Glacier Read online

  “That’s why she’s presently chained down.”

  “Get information and eliminate her.”

  “Easier said than done, Kelzeb. She was a fucking sweetheart as a human. What if some part of her still exists? It sure seemed that way to me.”

  “She works for the council. Was she sent to take out the nest killing the pups?”

  “No. They sent her after me.”

  “That says it all. The council is fucked up. They would have destroyed what humanity she had left after the turn. She kills for them, Glacier. For all you know, they sacrificed the Vamp she killed to gain your trust. They’re probably wondering why we got involved and how many of our clan are there. Don’t fall for that bullshit. I actually like you and want you to keep your head.”

  “I hear you.”

  “Should I send one of your brothers as backup?”

  “No. I’ve got this.”

  “The council will probably send more assholes after you.”

  “I look forward to it. She’s waking up. I need to go.”

  “Ask her questions and get rid of her, Glacier. That’s an order.”

  He disconnected the call and slid his phone back into his pocket.

  Mandy remained still, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. It was possible she’d be out until the next night after she day slept. He just hadn’t wanted to listen to Kelzeb anymore. He knew his job but currently didn’t like it much. The idea of killing Mandy twisted up his guts.

  Chapter Two

  Mandy woke to darkness. Huh. She should be dead. Ice hadn’t removed her head but instead clocked her in the side of the face with his fist. He’d withdrawn the claws first, or she’d still be in a world of pain. The enforcer had an iron punch though, so as it was, her cheek throbbed a little.

  She lifted her head and peered around. Her eyesight was pretty good in the dark but no light came into the room at all. She sniffed and regretted it. Death clung to her in the form of dried blood down her body. It had begun to decay. She tried to ignore that though and figure out where she was. The scent of chemicals hung in the air, a lot of dust, and mold. Ice smelled like leather and sandalwood, but it was faint, as if it had been a while since he’d been near her.

  She strained to hear anything. Traffic in the distance helped her figure out she remained in the city. Ice wasn’t in the room. That was for certain, since she couldn’t pick up his heartbeat or the sound of breathing besides her own. She tried to sit up but realized fast that her wrists were restrained above her head and her ankles somehow shackled to keep her legs straight on a flat surface. Her thigh hurt like a son of a bitch too. That stupid Vamp she’d taken out had probably fractured her leg and it would be badly bruised. A quick wiggle of her toes revealed her boots had been removed but she still wore clothing. They were currently stuck to the front of her body where she’d been covered in blood.

  “Ice?”

  No response. It was daytime though. She could tell by the way her body felt lethargic and heavy. Maybe he thought she’d be out for the day. Most Vampires were unless they were far older than her. Ice wouldn’t know that the council had made certain their assassins retained as few weaknesses as possible.

  She took deep breaths and tested the restraints. They wouldn’t give way. Whatever he’d used were Vamp-strength resistant. She lowered her head, wiggling her body. The surface she lay on felt hard and unforgiving. Cold too.

  The question she wanted to ask most was why he hadn’t killed her. His alpha would be furious. That was the last thing she wanted.

  Hours passed as she napped on and off, trying to ignore how her body ached from being uncomfortable and from her injuries. They weren’t healing as fast as normal. She needed to feed.

  The floor creaked above her head and she opened her eyes, alert. Every footstep she was able to track by sound. A door to her left squeaked open and the person came closer. She could make out a big form and inhaled. Ice had returned.

  The lights he flipped on blinded her for a few seconds. Two large industrial ones were hung above her. She blinked a few times and then openly gawked at Ice. His hair was mussed, as if he’d just woken from bed. Her gaze lowered to his exposed chest. He was perfect, muscular and tan. The dark gray sweats he sported hung low on his hips, revealing those little side muscles just above the waistband. He was all man and incredibly sexy. Her gums throbbed and it embarrassed her when her fangs slid down.

  He moved with the full grace of a sleek predator. A sexy one as he approached her. “It’s still day. You’re awake.”

  Her nipples beaded and she squirmed a little. His deep, raspy tone turned her on more. Great, he wasn’t only eye porn, but his voice got to her too. She broke eye contact, knowing her eyes would respond to him as well by blazing brighter. Full-on bloodlust hit, and she knew he’d smell her arousal soon. He was a Werewolf with a super sniffer.

  It sucked waking up starving since she hadn’t fed in a few days, but it was made ten times worse by her fantasy dream guy in that state of undress while she was injured. Her response to him would come to his attention and there would be no hiding it. She might as well get ahead of it.

  “I’m hungry and hurt,” she admitted. “Sorry. My body is going to do some Vampy things until I drink blood. Try to ignore it.”

  He frowned, staring at her. “How are you awake?”

  “We’re fed council member blood to make us stronger. Assassins would be too easy to kill if anyone could just break into our hotel rooms during the day and we couldn’t defend ourselves.” She avoided looking at him at all costs. As a human, she’d been really attracted to him, but as a blood-starved Vamp, it was a hundred times stronger. “You need to know that the council will have activated my tracker and will send Olivia here as soon as the sun goes down.”

  “I removed it and ditched your phone. I left them with that ashed Vamp, hoping they’ll think it’s you. You’re not going to be found.”

  That surprised her enough to meet his gaze as he stood next to her. It also made her slightly relieved. He would be safe.

  “Don’t even try to break into my head.”

  Her eyes still glowed. She turned her head, looking at anything but him. “I told you. I’m hungry and hurt. I’m not attempting to control you. It’s also why my fangs are out. You should put on a shirt. You know…show me less skin.”

  “You’re strong enough to resist becoming comatose during the day but you wake starving like a newbie?” He sounded amused and his voice turned huskier. “Interesting.”

  “Yeah. That’s me. Interesting.” She swallowed. “Why am I still alive, Ice?”

  “My name is Glacier. I just went by Ice as a nickname.”

  “Did you used to belong to a pack in California? That’s weird. Most packs don’t move territories.”

  Unless he’s taken a mate.

  That was a horrible thought. Had he mated to someone and transferred packs? She sniffed the air but didn’t pick up the scent of another woman.

  “I’m not mated, if that’s what you’re checking for, and I don’t belong to the local pack. You could say I’m on assignment from somewhere else. I travel around.”

  She bit her lip, resisting the urge to look at him, not wanting him to see her as a threat.

  “But you’re a Were. I smell it on you.”

  “What else do you pick up?”

  She stared at the brick walls. “This place is old. Is it abandoned? Nobody has cleaned it for years with this much dust in the air. And there’s mold. A lot. Some wood rot, too. I reek of death, since I’ve got dried blood on me.” She lifted her head and saw broken computers on the floor. “That accounts for the plastic and metallic scents I’m picking up.” Her gaze scanned the room, seeing old cleaning supplies on a shelf. “And there’s the chemicals I smell.”

  He regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Anything else?”

  “Just you. I like sandalwood. You smell nice.” She let her head fall back and cringed when she hit it a little too har