The Mark of the Vampire Queen (11 page)

“With respect, you said you would. That it was optimal to have the help of both a driver and a servant. You don't have a driver for this, so I'll be both.” He brushed his knuckles against her cheek, gave a half smile that didn't reach his eyes.

I'm your human servant.

“D
AMN
adjustment,” Jacob grumbled as his third arrow went off the mark, missing the twenty-foot-distant target. He glanced down at Bran. “You know, she could use a couple of Labrador retrievers. Unless I need a moose pulled down, you're pretty useless.”

Bran gave him an unreadable expression. Jacob wondered if he'd learned his inscrutability from his Mistress.

He retrieved the arrow himself, checked the sheath again, rechecked the arrow to ensure the closely trimmed feathering was unmarred. As he suspected, it was the launch mechanism.

As he made another adjustment to it, Bran raised his head, gave a menacing growl. Before Jacob could turn and seek what was raising the dog's hackles, the radio on his belt beeped, telling him there was someone at the gate. The roof contractor wasn't expected today, but he supposed a miracle could have occurred and they'd arrived a day early. Of course, Bran typically didn't react in a hostile manner to service people. He acted intimidating while they were here, but Jacob harbored the suspicion that was purely an act for the dog's personal amusement. The wolfhound knew the difference between a threat to his Mistress and a visitor the way Jacob knew the difference between black and white. Which was why his brow creased now, noting the dog's rigid stance.

“

He pulled on his sweatshirt and unclipped the radio. “May I help you?”

A pause, long enough that he almost repeated the question. Before he could press the button, he heard a female voice speak hesitantly. “My lord Carnal wishes to pay his respects to Lady Lyssa.”

Oh, bloody fucking hell. He'd forgotten entirely. Gideon's visit had disrupted the week's schedule. While there was nothing to be concerned about, for the house was well prepared for guests, he would have preferred some mental preparation to deal with Carnal.

The first night he'd met Carnal had been outside of the area mall. The man had been the sick playmate of Lyssa's late husband, Rex. Carnal had cleverly played on Rex's dementia until it culminated in a horrifying night where Rex had tortured Lyssa and allowed Carnal to sodomize her. According to Lyssa, it was all part of the political games vampires played, but her reaction to Carnal's appearance that night said her feelings about the situation ran much deeper. As extraordinary as his Mistress was, she had difficulty accepting she could feel violated and revolted as much as any rape victim. But then,
victim
would never be a label Lady Lyssa Wentworth would tolerate for herself.

Jacob now understood the reason for the pause on the radio. Carnal had expected Lyssa to answer and intended to speak to her directly. At the sound of Jacob's voice, the vampire had quickly changed tactics and made his servant respond, not deigning of course to speak to the hired help. Which meant Carnal had not been certain Jacob would make it as her servant. Well, he knew now.

“Hold on one moment and I'll see if my lady is taking visitors.”

It was just before sunset. In another half hour it would be twilight. She might or might not be up. His lady was not necessarily a…
Morning person
was not the right term, but
early evening
just didn't have the same ring.

My lady?
It was as easy as picturing her in his mind and thinking the words, but it still amazed him how clearly she came through, as if standing right beside him. The second mark had given him a hint of that clarity, but it was nothing in comparison to the third.

Yes.

He waited, knowing she would simply look into his mind and pick up the situation like a snapshot. The pause drew out. He wondered if she'd forgotten as well. Of course, sometimes she relied on Jacob to remind her of her schedule, and he'd been woefully off his game since Gideon's visit.

I'll look forward to punishing you for that.

He rolled his eyes, even as he felt his groin tighten at the sultry implication of her words. At this rate, that particular appendage of his was going to fall off.

His sense of humor didn't last long, however. Despite the teasing comment, she still hadn't given him an answer.

“Shall I send him away, my lady?” he ventured at last, though he knew he might get snapped at for interrupting her thoughts. Knowing how long a vampire could deliberate without it being considered rudeness, Carnal might even now be enjoying a sip from his servant, or mixing her blood with a cup of wine in his vehicle, anticipating at least a fifteen-minute wait. With someone of Lyssa's standing, it could be longer, though nothing about Carnal suggested he was the patient sort. In fact, Jacob had sensed from him that resentful undercurrent often emanating from the type of person who thought they were entitled to a corner office, even though they'd quit high school and barely put the time of day into their current low-end employment, thinking it beneath them. Power. Carnal wanted more power. He thought he could handle it better than anyone else, which made him a danger to those who actually did have more power, like his Mistress. Who might underestimate him, assuming if he didn't have the energy to prove and earn his worth, he would lack the energy or cleverness to steal the title from someone else.

Do not fret, Jacob. I never underestimate Carnal. Or anyone, for that matter. Show him to the main hallway.

There are no chairs there.

He will not be staying long. But we must observe the ritual courtesy and share a drink. He prefers brandy. I wish my current wine.

Yes, my lady.
When he waited long enough to be satisfied no further communication was forthcoming, he clicked the radio again. “Please proceed to the main door.”

Before he disengaged the driveway gate, he sprang onto one of the retaining walls, gaining a view through the screening of the crepe myrtle branches. The car was a Jaguar sedan with darkened windows of course, probably specially treated to filter out the UV rays. When the gate closed and the security field reengaged, Jacob dropped off the wall and headed for the front drive. He wasn't exactly a credit to his lady in his current dark jeans and Harvard sweatshirt, but it would have to do. He wasn't going to let this one out of his sight to primp.

Oh, Jacob?

Yes, my lady?

You'll need to lock Bran and his siblings in the garden shed. Bran is not fond of Carnal.

As he reached the curve of the driveway, his step quickened, as much from his lady's words as from the sound of Bran's thunderous, furious barking. Lyssa's mild comment was an understatement. As the rest of the pack milled restlessly, the dog was circling the car. No, not just circling it. Lunging up to slam his paws on the passenger window like human fists and snarling, saliva flecking the glass as he attempted to scrabble in and get at the occupant behind it. It at least told Jacob where Carnal was in the car. The girl was apparently driving.

“Bran. Bran!” When Jacob caught the dog's collar and hauled him off, he had to do a quick circle to keep the dog from turning on him. He snapped at him in Gaelic and Bran went to a sullen growl, showing his teeth, his eyes fierce, his concentration on the car unbroken. Jacob managed to lead him off, but the dog resisted every step, trying to get loose. The farther they got from the car, the more fiercely Bran struggled, until Jacob was strangling him. He paused, contemplating the dog's desperate need to protect.
My lady…

Bran. Obey.

Her voice was sharp enough that it reverberated in Jacob's eardrum with a painful vibration. Bran subsided to a lower growl and allowed himself to be led off, even though his posture made it clear he was unhappy about the situation. Jacob wasn't too happy about it, either. The other dogs followed them to the garden shed. When he got them locked in, Bran stood at the dusty window staring at him, panting in distress. Jacob found it hard to turn his back on the animal.

When he returned to the car, he nodded, made the all-clear gesture. The door opened and Carnal stepped out, his expression irritated. “A servant who cannot control a simple mongrel doesn't seem much of a boon to my lady Lyssa.”

Bran's bloodline was far purer than anything Carnal could ever hope to have, but Jacob curbed the barb. Not so much for diplomacy, but because he'd also known a lot of mixed-breed dogs with far more integrity and value than the piece of garbage fouling Lyssa's driveway with his presence.

“I didn't see you jumping out of the car to take him on, and last time I checked, you're an all-powerful vampire.” Jacob locked gazes with the vamp, just as he'd done the night they'd first met, even when his Mistress had ordered him to lower his eyes. He'd earned her wrath for the defiance, but he hadn't regretted it, particularly later when he'd found out what Carnal had done to Lyssa.

Carnal's lips drew back. “You haven't learned manners yet. I shall speak to your Mistress about that.”

Jacob ignored him, circled to the other side of the car and opened the driver's side door, finding he had to do so gently, for Carnal's servant had a death grip on the handle.

“It's okay; I put them up,” he said reassuringly. When the girl looked up into his face, he bit back an oath, suddenly remembering Gideon's warning. She wasn't even eighteen years old. Perhaps barely past fifteen. Nevertheless, he offered her a hand out of the car, making it clear he had manners aplenty for those deserving of it.

“Melinda, stop being a sniveling coward and come here.”

She withdrew her hand from Jacob's and went around the back of the car to walk obediently behind Carnal as Jacob led them to the door.

Seven girls…young women he seduces, then traps…sixteen-year-old runaway…

She was a beautiful creature with pale white-gold hair, green eyes and a body far too lush and tempting for a minor, all full breasts and curvy hips. Long legs. Wearing a pair of tight hip-hugger leatherlike pants and a snug silken shirt under which she wore no bra, she exuded sexual provocation, a heady mixture with her obvious innocence. A temptation to a man with a conscience, an open invitation to one without one.

That night at the mall, Carnal had referred to his “new” servant, which told Jacob she was just as young as she appeared. He was agreeing with Bran's assessment more and more, and feeling uncomfortable to boot with the inability to do anything for the girl.

If it wasn't her, it would be another. The Council set an age minimum of twelve on human servants, and even that was a struggle.
There was a curious deadness to his lady's comment, injected into the boiling cauldron of his thoughts.
Bring them to the hallway, Jacob. I will deal with this and then we can be rid of them.

He could think of more effective methods to be rid of at least one of them. However, keeping what he hoped was an impassive expression, he opened the door, gestured. Carnal strode past him with barely a glance. Melinda followed, her throat working nervously, lips pursed together as she attempted to saunter in a way Jacob was sure Carnal had taught her, trying to emulate the sexual confidence of a much older woman.

“My lady will meet with you in her main hall.” He indicated the direction.

Carnal flicked a look at him. “Fine. I know the way. You can go back to your duties.”

You wish, you prick.
“My lady has requested my attendance.” Not exactly true, but she'd indicated he should make sure brandy and wine were there, after all.

Carnal's eyes glittered, his lip curling. With a jerk he turned on his heel, headed for the hall. Apparently he wanted to make it clear he didn't care for being shepherded in like a supplicant, instead of being met by Lyssa herself as an honored guest would have been.

Lyssa's visitor had an inflated sense of his own importance. Lyssa had never encouraged it, Jacob was sure, so he knew it must have come from Rex. It was possible Thomas hadn't known all that had transpired to make Carnal so much more significant after Thomas's exile. During Jacob's training, Thomas had only mentioned in passing the tall, dark-haired vampire who strode ahead with such hostility emanating from him.

No. Not hostility. Meanness. Violence. Everything that compelled his brother to hunt vampires practically vibrated off Carnal. A barely restrained bloodlust, a low trigger point. Jacob knew the only thing that stopped Carnal from attacking him was the fact he was here for other reasons, and Jacob was under Lady Lyssa's protection. Vampires like Carnal were usually the easiest to kill, relatively speaking, because of their absolute conviction of their own superiority. It made them careless, easy to set up.
Get him, Gideon.

Almost as soon as he had the thought, he withdrew it. He didn't want his brother near Carnal without him to watch his back.
Never underestimate Carnal…
His lady's advice echoed in his mind.

Melinda moved quietly behind him, but she glanced at Jacob several times. Giving him a shy smile, she pushed her hair over her shoulder, the move of a high school girl attracting a boy's attention. Her smile faltered as he drew closer, keeping pace with her, his size and obvious maturity apparently a little intimidating to her. Even so, she surprised him when she slid her hand into the crook of his elbow, her fingers tracing a light pattern on his biceps. He had to suppress the urge to remove her touch. Perhaps the kindness he'd shown her at the car was the first she'd experienced at someone's hands for a while. He didn't want to imagine the type of groups Carnal ran with. He certainly didn't want his head assaulted with such images that included Melinda. The fingers that held on to his arm had nails embellished with tiny flower stickers. He felt sick.

“You'll come to no harm in my lady's house.” They'd reached the main hall, so he gave her hand a light pat before he extricated himself, not unkindly, to go to the wine rack and uncork Lyssa's favorite to breathe. He lifted the brandy snifter from the side bar. “My lord? A drink for you and your servant?”