Free Darkness Bred by Stella Cameron Page A

to forgive me if I tease you a little. It’s one of my weaknesses.”
    Relief started to flood him, until he studied the curve of her lips, the mischief in her eyes. “Tease away,” he said, while conviction grew that this creature could be his nemesis, in ways he had never imagined.
    “Hah,” she said. “You’d like me to tease you, but you insist we’ve got more important things to do…first. Do we have to see Saul tonight? Are you sure we do?” Elin was wheedling and she wasn’t even trying to be subtle.
    “You thought it was a good idea to call him and he’s expecting us.” He glanced at the darkening sky. From what he’d seen, light meant little to the vampires in the area but Saul seemed to avoid broad daylight. Something else he needed to understand. “I think Saul would prefer us to visit now.” Sean watched for some reaction, but Elin only nodded and looked unhappy.
    She was used to vampires who walked by day as well as by night. But did she know there was another way elsewhere?
    Elin went toward the front door, reaching her hand toward him as she went, and Sean held on, entwining their fingers. “Does he have fangs?” she whispered, hesitating on the front step. “I’ve never seen them. That Colin creature is horrible. I hope you threw him so far he never comes back.”
    He wanted her to remember what happened because it would make her more careful, but he didn’t intend to dwell on the details of the previous night. “There is a lot about Saul that I don’t understand. He’s not like other vampires. He seems…evolved?” That wasn’t what he had intended to say but it was true.
    She turned her face up to his, a frown wrinkling her brows. “Leigh said that’s what Niles thinks, too.”
    “But you find him ugly and unappealing?” he asked, knowing he was pushing his luck.
    She took hold of his collar and pulled his face down closer to hers. “Saul is very, very handsome. He doesn’t appeal to me…not so far.” Her grin was wicked.
    He rang the bell and listened to its echo deep inside the house.
    No footsteps warned that Saul was coming before he threw open the door and stood there, arms crossed, unsmiling. “Welcome. I hope I can be of help,” he said. His dark eyes stared into Sean’s. Neither of them had forgotten what had passed between them.
    “I don’t like inconveniencing you,” Elin said, keeping her eyes averted from Sean. “But Sean and I both want to know more about…” Her voice trailed off.
    “About vampires?” Saul finished for her with a vague smile. “You came to the right place.”
    “Perhaps we’ve offended you,” Elin said. She drew in a big breath. “We should probably leave.”
    Saul smiled and opened his door wider. “Why don’t you come in? The Team and I have an understanding. We may not always like each other, but we have respect, we have supported one another.”
    Sean supposed Elin was right, the man was very handsome, dammit. And mysterious and…well, who knew what a woman saw in a particular man?
    “Thanks,” Sean said but Elin’s grip on his hand tightened. She wasn’t comfortable here—Saul made her nervous.
    He led them past the clinic portion of the building and downstairs to an art deco basement that favored lime green velvet, odd, fringed lampshades, and cabinets that looked more like pieces of art than furniture.
    The light was subdued, but dusk was hitting outside and Saul showed no sign of having just climbed out of his coffin or whatever he slept in.
    “What frightens you?” Elin said suddenly. “There’s got to be something that isn’t obvious. I was always told you vampires don’t like silver, but what else? Is the garlic thing true?”
    Hiding a smile, Sean looked around. “Is it okay if we sit?” he asked. This woman who fascinated him so, and who held his heart in her hands, never failed to come up with another surprise.
    “Take that couch,” Saul said, indicating a lime green piece with fat, roll arms.