Sterling (35 page)

Remi looked to Simon and leaned in our direction. “A piece of advice I would give you, look to Novis. He is very clever. I always sensed a little rebellion in him.”

Justus let his hand fall on Remi’s shoulder. “You’re a trusted friend.” He gave it a hard squeeze; Remi raised his glass to him and knocked it back before the waitress brought another tray of kryptonite.

We wiled away the rest of the evening in friendly conversation. There was one moment where I fell away into my thoughts, feeling hollowed out. Laughter peeled around me and Simon’s hand suddenly squeezed mine.

I tapped on Simon’s frames. “So what’s with the mirrored glasses?”

“Vamps. Gotta watch out for those ones, love. They’ll steal your secrets.”

“I thought they just controlled your mind.”

“Oh humans and their movies! They can
suggest
you to do things—those who are weak willed will comply while others will if just a small part of them wants to. A weaker mind is more susceptible to suggestion. Vamps can get you to talk; their eyes pull it from you. Not the kind of thing you want, someone invading your mind.”

“They read minds?”

“No, only make you speak your mind, whether you want to or not. Their gaze is like a truth serum.”

“So why didn’t you make the rest of us wear glasses?” I made a circular motion with my finger between myself and Adam.

“Well we didn’t come here for social mingling did we? Leave it to you to wander off for five minutes and run into a Vamp.”

“What would have been the worst that could happen, him getting me to confess my disapproval for his tacky wardrobe that was channeling 1892?”

“I was thinking more 1915, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt,” Adam snorted. His face relaxed into one of the sexiest smiles I’d seen. He had classic features that were ruggedly handsome as his hand ran across his forehead. I liked the easygoing side of Adam.

Simon shifted in his seat and dropped his left arm behind me with the other on the table. “Vampire’s by nature can uncover secrets. All secrets have a price, some which others are willing to pay for. Not a respectable way to earn a living, I much prefer those who guard.” He pinched my chin and softly said, “I don’t think I told you before but you look very smart this evening.” I smiled and fumbled with a strand of hair.

Adam made a deliberate journey sliding down the seat until he was directly in front of me; there was a silent showdown for my attention happening right before my eyes. While I knew Simon and Adam respected each other, it was also clear they perceived the other as some kind of a threat. And Simon never turned down a challenge…he was always in it to win it.

“Vampires trade information for money?” Adam asked.

“Humans trade for money. Other Breed, we’re more…creative.”

“So,” I hinted playfully, “you didn’t want him to plunder my secrets?”

Vying for my attention was sliding into dangerous territory. His mirrored gaze was lingering on me. Adam didn’t look too comfortable with where our conversation was headed but Simon was eating it up.

“Simon, I think he would have been sorely disappointed to have wasted his time with me. I’m afraid I don’t have any good secrets worth giving up.”

Simon’s finger made a slow journey across my shoulder blades as his arm retreated back to his side. I shivered at his familiar touch. “Never underestimate the power of a good plunder.”

He grinned and my body responded with nine million goose bumps standing at full attention.

“Well what do we have here? If isn’t Justus De Gradi in the living flesh,” a voice interrupted.

My eyes rolled up to a hard looking man somewhere in his forty’s. He had a silver tooth in the front and an almost albino appearance. Silence chirped around us and I glanced at Justus who looked like he just saw a ghost. The man slapped Simon on the back with a gravelly smokers laugh.

Simon’s tone was leery, “Cedric. Been…well, not long enough.”

The man laughed and Justus rose up from his chair.

“Let’s make room; two of us were just leaving. Adam?” Justus looked over Adam to be sure he did not have too much to drink. Adam didn’t drink anything else outside of the green swill, sip of my vodka and a glass of water.

“We’ll catch you guys later. Remi, good to meet you.” Adam leaned across the table with an outstretched hand and Remi deliberated a moment before he took it, suppressing a smile. Most Breed did not shake hands—that was a human custom. I didn’t know if Adam was aware or if he even cared.

Justus reached around and took his light jacket from the seat, draping it over my shoulders. “You’ll need this. You really need to dress more appropriately for weather.” I slipped my arms into the brown sleeves, rolling up the cuffs so I could use my hands. The lining was warm like it had just come out of the dryer. One of these days I was going to ask Justus about that little trick.

Cedric appeared annoyed. “No, no, why don’t they stay? No need to rush off so quickly. I’d especially like to chat with this one, is she new? Well of course she is. You can’t keep the newbie’s all to yourself, Justus; that just wouldn’t be gentlemanly.”

I looked at Adam in time to see a small black device being slipped in his pocket by Justus.

“Sit Cedric; tell us what prison let you loose this time.” Simon’s mouth curled to one side of his face as he sat back defeated, looking like a man whose plans were ruined.

“Since when do they allow humans in here?” Cedric complained.

Justus put his arm around Adam moving us away. “Keep her safe, we’ll return later.”

“She’s always safe with me.” Adam damn near snarled.

Chapter 27

“You’re kidding me.”
I was three seconds away from calling a taxi cab as I stood there staring at a large black motorcycle. “Adam, I can’t ride on one of those things.”

I was on a motorcycle once in my life. Back in high school, an old boyfriend saved up enough money and bought a bike. One night, he asked me to go for a ride with him. All my romantic notions about motorcycles were cast aside when he took perilous turns through the city streets at such high speeds that his intent was merely to scare me to death. I screamed for him to stop, but his silent laugh was drowned out by the motor. We broke up after that. Can’t say the bike was the reason, but it sure didn’t help his case.

“Well, you’re going to…so hop on,” he said, patting the seat.

“You drove all the way across how many states—on that? What about the Rover?”

“Broke down a month ago.”

“Why does that not surprise me? Did it finally spit up a camel?”

Adam proudly placed his hand on the bars. “I like it, it suits me.”

He was right, it really did. Despite my hesitation, I could imagine that Adam looked very mysterious and dashing on that bike.

I ran my finger along the seat. “Jesus Raze, you sure you know how to ride one of these? Ever had a passenger?” Immortal or not, I was scared shitless. The idea of flipping over and tumbling down fifty feet of concrete sent shivers down my spine.

He handed me the helmet and threw his leg over the seat, mounting the bike.

“Trust me, you’re in capable hands. Once you get this baby between your legs you’ll wonder why you ever doubted me.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” I mumbled, wrapping my arms reluctantly around him.

“Not that tight,” he chuckled. “I have to be able to steer this thing, woman. Just hold my waist and let me do the rest.”

Something told me he said
that
to all the girls too.

Adam was right—I was more than fine. Wind in my hair, the freedom I felt as we raced down the dark road, the roar of the motor and most of all the feel of holding Adam and trusting him with my life.

I did. I trusted Adam with my life, and it wasn’t something I took for granted. There was always an instant bond with us, a playful ease and a comfort like I hadn’t felt with Justus or even Simon.

Twenty minutes later, we were home and I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. I changed into my sleep shorts and tank top, grabbed a bottle of vitamin water and crashed out on my sofa bed. When I woke up, four hours later, I shuffled my feet into the living room with a mess of hair in my face.

“Wake up,” I grumbled, tossing a pillow at Adam. He was splayed out on the sofa still wearing his jacket, one leg on the floor and the other slung over the armrest. Poor bastard, he actually drank the green swill to the bottom, which was probably to blame. That might explain my sudden exhaustion too even though I only had a sip. He groaned sleepily as I made my way down to the training room.

“What’s up?” Adam asked, drifting down the stairs. He was palming his eye with one hand and fighting a yawn.

“You say you can fight; well I want to see it. Show me what you can do.”

Without a word, Adam pulled out of his jacket and it dropped to the floor. “What do you want to see?”

A loaded question.

“I can demonstrate fight technique with weapons or hand to hand.” He eyed the knives on the wall.

“Let’s start with hand to hand,” I said walking to the center of the mat. “Justus hasn’t really let me handle any knives outside of chopping up carrots.”

He backed up a step. “Let’s? I’m not fighting you, I said I’ll demonstrate.”

“Yes, you are.” I folded my arms and narrowed my eyes. “You need to respect what I am now, Adam. I’ve been training here for months with the master Bruce Lee himself—plus I have that nifty healing ability. So show me what you got. I promise I’ll go easy on you.”

His tone changed and his arms flew up. “Hold up, Justus fought you?” I could see the anger building and he paced towards me and paused for an answer. “You’re telling me that you two were down here—”

“I won’t use my abilities,” I promised, crossing my heart and using my most innocent voice. “The pinner is the winner.”

Adam stepped to the mat and eyeballed me. “Silver, I can’t do this with you.”

Faster than he could blink I flashed over to the stairway and blocked it. “You’re not leaving this room until you pin me.”

Adam’s eyes went wide as that was the first time he had ever seen me move like a Mage. At least, I’m pretty sure that’s why he was looking at me the way he was.

His lower jaw punched out, he kicked off his shoes one at a time and threw them by the stairs. The socks were peeled off next and that left him standing barefoot in his jeans and white shirt as he flexed his muscles. Toned muscles that were losing their summer tan but not their glorious shape. My knees almost buckled.
Damn him.

Without warning, Adam reached for my ankle trying to throw off my balance. My hand went on his shoulder and I flipped myself over his back, kicking him in the ass. He hopped, nearly falling to the ground but caught himself and turned around.

“Nice move.”

My toes pressed down as I stifled a smirk. Yeah, I was feeling a little badass showing off my moves with Adam. “I’m not without skills,” I said.

Without warning, he came at me and nearly locked his grip around my wrist before I twisted around and moved behind him, elbowing him in the back. I was getting pissed because I could tell he was going easy on me.

“Quit pussyfooting around and hit me, Adam. I can take it, I’m a big girl. I want to see how you’ll fight Samil.”

“Woman, if you keep provoking me I’m going to pin you down and never let you up.”

“Ooo is that a threat or a promise? Or maybe it’s just a wish.”

He stalked forward crossing his arms over his stomach and stripped out of his shirt, tossing it to the side. Adam was intentionally distracting me by flexing his pecs; I knew this because of the smile that stretched across his face when I was stupid enough to look at them. He had been working out.

“Did he teach you to rattle your opponent with that mouth, or does that just come natural?” he asked. I smirked, because I guess that was just my God given talent.

When he threw a fist out I blocked it with my arm—we went through several maneuvers with our bodies moving like a dance. I swept my leg forward to lock around his and throw off his balance, but he sidestepped over it.

I came at him doing a mix of martial arts moves and he countered every strike until I slapped him in the face to throw him off.

Justus said the best way to win the advantage is the element of surprise and finding your enemies weak points psychologically.

It worked.

Adam was so stunned he almost looked ashamed. I seized the opportunity and leapt around him kicking the back of his knees.

He started to fall but caught himself and swung his leg around causing me to do a limbo move to avoid contact. I crouched, ready to spring up and knee him. But as I lunged forward, he pivoted around and inadvertently struck me in the face with his elbow. I saw tiny little stars for just a minute.

I was too close to him so went for his throat, not hitting too hard remembering that he could not heal as we could. It momentarily stopped him as he gasped for air.

I took that chance to move away, but he unexpectedly turned and grabbed the back of my neck, tripping me up with his feet and slamming me against the mat. His body fell over mine pinning me hard as we were face to face.