Page 7 of The Mech Who Loved Me
Kincaid crossed his arms subconsciously, his nose aching in remembrance. A blue blood's one fatal flaw was the fact that as the craving virus colonized them over time, they began to devolve into a vampire. However, two months ago the Rogues had discovered there was one other option available for those devolving blue bloods if they used anelixir vitaeto control their transformation. Instead of dying during the last stages of the Fade and being reborn as a vampire, those blue bloods transformed into thedhampir. They bore the same strengths of a vampire—faster, stronger, almost impossible to kill—but they retained the rational instincts of a blueblood.
It scared the shit outofhim.
"I don't know. There's been no sign of the Sons of Gilead, or this mysterious group ofdhampirthat are working against us." Malloryn handed over a photograph. "Until now. We know there was a power struggle within the Sons of Gilead and Lord Ulbricht won. He now leads the SOG, and their mission is to return the blue bloods and the Echelon to power. Ulbricht was spotted in Brighton two days ago, an agent of mine informs me. Whatever he's planning, I want to know about it. Gemma, fancy alittletrip?"
The vivacious young woman snatched up the photograph, smiling down at the sneering face of Lord Ulbricht. "It would be a pleasure. Do you want him dead oralive?"
"Alive, preferably. I want to know everything he knows," the duke replied. "Take a dirigible to Brighton, and—" His gaze slid over them, making Kincaid stiffen, before the duke's eyes narrowed on Charlie Todd. "Take Charliewithyou."
"To protect her?" Charlieasked.
Both Gemma and Malloryn snorted. Even Isabella succumbed to a faintsmile.
"He's such a sweet boy," Gemma said, patting Charlie's cheek. "There are at least twelve ways I could kill you, Charlie, despite the fact you're a blue blood. For a human, there's at least a hundred. No, Malloryn wants to send you as a distraction forUlbricht."
"I could do it,"Kincaidsaid.
Isabella rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, Kincaid, you're not quite the right sort ofdistraction."
He shot an incredulous look at Charlie, who'd crossed his arms over his chest. The lad was dangerous—all blue bloods were—but he was barely in his earlytwenties. "I—"
"You would terrify Ulbricht," Gemma hastened to add, as she slid an arm around Charlie's neck. "Charlie is young, handsome,intelligent,and—"
"Exactly Ulbricht's type," Mallorynconcluded.
Both Kincaid and Charlie shot him asharplook.
"I thought Ulbricht had a mistress," Charlie blurted, flushingbrightred.
"He did," Malloryn said. "Zero, a young, beautiful blondedhampirwho was very dangerous. Ulbricht likes fair-haired youths of either gender. He also likes his bed play a little dangerous. Gemma will brief you on theflight."
"I amnotseducing Lord Ulbricht!" Charlie lookedhorrified.
Kincaid scratched at his jaw. "There's no need, I'm sure. I doubt even Malloryn would send you off to be some blue blood lord's catamite. A little flirtation, and if you're lucky, you can lure him somewhere isolated where Gemma can truss him up and return him to face the duke's tender mercies. Am Icorrect?"
"I don't know that I would use the words 'tender' or 'mercy,' but something like that, yes." Malloryn's smile died. "Ulbricht knows I want his head. He's bound to be well guarded by his fellow members of the SOG. Becareful."
"I could do this in my sleep, Your Grace," Gemmareplied.
"And me?" Kincaid demanded. Surely there had to be something for him to do? Malloryn wouldn't have called him or Ava up here just tolisten.
Malloryn shot him a look. "A crime scene just came in. It has nothing to do with our work, but the Nighthawks have requested Ava's assistance, as she used to work for them. It's the fifth death in a fortnight.... I think Master Reed said they were referring to it as theBlackVein."
"Black Vein?" Avamurmured.
All of them turned to look at her, as though startled to find she'd spoken. Kincaid examined them from beneath sleepy eyelids. Sometimes she faded into the wallpaper—or perhaps that was purposeful—but he seemed to be the only one who alwayssawher.
Malloryn waved a dismissive hand. "Some sort of disease afflicting blue bloods, and now a human by the look of it. Kincaid can make sureyou'resafe."
Bodyguard work. He slid his hands into his pockets... and didn't say a damnedthing.
"But blue bloodscannotsuccumb to illness," Ava protested. "That's impossible. The craving virus is a jealous mistress—it will tolerate no other diseases in its host while it sets about colonizing them. It heals all wounds, and there's been no way to evencureit."
"Well something is killing blue bloods," Malloryn said, "and considering your interest in the craving virus, it was thought you would be the perfect candidate to proceed with the investigation. Just be quick about it. The second Gemma and Charlie have Ulbricht in hand, I plan on setting things in motion very swiftly. I want to crush the SOG before they can cause further chaos to England, and then we still have thosedhampirto find. Whatever is killing blue bloods is important, but it pales in comparison to the real threat to the empire." He gained his feet. "Report to Isabella in my absence. She'll keep me apprised of any of the goings-on. And make sure you keep your actions quiet. The last thing London needs is mention of a disease runningrampant."
"Will do," Kincaidmuttered.
Ava blinked, and Kincaidwilledher to lookathim.
