I went through the pictures again. “Can a vampire cast a bloodlust curse?”
Misha shook his head. “No vampire can work such magic. And as I mentioned, I would have felt it.”
My brain searched for a possible solution. Bren had educated us on the supernatural world based on his personal experiences as a werewolf. Prior to meeting Bren, Danny advised us by studying old magic chronicles. Still, there was so much we didn’t know. I played with the edges of my hair. “Can a vampire influence another preternatural?”
“Our control works only on humans. And magic from different mystical races cannot be combined. It clashes, with the dominant power ultimately extinguishing the other.” He drummed the table impatiently. “I sought an audience with the leader of the local witch clan, but she denied any involvement. Had she lied, I would have sensed it.”
I slowly sipped my tea. No matter how I sliced it, Misha was screwed. As a master, he was responsible for the actions of his family. He had no choice; he had to kill his infected vampires.
But he also needed to figure out the cause of the infestation.
I waited to see if he would say more. He didn’t. “Why are you telling me this?” I finally asked.
“The first stone has been cast. It is my belief it was done by Zhahara Nadim. She is my closest adversary in both power and business, and maintains the company of a former head witch. Zhahara despises the earth I stand on and has sworn to ruin me any way she can.”
I remembered how eager she seemed to dig her vindictive fangs into Misha. Yet, I couldn’t hide my grin. “Did you dump her or something?”
Misha didn’t answer, but his one-sided smile spoke volumes.
“You did, didn’t you?” I shuddered. I’d heard of Zhahara, even before being graced with her wicked bitch presence in vamp court. She was considered the Doris Duke of Lake Tahoe—very rich, very elusive, very much someone you stayed away from. “I guess hell hath no fury like a preternatural female scorned.”
Misha chuckled. “Is this a warning, my dear?”
“Unless you plan to date me, too, no.”
Misha didn’t deny it. Uh. Oh.
I cleared my throat. I wanted to date a master vampire as much as I wanted to get declawed. “You said you needed my help. What can I do?”
“You can help me invade her home and kill her.”
CHAPTER 5
“Why do you regard me in such a manner?”
The “such a manner” Misha referred to included my jaw scraping the floor and my eyes bulging out of my skull. I blinked back at him. “Oh. I’m sorry. I just didn’t realize you were nuts.”
Misha leaned toward me. “Celia, if Zhahara is behind this, it is now within my rights to destroy her.” His body seethed with rage. “I will not submit to anyone.”
My entire body straightened. Inside me my tigress came to her feet, ready to emerge. The scent of my tension must have reached Misha. He closed his eyes and took a breath. “Forgive me. My anger has nothing to do with you.” He focused hard on the photos. “I am certain Zhahara threatens my family. Yet I do not have enough vampires left to fight her. You and your family have no ties to the supernatural world. You’re the only ones I can trust. Help me destroy Zhahara, Celia. Help me end the bloodlust.”
I leaned away from him and crossed my arms. “What makes you think we could be of any help?”
He paused. His gaze bore into mine with uncomfortable intensity. “Celia, I can feel the power dripping down your body.”
I suddenly felt naked again and had to cross my arms over my breasts before speaking. “Why should we help you? You’re nothing to us and you almost got us executed.”
“The bloodlust infestation forced me to wrongfully seek vengeance. For that I am truly sorry.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure it’s kept you up at night.”
I could almost see Misha’s anger dissipate. A slow smile spread across his handsome face. He placed his lips close to my ear. “I only did as you would have done in my place, my darling,” he murmured.
His breath tickled and gave me chills. I dismissed it as part of his vampire charm. “You don’t have to get so close. I can hear you from where you’re seated.”
Misha’s mouth parted; he was apparently confused as to why I didn’t immediately straddle him and shove my tongue down his throat. Geez, hasn’t anyone ever told this guy no before? I stole another glimpse at him. A lock of hair rested against his perfect skin, while his gray eyes sizzled enough to fry my thick lashes. Okay. Maybe not.
Misha resumed his more serious demeanor. “Consider this, Celia: Do you think Zhahara will stop after the fall of my family? How many others will she infect, and how many of those will go on to kill innocents? Hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives may be lost—not just vampire, but human, as well. When David attacked Taran, he had just trace beginnings of chronic bloodlust. Were your family merely human, he would have killed you all.”