That time she rolled her eyes. “It’s intrusive that your group is investigating me.”
“Carina, Bram knew everything about you the moment you appeared as my mate.”
“What does that mean? Appeared as your mate? What told them I was your mate?” she asked. The traffic lightened as she turned off to the side street that led to her apartment.
“Part of the ritual to enter Nightfall includes receiving the approval mark.”
“That glowing moon. You said it would only become visible in the presence of someone in your clan or around Nightfall.”
“That’s correct. As it is placed, a drop of each attendee’s blood registers in our system. Bram has engineered a program that alerts the clansmen. Vampires recognize their mates by scent and touch. This eliminates the need for a chance encounter.”
“That’s why you inhaled so strongly when we met. I was afraid you could smell how aroused I was.”
“That was icing on the cake,” he said with a wolfish grin that almost made her drive off the road. “Careful.”
“You could jump out of the car, lift it on your shoulders, and place it down somewhere safely before I could hit something,” she said.
“True, but you’d regret damaging the car, so let’s avoid that.”
“You could really do that?” she asked, turning into her apartment complex.
“If I needed to keep you safe. Yes. What do you think about emptying your things completely from your apartment?”
“Sounds like a lot of work for two people,” she answered.
As her building came into view, Carina spotted a truck and a dozen heavily muscled guys stood around the front entrance. She shook her head. They’d have her packed and loaded in an hour.
“I guess I’m moving in with you tonight.”
“I want you with me, Little girl.”
To her surprise, Carina wasn’t worried about her future with Marcus. The mate bond, as he’d explained it to her, was rock solid. Their attraction would never fade or disappear. She loved that she could rely on their bond forever.
She smiled at the handsome vampire and agreed. “Okay. Let me open the door, and you all can get to work.”
Chapter
Sixteen
The following weekend, Marcus noted five young men emerge from the far alley. They separated and approached the line to get inside in a staggered pattern. Once there, each interacted with those around on a superficial level—only answering questions with single-word responses before turning away. None wore the glowing moon wrist emblem, so they hadn’t attended previously.
We have some spies,Marcus announced to the clan. He studied the young men and chose the easiest to pick out of a crowd.Let them all in or choose the tall one to track inside?”
Good idea. Let that one in. We’ll find out what they’re up to but keep an eye on him. I’d like to think the guy who believes he rules this area now understands we are not under his control. But I’m confident Costa hasn’t learned a lesson,Alaric decreed.
He needs to see the blood spattered on his shirt to understand his mortality?Titus chimed in.
That can be arranged,Marcus promised.
Observing through cameras and from overhead positions, Marcus monitored closely as the newcomer proceeded through the ritual and received the glowing moon entry symbol on his wrist. As the scout advanced into the club, he stationed himselfagainst a wall where he could spot everyone who entered. Marcus was impressed. Facing his challengers had always been Marcus’s strategy as well. Protect your back, keep focused on your enemy, and wait for the rest of your group.
An hour later, the spy figured out he was on his own. Studying the large area, he stared at different segments, and Marcus grasped he committed them to memory. As a newcomer, he could get away with snapping some pictures, but he couldn’t methodically document everything without getting his phone taken.
Unfortunately for the big boss, his enemies in Nightfall included scantily dressed young women. To the man’s credit, he withstood temptation for several songs. But he caved when a young woman approached with an extra drink in her hand. As she flirted her heart out, the target’s gaze fastened on her fingers as she ran them along the edge of her dress, which barely contained her large breasts. He automatically raised the glass to his lips.
Titus’s voice sounded in his mind.I thought Margarita might beguile him.
Marcus looked to the bar and spotted the skilled bartender holding court with a harem of women. Titus lifted his chin in silent acknowledgement to Marcus before refocusing on his orders and, of course, the ladies.
