First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost Read Free Book Online Page A

head around. He’d been across the room, talking to someone, leaving her surrounded by the creatures from her nightmares. Vampires everywhere. Blood would follow. Death would follow. It always did.
    The memories thickened until they consumed her. That awful howling getting closer. All those other screams. We’re trapped, and they’re coming. Something grabbed her arm. Denise yanked back in terror, but the cold grip didn’t budge.
    “Let go of me,” she shouted.
    “What’s with her?” someone muttered. Denise couldn’t understand why the person sounded so clueless. Why wasn’t anyone running? Didn’t they realize the things coming after them couldn’t be killed ?
    That grip tightened and a new one clamped across her mouth. She struggled but couldn’t get free. There’s no hope. We’re trapped in the basement, and they’re coming. Any second, the door will burst open, a grotesque figure springing toward me. No. No. NO!
    Cold water splashed in her face. She blinked, coughing a little, and managed to hold up her hand to block most of the second icy splash.
    “Stop it.”
    Spade loomed over her, one hand under a running faucet. She blinked once more. The front of her was soaked and she was shivering, crouched in a ball on a bathroom floor. And she had no idea how she’d gotten here.
    “Not again,” she moaned.
    Spade turned the faucet off and knelt in front of her. “You know where you are now.” It was a statement.
    She rested her head on the cabinet next to her, giving it a slight bang out of sheer frustration.
    “About three miles from Crazytown with my foot on the pedal, I’d say.”
    Spade made a noise that sounded like a sigh. “This has happened before?”
    “Not for months. Not since…”
    A knowing look crossed his face. “Not since you saw me kill that bloke,” he finished for her. “Why didn’t you tell me you suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder?”
    Now that the episode had passed, she felt embarrassed. “I said it hadn’t happened in a while, and wasn’t that the least of my concerns when I saw you again?”
    Denise held up her wrists for emphasis. The demon marks were concealed by wide silver and gold bangles, but they both knew what was under them.
    “I just ruined the plan for tonight, didn’t I?” she groaned. “I can’t believe I let that happen.”
    Spade brushed her face with one of the paper towels. “If I’d been paying more attention, I would have anticipated this possibility. We’ll leave now. We can sort out how to get a look at the others later.”
    “No.” Denise took the towel from him and swiped under her eyes. Her mascara was probably everywhere. “We’re here. Let’s do this. I’ll be okay if—this sounds so pathetic—I’ll be okay as long as you don’t leave me alone again. Being around all those vampires by myself just reminded me too much of—of that night. I don’t know if it’s possible, at this sort of thing—”
    Something flashed across his face, too quick for her to translate. “I won’t leave you alone.” He held out his hand. “Please.”
    She placed her hand in his. Then she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
    “My makeup is ruined. ”
    “Nonsense, you look beautiful. In fact, I’ve been propositioned on your behalf twice already.”
    An edge was in his voice. Denise couldn’t tell if it was amusement or annoyance. She decided not to ask.
    “I’m sure that’ll change after my little psycho episode. It usually leaves a bad impression. That brings up a point, by the way. Aren’t you worried that down the road, one of your people will say to Bones or Cat, ‘Hey, I recognize the brunette. She’s the nut job who belongs to Spade’s line,’ and then you’ll be outed for your role in this?”
    Spade’s gaze locked with hers, his burnt-copper eyes both distant and fathomless. “No. Because we both know you have no intention of seeing anyone in the vampire world again once this is over.”
    Denise looked