Chapter 6 #3
I looked around, feeling as if I should curtsy or kneel.
The royal woman was one whom I’d never expected to speak with, let alone have a private conversation.
“Your highness, with all due respect, my job is not done here. I believe I would be more useful here, watching within, than to leave now. Nigel trusts me, and as such, I can keep an eye on him.”
“Youth are so foolish. He will kill you if he discovers you are not on his side. You are too important to our people.”
“Miss Black, what my Hearts Love is saying is, we appreciate your information. I will, of course, keep a close eye on the situation. Thank you for your service. Now, we need you to return home so we can be assured of your safety.” My knees shook at the authoritative voice of the head of the Vampire Council.
The Cordell twins’ father was none other than the man who sent me to watch over them.
I looked around the manager’s office, wondering what I was doing there. “I’m supposed to help Nigel locate a woman named Laikyn. I’m afraid he’ll lose his shit... sorry, I’m afraid he will go a little crazy if I don’t give him the information he has requested.”
“I’ll handle it. You need to get out of there. I’ve got men coming to back you and my sons up. Mr. Watson is not stable.”
“Okay, I’ll make it look as though I’ve searched in case he checks. I’ll need to get the humans out of the apartment. His feeders, as he calls them, or he may take it out on them.” I wouldn’t take the chance that a human would be injured or killed because of me.
A feminine sigh whispered through my mind. The feeling of fingers stroking my cheek soothed my frayed nerves. “You are more precious than you give yourself credit for.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. Having lost both my parents in a fire years before, I’d been grateful the Council had taken me in and allowed me to live under their care. Being a hybrid had set me apart from both my heritages. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Call me Willa.” The image of the petite blonde woman next to the large man flashed in my mind. I smiled.
“I need to get to work. When will your men be here?” After I heard the timeframe, I figured I could get the information needed, or pretend I had, and get the females out safely. My fingers flew across the keyboard. Modern technology was one of the things I loved most about this century.
The file with Laikyn O’Neil’s information popped up, but when I opened it, nothing was inside. I googled the woman and found she was a doctor and was a partner with the Cordells. My stomach churned in jealousy. I pushed my own feelings aside and tried to find out more about the elusive woman.
An inner alarm had me looking up at the cameras outside the building.
I recognized the stretch limo as Nigel’s.
I didn’t want to face him just yet. Wondering why he was back so soon, I made quick work of getting all the info on Laikyn on a file for him, showing I’d tried, then flashed to the apartment where three feeders were lounging.
Their gasps were cut off as I swept them into my arms and flashed them from the building.
Nigel would have felt the power surge, but since I’d never used any around him before, I hoped he would not recognize it as mine.
Three more bounces, and I deposited each woman into their own home, making sure their minds were wiped.
By the time I was done, I needed to feed, but the thought of feeding from a human made me nauseous.
In that moment, I truly hated being part vampire.
My last flash was to my own home, one Nigel had no clue about.
Bagged blood wasn’t nearly as good as that from the living, but I still refused to give in to the urge.
It took three pints before I no longer wobbled on my three-inch stilettos.
“The only person I will feed from will be my mate,” I swore.
Dawn was fast approaching, but I wasn’t limited to the rise and fall of the sun like Nigel.
My boss would most likely be searching for me, which made me nervous.
No matter what the Council thought, he was a very dangerous vampire.
I’d seen what he could and would do when crossed. A shiver stole up my spine.
The first time Nigel had shown what he did to someone who he’d felt betrayed had been fast and brutal.
Well, Nigel had acted swiftly, but the acts he’d done were anything but fast. The beings had suffered for a very long time.
I gagged as I thought of that night. We’d gone out to eat with clients to celebrate.
Nigel procured more property, something he seemed obsessed with.
A man, whom I’d recognized as another one of our kind, came up to their table.
He’d spoken in a foreign language that their client and I didn’t understand, but from the red flush that covered Nigel’s face, he wasn’t pleased with whatever was said.
Soon after, Nigel excused the others. I sat silently, wondering how to ease the tension. Finally, Nigel stood, and we left.
His face appeared grim, so I stayed quiet. “I can call for a ride,” I’d offered.
Nigel pinned me with a glare. “There is no need for that. Get in the car, Arie.”
I was sure the car would take me home, but Nigel instructed the driver to take us downtown to the old buildings used for Halloween haunted houses. I hated the silly holiday-themed places.
“Come with me, Arie. You shall see what I do to those who challenge my rule.” Nigel held his hand out to me.
I couldn’t reject his touch without offending him.
The gravel parking lot was deserted, save for their limo and one other car with blacked-out windows.
I took Nigel’s hand, feeling as if I’d just touched the devil himself.
His touch was cold, sending a shiver of fear down my spine.
Two doors on the other car opened. The man from the restaurant got out, followed by another. Each was smirking.
“Nigel, maybe we should leave,” I whispered.
His grip on me tightened. “Trust me.”
We entered the abandoned building. My heels echoed all around the space. My impulse to reach out to the Council was almost too great to ignore. “Gentlemen. This is my assistant. She will make sure your families are made aware of your passing.” Nigel boasted in a condescending tone.
“It is you who she will be mourning, little man. After I fuck her senseless.”
Dear lord. What had I gotten myself into? With precision, Nigel struck the first man who spoke, ripping his heart out without moving a muscle. One moment, he was standing next to me, and then the next, he had a still beating heart in his palm.
“You were saying?” Nigel asked, then sank his fangs into the organ.
I covered my mouth with my hands. “You will pay for that.” The other man lunged for Nigel.
Their bodies moved like lightning. I jumped backward, making myself appear as small as possible against the old brick wall.
I ignored the fact that I was dressed in a pale pink Chanel dress suit.
Or the fact that it was one of my favorites and cost a mint.
If I made it out of the old warehouse, I’d kiss the ground and thank the lord I was alive.
When I opened my eyes again, Nigel stood with the spine of the last man dangling from his hand. Blood coated him from head to toe. Glee shimmered in his black eyes. I’d never feared the vamp until that very moment. My heart lurched.
“You have no reason to fear me, young Arie. This man and his friend should have known better than to come into my space and challenge me. Now, word will spread, and others will not make the same mistake.” I wondered how others would know, yet I didn’t question him.
He was crazed with bloodlust. He seemed to be waiting for an answer from me. I could only nod.
“Now, let us go. I abhor having to do this sort of thing.”
Shaking the memory away, I went into my bedroom. The need for a shower was overwhelming.