Diana's Hound: Bloodhounds, Book 4 by Moira Rogers Read Free Book Online Page B

something better.”
    “Whiskey?” Except no, he couldn’t even indulge in that dubious comfort. Not considering what had happened last time.
    “I was going to say access to the lady’s best friend.” Archer assumed an innocent expression. “Unless I misread that look back there, and you’re not interested?”
    He doubted Grace would do much to further his cause when even Satira had turned on him in Diana’s defense. “She’s a beautiful woman, but I could not think of a more dangerous time to cultivate a relationship.”
    “Now that’s the damn truth. What’s this Wilder telegraphed about? You heading out over the border?”
    “You’re not going to like it.” But Nate told him the details anyway, everything from Emmett’s arrival with Victoria to the mission they’d outlined, ending with, “You spent a lot of time undercover in the Deadlands. Have you seen anything like this?”
    Archer’s casual demeanor had vanished, leaving him tense and angry. “Never. Hell, I rarely saw the unwilling auctioned at all. Most of the bloodsuckers who like that sort of thing keep it under wraps—for appearance’s sake, if nothing else.”
    Unwilling had too many shades of gray in the Deadlands, and they both knew it. Vampires could strip free will in so many ways. “Invitation only, I’m sure, especially with a bloodhound involved.”
    “So what’s your in?”
    Nate finally found a smile. “Your incompetence, as a matter of fact.”
    The corner of Archer’s mouth twitched. “Glad I’m good for something.”
    “Mmm. As it turns out, when you were wiping the vampire menace from Crystal Springs, you missed one. And this clever—if recently sired—vampire managed to escape not only with his own hide, but with a female bloodhound as well.”
    “A hound who’d fetch a pretty price at a slave auction.”
    “And as pretty as she is, they’re certain to believe a weak young vampire would prefer the coin to a companion likely to end his life. Especially when that coin could buy him a comfortable afterlife and a dozen pretty pets who aren’t a danger to his health.”
    Archer rubbed his chin. “As cons go, it’s risky. Not much room for a backup plan, and you have to play your part and play it well.”
    Nate clapped Archer on the shoulder. “Why do you think he sent me to you? You’ve a devious sort of mind, not to mention experience undercover in the Deadlands.”
    “And you expect me to teach you such brilliance over the course of a few hours?”
    Yes, this was what made Archer exasperating and entertaining in turns, the infuriating mixture of arrogance and irreverence. “I’m beginning to doubt that your Miss Linwood is entirely of sound mind. I can’t imagine how any woman could tolerate your insufferable bullshit.”
    “Says the man with a hard-on for a bloodhound, of all things.”
    “Because who could ever find one of you appealing?”
    Archer gestured toward the door of the closest house with a flourish. “Don’t rightly know. Why don’t you come inside and ask Grace?”
    Nate wasn’t sure what he expected. He’d only caught a few glimpses of Grace Linwood the last time he’d visited Crystal Springs, and had barely conversed with her. He’d assumed she was nothing more than a starry-eyed schoolteacher, and that Archer was another jaded man fallen victim to adoration wrapped in innocence.
    But the woman who greeted Archer with a kiss was no sweet innocent. She had a worldly edge that her neat, modest dress couldn’t hide, as well as a sharp gaze Nate had managed to overlook when they’d met. Of course, given the fact that she’d been naked in a bed with Archer at the time, Nate had been trying very hard to overlook a great many things.
    If Grace remembered the awkwardness of their first encounter, she seemed unbothered by it. She reached out to clasp his hand with a smile. “It’s such an honor to see you again. I couldn’t believe it when Archer told me that his friend Nate was