The Rise of Vlad (The Seeker Series Book 3) Read Free Page A

found the Seekers’ lair?”
    Nita shook her head. “Not entirely. But I did meet with one of their leaders. I figured I could set a trap and flush them out.”
    “So you came here to what, use me as bait?” Vlad inquired in a deadly soft tone.
    “Not that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind,” Nita shot back. “But no. I came here to give you the guy’s name. I figured the vampires could take it from there.”
    Vlad didn’t look convinced. “Why would you help me?”
    “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Lucius.”
    “And the man who shot you in the woods?” Vlad continued, drifting closer to the bed.
    “I’m assuming he was sent to follow me and report back.”
    Vlad came to a stop a few feet away. “He won’t be reporting back to anyone.”
    “You killed him, I take it?” Nita asked sarcastically.
    “I drained him. Would you like for me to show where I buried him? You could dig up the carcass when you leave here. Have a light snack on your way home.”
    “And you can go back to hell where you belong,” Nita snapped, returning her attention to Angel. “What are you doing in Alaska?”
    Angel shrugged a broad shoulder. “Ember wanted to see the sights.”
    Nita narrowed her eyes. She could smell a lie from a mile away. “The truth.”
    “He’s here on my behalf,” Vlad intervened. “That’s all you need to know.”
    Angel suddenly stilled, a vacant look in his eyes. “Ember is near.”
    “I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to see me,” Nita muttered, pulling the sheet up higher against her chest.
    “No more than the rest of us, I’m sure,” Vlad piped in, his arrogant tone pissing Nita off even more.
    Nita waited for Angel to leave the room before swinging her gaze back to the object of her ire. “Why do you hate my people so much?”
    Vlad barked out a laugh. “People? Is that what you’re calling yourselves now?”
    “My, aren’t we a bit hypocritical? Spawn of Satan. You should take a good, hard look in the mirror before tossing around insults. Oh, wait, you have no reflection.”
    “That’s an old wives’ tale, Miss Franks. One would think you’d be a tad more educated on tales, or tails as it were…since you sprout one quite regularly.”
    Nita opened her mouth to tell him to kiss her metaphorical tail, but Ember strode into the room carrying a large bag. Angel followed close behind with a squirming Lucius in his arms.
    “These are for you,” Ember announced, setting the bag on the side of the bed. “I hope they fit.”
    Giving Ember a warm smile, Nita opened the bag and pulled out a pair of jeans, a white tank top, a pair of skimpy panties. “Thank you. I’m sure they will fit just fine.”
    Ember cleared her throat. “I had no idea what size um” —she glanced around the room before meeting Nita’s gaze once again— “bra, you wore. I’m sorry. Same with shoes. I bought a pair of flip-flops that might work temporarily.”
    Nita held the sheet up and threw her legs over the side of the bed. “I’ll pay you back for these, Ember. I appreciate you doing this.”
    “I’ll give you some privacy,” Angel mumbled, striding toward the door. Ember trailed off after him.
    Nita’s gaze shifted to Vlad, who was now seated in a chair in the corner of the room. She couldn’t see his eyes for that damn hood he’d pulled back over his head. “Are you going to just sit there and watch me dress?”
    He didn’t answer, only stretched his long legs out in front of him, crossing his feet at the ankles.

Chapter Five
     
    Vlad wasn’t sure why he continued to bait the shifter, why he cared enough to bait her. But he couldn’t seem to help himself.
    He rather enjoyed the feeling he got from watching her eyes flash fire. She challenged him, taunted him, and made him feel alive for the first time in years.
    She was the enemy…
    He fought a grin as she dragged the pair of jeans beneath the sheet and pulled them on.
    “Fine. You sit there are watch,” Nita spat,