Smolder (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #29)(21)

Maybe if the men’s knees hadn’t been in the way I would have knelt, but part of me remembered where I was, even if most of me didn’t. I’d never had a reaction to Jean-Claude like that, not just from mind-to-mind contact. I stayed down until I didn’t feel shaky anymore, then pushed myself upward with my fingertips and the balls of my feet. I had a moment where I just wanted to run from the crime scene to see Jean-Claude dance. The urge was so great that I started to turn toward the door and caught myself.

“I’ve never seen me like this,” I said.

“What did you say?” Dolph asked.

I repeated myself.

“Seriously?” McKinnon asked.

I nodded. “Very seriously. Jean-Claude and I will be having a little talk later.”

“You don’t sound happy,” McKinnon said.

I looked at him and it must have been a good look, because he held his hands up. “Sorry, Blake, just commenting.”

“Maybe you should hold the comments until later.”

Jean-Claude’s “voice” was in my head again. I started to slam all my shields in place, but he said,

“It is not me.”

I hesitated, too stressed to form a silent what in my head, but Jean-Claude got the point, because he said, “Whatever lowered your resistance to me is not me, or you. It is something outside of us.”

“Shit,” I said with real feeling and a wash of fear that left my skin cold.

“What’s wrong?” Dolph asked.

“We’re under attack,” I said.

“Where?” Dolph said. “We’ll send backup.”

I promised I’d hug him later for that being his first thought. Right now, I shook my head. “Not that kind of attack, not physical, magical.”

“What do you mean?” McKinnon asked.

I shook my head again. “I mean that something or someone interfered with me when I contacted Jean-Claude right now. They messed with me bad. I was like mesmerized by him. I haven’t been like that in years; hell, no vampire has been able to roll me that badly in ages.”

“You’re sure it wasn’t Jean-Claude getting carried away?” McKinnon asked.

“No, one of the reasons it took so long for him to win me over was my fear of this kind of shit. He wouldn’t do it by accident, or casually, not with the wedding so close.”

“Wait,” McKinnon said, “are you saying this would be enough for you to call off the wedding?”

“Damn straight it would be; if he’s fucking with my head like this on purpose, then I want nothing to do with him. It’s like metaphysical rape, except it’s a real aphrodisiac that ignites real lust, and worse, love. If he did that to me like this from a distance I’d never want to be in the same room with him again. It would be too dangerous, which means no wedding.”

“Okay, but you’re not really calling off the wedding, right?” McKinnon said.

“No, but if it wasn’t Jean-Claude overstepping then it was another vampire or witch, something that was so freaking powerful it mind-fucked me without me knowing it, from a distance.” My stomach clenched tight with the thought. I reached for the chain around my neck and drew my cross into sight, so I could hold it in my hand. Usually I let it dangle around my neck when I wanted it in sight, but tonight I needed more reassurance.

“How powerful would someone have to be to roll you like this when they aren’t even in the room with you?” Dolph asked.

“Powerful, like ancient vampire powerful. Shit, my father just called. He and the rest of my family are flying in next week.”

“I’m glad your father decided to walk you down the aisle after all,” Dolph said.

“No, it’s not like that. He’s finally willing to meet Jean-Claude, but he still wants me to give him up and definitely not marry a vampire.”

“Then why come at all?” he asked.

“Because if he doesn’t get fitted for the bespoke clothes now, the suit will never be ready in time.

I told Dad that if he didn’t come for the early fitting then he’d made his choice and I’d find someone else to give me away. He’s coming to be fitted, and he’s agreed to meet Jean-Claude, but everything else is up in the air. I honestly don’t think my very Catholic father is going to come around to attending the wedding let alone walking me down the aisle.”

“Lucille and I can meet with him while he’s here, tell him about how we’ve worked things out with Darren and Erica.”

“Thanks, Dolph, if Dad gets to come to town before the wedding that would be great.”

“What do you mean, if?” McKinnon asked.

“I can’t let my very human, very non-cop family come to town if we are under major vampire attack. If this master vamp can roll me my family won’t have a chance; hell, most of the people I love who are supernatural won’t have a chance. I have more natural immunity to vampire powers than most of them.”

“Don’t cancel your family coming in, Blake.”

“I have no choice, McKinnon.”

“You do, actually.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The oversight committee is experimenting with some magical protection protocols.”

“Pete,” Dolph said, “did you just do something to one of my officers?”