She clapped her hands together, laughing. The sound was rich and throaty, something he hadn’t realized he liked until this moment.

“So what are you here for?”

“Justicar business.” He left it at that. She gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him either.

She glanced back towards the road and nodded towards it. “Walk with me.” She took off and didn’t wait to see if he’d follow.

He glared at her for a second. After he got her in his bed, they’d have to make some changes. He didn’t take orders. Yet, he followed next to her through the garden.

“So you used to date Vera?”

The question was like being hit with lightning; he stumbled into a brush of tall tomato plants, snagging his foot around the roots. He tripped, his face meeting dirt. Grinding his jaw, he picked himself up and turned to see tears streaming down her face. She sucked in great gulps of air and then finally it came—laughter. She bent over her knees as peals of laughter rang. Dmetri grimaced at her as he brushed soil from his suit and face. Maybe she wouldn’t do after all.

After what felt like forever, she slowed her laughs and brushed the tears out of her eyes.

“God that was great.”

“Indeed.”

She caught his lethal expression and broke into another fit of laughter. “You always take yourself so seriously?”

Why wouldn’t he? He was an Elder, the top form of council with the Justicars. “Of course.”

She humphed and rolled her eyes before strolling away. Still he followed her, this time wary of where he stepped. He was starting to feel like a fool; he’d rather be eaten alive by rats than be a fool.

“So I take that as a yes.”

“What?” he asked, irritation growing.

“You used to date Vera. I thought you vampires always kept with your own kind.”

“Not necessarily.” A tic started to form over his right eye. God, being around this woman for a few minutes was starting to make him feel anxious. He never felt that way, even in the spur of the moment when he transformed Jackson Marsh into a vampire. Christine bothered him...and he almost enjoyed it. He must because why else was he following her? Where was his charm?

His suave conversations that sent women aflutter under his gaze? Lost back on the ground where he fell, he was sure.

“Well, Dmetri Demidov, it was okay to meet you.” She stopped and turned to him, a smile on her face.

“Okay to meet me?”

Her lips twitched. “Yeah, it was okay.”

He glared at her. Okay? He was awesome to meet, great, fantastic, utterly incredible.

“Are you trying to insult me?”

She stepped forward making him tense as she reached for him. From the corner of his eye, he watched her flick some dirt off his jacket, then she gave him a wide smile that lit up her whole face.

“Not at all.” She turned and sashayed away.

Before she got a few steps, he called after her. “I’m taking you to dinner.” Her shoulders shook with laughter. “I don’t think so, vampire.” He frowned feeling as if he were losing a battle that he hadn’t realized was a battle until now. He gave orders and people obeyed. What woman wouldn’t want to be treated to a rich night out with him? Something was seriously wrong with the women on Kategan land.

“Why not?” His eye twitched again. He hated having to ask, it wasn’t a question he ever had to.

She turned around looking incredibly happy...and gorgeous. “You’re not good enough for me.”

Then she waved at him with her dirty fingers and strode off.

The following morning Dmetri’s mind was still wrapped up in his unusual conversation with the lykaen Christine. He’d never been turned down for dinner. The denial burned his ego like hot coals, but that didn’t bother him so much as the fact that she didn’t think he was good enough for her.

“Devil woman,” he muttered under his breath.

When his cell phone rang, he went to answer it. He now had direct communication with the sentries guarding the pack. The number came from Gerry, who guarded the entrance to the pack.

He answered the phone then, a minute later, hung up with a frown. Donning his black jacket and a clean black Charvet shirt, he jumped into his car and drove to the front gate. The Kategans didn’t have paved roads in their pack but kept dirt and gravel roads that had him grimacing as his BMW took a sound beating to the undercarriage.

He spotted the main gate and pulled to the side of the road. The guards surrounded a young girl who looked to be at best sixteen. She wore clothes that looked like they’d had every bit of food and drink spilled on them, and she looked like she could use a shower, or twelve.

There was something familiar about her but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

All the guards were on alert for strange visitors and her timing couldn’t be more suspicious. If she worked for Claude, he’d find out.

“Who are you?” he asked without preamble.

The girl’s eyes widened and then she gave the guards a pointed look. “You question me but let a vampire in here? I think you guys are the ones who should be interrogated, not me.” The captain of the guard, Gerry, was a thick-necked stocky man with short crew cut hair.

His dark eyes were smart and alert. Dmetri liked him.

“She says she’s a Kategan.”

The other guards chuckled but Dmetri didn’t. He studied her face, noting the dark color of her hair and it hit him like a slap to the face.

“She might be. Who are you?” he asked again.

Rolling her eyes, she spoke very slowly. “I am Vanessa Kategan. I’m Vane’s cousin and I’m here to see him. Just call him will ya? That’ll make this a whole lot simpler.” Dmetri nodded to Gerry and he stepped away to make the call.

“Why are you alone?” The question he discreetly asked was: who are you with?

She put her hands on her hips. “I ran away, duh.”

“From where?”

She clamped her lips shut and crossed her arms. “I’m not saying anything else until you get Vane down here. I’m starved,” she said rubbing her stomach.

A few minutes later, a truck pulled down the drive. Vane jumped out without bothering to close the door behind him. His eyes widened as he spotted the strange girl and then a grin split his face as he ran for her.

“Vane!” The girl launched herself in his arms, and he spun her around laughing.

“Vanessa, what are you doing here?”

He set her down, looked behind the gate, and saw no car. Then he took note of her dirty appearance and grimaced.

“Did you run away again?”

She shrugged helplessly. “I’m not going back this time. I vow it.” Vane looked less than happy at the news. “Vanessa...” he sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Come on up to the house. You can meet the baby.” Her eyes lit up and she squealed. “A baby! Sarina had her baby? Oh my God, I can’t wait.” She hopped into the driver’s side door and then hopped over to the passenger seat. “Drive on!”

He nodded at her then turned to Dmetri. “She’s my cousin. My Uncle Eric’s only daughter. They’ve had problems with her running away before but...she’s never come this far.”

“Where does he live?”

Vane’s laugh was forced. “Northern California. He has a small pack up there.” Dmetri whistled. “Halfway across the country that’s a hell of a hike. I’m going to need to talk to her.”

Vane looked back at her and nodded. “Understood, I’ll let you know when.” Dmetri finished meeting with the guards—no activity seen outside the perimeter. It was only a matter of time. But what were Claude’s tactics? Attacking alone wouldn’t be smart; too many numbers would be easily seen. Either way Claude would plan his move carefully. Though, after he tried to win Kategan land over with false documents his approach might be less than subtle. During that time, his envoy Ariss and her guardian attacked Vera and Jackson, and now Claude has killed four guards at the jail.