Blood Bound

By Celia Jade

Stephanie Dubois has managed to keep her true nature a secret. Her innocent involvement in a bounty hunt mission brings a vampire crimes agent to her door. The last thing she needs is someone poking around in her business. Soon, she realizes that being charged with obstructing justice is the least of her worries. This rugged vampire seems determined to reveal the secret that could tear her family apart.

Dex Mason is relieved to have finally found Stephanie Dubois. She is the only person who might be able to save his brother’s life. Yet she vehemently denies her genetic makeup and the rare gene she carries. This is an unexpected obstacle. He has no choice but to use the only leverage he has.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Aug 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781771112567

Book preview

Stephanie never imagined that her gesture to help a friend would land her in trouble with the law. Worse still, the determined vampire agent who’s heading the investigation could expose the secret she’s vowed to take to her grave.

Stephanie Dubois has managed to keep her true nature a secret. Her innocent involvement in a bounty hunt mission brings a vampire crimes agent to her door. The last thing she needs is someone poking around in her business. Soon, she realizes that being charged with obstructing justice is the least of her worries. This rugged vampire seems determined to reveal the secret that could tear her family apart.

Dex Mason is relieved to have finally found Stephanie Dubois. She is the only person who might be able to save his brother’s life. Yet she vehemently denies her genetic makeup and the rare gene she carries. This is an unexpected obstacle. He has no choice but to use the only leverage he has.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Blood Bound

Copyright © 2012 Celia Jade

ISBN: 978-1-77111-256-7

Cover art by Carmen Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books

Look for us online at:

www.eXtasybooks.com

Smashwords Edition

Blood Bound

By

Celia Jade

Chapter One

Present day, Denver, Colorado

Dex Mason flashed his Vampire Crime Investigation badge at the slim, tattooed young man who was washing down a vinyl chair. In the past two weeks, he’d been dropping into downtown Denver’s tattoo shops in search of the woman. No leads so far. He was told the tattoo he was looking for was a custom design, not part of the usual flash art selection.

I’m looking for a woman who got a tattoo that looks exactly like this, he told the man as he pulled out a piece of paper depicting a hand drawn version of the tattoo. He fought the angst tearing through his veins, hoping this wouldn’t be another dead end.

The man took a good look at it and nodded. Yes…I did this piece for a female client last year. What exactly do you need to know?

Dex’s pulse jumped. It had to be her—the tattoo was unusual. But this was where it got tricky. Since this wasn’t an official investigation, he didn’t have a warrant for this establishment, and he needed the man’s cooperation. Of course, he could probably get one, but that would require him to pull some major strings, which would take time.

He chose his next words carefully. I’m not looking to arrest her. She might be able to save someone’s life, so a name and a telephone number will do.

There was a moment’s hesitation as the artist gave him a measured look. What was your name again, sir?

Dex felt his nerves stretch almost painfully. Agent Dex Mason. He opened his ID again.

The man made a dismissing gesture with his hand, then walked behind a counter on the other side of the room. When you’ve been in this line of work as long as I have, you can read people real well. You’re a straight shooter, Agent Mason.

Dex approached and heard the slide of a filing cabinet drawer. A moment later, the man turned to him with a green folder in his hands. We keep waiver forms signed by the client and I remember this one very well. His mouth twitched with amusement. Well, it’s hard to forget a gorgeous woman like that.

The artist turned the folder around and placed it on the table. Stephanie Dubois. Here’s her contact number.

Dex copied the information down in his notebook, then his gaze fell on the close-up digital photo clipped to the top of the folder. He instantly placed the drawing next to it. An almost perfect match.

Yep, that’s the piece I did for her, the man said.

A tide of relief and triumph flooded Dex. Finally. He asked, Did she mention where she works or what she does for a living?

The man shook his head. No, she didn’t talk much, except she told me she’d drawn that herself. Plucked it out of her imagination. Only a talented artist could draw something so sophisticated.

Dex nodded and smiled. Thanks a lot for your help.

No problem. I’m just curious—where did you get that drawing?

Dex didn’t hesitate to respond. A seer drew it. It was the truth. Have a nice day, he added, and left the shop.

In the car, he wasted no time contacting Alex DeSousa, his favorite data processor at VCI, and gave him Stephanie Dubois’ name and contact information. DeSousa had access to data that Dex didn’t, and he wanted to know everything he could about Ms. Dubois before meeting her.

An hour later, he walked through his brother’s condo apartment and found his friend, Victor, in the study. I’m pretty sure I’ve found her, Victor.

Victor had drawn the tattoo as soon as he’d made a psychic connection with the woman. His visions were intense but short-lived, and he’d been unable to reconnect with her after that first time. It had been enough for him, though, to sketch the tattoo, and enough to pick up that she bore it on her right hip.

The old seer looked up from a heavy book and gazed at him with his translucent, silver eyes. The lines around his eyes and mouth crinkled as he smiled. Excellent news, Dex. What are your plans?

I’ve got her address. She’s uptown. Hell, I can’t believe how close she’s been all this time, he said with a brief shake of his head. I’ll see her tomorrow and tell her about Ray.

An unreadable emotion flickered in his friend’s eyes as he raised his hand. Be patient. The right time will come soon.

There’s no time to waste, Victor. Ray’s getting worse.

Trust me on this. There’s an obstacle, though I don’t know what it is.

Victor was a highly gifted seer. As long as Dex had