Veso Read online

  “Yes!” Glenda sounded excited.

  A second later, one of his arms came free. He lowered it. The handcuff was still attached to his wrist but the other side wasn’t hooked to metal anymore. He glared at the offensive restraint. Once he got home he’d be able to get them off, or perhaps he could find tools at the house he took her to so she could call for help. He would need to think up a story to implant into her mind to tell the human authorities.

  “One down, three more to go,” she announced.

  He clenched his teeth and refused to thank her. He was going to save her ass, and it really irritated him that his freedom depended upon her.

  Humans were nothing but trouble. They feared what they didn’t understand and would want to attack his people if they ever discovered others existed. Her kind would never change. Only their weapons advanced with time. Villagers had once hunted Vamps and Lycans with pitchforks and swords. Now they had guns and bombs.

  He focused his anger on the master who had decided to capture and breed a VampLycan. His keen hearing had picked up most of the conversation Glenda had with the supposed Vampire king. He stifled a snarl. As if any daughter of his would end up the companion of a suckhead. Veso sure as hell wouldn’t fuck a human, either. They were too weak and fearful. She’d probably run screaming the first time he shifted forms or flashed a little fang.

  “Almost there,” she whispered.

  Something dropped a few inches from his face, and he stared at the screw that landed in the dirt. She was literally taking the gurney apart. He had to give her credit for intelligence. He was curious as well, if he had to be honest. Was she really using a piece of her bra as a tool? And then there was her show of bravery. Most humans would be frozen with terror at being locked up inside a room with someone like him.

  Metal popped and his other arm was freed. He had a set of handcuffs attached to each wrist but at least he could move. He wanted to push up his chest and throw the gurney off him but held still so she could free his legs.

  “Two down, two to go.”

  “I’m aware. I can count.”

  Does she think I’m dense? She probably does; humans believe they’re the only intelligent life on the planet.

  He clenched his teeth and tried to be patient. He focused on a plan of escape while he waited. She told him she’d counted nine soldiers, one full Vampire, and then the master. The odds weren’t in his favor since he could still feel drugs in his system, but he had rage on his side and determination. He had a real chance to fight his way out of the nest.

  “So much for being thankful,” she muttered. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re kind of a grump?”

  She reminded him a little of Kira, who was the result of a VampLycan mating with a human, taking mostly after her weaker mother. He’d been ordered to train her to fight. At first it had been a pain in his ass but he’d tolerated her well enough, despite her human tendencies. “Yes. There’s a woman where I live who says that often.”

  “She’s right.”

  “I’m having a bad night.”

  “I’ve had a bad few nights or weeks. I lost track of time but I’ve been down here way longer than you, buddy. You don’t hear me growling and grumbling or being rude.”

  She had a point. He wasn’t going to admit it though.

  “And I’m the one who doesn’t have claws,” she went on. “I keep questioning my sanity over letting you go. Don’t you think I’m aware that you could be lying? You gave me your word but I don’t know you from Adam. You could be a big ol’ liar. You’d better not be.”

  He had to give her credit for taking a huge risk. He wasn’t so sure he’d be as willing to trust a stranger if he were in her position. “I won’t harm you, Glenda.”

  “Glen.”

  “You’re a woman. I refuse to call you by a man’s name.”

  “Veso is a weird name but I’m not refusing to call you that. The name is Glen. Please use it. I told you, I got teased about being a movie witch, so I prefer just Glen.”

  He wasn’t going to argue with her over a name. “Fine, woman.”

  “You want to play it that way? I’ll just call you big and scary.”

  He actually smiled. She had spunk.

  One of his legs dropped away from the table. “I know what you’re going to say, Glenda. Three down, one to go.”

  She sighed. “Almost done, scary dude.”

  It surprised him when the urge to laugh surfaced. It wasn’t the appropriate time to find humor but she amused him. “Dude?”

  “I’m originally from Southern California. I grew up by the beach.”

  “Where do you live now?”

  “Oregon. My job transferred me there about eight years ago.”

  She was a long way from home. “Where do you think we are?”

  “Somewhere in Oregon.”

  He didn’t correct her. It might distract her from freeing his leg. “How were you taken?”

  “I was sitting on the couch after work, eating dinner and watching a show. It was about eight o’clock.” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Ouch.”

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing. The wire is getting messed up from fighting with these stupid screws. Some of them are rusty.” She paused. “Anyway, I was eating dinner and minding my own business when I heard a window break in the bedroom. I thought one of the neighbors’ kids threw a ball, since I live on the second story. That happened once last year. I ran in there to try to see who did it, but Vlad and two of those creepers were climbing inside. I tried to run but they’re too fast. Vlad tackled me and I hit the floor. He shoved something stinky over my face and it knocked me out. I woke up here.” She laughed humorlessly. “So much for that bullshit about how Vampires can’t enter your home without permission. I sure didn’t invite them in.”

  “That’s not true. It’s a story humans tell each other to feel safer.”

  “Like the myth about wooden stakes through the heart? You said it doesn’t kill them.”

  “It will hurt them and give you time to run away if you pierce their hearts. They have to heal enough to get their heart pumping, yank it out, before they can move around much.”

  “What about silver bullets and Werewolves? Is that bullshit too?”

  “It hurts like hell but silver is just another metal.”

  “Fantastic. So what kills Werewolves?”

  “Are you thinking about trying to kill me?”

  “No.” She sighed. “I’m just passing the time. This is all new to me. Wouldn’t you be curious?”

  “Yes,” he admitted. “Werewolves can die if you cause enough damage to make them bleed a lot. They heal faster than a human but not like a Vampire. Beheading them works every time.”

  “I’m starting to see a theme here. ‘Off with their heads’ must be your motto when you fight.”

  He grinned. “Yes.”

  “Almost got it.” She dropped another screw in the dirt. “This last one is really tough. The top of it is mostly stripped.”

  It took long minutes, with Glenda grunting a few times, but his leg finally dropped to the ground. He lifted up a little and turned his head, spotting her on her knees. He rolled, tossing the gurney in the opposite direction. The skirt she’d tucked over him earlier lay on the ground, so he grabbed hold of it and stood, clutching it against his groin.

  Glenda sat down on her legs and stared up at him. He saw fear when she glimpsed his full height. He glanced at the black silky material fisted in his hand. It was tempting to just toss it aside, since nudity didn’t bother him, but she was a woman not of his kind. It would probably send her into hysterics. That was the last thing he needed.

  He breathed through his nose and caught the scent of blood. He lowered his gaze to her hands curled together near her knees. A small stain of red showed on her fingertip. “You’re bleeding.”

  She lifted one hand, revealing her index finger. “I cut it. It’s no big deal unless you’re thinking I’m dinner. I’m so not