Sara Humphreys: Vampire Trouble

Maya’s jaw set. The how wasn’t important, but the why was. Why would he spy on her and watch her being attacked while doing nothing to help? What kind of sick, evil son of a bitch gets off on watching something like that? Not only that, but who the hell gave him permission to spy on her in the dreamscape or right here in the bar?

Anger and confusion flashing, she shoved herself away from the bar and glared at him. Shane didn’t retreat but simply held her stare with his usual calm arrogance. Was it arrogance or was it something else…distaste? Did he think she was a whore for flirting with this human and others like him? Did Shane think she deserved what happened to her that night?

Maya bit back tears, refusing to cry in front of him even though the accusing voice of shame kept rolling around in her head. The truth was, Shane wasn’t the one saying those things, she was . She had been drunk that fateful night and had flirted with her date from minute one.

Maybe she had asked for it.

“This place sucks.” The boy blinked and put his beer down while giving Maya a wary look. He took cash out of his back pocket and tossed it on the bar before mumbling something inaudible and walking away. “I’m outta here.”

“Good riddance,” Shane murmured as he watched the boy leave.

“You’re a killjoy,” Maya said, scooping up the money, turning her back on Shane, and closing out the sale. “What’s your deal, anyway? Do you get off by ruining my fun?”

She slammed the register drawer shut, grabbed a wet rag from the sink, and started wiping down the bar. She had to create busywork for herself and get out from under the weight of Shane’s accusing gaze. She was remarkably unsettled by that flashing memory of his eyes in her nightmare but determined to shake off the feeling. She refused to allow this stodgy, old vampire to steal the tiny bit of sanity she clung to.

Maya swallowed the urge to scream and rubbed at the bar faster. She glanced at Shane. He was walking slowly along the opposite side of the bar, keeping his eyes on her with his hands at his sides.

It was ridiculous. How could Shane have been in her dream…unless?

What if he had actually been there that night five years ago? What if he was there, outside that alley, and witnessed what happened but did nothing to help her? Maybe she’d repressed that part of the memory until now.

Panic, fear, and shame filled her, but she refused to cry.

“That human was beneath you,” Shane said quietly. He stood in front of her with his large, dark eyes tracking her every move. His long leather coat, undoubtedly lined with various sentry weapons, hung over his massive frame with almost regal perfection. “You should know that.”

“Exactly,” Maya said with forced sweetness. She refused to let Shane know how unsettled he’d made her. “That was kind of the point.”

“Why do you insist on wasting time with these human men?” He cocked his head to one side, the sharp angles of his masculine face and his chin covered by a perpetual five-o’clock shadow revealed in flickers by the strobe lights of the club. “It’s not simply for their blood, is it?”

“I’ll tell you what it is. It’s none of your business.” Maya paused mid-swipe and puffed a long, blond strand of hair off her face, wrestling with her waning patience. “Why is everyone so damn concerned with what I’m doing?”

“It may not be my business.” Shane stepped closer, so the buckle of the belt on his leather pants clinked against the edge of the bar. He rested both hands on the bar and leaned in, that mesmerizing gaze latched firmly onto hers. “But I’m asking anyway.”

She needed to create some distance between herself and the powerful vampire. He unnerved her. Not because she thought he was going to hurt her but simply due to the power he possessed and the way her body reacted to his.

Every time those glittering eyes locked onto hers, she felt like a light switch went off inside her—but she willed away the sensation. What was the point of entertaining feelings like that when she had no intention of acting on them?

However, he was unavoidable, and night after night for the past few months, he’d been coming to the club, staring her down but saying little. His mere presence was unsettling. Shane was centuries older than she was and radiated raw, unadulterated strength.

She’d heard stories about his skills in battle, and the other girls in the coven speculated about his skills in the bedroom. Trixie and Sadie took bets to see who could bed him first, but he seemed oblivious to their advances. He was a warrior. A sentry with hundreds of years of experience, and by all accounts, the man was death incarnate.

Shane moved in between shadows like a phantom. Even for a vampire, he was fast.

“Tell me, Maya.” His voice seemed to surround her and pulled her from her thoughts. Her belly quivered as he leaned closer. “Why?”

Before Maya could answer him, Olivia’s all-too-familiar voice interrupted their conversation.

“I’m glad to see you sent that kid on his way.” Olivia let out a weary sigh and sat on the bar stool to Shane’s right. Her bright green eyes studied Maya carefully. While rubbing her swollen belly, she said, “I’m impressed you showed such restraint. That one was right up your alley.”

Maya said nothing. Shrugging, she cast a glance at Shane, who was giving her a smug, satisfied look. It made Maya want to punch him square in the nose. The house lights flicked on brightly, bringing Shane’s arrogant grin into full view, and when the music shut off, his voice seemed to fill the entire club.

“Yes.” Shane pushed his hands off the bar and folded his arms over his chest. “Impressive, indeed.”

“Seriously, Maya.” Olivia ran a hand through her long, red curls and smiled. “You’ve come a long way in the last few months. Listen, I know I’ve been kind of bitchy and cranky, but this pregnancy has me all screwed up. Do you know I actually ate food the other day? Actual human food. I made Doug go out in the middle of the afternoon to get me a hot dog.”

“A hot dog?” Shane asked with more than a little disgust. “I won’t even eat the hot dog vendor because of the stench.”

“I didn’t realize you were such a snob,” Maya teased.

“I prefer to think that I have high standards,” Shane responded with a lopsided grin.

“Sounds snobby to me.” Trixie hoisted herself up onto the bar and sat behind Olivia. “Doug was probably just happy to have an excuse to go out in the sun.” Trixie cracked her knuckles and stretched her arms over her pink-haired head. “Damn. I’m not much for monogamy, but if I have a bloodmate out there, he better get his ass to New York quick. I’d love to feel the sun on my skin again—but I could do without getting knocked up and eating hot dogs. Gross.”

“Yeah.” Olivia made a face. “Don’t ask me why or how, but I ate the whole thing. The worst part is that I freaking loved it—or the baby did. Anyway,” she said on a sigh, “I’m sorry if I’ve been tough on everyone, but you know how important it is that we leave the customers alone. It’s in the best interest of the coven. My weirdo pregnancy is drawing enough attention from the supernaturals.” She rolled her eyes and let out a short laugh. “This is the pregnancy heard round the world, and apparently it’s high on the list of things to discuss at this year’s summit in Geneva.”

“Why do they even have that stupid meeting every year?” Trixie snorted. “Were, Amoveo, and vamp stuffed shirts all in one place? Sounds like a fuckin’ bore.”

“And the Fae, the Brotherhood, and the Witches,” Olivia added. “Don’t forget them.”