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

away. Her panic attacks had only abated after she’d cut ties with Cat and anyone else who wasn’t human. No way was she going back to being at the mercy of her memories, never knowing when her mind would trick her into thinking she was back at that awful ambush on New Year’s Eve.
    “You see what being around your kind does to me. I don’t want to live like that, and I know how to make it stop.”
    His hand was still curled around hers, his grip cool, secure, and with an underlying strength that was utterly inhuman.
    “Right, then,” he said at last. “Let’s see if we can’t hasten that day for you.”
     

    Denise sat to his right at the ornate table in the ballroom, unaware this was the reason behind the discreet gawks she was getting. No doubt she thought those were due to how she’d screamed and blanked out from shock earlier. She didn’t realize such an outburst would garner only mild intrigue among his worldly line members. A hysterical human? Who hadn’t seen that before?
    But what his people hadn’t seen was a woman with a beating heart seated at his right during a formal event. Such placement indicated far higher standing than that of mere property, but his left was reserved for Alten, the most senior vampire in his line. Spade had intended for Denise to sit behind him, as was more fitting for property—even favored property. But while that would have been prudent, and likely even sufficient for her PTSD, he found he was loath to let go of her hand.
    And that spelled trouble in every language he knew.
    If there was a God, Nathanial would be among the people here and Spade would deliver him to the demon tonight. Spade would even put a bow on the sod and wish Raum good sup, as long as that meant Denise exited his life immediately. He could not afford to let himself care for a human. Not again.
    Yet the cynic in him wasn’t surprised that after the painstakingly long process of introducing Denise to the hundreds of people, alive and undead, in his line, she shook her head in disappointment.
    “He’s not here,” she whispered.
    Spade bit back a curse. Right. It would be too easy if he were.
    Alten leaned over and handed him a CD. “Financials,” he said. “I’ve run through the numbers. Everything seems on the up-and-up, except for Turner. He’s missed his second quarterly in a row.”
    Spade absently continued to stroke Denise’s knuckles. Her skin was still warmer than it should be. Could she have caught ill? Perhaps he shouldn’t have sought to irritate her out of her depression with the ridiculously scanty togs she had on. “Mmmph,” he grunted.
    Alten stared at him. “For the second quarter in a row,” he repeated.
    Spade snapped his attention back to the other vampire. Yes, right, Turner’s refusal to pay ten percent of his salary was an issue. Every vampire owed that to the Master of his line.
    “Turner,” he called out. “Do you have a reason for missing your tithe?”
    The blond-haired vampire came through the others to stand in front of the table. He gave the proper bow, but when Spade caught Turner’s scent and saw the mutiny in his expression, he heaved a mental sigh. Turner was about to brass him off something awful.
    “I didn’t pay my tithe because I want my freedom from your line, sire,” Turner said, straightening his shoulders.
    Spade eyed him, his patience dwindling by the second. “Undead just forty-four years, and you think you’re ready to become Master of your own line?”
    “Yes,” Turner said. Then, with even more arrogance, “Release me to be my own Master. I have no wish to fight you, but if you deny my request, I will challenge you.”
    Stupid. Reckless. Fool.
    “Overconfidence like that is exactly why you aren’t ready to lead your own line yet. Your rashness would get you killed, and then all those you’ve created would be left without protection. That is why I deny your request for freedom, Turner, and if you follow through with your intention