Claws and Fangs Read online

  “Twenty minutes at most. Just stay inside the room and no one will bother you. I will lock the door, and I’m the only one with a key.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything, Matty.”

  He said it in a husky, sexy way with that accent of his that she loved to hear. “Why do you always come home in a limo right before dawn? What do you do every night after I assume you work here? Doesn’t this club close around two?”

  He hesitated.

  She had a sinking feeling from the little information she’d learned that she knew what he did at night. “You hunt for food?”

  “I hunt, but not for food. I’m a bagger now. My search for blood from hosts was over as soon as we were able to bribe blood banks into selling to us. Not all vampires share that approach, but we don’t like harming humans. My friends and I actually go after vampires who kill humans once the club closes.”

  His answer confused her. He seemed to understand.

  “Clubs and bars do close around two in the morning. That means victims aplenty for vampires looking for drunk humans who are easy to prey on. They risk exposing us when they murder humans to take their blood. It’s too dangerous these days to leave behind bloodless bodies, and it’s no longer a necessity to survive. I don’t drive, and that’s why I have someone chauffeur me around.”

  “Will you be working tonight? Can you drop me off at my house?”

  He hesitated. “I’m taking the evening off. We’ll talk when I return. Eat, lass. Enjoy a warm bath.” He glanced around the room. “It may look a bit rough with the concrete but the amenities in the bathroom are very modern.”

  He spun on his bare feet and walked to the door. His sword rested against the wall. He grabbed it up as he jerked open the door and disappeared into the darkness. No lights lit the hallway. She shivered at the thought of trying to sneak out...

  She was in the basement of some vampire club.

  The smell of food drove her to inch closer to the side of the bed, release the sheet, and slide off the edge. The cold floor made her shiver as she tied the thick, fancy robe around her waist. He’d left a covered plate with wrapped silverware on a desk in the corner. A drink waited there as well. She lifted the lid, staring at steak and eggs with hash browns. Her stomach rumbled. She was hungry.

  * * * * *

  “What are you doing?”

  Blaron frowned at his friend. “Informing you that I’m taking the night off. And can you have someone find me a good home? I’m not holing up with you for long, Lethal.”

  “You’d be safer. I told you living amongst humans wasn’t the smartest thing to do. A hunter spotted you. Just move in here again.”

  “No.”

  “You’re so stubborn.”

  “So are you. I need to go.” He turned away but Lethal’s voice halted him.

  “I’m stunned you brought a human here. You really shouldn’t have. I realize your home was invaded but you should have sent her to a hotel or something if you believed her safety was compromised. I take it that you aren’t lovers yet, since you asked for the key to my place to shower?”

  He spun around to face his friend. “We’re lovers but our relationship is very new. I came on too strong so I’m giving her some breathing room. She’s very special to me.”

  Lethal tilted his head and a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I see. You’ve bitten and fed from her? What happened to your sworn oath of not taking blood even from willing women?”

  Anger tensed Blaron’s body. “She’s the one for me.”

  Shock gripped the other vampire’s features. “Are you certain? You said your relationship was new.”

  “I’m certain. We just hit it off perfectly. It’s almost instinctual for me to keep Matty at my side.”

  “How did you find her?”

  “She found me. She’s a neighbor who saw a hunter sneaking into my home and came to save me. We just met this morning.”

  “That little lass you carried in came to your rescue?” He chuckled. “What did she do? Scream to warn you?”

  “She had hogtied the hunter by the time I reached them. She’s quick and smart.”

  “And you have bedded her already? That was fast.”

  “It happened before we came here. As I said, she’s my one.”

  “Have you told her that you plan to keep her?”

  “I’m getting there.”

  “Good luck. I take it she knows what we are?”

  “She guessed before she ever met me. She’s a brave lass.”

  “How did she guess?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Shorten it for me.”

  “It seems she was watching my home for a bit, since hers was across the street. I got the impression she doesn’t go out much. It’s given her plenty of time to study me.”

  His friend leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk he sat behind. “You’re telling me she figured out you’re a vampire and still came to your defense when a hunter found your lair?”

  “Yes. She’s a special lass.”

  “That seems an understatement. Most of them would either want to kill you or attempt to blackmail you into turning them into one of us, ever since all those stupid movies came out. Good luck telling her that you’ve chosen her to spend your life with. She won’t be happy.”

  “Maybe she will be.”

  Lethal chuckled. “Always the optimist. Of course, perhaps she’s a vampire movie fan. Let me know how it goes when the reality of it sets in for her—or maybe I’ll hear the screaming from my office. We’ll go hunting without you tonight. You stay to inform your lass of her future.” He opened a drawer and withdrew handcuffs lined with fur. “Here’s to love. You may need these to convince her to stay.”

  Blaron stood. “I won’t be needing those.”

  “Take them. It’s best to be prepared.” All humor faded from his features. “She’s a danger to us if you don’t convince her to stay with you. You brought her here and I don’t wish to close the club down.”

  “She has no idea where we are.”

  “She’s guarded to make sure she doesn’t snoop around or try to leave?”

  “No. She won’t flee.”

  Lethal stood, glaring. “She is the enemy if she does. She could put us at risk of being attacked by her kind if they were to believe her. One post on an Internet social site and we’d have hunters from all over the world descending on us. I don’t want to move. We’ve built a life here, Blaron. Are we clear?”

  “Perfectly.” Blaron gripped the handle of his sword. “Don’t threaten her, Lethal. She’s mine, and we’ll fight if you try to harm a hair on her precious head.”

  Lethal’s stance relaxed. “I didn’t say I’d cause her harm. I would, however, make certain she couldn’t tell anyone about us. Make sure we have no reason to come to blows. Friends are hard to keep as the years wear on. I don’t want to lose you because I stir your anger by locking her up or trying to erase her memories.”

  They regarded each other and Blaron released his sword. He grabbed the handcuffs off the desk. “I’ll be in my room.”

  “You should lock her in when you leave her alone. For her safety and ours.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do.”

  “Fine.” Lethal sighed. “Just be careful. I would hate for a little human to kill you if she’s so inclined. You’d probably hand her your own sword to stab you with.”

  “Matty and I have a connection. I’m certain she’ll want to stay with me once she understands that.”

  “I hope so, for our sakes. You put us both at risk by bringing her here.”

  “She’s no threat. I’ll romance her into agreeing to be my companion.”

  Lethal grinned. “Do you remember how? Would you like some pointers?”

  “You’re as old as I am, you bastard.” Blaron grinned, remembering they were as close as brothers. Lethal wouldn’t harm Matty. He relaxed. “I sure wouldn’t ask advice from you if I need