Even without looking, he knew the pale cast of his skin was fading as
the blood worked its dark magic.
He closed his eyes,savoring the embrace of his darker self. The transformation was unlike any other
feeling on earth, not terribly unlike the physical release of sex. Then again, food and sex were akin to one
another in the human psyche. Humans couldn’t survive without a balance of both. Neither could
vampires. Not for long anyway.
Except for him.
His background had trained him to live without physical intimacy and he’d done quite easily for many,
many years. Being well versed in the treachery of the gentler sex, he had no intentions of ever being taken
advantage of again.
He smothered a mirthless laugh and took another sip of blood. This one went down smooth, seducing
him with its warmth andflavor . He opened his eyes to stare into the glass of dark liquid.
Oh, there’d been women in his life, quite a few actually. Most of them had been nameless, faceless
creatures who erased the edge of his need when he’d been most vulnerable to their charms. But it was
during his time with Cass that he’d made one of his gravest mistakes. Thanks to his weakness for the sins
of the flesh, lives had been lost and those were stamped on his soul forever.
There’d been other women after her, but not for many years. His affairs were emotionless relationships
that were physical only. Of course, his women had to have the necessary intellectual element. A woman
must be a good conversationalist in order to interest him at all.
But none had been like Cass.
He took another drink, enjoying the now-familiar rush that swept through him as the liquid did its work.
Cass had been an excellent conversationalist and she’d had the type of mind he admired.
Intelligent, quick and emotionless.
She was beautiful, educated and elegant but it hadn’t been long until her social mask had begun to crack
and he hadn’t liked what he’d seen. The relationship had ended and now, thirty years later she’d shown
her true face when she’d joined with Mikhail in an attempt to overthrow the Council. Hell, if she’d
wanted the head position, why hadn’t she asked? The job sucked anyway and who knows, he might’ve
given it to her without a fight.
No you wouldn’t.
He snorted.
The music changed to a soulful rendition of “Unforgettable”. He shut his eyes, losing himself in the lusty
tone of the singer and the distinctly sensual feel of thewereblood pumping through his veins. Immersing
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
himself in the notes, the noise of the mortals around him faded to a faint roar as he drifted with the music.
“Care for another?”
His eyes flew open to findSinjin smiling at him with a knowing look.
“I think—” He glanced down into the glass, surprised to see it empty.How had that happened?
“Coming right up.”Sinjinwhisked the glass away and returned within moments with the refill.
“Thanks.”
“I think ye might want to turn around and watch the stage for this next number.”Sinjin nodded toward
the far end of the room. “I’ve a feeling this might interest ye.”
Alexandreturned his chair just in time to hear the singer say, “I’d like to introduce you to a friend who’s
going to sing a very special song for us this evening. Let’s give a warm round of applause to my dear
friend, Sunni.”
No…
The audience applauded and took to their seats as the pianist swung into the beginning notes of “Peel
MeA Grape”.
His stomach dropped as she stepped into the spotlight, a shy smile on her face. Her pale pink top
skimmed her slender curves and left her shoulders bare. This time, the long skirt was gone, replaced with
a short black number that showed far too much leg. His gaze skimmed her well-toned limbs. Who would
have thought a small woman would have such spectacular legs?
She threw herself into the song, her movements sensual,her voice throaty and full of promise. Moving
from the stage, she wound her way through the tables as she seduced her enthralled audience with her
voice, a beguiling mix of innocence and seduction. They sat spellbound as she walked from one to
another, stopping for a few moments to tease a select individual, making them want her as she sang.
More than one man reached for her before she flitted away, off to make the next man crazy with her soft
smile and sultry lyrics.
Damn, is this woman trying to drive me crazy?
Arousal rose hot and thick as he watched her weave a spell over the audience. Even the women were
enthralled with her performance. He cleared his throat. She was lovely and, in that moment, he realized
that he wanted her as he’d never wanted another woman in his life. He shifted, trying to relieve the ache
of unfulfilled lust as his sudden arousal strained against his zipper.
Damn, what’s wrong with me?
He picked up the glass and downed the rest of its contents, watching Sunni as she continued weaving
her sensual tapestry. He set the glass down and slid off the stool when she seated herself in an eager
young man’s lap. The man’s arms came to rest around her waist as she sang, her fingers running through
his blond hair, standing it on end. A surge of jealousy rushed throughAlexandre , leaving him seeing red,
literally.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Whoa there.”
Someone grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.Alexandre glared atSinjin , who grinned at him. He
gave the bartender a pointed look in the eye before dropping his gaze to his restraining grip.
“Do you mind?” he said.
“Dinnaye think ye should until she’s done?”
“Do you see what she’s doing?”Alexandre spluttered.
“I’ve seen her sing a hundred times. She’sverra talented, isn’t she?”
“She does this a lot?”
“Aye, the customers love her.”
Alexandrelooked back in time to see Sunni press a kiss to the man’s forehead before she rose from his
lap.
“We’ll see about that.”
Chapter Five
Sunni had practiced her curtsey for hours to ensure she didn’t land on the stage in an undignified heap.
Warm waves of appreciation washed over her as the audience stomped and cheered her performance.
Cheeks flushed with pleasure, she rose and tossed the microphone to the returning singer.
Helene gave her a thumbs-up. “You need to do this more often,” she shouted over the din.
“I think I will.”
Sunni jumped off the stage and waved her thanks to the band. Framed in soft blue lights, they broke into
a sexy rendition of “At Last” with Helene at the helm.
Tipping her head back, Sunni gave in to the joy in her heart as a laugh broke from the innermost part of
her soul. She loved performing before an appreciative crowd. All her life, she’d loved to sing though only
in the past few months had she dared to brave the spotlight at the Chat Noir. She didn’t have the
opportunity to perform very often, but when she did, she embraced every minute of it.
She’d almost made it off the dance floor before she bumped into someone, effectively stopping her in
her tracks. Tipping her head back, she metAlexandre’s dark gaze and noted at once that he didn’t look
happy. Her heart gave a queer little jerk. Remembering their last conversation, she wasn’t terribly happy
to see him either.
“Excuse me.” She made to move around him.
He grabbed her wrist. “No.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
She gave an experimental tug, but his grip was unyielding. “Let go of me.”
“You’re coming with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
She tugged harder this time, but he refused to release her. Instead, he hauled her off the dance floor,
people jostling them with every step.
What the hell does he think he’s doing?
In his wake, Sunni followed him between the crowded tables before leading her to a darkened corner.
He stopped when he saw that a couple already occupied the secluded spot he’d been aiming for. She
heard him mutter something under his breath.
“Do you know where you’re going?” she asked sweetly.
“No.”
“I can tell.”
She caught sight of an uncharacteristic scowl when he turned and pulled her in the direction of the
bathrooms. The doorway was discreetly hidden behind a row of potted palms around which was
clustered a small group of women. As soon as he spied the obvious line for the ladies room,Alexandre
headed for the men’s room.
Sunni balked when he shoved the door open. “Oh no, I’m not going in there.” She braced her feet and
tried to free her arm.
He gave a not-so-gentle tug, propelling her through the doorway. “Yes, you are.” He stepped to the side
as she swung past,then slammed the door before releasing her.
“Hey!” She spun around and put her hands on her hips. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Funny, I was going to ask you the same question.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“What are you talking about?”
“Out there.”He jerked his head to indicate the main room. “What did you think you were doing out
there?”
“Singing?”
“Is that what you call it when you parade around like some harlot?” The volume of his voice increased
with each word. “Sitting in a stranger’s lap is not singing. It’s flirting. No, it’s worse than that.
It’s…it’s…immoral.”
“W-w-what?And who do you think you are to question what I do? Who gave you the right to judge
me?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“I’m the head of the Council and I have every right—”
“You’re demented.”
“I’m what?”
“The Council has no power to govern our day-to-day lives.” She approached him. “Besides, you’ve
said itbefore, you’re the head of nothing right now. The Council now consists of you andFayne , and you
two can’t enforce anything at this point. The entire balance of the Shadow Dwellers is in danger and
you’re worried about me singing—”
“Val has joined the Council.”
She blinked then scowled. “Quit changing the subject.” She jabbed him in the chest with her finger. “You
certainly can’t tell me what to do, especially not about my personal life.”
She moved to step around him and he thwarted her by leaning against the door, blocking her way.
“We’re not done.”
“I have nothing more to say to you—”
She squeaked when he grabbed her by the shoulders and hauled her into his arms. A shiver ran down
her spine as her breasts were crushed against his broad chest. The warmth of his skin invaded hers, the
scent of warm male and rain seduced her into mindlessness.
“Who said anything about talking?” he muttered as his head dipped close.
Oh, no…he’s going to kiss me!
“You don’t want to do this,” she hissed, his mouth merecentimeters from hers.
“Like hell I don’t.”
His lips brushed hers and a shock of desire tore through her skull. Her fingers curled in his damp shirt,
her gaze locked on his mouth.
“You have no right,” she whispered. His breath mingled with hers and a strangelightheadedness swept
over her. “You haven’t asked my permission.”
“I have every right. I’m the man who’s about to become your lover.”
She blinked. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me.”
Well, I’ll be damned…
Anger ignited in her chest, and she ground her teeth. He was a damned fool if he thought she’d fall into
his arms after the way he’d treated her. She shoved against his chest. “You’re out of your mind. What
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
have you been drinking?”
His grip tightened.“Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“What if I don’t want to take you as my lover?” she snapped.
“What if I don’t care what you want?”
“You’d force me?” she gaped at him. Something was definitely not right here. “What has gotten into
you?”
“Maybe I’m turning over a new leaf?” His head dipped.
She shoved at him again. “What if I don’t give a damn about your new leaf?”
Her words were swallowed as he swooped, capturing her mouth in a kiss that was sensual and
possessive at the same time. She inhaled the scent that was uniquelyAlexandre , spicy yet subtle, while he
lavished his full attention on her mouth. A whimper escaped her throat as, without warning, the kiss
turned soft and he coaxed her to open to him.
This was theAlexandre she’d dreamed of…
Her lips parted and she leaned into him. Her bracelets sang when she looped her hands around the back
of his neck, reaching up on her toes, aligning her body with his.Reveling in the feel of him, she opened her
mouth wider, her tongue tangling with his as she leaned into his warmth and strength. A feeling of heat
spread through her body when the hard length of his erection pressed against her stomach.
He broke the kiss, raising his head ever-so slightly. Dimly she noted his pupils were enlarged, his
breathing harsh. He loosened his grip on her shoulders, sliding his hands to her elbows then up again.
Shivers racked her body. Who would’ve thought arms could be an erogenous zone?
“Is that a crucifix in your pocket or are you happy to see me?” she whispered.
To her surprise, he chuckled. “You’re too much.” His expression turned serious as he ran his finger
down the curve of her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”
Her breath caught when he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her. She twined her legs
around his as he moved in for another kiss. Shemarveled at how perfectly they fit, the hard ridge of his
desire pressed insistently against the apex of her thighs. The taste of him rolled across her tongue when
she opened for him. She tangled her fingers in his damp hair as their tongues warred, each touch more
exquisite than the one before it.
With nimble fingers she tugged at the buttons on his shirt, eager to stroke exposed his skin. He groaned
when she found his nipple. She brushed her nails over his hardened nub and he lunged against her mouth,
his groans turned into the frantic sounds of hunger.
His grip tightened when he whipped her around to brace her back against the door. She twisted her legs
around his waist and he pressed into her. A few scant layers of clothing separated them, his erection hot
between her thighs. Tension built as she ground against him, desperate to relieve the ache he was
building.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Strong fingers stroked the inside of her thigh before pushing her skirt out of the way. She broke the kiss
as she felt the sinuous slide of his fingers against her dampened silk thong.
“Christ, woman, what are you wearing?” he growled.
Sunni laughed softly.“As little as possible.”
“Amen.”
She laughed again before pulling his head down for another kiss. Strong fingers breached the cloth and
slipped into her dampened core, eliciting a strangled gasp when his thumb brushed her clit. Flexing her
thighs, she performed a slow up and down motion against him. Each sensual stroke increased the tension
in her legs, urgency riding low in her belly.
She broke the kiss and closed her eyes, concentrating on the maelstrom he created with his masterful
strokes. Within seconds she peaked, golden lights sparking against her eyelids and she squelched her
cries with the back of her hand.
Trembling, she let her head drop to his shoulder, her breath raging in her lungs. Dimly, on the edge of her
consciousness, she heard an ominous creaking. She raised her head. “Did you hear that?”
Alexandresucked her earlobe, causing her eyes to roll back in her head. “Hear what?” He thrust against
her.
“Th-th-thatcrack,” she panted.
He released her lobe to nip at her throat. “No.” He pressed again, eliciting a sigh from her. No doubt
about it, she thought as she arched her back for better friction, he had The Moves. She tightened her grip
on his waist and he increased his short, rhythmic movements. Desirespiraled higher, the peak beckoned.
Another crack rent the air, this one much louder than the last, and Sunni’s world tilted. One moment, she
was secure in his arms, her back against the door, the next they were falling.
With a thud, she landed hard on her back withAlexandre on top of her. She blinked and her eyes
focused on the people crowding around them, some concerned, some snickering over their indelicate
position.
Alexandrewas the first to recover, scrambling to his feet, careful not to expose her any more than
necessary. He took her hand and pulled her upright then released her instantly. She wobbled for a
second, taking in the destruction they’d caused.
The men’s room door now lay in the hallway, the wood fractured by their combined weights pressing
against it. The old bolts, unable to withstand the abuse, had given way.
She squelched the urge to giggle. “Do you thinkSinjin will be mad?” She raised her gaze to meet
Alexandre’s .
Uh-oh…
Gone was the passionate lover of moments before and, in his place, was the stoic Council head. With a
cool gaze, he looked at her from head to toe. “Are you injured?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Her heart sank even as she shook her head.
“I’ll make reparations withSinjin for the door so you don’t have to worry about it.” He straightened the
mangled collar of his shirt. “If you’re uninjured, then I will bid you good evening.”
With that, he turned and left, shouldering aside the crowd as if they weren’t there. She glanced at the
broken doorframe, now missing its door, and bit her lip. The crowd stared at her fascinated and before
she broke down in front of their prying eyes, she shoved through them. Heading for the back door, she
took in deep breaths of humid air when she finally reached the alley in back of the club.
Tears stung her eyes and her shoulders slumped. Just what had happened in there? One minute he was
kissing her like a starving man and the next he’d kicked her to the curb like some mangy dog.
Her gaze narrowed and she straightened her spine. No way was she going to allowAlexandre Saint-
Juste, head of the Council of Elders and the biggest butt-head on the planet, to treat her like that.
She was a woman, a lady, andAlexandre would learn that lesson even if it killed him.
Chapter Six
She’s dangerous.
Frustrated,Alexandre threw his Mont Blanc pen on the desk. Leaning back, he rubbed a hand over his
weary eyes. Staying away from Sunni would be for the best. His misplaced fascination with her would
only lead to his ruin. He scowled at the thought of the broken door and the very public end to their
lovemaking at the Chat Noir.
Never in his life had he been so embarrassed.
How many times had he observed the destructive power of a vengeful woman and still he’d risked
everything and indulged in the sins of the flesh? He had nothing against sex, now at least, but the total loss
of control with Sunni concerned him. He wasn’t in a position to allowhimself to be distracted by a woman
and he certainly couldn’t afford to revisit a past mistake.
Though he loved New Orleans, maybe the best thing would be to leave after he’d dealt with Cass.
Maybe a change of scenery would do him some good. A few decades in Europewas what he needed.
I need her.
His let his head drop against the chair and groaned. What was it about the silly little blonde that drove
him nuts? She was everything he avoided in a woman. She wasn’t a great conversationalist—
You’ve never talked to her for any period of time.
She was tiny—
And built like a dream.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
She was mouthy—
Oh, what a mouth.
A rush of need struck him in the gut, the emotion so powerful that he longed to find Sunni and see how
far the passion would take them. He snorted in disgust. He was behaving like an untutored schoolboy
and it had to stop.
Now.
He stood so fast that for a split second he was dizzy. Maybe a swim was what he needed to clear his
head. He headed toward the door but the phone rang. He grabbed the offending instrument and, before
he could bark a greeting, the caller spoke.
“We have problems.”
“Sinjin?”
“Ye need to come down to the Square. There’s somethingye’ll want to see.”
Alexandre’sgut clenched. The urgency inSinjin’s voice was unmistakable. “I’ll be right there.”
* * * * *
Sunni felt a deadly calm settle over her as she watched the man seal his fate. Through narrowed eyes,
she spied him slipping powdered Rohypnol into his date’s drink. Fast-acting, the woman would be
unconscious within minutes of ingesting the vile stuff. At that point, she’d be completely at this creep’s
mercy.
Her gaze scraped over him. Neat clothing, nothing that would make himstand out in a crowd,
medium-brown hair and even features. This one, he was smooth, in control. He’d done this before and
with his nondescript looks, not a single person in this bar would ever be able to describe him.
Very few things in life raised her fury like rapists andpedophiles . Since becoming a vampire, Sunni had
refused to feed on the innocents of the world. Her method was to hit the bars, the seedier the better, and
look for those who were out to cause trouble. She scanned the bar from her secluded corner table,
automatically skipping what she deemed were normal people out for a good time. Her attentioncentered
on those she had learned to stalk and feed from with ease, with relish.The rapists.Thepedophiles .The
creeps of the world.
Rarely did she kill them. Maybe it was the Pollyanna idealism within her, but she truly believed most
people could be redeemed. No one was without at least one saving grace and past errors of judgment
could be dealt with and healed. The future was limitless, even for creeps. A mirthless smile touched her
mouth. By the time she was done with them, most had a change ofheart, she always made sure of that.
Sunni rose from her shadowed seat, leaving her drink untouched. Walking toward the bar, she was
acutely conscious of the gazes following her. Levering into the empty seat beside her victim, her knuckles
deliberately brushed the poisoned glass and toppled it over. Contaminated contents spread across the
bar.
“Hey!” The man shot her a disgusted look.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Sunni turned on the charm and gave her next meal an award-winning smile. “Oh my, I’m so sorry.” She
giggled though inside she cringed at the unnatural sound “I’m so clumsy. I just wanted to come over and
say, hi.”
His expression turned from annoyance to interest.“Hi yourself.” As if he were undressing her, his gaze
swept her body. “What’s a pretty little girl like you doing in a place like this?”
She fought to keep from rolling her eyes. Did he really think he was original with that line? She drew a
fingertip across her exposed collarbone.“Looking for some fun.”
He smiled and it wasn’t pleasant.“Oh really?” He reached out and ran his finger down her arm, narrowly
missing her breast. He frowned. “Are you cold?”
Her skin was cool due to her not feeding for more than twenty-four hours. “You don’t thinkit’s cold in
here?” Sunni kept her expression innocent and bit her lower lip, drawing his attention to her mouth.
He shrugged, obviously not interested in the temperature of the room. He leaned in closer, his breath hot
and smelling of Jack Daniels. “Actually, I’m getting hot.”
“Oh really?I’ll bet you’re reallyhot blooded.”
“Hot as you’ll ever see, baby.”
She injected a sensual note into her voice. “I’ve been watching you.”
He chuckled.“Oh yeah? Like what you see?’
Creep.
“Oh yes.” She slid off the barstool, allowing her skirt to ride up, exposing a good portion of her thighs.
“You’re exactly what I’ve been looking for this evening.”
“And that would be?”
She could smell his arousal.Desire radiated in waves off his skin like cheap aftershave, thick and cloying.
She fought the urge to step away from the miasma that was growing thicker by the moment.
“A real man.”
She reached, her hands brushing the front of his shirt. Following the line of buttons to the open neck, she
let her fingertips stroke the warm skin where she’d soon feed. He shuddered beneath herfeatherlight
touch.
“I’m your man.” His voice was shaky, strained.
She dropped her gaze to his engorged lap. Oh yeah, he was ready all right. “Let’s go then.”
Sunni led him out the door and she didn’t bother to look back to see if he followed. She knew he would
as she heard him breathing heavily. She could feel the heat of his skin as she walked out the side door
and into the humid New Orleans night. This was a seedier section of the city, the dangerous sector where
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
tourists were warned to stay away except in the light of day. Even then they could be taking their lives
into their own hands and frequently did.
The Drunken Sailor was a familiar haunt and she knew exactly where to take him. Turning left, she
walked down thecenter of the alley, her victim close behind. Few people frequented this part of town
unless it was for a nefarious reason and those who did faded into the background as they neared. Sunni
noted the presence of a few otherpreternaturals in the area before she led the man to one of herfavorite
spots.
She noted with some relief that the other vampires were polite and moved away from her. Feeding was
intensely private to some,herself included, and she preferred no witnesses.
“Where are we going, babe?Your place?”
Shadowed by the darkness, she gave in to her desire to roll her eyes. Did he really think thatbabe was a
preferred method of addressing a woman? Did this really work for him?Obviously not as he was with
her.
“Oh no, we aren’t going to my place,” she purred.
Placing her hand on his chest, she shoved him into a darkened doorway tucked into the intersection of
two alleys. From her vantage point, she could see down both streets. No one could sneak up on her
from this spot.
Her victim chuckled. “What’s the matter, babe, can’t wait to get your hands on me?” He reached for
her, wrapping his hands around her arms, pulling her against him.
Sunni brushed aside his collar, avoiding his mouth when he tried to kiss her. Her lips touched his skin,
zeroing in on the spot where his pulse beat.
He jerked when her sharp teeth broke his skin and a hot rush of blood filled her mouth. His throat
vibrated beneath her mouth and his hands convulsed on her arms before falling away to hang limp at his
sides.
Her eyes closed as she fed, remembering from her days as a human what it was like to be fed upon. It
was warm and sensual, not painful at all. At this point, endorphins had flooded his system before
morphing into ribbons of ecstasy running under his skin, growing stronger as she fed, like the sensation of
an impending orgasm. The tightening of heightened nerves, the concentration on one small, sensitized
point on the body.
But she didn’t want him to enjoy it. She wanted him to be afraid. She wanted to teach him the price of
preying upon innocent, trusting women. She wanted him to be victimized like the woman he’d selected
from the bar, the one she’d saved.
Summoning her vampire abilities, she invaded his mind with images guaranteed to haunt him the rest of
his life. Images of his body being violated as he’d violated his victims. His body, broken and bleeding, his
soul ravaged. Soft whimpers of fear sounded as she drained him of the ability to fight back turning him
from a predator to a victim.
The creep was debilitated when she finished feeding. His body sagged against the door so she released
him and he slid into a heap on the ground. His gaze was locked with hers, horror etched in its murky
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
depths.
Sunni dropped into a crouch, her face near his, ensuring that he saw her clearly before his eyes closed
and he was overtaken by the need to sleep. Feeding from a human always required a nap for them
afterward, while the act left her invigorated.
“Now you know what it is to be helpless, to be victimized by a creep such as yourself,” she hissed. His
eyes drooped and she shook him, forcing his eyes open. “Hear me well, mortal. Never again will you be
able to see a woman as a potential victim and not relive this moment. This is the point in time in which you
realize the error of your ways. If you try to take another victim, I will come for you, and next time I
guarantee you won’t survive it. I’ll personally escort you to hell.”
A watery gurgle sounded as his eyes slid shut, unconscious now.
Sunni pushed him into the far corner of the doorway before she rose. He’d served his purpose and
she’d rid New Orleans of yet another creep. From here on out, this man would be a cowering,
law-abiding citizen. He’d still have the desire to rape. In fact, he’d probably dream about it for the rest of
his life. But she’d seen to it that he’d never again carry out his evil plans.
Putting all thoughts of her victim behind her, she walked down the alleyway and wondered where
Alexandre was and how she could torment him next.
* * * * *
Alexandrecrouched by the dead vampire, not quite believing what he saw. In all of his years, he’d seen
many vampires who’d died by sunlight, but never in the middle of the night. It simply wasn’t scientifically
possible.
The unfortunate soul lay in the middle of the floor in an old warehouse, his body burned to a crisp. Near
hisshriveled hand lay a perfect white rose, the petals unharmed and still damp with dew. The scent of
scorched flesh hung thick in the air, mingling with the sound of unrestrained weeping from the female
vampire who’d found him.
“Who was he?”Alexandre asked.
“PhilippeDesJardins , a vampire of twenty-some years.”Sinjin nodded to the woman. “She said that they
were due to meet and go for their evening hunt. When he didn’t appear, she came looking and found
this.”
“Did she say anything else?”
“Only that he’d been acting strangely the past two or three days.”
Alexandrespared a glance at the traumatized female who stood near the door, her gaze fixed on the
near-cremated remains of her boyfriend. He turned away, unable to bear her pain.
“Strangely how?”Alexandreasked.
“Jittery, as if hecouldna stand still. He kept saying that something big was coming and he was to be an
integral part of it.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Does she have any clues, any idea of what he was talking about?”
“Nay.”
“Enemies?”
Sinjinshook his head. “She’s as perplexed as we are. Philippe had come into the bar on several
occasions and, according to what I’ve heard, he was an average vampire. He’d never set out to make a
name for himself as some when they’re first turned. She said he never felt as if he had anything to prove
and, up until a week ago, they’d lived a pretty simple existence.”
“What changed?”
“She said he suddenly came home with a handful of money and a story of something big coming. As the
week progressed, he becamemore jittery and complained of feeling tired, like his chest was on fire. She
said he was acting as if he’d gotten some tainted blood, but he never recovered as most would. In fact,
he seemed to grow worse with each day.”
Interesting.
“She thought he wasn’t feeding properly and tried to talk to him about it. Philippe blew off her
concerns.”
Alexandrestudied the corpse.“Too bad for him.” He raised his head, his gaze meetingSinjin’s . “Send her
home and have someone stay with her for a while. Caution her to speak to no one of this.”
Sinjinnodded and turned away to deal with the female.
Head down,Alexandre circled theshriveled corpse, studying it from every angle. PhilippeDesJardins lay
flat on his back, his left leg hooked behind the knee of his right. His hands were curled into fists, one arm
by his side, the other bent at the elbow. The rose was mere inches from his fist and shoulder.
His face was charred beyond recognition, the mouth wide open as if he’d screamed his way into death.
At some point, his torso had been engulfed in flames. Everything from the waist down was untouched by
fire, in fact it was barely singed.
Two things leapt out atAlexandre . Philippe’s entire body wasshriveled as if the liquids had evaporated,
leaving his corpse twisted and brittle like driftwood. But the most peculiar element was the massive hole
in his chest where his heart should have been.
Alexandrebent to study the aberration. He could easily have fit his fist and then some into the unnatural
cavity. Not quite round, but not oblong either. The hole was clean as if it had been surgically cauterized.
The edges of the wound were neatly singed, tidy. Through the hole, he glimpsed the dirty cement floor
which was marginally scorched.
There was nothing natural about this death.
Visually, the body resembled a burning by the sun with a few exceptions.Usually, when a vampire died
by sunlight, the exposed area was reduced to ash. In this case, he was not. His extended arm was
undamaged. The other arm, bent at the elbow, nearest the major damage was only singed, the skin
blackened, but intact. Judging from the pattern of the burn, he’d been standing with the flames rising into
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
his face in order for it to have achieved this level of damage. The face was obliterated, but the skull
appeared to be intact. It had not been reduced to ash, thus implying the fire in that area hadn’t been as
hot as it was in his chest.
He swallowed hard.
The vampire had been killed by someone setting his chest—and only his chest—on fire. He’d been
standing upright, causing the flames to destroy his face, before falling to the ground. The fire had burned
long enough to evaporate the majority of bodily fluids as well.
He shook his head. It should be damned near impossible for a vampire to be killed this way, by a mortal
at least. A mortal wouldn’t be able to handle—
“What’s going on?”
Sunni’s silken tones sent chills down his spine and he closed his eyes. Not her, anyone but her.
Chapter Seven
“He’s dead.”
Cass frowned at the interruption, then Miles’ words sank in. “Already?” She laid down her pen down.
“He lasted longer than the last one did.”
Miles dropped several Polaroid’s on the desk in front of her. Fascinated, Cass picked them up and
flicked through to see the hapless vampire in varying stages of destruction. While she was disappointed in
the outcome, she rather liked the one that showed Philippe’s face, mouth open as he screamed while
being consumed by the flames. If she thumbed through the images quickly she could watch his
once-handsome visage melt away.
She wrinkled her nose then dropped the photos. “The other one only lasted twenty hours or so. I was
hoping for so much more with this one.” She reached for a small leather notebook. Opening it, she
studied the writing on a page dated two days before. “This one only lasted thirty-two and a half hours.”
“You’ve improved the formula.”
Absently, she nodded. “I’m getting closer, but I’m still very disappointed.” She flipped through a few
more pages, coming to one dated today. “How is our next subject?”
“Shaky but holding his own.”
“It’s been almost forty-eight hours since he was dosed.So far so good.” She closed the book. “I wonder
why this one is lasting so much longer than dear Philippe.”
“Age?”
“Hmm, could be.Could also be related to their master. This one has a much stronger master than
Philippe.” She picked up her pen and scratched a note to herself. “Go out and keep a close eye on him. I
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
want to see how he fares in the next ten hours or so.”
“Will do.”
“Wait.” She looked up, cursing inwardly as she asked the one question she’d wished to avoid.“Any
news onAlexandre ?”
Miles’ gaze was hooded as he nodded ever-so slightly. “He’ll be at your meeting.”
A surge of triumph washed over her. Finally, step two was accomplished. “Thank you, you may go
now.”
He gave her a half-bow before exiting the room.
She smiled to herself. Maybe nowAlexandre would finally come to heel. Tomorrow would bring many
things to the fore and she would make the Elder an offer he simply could not refuse.
She dropped her pen and reached for a small, wooden box on the corner of her desk. Snug in a lining of
deep blue velvetlay the very thing for which half the preternatural world was looking.The diary ofElsabeth
, Mikhail’s first wife. This small book could spell the end of the preternatural world as it currently stood
and that’s exactly what she was counting on.
Cass flipped through the well-worn, faded pages. Of course, it would’ve been much more convenient
for her ifElsabeth had written the details in a logical order. She’d failed to note a great many things in the
tome or if she had, Cass had yet to find them. She rolled her eyes. No matter, she’d gotten the gist of
what she needed and her experiments were progressing nicely.
ShouldAlexandre make the mistake of turning her down, he and his companions would pay very dearly
indeed and there was nothing they could do about it.
Either way, she would be the victor.
* * * * *
Sunni shuddered at the thought of that poor, tortured vampire, dead on the floor of the warehouse. It
had taken a half hour and gallons of scalding water to remove the stench of burned flesh from her skin
and hair. Her clothes were a loss as far as she was concerned—the smell would never come out of them.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get the sight of his destroyed face out of her mind. She
touched her cheek as if to reassure herself that she’d left the gruesome scene unscathed.
As long as she lived, she’d never forget the sight of that tormented creature. Burning had to be the worst
way for a vampire to die.
“Let it go, Sun.”
Alexandrestood in the open doorway of her shop, his expression stoic. She’d left him at the warehouse
two hours before with his hurried promise that he’d come to her when he was done.
“I can’t.” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I can’t get him out of my mind. I close my eyes and he’s
still there.” She raised her head, her gaze meeting his. “Who was he?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He hesitated.
“Damn it, that vision is going to haunt me for the rest of my life.” She spun away from him, busying
herself with reordering the pile of portfolios that contained examples of her andSasha’s work. They didn’t
need to be straightened again, but she desperately needed something to concentrate on or she’d start
screaming and never stop. “The least you could do istell me his name.”
“His name was PhilippeDesJardins .” She heard the door close. “According to his girlfriend, he was a
street musician who liked to prey on junkies for the rush he received from their tainted blood.”
His voice was flat, emotionless and she turned to catch sight of exhaustion written on his face. “Receiving
tainted blood doesn’t cause vampires to burst into flames.”
“You’re right.” He looked away.
“Sunlight,” she whispered. “Only sunlight can cause this type of damage, or holy water if it’s somehow
ingested.” She shivered. “If a vampire were unconscious, they could be set on fire and burned alive. I’ve
heard stories over the years of vampires being burned alive while they slept during the day. It’s one of the
hazards of creating a lair within the confines of a man-made structure.”
Alexandredidn’t respond.
“You don’t think either one killed him, do you?” Her voice was soft.
“We’re still investigating at this point.”
She rolled her eyes. There were times when talking to him was like trying to hold a conversation with a
tree trunk. “Okay, so hazard a guess what it was.”
“I would hate to speculate on this.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“For crying out loud.”She slammed the last two portfolios on the table with a crash. “What is it with
you? Do you always have to be so damned perfect?” She stalked toward him. “Newsflash, you’re
allowed to be wrong once in a while. You can make a guess. No one expects you to be perfect every
moment of every day.When word of this gets out, it’ll generate a shock wave through the whole
community. Vampires will be frightened. I know I am. What will you say to them when they come to
you?”
“That’s why you need to leave New Orleans.Now, tonight.”
She skidded to a halt, stunned. “What did you say?”
“You need to leave.”
“No.”
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face before it vanished. “Yes.”
“This is my home and I won’t leave. Are you going door to door to ask every vampire in the city to
pack up and leave?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“The smart ones have already left.”
“Oh, yeah?”She placed her hands on her hips. “Guess what? I can take care of myself and I’ve been
doing so for many years now.”
“Like that time in San Francisco?”
She scowled. “I made a mistake and yes, it almost cost me my life. I was lucky you were there to help
me. However, a gentleman wouldn’t have brought that up.”
He gave an unpleasant laugh. “Finally, you figured it out.” He moved toward her. “I want you to pack
and leave tonight.”
“No.” She stood her ground when he loomed over her. “You can’t make me leave.”
“I am the head of—”
“Bah!” She turned away, stopping only when he grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to face him once
more. Her breath caught as she looked into his eyes. Dark and haunted, he wasn’t as emotionless as
he’d let on.
“Will you never listen?”
“I always listen…to my heart.”
“Sunni—” His tone was half groan, half growl.
Reaching up, she curled her fingers in the lapels of his silk jacket, tugging him toward her, delighted when
she saw the flash of desire ignite in his eyes. He wantedher, no matter how much he tried to fight it his
body couldn’t tell a lie. A thrill of possession ran down her spine.
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
“No.” He reached for her hands but she tightened her grip.
“Please?”
His head dipped as if he had no control over his own reaction to her. Her breath mingled with his,
deepening as his raw sensuality poured over her skin like molten gold. Her hands released their death
grip on his jacket to curl around the back of his neck.
“Damn you, I don’t want you,” he snarled.
“Yes, you do.”
She stretched on the tips of her toes to brush her lips across his.Once.Twice. A sound broke from him
and they came together.
Their tongues tangled as she sucked at his mouth. He backed her against the counter, his arms encircling
her waist, lifting her. She parted her thighs, moaning when he stepped between to lean into her. She
arched as his hips gave an abbreviated thrust against the core of her desire. She felt the rise of a longing
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
buried so deep within her soul that she couldn’t let go of him if her life depended upon it.
She caught a finger on his hair tie and pulled it free, allowing the dark waves to escape their confinement.
Tangling her fingers in his freed locks, she tugged his head into a more gratifying position as his touch
softened.
She couldn’t resist reaching to grasp his backside, her fingers digging into his firm, silk-covered flesh.
She spread her thighs further, shifting her hips to change her angle ever-so slightly.
Oh, yes.
He thrust again.
He’d found her sweet spot.
“Please,” she whispered. “Touch me.”
He moved his hand along her inner thigh beneath her skirt. Strong, calloused fingers slid past her
dampened panties to stroke her aroused flesh. A whimper broke from her lips as two fingers slid into her
swollen sheath to plumb her velvety depths. One digit brushed her clitoris, eliciting a sigh as a rush of
desire zinged through her abdomen and curled her toes. She kicked off her sandals and they hit the floor
with a clatter.
He worked her flesh in a no-nonsense manner, each movement zeroed on her clit until her hips jerked
and she tightened around him. Light burst behind her eyelids as her release swept her body.
When her shudders subsided, he slid his hand away. She whimpered at the drag of his fingers against her
swollen bud. He gently rearranged her skirt, covering her before stepping away.
Her gaze fastened on the massive erection tenting his trousers. A yearning curled through her body and
she reached for him, startled when his hand stopped her. She met his gaze.
“We can’t do this.” His voice was remote, at odds with the fever that still burned in his eyes.
She forced a smile even though she felt like crying. “I think we just did.” When was he going to admit
that they should be together?
“It was a mistake.” He backed toward the door. “I want you to leave the city, Sun.” He reached for the
handle and opened the door, pausing to lock it from the inside. “You’ll be safer away from here, away
from me. I don’t want to see you hurt.” Without waiting for a response, he left, shutting the door behind
him.
She slid from the counter, her body sated but her soul heavy. There was no way she could leave him,
not now when he needed her the most.
* * * * *
Dawn approached.
Alexandrestared out the window of his library, watching as the sky bloomed. Ripening from a dark
raspberry to a sublime peach, sunrise was hisfavorite time of the day. For hundreds of years he’d been
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
consigned to the darkness, but now that he’d aged enough to allow him limited amounts of sunlight, he
never missed an opportunity to indulge.
Lord, but he was tired.
He raised a hand to his forehead and caught a whiff of elusive scent. He closed his eyes and inhaled her
fragrance that still clung to his skin.
Sunni.
She was a danger to him and to herself and she didn’t have the sense to realize it. What was he going to
do with her? She’d refused to leave New Orleans and she was a serious distraction.
He still wanted her.
Images of her riding his hand, her soft cries as she’d crested, invaded his mind. The memory of the
warmth of her skin against his was as strong as it had been many hours before when he’d left her alone in
the shop.
He’d only hurt her. He wasn’t the man she believed him to be. Just ask theAlbigenses from the village
where he’d been raised. Not that any of them had survived. A shaft of pain lanced his chest at the
thought of his slaughtered comrades. It had been eight hundred years since the massacre inAlbi , France,
and he, the only survivor.
And it was his fault.
Since then, he’d spent many hours contemplating that night. Twists of fate had conspired to put him in
this time and place and he would not shirk his duty for a mere woman. He’d done it once before, never
again.
Too many lives depended upon him.
Chapter Eight
Sunni stepped onto the balcony above her shop, watching thecolorful crowds move along Bourbon
Street. Mardi Gras was nearing an end and the air was heavy with humidity. The temperature had
reached an unseasonable eighty degrees with an equal humidity ratio during the day. Neither had
subsided with the sun.
There was an unfamiliar, threatening tension in the air. She scanned her surroundings but found nothing
amiss. The mortals on the street didn’t seem to feel it as they went about their evening, imbibing
Hurricanes, dancing in the street and picking up strangers for fast, emotionless couplings. Sex was
happening all around her.
Maybe that was the problem. Since being inAlexandre’s arms last night, she couldn’t get thoughts of him
in her bed out of her mind. With his skilled touch, he’d awakened the sleeping woman inside her and she
wanted more…much more.
She lifted her cotton blouse away from her overheated skin, fanning it lightly. Vampires, in general, didn’t
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
react to heat or cold but tonight she was on fire.
A smile curved her mouth and a tingle of anticipation ran over her skin. Would she see him tonight? If
she had anything to say about it, yes, she would.The sooner the better.
A faint drift of cool energy moved across her skin, causing her to drop the hem of her shirt. A revenant
was near.
Sunni turned her head slowly, scanning the crowd once more. She frowned. There was definitely a
revenant near. But with the size of the crowd below, they could be anywhere.
She leaned forward to get a better look and her breath caught in her throat when she caught sight of
Miles. He stood across the street, smoking a cigarette as he surveyed the crowds. She jumped
backwards through the French doors, startled. How long had he been there?
She leaned forward just in time to see him step off the curb and walk down the street, his pace leisurely.
She leaned further out, not wanting to lose sight of him, but she needed to get hold ofAlexandre fast.
Miles stopped at the corner by the new reggae club and gave his surroundings a slow, leisurely look.
After a few moments he moved around the corner to vanish from sight.
He’s up to something…
Sunni dashed into the house and snatched up her cell phone as she ran for the door. Hopefully she could
get a hold of him quick and she’d only have to trail Miles untilAlexandre could take over. The last thing
she wanted was to get manhandled again by that monster.
Heart thumping, shedialedAlexandre’s home number. The annoying buzz of a busy signal sounded loud
in her ear. Drat! Didn’t the man know about call waiting or voice mail? She could call to him
telepathically, but it wasn’t really an emergency and she could only hope it didn’t escalate to that.
She slammed the phone closed and scrambled down the steps leading to the shop. For now, she’d
follow Miles,then report back toAlexandre . It wasn’t as if the revenant would get the chance to actually
hurt her. She’d learned her lesson. She wouldn’t allow him close enough to touch.
Sashahad someone in the tattoo chair as Sunni ran through, tossing only a hurried wave to her partner.
Humid air engulfed her when she exited the shop. Dodging the foot traffic clogging the street, she arrived
at the corner where Miles had vanished only moments before.
You’re being a fool…
Ignoring the voice in her head, she was grateful she knew the streets of New Orleans like the back of
her hand. Unafraid, she turned the corner to follow her prey. Small shops lined the street but she paid
them nary a glance as shemaneuvered around the small clumps of window-shoppers and loiterers.
Catching sight of Miles, she increased her pace not wanting to take a chance on losing sight of him. As
they progressed, she kept her gaze trained on his head—thank goodness he was so tall.
With each block, the din of MardiGras faded and the shops grew older, more esoteric. Here and there,
storefronts stood long empty, their blank windows laden with dust, staring at her like so many soulless
eyes. She triedAlexandre’s cell again and it was still busy.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Dammit!
Miles stopped in thecenter of the street about a half block in front of her. She stepped into a doorway
on the opposite side so that she could watch him with him unawares. His gaze was fixed on a small sign
which hung over a dilapidated doorway but it was too faint to read from her vantage point. He walked
forward and vanished through the doorway.
Sunni shivered and pulled the phone from her pocket and triedAlexandre once more, the insistent
buzzing causing her to scowl at the offending instrument. Cursing silently, she shoved it back into her
pocket and hurried after Miles, stopping only when she’d reached the store.
Like so many others in the area, the windows were dark, the display area thick with dust. Over the door
hung a weathered sign, faded gold lettering proclaiming:
Mambo Cecile
Love Potions, Charms, Cures and Hexes
Made to Order.
Established 1904.
New Orleans was filled with charlatans who claimed to be able to bring about a life change with the
purchase of a smelly bag filled with dried chicken bones, pungent herbs and a few goat hairs. While
vodoun and voodoo were popular backstreet religions in the superstitious south, most of those who
advertised were only out for a buck in Sunni’s opinion.
Hesitant, she stepped up onto the worn stair, taking care to avoid the small piles of cigars, candies and
coins left as a thank you to thevodoun Mambo. Mambo Cecile must be doing something correct to
warrant such a pile of goods left for her.
Sunni stepped through the open door and inside. For a split second, the store looked empty, a thick
layer of dust coating everything. Only a single trail of footprints revealed that someone had been there
recently. She blinked and, all at once, the room was flooded with light.
What the…
It was as if someone had thrown a switch and the shop had come to life. The shop was tiny, half the size
of her own business.Shelves lined three walls of the room and in thecenter of the far wall was an open
doorway covered with strands of hanging wooden beads to form a curtain. They swayed from the
passage of someone, their hollow clacking reminding Sunni of the sound of dried bones. A strange scent,
like that of old coffee and something floral swirled about her, making her dizzy with its fragrance.
“Who do you seek?” The soft tones of a woman sounded, startling her.
A small woman seated beside a table with a variety of bottles and bags scattered across the surface. She
was tiny and delicate, her skin the creamy brown of an octoroon. She was young, maybe early twenties,
and her hair was hidden beneath a brightlycolored turban. Her dress was white and gauzy, covering her
from neck to toes. Her gaze direct from liquid dark eyes.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“A man,” Sunni replied.
The woman’s brow arched. “Many women come seeking a man.”
“I seek only one.”
A soft smile curved her mouth. “Youis a smart one.”
“No, I seek the man who entered here just a few seconds ago.”
The woman’s smile faded and she selected a square of red silk and spread it out on the table. “I see.”
She picked up a small bowl and extracted a dried twig. “I thought maybe you sought the one who needs
you most.” She crumbled the twig into thecenter of the material.
Sunni blinked, trying hard to concentrate on what she was saying. The scent in the shop was making her
lightheaded . “Who are you talking about?”
The woman rummaged through the contents on the table until she located a bag of small bones.
Dropping one into a mortar, she began grinding the bone with the pestle. Then she raised her head, her
gaze dark and piercing. “You know of whom I speak, vampire.”
She started. Mortals never knew she was a vampire. Their minds wouldn’t allow them to accept the
truth even on the rare occasion that she told them. In several instances, she’d met a mortal with the gift of
recognition and it appeared this woman was one ofthem . People with that ability made her distinctly
uneasy, as if the stranger could see inside her very skin.
“Who are you?” Sunni asked.
“I am Cecile and this is my place.” She added the now-powdered bone to her concoction.
“And I’m Sunni. I’m in search of the man who just came in here.” She gestured toward the beads, now
still. “Did he go through there?”
Cecilenodded, her gaze solemn. “You waste your energy on a man who isn’t your destiny, vampire.”
She selected strands of hair from a small jar and added to the growing pile on the red satin. “Know that
the creature you follow will be an instrument in the destruction of many.”
Sunni didn’t believe invodoun mumbo jumbo, but there was something about the woman’s voice that
sent a shiver of foreboding down her spine. Was there something thatAlexandre had neglected to tell her
about Miles? Should she turn back and getSinjin orAlexandre ?
He’ll get away.
AndAlexandre would miss him. Damn. She turned and headed for the bead-covered door, her sandals
making little sound on the dusty ancient wooden floor.
“Wait, vampire, you will need this.” She turned to see Cecile tying a knot in the top of the small red bag
then attached a black cord. “It will aid you in your journey. You’ll need to keep this with you until the
darkness has passed.”
Sunni cringed at the thought of putting the bag near her skin as she’d seen what the woman had put
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
inside it.“No, thanks.” She parted the beads and stepped into the back room.
“It’s your funeral,” the woman crooned in a singsong tone. “And I shall wear red to it. Ah, vampire, trust
no one…”
Sunni let the beads fall back into place, their eerie wooden clacking loud in the stillness. The tiny
backroom was filled to overflowing with dusty boxes, most closed, some opened and spilling their
macabre contents onto the floor. Stepping over what looked like a bag of dried chicken feet, she headed
for the open back door to another narrow alley.
Senses alert, she exited the shop. The stench of rotting food swirled around her, clearing her muddied
senses. Whatever Cecile had had in there, Sunni didn’t want to experience any more of it.
“Welcome, Sunni. I’m so pleased you could join me.”
Busted…
She turned to see Miles standing in the shadows, leaning against the building on the opposite side of the
alley. He shoved away from the wall and stepped into the faint light from Cecile’s door.
“An invitation would have been nice. At least then I’d have known how to dress.” She gestured to her
simple gauze skirt and top. “I fear I’m overdressed.” She nodded toward the debris in the alley.
His smile was cold, his gaze flat. “You’ll do for what I have in mind.”
“And that would be?”
“I have something for you to do.”
“What is it?”
He extracted a small envelope from his pocket. “You need to deliver this toAlexandre . It’s very
important and I know I can trust you to carry it without reading it.”
“I have a newsflash for you. There’s a modern invention called a courier whom you can pay to deliver
items. If that isn’t speedy enough, there is something called a fax.”
He ignored her sarcasm. “The preternatural world is in an uproar and we’re not sure whom we can trust.
There are enemies all around us.”
A thrill of excitement raced through her. “Whoisus ?”
“Cassiopeia and I.”
Aha! Sheisin town.Now to discover her lair.
“What is she doing here?”
“She’s come to the city in order to discuss terms with the head of the Council.” He waggled the
envelope. “That’s what this missive is about. She’s arranging a meeting with him.” He offered her the
packet again. “In here is the key to a peaceful future for those who dwell in the shadows.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Her gaze locked on the white envelope. Finally, she could prove toAlexandre that she was useful and
could take care of herself. She reached for the offering.
Miles snatched it away, out of her reach. “Remember, trust no one. The future of thepreternaturals
depends upon you.”
She frowned, wasn’t that what Cecile had said? As he held out the missive once more, she moved
forward to take it.
As her fingers brushed the heavy vellum, something moved in the darkness behind her. Before she made
a sound, strong arms caught her around the torso, pinning one arm to her side. Another figure came in
from the left and grabbed her other arm. Trapped, Sunni snarled at her captors, dismayed to find that she
was held by two male vampires, both much older than herself. How had they managed to sneak up on
her like this? She struggled only to find that she couldn’t move at all. She was well and truly trapped.
Miles crumpled the envelope and dropped it, a sharp smile curving his mouth. “Now, now, didn’t I warn
you not to trust anyone?” He shook his head as he withdrew a small leather pouch from his other pocket.
I was included in that, of course.”
“What do you want?” she snapped, fear threatening to choke her.
“Well, let’s see, I’m already immortal, so I don’t need that. I’m rich beyond my wildest dreams, so I
don’t need money.” He raised his hand and stepped toward her, drawing a fingertip down her cheek.
“However, I do need you.”
Revulsion crawled along her skin at the thought of this man touching her. “Not on your life.”
He laughed and stepped away to open the pouch. “Don’t worry, little vampire, I won’t touch you.” He
withdrew a small vial and a hypodermic needle. “Knowing thatAlexandre has been there before me
would be enough to cool my desire.”
Sunni eyed the bright orange fluid in the bottle. “What is that?”
“Just a little something for you, my dear.”He filled the hypodermic—the liquid glowed as if lit from
within. “I think you’ll enjoy it. I know without a doubt thatAlexandre will.” He returned the vial to the
pouch before returning it to his pocket.
Sunni struggled in earnest when he advanced toward her, panic searing her skin. “Don’t youdare. ” She
bared her teeth.
“Hold her,” he directed her captors. “I don’t want this creature biting me.”
She kicked out as Miles drew close. With a jolt of victory, her foot connected with his shin. She took
pleasure as he winced.
“Damn it! Get her down on the ground,” he snapped.
She shrieked as the two vampires knocked her to the ground, facedown. The larger one pinned her by
straddling her back while the other pulled her arm straight out from her body. She screamed as he leaned
into her, his knee digging into her shoulder, thus keeping her immobile.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
She watched in horror as Miles approached once more, the needle glinting in the muted evening light. He
dropped to a crouch and she howled as he plunged the needle into her exposed flesh. She strained
against their hands when Miles pushed the plunger, shooting the liquid into her vein.
A rushing sound filled her ears and instantly her body became raging hot. Fire moved through her veins,
immobilizing her. Vaguely, she was aware of hands being removed and her vision wavered when she
sluggishly rolled onto her back. Her three tormentors stood over her, watching as she tried to school her
muscles to move, to run away.
Miles reached into his pocket and pulled out the leather pouch once more.
No moreno more…
Agony clawed at her skin as the vile liquid ate at her flesh. She felt as if she were dissolving. What was it
that he’d shot into her? She struggled to breathe, her chest constricting as if she couldn’t draw any air at
all. Her eyes fluttered shut.
I have to get up…
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she could force her eyes open. The men were gone
and Cecile bent over her. The woman’s face was concerned and in her hand she held thegris-gris , the
red bag she’d offered Sunni earlier. Her lips moved and her words sounded hollow as if she were a great
distance away.
“I donetoleyou. You need to keep this with you, little vampire. It will keep you safe.”
Warm hands looped the bag around her neck, its weight oddly comforting as it settled between her
breasts.
“Come, you get up now.”
Mambo Cecile helped Sunni to her feet where she swayed, dizzy and sick to her stomach. She leaned
against the building and tried to mumble her thanks, but her lips refused to move. Every nerve screaming,
she tried to speak but nothing would come out.
“Now go to him, little one,” Cecile whispered. “He will save you.”
“C-can’t…m-m-move.”
Cecile ran her hand over Sunni’s eyes, shutting them. “You don’t need to.”
In her mind, she reached forAlexandre …
* * * * *
“I got her.”
Cass looked up from her research notes to smile at Miles. “Marvelous.” She leaned forward. “Did she
suffer much?”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He shrugged. “No more than the others. She dropped faster and lost consciousness within two minutes.
She’s strong for her age. She’ll be up and about within an hour or so.”
“Excellent.” Cass flipped through a few pages of the book to make notes as Miles continued to supply
details.
Subject 01-105—female vampire, 5’ 3” and approximately 105 pounds. She was a healthy 25 yr old
human and has been a vampire for approximately sixty years. No known outstanding powers.
Received dose at 10:20 p.m.—Subject received lot 4-a, 20cc via intravenous injection. Lost
consciousness within 2 minutes and is expected to regain her equilibrium within an hour. Assistant will
monitor her progress.
Cass sat back, satisfied with the night’s work. Their seventh and, hopefully, most successful experiment
was now under way,Alexandre had confirmed that he’d meet with her tomorrow and she was well on her
way to having the ultimate revenge.
With Sunni out of the picture,Alexandre would be eating out of her hand instead. She bristled at the
thought of the scrawny blonde vampire with her ex-lover.Alexandre was excellent in bed, if not a bit
remote outside of it. That was fine with her as she considered emotions to be an unnecessary
complication when it came to sex.
She rose and dropped her pen onto the notebook. It was time to feed. Soon,Alexandre would be hers
once more and all would be as it should. Humming a tune under her breath, Cass set about preparing for
the hunt.
Chapter Nine
It was a good thing she loved to swim, Sunni decided. She felt like she was underwater. She floated
down the street, barely feeling the pavement beneath her shoes as she walked. The Bourbon Street
crowd ebbed and flowed around her as she progressed, their laughter muffled. She giggled in delight as
she stared at her beloved city through new eyes. It felt as if the world were brighter, more exciting,
more…everything.
A young man grabbed her by the wrist and placed a liquor-scented kiss on her cheek. “God, you’re
beautiful. Marry me?”
She tipped her head back and laughed for the sheer joy of it. “Oh, but I cannot marry you today, kind
sir, for I have a very important appointment.”
“I’ll get on my knees and beg.”
Pulling away, she gave him a flirtatious smile. “I might enjoy that more than you’ll ever know, however, I
must decline.” She moved again through the crowds, ignoring his pleas for her to return.
The brightlycolored lights of a store window caught her attention and she drifted toward it, pressing
close as a child would to acolorful display of toys. Christmas lights outlined the display, intertwined with
silk scarves, gaudyjewelry and body paints. She blinked several times, the swirling lights beginning to give
her a headache.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Interesting.Did vampires get headaches? She’d certainly never had one in all of her years. As a matter of
fact, she couldn’t remember ever feeling like this before in her life. She turned away from the window as
she rubbed between her eyes to ease the unfamiliar tension.
Now, where was I going?
Bewildered, she leaned against a lamppost to get her bearings. She was at the far end of Bourbon
Street, quite a way from her shop. How did she end up here? She frowned, unable to recall anything
between rising at dusk and now.
She glanced around, unease growing. The bright lights and meandering pedestrians seemed more sinister
now. She rubbed the tense spot between her eyes as panic mounted. What was she doing here? She
caught sight of her palms and her eyes widened. They were dirty as if she’d been playing in the grime of
the streets.
What happened?
She shoved away from her sanctuary. Heart pounding, she staggered down the street, jostlingpassersby
until she darted down the first available alley. Her sandals slapped the pavement as she ran toward
Dauphine. She darted out into the busy street, ignoring the blaring of horns as she ran.
She continued her harried journey until she reached the next intersection where she was forced to pause,
allowing a car to pass before running ever-farther north.
Her breath heaved in her chest as she finally slowed. Where was she going? What was she running
from? She glanced behind her. Had she been followed? The hubbub of Bourbon Street was several
blocks behind her and she was finally safe.
Safe from what?
She looked down at her scraped palms. Panic swamped her. She couldn’t remember what had
happened. Vague images materialized—a young black woman, a needle, a strange vampire…
Miles.
She straightened, needing to findAlexandre . Head spinning, she stepped into the street, directly into the
path of an oncoming truck. As if in slow motion, she turned to see the truck bearing down.
This is going to hurt…
Heart in his throat,Alexandre grabbed Sunni from behind and plucked her from the street. His arm
encircled her waist and he took the brunt of their fall, grunting when her elbow dug into his stomach. The
driver screamed profanities in their direction as he raced off with a squeal of tires. For a second, he
savored the solid weight of her body resting on his, her back to his front.
“Alexandre?” Her voice was wobbly.
“Damn it.” He forcefully put her aside, setting her on the pavement before rolling to his feet. “Didn’t you
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
hear me shouting your name? Why didn’t you answer me—” Then he saw her face.
A small amount of dirt marred the curve of her left cheek and throat. Her lightweight dress was dirty as if
she’d fallen into something he didn’t want to name. The bodice was torn at the left shoulder, exposing the
creamy curve, it too, marred with dirt.
“What happened to you?”
“It is you,” she breathed. A smile of perfection curved her mouth—his chest tightened. Even dirty and
bedraggled, she was a beauty to behold. “I knew I’d find you.” She held out her hands, silently asking
him to help her rise.
“Are you hurt?” He grasped her hands and pulled her upright, catching the wince that crossed her face.
He turned her hands to see the dirt and the scrapes that marked her palms.
“I’m okay now.” She swayed toward him.
“Did you fall?” He inspected her silky head for any sign of damage.
“No, I didn’t fall.” Her voice was unsure. “Or, at least I don’t think so.”
Alexandrestared hard at her face. She looked fine, but she wasn’t acting normal. Then again, what was
normal for Sunni? She was the flightiest person he’d ever met in his life.
“Are you sure you’re not injured?” He released her and stepped away.
“Oh yes, I’m just lovely.” She swayed again, forcing him to step in and capture her before she fell flat on
her face. As his hands closed around her arms, she gave him another beatific smile. “I’m just perfect
now.” She licked her lips. “Can we go to your place?”
“Why my place?”
She gave him a sleepy smile as she leaned into him, nestling her cheek against his chest. “I’m really tired
and it’s too far back to mine.”
Had she fed on tainted blood? It was barely midnight, so there was no reason for her to be tired this
early. If she’d fed on bad blood, a fresh meal was what she needed and that she could get at his house.
What harm would it be to take her there? At least he wouldn’t have to worry about her as long as she
was secure under his roof.
You want her more than under your roof. You want her beneath you as well.
He bit back a groan at the powerful image.
“Come on.” He released her, capturing her wrist to tow her behind him. He led her down the street to
where he’d left his car double-parked, much to the dismay of other drivers. When he’d seen Sunni, all
rational thoughts had fled and he’d jumped from his car, almost before it had come to a complete halt.
She stumbled behind him. “Are we going home?”
“We’re going to my house, yes.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Oh, goodie.”She giggled then bumped into him when he stopped to open the passenger door for her.
“Nice car.” She slid into the soft leather of the bucket seat.
He didn’t answer as he slammed the door shut and circled the vehicle to climb in the driver’s side. Sunni
was humming tunelessly as he drove for the garden district and his secluded home.
“I’m really hot,” she complained.
He shot her a sideways glance. It was unnaturally hot and humid for this time of year, but vampires rarely
noticed the heat. She’d definitely gotten hold of something that wasn’t agreeing with her.
“Have you fed this evening, Sun?”
She leaned forward to fiddle with the radio, a frown curving her mouth. “I think so.”
“You think so?”
She picked a blues station before sitting back. “It’s been alooong night, my friend.”
“So it has,” he muttered.
The drive to his home was completed without incident and he pulled around the house to park in his
customary spot, well hidden from the street. He hastened around to assist his unexpected houseguest,
surprised when she opened the door and fell out onto her back.
He crouched beside her. “What are you doing?”
“Someone moved the ground,” she snorted. Her eyes widened, looking behind him. “Oh my, look at the
stars.”
He spared a quick glance at the darkened sky. “Yes, they’re still there.”
“And then some. They are something, aren’t they?Just sparkling up there for millions and millions of
years.Day after day.” Her gaze shifted, meeting his. “Of course, they’re not nearly as impressive when
compared to your eyes.”
“Okay, time to get up.” He grasped her by the wrists and pulled her to her feet, her body leaning into
him when he tried to stand her upright. She seemed incapable of standing on her own. Giving up, he
swept her into his arms, ignoring her shriek of delight as he carried her in the back door.
The house was as still as it had been when he’d left barely an hour before. His revenant, Nelson, had left
for the night and they were alone.
“Where are we going?”
He tried to ignore the delightful bundle in his arms as he walked up the servant’s steps, but she cuddled
against his chest and twined her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. Within seconds,
she’d removed his hair from its tie as she ran her fingers through it.
“Stop that,” he snapped.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“I like your hair down,” she purred.
He felt a spurt of unwanted pleasure at her words. Tamping it down, he strode into the bathroom and
deposited her on the closed commode. He needed to get away from her and fast.
“Can you get yourself cleaned up?” He kept his tone deliberately distant.
“It’d be easier if you helped.”
He ignored the siren’s song in her voice as he bent over the massive bathtub and turned on the taps with
a turn of his wrist. “I’ll get you some towels and there are various bubbles and scents—” He turned in
time to see Sunni toss a small red bag onto the vanity before struggling out of her tattered clothing.
His mouth went dry when he saw pale skin. Her breasts were small and perfectlyshaped, her nipples in
coral-coloredrelief against the cream of her skin. A rush of lust hit him below the belt and he had to turn
away. Wrenching open the linen closet door, he felt the antique handle give way in his hand.
What the devil was wrong with him? She was only a woman, for crying out loud. He’d been around
many women over the years and he’d managed to keep it together. He certainly didn’t remember ever
breaking a door over one before. He dropped the damaged handle on the shelf, then grabbed two towels
from the closet and dropped them on the edge of the tub.
“I’ll be outside if you need anything.” His hand closed over the doorknob leading to the hallway.
“Like my back washed?”
He gritted his teeth as he exited, closing the door securely behind him. Leaning against the polished
wood, he took a deep breath and slowly released it. He had paperwork waiting for him, including the
forensics report on PhilippeDesJardins .
Behind the door, Sunni burst into the sensual “Peel MeA Grape”.
The urge to open the door was overwhelming. He ground his teeth in frustration, for the first time hating
the burdens that lay on his shoulders.
What the devil was she doing up there?
Alexandreshot an annoyed look at the ceiling, aimed at the bathroom directly above. It had been over an
hour since he’d left her there. Other than hearing the water shut off, he’d heard nothing. Not a peep. He
glared at the papers on his desk. Maybe he should check on her?
She’s fine on her own.
Maybe she’d drowned?
Vampires can’t drown.
What if she was seriously hurt and couldn’t call out to him?
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Not likely…
With a snarl, he shoved his chair away from the desk and rose, stalking out of his office. Regardless of
what might have happened to Sunni in the comforts of his bathroom, he wouldn’t be getting any work
done while she was in his house. Maybe he should bundle her up and take her home?
That was the ticket. Once he got her out of the house, then he could get back to work. He had a lot to
accomplish before meeting Cass.
He ran up the steps and down a short hall, dismayed to see the bathroom door was still shut. Hesitant,
he raised a hand and knocked lightly.
“Sunni?”
Silence.
He knocked again, this time louder. “Sunni, are you all right?”
He heard the swish of water and a faint sound that could have been a snore. He grabbed the knob and
turned. The scent of floral bubble bath assailed his nose when he entered, his eyes widening as he took in
the destruction that was once his immaculate bathroom.
Melting bubbles covered half the antique tile floor as if the bath had run over. More bubbles were
heaped in the tub itself, some clung to the wall where they were dissolving while more flecked the
windows in white blobs. It certainly looked as if she’d had herself a fine old time. Cautious about
slipping, he inched toward the overflowing tub.
Bubbles swelled over the rim by at least a foot in wobbly towers of white as if they were a mythical
castle with towers and ramparts. And in thecenter lay the princess.
Sunni was sound asleep, floating in thecenter of that creation, her head crowned by a delicate bubble
tiara. As she slept, her body bobbed in the water ever-so slightly, allowing him a glimpse of those
luscious nipples as the bubbles parted to reveal them before closing once more as if to shield their
mistress from prying eyes.
His body tightened. Maybe he wouldn’t take her home right away…
“Sunni, wake up.”
She didn’t stir.
“Sunni.”He spoke louder this time.
Her lips moved as a soft sound escaped her, but she didn’t awaken.
He reached out, delving into the bubbles for her shoulder. “Wake up.”
Her eyelids fluttered, then opened, and he fell headlong into their doe-brown depths. She blinked and a
sleepy smile curved her mouth. She raised her arm as if to reach for him and he caught her hand, forcing
her to sit upright.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Time to get out of there.”
“You won’t join me?”
“No.” He turned to grab dry towels and dropped them on top of the closed commode. “I’ll leavethose
right here.” He glanced at her. “Do you think you can get out of the tub by yourself?”
She smiled and, to his astonishment, rose from her bubbled domain. Water and foam streamed from her
body, outlining her surprisingly lush figure in blobs of white. Her body was everything a man could ever
wish for, strong, graceful, soft, yet resilient. So tiny, Sunni was just a bit over five feet tall and every inch
was perfection.
His mouth went dry when she stepped from the tub, her movement self-assured. She reached around
him, her taut nipples mere inches from his chest as she selected a washcloth. He tried to look away, but
his eyes were glued to her, the insistent throb of his cock overriding any demands from his logical mind.
His knees grew weak as she moved to the sink, presenting him with a perfectly rounded backside.
Turning on the water, she wet the cloth and began removing the suds from her body.First her arms.
Raising one hand above her head, she swept the dampened cloth along the inside of her arm, then up the
outside before turning her attentions to the opposite arm. In the mirror, her breasts bobbed with her
movements, her coral nipples alert as if begging for his attention.
Next she cleansed her breasts, taking great care with their aroused tips, running the cloth once, twice,
then a third time over each. He licked his lips, imagining the taste of her pearled flesh in his mouth.
She trailed the cloth over her stomach, removing the last of the bubbles, and he glimpsed an intricate
mehndi tattoo encircling her bellybutton. His cock gave a wild lunge for freedom. What was it about that
tattoo that turned him on so? In his world, good girls didn’t indulge in that sort ofbehavior …
She raised her foot and placed it on the closed commode before bending over. The supple curve of her
spine stood in relief as she stroked one leg, then the other.
His breath sounded harsh as she placed her foot on the floor. Spreading her thighs, she moved the cloth
between them, a soft sound escaping her lips as she rubbed, once, twice, three times…then a fourth.Her
movements slow and methodical. He licked his lips, his gaze flicking to her face, surprised to see her
watching him in the mirror.
His control snapped and he reached for her, whipping her around to face him. “Damn you, Sun—”
He plundered her mouth, groaning when her taste rocketed through his system. Their tongues tangled as
she sucked, wrenching a surprised whimper from him as she nipped his lower lip. Her nipples prodded
his chest as he ate her mouth.
His heart dropped to his knees as she stepped between his legs. Her nimble fingers made quick work of
his belt and zipper to free his erection. Her hands were sweet as they closed around him, one massaging
his rigid length while the other cupped his balls, treating them to a gentle squeeze.
He broke the kiss, a groan escaping as she stroked, his hips involuntarily jerking. Her friction caused a
rush of sensation down his spine and his knees wobbled. He wouldn’t last long if she kept up this
delicious torture.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“I need to be inside you,” he growled.“Now.”
Sunni stepped back, her eyes dark with desire. Silently, she took his hand and led him from the room. In
the hall she hesitated, as if not sure which direction to go. He grasped her shoulders and pointed her to an
open door, ushering her into his bedroom. Sliding his hands around her waist, he guided her onto his bed.
She lay back on the silk duvet and he stepped between her thighs. She raised one knee, her silken skin
caressing his hip through his trousers.
“Come inside.” She arched her hips in silent offering.
Alexandrewas greedy, but he knew that if he took her now, it would be over in a matter of moments. He
was too close to the edge. He pressed forward, his cock brushing the wiry blonde hair at the apex of her
thighs. She made a small noise from the back of her throat as she reached for him. He intercepted her,
running his hand over her lower belly, his fingers brushing her curls before moving inside.
She was wet for him.
His teeth came together with a sharp click as her damp heat poured over his skin. His thumb brushed
her clit, her back arched and she cried out. His cock lunged forward, and he knew it was nouse, he
didn’t want to take another breath without first having her.
He stripped off his shirt and flung it to the side. He found her entrance and remained poised there until
she looked up at him. Their gazes met and he thrust forward, burying his length in her damp heat. For a
second he feared he would lose it immediately. It had been too long since last he’d sought release and,
with his first thrust, he was ready to finish it. He struggled for control, moaning as Sunni moved, raising
her thighs to draw him deeper.
Her entrance rippled with tiny contractions, as if she too were near to falling over the edge. He couldn’t
hold back any longer. He leaned forward and braced his torso on his arms, and he began to thrust.
Slowly at first, then with increasing force.
He was dimly aware of the massive mahogany headboard hitting the wall, but he didn’t care. His hands
curled over her shoulders as their pace increased, pressure thrumming through his body.
Slender fingers stroked his neck and he knew what she wanted—to taste the blood that ruled him. He’d
never allowed another woman to drink from him during sex—it was too intimate, too emotional.
Yet he found himself relaxing, allowing his chest to rest against hers, shuddering as her warm mouth
brushed his skin. He dipped his head as he too, found the spot where her frantic pulse beat.
In unison, their teeth broke skin, allowing a few drops to coat their mouths. That was all it took.
Exhilaration screamed through him as, within seconds, Sunni convulsed around him, milking him into
orgasm. Raw sensation poured over his skin as her body clasped his, urging him to join her. Reality faded
as he came, moaning as he jettisoned the evidence of his desire into her heat. On and on it went, his body
demanding every second of pleasure it could attain.
Finally drained, his mouth slid from her neck as his eyes closed, his mind numb with pleasure. Mustering
the last of his strength, he rolled to one side, taking her with him. Cuddling her to his chest, he closed his
eyes and allowed his mind to relax for the first time in a very long while.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Her skin was warm, almost absurdly so.
Alexandrestroked the long line of her side,reveling in the soft warmth of her skin. Sunni was asleep in the
nude, sprawled on the wadded covers of his bed. Her skin was pale against the dark brown spread and
he couldn’t shake the feeling of rightness for her in his bed.
His gaze skimmed her torso, coming to rest on her nipples. Now soft, they slumbered, as did their
mistress.
Reaching over, he brushed a finger over a tip, once, twice, feeling it harden beneath his touch. Even in
sleep she was responsive to him. Unable to resist, he teased her burgeoning tip with his tongue, bringing it
into full arousal. Suckling, he leaned into her, taking the other between two fingers so it wouldn’t feel
abandoned.
She woke with a sigh, her lashes fluttering before her eyes opened. She reached for him, tangling her
fingers in his hair as he feasted on her flesh.
“Hi,” she whispered.
He released his treat. “Hi.”
He kissed a lazy path down her stomach, taking great care to nibble at the edges of themehndi design
encircling her bellybutton before continuing south. She parted her thighs at his urging and he was gratified
to see she was aroused.
Her skin was damp as he slipped his fingers inside her. Her hips rolled as he stroked thecenter of her
desire before dipping his head to taste. She was soft and warm against his tongue, tart yet sweet as he
lapped at her flesh. Her cries increased as she ascended her summit. Her hands tightened their grip in his
hair, but he paid her no mind, his concentration focused on pleasuring her. He drew her clit into his
mouth, sucking for all he was worth. Her cries grew more frantic until she came against him.
Breathraging in his lungs, he rose from his crouched position and entered her in one swift thrust. She
curled around him, her thighs rising to embrace as he took them both on a journey, this time together.
An hour later, he stirred. He noted with some amusement that Sunnislept, her limbs heavy against his.
Her arm was draped over him as if she couldn’t bear to let him go, even in sleep.
She was insatiable.
He grinned. Then again, so was he.
He gently took her arm, drawing it off him. His gaze followed the graceful sweep of her skin before
locking on something unusual.A small bruise on the delicate skin inside her elbow. What had she done to
herself?
He leaned closer. It wasn’t a bruise—it looked like a needle mark. What would Sunni have been doing
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
with a needle? Vampires didn’t need to, although sometimes they opted for a transfusion rather than feed.
A popular choice for the vegetarians among them.
He frowned and he settled her arm by her side. Was Sunni a vegetarian? She’d certainly been eager
enough to taste him, which told him this wasn’t the case—
The phone interrupted his train of thought. He grabbed the receiver and heard, “We have another body.”
Forty-five minutes later,Alexandre crouched by the charred,shriveled remains of a young woman. Her
face was untouched, perfect, her once golden hair scorched while her arms and legs were sprawled in
awkward angles from her damaged torso. The ignition point appeared to be the area where her heart
should have been. Like Philippe, a large hole was burned through her chest and he saw the damaged
carpeting beneath her. Unlike Philippe, though, this woman wasn’t asshriveled , more bodily fluids had
survived the inferno.
The scent of charred flesh hung thick in the air along with the muffled sounds of sobs from the hallway.
The scene was becoming all too familiar.
“Her name was RachelGoodkind .”Sinjin dropped into a crouch beside him. “Her friend found her.”
“The one out in the hall?”
He nodded.
“I think we need to talk to her friend.”
Both men rose and exited the room. A slender young woman stood in the hall leaning against the wall,
sobbing into her clenched fists.Alexandre eyed her critically. She was a young vampire of probably no
more than twenty-five years. He approached her, touching her on the arm to get her attention.
“Miss.”
She jerked her hands away from her eyes and lifted her watery gaze to his. She rubbed her palm over
damp cheeks. “Martha,” she stammered. “My name is Martha.”
“And I amAlexandre .” He gave her a gentle smile. “Martha, I know you’re upset. You’ve received
quite a shock.” He took her arm, led her to a chair near a sickly potted palm. “I have some questions I
need to ask you.”
She sniffed. “Okay.”
“How old was your friend, in vampire years?”
“About thirty.”
“Very good.”He crouched beside her. “Has she been acting different lately?”
She shrugged, her gaze dropping to her trembling hands in her lap. “Well, not really. I mean, she said
that she’d met someone who was going to change her life.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
A jolt of anticipation shot through him. “Did she say who it was?”
“No.”
“Where did she meet this person?”
“Bourbon Street. She’d gone to feed…uh, to dinner and came back one day last week telling me about
him. She said he was going to make her stronger than ever before.”
“Did she explain what she meant by that?”
She shrugged, clearly uneasy. “Not really. I assumed that he was an elder vampire.” A rush ofcolor shot
under her skin and she met his gaze. “Like you maybe. I’ve heard that if a lesser vampire feeds from an
elder, they can increase their abilities.”
He nodded. “It’s true. Did she ever mention participating in this ritual?”
She shook her head. “I’d just assumed. I mean, how else would a lesser vampire gain strength?”
Indeed.
“Had she been acting any different physically?”
She frowned. “Well, she seemed anxious.” She shrugged, her gaze dropping to her hands once more.
“Rachel was always kind of keyed up, I guess. In the past few days she seemed more…well, more
hyper.”
“How so?”
“I’ve known her for ten years and she could never sit down. She was always on the go, had multiple
projects going on at once. In the past few days, she was…manic. Rambling in her speech, pacing…even
her sleep was off. She usually kept a normal sleep schedule, but it changed and she’d rise an hour or so
before sunset. She didn’t go out or anything, but it was unusual. I’m dead to the world until sunset.”
Indeed, this was unusual. Young vampires couldn’t resist the lure of sleep when the sun began to rise. It
pulled at their limbs like a leaden weight, sucking them into the safety of darkness until, once again, the
sun set and it was safe to come out and play.
Martha’s watery sniffle brought him back to the present.
“Did she seem depressed?”
She shook her head. “No, she seemed excited about gaining more power, but she never told me how
she was doing it. Any time I brought it up she’d just wink and tell me that all would be revealed in time.”
She gave a weak chuckle. “Rachel loved to act mysterious.” Her expression turned sad. “It looks like her
time just ran out.”
Alexandregave her arm a comforting squeeze. “That’s all for now.” He rose and stepped away, half
afraid she’d burst into tears once more. “Thank you for your help.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Sinjingave him a sharp glance as he moved to help the young woman to her feet.“Ey, thank you, Martha.
I ken this has been a shock to you, butye’ve done all ye can to help her for now.”
Martha gaveSinjin a weak smile. “She was a good friend. You’ll look into this? I have your promise?”
He nodded and looped an arm around her shoulders to lead her toward the door asAlexandre turned
away. Hereentered the room, his gaze fixed on the remains of the dead vampire. What was it with these
deaths? Was it murder? If so, how was it being accomplished? The concept of spontaneous human
combustion wasn’t foreign, but all of the evidence in a case such as that led to human error rather than
someone simply bursting into flames.
Suicide?
According to Martha, Rachel was a happy woman with much to look forward to. What else could it be
but murder? He now had four dead vampires on his hands, each appearing to die in the same fashion.
The only difference was the site of damage was smaller with each victim. The first one, still unnamed, had
been completely incinerated while the second had lost the majority of his torso. Philippe’s torso was
severely burned on the left side while the damage to Rachel was confined to a six-inch square area where
her heart should have been.
The puzzle still remained. What was causing these deaths?
“Dude, I heard you were—”
Alexandrespun at the intrusion of a voice. Raphael stood in the doorway, an expression of horrified
fascination on his face. “That’snasty . What happened to her?”
Mentally,Alexandre kicked himself for allowing yet another vampire to sneak up unawares. A mistake
like that was going to get him killed.
He moved, blocking Raphael’s line of sight. “What can I do for you?”
“She asked me to give this to you.” He held out a slender envelope andAlexandre couldn’t help but
notice the vampire’s hand trembling.
He reached for the offering, the warmth of the other man’s hand brushing his skin as he took it. “Are you
feeling well?”
The young vampire gave a jittery smile as he moved back out the doorway, his movements agitated.
“Right as rain,” he trilled. “I think I got some seriously caffeinated blood. You know how hard it is to find
a healthy meal, thanks to these coffee places every ten feet.” He gave an exuberant laugh then turned and
headed toward the stairs, gesturing wildly as he walked. “I don’t even know how people drink the vile
stuff. It tastes like burnt socks.”
Alexandreshook his head and opened the envelope, extracting a slim sheet of paper with Cass’
distinctive scrawl.
I’ll see you at one a.m. at theRiverwalk across from
Jackson Square tomorrow night.—C
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He glanced at the charred body. Could these deaths be connected to Cass in any way?Possible but
unlikely.
He looked at his watch. It was barely five a.m. He had plenty of time to get home and check on Sunni.
He frowned. That needle mark on her arm had him more than a little concerned.
Chapter Ten
The night was electric.
Sunni skipped down the street towardAlexandre’s home, energy thrumming in her veins. She didn’t
know if it was the feeding or making love toAlexandre last night, but whatever it was, she hoped it never
stopped. This was truly a day for new revelations. This evening, she’d awoken a full hour before sunset.
She gave a delighted giggle. She didn’t expect to be able to do that for several hundred more years.
Feeding fromAlexandre during their lovemaking must have given her this gift and she was thrilled.
She knew that he was able to withstand limited amounts of sunshine due to his age. Oh, how she longed
to feel the warmth of the sun on her skin once more. She even dreamed about it on a regular basis. When
she’d awoken this evening, he’d already been gone, his side of the bed cool.
She shivered at the thought of his masterful touch. She didn’t know when he’d come back to bed last
night, but she had a vague impression of sleeping in his arms. A rush of anticipation shot through her.
With any luck, she would again.
She turned the corner and hurried toward his house, skidding to a halt when she saw the gates to the
driveway open. He was home.
A silly grin curved her mouth and she broke into a run up the gravel drive. Shrouded in trees,
Alexandre’s property had a surprising amount of land considering it was in the middle of the city. The
house was typical of New Orleans—a two-level, perfectly square box with wrought iron balconies and
an impressive number of doors and windows for access to the outside.
The landscaping was exquisite, but she paid it no mind as shebarreled up the drive and headed for the
front door. Stepping through, she flung her arms out and greeted the empty hall. “Honey, I’m home.”
She heard a muttered curse and footsteps and she fixed a bright smile on her face when he entered the
hall. Damn, but he was handsome. Black trousers covered his magnificentlegs, his shoes were a shiny
ColeHaan . A white silk dress shirt was unbuttoned halfway, revealing his strong chest lightly sprinkled
with dark hair. For once, his hair was unbound, curling on his shoulders. His expression was dark,
heated.
“Where have you been?” His low voice ignited a shiver along her nerves.
“I went to feed.” She leaned against the doorway opposite him. “Then I had to stop at the shop, make
some corrections to the books asSasha is hopeless with money.”
“We need to talk.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“I thought we were,” she grinned.
“I’m not the man you think I am.”
She blinked.
Darn, he was serious…
She nodded. “Okay.” She pushed away from the wall and moved to a small Chippendale chair in the
corner. “What would you like to talk about?” She sat and crossed her legs.
He frowned and looked away, dragging his hand through his hair as if he didn’t know where to start.
I’m making him nervous…
“Sunni, you don’t know much about me—”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don’t.” His tone was firm. “You look at me as some kind of hero and I’m not. I saved your life
all those years ago because I was in the right place at the right time.” He began to pace.
“Yes, you were.” She gave him an encouraging nod. “For that, I’ve always been grateful.”
“Grateful doesn’t equal love, Sunni.”
She rolled her eyes. “I am well aware of that.”
“I can’t live up to your expectations.”
She frowned. “Alexandre, I have no expectations of you—”
“Do you realize that hundreds of people died because of me?”
She blinked. What was he alluding to? Something was obviously bothering him and he needed to talk it
out.
She leaned forward. “I’m listening.”
He stopped pacing and sat on the steps, his expression unutterably weary. “When I was growing up, I
belonged to a religious sect called theAlbigenses . We disagreed with the Catholic Church and formed
our own beliefs. The core was that, by refraining from physical pleasure and material goods, we would
achieve absolution. There were two kinds of followers, Perfects and Believers. Perfects were required to
forsake material possessions along with meat, milk, cheese, eggs and all sexual relations. Having been
taught that the human body was created by the devil and only the soul was good, I’d grown up ignoring
the temptations of flesh.”
Sunni frowned. It sounded extreme to her, but she didn’t comment.
“After the murder of Peter deCastelnau , the Vatican’s envoy, Pope Innocent the Third ordered the
extermination of the sect. We knew they were coming for us and everyday we faithfully stationed
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
lookouts around the town. We needed advance warning to get everyone to safety should deMontfort’s
army come for us next.
“I was twenty-six years old and stationed to the north, and I was determined tofulfill my duty. But, also
at that time, I was questioning everything I’d believed. I’d almost attained the level of a Perfect, but it
wasn’t sitting with me the way I felt it should. Something was missing—and then along cameAriana .”
Sunni swallowed, unsure she wanted him to continue, but she didn’t interrupt.
“She was beautiful and even though I knew it was wrong, I wanted her. I kept telling myself that I could
turn her from the path of ruin and teach her the joys of becoming a Perfect. Looking back, I know now
that I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.”
No, she didn’t want to hear his confession. A sick feeling invaded the hollow of her stomach.
“I wanted to know what it felt like to make love to a woman even though it was forbidden.” He ran his
fingers through his hair once more, his expression lost. “I allowed her to lead me from my post and deep
into the woods.” He grew silent. “Arianawas a Believer, but she was prone to temptation. Believers
weren’t held to the same exacting standards that Perfects were. It was a given that, at some point in time,
they too must forsake the consumption of animals and the temptations of the flesh or they could never
achieve absolution. Consequently, I saw it as my duty to steer her away from temptation. But, instead of
redeeming her, she nearly destroyed me.
“Rather than teach her Jesus and enlightenment, she introduced me to the forbidden pleasures of rich
wine and the sins of the flesh. Once she touchedme, that was it. We,” he swallowed hard, “had sex three
times that afternoon. And with each act, my confusion grew. How could something that felt so good be
sinful?”
“So you screwed your brains out,” she said.
He gave a short, choking laugh, his expression rueful. “Yeah, we screwed our brains out. As I wandered
the woods alone, I saw my future with the sect. They were, in all ways thatcounted, my family. But now
that I’d tasted sin, I wanted more so I decided to leave. I couldn’t remain with them when my heart no
longer agreed with their teachings. However, I never got the chance to speak. When I returned to my
post, the village had been destroyed, the buildings burning before my eyes.”
She gulped.“And the people?”
“Dead, all dead.Perfects and Believers alike, slaughtered like cattle. The women and children had been
dumped into wells to foul the water with their rotting flesh. The men had been lined up and killed, one by
one, their bodies pinned to the ground with massive pikes, their eyes and tongues cut out and burned.
What animals hadn’t been takenwere slaughtered and the town razed.
“I spent days digging a mass grave in which to bury the men. I filled the wells rather than attempt to
retrieve the women and children. I denied myself food and drink and prayed for hours. And, for the first
time in my life, I heard nothing. No answer. No response. It was as if God were punishing me for my
tryst withAriana by killing my family and leaving me to suffer alone.”
And he would live with this for the rest of his life. Sorrow pierced Sunni’s body and she closed her eyes
under the weight of it.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“I can’t save you, Sunni. And I can’t save the Shadow Dwellers.”
She opened her eyes, her gaze fixing on the man before her. “You don’t have to save me,Alexandre . I
don’t need to be saved.” She rose. “As for thepreternaturals , you’ll do the best you can and that’s all
anyone can ask.”
He raised his head. “And if they die?”
“Then they die knowing that you gave your all for them…for us.”
He shook his head. “I can’t live with that again—”
“You can, and you will.” She approached, dropping to the floor between his spread knees. “But you
won’t fail this time.”
His expression turned incredulous. “I just told you—”
She caught his hand, and turning it palm up, she placed a kiss in thecenter . She felt the tremor that ran
through his arm. “You made a mistake, a serious mistake. Humans make mistakes,Alexandre . They
aren’t perfect.” He made a disbelieving noise and she pressed on. He needed to hear her and take it to
heart. “You aren’t perfect. If you’d known what would happen, would you have left your post?”
“No.”
“You made a decision. Be it right or wrong, you made that decision and you’ve had to live with the
consequences of it for hundreds of years. How much longer will you beat yourself up over this?”
He was silent.
“Let it go and salvage what you can. You now have the chance to make amends by saving the Shadow
Dwellers. The fate of our world hangs in the hands of a few, and you’re one of them.”
He looked pained.
“I have faith in you.” She leaned forward, moving her face directly into his line of vision. “We have faith
in you and the Council.”
She rose, standing a few scant inches from him, yet still sheltered between his knees. “If you can
embrace that man, that imperfect man, then come to me. If you can’t…”
She moved around him and up the stairs, her heart thudding with each step away from him. More than
anything, she wanted to go back, crawl in his lap andembrace him until his fear subsided. But she knew
he wouldn’t accept such an overture. Whether he admitted it or not, she knew him well.
The bed was still in disarray when she entered. Pausing to straighten the sheets and cover, the scent of
their lovemaking rose to tantalize her senses. Her heart gave a little jerk, the house silent and waiting
around her. Turning away from the bed, she moved to open the French doors leading to the balcony.The
humid New Orleans night swept into the room.
“I am an imperfect man.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
She stilled as his words poured over her skin. She closed her eyes in silent thanks before turning to face
him.
“And I’m an imperfect woman.”
“Before we go any further, I need you to know that there’ll be times when I’ll let you down.”
Silent, she nodded.
“Times I’ll hurt you even though I don’t mean to.”
She nodded once more, her heart in her throat when he visibly relaxed. He looked exhausted and she
ached to take him into her arms, but she didn’t move.
“I don’t know that I can do this.” He waved his hand and she wasn’t sure if he meant them or the
situation with the Council. Either one, she knew he could, hewas the man she thought he was.
“You can do it. You can win this time. You just have to believe in yourself like we do.” She gave him a
gentle smile. “I think you’ll surprise yourself.” She raised a hand, lightly trailing a finger along thebeveled
edge of a small table that stood next to her. “Are you…hungry?” She shifted, allowing the strap of her
shirt to slide off one shoulder. She raised her gaze, meeting his tortured one.
“Yes,” he whispered.
She moved toward him, keeping her pace deliberate, sensual. “What are you hungry for?” She trailed
one finger along the lacy edge of her blouse, barely touching her skin.
He licked his lips and didn’t respond,his gaze fixed on her hand.
“Would you prefer to feed?” She ran her finger along her throat, as if to call his attention to the area
where her pulse beat for him. “Or would you prefer me, naked, in your bed?” She stopped mere inches
in front of him, her body fairly humming with desire. Now that she’d had a taste of him, she was
addicted.
“I’ve already fed.” His voice was hoarse.
Sunni smiled and turned away, heading to the bed. “I guess that answers my question.” She added a little
come-hither twitch to her walk as she moved, but her toe caught in the hem of her skirt and she
stumbled. Throwing her hands out, she narrowly missed falling on her face, landing instead on the cedar
chest at the foot of the bed. She twisted and sat with a rueful smile.“So much for being the femme fatale.”
Alexandremoved into the room and took her hand to pull her upward, his smile still a little sad. “What
am I going to do with you?”
She laced her arms around his neck and leaned into him, relishing the hard length and warmth of him
against her. “Make love to me anyway?” she asked hopefully.
“As if you could stop me.”
Bending at the waist, he scooped her into his arms and her breath rushed from her lungs.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Why, Rhett,” she cooed in a sickly sweet accent, “I didn’t know you cared.”
He gave her a gentle pat on the backside. “Behave, MissScarlett , or you’ll end up in serious trouble.”
“Promise?” she purred.
“Yes.”
“Are there handcuffs involved?”
At the look of total shock on his face, Sunni laughed. Obviously her man had little experience with sex
toys.Next time, next time.
Alexandredeposited her on the edge of the bed and she scrambled onto herknees., her body leaning into
his. Tangling her fingers in his hair, she forced his head back and promptly lost herself in his midnight
eyes. There was such passion and pain in their depths that the longed to climb into his soul and soothe his
pain and hurt away. She’d never met a man of such iron will yet in possession of such a generous heart
that he was so completely unaware of. That much she could teach him.
She licked his chin. “You take my breath away.”
His expression turned startled. “You give me breath.” He raised his hand to trace the bones of her
cheek, then down her jaw as if to memorize every inch of her face. She closed her eyes,reveling in the
feel of his fingertips across her flesh. She tipped her head back as he stroked the sensitized skin of her
throat, her collarbones.Each movement as delicate as a butterfly kiss.
“You’re so warm,” he whispered.
She raised her head. “You make me warm.”
Reaching for the buttons on his shirt, she made short work of them.Running her fingers over the sculpted
muscles of his chest, her fingers brushing his flat nipples and eliciting a soft hiss.
His hands dropped to her waist to slowly bring up her skirt. Silently, she raised her arms, allowing him to
pull the material up and off her unresisting body. Thegris-gris hung between her breasts and it felt
strangely warm when she tossed it carelessly over her shoulder to rest against her back. She sighed when
the moist night air touched her skin to be followed by the heat of his mouth. Leaning back to grant him
better access, Sunni offered her breasts to his mouth. Like a man long denied, he feasted on her breasts,
first one,then the other.
She made a sound of dissent when he stopped, his head rising to take her mouth. Pulled into close
contact with his chest, she nibbled at his mouth, her nipples receiving their own torment from his wiry
chest hair. She moaned into his mouth. Was there ever a feeling quite as delicious and arousing as her
nipples being teased by a handsome man’s chest hair?
Their kiss was slow, sensual, a dance of seduction rather than a need to devour. Their tongues seduced
and their hands quested, stroking exposed skin while seeking to uncover more. Her hands dipped into
the waistband of his pants when his slipped down to cup her buttocks. Pulling upward, he rubbed his
healthy erection against the tender skin between her thighs.
Giving a squeak of pleasure, Sunni knew she wouldn’t be able to wait much longer. Tearing at his
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
zipper, she freed his thick cock. Her hands stroked his long, turgid length even as he nibbled at her lower
lip. Gently, he urged her onto her back, the duvet cool and welcoming beneath her. He loomed over her
and she parted her thighs to invite him inside.
Alexandrestepped away only long enough to remove his pants. Her gaze on his intent face and she
realized that this moment wasn’t aboutsex, it was a bonding between the two of them to make them one.
Reverence humbled her and her throat tightened. Reaching for him, she took his cock in hand, stroking
his shaft, awed as he hardened and lengthened beneath her touch.
Slowly she brought him to her entrance, showing him the way home. He entered her with a gentle thrust
before he sank over her. Their limbs tangled when they began to move together.
Her eyes drifted shut, her concentration only on the man and the tide of feeling he was generating with
each movement. Tension was a slow build, relaxed and sure. He hummed in delight when she stroked the
back of his calves with her nimble feet. Thank goodness for yoga. She arched her body to take him
deeper into her heart and soul.
Then something damp hit her forehead and pulled her from her sybaritic lair. She blinked, her eyes
resting on her lover’s face. He was crying. Eyes closed,Alexandre moved within her, a dreamy
expression on his face while tears seeped from beneath his thick lashes.
Her throat tightened and she raised her hand to her own face, wiping away his tears. Bringing her hand
to her mouth, she tasted the salt and blood of his pain causing her eyes to sting.
Within moments, he came, spreading heat throughout her womb just moments before she peaked. His
body shook over hers then slowly began to relax, his chest coming to rest against hers, his breath hot
against her cheek.
She guided his head for a kiss that was both absolution and acceptance, her heart full.
Reluctantly,Alexandre retreated from their bed, leaving Sunni sound asleep. She lay on her back, her
arm outstretched, and his eyes zeroed in on the tiny bruise.
It was still there.
Odd, it should have healed by now, as vampires were notorious for their ability to heal themselves.
Unless it was a new one?
Sunni wouldn’t be injecting herself with something, would she?
He glanced at the clock, tempted to wake her. Damn, it was twelve-thirty and he had only a half hour to
dress and meet Cass. Throwing one last look at his lover, he made a note to talk to her about it when he
returned.
Chapter Eleven
She was as beautiful as he remembered.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Cass stood silhouetted against the Mississippi, the moon gilding her dark hair with silver highlights. Her
profile was aschiseled as a cameo. Dressed in a cream silk pantsuit with a simple gold chain about her
neck, she looked like a prosperous doctor’s wife, more suited to the local garden club or PTA than
standing on theRiverwalk at one a.m.
She turned as he approached. “Hello,Alexandre .” She gave him a small smile. “It’s good to see you.”
“Cass.”
Her smile faded. “I’ve missed you.”
He didn’t buy the “meek miss” she was attempting to portray. “You should’ve thought of that before you
deceived me.”
A flash of irritation crossed her features before she masked it. She was a master of deception and she
commanded her expressions and emotions like a symphonic conductor. He wasn’t impressed.
“I’ve made some mistakes.” She held her hand out, palm up. “I’ve come to ask your forgiveness.”
“And?”
She looked perplexed.“And what?”
“What else do you want?”
“There is nothing else.”
“Cass, you and I have known each other too many years, sodon’t think you can fool me. I know that
you don’t do anything unless there’s something in it for you. Quit wasting my time and get to the point.”
A sharp smile curved her mouth and her meekdemeanor fell away like autumn leaves in a breeze. She
gave a small laugh. “You’re still quick, I see. I have a proposition for you,Alexandre . How would you
like to rule thepreternaturals with me by your side once more?”
Not on your life.
“I’m already the head of the Council. What do I need you for?”
“Power.The one thing the Council never hadwas a standing army. We have the Shadow Hunters and
they serve their purpose for small things but they wouldn’t be good should there be an uprising. We need
an army to ensure the sanctity and safety of our world.
Alexandrealmost gave in to the urge to roll his eyes. “We’ve never had the need to worry about an
uprising until you, Mikhail and Edward got together. Yes, we have had some problems, but they were
dealt with effectively enough by the Hunters.” He shook his head. “We have no need for an army. They
all realize that without some form of law all would be lost, so they govern themselves quite well.”
“Not well enough or Mikhail would have never ambushed you,” she sneered. “He almost succeeded. If
he’d had a proper army, you’d be nothing more than a memory now.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He crossed his arms over his chest. What she said was true. If Mikhail’s army hadn’t scattered at the
first sign of confrontation, he andFayne would be long dead and Mikhail would have control of the
Council. He shuddered at the thought of the havoc his demented foe could have wreaked upon the
innocents.
“And you can give me this army?”
“I can, indeed, for I haveElsabeth’s diary.”
The diary.
He forced his arms to relax and slid his hands in his pockets, feigning nonchalance. “What does the diary
have to do with this?”
“There are a great many things in that book.Many, many things, one of which is a serum to create the
ultimate vampire warrior.” She shrugged. “Of course, we’re still working on it as we haven’t perfected
the formula. We’ve had some success and some failure.”
He stilled, tension crawled under his skin. He fought to keep his voice calm. “What does the serum do?”
“Increases a vampire’s natural abilities.It robs them of the desire to think forthemselves and they evolve
into the ultimate killing machine.” She shrugged. “We’ve found, as long as their needs are met, they are
ours to command.”
His stomach sank. “How does it increase their ability?”
“I’m not sure how it works, but so far we’ve taken relatively young vampires and successfully increased
their abilities.Made them stronger, tougher.” Cass began to pace, her movements excited as she spoke.
“We took a few vampires of about thirty years, gave them the serum, and within twenty-four hours
they’d doubled their physical strength, their psychic abilities and they required less sleep. A couple more
trials and I’ll have the power to create a limitless supply of warriors for our command.”
“How is the serum administered?”
She waved her hand.“A small injection, no big deal.”
A sense of dread expanded in his gut.
“No big deal?” he asked.
She turned to him, her expression disgusted.“Oh really. What’s the price of a few young vampires when
we’ve got something really big here? The world is filled with hapless mortals we can transform atwill, it
really isn’t a big deal.”
“You said that you’ve had some failures. What kind of failures?”
A crafty smile curved her mouth. “It seems that, given in the wrong percentages and doses, the vampires
actually burn themselves out. The serum appears to age the subject, especially their heart, thus granting
the subject enhanced abilities. Some of our earlier experiments literally caught fire.”
Images of charred bodies crowded his mind, followed by the unearthly sound of Martha’s heartbroken
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
sobs over the body of her friend, Rachel. He bit his tongue, the taste of blood ripe in his mouth, as anger
threatened to swamp him.
Unaware, Cass continued. “We’ve progressed, though. We have one subject who’s lasted almost four
days and he’s still going strong.” A cool calm entered her eyes. “We also have another subject that we
have very high hopes for. A young vampire of sixty years and it appears she’ll be the one to show us the
way.”
“You’re mad.” He ground the words between clenched teeth. “You cannot play with people’s lives like
this.”
“Of course I can,” she laughed. “Who’s going to stop me?”
“I will.”
“No, you won’t, for I have something you need.”
“And that would be?”
“The antidote for the serum.”She withdrew a slim vial with an ornate silver cap attached to a chain
around her neck. The liquid glowed eerie pink in the darkness. She waggled it in the air. “How else will
you save your little girlfriend if you don’t have this?”
Sunni.
Alexandrefroze—a sensation of doom in his stomach. He’d been right. The bruise and the needle mark.
She’d been injected. Anger surged and he struggled to keep his expression cool. Letting Cass see his
wrath wouldn’t save Sunni.
“What do you want from me?”
“You by my side as we resume the leadership of the Council together.”She smiled as she moved around
him, her heels making sharp clicks on the pavement. “With you by my side, I’ll achieve the legitimacy
needed to resume my seat.”
“That’s all?”
“Oh, and I want you, in my bed.” She laughed. “What you lack in experience, you more than make up in
stamina.” She gave him a mocking look.“Must be a by-product of all those years of celibacy.”
“Done.Now give me the antidote.”
“Ah, ah, ah—not quite yet.”Cass withheld the bottle. “First we make the formal announcement. Once
I’ve regained my seat, then you can have the antidote.”
“What’s to stop me from just taking it from you?” He stepped closer, gratified to see her take a step
back.
“Miles.” She inclined her head to the left and the revenant stepped from the shadows. In his hand he held
a .45 automatic pointed atAlexandre’s chest. While guns couldn’t actually kill him, they would certainly
slow him long enough for her to get away.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
He was trapped…for now.
Cass smiled triumphantly.“Tomorrow, midnight. We can useSinjin’s club to make the announcement.”
She turned away, motioning Miles to follow.“‘Tilthen, lover.”
Her laughter filled the humid air as she walked away.
Alexandrestared at the darkened river, anger, frustration and terror churning in his gut. Sunni was at
stake. Damn, why didn’t he force her to leave New Orleans earlier?
You can’t save everyone.
No, but he’d better damn well figure out how to save her. Now that he’d found her, he couldn’t bear to
lose her. A faint ringing sounded from his pocket. Irritated, he grabbed the cell phone.
“Saint-Justehere,” he growled.
“We have another one.” It wasSinjin .
Alexandre’sheart stopped.Not Sunni. Not yet…
Sinjincontinued, “A man.” He gave the address andAlexandre barely heard him.
Thank the gods.
He jerked back to awareness. “Can you repeat the address?”
Sinjindid once more andAlexandre noted it wasn’t far from where he was. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Praying silently, he disconnected and shoved the phone back into his pocket. He had less than
twenty-four hours to devise a plan to save the woman he loved and the preternatural world as they now
knew it.
Chapter Twelve
Sunni fingered thegris-gris , twisting the cord around her fingers only to release it before twisting it again.
Where the devil was that shop? She walked quickly down the alley, nerves on edge as she darted quick
glances in the darkened shop windows.
Where was Mambo Cecile’s shop?
Her hand tightened around the bag, its contents grinding against one another and the scent of crushed
rosemary teasing her nose. Something was wrong, terribly wrong—she could feel it.
Not only could she not find the shop, she couldn’t sleep. Her body refused to rest and she felt like she
was jumping out of her skin. When she’d awakened,Alexandre had been gone and she’d been left with
the realization that she was now physically twice as strong as she’d been a few days ago. She’d come
down the outside steps and, upon reaching the bottom, had tried to swing around the balustrade only to
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
have the wrought iron straighten beneath her hand as if it were warm butter.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest while a sense of panic threatened to swamp her. What was happening?
Was it related to the night Miles had lured her to the alley?
Her inner elbow began to itch and absently she scratched it, all the while continuing her zigzag journey
down the street. She still couldn’t remember all of what happened that night. But she knew with a
certainty that she needed Mambo Cecile, that thevodoun priestess could help put the pieces of the puzzle
back in order. Until then, she would just keep searching.
* * * * *
“His name’s Luke Sanderson.”
Alexandredropped into a crouch by the vampire’s body. Luke lay facedown on the floor with a
fist-sized hole in his back, roughly in the same area of his heart. The edges were neatly singed, his flesh
incinerated. The floor beneath him was scorched and black, his ribcage intact.
“Who was he?”
“A local nobody, new to town.”
Alexandregave a silent prayer for the dead vampire’s soul before he rose to faceSinjin . “I found out this
evening what is going on.” He toldSinjin about his meeting with Cass and her ultimatum.
“Sunni?”Sinjin’svoice was shaken.
He gave a silent nod. “She was targeted thanks to her relationship with me.”
Sinjin’seyes narrowed but he said nothing.
“Cass wants a sort of town hall meeting tomorrow at your club. She wants to announce our union. After
that she’ll give me the antidote for Sunni.”
“Do ye believe her?”
“No. I think she wants Sunni to die. She wants to hurt me.” He ran his hand through his hair in
frustration. “The problem is that Cass has the diary, and I assume both the serum and the antidote recipes
are contained in it. Whether I like it or not, she holds all the cards at this point.”
“Youcanna just let Sunni die,”Sinjin said.
Alexandreglared his friend. “I have no intention of letting anything happen to her, damn it. We need to
find out what’s in that serum and to do that, we need blood from Sunni and a qualified lab tech to analyze
the results.”
“We don’t have that kind of time. We have less than twenty-four hours to come up with a solution or
Cass will win. No only will Sunni lose, but the world as we now know it will cease to exist.”
Alexandredropped his head, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders and, for a split second, a
sense of panic swept over him. He took a deep breath and Sunni’s words sounded in his mind.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“You can do it, you can win this time. You just have to believe it.”
He took a deep breath then released it, the panic fading slowly. She was right, he would win this time,he
had no choice.
* * * * *
“I’ve been w-w-what?” Sunni sat down hard on the edge of a small table, knocking a variety of tattoo
designs on the floor.
“You’ve been injected with a serum meant to increase your powers, to turn you into a warrior.”
She shuddered and ran her hands over her arms. Her skin felt strangely warm, far too warm considering
she hadn’t fed today, and her insides felt twitchy. Images flashed before her eyes—of an alley and Miles’
face leaning over her.Of the glint of light off a slim needle as he hovered near.
She shuddered again.
“I thought it was a bad dream,” she whispered. She rubbed a spot on the inside of her arm as a slow itch
began deep beneath her skin.
“Sun—”
She held up her hand to stem the flow of words.“Why me?” She raised her gaze to the man she loved.
“Why did she pick me?”
“Because of me.She wished to get back at me, make me dance to her tune.”Alexandre leaned against
the tattoo chair, his expression exhausted. Fine lines bracketed his mouth as he ran his hand through his
hair once more.
“What am I going to do?” She was dismayed to hear the wobble in her voice so she cleared her throat.
“What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know yet. For now, she holds all the cards.Sinjin is looking for her lair. We’re hoping to get to
her through Miles.”
“Am I going to die?”
He shoved out of the chair, advancing on her. “No. We’re going to try a transfusion. If we rid you of the
tainted blood, we’re hoping we can reverse some of the effects of the serum.”
Panic gnawed within her chest. “That seems awfully nebulous.”
“For now, we don’t know what else we can try.” Frustration and anger laced his words.
Sunni closed her eyes, slowly wilting as the sun began its inexorable ascent. She couldn’t resist the lure
of the darkness calling her to her lair. Exhaustion pulled at her and she wobbled on her precarious perch.
Alexandrereached her side and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. She sighed
and rubbed her face against his shirt, relishing the familiar scent of his skin, his heartbeat comforting in her
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ear. She could have had an eternity in his arms and now, in a matter of hours, she could lose it all.
“I’ve only just found you,” she whispered against his shirtfront. “Don’t let her win. Don’t let her part us
now. I need you to be my hero once more…”
Alexandre’sgrip tightened as she slipped into her dark sleep, her body limp in his arms. Around the
edges of the dark window shades, narrow strips of light filtered in, heralding the sunrise. For the first time
in his life, he cursed the coming morning.Time was slipping away, and taking with it Sunni’s life.
* * * * *
“It’s done.” Her medical bag in one hand,Sasha exited the inner sanctum where Sunni now slept.
Alexandrelooked at the fey redhead. Who would have thought that the tattooed and pierced young
woman was a pre-med student at Tulane?
“I drained her,then gave her almost ten pints of O negative blood. She’s still asleep. Will she sleep until
the sun sets?”
Alexandrenodded. “She should. In vampire years, Sunni is young and her biorhythms are still tied to the
sun.”
Sashashook her head. “It’s so unbelievable. I mean, Sunni told me she was a vampire. She even showed
me when I didn’t believe her. It just never occurred to me that her world could have such upheaval and
destruction. I mean, you guys have it all.”
“How so?”
“You have immortal life. You’re literally a witness to history as it unfolds. How cool is that?” Her eyes
were shining with excitement.
“True. We’re also prey to those who wish to take advantage of our powers. We lose those we love as
they age and die while we remain young. We’re subject to long, lonely years of existence in the darkness
and we feed on the life blood of others.” He shook his head as the light in her eyes dimmed. “The
immortality side is interesting, but the drawbacks are plentiful as well. We don’t get our cake and eat it
too. Just look at your friend. She could lose her life due to the greed and corruption of another.”
Her expression grew solemn. “I understand what you’re saying. Being human or vampire has its good
aspects, but both have as many shortcomings.” She laid her hand on his crossed arms.
The warmth of her touch spread along his skin, the very humanness of her surrounding him. Her pale
green eyes met his, her expression earnest. “Take care of her as Sunni is very dear to me.”
She further stunned him by brushing a quick kiss across his cheek before exiting the room. His skin
tingled with the warmth of this extraordinary human.
He approached the door leading into Sunni’s lair. His gaze swept her chamber, lit by a single candle.
Persian rugs covered thefloor, the walls were painted a lightcolor that was indistinguishable in the
candlelight. Bookshelves covered one end of the room, stuffed full of tattered paperbacks, hardbacks
and leather-clad tomes. A comfortable chair sat in front of the shelves beside a small table with a vase of
yellow roses. He picked up the paperback, smiling when he saw it wasPride and Prejudice .
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
There was much more to Sunni than met the eye. He scanned the titles of the books arrayed on the
shelves. His brow arched at the sight of a well-thumbed book by hisfavorite French poet. He scanned the
next shelf crammed with German philosophy, eastern mysticism, and impressionistic art. He grinned when
he caught sight of a romance novel tucked between Freud andTheArt of War .
He turned to gaze upon the woman asleep in the bed on the other side of the room.
He’d misjudged her.
He’d been so caught by what he thought she was—an airhead with no substance—that he’d failed to
see who she really was. Her clothing, her zest for life and how she made her living had fooled him. He’d
misjudged her spirit, preferring to see her externally rather than digging inside for the true woman.
He approached the bed. Asleep, she looked frail, her skin winter pale against the cream-colored sheets.
She was amazing and he was head over heels in love with her.
Humbled, he lightly skimmed her cheek, her skin cool to touch. Relieved, exhaustion pulled at his eyes
and he dreaded going home to his empty house. Empty because she wasn’t there.
He needed a few hours of shuteye and then he’d feel normal, able to face what stood before him. He
shed his shoes and stretched beside her, not touching, yet taking comfort in her presence as he closed his
eyes.
* * * * *
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Cass ignored Miles as she filled the syringe with serum from an earlier, failed batch. “I’m hedging my
bets. IfAlexandre double crosses me, I’ll kill him.” She set down the bottle and capped the needle. “Give
this to Gerard and tell him to injectAlexandre upon my command.”
Miles was clearly reluctant as he reached for the syringe. “Are you sure the antidote works?”
“Oh yes, it works but we’ll never need it.” She smiled as Miles’ fingers curled around the shaft. She
didn’t let go, causing Miles to lift his gaze to hers. “He’d better not fail me.”
Chapter Thirteen
The Chat Noir was packed to the rafters with every type of preternatural imaginable. Sunni was glad
that many of the Shadow Dwellers had left New Orleans or she wouldn’t have fit into the building. She
noted with interest that several werewolves had made an appearance. Three men, clad in leather and
resembling bikers, stood nearest the door, their gazes alert as they watched the proceedings.
Across the room was a group ofwerecats , hissing and throwing uneasy glances at the wolveswho
seemed oblivious to the stir their presence created.
She rubbed her stomach, feeling queasy, and terribly jittery. She wrapped a trembling hand around the
gris-gris —the startling sensation which poured from the amulet was what had awoken her an hour
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
before. It felt as if a low voltage current ran down her arm, urging her to move. The closer she got to the
Chat Noir, the stronger the sensation became, almost as if the charm were urging her forward toward
something that awaited her. Not questioning the feeling, she threaded her way through the crowd, looking
for familiar faces. She nodded to a few people she knew, but didn’t stop to speak. Then a particular face
caught her attention, stopping her in her tracks.
A witch?Here?
Quinn Montgomery sat near the stage, his fingers laced with the hand of a woman who sat by his side.
Maeve . Sunni smiled when she caught sight of the redhead. A few months back, they’d all been involved
in the latest upheaval in the preternatural world. Quinn was the son ofMortianna , one of the most
powerful witches to ever walk the earth. AfterMaeve had made the disastrous mistake of believing
Mortianna’s lies, the witch had tried to useMaeve to replace her dead daughter and had unknowingly
given her the greatest powers a witch could ever hope to possess.
If what Sunni had heard was true, then she was standing in the same room as the most powerful witch on
the planet and she wasn’t referring to Quinn. ButMaeve was reticent to talk about her experiences and
Sunni hadn’t pressed her for information.
Alexandrewalked onstage and into the awareness of everyone in the room. Her heart swelled as she
watched him cross the stage, every Armani-clad inch of him appearing self-assured. His gaze swept the
crowd, stilling the spectators, before meeting hers. She smiled, trying to put all of her love and pride into
that smile.
He stepped from the stage onto the main floor, people parting as he approached. “You shouldn’t be
here.” His expression was remote.
She stuck her chin out. “Well, I am and I’m not leaving.”
His mouth tightened. “I hope you have the good sense to beat a hasty retreat when things turn ugly.”
“I won’t be treated like a child,Alexandre ,” she shot back. “I’m a woman who can take care of
herself.”
“Hmm.”He captured her arm and steered her to Quinn’s table. “Keep an eye on her, will you?” He
pushed her into an empty chair. “She has the misguided belief that she can help.”
She jumped up from the chair. “I can—”
“Sit.” He shoved her back down, leaning over her to prevent her from rising. “Stay,” he growled. “I have
enough to do without having to worry about you.” He gave her a quick, hard kiss on the mouth before
walking away.
Sunni started to rise, but stopped when a hand on her arm restrained her. She turned to snarl at Quinn
and he appeared undisturbed by her show of teeth.
“He has enough worries without you distracting him,” he said.
She shook his hand off and turned, presenting both him andMaeve with her back. She scowled at
Alexandre’s retreating figure.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Damn fool!
“Good evening.”
Her lover stood in thecenter of the dance floor, his back to the stage. The house lights were up so no
spotlight was needed to see him clearly.
“I’ve called this meeting to discuss recent developments that all of you should be aware of as they will
affect our entire world.” He paused, scanning the audience as if to ensure everyone’s undivided attention.
“First, I’d like to acknowledge someone who needs no introduction. May I present, Cassiopeia.” As he
spoke, Cass stepped onto the stage and whispers raced through the crowd.
Clad in a blackChanel suit and a strand of fat pearls, she was a picture of maidenly decorum. Whispers
rippled as she advanced across the stage, a benign smile curving her mouth while her eyes remained
dark, cool.
Behind her were six massive male vampires, none of whom Sunni recognized. Miles brought up the rear.
His eyes watchful, he scanned the crowd as his mistress approachedAlexandre . He barely spared Sunni
a glance.
Anger sprang to life at his non-acknowledgement. The infernal man had tried to kill her only two days
prior. It wouldbehoove him to at least acknowledge her presence.
“I’m sure that everyone is curious as to why I’ve gathered you here this evening.” The crowd stilled as
Alexandre continued. “As most of you are aware, there was a challenge to my rule by Mikhail and his
followers.” He glanced at Cass. “This challenge cost many lives and was summarily defeated.
“At that time, death warrants were issued for Mikhail, Cassiopeia, Edward and their followers. Edward
is now dead.”
More whispers flowed through the crowd.
“For the past few months we’ve been looking for the others, when Cass approached me last night.” He
moved toward the stage as he spoke. “Her proposition is to join forces—she and I—on the Council as
we did once before. However, this time she brings an army with her.”
More voices, this time louder.
Sunni glanced at Cass to see a beatific smile on her face as she looked around the room at the
assemblage.
“Why do we need an army?”
“Who would be in this army?”
“Good questions, both of which will be answered shortly,”Alexandre interjected, once again bringing
silence to the crowd. “As some of you may have heard, there’ve been a rash of mysterious vampire
deaths in New Orleans. These deaths varied little. The victims died by fire, but they weren’t trapped in
the sunlight nor were they set on fire. It looked like spontaneous combustion and, in a way, it was true.
Their hearts ignited in their chests, killing them.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Whispers raced once more and he made no attempt to hush them. Sunni noted with some satisfaction
that Cass was beginning to look annoyed as she looked fromAlexandre to Miles.
“What caused these deaths?” someone called from the back of the room.
He smiled. “I was hoping someone would ask that very question. A serum introduced into their
bloodstream caused the deaths. The purpose of this serum is to enhance a vampire’s powers. One victim
was thirty, yet had the powers of a two-hundred-year-old.”
Rustlings of unease joined the murmurs.
Cass stepped forward. “I really don’t see what these unfortunate incidents have to do with—”
What’s the purpose of this experiment?” called a young woman.
“To create a vampire army with which to rule the underworld.A desire to create a mindless army robbed
of its will and victimized by its enhanced powers. They could be used to enforce this person’s will upon
all of us.”
The volume grew louder and Sunni sawSinjin working through the crowd towardAlexandre .
“Who did this? Who’s responsible for this despicable thing?” A shrill voice rose above the throng.
Cass stepped back and snarled something atAlexandre as Miles moved to the door at the rear of the
stage. She turned to leave whenAlexandre locked his hand around her wrist. He yanked her off the stage
and onto the dance floor beside him. She staggered as she clawed at his grip, cutting bloody furrows in
his hand, yet he didn’t flinch.
“May I present—”
Someone screamed and the crowd parted. Sunni turned to see someone shuffling towardAlexandre and
Cass. Her eyes widened as she recognized Raphael. His gait was odd, uneven, as he shambled toward
them.
“Murderer,” he hissed.
His skin wasgray , slick with blood-tinged sweat. He shook with each step as he grew closer. Then he
raised his arm and pointed at Cass. “You’ve killed me,” he denounced. “You killed the others.” He took
a deep breath and it was noisy, like the death rattle of an oldemphysemic man. “You must kill her.”
His eyes rolled back in his head and he swayed. He clamped his hand over the area of his heart as a puff
of smoke appeared between his fingers and he collapsed. Sunni ran to his side, ignoring the slack-jawed
observers as she rolled him to his back.
Within seconds, flames shot from his chest, forcing her away. The scent of scorched flesh permeated the
air as the fire burned a neat hole where his heart should have been. Then, miraculously, it extinguished
itself.
And Raphael was dead. Just like that.
Appalled, Sunni placed her hand over her own heart. Would she die the same way? The blood
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
transfusion had lessened her symptoms but some remained still. Was there an antidote?
Her stomach rolled and she looked atAlexandre . He was staring at Raphael, his expression saddened.
Unobtrusively, Cass caught the gaze of one of her vampires and she gave him a subtle nod. Sunni
watched as he approached her distracted lover. Reaching into his pocket, the thug withdrew a syringe.
A scream caught in her throat and she hurtled across the room. The vampire raised his hand to plunge
the needle intoAlexandre as she threw herself between them. She barely felt the bite of the steel but she
saw the vampire’s eyes widen as he realized his mistake. But it was toolate, she’d already taken the
poison.
Alexandrescreamed her name as her knees gave way and she fell, the club erupting in chaos. The
werewolves leapt onto the stage with a fewwerecats joining them a heartbeat later, and the sound of
battle roared overhead.
Sunni sawMaeve trying to make her way toward her. A body flying off the stage blocked her progress
as a dead vampire landed at her feet, his throat missing.
People were scrambling for the front door while others backed away from the crush, reluctant to leave
the spectacle yet reluctant to lend their aid.Sinjin and Quinn ran for the stage yelling Miles’ name. Sunni’s
head swam as she pulled the syringe from her shoulder to drop it to the floor. She rolled to her back in
time to seeAlexandre grappling with Cass.
With his free hand, he grabbed the vampire by the back of her neck, forcing her to her knees. Then
Alexandre raised his head and nodded atMaeve . Clearly torn, she glanced at Sunni and she weakly
waved to show that she was okay.
Maevenodded and joinedAlexandre , who still struggled with Cass. He’d released her wrist but retained
his grip on her neck, keeping her on the floor in an awkward, hunched position. She flailed, trying to grab
anything, butAlexandre’s much longer arms kept him out of reach.
A young woman moved in close, reaching for something around the vampire’s neck.Sasha ! What was
her partner doing here? Silver caught the light as she grabbed the pendant and snapped the chain, causing
Cass to jerk.Sasha flashed a triumphant grin as she pocketed the charm and melted back into the
seething crowd.
Cass managed to raise her head just enough to glare atAlexandre , her teeth bared. “I will destroy you.”
He gave her a mocking bow, his eyes hard. “I relish the challenge.”
Maevereached his side, her expression steady until he nodded. Sunni forced herself upright, resting her
back against the stage, unable to manage more than simply sitting and watching. The sounds of battle
faded with one last, heavy thud from the stage asMaeve circled the pair. She withdrew a small bag and
reached inside for a pinch of the contents. As she walked, she spoke in low tones, words in a foreign
language.
Thepreternaturals grew still as the tension in the room increased. Sunni’s hand curled around thegris-gris
, the bag familiar in her palm.
WhenMaeve nodded,Alexandre stepped away from Cass. On her knees, the vampire was held
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
immobile byMaeve’s spell. Only her eyes, dark with venomous rage, followedAlexandre .
The werewolves climbed off the stage, their movements sleek and stealthy. One, a tall blond, crouched
by Sunni’s side. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
He gave her a reassuring grin and picked her up to set her on the edge of the stage. She swayed and he
sat beside her so she wouldn’t fall. She was grateful for his support.
Alexandrelooked over as he stepped away from Cass. She gave him a shaky nod and a faint smile,
which he returned.Sinjin and Quinn returned through the main door, their expressions troubled. Quinn
shook his head atAlexandre and mouthed the word, “No,” whileSinjin approached Sunni.
He dropped beside her and gave her a hard kiss on the temple. “You fool,” he hissed. He dropped an
arm around her shoulder and gave her a bone-crushing hug. “Will you never learn to think before you
leap?”
“No,” she mumbled against his shirt.
“I was coerced into doing this tonight.”Alexandre was speaking to the restless crowd. “Cass’ plan was
to announce a union between her and me as her greatest desire has always been to lead the Council of
Elders. As most of you know, she joined with Mikhail to overthrow the Council. When that bid failed,
you can see how she’s tried to worm her way back into her former position of power.”
His gaze swept the crowd, lighting on Sunni for a mere moment before continuing. “She injected a
vampire with the serum two days ago, hoping to blackmail me into announcing our union. But that plan
backfired when, with the help of a human, we tried a complete blood transfusion to delay, possibly
reverse, some of the effects. Of course, now that we have the antidote, never again will we be held
hostage by such a threat.”
Alexandreturned to face Cass. “Seven months ago, I decreed that you would be put to death for your
treason upon the Council. Your actions in the past few weeks have only reinforced the fact that you’re a
danger to the Shadow Dwellers and our way of life. You’ve caused the deaths of countless innocents and
for that it’s long past time your sentence is carried out.”
Finally, he can put his demons to rest and reaffirm his position as the Head of the Council.
A slender young woman appeared carrying a sword. Light glinted off the deadly blade as she offered it
toAlexandre .
He accepted it and Sunni caught the scent of Cass’ fear as he approached her.
“By order of the Council, I hereby sentence you to death,”Alexandre said. “Do you have any last
words?”
“This isnot over.”
“Ah, but it is for you.”
“Go to hell,” she spat.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“You first.Where I’m sending you, never again will you harm another innocent. In death, may you find
the peace that you never had in life.” He raised the sword.
“Halt, vampire!”
A ripple went through the crowd as a figure clad in white approached. Sunni’s eyes widened when she
saw Mambo Cecile. Her skin resembled café aulait against the blinding white of her dress. Her dark eyes
were fixed on Cass, her expression triumphant.
“She is mine.” The priestess tore her gaze from the vampire. “I am Mambo Cecile.”
Alexandrelowered the sword. “Should I know you?”
She laughed, clapping her hands as if his words were no more than she’d expected. “No, white man,
you would not know me for I inhabited New Orleans long before you set foot in America. The only thing
you need to know is that I aided your woman in her journey with thegris-gris she now holds so dear.”
Sunni forced herself to release the little bag whenAlexandre looked at her.
Mambo Cecile nodded toward Cass. “She and I, we have a long past.” She smiled and this time it
wasn’t pleasant. “You remember me, don’t you, my pretty?”
The captive vampire didn’t move, seemingly struck dumb, but her eyes revealed her terror. Faint sounds
emanated from her throat.
Cecile looked around the room, her gazecentering onMaeve . “Witch, I ask that you release her.”
Maeve’sbrow raised and she looked toAlexandre , who nodded imperceptibly.Maeve stepped forward
and murmured a few words, then raised her hands in a gesture like the breaking of a twig followed by a
brushing motion. Cass tumbled forward, her hands out to break her fall. The spell was broken.
Mambo Cecile spoke. “Many years ago, you destroyed my family, and for what? When Robert found
out how you killed my family, he killed himself. When I found his body hanging in the smokehouse, his
throat covered in bites and his body nearly drained of blood, I swore I’d have my revenge on you.”
“Voodoo whore.”Cass rose to her knees. “You will have nothing from me—”
Cecile drew a rag doll from her voluminous dress. Sunni saw a shock of dark hair on the doll’s head
before Cecile began circling Cass, waving the doll over the vampire’s head. She muttered under her
breath and the occupants of the room retreated, assuring theVodoun Mambo plenty of room.
Alexandrestepped back as she neared him.
Cass hissed and rose to her feet, reaching for Cecile. “You have no power over me. I will destroy
you—”
Cecile tossed the rag doll at her but Cass caught it, a look of triumph on her face. “See? Your rag doll
has no power at all.” She flung her arm as if to toss it aside, yet the doll remained where it was, safe in
her hand. She stared at the creation, her expression disturbed. With her free hand, she grabbed the head
and tried to pull it loose.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Her expression turned horrified as she realized that both hands were now stuck. “What have you done?”
Cecile smiled.“No-ting. I have no power over you, ‘member?” She raised her hand as if to blow a kiss
and the doll erupted into flames.
Sunni cringed, reaching once more for thegris-gris as flames raced along Cass’ arms, engulfing her in
mere seconds. Flames charred her skin and licked her hair as the stench of burning flesh filled the club.
Most of the vampires fled the bar, opting for the humid New Orleans night rather than to witness the
demise of one of their own, even though she was evil.
An unearthly shriek erupted from her burning mouth when she fell to the ground. Within moments, the
fire died, leaving only charred bones and ashes. The skull wobbled on the polished floor, the sound
hollow as Sunni’s stomach turned.
“It’s done,” Cecile pronounced, turning her attention toAlexandre . “The curse has been broken and
you’ve rid your world of her. There will be more, but you know that, don’t you? Know that others will
line up to take that which is rightfully yours by birthright—both your vocation and your love.” She smiled
and tipped her head to indicate Sunni. “You arewort -y, white man, she loves you.”
Sunni felt his gaze on her, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from Cecile. “How did you—”
The priestess waved her words away as she approached. “Daughter of light,have patience with this
one.” She nodded atAlexandre . “He loves you, yet he still believes himself unworthy. Bah!Stupid man.”
She cupped her hands under Sunni’s chin and pressed a kiss between her brows. “You, my child, are
more blessed than you’ll ever know.”
A warm breeze flicked across her skin and Cecile vanished, leaving only a scent of herbs. Sunni released
her grip on thegris-gris to pull the cord from her neck. Opening the now-cool silk, she scattered the
powdered contents on the floor knowing that its power was spent.
Epilogue
She loved this place.
The shop was immaculate, probably clean for the first time since Cecile’s death many years before. She
set the broom against the wall, taking in the freshly painted walls of pale green and the sheen of the
polished floors. The energy was good here, and, with what she had in mind, it would improve. And she
knew in her heart that Mambo Cecile would be happy with her plans.
“Miles escaped with the diary.”
Sunni turned to see her lover standing in the doorway leading to the street, his expression haunted.
“I’m sorry. I know how much you need it.”
He stepped inside, his tight jaw the only outward expression of his frustration. “That diary might spell the
end of us all.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
She nodded. “It might.”
“And I came close to blowing it.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I did.” His voice increased in volume. “Twelve people died. You could have been next.”
Sunni stepped beside him. “But I didn’t. The antidote is working. I feel fine.”
He stared blindly out the front window. “There have been so many times I’ve wanted to walk away from
the Council. I should…”
“But you won’t.”
“Like hell I won’t.”
She smiled and touched his arm, forcing him to face her. “No, you won’t. It’s who you are,Alexandre , a
leader. The Shadow Dwellers need a strong leader and that person is you. You could never walk away
while we need you.”
He made a disparaging sound.
“While I need you.”
His gaze met hers.
“I don’t care what Mambo Cecile said.” His voice was hoarse. “I don’t deserve you.”
She grinned and stretched on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his neck. “That might be, but I deserve
you and I mean to keep you.”
He brushed his lips over hers. “Let’s go home.”
“Sounds good to me.”
They linked hands and strolled to the door.
“What are you going to do with the building, Sunni?”
She paused in the doorway, scanning the cheerful room before her gaze fixed on an oil painting she’d
found in the back room. A small brass plate read:
Mambo Cecile
1884–1930
Her painted smile was self-satisfied.
“Oh, that reminds me.” She crossed the room, reaching into her pocket. Beneath the portrait, a small
oak shelf held a seven-day prayer candle that still burned. She pulled a gold coin out of her pocket and
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
placed it on the shelf beside the candle.An offering of thanks to Mambo Cecile.
Oh yes, she’d be pleased indeed.
Sunni turned away and headed for the door. “I’m thinking of opening another shop. This one would
encompass transcendental meditation, Reiki,Kempo and a few other things. Maybe I can turn it intothe
metaphysicalcenter in the South.”
Alexandrealternated between a laugh and a groan as she closed the door, locking its secrets inside.
About the Author
J.C. Wilder left the world of big business to carry on conversations with the people who live in her mind,
fictional characters that is. In her past she has worked as a software tester, traveled with an alternative
rock band and currently volunteers for her local police department as a photographer. She lives in
Central Ohio with 6,000 books and an impressive collection of dust bunnies.
The award-winning author also writes as Dominique Adair.
J.C. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio
page at www.ellorascave.com.
Also by J.C. Wilder
Ellora’s Cavemen: TalesFrom the Temple IIanthology
In Moonlightanthology
Men of SWAT: TacticalManeuver
Men of SWAT: Tactical Pleasure
Shadow Dwellers 1: OneWith the Hunger
Shadow Dwellers 2: Retribution
Shadow Dwellers 3: Tempt Not the Cat
Shadow Dwellers 4: Atonement
Tactical Pleasure
Things That Go Bump in the Night 2004anthology
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
‘Twasthe Knight Before Christmas
Writing as Dominique Adair
Holly
Last Kiss
PartyFavorsanthology
R.S.V.P.anthology
TiedWith a Bowanthology
XanthraChronicles: Blood Law
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s
Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at
www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Wyszukiwarka
Podobne podstrony:
J c Wilder Shadow Dwellers 01 One With The Hunger
3 5E D&D Adventure 05 March of the Sane
Kenyon, Sherrilyn Dark Hunter 13 Sins of the Night rtf
Anderson, Poul Flandry 05 Agent of the Terran Empire
Sins of the Father
Janrae Frank Journey Of Sacred King 02 Sins Of The Mother
In the Dukes Bed Sins of the Duke 3 Eva Devon
Forgotten Realms Anthologies 05 Realms of the Arcane
Kenyon, Sherrilyn Dark Hunter 13 Sins of the Night
J c Wilder Shadow Dwellers 04 Atonement
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sins of the Father
Enid Blyton Mystery 05 Mystery of the Missing Necklace
Jean Lorrah Savage Empire 05 Sorcerers of the Frozen Isles
J c Wilder Shadow Dwellers 02 Retribution
Dawn Halliday [Torrid Tarot 39] Sins of the Knight [pdf](1)
Jane Jensen Gabriel Knight 1 Sins of the Fathers
The Sins of the Fathers Stanley Schmidt
In the Flesh The Cultural Politics of Body Modification
więcej podobnych podstron