Better Off Undead - Cynthia Eden Page 0,3

his nostrils flared. The vampire was close. It sure took some cocky bastard to come into his city this way. Especially after the way he’d ended the last vamp who’d dared to challenge him.

Aidan turned away from the main road. He slipped between two buildings. Walked onto a dark street, one that—at first glance—appeared completely empty.

His claws were out now, long and thick and ready to attack. He could feel his beast pushing inside of him. Kill. Destroy. When a vampire was this close, the wolf always reacted with the primitive instinct to battle.

The shadows to the left moved as the vampire just fucking boldly strode right toward him. “So I get to meet the alpha on my first night here,” the vamp’s voice rang out, loud and clear and not the least bit frightened. Dumb bastard. “I’m honored.”

Every muscle in Aidan’s body quivered with the urge to attack. “What you are…” Aidan gritted out, “is dead.”

The vampire laughed. “Actually, I think the technical term is undead. But hey, I’m not here to argue—”

“I’m here to kick your ass,” Aidan snapped. He leapt toward the vampire, moving at a speed so fast humans would have seen him as a blur. He locked one hand around the vampire’s throat and shoved the guy against the nearest brick wall—the wall of the building on the right. When the vampire hit the wall, there was a hard, thudding impact, and dust seemed to shoot from the bricks behind him.

Aidan lifted his right hand, claws extended, ready to take that vamp’s head—

“Jane,” the vamp gasped out.

The bastard dared to say her name?

“You must want to suffer,” Aidan whispered to him. “A long, painful death instead of the quick kill I had planned.”

“Not…here…for war…” Each word was croaked out, probably because Aidan was squeezing the guy’s throat so tightly that speech was nearly impossible. “Here…to…talk…peace first.”

Aidan laughed. “Since when do vampires believe in peace? We both know all you live for is blood and death.”

But this vampire…he wasn’t fighting Aidan. He could fight. Vamps were far stronger than humans. Yet this guy had just been waiting for him. And even as Aidan’s claws came closer to his head, the fellow just…watched him. Kept waiting.

What kind of game was the vamp playing?

Aidan freed the guy and stepped back, but he made sure to keep his claws at the ready.

The vampire sucked in a sharp breath. Yes, vamps still breathed. Their hearts still beat. They didn’t become walking corpses, no matter what the movies said. They were just fucking strong. Fucking deadly. And, in his experience, fucking evil.

“So…” the vamp finally muttered. “The stories are…true. You don’t kill…without reason.”

“I’m the paranormal law in this city. I keep the city safe, for the humans and the monsters. That’s what I do.” His gaze sharpened as he studied the vampire.

Even though it was dark, Aidan could see perfectly. Another nice, werewolf bonus. The vamp was tall, nearly Aidan’s own height. His dark hair was swept back from his forehead, and the guy’s eyes were narrowed as he stared up at Aidan.

“I’m not here to start a war with you,” the vampire said. “I’m actually…I’m not really here for you at all.”

“Why were you near that cemetery? Did you kill that poor bastard in there?”

“No.” The vampire gave one negative shake of his head.

Like I’m supposed to believe you? Vamps lie. “Then it sure is one hell of a coincidence that you were close when the guy was slaughtered.”

“I could say the same about you,” the vamp murmured. “One hell of a coincidence that you were so close when the man died.”

“I’ll just kill you now,” Aidan decided abruptly. “Make things easier—”

“I’m here for Jane.”

Aidan’s vision seemed to go red. “You have a death wish, huh? Thought as much.”

“I’m trying to do this right. I waited to talk with you first as a sign of respect. I know what you are to this city. And I don’t want a war with you.” The vamp’s words were said flatly, with no emotion.

“Smart decision.” Aidan could feel his beast, moving just beneath his skin. The wolf wanted out. The vampire had dared to tell him that he wanted Jane? Oh, the hell, no. No one else would ever have her.

Jane is mine. Just as I am hers. Always.

“My name is Vincent Connor. And despite what you think about vampires, we aren’t the enemy.”

Aidan gave a grating laugh. “Tell that to the last vamp bastard I ended. Tell that to the victims who