Page 4 of Unholy Gambit: Checkmate in Blood
“My intel says you don’t kill or torture without good reason — to protect your people, to guardThe Secret, or to enforce your laws.”
Marco leaned back in his chair, the picture of relaxed authority, and held eye contact for a good three minutes before asking, “Have you arranged for a place to stay?”
“I’ve rented a vampire-safe home in North Chattanooga, a short walk from the pedestrian bridge.”
Marco nodded. “I’m familiar with the place. Excellent location, and a ten-minute drive to her home.”
“And only a few miles from her best friend’s apartment. Aury’s comfortable walking the area, knows the restaurants and shops.”
Marco lifted a brow, considering, and finally said, “I’ll give you six weeks, and we’ll talk at that time about extending your visit. Etta will arrange a time to take you to our coterie house so you can meet my top people. You’ll follow the orders of my top seven as if they came from me. Same goes for Cora. You’ll also defend Cora against any and all vampires. She can handle herself against most, but should you see her in distress and not help, I’ll torture you every day for a century.”
“Understood. Other rules, Master Marco?”
“No hunting in my territory. You may bring someone to feed from. Speak with Jayce at the Hamilton Place TBC about purchasing bagged blood until you can bring someone in.”
Chapter 2
Aury finished physical therapy, muscles trembling while she showered and dressed in wool pants, a cozy sweater, and her heaviest jacket, then drove to the Northshore, to the comfort of her best friend’s apartment.
Her muscles recovered enough while she and Ruby hung out, she was fine to walk to Zaya at nearly seven. They were seated right away in their usual cozy corner alcove, perfect for people watching.
“It was faster when we took scooters everywhere,” Ruby said, “but I love walking around town with you, just don’t overdo it.”
“No more than three thousand steps without a thirty-minute rest. My watch will nag me if I go over. We’re good. Tell me about the new guy at work.”
Ruby was Legislative Administrator for the chairman of the Chattanooga City Council — a calculated steppingstone. She didn’t just want the commissioner’s seat, she planned to take it and then keep climbing. Mayor. Governor. Higher, if the wind blew right.
She only worked when the commissioner did, seven or eight days a month, which gave her plenty of time for her charity projects, each designed to put her into position when she was ready to put herself out there as a candidate.
Ruby rolled her eyes. “Theytotallyhired him because he’s married to someone at the Chamber of Commerce, but he isn’t a total idiot.”
“Wow. High praise coming from you.”
Ruby chuckled. “He isn’t going to one-up me, and he’s capable of doing the work I don’t want to handle, so he can stay.”
“And if he’s married, he’s less likely to hit on you.” Ruby never dated anyone she worked with.
“Since when does a wife stop someone from trying to…” She gave a dismissive shrug. “I guess he didn’t know his wife and I’ve worked together on a half-dozen charity events. I told him to let her know I’d be happy to jump in and help with the Ironman logistics, or to help rustle up more funding, and he backed off.”
“Maman says the two of you have some ideas to get a few big companies interested in helping?” Aury’s mother had founded a charity to help people who need prosthetics, specializing in custom-made pieces for specific needs.
* * * *
Axel had to wait for the sun to set before he could venture out to find his Aurélie. He found her brain signature and slid in, so he could see and hear what she did.
He listened from outside the restaurant while she talked to Ruby, her best friend since sixth grade, when they’d both arrived at the all-girls private school. Aury had been home-schooled up to then, and Ruby had gone to a private school outside Knoxville. Unlike the other girls, who’d come from feeder schools, they’d been lost in a sea of cliques and had found each other.
Ruby dated often — muscled arm candy, ambitious men, the occasional political up-and-comer — but rarely made it to a fifth date. Aurélie was different. One boyfriend, ever. A scrawny chess player four states away. A relationship built on two years of textsand a handful of tournament weekends, and never once alone in private.
Which brought him to the truly important detail: she was still a virgin.No, more than that, she was still untouched. Never even properly kissed.
Axel felt a flare of satisfaction he didn’t try to temper. He’d have killed any boy or man who’d despoiled her.
In the quiet hours while she slept over the following nights, he combed through her thoughts and dreams, searching for a path. A way to enter her world. An introduction to make him trustworthy and acceptable from the start.
* * * *
Over the years, Aury had learned how to turn her pain receptors down, rather than completely off, and she did so during the flexibility portion of her PT two days later. She’d never in her life managed a full squat on her right foot, but she was damned close to it. Turning the pain completely off was dangerous, since she might push too far and rip something, rather than stretching it, but no way could she have made it so far if she hadn’t been able to dampen the pain feedback.
