A Hunger Like No Other

glancing away. He scowled to find that one look from this vampire made his heart speed up, like those laughable humans' had.

Recalling the way the men reacted to her and knowing how rare she was among vampires, Lachlain realized that she must be wed. He'd been uncaring before. He'd said, 'His loss,' in reference to any husband, and he'd meant it, because a marriage wouldn't have stopped him. But now he wondered if she loved another.

In the Lykae world, if she was his mate, then he was hers as well. But she wasn't Lykae. It was possible that she could hate him forever—that he would have to keep her imprisoned forever—especially after he meted out his revenge.

He planned to exterminate every one of those leeches, which meant the people who'd given her life.

Again he questioned fate, questioned his instincts. There was no way they could be together.

Even as he thought this, his hand itched to touch her hair. Even as he thought this, he wondered what her smile would be like. He was like a randy lad, ogling her thighs encased in tight trews, eyes slowly following the raised clothing seam that ran between her legs.

He shifted positions again. He'd never been this desperate to tup. What he wouldn't give to toss her on the back bench in this car and take her thoroughly with his mouth, readying her, then pin her knees to her shoulders to receive him. Damn it, it was what he was supposed to do.

Thinking of taking her, he was reminded of last night when he'd touched her inside. He shook his head, remembering her tightness. She had been long without a man. He would split her in two at the first full moon. If he wasn't regularly fucking her before then…

She hissed in a breath when an oncoming car's light beam was stronger than the one before it. She rubbed her eyes, then blinked them several times.

She looked tired and he wondered if she was hungry, but doubted it. The vampires he'd tortured could go weeks without blood, feeding only so often—like a snake.

But to be certain, he asked, 'Are you hungry?' When she didn't answer, he said, 'Are you or are you no'?'

'It's none of your concern.'

Unfortunately, it was. Providing for her needs was his duty. And what if she needed to kill? For Lachlain's kind, finding one's mate was an imperative. For the ghouls, propagating by contagion was an imperative. Would her vampire nature crave killing so badly that she wouldn't be able to control it? And what would he do? Facilitate her? Protect her while she dragged down some unsuspecting human? Another… man?

Christ, he couldn't do this. 'How do you drink?'

She mumbled, 'Liquid goes into my mouth, whereby I swallow it.'

'When was the last time?' he snapped.

As though he'd dragged the answer from her, she sighed, 'Monday, if you must know,' then peeked over, clearly noting his reaction.

'Just Monday you did it?' His voice conveyed a disgust that he didn't bother to hide.

She frowned at him, but then another bright light caught her eyes. She winced and the vehicle swerved before she righted it. 'I need to concentrate on staying on the road.'

If she didn't want to discuss it, he wouldn't press. Not tonight.

Having escaped the congestion of the Paris streets, they'd picked up speed on the smooth autoway, and as Lachlain watched the fields pass, the feeling was akin to running. The pure enjoyment of the experience dimmed the rage that always simmered deep inside him. He would be able to run soon. Because he was free and healing.

He deserved just one night of this, one night without having to think about blood and aggression and death. He wondered if that was even possible with a vampire seated next to him.

A vampire disguised as an angel.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would have to demand the answers he dreaded knowing.

Val Hall Manor

Just outside of New Orleans

'Is Myst back?' Annika shrieked as she ran through the doorway. 'Or Daniela?' She clutched the thick door, sagging against it as she scanned the darkness outside. The light of the gas lamps made the oaks quaver in shadow. She turned to find Regin and Lucia in the great room just off the entry hall, painting each other's toenails while watching Survivor. 'Have they returned?'

Regin arched an eyebrow. 'We thought they were with you.'

'Nïx?'

'Hibernating in her room.'

'Nïx! Get down here!' Annika screamed to her sister as she slammed the door and bolted it behind her.

To Regin and Lucia, she said, 'Is Emma back yet?' She put her hands to her knees, still gasping for breath.

They shared a glance. 'She's, uh, she's not coming back right now.'

'What?' Annika shrieked, even though at this moment she was grateful Emma wasn't here.

'She met some hottie over there—'

Annika held up her hand. 'Got to get out of here.'

Lucia frowned. 'I don't understand 'got to.' Sounds like you want us to leave?'

'There's a plane about to crash, isn't there?' Regin asked, her confusion genuine, her amber eyes curious. 'That is so gonna hurt.'

Lucia's brows knit. 'I might run from a crashing plane—'

'Go…something's coming…' They didn't understand—the idea of fleeing so foreign. 'Now…' She'd sprinted all the way from the city.

'We're safest here,' Regin argued, her attention back to her toenails. 'The inscription will keep anyone out.' She looked up sharply, and then a sheepish smile spread over her features. 'But, I, uh, I might not have renewed the inscription spell with the witches.'

Lucia said, 'I thought we were on auto-renewal. They charge our credit—'

'By Freya, I mean now!' Annika yelled, finally able to stand upright.

Taking their half-mother's name in vain? Eyes wide, the two scrambled up, lunging for their weapons—

The front door burst in.

A horned vampire stood in the doorway, eyes red and scanning Regin's and Lucia's faces intently. This was the one Annika had been unable to defeat. Only her knowledge of the maze of streets downtown had saved her. Now it was in their home.

'What is that, Annika?' Regin asked as she slipped a dagger from her arm sheath. 'A turned demon?'

'Not possible,' Lucia said. 'That's supposed to be a true myth.'

'Has to be.' Annika had barely fought him off, and she killed vampires routinely. 'Never seen one so powerful.' The only reason she'd come back was to see if any of the older Valkyrie were here. The older ones could vanquish him. Regin and Lucia were among the youngest.

'Is he one of Ivo's minions?'

'Yes. Saw Ivo giving orders to this one. They're searching for someone—'

Two more vampires traced behind him just as Lucia readied the bow that was like an extension of her.

'Just go,' Annika hissed. 'Both of you—'

Ivo appeared directly after, his red eyes ablaze, his head completely shaven. All the runnels and reliefs of his scalp stood out as distinctly as his facial features.

'Hello, Ivo.'

'Valkyrie,' he sighed to Annika as he dropped onto their settee and rudely kicked his boots up on their table.

'You still have all the arrogance of a king. Though you aren't one.' Annika regarded him gravely. 'Can never be one.'