Born in Fire (Fire and Ice Trilogy 1)

Darius stood in front of me in a crisp suit, smelling freaking divine. He smoothed back his hair before adjusting a cufflink.

I put my hand to my forehead. “I’m confused again. I think I might be delirious.”

Movement by the door drew my eye. Two Mosses waited with their arms crossed.

“So. Wait.” I pointed at the Mosses. Then closed an eye so I wasn’t looking at two Dariuses. “Was he, or was he not, bonded to John? And who were those other guys? Also, and this is the most important question, who is going to clean up all these gooey, dead vampire bodies?” I held up a finger. “One more. Does anyone have a bottle of whiskey? Mine died in the fire.”

“Reagan,” Darius said, “why do you still have no eyebrows?”

I felt the area where said eyebrows were pinched together. “They were burned away in the battle and Callie ran out of serum restoring the hair on my head.”

“You look hideous.” His gaze took me in. “And the state of your house. How can you live like this?”

I struck with my sword, closing my eye to make sure I got the right Darius. He moved away easily. Suddenly, my sword went missing. My gun, which I stuck out next, disappeared from my hand a moment later.

“No problem. About that whiskey…” I lifted my chin, not bothered. I was too drunk for that.

He stepped backward, away from the bodies, and checked his shoes. They were still shiny. “I’ve come to deliver your earnings,” he snapped. Moss came forward with a briefcase, his scowl definitely permanent. “This case holds cash. If you would prefer a check, or to be on payroll, that can also be arranged. Whatever you would like.”

“Just turn my mark in.” I matched Moss’s scowl. “Just turn her in and we’ll do this legit-like.”

“The mark died before Vlad could question her, unfortunately. Without the demon, she was unable to cross the gate into the Realm, something we did not foresee.”

I’d opened my mouth to argue, because that was crap, when it sank in. If she’d been able to talk to Vlad, she would’ve told him all about me. Darius was trying to protect me.

My mouth snapped shut so hard that my teeth made a gross sound.

“She has been dealt with, the bounty removed and the fines paid. You get a percentage of that, I believe, along with all your expenses paid, no receipt needed. I will turn a blind eye to the way you broke into my house, threatened everyone, and robbed Mr. Giles.”

“He deserved it.”

“Yes. He is being punished. This is the rest of your fee, as promised.” He set the briefcase at my feet, “Along with the contact information for multiple real estate agents I trust so you can choose your new home. We can…fix this one so you don’t accrue any financial damages.” He stepped back again. “I pay my debts, Reagan. You should never doubt that.”

“I can kill you. You should never doubt that.”

His lips tweaked upward into a smile. “Not now, you couldn’t. Do you have a spell for seclusion?”

I gave him the Evil Eye. “Why?” I wiggled, because my lady bits had roared to life. Drunk and horny were not a good combo. I was liable to launch myself at him.

“I will not touch you.” He spread his very large hands out.

“I hate you.” I tried to stick my hand into my satchel, only to remember I’d left it with Callie so they could go through my greatly dwindled arsenal. “Also, no. I do not.”

He took a step, and suddenly I was in my room with him and his arms were pulling away from me.

“Liar,” I mumbled, staggering. “That was fast. Am I that fast when sober? Because I honestly did not think I was this slow when drunk.”

He steadied me with a warm hand.

“No,” I said. “Just so you’re clear. Muffin shop is closed. Come back never.”

“Vlad is not a stupid man,” he whispered.

I breathed through my mouth, trying not to smell his delicious cologne.

“Eventually, he will figure out what you are. His interest in you is piqued, and while he has not been in the presence of Lucifer yet, I assure you, eventually it will happen. That will be all it takes. If your smell and Lucifer’s are in any way similar, or if you look anything alike, or your magic matches in any way, he will be on your trail. Eventually, he will learn your true nature.”

“My dad is bound to find out I exist. He has been trying for offspring since time began. I’m not the only one he’s created, but I am the only one with…my bloodline—the only one who could survive the underworld. I’ll have to face him someday, because of Vlad or the next guy. I don’t think any parent wants to hear that their child doesn’t want to continue the family business. I just don’t know if my parent will try to force the issue.”

He grabbed my shoulders, staring down into my eyes.

“Are you interested in sex, or”—I ran my hands down his front—“how about whiskey and a lay? I’m in. You?”

His lips quirked upward into a smile again, and his gaze roamed my face. “We will revisit this side of you. I have an important dinner this evening.” His expression turned serious again. “If you bond me, you will be protected in our society. You will be mine. Any vampire who wishes to do you harm will have to come through me, even Vlad. That is sacrosanct.”

“Nothing with vampires is sacrosanct.”

“Unicorns and bonds.” He lifted his hand and grazed his thumb against my lips. “Unicorns and you.”

“Sir, we are running late,” Moss called down the hall.

I snapped my arms up, shoving his away. “Okay, I know no one likes the girl who is all doe-eyed one moment, and cold the next, but seriously, this is your fault. Stop with the whispering and the smell and the handsome. It’s annoying.”

He lowered his hands, his eyes intense—all four of them. “Think about it.”

I would forget by the time I woke up. That was my insurance.

“Okay, but about Moss and the bond and all those vampires…” I let him direct me out of the room.

“A few vampires bonded some of Tamara’s mages shortly after this started. They realized, correctly, that something was happening in the magic world, but instead of waiting and seeing which avenue to take, they bonded those they thought were involved—without getting approval from the elders, of course. I believe they hoped the mages and their army would gain power over the magical world. At that time, they would come out on top. The ambition was there; the intelligence was not.”

“How’d you know all that if they didn’t declare their bonds?”

“Feeding every few weeks speaks of youth. I inquired who went to the Brink to feed and when. Those with serious ambition tend to stay near the lair, trying to learn what they can and use that information. It was easy to figure out.”

“So you had Moss bond someone?”

“No, Moss has no bonds. I had him wait at your residence for the vampires who were bonded with John and his allies. Hiding behind his own frustrations—he is not your biggest fan—Moss was able to easily lead the altercation.”

“Why didn’t you wait instead of him?”

“I had to get ready for the dinner tonight.”

I rolled my eyes and looked at the briefcase. “That’s everything?”

He walked to the door before checking his watch. “Yes. That is your debt settled. There is also a false identity, should you want it. Can I take you to my residence? This house is not fit to stay in.”

“I’m fine. Thanks. You can send food, though. And whiskey. Not to mention a clean up crew.”

He turned to go, but stopped and put his hand on the doorframe, facing the street. “It has been a pleasure, Reagan. One I wasn’t expecting. I will see you soon.”

“Yep. And hey, if you wanted to make up for disgracing me in the Magical Law Enforcement office again, you could run really fast in front of that beady-eyed guy out there. He’s convinced you guys are vampires. It’ll be fun to give him a little thrill.”

Darius turned back, his beautiful eyes holding mine. “You have a strange sense of humor.”