Page 14 of Lured

As she nodded, she sighed. “Yeah. All right. You've got me there. I do know vampires exist. I'd like to avoid being eaten though if that's possible. And I have heard that being enthralled can be... addictive.”

After chuckling Ludis motioned for his brute to let the girl go finally. I still had an arm around her waist, which forced her to stay close to me.

“That's a little better,” Ludis said. “Finally some answers. At least I know my people are still telling me the truth.”

I got a brief glance my way and I knew he was saying that I might be on dodgy ground.

“Now, why are you really here if you don't want to be an enthralled and don't want to be eaten?” Ludis asked. “And I better like the answer.”

She frowned and then looked up at me as if she was more concerned about my reaction. She'd pulled her leg and the blade away from me, but she wasn't trying to get any further away yet.

“Money,” she replied when she finally looked at the vampire who appeared in charge.

Ludis folded his arms, beginning to not only grow bored, but angry again. He was such a child emotionally. I was going to be glad when I was done keeping an eye on him and could go back to doing my own thing.

“Money?” Ludis wanted an explanation and I didn't blame him. I could tell she was stalling for time, giving herself time to think, but she also seemed truthful. A vampire hunter might be coming after him for money.

“I was asked to come here and check out the place in return for money. I think I was set up...” she looked down and shook her head. “I pissed off some friends, I'm down on my luck and I was offered money to do something I thought I could handle.”

As she looked back up at Ludis I could see the genuine pain in her eyes. “So here I am, not handling this as well as I hoped and now talking to vampires, beings very few people believe exist and it seems the best I can hope for is to be an enthralled.”

“It can actually come with a fair amount of money, if that helps,” I replied, trying to smile gently at her. I needed her to understand that I was the better option here and the trustworthy one.

She let out a short barking laugh and the corner of her mouth lifted. It lit up her face even more and I felt my groin stir. While I didn't want to be distracted by her right now, I was beginning to like the thought of taking her to my room and enjoying every bit of her.

“All right, I've seen enough. She likes you enough, that's clear. I don't want her. Make her an enthralled. It's about time you had one like the rest of us.” Ludis turned to go, but before any of us could move or follow there was the sound of gun fire.

Ludis ducked, a bullet hitting the wall near him. Everyone reacted, looking around as another shot was fired, this one clipping Ludis's arm. Immediately he ducked down and tucked himself behind a bin.

Someone was trying to kill Ludis and it wasn't the vampire hunter I was hugging.

Chapter 6

Anais

I ducked and instinctively cowered in toward the vampire holding me as a third shot was fired. I didn't see where this one went, but I wasn't sure I wanted to know. The vampire had his arm around my body so tightly that the grip was almost painful.

When he moved, he dragged me with him. At the same time Ludis shouted for his other vampires to protect him and get whoever was shooting. Two of the vampires ran off, toward the source of the shooting, but there were still several left.

Although I couldn't easily get close to Ludis right this second, I reached for one of my blades and tried to pull out of the grip I was in once more. The vamp holding me still wouldn't let go, although he did move us closer.

“She's got to be a vampire hunter,” Ludis yelled, pointing at me. “Kill her. She's even holding a knife.”

“To defend myself,” I shouted back. “I've not pulled it before now. I could have done.”

“You've got a team then. Someone trying to rescue you.”

“I'm not part of some hunting team,” I denied, not sure how much it would do me good. “I'm as confused and scared as anyone else.”

“I'll figure out what she is and deal with her,” the vampire holding onto me replied, acting as if he didn't believe me. “But whoever is shooting, they're trying to kill you. Get back in the club and somewhere safe.”

Ludis growled and looked as if he might launch himself at both of us. “I won't be told what to do by a jumped up-”

“I'm not trying to command you. I'm trying to save you. Isn't that what I am meant to do.” The vampire nearby switched his focus to a closer one of his kind. “Take Ludis back to the club and our safe area. I'll deal with the hunters and get to the bottom of what's going on.”

Although Ludis still didn't look happy, with the large, strong vampire going along with the command, he didn't have much choice but to allow himself to be led away. I wriggled against my own captor, unable to get free. I wasn't going to succeed on this mission right now, that much was clear.

I watched my target get dragged away, pinned in place. This had just got a thousand times worse. I considered my options as the number of people out in the back alley dwindled to me and one vampire. With little other option I knew I had to consider killing this one and then carrying on with my mission.

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