N. Walters - Quinn's Quest

Her life had taken a strange turn and there was no going back to normal , whatever that was.

A flash of heat took her unaware. This one was strong, almost overpowering. She bit her lip to keep from moaning aloud.

Behind her, Quinn stiffened. Benjamin inhaled deeply and Michael let out a low growl. Even quiet Kevin shifted closer to her. Only the mated males, as well as Craig and, strangely enough, Hank, seemed unaffected.

Isaiah swore. “Let’s hope Damek gets here soon.”

Bethany wrapped her arms around her body while waves of desire swamped her. She didn’t know if she should leave. As much as she wanted to help Chrissten, Bethany knew she wasn’t helping anybody by distracting the single males.

She’d be glad when this biological phase had passed. That’s what she’d decided to call it. Saying she was in heat was simply too primal, too animalistic.

“You okay?” Quinn’s voice was barely a whisper in her ear. His hot breath caressed the sensitive nerve endings in her ear. Her body tingled. Her skin felt alive.

“Do you want to go upstairs and rest?”

Bethany turned her head to answer him, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was glaring at the other males who were watching her. She wanted to crawl under the floorboards and hide. This was so embarrassing. They all knew she was aroused. It might be a natural thing for their species, but it was embarrassing as hell. She’d been totally human only weeks ago. At least that’s what she’d thought. Just because she knew differently now didn’t make it any easier to deal with.

“I think I—” She was cut off as the door flew open. She knew it had been locked. She’d watched Hank turn the deadbolt.

A dark presence seemed to fill the room. Then a man stepped through the doorway. No, not a man. There was something about him that wasn’t quite human, a dark, almost sinister energy that seemed to sweep before him to announce his presence. This was the vampire. The mysterious Damek had arrived.

Bethany couldn’t drag her eyes away from the vampire. He was tall and his skin was pale. His lithe body was covered with a designer suit, but he wasn’t wearing a satin-lined cloak like in the old movies. She was almost disappointed. She could tell by the way it fit him his suit hadn’t come off any rack, but had been tailored to his exact measurements. His hair was black as night and flowed to his shoulders. His eyes were just as dark. They seemed to absorb the light around him.

He was extremely handsome. He was also scary as hell. This was a man with many secrets. A dangerous man who had watched time pass him by. She had no idea how old Damek was, but he appeared ageless, like an old soul in a young man’s body. There was just something about him that told her to beware. She had enough animal instinct to know this was a man she didn’t want to make an enemy of, a man who should be approached with great caution.

Quinn wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she slid off the barstool. She was grateful for the support.

Damek’s gaze passed over the group, pausing to study her and Quinn. One corner of his mouth twisted upward into a brief smile as if he were amused by something before he continued his perusal of the others in the room.

The door closed behind him with a thump. Bethany jumped. She was extremely nervous. What did one say to a vampire? Better for her to blend with the background and let the others do the talking.

Isaiah stepped forward. “You ever think about knocking?”

Damek inclined his head. “I think about it, but then ask myself why would I bother?” Beside her, Bethany heard Craig give a snort of laughter at Damek’s reply

Meredith laughed and welcomed their guest while Isaiah simply scowled at him. “Good evening, Damek.”

Damek inclined his head. “Gracious as always.” His gaze cut sideways toward Isaiah. “How do you Strikers find such exquisite females?”

Isaiah dragged his mate closer, his arm wrapping possessively around her. Meredith patted Isaiah’s arm while she continued to speak to Damek. “Have you discovered anything new?”

The vampire shook his head and Bethany felt the muscles in Quinn’s arm tighten around her. “I have heard nothing yet, but I have feelers out everywhere.” He seemed to flow across the floor, his movements smooth and graceful, like a dancer. One moment he was near the door, the next he was in front of her and Quinn.

“It is an abomination what is being done to your sister. I am sorry for that.”

Bethany felt some of the tension leech slowly out of Quinn. “Thanks. I appreciate anything you can do.”

The vampire lifted his hand toward Bethany. She shrank back, unable to stop herself. The dark energy coming off Damek frightened the crap out of her. Quinn growled. The other males in the room shifted restlessly. The moment was fraught with danger.

“I mean you no harm, little one,” Damek promised. He lowered his hand, but she still felt a light brush against her skin as though he’d touched her.

The vampire shook his head. “Yet another beautiful woman to add to your pack.” He shook his head and sighed. “You Strikers are lucky bastards.”

Heat climbed up Bethany’s cheeks. She fought the urge to turn her face into Quinn’s chest and hide. She hated feeling like she was on display in front of everyone.

Damek snapped his gaze from her and turned his attention to Quinn. “Do you have a list of properties that you haven’t checked yet?” Damek’s eyes seemed to be lit by an inner fire, one that burned hot and dark. Bethany found his eyes mesmerizing and scary at the same time. She wanted to look away but couldn’t pull her gaze from him.

Craig stepped forward. “I’ve got an expanded list. I’ve marked off the ones we’ve already checked out. I came up with a couple new places. I thought we might have a look at them tonight.”

Damek smiled and she caught a flash of sharp white teeth. “Ah, the human.” He snatched the list from Craig’s hand and perused it. “You have done well.”

Quinn growled low. Threatening.

Damek waved his hand. “I mean your brother no harm, wolf. He’s interesting for a human. And unlike many of your kind, I like humans.”

Bethany didn’t want to think about the reason Damek liked humans. Vampires needed blood to survive. Or at least that’s what all the legends said. She was quickly learning there was some truth to folklore when it came to werewolves, so why not vampires?

The thought of having to take blood to survive made Bethany’s stomach roil. She swallowed hard, afraid to look away from the powerful creature in front of them.

“If you ever get tired of working for wolves I could use someone like you,” Damek said to Craig, ignoring the way Quinn and the rest of the males in the room bristled.

“Leave my pack alone, Damek.” Isaiah strolled over to stand next to Craig. He looked huge next to the younger man. He also looked prepared to fight, which surprised Bethany.

“Ah, you werewolves are so territorial.”

Isaiah snorted. “And you’re not?”

Damek chuckled. “I won’t deny it.” He shrugged. “I was here long before this place was anything more than a smudge on a map and I’ll probably be here long after all of you are gone.”

There was a deep, compelling sadness in his voice that made Bethany frown. He sounded…lonely. She couldn’t begin to imagine how old Damek was.

He settled his dark gaze on Isaiah. “I wouldn’t hurt your human. I was offering him a job. His computer skills are impressive.”

Craig gave a rueful smile. “Thanks, but I’m happy here. With my family.” His gaze slid to Quinn, but he quickly returned it to the vampire.