Electric Storm (25 page)

“Fine?” Taggert’s face slowly softened. “You won’t regret it.”

Maybe not, but she had a feeling she’d pay for it later.

When she opened the door, Raven blinked, taken aback by the club scene. She couldn’t tell what surprised her more, the near naked bodies twisted on the dance floor or the slap of power that bit along her skin. For some reason, she never expected to have so many vampires probe her mind at once. They adhered to protocol, not pushing but waiting to see what she was: visitor or shifter, food or rival.

“It’s not what it appears.” The velvet voice to her left thrummed with power.

The man who spoke wasn’t conventionally handsome, but he had that magnetic quality that drew humans. Brown, curly hair tumbled around his shoulders, softening his appearance, a trick that made him appear less like a vampire and more approachable. All the more dangerous to the unexpecting human.

Taggert crowded her back, hampering her movements and she resisted the urge to take a step away in case she needed the space to defend them.

“What do you mean?” She blinked at the stranger’s comment then turned to study the dance floor again, ignoring the sharp burst of sweat and spice from the bodies as human and vampires mingled.

“Sexual favors are prohibited on the premises.” He came to stand by her side as if invited. “This exhibition is to titillate the visitors and keep them coming back.”

Raven watched the vampires in the room, easily picking them out from the crowd, even the ones that pretended to be human, and saw what he meant. The vampires were putting on an act. Suspicious of their oh-so-helpful vampire guide, she twisted to keep an eye on him. “So it’s all show?”

A deep chuckle escaped and a charming twinkle sparkled in his eyes as he studied her face. “Not all. We give them what they expect.”

He nodded to a couple in the corner. Two skinny socialite girls who looked as if they were expecting to be munched on at any moment sat huddled nearly under their table, unable to stop gawking as they snapped pictures to show they had survived. “They come for the excitement. Some come for the danger.”

Very aware of his critical gaze on her, judging her, Raven purposefully kept her eyes averted to avoid any mind tricks. “And you give it to them.” The words were barely audible, but he took it as a rebuke.

“We take their money, a sip of their blood, and give them the thrill of danger without the threat.” There had to be less than ten vampires present.

“So the Bloodhouses are all a ruse.” She studied the vampire next to her, suspicious at all the free information. “Why tell me the truth?”

“Not a ruse. They have their purposes. It lets the humans think that they’re safe and we’re regulated.” He gave her a slight bow. “I’m one of Lester’s people.”

“Ah.” That explained everything. “So he assigned you to keep an eye on me.” Or to ensure that she didn’t probe too deeply into the dark shadows the vampires were famous for using to protect their secrets.

The man’s smile never wavered. “He told us to be useful to you in any way we can.” She didn’t miss the way his eyes fanned her body, the way his eyes lit in invitation.

A growl rumbled up Taggert’s throat. Despite the warning, the vampire never looked away from her. When their guide brushed against her without lifting a finger, her eyes narrowed.

“Don’t. You won’t like the consequences.” 

The prospect of a tussle lightened his eyes, but then the mischievousness in him died. “You should leave.”

She couldn’t be sure if he was issuing an order or giving them a warning. “Can’t. I need information on Jason, and the only way to do that is by talking to his peers.”

“Lester
questioned
everyone. No one here will be able to give you answers.” He didn’t bother to scan the room. “I doubt there’s anyone left still standing that would be of help to you.” His expression hardened a little. “Your breed has a fresh wound. Not a wise choice in a bloodhouse.”

Something in his voice tightened the muscles of her spine. In a casual scan of the room, she noticed the not so subtle glances cast their way by the vampires, the light swirl in their gazes as the color bled away. Every vampire eye was on them. One thought was clear. Lunch.

When she wanted to grab for the current at her core, she hesitated. If she fought back, her gift would be exposed. If she killed them, she’d make enemies.

“Go.”

She didn’t move. Not without answers. “I’ll not let them have him. I don’t wish to fight.” She met his gaze, ignoring the buzz at the back of her mind as the vampires communicated with one another. She didn’t have to listen to their conversations to know whom they were discussing. “If they start something, I’ll finish it.”

“I’ll handle them.”

Raven hesitated, but she couldn’t help but believe him. “And Jason?”

“Try his girlfriend.”

That caught her attention. “Girlfriend? I’m sure Lester already checked that route.”

The man shook his head. “She was a shifter. She’s food. He’d never believe his son dated the likes of her.” He stood in front of them, blocking the rest of the room from view. “Go.” His voice grew more insistent, harder, the cheer and helpfulness gone.

Taggert caught her hand and tugged. She kept her feet, refusing to budge and leave their informant alone to face the half dozen or so hungry vampires.

“Come with us.” The vampire stilled completely, his humanity stripped from him. She either startled or surprised him, an unnerving experience to say the least. Then a dazzling smile danced across his face.

“Don’t worry about me. We’ll meet again.” The promise throbbed in his voice, the intimate tone heating her face.

Taggert jerked on her arm, hauled her away. She couldn’t compete with his strength. When she would’ve protested, she saw that the other vampires had closed the distance without her sensing them. “The longer you stay, the more danger you put him in.”

The vampire they’d spoken to had already turned to block them from being followed, a warning against the others. Taggert was right. On the way out the door, Raven stopped by the bouncer.

“The vampires are growing restless.”

The big man cursed, casting her a dark look that clearly stated he thought it was her fault. “Damn breeds, I knew you’d be trouble.”

He puffed up and charged inside the doors. Shouts rent the air as people poured out the doors. The humans.

“Come. You did everything you can. We have to go or everything he’s done to let us leave will be for nothing.”

With one last glance at the club, Raven nodded and took off at a jog, Taggert easily keeping pace. When she reached the car, she was slightly out of breath, while Taggert didn’t even appear winded. She really needed to start working out.

The car turned over immediately. She weaved through the traffic, avoiding Taggert’s searching gaze lest her anger slip its leash. “You knew that would happen.”

“No shifter goes to the houses without being a donor.” His voice took on the careful tone of not revealing anything.

“Son of a bitch. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You would’ve left without me.” The answer was simple and true.

“Why did the bouncer let you enter?”

When silence filled the car, she risked a glance at him. With an acceptance that pissed her off, he lifted his collar. “Slaves go where they are ordered.”

“They sent you in there without protection before.” Her heart skipped a beat. The implications shocked her. She understood the need to regulate the pack and their numbers, but she couldn’t get over the cruelty. There had to be a better way than to kill the most vulnerable. Especially if your numbers were already dwindling.

Taggert shrugged. “If you don’t listen to the orders, you don’t get selected.”

“But if the vampire had gotten their hands on you, they would’ve bled you. I saw the intent in their eyes.” She gripped the wheel hard, battling her anger and her own stupidity.

“They usually send us in twos or threes to increase our chances of getting out alive. Most vampires know better than to take too much blood. The auction takes place every few years. It starts on a full moon, lasts for a month until the council meets. We have no choice but to prove ourselves. You only get so many seasons before you’re labeled undesirable.”

This all sounded so much like the labs that bile rose in her throat. Obey without question. Break your spirit by any means available until you’re willing to sacrifice your own kind to please them.

“Jackson warned me about the auction, told me what to expect. This was my last chance. I have nothing special to offer. If I survived all the tests, proved myself, I could find a sponsor.” His posture unbent. “Then you came.”

“And shoved you in the same barbaric situation.” Gods be damned. Her ignorance kept putting them in harm’s way. How was she supposed to keep them safe when she didn’t know the dangers?

Her face hardened with determination. “When we get home, we’re removing that collar.”

He stilled, his eyes tracking her. “Only the council has the power.”

Her lips curl back in a snarl. “I’ll do it.” Damn them if she didn’t. She wouldn’t let them rule what was hers.

“No one has successfully removed a collar. If the seal is tampered with, the bearer will die.”

Her grip tightened on the steering wheel. She could see others trying it like some animal desperate to break free from a trap, willing to die to be free.

 “You won’t die. I won’t let you.” And she had the power to back up her claim.

 
Chapter Twenty

DAY SIX: AFTER MIDNIGHT

S
he sped down the driveway, trepidation thickening around her as they drew near the house. Jackson and Rylan were going to kill her for sneaking out. The clock showed a few minutes to three.

Raven glanced up in time to see a shadow take shape out of the fog directly in front of the car. She slammed on the breaks and jerked the wheel. The tires caught gravel, spun them around, throwing up a cloud of rock and dust. When they came to an abrupt stop, her head cracked against the side window with a resounding thud.

She probed her bruised temple, flinching at the sensitive area. “You all right?”

She caught Taggert’s nod from the corner of her eye. Dropping her hand, she scanned the driveway, half expecting to find a crumbled body slumped across the road.

Nothing.

Silver moonlight peeked through the mist. The darkness had an eerie quiet that sounded deafening, almost expectant. She peeled her hands away from the wheel and reached for the power that pooled in her core, absently swirling the strands around her fingers as she studied the shadows for any sign of movement.

Even knowing she could defend herself did nothing to soothe the shaking that persisted at the near miss. That had been too close. Not willing to wait for the fight, she grabbed the door handle. “Stay here.”

“Don’t.”

Annoyed at his over-protectiveness, she tried to leave only to find her arm captured.

“It’s Jackson, and I don’t think he’s happy.”

Raven whipped around and squinted out the window, searching for any sign of him. Some of the uncertainty settled, changing into pure anger at him for risking his life so needlessly. “What the hell was he thinking? I could’ve hit him.”

As the words left her mouth, his familiar form took shape out of the darkness, big and low to the ground, coming toward them with incredible speed. If she blinked, she would’ve missed him. The door handle ripped out of her grasp as he flung it open. Metal crunched. And she found herself face to face with one furious man.

His anger fueled her own. Rage burned along her mind, eager for the match. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I could’ve killed you.” The energy she’d tapped rebelled at being shoved away, wanting to fight, wanting freedom as it burned along her skin. She shoved his shoulder and stood, unwilling to have him tower over her. A spark arched between them at the touch, and he backed away with a snarl. Little of the man remained.