Because Your Vampire Said So - By Michele Bardsley Page 0,2

call Damian and check up on him, then surely he was legit. Yeah, right. I may be blond, but I ain't stupid.

"I have him on speed dial." I dug my phone out of my back jeans pocket and flipped it open. The only weapons I had were the broom, my vamp skills, and my charming wit - none of which would disarm him.

I hit the button and put the phone to my ear. Damian picked up on the first ring. "Ja?"

"I got a tall drink of water over here who says you sent him."

"You have a what?"

"You are so cliche-challenged," I said. "There's a guy here who wants to hold my hand and walk me home. Did you send him or do I have to whack him with my broom?"

He sighed. "New policy, Patsy. Every Turn-blood has a guardian until ... well, I say so. Consider him your new shadow. And do not whack him with anything."

Damian hung up. He wasn't much for hellos or good-byes. I put my phone away. "I guess you're my new best pal. Wanna tell me why?"

"You should ask Damian."

"Yeah. It's easier to catch a greased hog than it is to pry information outta that man."

Gabriel's lips turned up into an almost-grin. Mm-mmm. My stomach did a little mambo. Handsome wasn't a good enough word to describe him.

All the same, I felt trapped. I didn't particularly like being bossed around, especially by Consortium puppets. I pretended that him standing there looking all big and powerful and yummy didn't bother me.

"It makes no never mind to me what you do," I lied. "I gotta lock up now."

I finished sweeping up, then turned off the lights. I had to bolt the front door, which meant getting awfully close to Gabriel. Heat emanated off him, as if an invisible fire raged around him. His gaze caught mine; the look in his amber gaze made my stomach jump. Lust zinged through me and he knew it. His lips curved into a feral smile.

I put on my lambskin jacket, then headed out the back door. Gabriel followed and leaned against the wall, watching me lock up. As soon as I was done, I whirled around and hurried across the high grass toward my double-wide. I didn't want the luscious Gabriel within my orbit for too long. I made bad decisions around men like him.

Behind me, I heard a whoosh, and then I heard Gabriel yell. Whomp. Thud.

Fear spun through me, but I turned around. And screamed.

The massive creature was at least eight feet tall. He had marbled, gray skin and completely black eyes. His hairless head gleamed in the moonlight. As he took a step toward me, the ground shook. He grinned at me and revealed double rows of needle-sharp teeth.

I didn't see my bodyguard anywhere - until I fell ass over teakettle over him. I landed way too close to the monster's clawed feet.

I scrabbled backward, right into the unconscious form of Gabriel. Some guardian he turned out to be! I scooted over him, knelt by his head, and shook his shoulders. "Hey, you! Get up now!"

The creature watched me in amusement. Dread snaked through me. Gabriel's moonshine hair spilled onto the ground. I detected his shallow breathing and the steady beat of his heart.

"Your boyfriend can take a punch," he said. His voice sounded like thunder. He crossed his huge arms, his expression grim. "Usually that move kills lycans."

Fear chilled me even more than the frigid air. The storm threatening my horizon was here, and damned if I didn't have my umbrella.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice quivering.

"You."

Horror kept me welded to the ground. I couldn't move. My gaze was glued to the ugly thing bending toward me over Gabriel, who was trapped between us. He enjoyed my terror, the bastard. His curved claws grazed my shoulders as he tried to grab me.

That's when I remembered I was a vampire.

I swung a right hook at his jaw. Pain jolted down my arm on contact, but the strength of the punch made him stagger back. He looked as shocked as I felt.

The growl surprised us both.

My gaze switched to Gabriel. He was awake, his gold eyes filled with fury. He pushed onto his hands and feet. His body arched and his flesh rippled. I heard the snap of bones and the snick of muscles realigning. His clothes and his expensive shoes shredded and fell to the ground.

His face elongated into a large snout filled with sharp teeth.