Page 11 of Fangs for the Memories (Budapest Bites #1)

I dislike having so little information about my Grace. Other than the name on her passport and an address in England, I know nothing about her whatsoever, save for the fact she was supposed to be staying at the Géllert with a human male.

A male who is not in evidence and who she told the concierge would not be joining her. If she were my mate, I would not let her out of my sight for a second, but humans behave differently…

Yet, if she was with another, would she agree to spend time with me?

I am confused, aroused, and angry. Not a great combination for an alpha werewolf who is going deeper and deeper into vampire territory.

A territory I’m beginning to wish I’d explored previously, given the whole thing about running water appears to be totally untrue. How else could they have got out of the cave system if they couldn’t cross running water?

We rejoin the small gaggle of humans waiting for us, and the guide goes on ahead. We wriggle through more passages, under boulders, and into smaller caves. I keep my clothing clean by shifting into my wolf form while the others are pre-occupied.

The system opens up again into a large cavern.

“This is called the vampire temple,” the guide announces loudly, his voice ringing up into the ceiling. “From here there are a number of caves all dedicated to a particular vampire clan.”

“Like Dracula?” One of the party members laughs.

“There was no Dracula,” the guide intones. “Only the five clans. Vasile, Strix, Király, Arad, and Ló.”

The cave is silent save for the slow dripping of water somewhere in the darkness. Hearing the names of the vampire clans said out loud sends ice down my spine. Why are humans so enamored with the creatures?

I can protect Grace, but could I get her out of here alive if there are any vampires in residence?

I’d die trying.

“Feel free to explore,” the guide says suddenly. “I will remain here as there is only one entrance and one exit from this place, so you cannot get lost.”

“Oh, now it’s okay to go off on our own,” Grace mutters under her breath with a roll of her eyes.

I take her hand as the rest of the group disperses. The last thing I want is to be stuck down here, in vampire central, without permission and with her. The sooner we can get out, the better, but clearly we have no option, not for the time being.

I curse myself for not insisting on giving this ridiculous excursion up for an infinitely better one which I would like to have ended up with me enjoying every inch of her.

There’s one passage which doesn’t stink so much of vamp, so I lead her down it, sucking in the clearer air as we get further from the main cavern and the rest of the group.

“Anyone would think you wanted to find a vampire,” Grace says.

“Believe me, nothing could be further from the truth,” I grind out.

“What? Are you scared? A big guy like you.” She chuckles. “I’d have thought most people had got over having vampires among us.”

“Most people would. But I’m not most people. And I am not afraid of vampires,” I growl, attempting to keep my fangs under control.

Humans might know about us now, but they don’t know about us.

“And why would that be?” she queries, moving ahead of me, the flashlight on her head swinging its light wildly.

“Because I am…” Before I can get my species out, Grace releases a short cry and the light disappears.

I immediately switch mine off. My eyes work better in the dark anyway, and there is no sign of Grace.

There is only a darker hole in the floor.

“Fucking vamps,” I snarl, and dive in after her.

The drop, as it turns out, is short. Fortunately I do not land on a fragrant scented female but on my head.

So, no damage there.

With a snarl, I’m on my feet, scanning the area until I catch the sound of her heartbeat.

“Grace?”

“Here,” she says, her voice small and strangled.

Which is when I see the vampires. An entire cave filled with them, and only two warm-blooded creatures. One of which is presently clamped in the arms of a large male, his fangs hovering over her throat.

Grace.

“If you do not release my mate, I can assure you, every single one of you will end up staked out in the sun. I have an agreement with your king.”

“Dominik has no power here,” one of them growls. “And we need blood.”

“You won’t get it.”

I unsheathe my claws. It’s been a while since I went hand to hand in combat, but not so long I forgot the desire for violence.

And as these vampires threaten my mate, violence is the only course of action I will take.