"What have I told you about keeping the perimeter clear, Juan?" I asked through gritted teeth.

He swallowed. "But... you looked like you were in danger, querida."

My fists clenched. It wasn't because of the endearment; Juan was forever calling me one of those, but he usually did it while following orders. Not while taking matters into his own hands in an idiotic, misguided chivalrous way that almost got people killed.

"Cat." Another of the black-clad men came forward, also taking off his helmet. "Your eyes."

Right. I took a breath, forcing down the surge of adrenalin that had kicked in my nonhuman traits. By the time I blinked, I knew the green glow had left my gaze and my eyes were their normal gray color again. Years of practice made perfect when it came to controlling the vampire parts of me.

Most people were happily unaware that vampires existed. It was my job to keep it that way while protecting them from the more unruly members of undead society. I hadn't asked for this job-it was forced on me because of the heritage I also hadn't asked for. Thanks, Dad, I thought with bitterness. One day I'll find you. And then I'll kill you for raping my mother.

You could say I had family issues.

"Let's get those people back inside and contain this area," my second-in-command, Tate, ordered. More helmets came off as the rest of the team obeyed. The helmets had specially-designed infrared filters that blocked ninety percent of a vampire's hypnotic glowing gaze. The rest of the helmet's purpose? Well, it had saved more than a few skulls from getting cracked after some impromptu flight time. Vampires were strong enough to hurl cars if they wanted to. Humans? They could be thrown so much farther.

While Tate made sure the bystanders were hustled back inside, other members of the team went about carting the vampire's body away. I returned my attention to Juan.

"This was your first time commanding a tactical operation, and what did you do? You allowed a police officer into the containment area where the vampire and I were. Then you brought the team out of hiding to confront said cop. And then you didn't attempt to neutralize the cop when he started shooting up the place. My God, Juan, the only thing you left out was setting off flares while calling the media!"

"You were right behind the cop, querida. I didn't want to risk shooting you," Juan said, defending himself. His Spanish accent was thicker than normal, a sure sign he knew he was in for it.

"Really?" I scoffed. "You've been with the team three months now, and you still think I couldn't move in time?"

"Por favor. You're fast, but you're not that fast."

"Juan." I didn't shake him, but I was tempted. "I didn't get to be leader of this team because I sweet-talked the right secret government official. I got it because of my high undead body count. Now, don't ever disobey orders again, or I'll throw your ass off this team. Clear?"

He smiled. "Crystal clear, Kitten..."

At that one word, all the emotions I'd buried over the past fifteen months came roaring to the surface. In a surge of grief, I shoved Juan backward. Too hard; I'd forgotten to check up my strength. He dented the car he landed on. Then his head smacked the concrete when he hit the ground.

Tate swung around to give me an incredulous look. So did the other team members who were still outside.

I cringed in guilt, resisting the urge to run over to Juan and check on him. He'd be okay-I'd give him some of the vampire's blood later to ensure that. But as for now... better the guys think I was a heartless witch than show weakness and spur their concerns that I wasn't tough enough to lead them.

"I hate that nickname," was all I said. "Now maybe Juan will remember that."

I walked through the graveyard, not needing the bright moonlight to lessen the darkness for me. There were crumbling headstones with fading inscriptions etched on them around me. A large evergreen towered in the middle of the cemetery. Several yards away, a scarred tree extended over a cliff like a wraith leaning over the edge of eternity.

I looked around with deliberate casualness, sensing I was no longer alone. A waft of charged air seemed to caress my back, announcing the approach of a vampire. Come closer, I thought, tightening my grip on the knife in my pocket.

The vampire came up behind me as silent as a shadow. I waited until I could almost feel the brush of his hand on my skin before I whirled, my knife raised to strike. Then I saw his face... and my weapon fell to the ground.

"Bones."

His hair seemed almost white under the glow of the moonlight, and those deep brown eyes locked with mine.

"You left me," he whispered, but the accusation in his voice might as well have been a scream.

I dropped my gaze. "I... I had to."

He laughed, low and bitter. "Did you?"

I reached out to him, a stab of pain going through me when he pulled away. "The law was chasing me, other vampires were chasing both of us, and then the FBI's version of the Spook Squad found out I wasn't totally human. You would have been in too much danger trying to hide me and my mother. I couldn't let you die, Bones."

"You didn't give me a choice," he shot back, his eyes flashing green. "You left me with only a bloody note. How could you do that? You said you loved me."

"I do," I said brokenly.

Bones grabbed my shoulders, pulling me close. "I told you I'd find you if you ran from me, Kitten. I have, and you will never run away from me again, do you understand? Say it."

I stared at him, heartbroken. "I can't."

He started to fade. I snatched at him, but it was as if he'd turned to smoke in my hands. Desperately I tried to hold on to him, but the more I clutched at him, the more he dematerialized.

"Bones," I screamed, suddenly willing to say anything, do anything, to keep him with me. "I won't leave again, I promise. I love you, please come back...!"

The ground reared up to hit me-and I woke up on my bedroom floor. There was no graveyard, no moonlight, no Bones. Just me, tormenting myself with another dream about him.

"Goddamn it," I whispered, my heart pounding. I must have fallen out of bed during my dream, chasing someone I could never have. After being gone over a year, I should have a better grip on my emotions, but I didn't. No, I still missed Bones with the same gut-wrenching ache I'd had the day I left him.

One thing could be counted on to help. I showered, then got dressed and drove to work. The military compound Don recently renovated was about thirty minutes from my house. By the time I got on the road, I usually hit the lunchtime rush. It was my vampire blood that made mornings not my thing, plus you could safely say most of my job activities took place at night.

After my obligatory stop at the three-count 'em, three-security checkpoints leading up to the compound, I made it in the building. Most of the levels were underground, completing the image of "nothing strange goin' on here, folks!" that Don wanted to project.

He was waiting in his office for me. It was my routine to stop there first, go over reports from the previous evening's activity, and then get back to training my team. Unless there was another string of suspicious murders to discuss, of course. Then it would be flying to the scene of whatever gruesome event to figure out if we were dealing with the wrath of humanity against humanity... or something else.

Don's gray head was bent over his laptop when I entered. He didn't bother to look up as I sat down in the chair opposite him.

"Juan's still in medical, Cat," he said by way of greeting. "The doctors say he'll be unconscious for another day."

Guilt poked me again for my unwarranted reaction to the name I'd only let one person call me.

"He'd be back in the training room today if you'd bend your stupid rules. Between my blood and the blood from the vampire corpse the other night, Juan could be good as new," I replied.

Don's eyes were almost the same gray shade as his hair. "I won't have the men getting careless because they think vampire blood makes them invincible. And I won't have them becoming addicted to the other effects it would have on them."

Don thought vampires were evil, plain and simple. If not for my usefulness to his operation, I was pretty sure Don would be happy to see me dead. One less blight on society and all that, considering my mixed lineage.

I shrugged. "Your call, boss, but then don't blame me because you're afraid to use the resources available to you."

"How is your mother?" Don asked, changing the subject.

I glowered at him. Boy, did he go for the low blows. "Fine, thanks. She says she missed you at her last Undead Pride party."

A faint smile touched his lips. Don knew my mother was even more prejudiced against vampires than he was.

"We have a possible case I want you to review," Don said, bringing the subject back to business. "Here are several hard-copy files, newspaper microfilm, and floppy disks to go through." He pushed a thick manila envelope across his desk to me. "I'll want your report tomorrow on whether you think there's anything supernatural involved."

"What's the rush? If you're having me sort through old newspaper films and floppy disks instead of fresh bodies, why don't I have more time to do a proper evaluation?"

Don gave me a thin smile. "Just have the report ready when you come in tomorrow."

I stood up. Too bad for him he didn't specify what time tomorrow, because I was feeling a late start coming on. "Whatever you say, boss."

After a bruising day of running my team through staged drills and hand-to-hand combat, I left the compound at ten. It occurred to me that I hadn't eaten anything, so instead of heading straight home, I stopped by a fast-food place. It was chilly out, but despite that, I decided to eat my hamburger and fries sitting on a bench near a park instead of in my car. It was so rare to be out at night unless I was hunting something. Even more rare to be out without someone from my team spying on me.

Don didn't know I could hear the teams he put on me and the faint clicking in my phone that revealed the extra wiring. He knew a lot about my inhuman abilities, but I'd held back a few things. Like how far my hearing range really extended. I wasn't planning anything devious despite Don's suspicions, but some things were best left undisclosed. Don had relaxed somewhat in the past couple of months, to give him credit. Now I was only tailed a few times a week instead of every day.

I chewed the salty goodness of my fries and wondered for the millionth time what Bones was doing right then. Whatever it was, I hoped he was okay. He might be undead, but that didn't make him impossible to kill, and with his line of work, a lot of people wanted him shriveled. Please, God, keep him safe, I thought. Let him understand why I did what I did and not hate me for it. Or, let him hate me if that'll make him happier. Just let him be okay.

A choked-off scream snapped my head up. I fixed my gaze in its direction, moving toward the sound. There. Behind the thick clump of trees about a hundred yards into the park. I pulled out one of the silver knives I always kept in my jacket, concealing it in my sleeve.

"Is someone hurt?" I called out. Maybe that sound was the muffled scream of passion during a clandestine tryst. Or something else human in nature. I crept closer.

There was no response to my question except a slurping noise. I knew that sound.

When I burst through the trees, the vampire didn't even pick his head up from the girl's neck. Two things registered with me in an instant. He's not feeding to get a harmless snack-his teeth are sank in too deep. And he hasn't even bothered to put her under.

The girl's wide eyes met mine, silently pleading. This was no consensual exchange of blood. If it had been, I would have turned around and walked away, same as I'd done many times before. This was different, however. It was attempted murder.

"Hey, buddy," I said. "I taste better. Come see."

The vampire laughed, the sound muffled against the girl's neck. He wasn't alarmed-why would he be? I had a heartbeat, I breathed, and I was all alone. No undead person in their right mind would find such a combination a threat... which was why it was such a perfect disguise.

His emerald gaze drilled into mine as he lifted his head. Good. Fangs no longer in her artery where they could rip it open.

"I'll have to do that."

I flung myself at him with blurring speed. Fang Face didn't even have time to look surprised before my silver blade sank into his heart. One, two, three twists, and all the strength left him for good.

I knew it made me a homicidal witch, but oh God, did I enjoy that! There were few things that made me happy these days, but evening the score against murdering bastards like him made me still believe there was a reason to live. I couldn't be with Bones, but I could save a few people. I did have that to keep me going.

The girl was staring at me in disbelief, swaying on her feet. A flow of red leaked from the two holes in her neck with steady, rhythmic pumps. I gave that flow a swift, calculating glance before leaning down and hacking off the vampire's hand with one hard slice.

Her eyes bugged. Before she could do anything stupid, like run while her artery was punctured, I grabbed her. Then I held the severed end of the vamp's hand to the holes in her neck, clapping my other hand over her mouth so she couldn't scream.

Her heartbeat was a loud staccato in my ears as she struggled. I gave the unattached hand a few good squeezes to get the remaining blood out of it since it was already starting to shrivel. After a moment, I pulled the stump off her neck to examine her wound.

Her bleeding had stopped and those two fang holes were gone. Satisfied, I dropped the dead vamp's severed hand.

"Works like a charm," I muttered. Stupid Don and his prejudices. Nothing but nothing healed like vampire blood.

Then I took my hand off her mouth and let her go, about to give her my rehearsed speech on how trauma can make people see things that aren't really there.

"He was a vampire, wasn't he?" She asked it in a very matter-of-fact way.

I regarded her warily, wondering if this was a prelude to full-blown hysterics. "Miss, you're confused. Sometimes, when people go through a traumatic experience, their mind can play tricks on them-"

"You sure killed the shit out of him," she interrupted me. "I mean, wow. I owe you a beer at least."

I stared at her with the same disbelief she'd bestowed on me earlier. Most people, after having their necks chewed on and then seeing their fanged attacker stabbed to death, were pretty overwrought. Not poking the dead vampire with their foot and mumbling about how he hadn't even bought her a drink before getting one of his own.

I shifted on my feet, torn. Protocol demanded that I keep her here, call in the team, and let Don arrange a little memory-altering session between her and his staff of highly skilled, always-on-call hypnotists. After all, we couldn't have people running around screaming, "Nosferatu!" and rallying the villagers, could we?

"I have to call this in," I said. "Remove the body, gather up any evidence..." What was wrong with me? Why was I admitting that?

She nodded like it made sense and then sat down. Her pulse was steady now, though a little weaker than it should have been. Still, some iron pills and rest and she'd be good as new.

"Is this your job or something?"

Why wasn't she acting like every other victim I'd come across, male or female? She'd almost been eaten by a vampire! She should be screaming, crying, or demanding to talk to her lawyer. The usual stuff.

"Have you been around vampires before?" I asked suspiciously. That would explain it.

She shook her head. "No, this was definitely a first for me."

"Then why are you so calm?" I couldn't help but blurt.

She gave me a jaded look. "I just moved here from New York and my old boyfriend was a cabbie there. Does that answer your question?"

Caught off guard, I laughed. Yes, now her relative nonchalance about discovering the existence of the undead did make sense.

"I'm Denise," she said. "What's your name?"

I answered her with the fake name I went under. "Cristine."

She smiled. Though it was a trifle shaky, it was genuine. "Cristine, I'm very glad to meet you."

The vanilla-colored envelope landed in front of Don. I took my seat and propped my foot up on the edge of his desk. Few things pissed Don off as much as that, which of course was why I did it. It's not like I was worried about getting fired. Jeez, that was a dream of mine.

"Do you mind?" Don asked acidly.

I smiled. "I'm comfier this way, so why would I?"

He gave me a scathing look but picked up the folder and didn't comment further on the location of my foot. "Since it's almost six p.m., I assume you've conducted an extensive evaluation of the materials here?"

I nodded, rocking back in my chair just to see how deep his scowl could get.

"You've got yourself a creature on the loose, all right. Seven prominent husbands go missing right after their weddings, never to be seen again... unless you count the random parts. Coincidentally, their wives all look like the same woman, barring the changing hairstyles and clothes, but hey, you can't expect fashion to stand still for a hundred years, can you?"

Don leaned back with a satisfied expression on his lined face. "Just as I thought. She's a vampire, preying on these men after she marries them."