The darkness.
The scream of sirens.
The tempting beat of his heart, thumping faster with fear as he'd realized the woman in the body bag wasn't dead.
Not entirely.
Shit. When she'd woken, she'd been scared to death, hungry as hell, and so damn angry.
And Sean had been staring at her, eyes huge behind the lenses of his glasses.
She'd expected him to run from her. Or to faint, as Monica had done.
Monica. She and Sean had really surprised Maya. After the initial shock, they'd helped her.
Driven her away from the crime scene, given her bags of blood for her gnawing hunger, and then they'd stuck around.
Become friends, of a sort.
A call had been made to her Chief. She'd said one word to him, whispered, "Vampire," and he'd understood. Chief Bronson had been in L.A. all his life, patrolling the streets, day and night. The guy knew the score. Her "death" had been covered up and Maya Black had officially resigned from the police force.
To begin a new life as a monster.
Monica had finally broken last year. The demons, the death-it had all just become too much for her. She'd gone back to Kansas, back to a place, she'd tearfully told Maya, "Where I don't see devils every time I turn around."
But Sean had stayed by her side. Until she'd found him bleeding out on the street.
"You were there for me when I was at my worst," she told him finally, opening her eyes. "I won't forget that."
Silence. "Well, don't forget that you've saved my ass more times than I can count over the last five years."
Her lip curled. "That's 'cause you don't know how to stay out of trouble." Damn, but she missed that man.
"Are you staying out of trouble, Maya?" A slight warning edge sharpened the words.
Hell, she'd never been able to stay out of trouble. "Nah. You know me, I get bored if there isn't enough action going on." Her nails tapped against the wood. "I've got to go."
" Maya… "
Tension. Fear.
"What is it, Sean?"
The hum of silence. Then-
A heartbeat. Pounding, racing far too fast.
As if the phone had been lowered, placed over his throat. Over his pulse.
What the hell? Fear.
Then the drumming faded and Sean's voice murmured, "Watch your back 'cause I won't be able to do it this time."
The call ended with a click.
But the sound of his racing heart echoed in her ears.
Sean Donnelley slowly placed the phone on the nearby hospital tray. His eyes met Triond's golden stare, then dropped to the claws that circled the panther's throat.
The pack of wolves were nearly motionless in the room. Three surrounded Triond. One stood at the door, and the leader, the ugly bastard with the torn ear, waited near the side of his bed.
"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Lucas Simone murmured, and when he smiled, Sean caught a glimpse of his too-sharp teeth.
Selling out his best friend. Fuck, yeah, it had been hard.
But he hadn't been given any options.
"You heard everything?"
Lucas nodded. Damn shifter hearing.
"Then get the hell out of here." Damn, he was weak. Too weak to fight. Too weak to help Triond.
To help Maya.
The wolf shifter laughed. "Don't worry, human. I promise, I won't hurt the vampire bitch, at least not too badly."
Sean flinched. I'm sorry, Maya.
One of the wolves slammed his fist into the side of Triond's head and the panther went down, hard, his face smashing into the glistening floor.
Lucas stepped over the body. Headed for the door. His pack fell in line behind him.
They left his room without saying another word and went to hunt Maya.
Fuck. Sean's hands shook as he grabbed the phone. He tried to call her back, tried using that damn caller return system, but the line just beeped.
He didn't believe Lucas. Not for a minute. He'd seen the bloodlust in the guy's eyes. He'd hurt Maya, and he'd enjoy every minute of her pain.
" Fuck! " Sean threw the phone across the room.
He'd just killed his best friend.
CHAPTER 10
Her headache was getting worse. Maya slanted a quick glance over at the chameleon and thought about taking a little bite. Just to take the edge off and to replenish some of her much-needed energy.
Just a bite.
She stepped toward him, eyes on his throat. He didn't taste as good as Adam. Didn't taste of life and passion.
No, Max was more of a sweet peppermint.
She'd never had a particular candy fetish, but-
"No." Adam's voice. Growling from right behind her. His breath stirred the hair near her ear as he said, "You want to drink, then you drink from me."
Oh, she wanted to. Maya turned slowly, licking her lips. A taste of Adam would be heaven.
But she wouldn't be able to stop with just a taste. Not anymore. She wouldn't stop until she had him inside her, thrusting fast and hard and driving them both to release.
The bloodlust and the physical hunger she felt for him were intertwined now. She'd barely been able to hold back earlier. If she touched him again, she'd drink and f**k. And she wouldn't really care if a chameleon watched their every move.
Adam's green eyes heated, and she knew he understood. His nostrils flared as he took in her scent.
Her panties were already wet. "Adam, I-"
A knock at the door. Hard. Sharp. Skye.
Her breath blew out in a rush. Well, at least the problem of the chameleon would be solved.
Then they could get back to the matter at hand.
Sex and blood. And lots of it.
Maya paced across the room and pressed her eye against the small peephole.
Skye stared back at her, features slightly distorted, but definitely the warlock.
She opened the door.
He didn't enter immediately. His gaze swept over her. Then looked beyond her shoulder into the small motel room.
As far as she knew, Skye didn't have a last name. The guy was the quiet type-quiet and deadly.
Skye was as tall as Adam, but thinner. His skin was a light gold, and his dark eyes held a slight exotic narrowing at the corners, hinting at his Asian ancestry. His hair was short, blacker than coal.
He wore a black T-shirt that left his tattooed arms bare. A battered backpack was slung over his left shoulder. Torn jeans and scuffed boots completed his look.
He brushed by her and she caught the faint scent of incense.
Skye spared a look at Adam, then at Max. "I take it I'm here for the chameleon?"
"Yeah."
He nodded. Pulled off his backpack and rummaged inside. "You want him dead?" Spoken casually.
The chameleon whimpered. He seemed to do that a lot.
"I just want him out of town." She watched as Skye pulled a long, sharp knife from his pack.