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  “Without the blood,” he repeated. “I don’t want to have to kill any more of my people.”

  For a moment his eyes softened, and she thought she saw pain there. But that couldn’t be right. Marius didn’t feel. Didn’t care. Did he?

  She thought of the bodies she’d seen in the warehouse earlier that evening. She thought they were vampires, but if what he was saying were true … “The coffins? Earlier this evening. In the warehouse?”

  “They weren’t all vampires. Some were human.”

  “I blew up humans?”

  “Does it make any difference? They would have died anyway. No one has survived the process.” “The vampires have.”

  “If you call what they’re turned into surviving. There’s nothing left of who they were.”

  Xana shuddered. It was too horrible to contemplate. “What are you going to do?” she whispered.

  “Cayman must have taken the serum the Alliance is using. Without that formula, I’m not sure what I can do.”

  “Did he tell you who the Alliance is?”

  “No.”

  “I don’t understand. Why didn’t he tell me any of this?”

  “Maybe he didn’t want you involved.” He started walking forward again, walking away from her.

  “If he didn’t want me involved then why did he call me and tell me to meet him at that warehouse?”

  He spun on her, red fury burning in his eyes. “No, the question you should be asking, is where the hell is he, and why did he leave you with me?”

  She shuddered again but this time from fear. She clenched the stake still glued to the palm of her hand, but knew after what she’d just seen it would be of little use to her. “What are you going to do?” she asked again.

  “With me?”

  “I haven’t decided,” he said, and she realized he was being completely honest. In fact, he’d been honest with her from the start.

  “I’ll help you,” she blurted, without thinking.

  He didn’t say anything, just stared at her, his face expressionless.

  “Not only do I need to find Cayman, but I need to know what he was in to,” she said.

  “Okay, where do you want to start?” he said, finally speaking.

  “Let’s go back to Cayman’s house and see what we can find.”

  “All right.” He stepped back and gestured for her to precede him.

  She shivered as she watched him. The monster was suddenly a gentleman.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  XANA couldn’t help the hope expanding within her as they turned down Cayman’s street. She hoped he would be home, that his lights would be on and that he’d have a damned good explanation for where he’d been and what all this Alliance business was about. Marius parked the Jaguar along the curb beneath a large oak across from the well-kept bungalow, which had been built in the forties. But Cayman’s house sat in darkness.

  “Maybe he’s asleep. Or hurt,” she said, though she didn’t expect Marius to answer. He hadn’t said a word on the drive back across the bay. They slipped from the car and hurried toward the house. Sodium vapor lamps spaced few and far between cast long shadows on the large bushes of blooming hydrangeas flanking the front walk on either side of Cayman’s small porch. They bypassed the walk, soundlessly skirting around the side of the house toward the back.

  The gate in the tall fence opened easily. They followed a serpentine brick walkway, entered a small backyard and glanced in the windows as they passed but saw nothing. Xana approached the back door, took out her keys and opened it.

  They entered a small dark kitchen. Anxiety had her nerves jumping as they quickly checked the house. There was no sign of Cayman anywhere, nor any sign that he’d been there recently. Xana sighed and flipped on a few of the lights. “He’s not hiding or hurt. He’s just not here.”

  Without uttering a sound, Marius opened cupboards and drawers and flipped through papers and envelopes on the counter.

  “What are you looking for?” she asked, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

  “Anything that can tell me about the Alliance.”

  Could this Alliance be so bad that Cayman wanted to protect her from it? Was that why he’d kept her in the dark? He should have known better. She could take care of herself, she would have thought the last two years they’d spent hunting vampires together would have proved that. And besides, working in the dark put her at risk. Obviously.

  She searched the living room but found nothing. She started to move into the bedroom when she heard a movement by the back door. She stilled, then turned to Marius, lifting her finger to her lips, giving him the quiet signal. She gestured toward the bedroom.

  Marius raised his eyebrows, an amused grin tilting his lips. She stopped for a second. She’d never seen him smile, really smile. It changed his whole face, turning him from someone who gave her the willies to someone she might be interested in knowing. The effect was disconcerting to say the least.

  Go, she mouthed silently and shooed him away. Surprisingly, he did as she asked and stepped into the darkness behind the opened bedroom door.

  She crept toward the kitchen and was surprised to see Uncle Ben opening the back door. She hadn’t seen her uncle since Christmas. What could he be doing here now? And creeping in the back door?

  “Hi, Uncle Ben. What’s up?” she said loudly, though she didn’t need to. Vampires had exceptional hearing. Smiling widly, she stepped into the kitchen.

  Uncle Ben looked stunned to see her. “I … uh … I’m looking for Cayman.”

  And you couldn’t knock on the front door? “I’m afraid he’s not here. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “No.” He hesitated. “He was supposed to meet me earlier and didn’t show up, so I thought I’d come back. Do you know when he’ll be home?”

  “No. What was he supposed to meet you about?” she asked.

  “It’s …” He paused. “It’s nothing. I’ll see you later, Xana.” He kissed her on the cheek then walked back out the kitchen door, closing it behind him.

  She stared after him, feeling decidedly shut out. That was definitely odd. What was going on with her family?

  “Is something wrong?” Marius asked, suddenly standing behind her.

  She turned around and found she was standing too close to him. If she leaned forward, even an inch, her nose would be brushing against the silky fabric of his shirt.

  “That was just very strange,” she said, slightly distracted by the width of his broad shoulders and the definition of his pecs. “I’ve never seen Uncle Ben act like that before.”

  “Like what?”

  She took a step back to regain her equilibrium. “I don’t know. All distant and unfriendly-like. And since when has he ever had anything to do with Cayman?”

  “Are they not close?”

  The light bounced off his long deep ebony hair, reminding her of the sheen of a raven’s wing. Before this moment, she hadn’t noticed how beautiful it was.

  “Um. No. Yes. I mean, we lived with him after my folks died, but it’s not like we’re a warm and fuzzy family. He was always very busy, and now we only see each other on major holidays, like birthdays and Christmas.”

  “Apparently Cayman wanted to talk to him about something.”

  “Yep. Apparently.” Disconcerted, she turned away. She didn’t like noticing his shiny hair or his strong shoulders or how tall and incredibly hot he was. He was a vampire who would bite her and take what he wanted from her in an instant. She couldn’t forget that. And if she started to, all she had to do was think of the tender spots at her throat and the top of her thigh.

  Which she did and, as she did, heat filled her cheeks as the memory came rushing back. His face nestled in her crotch, the erotic fire his mouth and teeth had drawn out of her. Warmth suffused her chest. Her hand fluttered against it and she let out a deep breath as she hurried toward her brother’s bedroom. She had to put some distance between them.

  “What does Uncle Ben do?�
�� Marius asked, following her.

  Now he wants to talk? She reached the doorway and saw the king-size bed that dominated most of the room, and spun on heel turning back. “He’s a doctor at the VA hospital.”

  Marius walked past her into the bedroom and started rifling through the dresser drawers. She sighed, followed him into the room and checked the nightstand. She needed to focus. They were looking for anything that would tell her about this Alliance group and shine a light into the secrets her brother was keeping.

  Marius picked up a picture off the dresser of Uncle Ben and the two of them at Cayman’s graduation. “He was hiding something,” he said.

  “Uncle Ben? Nah. He’s a doctor, that’s all he’s ever wanted to be, all he’s ever been, and all he’s ever thought about. He doesn’t even know your—” she flapped her arm and gestured toward him “—kind even exists.”

  “You mean bloodsuckers?” he asked, another amused grin curving his lips. The warm cadence of his voice reached inside her, tickling the back of her throat. Apparently he had a sense of humor, too. Along with being undeniably handsome, in a dark, dangerous and totally inappropriate way.

  It was just wrong.

  “Look, I might not be very close to Uncle Ben but he and Cayman are all the family I have. He’s a good man. And more than that, he’s my blood. I won’t let you hurt him or Cayman.”

  “Who says I want to hurt them. But I like your spunk, kitten.”

  “Great,” she muttered. Now she was a cute furry thing. Could she be any more insulted?

  “And you’re right. He is blood. And it’s always about the blood, never forget that.”

  What was that supposed to mean? Her eyes met his and before she knew it, she was stepping into the black heat of his gaze and sinking.

  “Blood holds everyone’s secrets, their boldest triumphs, their greatest sins.” His voice moved through her, caressing her senses with a lover’s touch.

  “Stop it,” she insisted.

  “Stop what?”

  “Trying to put some kind of hanky-panky spell on me. I’m not going to betray my Uncle Ben. He’s a good man. A man who has put his whole world into his work at the hospital.”

  Once more, a smile lifted his incredibly enticing lips.

  “What?” she asked, feeling slightly annoyed. Now he was all Mr. Charming. Well, it wasn’t going to work on her. She knew what he was. And she wasn’t attracted to him. Not one little bit.

  “I don’t put hanky-panky spells on people.” He stepped closer.

  Her breath caught in her throat. “You don’t?” Then what was he doing to her?

  He leaned forward, hovering so close their lips were almost touching. Her gaze locked onto his as he traced his tongue around the curve of her lips, tasting, tempting her. This couldn’t be happening.

  She took a quick step back, but her calves hit the side of the bed and she almost fell backwards onto the mattress. That would be bad. Really bad. She grabbed hold of his arm to steady herself. Then his arms were around her, pulling her against his chest. His mouth fell over hers and instinctively her lips parted. He entered, thrusting deep.

  She gripped him tighter. A soft moan rose from her chest as she melted into his arms. His kiss was strong and passionate, making her knees weak. She should pull away, but as his lips moved against hers, sparking the smoldering fire deep within her core, she could no more stop him than she could stop the blood rushing through her veins. She succumbed to his touch and melted as his lips blazed a burning trail down her neck.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she said, but then her breath swelled and a slow tingle moved through her breasts until they ached for his touch.

  His fingers moved gently down her body, feeling, caressing. All she could do was feel. And want. And need. She moved against him, a dangerous dance, as desire pulsed through her. This was crazy, beyond crazy, and yet, when his fingers stroked her already hardened nipple, all her reservations were forgotten.

  She unbuttoned his shirt, pulled it off his shoulders and clamped her mouth over his rosy bud. After a moment of satisfying her need to taste him, she pulled off her blouse and cami, desperate to feel his cool skin next to hers. She’d always heard that vampires were cold, but Marius wasn’t. He wasn’t hot, nor was he cold. More like cool and satiny smooth. She drew her fingers down his chest, feeling each ridge, each strong muscle beneath the skin. Her hand hovered at the waist of his leather pants then brushed across his thick bulge. Smiling, she pressed her hand against it, knowing it was growing and pulsing just for her.

  Marius groaned, lifted her and together they fell onto the bed, his mouth plundering hers once more. A moan erupted from her lips, as his hands cupped her breasts, his fingertips teasing the sensitive skin, his nails gently scraping across her nipples until she thought she’d scream with the delicious torment.

  “Oh, yes,” she whispered, as heat, anxious and devouring, circled through her, flooding her mind, constricting her lungs until she gasped for air, and her belly was taut with need. She thrust her hips against him. A deep guttural groan rising from the back of her throat.

  His erection, hot and thick, met her hips. She unfastened his pants, then reached inside and grasped hold of it, longing to take him full in her mouth, to taste him, to rub the velvety smoothness of his skin across her tongue.

  Suddenly, she pulled back, gasping a deep reality-filled breath. What was she thinking? Better yet, what was she doing?

  “Is it not good?” he asked, lust hooding his dark eyes.

  She almost laughed. Almost. Until he took her hand and kissed her wrist, his tongue sweeping across her pulse point. “Oh, it is very good.” She sighed. “Too good.”

  “And what is wrong with that?” “Um. Well …”

  His lips followed a torturous path up her arm to the base of her neck, drawing a deep breath from her as she fought to maintain control when all she really wanted to do was wrap herself around him and lose herself in his touch.

  “You are a vampire.” She said the words out loud, hoping they’d sink into her desire-laden brain.

  “Yes.” He pulled the sensitive skin of her throat into his mouth and sucked until she thought she’d climb right up the wall.

  “You could bite me.” Especially the way he was positioned right now. She really should make him stop, but honestly, what he was doing felt so damned good she just couldn’t bring herself to care.

  “Yes. I could. Do you want me, too?”

  “No.” She planted her hands on his chest and started to push.

  “No? A lot of women like it. They find it very … satisfying.” He leaned over her, looking down into her eyes. “It could be very good. For both of us.”

  He bent down and licked her breast, circling her nipple. Oh, shit. Her back arched as pleasure shot through her. She was hopeless. Lost. A fool.

  And at this moment, she didn’t care. Within seconds he had her pants off and he was stroking her tender swollen flesh that was so desperately aching for his touch. He left a trail of hot kisses down her torso, toward her heat. She closed her eyes, all protestations over as the warmth of his mouth, the soft wetness of his tongue circled around her most sensitive spot, taking her in his mouth and lightly flicking his tongue back and forth.

  White-hot heat shot through her and she lost it, slipping into an orgasm so strong, she screamed aloud, her body lifting off the bed, her heart pounding as adrenaline surged through her. Before she could recover, she felt the long, thick length of him sliding into her.

  She wrapped her legs around him and lifted herself off the bed, taking all of him deep into her. “Sweet mercy,” she groaned, and closed her eyes as he started to move, his hips bucking and rocking until she was teetering on the edge once more, until with one final thrust, she exploded again and again, until she was nothing but putty in the palm of his hand.

  When her eyes finally opened, she didn’t know how much time had elapsed but her heart rate had slowed and her breathing had returned to no
rmal. She turned to look at Marius, not sure what she’d find—the man with eyes filled with ice or liquid pools of languid heat. His dark gaze bore into hers and she closed her eyes as he leaned close and brushed his lips against the corner of her mouth.

  “I did not bite.”

  She smiled. “It’s a good thing. I don’t think my heart could have taken any more.”

  He kissed her again softly, sweetly. “It can. You’ll see.”

  Warmth shot through her once more. “Is that a promise or a threat?”

  “Stick around and find out.”

  She sighed as his tongue caressed her lips. “I do so like a challenge.”

  “But not now.” He pulled back and climbed off the bed, leaving her reaching for him.

  “Why not?” she asked.

  “Because right now we’re going to visit the VA hospital.”

  “The VA hospital?” she repeated, then sat up and swung her legs off the bed. “Why?”

  “Because those men in the coffins you blew up this evening looked a lot like soldiers.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “YOU think my uncle …?”

  “Whoever is doing this is trying to create super humans.” Marius pulled on his shirt and reached for his pants.

  “As in super soldiers? But my uncle is a good man.” Xana thought of the way Uncle Ben had taken in her and Cayman after their parents’ accident. It couldn’t have been easy for a single workaholic doctor but he’d done it without blinking an eye. She had a hard time believing it could be possible that he was infecting his own patients. She really wanted to believe in him. He was her family.

  “If it’s crossed my mind then maybe it crossed Cayman’s,” Marius said. “Maybe he’s there.”

  “But it’s a VA hospital. All you’re going to find is sick people.”

  “Exactly. Sick and desperate people.”

  Desperate enough to be infected with vampire DNA? She shuddered at the thought, then stood and hiked her blue jeans up over what was left of her thong. “All right, let’s do it.”

  A half hour later they were pulling into the dark almost empty parking lot of the Northern California VA Hospital.