Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(86)

Cassandra stepped backward, her smile fading. "I'm not nervous. I'm cautious."

"As you should be in this city," Quintus agreed. "Yet you have donors. Interesting."

"They're from an agency. I don't hire them myself. My clientele is unique. To be honest, not many vampires frequent my hotel."

"Ah … competition?" he asked.

"I gladly welcome it. There're plenty of other establishments that cater to their needs."

"May I ask how you know I'm a vampire?"

"Aside from Jake warning me, I'm aware of all blood orders that happen in this hotel. I make it my business. You never know when there might be an unfortunate … " her eyes flashed to Jake and back to Quintus, "accident."

Kai nervously tugged at her belt. Awareness of her Alpha pricked, and she sensed his concern. Anger boiled under her skin as the human moved closer.

"I prefer to wait here until the donor arrives. I need to check her in. It's protocol that the acting GM verifies her identification. We can't have humans claiming they've been bitten without consent. I'm sure you understand."

"As you wish … do stay and have breakfast with us," the vampire suggested.

"I'm not hungry," Kai stated as her beast raged. Any ounce of patience she'd clutched to slipped through her fingers. Reaching for Jake's hand, she took it in hers. "I'm tired."

"But the food … it should be here any minute," Jake said. 

"Cassandra and I will wait on it. This will give us the perfect opportunity to get to know each other better." A devious smile bloomed on Quintus' face as Cassandra's expression flattened.

"I don't know," Jake said. "You sure you'll be all right?"

"But of course we will, won't we?" Quintus nodded.

"It'll be here any minute, I'm sure that if you just … " Cassandra's voice trailed off as Kai tugged at Jake's arm.

"See, they'll be fine. Let's go. Now." Kai glared at Jake; her beast would not wait. Nothing would get between her and her Alpha.

"Very good. Go, get some rest. I'll let you know when it arrives." Quintus opened the mini-fridge and triumphantly retrieved a bottle of champagne. "Ah …  Cristal. This will do nicely, pet. What a lovely surprise."

"But I don't think I should … I'm working and … " Cassandra protested.

"Nonsense. As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, 'Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right'."

"Jesus, Leo really is cut from the same cloth as you," Jake replied.

"We are much alike but in many ways different. We are fond of quotes and our love of history if that's what you are referring to." Quintus made quick work of removing the foil and popped the cork. "Lovely."

"I need you now," Kai insisted, her tone terse. Her body tingled, her skin flickering in gold.

Jake glanced to her, and she detected the recognition in his eyes. The creature within demanded her mate. There was no other way. If she stayed one more second in the presence of the human, she'd shift and likely kill her.

"We'll talk later, Cass." Jake walked backwards, nodding to Quintus. "And you."

"Me?" Quintus laughed.

"Behave. No incidents. Get blood and be done. I don't want the donor in here any longer that we need to."

"I've got this, wolf. I think your mate requires your attention, which works out perfectly," he smiled at Cassandra, "because I'm quite busy right now."

Kai glared at Cassandra one last time, dragging Jake into the bedroom. She slammed the door and tore off her robe, her feet rooted to the floor. A golden glow emanated from her skin as her beast attempted to surface, and she fought to retract the claws that surged through her fingertips.

"Hey, sweetheart, I like rough sex as much as the next guy but it's a nope to shifting. Whatcha doin'?" Jake gave a concerned smile.

"I … Jake … I'm sorry, I just … " Kai took a deep breath, struggling to restrain the change.

"You can do this, Kai. We're mates. I'm not claimed. I told you, Cass is just a friend, and it's true. You know this."

"No, Jake. I don't know it."

"What I know is that you're learning how to shift. Sometimes we make it happen and other times when emotions take hold, our animal decides. Your beast protects you, is magical, but you command it."

"No, I don't … "

"You will learn to control it. You're doing it now," he interjected "I'm your Alpha."

"You're my master." Kai glanced to her hands; the color had returned to a shade of pink, her claws retracting.

"I'm your Alpha. There's a difference."