Blood Wyne by Yasmine Galenorn Read Free Book Online Page B

remembers my voice. That delights me.” He let out a short laugh, and my stomach tied itself in knots. His voice was so rich, so strong, and even through the phone line he beckoned to me, reeling me in. “My maid relayed your message.”
    Shivering, I forced myself to sit on the bed. Roman scared the hell out of me. He was an ancient vampire whom I’d met once, thanks to Sassy. He could have taken on Dredge and slapped him down with one hand. Calculating he was, and cool, and perfectly at home in his skin. And he wanted me to attend the midwinter Vampire’s Ball as his escort.
    I hesitated. Roman was Sassy’s friend. How was I going to juggle what I wanted to ask him with her meltdown? I had to say something, though—I wasn’t about to play head games with the godfather of vampires. That would be a losing proposition.
    “I need your help, if you’re willing to offer it.” There. Plain, simple, blunt.
    He laughed again, his mirth rich and rolling over me like delicious honey. “And what will you offer me in return, I wonder? But first, you will attend the ball with me as my escort?”
    It might sound like a question, but behind the façade, it was a demand. I rolled my eyes and decided what the hell—it couldn’t hurt. Nerissa wouldn’t be going anyway. It didn’t do to take breathers to a vampire soiree.
    “Yes, I’d love to. Thank you. I assume formal dress?”
    “Lovely, and yes. Pick out whatever you like and send the bill to me. I would be happy to buy your dress for you. A fur, if you like.”
    Whoa. Dresses and fur coats on the first date? I started to say something, then bit my words back. Again, the whole power struggle thing was not something I wanted to get into. Yet. He could wipe me out with the blink of an eye, even though I had Dredge’s blood in me.
    “Um . . . thank you, but I have dresses.”
    “The offer stands. Now, what do you need my help with?”
    I could hear the smirk behind the words and it ticked me off, but I kept my temper at bay. “We have a problem. I think we have a vampire serial killer at work in the city. I need to put an end to it.”
    A pause. Then, “And just what do you want me to do? Such matters don’t interest me. You will find him, or you won’t. Chances are, sooner or later, you will track him down and kill him. You’re too good at your job not to. And then it will be over, for the time being, and you will move on to another case.”
    Somehow his confidence in me didn’t make me feel better. “Have you heard anything out of the ordinary? Someone new to the life who’s gone off balance?”
    “A lot of vampires lose their way when they’re turned. They walk into the shadows and lose their sense of reason. Those of us who make it to an ancient age must repress our consciences while maintaining logic and reason.”
    Something about the way he said that gave me the shivers. “I see. You do realize, this vampire is going to make life hard for all of us.”
    “Agreed. While I don’t care about the humans on whom he feeds, he will give us a bad name. We live by the treaty to avoid all-out war, but not all vampires have agreed to it. Until the Regencies are set up, we won’t have an official ruling class approved by the government to enforce sanctions against aberrant behavior. Which brings me directly to a topic I wish to discuss: your friend Wade.”
    Uh-oh. Wade was running for Regent against Terrance from the Fangtabula. Was Roman backing Terrance? I hoped not; it would tell me a lot more about him than I wanted to know. Though I’d wiped Wade off my radar after he kicked me out of Vampires Anonymous, truth was, I hoped he’d win. At least he’d be a sane choice for the job. Terrance was trouble incarnate.
    Roman cleared his throat and I could hear a whistle. He must be smoking one of his cigars. Roman might be a hedonist, but he also refused to allow his passions to rule his life. He was in control with a capital C .
    “This matter directly impacts