Page 79

As a rule, vampires weren’t curious about slayers—we were too dangerous with our poisonous blood.

That Ruin was so interested in fighting me indicated my suspicion was likely right, and he was quite old. The older vampires got, the faster and looser they played with their lives.

Just how old is he? He must be older than the Midwest Vampire Eminence, so it’s extra odd, then, that he has no offspring.

Ruin took a step towards me, so I racked my gun.

He paused, raising his hands. “You’re very hostile today.”

“That happens when one has been attacked,” I said.

“Attacked?” Ruin paused, as if he was genuinely baffled. “You’re jesting. Our little match could have hardly counted as an attack.”

Oh, yeah, so that horrible road rash was just a fun party favor—vampires are so disconnected from reality.I held the snark back—if I blasted him with too much, he’d be even more curious or he’d get offended and off me just because he could.

“It counted to me,” I said.

Ruin put his hands on his hips looking like a disappointed parent, but the power that oozed off him made the gesture feel like an empty motion he was mimicking without understanding. “Slayer. I’m not going to put up with any false modesty from you. It’s not becoming in my foes.”

“Foe?” I asked, forcibly keeping my stance and breathing so I didn’t give away my dread at the word.

“Foe,” Ruin declared. “I don’t have many. Or rather, I have more than I want if I think about it from a practical standpoint but I actually like you, so I won’t be putting up with any nonsense. Besides, we’re on a pet name basis—don’t think I’ve forgotten how you called me Ruin.”

“I already told you, the department labeled you Ruin for all your paperwork,” I said. “I had nothing to do with it.”

Another flash of white under his hood showed off his sparkling teeth—particularly his pronounced fang teeth. “But you are filing paperwork about me? Stop it—you’re going to make me blush.”

“If you like her, then why don’t you leave her alone?” Brody growled behind me.

“Yah,” Tetiana said, her accent thicker than usual. “We’ve got work to do. If you don’t want her kicked off the task force, you’ll go about your business.”

Ruin sighed. “Is the task force exclusively filled with fun-suckers? Fine. I have things to do—plans to ruin, supernaturals to maim. Vacations are never as relaxing as you imagine they will be, you know.”

He stepped back into the shadows, and I felt his presence fade before I could say anything else.

Still, I remained where I was—my gun drawn—for at least a minute until I finally relaxed, engaging the safety on my firearm.

“You were right, Tetiana.” Brody shook his body like a dog fixing its fur. “You’re not a crazy old bat—Ruin is.”

“Very crazy, very old,” Tetiana agreed. “And it is a very bad thing he is so interested in Blood.”

“Yeah, I get the feeling it’s not a good thing he called you a foe, Blood?” Brody uncomfortably hunched his shoulders, his eyebrows pushing together.

“Not good at all,” I said.

Tetiana shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “You should tell Sarge.”

“I will,” I agreed. “It can wait until we finish our patrol.”

“Why don’t you call it in?” Brody asked. “Tetiana never did manage to tell the team we were back on our patrol route.”

I nodded, then added. “Okay. We can keep heading downtown, I’ll report in.”

“Excellent,” Tetiana said. “Let us be off!” She marched up the sidewalk swinging her arms.

“Hold up,” Brody called as he hurried after her. “We have to decide which way we’re going once we reach Main Street.”

I followed them—staying close to them for safety—and unhooked my radio.