For Richer (Vampire Assassin League Book 24) by Jackie Ivie Read Free Book Online

almost been planned, it had been so perfect. He was even wearing ceremonial attire. Something stung his hip. He smacked at it and forgot it. He hushed his conscience as he dove after the hit. Akron had warned him about being seen. Tempting fate. But it was fun. And what was the harm?
    He followed Anne’s trajectory so he could finish this and get back to his mate, and what really mattered. Anne had fallen at least a thousand feet. Mikhal hovered alongside the ledge she’d landed on. It didn’t look to have seen much use in centuries. Her body had broken a path through all kinds of branches on the way down. That should have helped with her landing.
    But...no.
    She’d hit head-first. Looked like a skull obliteration and compaction. Nothing left that a medical unit could deem a fracture. Her body was a lot shorter, too. She was crumpled. Dead on impact. And she was hidden. Mikhal broke a few more branches. Uprooted a tree. Moved some dirt. Making it easier for the authorities to find her. And then he was off. He made the call to VAL on the way.
    ~ ~ ~
    The first inkling of trouble was the cell phone, sitting forlornly in the middle of the corridor. Mikhal scooped it up mid-flight. She’d left the queen’s chamber? His newly awakened heart gave a start. He’d left Kaiya and Shadow unfettered. To prowl. Protect. But if they’d touched her!
    By the gods!
    Both cats looked up at his approach, held back by the shock wires about their necks. Thank Inti he’d installed the electrical fences years ago. He had invisible security and alarm systems throughout the complex. Mikhal loved to work with his hands, especially when it came to electricity. He’d tinkered with just about everything in the inner portion of his fortress over the years. He’d had a diesel-powered generator in the last century. Toward the end of it, he’d installed solar panels. And hidden them. It wasn’t just energy efficient. It left no trace of anything a heat-seeking drone could find. Mikhal wasn’t putting anything past anyone. If the technology became available, somebody with enough money was going to buy it and then use it. Membership in the VAL had taught him that much.
    He slid through the beaded curtain, barely moving it. She hadn’t added any lighting to the room. The star-strewn ceiling and flickers of fire still bathed the enclosure with soft light. Ah! She was there. Perfection itself. Unharmed. His heart ticked up a beat as she saw him. Because it matched how hers had reacted. His mate was watching him with wide eyes, capturing him with their warm gold shade. Her hair had lightened considerably as it dried. It had tawny streaks through it. It reached past her shoulders in a mass of waves. She was wrapped in the blanket he’d given her. Her boots, backpack and jacket were neatly stacked just under the mattress. She was sitting in the middle of it. Looking very small. And very scared.
    “Oh. Holy crap. You’re real,” she informed him.
    Mikhal grinned. She gasped. His heart stuttered, which must match hers. The effect between them was even stronger than before? That was really wondrous.
    “Yes.” He took a step toward her. She didn’t seem to notice.
    “There are two big cats out there.”
    “Yes. Kaiya and Shadow.”
    He took another step toward her. She tilted her head slightly, but otherwise didn’t give any sign that it affected her.
    “They tried to eat me.”
    “Thank the gods they failed.”
    He went another step closer, taking him halfway across the room. Her eyes went even wider for a moment before she glanced down. A rosy shade appeared on the tops of her cheeks. Mikhal caught his breath at the sight. His thighs wobbled. He locked his legs against it. His chest tightened. A hard note hit both his ears, making it difficult to hear her next words. What power was this?
    “You’re speaking English,” she whispered to the blanket.
    He spanned the remaining distance to his bed without making a sound. “Yes,” he finally