Macy could change her appearance at will, one moment a luscious blonde, the next an exact replica of even the golden giant beside her. A golden giant who had paled, as well.
Everyone inside this kitchen knew Macy was not really Macy. She was an otherworlder posing as the human model-slash-AIR-agent. But no one knew who she really was, who she'd been before taking over the dead Macy's life. Hadn't seemed important. Until now.
This can't be right. Pensive, Devyn stroked two fingers over his jaw. "Does the name Aleaha Love mean anything to anyone?" Though he asked the question of everyone, he kept his attention fixed on Macy. She'd been pale before, but now she became chalk white, the thin lines of her veins visible.
Everyone but Macy and Breean shook their head no. Those two shared a heavy look, Macy fingering the locket hanging around her neck. Interesting. If Macy wasn't Bride's friend—which, Devyn would now bet his most prized possession, aka his cock, that she was—the two were involved somehow. Was the locket something Bride had given her? Something that reminded her of Bride?
"Where'd you see this vampire?" Macy asked softly.
"A few blocks from Dallas's apartment.”
“Hey, you didn't tell me that," Dallas said.
"I didn't think it was significant." Until now. To test the foundation of his theory, he added, "She was just another woman in a long line of women. Unimportant and a bother. There was no reason to mention her at the time."
Macy tensed, as though offended.
But then, so did Mia. "Insulting ass! Better watch your mouth before you lose your tongue."
"Females the world over would hunt you down and destroy you for such a travesty." He traced his fingertip around the rim of his glass. "I say we find Bride and kill her."
Macy gasped and shook her head violently.
Mia nodded in agreement.
Devyn almost grinned. Oh, yes indeed. Macy was Bride's friend. No doubt about it now.
"We cannot kill her until we find out where she's hidden the Schön," Kyrin said.
"No one will be killing her." The words left Devyn with more force than he'd intended. "I was teasing, of course. I don't want her killed."
Dallas punched him in the shoulder. "You've got a great sense of humor. Anyone ever tell you that? No? Well, that's because I was lying, and your humor sucks ass. You don't tell a room full of killers to kill someone and expect the target to walk away unscathed. Moron." He drained his whisky sour and slammed his glass onto the tabletop.
"Respect the wood or die," Jaxon said. "Mishka will have my ass if anything happens to it."
Mishka was currently out on assignment. She was stronger, faster, deadlier, than anyone around her, and could crush a man with a single squeeze. He had to get his hands on a cyborg soon. A vampire cyborg would be even better. And as Bride was more than a vamp, it was entirely possible he'd get his wish.
"Sorry," Dallas muttered, properly shamed.
Devyn patted his friend's hand. "I love when our channels of communication are open like this." He was fighting a grin. "I really do. Makes me feel so close to you. It's heartwarming. I think there's even a tear in my eye. But back to the vampire. She's mine. I'll take care of her."
Kyrin arched a brow at him. "Another morsel for your collection?”
“Yes." Truth.
"Top brass won't like it," Dallas muttered, but there was laughter in his tone. "He's right," Mia said. "I don't."
Macy wouldn't like it either, judging by the fire now blooming in her blue eyes. "I'm sure I can convince you of the wisdom of my plan, Miss Snowball." Even if she didn't like it, she wouldn't be able to stop it from happening. "I'll give her to you when I'm done with her."
Like her man, she arched a brow. "Snowball?" Then she shook her head and waved her hand. "Give me Nolan, and then we can talk."
Done, he thought.
"H—how are we going to capture her?" Macy asked on a trembling breath. She was gripping the edge of the table, her knuckles tight.
Telling, how Breean reached over and squeezed her hand in comfort. The otherworlder knew, as Devyn had suspected. Most likely Macy planned to learn his intentions, find her friend first, warn her, and send her into hiding. Understandable. Devyn would do the same thing, were the situation reversed. That wouldn't stop him from tricking Macy now, though. Nothing interfered with his objective. Ever. That would make him regret.
"I have something she wants," Devyn said with relish, "and I plan to dangle it under her nose until she finds me."
CHAPTER 5
The pounding on the door woke her.
Slowly Bride blinked open her eyes. Her vision was cloudy at first, but gradually it focused, and her apartment came into view. A single lamp burned, its golden glow providing a small circle of light. The window was still open, drifting a warm morning breeze inside and lifting her curtains. Thankfully, she was far enough away that the sunlight didn't touch, and therefore burn, her sensitive skin.
The well-worn couch, basket of folded laundry, and so-small-you-had-to-strain-to-see-it TV were where they had always been, though she was not. She was on the floor, trembling from cold and bone-deep hunger. Naked.
What the—
Devyn. The name was like an electric current inside her, and memories flooded her mind, heating her up inside and out. She'd found him, had watched that beautiful body stalk the streets of New Chicago, constantly fighting the urge to reveal herself and drink from him, savoring every delicious drop of blood he possessed, and then she'd stolen his captive, beating him soundly.
Another pound of fists echoed at the entrance. "Amy. Amy, I know you're in there!"
Bride dragged herself to a sitting position. She swiped her tongue over her lips, her mouth as dry as dirt, her teeth aching. So hungry ...
"Finally," a relieved voice breathed behind her.
She whipped around, and had to massage her temples to assuage the sudden wave of dizziness. When the dizziness cleared, she studied her companion. He wore the same clothes she'd left him in: a button-down and slacks. They were wrinkled, stained with sweat. A plain copper necklace wrapped around his neck like a snake, tight, almost choking, causing his pulse to flutter wildly.
Mmm, a snack ...
No. No, no, no. "You're alive," she said foolishly. And damn, her throat hurt. It was swollen and raw from disuse. Or had she screamed in pleasure as dream Devyn licked his way up and down her body?
And just when the hell had she begun thinking of him as a sexual conquest? He was a means to an end. That was it.