Dark Fire by Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 6

Calistoga was pretty town, rather famous for its mud and mineral baths. She found the auto parts store without incident, purchased the supplies she needed, and made her exit. Thinking about Darius instead of watching where she was going, she nearly tripped over the man lounging against the little red car at the curb. The man steadied her easily even as he smoothly removed the packages from her arms and stowed them in her car. Tempest blinked up at him. He was looking at her as if he knew her. He wasn’t particularly tall, but he was handsome in a blond, surfer kind of way. “Do I know you?” she asked, unable to place him.

“My name is Cullen Tucker, ma’am,” he drawled with the slightest of Southern accents. He held out a photograph.

Biting her lip, realizing this was the trouble she had been expecting. Tempest glanced at the picture of herself. “Where in the world did you get that?” It was a great likeness of her, with butterflies thick in the air, alighting on her head and shoulders. Her arms were stretched out, and she was laughing. The sun was behind her, and her feet were in the stream.

Cullen examined her expression. “Did you know the man who took this photograph?”

“No. I certainly didn’t pose for it.” Tempest edged around him, preparing to bolt into the driver’s seat. She was an excellent driver, and more than once in her rather misspent youth she had even outrun the police. She had confidence in the car, too. If she could get behind the wheel, she would be gone.

“Don’t be frightened,” he said softly. “I’m actually trying to help you. Can we go somewhere to talk?”

“I’m in the middle of a big job,” she hedged.

“Please, it’s important. A few minutes. We’ll go somewhere public, so you won’t be afraid of me. I don’t want to sound dramatic, or like a nutcase, but it’s a matter of life and death,” he insisted.

Tempest closed her eyes for a moment, sighing in resignation. Of course it was a matter of life and death. What else would it be, when she was involved? She finally introduced herself, offering her hand. “I’m Tempest Trine.” There was something about Cullen Tucker that she couldn’t define, but she believed him to be inherently sincere. Simultaneously she wanted to groan aloud at her own introduction; Darius had her thinking of herself as Tempest instead of Rusti. It was pitiful that she couldn’t get out from under his spell for even a moment.

Cullen shook her hand gently. “Do you mind if we get something to eat? I’ve been traveling for a couple of days and didn’t take much time out.”

Tempest walked beside him, relieved that so many people were on the street. Cullen didn’t give her a bad feeling the way Matt Brodrick had, but she still preferred not to be alone with him.

Cullen waited until he had ordered his meal in a cafe they found before he started his explanation. “I’m going to tell you some pretty bizarre things. I want you to hear me out before you decide I’m crazy.” He tapped the photograph of her with one fingertip. “Some time ago I joined a secret society that believes that vampires really exist.”

Tempest felt the color drain from her face, and she sat back in her chair, needing the support. Before she could reply, Cullen held up a hand to stop her. “Just listen. Whether or not you believe there are vampires among us doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the people I was affiliated with believe it, and they are out to capture, dissect, and destroy any they might find. Some of them have gone completely off their rockers, I’m afraid. The singer that you’re traveling with-and don’t deny that you’re with her; I’ve done my home-work-is being targeted by the society. They’ve already made attempts on her life, and believe me, they’ll do it again.”

Tempest drummed her fingers nervously on the table-top. “Why aren’t you going to the police? Why tell me?”

“The police won’t believe me-you know that. But I can try to help you and maybe even your friend the singer. This picture was taken at the same place where they found Matt Brodrick’s body. He was part of the society, and, unfortunately for you, this picture condemns you in its eyes. They sent me to track you down and bring you back to them to see what they can learn about your group before… disposing of you. And I’m sure I’m not the only one they’ll be sending. I want to get you out of here, get you somewhere safe, where you can lay low until they lose interest in you.”