Lucius keeps smiling at Sheridan, showing fangs. She smiles right back, her incisors front and center. Her creature-of-the-night outfit has one advantage to it: the hot dress and artful makeup is one hell of a costume. Combined with her smarts, she charms the vampires completely. Too well. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Nero lick his fangs. I bite back a growl.
A crackle of paper and we all snap back to attention. Garrett holds up the map.
"For purposes of a temporary treaty, we agree to this territory," he says. "Any vampire caught outside will be subject to punishment."
"If any of mine are caught breaking my rules, I will deal with them myself," Lucius promises. His voice is smooth, almost a purr. The leech is pleased.
I feel sick. I didn't glance at the map, but I bet the fight club is right inside the vamp's territory. Which means we might have to pay tribute or be overrun by leeches hunting their victims. Not that we haven't been already. Garrett wouldn't let us throw any vampires out until we met with Frangelico.
"Wait," Sheridan says. "What about sucre sang?"
There's a silence as wolves and vampires alike try to make sense of what she said. It sounds vaguely French.
"What is this?" Lucius sounds surprised.
I hear Sheridan's heartbeat pick up as all eyes turn to her, but her chin lifts and her voice stays strong. "I've heard of it in connection with leeches, I mean, vampires. Some sort of drug, right?"
A few of the lieutenants exchange knowing looks. Nero hides his mouth behind a manicured hand.
"Ahh," Lucius says. "Sweetblood. I had not heard the street name. It is not a drug. Well, not for humans, anyway."
"Not directly," Nero murmurs.
"It is for vampires only." Lucius spreads his hands and looks smug. "You come to our club and I will show you. All of you are welcome, anytime."
A low growl from Garrett makes the vampire king add, "No harm would come to you or yours. You would be our esteemed guests."
"All right," Sheridan says. At first I can't believe my ears-she's calling the vampire's bluff? Lucius inclines his head and Sheridan adds, "I'll go. Saturday night." Then she glances up at me and the look on her face... it's a challenge.
The scraping sound is me gritting my teeth, biting back my response before I say something I regret and set off a war. I can't stop myself from glaring at Nero when he glides forward and leans towards Sheridan. "You will enjoy yourself, little wolf. I will make sure of it."
"This meeting's over," Garrett growls, thank the fates, and one by one the wolves turn and walk back the way we came. I wait for Sheridan to go, and glare in Nero's general direction before spinning on my boot. The leech's laughter starts as soon as I turn my back, unhinges my spine and follows me from the ravine.
Up at the cars, Sheridan is surrounded by the pack, talking to Garrett. I can't stop myself from marching up and grabbing her arm. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"Back off, biker boy," she spits back, wrenching her arm from my grip. Shit, I forget how strong she is. "You're not the boss of me."
I ignore her, turning to Garrett. "She's not safe here. My bouncer told me one of the leeches-Nero-took an interest in her. You gotta send her back to Phoenix."
"I'm right here, moonhead," Sheridan snaps. It's her turn to grab my arm and jerk me to face her. "I am perfectly fine. I can fight my own battles."
"The fuck you can," I growl and talk over her head to Garrett. "Did you hear her? She's going to go into the leeches territory-to their club!"
"I heard," Tank says. "I think it's a good idea."
"What?" I whirl on him. I swear I'm going to sock somebody in the jaw. My wolf writhes under my skin, ready to wreck someone.
"Hear him out," Garrett orders.
"We know Frangelico is powerful, right? But we don't know much about him. We need to know more. Visiting the nightclub is the perfect way to find out more."
"Then why don't you go?" I shoot back.
Tank shakes his head. "Can't. I'm too high up in the pack. Also, I'm a threat." He shrugs his massive shoulders. "We need someone less thug-like. More professional."
"A spy," Garrett agrees, and turns to Sheridan. She flushes but doesn't drop her gaze. "What do you say, Cuz? You're already here to keep tabs on us."
"It's not like that," she protests weakly, and for the first time since she's shown up, she looks uncertain. "I'm not here to spy on you."
"Uh huh." Garrett raises a brow. "At least do me the favor of telling the truth."
She drops her eyes. "They're worried, and not just about the leeches in our territory. Your pack has been through a lot." Sheridan sucks the inside of her cheek. It has the unfortunate resemblance to sucking dick, and my cock stiffens to full mast. I almost groan out loud as I shift it in my jeans.
"I know. I'll call my dad." Garrett grimaces for a brief moment before smoothing his expression. The rest of us share sympathetic looks. We all know what Alpha Green can be like. After all, we grew up under his rule. Until he kicked us out.
The way some of the pack eyes Sheridan, they haven't forgotten the part she played in betraying us. Under the weight of the pack's stare, Sheridan wilts a little. She was one of us, before she turned traitor. "About tonight... I was just trying to help."
"Help who?" His voice is whip sharp.
Even though I agree with Garrett, my wolf bristles at the way he's speaking to her. My chest puffs out on its own, shoulders square. Garrett glances at me and takes in my shift of posture.
"Help you." The waver in Sheridan's voice bothers me far more than it should. I step closer to her, make it known I'm still her protector, even after the way things went down.