Tall, Dark, and Vampire

over how completely different she was from when he first met her. Her big blue eyes were filled with tears, making her mascara run down her face. “Please don’t let them kill me.”

“It’s going to be alright.” Olivia wrapped her arm around Maya, and in a motherly gesture, kissed the top of her head. “Be strong and stick close to Pete.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Maya sniffled.

“You’ll be okay, kid.” Pete patted her on the back and then glanced at Doug. “You’re not gonna cry too are you?”

“Fuck you, Castro.” Doug tried to suppress a smile, but he couldn’t stop it.

“That’s enough,” Olivia hissed. “It’s game time.”

They climbed the staircase and crossed the threshold into the meeting room, and Doug fought the urge to let out a whistle. There were five people on a platform, and the one in the center—Augustus.

Wearing elaborate white robes with gold and burgundy trim, he sat in what could be described as a throne. He wore a golden laurel wreath on his head and had the same arrogant look as the painting Doug had seen. The women and men on either side of him were clad in similar robes and seated on small gold chairs.

Olivia, Pete, and Maya dropped to one knee and bowed their heads, but Doug stood his ground and kept his attention on the czar.

“Clearly, you haven’t trained this one in our ways, Olivia.” Augustus narrowed his eyes at Doug. “Your little coven is quite a mess.”

“I’m not getting on my knees for you or anyone else,” Doug said tightly.

Shane appeared out of nowhere and flew to Doug’s side, lowering his voice to above a whisper. “You should do as your leader commands.”

Tension filled the room, but Doug didn’t waver.

“Give it a rest,” Olivia said, rising to her feet. “He’s new, and we have other issues to worry about.”

“Perhaps,” Shane murmured, his face emotionless as he stepped back. “Rules must be followed to maintain order.”

Augustus rose from his spot on the lounge as his dark eyes went to Maya, who was still on one knee with her head bowed. “You must be the little vampire who started this messy situation in my city. Come here, little one.”

Maya sniffled and slowly rose to her feet as she looked to Olivia for reassurance.

Augustus walked calmly down the steps and took her hand in his. Maya, head bowed and eyes averted, sniffled and adjusted the skirt of her small dress as the czar stepped back and looked her over from head to toe.

“You’re a lovely little thing, aren’t you?” His gentle tone was in stark contradiction to the cruelty in his eyes. Augustus was the kind of man who got off on hurting people, women in particular, drunk on his own power. “Have you been making rogues, little girl?”

“No.” Maya shook her head furiously as tears continued to fall. “I swear it to you.”

“Yes.” He sighed. “I doubt you’re lying. I could drink from you and read those blood memories, but that seems… beneath me. Don’t you agree?”

Maya nodded furiously but avoided his glare.

“I don’t care who made the rogues,” he said in a low tone. “However, this mess all started with you and your irresponsible feeding habits.”

“Augustus—” Olivia interrupted.

“But since you are her maker, Olivia,” he said without taking his eyes off Maya, “then really, this is your problem. She is your responsibility, and therefore this is your mess. As punishment for running such a sloppy, unruly coven, this little troublemaker will be put down, and if you don’t find that rogue nest and eliminate it, then you and the rest of your coven are next.”

“It’s too bad you can’t show Maya the same mercy you showed your son,” Olivia said evenly. “But I suppose since he’s your biological son and not your vampire progeny, that’s why you were soft on him.”

Augustus stilled, and Doug saw the monster lurking behind the mask of calm.

“My son,” he seethed, “was sent into hibernation for fifty years by you. He more than paid his debt for his minor indiscretion.”

“Seems like a different set of rules, and if memory serves, the emperor is not a fan of breaking the rules or vampires who do.” Olivia’s amber eyebrows flew up, and a smile lit her gorgeous face as her voice dropped low. “You don’t think you’re above the emperor, do you?”

“I enforce the laws in this region, and it is up to me to decide what is acceptable and what isn’t. In addition, I’m certain that Emperor Zhao wouldn’t want to be bothered with this mess your coven is making,” he bit out. “Your maker offered you a chance to take your pathetic little troop and leave, but you refused. Since you’ve chosen to stay, you will accept my judgment.”

“Fine,” Olivia added quickly. “I’ll contact Vincent and tell him that we’ll leave with him tonight. All of us, including Maya.”

“It’s too late, Olivia.” Augustus glared down at them. “Vincent is gone. You made your choice, and now you and the rest of your coven will live with it.”

Doug watched as the two women on the platform looked at one another briefly before nodding in agreement. The men to the right did the same. The senators seemed more like puppets than freethinkers, and they disgusted Doug. Apparently, humans hadn’t cornered the market on being assholes.

The czar held all the power, and no one was willing to question him or stand up to him. Maya wept quietly, and sympathy tugged at his gut. She was just a kid. Not much different from Brittany or any number of victims he saw over the years. Vampire or not, Maya was a victim of the brutal world.

At least now Doug had a chance to stop a crime before it was committed.

“How about a trade?” Doug stepped forward and stood in the center of the room with his hands on his hips. He resisted the urge to draw his gun because he knew it wouldn’t end well for anyone. Himself, he didn’t care about. He was ready to die, but starting a bloody fight was too risky for Maya, Olivia, and Pete. “Me for her.”

What the hell are you doing, Paxton? Olivia’s panicked voice touched his mind. This is not a game.

“How dashing!” Augustus clapped his hands and looked curiously from Doug to Olivia. “You want to trade your life for Maya’s? Now that is refreshing!”

The senators perked up and whispered giddily to each other, which only irritated Doug. They had been alive for so long, they only found pleasure in the torment of others. Nice.

“Yeah.” Doug jutted his thumb toward Olivia. “Olivia and I will hunt down the rogues. When the job’s done, then you can kill me instead of the girl” He shrugged casually. “No harm, no foul. A life for a life.”

“Doug, no,” Olivia pleaded. She placed her hand on his arm and pulled him to face her. Her brow furrowed, and her voice hovered just above a whisper. “Please.”

Please don’t do this. The pleading look in her eyes was matched by the tone in her voice, and it tore at his heart. Doug swallowed the lump that formed in his throat as he kept his resolute gaze locked with hers. “So, do we have a deal, Augustus?”

“Just when I think I’m bored to tears, someone comes along and spices things up. My goodness, I thought New York City was going to be exciting, but it wasn’t until this rogue nonsense.” Augustus laughed louder and ascended the stairs to his seat. “We have a deal, Detective Paxton. Put down the rogues, and I will release the girl, taking your life in exchange for hers.” He frowned and played with the roping on his robe. “To ensure that you do as I command, the girl will remain here.”

“Damn it.” Olivia dropped her hand and stepped away from Doug, turning her full attention to the czar. “How do I know that you won’t harm Maya before we return?”

“She will stay under my protection.” Shane flew down the steps next to Maya. “I have been a sentry for four centuries and have pledged my life to the Presidium. You have my word that she will not be harmed.”

“How chivalrous,” Augustus said with sarcasm. “You beat me to the punch, Sentry Quesada. You see, neither of the sentries will be aiding you, Olivia. You and your newest progeny will hunt on your own.” Augustus grinned wickedly. “Be back here in forty-eight hours, or I’ll assume that you failed, and the girl will be put down… along with the rest of your coven.”

Pete started to protest, but Olivia raised her hand to stop him. Doug’s focus remained on Augustus, and