Free Mixed Blessing (Mixed Blessing Mystery, Book 1) by Nicola Claire

in the plushly upholstered chair in front of his large, oak, antique desk, I sighed out in relief as the power of Jett's influence evaporated. Only to gasp as it slammed back into me locking my arms securely to the rests of the chair I sat on.
    "Mother fucker!" I said loudly.
    "That'll be enough of that, Miss Deverell. You and I need to talk. And there is no way you are leaving until we are well and truly done."
    Jett breezed in and stalked around to the other side of the desk, removing his suit jacket and hanging it up on a coat hanger attached to a stand. His grey shirt rippled across his broad back as he loosened his tie and then he turned and pierced me with his fully azure and turquoise eyes. I barely noticed the crooked bend to his nose, those eyes held me captive and made me want to sink into the fabric of the seat I was on and simply disappear.
    The Master of Auckland City was fuming and I really didn't know why.
    I swallowed and sucked in a slow breath and held his gaze. How dare he treat me like a lowly member of his line. He was my boss, nothing else. This is why I refused to join his or anyone else's line. I would not be subjected to the archaic parameters of the vampire world. I was not his to control or manipulate. I was not his to order around outside of what is required to do my job behind the bar of his club. Sure, I was skipping work for a private matter, but Doug had given permission and as he was my immediate boss, Jett had no right to take this further. If anything, Doug was the one who should be reaming me out. And not because I was at a crime scene, but because I had led him to believe I was on a hunt. Jett didn't know I was Nothus, he didn't know that half of me was Nosferatin. Therefore, he had no reason to call me out on where I was or why I was there. So screw him.
    My chin lifted, my eyes narrowed and - whether or not it was the wisest thing to do right then - I let my fangs descend and I flashed him a snarl.
    He blinked, slowly, then flashed his own longer fangs back at me with a much more convincing growl accompanying them than mine.
    "Do not test me, vampire. I am the Master of this City. I could have you banned from its borders. Have every vampire within chase you across the perimeter and never let you back in."
    I shrugged, not feeling in the slightest the nonchalance I had been going for. "Wellington is nice. I'm sure I could get Lucinda to arrange for the Master of the City there to let me move in." Lucinda had a strong friendship with the Master of Wellington City. I don't know why, but that was Lucinda for you. Friends in high places.
    Jett grimaced, I was thinking it might have been in disgust. Then he spoke and removed all shadow of doubt.
    "You are quite prepared to hide behind her offer of protection, yet you will not accept her offer of friendship."
    He had me there though. He was right. It kind of disgusted me too. But what could I do? I can't trust her. I can't trust anyone. I trusted Samson once and look where that got me.
    Jett's stance relaxed marginally, a brief flicker of comprehension flashed across his handsome face. I narrowed my eyes further at him. Just what did he see, hear, sense when he looked at me? We sat in silence for some time, neither willing to give an inch to the other. I don't know if I was just in the mood for a fight, it was quite plausible. Ever since I was turned against my will, I've kind of had a hell of a lot of pent up anger. But, asking for a fight with the Master of the City was suicidal. Was I really that far gone I would seek the final death this way?
    I urged myself to relax. Well, as much as I could relax with my arms forcibly attached the chair rests. I rolled my neck on my shoulders and withdrew my fangs in an effort to show compliance. I wasn't really agreeing with a damn thing he had to say, I was just doing what I needed to do to survive. Jett did not withdraw his own fangs, but his shoulders relaxed slightly and the stringent smell of ammonia