The Black Tide (Outcast 3)

I nodded, unable to do anything more, my throat dry and my thoughts skipping along as fast as my pulse. Despite the confusing rush of images that continued to batter my senses, one thing was abundantly clear.

Karlinda Stone wasn't sick.

She was being drained by a vampire.

Chapter Eight

But how was something like that even possible?

No vampire could survive in Central—not when the light towers bathed every single part of the city, permanently erasing the shadows and therefore any chance of a vampire ever stepping foot on her streets. Dream and her partners might have succeeded in giving the vampires who'd recently attacked Chaos some form of immunity to both firelight and normal light, but ultraviolet had still turned them to ash.

I needed to talk to Jonas and Nuri—and fast.

But that was next to impossible given where I was and who I was with. This was Charles's night, and I couldn't leave without eyebrows being raised—especially if Dream was Hedda. She might not be here, but her boss was, and it was very likely that—even if he weren’t knowingly a part of plans—she'd ask him about the evening. I couldn't risk doing anything that would throw her suspicion my way.

“Julius,” Karlinda said, “I'm afraid the ceremony has, as you feared, taken too much out of me. Would you mind greatly if I go home?”

“Of course not.” A cool, unsurprised smile touched his lips. “Do you wish me to accompany you?”

“Of course not.” She glanced at Charles and me. “You must both come to dinner tomorrow night.”

“I wouldn't want to tax your strength—” Charles began, but Karlinda cut him off with a wave of her hand.

“You won't. Consider it an apology for walking out on your party tonight.”

Charles inclined his head. “Then it would be my honor.”

She nodded and, without a backward glance, left the three of us. My gaze followed her, and my feet itched to do the same. I half considered asking either Cat or Bear to follow her, but it was far more important right now to uncover where Branna was rather than who—or what—was feeding on Karlinda.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Charles,” Julius said, anticipation in his voice. “I'm off to pursue satisfaction.”

“Indeed,” Charles agreed, and caught my hand. “Shall we dance, my dear?”

He didn't wait for an answer. He simply led me deep into the heart of the slow-moving throng and then pulled me so close that every movement, be it breath or excitement, was felt. As the night wore on, and alcohol was consumed, the dancing dissolved into a whole lot more. While I avoided having sex with anyone other than Charles, there was no real joy in the act. Not when all I wanted to do was get out of the place, and away from these people.

It was close to three by the time I persuaded a somewhat drunken Charles to leave. The air taxi deposited us at my building and I all but carried Charles into my apartment.

“A nightcap,” he announced grandly. “We both need a nightcap.”

A smile twitched my lips. “You need to lie down, Charles, before you fall down.”

“I will only do so if you are with me.” He somehow planted a somewhat awkward kiss on my cheek. “My need for you has not dimmed despite the pleasures of the night—”

“So I see,” I replied. “Do you think you can make it up the stairs alone? I'll make us a nightcap.”

“Indeed I can,” he said, and dutifully staggered toward the stairs.

I watched, ready to spring into action should he look ready to topple, but he reached the landing without incident and disappeared into the bedroom. I poured two whiskeys, placed the sleeping draught into one, and mentally hoped it was fast-acting as I followed Charles up the stairs. He was sitting upright on top of the blankets rather than under them, and looked altogether too awake despite his drunken state.

“A vision in sheer blue and jade visits me.” He patted his thighs. “And she brings a nightcap.”

“Technically, you're visiting me, Charles, not the other way around.” I sat astride his lap and handed him the glass. “To the newest Lord. May he rule with a hard but fair hand.”

He chuckled softly and touched his glass against mine. “The hard bit will be no problem with you in my life.”

“Evidently,” I said, amused. Certainly the alcohol hadn't diminished either his ardor or his capabilities. “Do you know what is wrong with Karlinda?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I would rather not talk—”