Page 33 of Taken By The Vampire King

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I murmured, sudden embarrassment heating my cheeks. “I thought you said to come in.”

“New Orleans is very dangerous for you. Not safe.” The woman tutted and reached out to touch my hair. “So pretty,” she crooned. “Needs protection.”

She darted across the tiny store with the rapid movements of a bird, her eyes bright, her hands already reaching toward one of her displays.

“Protection… Protection…” She muttered the word over and over again, one hand plucking various stones from the display before replacing them as she tried to smooth her hair back into place with the other hand.

I edged closer to the door and away from the obviously crazy lady. “Nice to meet you,” I called. “I should probably go now, though.”

This definitely wasn’t where I’d planned to end up when I left the restaurant.

“Aha!” The woman snatched a purple stone like those that made up the geode in the window. It glinted a little in the low light. “Amethyst,” she murmured as she clutched it in her palm. “But is it enough?” She looked back at me before nodding. “For now.”

Then she pressed the crystal into my hand before cackling a laugh and withdrawing it to insert it into a cage attached to a thin silver necklace.

“Now, listen to old Lettie. This will keep you safe in the next part of your journey.” She looped the necklace over my head, and the caged stone disappeared beneath my dress to nestle against my cleavage.

“Thank you. But I don’t have…” Shit. I didn’t have any money.

“You have need.” Her eyes seemed to clear like she could focus again. “This old witch knows.” She grabbed my hand, startling me. “And your future path is clear. I see great wealth, love, and power, but it’s all shadowed by pain. And danger.”

“Thank you,” I said again as I moved myself from her grip. I didn’t believe in visions and fortunes and bullshit.

The door blasted open behind me, but no one was there, and Lettie pointed a spindly finger, indicating I should leave. “Now go, but stay out of the shadows, child.”

I half-ran back onto the street, the unfamiliar weight of the pendant heavy between my breasts. I almost removed the necklace, taking the delicate silver chain between my thumb and forefinger, but then I left it. I had no purse or pocket to carry it in, and there was something comforting about it that I couldn’t quite place.

The store behind me was quiet again, and when I glanced behind me, there was nothing to indicate Lettie and I had been talking only moments before. It looked as closed as every other store in the street. I had no idea how long I’d been away from The Neutral Zone or whether Nicolas would have finished conducting his secret squirrel business dealings, but it was probably time to get back to the restaurant. Luckily, I’d walked in a straight line and not very far. I was too much of a magpie in places like this—attracted by pretty sights and color—which always slowed me down.

I looked at the sidewalk as I picked my way along the street and drew my wrap tighter around my shoulders as I walked as fast as I could back to Nicolas.

Only to stop abruptly when someone stepped into my path further down the street. My gaze skimmed from his heavy work boots to his dark, loose-fitting jeans and the two guys with him.

Something about them resonated trouble, and I started to cross the street, but a light breeze blew across me, catching my hair and teasing some of the loose strands. All three looked up as one, their gazes suddenly trained on me.

Shit. The air of danger increased when the one in the middle smiled, although smile was overstating it. The expression was little more than a cruel upturn to his lips. I hurried forward, suddenly clutching my pendant as my pace increased.

“I can do this, I’ll be safe. I’ll be safe,” I repeated, like the words alone could make it so.

I started to run in the direction of the restaurant, but the guys caught up with me, using their bodies to maneuver me into a wide doorway so I could barely see into the busy street beyond them.

“Hello, baby.” The guy clearly in charge brushed his fingers down my face, and I froze, fighting against closing my eyes because I couldn’t just give up and not look. “Have you come to play?”

He leaned closer and murmured against my ear, his hot breath wafting over my neck. He smelled like booze and stale sweat, and I flinched away.

The other guys laughed, but one closed his fingers over mine. “Come play with us,” he urged, his voice dangerously soft. “We like you.”

The third guy had his nose almost in my hair. “Why do you smell so good?” he murmured, but it was clear I didn’t need to bother answering.

But for fuck’s sake. Had none of these guys heard of shampoo or soap or basic personal hygiene? I tried to stand on my tiptoes to see beyond them, but a hand rested on my shoulder to press me back down, and I lashed out with my foot, landing a kick on his shin.

“Play nice now, little honey,” a voice said, and it was like I hadn’t even touched him.

I tried again, kicking out, and attempting to jerk away from their holds. But nothing I did had any effect.

“You smell amazing.” The one with his nose against my hair had a fetish or something.

I tried to work out a plan, because being raped on the street was not going to be the end result of this trip to New Orleans. It couldn’t be. I’d dealt with dicier things at the bar…but Harry and Pierre had always been there, just in case. My vision blurred at the sudden thought of the two guys who’d always protected me without seeming to think about it. They were just always there when I needed them.

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