Raised in Fire (Fire and Ice Trilogy 2)

“Cool,” I said again. Because really, what else was there to say?

“I took a picture of the person walking in. Then of him facing me dead-on. Then of him closing the door behind him.” Smokey’s eyes held a special twinkle, and also traces of fear.

“Vampire,” I said softly, knowing that was the cause of the twinkle. Also knowing that his mind had quickly moved on to the aswang, a supernatural creature that didn’t excite him.

He nodded slowly and glanced around, as cautious as if the cemetery had ears. And maybe it did, though Smokey would know best, since he practically made a second home of it. “I wasn’t supposed to mention who it was, but my loyalty is to you, not him.” Smokey lowered his voice. “It was the one who always hangs around with you. He let himself in, stayed in there for an hour, and then came out to speak to me.”

I breathed through my mouth, trying to still the flip-flopping of my stomach. I needed to seriously cut that out. “Oh yeah?”

“A gentleman. Very influential, I can tell. He seems important.” Smokey puffed up. “He asked me to watch over you and inform him if you are ever in any danger. He gave me his card.” Smokey patted his pocket. “But I’ll burn it if you want me to. Like I said, my loyalty is to you. Not to him.”

I smiled to myself and glanced away to hide my pleasure. Darius didn’t need Smokey’s help—he had a horde of people who could do the job better. Darius had approached Smokey for me. He knew that, even though it was strictly forbidden to bring non-essential humans into the fold, I threw a bone to ol’ Smokey now and again where it concerned the supernatural. Clearly he had spotted Smokey watching over my house and, knowing his importance to me, decided to make the old man’s night.

“You might as well,” I said, not able to stop the smile bleeding through my expression. “Just in case the house falls down and I get trapped under a beam, or something.”

Smokey nodded and patted his pocket again. “That’s what I was thinking. It’s probably good to have backup in case something comes around you can’t handle.” His expression crumpled again; his thoughts had definitely shifted to that aswang.

“Okay. I’m going to head in. Thanks for your help.” I thought about patting him, then thought better of it. He was still oozing creepy, after all. There had to be a reason for that.

I let myself into my house. Fresh flowers greeted me from a vase by the door. The living room light was on, and sitting in the couch, reading one of the books he hated but couldn’t stop reading, was none other than Darius.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“Hi,” I said, suddenly out of breath.

He closed the book and stood. “Wretched book. Wretched series. I don’t know why I keep picking it up.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, dropping my keys into the bowl.

He put the book back and surveyed me. “I wanted to see you. Also, I have something for you that I wanted to deliver in person.” An air of menace crowded the room. “How was your date?”

“It wasn’t a date. And it ended early.”

He glanced at the clock.

“I had a few other things to do in town.”

He nodded, analyzing me for a moment. “You are stunning, Reagan. Your effulgence steals the breath from my lungs.”

I exhaled with a smile. The man was too suave for his own good. Knowing what three-syllable word to say in times like this was his superpower.

“Want something to drink?” I asked.

“A cognac. Shall I get it?”

“Well, since you offered, I don’t mind if you do.” I lowered onto the comfortable couch.

His lips tweaked into a grin and he zipped into the kitchen. No time later he was back, handing me a glass of wine and sitting down with a snifter.

“First.” Darius reached to the side and picked up a large, thick binder. He handed it over. “For you.”

I scowled at it, because that was what I did when I saw something that resembled schoolwork, and opened it. A picture of a warehouse amid empty fields and a parking lot greeted me. Turning the pages, I saw a lot of documents that looked confusing.

“Uh-huh.” I closed the binder. “And what’s this?”

“Your new warehouse. You need someplace out of the way to practice. It has ample space and is removed from the next property. It should work.”

I felt my eyes widen as I opened it again. “Mine?”

“Of course. Your name is on the deed. Your false name, of course. We can sell it to your various identities as we need to create them. But it is yours. You will also need a car. I nearly bought one, but know that your neighborhood has particular idiosyncrasies.”

Basically, he thought it would get stolen. “Thanks, but I can buy a car.”

“Choose whichever one you would like and inform Mr. LaRay. He’ll take care of the paperwork.”

“I can buy my own car, is what I meant.”

“Don’t be silly.” He waved me away.

I didn’t argue. I’d just do it when he wasn’t paying attention. It was easier that way.

“Now.” He swirled the brown liquid in his glass, his eyes downcast. “I wanted to discuss a sensitive matter with you.” He took a slow sip of his drink. “Reagan, for the second time in my life, and the first time as a vampire, I am falling in love. I didn’t think it could happen after I changed into…what I am. I have never heard that it could. But here I am. I was seeking a solution to undo this change in me, but after Seattle…I have gone too far. I no longer want the antidote. I want to lay claim on you. I want you to let me. And for the first time in my history, I want to feel what happens when love fully matures.”

I stared for a moment, my mouth hanging open in what couldn’t possibly be an attractive expression. The warmth in my chest swelled until it overtook my body. I felt light, and full, and cherished.

Oh shit. I was in big trouble.

“Okay, but,” I said, needing to keep my wits, “I live by human rules, and in this place and time, that’s monogamy. I’m not going to consent to falling for a guy—not to mention a vampire—who sexes up women all over the world every time you need blood. I’d have to crack a skull, and the first one would be yours.”

A smile graced his lips. “If you remain available to me, mon ange, I will agree to being solely with you. Exclusivity is much easier for a vampire than a human, or a more-than-human, as you are.”

I licked my suddenly dried lips as warmth pulsed in time to my heart. Was I seriously entertaining the idea of starting a relationship—a relationship—with a vampire? An elder vampire, no less, the most dangerous kind?

“Oh man, I don’t know,” I muttered.

He stretched out his hand and took mine, grazing my knuckles with his warm lips. “I didn’t expect to end up in this situation either, Reagan. But here we are. Let’s embrace it. What have we to lose?”

“A lot. Each of us has a lot to lose.”

He smiled, a lovely sight, before pulling me closer until I was resting against the heat of his body. “That makes it more special.”

His lips dipped, connecting with mine. Unable to help myself, maybe not wanting to, I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. My toes curled and my stomach flipped. Oh Lord, this man had a hold on me. Even if he wasn’t completely a man.

“Let’s just…be friends with benefits, maybe?” I murmured against his lips. Compromise. That was the ticket. “Or maybe a relationship, but a secret one. Those are a ton of fun. How does that sound?”

“Don’t tell Callie and Dizzy, you mean?”

“Them, or anyone who will try to talk me out of this—” very bad idea.

His chuckle was low and dangerous. “Whatever you want. But remember, vampires can be possessive creatures. Our primal sides uphold the verbal or, in this case, emotional contract. I will not see humor in anyone hurting you, or anyone trying to have you.”

“In contrast, I probably will see humor in someone kicking your ass. But I promise to avenge you right after I stop laughing.” He stood, and I held on tightly as he swung me up into his arms and carried me toward the bed. A thought occurred to me. “This situation has nothing to do with a blood bond, though. I’m not agreeing to that. So you can stop that paperwork, or whatever is happening in the lair. The only reason I’m not making a bigger fuss is because it’s keeping Vlad away. But it’s not going to happen.”