Sara Humphreys: Vampire Trouble

That is one badass vampire. Trixie’s voice, laced with awe and admiration, flickered into Maya’s mind.

More like bossy , Maya shot back.

And sexy. Trixie bumped her hip against Maya’s playfully. Damn, girl. Can’t forget sexy. I’d give my left fang to take a tumble with him, but if you ask me, he’s got it bad for you.

No way. Maya didn’t want to admit that she thought Shane was sexy. She locked eyes with Shane and her stomach flip-flopped, reminding her, briefly, of what it was like to be human.

His lips lifted at the corners briefly before he looked back at Rat.

“You try my patience.” Shane’s tone, low and deadly, filled the club, which had fallen silent. Sadie, the club’s DJ and Olivia’s oldest coven member, flew down from the DJ platform and stood in a protective position next to Olivia. “As you can see, the rest of Maya’s coven is not in the mood for you and your misogynistic attitude, either.”

“Misogynistic?” Sadie folded her arms over her breasts, nodding her approval. “I’m impressed. You’re full of surprises, Shane.”

“No surprise how bossy he is,” Maya muttered.

Shane slanted a doubtful look in Maya’s direction before turning his attention back to Rat. “Olivia is the czar of this district, and when you are in my presence, you will treat her and every other woman you encounter with respect.” He put Rat back on his feet, yanked him close, and growled in his ear. “Or you will deal with me.”

“Let him go, Quesada,” Olivia said evenly. “We’ll give him three minutes to say what he came to say and then he’ll be leaving. Won’t you, Rat?”

Maya did her best to stop staring at Shane, but it was an effort in futility. In spite of his annoyingly overbearing nature, he was magnetic, powerful, and frightening all at once. Maya’s fingers drifted to the necklace again as she studied him. It was no secret that Rat was a troublemaker and would probably stab Olivia in the back in a hot minute, so she couldn’t really blame Shane for his reaction.

“Yes,” Rat gurgled and his eyes bugged out.

“Speak.” Shane released him but stood ready to take further action. He glanced briefly at Maya. “And choose your words carefully.”

“Thanks.” Rat rubbed at his neck absently and took a step backward, increasing the distance between himself and Shane, but he backed right into Damien, the club’s bouncer. Rat almost jumped out of his skin. “Shit, your coven just seems to come out of the fuckin’ woodwork, Olivia.”

“Two minutes and thirty seconds,” Shane murmured.

“Alright, alright.” Rat held his hands up. “I just wanted to let the czars know that we’ve got some special visitors coming into the city, and given Olivia’s condition , I thought she’d want a heads-up.”

“What visitors?” Olivia asked quietly.

“Werewolves.” A smile slithered over his face. A collective groan rose from the group. Wolves and vampires had battled each other since the beginning of time, and even though a treaty was in place, the tension still ran thick beneath the surface. A few lone wolves lived in the city but not an entire pack. “Not just any wolves. It’s the prince and his little pack of bachelors.”

“Royalty?” Maya asked with genuine curiosity. She’d never met a werewolf, let alone a royal. “That’s exciting.”

“That is not the word I would choose,” Shane murmured.

“What a shocker.” Maya rolled her eyes.

Shut up . Trixie elbowed Maya. Can’t you tell how freaked out Olivia is?

Maya looked at her maker and guilt tugged at her. Trixie was right. Olivia seemed unsettled by Rat’s announcement.

“Shit,” Olivia groused. “King Heinrich’s son? I am in no mood to placate an overprivileged little werewolf punk. Damn it. I’m sure that Emperor Zhao is going to be annoyed,” Olivia said, referencing the leader of all vampires.

“Do you think it has to do with your pregnancy?” Sadie asked with concern. She tucked a long strand of brown hair behind her ear and wrapped an arm over Olivia’s shoulder. “A pack comes to town right before you give birth? That’s just too much of a coincidence for me.”

“Do you think they’re coming here looking for a fight?” Trixie asked. “Or maybe they’re on some kind of recon mission.”

“I suppose it’s possible, but I doubt it. King Heinrich has always been forthcoming in the past, which is why I’m surprised he didn’t mention this visit to the Emperor. I’ve always gotten a heads-up from the Presidium’s main office in Hong Kong before a visit like this. Hell, even the lone wolves or couples who visit here notify us before they arrive, let alone an entire pack.”

“And they’re coming into the city while we are down a sentry,” Shane said. “Pete is not scheduled to return from paternity leave for another month. This sounds more unappealing by the second.”

Shane was referring to Pete Castro, a vampire sentry whose mate, an Amoveo shapeshifter, had delivered twins about six months ago. Olivia had granted him time off to be with Marianna and the babies, but it seemed really weird to hear this centuries-old vampire say the words “paternity leave.”

“You and Paxton sure have modernized your little corner of the vampire world,” Rat said with thinly veiled disgust. “What’s next? Sun insurance?”

It was glaringly apparent to Maya that other vampires, as well as other supernaturals, were irked by Olivia’s pregnancy. Bloodmates created daywalking vampires, and based on Olivia’s pregnancy, they could possibly create daywalking offspring. If more vampires found their bloodmates, then what would that mean for the old-fashioned kind who burst into flames in the sunlight?

“When are they arriving and how long are they staying?” Olivia asked.

“They get here tomorrow night and are planning on staying for a week. I heard they’re staying in the Presidential Suite at the Plaza.”

A look of concentration settled over Olivia, one that Maya recognized. She could tell Olivia was telepathing with Doug, the other czar and her mate. Olivia’s green eyes refocused and flicked back to Rat.

“How did you come across this little tidbit of information, Rat? King Heinrich should have been the one to alert us to his son’s visit.”

“Viola, one of my familiars,” Rat said, referring to the handful of humans who know about the existence of vampires. “She hooked up with one of the prince’s flunkies when she was back home in Alaska visiting her mom. Anyway, all of my familiars are loyal to me.”

Rat smirked and Maya didn’t miss the look of annoyance on Olivia’s face. Having too many humans involved in vampire business always made her uncomfortable.

“Viola came in to work tonight blathering on about how her new werewolf boyfriend was coming to the city for a visit. She’s a bit of a star-fucker and is moony-eyed that she’s banging a guy directly connected to royalty. The king is at the fuckin’ summit or something, so I’m getting the feeling that the kid didn’t ask Daddy’s permission. Otherwise, I’m sure you would have known about this before me .”

“I don’t blame Olivia for being concerned,” Sadie said. “Our truce with the wolves has been solid for the past two centuries, but it was King Heinrich’s great-grandfather who signed the treaty on behalf of the wolves—not him. You also said it’s a pack of bachelor wolves, which makes them even more dangerous.” Sadie’s expression grew dark and her voice wavered. “They’re even more vicious when they’re unmated.”

“Wolves cannot be trusted,” Shane said quietly. “We should take every precaution.”