meeting, he was putting only two Beta squadrons downtown. Civilian vampires weren't showing up at the bars the way they used to, because too many of their kind had been pinched from that vicinity for persuasion. It was time to shift focus elsewhere.
After some thought, he'd decided to send the rest of his men out into the residential areas. Vampires were active at night. In their homes. It was really a question of finding them among the humans -
"You are such a little shit."
U burst up from his chair.
O stood naked in the doorway to the cabin. His chest was covered in claw marks, as if something had held on to him hard, and his face was swollen, his hair a mess. He looked well used and pissed off.
And as he shut the two of them in with a crack, U was unable to move: None of his large muscles fell into the defensive crouch he was screaming for, and this told him all he needed to know about who was Fore-lesser now. Only the top slayer had this kind of physical control over his subordinates.
"You forgot two important things." O casually withdrew a knife from a holster that hung on the wall. "One, the Omega is very fickle. And two, he has a personal taste for me. It really didn't take me long to work my way back into the fold."
As that knife came toward him, U struggled, tried to run, wanted to scream.
"So say good night, U. And give the Omega a big fat 'hello' when you see him. He's expecting you."
Six o'clock. Almost time to go.
Bella looked around the guest room she was in and figured she'd packed up everything she'd brought with her. She hadn't had much to begin with, and anyway, she'd moved it all from Zsadist's room the night before. Most of it had already been in an L.L. Bean bag.
Fritz would be coming for her things any minute, and he would drive the stuff to Havers and Marissa's. Thank God the brother-and-sister pair were willing to grant Rehvenge a favor and take her in. Their mansion, and the clinic, were a real stronghold. Even Rehv was satisfied she'd be safe.
Then at six thirty she was going to dematerialize over there, and Rehv would meet her.
Compulsively she went into the bathroom and checked behind the shower curtain again to make sure she had her shampoo. Yup, nothing there. And there was nothing of her left in the bedroom. Or in the house at all, for that matter. When she left, no one would know she'd ever been at the mansion. No one would...
Oh, Christ. Shut up with that, she thought.
There was a knock on the door. She walked over and pulled the thing open. "Hi, Fritz, my bag is on the - "
Zsadist was standing in the hall, dressed for fighting. Leathers. Guns. Blades.
She jumped back. "What are you doing here?"
He came into the room, saying nothing. But Jesus, he looked ready to pounce on something.
"I don't need an armed guard," Bella said, trying to keep cool. "I mean, if that's what this is all about. I'm going to dematerialize there, and the clinic is perfectly safe."
Zsadist didn't speak a word. Just stared at her, all power and male strength.
"Did you come to loom at me?" she snapped. "Or is there a point to this?"
When he shut the door behind him, her heart started to pound. Especially as she heard the lock turn.
She backed up until she was against the bed. "What do you want, Zsadist?"
He came forward as if he was stalking her, his yellow eyes fixated. His body was all coiled tension, and suddenly it didn't take a genius to figure out what kind of release he was looking for.
"Do not tell me you came here to mate."
"All right, I won't." His voice was nothing but a deep, purring growl.
She put her hand out. Yeah, like that was going to make a difference. He could take her if he wanted to whether she said yes or not. Only... like an idiot she wouldn't turn him away. Even after all the crap he'd pulled, she still wanted him. Goddamn it.
"I'm not having sex with you."
"I'm not here for me," he said, coming up to her.
Oh, God. His scent... his body... so close. She was such a fool.
"Get away from me. I don't want you anymore."
"Yes, you do. I can smell it." He reached out and touched her neck, running his forefinger down her