Immortal Craving (Dark Dynasties) (3 page)

Or maybe he’s just sick.

Her eyes flickered over his face again, just quickly enough for her to register that he was far from sickly looking. Actually, he was gorgeous.

“Sir?” she asked loudly, shaking him by the shoulders. “Sir, can you hear me?”

A soft groan indicated he was coming to… she hoped.

“Sir, if you can hear me, I’m calling an ambulance right now. We’ll get you some help.”

Bay gestured to Shelby, who headed back for the counter, and the phone. Bay had only begun to turn her head back toward the man when he shot to his feet in a scatter of shampoo bottles, moving so quickly she barely knew what was happening. There was a whisper of air against her cheek, and then he was on his feet, backing away from where she crouched. His hand was at his temple, and he winced as though his head hurt.

Bay rose quickly to her feet, a protective hand on her dog as he once again put himself between her and the stranger with a volley of deep, threatening barks.

The man’s eyes moved quickly from the dog to the mess, and then to the two women staring at him wide-eyed. He spat a word in a language Bay didn’t understand, then held out one hand as the other fell away from his temple.

“Please… a moment. I’m not going to hurt you.”

His voice was silken, a warm tenor no less commanding for its softness. His accent was a blend, faintly British but with an exotic lilt.

“You need to leave,” Shelby said, her voice shaking.

“Shelby,” Bay said softly, a gentle reproach. Whatever was wrong here, freaking out on their part was not going to help it. When she turned her head to look at her friend, however, she could see something was very wrong. Shelby
had gone sheet-white, her dark eyes huge as she stared at the man’s face.

“
Shelby
,” she said more sharply, hoping to draw her attention away. The look on her friend’s face wasn’t one she’d ever seen before… or ever wanted to see again.

“His…
eyes
…,” Shelby whispered.

Bay turned her head sharply to look at him, and when his eyes locked with hers, she finally understood.

The guy who’d just wrecked her shampoo display wasn’t human. Not even close.

His eyes were a bright, burning gold, more akin to molten metal than the more muted shades she’d seen among the werewolves who stayed with Lily’s dynasty. They were intense, mesmerizing. He stared at her for an instant that felt much longer than it truly was, and in her head she heard his voice as clearly as if he’d been speaking in her ear. It was far too intimate, and still it made her shiver.

Be still. I would speak with you.

His gaze returned to Shelby, who was fumbling now with the phone. Bay heard Shelby’s terrified, sobbing breaths even out instantly, heard the phone being clicked off, and then the gentle creak of the stool behind the counter as the girl settled herself on it. She said nothing.

“So you’re a vampire,” Bay said quietly, adrenaline still pumping hard and fast through her veins. Only Grimm’s reassuring presence kept her from running out the door, the urge to flee an instinct that her rational mind knew would make no difference. If he wanted to catch her, he would. She should have known what he was as soon as he’d gotten up—no human could move so fast.

“I don’t know how you’re out in the middle of the afternoon, but whatever you came in here for, I can’t help you.”

Bay was glad her voice sounded so steady, considering her legs felt like Jell-O.

The man said nothing, his expression guarded. And despite herself, despite knowing she was in the presence of a creature who had just thralled her employee into a happy stupor, a creature who was out during the day when there was no earthly way he should be, Bay felt the vampire’s physical appeal slam into her like a fist.

They’re all beautiful. You’re used to it
, she told herself, furious at the way her heartbeat quickened. And a treacherous little voice in the back of her mind responded,
They may all be beautiful… but not like this.

Those remarkable eyes, deep set and almond shaped, watched her steadily from beneath a pair of dark, slashing brows. His nose was strong, his lips tantalizingly full, and his square jaw was covered in a light growth of stubble. The vampire’s hair, wavy and black as sin, was cut short enough not to fall into his eyes but long enough to tousle, and Bay had to tear her eyes away when her fingers curled reflexively into her palm, itching to run her fingers through it, over every inch of this stranger’s tanned and gold-dusted skin.

It was Grimm’s soft growl that finally sliced through her haze. She blinked rapidly and shook her head, making sure not to meet the vampire’s eyes again. Lily had been very clear about how to protect herself from the less well-behaved members of the species, and Bay was glad for it. Poor Shelby was going to be in her own little world until this guy left, and then, Bay knew, the girl wouldn’t remember any of this. A heavy thrall could really do a number on a person.

She didn’t want her own brain messed with to boot.

Finally, he spoke.

“You’re close friends with the ruler of the Lilim, aren’t you?” he asked. “Lily MacGillivray. And you’re Bailey Harper. This is the information I was given.”

“Given by who?” Bay asked, fighting back the fresh sliver of fear working its way down her spine. He’d said he had no intention of hurting them, but still… vampires didn’t come looking for her. Especially not day-walking vampires with wild eyes and problems staying conscious.

He moved to pick up a pair of sunglasses on the floor, and she was struck again by his natural grace. It shouldn’t have surprised her. The majority of the vampires now in Tipton had started as Cait Sith, cat-shifters, before joining Lily’s dynasty. The lot of them had grace and beauty in spades. But there was something different here, something more. And she hated herself a little as her eyes crawled over the lithe, muscular frame that even his light jacket and loose jeans couldn’t disguise.

Bay gritted her teeth and inhaled, trying to center herself.

The vampire slid his sunglasses on. It was a small relief, but she’d take it, even though knowing he was watching her from behind them was still unnerving. He regarded her silently for a moment, studying her so intently that Bay felt a hot flush creeping into her cheeks. Finally, he spoke, and managed to surprise her.

“I… apologize,” he said, his brows drawing together slightly as he looked down at the mess he’d made by falling. “We’ll start over. My name is Tasmin Singh. I can walk in the light because it is a gift of my line. And I’m looking for your friend because…” He trailed off for a moment, then looked away.

“It is a long story.”

“Something to do with you passing out in the middle
of my store?” Bay asked. His features tightened for an instant before his expression cleared again.

“Perhaps. I slept far longer than is natural, and I still seem to be… adjusting. That should pass in time. I came here because I seek answers. The queen of the Lilim will know those who can find them. Of this I am certain.”

Bay’s eyebrows rose at the cryptic response. There was something
off
about him, something she couldn’t even put her finger on that went beyond the obvious weirdness. Sadly, it didn’t make him any less fascinating to her.

“Okay,” she said, drawing the word out. “Well, Tasmin, you, um, would have done better just waiting until nightfall and knocking on Lily’s door. Whoever told you where to find me could have told you where to find her.” She tilted her head at him. “Why
didn’t
you just go there? You can see I’m no vamp. I’m just a dog groomer.”

She thought she caught the faintest hint of a smile, if only for a moment. It turned his lips soft, sultry, and she felt a knot of pleasure coil deep in her belly.

No. No no no.
She liked things that were quirky, odd, and even weird. Things. Not guys. Because every time she was drawn to one of those qualities in a guy, it ended up biting her in the ass. And this particular guy looked about as safe as a wounded tiger.

“I see. You’ve attracted quite a noble beast as a guardian.”

She stroked her hand over Grimm’s back, unsure of whether Tasmin was giving her a compliment or just being sarcastic. Grimm leaned into her harder and growled at the vampire again. The sound was soft, but it was a clear warning.

“He is noble,” Bay said flatly. “More than most people manage to be. And he’s an excellent judge of character.”

Tasmin inclined his head slightly, any trace of a smile gone. “Of that I have no doubt. Beasts often are. That he has chosen you speaks well of you.”

She blinked. “Oh. I… thanks.” She tried to shrug off the pleasure she felt at the simple praise. It didn’t matter what this strange, gorgeous vampire thought of her.

“That still doesn’t explain why you came in here.”

“The sun is still high. I had some time. And I wondered what sort of mortal would be considered such a friend to a powerful queen. I’m still not sure whether your relationship means I should expect to find her wise, or a reckless fool.” He considered her. “In any case, you’re not what I expected.”

Bay’s eyes narrowed. She knew she was considered a curiosity among the vampires here, a mortal with no apparent interest in anything Lily could offer her except friendship. But she didn’t appreciate being gawked at like a sideshow freak by some outsider.

“Well,” she said stiffly, “what you see is what you get. I’m not that interesting. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got some things to do before I close up for the day, and I need my help back.”

She turned her head to look at Shelby, who was thumbing idly through a magazine, a dreamy expression on her face. Seeing how deep the thrall still was unsettled her.

“Shouldn’t that have worn off by now?” Bay asked.

“It will wear off when I decide it does.”

Bay looked sharply at him. “That’s not how it works.”

“It is how
I
work.”

The matter-of-fact arrogance in his statement finally sparked her temper. She pushed aside any lingering fear and walked quickly around Grimm, striding right up to Tasmin. Despite the sunglasses, she saw his surprise, and
had to fight back a thin smile. No doubt he’d expected the puny mortal to cower and grovel. But that wasn’t how
she
worked.

Bay came to a stop only a foot away from him and glared up into his impassive face. Being so close, and this time with him aware and looking down at her, left her momentarily off-balance. He was just the right height—maybe five feet ten—to fit herself against, tall enough to wind herself around, short enough to reach if she rose up on her toes to press her mouth to his…

The scent of him was stronger now, intoxicating. And fending off another hot punch of desire only made her angrier. She never let men make her uncomfortable… It was a point of pride with her. So why couldn’t she find her footing with this one?

“Listen,” she snapped. “I don’t know what you are or what’s wrong with you, but if you want to find out what the Lilim are like, I suggest you head in that direction. I’m sure you’ll get an answer to your questions one way or another… if you can make it through the werewolves to ask. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got better things to do than satisfy your curiosity.”

She started to turn and felt his hand clamp on her wrist, not hard, but with a controlled strength that she knew could shatter bones if he wanted. Her fury was a dull roar in her ears as she whipped her head around.

“What—”

But the words died in her throat at his expression, the lips pulled back to reveal gleaming fangs. It was the snarl of a creature not remotely human, a killer. And the voice that came from his throat was nothing like the sensual purr of before.

In an instant, he’d become everything she was afraid of.

“You dare chastise me, human?” The words sounded like they’d been dragged through gravel and oil, oozing up from deep in his chest.

Then he cried out, his head snapping back, his body arching as though an electric current had just passed through his body. The sunglasses clattered to the floor again, and Grimm barked just behind her, though it sounded oddly far off. Tasmin’s eyes met hers again, and the amount of pain and fear she saw in that instant left her reeling. His hand tightened on her wrist before going lax.

“Help me,” he breathed.

She just managed to get her arms around him to break his fall, sinking slowly to the floor with Tasmin in her arms. Whatever this man needed, she knew, it was more than just answers.

But right this second he needed help. He needed
her
.

Even though she cursed herself for it, even though she’d declared vampire problems off limits to herself, Bay knew she was in big trouble. Her compassion had always been as much her strength as it had been her Achilles’ heel.

And this time, whichever it turned out to be, she wasn’t going to be able to just walk away.

H
E DIDN’T AWAKEN FULLY
until the sun went down.

Tasmin inhaled deeply as consciousness returned, grateful to be surfacing from the dreams that had plagued him ever since he’d emerged from the cave. He felt warmth, softness, a strange sense of comfort… and relief as he emerged fully from the smoke-filled visions he could only ever half remember. His sleep, once restful, now left him with an aching hunger nothing seemed to be able to fill, his head pounding with an anger that seemed to come from nowhere, directed at nothing and yet as deep and endless as the ocean.

And yet right this moment, he felt… good.

Maybe someone had finally put him out of his misery. Then again, he’d never had that kind of luck.

Tasmin kept his eyes closed, rummaging around in his murky memories for where he might have ended up this time. For a moment, he felt a cold twist of fear when he couldn’t come up with anything. The blank spaces in
the days that had passed since he’d left the forest yawned like bottomless chasms… some rimmed with blood. He’d grown to dread those empty patches in his memory more than anything else. But then images drifted up from the depths, and he remembered. Pieces, anyway.