Crimson Debt Read online

  “Yes, come in,” Corbin said in a bored tone. Obviously he was done discussing the “do not touch” order he had practically stamped on my forehead for the rest of the vampire community.

  The little curly-headed assistant popped his head in the door and smiled at me.

  “Oh, hello, Mistress.”

  “Mistress?” I stared at him and then looked at Corbin. “Since when am I known as ‘Mistress'?”

  He shrugged. “You are my consort. It’s a title of respect.”

  “Whatever.” I sighed and looked at the little vamp who was glancing back and forth between us like we were playing a particularly confusing tennis match. “Well, what do you want?” I asked him.

  “Oh, er…I actually had a message for my Master.” He gave Corbin a little head-bobbing bow. “I wanted to tell you that the were is here."

  Corbin frowned. “Victor is here already? Did you show him in to the small studio?”

  “I did.” The little vamp nodded. “I offered him refreshments but he just, er, growled at me. Forgive me, Master, but I don’t think he’s very happy to be here.”

  “I wouldn’t expect him to be,” Corbin said blandly. “Still, he is in my debt and he is obligated to pay.”

  “The deal was to pay back the money in installments—not to call the whole fucking debt in at once,” a low, growling voice announced.

  I looked up in surprise. And up…and up. The doorway was suddenly filled with a huge, angry man with black hair that curled around the edges and dark brown eyes. He was somewhere between being scruffy and having an outright beard and he was six foot six if he was an inch. Even if the little vampire hadn’t said so, I would have known he was a werewolf just by looking at him—he had that animalistic energy that only the really strong weres seem to carry around them like a cloud.

  By the way he was dressed— in a black wife-beater that showed off his muscular arms, worn jeans and scuffed work boots—it was clear he didn’t give a damn about making a good impression in a vampire establishment. That was par for the course for a were—they hate vamps. But he still looked really out of place in Under the Fang.

  The glam club was mostly an upscale place, despite Corbin’s tendency to walk around in jeans and t-shirts half the time. Tonight, as he had been the night before, the blond vampire was wearing a beautifully tailored suit. I had stepped up my own outfit as well and was wearing a little black dress I usually saved for cocktail parties and Christmas with my family, when I couldn’t get out of it. It wasn’t that I wanted to look nice for Corbin, I told myself—more like I didn’t want to be forced into changing again.

  “Victor, what a pleasant surprise. I was under the impression that you were waiting in the other room.” Corbin shot his assistant a look of extreme displeasure and the little vamp turned white with fright. Well, whiter than usual, anyway.

  “Yeah, he put me in there but I’m in no mood to wait. We need to talk now,” the other man growled. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, calling in my debt all at once? That wasn’t the fucking agreement and you know it.”

  “What if I told you that you could pay back the entire debt without giving me another penny?” Corbin asked.

  The big were frowned.

  “I’m not killing anybody—I’m not a damn assassin for hire.”

  Corbin showed his fangs with an irritated hiss.

  “Don’t be foolish, Victor—I do my own killing. No, what I need from you is entirely different.” He looked the other man up and down, frowning. “Although I must say, you are rather underdressed for it.”

  “Underdressed for what?” Victor demanded impatiently.

  “Why, for your wedding, my friend.” Corbin gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “For your wedding.”

  “My what?” Victor shook his head, obviously not understanding. “Sorry, I think I heard you wrong. It sounded like you said something about me getting married.”

  “That is precisely what I said.” Corbin rose smoothly from behind his desk and was suddenly standing beside the big were. “I have a female that needs protection outside the vampire sphere. And you, Victor, are as far outside it as it is possible to get.”

  “Wait a minute. Wait a minute.” I took a step forward, looking up at both of them. “Corbin, you’re not actually thinking what I think you’re thinking—are you?”

  “I don’t know, darling,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “What exactly do you imagine I am thinking? Please do elaborate because so far you have done so well at guessing what is in my mind.”

  I decided to ignore the sarcasm and get straight to the point.

  “Tell me you’re not trying to marry Taylor off to this…this Neanderthal.” I gestured at the big were who frowned at me in obvious irritation.

  “Taylor? Who’s that?”

  “My best friend who also happens to be a vampire,” I said tartly.

  “What? A vampire?” He turned to Corbin. “You want me to marry a fanger?”

  “That is exactly what I want, minus the slurs.” Corbin gave him a level stare. “And unless you have the fifty thousand dollars you owe me in your pocket at this moment, you will do it without question.”

  “Look, I know I owe you a lot of money but there’s no fucking way I’m marrying a vampire,” Victor growled.

  “And there’s no way Taylor is marrying anyone like him,” I put in. “You know what she’s been through recently, Corbin—why would you even suggest it?”

  “To make her unavailable to Roderick, of course.” He sounded exasperated. “Now that you have made an issue of him wanting her, he will not be deterred from claiming her unless she is completely out of his reach.”

  “And you think this is the best answer?” I demanded.

  “It is the only answer,” Corbin snapped. “And you should be grateful I am willing to bring it about. It is costing me a considerable amount of money to ensure the safety of your incompetent little friend.”

  “I said, I don’t care how much I owe you,” Victor growled at Corbin, his eyes flashing gold. “I’m not marrying a fucking fanger.”

  “Hello? Can I come in?” We all looked up and saw Taylor standing there, framed in the doorway.

  She was wearing a sleek, cream-colored gown that clung to her curves in all the right places and a crown of white rosebuds in her long dark hair. Her big blue eyes were wide with uncertainty as she took in the scene in Corbin’s office. I thought she looked beautiful.

  “Taylor,” I said quickly, going to take her hand. “Don’t worry, hon, it’s not going to happen.”

  Victor had been staring silently at her, his eyes still glowing gold and his mouth open. He tore his gaze away and looked at Corbin.

  “You’re damn straight it’s not happening.”

  “What’s not happening?” Taylor asked, a look of confusion on her face.

  I gave Corbin an exasperated look. “Did you tell anybody that they were getting married and who they were marrying tonight?"

  “I thought it best to let them get a good look at each other first.” Corbin seemed to be trying to smother a smile. “You must admit, they appear to be well suited.”

  “Well suited? She’s a vamp and he’s a were—they’re mortal enemies!” I exclaimed. “His pack will rip her apart!”

  Taylor went pale. “Addison? What are you talking about? I’m not actually supposed to marry a man I don’t even know, am I?”

  “As your new Master, I say you will,” Corbin said sternly, before I could reply. “And do not worry about Victor’s packmates—he has none—that is one reason I chose him. He is what the weres call a ‘lone wolf’.”

  “But he’s still a wolf,” I pointed out. “And she’s still a vamp.”

  “Ah well.” Corbin shrugged philosophically. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

  “Ha-ha. Very funny,” I snapped. “Corbin, this is ridiculous and you know it.”

  “Very well.” He took a step back and spread his hands