After Kent left I tried to sort through my feelings and thoughts. There was no mistaking it. I was no longer the person I had been twenty-four hours ago—if I was a person at all. I wasn't going to get any help from other vamps. They were going to try to kill me. Tige, the Rastafarian, was who I needed to be talking to. Somehow I didn't sense malice in his actions. He had turned me because of the accident. But where was he? Tony had mentioned a Rogue who made a Third—me. Why hadn't he come back to help me, though?Okay, it was a big problem, but I had other pressing concerns. I was one of the undead, so how the hell was I going to work my nine to five? And my friends and family were definitely not going to be happy about this. And you know what? I kinda liked the sun. And I'd never be able to eat another chocolate bar. Also, I'm not sleeping in a coffin! I'm not going to be a fashion victim either. If I had to be undead, I was going to still rock my DKNY and BABY PHAT.I stopped m
Instead I thought of some reason that he wouldn't want to see me at work—like if I had spinal meningitis or hepatitis…"Well my doctor said that this…rash isn't contagious…as long as the pus stops draining from the sores. But if you really need me in I don't mind wearing gloves. And I can spray disinfectant just in case he's wrong and this stuff all over me is actually contagious. Well…I'll just call in later in the week. Bye." I hung up the phone contemplating how I would handle work, and something became clear to me. I believed that somehow I was coming back from this. I'm a Vampire. Why the hell am I worried about what to tell my boss? My death, unfortunately, superseded my ability to hold a job. I was about to hold another pity party when I heard a noise outside my door. Somebody or something was standing outside my apartment door.Fear like a cold hand gripped me. "Who's there?" I whispered from my bedroom."Let me in," a voice said more in my head than out loud.My breath c
"It's in the way you talk," Tony interrupted, "the way you sit, even the way you continue to breathe even though you no longer need oxygen in your lungs." His gaze returned to me. I caught my breath and held it. Damn. He was right. I was making myself breathe. That was why there was such an air of calm about him. It wasn't only that he was a cool guy.He wasn't breathing.I was having a tough time staying focused on what was important instead of on how fine Tony was as he paced back and forth in front of me. "I, um, am I in trouble for killing that man last night? I mean, it was kill or be killed.""Johan? No. Had it been an actual kill you would have been given his seat on the Council. We understand it was his recklessness that caused his death."I could see that there was something more, or Tony wasn't exactly pleased about something, but the human part of me didn't want credit for a murder, and the Vampire part wasn't developed enough to understand why I should."Johan." I spo
"We don't need a car to travel."Can I fly? Or did I turn to mist ... Oh no, not a bat! I didn't want to turn into a winged rat! "Tony, I'd rather just take the car." Tonight I simply didn't think that I could take another revelation. Tony shook his head. "Can't. There's no time. We couldn't drive to my house from here before dawn. I don't live in the city." "So … how are we … going to get there?""Don't worry, I'll do all of the work."He took hold of my arm, and I would have pulled back except I didn't want to end up falling through Never-Never Land. "Relax," he said. I shivered at the masculine tone of his voice so close to me. How could I relax when I was going off somewhere with a man, vamp—whatever! -–who had just tried to kill me?I wondered if I was making the worst mistake of my undead life. ~*~We were moving.No, the world around us was moving.I was getting a serious case of vertigo.I felt as if I was on the verge of stumbling except I didn't because Tony
He led me down a corridor whose walls were lined with paintings of beaches and natives with children frolicking in the sunshine.The corridor led to a thick wooden door. The door opened to a long, stone stairwell like the one in the Council house. Thinking about that made me wary. Tony led the way but he kept looking back at me as if he thought I was going to chicken out. Hell, at this late hour I had no choice but to trust him.We got to the bottom of the stairs. The temperature was much cooler, and it was definitely underground. I didn't feel as if I was in a cellar, though. The space was very comfortable.The stairs ended in a spacious room that had the feel of 1001 Arabian Nights. There were satin cushions and settees. Silks hung from the ceiling and walls. Colorful pendant lights provided splashes of brightness. The stone floor was covered in expensive throw rugs that at first glance appeared haphazard but were artful."Wow ..." I said, my mouth hanging open. "This ... is ..
My eyes opened to what at first appeared to be the sunshine. I blinked in confusion until my vision cleared. I knew that I wasn't in my bed though I didn't immediately remember why.My fingers brushed the soft fur of the comforter, and I remembered the events of the previous night. Tony Yates. This was his house. I sat up and allowed my legs to swing over the side of the most comfortable bed I had ever slept in.I dressed and examined myself in one of the many mirrors. My eyes weren't as vibrantly gold as the night before, but nothing else about my look had changed. I puffed my hair. Damn, but I was loving this two-toned gold hair. My skin had even taken a slight golden sheen. I didn't need even a touch of makeup. I rubbed my hands down my toned belly and thighs. I did a little spin to admire the shape of my butt.A woman cleared her throat behind me. How the hell didn't I hear that with my new hearing?It was the Asian Council woman, the one who had called me out for using the wor
I don't like being grabbed, and I felt my teeth extend even further than ever.Tony's brow furrowed and he released his hold. "Kim, tell me what happened." I hurried around him. "Wait a minute, Kim!" He grabbed my arm again.I pushed him off balance and thought of the long corridor that led to this lower level, and was standing there an instant later. I knew Tony was hot on my heels, so I darted into the main room—where something bowled me over and left me sprawling on the floor.Tony pinned me facedown on the cool marble floor. My bag went flying. My first instinct was to struggle, kick, and claw, but facedown I had no power. Instead, I froze."Look," Tony growled in my ear. "I'm going to let you up, but stop running. I can catch you without breaking a sweat. Do you understand?"I didn't move.He gave me a small shake. "Do. You. Understand?!""Yes," I grumbled.He rose off me and offered me his hand. I didn't accept it so my rise wasn't quite as nice as his had been.He
He smiled. "First things first." He offered me his hand. "We're going shopping."I wanted to protest but couldn't. I really wanted to go shopping because I wasn't rolling in spare clothes.He led me outside to a waiting black Mercedes-Benz in the driveway. "You drive?""Of course. I'm not so far gone that I can't appreciate nice things." His eyes appraised me. He was flirting again. Hmmph. I wasn't going to bite. He led me to the car and I saw Mei Wah behind the wheel waiting. When I got in, Mei Wah gave me a look that seemed full of shame. "I'm sorry, Miss Kim. Tony told me about Kaniji sneaking into the house."I noticed he referred to me as Miss, but there was nothing in front of Kaniji's name. "Believe me, if I had known she was in the vicinity," Mei Wah said, "I would have made certain that she would have never entered the lower level.""Thanks, Mei Wah. I appreciate that."Once we were settled in, Mei Wah turned on the CD player and some gentle jazz wafted through the s