Free Shadows of Fate (Shadow Born) by Angela Dennis Page B

fake plant. No. A fake, sun-bleached plant. But Ga’loh glared as though the shrub was a Ming vase.
    “My apologies.” Gray gently brushed off the plant and returned it to its precarious perch. “No harm done.”
    The tension in Ga’loh lessened and Gray breathed easier. The man didn’t look like much, but he was one of the most powerful war mages this side of the Veil. Shadow Bearers on both sides had hired them as mercenaries during their civil war. He would kill a man without hesitation or remorse.
    “Thank you.” Ga’loh leaned back, his eyes focused somewhere behind Gray’s shoulder. “She was with Claudius. The vampire appeared to have taken her under his wing. I believe she was feeding him.”
    Gray grabbed Sam’s forearm when the other man tensed. To hear the woman you shared a bed with was feeding a leech would anger any man, but they didn’t have time to piss Ga’loh off. When Sam stilled, Gray released him.
    “Do you know what she was getting in return?”
    Ga’loh leaned forward, ash dangling from the end of his cigarette. “Good question. It’s anyone’s guess.” He paused, considering. “She was with some members of the Brotherhood yesterday, so she could be trying to play them to get information.”
    Sam frowned. “The demonic cult? Why would the vampires care about them? Is there a connection?”
    “No. They patently avoid dealing with each other. But there’s a first time for everything, I suppose.”
    Gray dusted off his memory of the murder files, and found a piece that might fit. “Didn’t one of the Brothers get murdered?”
    Ga’loh nodded. “As did Claudius’ wife. Both by that fanatical bastard they’re calling the Kenaz killer.” He held out a hand, palm outstretched. “That gives us both a place to start. I want my payment.”
    It was something at least. They had two more leads to follow.
    Gray placed the bagged blood in the mage’s hand. It was hard to ignore the look of hunger in the other man’s eyes. Rising to his feet he stepped to the tent’s opening, Sam following behind.
    “Nice doing business with you.” Ga’loh’s raspy voice rang out as they disappeared into the droves of people making their way to and from the vendors.
    When they were free of the crowds they moved toward the exit, but Sam wanted to stay.
    “We need to find Claudius,” Sam said. “He has to know what’s happened to Marissa. Some of his people will be here.”
    Gray glanced at him sharply. “Ignore your jealously and think for a minute. We can’t just walk up to Claudius. He’s the representative of the Vampire Assembly in these parts. If you approach him in anger, his minions won’t ask questions. They’ll kill you.”
    “You know him?” Sam walked faster. The masses Gray had thrown money at earlier had noticed them. “I hear he’s a real bastard.”
    Gray smirked. “He can be difficult, but he’s not a liar. If he has Marissa, he won’t hide it.” As they left the tunnels, he turned to Sam. “He wouldn’t have fed from Marissa. She didn’t betray you.”
    Sam looked unconvinced.
    “Claudius only feeds from his own kind. Aside from Shadow Bearers, he believes everyone else’s blood is impure.”
    “Thanks.” Sam slid into the passenger side of the vehicle. “Are you going to set up a meeting with him tonight?”
    “It’s not that easy. I need Brenna. He has a weakness for beautiful women, especially if they’re powerful.”
    “Just make sure Brenna doesn’t kill him. She might go off half-cocked.”
    “I’ll control her.”
    Sam’s snorted “Good luck. She won’t be herself until her body recharges.” Guilt tinged Sam’s words.
    “Hey, you can’t blame yourself for needing to feed. It’s not your fault. The key is to recognize you have an issue and learn how to cope with it.”
    Sam looked away. “It pisses me off that I have to feed off my friends to survive. Most people aren’t leeches.”
    “No. We all are. Incubus, vampire, witch or human,