Vampires Never Cry Wolf (15 page)

Her long, dark hair was all over the place, and the mascara she'd never removed from the night before had smudged into dark circles. She looked like a crazy, raccoon-eyed nut ball. Awesome.

A pounding on the front door of her apartment startled her and made yelp.
Yup. She was losing it.

“You.” Sadie pointed at her reflection. “You're a hot mess.”

Making her way through the messy and often-neglected living room, Sadie wiped at the mascara under her eyes. Checking her reflection in the guitar-shaped mirror by the door, she made a sound of disgust, knowing this was as good as it was going to get.

Tugging the door open, she found herself face-to-face with Trixie and Maya. They gave each other knowing looks before turning back to Sadie. The jig was up; they'd obviously figured out what Sadie had only just accepted. She and Killian were bloodmates and pigs were officially flying.

“Come on in.” Letting out a sigh, Sadie stepped back and opened the door wide for her nosy but well-meaning siblings. Shutting the door, she walked past both women who made themselves comfortable on the large, black-leather sectional sofa. Going right to the fridge, Sadie pulled out some of the microwavable stock and held it up. “You hungry?”

“How can you think of food at a time like this?” Maya asked incredulously. Wearing a pink tank top and yoga pants, her blond hair tied up in a ponytail, she sat cross-legged on the sofa, looking at Sadie like she'd totally lost it. “You find out you have a bloodmate who is a werewolf—”

“A werewolf prince, no less,” Trixie interjected. Perched on the arm of the sofa, she chomped on a piece of gum and cracked her ring-studded knuckles. “Don't forget the royal part.”

Sadie shook her head and popped the cup of blood in the microwave.

“Right,” Maya said quickly. “He's the freaking heir to the throne too. Trixie told me last night that you and Killian were fooling around in the storage room.”

“She did, did she?” Sadie leveled a look at the pink-haired punk rocker.

“Oh, right.” Trixie rolled her eyes and laughed. “Like I'm not gonna tell Maya about that? Puh-lease. The whole hallway reeked of sex anyway. It's not like she wouldn't figure it out for herself if she went down there.”

“We didn't have sex.” Sadie knew how lame her denial sounded, and based on the looks on their faces, so did her sisters. Pulling her mug from the microwave, Sadie did her best to act like this whole development wasn't the big, fat, weird deal it actually was. “We fooled around a little.”

“That's semantics. Plus, let's acknowledge the fact that you can't telepath with me, Suzie, Pete, or Damien anymore,” Trixie said in a quiet voice edged with sadness. She shrugged and looked sheepishly from Sadie to Maya. “Another one bites the dust.”

“It's true.” Sadie took a sip and went into the living room with her sisters. Sitting on the sofa next to Maya, she pulled her feet up under her and settled in for what she suspected would be a long talk. “I can only telepath with Killian and last night…”

“You walked in the dreamscape with him, didn't you?” Maya asked with wide blue eyes. She clasped her hands together and seemed genuinely excited for her sister. “How was it? Was it scary? Mine were super scary at first but then…well…you know. Being there with Shane made it okay, I guess.”

“That's got to be so weird.” Trixie slid off the arm and lay back on the empty side of the sectional sofa. Propping her pink-haired head up with her hand, she kept her steady gaze on Sadie. “You haven't dreamed in, like, two hundred years. I've only been in the dark sleep for about thirty years. How was it? Do you remember? I mean, was it like the dreams you had when you were human?”

“No.” Sadie rubbed her thumb on the smooth ceramic mug. “It was weird at first. Bright. Loud. Vivid. But once I realized what was happening, it was all so real. Mine wasn't even a dream, really. Not exactly.” Sadie wondered just how much she should tell her sisters. Given the no-no of feeding on wolves, she decided to leave out the part about getting his blood memories and to focus on her own instead. “It was more like a memory.”

“So was mine,” Maya said quietly. “It was from the night I was turned.”

“Me too.”

“You saw the Apache attack your family?” Trixie asked with a mixture of fear and awe. “That had to be torture.”

“No. The Apache didn't do it.” Sadie gripped the mug tighter as the reality of what Olivia did came roaring into focus. “Werewolves did.”

“Holy crap cakes.” Trixie sat up and looked as freaked out as Sadie felt. “This keeps getting weirder.”

“I don't get it.” Maya adjusted her position on the couch and looked from Sadie to Trixie. “Olivia said it was the Apache. I mean, didn't she find you dying in a field or something?”

“Yes, but she glamoured me.” Sadie nodded. “I saw the whole thing. Olivia killed the three wolves that attacked me and then glamoured me so that I'd think it was the Apache.
Then
she turned me.”

“Wait a second.” Trixie snapped her fingers and pointed at Sadie. “If you were attacked, that means…”

“I was bitten by a werewolf.”

“No. Way.” Trixie's hands flew to her mouth before she pointed at Sadie. “That's why Killian can be your bloodmate.”

“We're getting ahead of ourselves.” Sadie drained the rest of the mug and hopped off the couch. “I have to go talk to Olivia.”

“You should totally talk to Olivia, but…” Maya rose from the sofa and followed Sadie into the kitchen. “What about Killian?”

“What about him?” Sadie rinsed out the mug and stuck it in the drying rack.

“Does he know what all of these things mean?”

“Yes.” Sadie leaned against the counter and leveled a serious look at both of her siblings. “But it doesn't matter.”

“What are you talking about?” Maya folded her arms over her breasts and seemed genuinely upset. “Killian is your bloodmate and you think it doesn't matter? Trust me, Sadie. It matters. After Shane and I bonded—”

“That's you and Shane. I'm happy for you guys and for Olivia and Doug. But Killian and I can't be…‘Killian and I,'” Sadie said, making air quotes. “He's a werewolf, and we all know that the only way for true bloodmates to bond and become daywalkers is for both of them to be vampires. In Killian's case, that's kind of impossible. So, there you go. No blood bond means no bloodmate, and that means no problems.”

“I dunno,” Trixie said slowly. She scrunched up her face and shook her head. “I think you're oversimplifying it.”

“Well, I don't. So, Killian and I have the hots for each other? It's no big deal. We'll just have to steer clear of one another.” Sadie walked toward the front door. “Tonight is our only night off all week. Don't you two have other things you'd rather be doing than getting caught up in this drama?”

“You know we're just worried about you.” Trixie gave Sadie a friendly punch on the arm and gestured to Maya. “Come on, girl. I'm surprised your man Shane isn't hovering out in the hallway waiting for you.”

“I know you're worried, but everything is going to be fine.” Sadie opened the door and gave each of her sisters a good, long hug. “Come on, what did you think was going to happen? Killian and I get married and rule the Werewolf Society as king and queen?” Sadie scoffed out loud, but deep inside a tiny voice whispered,
Yes
. Clearing her throat and shoving aside the impossible thought, she shooed them out the door. “Off you go. I have to get myself together so I can go speak to Olivia.”

Shutting the door tightly, Sadie leaned against it and whispered, “She's got some serious explaining to do.”

Sadie snagged her phone off the counter and quickly sent Olivia a text asking to see her tonight. A reply came quickly and confirmed Sadie's request. Stripping her clothes off and heading for the shower, she wondered if she could scrub away her desire for Killian the way she could that old mascara.

Yeah. Not so much.

Today, Killian had given the term “sleeping in” a whole new meaning. He'd practically slept the entire day away, and if Ivan hadn't stepped in at the construction site, nothing would have gotten accomplished. When Killian called Ivan to thank him, the guy refused to take the compliment and reminded him that even the boss needed a day off. The truth was that even with all that sleep, Killian didn't get a whole lot of rest. Not that he minded. He'd learned more about Sadie Pemberton in that bizarre dream experience than he had in the entire year he'd been in this damn city.

After he woke up, Killian was certain of two things.

One. Sadie wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Two. She would eventually, after much wooing from him, become his wife.

Killian surveyed the waiting room of the Presidium's main offices and found himself impressed by the slick, modern design of the space. Vampires had a reputation for being old-world creatures stuck in centuries past. Clearly that wasn't the case for the Czars of New York City.

If Killian didn't know better, he would think he was in the waiting room of a high-powered law firm in a Manhattan high-rise, as opposed to the underground offices of the vampire headquarters. The burgundy and beige tones were warm and welcoming, and the leather sofa he sat on was as soft as butter. He glanced at the coffee table in front of him and couldn't help but smile at the stack of magazines that ranged from
Us
Weekly
to
Forbes
.

“Can I get you some coffee or a glass of water, Mr. Bane?” Suzie asked. The czars' secretary was clearly a new vampire and looked like she was fresh from a farm. With her fair skin, wide eyes, and pale blond hair, she was the epitome of the girl next door. Definitely not the traditional sort of vampire, at least not what most humans would expect. “Olivia and Doug should be finished with their previous appointment momentarily.”

“No, thank you.” Killian gave the girl a friendly smile, hoping it would ease her anxiety. Suzie was the most skittish vampire he had ever met. No wonder Olivia had the girl working here in the offices and not more connected with the human world. “I'm fine for now.”

The girl nodded and sat at her desk again. She began typing something on the computer keyboard, and even out of the corner of his eye, he could tell she kept looking over at him. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her. For her sake, he hoped that Olivia would call him in sooner rather than later. Suzie was obviously uncomfortable having a werewolf in her waiting room.

A second later the door across the room swung open, and Olivia Hollingsworth stood in the doorway. Her curly red hair flowed over her shoulders and her intelligent green eyes zeroed in on him instantly. Treaty or no treaty, Killian knew that she still didn't trust him and probably kept him close just so she could keep an eye on him. She wanted to improve relations between their races as much as his father did, but she was wary. Given what had happened to Sadie and her human family, he completely understood why.

“Come on in,” Olivia said with a wave and a small smile. “Suzie, why don't you head out? It's almost sunset, and you've been working like a dog. Seriously, girl. I order you to go outside and live a little.”

“Okay, Olivia,” Suzie said quietly.

Killian rose to his feet and crossed the room to shake hands with the czar. He could feel the secretary's eyes on him the entire time. Based on Olivia's tense body language, she'd picked up on the girl's concern too. Unable to ignore Suzie's staring, Killian dropped Olivia's hand and turned slowly to face the young vampire.

“Is there something I can do for you?” he asked politely.

Suzie rose to her feet and opened her mouth like she wanted to say something. Killian gave her his most charming smile, hoping it would make her feel more comfortable. A moment later the girl shook her head, snapped her mouth shut, and sat down before turning back to her computer screen.

Killian gave Olivia a quizzical look. The czar shrugged and said, “Don't ask me.”

She ushered him into the conference-style meeting room before closing the door and offering him a seat. It looked like any other office conference room except for the notable lack of windows and a few children's toys that sat in a box in the far corner of the room. A reminder of the unique child Olivia and Doug were raising.

“Doug is tied up with another engagement, so why don't we go ahead and get started.” Sitting in the seat across from him, Olivia smiled and folded her hands on the table. Dressed in a sleek black suit, she looked like a powerful CEO, and for all intents and purposes she was. “What can I do for you, Your Highness?”

“You can start by calling me Killian.”

“Understood.” Olivia gave him a small smile. “I'm not a big fan of titles, and neither is Doug.” Leaning back in the leather chair, she said, “So,
Killian
, what brings you to the Presidium?”

He removed the anonymous notes from his jacket pocket and slid them across the table to the czar. Killian sat quietly while Olivia read through the notes, and with each one, her expression grew more furious.

“When did you get the first one?” Olivia asked tightly, her eyes still fixed on the notes.

“A couple of weeks ago. You would think that if one of your people had real issues with a werewolf business in the city, they would have voiced their concerns a few months ago when we started renovations on the club.”

“True, but word about the Loup Garou didn't really get out until recently.” Olivia flicked her gaze to his briefly before flipping through the notes again. “I intentionally kept it under wraps. I figured the less buildup about it, the better off we'd be, and I'd hoped that people would be less likely to cause trouble once your place was up and running. I didn't even discuss it with my coven. Actually, the rumblings that I've been hearing started
after
you and your pack began to frequent The Coven's VIP booth.”

“I see.” Killian's mouth was set in a tight line. “What rumblings would you be referring to?”

“The vamps that live in this city are freaked out by the idea of a pack of werewolves setting up house here.” She rolled her eyes. “Darius and his vamps came in here earlier tonight and chewed my ear off about you and your pack. Actually, it's not even all vamps. Just the older ones like Darius. The ones who remember the war seem to be bitching the loudest, but they'll get over it. Change is a part of life, even for us vampires.”

“Yes.” Killian kept his sights on the czar, watching for any change in her demeanor. “Sadie was more than a little surprised to hear that I was opening a business here.”

“I'm sure she was,” Olivia said through a laugh. “Your club will certainly compete for the supernatural clientele who visit this city, to say nothing of the humans.” She placed the letters on the table and sat back in her chair while holding his stare. “I have to admit, I'm relieved you brought these notes to my attention. In my experience, wolves tend to be…
confident
.”

“You mean arrogant.”

“Tomato, to-mah-to.” Olivia lifted one shoulder. “You're an alpha. It goes with the territory.”

“True.” Killian sat back and folded his hands in his lap. “However, given the delicate nature of our race relations, I thought you'd want to know about this. I'm not concerned about my safety. That's not why I brought these notes to your attention.”

“Okay, then.” Olivia arched one red eyebrow and smirked. “Why did you tell me?”

“My father isn't the only one who wants to build better relations with your people.” He paused for a moment and said, “I want you to trust me. If I kept this to myself, that wouldn't be very trusting, would it?”

“No,” Olivia said quietly. “I don't suppose it would.” Her eyes narrowed and she pulled a phone out of her pocket before texting something. “I think it would be a good idea to have Xavier run some tests on the notes. He's our resident inventor slash mad scientist. He can look for trace evidence and perhaps give us some idea of who's behind them. I have a few vamps that come to mind, but before I start pulling people in for questioning, it would be wise to have evidence of some kind. How does that sound?”

“Perfect.” Killian went to stand up but stopped himself and settled back into his seat. “There is one more thing.”

“There usually is.” Olivia's lips tilted and her green eyes twinkled.

Killian held his breath for a moment and studied the czar, knowing he shouldn't say what he was about to say, but he did it anyway.

“I plan on taking Sadie for my mate.”

To his surprise, Olivia burst out laughing. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.” Killian kept his tone even and his expression calm. He and Sadie had a hell of a road ahead of them, and getting Olivia on their side sooner rather than later seemed like a smart idea.

“You aren't kidding, are you?” Olivia's smile faded. “That's a bold statement, not to mention kind of insane.”

“Maybe.” Killian shrugged. “But it's the truth. I realize you aren't her mother, but you are her maker and the czar of this district. Given the tension that lingers beneath the surface between our people, I thought it would be a good idea to lay my cards on the table. I wouldn't want there to be any misunderstandings about my intentions. After all, the mixing of our races is not exactly…commonplace.”

“Fair point.” Olivia's smile faded. “Well, Your Highness, what exactly are your
intentions
?”

“For starters, I'll be getting to know Sadie, and the best way to do that is to take her out on a date or two. I wanted to arm you with the facts before rumor and innuendo could create drama that none of us need.”

“I appreciate the courtesy, but have you spoken to Sadie about any of this?” Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know she's even interested in you?”

“I can assure you that she is…interested.” Killian leaned back in his chair and held the czar's gaze. “Or maybe ‘intrigued' is a better word. Any way you want to describe it, the bottom line is that I will be getting to know her better. Much better.”

“Hang on.” Olivia raised one hand, stopping him from continuing as her laughter faded and she let out a slow sigh. She settled both elbows on the armrests of her chair, and her mouth was set in a tight line. Her voice dropped low and she said, “Getting involved with any vampire would be a challenge for you, and Sadie's not just any vampire. Let's just say her past is
complicated.
”

“She already knows that,” Killian said quietly. “At least, she does after last night.”

Olivia stilled and those emerald eyes narrowed. “Go on.”

“Last night, Sadie and I walked in the dreamscape. Actually, it was more like a memory.” Killian folded his hands on the table and leaned closer, knowing he held the czar's complete attention. “To be more specific, it was Sadie's memory.”

“Holy hopping horseshit,” Olivia said, none too delicately. “She dreamed about the night she was turned?”

“Yes,” Killian said quietly. A glimmer of anger fired up his back when he thought about the way Olivia had lied to Sadie all these years. “And you can imagine how surprised she was to see a pack of werewolves instead of some Apache warriors. You lied to her.”

“You're damn right I did.” Olivia's voice was quiet but edged with steely strength. “I had my reasons, and while I'm sure she's totally fucking furious with me, she'll understand once I explain it to her.” As she leaned back in her chair, her sharp green eyes studied him closely. “So, you and Sadie are bloodmates?” She pointed at the door. “I'll bet a million dollars that's what Suzie was tweaking out about before.”

Killian gave her a quizzical look.

“My assistant, Suzie, has some psychic ability, but the poor kid hasn't gotten a handle on it. It didn't even manifest until after she was turned. Anyway, she probably saw that you and Sadie are supposed to hook up.” Olivia pressed her fingers to her eyes briefly before dropping her hands. “Yet another conversation I'll be having later tonight.”

“I'm surprised that you aren't more upset by this.” Killian's brow knit together. “I just told you that a member of your coven is meant to be the mate of a werewolf, and you seem more worried about managing the psychic episodes of your secretary.”

“Sorry. First of all, Sadie is two centuries old and can handle herself. Suzie was turned within the past couple of years, and vampire or not, the girl is afraid of her own shadow.” Sitting back in her seat, Olivia crossed her legs and kept her steely stare on him. “Killian, you have to understand that weird shit has been going on around here for the past couple of years. It's not like you're dropping this news on some stodgy vamp who never colors outside the lines. I am a three-hundred-year-old
vampire
who recently gave birth to a little girl who is a human-vampire hybrid. So a werewolf prince hooking up with one of my progeny isn't exactly the craziest incident we've experienced in our little corner of the world.”

“Point taken.” Killian tilted his head and smiled.

“That's not to say this situation with you two won't be complicated. If things progress and you really do end up mating with Sadie, then I will definitely have to inform Emperor Zhao. That being said, some developments fall under a need-to-know category—like this one.” Olivia's tone grew more serious. “Have you told your father yet?”

“No.” Killian didn't miss the hint of a smile on the czar's face. “Like you said—need-to-know basis.”

“Right.” Olivia's tone lost all humor. “I'm sure he'll appreciate that you came to me about this before you went to him. Listen, if you and Sadie
do
decide to commit to each other and honor the bloodmate bond, the next conversation you have to have is with your father—and the sooner, the better. While he wants to improve relations, I can't imagine this is what King Heinrich had in mind. If you were to mate with Sadie, the impact would be far more serious and have wider-reaching ramifications for the Werewolf Society than for ours.”