Coldstorm (Heart of a Vampire, Book 7) Read Online Free Page B

ping-ponged between them. Finally she stopped at Matt. Her lush mouth twisted in a scowl. "You attacked me. What exactly did you do to me?" Her voice held an old European lilt that made Matt think of times long ago.
    With gritted teeth, he pretended there was no stabbing pain in his back, his chest, his ribs. He reached his feet without a single flinch. "I saw a strange vampire in my King's territory. We've had issues with Rogues lately—"
    "I know," she cut him off.
    How could this woman, a stranger, know about their local problems?
    Accent thickening to a husky lilt she mumbled, " Găoază ."
    Sending Matt reeling in even more surprise, Jordan chuckled. "The good doctor might be a bit abrupt, but I assure you he is not an asshole."
    She replied, "Forgive me if I reserve my judgment."
    Jordan crossed his arms over his chest and watched her with mock fierceness. "Seems you're not as sneaky as you pretend. I had a report after you left, from the kid you asked about. Robby wanted to ensure my visitor made it to see me. Caught by a youth." Jordan chuckled. "So tell me, Anca, how did they both manage to find you?"
    Incensed at his King's tone making him sound like some weakling, Matt strode forward as if he didn't have a care. Or cracked ribs. Possibly a punctured lung by the flash fire of every breath he shallowly took.
    Right now, he had more important concerns. "Who is this woman?" he demanded.
    "Oh, we'll get to that." Jordan continued to watch her. "So how'd you get caught a second time?"
    Was that glee in his King's voice?
    Her eyes faded from crimson to smoky blue. "They both surprised me. For some reason I couldn't sense your young Robby. You sent me to the blood bank. There was an oddity there, distracting me. This one," she pointed at Matt, "didn't give me a chance to say anything. I will not let my guard fall again. I guarantee you that." She spat the words, shooting Matt another angry look.
    Jordan obviously knew her. Why hadn't Matt been told about the visitor, like usual? A fiery poker jabbed at his gut. Had his King suddenly stopped trusting him? Surely Jordan knew Matt couldn't be the traitor.
    A yawning darkness roiled inside him.
    Surely.
    "When are we clueing me in on what's going on?" Matt managed to ask.
    Jordan rubbed his chin. "Have to tell him something. Might as well be the truth."
    The woman studied Matt intently.
    When they both continued to silently stare, making him feel on exhibit, Matt straightened. Through clenched teeth, he gritted out, "What the hell is going on?"
    The woman's expression tightened. "You would trust this man with the fate of your entire clan?"
    "I would," Jordan stated without hesitation, his tone fully confident.
    Pleasure at his King's trust flushed the worry from Matt's soul.
    Jordan's next word's floored him. "Matt Dixon, meet Anca Fieraru. She's been sent by the Magic Council to deal with our remaining Rogues, and perhaps, ferret out our traitor."
    The Council ?
    The words spun in Matt's mind like a flash fire of white hot rage. His muscles stiffened, his jaw tightened. "You're from the Magic Council?" he growled.
    His hands fisted, and he took a step back. Bitterness welled at the back of his throat like sulfurous bile. Anger and hatred coursed through his blood.
    Jordan continued, "Now that the two of you have met, I do believe it would be best for all involved for you to work together."
    Shock thrummed through Matt. Work with someone from the Magic Council? Hell no. He wouldn't work with those murdering bastards if his life depended on it.
    He shook his head, looking at Jordan and silently asking him not to force this. Not on him. His King knew very well, and exactly why, Matt despised the Council and all of their corrupt puppets.
    The sympathy in Jordan's expression wasn't comforting, but only made Matt's gut roil harder. In the man's eyes was the surety that Matt would never break his oath to Jordan, or to the clan.
    And the damned man was right.
    Matt might refuse to