September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(41)

“I’m not interested in ruling anyone. My interests lie in protecting this city and the secrets we all keep, which you are right now threatening to expose.”

“You kill our kind,” the vampire hissed, baring fangs.

“I kill those who deserve it. That isn’t going to stop. If you had any sense you’d realize I can be a valuable ally.” I could feel eyes upon us. We were being watched by humans. No good.

“Yes, but at what cost?”

It was hard to keep from baring my own fangs at him in return. I focused on maintaining my human appearance. “Stop with the fang display, or I’ll have my friend hold you down while I yank them out of your head.”

Without waiting for a response, I kicked him square in the crotch and jerked the cue from his hand. He grunted and doubled over.

His recovery was fast. He forgot about the pool cue and with an angry grunt, tossed me over the pool table where I crashed to the floor, taking a few pool balls with me.

The bartender shouted at us to take it outside. A few shouts and jeers rang out from those watching. This idiot vampire was going to expose us all.

“Should I take him outside?” Willow asked, nodding to the one he held pinned.

We didn’t have much of a choice. I gave him a slight nod before lashing out at the blond one with the power I’d told myself I wouldn’t use in a human place. Lucky for me, they couldn’t see the swirl of blue and gold though they could feel it, much the way one can feel static electricity.

“Get moving,” I said, feeling his heart in my mind, knowing I could crush it to dust with only a thought.

I dropped the pool cue and ushered him out. Unable or unwilling to take his eyes off me, he walked backwards while I advanced on him. Willow called an apology to the bartender who rolled his eyes as if a good fight was part of a normal night for Willow.

Once on the street, all bets were off. I slammed a fist into the vampire’s smug face, letting him take the anger I’d swallowed back at the church. He tried to fend me off, but I was too pissed. His face was a bloody mess when Willow called me off.

He still held the other vampire though now he had the guy on his knees with his arms behind his back. “Do you want to kill them?”

I did. But that would only prove to them and the other so called rebels that I was a dictator willing to wipe out anyone who displeased me. I was better than that. Wasn’t I?

“No,” I said, clearly surprising the blond one. “I want to talk to them.” I stared at each vampire in turn, forcing them to look into my eyes. “Let’s get something straight. I am not Lilah. I don’t want to be worshipped or served or whatever the hell else you guys think. I want only to be respected.”

I paused, letting that sink in. When neither of them spoke, I continued. “There’s no reason we can’t all just go about our business without shit like this going down. Arys and I can protect this city. That includes you guys. It’s your choice. We can all play nicely in the sandbox. If you don’t want to, then I will be forced to defend myself.”

“Sounds fair to me,” Willow quipped, wearing a grin. He was enjoying this.

“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” The dark haired one on his knees gazed up at me in defiance.

“You don’t. But there’s only one way to find out. Does my reputation have me painted as a liar?” I challenged. I was many things. A liar was not one of them.

The blond scoffed but said nothing. His buddy continued to glare at me, but his determination seemed to die.

“We aren’t human,” he finally said, finding his courage again. “You can’t police us. We’re beyond that shit.”

“A sense of order has to be maintained. It’s the only way for us to continue our existence without the human government hunting us down. The FPA is watching us. All of us. Is that what you’d rather have?” My hand fell to the black jade handle of the dagger on my hip. It was a comforting habit. “I’m the one who’s been dealing with them. If you’d all prefer that I stop and let them come for you, that’s fine with me.”

The two vampires exchanged a look. This was news to them.

“I suppose it makes sense that it’s best for us all to keep a low profile,” the blond grudgingly admitted.

“It sure does. We’re going to let you go now. Tell your rebel buddies what I said. It’s common sense really. The next vampire to jump me or my friends dies a horrible, slow death. I promise.”

Willow stepped back, releasing the vampire he held. The two of them hesitated, probably considering another attack. They proved they had a sense of self-preservation when instead they slunk off into the night.

I sighed, relieved that I’d been able to send a message. I wasn’t about to hold my breath, but I hoped it helped them see that they had it all wrong.

“Those *s don’t deserve to have an ally like you, Alexa,” Willow said.

“Yeah,” I nodded, feeling overwhelmed with the entire evening so far. The tequila haze had burned off, leaving me light headed and in need of coffee. “I know.”

Chapter Eleven

Less than an hour later, I was standing outside a dance club, staring at a corpse. This night just kept getting better.

Willow and Juliet stood on each side of me. The FPA agents Juliet had brought were busy keeping the occasional curious passerby from getting a good look. Receiving the call from my sister stating that there had been another public vampire kill had really been the shitty icing on an already craptacular cake.