Shadows Past: A Rune Alexander short. Book 5.5 of the Rune Alexander series. by Laken Cane Page B

glared as he hobbled up the street. He wasn’t willing to let one of them carry him, but he didn’t object too strenuously to Jack’s arm across his back.
    “What’s up with the glove?” Rune asked him. “Is that some sort of makeshift splint?”
    He said nothing.
    “Kid,” she prompted. “What’s the deal with the fucking glove?”
    He frowned, but must have figured out she wasn’t going to let up until he answered. “I put the glove back on after I left.”
    It wasn’t an answer, really, but she didn’t push it. Sometimes, kids were just freaks.
    He swiveled his head from side to side, his stare watchful. Maybe he was afraid more rats would arrive to avenge the ones Shiv Crew had killed.
    Or maybe it was something else.
    The streets of Spiritgrove were unkind to the vulnerable.
    And even as she had the thought, master vampire Nicolas Llodra stepped out of the shadows and into her path.
    Ben gave a startled yelp and turned to run, but Jack grabbed his arm. “Hold up there, boy.”
    “It’s almost insulting, isn’t it?” Z said. “Shiv Crew surrounds this kid, but he’s still terrified of the Others.”
    Rune shrugged and looked at the vampire. “What do you want, Llodra?”
    Several of his children came to stand at his back, silent but alert. He tilted his head and watched her, his dark eyes full of shadows and past agonies that only a master vampire would have experienced. He was old, though his face didn’t show it.
    He’d been turned when he was young.
    “Ms. Alexander,” he said, finally. “That’s a very interesting young man you have there.” And he turned his face slowly to spear Ben with his sharp, dark gaze.
    Ben shrank away but stared at the vampire as though unable to look away, despite his terror.
    Jack loaded his hands with silver and stepped in front of the boy. Z and Raze stood ready, eager fingers caressing silver weapons. All they needed was an excuse.
    Nicolas knew better than to give them one. “We are going to the club.” He inclined his head at the building across the street.
    Rune glanced at Club Kiss, standing with silent darkness between an adult store and a head shop. The club appeared empty and abandoned, but one had only to open the doors to see a place so full there would be little free space to stand or walk.
    It would be bursting with music, laughter, dim lights, and vampires—as well as humans. Humans who liked to live dangerously, who were there on a dare, or who’d decided trying to find immortality was worth the risk of playing with the undead.
    And bite junkies. It would be full of the desperate bite junkies.
    “Then go,” she said.
    “You are welcome to join us, Ms. Alexander,” he said, smiling slightly. “On this eve of Christmas, we have many exciting activities planned.”
    And again, he glanced toward Ben, who was peering around Jack’s bulk. “Your young friend would be welcome as well. Your men should stay away, though. They’re too dangerous.”
    He was suddenly standing right in front of her, too close. Much too close. “I know what the child fears. And I know what you fear. Have you realized what you are?” Again, he tilted his head. “What exactly are you, Ms. Alexander?”
    Rune felt the blood drain from her face. She growled and pulled her gun, shooting the vampire full of silver before she’d realized she’d even wanted to. The shot flung him back against his children, who, even as Rune aimed for another round, never made a sound.
    They flowed around their master like rippling water and carried him off.
    He’d heal, the bastard son of a bitch.
    “ I’m dangerous, is what the fuck I am,” she bit out, thrusting her gun back into its holster with a little too much force. Fucking vampire.
    “You sure are in a bad mood.” Jack reached around and yanked the kid out from behind him. “You don’t have to be scared, little buddy. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
    “We’re Shiv Crew,” Raze agreed.
    “I’m not scared