The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Guardian 6)

"How in the hell can one vamp control forty fledglings?" Rhoan asked in disbelief.

"She's not a blood vamp." I pushed through the shattered front doors. Footsteps scattered and the slight taste of fear touched the air. I glanced at Quinn as I began to climb. "Why are they retreating? They didn't last time I was here."

His smile was decidedly dark. "Last time you were here, you weren't accompanied by one of the old ones."

"They can tell what you are?"

"No. I'm letting them know what I am. Trust me, in an emo's nest, it's always better to advance warn what sort of trouble they'll be getting into should they try any tricks."

Rhoan frowned. "What sort of tricks are emos likely to get up to that would be different from a blood vampire?"

Quinn glanced at him. "They feed off emotion. Therefore it is to their benefit to amp it up where possible."

"Ah." Rhoan considered this for a moment, then said, "So my anger and fear for Liander is something she'd likely play with?"

"Most likely. If she doesn't take heed of the warning."

I glanced back at him. "Is that warning going out telepathically?"

He nodded. "And emotionally. I'm empathic, remember."

He was also something else entirely - something that wasn't just vampire. Though his mother had been human, his father came from a race known only as the priests of Aedh - beings who were more energy than flesh, and who were seen by humans as being tall, golden, and winged. They were, in fact, the race that had apparently instigated the legends of angels. I didn't know a whole lot more than that, but I had a sneaking suspicion that the skills inherited from his father were coming into play, as well.

After all, Vinny didn't seem the type to be scared by the presence of an old one - but an old one who was something that no longer existed in anything other than myth? Yeah, that would shake her overly confident little world.

We reached the top floor. A different girl guarded the door, but like the previous girl, she was dressed casually and again had a suspicious bulge on her right hip. Unlike the previous guard, this girl also looked worried.

"We're here to see Vinny," I said, stopping little more than a foot away from her. Her scent was orangey, but underneath it ran fear.

Not of me, not of Rhoan. Of Quinn.

She licked her lips and said, "Vinny is rather busy - "

"If Vinny doesn't want a busted door, you had better open it," I said.

Her gaze went blank for a moment, then she said, her voice several octaves lower than it had been moments ago, "The old one stays outside."

"The old one will rip this place apart if you do not open this door, Vincenta." Though Quinn's voice was still decidedly mild, there was a hint of steel underneath that was warning enough to anyone with sense.

Vinny had sense.

The guard stepped back and opened the door. Quinn held out his hand and said, "Give me the gun."

The note of command was in his voice and the girl obeyed without question. Quinn pocketed the weapon, then waved us on.

Rhoan went through the door first. I followed, my gaze sweeping past the velvet lushness to come to rest on Vinny's cozy little setup at the far end of the room. Like before, she was attended by several toga-clad teenagers but, unlike before, their tension was something I could taste. There was no caressing, no languid eyes or secretive little smiles.

How many weapons did they have hidden under their outfits? More than a few, I suspected.

"I do not appreciate my home being invaded like this," Vinny said, her voice as frosty as her expression. Her gaze barely even touched me or Rhoan, but rather centered on the man who walked behind me. "It is outside vampire custom, as you well know, old one."

"Vampire custom is adjustable according to the circumstances," Quinn replied, voice dry. "A fact you'll learn if you live long enough. Which is a debatable event at the present moment."

The air filled with sudden murmuring, and the anger of many different minds seemed to lash at my senses.

"Is that a threat, vampire?" Her voice was soft. Deadly.

Quinn merely smiled. "Simply a fact, Vincenta. I am not, however, the one you have to fear in this little trio. Though I can be, if you wish it."