Annie Nicholas - Catch

Handed a huge platter of thoughts to chew on, I listened to the sounds of the dark jungle. So often when I think of the wilderness, I think of tranquility, a peaceful, quiet place, but really the jungle was just the opposite. It was so busy, everything moving and growing, battling for survival.

It was an intimidating place to be and suited Tane’s kingdom.

Gwen hinted to my so-called power, yet what’s the point if I didn’t know how to use it. I couldn’t smooze or seduce like Rurik, hiding behind a mask of false interest. Neither could I scheme like Tane, who made the CIA appear simple.

What power did I hold? I depended on Tane for life and Rurik for love. They didn’t need anything from me.

The sound of the door opening distracted my circular thoughts.

Tane stepped onto the deck after the guards conferred with Gwen. He swaggered to the table, dressed in red silk pajama pants and robe, then sat across from me.

I pulled knees to my chest and leaned my chin on them. “What now?”

With a gesture of his hand, Tane caught the guards’ attention. “Leave us.”

They looked at one another, then at Gwen, who nodded and went into the building.

“You can use this area whenever you wish.” He stared out at the jungle and sat so still I could have mistaken him for a statue. No emotions, nothing. What was he thinking about? “I want…” He cleared his throat then chuckled as he rubbed his nose. “I’m sorry for losing my temper. I shouldn’t have laid a hand on you.”

My mouth dropped open.

He fixed me with a stare then winked. “You have to admit it was a little fun.”

I felt my eyes widen. “No, I won’t. My ass,” I pointed at it, “still hurts.”

Considering me for a moment, he rolled up one of his sleeves.

“What are you doing?” I set my feet to the ground and leaned forward.

“I’m offering to open a vein for you, Rabbit. My blood should heal your aches.” He set his arm on the table.

The hunger didn’t rear its ugly head as I expected. Since last night, I hadn’t felt it stir. “Shouldn’t I be healing on my own?”

“Yes, faster than a regular human, but not as fast as a vampire. Eric used to take half a day at most. If you drink you’ll heal instantly.” He posed a sharp nail over his skin.

“Then I’ll wait.”

“Are you sure? I don’t offer this lightly.” He raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not hungry and want to savor the feeling. A little pain isn’t a high price to pay.”

“No, it’s not. I admit to being curious as to how it feels to have the hunger gone. It’s been so long.” No evidence of envy could be heard in his voice, only curiosity.

I swallowed. What did my hunger disappearing mean? Did Tane’s blood cure me? I remembered Belatia’s curse and my heart drummed. My curse observed me from across the table. “I feel normal for once.” I wanted something though, some kind of assurance from my—my master. “If it returns, will you promise to never withhold your blood from me?” I clenched my hands, hating that I asked.

“I’d never do that.”

“No matter how angry I make you?”

“I’m not the monster you think I am.”

“Even if I set all your knickknacks on fire and mow over your garden?”

He narrowed his midnight eyes. “I’d be more worried about my strangling you.”

“I don’t want to become like Bel.” A weight lifted off my chest once I admitted my deepest, darkest fear.

“I wouldn’t allow that to happen. You’re my companion and your care reflects upon my rule.” He tried to give me a reassuring smile, but a dragon could have done a better job.

“How?”

“What kind of leader mistreats his family? Not a very good one. Vampires are far from stupid, they watch—”

“And wait for any excuse to overthrow you.” I sat back and rested my hands on the armrests. The jungle appeared less threatening with Tane present, a tiger in his kingdom.

Sharp, solid fangs glinted in the moonlight as he grinned. “I do appreciate your candor, Connie. You treat me as if—as if I were a man.” His smile faded and he went back to observing the trees. An emotionless mask veiled his face once more.

The use of my real name caught me off guard. I’d forgotten he’d known it.

Something haunted him and I suspected it bore icy, blue eyes with jet-black hair. I sighed as I chewed on my inner cheek. “But it’s not me you want acting this way.”

He twisted his neck to face me with a bland stare.

“It’s Rurik you want.” Dread clutched my soul. I’d never had to compete against a man before. Was I nuts? Rurik never gave me the impression he swung both ways.

Tane’s mask crumbled and he allowed me to see his anguish. It pulled at my compassion to see the loneliness in his expression. I understood being alone. “He can’t see past my crown. If I asked him to leave you, would he do it because he wanted to or out of duty?” He ran his hand over his bald head. “How I wish for the old days when neither of us had responsibilities.”

The fist of dread clutched tighter. Old days? Sometimes I forgot Rurik had a past. He never liked talking about himself and always used his charm to distract me when I asked.

Yet here sat Tane, complaining like a girl scorned. “Excuse me. I’m sitting across the table.” I waved my hands in the air in case he couldn’t spot me.

He rolled his eyes. “Not to worry. You’re my companion, I’d share. We really need to educate you on your role.”

“My—” I blinked. “You—” My tongue wanted to go one direction and brain the other. The son-of-a-demon-whore wanted to steal my vampire. “I. Don’t. Share.” I spat out each word, getting a hold on my thoughts.

“That’s not fair.” The expression of shock on his face looked genuine, but how could I ever tell with a millennia old Nosferatu. He probably schooled himself in controlling all his emotions.

“Too bad, who says I play by the rules?” I leaned forward and pointed my finger at him. “Keep your sharp claws off Rurik.” The gall Tane had to casually try to take over my relationship. “You know, I came out here for some peace and quiet. I don’t remember inviting you to sit with me.”

“It’s my deck.”

“ Our deck, baby. I’m your companion now. You better watch out or I’ll start demanding to move in with you next. Think I’m a bitch now, wait until I PMS.” I began to understand what Gwen hinted at about power. As Tane’s companion, he needed to treat me well, especially since he started this campaign for zero kill tolerance and keeping humans as Rurik did in Budapest. A strong vampire lord should be able to dote on his pet. I smiled at him. “Rurik’s mine. Everyone here knows it.”

“So you’ll keep me from him forever. Trapped in this bond, yet unable to fulfill my desires?” He echoed my earlier worries and it stunned me.

Could I be so cruel? I shrugged. Sure.

Standing in a smooth motion, he spun and left in a furl of red silk. At the door, he stopped and faced me. His robe loosened, exposing his well-muscled bare chest. “If he comes to me of his own free will, I won’t refuse him.”

I ground my teeth. “If he does then you can keep him.”

A twang rang through the air from behind me. Something whistled through the air and made the curls by my right cheek flutter.

Red bloomed from Tane’s left shoulder, like a great amaryllis flower with a stick as a stem. Time slowed.

I squinted at the image and frowned, Tane had an arrow sticking out of him. A wooden shaft worked just as well as a stake He wobbled on his feet, staring wide eyed at the injury.

I steadied him before I even realized I’d run over to help. Growing up on the streets taught me the ability to scream like a banshee when needed. It sometimes scared trouble away or better, attracted help. I screeched with everything I had and it echoed against the mansion.