Wanted: Undead or Alive

“Well, good. That’s all I’m asking, that we both face reality. And the truth is we’re . . . mildly attracted to each other.”

He scoffed. “You call that the truth?”

“Yes.” She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “You already admitted you’re attracted to me. You can’t take it back.”

“I am attracted.” He retrieved his bottle of blood from the microwave. “But there’s nothing mild about it.”

The bottled water slipped from her hand and tumbled onto the wooden floor. She snatched it up quickly. “Damned thing is slippery.”

He took a sip of blood. “It’s simple. We’re here to do a job. We do it as quickly as possible, then go back to our normal lives and put this all behind us.”

She groaned inwardly. He thought that was simple? About as simple as torture. “What about our attraction?”

“What about it?” He strode toward the couch, then sat and stared at the empty fireplace. “It would be wrong for us to get involved. You know as well as I do that it could never work. And never last.”

She winced. Part of her acknowledged that he was right, but another part wanted to curl up on the floor and cry. It hurt. Hurt enough that she wanted to hurt him back.

He took a long swig from his bottle, then glanced at her. “How can you be attracted to me? Did you stop hating vampires all of a sudden?”

“No. I think you’re a disgusting bunch of parasites and users.” She gave him a wry look as she wrenched the top off her bottle. “But don’t take it personally.”

With a frown, he plunked his booted feet onto the coffee table. “Then it’s good you haven’t forgotten I’m a vampire.”

“No, I haven’t. That’s why I ignored my feelings for so long. You have to admit we’re horribly, dreadfully mismatched.”

He grimaced. “I wouldn’t say it’s that bad.”

“Oh, it is. A real disaster waiting to happen.”

His eyes narrowed. “I guess your father would find me totally unsuitable.”

“That goes without saying.” Though to be honest, she couldn’t care less what her father thought.

Phineas gritted his teeth. “He’d never accept a poor guy from the Bronx for his princess.”

She winced. She hated being called that. “I was never a princess. I was more like a pawn.”

When he gave her a curious look, she waved a dismissive hand. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I refuse to let my father dictate my life.”

He leaned back against the sofa cushions, studying her. “Is that why you’re attracted to me? Is it part of the rebellion against your father? So you can piss him off?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. But could he be right? No, she didn’t want to think that. Her feelings had always felt genuine, not like some sort of twisted, sordid quest for revenge. “I’ve always thought you were gorgeous. And courageous. And—” What was she doing, complimenting him when he’d rejected her? “But like you said, there’s no future for us. I’m sure I can manage to resist you for the few nights that we’re here.”

His jaw shifted. “Fine. I’m sure I can resist you, too.”

“Fine.” She put the bottle back into the fridge. “Then let’s get back to business, shall we?”

“Fine by me.” He strode back to the kitchen table, set down his empty bottle, and picked up his cell phone. “Are you coming?”

“Yes.” She strode toward him, then jerked to a stop a few inches away. This was awkward.

He punched in the number. “You’ll have to hold on to me, but don’t let it bother you. I’m sure you can resist fondling my manly body.”

“Exactly.” She slipped her hands around his neck. “This is business.”

With an abrupt move, he pulled her close. “Exactly.” He gave her a fierce look, then everything went black.

Phineas was relieved when Jason Pritchard didn’t answer the phone. It was so much easier to teleport to an answering machine that talked for a minute without asking any questions.

They landed in a dark foyer, and his eyes quickly adjusted. Most of the house was dark, not surprising since it was after midnight. It was also Saturday night, so a young guy like Jason might be out on the town, but Phineas suspected he was asleep in his bedroom. After all, he’d just been released from the hospital that morning.

He placed a finger against his lips to remind Brynley to be quiet, and she nodded, giving him an annoyed look that probably meant she didn’t need reminding. Prickly, as always.

He moved quietly through the small house, relieved they couldn’t talk right now. Their last chat had ripped his ego to shreds. She thought he was a disgusting parasite? They were horribly, dreadfully mismatched? A disaster waiting to happen? Sheesh, she acted like the polar ice caps would melt if they got together. Half of Wyoming would blow up like a giant geyser. The sun would go supernova, and a freakin’ black hole would swallow the universe.

Thank God she found him so easy to resist. The universe would remain safe for one more night.

What was really frustrating was he knew this situation was his fault. The truth had come out because his eyes had turned red. He’d known it was dangerous to spend time alone with her. He’d known he needed to keep his attraction to her a secret, but damn, his feelings for her were too strong. He hadn’t survived one night without blowing it.

Now she knew. And what was even more shocking, she appeared to be attracted to him, too.

Not too attracted, he thought wryly. Not if she considered him easy to resist. After all, they were horribly, dreadfully mismatched. A disaster waiting to happen.

The den and kitchen were empty. He stalked down a hallway and peeked inside the first door. An empty bedroom. He was tempted to drag Brynley inside to prove they weren’t so horribly, dreadfully mismatched after all. But making love to her might knock the Earth off its axis, so he’d have to resist.

He checked the second door. Bingo. Jason Pritchard was sound asleep in bed.

He eased the door open as he slipped inside Jason’s mind. Keep on sleeping. This is just a dream.

He motioned for Brynley to follow him inside, and she tiptoed after him.

You are under my control. You will sleep and answer my questions.

Jason rolled onto his back, but his eyes remained shut and his breathing normal.

“Do you remember who attacked you?” Phineas asked softly.

“A woman,” Jason mumbled.

“What did she look like? What did she do to you?”

“Blonde. Pretty.” Jason frowned. “I don’t know what she did to me.”

Phineas delved through Jason’s memories and spotted blank spaces, a sure sign that the man’s mind had been tampered with. Still, he persisted, digging deep in search of a memory that would show him the attacker’s face.

Jason moaned and shook his head.

“He can’t remember her face,” Phineas told Brynley, then tried another tactic. “Did you hear her voice, Jason? Did she say anything to you?”

“She . . . she said she was my queen.”

Phineas’s breath caught.

“Oh my gosh,” Brynley whispered. “That sounds like Corky.”

Phineas leaned over the sleeping man. “Where were you when she attacked you?”

“Cloud Peak Glacier.”

“I know where that is,” Brynley said quietly.

“Good.” Phineas touched Jason’s forehead. This was all a dream. Sleep and forget about me.

Jason let out a loud snore and rolled onto his side.

Phineas reached a hand out to Brynley. “Let’s go.”

She stood stiffly in his arms as he teleported back to the cabin. As soon as they arrived, she jumped away