“Because human werewolves don’t live long—a year at the very most. Shifters are much stronger.” Dage pushed away from the wall. “We think the Kurjans truly had no idea the scope of this virus when they began their research.”
So the Kurjans were attempting to create an immortal slave class. It made sense from a psychotic world-domination type of viewpoint.
Dage drew Emma’s arm through his to ease down the hallway again. “My brother Kane has had men creating a lab for us. I was hoping you’d agree to do some research.”
Wariness warred with an uneasy interest within Emma. No doubt the vampire’s lab would be state of the art. “I have a lab, Dage.” Unless the Kurjans still controlled it.
Dage paused and cleared his throat. “Ah. No, you don’t.”
Emma swung around to face him, halting him in his tracks. “Excuse me?” He was so not telling her what to do.
His gaze met hers head-on. “We blew the building up.” Her mouth gaped open. “You did not.” Her good Manolos were in her locker, damn it. As well as her passion pink Newton lipstick that had been discontinued. She couldn’t even find it on eBay.
“Sure we did.” Not by one tiny tick did the king appear anything but factual and at ease with the truth.
“Why?” she gasped.
He shrugged. “The Kurjans controlled your facility. All data there had to be destroyed, so we did a complete job of it.”
“What about the people who worked there?” The vampires wouldn’t have killed anyone, would they? Fear began to tremble down her legs.
“We’re keeping dossiers on all of them. So far, only your boss Frank Davis seems to have known about the Kurjans.” Dage rubbed a hand down her arm. “He’s disappeared, but probably to another Kurjan facility.”
Goose bumps rose in response. “What about Henry Duvall?”
“We can check the data later if you want.” Dage’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Who’s Duvall?”
“My lab partner.” Emma lifted her chin. “And a good friend.”
“Ah.” Dage’s eyes lightened in understanding. “That’s right. I remember that name. He protested when we moved your belongings to storage and put your house on the market.”
Shock made her voice tremble. “You did what?”
Dage lifted an eyebrow. “Love, the Kurjans are after you. You certainly can’t go back to your old life.” He clasped her hand again. “We had to send Duvall a couple of letters from you insisting there was a family matter and you’d gone on vacation with your sister. He finally quieted down.” The king’s tone implied Henry had made a wise choice in doing so. “Were you, ah ...”
“What?” Emma stumbled. “No. Of course not. We were just friends.” Good friends, considering they had the same taste in men.
“Good to know.”
They’d put her house up for sale. Unbelievable. She’d spent hours choosing just the right paint color for each room. It had taken over a week to sand and refinish the hardwood floors—with Cara and Janie pitching in to help. The garden was a work of art with its pansies and hydrangeas. Emma loved that house. She sputtered for a moment, her mind reeling as Dage turned and began leading her down the hallway again. She gritted her teeth together until her jaw ached. “We’ll discuss this later.” When she could form a coherent thought without wanting to kill him.
“Of course.” Dage reached a large double door and tucked Emma’s arm more securely in his. “You stick close tonight to either me or one of my brothers.”
She nodded, then barely suppressed a gasp as he swept the doors open to reveal a ballroom rivaling anything royalty had devised through the years. About two hundred people had already taken seats around blue covered tables set for eight with fine china and crystal. The scent of roasted chicken wafted through the air. Dage led her through the room, nodding to several dignitaries until reaching the head table where Talen, Cara, and Janie sat with another couple.
Dage grasped her hand. “Emma, this is Jordan Pride and Katie Smith.”
Jordan stood and held out a large hand. Ah—the mountain lion shifter. A myriad of brown, black, and blond streaked hair reached his broad shoulders. Tawny eyes twinkled at her. “My pleasure.”
She shook his hand, realizing she hadn’t quite believed in the existence of shifters until right that moment. An odd electric power shot up her arm from his touch. Weird. “Nice to meet you.” He released her and she took the seat Dage pulled out.
Katie grinned, her golden eyes alight. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
Emma returned the smile. She’d enjoyed her phone conversations with the lioness while Talen and Cara had stayed with the shifters.
Katie leaned forward, her blond curls pinned up in an elegant chignon. “I’m still incredibly impressed you were able to outmaneuver not only the Kurjans but the vampires chasing you.” She shot a teasing glance toward Dage.
Emma shrugged. “I didn’t see an alternative. I had to keep traveling northwest until I could reach my friend’s place in Montana.” She’d almost made it, too. One second she’d been gassing up her car at a Texaco just outside Bozeman and the next lying in the back of a Kurjan van, half drugged out of her mind. She still didn’t know how they’d found her. Unless Davis had somehow figured out her plan, which was more than possible.
“Where’s your friend now?” Katie asked.
“Working abroad.”
Jordan leaned forward. “Where is the data now?”
Dread pooled in Emma’s stomach. “The Kurjans said they found the cabin, and my flashdrive in the car. It has probably been destroyed, though I have a fairly good memory of most of the lab results.” Her kidnapping had led to Cara’s kidnapping by the Kurjans. Was it only yesterday she and Cara had been locked in the Kurjan facility? Cara patted her knee under the table, no doubt sharing her sister’s feelings at the moment. Damn empath.
Waiters poured wine. Cara raised her eyebrows at the herbal tea placed in front of her.
“You can’t have wine, Cara,” Talen said, smiling when the waiter put a Shirley temple in front of Janie.
Cara rolled her eyes. “I probably could, but since my stomach is a bit pitchy, I think I’d rather have the tea.”
Katie covered her wineglass with one hand. “I’ve been fighting a cold and would like tea as well.” The waiter immediately fetched her a cup.
Emma smiled, suspecting Katie of claiming a cold just to keep Cara company. Apparently her sister had found a good friend. A friend who could shift into a mountain lion. What an odd world she’d just entered.
Dage leaned over and brushed a curl off Emma’s face, sending a shaft of pure need through her body. His unique scent of leather and sandalwood wafted her way and she fought a shiver.
“I’m going for the wine.” She took a deep sip, hoping to cool her desire. Yeah right. That would work.
Chapter 4
Several hours after dinner, Dage stood near the bar and tipped back a bourbon on the rocks, half listening to Jordan’s good-natured recap of his speech. The tables had been cleared from the floor to make space for dancing. He nodded at his friend while his gaze remained on the woman across the room. Emma. So close. Finally.
The chandelier cascaded light down to create shimmers of movement in dark hair she’d pinned up in an intricate knot, leaving her delectable shoulders bare. Even with the distance between them, her heartbeat echoed within his own chest. Her eyes a sapphire blue, her skin the purest of marbles, even without knowing her as he did, he’d be interested. But he did know her. A fierce intellect pounded behind that pretty face, outmatched only by the spirit of fire held within her breast.