Only Vampires Cry Blood (6 page)

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The interior light of Kale's car was relatively dim, but it was good enough for me to see my reflection in the rear view mirror. Kale had made a pained noise when I'd turned it so that I could look into it from the passenger seat, but for the most part, he waited patiently while I double-checked my appearance. Call me vain, but I didn't want to approach Harley in PJs and a ponytail. I wanted to appeal to every one of his senses. I planned to get what I came here for. I knew what would get Harley's attention. The cleavage baring black halter top and red lips would certainly help; he was a man after all. But, my exposed throat would really make him listen. Wearing a scarf or choker necklace was an indication that one wasn't interested in playing. In a place like The Wicked Kiss, a bare neck was like an open invitation.

I could feel Kale's eyes on me, watchful and curious. I slid him a sidelong glance and raised a brow. “Yes? Go ahead and ask whatever it is that you're thinking.”

“Alright.” He gave a brief nod of his dark head. “Are you absolutely sure that you want to do this? It could get nasty in there.”

“It could. But, it won't. And, no matter what happens, don't get confrontational with him. Nobody gets hurt, ok?” As tough as Kale was, he'd been no match for Harley.

“We're just here to talk. No power, no bloodshed.”

“No power? You think you can go in there and not tap the live wire running through you?” Kale threw his head back and laughed, earning a glare from me.

“That's exactly why I'm here, Kale.” I wiped away a small eyeliner smudge and turned the mirror back towards him. My eyes were brown, not Arys' vampire blue, and I felt cool and calm. Now as long as I could keep it that way, things would be just fine.

I wasn't scared, but there was no squashing the apprehension that rode me. If this didn't pan out, it would at least make it easier for me to find a way to bring down The Wicked Kiss. I knew that vampires were being created inside. I could feel the entire building blinking like a beacon in my mind when I concentrated. It felt ugly and wrong, and I wanted to see it burn.

However, that's not what I was here to do. I shoved my cell phone into the pocket of my jeans and stuffed my purse beneath the seat. I would have given anything to bring my dagger in with me, or even a stake. I doubted that would be very well received, but it would make me feel a tad safer.

“Let's go before I chicken out and change my mind.” I opened the door of the Camaro and got out, gazing at the large, dark nightclub across the street.

When would Harley sense me? Did he already know I was here? A flurry of questions seared my thoughts, antagonizing myself with doubt. Maybe this was just too stupid for words, and I should leave before something happened that I would regret.

We were halfway across the street when Kale asked, “Where is Arys tonight? He wouldn't come here, would he?”

His question got my heart racing even though I knew the answer. “No. He'd never come here. At least, I hope to God he wouldn't. And anyway, I would sense him instantly.”

“Then he would also sense you. No?”

Once we stood in front of the all-you-can-drink vampire club, I stopped and fixed Kale with the best evil eye I could muster. “Why the hell are you trying so hard to change my mind? You're the one that offered to come. Do you know how damn hard it was to keep Shaz from coming? If he doesn't hear from me within an hour, he's on his way. We have to do this fast. So what's your deal, Kale? You don't have to do this. I can go alone.”

“Like hell you will.” He looked down at me from his much taller frame, his eyes penetrating deep. I began to feel uncomfortable when I caught the unmistakable gleam of something disturbing in his gaze. Emotion.

Turning away suddenly, he stalked ahead of me, leading the way to the back of the club. “I just don't want to see you get hurt, Alexa, physically or otherwise. You mean a lot to me. Take that however you like. Let's get this over with.”

I stared after him, completely dumbfounded. Um, what? I hurried after him, trying to make sense of what I'd just heard. So, maybe I'd like to play with Kale on a metaphysical level but that was strictly driven by urges I'd obtained through Arys. Yeah, that was my story, and I was clinging to it. So, what was Kale's excuse?

I cared for Kale as I cared for any of my friends. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that, despite the talk we'd had a few months back, he was developing feelings for me, feelings that had nothing to do with vampire instincts and power cravings. Was I wrong on that? I hoped so.

Pausing at the back door, Kale waited for my nod before pulling it open. Despite shielding hard, the eerie energy inside was strong enough to send a shiver down my spine. My stomach dropped, and I swallowed back a wave of nausea. Damn, I was nervous.

We entered a long hallway that stretched out ahead. Either side was lined with numbered doors, much like the hallway of an apartment building. I'd only been there twice in the past, but I'd never forget the place.

The front of the building was a regular nightclub, or as regular as it could possibly be. It looked like a regular bar, but it was mainly a place for donors to get snapped up by hungry vampires. The back was where all of the action happened. I'd naïvely believed the place was running on a give and take procedure. I should have known better. Vampires are rarely satisfied with a taste. There was more going on here than most would have ever guessed.

“I wonder where he is,” I whispered as we made our way quietly down the hall.

One of these rooms was Kale's. I'd had to drag him out of here once, after his break up with Kylarai. He'd taken it hard and had come here for days to drown his sorrows in a three-day blood and sex fest. I could have happily lived without seeing that side of him.

The fact that he bit me that night didn't help either.

“What if he's not here? Then what?”

I looked at Kale with horror. I hadn't considered that. “Well … then I'll leave a message for him.”

We came to the halfway point in the hall where it opened into a small foyer. The door leading to the bar was on one side. The rest of the foyer was mainly a seating area with a few human objects like a water cooler and cigarette machine.

I stopped and dropped my shields. Others could sense me much easier, but I needed to find him. Closing my eyes, I thought of that butterscotch sweet energy, letting the memory enfold me. Then, I felt him. He was in the club alright. In fact, if I wasn't mistaken, he was coming our way.

“He's coming!” I took a few steps away from the door leading to the club. He had to have felt me by now.

“Your heart is pounding so hard, I can hear it.” Kale nudged me, moving to stand closer. “Relax.”

I took a deep breath as dizzying adrenaline flooded me. The door before us opened, and it took all of my strength not to instinctively throw up an energy barrier around Kale and me. I couldn't tap any power unless Harley gave me a reason. Being the first to do so wouldn't go over well, not if I wanted to walk out of there alive.

Harley Kayson strode through the door with a grin on his handsome face and a tall blonde at his side. Our eyes met, and my insides shriveled. He looked much too happy to see me. Here we go.

“Alexa O'Brien. I thought I sensed your delicious presence.” Stopping a few feet away, Harley made an obvious show of looking me up and down. “Most definitely surprising. Please tell me that it's pleasure that brings you here rather than business.”

I couldn't help the memory that surfaced at the sound of his voice. I could still feel the sensation of his fangs buried inside me. My cheeks grew hot. I had hated myself for responding to him without resistance. The last time I'd seen him, he was on his knees pleading with Arys, for me.

I met his coal black eyes evenly, refusing to fall into the seductive pull of his energy.

Harley was an incubus vampire, as was Arys. It was in their nature to use the lure of desire to sway their victim.

“I need to speak with you.” I cut to the chase, unwilling to be intimidated. “If you refuse, then I'll leave without any trouble. I'm just asking for a few minutes of your time.”

I knew that there was no way he would refuse me. If anything, he'd agree simply out of sheer curiosity. At least, that's what I was counting on.

Harley cast the briefest of glances at Kale before returning his eyes to me.

Regardless of the smile he wore, there was little humor in his gaze. It was dangerous and calculating but also intrigued. I had to take that as a good sign.

“I most certainly would love to know what brings you here. In fact, I'm dying to find out.” He said it with a smirk that had me second-guessing my actions yet again. Would I ever stop being amazed at my own foolishness?

“Just me and you.” I looked pointedly at the human woman at his side. “But, Kale stays close by.”

“Or, Kale could enjoy some time with my lady here.” Harley winked, and a tiny flutter began in my stomach.

“No.” I shook my head. I could feel Kale's tension; no doubt, Harley could, too. I wasn't allowing for distraction techniques. “I'm here to ask you for something, a proposition if you will. No games. No bloodshed.”

“Well, now you really have my attention. You took a real gamble walking in here. I can refrain from giving in to temptation for one night.” Harley licked his lips, drawing my eye. I knew what it felt like to have those lips pressed to mine. He'd tasted me, taken my energy into him. As much as I'd hated it, I'd been unable to fight the fact that it felt so good.

“Can you?” I didn't mean to say it. It just slipped out.

I held my breath, fearing I'd gone too far on that one. Shit. His eyes never wavered as they bore into me. With just the slightest shock of silver in his dark hair and fine lines around his eyes, he was the epitome of the sexy older man. I couldn't help but be painfully attracted to him, even though I knew that it was due to his power.

He took a step closer, as if he couldn't help himself. His voice was low and smooth like silk when he said, “Maybe the real question, Alexa, is can you control yourself?

Anything you throw out, I'm going to accept. Keep that in mind.”

“Fair enough.”

Kale shot me a look that clearly conveyed his take on the situation. I chose to ignore it. I was here now, and I was going to say what I came to say. To him I said, “Stay right here. Give me fifteen minutes. Then, come and get me if I'm not already back.”

He nodded tightly, but his eyes were on Harley's midnight snack. I shouldn't have brought him here. This place was his weakness. A vampire like Kale should be killing.

That didn't have to mean innocents. Killing would free him from the leash he'd put on himself, which was long overdue.

I gestured to Harley, indicating for him to lead the way. I assumed he would head for the same room that he'd attacked me in. I was right.

After a brief word to his “date,” he waited for me to step in line beside him. “Forgive me if I don't quite trust you at my back. I'm sure the feeling is mutual.”

“Certainly.”

When we came to the room at the farthest end of the hall, I felt like the breath had been crushed from me. For the first time since I stepped foot into the building, I was scared. Fear was an aphrodisiac to the man at my side, and I struggled to gain control.

I waited for him to cross the threshold first, fearing imprisonment. It was hard to shake those suspicions after the last time I'd been in Harley's company. Of course, he'd taken me by force and attempted to bond me to him by blood. Naturally, I was on guard.

“Have a seat.” With a sweeping gesture, Harley indicated the nearby table and the couch on the far side of the room.

I did not intend to stray far from the door. “I think I'll stand. Thank you though.”

I drank in the sight of the room where I'd fought for my freedom. Being bound to Harley would have been my greatest nightmare come to life. It was because of him that I'd instead bound myself to Arys. It seemed like a necessary choice at the time as it guaranteed no other vampire could ever bind me.

With a shrug, he crossed the room and took a seat on the sofa. He sat back in a manner that was just too casual. The black leather pants that he wore paired with a black shirt, open partially to show the smooth expanse of his chest, drew my attention. It was the first time I'd seen him in person clad in something other than a fine suit. Was it wrong that I thought this was so much better?

“Anytime you're ready, my darling.” He indicated that I should begin, and I took up pacing a line back and forth in front of the door.

The blood coursed through my veins as if I were running a race. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to spit the words out before I ran like a coward. Harley watched me with a mischievous smile playing about his lips. He was enjoying this.

“You know things … about the power that I have. You share much of what I can do.

I need to know more.” I cringed inwardly, hating that I needed something from him. It could only empower him, even if only his ego.

I continued to slowly pace, finding some kind of comfort in the constant motion. His eyes followed my every move. I wanted him to say something before I went on, to give me an indication of whether or not he cared to hear anything further.

“Arys doesn't have a clue that you're here. Does he?”