Nevermore (Crossbreed Series Book 6)

Christian bristled as he hurried out of the auction room. He wasn’t about to let Houdini vacate the premises without confronting the bastard. This wasn’t the first time Christian had visited this country club, so he knew about the soundproof rooms in the back. It was where they finalized paperwork with the buyers and settled payment. Some buyers remained anonymous and sent people in their stead to bid, so discretion was always a factor at these events.

He glanced over his shoulder and noticed Houdini following him. As soon as they entered one of the private rooms, Christian shut the door and seethed.

“That was considerably more than what you paid for it at the last auction.”

Christian blinked. “How the feck would you know that?”

Houdini put his hands in his pockets, that ridiculous hat still on his head. “I was there. I remember what a ruckus your companion made. Funny how life brings us full circle.”

“You didn’t really want the necklace, did you?”

Houdini shrugged. “When I saw you bid, I was curious how high you were willing to go.”

While that might have been true, Christian was certain Houdini had used it as an opportunity to drain his account.

“Had I won the bid, I would have been doing you a favor,” Houdini said convincingly. “Raven would’ve walked away with my money, and you would’ve walked away with yours. But you couldn’t let it go, could you? Now you’ll find out if she wants to be with a poor man. Women are fickle creatures. They say money isn’t important, but the only way to know the truth is to test them. I don’t think she’s your type anyhow. The blonde with the nice tits in the front row seems more your speed. But I guess you already know that.”

Christian held his tongue when it suddenly dawned on him what this was about.

Houdini turned away and fumbled with a stack of papers on the desk. “It would have been remiss of me not to inform Miss Parrish about the job opening with the higher authority. And she seemed especially surprised to hear that you were alive. Shocked is probably a better word.”

When Christian bargained for Raven’s memory on Arrowhead Bridge, Houdini had promised it would come at a price and Christian would know when that time came. Now everything was crystal clear. Houdini had intentionally brought Lenore back into Christian’s life in hopes that it would split him and Raven apart.

“I don’t know what happened between you two,” Houdini continued. “But I seem to recall your being a permanent fixture at her side. Until you weren’t.” He sat on the edge of the desk and folded his arms.

“Well, aren’t you the saint? Reuniting two old friends out of the goodness of your heart.”

Houdini tilted his head to the side, the brim of his fedora concealing one eye. “You claim to love Raven, and yet she knows nothing about the man you really are. I do love a good plot twist.”

“Here’s one for ya: Raven and I are together.” Christian took a step. “So if you have any notions of splitting us apart, you can save yourself the trouble.”

Houdini smirked. “Together or not, she now has irrefutable evidence that you’re willing to harbor secrets from her. Nothing is set in stone except the name on a grave.”

“And that name will be yours if you don’t keep away from her. You had your chance to raise her as your youngling, but you threw it away. She’s not yours anymore.”

“On the contrary, Poe. She’ll always be mine. Just as you’ll always belong to your maker. Perhaps yours has given up on you, but Raven fascinates me in a way that no one else does. She has an innate loyalty that never falters, and that’s why she’ll always feel connected to me. She’s not wired like everyone else. How many new immortals do you see thinking at her level? She’s also merciless. One day neither Keystone nor you will be able to satisfy her insatiable thirst for transformation, and only then will the metamorphosis begin.”

Christian was no fool. He recognized that Houdini wasn’t an amateur. He was calculating and unpredictable. His fixation on Raven was disturbing, and even more worrisome was that he knew Lenore. Did he also know about Christian’s past deeds? How much? Who was this man, and where had he come from? Christian couldn’t guess what Houdini’s gifts were or how powerful, and it was apparent that he wasn’t an ordinary Vampire. Christian had to tread carefully with this man, or Houdini might bring them all to ruination.

“Raven doesn’t want you,” Christian informed him. “She never will.”

Houdini tipped the brim of his hat. Instead of more verbal sparring, he simply walked out, singing that old Rolling Stones song “Time Is on My Side.”

While auction winners were escorted to private rooms, I lingered in the lobby just outside the doors in search of Christian or Houdini. Both men showing up had blindsided me, and I was still shell-shocked after watching Christian spend $10 million on me. I couldn’t help but admire his chivalrous act for stepping in at the last minute when all hope was lost, but Christian couldn’t have come prepared to pay that much.

And yet he had.

For me.

“Another impressive display of stupidity,” Lenore remarked, sidling up next to me.

I flipped my hair back to cool my neck. “And why’s that? Because he spent all that money just for me?”

She peeled off her white gloves. “Foolish girl. A man can’t win your heart with baubles. Besides, we both know whom he originally bought it for.”

I looked around, cool as a cucumber. “I don’t give a damn who he originally bought the necklace for. It’s mine now.”

“And sixty percent of his money is mine. I’m sure he’ll be over the moon when he finds out.” She waved her hand. “Oh, Chrissy! Over here.”

I jerked my head back. Chrissy?

Christian swaggered over, looking sexier than ever. He stood next to me and put his hand across my back as he kissed my neck.

Lenore beamed. “Raven and I were just discussing our good fortune.”

He looked down at me. “You mean my good fortune.”

“I have a cut of your sale,” she boasted. “Only sixty percent. I can’t help but find this whole situation amusing. Imagine! You’re paying me for my necklace.”

“Give it a rest, Lenore. Unless it’s the dust bunny falling from your fanny, you’re not dropping a bomb. Raven informed me about your deal.”

She lifted her chin and gave him a haughty stare. “Six million should suffice for the embarrassment you caused me all those years ago.”

I lunged, but Christian held me back.

An older man interrupted. “Sir, I have a few papers for you to sign before you’re on your way. Come with me.”

Christian followed him to the room on my left, and the door closed.

“Stay away from him,” I warned her. “You had your chance, and you blew it. I don’t know what you’re scheming, but haven’t you destroyed his life enough?”

She looked at me with derision. “Why would Christian waste his time on a Mage?”

“I give good light.”

“You’re weak, that’s why he’s with you. Christian’s an addict, and he’s done a phenomenal job of selecting a companion with weak blood. Careful not to let him get too addicted or he’ll drain you dry. He’s better off with his own kind.”

I leveled her with my eyes. “He gave me his heart, and you’ll never have it.”

“If I wanted the necklace, I would have kept it.”

“I wasn’t talking about the necklace.”

She stepped closer, her black eyes swallowing me up. “What you have will never erase the bond we share. Part of me still flows in his veins. Revel in your newfound love, but love withers. Someday he’ll betray you or you’ll betray him, and he’ll want something more. Christian is loyal to a fault, and I was his first companion.”

I showed her my back while waiting for Christian to finish the paperwork. Lenore wasn’t worth the argument, and I couldn’t fight over an unforeseeable future. Her opinion didn’t matter.

When I glanced over my shoulder, Lenore had left the room. People were milling around, still high from the events of the evening as they indulged in white wine. Spending money was like a drug to these aristocrats.

The door finally opened, and the well-dressed man smiled at me before he sauntered away. Christian held a narrow black box in his hand that must have contained the necklace.

I entered the room and clutched his arm. “Are you okay?”

“I just spent ten million on a rock. I’m dandy.”

I sighed. “I’m so sorry about that. Most of all, I’m sorry that Lenore is pocketing a good chunk of your money.”

Christian discarded the box and lifted the necklace in his hand. “I’m not.” He fastened the chain around my neck. “That money will always remind her that you’re worth more.”

“You didn’t have to do this. Why didn’t you just let Houdini win? I would have gotten the money, and—”

“He would have gotten the necklace. This is mine to give, and it’s yours to keep. I’ll not have another man steal your heart.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Stop saying all those swoony lines, Mr. Poe. I didn’t need a necklace.”

“Aye, you did. I bought it the first time for the wrong reason. This time I bought it for the right one. So take my heart, Precious. It’s yours. Always has been. This is as romantic as I’ll ever get.”

I kissed his soft lips. “How did you get in the building?”

“Once you drop over a million at an auction, your name is added to their list for life.”

I felt that warm tingly feeling between my legs as I kissed him on the mouth again. Christian wrapped his arms around my waist and fervently kissed me back.

He suddenly broke the kiss and strode over to the door before flipping off the light switch.

“You’re a bad boy.”

Christian swaggered back to me and swiped his arm across the desk, sending papers to the floor. Then he lifted me onto it and hitched up my skirt. “I told you the next time you wore this dress at a party, I was going to lift it up and take you hard.” He nibbled on my ear. “Are you ready?”

With a shaky breath, I reclined my head as he kissed my neck and tore off my panties. “The door’s still open. Someone will see.”

He buried his shaft inside me, and the desk rocked in rhythm with his hips. Drawers opened on the other side, a pen fell to the floor, and jelly beans scattered across the desk when a candy dish tipped over.

I held on to Christian as if he were a tornado and I were a butterfly caught in the storm.