Kissed by Ice by Shéa MacLeod Read Free Book Online Page B

plastic beneath the black paint job.
    Emory pushed her way out of the crowd, eyes wide and her once white dress splattered with blood. "Eddie, come quickly." She grabbed his hand and disappeared back into the mob. Kabita and I plunged in after them, then stumbled to a halt next to Eddie and Emory.
    In the middle of the ballroom floor laid the crumpled form of a woman. Her dark hair was spread out around her like a cloud, her skin icy pale. Her Victorian gown was a dark crimson touched here and there with a bit of black lace. I would have assumed she'd merely fainted except for the gaping wound at her throat and the pool of bright red blood beneath her, spreading across the hardwood floor. I could make out footprints and smears where people had skidded in the slick blood.
    "What the hell happened?" I asked, staring at the body. I had a bad feeling I already knew. I knelt to take her pulse. Definitely dead. Another person in close proximity to Eddie had been killed by a vampire. The pattern was falling into place.
    "Eddie," Emory's voice was barely above a whisper. "I was standing right next to her. I saw what happened. It was…." She glanced around as if to make sure no one was listening. "A vampire." She whispered the last word.
    I glanced at her, startled. She knew about vampires. How? And what else did she know?
    "Yes, my dear." Eddie patted Emory's hand. "That much is obvious. Why don't you run and fetch the head of security."
    "Are you sure that's wise?" Kabita asked.
    "I'm afraid there's no hiding it this time," Eddie said with a sigh. "Although how we shall explain this, I do not know."
    "Why do we have to explain it?" I asked. "It's not like we were anywhere near the body."
    "With so many eye witnesses, it's best we come up with something rather than let speculation run wild," Eddie said.
    I stood up and moved closer to Emory. "Did you see the vampire?" I asked her.
    She looked a little surprised. "I…ah… that is…"
    "Don't worry. Morgan is a Hunter," Eddie said.
    That seemed to give her relief, though I was surprised he told her. Clearly she was in the know about things supernatural. Very interesting. "Well, then, yes, I did. Clear as day. I didn't realize what he was, at first. When I saw those red, glowing eyes, I thought he was a demon."
    Kabita and I glanced at each other. Soul vamp.
    "He just walked up to her," Emory continued. "Grabbed her and sank his teeth into her throat right in front of everybody."
    "Everything will be all right," Eddie said, patting her hand again. "Now go. Quick as you can."
    With a nod, she took off running, gold slippers making a light tapping sound on the floor.
    "Wonderful. Now everyone knows there's a vamp on board. We're going to have to make up a damn good cover story." Kabita scowled. Although she appeared fairly calm, her use of the simple cuss word made it clear she was anything but.
    "Easy enough," Eddie murmured. "We're a theatrical lot, we steampunk enthusiasts. Perhaps we can come up with something creative and convincing. A theatrical entertainment, perhaps."
    "Can we fool security, too?" I asked. "Better they don't know the truth."
    "I think it's too late," Eddie murmured, nodding toward the ballroom door. I glanced over to see a man in a white uniform striding toward us, a couple of beefy guys trotting along behind him. Emory wasn't with them.
    He was halfway across the floor when he stopped, turned to his men, and spoke in a low voice even I couldn't hear. The men seemed a little confused, but with shrugs went to guard the ballroom doors. The uniformed man continued toward us, his long strides eating up the floor.
    He was ridiculously tall. Six foot six, I'd guess, or taller. Broad shouldered, long-limbed, and with cheekbones that could cut ice. The wheat blond hair and pale blue eyes spoke of Nordic decent, and he wore an air of authority as easily as I wore a machete. Definitely head of security.
    "Mr. Mulligan," he said with a nod.
    "Mr. Magnussen." Eddie nodded