Deal With the Devil Read online

  “The third bite—the bonding bite.” Diego gave me a look of mingled frustration and disgust. “That’s how a vamp binds you to him. Only with an incubus, it’s a bond that can never be broken except by death. Don’t you get it, Luz? You exchange blood with him again, he’ll own you until you die.”

  “Wait a minute!” I protested, as Diego started to drag me down the steps. “Just wait a minute, goddammit, and let me think!”

  At last he was really getting through to me. I remembered how adamant Jude had been about wanting to exchange blood with me again at least one more time. I had asked if three was the magic number and he’d given me some vague reply and changed the subject. Had he been hiding something from me? It seemed likely, especially when I added that to the fact that his eyes turned red when he was aroused or angry, and he could read my mind—maybe more than he’d originally let on. Plus, hadn’t Rosie said something about Jude and I being bonded? Maybe she’d assumed the third bite had happened last night since I’d given Jude my virginity.

  Could it be that Diego was right?

  No, I can’t believe it. It can’t be true. Jude wouldn’t hide something like this from me. He loves me and I love him. But my faith in him was definitely shaken. So much so that I allowed my brother to pull me several more feet down the sidewalk without any resistance at all.

  “I just…can’t believe it,” I said, but my voice lacked conviction. “Jude isn’t like that. He’s gentle and kind and patient…”

  “Sure he is—until you exchange blood for the last time. What do you think, Luz—that he’s gonna tell you the truth and scare you off before he gets you for good? This is one seriously scary motherfucker we’re talking about. Why do you think the other vampires don’t want anything to do with him?”

  “He…he told me he had a disability that made them not like him.” Even to my ears it sounded weak.

  “A disability, huh? That’s what he calls feeding off your worst thoughts and feelings and controlling the minds of everybody around him?”

  “I don’t know, okay?” I glared at Diego. “I don’t know but I’m sure that Jude can explain all this when he wakes up.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure he can too only you’re not gonna be around to hear his damn explanation.” Diego started pulling me to his car, which he’d parked in the large semicircular driveway that skirted the front lawn.

  “Stop! I can’t just take your word for it—I have to at least give him a chance to explain.” But my brother kept pulling me inexorably toward his car. “Diego, I love him—really and truly love him. I’ve never been able to say that before about a man, can you understand that?”

  He must have heard the pleading in my voice because he stopped dragging me and just stood there. “Luz,” he said at last. “Okay, I’m not saying never talk to him again and I’m not saying don’t give him a chance to explain. But let him explain over the phone or something. You have to get away from his territory—away from his influence. So you can listen with a clear head.”

  “I don’t know…” To say I didn’t want to leave was an understatement. But I was also no longer completely certain that I knew the real Jude, either.

  “Come on, Sis—you know what I’m saying makes sense.”

  “I should at least go back and tell Rosie where I’m going.”

  “Who the hell is Rosie?”

  “She’s Jude’s maid—and she’s a were, too. She trusts him,” I pointed out.

  “Probably because he’s got total control of her mind by now. Why else would a were work for a vamp?” Diego demanded.

  At last I gave in. “Fine. But I’m calling him as soon as it gets dark. And you’ll see—he’ll have some kind of rational explanation for all this…this nonsense.”

  Diego put up his hands. “Hey, it’s not like I don’t want you to find love. Even being with a vampire is probably better than being alone all your life.”

  “How nice of you to make that concession,” I said dryly.

  “I’m just saying—maybe they’re not as bad as we were always taught growing up.”

  Diego’s sudden sympathy for the fanged set surprised me so much I actually allowed him to lead me to the car without a backward glance at Jude’s house. “Would this new tolerance for the sunlight challenged happen to do with Gavin, the vamp who bit you?” I asked, as I slid into the passenger seat of his tricked-out low-rider.

  “Yeah, well…he’s a decent guy.” My brother blushed again and I stared at him in growing comprehension.

  “You enjoyed it, didn’t you? Don’t try to pretend you didn’t,” I said, when he started to protest. “I know what it feels like to get bitten. It’s not the horrible, painful experience you think it’s going to be at all. It actually feels good—admit it.”

  “It…wasn’t so bad,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes forward and concentrating fiercely on his driving.

  I was beginning to wonder about my little brother. “Diego,” I said quietly. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  “About what?” He looked at me uncertainly.

  “About how it felt to let Gavin bite you. About how you’re the biggest, baddest alpha around but you never seem to have a girlfriend.”

  “I’m not a fucking mariposa, if that’s what you’re asking. I mean, like I would turn gay for a bloodsucker? Please.”

  “I think you’re protesting a little too much,” I said, making sure my seat belt was securely fastened as he blew through a stoplight. “You can tell me, Diego. You know I won’t judge you and I won’t tell the rest of the family either.”

  “I said I’m not gay so just drop it, okay? So what if I let him…I mean if it felt good when he bit me? It’s no big deal.”

  “Okay, we’ll drop it. But maybe you can see where I’m coming from now,” I said.

  “Yeah, I could—if Jacobson was a normal vamp.” He shook his head and took a corner way too fast, making me glad I’d buckled up. “But he’s not, Luz, and you’re in danger every minute you’re with him.”

  “I still can’t believe that,” I said, but my stomach was rolling with uncertainty, making me regret the eggs and bacon I’d shoveled down.

  “I know you don’t want to.” Diego put his hand on mine and squeezed briefly. “I’m sorry, Sis.”

  “Me too,” I said and suddenly I was seeing the golden August afternoon through a haze of tears. Oh God, what if Diego was right? What was I going to do?

  Chapter Twelve

  “Luz, where are you? Rosie said you left without any explanation. Are you all right?” Jude’s deep voice was extremely worried and I felt a warm rush of love for him all over again. He cares. He loves me. But I had to push the warm fuzzies aside and get to the bottom of this mess before I let myself get too carried away. So I took a deep breath and got right to it.

  “Jude, are you an incubus?”

  I was hoping for an incredulous laugh or an instant denial. What I got instead was a long, long silence. Then he said, “I’d better come talk to you. Are you at your apartment?”

  “Yes, but I really don’t think—” But I was talking to a dead phone. He’d already hung up.

  “Well?” Diego, who had refused to leave me alone, glared at me from his spot on my couch.

  I shrugged. “He’s coming over. He wants to talk in person, I guess.”

  “So he can control you better.”

  “Diego, for the last time, he’s not controlling me.”

  “Yeah, whatever you say. But I’m staying right here just in case.” He crossed his tattooed arms over his chest and lounged back on the couch.

  “Fine, do what you want.” I was irritated at my little brother’s overprotective alpha instincts but there was obviously no budging him. Plus, I was secretly a little relieved he was staying. What if there was some truth to the rumors he’d heard? Why hadn’t Jude just denied them right away and put my mind at ease? Please don’t let it be true, I thought, staring at my apartment door and remembering the way Jude had pushed me up