Her Vampire Ward by Britten Thorne Read Free Book Online Page A

vampiric arrogance I was so used to. I was struck with a need to
protect this one. But he had the look of someone who wouldn’t
follow that first, most important rule. The natural impulse to look
out for his sister would be a problem. This wasn't going to be one of
our easier jobs.

    -

    I
left my brother with the vampire. He would take the first shift,
making sure the creature got enough rest before going through all the
rules for the first time. Number one being, do not contact family,
friends, coworkers, acquaintances. It was the hardest rule to follow,
harder than answering to a new name and discarding the old. Harder
than abandoning all possessions. Harder than leaving bank accounts
behind.
    I
glanced over his report for the twentieth time. Not so unusual.
Vampire, witnessed other vampires murdering one of their own. Some
scientist. He wanted to testify, do the right thing, and the
murderers brought in a real monster of a warlock to silence him. That
was what made this stand out. Why the warlock? It raised the issue,
why the scientist?
    Not
my business. My job was just too keep Alek safe.
    I
entered the control room at the end of the hall, where Alek’s
escorts waited. The modified hotel room was practically lined with
computer monitors and television screens.
    I
left my weapons on pegs on the back of the door. "The spells are
active," Ian said. He and the other man, Joel, sat with cups of
coffee at a long desk in front of a smaller set of monitors. I
stepped up behind their chairs - they were watching the camera feeds
from our few occupied rooms, including Alek’s.
    “ Where’s
Carolyn?” I asked. Another regular, she manned the control room
when most of us were in the field or dealing with the clients.
    “ Sent
her on a coffee and smoke break,” Joel said, sipping his own,
“She’ll be back in ten.” I spotted Daniel on one of
the little monitors, sitting on the end of one of the hotel beds and
reading something on his phone. Alek slept on his back on the other,
shoes discarded. At least I assumed he was asleep - one hand was
draped across his eyes.
    I
always felt sympathy for our clients, but something about Alek
bothered me. Maybe it was just seeing such a powerful creature
brought so low. He wasn't as large as Daniel - few were - but he was
a big guy, and strong, and a damn vampire .
He should not be so afraid. He shouldn’t have had to resort to
the type of magic he had. I wished he’d hired us earlier.
    “ Any
updates from the field?” I asked.
    “ The
identity is good to go,” Ian said, “They’re still
working on the spells at the residence, though.”
    I
sighed. “Okay. Wake me up if anything changes.” I walked
through another door, into the adjoining room. Clothes littered the
desk and chairs. I flopped onto one of the two beds on my stomach and
hoped the pillows were at least vaguely clean as I shut my eyes. I
already knew I wouldn’t sleep. I was way too wound up. Daniel
and I had spent half the night driving a second van around the
pick-up location. The vampires had found Alek before we’d
arrived, which meant the warlock would have been on his way. We were
finally able to block their vehicle coming up a one-way street,
buying Alek enough time to get in the other van. I was a good driver,
but we weren’t the only cars on the road. My adrenaline was
still running.
    I
heard the door open and shut again, but I didn’t lift my head.
    “ You
okay?” Ian asked.
    “ Yeah.
Long night is all. Still can’t believe it took us so long to
pick him up.” The bed sank as he sat next to me.
    “ He
almost bolted once we did locate him. That warlock is a real piece of
work.” Strong fingers pressed into the back of my neck,
massaged away some of the tension. I groaned in appreciation.
    “ I'm
afraid we’re going to lose this one, too,” I said.
    “ Think
so?”
    “ He
had the look when he brought up his sister.”
    Ian
sighed. “I hate it when you’re right.” He kissed my
neck.