Embrace The Dawning (The Covenant Series Book 1) (3 page)

Adrian got right to the point. “Yes, of course. I saw the news article and have been actively pursuing leads.”

Eva smiled at him proudly, then her expression transitioned to serious.

“What have you discovered?”

“My investigation has led me to believe that Danika Panetierre has returned to Naples.”

Adrian noticed only a mild change in Eva’s composure. She sighed heavily. “That is what I feared.”

Adrian continued to share what he had learned. “She appears to be using her old hunting grounds as well as a few new places that have been built since she was here last. I have yet to make visual contact, but the evidence is clear.”

Eva nodded her understanding.

Adrian’s thoughts were disrupted as he heard low whispers coming from Vladimir and Natalia.

The vampires turned their gazes toward the muttering and waited to hear the outcome of the conversation. Vladimir and Natalia stopped whispering and looked directly at Adrian.

“She’ll come out of hiding tonight,” Vladimir declared.

“We’ve seen a glimpse of her,” Natalia explained. Her eyes glazed over. She looked as though she was watching a movie inside of her mind.

“It’s a bar. I see a blue moon overshadowing her image. She’s looking for something, no, someone.”

Natalia’s eyes lost their shimmery glaze and returned to their normal appearance. She looked directly at Eva.

“That is all I can see.”

Eva nodded her appreciation. She turned her attention back to Adrian.

“Do you recognize the symbols, Adrian?”

A sigh followed a frown. “I do. It’s a lounge called the Blue Moon. A hotspot for club-goers and a frequent feeding location for vampires, as well as myself. A few of Danika’s fledglings have shown up there in the preceding weeks. I have dispatched all that I have come across.”

“Very good, Adrian.” Eva’s expression revealed she was about to ask Adrian for something she felt uncomfortable asking him to do.

“Adrian, we would like for you to go to this Blue Moon lounge tonight and wait for Danika to appear.”

Florence leaned forward and made sure he had obtained Adrian’s attention. “Do what you can to bring her back
alive
,” Florence demanded in between gritted fangs. “You can manage that, can’t you,
vampire hunter
?”

Adrian leaned back in his chair and leveled his stare against Florence’s. His fangs escaped his control.

Eva interrupted the building tension.

“Florence.” She said his name commandingly. “Adrian is as loyal to this Covenant as you are. There is no reason to doubt him.”

Florence snickered at her statement. His fangs disappeared as he sat back in his chair.

Adrian slowly broke from his glowering stare at Florence and turned his attention to Eva.

“Of course I’ll find her,” he replied, controlling as much of his irritation as he could. “I want her to pay for her actions as much as you do.”

“Your assistance is appreciated, Adrian. With your valuable skills and knowledge of Danika’s habits, you are the best chance we have of capturing her before she leaves a trail of dead bodies too problematic to clean up.”

Eva’s expression displayed concern. Her brows furrowed. She appeared to be recalling something important.

“Be wary, Adrian. Vladimir and Natalia have seen that Danika plans to make a move against the Covenant. She is more treacherous now than ever before.”

Adrian nodded. “Of course. I understand.”

Eva smiled at Adrian as if to complete a transaction, but her smile couldn’t conceal her apprehension and concern for both Adrian and the Covenant. She was actually worried, which caused Adrian to leave the meeting with his own bout of uneasiness.

Chapter 3

Kayci’s facial expressions looked like a contortionist putting on a show as Elise pulled out one outfit after another from Kayci’s closet.

“Okay, you are never this difficult. What is going on?” Elise tossed the dress in her hand onto the bed and then followed it with a whooshing sound as she landed on the bed next to Kayci.

Kayci wanted to tell Elise the dangers they may be walking into, so much so that her stomach ached.

“Maybe going tonight isn’t such a good idea.”

Elise studied Kayci. “You are being very mopey about going out tonight. What’s the deal? Are you worried about being attacked again? I understand if you are. It’s not an irrational fear.”

“Maybe a little.”
Truthfully,
that was part of her concerns. Them coming across a vampire, any vampire, worried her. What if there were more like the one that attacked her?

“This is why I feel so strongly that you
should
go out. You can’t be looking over your shoulder in fear. It will be good for you to go out, forget about what happened, have fun, and prove to yourself that you don’t have to look over your shoulder.”

Kayci smiled at her best friend’s encouragement. “You’re right. Whatever we encounter, I can handle it, but I don’t think we should go to Blue Moon though.”

“I think that is exactly where we should go, especially because you want to avoid it.”

“Since when did you become a therapist?”

“You learn so much when doing research for stories.” Elise gave a proud smile.

Kayci stood up from the bed, walked to her closet, and casually pulled out a pair of skinny jeans, high-heeled ankle boots, and a teal fitted blouse. Elise frowned at how quickly Kayci picked out the outfit.

“You knew all along what you wanted to wear, didn’t you?”

Kayci grinned. “Yeah.”

“You’re awful,” Elise declared.

Kayci smiled and shrugged her shoulders in acceptance.

In the living room of her two-bedroom two-story home, Kayci arranged a cab to pick up her and Elise while Elise got dressed in her bedroom. After the call, she put cash and her ID in her back pocket, cell phone in the other, and wished she had her pocketknife to put in her boot. Earlier in the day, she’d retraced the area she had been attacked, and was disappointed when she didn’t find her pocketknife. Either it was kicked into the bushes, or Adrian or the other vampire had it. All of which displeased her.

Kayci’s thoughts dispersed when she heard Elise coming down the steps. Elise appeared with pretty blond ringlets, sparkly eyes, a short loose red dress, and heels.

“I’m ready.” She beamed.

Kayci smiled at her friend’s ability to get gussied up so well. Something she never caught onto herself.

“Great! The cab will be here any minute.” Kayci smiled at Elise. “You look like you are ready to steal all the hearts of the men in the club tonight.”

Elise giggled before her smile grew from ear to ear.

“That’s my plan!”

Kayci laughed at Elise and then grabbed her house key as she heard the honk of the cab. Kayci waved at the driver to let him know they were the riders. As Kayci hopped into the backseat, she noticed a palm-sized metallic charm with an engraving on it hanging from the driver’s rearview mirror. As Kayci focused on the charm, a bright light reflected off the metal and shined into her eyes. She squinted and grumbled from the discomfort of it. She thought it odd, with it being evening and the fact that no streetlights were shining in the windows of the cab.

The driver heard Kayci’s grumble and immediately began watching her from his mirror. His dark-chocolate eyes stood out in the mirror. Kayci found herself uncomfortably drawn to them. A rich southern accent escaped his mouth.

“Where are you two ladies headed?” His eyes never left Kayci.

“Downtown to the Blue Moon lounge,” Elise replied spiritedly.

As the car moved forward, Kayci continued to stare back at the chocolate eyes in the mirror. The details around the eyes became clearer. She could see the aging wrinkles dispersing from the corners. Even the veins in his dark-chocolate skin seemed to swell and become more visible. Why was she so entranced with his eyes, she wondered? They were beautiful, large, and brown. She could even see the small expansion and contraction of his pupils. She could sense he was nervous.
Why was he nervous?
She thought she heard a faint heartbeat. Hers, of course. No, not just hers—three heartbeats were thudding repetitively in different rhythms. Perspiration developed on her hands. Her ears grew warm. Hunger, she felt hungry, very hungry. Her mouth watered.
Am I salivating? What is wrong with me?

“Are you feeling okay, ma’am.” Through his deep southern accent, he sounded concerned.

Kayci looked away from the mirror to the darkness and lights outside. She rubbed her hands on her jeans and bit her lip.

“I feel fine. Thank you.”

Elise elbowed Kayci to get her attention.

“You all right?” she whispered.

Kayci stared at Elise with what seemed like new eyes. All the colors of Elise—her blond hair, brown eyes, red dress, pink lipstick, tan skin—all seemed brighter. Kayci closed her eyes tightly and then slowly exhaled. She stopped rubbing her hands and concentrated on staying calm and focused.

She opened her eyes, and thankfully, Elise looked normal.

“Yes, I’m okay. A little edgy, I think. Just need a good drink to take the edge off.” Kayci could hear the instability in her own voice.

Elise studied her for a moment, then appeared to accept Kayci’s response. “I’ll buy you your first one.”

“Sounds good.”

Kayci avoided looking at the driver in the mirror for the rest of the ride. When the cab finally came to a stop, Kayci felt a significant measure of relief. She exhaled deeply and then nearly jumped out of the cab after ensuring the cash landed in the driver’s hand.

“Thank you!” she shouted as she dashed toward the sidewalk in front of the Blue Moon lounge. Elise stumbled to catch up with her.

“A little anxious, are we?”

Kayci breathed in the cool air while they stood on the sidewalk. The air was refreshing and already making her feel better.

“Yeah, I’m good, just edgy like I said, but already feeling better. I think the cab ride may have given me some motion sickness. A couple drinks and I’ll be feeling great.” Kayci tried to put on her best convincing smile.

Elise seemed to buy it. “All right, let’s head in.”

Kayci admired the neon lights and decorations outside the lounge. They gave her something to look at as she stood in line. At least only a small group waited ahead of them, and the line moved quickly. Once inside the lounge, Kayci noted her surroundings. To the left a long bar took up almost the entire west side of the lounge, except a corner where entrances to the restrooms were located. On the opposite side of the lounge was a stage for DJs and bands—tonight being a DJ. To Kayci’s right, a door led to a covered patio with high-top tables. The opposite side of the lounge held a full seating area with blue puffy couches and chairs surrounding fancy glass coffee tables. In the middle of the lounge was an undersized dance floor, for the amount of people squeezing themselves onto it. Above her, vapor dispensers let out artificial mist while pulsing lights flashed to the music, making Kayci disoriented as she looked through the mist.

“Let’s head to the bar.” Elise grabbed Kayci’s arm and pulled her in the same direction she headed.

Kayci obliged. She was definitely ready for a drink. She stood back and watched as Elise easily squeezed herself between the mobs of people encircling the bar.

“A crown an’ coke and a madras, please!” Kayci heard her yell.

Moments later Elise came back with two drinks. Kayci nearly gulped hers, as did Elise.

“See any cute guys?” Elise asked Kayci.

Kayci scanned the club, trying not to let the lights distract her. She hadn’t thought about Adrian until just now. She felt her cheeks flush as she tried to catch a glimpse of him among the vast crowd of people. She was a bit disappointed when she didn’t see him, not that she really expected she would. The chances were very slim that he would be here. She turned back to Elise and shrugged, making an unenthusiastic expression.

Elise chuckled and rolled her eyes at her. “Maybe after you have a couple drinks and lighten up, you’ll be more interested.”

Kayci finished her drink. “Maybe.”

After finding a table, chatting, and gulping down more liquid courage, Kayci and Elise made their way to the dance floor. Kayci, feeling more spirited and like herself again, swayed her hips to the beat of the pulsing music. As two guys headed in her and Elise’s direction, she smiled. She would allow herself to indulge in some male attention tonight.

Adrian leaned against the column and tried to swallow down the lump in his throat that had grown the moment he saw Kayci dancing inside the Blue Moon. From where he stood, he could see that she was intoxicated and having a good time. Her movements were carefree, and her awareness of her surroundings were diminished. He hated how much she distracted him and consumed his attention. He was here for a mission and did not have the time to admire her or the way her attire fit. He of course notated the difference in her outfit versus the last time he had seen her at a bar. This new look seemed to suit her better. He even sensed the same energy as before. It reverberated off her and pulled at his own. From the moment he saw her, he planned to go nowhere near her, but he couldn’t fight the instinct to protect her, especially when two vampires headed her direction.

Kayci observed the two attractive men heading toward her. She smiled and made eye contact as they came nearer. Her cheeks flushed when they suddenly displayed irritated expressions and then quickly changed direction. She searched for Elise, who only moments ago had been dancing with a guy, and came face to face with a tall, dark-haired, green-eyed surprise.

“Adrian!” She heard the enthusiasm in her own voice and tried to immediately tone down her excitement. “I really didn’t expect to ever see you again.”

“A pleasant surprise for us both.”

Kayci smiled coyly. Adrian’s expression grew into a playful smile of his own.

“Yes, it’s a pleasant surprise,” Kayci admitted. As Adrian’s smile grew wider, she saw the tips of his fangs and was startled at her own feeling of indifference.

“Glad to see your health improved so quickly.”

Kayci knew any other person would still be home in bed or have made a trip to the ER by now. She immediately moved to her default cover-up.

“Not as bad of a bump as I thought,” she said with a half-cocked smile and a gesture to the back of her head.

Adrian didn’t appear convinced. He studied her with a look of fascination. She felt like a relic in a museum, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it.

When he’d seen her last, her wounds were bad enough to put a human in the hospital. Now she stood in front of him as though she hadn’t cracked her head against pavement or tussled with a vampire. Adrian could sense something different about her. He wondered if she came from gypsies or witches, but the energy vibrating from her seemed a little too kin to his own kind, yet her scent, demeanor, and appearance all said human. She was a puzzle he wanted to study the pieces of and put together, had he the time and freedom to. He realized he had been studying her too long. She fidgeted uncomfortably.

“You seem to be in the habit of attracting vampires. You should be more careful.”

Kayci’s eyebrows furrowed. She looked perplexed. Adrian nodded toward the two vampires that had changed direction.

“They were vampires looking for dinner, not a date.”

Kayci’s expression turned to shock.

“Really?! Those two?”

Adrian nodded.

“You guys blend right in. That’s so freaky.” Kayci immediately regretted the comment. She didn’t mean to insinuate that Adrian was a freak.

“I don’t mean it like that. It’s just a little concerning how easily you stay concealed among humans and that those two were thinking of me the way they were. It’s a lot to absorb.”

“I understand. I do. I was in your position once. You’re handling it better than I did.”

“Maybe it’s because I know what it’s like to be different and to have to hide it.”

Kayci couldn’t believe she had just opened up to Adrian like that and wanted to kick herself for opening up a door for more questions
and
explanations.

Adrian read the uneasiness displayed across Kayci’s face. He could tell she didn’t want to share more, but it gave him confirmation that she was indeed unique.

Kayci, appreciative that Adrian didn’t pry, quickly changed the subject.

“I suppose I owe you another thank-you. You seem to be in the habit of rescuing me from dire situations.”

“Fortunately, a business commitment brought me here tonight.”

Kayci was curious about the business commitment, but after Adrian had so politely averted her personal share, she felt obligated to steer clear of his.