Page 107

Dane

T he resort’s lobby was massive, everything inside bright and spacious, including the giant windows that lined the room, which somehow managed to let in all the desert sun without a trace of the real desert heat.

A group of men in business suits walked by, heading into what appeared to be a conference room just off the lobby. It made sense to Dane. Who else would be staying in an Arizonan hotel in the summer, if not workaholics being made to by their employers?

He was answered by a gaggle of kids wrapped in towels heading out one of the back doors, presumably searching for the pool. Families looking for cheaper offseason resort stays? Maybe even locals going for a staycation, treating themselves to poolside lounging and air-conditioned room service.

“Fancy,” Colin murmured. He didn’t sound impressed.

Dane wasn’t exactly sure how their human had ended up coming along.

They’d told him what they were doing, that he had to stay behind for his own safety, and then he’d said something about loyal dogs and obeying his wishes, told them that he needed company for once, and they’d both caved in an instant.

Was human compulsion on vampires a thing?

It was too late, either way. And it was fine. It wasn’t like they actually expected to find their rogue vampire sipping Bloody Marys at the hotel bar—they were just covering all their bases, checking every nook and cranny.

There was a line at the front desk, so they followed Colin as he wandered over to the back windows overlooking the path to one of the pools (of course the place had more than one). “You two ever stay here?” he asked them.

“Nah,” Fox answered. “Too rich for our blood. We’re homebodies, you know.”

He said it with a wink, like he was joking, but Colin seemed to take it at face value. He glanced back at them. “You two never travel either?”

Dane exchanged a glance with Fox— don’t get defensive . “Not really.”

“Why not? You said you have money. And you can compel people, right? You could go anywhere. Do anything.”

Fox sidled up to Colin. “You want to travel, slayer? We can take you. Wherever you want to go.” There was just the faintest hint of desperation in his voice. God, it was so obvious how badly he wanted to keep this kid.

But then again, fuck, so did Dane.

God, the way Colin had felt around him that morning, his channel clenching Dane’s cock.

It had been like nothing else. Like coming home to a place Dane had never known he was missing.

Dane knew what Fox was talking about, when he talked about Colin—something just felt right with him.

There was no explaining it, not rationally.

They’d both taken one look at him and decided, Ours , whether conscious of it or not.

Colin cocked his head, staring at Fox like he could see right through his bullshit. “I’m not asking if you want to travel now . I’m asking why you never have.”

Fox and Dane exchanged another glance— how honest to be?

How much to bare? —and Dane cleared his throat.

“Something compelled us to stay, I guess. A feeling. Even when we’ve been bored or restless or whatever, we never really wanted to leave.

” He tried to shrug, but the movement was stilted.

“Guess we were…waiting, you could say.” He pasted on a smile, trying not to reveal the depths of what his words might be disclosing.

“But Fox is right—we’ll take you wherever you want to go. ”

Colin’s face gave nothing away. “Aren’t you still waiting though?”

“Don’t be dense,” Fox growled, pressing Colin back against the window.

Before Colin could respond to that—and God, what happened to playing it cool? What did Fox really expect him to say?—the line in front of the counter cleared, the concierge beckoning them over with an elegant wave of his wrist.

“Come on,” Dane urged, pulling Fox back. “Let’s get this over with.”

The concierge was a man in his early forties with tired eyes who smelled faintly of cigarettes (too faintly for his human patrons to scent, but Dane’s nose was a bit more advanced).

His eyes traveled over their trio—their casual clothes, their lack of any luggage—but he was too professional to let any kind of judgment show.

“Good morning, gentlemen. How can I help you?”

Dane glanced to each side quickly, making sure he didn’t have an audience, and then he let his devil surface.

He rolled his shoulders back—there was always that breath of relief with the transformation, like sliding out of a pair of too-tight jeans—and caught the concierge’s widening eyes, speaking quickly.

“You’re not afraid…” He looked at the name tag. “David.”

“Of course,” David answered in the odd monotone of the compelled, his expression smoothing to placidity. “I’m not afraid.”

Perfect. “We’re looking for someone,” Dane told him.

There was no response, and Fox tsked at him. “Dude. Direct questions.”

Dane flipped him off. “I’m getting there.” He caught David’s eye again. “Is there anyone staying here that seems…off?”

David blinked dull eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“In your gut, man. Someone that frightens you and you don’t know why. They’re probably staying alone. Maybe they checked in but you can’t remember it, or the memories feel foggy and you don’t know why.”

David looked off at nothing while he searched his memory. “There’s a person that makes me…uncomfortable,” he finally said.

Dane leaned in closer. “How so?”

“I can’t say.” David’s brow furrowed. “A feeling. Like you said. In my gut.”

“Are they here now?”

“I just saw them out by the pool. They like to watch the families.”

Holy shit. Dane straightened, a flicker of anticipation running down his spine. Was it really going to be that easy? “Forget this happened,” he instructed, catching David’s eye. Then, as an afterthought, “Thank you.”

He pushed his devil back down, returning his face to its human visage. The stupid thing fussed at the dismissal, grumbling about not being allowed to eat their informant.

Dane ignored it, turning away from the desk. “Shall we?”

But Colin made no move to walk away. He was looking at Dane with an indecipherable expression. “That was, um, kind of hot. I haven’t seen you, you know—” He waved a hand at Dane’s face. “—unless you were biting me.”

Dane rubbed at the back of his neck, embarrassed without knowing why. “It can be uncomfortable, letting it out but not letting it get what it wants,” he explained.

“What does it want? More blood?”

Dane considered that beast inside him, the way it had immediately dropped its interest in the concierge the second Colin caught their attention, the way it seemed to stretch and twist inside Dane’s skin, always wanting to be closer to their human.

It didn’t matter if they were already biting him, or kissing him, or fucking him—nothing was close enough. Nothing was deep enough.

“It wants you,” Dane answered honestly. “It wants every bit of you.”

Now who was the one incapable of playing it cool?

For once, it was Fox saving him from his own mouth. He leaned in close to Colin—but not before giving Dane a knowing glance—whispering in his ear. “Dane here is our people person.”

That was only because Dane was slightly less surly than his volatile brother. It wasn’t exactly due to any natural charm or way with people—both of them could be assholes when they were irritated.

Then again, he didn’t need a way with people when he could just compel them into doing what he wanted, did he?

“We need to check out the pool,” Dane reminded them, trying to get back on track. Trying to ignore the way Colin was staring at him in a way that let him know he’d let more slip than he ever meant to. “Maybe you should—”

Colin’s expression changed in an instant, glaring at him preemptively. “Fuck that. I’m not staying here. There’s two of you. Nothing’s gonna happen to me.”

Fox glanced at him, and Dane knew exactly what he was thinking: If we turned him, we wouldn’t have to worry.

But that needed to be Colin’s choice. Didn’t it? It was getting harder to remember. It was so tempting to beg, so tempting to get on his knees and plead: Stay with us. Please. We’ll do anything, just as long as you stay.

Loyal dogs indeed.

Instead, Dane cautioned, “You’ll stay behind us.”

“Of course.”

“And you won’t provoke them.” Fox waggled a finger like some old-timey schoolmarm. “Not everyone is as nice as us.”

Colin only smirked at him, as if at some private joke.

They exited the lobby and strode down the path to the pool. There were a few families braving the harsh afternoon sun, shrieking children and parents watching from under their umbrellas.

There was also a lone figure facing away from them. Watching the families, just as the concierge had said.

Dane could tell the very moment they scented their trio. The figure stiffened and twisted toward them, looking out from under a broad-brimmed hat. Even before they finished turning, Dane knew this wasn’t their guy.

The figure let out a bright, tinkling laugh. “Oh my. Is this the welcome wagon finally come for me?”

Nope, definitely not their guy. Because this vampire—in all their long-limbed, red-lipsticked glory—was apparently a woman.

Looked like they had more than one visitor in town.

“Can I get anyone a drink?” The lady vamp—Serena, she’d told them—asked, fingers drifting lazily over a stack of glasses on the sideboard..

Colin let out a surprised laugh. He was tucked under Fox’s arm, Dane’s brother apparently feeling the need to stake his claim. “Dude. It’s not even ten in the morning.”

Serena looked Colin over in a way that had Dane’s hackles raising. “Cute.”

Fox growled, pulling Colin in even closer. “Don’t fucking look at him.”

To her credit, Serena didn’t look the slightest bit intimidated. She let out that tinkling laugh again. Despite its brightness, there wasn’t even a hint of warmth in the sound. “Why even bring your pet if you’re going to be so protective over it?”