Page 65 of Blind Date with a Werewolf
“Hush,” Asil told him. He pulled back into traffic andthen woke his phone and told it the address he was taking them to.
“What are we doing?” asked Mari-Brigid in the soothing tones one used for monsters.
“Playing tag,” he said. “And, for the record, we are not ‘it.’ ”
“You’re bleeding,” Bobby said in arrested tones. “How did I not see that?”
The seat behind Asil creaked as Bobby leaned forward to look more closely. Asil had allowed the pack magic that hid the wounds and the blood to dissipate when he’d gotten into the car. Maybe he shouldn’t have done that.
“Vampire,” Asil conceded. “Alvarez, I believe. At least he was an old vampire with a reason”—Asil couldn’t help a laugh—“a valid reason to keep his face hidden.”
“You’re drunk,” said Mari-Brigid calmly. “You should pull over and let Bobby drive.”
“Not drunk,” Asil said, weaving through traffic that was moving too slowly. Timing was going to be very important. He needed to get toher. No. Get to his destination. “Blood exchange with an old vampire leaves one disoriented. Fortunately, I have someone to share the benefits with. It halves the effect.”
Shut up, said his wolf.We are talking too much.
“Bloodexchange,” said Bobby. “One of them didn’t just feed from you, you fed from them?”
“Is that bad?” asked Mari-Brigid.
“I’ve never seen anyone get through one and remain conscious,” Bobby said. “And I’ve never seen an exchange with one of the old vampires.”
“I’m the Moor,” Asil said. “Left the vampire unconscious.”
Lightning rang through his nervous system as his prey tried to call him using the blood bond that now existed between them.
Call us, the wolf said.Who does he think he is to try to call us to his side, as if we were a dog?
“He’s awake now.”
But Asil’s timing was going to be good. He pulled out of the arterial road and into a quieter neighborhood. He parked in the same spot he’d used when he’d been here before, in front of a large Victorian where two people waited on the porch. One of them ran down the steps: Ruby. Ruby wasn’t supposed to be here.
I hope you know what you are doing, growled the wolf.I don’t know that dropping a nest of vampires down upon the head of our Ruby is good courting tactics.
Asil had only known two addresses in Seattle well enough to make them suit his purpose. This one, he judged, could be made safe against vampires because the old mansion was a home. He’d asked Ruby to make sure the old Victorian mansion was clear of people—owners and her team. Her team included—and he’d been quite clear on that—her.
If he’d been entirely himself, he probably would be worried that he liked it that Ruby had not listened to him. Had known she would be here.
Of course she is here, his wolf said.She is our Ruby.
“Out,” Asil barked at his passengers. “Both of you.”
Ruby ignored the two people getting out of the back of his car and tapped her fingers on his window. He rolled it down.
“I thought we were going on a datetomorrow.”
He flashed his teeth at her and said, “This isn’t a date. It’s not even a prelude. If we are lucky, none of the bad things will even show up here.” He thought a moment. “Except for the werewolves.”
The expression on her face changed. “Hey. Hey. Are you okay? Are you bleeding?”
The answer to both of those questions was no. He was pretty sure the bites had quit bleeding before they left the venue. He didn’t think she needed to hear that.
Instead, he asked, “Are the wolves here yet?”
“No.” Asil hadn’t noticed Alan until he spoke. That probably wasn’t good. “Just me.”
I saw him approach. He is not an enemy or I would have warned you. We should not linger here.
