Crimson Dichotomy (Dichotomy Saga) (24 page)

“No, thank you. It’s either here or it’s not. This shouldn’t take long.”

His underlying message was clear. His generosity was at an end. It was time for their temporary third to make a trail.

“Take care of her.”

“I intend to.”

Max waited until Teladorian left before he lifted Colette off his cock. “I guess you better get dressed, though I like this outfit much better.”

She laughed, in no hurry to leave his embrace. “This has been one hell of a first mission. Aren’t you glad I twisted your arm?”

He snatched her dress off the floor and shook it out for her, feeling deprived as she covered her beautiful body. “You were amazing. There’s no doubt about it.” He let his gaze soften, revealing the depths of his devotion. “Regrets?”

“Not even close.” Her gaze was equally tender.

“Good.” He shook away the poignant moment. They had the rest of their lives to explore these feelings. “Let’s find what we came for and get the hell out of here.” He refastened his pants and reached for her hand.

“I have a better idea.”

Max shoved Colette behind him as the vampire materialized a short distance away. That smell! He hadn’t imagined it. They had been following a vampire around all night. “Darius, I presume.” Even as garbled as Raze’s mind had been the likeness was unmistakable. “How did you get inside the shields?”

“How do you know my name?”

A good operative knows when a battle is better fought with diplomacy
.

Colette knew enough not to speak, but her thought was amazingly shrewd. This was an ancient vampire, the head of one of the twelve remaining bloodlines. Keeping his body between the vampire and Colette, Max inclined his head. “I can sense your power, sir. I have no quarrel with you.”

The vampire’s stance relaxed, though his gaze remained watchful. “You are responsible for killing an organic vampire, which should necessitate your death. Taerok was not my progeny, however, so I have no quarrel with you.”

It took Darius awhile to get there, but apparently he was willing to negotiate. “I’m glad to hear it.” Even fully prepared with a team of his best fighters, it would have been tough to take out an ancient. “What brings you to my half-brother’s lair?”

“I have a proposition for you, but I need you to answer one question before I explain.”

“I’m listening.”

“Did Raze help Taerok murder Ella?”

The puzzle pieces snapped into place. This had nothing to do with Taerok’s obsession. Darius was searching for Raze. “By his own admission, Raze drained her blood while Taerok took her life.”

“Do you understand our laws?”

“I do.” Raze was dead. He’d killed an organic female. Darius would not rest until Raze paid the price for his actions.

“Then I propose an even exchange,” Darius told Max. “You give me Raze and I’ll give you this.” A large leather case materialized in his hands. “It contains the remnants of Taerok’s research. This is the real reason you were searching for his lair. Is it not?”

Darius had been a step ahead of them all night. Max chose not to think too much about where the vampire had been while they paid their debt to Teladorian. “Is that everything? Where did you find it?”

“I’ll let you search below—or blow it all to hell—as soon as I’ve departed with Taerok’s toy.”

It was the easiest decision he’d made all night. “Give me a few minutes to make the arrangements.”

“Take your time.”

The vampire’s gaze settled on Colette and Max opted against discretion. He pulled out his cell phone and called Lukas Mandalay.

“What’s going on?” Lukas asked. “Any luck finding the lair?”

“We’re there now, but we’ve run into a snag. Sedate Raze, and bring him to this location ASAP.” He didn’t bother with elaboration. If Lukas couldn’t scan through the shields, he’d use the GPS chip in the phone to pinpoint their location.

“How long will it take them to reach us?” Darius asked as Max snapped the phone closed.

“Not long. Lukas can teleport.”

“Then I’ll show you around downstairs.”

The lair was much as Max had pictured it, a windowless cavern, forgotten by the modern world. Darius was civil and oddly inquisitive. Colette remained at his side, though she did nothing to draw the vampire’s attention.

Lukas arrived with Raze a few minutes later. Darius used his incantation, creating a small gap in the shields, and they made the exchange.

“Darius means to kill him. You realize that, don’t you?” Lukas asked after the vampire had departed.

“According to the Charter, Raze’s life was forfeit as soon as he took the life of an organic vampire,” Max paraphrased.

“Should Rebecca and Katsu be looking over their shoulders? Wasn’t Taerok considered organic too?”

“The leader of his bloodline banished Taerok years ago, so he no longer fell under the protection of the Charter.”

“Why was he banished?” Colette asked.

“They considered him unnatural. He despised what he was and tried to mutate his genetics. Samcillian found that intolerable. He actually sanctioned the hunt.”

“Vampires and their Charter.” Lukas shook his head. “I’ll never understand it all.”

“Darius would have found a way to get to Raze. That’s all that matters. I saw no reason to endanger anyone else.” He looked at Colette and Lukas shrugged.

“You’re the boss.”

“I think Darius had the right idea,” Colette said. “We should incinerate the lair.”

“I agree. I don’t even want his notes in the archive. The information is too dangerous.”

“I’ll assemble a demolition team,” Lukas offered and teleported out of sight.

“Damn,” Colette muttered, her gaze lingering on the spot where Lukas had just been. “And we still have to drive back.”

“I don’t mind the drive, but I’m going to hate returning the Ferrari.”

She stepped into his arms and smiled. “So, Commander Brigham, was my first mission acceptable?”

“Your first mission was an undeniable success.”

“Then do I get the job?”

“Sweetheart, you can have anything you want from me.” He brushed his lips over hers, savoring the softness and her scent. “I thought you’d figured that out already.”

Her brows raised in playful challenge. “I thought that was a one-time offer.”

“Playing with Teladorian is not going to happen again, but I’m willing to explore your other fantasies.”

“I have no desire to play with Teladorian again, but I am worried about him.”

“I’ll see what I can find out. See if there’s any way we can help him, other than feeding him that is.”

She laughed. “Relax. I’ve moved on to my next fantasy.”

“Which is?”

“I’ve always wanted to have sex in a Ferrari.”

He laughed, his hands sneaking under the hem of her dress to cup her ass. “I think we’ll have to fuck on the Ferrari, not in it, but we’ve probably got time before Lukas gets back.”

“And if we don’t—” she offered him a saucy wink, “—I guess they’ll just have to watch.”

If you’d like to learn more about Teladorian and his vampire friends, check out
Station X
, a 3-in-1 collection of erotic adventures:

Ravenous:
One impulsive kindness lands Teladorian and Azariel in the middle of a vampire clan war. Sophie is unsure who she can trust, yet she’s fascinated by her enigmatic rescuers. Unable to ignore the volatile attraction growing between them, she allows them to hide her while they figure out who is trying to kill her.

Dangerous:
Without warning, Monique finds herself trapped in a secluded castle, prisoner to the most dangerously appealing man she’s ever met. Instead of teaching Anthony how to adjust to modern society, Anthony—with the help of his personal guard—show her the unbelievable pleasures only attainable in a bygone world.

Sensuous:
Captivated, yet challenged by Tess’ resistance, Victor enlists the help of Seth, an arrogant Elfin prince. Victor knows they can unleash her sensuality if they find a way beyond her emotional reserve. Seth woos her by day. Victor seduces her by night. And when her barriers begin to crumble, they combine their efforts, shattering her preconceived ideas of what love is all about.

East Coast Dichotomy

(4-in-1 Collection)

Aubrey Ross

From Aubrey:
Dichotomy
was originally published as part of a multi-author series. I immediately fell in love with the concept and explored it more completely on my own. These stories are part
Jekyll and Hyde
, part
Lady Hawke
, and entirely Aubrey Ross naughtiness. They have contemporary settings, but also feature strong paranormal elements. These are definitely erotic romances. Whether or not you consider them ménage
à trois
, I’ll leave up to you. Enjoy!

Dichotomy:
(Available as a FREE preview) Within hours of arriving on mysterious Epiphany Island, Chelsea, a history professor, encounters Ray, a gorgeous, fun-loving blond. She’s ready to abandon her inhibitions and spend the week in Ray’s arms—until she meets Delano.

Matchmaker:
After a ruthless rejection, Thane is convinced he will never find a woman who can accept his dark nature and demanding desire. Sam, Thane’s Dichotomy, is infuriated by Thane’s attitude. Determined to find their true mate and prove to Thane that a soul bonding is not hopeless, Sam hires a Faerie matchmaker.

Carousel:
Someone is killing members of the
Dark Elf
Court. Lyell, a ruthless warrior, is sent to track down the murderer. His investigation leads him to The Carousel, an exclusive nightclub that caters to otherworldly beings. The club’s owner, sultry Evette, immediately catches his eye.

Snow Blind:
Sekarrah is the first female Dark Elf to command a royal security team. She is both intrigued and infuriated when her mentor, Dezmon, arrives from the Dark Elf Realm. She can’t deny the attraction she feels for Dezmon, but her first priority must be to Prince Lyell.

Dark Dichotomy

(3-in-1 Collection)

Aubrey Ross

Misbehaving:
The Burton brothers’ secrecy has kept Napa Valley gossiping for generations. Now a vision reveals an enemy lurking in the shadows, waiting to destroy them all. A soul bonding is the only way to ensure Kendra’s safety. But first she must accept the complexity of their nature and learn to revel in the pleasures awaiting her as the mate of a Dichotomy.

Mistress:
Determined to find her missing niece, Lark Emery follows the clues to Napa Valley. Aidan finds the stunning blonde poking her nose into matters that don’t concern her and decides to use her in his revenge plot against the Burton brothers. He manipulates her perception with erotic dreams and false memories then sets her in the path of Evan Burton.

Mischief:
One of the few humans trusted with the secrets of the Dichotomy, Nicole has always been fascinated with brooding Leos and his handsome day-dwelling twin, Daniel. Her newest artistic creation is a multi-media display called “Mischief”. Claiming she needs a male perspective on the project, Nicole uses the erotic images to arouse and entice the widowers. Leos and Daniel are far from immune to Nicole’s obvious charms, but can they trust her with their wounded hearts, or is she merely a pawn in their enemy’s dangerous game of revenge?