Page 39

Though vampires had come out almost a century ago, the relationship between the two races was tense, with occasional protests and lynchings still happening in certain areas. Hosting human diplomats in Vegas was indeed risky and dangerous. If something happened to any of them, it could mean war.

“He didn’t tell you why?”

“He said it’s to improve the relationship between humans and vampires,” Julian said in a skeptical voice.

Before she could ask more, a commotion across the street snatched her attention.

A fight had broken out between two vampires and a human male. Well, it wasn’t an actual fight, as the human was no match for the vampires and was curled up on the ground on his side while the vampires kicked him viciously and cursed him.

“Stop it!” she shouted. Her feet would’ve taken her across the street if Julian hadn’t gripped her arm.

“What are you doing?” Cold fury glittered in his ice-blue eyes.

“Let go.” She twisted her arm until he let her go. A part of her knew he didn’t have to. He was stronger than she’d ever be. “We have to help him.”

A deep rumble rose in his chest that would’ve sent others running. In a split second, he was beside the brawlers. Julian’s power flared, sending a frisson of fear down her spine. Leah fought back the instinct to run and glanced left and right. Seeing no cars, she dashed across. By the time she made it, the two vampires had halted their attack and stood before Julian with their heads bowed, their shoulders hunched.

Beside her, the easygoing man she’d had dinner with was gone, replaced with the implacable Ruler of Vegas. Surveying the two vampires as if they were mere insects under his boot, he asked, “Why were you beating a human?”

The vampires glanced at one another, their faces pale. They looked like school children caught red-handed by their teacher.

“He stole from us, sir,” one answered.

Julian raised a brow. “I see. And does the law say you can beat a thief on the street?”

Another pause. “Does it?” Julian repeated, his eyes glinting with cold fury.

The vampires shook their heads. The man on the ground groaned. Leah bent down and gently touched the man’s bloodied face. One of his fingers bent the wrong way. Leah wasn’t a doctor, but he had to have suffered internal injuries after being kicked like that by vampires.

“We have to take him to the hospital,” Leah said, looking up at Julian.

Julian leveled his eyes at the bowing vampires. “You heard her. You will take the man to the hospital, pay for his treatment, and then report to the Central Tower for your punishment.”

Leah gaped. Was he crazy? He was trusting the same vampires that beat the man to save him?

“Wait! No! I’ll take him.”

He frowned. “No, you will not.” He turned to the two vampires. “What’re you waiting for? Go!”

Before Leah could say another word, the vampires lifted the human off the ground and sprinted away.

“Wait!” Leah shouted after them, but they were already gone. She whirled on Julian. “What’s wrong with you? What if they kill him and dump him somewhere?”

“They won’t.” Julian tilted his chin to the side. “Rowan will make sure they don’t do anything stupid.”

Leah followed his gaze and saw a shadow move behind the building. He had already summoned another vampire to ensure the other two followed his orders.

“Do you make a habit of meddling in vampire affairs?” Her eyes snapped back at the furious growl from him. “What if I hadn’t been here?”

In hindsight, it was stupid of her to interfere without Julian. She’d forgotten that she didn’t have any weapons on her. If he hadn’t been there, she’d be in deep shit right now, probably lying on the ground next to the man looking just as pathetic.

Still, she couldn’t have just walked by doing nothing.

That wasn’t her.

Her body vibrating with rebelliousness, she raised her head. “But you were.”

Julian’s jaw locked, and another growl rumbled up his throat. He wanted to shake her and ravish her pert mouth at the same time. The thought of what would’ve happened if he hadn’t been here…