Chapter 35

I almost didn't leave my room that night for fear I'd run into Kaz or Ty. Actually meeting up with either one of them would be fine. But I was pretty sure they were the same variety of demon, or at least closely related species. The odds of them being in the same hotel at the same time and not knowing one another were pretty slim. If I'd really thought either of them had been just a quick fuck, it wouldn't have been so bad - I could handle one-night stands - preferred them to relationships, actually. With both Kaz and Ty though, I'd felt the possibility for something more and that scared the daylights out of me.
So I stalled. I called Ari and chatted for half an hour or so, then had another good long talk with Jess, who was wrapping up her business in New York. We both laughed and groaned, placing bets on when Ari and Jack would be announcing a wedding. I shuddered a little at the thought of being a bridesmaid at my age - especially since Ariana's favorite color is pink - but I was honestly happy for my friend. I didn't tell either of them about Kaz or Ty, mostly because I had no idea what to say. The whole situation was just too weird to talk about.
By about nine o'clock, however, I'd run out of excuses to stall, and I was getting really bored staying in my room. It was time to check out the action in the casino and maybe a show. I'm not a huge gambler, but I can have fun at the tables for a few hours and not notice the dent in my pocketbook. A couple hundred years on your own gives you plenty of time to build up a bank balance.
Two hours later, to my surprise, I was ahead by a couple thousand dollars. I'd fended off two drunken salesmen from Billings and a local rocker who was killing time before his ten o'clock show. I turned down the offer of a private backstage party but did buy a ticket for the performance. The local boys were opening up for a death-metal band I'd actually heard of, and I was in the mood for a little mosh-pit action. Headbanging and slam dancing would help me work off my tension, I figured. It would also be easy to sneak a feeding from one of the partiers afterward, though after my snack on Kaz's rich blood, I still wasn't particularly hungry.
Thirty minutes into the concert, I looked around me, sighed and left. It was still with me, the boredom, the ennui that had brought me to Vegas in the first place. Unfortunately, it seemed like rock and roll wasn't going to make it go away. Damn it!
As I walked out of the club, back into the main area of the casino, I reached into the pocket of my jeans and fingered the card Kaz had given me. It was late, and he probably wouldn't be in his office, but it might be fun to do a little reconnaissance.
According to my map of the hotel, the security headquarters took up a large portion of the fourth floor of the complex, forming the heart of the administration area. While most of the inner workings were labeled as off-limits to guests, the director's office did have direct access, presumably so high rollers could check in with the boss if they needed something. While there weren't too many people buzzing around at this time of night, the area wasn't empty either. Running a place like this was clearly a twenty-four/seven kind of operation. Nobody stopped me as I cruised past the various offices though. One thing I'd learned as a courtesan was how to look like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. The aura of power that most people sense emanating from vampires probably didn't hurt either - though I detected one or two other immortals among the staffers I passed. No wonder the Dark Tower was so popular with the not-quite-human crowd.
Though the map didn't show it, his lair proved to be a suite, with a desk in the outer area for a gatekeeper. He or she was clearly off-duty. The outer area was unlit and empty. Lights and voices - loud male voices - were coming from the inner one though.
Being a curious sort, of course I paused to listen. Vampire hearing certainly has its advantages from time to time.
"Listen, Kazmir..." I recognized the voice as Ty's, and my curiosity ratcheted up to a whole new level.
A surreptitious turn of the handle showed the door was unlocked, so moving as silently as I could, I slipped into the outer office and shut the door behind me.
"I listened to you before, friend." The last word fairly dripped with sarcasm. "And where did it get me? Exiled for the rest of my bloody life. So you listen to me..."
"You would have rather given up Lily?" There was incredulity in Ty's retort, and maybe something else. My nose was picking up strong hints of licorice and cinnamon - the scents both men had given off when they were turned-on. Holy shit, were Kaz and Ty hot for one another? My pussy spasmed and creamed at just the thought.
"I shouldn't have had to choose," Kaz boomed. "They send us here, leave us for years, but get pissy if we get involved. Well, fuck that. And fuck you too. I'm not going to help you with another witch hunt."
"It's not a witch hunt this time." Ty sighed, and I could almost see him running his hand through his hair. "We're talking about a stone-cold killer. If you really want that on your conscience, fine, don't help me."
"If there's a killer using my hotel to hunt, then damn straight I'm going to do something about it. But I'll take care of it myself. I'm not going to turn him over to you, to the Council's fucked-up version of justice."
"Look, Kaz, I've been working on the Council for over forty years now on this. I finally got them to agree to review your exile decree. If you work with me on this..."
"No. Why the hell would I want to go back there now? And how dare you take it upon yourself to speak for me after you were the one who testified against me in the first place?" Kaz's voice had risen to a shout that was damn near shaking the walls. The emotions layered in his tone had my eyes watering - pain, betrayal and, yes, lust. Maybe even love.
"I did it for your own good," Ty replied, his own tone raw with hurt. "You loved Lily, but you couldn't have her and Zend. I swear, the day after she died, I recanted my testimony and started trying to bring you back."
"Too little," Kaz said. "Too late."
"Is it?" Ty asked quietly. "If it's too late for us, why do you have a hard-on you could cut steel with?"
"I didn't say I wasn't still attracted to you," Kaz replied evenly. "I still like vodka too, and you know how bad that is for me."
"I know we used to be good together," Ty countered. "And I know how hot that ass of yours would look if I bent you over that desk right here and now."
I couldn't help the small moan that escaped me as I pictured the two men fucking on Kaz's desk. My cunt ached and my nipples were drawn up tight. I hadn't been part of a threesome in ages. Hell, with those two, I'd be happy just to watch.
Of course they heard me.