Of A Darker Nature (19 page)

“You owe that poor girl an apology. I’m sure you scared the wits out of her.”

Marcus snorted in answer.

“Are you sure you’re okay? I don’t want to leave you alone with her if you aren’t.”

Emily didn’t hear Marcus’s reply. Instead, she hurried into her room and shut the door. She crawled onto the bed and drew her knees against her chest. Tonight had been a close call. He had to pack his things and go.

Minutes later, he knocked on her bedroom door. She sucked in a shuddering breath. Would he kick it down to attack again?

“Freckles?” Marcus’s voice was low and cautious. “Emily?”

She pulled the pillow tight against her chest. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

“I'll drive you to work.”

“Scott doesn’t want you hanging around.”
I don’t want you around.

Something thumped against the door. He might have rested his forehead against it, probably trying to tamp down the urge to throttle her. “I have to go out. I want you somewhere Beau or Scott can protect you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter, Marcus.” She shuddered at the idea of what his going out might entail.

“I want you to be safe.” His voice sounded strained, dangerous. “Besides, I need to talk to your boss.”

Emily laughed. “You expect me to trust you after what happened? You almost killed me.”

“I wasn’t going to kill you.”

Her knees quivered, and her heart skipped a beat. She knew what his other interest had been. “Go if you want, but don’t drag me along.”

“Don’t make me force you, Emily.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” She clenched her jaw. “Give me five freaking minutes and promise you aren’t going to grab me.”

“You have my word. I’m under control now.”

“Like your word is worth much.” She threw the pillow aside then crawled off the bed.

She pulled a clean shirt from a hanger and put on a fresh pair of shorts. After she had slipped her feet into her favorite beaded sandals, she searched the dresser for a weapon. Her reflection in the mirror appeared pale and scared. She brought shaking fingers to the angry scratch on her right breast.

Tonight, she’d seen Marcus as the predatory monster he truly was. She would have to grow a backbone and demand that Isabella relieve Marcus of his duty. It didn’t matter how charming he was, or how beautiful. He had to go.

Emily paused at the bedroom door. The floorboards at the front of the house creaked, and the front door thumped closed. He must have stood in the hall and waited while she got ready. Had he imagined she’d shimmy out the bedroom window and run away? She glanced at the newly fixed glass and cursed for not thinking of it sooner.

They didn’t speak during the ride into the city. Emily kept her back pressed against the passenger door, and her gaze glued on Marcus. He parked in front of the funeral home and waited until she went inside. As soon as she was inside, he left. She watched his taillights fade from view.

“You're late. That's unlike you, Emily,” Scott greeted.

She turned from the window, and he must have noticed her shaken state. He crossed to her in two strides then wrapped her in a hug. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What happened, sweetheart?”

“He tried to eat me.” She twisted her head up to look at him. There was no way she would admit that he’d almost allowed him to seduce her as well.

A dark shadow crossed Scott’s hazel eyes. His arms felt like steel bands across her back. His voice was low and dangerous. “Where is he?”

“Headed downtown.”

Scott released her. “I’m going to find him.”

“No, don’t!” She grabbed his arm, fearful he’d get hurt if he left half cocked.

“I knew this was a bad idea.” Scott ran fingers through his hair. “I want him out of there. Tonight.”

Emily sank onto the closest chair and dropped her head into her hands. Scott seemed unsure about what to do. He paced the room then finally came to rest behind her. His hands kneaded her shoulders gently until she had calmed.

Several minutes later, Beau pushed through the workroom doors, a smear of blood on his work apron. “I just got off the phone with Marcus.”

Scott’s fingers had tensed before he removed them from Emily’s shoulders. “He tried to hurt Emily. That bastard isn’t going back to her house.”

“I’m more than positive it was accidental.” Beau remained calm, unworried. “The blood was cursed.”

“Excuse me? Cursed as in someone put a spell on it?” Scott tore at his tie, allowing it to hang loose around his neck like a scarf.

“He’s questioning someone about it right now. I'm sure we'll learn more after he gets back. I’d like to talk to Wren. She helped prepare the blood we gave Marcus.”

Scott stared at Beau. “Wren wouldn’t do that. Starr must have found another way.”

Beau said, “Marcus just tracked down one of the witches. The guy said Starr had one of her coven curse the blood. Starr counted on Marcus having to drink this recycled crap. He’d suffer and eventually attack.”

“Suffer how?” Emily hated the sound of concern that shook her voice.
Damn it,
she did not want to care about Marcus.

“The blood provided no sustenance.” Beau knelt at her knees and took her hands in his. “He was starving, Emily.”

Scott’s upper lip curled. “What could Wren hope to accomplish by doing that? I don’t believe she’d willingly put Emily in danger.”

“She's scared of Starr,” Emily answered. “People do a lot of crazy things out of fear.”

Beau stood then glanced down the hallway, toward the workroom. “We have no way of knowing if it was all of the blood I gathered that night or just the containers I gave Marcus.”

“Ravenna told him that the cops found a couple bloodless bodies. Do you think they received some of the tainted blood that Beau sold?”

Her voice fell to a whisper. “They died because of me. All of this is my fault.”

Scott's mouth twisted into a frown. “It would be hard to trace.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Emily. You had no way of knowing.” Beau released his hair from its binds and tucked his glasses into his pocket. “Starr will do whatever it takes. She doesn’t care if a few innocents get caught in the middle of this war she started.”

“Should we call Detective Hahm?” Emily gripped Scott’s hand. “She seems pretty knowledgeable about the supernatural.”

“It's probably not a good idea to involve her. It's better if fewer humans are mixed up in this.” Beau’s lulling voice was meant to reassure her. “Marcus will handle the situation.”

Eyeing the vampire, Scott asked, “How is it that you’re not affected? I see you drinking the stuff all the time.”

Emily didn’t care for Beau’s smile. Realization coiled in the pit of her stomach. “He doesn’t rely on it alone.”

Beau smiled wistfully. “Don’t give me that look, Emily. There are plenty of willing contributors. I don’t have to force myself on anyone.”

“Dump all the blood you have in storage, Beau. Don't sell any.” Scott moved past them and disappeared into his office. 

“I’d like to talk to you about a couple of things.” Beau laid a gentle hand on her arm.

Emily led him down the narrow hallway toward the workroom. Scott’s door, she noticed, was closed. He was speaking to someone on the phone, and he sounded hostile.

Once she had her tools out and had begun working, Beau said, “Marcus asked me to explain a few things to you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Did he ask you to apologize for him too?”

“To be honest, he’s a little embarrassed by his behavior tonight. He’s asked the mistress to allow me to watch over you in his place. It would make more sense since we know each other, but she won’t hear of it.”

Emily stared across the table at him. “That figures. Is it just me or does she seem nuttier than a fruitcake?”

A grin touched his features. He fingered the tag hanging from the cadaver's big toe. “Why do you think I quit working for her?”

He watched her apply makeup to the dead woman on the table. “Look, there are a few things you should know if you’re going to live with a vamp. First of all, the enforcers do not rely on the blood from animals and the morgue.”

Emily didn’t comment or bother to look at him, but continued working.

“The blood I gave him is not alive and can't sustain a vampire forever. It should have kept him from being hungry though. If Starr hadn’t messed with the blood I gave him, he would have been okay.”

“I think I understand. Come to think of it, he drank the stuff you gave him like a man possessed. Only I guess since it was cursed, it didn’t suppress his appetite like it should have?”

Beau nodded. “That’s right. I figure that’s only part of the reason he came after you.”

Emily's eyes widened. “I don’t recall hanging a free meal sign around my neck.”

A patient smile crinkled the corners of Beau’s eyes. Smoothing hands over his already neat hair, he looked toward the doorway. “Scott, why don’t you just come in instead of hanging out in the hall?”

Scott slunk into the workroom. He watched Emily comb tangles from the cadaver’s hair and winced each time she pulled one free. “So what’s the other reason the creep came after our Emily?”

Now that Scott had joined them, Beau ignored him. “Have you flirted with him since he’s been there?”

Emily hadn’t expected this kind of question. Her lashes lowered, and her cheeks heated. She kissed him back, had even allowed him to touch her. That went beyond flirting. Hell, if he hadn't tried to bite her tonight, she might have done the naked tango with him.

The expression on Scott’s face was a bit affronted. “If she’d flirted with him, wouldn’t he be interested in something besides blood?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing to us. Sex and blood aren’t connected though it’s much more pleasurable if it is.” Beau seemed to fit the part of teacher quite well. “I witnessed her kissing him in the street. I can only assume you’ve kissed him or teased him since then?”

Emily ducked her head, unwilling to answer. She could practically feel Scott’s heated glare on her. She laid the comb aside and picked up her makeup case.

Beau ignored her embarrassment. “He was at your breast when he started to bite, am I correct?”

Again, Emily was unable to meet his gaze. She tugged the straps of her tank top up to hide the scratches.

Scott huffed in disbelief and irritation. “He wanted more than just her blood.”

Beau nodded. “Do you still touch your necklace when you get flustered?”

“I can't help it.” Emily was close to tears now. It was like she’d become the example in a guidebook for what not to do.

“If you wear something around your neck, it’s like lingerie. We want to undress the flesh and sink teeth in. If you continually touch your neck, it only draws our attention.”

Emily realized she knew very little about nosferatu triggers or turn-ons. The idea that Beau had noticed all these things made her insides squirm. That would certainly explain the shifty-eyed looks he seemed to cast in her direction every time he thought she wasn’t looking.

“After all this time, why haven’t you said something?” Emily felt like a total dunce. “I mean, I didn’t realize those things made us irresistible to your kind.”

Beau smiled. “I liked to imagine you were doing it on purpose. At first, I believed you were.”

Emily glanced at Scott. His face was as red as hers must be. “Brenda said vampires like to hunt us. She said our emotions also fuel your desires.”

Beau nodded. “Brenda is right. Those as old as Marcus usually have more self-control. I think the fact that he was half-starved kept him from thinking straight. I’m sure you were frightened and that only exacerbated the problem.”

Scott’s voice was low and angry. “So now you’re saying it’s her fault?”

“Not entirely.” Beau’s fingers formed a steeple, and he rested his chin atop them.

“I was scared to death. Even while he chased me, I think he was trying to explain what was happening. He said my fear turned him on.” She felt obtuse now. He’d tried to warn her, she just hadn’t listened.

Scott clenched the sides of the table so hard his knuckles cracked. “Don’t you dare make excuses for him.”

Beau gripped his arm. “Calm down, Scott.”

Scott gnashed his teeth and glared. “I don’t like this. He’s supposed to protect her, and he can’t even keep her safe from himself.”

“I’m sure he’ll get it all straightened out.” Beau cocked his head. “He’s here now.”

The door whooshed open, and someone entered the foyer. Marcus’s voice rang out loud and clear. “Scott, may I have a word with you?”

Scott stalked in the direction of the vampire’s voice. The look on his face was pure murder. “Oh yeah, buddy. I’d like more than a word with you.”

Marcus’s voice grew closer as he moved further into the building. “You have to destroy all the blood in your possession. Don't save any until we get this mess cleared up.”

Emily and Beau followed Scott as he pushed through the doors and headed for the front of the building.