Free Rajmund by D. B. Reynolds Page B

I here?” he growled.
    Across the desk, Krystof's lips tightened and he cocked his head in rebuke. “Do not presume too far, Rajmund. I am still master here.” His eyes went abruptly flat, and Raj realized they could do it right now, decide this thing between them once and for all. But not with all of his own supporters hundreds of miles away in Manhattan, while Krystof sat beneath a house full of minions whose very lives depended on his continued existence. They would defend him to the death out of a raw instinct to survive, no matter their feelings about him personally.
    Raj lowered his eyes and bent his head briefly. “My apologies, my lord."
    Krystof smiled graciously, the benevolent lord with his servant. Raj ground his teeth so hard he thought the old vampire could surely hear it.
    "So,” Krystof began in the bored, dulcet tones of a born aristocrat. “Tell me what Raphael wanted."
    Raj looked up and shrugged carelessly. “A holiday in Manhattan for his mate."
    Krystof frowned. “Why New York?"
    "Shopping, I suppose. That's what she and her friend did all day. “
    "Is there no shopping in Los Angeles?"
    "The friend works in New York, here in Buffalo, as a matter of fact. She teaches at the University. As for Raphael's mate . . .” Raj hooked an uncomfortable-looking chair over with one foot and slouched down onto it. “She's a rich American and clearly used to having her own way. Raphael indulges her."
    "Does he?"
    Krystof's note of interest sharpened Raj's attention, although he was careful not to show it. “To a point,” he clarified. “She's quite beautiful."
    The old vampire lord laughed. “So even Raphael has a weakness. I never thought I'd see the day."
    Raj didn't say anything. If Krystof wanted to believe Raphael's mate, Cynthia, made him weaker somehow, that was his choice. Raj had seen enough this weekend to know that while the Western Vampire Lord clearly loved the human woman, he hadn't let down his guard at all. If anything, he might be more secure now than ever. Having finally met her, Raj was inclined to believe many of the rumors he'd heard about Cyn's determination and her willingness to kill if necessary. And he had no doubt she'd defend Raphael to her death, if that's what it took. As for Raphael, only a fool would think to bring harm to Cynthia and survive.
    "Well, this is all very interesting, but that's not the main reason I wanted you here, Rajmund. We have something of a situation involving the humans and you know I've never been comfortable dealing with them. One doesn't talk to the livestock, after all.” He chuckled at his own jest. “Still, this is America and one must adapt."
    Raj ignored him. Krystof had been in this country for nearly three hundred years and he still spoke as though he'd only arrived a month ago.
    "I'm afraid the human police are concerned, Rajmund."
    That got Raj's attention. “The police? About what?"
    "Apparently some women have disappeared. As if that's a rare occurrence in a human city. They butcher each other so casually, we're far less of a threat to them than they are to themselves. Unfortunately, an influential man has become involved—his daughter is among those missing, and he's convinced the police we've something to do with it. Ridiculous, of course. The girl is no doubt fucking her minimal brains out with someone unsuitable and will come home pregnant and diseased when she realizes her mistake. But in the meantime, we are all forced to play this silly game."
    His voice was no longer that of a bored aristocrat, but had grown almost coarse with some emotion. Could it be fear? Did Krystof know more about these missing women than he was saying and was that the real reason Raj had been called to deal with it?
    "In any event,” the vampire lord continued, “you will be meeting the police this evening—"
    "Tonight?” Raj demanded.
    Krystof raised one eyebrow in disapproval at the interruption. “This evening,” he repeated. “At nine p.m. I