Kraven Read online

  “That’s why your master allowed you to treat Antina’s children? He wanted favors?” Kraven leaned forward a bit.

  “I never told him about them. He gave me enough blood so I was awake and mobile during the day but he never came here himself. I feared he’d steal the children from her. He could have used them to force Antina to assassinate other masters around the city.” Dr. Brent grimly regarded Bat. “He would have ended up killing you both, and possibly your mother, when he got what he wanted from her. I refused to let that happen. He was a real bastard.”

  “Was?” Kraven leaned even closer.

  “Antina killed him, earning her the gratitude of every Vampire in the city. He terrorized my nest, plus the other ones in the area. He was the oldest and most powerful master in this territory. He forced everyone to pay him tribute.”

  “What does that mean?” Bat glanced between them.

  Dr. Brent grimaced. “He would literally make us kiss his feet, for one. And he took whatever he wanted from all Vampires. Money. Property. Hell, he even stole a few brides from another nest, and wiped it out completely when they complained, just to set an example to others. Antina knew he’d use her daughters against her if he ever learned of your existence. She killed him for all of us, as well as for her own safety. She made a deal with the nests, including a few members of mine, before she let her presence be known to my old master. You VampLycans are devious and brilliant. As was her plan.”

  “Which was?” Kraven asked.

  “I hated my master, and Antina figured some of the others in my nest might feel the same. None were strong enough to take him on, and the Vampire Council would have come after us anyway for killing our sire. They would’ve wiped out our entire nest as punishment.”

  “There’s a Vampire Council?” Bat was stunned.

  “Yes. There’s no law against someone else killing a master if they don’t belong to the nest he created.” Dr. Brent smiled. “Antina was beautiful and a VampLycan—two things he couldn’t resist when she offered herself to him as a lover. She played on his vanity to get his guard down and took his head before he knew what happened.”

  “My mom cheated on my dad?” Bat was horrified.

  “No.” Dr. Brent chuckled. “She just pretended she wanted to join forces with my old master, to be the most powerful couple and rule the city. His greed was his downfall. He would be in charge of the Vampires and she could gain control of the packs. They went to his bedchamber together but she walked out alone. It was done, and every Vampire in the city owed her their gratitude.” He looked pointedly at Kraven. “Her children have always been safe with us.”

  Kraven didn’t seem appeased. “What about the Lycans?”

  “They were treated badly by my old master. They owed gratitude to Antina as well after his death. Lycan packs no longer have to pay money to live in peace with us. It was one of the terms she made with the nests. Peace between the two and no more cash demands. She left them alone and they gave a wide berth to her and her children. Her family was deemed off-limits by all.”

  “Wasn’t anyone tempted to go after her daughters once Antina died?” Kraven shifted his weight in the chair, making it creak. “No one likes VampLycans.”

  “They are weak and harmless. It wasn’t worth pissing me off.”

  Kraven arched an eyebrow.

  “I treat a lot of the packs. It’s why I keep day hours. They can’t go to human hospitals and few of them have the patience to go to medical school. You know how they are.”

  Kraven nodded.

  “I don’t know. Clue me in,” Bat stated.

  “Werewolves are moody creatures.”

  “Lycans,” Kraven corrected. “And I wouldn’t say they’re moody, so much as intolerant of sitting still for long hours. They enjoy working physically demanding jobs, rather than careers that call for years of schooling.”

  “It bores them,” Dr. Brent added. “So I give them ultrasounds to see if their next pup is a girl or a boy. They enjoy finding that out. Sometimes there are breech births. I make sure the mothers don’t suffer and the pups live. Parents like to know their pups are healthy and growing strong. I examine their children to alleviate their worries. I dig out bullets from time to time still, so they don’t have to heal around them. It can cause nerve damage and enduring pain otherwise. I’m still excellent at setting broken bones. Sometimes I’ll stitch one up if he or she is really torn up from some pack disagreement. I’m useful to them, and we’re on friendly terms.”

  He addressed Kraven. “I tell everyone I’m Batina and Dustina’s godfather. They respect me enough to never give them trouble. Batina has earned their respect on her own, with some of the legal help she’s given them.”

  “Some of my clients are Werewolves?” That surprised her.

  “Lycans,” Kraven muttered.

  She ignored him. “I had no clue. Which ones? Give me a few names.”

  “I can’t. They know you aren’t aware of what they are.” Dr. Brent sighed. “Your mother was a highly respected woman who did a lot of good when she was alive. You’re safe here in the city, Batina. You never should have left. Is she in danger, VampLycan?”

  “Yes. Her grandfather wants to use Bat to start a civil war between the four clans.”

  “Don’t tell anyone else that.” Dr. Brent stood and paced behind his desk. “It’ll be bad if he sends his enforcers here. Especially if he offers favors in return for help finding her.” He stopped, staring at Kraven. “There’s always some tension between nests and packs. A VampLycan promising to kill their enemies would be too tempting to resist for some. The newest packs or nests especially, if they’re promised power. They’re low in the pecking order of our society. Youth is notoriously stupid.”

  “Agreed.” Kraven stood. “Are you the new master of your nest?”

  Dr. Brent shook his head. “No, but Michael is a good man. He was grateful to take over leadership and allows me a lot of leeway, especially about the Dawson girls. He knows I’m fond of them and I help keep the peace between us and the packs.”

  Kraven frowned. “Why didn’t you tell the sisters the truth? You never answered that to my satisfaction.”

  “There was no need. They were safe. No one saw them as a threat and they were too weak to be used in any way that mattered. I also feared they’d be frightened of me if I told them the truth. They certainly wouldn’t have believed a Vampire existed unless I showed them proof.” Dr. Brent held Bat’s gaze. “I could make you forget if you reacted badly, but not Dustina. I had nightmares that you’d flee to somewhere else. Are you afraid of me now?”

  She debated it. He still seemed to be the man she’d known. Even if he could do some weird backward leap onto cabinets and had fangs. “No.”

  He smiled. “Good.”

  “I do have a question.”

  “Ask me anything, Batina.” Dr. Brent retook his seat.

  “How are you so tan if you’re a Vampire?”

  He grinned. “I do what every other Californian does when their schedules don’t allow them to bathe in the sun. I go to the spa every week. They give me a manicure and spray my skin so I’m a nice golden brown.”

  She let that sink in. “Ah.”

  “It helps us fit in easier with humans and avoid suspicion.”

  “You have golf clubs in the corner.”

  His grin widened. “I go at night. I’d burn in the sun. I used to love to play before I was turned. My enhanced night vision helps a lot since the lighting isn’t the greatest on most golf courses. It’s just hell finding another Vampire to play against. Not many do.”

  “This has been interesting.” Kraven stood. “We should leave now.”

  Dr. Brent rose to his feet too. “There’s one more thing I need to tell you.” He gazed at Bat. “Your body chemistry changed a little during your teens. Remember when I began to give you birth control shots to help you with painful periods? You stayed on them afterward when you became sexually active.”