been the perpetrators. Not the victims.
. . . if I dont pay the car payment, Illhave enough money for the mortgage . . .
. . . told that bastard I wouldnt put up with him being out allnight again . . .
. . . so proud of her, shellgraduate with her class . . .
I rubbed my head once more as the voices got louder. This time, Bones saw it.
Again?
Im fine, I said, attempting a casualtone.
His stare turned pointed. Bollocks.
Ive got it under control, its nothing to worry about, I amended. That was true. Dead bodies took priority over the mentalmutterings going off in
my head.
From his expression, Bones wasnt buying my blasй act, but the clock was ticking on this crime scene. We had bodies to remove, evidence to
erase, and killers to find.
Bones raised his voice. Ed, get up here.
The skinny vampires face pinched when he came inside and saw the bodies. Aw, fuck, he groaned.
Are these Shayne and Harris? Bones asked, in a gentler tone than before.
Ed bent down, sniffing at each body. Vampires might never look a day older than whatever age they were when they were changed, but allthat
ended upon death. After death, a vampires body rapidly composed to their true age, meaning that most of the time, there was nothing left but
mummified remains inside of whatever clothes they died in. These two bodies were no exception.
Ed sat back on his haunches next to the denim-clad body. Thats them, he said in a thicker voice. Then he snarled, Fucking ghouls.
Why dont you go back outside now? I said, giving Eds arm a pat. There was nothing more he could do, but Bones and I stillhad things to take
care of.
Ed gave another long look at Harriss and Shaynes corpses before he got up and walked out. I sighed. This was bad for so many reasons, and
Eds grief was only part of it.
Why do you think they left the bodies? I asked Bones quietly. Ed and Scratch hadnt heard of bodies being found from the other
disappearances. Think the killers got interrupted?
Boness gaze swept around the room. It didnt take long; the area only consisted of a tiny kitchen and a family room big enough for just one full-
sized couch.
No, luv, he said at last. I think whoever did this had the time to take the bodies, but chose not to.
I swallowed. That could be the result of the same sort of arrogance Id seen in the past from killers who left bodies behind because they thought
they were too smart to get caught. But unfortunately, I didnt think that was the case. Instead, this looked like confirmation of a much bigger problem
killers who wanted us to know who they were. Only an idiot wouldnt labelthose ghouls as prime suspects after theyd beaten on Harris just the
evening before he and Shayne were murdered. Those ghouls knew that by leaving the bodies here, they were practically signing their names on
them.
Only one reason I could think ofwhoever was behind this felt strong enough to come out from behind the curtain. This might as wellbe a public
service announcement that the ghouls would start stepping up their attacks, and I didnt think it was a coincidence that theyd chosen to start
displaying vampire bodies in the same area I grew up in. No, I took this as a statement of You cant stop us, Reaper, and damned if Id let that
stand. Vampires might be disappearing in other areas, too, but here was where the perpetrators were calling us out by leaving the bodies. If we
didnt draw a line in the sand here, then wed be almost inviting things to get worse elsewhere.
But theres not much anyone else is going to do about it, is there? I asked in a sudden rush of frustration. My old team wont get involved
because they only step in when the undead attack humans. The vampire community willjust shrug because Shayne and Harris were Masterless. Ed
and Scratch cant take on a bunch of ghouls by themselves, and if we go after the killers and their leader is who I think he is . . . wellbe playing
right into that bastards hands.
Bones stared at me without blinking. You know youre right about your old team, the vampire community, and how we cant openly go after those
ghouls if Apollyon is involved.
Apollyon. An image of the centuries-old ghoulwith his squat body and almost laughable comb-over flashed across my mind. Appearance-wise,
Apollyon might look to be on the ass end of average, but in the past year, hed managed to incite a hellof a lot of trouble. Bones almost died after
ghouls attacked us in Paris severalmonths ago, plus ghouls provided support to another Master vampire in his attempts to force me to return to
him. Allcourtesy of Apollyons inflamed rhetoric. Even though I hoped I was wrong, I just knew he was the one behind these attacks, too.
Of course, that meant allthese terrible things were happening because of me.
We cant let him or the others get away with this, I growled.
Boness mouth curled into a predatory smile. Kitten . . . I said we cant openly go after them.
3
A large shadow passed across the doorway, blocking out the sun as Tiny entered the apartment. The vampires nickname was ironic, because
he was massive in a way that would make even the mythicalConan feelinsecure.
Cops are coming, he said.
Id heard the wailof sirens growing ever closer over the past couple minutes. Guess one of the neighbors had gotten jittery at the sight of severasinister-
looking people milling around the driveway. They obviously hadnt heard the death struggle taking place severalhours before or we wouldnt
have been first on the scene.
You keep nosing around here, Illhandle them, I said to Bones. If we were lucky, Bones might recognize the scent from one of the murderers. In
his two hundred and twenty-plus years as a vampire, hed come across a lot of undead people, and scent was as unique as a fingerprint.
Still, I didnt hold out much hope that wed solve these murders that easily. Bones might know a lot of undead people, but vampires and ghouls
made up roughly five percent of the worlds population. Even with Boness extensive history, there were too many for Bones to know each pulseless
one personally.
Bones glanced at Tiny, who followed me outside. I didnt reach for my cellphone, but that had been my first instinct. Using my government
connections to chase cops away from crime scenes was habit to me after the years at my old job. This next part, however, was stillrelatively new.
Hey, I called down when the police officers arrived and got out of their squad car. Glad youre here, I was just about to call.
Do you live here, maam? We received a report about suspicious persons loitering in the area, the blond cop said, eyeing Tiny in a wary
manner. His partners hand moved to his gun.
Skin that piece again and Illforget Im not hungry, Tiny muttered, so low the cops couldnt hear him.
I stifled a laugh and addressed the police officers again. I dont live here, but my friends place was broken into. Can you check it out?
The cops gave me a once-over as they came up the stairs to the second floor. I smiled in a harmless way and made sure my empty hands were
wellwithin eyesight. Of course, a thorough cop would wonder why I was wearing a long jacket during the warm summer afternoon.
When they were within a dozen feet of me, my gray eyes turned glowing green. I lasered that stare at them, letting the entrapping nosferatu power
cloud their minds.
Theres nothing going on here, I said in a firm, pleasant voice. Turn around and leave, the callwas a false alarm.
Nothing going on, the blond officer intoned.
False alarm, his buddy repeated, his hand leaving his gun.
Thats right. Go on. Serve and protect somewhere else.
They both turned around and got back into their car without another word, driving off. Before I became a vampire, it wouldve taken twenty
minutes and two phone calls to get the same result, unless Bones green-eyed the localcops into leaving. Vampire mind controlsure made it easy
to cut through the bureaucratic red tape when it came to crime scenes.
Bones appeared in the apartment doorway holding two slender, sheet-draped bundles. To any nosy neighbors, he might have been carrying
wrapped horizontalblinds instead of what I knew they werethe remains of Shayne and Harris.
Tiny, put these in your boot, Bones said.
Tiny glanced down at his feet in confusion. I snorted. He means your trunk. British English can be so confusing at times.
Thats only because you Yanks keep renaming things, Bones replied with an arch look, handing off the corpses to Tiny. Then he leapt over the
balcony, landing in the parking lot without a hitch in his stride as he walked over to Ed and Scratch. Both vampires regarded Bones gloomily.
Whatre you doing with their bodies? Ed asked.
Burying them elsewhere, Bones replied.
Scratch ran a hand through his gray-streaked hair. Suppose youllbe off now that youve learned what you wanted to know.>
Scratch sounded resigned. I caught Boness slight smile as I came down to the parking lot the normalway by taking the stairs5
Get in the car, lads. We have some things to discuss.>
I got behind the wheelwith Bones riding shotgun as Ed and Scratch warily climbed into our backseat. From my rearview mirror I saw Tiny stufD
the remains of the two vampires into his trunk, then he and Band-Aid were ready to go.
Back to the mall? I asked, pulling out of the driveway.
Thats fine, Kitten, he replied. His arm rested across the back of his seat as he settled himself in a lounging way while staring at Ed and
Scratch.
Would you try to bring your mates killers to justice if you had assistance? Bones asked them.
A scoff came from Ed. Of course. Shayne didnt deserve to go out like that. Didnt know Harris very well, but he probably didnt, either.
Damn straight, Scratch muttered.
I cast a sideways glance at Bones, wondering where he was going with this and stillunable to plug into his emotions to get a hint. He tapped his
chin thoughtfully.
Would be dangerous, even with help.
Another scoff, this time from Scratch. Living is dangerous when youre Masterless, unless youre one of the lucky strong ones, but I dont expect
youd know much about that.
A smile ghosted across Boness lips. I know a thing or two about dangerous living, in fact, but as you seem not to fancy being Masterless, what
say you to joining my line?
My gaze flew to Bones before flicking to the rearview mirror. Both Ed and Scratch looked stunned. So was I. What Bones was offering was akin
to adopting them.
Think before you answer, Bones went on. Once sworn, you cant change your mind and get your freedom back unless you formally ask for it
and I decide to grant that request.
Ed let out a soft whistle. Youre serious, arent you?
As death, Bones lightly replied.
I heard youre a mean bastard, Scratch said after a long pause. But Ive also heard youre a fair one. I can dealwith mean and fair. Beats being
on my own trying to fight off every asshole who thinks killing Masterless vampires is an easy way to make a name for himself.
My brows went up at this blunt analysis, but Bones didnt look the least bit offended. What about you, Ed?
Why are you offering this? Ed wondered, looking at Bones with narrowed eyes. You know from our power levels that wellnever be Masters.
You cant be hard up for our measly ten percent tithe, either, so whats in it for you?
Bones matched Eds stare. For starters, I want to catch these ghouls, and youd help me with that. You also must have heard that recent wars
killed severalmembers of my line. You were loyalto your mates even after your Master died and you had no obligation to them. Then you were
smart enough not to walk into a potentialtrap without backup. I could use more smart blokes whose loyalty to me, my wife, and my co-ruler would be
without exception.
Ed met my gaze briefly in the rearview mirror before looking back at Bones. Allright, he said, each word measured. Im in.
Bones pulled out a silver knife. I snapped my attention back to the road before I caused a wreck with my frequent glances around the car.
Besides, I knew Bones wasnt about to start stabbing Ed and Scratch. He was just making this official.
By my blood, Bones said, scoring a line in his palm, I declare you, Ed, and you, Scratch, to be members of my line. If I betray this oath, let my
blood be my penalty.
Then Bones passed the knife to Ed, his cut healing before the first drops of blood splashed against his dark pants. I didnt need to look back to
know that Ed made a slice into his palm; the tantalizing new scent of blood told me that.
By my blood, I acknowledge you, Bones, as my Master, Ed rasped. If I betray this oath, let my blood be my penalty.
Scratch repeated the words to the accompaniment of another mouthwatering scent filling the car. Aside from my discomfort with the whole
master aspect that came with vampire lineage, I now had the tightening in my stomach to think about. I hadnt fed since last night and my next meamight
be tricky to get since I had to find someone aside from Bones to drink from. Normalvampires had plenty of options when it came to feeding.
The power in their gaze meant they could snack off humans without their donors remembering it had happened, or vampires exchanged room and
board with specially selected humans in return for blood.
I didnt have those conveniences. Mind controldidnt work on other vampires, and no undead households I knew of had a stable of vampires
available to feed from. Plus, we were stilltrying to keep my strange dietand its side effectsfrom becoming common knowledge. So I couldnt
just ask the next vampire I saw if I could take a bite out of him or her.
Scratch passed the blood-smeared knife back to Bones once he was finished swearing his fealty. I resisted a sudden urge to lick the blade and
concentrated on the road, making a mentalrundown of ways I could get blood. Juan, a member of my old team, was undead just a year, so he was
a possibility. Maybe I could get him to ship some of his blood to me, though Juan would wonder why I wanted it. None of them knew about my odd
diet yet.
Boness best friend, Spade, knew what I fed off of and Id had his blood before, but I didnt want to make it a habit. Spade was a Master vampire,
so that meant he was too strong. Most of Boness friends were too strong, in fact.
Dammit. Not drinking from Bones without starving would be more difficult than Id imagined.
For now, dont tellanyone of our association, Bones said to Ed and Scratch, centering my attention back on the present situation. Go about
your business as if wed never met. Heres a number where you can reach me. At the first sight of those ghouls, you ring me straightaway, but do
not confront them. Understood?
Got it and Sure were the responses. I wondered if they did understand. I did, and wasnt thrilled.
I dropped the vampires off close to the Easton fountain where wed met them, waiting untilId driven a couple miles away before I slanted a
glance at Bones.
Youre using them as bait.
Bones met my gaze, his dark brown stare concealing nothing. Yes.
God, I muttered. Youre not letting them tellanyone that theyve just been upgraded from being Masterless to belonging to a powerfulvampire
so those ghouls willstillconsider them easy meat. Thats deliberately putting them in danger.
No more than they were before, as they said themselves. But now if theyre harmed, Illhave rights under our laws to investigate, he replied with
annoying logic. Believe me, pet, Im hoping nothing happens to them and their usefulness comes from pointing me in those ghouls direction. But if
Apollyon is behind these attacks, we need a way to get to him without looking like were being mindlessly antagonistic. Otherwise . . .
Bones didnt have to finish the sentence. Otherwise, Apollyon willhave more fuelfor the rumors that Im seeking to be some sort of vampiric
Stalin, I mentally finished. Right, because thats what I put on my To Do list every morning. Brush teeth. Wash hair. Rule undead world with an iron
fist.
I dont know why ghouls would listen to Apollyon about me being a threat anyway, I muttered. I might have a wacky diet as a vampire, but
Apollyon cant tellpeople that Illcombine ghouland vampire powers anymore. Changing over took care of that paranoid rant from him.
Boness stare was sympathetic, but unyielding. Kitten, youve been a vampire for less than a year. During that time, youve blown the head off a
Master vampire through pyrokinesis and frozen dozens of vampires into a stupor through telekinesis. Your abilities, plus your occasionalheartbeat,
are bound to frighten some people.
But theyre not my abilities! I burst. Okay, the intermittent heartbeat is mine, but allthe rest were borrowed powers. I dont even have them
anymore, and if I hadnt drunk from Vlad and Mencheres, I never would have gotten them in the first place.
No one knows how you got them, or that you lose them after a while, Bones noted.
Maybe we should tellthem. But even as I said it, I knew better.
He let out what might have been a sigh. If Apollyon knew the source of your abilities, he could argue that you could manifest any power you
wanted merely by drinking from a vampire who had it. Better he just thinks youre extraordinarily gifted based on your own merits.
In other words, no matter how we tried to dress it up, I stillcame across as a dangerous freak. I took in a deep breath in the hopes that the
familiar gesture would calm me. It didnt. Allit did was bring the scent of blood into my lungs, clenching my stomach in an almost painfulway.
Too bad your co-rulers visions stillarent back to fullstrength. That would take the guesswork out of whether or not this is Apollyons doing.
Bones gave a shrug in concurrence. Mencheres has had a few more glimpses into the future, but nothing relating to this, and he stillcant
command his visions at willyet. With luck, his fullpowers willreturn soon.
But untilthen, we were on our own. So we stick to not telling anyone how I absorb power from blood, and to using Ed and Scratch to lead us to
these ghouls to see if Apollyon is behind them.
Thats right, luv.
I closed my eyes. I might not like the plan, but at the moment, it was our best option.
That just leaves one more thing, I said, opening my eyes to give Bones a wan smile. Finding someone other than you for me to feed from.>
4
I didnt recognize the guards who ran onto the helicopter pad to escort me and Bones into the compound run by my former boss and uncle, Don
Williams. Then again, I hadnt been back here since last year. Maybe I shouldve called first. Announcing myself to the controltower once I was
inside their air space wasnt really giving notice, but Don needed to know about the trouble brewing. That sort of information merited a face-to-face
update, in my opinion. Plus Juan was here, and I hoped he was open to the idea of letting me take some of his blood.
Of course, if I were being entirely truthful, Id admit the impromptu helicopter trip to eastern Tennessee was about more than information or even
eating. Business had made Don cancelour last few attempts at getting together, so it had been months since Id seen my uncle. We might have
had a rocky start to our relationship, but Id missed him. This trip was a chance to killthree birds with one stone, which Don should appreciate. He
was allabout multitasking.
We had reached the double doors of the roof when Bones stopped walking so abruptly, one of the guards collided into him.
Bloody hell, Bones muttered.
My head whipped around, but nothing unusualwas going on except the guard looking embarrassed about plowing into Boness back. Then pity
and resolve skittered across my subconscious. I tensed. Those werent my emotions.
What? I asked Bones.
His expression became so controlled that fear flared in me. The guards next to us exchanged baffled glances, but if they knew what the problem
was, I couldnt tell. I couldnt hear anyones thoughts but my own at the moment.
Bones took my hand. His mouth opened, but before he could speak, the roof doors swung outward and a muscular vampire with short brown hair
strode toward us.
Cat, what are you doing here? Tate demanded.
I ignored the question from my former first officer, keeping my attention on Bones. What? I asked a second time.
His hand tightened on mine. Your uncle is very sick, Kitten.
Something cold slid up my spine. I glanced at Tate. From the grim set of his shoulders, Bones was right.
Where is he? And why wasnt I called?
Tates mouth twisted. Dons here, in Medical, and you werent called because he didnt want you to know.
Tate didnt sound like he approved of that decision, but anger flared in me.
So the plan was not to tellme unless there was a funeralto attend? Nice, Tate!
I shoved by him, pulling my hand out of Boness grip to dash into the building. Medicalwas on the second sub-level, one floor above the training
facility and two floors above where we used to house captive vampires. I stabbed at the down button on the elevator, tapping my foot in impatience.
A few startled looks were thrown my way from the guards, but I didnt care that my eyes were glowing or that fangs pressed against my lips. If those
guards didnt know about vampires before, Tate could dealwith altering their memories so they wouldnt remember later.
How the helld you know about Don? I heard Tate demand of Bones.
From the scurry of activity going on to make him presentable for her was Boness short reply. Mind reading, remember?
The elevator doors opened and I went inside, not caring to listen to anything else. Normally Id be worried about leaving Bones alone with Tate
since the two of them mixed like oiland water. But now, allmy thoughts were on my uncle. What was wrong with him? And why would he forbid
anyone to tellme about it?
I almost ran out of the elevator when it opened on the second floor, dashing down the hallway and through the doors marked MEDICAL. I ignored
the staff I passed along the way, not needing them to tellme where my uncle was. Dons coughing and muttering to someone in the last room on the
right told me that.
I slowed when I reached the door, not wanting to burst in if my normally debonair uncle wasnt dressed.
Don? I called out, feeling hesitant now that only a few feet separated us.
Give me a moment, Cat was his response, sounding hoarse but not like he was in imminent danger of dying. Relief swept through me. Maybe
Don had caught swine flu or something equally nasty, but now he was recovering.
A nurse I didnt recognize came out of his room, giving me a look that required no mind-reading skills to interpret.
Hes getting dressed, she said in a crisp tone while the ammonialike scent of annoyance drifted from her.
I take it hes not supposed to be up doing that? I asked her.
No, but thats not stopping him, she replied bluntly.
I can hear you, Anne, my uncle snapped.
She gave me another pointed look before lowering her voice to a whisper. Dont let him overexert himself.
A round of coughing prefaced my uncle muttering, I can stillhear you. My brows rose. Whatever was wrong with Dons health, his ears were
sharp as ever.
After another series of fumbling sounds, my uncle opened the door. He had on a slightly wrinkled pullover shirt paired with gray pants that
matched the color of his eyes. For a second, I just blinked, realizing this was the first time Id seen Don with his hair mussed and wearing something
other than a suit and tie.
Cat. Im afraid youve caught me a bit by surprise.
The irony in his voice was familiar, even if his appearance wasnt. In the months since Id seen my uncle, he seemed to have aged ten years. The
lines around his mouth and eyes were pronounced, his gray hair was nearly white, and his impeccable posture was slightly stooped. I swallowed the
lump that worked its way into my throat.
You know me, I managed. Always a pain in the ass.
Don reached out to squeeze my shoulder. No youre not. Not even when youre trying to be.
The way he said that, combined with the sadness that flitted across his expression, almost made me lose it. Right then I knew that his condition
was terminal. Otherwise, Don wouldve told me with sardonic affection that yes, I was a colossalpain in the ass and always would be. Not held on to
my shoulder with a grip that trembled even as he managed to flash me a smile.
Allthe things Id dismissed before came back in sharp focus. Dons recurring cough the past severaltimes Id spoken to him, brushed off as just
a cold. The plans canceled at the last minute, rescheduled just to be canceled again . . .
I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the weight loss that his clothes concealed, taking in a deep breath that filled my lungs with the scent of
antiseptics, sweat, and sickness. More tears burned my eyes that I blinked back. Whatevers wrong with him, vampire blood willcure it, I reminded
myself, trying to get a grip on my emotions. Don was probably just being stubborn and refusing to drink any, even though he of allpeople knew the
amazing healing powers of undead blood.
Well, Id get him to rethink that stupid decision.
So, I hear you didnt want me to know you were sick, I said, managing to sound mildly chiding instead of hysterically worried. Point for me.
Youve had enough to dealwith lately, Don replied.
I let go of him and swept my gaze around the room. His bed was one of those adjustable ones where the head and foot could be raised, but it
lacked the normalhospitalrails on either side of it. An open laptop was perched on a rolling tray nearby, alongside severalstacked folders, his celphone,
pagers, and an in-house office phone.
How typicalof you not to stop working even though you looked like death warmed over, I said in a half-joking, half-censuring way.
My uncle gave me a balefullook. I might look like death warmed over, but now you are death warmed over, remember?
I wouldve smiled at his quip, but I was too worried by the grayish tone to his skin and the slow, painfulway he moved as he took a step away
from me. My uncle always had a commanding presence no matter the circumstances, but now, he seemed frail. That scared me more than facing
enemy forces while unarmed.
Whats wrong thats got you here? I asked, again controlling the fear that made my voice higher than normal.
I have a bad flu, Don replied, his words roughened by a cough.
Dont lie to her.
Boness voice flowed into the room, and a few booted strides later, so did he. His dark brown gaze focused on Don, who visibly stiffened.
Your abilities dont give you the right to
My bloodline does, I interrupted Don, clenching my hands into fists. Youre my family. That means I have a right to know. And if you dont tel
me, Illjust green-eye your nurse untilshe does, I mentally added.
Don was silent for a long moment, looking between me and Bones. Finally, his shoulder lifted in a faint shrug.
I have lung cancer. His smile was strained, but his trademark dry wit stillrose to the occasion. Appears those warnings on cigarette packages
are correct.