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Cain’s Identity

(Scanguards Vampires #9)

Tina Folsom

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Cain’s Identity (Scanguards Vampires #9)

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Book Description

Scanguards bodyguard Cain struggles with amnesia; however, the curtain to his past finally begins to lift when a mysterious stranger appears, revealing that Cain was the victim of an assassination attempt. Cain finds out that not only is he a powerful vampire king, he’s also engaged to Faye Duvall, the female vampire who’s been haunting his dreams.

When Faye thinks Cain is dead, she’s devastated and can only keep going because she knows her clan needs her. Out of loyalty and love for her fellow vampires, she agrees to marry Abel, Cain’s brother, and is shocked when Cain returns to reclaim his throne.

Cain is determined to recapture the love he once shared with Faye. But the assassin won’t give up and his ruthlessness knows no limits. Backed up by his loyal friends from Scanguards, Cain suddenly finds himself in a fight to the death and confronted with a choice: to save either his kingdom or his queen.

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If sin were a woman, there would be no doubt what she’d look like.

Long dark hair cascaded over her bare shoulders and caressed the strapless, elegant dress she wore, a dress that accentuated her voluptuous breasts. Nipping in at her waist, the red silk flowed to the bottom of her legs and over pretty toes that peeked out from high-heeled golden sandals.

When she made a motion to kick them off, Cain commanded, “Leave them on.” He paused. “Take everything else off.”

A gentle laugh as delicate as a whisper in the wind came from her. “Oh, Cain,” she drawled in a soft southern accent that instantly sent a flame to his groin and filled his entire body with desire.

“You know how much I love it when you strip for me.” He tossed his dinner jacket onto an armchair and glanced around.

The suite of rooms was large and opulent, and consisted of a bedroom and a sitting room connected by large double doors that stood open at present. The absence of windows made this the ideal place for a vampire’s residence, providing safety as well as privacy. Priceless works of art adorned the walls, and elegant furniture provided an atmosphere fit for a king. This was no cave dwelling despite its underground location. It was an impenetrable fortress.

The seductress made a step toward him, her body moving with the grace of a tigress approaching her prey. And Cain might as well have been her prey, albeit her very willing prey. Just as she was his.

When her lips parted, he caught sight of her fangs elongating.

“Starting without me, my love?” he asked, and gave a shake of his head, a gentle reprimand, while at the same time the beast inside him delighted at her primal reaction and readied itself to react in kind.

A vampire showing his fangs had only two reasons: hunger for blood or for sex.

And he was certain this beautiful specimen, who now brought her hands behind her back to lower the zipper of her dress, wasn’t hungry for blood. Although Cain wouldn’t mind biting her while he impaled her on his cock. The memory of it now manifested on his tongue. So sweet, so rich, so full of passion. A strange sense of longing and loss slammed into him, but the latter feeling vanished just as quickly and made way for more pleasurable thoughts.

His gums itched, and he allowed his own fangs to descend, readying himself for what was to come. Anticipation heated his body from the inside, dispelling once and for all the false belief that vampires were cold. Parting his lips, Cain made her aware of his desire for her, though he was certain that the red glow in his eyes had already given him away.

Blood pounding in his veins, he watched her peel the red fabric away from her torso. His breath hitched in his throat as she bared her rosy nipples, already hard and standing to attention, her hands casually stroking her skin as she pushed the dress lower past her hips. The dress bunched there for a moment, getting caught by her generous proportions, which, these days, were perhaps less common. Women with hourglass figures like hers were rare, and maybe that was one of the reasons Cain was so fascinated by her. So drawn to her.

He imagined his fingers digging into those hips, holding onto her as he pounded into her softness. The knowledge that he could take her as hard as he wanted, because she was nearly as strong as he, made his fingers want to turn into the claws of the beast that lived inside him. But he pushed back the urge, not wanting to mar the flawless skin that stretched over her tantalizing flesh. Nor did he want to remind her of the violence in her past, the pain she’d endured at the hands of a cruel master. Never again would he allow anybody to hurt her. Not even he himself.

“More!” Cain demanded now and noticed the change in his voice. The hoarseness in it attested to his aroused state. He dropped his lids, glancing at the front of his pants. The bulge there was hard to overlook. He wasn’t trying to hide it from her. He wanted to show her what she did to him, what the extent of her power over him was.

“Oh, I don’t know if you can take any more.” A saucy smile underscored her words.

He took a step toward her, while his hands got busy ridding himself of his bowtie and shirt in vampire speed. He threw both on the armchair to keep his jacket company.

“Impatient much?”

“Do as I say!” Cain ordered, his chest heaving with the effort it cost him to keep a modicum of civility when inside him the vampire raged with the need to take her, to make her his.

Elegant hands pushed the dress over her hips, making the garment fall to the floor with a soft whoosh. But Cain didn’t look at what lay at her feet now. Instead, he stared at the dark triangle of hair that guarded her sex.

Mouth watering, his eyes lifted to her face. “You weren’t wearing anything underneath.”

She acknowledged his observation with a sinful smile.

Stepping out of the dress, she strode toward him, her high heels clicking on the hardwood floor, echoing in the vast windowless space.

His cock was rigid now, pressing painfully against his zipper. Instinctively, his hand went to it, but she was faster. The warmth of her palm engulfed him instantly, sending a thrill through his entire body that made his control dance on a blade’s edge. Lust impregnated the air and made it hum.

“You have a present for me?” she murmured, and rubbed her body against him, while her hand squeezed the hardness in his pants.

“A present that keeps on giving.” Cain slid his hand to her nape, pulling her face to him so their lips were only a fraction of an inch apart. So close, yet so far away. “I missed you.”

Her breath bounced against his when she opened her mouth. He inhaled it, allowing her scent to fill his lungs and drug him. “What did you miss most? My lips on your cock? Me riding you? Your cock thrusting into me?”

Though he loved all of her suggestions, he countered, “I think you forgot something.” His fingers caressed one side of her neck, tracing the plump vein beneath her skin. Her pulse beat against the pad of his fingers, as if to signal him her acquiescence. “My fangs in your neck.”

An intake of breath pressed her chest firmer against his. “I didn’t forget. I always keep room for dessert.”

On her last word, Cain captured her lips and kissed her. There was nothing tentative or hesitant about the kiss, nor her reaction to it. He tasted her sweetness on his tongue as he delved into her and showed her who her master was. Yet she was no submissive. Her response to his kiss was that of an equal, a strong vampire female who knew what she wanted. He sensed it with every stroke of her tongue against his, with every glide of her lips against his mouth—and every thrust of her hips against his groin. She wanted him, and that knowledge only added to his desire for her.

Cain’s fingers fanned, sliding up higher into her hair, cupping the back of her head. Her dark silken tresses caressed his hand, reminding him of previous encounters such as this. Reminding him of having found ecstasy in her arms before.

Her soft sighs drifted to his ears, while her rapid heartbeat reverberated in his chest, echoing his. His other hand now drifted lower, sliding over the curve of her back down to her shapely ass. As he palmed it and yanked her harder to him, she moaned into his mouth, before her tongue swiped against his fang.

Panting heavily, Cain ripped his lips from her. “Fuck!”

Licking a vampire’s fangs was the most erotic thing a vampire could experience—short of having full-blown sex. And even though she’d licked his fangs before, the intense pleasure now coursing through his body almost undid him.

“I know you want it,” she coaxed, looking at him seductively.

He ground out a curse, grabbed her and took a few steps toward the wall, where he pressed her against it, all patience gone, vanished into thin air. “Have it your way.”

Then he captured her lips again. This would be a short interlude if she continued to use her wiles on him like this. But, damn it to hell, he didn’t want to stop her. Instead, he attempted to open his pants with one hand, until he felt her hands on him, helping him. Clearly, she was as impatient as he.

Moments later, his tuxedo pants fell to the floor. He still wore his dress shoes, but didn’t have the patience to take them or his socks off. Instead, his pants pooled around his ankles. They wouldn’t hinder him in his movements—not the kind of movements he was about to engage in anyway.

Cain gripped her thighs and lifted her up, while pressing her back against the wall. He spread her legs wide open, exposing her drenched sex. He looked down, then drew his hips back and adjusted his angle. When his cockhead touched the outer lips of her sex, he inhaled sharply. He’d been right: this wouldn’t take long at all.

“I need it,” she encouraged him. “I need you.”

Cain plunged into her without preamble, seating himself in her warm channel, his balls slapping against her flesh, burning from the impact. The first time was always like this, intense, urgent. Later tonight he’d take his time with her, but right now he needed to still his hunger for her.

Air rushed out of her lungs. “Cain! Yes!”

She was perfect, better than anything else in his life. As if she was the solution to all his problems, all his worries. As if she could make everything right again.

His eyes met hers and, slowly, Cain began to thrust. Her green eyes now glowed red, a sign that her vampire side was ruling her. A feeling of possessiveness came over him, and the thought that she could ever be in another man’s arms again stirred the beast inside him. Anger churned up from his gut, and he growled like an animal.

“You’re mine!”

Her eyes flashed brightly, before she tilted her head to the side, baring her pale neck. “Then make me yours.”

Without thinking, he drove his fangs into her neck, piercing her hot skin. Rich blood touched his fangs and filled his mouth. While the blood ran down his throat, coating it, farther down, his own blood pounded in his veins, filling his cock even more. And with every draw from her vein and every thrust into her pussy, the wildness in him grew.

For an instant, he removed his fangs, wanting to tell her what she meant to him. He parted his lips, wanting to speak, but her name didn’t roll over his lips. He tried again, but there was only emptiness. He stared into her eyes and saw confusion there.

“Who are you?” he whispered.

Disbelief colored her eyes, but before her lips gave him an answer, a sharp pain pierced his skull. Still inside her, he arrested his movements.

His vision darkened. Cain brought one hand to his face and felt the sticky, warm liquid that ran over his face. He smelled it, too. The metallic scent was unmistakable.

Blood. Blood coming from his skull. He brought his hand up and felt the hole there. Blood gushed from it.

“No!” she screamed. “No! Don’t leave me!”

He couldn’t see her face anymore, and suddenly his hands were gripping nothing, as if she had slipped from his grasp. He searched for her in the darkness, but all he felt was a void. Despair. Hopelessness.

Was he dead?

“Nooooooo!” Cain screamed.

But she didn’t answer him. She was gone.

Suddenly his vision cleared and a light source drew his attention. Something blinked in red. He focused his eyes. Numbers appeared before them. 07:24. He stared at the apparition. It took a second to realize that he was looking at a digital clock.

Cain shot up to a seated position.

Gone was the room he’d been in, replaced by a bedroom with little personal effects. No opulence. No luxury. Just a simple bedroom with a large bed, a dresser, and a chair with casual clothes somebody had tossed onto it. No tuxedo in sight.

Cain ran a shaky hand through his ultra-short hair and realized he was bathed in sweat.

Regret filled him. It had been a dream, all of it: the woman, the room, the blood.

Nothing was real. Just like Cain himself. Because how could he be real when he didn’t remember anything about his past?

For several months now he’d had these dreams. Different ones, but all involving the same woman, and all ending the same way: with blood gushing from his head. As if they were a warning somebody was trying to send him. Or a message from the past.

Cain swung his legs out of bed and shook his head. Wishful thinking! A little over a year ago he’d woken up one night without a memory. All he remembered was a male voice. Your name is Cain, the man had said. As much as he’d tried to find out about his past, he’d come up empty.

The dreams were haunting him, dangling pieces of information in front of him, yet never letting him get close enough to grab one and examine it. It had made him irritable and unpredictable. His colleagues at Scanguards, where he worked as a bodyguard, had started noticing and avoided him whenever he was in one of his dark moods.

And just now, one of those dark moods was washing over him, lashing despair and hopelessness at him like a torturer whipping him with a flogger. Pain crippled his body and made him want to inflict the same pain on others. But there was nobody on whom to let out his anger.

A ringing sound suddenly pierced the silence of his bedroom. He turned to the bedside table and reached for his cell phone.

“Yeah?”

“Where the fuck are you?” The deep, pissed-off voice belonged to Amaury, one of his superiors at Scanguards.

Rage boiled up in Cain. He didn’t like Amaury’s tone, nor did he like being questioned about his whereabouts. He hated being ordered around.

“What the fuck do you want?” Cain replied, raising his voice.

“You’re supposed to be patrolling tonight!” Amaury growled. “And don’t take that fucking attitude with me. I’m your boss!”

Cain jumped up and slammed his fist into the drywall, leaving a dent there. “I need no boss! I’m my own master!” The moment he said it, he knew it was true. He wasn’t used to having anybody tell him what to do. He was used to giving the orders.

On the other end of the line, Amaury breathed heavily before giving his response. “Fine! You wanna have it out, once and for all? I’m sick of your attitude lately. I think it’s time we had a chat so you understand who’s in charge here.”

The way he spoke made it clear to Cain that this would be a very physical kind of chat.

“My place. In ten minutes, or you’re on your own.”

“You got it!” Cain responded to the open challenge.

A fist fight with the linebacker-sized vampire was just what he needed right now. Maybe then he’d feel better.

The winter garden was as beautiful at night as it was deadly during the day. Encased in bulletproof glass on three sides, it provided no shelter from the sun.

Faye looked up at the starry sky above the glass roof. Was he watching her from somewhere up there? Or were vampires doomed to burn in hell when they met with the true death?

She couldn’t remember how often she’d stared up at the night sky asking herself these questions ever since his death. Every time she did, she felt the same kind of longing, the same kind of emptiness. But life had to go on. She knew that. The time for mourning was almost at an end.

Footsteps made her aware that she wasn’t alone anymore. Even before she turned, she knew who had entered the winter garden from the house. Well, it couldn’t really be called a house. It was a palace.

Faye inclined her head slightly, before lifting her eyes to her visitor. “Your Majesty.”

“Faye, Faye, how often have I told you that between us there’s no formality. I’m still Abel to you. Always will be. Besides, I’m not king yet.”

“Of course.” She allowed her eyes to roam over him. There were days she could barely look at him, so much did he remind her of the man she’d lost. The man she’d loved.

Abel pointed to a bench, motioning her to sit there with him. She took a seat, and he joined her.

“I’ve come to talk to you.”

Her stomach instantly clenched. She knew what this was about. She’d counted the days too, though for other reasons than he had.

“We all miss him,” Abel started.

Faye pressed her lips together, suppressing the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her and rob her of the ability to think clearly. She had to remain strong.

“The time is nearly up.”

She nodded. “One year, one month, and one day. I marked it on my calendar.” Though she didn’t have to. She would always remember the horrible day when she’d been robbed of the love of her life.

“Yes, in less than two weeks his official reign will end, and the new king will be crowned.”

“I’ve never really understood why there is such a long period after the death of one king before his successor can take the throne,” Faye said to fill the air between them with words.

Abel reached for her hand, clasping it. She shuddered internally, but let it happen. He would be her king soon, and her destiny lay in his hands. The privileges she’d enjoyed as the dead king’s fiancée would expire at the new king’s coronation. She would lose her home, her standing in their society, her influence. Though nothing mattered much to her anyway. Only love for the vampires who would have been her subjects, had her fiancé lived, had made her stay. Otherwise, she would have left the clan altogether.

“It’s meant to give the people time to grieve without having to pledge their allegiance to the new king while they still mourn the old,” Abel explained.

“It must be hard for the king-in-waiting, though.”

“As regent, I already have many of the powers the king has. And it gives me a chance to get to know my subjects better and find out what they want from me.” He raised her hand toward his face. “Or what I want from them.”

Faye’s breath hitched. “Yes, yes, of course.” She rose, making him drop her hand, and walked to a raised flowerbed. She reached for shears and started to prune the plants.

Since that horrible day over a year ago, no man had touched her. And the thought of another man’s hands or lips on her sent panic shooting down her spine. She knew she had to do something about that, but tonight wasn’t the right time.

Behind her, Abel rose from the bench. She heard his footsteps as he approached her.

“Decisions have to be made. As you know, soon—”

“I know,” she interrupted him. “I have been thinking about it. I’m preparing myself to leave.” She would be without protection once again. The last time that had happened she’d fallen prey to the cruelest of vampires.

When Abel’s hands clasped her shoulders from behind, she sucked in a breath, trying to calm herself.

“I didn’t come to ask you to leave. I came to ask you to stay.”

Faye turned her head halfway. “But clan law is clear on it.”

“I don’t give a damn about clan law. In two weeks, my word will be law.”

Surprised at his sharp tone, her heart rate doubled instantly. She knew he would sense it. A vampire’s hearing was sensitive enough for it. Besides, his hands still lay on her shoulders, and by touching her he would not only feel her heartbeat, but also perceive the blood that rushed through her veins like a runaway train.

“Forget what I said,” Abel added quickly. “This isn’t about the law. It’s about you. You were meant to be queen. The members of our clan love you. Your dream doesn’t have to end with my coronation.”

The implication of his words sank in immediately. When he turned her to face him, she wanted to avoid his gaze, but out of respect for the position he held she didn’t.

His dark eyes looked at her with an intensity she’d always loved about his brother. But in Abel, it scared her. Or was she simply scared because it meant she would finally have to admit to herself that it was time to move on and let go of the memories she treasured, the memories of true love?

“I need a queen. A woman like you, one who is loved by her subjects. I know I’m not like him. I could never be the just leader he was. But with you by my side, with you guiding me to show me what he would have done in my stead, I can be a good king. I need you.”

Faye searched his eyes, trying to see past his words, past the face he showed her. Did he mean it? Did he really need her in order to be the kind of king their vast clan needed? And could she truly help him be that man? Was that her calling? To be queen, so he could be king?

Her chest lifted as she took a breath. “I don’t know, Abel. I loved your brother.”

Abel pressed a finger to her lips. “And he loved you. He would want this for you. He would want you to have what was meant to be yours. He would want you to move on and be happy again. To see you smile again. I remember that smile. But I haven’t seen it for so long.”

She lowered her lids and nodded. “It is hard to get over the death of someone so . . . ” She couldn’t even continue her thought, nor say his name, without risking dissolving into tears.

“Give me a chance,” Abel said gently.

“This is all so unexpected. I need time to think about it,” she answered quickly, desperate to buy herself some time and at the same time not offend him. This was a decision she couldn’t make, not without thinking about the consequences. She didn’t love Abel. He was in so many ways not like his brother. Where his brother had been kind and lenient, Abel was harsh and stern. Their personalities couldn’t be more different from each other.

Faye wanted to scream, to lament that the wrong brother had died. If only that night she’d not let him out of her arms. Then he would still be alive. He would still be king, and she would be his blood-bonded mate and his queen.

“Do it for the clan, if not for me.”

Faye looked past him, her eyes peering into the darkness beyond the palace she lived in. It was vast, a huge structure built like a fortress, impenetrable and awe-inspiring. A large palace for a large clan, one that encompassed all of Louisiana and spilled over its borders. A clan so secretive, yet influential way beyond its physical boundaries, that few vampires outside knew of its existence. All previous kings had wanted it that way, knowing that in anonymity lay safety.

The old ways were still strong within the clan. The laws they lived by had been passed down from their founders, though the living accommodations were modern and the castle—tucked away in a remote wooded area north of New Orleans—was equipped with state-of-the-art security. Just as it behooved a king. Guards and other key members of the clan lived in the palace, while in buildings surrounding the well-kept grounds, other vampires made their home.

Faye’s eyes drifted back to Abel. “You deserve a mate who loves you.”

He smiled. “I’ll settle for one who may one day learn to love me.”

She sighed. “I don’t know.”

“We could be crowned together in two weeks if you say yes.”

She swallowed hard. “I’ll give you my answer. Soon.”

Then she turned quickly and rushed through the open door into the corridor beyond. She almost collided with somebody and looked up in shock.

“Apologies, Faye,” he said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“John, uh, you didn’t,” she lied, wanting to get away from him as quickly as possible.

John was tall and broad, a strong vampire with a fast hand and a quick mind. It was those qualities that had made him the leader of the king’s elite guard, the small hand-selected group of vampires who guarded the king and queen.

But John had failed guarding his king. Under his watch, the king had been assassinated. When Faye had seen the telltale ash and the signet ring on the floor—the remains of her lover—she’d accused John of neglecting his duty. He’d hung his head, accepting her hateful words in stoic silence, never even attempting to offer an excuse or apology.

She’d never understood why Abel hadn’t punished John. Had she been in the position to give orders, she would have demanded John’s execution for his failure to keep the king safe.

For a moment, she paused. Maybe Abel had a kinder heart than she gave him credit for, and she was the one who was bad for wishing to punish the leader of the king’s guard.

Amaury not only lived in one of the shabbiest neighborhoods of San Francisco, he owned an entire apartment building there, the penthouse of which he and his human mate, Nina, called home. When Cain had once asked his fellow vampire why he’d bought the property, Amaury had said that nobody else had wanted it and it had come cheap.

Cain now looked up at the six-story apartment building and noticed the light coming from the top floor. A broad shadow moved in front of one of the large windows, then a smaller one joined and the two melted into one figure. A second later they retreated from the window.

Cain didn’t have to wait long. It appeared that Amaury was just as eager to get this over with as he was. The sound of an opening door drifted to his ears, and an instant later Amaury emerged.

The bodyguard with the shoulder-length dark hair was built like a tank. Technically Amaury wasn’t a bodyguard anymore; he was a director of Scanguards but, despite his rank in the company, Amaury loved getting his hands dirty.

With a motion of his head, Amaury walked into the alley next to the building. Cain followed without a word, then stopped a few feet from where Amaury stood in front of a dumpster.

“What the fuck’s wrong with you?” Amaury asked without a greeting.

Cain pulled his shoulders back and broadened his stance instinctively. He was ready for this fight. “I don’t like your tone.”

“Guess we’ve got that in common. ’Cause I don’t like yours, either.” Amaury glared at him. “What happened to you? When we took you on, I thought we’d struck gold! Of all the bodyguards I know, you’ve turned out to be the one with the best instincts. As if it had been bred into you! And look at you now!”

Cain took a step toward him, balling his hands into fists. “Nothing’s changed!”

“The fuck it hasn’t! Ever since Oliver’s wedding three months ago, you’ve been slacking off! You don’t show up for your shifts. And when you do, you’re in a stinking mood!”

“My mood’s my business, not yours!” Cain ground out between clenched teeth.

Amaury narrowed his eyes. “It is when you turn into an insubordinate prick!” He flashed his fangs. “There are rules if you want to continue working for Scanguards. And you’d better be following them, or—”

Cain’s hand shot out by itself and slammed Amaury against the dumpster, as if somebody else had taken control over his body. “You think you can order me around?” Instinct told him that he wasn’t used to following orders. He was meant to give them.

Amaury pushed back, using both hands to catapult Cain against the wall of the building. “You listen to me now, you little shit! Samson and I agree on this. Either you follow the fucking rules, or you’re out. You understand me?”

So they’d all conspired behind his back. That was just perfect! Fucking perfect! “Fuck you, Amaury! Fuck all of you!” But just cursing Amaury wasn’t enough. Hurling the words at him didn’t give Cain the satisfaction he needed. Only one thing could do that now.

Cain brought his fist up and delivered an uppercut to Amaury’s chin, making the hulky vampire tumble back. He caught himself just as quickly and lashed a furious glare at Cain.

“You wanna fight? Fine,” Amaury bit out. “Let’s fight.”

Before the last word was even out, a fist slammed into Cain’s face, whipping his head sideways. Pain radiated through his body and made him feel more alive than he’d felt for the entire last year. It was a thousand times better than the numbness and void he’d been feeling.

With a growl, Cain aimed his fists at Amaury and delivered blow after blow. But the huge vampire was no willing punching bag. He gave as good as he got, alternating between kicks and blows. Despite his size, his opponent was more agile on his feet than anybody would have guessed.

Cain let his instincts take over. He’d known himself to be a remarkable fighter, but in this fist fight with Amaury, Cain sensed that his skills were superior to those of his boss. One thing that Amaury had said rang true: fighting had been bred into him. He was no novice, and he was proving it now by pummeling Amaury with his fists, kicking him with skilled and lightning-fast moves, while Amaury was forced into defense.

Satisfaction surged inside Cain. This felt right. Making another vampire submit to him, beating him down and showing him who was stronger, triggered a spark in him. As if a tiny candle was illuminating something in his past. Something that lay just beyond his reach. So close, yet so far away.

Amaury’s next punch hit him in the stomach, making him fold over for an instant. Another blow followed the first, confirming that Cain’s moment of contemplation had cost him the upper hand.

“Fuck!” Cain growled and cleared his mind.

He avoided Amaury’s next punch by swiveling on his heel and jumping behind his opponent. Cain kicked his leg out and hit Amaury in the back of his knees. The linebacker-sized vampire lost his balance and fell backward, landing hard on the concrete ground.

A whoosh of air expelled from Amaury’s chest, but already he tried to jump up. Cain was faster. He landed on him, pinning him to the ground, when Amaury’s eyes suddenly stared at him in shock.

It took a second for Cain to realize what Amaury was looking at.

In horror, Cain recoiled, scrambling backward to release him, while he looked at his own hand in disbelief. He was holding a stake. A ragged breath tore from Cain’s chest. He hadn’t even noticed pulling his stake from his jacket pocket.

“Shit!” he cursed and dropped it to the ground.

Amaury sat up. “I’ve never seen anybody as fast as you.”

Cain rubbed a trembling hand over his face. “I didn’t mean to—”

The simultaneous pinging of two cell phones saved him from completing his sentence. Automatically Cain pulled his phone from his pocket to look at it.

Trouble at the End Up. Vampire involvement suspected, the text message read. Accept or reject, it flashed an instant later.

The End Up was a popular nightclub in the South of Market area. He knew from experience that it could be a hotspot for trouble. Heck, most nightclubs in the city were.

“Crap!” Amaury cursed, clearly having received the same message.

Their gazes met.

“Are you with me?” Amaury asked.

It wasn’t an order, but a request that he saw in his fellow vampire’s eyes. It made all the difference.

“Let’s go and kick some ass.” Cain jumped to his feet and reached his hand out to Amaury.

Amaury flashed a grin. “They’re not gonna know what hit them.”

From the door of the End Up, which was guarded by a bouncer with way too many tattoos on his face, neck and arms, loud techno music emanated. A crowd of youngsters stood in line, waiting to be let in.

Without hesitation, Cain followed Amaury as he walked to the head of the line and stopped in front of the bouncer, ignoring the verbal protests of the waiting clubbers.

“Hey, there’s a line!” one of them complained.

Cain turned, letting Amaury do his thing with the bouncer, while he glared at the kid who’d dared make a stink. “Official business. So butt out, little punk.” Without waiting for a reply, he turned back just as the bouncer made a motion for him and Amaury to enter.

The thing Amaury had done was a little trick known as mind control. Every vampire possessed the skill, which had always been thought to work only on humans. However, only recently they’d found out the hard way that there were vampires who were capable of exerting mind control on other vampires. To Cain’s knowledge, all vampires possessing that particular skill had been eradicated—all but one: Thomas, the chief of IT at Scanguards. And luckily Thomas was one of the gentlest creatures Cain had ever met and absolutely devoted to Scanguards. Almost as devoted as he was to his blood-bonded mate, Eddie.

Cain entered the club, his eyes instantly adjusting to the dim interior. A vampire’s vision was superior to that of a human, and he could see everything as clearly as if the place were lit up like a Christmas tree. The noise was deafening, and unfortunately not something Cain could easily drown out.

It wasn’t hard to see why Scanguards had gotten a call from one of their informants—trusted humans and civilian vampires who kept their ears to the ground to alert Scanguards to any problems that needed to be taken care of immediately.

While Scanguards was primarily a company supplying bodyguards and other security personnel to politicians, celebrities, foreign dignitaries, and other rich people, the mayor of San Francisco, a hybrid himself—half human, half vampire—had recently hired them as an underground security unit that not even his police force was aware of. As such, Scanguards was now in charge of rooting out problems that human police officers were ill equipped to deal with.

Amaury pointed to the far corner which lay in almost complete darkness.

“I see them,” Cain replied.

Paving the way through the throng of dancers on the dance floor that occupied the middle of the club, Amaury charged ahead, Cain on his heels. He ignored the come-hither looks he received from some of the women he passed.

The three punks looked high, but the moment he laid eyes on them Cain knew it wasn’t alcohol or drugs that had caused their inebriated state. After all, alcohol or drugs didn’t have any effect on a vampire. Only blood—massive amounts of it—could make a vampire high. That, or tainted blood. The kind of blood that ran through the veins of Ursula, his colleague Oliver’s mate. But to Cain’s knowledge, all women with the special blood that could drug a vampire had been removed from San Francisco and given new identities.

It appeared that the three juveniles had indulged in too much of a good thing.

Cain exchanged a quick look with his colleague. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Amaury grunted. “Why is it that I always get the babysitting jobs? Do I look like a fucking kindergarten teacher?”

“Well, let’s take ’em out back before they cause any more trouble.”

The three vampires still hadn’t spotted them, too busy with their prey: three scantily-clad women who couldn’t be older than eighteen or nineteen. And who clearly didn’t know what they were getting into. They had no business being in this club. How they’d gotten past the bouncer who was supposed to check ID was anybody’s guess.

Cain had to hand it to the three vampires. They were warning their potential victims. Their black T-shirts had it imprinted in bright red letters: I’m a vampire. Come closer and I’ll bite you.

Clearly the three females hadn’t heeded that warning.

“Sick fuckers,” Cain cursed and grabbed one of the bloodsuckers, pulling him up so he had to release the woman he was about to dig his fangs into.

A startled outcry from the vampire was the response, while the girl dropped back onto the sectional, her glazed-over eyes testament to the fact that the vampire had used mind control to make her unaware of what was happening to her.

From the corner of his eye, Cain noticed that Amaury snatched the other two in a similar fashion, barely exerting any strength as the two vampires in his grip struggled.

“What the fuck?” the one Cain was restraining cursed.

“Yeah, I could say the same!” Cain snarled. “Retract your fucking fangs, jerk!”

When the guy didn’t immediately comply, Cain kneed him in the back, forcing him toward the ground, while he bent his arms back so the idiot lost his balance and fell face forward onto the floor. Cain jammed his boot on his neck, pressing his cheek into the ground.

“Now let me translate that into a language you understand: retract your fucking fangs or I’ll rip them from your mouth!”

“You can’t do that,” his captive ground out.

“Watch me!”

“Lay a hand on me and the mayor will have your hide!” the idiot claimed, glaring at him with red eyes.

Cain glanced at Amaury. “You know this punk? He claims the mayor will protect him.”

Amaury shot him a quick look, while the two vampires in his grip still continued to struggle. “Will you fucking stop it?” he commanded them. “Ah, fuck it.”

With amusement, Cain watched as Amaury simply knocked the two vampires’ heads together, making their resistance crumble instantly.

“You should learn when to listen. Didn’t your mother teach you anything?” Amaury asked, before he turned his head back to Cain. “Now what were you saying?”

But before Cain could respond, the vampire on the floor piped up. “My uncle will kick your ass if you hurt me.”

Cain exchanged a look with Amaury. “Do you want to tell our out-of-town guest or shall I?”

Amaury feigned a bow. “Go ahead. I like watching.”

Cain crouched down to the juvenile vampire. “Here’s the deal, buddy. The mayor sent us to clean up, and guess what: you’re the trash.”

The vampire’s eyes widened.

“I’m not done, so don’t even think of interrupting me,” Cain warned, though his voice wasn’t as ice cold as it had been before. He had to admit he was having fun now. Working for Scanguards did have its perks, such as teaching some assholes a lesson. “You and your two useless friends here—” He jerked his head in the direction of the two vampires who now hung their heads like dogs with their tails between their legs. “—will be taken to a nice, cozy cell tonight, where you can sleep it off. And once you’re sober, the mayor will pay you a visit and decide on your punishment.” He pulled the jerk up by his shirt. “Because, believe it or not, wearing stupid T-shirts saying you’re a vampire, and biting people in public isn’t something we tolerate here in San Francisco. Maybe you can behave like that in the shithole you come from, but not on our turf.”

“He’ll never punish me!” the vampire said, full of defiance.

“Oh, I see, you’re a betting man.” Cain grinned at Amaury. “Wanna make an easy twenty bucks?”

Amaury chuckled. “It would be like taking milk from a baby. I have ethics.”

Cain winked at him. “I keep forgetting.” Then he wiped the smile off his face and glared at his captive. “Now move your fucking ass out of here before I get really pissed off.”

The other two vampires seemed to shiver at his commanding voice, but the mayor’s nephew clenched his jaw. His eyes darted past Cain, as if looking for an escape route.

“Don’t even think about it.”

When the idiot lunged for one of the girls, in a misguided attempt to use her as a shield or a hostage, Cain had had enough. He jumped and wrapped his arm around the kid’s neck, taking him down in a chokehold. For a few moments, the mayor’s nephew struggled, trying to use his hands to pry Cain’s arm off him, but not even the claws digging into his forearm stopped Cain from choking the air out of the defiant vampire.

Only when the kid went slack in his arms, did Cain ease off the pressure. While vampires could lose consciousness when out of oxygen, they couldn’t die from loss of air.

Amaury shrugged. “You put him out, you carry him.”

Cain shook his head. “I have a better idea.” He motioned to the two other vampires. “You two carry him.”

“You heard him,” Amaury concurred and pointed toward the back of the club. “Back exit. Now.”

Cain had never seen two juvenile vampires follow a command so swiftly and without complaining. It only took moments until they reached the door that led to the back exit. Cain opened it, peered outside, and surveyed the area.

“The coast is clear.”

As they reached the outside, Amaury pulled his cell from his pocket. “I’ll get us a van.”

Cain nodded and kept his eyes on the three delinquents. “You’re a disgrace to our race.”

“It was his idea,” the shorter one said, motioning to his unconscious friend. “I swear.”

Most likely it was true, giving that the one Cain had tackled was the one putting up most of the resistance. “That’s not an excuse for bad behavior!”

The vampire dropped his head. “No, sir.”

“Don’t call me sir!” Cain growled.

“No, don’t call him that. He deserves more than that,” a voice from the other end of the alley said calmly.

Cain’s head snapped in the direction of the newcomer. From his aura it was instantly evident that he was a vampire. And not just that. He looked like a warrior, one who’d seen countless battles and emerged as the victor. A force to be reckoned with.

“If you must address him, show him the respect he’s due. Call him Your Majesty.”

In shock, Cain stared at the stranger, not believing his own ears. In human years he looked to be no older than thirty-five, but there was no indication as to his true age. Although by the way he carried himself Cain suspected that he’d been a vampire for a long time. He wore loose-fitting cargo pants with plenty of pockets, which looked like they were filled with weapons. A black T-shirt stretching over his muscled torso and an open jacket made of the same material as his pants completed his outfit.

“Who are you?”

The vampire glanced at the two juveniles and the unconscious vampire they were still carrying. “If you remembered anything of your former life, you wouldn’t want me to disclose that information in front of outsiders.”

Next to Cain, Amaury grunted in displeasure. Cain put a hand on his forearm to stop him from whatever he was going to do. If this stranger had any knowledge about Cain’s past, he needed to find out what it was.

Cain turned to his colleague. “I need to deal with this.”

“Not alone, you won’t,” Amaury countered. “Scanguards looks out for their people.”

For a moment, he wanted to object, but he knew Amaury well enough to know that the linebacker-sized vampire wouldn’t take no for an answer. At the same time, Amaury’s acknowledgment that Cain still belonged to Scanguards gave him peace of mind. “Fine.” He motioned to the three juvenile vampires. “Let’s send them on their way.”

Amaury hesitated then grunted his approval a moment later.

Cain pointed to the three offenders. “Tonight’s your lucky night. We’re letting you go. But don’t think you’re off the hook. If we hear one word about you three behaving inappropriately again, we’re on your ass like a fly on shit. Is that clear?”

The two nodded, seeming shell-shocked.

“Tell your friend, and make him understand that, if he doesn’t comply, he’ll regret the day he was turned.”

The boys’ eyes widened, but they nodded quickly. “Yes. We promise.”

Amaury growled at them. “Now get the fuck out of here!”

The two rushed out of the alley, taking their unconscious friend with them. The moment they were out of earshot, Cain turned back to the mysterious vampire.

“Now talk!”

The stranger eyed Amaury. “What about him?”

“I have no secrets from Amaury.”

“Very well.” The man took a deep breath. “I’m John Grant, the leader of your personal guard.”

Cain raised an eyebrow. “Personal guard?”

John inclined his head slightly. “The personal guard of the king of the vampires of Louisiana. You. Cain Montague.”

Cain’s breath caught in his throat when the outrageous claim reached his brain. “Fucking lunatic!” Anger churned up from his gut. Somehow this vampire had found out about Cain’s amnesia and was now trying to make a fool of him. “I need nobody mocking me!”

“I would never dare mock you. You have my utmost respect,” John declared.

Cain scoffed. “Who are you? I want the truth!”

The stranger remained surprisingly calm despite the accusing words Cain lashed at him. “I expected your reaction. If I were in your shoes, I would react the same way. But that doesn’t change anything about the facts. You are the king.”

“I say we take this joker to HQ and find out what he really wants,” Amaury suggested, a sharp tone in his voice.

Not taking his eyes off John for even a second, Cain said, “I agree.”

“You’re making a mistake,” John said. His hand came up, as if he wanted to reach for a weapon in his jacket.

Cain and Amaury pounced simultaneously, slamming John against the wall of the building and pinning him there. Air rushed from the vampire’s lungs.

“I suggest you answer Cain’s questions,” Amaury said. “And make it quick, because my hand’s twitching.”

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