Neither of those would necessitate a gun. After all, someone wanting to move to Penton would want to cooperate, and the ones looking for humans would avoid other vampires so they could keep unvaccinated feeders to themselves.
There had to be more. “What part are you not telling me?”
“The vampabonds are increasing,” Melissa said, disgust clear in her tone. “Word travels, and they know there are unvaccinated people in Penton. We’ve had a few coming into town thinking if they get lucky and kill Aidan or Mirren or Will, some of those humans would be free for the taking.”
Every vampire and human in Penton had to be bonded to one of the three master vampires: Aidan, Mirren, or Will Ludlam, Matthias’s much-abused son. No one outside the scathe could feed from a bonded human—unless the master vampire who held their bond got killed.
“That’s inconvenient.” Cage had hoped his fellow vamps would see Penton as an idea to emulate, not a feeding buffet. “We shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose. Some humans are bad people. When they become vampires, they don’t suddenly develop morals.” Like he was any judge of morality.
He stared out the window as they whizzed past the black shadows of pine forest. “Any chance some of our old enemies from the Tribunal are behind this influx, and how many are we talking about?”
“There’s been nothing to make us think it’s Tribunal related.” Melissa shook her head. “Numbers . . . I don’t know, maybe six or seven coming into Penton every week or two? Enough that Mirren’s got the patrols going around town again.”
So much for easing back into Penton life and training leisurely for whatever the Army Rangers had in mind for the special unit. Cage fought back a smile, his blood moving faster. He might be looking for a place to settle down, but he still got off on the rush.
The one good piece of news was that Matthias Ludlam was about to be truly and finally dead. “How’s Will doing? I mean, Matthias is his father, as well as being a right evil bastard.”
Melissa shrugged. “Randa says he’s either ignoring talk about Matthias or making wisecracks. Typical Will, in other words—bottling everything up inside.” She flipped on the turn signal as they approached an exit where the lights of a convenience mart shone through the trees. “I need to get some gas.”
“What about his—”
“Damn!” Melissa stomped on the brake at the flash of movement in front of the car, holding the vehicle steady while its back end decided whether to shimmy left or right. Cage braced his boots hard against the floor and was glad he had buckled his seat belt.
They lurched to a stop less than ten yards from a gaunt man who’d careened onto the pavement of the feeder road in front of them, arms waving.
“Good reflexes, love. Pull off the roadway and stay in the car.”
Once the sedan was safely off the pavement, Cage studied the man for a couple of seconds and then slowly opened his door and slid out. He held the Colt in his left hand, hidden at a slight angle behind his back.
“Oh God,” the man said, “so sorry. I thought you were somebody else.” The man’s dark hair was cut short on the sides, longer on top—a modern, fit-in-with-the-humans style that complemented his high cheekbones, square jaw, and the ball cap he wore. “Hope the car’s okay.”
What was this man’s game? Finding unvaccinated humans, or finding someone driving Aidan Murphy’s car? Cage might not be a master vampire, but his senses were keen and he recognized another vampire when he saw one.
Especially this one.
CHAPTER 2
Melissa had expected Cage to shoot the skinny guy who’d jumped in front of the car and almost given her heart failure. Well, not that she could actually have heart failure. Probably. Another thing to add to her endless list of vampire questions for Aidan’s mate, Krys, who had the patience of a saint.
Not a quality Melissa possessed. Never had. And instead of shooting the guy or running him off, Cage stood there talking to him. She’d forgotten how much Cage talked. Well, how much Cage asked questions without ever saying much about himself—a trait Melissa had always attributed to his human occupation as a psychiatrist. That comment about Paris had slipped out unintentionally; she’d seen it on Cage’s face.
If Cage and the vampabond planned on having a set-to, as her grampa used to call it, here at exit 42 next to I-85, she might as well join them.
Melissa opened the door and took a deep, appreciative breath of night air. Her favorite season was imminent, with cooler days, longer nights, and the leaves turning brilliant colors in the soft autumn sunlight. Not that she’d see them unless she set up a spotlight under a tree. Living in darkness, plus the weirdness of feeding, were the worst parts of becoming vampire.