Eighteen

DEVIN

If this fellow was any regular vampire, I would have taken them head-on and won without a hitch but this one was different. For starters, he seemed to have a connection to Lilith, the countess of red death and one of the seven brides of the late Count Dracula. My hypothesis was he had probably been turned by her and the entire supernatural community was very much aware that the countess only turned men. Men who she wanted for herself. If I even had a shot at this, killing him was out of the option. Lilith had many minions who were willing to senselessly waste their life to please her. If truly this man was her new toy, the bitch would not be pleased that I offed his head.

"Who are you talking about?" I lead him on, bending one of my wooden chairs over and snapping all four legs to make for stakes.

"I don't want a fight," He pleaded. Not that there was any hint of fear in his expression. The disrespect! "I just want you to tell me where the fuck you took my sister?"

He wasn't kidding. This was Jason's mate's brother. I had done my research before letting her close to my brother. How could this have missed my scrutiny? I was told he was dead. I should have suspected when the reports said his body was never found. I hated this. I didn't want us involved with vampires. Those foul creatures were harbingers of death and trouble. Suddenly, Olamide's string of good luck seemed more like a very tangled curse.

"Does she know you are alive?" I asked, prepping myself for an attack.

"I don't have to answer your question mutt." The man snapped. "Give me an answer now or you'll fucking wish you were dead!"

"I think I will take my chances long-tooth."

Before my clap-back landed, the man yelled and charged at me with the speed of a gazelle, graceful and purposeful.

A smile crept up my lips and my wolf went hysterical. Finally. Time to play.

I waited until he got in range, then stepped forward and turned my body into his. I slammed my elbow into his jaw and attempted to drive a stake through his heart but alas, my speed was nothing compared to his. My elbows slammed air and before I could realize what was happening, a sharp jab to my back sent me flying. I somersaulted and did a header into the floor. Blood rushed to my brain and my sight distorted. He was damn good. I turned to my side to pick the stake but he had predicted my move. He stomped on my hands and kicked the wooden stick across the room.

"Now," He said. "Are you ready to talk? I would hate to drain you just to get her location?"

He was good. Too good. It made my wolf damn angry. I had been myopic to think I could win against a vampire Lilith was grooming. There was no mistaking it now. He was Lilith's new pet. My wolf still wanted this fight but I knew it was a losing game for me. My only saving grace now was to play on the one thing he was after. His sister.

"You know," I coughed while looking at him square in the face. He looked pale and his eyes, despite being black as death were clearly exhausted. He was new to this. He was a victim and I hated that I had to do this to him. "If Lilith knows that there is someone you uphold in her stead, she will kill that person. Do you want that vampire?"

His attention faltered. I shoved his foot off my hand and plunged for the stakes. When his dazed state left him and he attempted to stop me from retrieving the stakes, he was seconds late. My fingers connected with the wood before he could fall on me. As he fell with his fangs aimed for my throat, I rolled over and kept the stake locked straight at his heart.

He howled in pain as the stake sank deeper into his chest. I was careful not to deal the finishing blow and if he played his cards right, this vampire was going to survive tonight. But I was a fool to believe sanity existed in a vampire's dictionary. Without hesitation, he sank further into the stake just to get access to my neck. I was going to push him off if my hands weren't full trying to keep him alive. His fangs dug into my throat and he drew huge gulps of blood, every drop divulging the secrets I refused to give to him. I adjusted and tightened my grip on the stake, driving it deeper. He stopped drinking and began to pull away. I saw an opportunity and kicked. He went flying across my expensive fridge, denting the damn thing. It made me pissed. There was no more holding back. Before he was back to full strength, I pounced on him and let my wolf out. This time, it was my fangs sinking into his throat. Like a bad drug, He pushed me off and began to vibrate like crazy as he stumbled across the room trying to find a way out.

"Since you are so new to the under world, I should tell you what that strange and maddening sensation that courses your veins is." I supplied, tailing him closely.

"What did you do to me?" He demanded, breathing heavily.

"I bit you, dummy," I said. "Like a vampire bite, a werewolf bite can do tons of damage. When it involves humans, there is a high chance that they die or become a werewolf themselves. The process turns them into vargulfs in the process so they have to die anyway but when it comes to vampires. Your weird vampire genes try to fight my infection off and most times, it does so easily but like every potent drug, it has its side effects. This being one."

"Am I going to die?" He asked as he slumped to the ground.

I hovered over him. "No." Then I kicked the flail consciousness out of him.

A small cough interrupted my brief moment of victory. My eyes flicked up to see the receptionist. She looked down at the bleeding unconscious vampire and looked back at me.

"Is he alive?" She asked. I was going to answer when she spoke again. "You know what, they don't pay me enough for this shit. I'll blame it on someone being kinky. Have a good day Mr. Devin." Then she stormed out, closing the door behind her. She knew who I was. At least, who I wanted her to think I was. This wasn't the first time I had been attacked in my own house. Heartbroken widows, widowers and, stupid hunters were the call of the day. Never before vampires. I walked over to my front door, sealed it shut, and proceeded to call Jason. He needed to know. As I scrolled through my contact list for Jason's phone number, an incoming call came through. The number wasn't on my contact list but I could tell who it was.

"Hello Valentine," I said, putting the mobile to my ears all while keeping a close eye on the unconscious vampire.

"How did... Hello Devin, I'm calling because I have thought about your offer and I have decided I will do it. I will be your mate but I have a condition."

"And what is that?"

"You told me earlier that you were doing this out of the goodness of your heart. That you had no ulterior motive so if you truly want to prove that is even slightly true, I want you to acknowledge that we are only mates in title and title alone. Do not expect me to treat you any differently and don't even think of marking me. So, what does the Alpha of the Crow pack say?"

"I accept Valentine. Out of the goodness of my heart." I was sure to add.

Valentine wished to say something but she cut the phone before the words left her mouth. I had no time to truly enjoy the yielding of Valentine Monarch. Not when my brother's potential brother-in-law was still an issue. My excited fingers trailed my contact list even after and hit fast when it found the name, Jason.