“We’ll make it worth your time,” Jaxson snarled.
The vampire sipped his drink, looking bored. “Hmm. I doubt it. I only trade in things that are priceless.”
“Dragan is on a warpath and wants vengeance on all who’ve wronged him,” I blurted. “We need his finger to cast a spell that will stop him from possessing others and keep him in the underworld. You can think of it as insurance.”
“Insurance?” The vampire’s eyes rounded with surprise, and he snorted. “Against what?”
“You cut off his finger. Once he’s extracted vengeance on those who killed him, I imagine you’ll be next.”
Alejandro tapped his ring against his glass. “Perhaps, perhaps not.”
My gaze flicked to Jaxson. “There must be something we can offer?”
The vampire’s eyes dilated again, and he flashed me a lewd grin. “I’d say a drink of your blood might settle it.”
My heart stilled. Of course.
Instinctively, I glanced down at my chest. A dark stain had seeped into the halter of the dress.
Goddamn it.
Jaxson stepped forward protectively. “Not a chance.”
“Well, then”—Alejandro shrugged and pressed a button on his desk—“no deal. Please see yourselves out.”
A door opened, and three thugs in suits stepped in.
Great. Negotiations were over.
“Let’s go.” Jaxson took my hand and all but dragged me toward the door before I could process what was happening.
“Good luck on your quest to stop Dragan,” Alejandro remarked. “I do hope you succeed. He truly was a foul creature.”
I slammed my platform heels down and tore free of Jaxson’s grip. “There must be something else.”
Alejandro shook his head pityingly. “That finger is a warning to anyone who tries to fuck with me—which raises the question, why are you trying my patience? Get out!”
Jaxson pulled me, but I resisted with all my strength, and shouted, “A drop!”
Alejandro froze, eyes locked in like laser sights, and I broke out of Jaxson’s arms before he could drag me away.
Jaxson reached for me, but the vampire raised his hand, and the thugs pulled out their sidearms. “Silver bullets, Mr. Laurent. I would let the woman speak, lest they make you both bleed. Then there will be no holding me back.”
Jaxson snarled.
I looked at him and gestured for him to calm down.
On the day I’d met her, my aunt had said, “First lesson you need to learn: never give your blood to anyone. On any account. Ever.”
But this wasn’t for sorcery or potions. This was a drink.
I turned back to the vampire. “I’ll give you a drop from my finger. I’ll make the cut myself and drip it in your glass.”
He laughed. “That’s nothing.”
“Please. Five drops. Ten drops. I’ll fill your damn cocktail glass. Help us defeat this bastard.”
Alejandro leaned over and pressed his hands against the desk. “Let me make this clear: this is not a negotiation. I drink from the source. It’s all or nothing.”
“It’s nothing,” Jaxson growled, his eyes narrowing on me. “Don’t do this, Savannah.”
I stepped out of his reach, trying to keep our options alive. “Why do you even want my blood?” I asked Alejandro. “You have plenty of people dying for you to drain them.”
The vampire inhaled deeply and sighed. “Because your blood is so wonderfully different than that of the others of your kind. I can smell the power flowing in your veins, Ms. Caine, like two dragons fighting for control. To tell you the truth, even with my age and strength, it is all I can do to hold myself back. If I were a younger man with less restraint, I would have just taken what I wanted.”
“Touch her, and I’ll rip your heart out,” Jaxson growled deep and low, causing my skin to prickle. The scent of his rage and hatred billowed through the room, practically choking me.
“Now don’t do anything stupid, Laurent, or I will have my men put a silver bullet in your heart and hers.”
“We’re leaving.” Jaxson strode forward and grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the door.
Alejandro laughed as we headed into the stairwell. “Hilarious. After all that, you must not wish to stop Dragan at all.”
But I did. We both did, desperately. If we didn’t get those bones, if Dragan succeeded in summoning the Dark Wolf God, he would leave Magic Side in ruins and steal the souls of our pack.
In comparison to that, what did a drink of my blood matter in the end? Hell, Casey had been with a vampire, and it looked like she’d taken a sizable bite out of him.
I ripped out of Jaxson’s grip and stepped back into the room. “I’ll do it. A two-second sip in exchange for Dragan’s bones. Final offer.”