Honoria Ravena (15 page)

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh, come on, you know the answer to that one.”

“Not really. Sure, vampires killed your parents, but Alaric and his brothers raised you. You’d think one occurrence wouldn’t turn you against all of us.”

“Yes, Alaric raised us, but I also met a lot of other vampires in that time. Evil people, who killed without mercy or care. I’d never hurt Alaric, or his brothers, but I’ll never be able to accept vampires either. I’ve seen some gruesome stuff, particularly as a hunter.”

The basement full of dead children stuck firmly in my mind. Poor little limbs tangled together. Faces frozen in terror. I shook my head to clear the image. Yeah, I’d never be able to let that go. Especially knowing that my brother and I easily could have ended up like that. If it had been any vampire but Alaric… “Alaric and his brothers have my devotion, even if they hate me now. The rest of them don’t.”

“Including me?”

I eyed him. “I don’t know yet. I don’t trust you yet. Most of the time, I really hate your guts. You saved my life, even if I didn’t want to be a vampire. If I believe you, then you saved my brother too. But I don’t know you. And you don’t know me.”

He spread his arms. “Well, I’m right here. Ask me anything you like.”

I sighed and shook my head.

Zarek reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me under the spray of the water. “Well, if you won’t participate, at least bathe so we can go run the bar.”

He handed me one soap bar and then twirled another between his hands, working up a thick lather. He stepped closer to me and ran his hands over my shoulders and around to my back.

“What are you doing?” Like I didn’t have a damned good idea.

He smiled. “Bathing you.”

The scent of the soap filled my nostrils. “Your soap is very masculine-smelling.”

He hummed, an incredibly possessive look crossing his face. “You’ll smell like me, even when you wash the sex from your body.”

I laughed as the soap glided over my belly. “Strange things on your mind.”

He met my gaze. “Touch me, Regan.”

His hands roamed up my torso. He cupped one breast in his soapy palm while he ran the bar over the other. My nipples tightened as he continued to play with them.

I rolled the soap around in my palms before I slid them over his shoulders. “I thought we were supposed to be taking a shower?”

I slid my fingers down his torso. His abs contracted with his laughter. “Hey, we’re getting clean.”

I wrapped my fingers around his hard cock and stroked him. His head kicked back, the tendons in his neck straining. Damn, he was beautiful like that. I fondled his balls, washing them thoroughly.

When I released him, he collapsed against the wall. “Why did you stop?”

I grinned. “You’re all clean now.”

His eyes narrowed. “Oh, so we’re playing now, are we?”

His arms flashed out, wrapping around my waist. He hoisted me into the air. I shrieked and giggled. “Okay, put me down!”

“I don’t think so. Whoa!” His feet slipped out from under him, and he landed flat on his back. The air rushed from his chest as I landed on top of him.

I scrambled off him. “Jeez, are you okay?”

It took him thirty seconds to gain enough air to answer me. “So much for vampiric grace. Shit. I think I ground a few ribs into powder.”

“That’s what you get for roughhousing in the shower.” I bit my lips to keep from smiling.

“Come back here and make me feel better, wench.”

Before I could respond, there was a loud bang and Laedan called Zarek’s name.

“What is it, Laedan?” he snapped, pushing himself up onto his elbows.

“Some human is about to get killed in the bar. I need you to come break up the fight. Now, please.”

Zarek sighed and cursed under his breath. “All right, one minute.”

He flopped back on the floor. “Come down to the bar when you’re done showering, okay?”

I nodded, and he clambered to his feet. He walked to the shower door. He glanced back at me one last time with lust-filled eyes before he left the room.

Chapter Fourteen

I watched Zarek serve his customers from my barstool. I noticed he had more color in his skin, and the circles under his eyes had disappeared. He also seemed more graceful and totally at ease.

He’d fed.

A sharp pang of jealousy hit my chest, and I shook my head. It shouldn’t bother me. Yes, we were sleeping together, but I didn’t love him. The fact that he’d done something so intimate with another shouldn’t have ticked me off, but…

No matter where he was, he always kept an eye on me. His gaze was lust-filled, like he was imagining what he’d do when we were alone. The expression made things low in my belly clench.

I sighed and raked my hands through my hair. He probably expected me to run off when he wasn’t watching. I told myself that was the only reason he guarded me. Just because he also had that possessive, hot look on his face didn’t mean anything. Besides, if I thought of a place he couldn’t find me, then I probably would have bolted. But, until I found a way to keep my brother and myself safe and get rid of our enemies, I was perfectly content to observe his muscular ass as he walked around the room.

“I told you not to go after him.”

I jumped and tumbled off the seat and onto the floor. Alaric roared with laughter and almost fell himself.

“And I thought vampire blood made people more graceful. I guess you’re different.”

I climbed back onto the barstool. “How in the hell did you get there without me noticing?”

Alaric smiled and nodded toward Zarek, who had a big grin on his face. He must have noticed my fall. “You were distracted, apparently.”

“I wasn’t that engrossed.”

“Uh-huh. Then why did you bust your ass?”

I cleared my throat. “So what are you doing here, anyway?”

“I was worried about Jason.”

I frowned at him. “Not me?”

“You can handle yourself. I know you’ll be fine, but Jason…”

“Hey, spill. Jason can handle himself too. That means something is going on that you aren’t telling me.”

He sighed. “He told me not to tell you. He wanted to tell you himself, but that was before. He asked Liora to marry him.”

I grinned and leaned forward. “What? That’s great! What did she say?”

“She said yes.”

I jumped up. “Oh my God. I’m going to kill that little asshole for not telling me.”

Alaric grabbed my hand. “Regan, he’s not getting married.”

“What do you mean?”

He ground his teeth. “Surely, you aren’t this naive? Liora is a vampire hunter. She would never accept him. Not only that, she would probably kill him. She was raised to believe we have no souls. That we are demons inhabiting a body that used to be human. Jason always tried to convince her that it wasn’t like that but never had much luck.”

My heart ached, and I rubbed my sternum. “But she loves him.”

“You know that won’t matter. I’m also worried because, I don’t know if they told you, but he did kill a woman.”

“Oh God. That’s right. They told me that. Oh, poor Jason.”

Hands descended on my shoulders. I glanced back. Zarek stood behind me.

“He’ll be all right.”

“He needed his sister, and I wasn’t even paying attention.”

Zarek tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You had your own problems, like almost dying. And I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to talk to his little sister about sex and the murder afterward.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Good point.”

“So where is the boy, Zarek?”

“He’s upstairs, probably glowering at Laedan. I’m making Laedan shadow him until I’m sure he won’t kill himself, or go to that fiancée of his and get himself killed.”

“Right, I’ll go see him now then. I don’t have long. Family problems and all.”

Alaric stood and turned away. Then he paused. He rapped his knuckles on the wooden bar before pivoting to face us. His eyes were hostile as he glared at the man behind me.

“And, Zarek, if you hurt her, I will find a way to kill you. I promised their father I would keep them safe if anything happened to him. I want to kill you for what you’ve already done, but I’m waiting to see if things work out. If they don’t, I’ll be back for you.”

Zarek nodded, his expression remote but respectful. “I would expect nothing less.”

I hopped off the stool and threw my arms around Alaric. “You so sound like a dad.”

He patted my back. “Hell, after raising my brothers and then the two of you, I feel like a dad. I’m surprised I’m not going gray from the stress.”

I kissed his cheek and released him. “If Jason is really bad, tell me. I’ll talk to him, no matter what the subject.”

“Will do, pumpkin.”

Alaric walked away, and I sat back on my stool.

Zarek arched an eyebrow. “Pumpkin?”

I pursed my lips. “Yes, he’s always called me that. Don’t poke fun or I’ll kick you.”

His eyes sparkled with laughter, but he held up his hands in surrender and went back to work.

***

I gripped the quarter between my fingers and spun it. I observed the coin rotating on the bar until it fell to the side. I’d been sitting in the bar for hours, and it was almost empty. I’d been watching Zarek pad around in his bare feet for the most of the time, but he’d taken a call in his office, and now, I was bored. The quarter I’d found in Zarek’s jacket was my only entertainment.

I flicked the quarter again, and it spun over the edge of the bar. “Damn…” I leaned over to try and find the coin, but I didn’t see it anywhere. “Man, there goes my only entertainment.”

Zarek appeared by my side. “Lose the quarter?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

He snickered. “I’ve been looking at you for a while. I really should have supplied you with a book.”

I turned to him. “A book wouldn’t do it. I’m restless. Most nights I’m hunting or training. I need some action.”

His eyes heated, and he scanned my body. “I could give you some action.”

I bit my cheek to hold in my smile. “You’ve got a bar to run, remember?”

He glanced around. “There aren’t any customers to serve.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and brushed my ear with his lips. “Hmm… How about a quickie? In the supply closet? Personally, I’d take you right here on the barstool, but I think you’d protest.”

I laughed in his ear. “Yes. I would definitely protest.”

He pulled back. “Well, damn.”

He pressed his mouth to mine. His tongue slid across the seam, begging for entrance. My lips parted and I stroked his tongue. He groaned, fisted his hand in my hair, and held me closer.

A door thudded shut and a man cleared his throat. Zarek drew away with a depressed sigh. He faced the shape-shifters who had come through the door.

“Mario, your timing sucks.”

“Why? Were you about to get some?”

My face heated. “No, he wasn’t.”

Zarek growled. “I was working on it.”

Mario rolled his eyes. “You get enough tail, Zarek. Now will you please tell Laedan I’m here? We have things to discuss.”

Zarek rounded the bar and started mixing drinks. “He’s already on his way.”

I crossed my arms and stared at Zarek. “So. You fuck a lot of women?”

He sneered at me. “Don’t you start. Yes, I’m a man whore. I’m impervious to disease, and I can’t get a woman pregnant, so why not?”

I snorted. “You’re definitely a man.”

“Did you need further proof? Laedan can run the bar while I show you just how much of a man I am.”

I opened my mouth to reply when the door to the club swung open. The taller of the two held the door open for a petite, blonde vampiress with a toddler squirming in her arms. He tried to take her elbow, and she jerked away. Their companion wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and they seemed to be whispering before he lifted the baby from her.

Zarek glanced away from me and did a double take. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me across the tabletop.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I shouted as he shoved me behind him.

“Those are two of the most dangerous of the king’s guards. They’re called Watchers. If the king wants you and Jason dead, they’re who he would send.”

“I thought Navarro was the man who was after us?”

“He is, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the king wanted you dead, too, or even if these particular vampires wanted you dead. You and your brother have killed a lot of people. Though I’ll admit, if they brought the woman and a baby, they probably aren’t here to cause trouble.”

“Who is she?”

“Vahe’s wife, Natalya.” Zarek’s lips twitched. “He’s the man she’s fighting with. The one that took the baby is Darius.”

“Is he Natalya’s and Vahe’s?”

“I assume so. I didn’t know they had a child though.”

Vahe scowled at Darius’ back. When his wife laughed at something Darius said, his lips pulled into a snarl. His arms snapped around his wife, and he lifted her off her feet. I started to step around Zarek, and he grabbed my wrist, but I was prepared to break his hold. I wasn’t going to let Vahe hit her, even if she was capable of defending herself.

Natalya squeaked. Vahe whispered something in her ear and she smiled, turned, and kissed him lightly. She pulled back and took his hand, apparently deciding to make peace.

Darius sank onto my barstool and propped the baby on the counter. “Don’t worry, Zarek. We aren’t here to kill your vampire hunter. Besides, the king knows better than to attack what’s yours.”

Vahe sat next to him. “However, he won’t be happy that you turned her without his consent.”

Zarek snarled. “That spoiled brat will mind his own business or he’ll end up dead. Only his Watchers follow that rule. Anyway, enough with business. Tell me about this baby, Vahe.”

Natalya scooped up the little boy. “He’s our little miracle.”

I arched an eyebrow. “How so? Vampires can have children.”

“I was pregnant with Vahe’s child before I was turned. Babies usually don’t survive the process. Hell, what happened to make Vahe turn me should have killed him. I took quite a beating from my ex-husband that night. There was internal damage.” She stroked the child’s hair. “He shouldn’t have survived.”