Glacier Read online

  “Yes. I didn’t want to take too much though. She was pretty thin.”

  “Sorry. It was either pick up a hooker or a drug dealer. The latter wouldn’t have willingly followed me down here without putting up a hell of a fight, thinking I planned on robbing him.”

  “I bet you have no trouble sweet-talking women into anything.” She blushed. “Sorry. I fed but my body is still a bit, um, off. Thank you, Glacier. I mean it.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’m glad you’re not a twisted sicko.”

  He let her words sink in. “You heard my talk with the pack and what that asshole said.”

  “Yes. I have good hearing and the door to the basement doesn’t seem thick.”

  He strolled over to her and leaned down, not close enough for her to bite, but so he could really look into her eyes. The glow had faded to a deep blue. “Is that what you thought? That I’d wait for you to go into bloodlust and then fuck you?”

  “No.”

  He believed her. “Good. Because I wouldn’t do that. I have to go. Are you going to behave by staying quiet while I’m gone or should I gag you? Promise me you won’t yell out trying to draw the attention of some human to set you free.”

  “I promise.”

  She still appeared to be sincere. “Trust is earned, Mandy. Don’t fuck with mine. I don’t give it easily. This is your chance to show me that some of the girl I used to know still lives.”

  “Why are you keeping me alive? The alpha wants me dead. I heard him.”

  He lifted his hand and brushed her hair off her face. It was slowly drying. “I don’t answer to him.”

  “What are you doing, Glacier? I’ve been thinking, and you said you left my tracker with that Vamp’s ashes. Do you think the council believes the remains are mine?”

  “Hopefully.” He liked how soft her skin felt as he caressed her cheek, his thumb tracing her jaw. “They won’t look for you if they think you’re already dead. I have to go. Be quiet and try to get some rest. I’ll be back after I help the pack take out the nest.”

  “Are you planning to let me go?” She looked as surprised as she sounded.

  “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do yet.” He released her and straightened. “Light on or off?”

  “On.”

  He turned and walked toward the stairs.

  “Be careful, and don’t forget that Olivia is going to be out there hunting you.”

  He nodded and kept going. He locked the door at the top of the stairs and, for good measure, dragged a heavy counter over to block it. He knew the restrains would hold her in place but he worried about someone breaking in and getting to her. She was helpless. It didn’t sit right with him but he couldn’t trust her enough not to flee if he unchained her.

  He withdrew his phone to call Kelzeb, needing to update him on what was happening with the pack and nest. He just wasn’t sure what to tell him about Mandy.

  Chapter Four

  Mandy lay on the uncomfortable table, trying to figure out what Glacier was up to. He confused her. First, she thought he’d torture her, maybe want to see her suffer and beg for death…but then he’d fed her. He’d risked a lot by bringing a human to her. He had to know what would have happened if she couldn’t have taken over the mind of that prostitute. Humans couldn’t be allowed to know about Vampires. He’d have had to kill the woman.

  “What the hell?” She chewed her bottom lip, closing her eyes. She shifted her body a little, trying to get comfortable. It was impossible.

  The way he’d touched her had been nice, though. Caring, even. And who were Kelzeb and Lord Aveoth? She’d wanted to ask Glacier but he seemed a bit paranoid about giving her details of who he really worked for. Did the Werewolves have assassins, too? Some kind of council? They used to have a panel of judges for alphas to go to if packs had disputes they wanted to settle without a flat-out war, but as more packs had formed, intel said the judges had lost their power, with alphas no longer obeying their directives. Maybe the information had been wrong. It was possible they used the term lord instead of judge.

  The nest would be extinguished by Glacier and the pack. She wondered what the council would do once they heard the news. Losing her and Olivia to Werewolves would shock them. Two highly trained assassins could handle a pack enforcer. It might make them reconsider sending more. She could hope, anyway. Maybe Glacier could contact the council to let them know what had really happened with that nest to get them targeted. A threat to get the VampLycans involved would definitely work. It was a suggestion she’d make when they talked next.

  Her thoughts turned to Olivia, and sadness came with them. Glacier would probably find her soon, or go after her tomorrow while she day slept. Her best friend would wake to attempt to protect herself, but she wouldn’t stand a chance against the big guy. He was unbelievably strong for a Were. She’d found that out when she’d struggled to get free of him while he’d carried her to the basement from the bathroom. The canvas had hampered her a lot since he’d wrapped her tight, but he could have broken bones with his strong arms securing her.

  He was like some super Were, way stronger than even an alpha. She’d had to fight one once. He’d gone nuts after losing his mate and child in a freak accident. A bond that strong usually killed the surviving mate, but he’d lingered, losing more and more of his sanity instead. His own people had approached a nest for help since he had begun culling his pack. Anyone strong enough to take him on had already challenged him, and died as a result. That nest had sent for an assassin. She’d been the unlucky one who’d drawn the short straw. It had almost cost her left arm. He’d damn near amputated it with his sharp teeth and jaws before she’d been able to take him out.

  She didn’t hate Werewolves. That pack could have tried to kill her after she’d put down their alpha. He’d hurt her enough that she’d have been easy pickings. Instead, they’d given her their blood, which she’d taken, and offered to protect her while she day slept after the fight. She also respected how they could show emotions. It hadn’t been a happy event, having their alpha put down by a Vamp. Most of them had openly cried but it needed to be done when he’d gone insane. It had hurt them to do it but they’d done what was best for the rest of the pack. He hadn’t been fit to lead them anymore.

  “Damn,” she sighed.

  A loud noise came from upstairs, and she tensed. The ceiling creaked as someone stomped above her, and then came the sound of something heavy scraping across the floor. The door to the basement shook but held.

  Not for long. Wood smashed and she turned her head, watching as a big dark-haired man came down the stairs. She inhaled.

  “Hello, Werewolf.”

  He growled low and walked to the side of the counter, keeping a few feet of distance between them. His gaze left hers to run down her body. “I knew you’d be a nice-looking piece of ass.”

  She recognized his voice. “You’re Ted.”

  He snarled and took a step back. “How the fuck did you know that?”

  “You don’t want to do whatever you’re thinking about. Glacier didn’t let you down here, and I don’t think he likes you much either. He’ll make you pay for breaking in.”

  “As if I give a fuck.”

  Dread hit hard and fast. This wasn’t good. It seemed she was about to die unless she could talk her way out of it. “I work for the Vampire Council. Glacier has been getting names and locations of other Vamps from me. I bet your alpha has ordered you to kill me, but I’m more valuable alive than dead until I answer all of Glacier’s questions. I had no part of what happened to your pack children. I don’t belong to that nest.” She tugged on the restraints. “I can’t get away. See? I’m no threat.”

  He lifted his hands and unleashed his claws. “You’re a fucking Vamp. I don’t care who you work for. Your kind needs to die.”

  Shit. “Glacier’s going to be pissed. I would not want to get on his bad side. He’s under orders to get information from me. You killing me c