Free Bad Mouth by Angela McCallister Page B

She’d never heard of anything like it, and she was considered
     highly educated in everything vampirism.
    He turned to her finally, his expression guarded. “It’s rarely allowed, but Immortalis adjuvants can impregnate humans. And we can use human surrogates for vampire-conceived
     embryos. I’m not the only live-born vampire.”
    “I don’t understand. Why do you…do what you do to the subjugates? Is it because they
     had a choice and you didn’t?”
    He responded with a short bark of bitter laughter and returned his gaze to the window.
     “I told you. You know nothing.”
    “Then tell me.” She wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but it felt important. He didn’t
     seem like some kind of beast raging out of control. And for some ungodly reason, she
     didn’t want to believe him fitting of her image of a malicious vampire.
    She’d seen his humor, his intelligence, his compassion, and she didn’t think she could
     make herself forget his unexpected moments of tenderness. Though his visage had gone
     icy, a deep vulnerability thrummed beneath it. Somehow she’d hurt him, causing his
     sudden withdrawal. She’d never thought it possible for a vampire to have softer feelings
     that could open them to hurt. Her past had taught her not to see vampires as anything
     but heartless monsters.
    “We’re here,” he said.
    They had pulled into a circular drive in front of a large, white New England-style
     manor. Detailed red-and-gray brickwork formed a facade along the first level up to
     the portico framed by slender columns. This rural beauty didn’t match how she’d imagined
     Selene Stavrou’s style. At the VLO headquarters, Selene had come across as a rich
     snob in the few minutes she’d seen the Legion.
    A bald, elderly subjugate answered the door. He looked uncomfortably professional,
     his dark, pinstriped suit tailored close over his round belly. Overweight subjugates
     were few and far between. He had to be a new conscript.
    “How can I help you?” he asked.
    Kade stepped forward, but anger darkened his features. “Selene. Now.”
    No one in their right mind would argue with that tone. The subjugate gestured past
     the foyer, his eyes wide and his mouth slack. Kade glanced at her. “Go on. I’ll be
     there in a minute.”
    She hesitated. “What are you doing?”
    “My duty. Go.” He propelled her forward, but she pushed back against his hand. He
     groaned. “Fuck sake, woman. I’m not gonna kill anyone. Find Selene.”
    A glance over her shoulder reassured her. He was angry for some reason, but he didn’t
     have that fiery look of death in his eyes. “Don’t be long,” she said. Despite his
     dark mood, he flashed a grin at her. Heaven help her, but she liked his smile, even
     those stubborn grins when he was facetious.
    The foyer ended in three short, wood-lined arches forming the entry to a living area
     where Selene lounged on a chaise near an unlit fireplace, a martini glass in her hand.
     Val couldn’t believe her eyes. No wonder Kade had slept with this woman. The vampire
     was even more gorgeous than the last time Val had seen her. Her thick, midnight hair
     coiled in a coif of perfect ringlets. Her white slip of a dress contrasted virginally
     against golden skin. And of course her cool demeanor was as ever-present as her exotic
     accent.
    “I cannot believe Crawford let you in,” she said. “I have answered your questions
     already, Ms. Craig. I am sure you can show yourself out.”
    Val bit back an angry retort. “We’re not through with you yet, Miss Stavrou. You stated
     you were staying at the W hotel. We know your room had a clear view of the roof of
     the World Journal where the victim was found.”
    “As I told you, it was too dark and much too far away to see anything, even if I had
     been standing at the window at the very same time the blooding took place. I do not
     know how I can offer you anything that might—” She leaped up from the chaise at bullet
     speed