The Red Lily (Vampire Blood #2)(7)

Nikolai grinned, then scooped her up into his arms, his face close to hers. "Hold on, sweetheart."

"Oh no."

She wrapped her arms around his neck a split second before he leaped and landed safely on the other side, much softer than she expected. The feat wasn't humanly impossible. But, of course, he wasn't human.

For a moment, he held her close, his fingers curling tightly at her ribcage. "This is why you need a vampire to escort you to the north for recruits."

"So you can lug me around like a potato sack?" she asked, arching a brow. "Of course. Why didn't I know that already?"

A laugh rumbled in his chest as he set her carefully onto her feet, keeping her within the circle of his arms.

"You may release me now, lieutenant."

"Why are you so afraid to be close to me?"

"I'm not."

"I make you nervous."

"No, you don't."

"Liar." 

She pushed on his shoulders, and he let her go. "I just don't want to tempt you … unnecessarily." She smoothed her crimson skirt though it wasn't ruffled. "I mean, I don't want to be a burden as I know vampires have trouble sometimes. With the whole blood thing."

He let out a bark of laughter that snapped her attention back to him. "Oh, sweetheart." He stood, one hand loose on his hip, the opposite leg casually bent as he studied her, blue eyes flaring bright. "You tempt me beyond reason. Beyond the ‘blood thing.' But I am a man of my word. I won't do anything at all to you … that you don't want me to do."

With that, he marched ahead, leading her through a dense wood.

Frowning at his insinuation, she called out, "I never said I wanted you to do anything to me."

"No. But you will."

"So sure of yourself, are you, lieutenant?"

"Quite sure."

"Arrogance is not an attractive trait."

"It's called confidence."

"Ha! I have known some arrogant men in my time, but you-"

He stopped short. "Shh!"

She froze immediately. He turned and placed a finger to his mouth to assure her silence, then took her hand and edged forward slowly. She could still hear nothing until they rounded a bend where light shone from a clearing ahead. Voices rumbled together. Two men. His keen hearing had heard them first. Begrudgingly, she admitted there were reasons a vampire would serve as the best escort on this mission.

Nikolai motioned for her to go ahead, though his scowl told her that he wasn't happy. With a tight nod, she stood tall and sauntered forward the last few feet of the thick brush and into the clearing. The two Legionnaires turned at once, both apparently hearing her footsteps at the same time. Both soldiers were pale with dark hair, similar in stature and rigid in stance at the gate entrance. Their Legionnaire uniforms in the royal colors of blue and silver gave them an air of sophistication and civility. But Sienna wasn't fooled by appearance. She knew some of the royal Legionnaires suffered from blood madness and had been bleeding peasants dry for the past few years. Her pulse tripped faster as she drew closer under their watchful eyes.

"Good morning, officers." She stopped a fair distance away.

"Good morning, my lady," the one on the right said with a grin, casting a look to the other soldier. "How may we be of service?"

"I must speak with Sergeant Riker."

"Sergeant? You mean Lieutenant Riker." His grin vanished. "What do you want with the lieutenant?"

Sienna had prepared to sell the idea of being one of his current bleeders, but a bleeder would know his status in the Legionnaires. After all, a lieutenant could pay more money for his bleeders. But she could always think on her feet quickly.

"My name is Sarah York of Hiddleston. The lieutenant and I were well acquainted last year upon his visit to town. I'm newly arrived to Sylus and wanted to … rekindle our friendship."

The leader of the two leaned to one side in a more casual stance. "I have not heard of a new family of the aristocracy moving into Sylus."

"Oh, we are only visiting some friends at Sterling House."

Sienna had heard the Barrow brothers mention the old baron at Sterling House and how he often hosted visiting noble families from other provinces.

"My lady," interjected the other guard, "how might you know of the south gate entrance? This is not for public access."

"No," she agreed with a sultry smile. "That is what Riker told me when last he brought me here." She used his first name, an intimate privilege.