First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World 1)

"Bloody hell," was all he said.

Denise couldn't stop her ironic laugh. "Yeah. That's it exactly."

Chapter Twenty-five

Spade squinted in the afternoon sunlight at the boat heading straight for them. Long, crimson hair came into view at the bow, and he relaxed. Cat and Crispin.

Crispin's presence combined with the power Spade felt from Web last night, plus the several Master vampires Web brought with him, might have mandated that Spade let Crispin know what was in Denise's blood. Still, Spade didn't trust discussing it where it might be overheard, which meant the whole of Monaco. Who knew how many of Web's people lurked about, seeking gossip to report back to him?

But out here on the Mediterranean, with loud music playing and more than a mile between his boat and the closest one to it, it was as safe as it could be.

Denise came up from below deck, her gaze passing over his sleeveless shirt. "You need more sunscreen again."

"Looking for an excuse to fondle me?" he teased. "No need, darling. I want you to."

She smiled as she came closer. "Why wouldn't I look for any excuse to touch you? You've got the most amazing body I've ever seen."

He was glad the physique that had been frozen into permanence when he toiled the fields as a convict was pleasing to her. Once his lean, muscled frame was considered a stigma of the lower classes, but times had changed, and Denise was a modern woman.

"You know," Denise said, rubbing more sunblock onto his arms and shoulders, "if Web does have people monitoring us, he's not going to believe we're out here because you had a sudden urge to get a tan."

Her hands were so soft, and even warmer than the sun on him with the cool breeze. "Vampires don't tan. Without UV protection, we get sunburned, heal, and just repeat the process over and over."

She gave him a pensive look. "Then Web will know you're up to something."

"He'll suspect it," Spade agreed. "But he won't know what, and taking a boating trip is less suspicious than abruptly leaving town."

"I don't know why you told Bones after we'd both decided to keep him out of this," she muttered.

Spade set the bottle of sunblock down and folded his arms around her. "Crispin knew a demon had been in your home. He knew you were avoiding the vampire world, and he knew I normally don't take up with humans. Once he found me, he wouldn't have stopped digging until I told him the truth - and we might need his help, as it were."

Denise took in a deep breath, her scent peppering with anxiety. "You have no intention of giving up looking for Nathanial, do you?"

"No," he said softly. "No matter if I successfully hid you and your family from Raum, as long as those brands change your blood into what it is now, you're not safe, and I won't accept that."

He could feel her jaw grind against his chest. "I won't let you get killed because of me," Denise said.

"I've no intention of getting killed. I've never had more to live for."

Spade pulled back to look in her eyes, tempted to tell Denise exactly how he felt about her, but he paused. Crispin's boat would be here in minutes. He'd rather not declare himself and then immediately have to change the subject, particularly if she returned his sentiments.

No, this wasn't the proper time.

Denise saw the boat approaching and sighed. "There's Cat. Wow, I haven't seen her in months."

The speedboat pulled alongside theirs moments later. Cat had a huge grin on her face as she jumped across, not waiting for Crispin to tie the mooring line.

"Denise!" she exclaimed, grabbing her in a hug.

Denise looked surprised at Cat's greeting. "I thought you'd be mad at me," she said, voice choked either from emotion, or Cat forgetting her strength and squeezing her too hard.

"Of course not." Cat gave Denise another squeeze and then her gray gaze lasered on Spade. "I'm mad at you," she said clearly.

Crispin caught his eye and shrugged, as if to say, What did you expect?

"Don't be mad at Spade, I made him promise not to tell you guys," Denise said at once. Then her hazel eyes brightened. "I've really missed you, Cat. I know it's my fault, but..."

"Don't." Cat hugged her again. "I understood, believe me," she whispered.

A hazy apparition appeared over Cat's shoulder, growing more solid until the translucent form of a man in his forties appeared.

"Fabian," Spade greeted the ghost that Cat had, in a fashion, adopted. "How goes it?"

"Ugh," the ghost replied, shivering. "I hate to travel over water. There's nothing for me to anchor to."

Denise looked around. "Who are you talking to, Spade?"

"That's my friend Fabian, but, um, you can't see him because he's a ghost," Cat explained in an apologetic way.

Denise looked around anyway, her eyes wide. Spade was amused until another thatch of red hair caught his eye as a third person emerged from inside the speedboat.

"Hallo, mate," Ian said, giving Spade a cheery wave.

Spade felt a smile stretch his lips. "Ian!" he exclaimed in an equally cheerful voice. Then he jumped across the boat and punched him hard enough to send Ian catapulting into the ocean.

Denise gasped. Cat hid a grin. Crispin just rolled his eyes. "Was that necessary?"

"Certainly was," Spade replied coldly.

Ian treaded water, looking not the slightest bit surprised. "All right, you got that out of your system. Can I get back in the boat without you striking me again? Or should I stay out here enjoying the marine life?"

"Why don't you swim around until you find a shark? Then you can discuss how much the two of you have in common," Spade shot back.

"He was only concerned for you," Crispin said.

"Indeed? Then he should have grown a conscience on someone else's broken trust," Spade replied shortly.

Ian swam over to the edge of the other boat, avoiding the speedboat where Spade still stood. His lips curled when he saw Ian vault up beside Crispin, Cat, and Denise. You can hide behind them, but I'll still get to you.

The ghost wisely moved aside. Ian looked around before speaking. "You were acting crazed, Charles. Mooning over a human, snapping at anyone who looked at her cross-eyed. Whispering about blackmail and marks. Seeking out Red Dragon. Killing the person I told you sold it - yes, I heard Black Jack ended up murdered. Why wouldn't I bloody be concerned?"

"Then you should have come to me," Spade gritted out, judging if he could knock Crispin away from Ian without Denise being jarred in the process.