Catch

Chapter Sixteen

In stunned silence, I followed Gwen to my room. Tane saved me. This thought kept going round and round in my head.

Why would he do that? If the arrow killed me then I’d be out of the picture. Rurik would be unattached, and Tane would be free of the blood bond. My death wouldn’t affect him, things would be better for him.

I stood at the entrance to a tidy room and stared perplexed. The luggage had disappeared. “Where’s our stuff?”

Gwen peaked over my shoulder. “Housekeeping must have put your things away.”

Scurrying across the room, I pulled open the closest drawer. My clothes lay neatly folded inside. “Nice. Thank them for me.”

“For what? Doing their job?” She snorted and placed her hands on her hips. “Do you need anything before I leave?”

“Where are you going?” The fear in my voice made me cringe. I cleared my throat and gathered what courage I still owned.

“Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. Rurik is on his way.” She tapped the radio at her hip. “I have to help coordinate the hunt. I’d hate for one of the Nosferatu to mistake a guest for an assassin.”

“Colby!” I gasped his name, forgetting he’d come to the estate to examine the body we’d found in the jungle.

“He left two hours ago.” She gave me a wiry smile. “Otherwise, he’d be on top of my suspect list.” With that comment, she exited.

“Yeah,” I whispered to an empty room. The party made it impossible to meet with Colby and Red. Inviting a couple of slayers to a vampire celebration would have been tasteless to say the least. Should I inform them of what happened?

Torn between old loyalties and new ones, I stuck my thumbnail in my mouth and chewed. I hated having a foot in both human and vampire worlds. Life seemed so much simpler two years ago when I thought all vampires evil. A shiver ran through my limbs.

The door banged open and Rurik stormed in.

I startled at the sudden noise.

He surveyed me head to toe and spun me around to run his hand down my back, all the while speaking. “I heard the news. Are you injured?”

“Not yet, but if you keep manhandling me like a prize turkey you might break something.” Another shiver hit me. “Did someone turn down the freaking AC?” I rubbed my arms.

He brushed his palms over my goose-pocked skin. “You’re freezing.”

My teeth began to chatter.

“I think you’re in shock.” Rurik tore the blanket off the bed and wrapped me in it then carried me to the sofa. “I’ll go fill the tub.”

Too tired to argue, I allowed Rurik to care for me. Shock? After the past two days, my abused body decided to call the shots. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. A hot bath would feel great. All the muscles in my back ached from the tension I carried and my ass still throbbed.

Rurik returned and gathered me in his arms as we waited for the tub to fill. Lines of worry marred his handsome face. He pressed his cheek into my hair and squeezed me tight. The comfort and care he offered brought tears to my eyes. How could I ever doubt his love? “You were supposed to be sleeping. What were you doing outside?” He stroked my curls.

“I needed some air.”

“Open a window next time. How the hell did you and Tane meet again?”

My shivers continued. “H—he wanted to apologize.” I kept our argument to myself.

Rurik went still. “Really?”

“I know. It surprised me too. Maybe that’s why I’m in shock.”

Hugging me tighter, he chuckled and kissed the top of my head. “I love you.”

“Do you think it was Luckard who shot those arrows?” I leaned into Rurik’s chest.

“Probably. He must have balls the size of watermelons to step onto Tane’s estate with other Nosferatu still present.”

“Tane calls them brothers. Are they related?”

“No, the clan is a brotherhood, no women. For some reason females can’t complete the transformation. They’re a very close knit group, but not all of them came to support Tane.”

“Not a surprise. Tane always seems to be on the fence, waiting to see who wins.

Why wouldn’t they all be like that?”

Rurik tilted my chin so he could gaze into my eyes. “That’s very perceptive and you’re right. They’re like jackals waiting to see who will come out on top.”

“So this fight will remain between Luckard and Tane until one of them is dead.” I sighed. “Two of his clan went with him to hunt down the assassin. Will they really help?”

“I don’t know. I doubt even Tane knows.”

“He’s all alone.” Surrounded by people, yet unable to trust, confide, or truly depend on any of them. I could relate, being homeless was similar. I snuggled closer to my lover, trying to steal what little warmth he produced. “What happens when a women tries to become Nosferatu?”

“They die.”

I licked my lips. “Why can I be bound then?”

“Becoming a vampire has nothing to do with blood like the bond. At the point of death, the creator binds the soul to the dead body, with women being turned by a Nosferatu, I was told the souls flee.” Rurik caressed my cheek. “I’ll tell you a secret since you’ll be in contact with Tane’s clan at times.”

I nodded and held my breath.

“To transform into a Nosferatu one has to already be a vampire.”

I sat up straight. “You’re shitting me. Not only do you have to be a man, but a vampire as well. No wonder the vampire nation is so screwed up.”

Rurik barked out a laugh. It dispelled the heavy mood sitting on my heart. “The tub should be getting full. Let’s get you undressed.”

I grinned as he set me on my feet and let him lead me into the bathroom where the huge black tub shone with steaming hot water.

Rurik shut off the water and undid his shirt.

I sat on the edge and watched.

“Every political faction sent a representative when Tane disappeared as a gesture of support, which translates into someone being inside to keep tabs on everything. The majority appears happy to find him alive and well. There are some who don’t approve of the changes Tane implemented, though.”

Dragging my gaze from Rurik’s well-defined chest, I watched as his shirt fluttered to the floor. “Changes?”

With a flick of his wrist, he opened his fly and slid his pants off. “Zero tolerance for murder.”

“You had those laws already.”

“But Dragos only enforced them when it served his purpose, like in Budapest. Tane rules with an iron fist in comparison. It makes certain factions nervous.”

“Enough to kill him.”

“Maybe.” He tugged at my blanket. “You’re still covered. Come in the water. I promise to warm you.”

I undressed with Rurik’s help and slipped into the hot water. The heat stung, however after a moment it seeped into my muscles and I melted into the tub. Finally, the chattering of my teeth slowed.

Rurik settled behind my back and massaged the knots in my shoulders. “You’re so tense.”

“That tends to happen when someone tries to kill me,” I snapped, and instantly regretted it. “Sorry. I feel terrible.” Drawing my knees to my chest, I leaned my forehead on them. “As I watched Tane get shot all I worried about was myself. I’m a selfish person.”

“When did self-preservation become selfish? Tane’s survived worse.” He placed a light kiss on my shoulder. “I’m pleased with the results.”

I sighed. “He saved me, you know.”

“You sound surprised.” My lover poured hot water over my hair with his cupped hands. “He’s not a cruel person, Connie.”

“I’m starting to understand that.” The water coursed through my curls and I closed my eyes. Tane hinted he and Rurik had been more than friends once. Rurik never gave me the impression he found men attractive. Then again, he always made me feel like the most beautiful person in the room so I wouldn’t have noticed if he liked anyone else.

He stopped pouring the water. Quiet gathered around us like a comfortable blanket.

My thoughts circled around to Tane sitting on the deck pining for my boyfriend. I couldn’t let it go. They’d been friends for a long time, exchanging letters while I traveled with Rurik, and now this. I shifted between Rurik’s legs.

“You’re thinking hard again, I can almost sense your worry through your mental shields. Tane will be fine. If your life was in danger I’d be out there with them.”

Not even close to what I thought. I glanced at him over my shoulder. Water dripped from his hair onto his broad shoulders. “How did you meet Tane?”

My question struck a nerve. Rurik was skilled in hiding his emotions, except we’d been together long enough for me to see through some of the veil. He blinked, an unnecessary action for a vampire. “Why?”

“You claim he’s a good person and you want me to be nicer, but I need something to help change my mind.”

He chuckled. No mirth carried in the sound. “I never said he was good. He is a loyal friend, though, with better intentions than most. Is that better?”

I twisted around to face him. “No.” This time he wouldn’t divert my question. The past made us who we were and I knew so little about Rurik. “When did you first meet Tane?”