First Drop of Crimson

human.”

The vampire said it in the same way he might have said with the word moron. Denise’s fists clenched. Vampire elitism when it came to humans was as rampant as it was infuriating.

“Humanity doesn’t equal inferiority,” she got out. “And you don’t leave your only witness behind when you’re looking for the perpetrator.”

“You do if there might be danger,” Bootleg said with a shrug. “Especially since it’s you.”

Denise glanced at him with curiosity and annoyance. Was she considered extra helpless as a human female, or had Spade told Bootleg what was in her blood? “Why especially me?”

“Because of Giselda,” Bootleg replied.

“So true,” Lyceum chimed in.

Denise felt like they were speaking another language. “Who or what is Giselda?”

The two vampires exchanged a look that stopped Denise in her tracks. “Don’t you even think of holding back, or I’ll…I’ll tell Spade you let me get away from you,” she improvised. “And that I got mugged,” she added for good measure.

Cries of “Mon Dieu!” and “That’s not fair!” echoed immediately from the two vampires.

“I’m a crazy human female, you know I’ll do it,” Denise warned them, her internal alert system telling her that this was important.

Lyceum gave Bootleg a dirty look. “You brought her up. You tell her.”

Something like a sigh came out of Bootleg. “Giselda was Spade’s lover during the Franco-Prussian war. He intended to marry her, except she was still human. You have to be a vampire to be married as one, and Giselda resisted changing over.”

Lyceum muttered something in French that made Bootleg nod. Denise didn’t need it translated to guess it was something derogatory about Giselda’s choice.

“And?” she prompted, premonition sliding up her spine.

“Spade was called away by his sire to assist in some dispute. He didn’t take Giselda in case war broke out between his sire and the other Master. She was to stay in her chateau. But weeks later, when Spade sent word that all was well and he’d be returning soon, Giselda decided to go to him instead. She sent a messenger ahead to announce her arrival.”

Bootleg cast a sideways glance at Denise that made her want to smack him in impatience. “Go on,” she said.

“On the way, her carriage had a mishap or it was attacked, I don’t know which. I do know Giselda was gang-raped by a group of French deserters—either before or after they killed her,” Bootleg summarized bluntly. “Spade went looking for her when she didn’t arrive at the time her message described. He found her body in the woods.”

Denise felt ill even as several things clicked into place. Why did you have to kill him? she’d asked Spade months ago, standing over the body of her attacker in the parking lot. Because of what he intended to do. No one deserves to live after that. And Ian’s comment, I haven’t seen Charles this attentive with a human in almost a hundred and fifty years… Hasn’t he told you about her yet? Then last week in Nevada, You have no idea how much I do understand…

Spade did know the horror of discovering the broken body of someone he loved, just as she did. It was the worst, most helpless, most heartbreaking, rage-inducing feeling in the world.

Was that why Spade never dated humans? They really did have a lot in common. Spade shunned relationships with humans because of Giselda, and Denise had avoided the undead world because of Randy. How ironic they’d been drawn to each other despite these reservations.

“Chéri, don’t cry,” Lyceum said softly. “That was a long time ago.”

Denise brushed her cheek, only realizing then that it was wet. “Sorry. I just…I know what it’s like,” she finished, wiping her other cheek.

“We’re glad you came along,” Bootleg said, smiling at her. “It’s good to see Spade happy again. Why, I’ll bet he’ll be doing cartwheels once you change into a vampire.”

For the second time, Denise stopped in her tracks.

“What makes you think I’ll be doing that?”

Web’s house was on the edge of Monte Carlo and La Rousse. He’d picked the highest point as far as topography, no doubt for defensive reasons more than aesthetic ones. It did make the Greek-style architecture look impressive, rising up from the rocky hill with tastefully hidden spotlights shining on the different foliage and the house, but Spade knew those spotlights were also security. They kept all access to the house well lit, making Spade deduce that Web had human as well as vampire guards. A vampire wouldn’t need the spotlights to see everything.

“From what I heard in the humans’ minds who live here, food is delivered on a regular basis to a man secured in the cellar. The stairway is accessible through a hidden door in the walk-in freezer,” Crispin whispered. “Fabian, find the freezer and check there first. Ian, do you remember passing through something cold before you were taken to the human?”

“No, but where the bloke is during the day when he’d be fed is likely different than where they’d have him to entertain guests.”

“Good point,” Alten replied.

“I’ll search for it,” Fabian promised.

The ghost streaked off toward the house, passing right through trees and then, finally, the exterior.

Even if Web’s guards were startled to see Fabian, they wouldn’t realize he was a scout and not just a stray spook looking for a new place to haunt. Most vampires never mixed with ghosts. Cat, of course, hadn’t let that stop her from befriending one and making him part of her family.

Spade glanced at the sky. “Less than two hours until dawn. With luck, Fabian will find him quickly and we can be in and out before they marshal a significant defense.”

Cat glanced at the sky, too, but with trepidation. Being a new vampire, she was still susceptible to the pull of the dawn. Once the sun rose, she’d be too lethargic to fight, but Spade didn’t intend for them to be there when the sun rose. If they were, then they’d be captured. Or dead.

After several tense minutes, Fabian’s hazy form appeared in the doorway of Web’s house. The ghost wordlessly gave a thumbs-up signal.

Ian grinned at Spade. “All right, mate. Let’s have some fun.”

Spade returned Ian’s smile with savage anticipation. “Indeed.”

The five vampires rose, Spade and Crispin at the front, and charged toward the house.

Alarms tripped, both visual and audible, when they were fifty yards from the house. Spade wasn’t con cerned; he’d expected that. When the first swarm of guards, human and inhuman, appeared and began firing at them, he threw two of his silver grenades. So did Crispin. Then the five of them hit the ground right before the explosions sent silver shards ripping through Web’s guards.

The screams were music to his ears. He volleyed two more grenades through the window to clear the scrambling he heard inside, smashing through right after those satisfying twin booms.

“Kitchen, last room on the left,” he heard Fabian shout. Then another series of booms went off.

Spade didn’t turn around to see what was happening. For one, nothing but an exorcism could harm the ghost, and for another, all four of his friends were strong, capable fighters. All Spade’s attention was focused on one thing: Find the source, and pray it was Nathanial.

He sped through the opulent rooms and hallways, his feet barely brushing the ground. When he neared the kitchen, a quartet of silver blades speared him in the chest right before Spade saw the two vampires crouched behind a door. They came out, crowing in victory, but Spade just yanked the knives from his chest and sent them sailing at the hearts of their owners. The blades landed with multiple thuds and cries of pain.

I’m wearing a Kevlar vest. You’re not, Spade thought coldly, pausing to give the blades a rough twist before leaping past the fallen vampires.

More crashing and explosions sounded at the front of the house. Alten, Ian, Cat, and Crispin were taking the