Page 43 of The Satyr's Guilt
When she crept lightly onto the porch, itcreaked. Bounty stopped dead still, fearing she announced herself.She expected Dax to spring out in full attack mode.
No Dax.
She trod more carefully before she turnedthe knob. The door opened.Strange. The male was known to beparanoid. His security topnotch. Looking behind her, she glanced atthree cameras. Those were only the ones she could see.
If he was inside, he’d already spotted her.She swung the door wide and dropped into a defensive crouch in casehe came out fighting.
The house was still. Deep cave silent. Nosounds.
Nothing could hide the smells, though. Shecaught a strong odor of blood. Fainter ones of leather along withrotting food.
Following the scents, she pressed her handon a slightly ajar door leading into a bedroom. There on a massivefour-poster bed lay Dax, clothed in his fighting leathers and ablack Led Zeppelin Hermit tee. His feet were bare. Somehow, it madehim appear fragile.
But he wasn’t. His obsidian eyes staredright at her, casting a glare which would have chilled anyone else,sending them high-tailing it for the exit.
Bounty sighed. She walked in to stand besidethe bed. She placed the backs of her fingers on his forehead. “Bigbrother.”
He was so still she wanted to pinch him orshake him to make sure he wasn’t catatonic. His brow was cold anddamp, sweat glistening on his skin. His eyes were glassy but notshot with red-and-white streaks. A good sign.
“Sis.”
He took a few deep breaths, dragged histwo-hundred-and-fifty pound-plus body to a sitting position to leanagainst the headboard. Pushing his tangled long black hair onto hisback, he pulled his lips into a snarl. “Not a good idea for you tobe here.”
“You don’t look too intimidating right now.More like one of those popular movie zombies. What’s going on?”
“I needed to take some time off. Get my acttogether and all that shit.”
“Why didn’t you call me for help?”
He waved his hand through the air. “Whywould I want you to see this?”
Her neck swiveled when she looked around theroom. It was a disaster. A leather coat. Wet, soiled towels. Hisdisgusting trophy necklace of vampire teeth. Cast-off bags ofblood. Plates of dried food.
“Are you better?”
Believing it would look bad for Bounty, Daxwanted no one to know they were related. She blew their cover withtwo of hisfreronsrecently when she enlisted Ram and Brakto help drag him out of an O blud den where he enjoyed sinking hisfangs into opium addicts with tainted blood. It was a way forvampires to get a real, lasting buzz without a high risk ofaddiction. Her brother was fighting these demons.
His raspy voice sounded unused. “I’m not asthirsty as I was. So no bludfrenzy. I had a fever with sweats fordays. Mostly gone now.”
She held back tears. Dax wouldn’t want them.Besides, she was afraid if she started crying, she’d never stop.Her brother was her hero. Her savior. A good male. If only he sawhimself as she did.
“Kole is looking for you. You’re supposed tobe working with Tyr on an assignment at Nace’s stronghold.Something about drugs.”
A jarring laugh arose from Dax’s chest. “Theironic assignment convinced me Kole has lost his fucking demonmind.” He passed his hand across his chin, the sinister dusting ofa mustache and goatee scragglier than usual. “I’ll shower, dress,and give the warlock Tyr a call.”
Worry crossed her eyes like a shadow. “Areyou ready to do this?”
He swung his legs cautiously onto the floor.“Good as new. You can leave now. You’ve done your job.”
“It’s not just my job. I…” She was going tosay, “worry about you,” but it would have offended Dax. So, shesettled for another truth. “I love you.”
“Maybe you should love someone worthy.”
“No one is worthier than you are,brother.”
“Cut me loose, Bounty. You’re dragging medown. Your love is a giant weight around my neck.”
“Don’t. You. Dare. Don’t laythis shit on my doorstep.” Bristling power slammed off the surfaceof her body as she sent a cold breeze toward Dax. “I love you, butyou can be a real ass. Now get out of bed, shower, do your job.”She spun on her heel, stomping out of his cabin, wiping tears fromher cheeks.
