Cat Adams - Blood Song

missed feeling like this. Missed him.

He moaned then, apparently thinking the same thing, because his hands found their way under my

shirt and began to tingle my breasts and parts lower with that old, familiar magic. Even before, he’d

been able to use magic during sex to make things feel … better. Now it wasn’t just better, it was

amazing . My muscles began to ache with need, and the flush of early embarrassment had turned to

heat of a whole different kind.

The sensations were scary amazing, and he realized it, too. Gentle caresses turned desperate and

demanding, our hands clutching at any hint of bare skin. It happened so fast I couldn’t catch my breath

and I realized we were a ticking time bomb. If we didn’t stop soon, a lot of things were going to happen

—some we’d probably regret. But only some.

He pul ed back from the kiss, his pupils ful y dilated and his breathing harsh. A ful -out shudder

wracked his body and his hands clenched into fists, as though struggling against his better judgment to

reach for me again.

I knew the feeling.

“I’d better go get dressed.” As he stepped back, out of reach, I noticed that the towel was tenting out

from his body.

“Either that or take a cold shower,” I cal ed after his rapidly retreating form. I didn’t hear his response,

but I was wil ing to bet it was profane. Frankly, I could use a cold shower myself. My lips were stil

tingling from both residual magic and sheer body heat. Damn, he was going to be a tough man to

ignore while he was in town.

I was stil shivering when I crossed the room to sit at the table by the balcony. The late-afternoon sun

glimmered through the metal ic fabric of the ful -length sheers. I pul ed out the nearest chair, setting it in

the shadows just past the edge of the light, and settled myself in comfortably to wait. The same

magazine I’d purchased earlier was sitting on the polished wood surface of the table. I stared at the

cover, trying to figure out exactly what was bothering me about the picture.

Obviously I felt sorry for the fiancée. I mean, if the real prince was anything at al like the fake, he was

a complete scumbag. But there she sat, at a long table in an elaborately decorated room, facing the

throng of press. She was seated between the prince and a sour-looking old man in traditional garb who

could only be her father.

Arrayed at an angle behind them on either side of a pair of national flags were what appeared to be

military-issue bodyguards, al large, al male. There was nary a smile to be seen in the group. Damn it,

what was it about this picture? I tried to bludgeon my brain into giving up the information, but it just

wouldn’t. Maybe if I read the article.

I started to flip through the magazine and had just reached the page I wanted when Bruno stepped

into the room, ful y dressed. “Okay, let’s go. Daylight’s burning.”

We got back to PharMart as the sun was sinking in the western sky.

Bruno and I had run through one of the chain roast beef restaurants. He had the French—I had the

dip. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but we’d had to do something. The sun was starting to sink toward the

western horizon and I could feel my body starting to tense. Everything was so intense. I could hear

heartbeats. Scent sweat and fear in ways that I would never have believed possible.

“Are you going to be able to do this?” Bruno’s voice was gentle, but he wouldn’t look at me,

deliberately pretending that pul ing the rental car into a parking spot in the nearly empty PharMart lot

took every bit of his attention.

“I’m fine.” I was … mostly. My skin wasn’t glowing and my vision hadn’t gone into hyperfocus. But I did

wonder if I would’ve had a repeat of last night if I hadn’t eaten. Would every sunset be a battle? Scary

thought, and one I refused to dwel on. For now, there were vampires to slay. Matteo was already there,

had done his meditation and was ready to go. We didn’t know when, or if, the bat would show up. So we

needed to be ready.

Matteo tapped on the window. If he was nervous, I couldn’t tel . His expression was serious, even

grim, but that was it.

“I cal ed the order. They confirmed I won’t get any backup from my fel ow priests.” He sighed. “They

admit the vampire is a serious threat, but our resources are stretched very thin here on the West

Coast.” He made it sound matter-of-fact, but I was shocked. It’s a big order, with a lot of resources.

They couldn’t even spare one monk? That made no sense. Unless … “It isn’t just one minor demon

anymore, is it?” I spoke softly, mainly because I was scared. I might not remember everything from

col ege, but the chapters on demonology were gruesome enough to be unforgettably etched in my

mind.

“I did not say that.” Matteo had paled and started trembling. “And don’t you say it, either. We can’t

afford for word to get out. It’d start a panic.”

“Oh, shit. Should you even be here?” Bruno’s voice was a little breathy. Evidently I wasn’t the only one

who remembered my studies.

Matteo closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m supposed to be on medical leave. I’m not al owed to help

with the other problem, so I might as wel be here.”

I hadn’t seen any injuries, but if he was hurt enough that they weren’t letting him on the demon hunt,

he was probably too hurt to be doing this. I opened my mouth to say just that, but a look from Bruno

silenced me.

Ah, male pride—or maybe just DeLuca pride. Matteo couldn’t be in on the big demon hunt, but he

needed to do something . So we were giving him the next best thing, an übervamp. If things went

according to plan, we should be able to take her down without anyone getting hurt. Of course, how

often do things actual y go according to plan?

I squashed that thought like a roach. It was as good a plan as we could make. We were wel armed.

Matteo was the weaker of the two brothers when it came to magic, so he reactivated the outer ring of

defenses. It takes less power to recharge something that’s already established than to set up

something new. Bruno would have the harder job, but I didn’t doubt he was up to it. I was just there to

play trigger woman.

If the authorities showed up they’d do the dirty work for me, but I didn’t think they’d be here. I’d done

my civic duty and cal ed in to get the kil sanctioned, but the police forces were stretched pretty damned

thin this week. Anaheim was hosting the World Series for at least two games—night games. Al hands

had to be on deck, particularly with the militant priestly orders otherwise occupied. Then again, maybe

that was why the demons and bats were moving now. They might be evil, but they weren’t stupid.

Matty walked the ring using holy water. I felt the hum of magic vibrate through the ground at my feet. It

raised the hairs al over my body, and I wondered if it was too much. If I could sense it, maybe she

would, too. If she did, she wouldn’t cross the line and get caught in our trap. I opened my mouth to say

as much, but the magic eased back down before I could get a word out.

Shaking my head, I went back to examining my weapons. Nothing had changed since I’d checked

them earlier, but I needed reassurance. I find the razor’s edge of a knife and the smel of gun oil