Page 17 of Bad Blood (Monsters of London Book 1)

The wolves steer us all into a large, almost clinical room. It looks like what I imagine an interrogation room might be—fluorescent lights, a table in the centre, and hard, plastic chairs I’m not looking forward to being left on for hours.

Sam sits Carey down and moves his shirt from where he’s balled it up against her throat. She looks clammy, which worries me, but he lets out a quiet hum before he turns to one of the wolves. “She needs water. And something to eat, if you have it.”

The wolf—the one who grabbed me in the end—glares back, but the one next to him, a little shorter, elbows him in the side.

“You heard him, Kane. Go.”

Kane sneers but leaves the room. Three of them remain, two male, one female, and they eye us with no little wariness. The one in charge told them to bring us here and then stalked off. Fuck knows why.

“Where’s Vince?” Carey grits out. Blood has spilt down her throat and over her collarbone, and she’s shaking, just a little.

“Fuck,” I mutter. One of the wolves makes a noise as I pull my phone out of my pocket, but the one who told Kane to leave shakes his head.

“We left a friend inside,” I say. “I just need to check—”

He nods, and I send Vince a quick text. Truth is, I think he’s fine. He was likely in the safest position of all of us when Tristan appeared.

On my way home. Not my home ;) See you at work!

I roll my eyes at his reply, shoving my phone back into my pocket. “He’s fine,” I mutter, and to my surprise, Carey manages a smile.

“At least somebody had fun,” she mutters. “The fuck even happened back there?”

I frown. I don’t know how I’m supposed to explain everything—

“So that guy was a vampire,” Adam begins, and she rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, I got that.”

I hold out my hands helplessly. “What do you want to know?”

We’re interrupted when Kane comes back with water and a snack for Carey. I don’t move, forcing him to walk close to me to get to her, and when he glares at me, I glare right back. I don’t like any of these wolves being near us, but especially not when one of us is injured and can’t fight back.

Kane growls, eyes flashing silver when I stay still. The wolf who told him to get the snack sighs. “Cool it, will you? Get over here.”

Carey drinks, and by the time she’s finished the chocolate bar Kane brought, there’s more colour in her cheeks. “He didn’t get much, huh?”

I blink at her. “What?”

“The vampire.” She tilts her head, wincing when she presses her fingers against the angry-looking marks. Sam frowns and bats her hand away. “I know I’ll be fine. Did he drink a lot, though?”

“Why would that… matter?” She’s not a wolf. I know that. Tristan wouldn’t have managed to get far if she were.

Carey shrugs, wincing again when it tugs the wound. “Maybe I’m not entirely human, either.”

I stare at her, eyes wide. Sam looks as surprised as I feel, though Adam seems to shrug it off. Whatever. It’s not like he knows her.

The moment breaks when I hear one of the wolves behind me breathe in deep. I spin around, gaze landing on the woman, who flushes when she realises she’s been caught. “That’s fucking rude.”

Her eyes go wide, and she takes a step back. Kane growls. Adam shifts closer to me in my periphery, and I’m certain Sam has moved behind me, placing himself between Carey and the wolves.

The door opens and another wolf walks in. He’s the one in charge and he pinches the bridge of his nose tiredly when he sees our stand-off.

“Sit down,” he grinds out. “Kane, Cecile, Carter, get out.”

Kane grumbles and waits for Cecile and Carter to walk ahead of him before he leaves the room. It’s just us and two wolves now—the one who’s clearly in charge, and the one who told Kane what to do.

“Alpha Deacon is on his way,” the wolf in charge says. He eyes me when he sees I’m not sitting, then shrugs and takes a seat at the other side of the table. “I’m Levi. This is Julian.” He waves at the other wolf, who’s taken up position behind his left shoulder.

“Alpha Deacon?” Adam says. When I look at him, he’s gone pale. “Seriously?”

Levi snorts. “Seriously, little vampire. You all started a fight in our territory. You’re supposed to know better.”

“It’s neutral territory,” Sam says. He’s sitting now, perched on the edge of his seat like he’s ready to jump up at any moment.

“Still. Everyone knows wolves run this club. Why would vampires be getting into a fight here when we’ve barely seen any of the clan for over a week?”

His gaze drills into Adam and I sigh. Fuck. I know the wolves haven’t been overly involved in the search, but I guess I just figured…

I don’t know what I figured.

I’ve been thinking about Lucien too much.

“What are you going to do with us?” I ask.

When Levi’s gaze snaps to me, it’s a little less lazy. I can almost see his wolf pacing behind his eyes, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. My shoulders tense.

“We’re going to wait nicely until Alpha Deacon gets here and then see what he wants to do with you.” He shakes his head, looking at Adam again. “He’ll probably call your chieftain or your sire. The rest of you—I dunno. Doesn’t really seem like you’re cosy with the Council.”

We’re not, of course, but I’m not about to tell him that. Instead, I nod and move closer to Sam and Carey. She doesn’t seem as concerned as I feel, but then I don’t know what she knows.

When I look up again, Levi isn’t watching us, too busy with his phone, but Julian is. He gives me a lopsided smile.

Yeah, I really don’t like this.

It seems to take an age for Alpha Deacon to arrive. I’ve given in to the desire to sit, though we’ve moved the chairs. Sam and Adam are on either side of Carey, with me slightly in front. None of them have protested, even though I’m sure they want to.

I can’t help it. I got us into this mess, and I need to get us out of it.

Footsteps near the door and Levi jumps to his feet. Julian hasn’t moved in the last hour or so that we’ve been here, and he doesn’t do so now, just shifts his gaze from our little group to the door.

A door that an alpha is walking through.

No, the alpha.

Despite popular belief—in packs and outside of them—I know it’s just a position. The only power in it is that which is bestowed upon the wolf holding it by the people they’re supposed to lead. To protect.

Still, that doesn’t mask the fact that Alpha Deacon is different.

He’s the epitome of a wolf even in his human form, all broad muscle and prowling gait. His amber eyes move over the four of us, and though the others drop their gazes—how could they not?—I force myself to meet his eyes and hold them. This might be his club, and technically his territory, but I have every right to be here.

Besides, we did nothing wrong. If those wolves hadn’t come after us, we might have caught Tristan. I clench my jaw at the thought and something like amusement flickers through Alpha Deacon’s eyes.

He turns away, greeting Levi and then Julian before he takes Levi’s seat. There are two other wolves with him, a man and a woman, and they settle in like Julian did with Levi, one on either side behind him.

“Levi tells me you were starting a fight in our territory,” Deacon says.

Adam speaks first. “Alpha, we didn’t mean—”

“Not you,” Deacon says, his voice a rumbling growl. His eyes snap to me. “You. What were you doing here?”

There’s an echo of power in it, and it reminds me of seeing Vasile for the first time. No, Lucien. Vasile’s power was one I’d never succumb to, but Lucien—I was alone in a room full of vamps and their servants, and there was a moment where I might have given Lucien anything he asked for.

Things are different here. Deacon is powerful, but I’m very aware of where I am and that I have people I’m supposed to protect at my back. Sure, Lucien sent Adam to look out for us, but I know he’d be devastated if something happened to him. Adam is his turn, and even if he wasn’t, it’s clear how much Lucien cares for him every time he comes up.

“We came to dance,” I say.

The woman to Deacon’s left raises an eyebrow but says nothing.

“And… what? A vampire attacked you?”

“Attacked me, actually,” Carey says, leaning around me. She has one hand on my arm, and it’s shaking a little, but that’s not clear from her voice. “And I have no idea who he is and what’s going on.”

Deacon’s smile is thin. “Strangely, I find myself in the same predicament.” He sighs and turns his attention back to Adam. “Who is your chieftain?”

Adam bites the inside of his cheek. “Lucien Camusat.”

“Lucien…” Deacon frowns.

The woman leans down and whispers something in his ear, and the frown only deepens.

“Really?”

She nods.

Deacon pulls a phone out of his pocket and slides it across the table to Adam. “Call him.”

My shoulders tense. Adam glances at me before he picks up the phone and I know Deacon is watching us both carefully, but I can’t help it.

“It’s my fault they were here,” Adam says all at once. “It’s a vampire matter. You can let them go, please—”

Deacon stands. He looms over us all, and I fight the urge to jump to my feet at the same time as I fight the urge to bare my throat and apologise. I’m human. I don’t have to submit to him.

“Call your sire and tell him I wish to speak to him.”

Adam gives in, shoulders slumping. I want to reach for him, but I don’t. When I glance back at Sam, his jaw is clenched tightly. I shake my head. We can’t risk magic in here—I don’t know what tricks these wolves have up their sleeves, but they’re all strong, even Levi and Julian, leaning back against the wall.

Adam pulls his own phone out of his pocket, shaking his head when Deacon frowns. “He won’t answer that,” he says, gesturing at the phone Deacon slid across the table. Lucien’s voice comes over the line a little frantic even if I can’t hear the words.

“I’m fine. We’re all fine.”

I’m almost holding my breath. Is there a way Adam can tell him not to come? It’s unfair, putting us all in more danger for the sake of my fears, but I don’t trust this room full of wolves.

“Me, Kieran, Sam, and Carey.” Adam pauses and shakes his head, his voice a little lower when he speaks again. “Tristan was here. We’re okay, we’re fine, but, well… I need to pass you over to someone else.”

He gives the phone to Deacon, who nods his thanks. “Chieftain Lucien. I’m Alpha Deacon. The wolves here took in your turn and his friends after an altercation outside our club.”

Carey’s fingers dig into my arm, and I settle back in the chair. Why isn’t he calling Vasile? Deacon is the alpha of all the packs in the city, technically speaking. Vasile’s the crai of the clan. They should be talking to each other.

“We’re at Bite. You should come here. We need to have a conversation before you pick up your turn.”

The call ends and Deacon hands Adam his phone back. He sighs. “I have no intention of hurting your sire. Or any of you. What I do not like is that I have apparently been kept in the dark about something that is having an impact on our entire city.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. That’s not any of our fault, but it’s not something I can say aloud. We all know that.

Still, we wait in silence until Lucien arrives, though Deacon’s eyes are on me more often than I like. I almost jump to my feet when Lucien comes into the room, another vampire with him, and Adam does, though he doesn’t move from where he’s standing next to his chair.

“Alpha Deacon,” Lucien says, inclining his head slightly. “Apologies for the delay.”

Kane has seen them in, and I swallow down my irritation at how close he’s standing to Lucien. He meets my eyes and sneers before he turns on his heel and leaves.

Julian is watching me again. I scowl down at my knees. My heart is steady, my breathing even, but my head is spinning like this is all terribly out of control.

“Lucien,” Deacon says. His eyes sweep over the woman with Lucien. “It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Ms Martin. Chaya only ever speaks highly of you.”

“Kind of her,” the woman replies. “Call me Elle.”

Deacon nods, but I can sense Lucien’s growing impatience. “I spoke with Crai Vasile on the way over,” he says, and Deacon frowns. “He advised me to apprise you of the situation and apologises for not letting you know when things first began to occur.”

Deacon snorts. “And I’m sure he means it, too.” The words are bitter. “What’s happening, chieftain? Why do I have a vampire, a mage, and two humans picking a fight outside my club?”

Lucien looks us over and I shake my head when he looks at me. We didn’t start anything. He has to know that. His gaze softens, just at the edges, and I swallow hard when he turns away.

It takes a little while for him to explain everything that’s happened over the last week or so, and none of us miss the part where he leaves out any mention of all the vampires I’ve killed. According to his story, Tristan just came after me—with Adelaide—and now he’s on the run. A vampire who’s snapped.

“Is that right?” Deacon asks when he’s finished. He eyes Lucien, then me, and I hate that I can’t tell what he’s thinking. “It seems as though you may require some help.”

I bite back what I want to say, but I think Deacon knows anyway because his gaze sharpens.

“You might have caught him tonight, but it was a foolish idea to lure him here,” he growls and my cheeks heat. “You almost lost your friend.”

Fuck. I do duck my head at that, shame and irritation making the back of my neck go hot. Carey leans forward in her chair, gripping the back of my vest.

Sam leans forward too. His voice is ice when he says, “So what? Should we let everyone know when they come to your club that they should just expect to be dragged off by a vampire at any time?”

Sam’s looking at Levi, who lets out a growl.

“Yeah, we came here looking for him. But none of your wolves would’ve got to her before we did. We only lost him because you couldn’t tell that a vampire biting someone is something that’s not supposed to be happening in the alley next to your club.”

“Enough,” Deacon snaps and a tremble goes through Sam, but he doesn’t sit back. “This is why we need to work together. Lucien, I would appreciate meeting you again to talk about this, but I need to call Hunter Moreau first. He should have come to me.”

Lucien nods. “Yes, alpha.”

“You all can go.” Deacon rubs a hand over his face. “So much for an early night.”

The woman with him huffs a laugh. The man hasn’t moved the entire time, and he doesn’t as we all get to our feet. Adam’s the only one of us who came with a jacket, which he offers to Carey.

Levi leads us to another side door. Music is still playing in the club, and it feels strange for a moment, that we’ve been in that back room, hashing everything out, while people have been having fun in there the entire time.

Elle herds Adam away as we step out onto the street, looking him over carefully before she begins peppering him with questions. His smile is tired but comes easily. Carey yawns, leaning back against the wall.

Lucien pauses, looking at me, and something inside me snaps. I glance at Sam, who nods—he’s got this—and then grab Lucien’s arm. I drag him down the alley we fought Tristan in and crowd him up against the wall.

“Kieran—”

“Why did you come here?”

“Because I had to.” Lucien frowns. “You are certain you saw Tristan tonight?”

“Yeah, of course I am!” Irritation colours my voice, and I wonder if he knows the truth of it—how scared I am. How scared I’ve been since I saw Carey in Tristan’s arms. “It was him. It was definitely him.”

“Kieran, he killed two vampires tonight.”

“What?” My hands flutter as I look Lucien over. “Are you—”

“I am fine.” Lucien catches my wrists and I go still, a gasp sticking in my throat. “It was never—I think he killed them to draw us away from here.”

“You were nearby?”

“Not especially close, but yes. He planned to kill you tonight.”

“He wouldn’t have.” He hadn’t been expecting Sam—or his mage hadn’t been expecting Sam to be as powerful as he is. “I mean it, Lucien. We almost had him.”

“Your friend is injured.”

“I know.” I do. “I know, and it shouldn’t have happened; I wasn’t looking for a second and he got her.”

“That is why we need to work with the wolves. It is why we need to be careful.”

I bristle, even though I know he’s right.

“Adam kept her safe,” I say instead. Lucien turns his head, looking up and out of the alley. “He’s good.”

“You tried to protect him, too.”

“Of course.”

“I sent him here to keep an eye on you.” Lucien sighs. “I know you are strong, Kieran. I know you want to protect your friends. But you have to allow them to protect you in return. You have to let us—”

I can’t help myself. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because he’s still holding on to me, like gripping my wrists is keeping him grounded. Maybe it’s because he never buckled under the weight of Deacon’s stare. Maybe it’s because his brow furrows when he frowns at me, and I know he’s serious; I know he wants to protect me.

Maybe it’s just because, after everything, I really want to.

No matter the reason, I push up and lean in, and our lips meet before he can get out another word. Lucien freezes for a moment, and I’m ready to move back, to admit I’ve made a mistake and pull away—

He uses his grip on my wrists to drag me forward and I groan when our chests bump together. Lucien’s tongue sweeps into my mouth, and any thought I had promptly flies out of my head, leaving nothing behind but this moment and the two of us in it.