slightly too long for a human, caught the light from the fake candled chandeliers. “Do you mean as the owner of the town? Or do you mean…?”
He hadn’t moved. Hadn’t moved at all, but there was a change in his smile, almost too wide, too…feral.
“Yes,” Jason said with another small bow that was elegant to the max. “As the only uncontested alpha within a hundred mile radius…you are quite famous. Quite frankly, I am surprised. In an area of over three thousand shapeshifters…you have somehow managed to scare the hell into those under your domain.”
I struggled to hide the surprise from my eyes. Had Jason known? Did he know about Marcus Caldwell from the very beginning?
The strongly built, barrel-chested older man threw his head back, laughing. “Well, I surely am quite complimented, Mister No-Name. I do try, I do try.” The smile faded away, faded away with such certainty, I wondered if there had been a smile there at all. “What do we have here? Two unknowns. One a vampire. The other…” his mouth turned down at the corners. “The other a well known assassin. You think we didn’t know? Vampires and us shifters, well, while we do try to stay out of each others way…we do keep an eye on them. And that involves all of them. So answer me this.”
Jason stepped forward, shielding my body with his. While it was true he could take far more damage than my human body, I had sworn to be Jason’s Ailward. I would trade my life with his, if it ensured his survival.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “I appreciate the sentiment. But I am your protector. Not the other way around. Please move back.”
Marcus did not say a word regarding this particular exchange, only watching us carefully, hands at his hips now.
Jason’s eyes widened, but he did step back, enough so that if the alpha wanted to shoot me in the chest, he could have done so easily.
The alpha seemed to laugh at us with his eyes. “Like I was saying. I’m curious. What exactly is a vamp killer doing with a vamp?”
I squared my shoulders. “None of your business.”
Jason cleared his throat and took a step to the left. “As you can see, my Ailward has spoken. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I do believe we have some cash we’d like to spend at your…wonderful…casino.”
“Normally, I would welcome you with open arms,” said Marcus, sticking his thumbs through his belt loops. He looked more like a stereotypical Texan rancher than the owner of a bustling casino that probably drew in more revenue through underground ventures. “But I suppose, as the owner, no as an Alpha, I ought to ask. You see, I’ve heard some news. Yes, some very interesting news. My contact in Centennial City alerted me to a certain presence…a presence that causes much worry and talk in the vamp community.”
The way he said presence made my palms sweat, my breath come short. “Rather than speaking in circles, can’t you speak in no uncertain terms? Either say what you mean, or don’t waste our time.”
“Brash talk,” he said after a moment of silence. “Do you have any idea what could happen to you and your precious Master if I so much as lift a finger? Why these boys behind me will riddle you with more holes than cheesecloth.”
I grinned. I knew this man, no, I knew this type of man and that was more than half the battle. “You wouldn’t. Why would you order something done when you could do it yourself?”
The two bodyguards drew in a breath and Jason cursed quietly.
The alpha shifted his feet, pulled his thumbs out of his belt loops, and for a moment, it looked as though he would throw himself forward.
“You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” He regarded me calmly for one moment and stuck his thumbs back through the belt loops as though that was where they stayed on a permanent basis. “But I suppose you’d be right. There wouldn’t be much of a point in calling some of my boys to finish you and your so-called Master off if I can do the job. At least, I know I’d get the job done.” He sighed dramatically, heavily. “Now, what am I do to? I hear tell anyone coming across a vampire and a rather infamous vamp killer was supposed to be detained for…hm, what did he say? Ah, yes, further questioning.”
I stiffened. “Further questioning?”
He shrugged his expansive shoulders. He