Edged Blade by J.C. Daniels

pay him anything.” I smiled as I said it and watched as the expression ripple over his face.
    We were interrupted before he could formulate his response and I mentally chanted: Steady…stay steady…
    The last thing I wanted was to have one of the top vamps for the Allerton family squaring off with my lover because Damon didn’t like how edgy I was.
    The loud rumble of his engine went silent as he pulled up and parked next to me. Casually, I shifted my body and slid my Glock back into the holster although there was nothing to be done about the blade.
    Abraham’s face went blank, smooth as glass.
    Damon could be as silent as he wished—when he chose. If he wanted, he could move without making a sound and when he came at you, you wouldn’t know until it was too late.
    On the flipside, there were times when he damn well wanted you to know he was coming.
    This was one of those times.
    The door to the classic Dodge Challenger closed with slow deliberation. I didn’t look away from Abraham, but the sound of Damon’s booted feet striking the ground sent a thrill rushing through me. Or maybe it was a chill. His mood had slid into dangerous territory—all at the sight of Abraham Allerton.
    His shadow fell across mine, swallowing it.
    I slid him a glance.
    “Hey.” My smile was firmly in place.
    His lashes swept low, shielding his eyes for a long moment and then he flicked a look at Abraham. “You’re keeping strange company, Kit.”
    “I can’t say he’s company.” I lifted a shoulder. “Abraham came by looking for Justin.”
    Abraham inclined his head. “Alpha Lee.”
    Damon took one step forward. “Greaves isn’t here, as you’re perfectly aware. Get lost.”
    Abraham’s gaze moved back to me. “Miss Colbana, if you will let him know I need to speak with him, I’d appreciate it.”
    “She doesn’t need to be passing messages along for you, leech,” Damon said, his voice dropping into a low growl.
    I pushed past him and caught Abraham’s gaze. “I’ll let him know, Abraham.” As the shadows wrapped around him, I shot Damon a fulminating look. “You do not speak for me.” He opened his mouth and I whirled on him, driving my finger into his chest. “ Ever .”
    Teeth bared in a snarl, he bent his head.
    I rose up on to my toes and shoved my face into his, jabbing him once more for effect. “ Ever ,” I said again.
    Then, with a disgusted sneer, I moved to my car and gathered up the rest of my gear. Storming over to my front door, I mentally cursed the damn cat that I couldn’t seem to live without.
    I didn’t hear him, but I knew he was following. I ducked inside before he could touch me, but I didn’t slam the door in his face, as much as I was tempted. If I’d thought about it for another five seconds, though, I might have.
    Especially once the intensity of his anger jacked up.
    Standing in the middle of my bedroom, the katana in one hand, my blade in the other, I stared at the floor and cursed Justin in one breath, Damon in the next. It was faint, but Justin’s scent still lingered. If I could smell it, so could Damon.
    “Kit…”
    Ignoring him, I placed both blades near my bed and moved over to the table where I kept my other weapons. Glock, dagger, throwing knives—
    Hands came down on my shoulders.
    I tensed.
    “Kit.”
    “That’s me.”
    A headache pounded between my eyes. Putting the garrote down, I focused on the wooden surface.
    “You want to tell me what’s going on or do I just go kill him?”
    Shrugging out from under his grip, I moved over to my bed and sat on the edge. “Seriously, you’re really going to kill Justin because he came into my bedroom?”
    My plan had been to unlace my boots.
    I hadn’t even been able to bend over.
    Damon was suddenly looming over me and my heart lurched up into my throat.
    Green-gold swam in his eyes as he bent over me, his hands coming down to pin me in place. “No, I’m going to kill him because I smell him all over your bed.”
    I