Bonds of Blood (Blood Bond Series) Read online

  “So, what do we do now?”

  “You tell me.”

  She walked across the room to stand before him. “Since we’re both after the same thing, I say we start working together. We’ll go to the club together tomorrow. It’ll be safer that way.”

  His lips curved into a smile so sensuous she felt her entire body shudder with desire.

  Slowly, he reached out a hand to her, his gaze never leaving her face. “Partners?”

  She placed her hand in his. She couldn’t help but notice how his skin was cold to the touch. It cooled her hand, which seemed to be burning.

  “Partners.”

  The word sounded husky, like an erotic invitation. She felt color creep into her cheeks as she heard the way it slid through the air as it left her mouth. He must have heard it too because his eyes darkened. But before she could think of something else to say, he saved her the fight.

  He placed his other hand on top of hers, trapping it between his.

  “Be safe, Katarina,” he murmured, as he let himself out the door.

  Chapter 11

  Alec stared up at Kat’s balcony. They would be coming for her soon. He was certain of that. And once they learned her true identity they would never stop. That is why he couldn’t leave this corner. He had to protect her. That fact was why he couldn’t watch her from a closer proximity. He didn’t trust himself to be up there.

  Not after what happened the other night.

  If he lost control again, he might do something that would change things forever. He couldn’t betray the man who made him. But knowing that didn’t mean it was easy to accept, especially when he caught a faint trace of her scent on the midnight breeze. He had never wanted a woman more than he wanted her.

  Was it because she was different?

  He didn’t know.

  All he knew was that she was absolutely intoxicating. And she would be just as attractive to Damien. He had already singled her out. It was only a matter of time before he found out where she lived. Then, Alec would have to take drastic measures to keep her safe.

  And he would.

  He would defend her with his life. Not just for his maker. But for her as well. Watching her walk into that club was like watching a lamb being led to a slaughterhouse. She had no idea of the kind of danger she was immersing herself in. The Dragon’s Lair was a dangerous place for any ordinary human. For her, it was a powder keg waiting for a match. If she knew the true danger, she would never have set foot there.

  As much as he wanted to warn her, he was reluctant. Telling her the truth would expose her to an entirely different world.

  A world where she was the most appetizing dish on the menu.

  Even if he told her, she would likely just throw him out of the apartment because she would think he was a lunatic. No, it was better to hide the truth and stay as close as he could to her. It was the only way he could protect her.

  For now.

  Soon enough she would learn the truth. All he could hope for was that when that happened she turned to him and not away.

  ****

  The next day as Kat stared at the clothes in her closet; she couldn’t help but wonder if she had made a big mistake by agreeing to work with Alec. After all, she knew nothing about him. And in the last few hours, she began to think that he might have been less than honest about his interest in the club and the girls who had gone missing there.

  Her gaze traveled to her own reflection in the full-length mirror to the right.

  What was she doing?

  If her hunch about the Dragon’s Lair club was right, it meant the owners were extremely dangerous. They were not only dangerous, but they had already killed at least five girls. It didn’t take a genius to realize that they wouldn’t balk at adding one more to the list. And if they found out that she was planning to expose them, she would no doubt shoot to the top of it.

  Was finding out what happened for a story really worth risking her life?

  She thought of the photos of the missing girls. Fresh, young faces of girls with their entire lives in front of them. Girls who would never go home, never see their families again. And the answer came with gut wrenching clarity.

  Yes.

  Yes, it was worth it.

  She was too close to turn back now. If she did, no one would ever know what happened. If she did, snapshots of other girls would be added to that stack. Those girls deserved a voice. They deserved to have their stories told. And somehow she knew that if she didn’t tell them, no one else would.

  A knock at the door made her jump.

  She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. Even though Alec was supposed to be picking her up, it was still two hours before the time they agreed. She made her way into the living room and over to the front door.

  A glance out the peephole proved that it wasn’t Alec waiting on the other side.

  She pulled the door open, a frown marring her features. “Mina? What’s wrong?”

  Mina shifted her weight back and forth. “Can I come in for a minute?”

  The intense look on her face made Kat step back to allow her inside. Closing the door, she turned to face her.

  Mina’s gaze shifted nervously around the room.

  Kat’s eyes narrowed. “Mina, what is it?”

  “Who have you told about the story you’re writing?”

  Kat’s eyebrows drew together. “What do you mean?”

  How had she found out about Alec?

  “Cut the crap, Kat. I know you’ve been talking. A man approached me the other night. He said he wanted to meet us both at the club tonight. He said he had information for you about the missing girls. Now, how would he know that you want that information if you hadn’t been opening your mouth?” she charged.

  Kat drew in a steadying breath. She couldn’t be talking about Alec. Could she? Why would he go to Mina when they had already agreed to be partners?

  “What did he look like?”

  Mina tilted her head to the side. “Blonde hair, blue eyes, tall. Sound familiar?”

  Kat’s gaze bounced around the room. “No,” she answered honestly. “It doesn’t sound familiar at all.”

  Mina’s lips twisted into a cynical curl. “Well, he’s definitely familiar with you…and your work. If you haven’t been talking, and I know that I haven’t been talking, then I’d like to know how he knew?”

  Kat shook her head. “I honestly have no idea.”

  Mina rolled her eyes as she fell onto the couch. “Well, I guess we’ll both find out the answer when we meet him at the club in a half an hour.”

  “Mina, I can’t go with you right now,” Kat replied.

  Mina’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I’m supposed to be meeting someone in two hours.”

  “Who?”

  Kat nervously wet her lips. “He’s just…”

  “A date?”

  Knowing that the truth would definitely be worse than a lie, she chose the only option that made sense. “Yes, a date. I promised I would meet him in a couple of hours.”

  Mina positioned herself on the edge of the couch. “So, call him and tell him that you have to reschedule,” she ordered.

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  Kat let out a huff of aggravation. “Let’s just say it’s complicated.”

  Mina’s lips formed a grim line. “No, what is complicated is you leaving me alone with a guy who obviously knows enough about what we’re doing to make things very dangerous for me. Look Kat, you’re the one who got me into this mess and you’re the one who needs to get me out.”

  Kat stared at her knowing there was only one thing she could say, only one thing that made sense.

  “You’re right,” she conceded.

  “Thank you,” Mina agreed with a nod.

  “I’ll come with you,” Kat offered. “Where are we meeting him?”

  “At the club,” Mina replied.

  Kat’s eyes narrowed. “The
Club? Isn’t that a really, really bad idea?”

  “Look, I didn’t pick the place. He did. Besides, I wasn’t exactly going to argue with a guy who could blow the lid off this whole thing,” Mina reminded.

  Kat tilted her head to the side. “Good point.”

  “So, go get ready,” Mina ordered. “And do you have anything to drink around here? I think we are definitely going to need some sustenance for this assignment.”

  Kat headed toward the bedroom. “I think there’s an old bottle of wine on top of the fridge. Glasses are in the cupboard over the sink. But I’m not really much of a drinker,” she confessed.

  Kat stripped out of her jeans and t-shirt opting for a skimpy black lace dress. She was pulling it off the hanger when Mina came to stand in the doorway. An unwelcome flush tinged her bare skin as she struggled to cover herself.

  “I’ll be out in a sec,” Kat said.

  Mina looked at her, her gaze traveling over the length of Kat’s body.

  Something about the look in her eyes made Kat pull the dress over her head a little bit faster than normal.

  “No problem,” Mina answered as she continued to watch Kat get dressed.

  Once Kat was done, Mina handed her a full glass of wine.

  When Kat began to protest, Mina stopped her. “Look, we are going to need a little liquid courage to get through this tonight,” she reasoned.

  “Still, I…”

  Mina smiled. “It’s not like you’re a designated driver or something.”

  Kat reached for the glass with a nod. “You’re right. To liquid courage,” she said, lifting the glass.

  After all, she was going to need all the courage she could get tonight.

  Chapter 12

  Damien stepped into the parlor of the Dragon’s Lair.

  It was quiet now.

  There were only a few patrons milling about.

  But in a few minutes, it would be filled with humans.

  He inhaled deeply—not because the scent of human blood permeated the air but in anticipation of what was to come. Right now, all he could smell was the scent of the nameless mortals that filled the room. Each of them had no idea of the danger they were putting themselves into for an illicit thrill.

  A smile ghosted across his face.

  If they had been bold enough to get their kicks out in the open, they wouldn’t be in danger at all. But they all preferred to hide in the shadows.

  He chuckled softly.

  They thought it was safe here.

  But dark things lurked in the shadows. Things that wanted to destroy. Things that wanted to feed.

  And feed they would.

  Both parties would pay plenty for their pleasures.

  But the thought of money wasn’t what pleased him most tonight. It was the fact that she would be here soon. His blood began to burn in his veins as he thought of her. He had waited too long to take her. For a man with limited patience, it was beginning to become a volatile situation. He had had to take his passions out on several tonight already just to hold out this long.

  Mina had been one of them.

  He had used her, fed from her. Though he would never have believed it in the beginning, Mina had become quite valuable to him. More importantly, she had been instrumental in getting Kat here tonight, even helping to concoct the story.

  Yes, Mina was doing well.

  Better than he ever could have expected. She was very eager to please him thanks to the blood he fed her. Still, as much as she tried to make him happy, she was just a means to an end. His true objective was Kat.

  He wanted her.

  Wanted her beyond reason.

  He wasn’t sure what it was about her that made her so appealing. All he knew was that she was no ordinary human.

  She was different.

  Tonight he was going to find out what the difference was.

  Of course he fully intended to enjoy her first. He had waited too long not to take full advantage of the situation. Eventually, he would tire of her and dispose of her just like the rest, but first he would savor every inch of her.

  “Do I even need to ask what has inspired that look?” Genevieve asked interrupting his vivid musings.

  “I am just enjoying the night.”

  He didn’t feel like explaining himself to anyone, least of all Gen.

  She came to stand next to him, her gaze surveying the number of patrons.

  “I don’t need to remind you that the whispers have already started to circulate around town,” she said evenly.

  He let out a heavy sigh of irritation. “Let them talk. They would never believe the truth even if we came out and told them.”

  She turned to pin him with a steely glare. “I’ve made a home here, Damien. And I don’t intend to lose it because you want to play games with the locals,” she asserted.

  He returned her look with a condescending smile. “Relax, Gen. You won’t have to leave. No one will ever know that we are feeding on the citizens of this good city.”

  Her jaw clenched. “If enough girls go missing, they will start to investigate. Surely you know that. You’re taking too many chances…going through them too quickly. You’ve got to stop before it’s too late…for both of us,” she warned.

  His mouth formed a cynical sneer. “Is that an order?”

  She tilted her chin up arrogantly. “If that’s what it takes to make you see reason, then yes. I won’t lose everything for you Damien.”

  Without warning, he grabbed her by the arm to pull her closer. His lips formed a thin slash as he leaned in closer. “Then, let me remind you of a few things. First, I’m a few hundred years older than you. I could snap you like a twig, and we both know it. Second, I don’t take orders from anyone, least of all you. And third, if I want to feed on every person in this room, I’ll do it, and there’s not a damned thing you can do to stop me. Now, are we clear?”

  “Crystal,” she said through gritted teeth.

  He released her arm, his hand coming up to stroke her cheek softly. “Good. Now, calm down, Gen. You are way too beautiful to be this uptight. Why don’t you enjoy one of the young men…or women?”

  Her gaze bounced around the room. “Perhaps I will,” she conceded.

  He smiled. “Good. I think some recreational activity is exactly what you need to ease your tension.”

  He watched as she began to move around the room to greet the patrons. There had been a time in his life where he had craved her more than blood. But in the end, she had consumed him only to toss him aside. Despite how much he felt for her, she had always seen him as a friend. The thought still made him want to throttle her. Watching her give her body away to others had only fueled his resentment over time.

  Still, as much as he wanted to hate her at times, he couldn’t. Even now, he didn’t want to be rough with her. But it went against everything that he was to be ordered around by her. She needed to understand the situation clearly.

  He knew Gen. She would be angry now, but she was smart. She knew better than to fight a losing battle. It was a quality that had kept her alive for so long.

  Thankfully, it served her well tonight.

  ****

  The moonlight cast an eerie glow down the alleyways of Bourbon Street as Kat followed Mina. Wide open club doors and music beckoned the people outside to join the party within. Up ahead, Mina deftly made her way through the throngs of people. Kat leaned her head back, her gaze lifting toward the sound of catcalls. Overhead on the balcony, several people called out as they dangled beads over the railings.

  She lifted her hand to her forehead as her vision clouded and the lights began to dance. Even though, she only had two glasses of wine, she felt more than a little buzzed.

  She stumbled and strong arms came around her middle.

  “Well, hi.”

  Kat looked up to find herself in the arms of a tall man with blonde hair. He couldn’t have been more than twenty-two. His striped polo shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and his brown ey
es were glassy. Definitely a frat boy on vacation, she thought. Somehow he balanced a plastic cup of beer as he steadied her.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled.

  He leaned in, his breath wafting over her neck. “No problem, sweetheart. I told my friends that today was my lucky day but they didn’t believe me.”

  Kat felt his hand travel down her back and she reached up to place her arms on his shoulders. She knew she should push him away but her head was still swimming.

  “I don’t feel right,” she stammered.

  His hand traveled lower to cup her buttock as he angled his head to whisper in her ear. “I would say you feel pretty damned good.”

  She could feel his erection pushing insistently against her stomach. She put her hands on his chest, determined to push him away, but she never got the chance.

  “Sorry, big guy,” Mina said as she eased an arm between the two of them to push them apart. “But this one’s mine.”

  A wide smile stretched across the blonde’s face. “Hey, the more the merrier,” he said, reaching for Mina.

  Mina swatted his hand away. “I don’t share,” she replied firmly her arm circling Kat’s shoulders as she turned.

  “Ah, come on. Can’t I at least watch?” he pleaded.

  “Peep shows are never free,” she quipped.

  Mina started to walk away, dragging Kat behind her.

  “I’ll pay,” he offered.

  Mina continued to lead Kat through the people ignoring his calls. Once they were at the corner, Mina led them down a less populated street. She lowered her arm to link her fingers through Kat’s.

  “Sorry, I think the wine…” Kat began.

  “Here we are,” Mina said, punching in the code on the keypad.

  The gate opened into the courtyard and Mina pulled her inside. The front door to the club opened and Kat followed Mina inside. Kat’s gaze traveled around the room. A dark haired woman straddled a man in an overstuffed chair. His fingers were inching her short skirt higher and higher as he kissed her neck.

  To her left, a woman stood against a wall. One of her breasts was exposed. A man stood next to her, his dark head bent over as he licked her nipple. Another man crouched in front of her on the floor, her leg resting on his shoulder. The woman’s skirt covered his head. Kat didn’t have to look to know what he was doing and from the look of ecstasy on the woman’s face he was apparently doing a very good job.