Shadow's Seduction (The Dacians #2)(40)

One of the hunters muttered, “Polluting the trail. Rookie mistake.”

“Even so, Cas located her,” Leyak continued. “She’d tripped into an abandoned troll hole and gotten trapped.”

“How did you find her?” Mirceo asked.

Deadpan, Cas said, “Tripped into the same troll hole.”

The hunters laughed, Mirceo among them.

Gods, that vampire’s laugh turned Cas inside out.

Leyak shook his head. “Nothing doing. Caspion identified her footprints among thousands of them and tracked her alone.”

Easy enough. Her right leg had been longer than her left, and her shoes had been assembled instead of cobbled—a sign of great wealth in that dimension.

“Tell me more,” Mirceo said.

“There’s a reason he’s called Caspion the Tracker,” Leyak said with pride. “He’s collected on every bounty, locating his every prey.”

Over the rim of his cup, Cas said, “Except for the one that got away.”

Leyak sighed. “Not technically a bounty, son.”

“Who got away?” Mirceo asked.

“The Vrekeners who attacked Bettina,” Cas said bitterly. “Remember, I could never find them—”

“Because you can’t bloody fly,” Leyak said, and the others nodded. “Their realm floated in the skies.”

“Maybe even then I could have succeeded.” Narrowing his eyes at Mirceo, he said, “But someone beat me to the punch.”

The vampire muttered, “Trehan.”

Bingo. That prick had brought Bettina the heads of her attackers. He must’ve located the gang with his scry crystal, then utilized his skill as an assassin to slaughter them.

Before his good mood soured further, Cas stood. “Enough out of you lot. I need to get my friend home.” They booed Cas, but he wouldn’t be deterred. Taking Mirceo’s arm, he said, “Time to call it, leechling. You’ve drunk your fill.”

Gray eyes locked on Cas’s neck, Mirceo rasped, “Never.”





TWENTY-THREE


“Where are we?” The vampire peered around Cas’s beach bungalow.

“Another one of my bolt holes.” A far cry from the luxury Mirceo was used to, this no-frills cabin had only one bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom. But the deck was large, stretching out over the sea.

“You brought me to another hideout?” Mirceo slurred. “We must be getting serious, then.”

“Don’t read anything into it. It isn’t like I can trace you home. Come on, I’m putting you to bed.”

“Which side do you sleep on, sweetheart? I’m flexible. If there’s not enough room, I invite you to sleep atop me.”

Mercy. “Even if we weren’t to remain solely friends, I wouldn’t take advantage of you when you’re in this condition.”

Mirceo cast him that crooked grin. “If I say pretty please?”

“You’d hate me in the morning.”

Growing serious, he said, “I could never hate you.”

Nor I you. Though Cas had wanted to. How much easier that would be. Even when he’d believed Mirceo had betrayed him, he’d still missed the vampire. “I told you that brew gains on you with every drop. It’s about to hit. You’ll soon be comatose.”

Mirceo squinted. “Are those holes in the walls?”

“Maybe a couple.” Cas’s earlier frustration seemed a lifetime ago. He could never have predicted what had been in store for him.

The vampire’s sweet, piercing bite . . .

Keep control, Cas. He helped Mirceo out of his coat, then sat him down on the bed. “Arms above your head.” Mirceo dutifully complied, and Cas pulled his shirt off.

“I like it when you take care of me, demon.”

“You need someone to look out for you,” Cas said, then bit his tongue. I’m not going to be that male. He quickly added, “Because you often act like an unthinking child.”

“Fair point.” Mirceo leaned down and attempted to remove a boot, failed, then tried again.

Chuckling, Cas knelt to help him.

“Thanks. They seem damnably complex right now.”

Cas pulled them off. “Uh-huh.” He grabbed Mirceo’s ankles and tossed the vampire’s legs up onto the bed.

Mirceo sank back. “The pillow smells like Caspion.” He buried his face against it, inhaling deeply. When he looked at Cas again, his eyes flickered with desire. “My dreams will be filthy.” He couldn’t look more tempting. Reading his mind, Mirceo said, “You like the way I look in your bed.”

Where you belong. Inner shake. “Arrogant leech.” He pulled the covers up to Mirceo’s chin.

The vampire shoved them down to his waist. “Not a denial. Now that you know I’m yours, it’s not safe to ignore your instincts much longer.”

There was still hope. . . .

“We must fuck just to preserve your sanity.” He sighed. “The things I do for my ‘friends.’”

“Enough of that.”

Mirceo started shucking his pants. “Can’t sleep confined.”

Mercy! To distract himself, Cas snagged a blanket to cover the french doors against the coming light of dawn. They faced west, but he’d take no chances. Another blanket for the side window. Once he’d sun-proofed the room, he turned back.