Keystone (Crossbreed #1)(12)
I pointed at one made of steel. “What’s up with the heavy door?”
“Everyone likes a little privacy, and some of our rooms are soundproof. I have a house full of different Breeds and temperaments; we’ve lost a lot of doors.”
“That doesn’t exactly make me feel safe.”
“You need not worry,” he said, his accent warming me like a strong drink. “They won’t bother you once they learn what you are.”
“And what exactly is that?”
Viktor didn’t break stride. “A Breed killer.”
Chapter 4
Viktor handed me a glass of merlot and sat in a brown leather wingback chair across from me. Our chairs were angled slightly toward the fireplace, and I had a clear view of the door to my right. He had a quaint study with an unlit fireplace, bookshelves, and a statue of an archer aiming his arrow at my chair. I couldn’t get over the antiquated use of lanterns instead of electricity, but the stone walls soaked up the light, lending a magnificent glow to the room.
“I have high connections,” he began. “My group has some of the best information seekers with specific skills. We’re given special assignments that no one else will do, and we’re hired to bring down some of the most notorious criminals in the Breed world—the untouchables. Many of them are men and women who haven’t been classified as outlaws by the higher authority, but we bring them to justice.”
“So you gather evidence and make arrests?”
“Nyet.” After sipping his wine, he set the crystal goblet on a table to his right. “Lawmakers require written evidence, testimonies, photographs, computer files, that kind of thing to convict. In most cases, witnesses to a crime won’t speak out. There is no witness protection program.”
The bitter drink made me grimace. “I don’t have any experience with investigative work.”
His mouth turned down as if he were considering how to answer. “I choose open-minded individuals. Rumor is you’ve taken out twenty-one.”
“Thirty-three,” I corrected. “How did you trace all those murders back to me? I’ve been discreet. I’m not exactly leaving a letter of apology at the scene of the crime.”
“It’s a small world, and eventually all paths will cross. My inside contacts let me know when there’s an unsolved murder, and occasionally one will match up with one of our cases. My Chitah couldn’t pick up a scent that’s uniquely yours, but he matched similar lotions or soaps. We knew you were a woman because some of the victims had lipstick smudges on their necks.”
When I crossed my legs, his eyes skated to the hole in my jeans. “I must be an enigma to you then.”
He lifted his glass and took another swallow. “You could say that. We suspected you were a Vampire, but it appears we were wrong. My tracker happened to be in the same location as your last crime and got a good look at you. Do you mind explaining why it is that some of your victims were drained of their blood? Do you work with a partner?”
I flicked my eyes at Christian, who was standing to my right near the door. “Does he have to be in here?”
Christian theatrically bowed his head.
Viktor cleared his throat, smoothing out his accent. “He’s the one who found you. There are no secrets in my house,” he said, wagging his finger. “That includes any special gifts that you may have. We’ll assess your skills to determine what your strengths and weaknesses are, but for now, why don’t you put on some dry clothes and rest?”
“I don’t need rest. I’m a Vampire.”
While Viktor’s expression was unreadable, the reaction from the Vampire behind him was dramatic. Christian surged forward at an alarming speed.
I’d heard stories that female Vampires were highly sought after. There weren’t that many to begin with, and their elders weren’t looking to expand their population since the younglings were unpredictable and oftentimes dangerous. I’d also heard how wickedly beautiful those women were, but I’d never seen one myself.
Christian’s obsidian gaze swallowed me up, and I shifted nervously in my seat. “Your eyes are not black and your skin isn’t flawless.”
“Gee, you really know how to charm the ladies,” I said, twirling a lock of inky-black hair. “Before you get excited, I should tell you that I’m not entirely Vampire. I’m…” I hesitated. There was no reason to believe Viktor wasn’t serious about his offer, and that meant coming clean. “I’m a crossbreed.”
Viktor leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. “A cross between what?”
I’d never told anyone my secret outside of my victims. I could only guess how they were going to react based on my previous experiences.
“A Vampire and a Mage.”
“Are you mental?” Christian exclaimed. “Viktor, you can’t take her seriously. Such a thing doesn’t exist. Once you’re a Vampire, a Mage can’t put his light into you and change you over. It doesn’t work the other way either. She’s touched in the head.”
I uncrossed my legs and rested my hands on the armrests of the chair, smiling up at him with my eyes. I’d finally found the one thing that annoyed him.
Me.
“Are you telling me that you’ve never once heard of a crossbreed or met someone who doesn’t fit the mold?” I asked.