Bloodstorm (Heart of a Vampire) (6 page)

Lifting her chin, she stared down the King.

The man pointed to each side. “My guards, Brandon and Eric.”

She looked at the towering vampires and the expanse of bare, muscular flesh. The taste of her own blood spurred her on. “How do you tell them apart?”

The King waved. As one, the men moved, reaching back and drawing blades--the guy on the left held a claymore, while the one on the right hefted a double bladed axe.

The King smiled fiercely. “Easily.”

She realized they were still playing the game of politics. She could almost feel cold steel already pressing against her throat.

Behind her, a door clicked opened, slammed closed. Boot steps came up the aisle and stopped behind her. The air whispered and Niki smelled the sheriff’s unique scent of musk and man.

The King clapped once. “Let us begin, shall we.”

She didn’t turn to look at the man behind her. She didn’t have to. She could feel his presence. It overwhelmed that of the Master, so much so the prickling against her skin disappeared.

The King waved and Shane stepped to her side. It was all she could do not to look up at the man. Why was he even here? To accuse her? Had he turned her in to the King?

She wouldn’t put it past either of them, Keeper and King, to decide to solve all their problems with her death.

“
I am Jordan MacDougal, King and Laird of this territory’s vampire clan. Shane here tells me you are Niki DeVeraux. How old are you?” His voice was soft, yet commanding.

Definitely Scottish. And old. Very old. She could be a smartass... and get her head removed. Maybe that wasn’t the best idea.

“
A little over two hundred.”

“
From?”

“
Originally, New Orleans.”

Jordan nodded and looked to Shane. “Do you think this Rogue is responsible for the murders?”

She stiffened, fear making her cold. So cold.

Shane shrugged. “I don’t know. Not the first ones--the shifter and his human woman. Niki was with me at the time of their deaths.”

Jordan’s blue eyes widened and his gaze leapt to Niki. “Really? And I shall be your alibi for the third murder tonight.” Silence descended in the room. After long moments, he shook his head. “Why are you in my territory?”

Niki took the time to figure out how much she wanted to say. “You have a Rogue.”

Jordan chuckled. “Aye. I’m looking at one. Two more are guests in my dungeon.”

She sneered. “No. Another. He’s the one behind the murders and will continue until I stop him. Those two you have are most likely working for him. If I’d been able to talk to them at the sheriff’s station, I would have the answers I need.”

Jordan blinked. His head fell back as he laughed. The sound was full-bodied and loud in the hall. “I felt you and those other two. But no one else. If this vampire is truly here, why do I not sense him?”

“
Because he’s a Master, like you.”

That shut him up. He scowled.

She knew it was pushing, but couldn’t resist. “If I could just talk to those two idiots--”

Jordan sneered. “I may share information with Shane, here, if I think he needs to know. But why would I tell
you
anything, Rogue?”

She had no answer for that.

“
Why do you hunt this Master?”

Niki shook her head.

“
Then we are at an impasse.” The King rubbed his temple. “I have a vampire killing people, and worse, shifters. There is a delicate balance between our kind and theirs, as you’ve probably seen.”

“
Yes.”

“
Here it has become much more tenuous.” He turned his penetrating gaze to Shane. “How do you see the state of the truce?”

“
Crumbling. My father says there have been louder rumbles than usual. You know already things have been heating up for a while, but what hasn’t been shared is that this isn’t the first dead shifter. There have been two others over the past few months--and we couldn’t tell how they died. There have also been reports of pack members going missing.”

Jordan jumped to his feet, growling. “Why was I not told?”

Shane stared him down. “It is not clan business.”

The King’s fury filled the air. He visibly struggled before managing control. Niki breathed deep as the tension calmed.

“
You are correct. I apologize, Keeper.” Jordan slid back into his seat, sitting stiffly tall.

Shane stepped forward. “You know me better than that.”

Jordan shook his head. He held up a hand, and turned his back to them. His shoulders heaved as he took a few deep breaths. When he faced them, the red rimming his eyes was again a narrow band rather than a flood.

“
I do.” He sighed. “Do you need another apology?”

Shane scowled. “No.”

“
Good. Now, explain to me why you didn’t tell me about this lovely little rogue in your office earlier. That is clan business, is it not?”

Niki swung her glance to Shane, whose face was heating up. He met her gaze and shrugged. “It didn’t come up.”

“
Mmm, hmm.” Jordan looked from Niki to Shane and back.

Shane broke the strained silence. “I would have come sooner about the murders, but you beat me to it.”

“
Aye.” The King sat back. “A vampire killing a shifter. That could break the truce entirely. War...”

Shane spoke up. “Maybe we should finish solving this problem first.” He waved at Niki.

She fidgeted, uncomfortable at being talked over, as well as having someone else control her fate. Being referred to as a problem just pissed her off.

“
This has been a most interesting... turn of events.” Jordan waved to his guard, Eric. The giant lumbered to Niki’s side.

She braced herself for whatever was coming. She’d put up all the fight she could, even strapped down to the damn chair.

Eric withdrew a dagger from his belt and leaned in. As Niki yanked on the ties binding her wrists, the guard slipped the tip of the dagger between the metal and the rope, then sliced through it, releasing her arm.

Stunned, she stopped wriggling as he cut the rest of the ropes.

She stood, her insides shaking.

Jordan’s gaze assessed her. “If Shane believes you not guilty, you may go. But I warn you, things are complicated here. You need to leave.”

Now that she was free and not staring down her impending death, her tongue was hard to control. “I’m not leaving until I have killed the one I came for.”

Jordan’s gaze narrowed. “You refuse the orders of a King?”

“
I told you before, I’m not your clan.” She barely stopped her knees from knocking together.

“
Then I tell you this. If any of your actions result in pushing this war closer, I shall hold you responsible. You have seven days to complete your business. After that, I will hunt you down myself.”

She held her chin high. Inside, the shaking slowed. He was letting her stay? “Why?”

Jordan blinked. “Shane will show you out.” He strode from the hall, his twin guards following like puppies.

She turned to Shane, unable to stop the pleasure she felt from drinking in the sight. His hair was still free flowing, but this time the braid adorning his left temple was entwined with a dark blue chord of some kind. She couldn’t read the emotion blazing from his golden eyes.

“
You certainly have a way with finding trouble,” he said, but there was no anger in his voice.

“
You spoke up for me.” It was still a strange idea.

“
I spoke the truth. Come.”

She followed him from the judging hall, down more stone-lined passages, and finally through an enormous wooden door. Outside, her suspicions were confirmed. The place was a freaking castle, straight from the middle ages. Above, entwined branches from towering trees hid the sky over the whole place. Magic still sometimes managed to amaze her.

A big black pick-up sat just outside. He headed for the passenger door, opened it, then turned to face her. “Need a ride?”

Niki nibbled her lip at the question, debated about refusing, but she wasn’t quite sure where they were, or how far from town. The sun would be up soon. It wouldn’t kill her. But she’d rather not be out when the weakness hit. She slid into the seat. “Thank you.”

They drove down a long, tree-lined drive before finally pulling out onto the highway. Shane didn’t speak as he drove, and she didn’t know what to say.

Finally, the town appeared ahead. “Where are you staying?”

“
The Inn.”

He grunted and turned into Moss Creek. At the Inn, he pulled into the parking lot. “Who is this man you’re here to kill?”

Only then did she realize she’d admitted such a thing not just in front of the town sheriff. The man was also a Keeper. Damn, she was an idiot. “He’s another vampire.”

“
Yeah. I got that. But who is he to you?”

Wisps of smoke rose from the gravel lot, swirling higher until they began to take human shapes.

Niki blinked, but they didn’t go away. “He’s the one who killed my family.”

Shane lifted her clenched fist from her thigh, rubbing it between his hands. “Is he your sire?”

Though his warmth was creeping deep inside her, making her feel things she wanted to deny, she didn’t answer.

Silence was answer enough.

His grip tightened. “The Council will order your death if you destroy your sire.”

She blinked at the wetness gathering in her eyes. “I don’t care, as long as he dies first.”

Snatching her hand from his, she jumped from the truck. Niki didn’t look back as she headed around the wisps of the ghostly images of her dead family and to her room. She feared that if she saw the sympathy on Shane’s face that had colored his voice, her resolve might fray.

She couldn’t afford such feelings. They were weak and useless. Vengeance was her only purpose.

Chapter Five

N
iki tugged the curtains, drawing them tight against the sunlight, and glanced around. There was nothing personal of hers, only the sterile motel room decor. The colors and designs were typical southwestern. Even the bedspread was rich in hues of reds and turquoises and golds.

The gold reminded her of Shane’s eyes. She rubbed her knuckles against the ache crawling up her chest. Slowly, she made her way to the closet and her special suitcase. From a hidden warming compartment, she pulled out a plastic medical bag of blood Her stomach roiled, and weakness made her hands shake as she lifted the bag to her lips and gulped it down.

Tossing it back in the suitcase, she headed for the mini-fridge and pulled out a pack of lunchmeat. The scent of the ham made her hungrier and she bit into the meat, chewing fast until she’d finished the entire package.

It only partially sated her hunger, but the edge was gone at least.

She couldn’t settle, couldn’t push the hunger away. Thomas was so close.

She wanted to leave this room, track him down where ever he was hiding. If only she could have spoken to those vampires.

She was also edgy from the fact she was actually still standing. By rights, the King could have killed her merely for being a rogue. Or hauled her from his territory under the threat of death if she came back. Instead, MacDougal had practically given her permission to track down Thomas and kill the bastard.

Of course, like Shane said, when the Council learned she had destroyed her own sire, they would demand her death.

She squeezed her eyes shut as wisps rose in the corner to taunt her. She couldn’t bear the sight of the ghostly images of her family who unceasingly haunted her. Niki threw herself on the bed, gripping a pillow to her chest as her breath came in short, hiccupping gasps.

Her throat burned. Hot wetness trailed down her cheek.

Her life should have ended with theirs. Whether it was God or the devil who’d kept her in this semi-alive state, Niki only knew one thing with certainty. She would find her family their everlasting peace.

She pictured finding Thomas, fighting, winning. Her family, and she herself, would finally be free of the past. Slowly, the pain faded beneath the burning anger swallowing her as the image of Thomas dying filled her mind.

It was interrupted by the memory of the sheriff, and the strange feelings flowing through her when he was around. They had to stop. But, for the first time in centuries, she didn’t know how to shut them out. The urges he wakened in her were insistent, especially when she was around the disturbingly sexy man.

***

Shane parked his truck near a large red barn and jumped out, taking a few deep breaths. He stormed into his parent’s sprawling ranch house. Family was crowded in the living room and kitchen like usual. He moved through them, searching for his father.

Not finding him in the crowd, Shane headed down a long back hall, to the study. He knocked on the closed door, then waited.