Why had she stayed in the darkness and saved him? "Maya." The whisper fell from his lips.
She frowned in her sleep but didn't awaken.
Adam realized his questions would have to wait.
But not for long.
She hated it when blood was on her hands. Of course, that was a situation that happened all too often for her.
Maya showered as fast as she could, trying to rinse the scent of blood and sex off her body. The water barely trickled out, thanks to Max and Adam, but there wasn't much of a choice for her.
When she left the bathroom, she found Adam sitting on the edge of the bed. His eyes narrowed when he caught sight of her body. For a moment, she was tempted to go to him, to climb on those strong thighs and straddle him.
Then it would be her turn to ride.
But the sun was setting. Power and energy hummed through her veins-and she knew they couldn't delay the hunt.
Cammie needed them.
And the vampires who'd taken the girl, well, they needed to die.
The sex would have to wait.
Maya stalked to her bag, began to dress.
A warm, strong hand settled on her lower back. Right over her black tattoo. "Why the dragon?"
Because after her change, she'd realized that she didn't need anyone to protect her anymore. She was the fierce creature that threatened others.
She forced a shrug. "Impulse." Maya stepped away from him. She liked his touch too much and didn't trust her own self-control.
"Huh." The guy didn't sound particularly convinced by her answer. "Skye-you said he was the one who gave it to you?"
Maya tucked her gun into the back of her jeans. Slid a knife into her boot. "Yeah."
"So this isn't your first trip to Vegas?"
She smiled at that. "No." Good thing, too, or they would've had one hell of a time finding the feeding room.
But she remembered the place. Had even gone there once, only to leave when the stench of death began to choke her.
Skye had told her that place wasn't for her. "For the others," he'd said. But not for her.
Should have listened to him.
Should have listened-the story of my life.
Too late to change things now. She dug a second gun out of her bag, and gave it, handle first, to Adam.
His brows lifted. "You know I don't really need that."
"Yeah, well, I'm sure you can probably huff and puff and blow the whole place down-"
A muscle ticced along his jaw.
"-but if you did that, well, that wouldn't exactly be keeping a low profile, now would it?"
"And a gunshot is quiet?"
"Nah. Just not as messy as a four-alarm fire." Her gaze scanned the room. The weapons were ready. The sun was barely flickering through the blinds.
It was time. "Come on, Slick. Let's go find us some vampires."
It was the blood that drew her. The heady scent that floated on the wind and teased her nostrils, sending her heart racing and making her palms sweat.
She drove past the glittering lights and flashing signs of the main Strip. Went past the casinos with their elaborate promises of wealth. Drove past the pawnshops that offered more money for the next hand of cards.
The crowds were just as thick off the Strip. The bright lights still flashed.
She kept driving.
And the scent of blood grew stronger.
There. Maya pulled the SUV to the curb. A good fifty feet away from the feeding room.
Temptation . That was the name of the bar. She could see the scantily clad blond women strolling on the sidewalk near the entrance. Lures.
Not that they had to work too hard to reel in the prey. It was barely nine o'clock, far too early for the normal clubbing scene, yet already there was a line snaking around the building.
Fools.
How many would live to see the dawn? Her gaze swept over them. Stopped on the two muscled guards near the entrance of Temptation.
They both wore headsets. Small microphones were attached near their lips.
Well, well. Looked like the Vegas vamps were smarter than those in L.A.
If Hugh had been equipped with a unit like that, he might have been able to call out for help before that damn level ten had killed him.
But the extra security did mean she'd have to alter her plans a bit.
She had a feeling Adam wasn't going to be too wild about the strategy shift. But, well, there wasn't much choice.
They climbed out of the SUV. The gun pressed into her back as she walked. Adam's attention was on the feeding room, a frown pulling down his brows. "Can't they smell it?"
The blood. The death that hung in the air like perfume. Maya shook her head. "They're here for the thrill. They don't care about anything else." Too bad for them. Some thrills weren't worth the price.
She studied the building for a moment. Granite. With tall white columns and a wide entranceway. Not much had changed since her last visit.
Damn, but she'd been thirsty then. Thirsty enough to walk into this hell.
At least she knew her way around inside. That knowledge would make searching for the girl much easier.
Adam took a step forward. Maya's arm flew out in front of him, shoving back against his muscled chest. "Sorry, Slick. There's been a change of plans."
He blinked. "What?"
"You can't go in. I'm going to have to do this alone."
"The hell you are." His heart drummed furiously beneath her hand. "This isn't a solo game, Maya. You're not leaving me."
She jerked her thumb toward the guards. "See them? If I walk by, show some fang, flash a little hunter's black eye, they'll let me in, no questions asked." Her lips tightened. "But you-no scent, rage pouring from you-they'll notify the vamps inside about you before you can even say 'Screwed.'" Which they most definitely would be if he didn't listen to her.
"You're not going in alone." The words were bitten off.
Yeah, she was. "If you want to find Cammie, well, then I sure as hell will be." They were wasting precious time. "Look, there's a back entrance," she told him, pointing to the alley on the left. "If you stay in the shadows, no one will see you. I'll search the place, get the girl, and slip out to meet you." And if luck was on her side-doubtful, but maybe-at least this once, "Then we'll get the hell out of there without any of the vamps knowing what's happened."
"I want Torrence." Flames burned in his eyes.
"I know you do." But they had to prioritize, dammit. The guy couldn't just go on a revenge spree. "But what do you want more, him or your niece?"
His hands fisted. "Cammie."
She exhaled. "Good answer, Slick." Payback would have to wait. "Now go, and I'll meet you as soon as I find her." If she was inside.