Crimson Dichotomy (Dichotomy Saga) (9 page)

PSN Headquarters

Sacramento, California

“Has Olin learned anything useful?”

Lukas glanced over his shoulder as Max Brigham walked into the observation booth. Tall and imposing, Max was the driving force behind the Preternatural Sentinel Network. He’d taken a group of embittered social misfits and molded them into an elite paramilitary team. Each Sentinel was unique and most had nowhere else to turn when the society that created them turned hostile.

With a frustrated sigh, Lukas motioned toward the monitor. Olin had just left the holding cell after questioning their detainee for the third time. “We can’t get Valerie to transition and Emily is more confused than we are.”

“Dichotomies are tricky, to say the least.” Max crossed his arms over his chest and studied the slender young woman. She sat on a padded cot with her knees drawn up to her chest, staring off into the distance. Long blonde hair framed her pale face and purple shadows circled her eyes. “It was my understanding that a nocturnal Dichotomy isn’t able to conceal anything from their day-dwelling twin. Memories are transferred from one consciousness to the other during their physical transformation. Is Olin sure Emily knows nothing?”

“Valerie isn’t your ordinary Dichotomy. Taerok’s blood empowered her with a level of control few have ever achieved. Emily was trapped in energy form for months at a time. It was only Valerie’s desire to escape us that freed Emily now. Despite the attitude and her new fangs, Valerie is a coward.”

“Does Emily show any signs of vampirism?”

Lukas shook his head. “We’ve had four different people scan her and everyone senses only Dichotomy. Olin is beginning to think Taerok didn’t actually convert Valerie. He might have fed her only enough of his blood to make her appear transformed.”

“I scanned Valerie at the gala. She’s a vampire. It’s more likely Emily just hasn’t been affected yet.”

“Is it possible she never will become a vampire?”

“I don’t know. To my knowledge this is the first time either half of a Dichotomy has survived a vampiric transformation.” With a shrug of his beefy shoulders, Max dismissed the speculation. “In any event, Valerie can’t hide inside Emily forever. We’ll just wait her out.”

“That was Olin’s conclusion too.” Lukas turned from the monitor and faced Max directly. “Even if we succeed in bringing Valerie out of sleep state, it’s doubtful she’ll talk. She has nothing to gain by betraying Taerok.”

“And Taerok is too smart to entrust his plans to a blood slave,” Max agreed.

“So what’s our next move?”

“Taerok is determined to free himself from his solar trance, which means he needs a Dichotomy halfling who can transform at will. Luckily for us there are only three.”

“Which of the three do I get to babysit?”

“Rebecca McNeil.” Max handed him the slim folder he had tucked under his arm. “She’s the only halfling on the elder council and the fact that she can transform is a carefully guarded secret.”

“An elder?” Lukas grumbled. If he had to shadow a halfling, why did it have to be some crotchety old… His mental objections came grinding to a halt as he opened the dossier. A color photograph was attached to the inside of the front cover. From her strawberry-blonde curls to her vibrant blue eyes, there was nothing unappealing about Councilwoman McNeil.

“Taerok feeds off fear and hatred. He humiliates and infuriates his victims before he feeds from them. Negative emotions are as important to him as blood. Do your best to keep her happy.”

Lukas looked at Max and groaned. The commander was serious! “I’m a soldier, not a therapist.”

“I’m well aware of your skills, but you need to understand his MO. Negative emotions attract and sustain him, while positive emotions repel and weaken him.”

“Many emotions aren’t clearly positive or negative. What about lust and fear? Wouldn’t it be wisest just to keep her calm?”

“Good luck with that. This situation isn’t conducive to serenity.” Max’s lips curved in a knowing smile. “I saw your reaction to her picture. Lust was the first emotion that popped into your mind.”

Lukas didn’t bother arguing the point. Rebecca McNeil was extremely attractive. “What does she know about Taerok?”

“She knows he’s a vampire and she knows why he’s hunting Dichotomy halflings. Beyond that, everything is classified.” After a tense pause Max added, “We’re doing everything possible to find Taerok’s lair. Until we do, we’re stuck babysitting his potential victims. Rebecca returns from Washington tomorrow and she’s expecting you.”

“I’ll swing by her place tonight and check out the logistics.”

“She’s agreed to twenty-four-hour surveillance, as long as she knows where you are at all times. None of that shadow shit Steffen pulled on Mara.”

Lukas chuckled. “My brother’s voyeuristic tendencies have never appealed to me.”

“Good. Mara’s father was on our side. There’s no one to run interference if you piss off Ms. McNeil.”

“Should I be concerned?” He motioned to the photo. “She looks pretty harmless to me.”

“She negotiates deals with global corporations and international government agencies. The elder council banks on people underestimating her. Don’t be fooled by her appearance. Ms. McNeil is shrewdly intelligent and fearlessly independent. She has never felt the need for personal security, and the director was surprised when she agreed to allow us to interfere in her busy schedule.”

“I’ll do my best to stay out of her way.” Lukas opened the folder across the desk and flipped through the detailed background information.

Max hesitated at the door. “I didn’t mean to make her sound like a shrew. She seemed reasonable enough when I spoke with her earlier. She’s just all business.”

“Well, this is business. So I don’t see a problem.” He waved the commander away. “Go find Taerok’s lair.”

* * *

Rebecca lowered her carryon bag to the foot of her bed and kicked off her low-heeled pumps. Traveling was tedious at best and today hadn’t even qualified as good. She rubbed the back of her neck and rolled her shoulders.

“Welcome back.”

A smile automatically curved her lips as she turned toward Katsu. His calm, unassuming presence never failed to soothe her. “It’s good to be home.” He stepped into the room as she unzipped the bag.

“Would you like something to eat? Unless you’ve changed significantly in the past two weeks, you grabbed a bagel and a massive cup of coffee on the way to the airport and haven’t eaten since.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “Guilty as charged.” With an audible sigh, she looked at the contents of her carryon. All the clothing would have to be laundered, which left the toiletries for her to unpack. “I’m too tired to be hungry.”

Cooking was outside the responsibilities of a personal trainer, in her estimation, but Katsu often disregarded the norm. He was part executive assistant, part
sensei
, and part confidant. He’d been sleeping with Bianca, Rebecca’s nocturnal half, for the past three months and Rebecca suspected he’d like to sleep with her as well.

“Would you like me to run a bath for you?” The caressing quality in Katsu’s tone drew her gaze back to his handsome face. With a long, rolling stride, he crossed the bedroom and stood beside her. Jet-black hair swept back from his face, a stubborn tendril escaping to angle across his brow. The exotic tilt of his dark eyes and prominent cheekbones reflected his Japanese heritage, while his height and the breadth of his shoulders revealed an Italian grandfather.

“As delightful as a bath sounds, I have too much to do before my guard dog arrives tomorrow.” She reached for her cosmetic case and his long fingers curved around her wrist.

“I can protect you, Rebecca.” He spoke her name in a whisper-soft tone that sent tingles down her spine. “There’s no need to let this…Sentinel invade your privacy.”

The subtle sneer in his voice left no doubt about his feelings. He didn’t want another man intruding on “his” territory. Her heart fluttered and their gazes locked. She’d been tempted by Katsu the first time she’d seen him, but she’d resisted the attraction. Their relationship was uncomplicated and comfortable, and she preferred it remain that way.

“If the threat were human, I’d agree,” she told him. “You’re fast and strong, easily capable of combating other humans.”

“You honestly believe a vampire is after you?”

She smiled. “Do you doubt the reality of vampires or that one would be interested in me?”

He moved closer, cupping the side of her face. “I don’t doubt your appeal. I’m captivated by you and you know it.”

Awareness arced between them. She licked her lips, enjoying the tingling heat for another moment before she stepped back. “You’re a trusted friend and valuable employee. That’s more important to me than sex.”

“Sex doesn’t have to ruin our friendship.” He recaptured the space between them, lightly resting his hands on her hips. “This is the natural culmination of our mutual attraction.”

“I know you’re sleeping with Bianca. Isn’t that enough?”

He framed her face between his palms, desire gleaming in his eyes. “Bianca told me to bend you over the bed and fuck you fast and hard until you stopped denying that you want me.”

Lust curled through her body as the graphic image took shape within her mind. Katsu was always polite and patient. He smiled and patted her hand when she wanted to be overwhelmed by passion.

“That sounds like Bianca.” Her nocturnal twin had always been more sexually aggressive, more certain of her desire. “I never denied my attraction to you. The situation is more complicated than what I want.”

Leaning down, he brushed her lips with his. “Only because you complicate it.”

“Bianca doesn’t have to think about the ramifications of—”

He silenced her objections with a kiss. His mouth pressed over hers and his tongue traced the seam of her lips. Heat pooled between her thighs, and an odd heaviness expanded within her chest. Why had he waited so long to confront her? The timing couldn’t be worse.

For just a moment she relaxed into the embrace, tempted to surrender. The kiss was gentle, patient. Her obligations loomed and she grew restless. Grasping his upper arms, she arched away, turning her head sharply to the side.

“Starting tomorrow I’ll have a bodyguard with me night and day.”

His lips grazed the side of her face, his breath warm and moist against her ear. “It might only take them a day or two to track down the vampire. Besides, we still have tonight.”

She didn’t want a hurried tumble and the inevitable awkwardness that would follow once the Sentinel arrived. She wanted endless nights of carnal abandon and a lover assertive enough to control her. Her mind stumbled over the word control. Did she want to be controlled? No, more like guided. She wanted a lover strong enough to guide her.

“I’ll transform. You and Bianca can—”

Another kiss interrupted her suggestion. “I don’t want half of you. I want all of you.”

* * *

Remaining in the shadow realm, Lukas scanned his surroundings. Rebecca McNeil’s home was modest by Malibu standards, yet luxurious on any other scale. He assessed the location in concentric circles, starting at the perimeter and working his way inward.

Three of the four garage bays were occupied, but none of the vehicles showed signs of recent use. He returned to the house and continued his assessment. Opening a door or window would trigger basic security sensors. He shook his head. Human precautions were useless with most vampires. The main floor was empty, no signs of life anywhere. Drifting closer to the wraparound veranda, he scanned the upper level room by room.

Awareness jolted his being. The largest bedroom was occupied. Did Rebecca have guests or had she returned early? Her safety was more important than her need for privacy. Amusement rippled through him as he projected his energy through the bedroom wall. Apparently voyeuristic tendencies ran in his family.

The couple stood locked in a heated embrace. Their passionate kiss prevented Lukas from making a visual identification. He scanned the man. Human, no overt paranormal abilities. The woman’s energy was more complex. Still, she could be Rebecca or a relative with similar physiology. The dossier hadn’t mentioned any siblings.

The man worked the buttons on her blouse with frantic urgency then tugged his T-shirt off over his head. With a dexterous flick of his fingers, the man unfastened the front clasp on her bra. Her clothing hung open from her shoulders, exposing the lush fullness of her breasts.

Damn!
With long legs, slim hips, and those amazing breasts, she could easily moonlight as a lingerie model. The man cupped one breast as he bent over the other. His lips drew firmly on her pink nipple.

Grasping her lover’s upper arms, she let her head drop back. Her hair cascaded down her back in a profusion of strawberry-blonde waves. The pose accentuated her slender neck and the bold thrust of her breasts. Lust curled through Lukas, hot and heavy, demanding he solidify and join the fun.

He reluctantly dragged his gaze away from her body and looked at her face. Apparently Rebecca required one last tumble before she accepted his protection. He couldn’t really blame her for the small deception. There was no telling how long she’d be under his direct supervision.