First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World #1)(60)
Author: Jeaniene Frost

"Get some tuna and a bowl of cream."

Spade had him against the wall dangling by his throat in the next instant. Only the knowledge that he needed Nathanial, if Denise did transform back, kept Spade from killing him on the spot.

"Take care what you choose to say next, because you will pay for it in blood if it’s another ill-conceived quip."

"I’m being serious," Nathanial said with emphasis on each word. His hazel gaze was steady. "You’ve got a terrified woman stuck in an unfamiliar form who’s been carted around in a small box for hours. She’s hungry. Thirsty. Probably claustrophobic, too, which would explain why she’s been hissing and scratching at the cage nonstop. Let her out. Let her eat something, drink something, settle down a little. And then you’re going to pet her until she’s really relaxed."

That murderous urge was almost overpowering, making a fine tremor run through Spade’s body. His fangs pressed against his lips in silent demand to bury into Nathanial’s throat and rip.

"All right," Spade said, once his fury died down enough for him to talk. "But if you’re putting me on, you’ll be the next one in that carrier. In pieces. Alten!"

A few moments later, the door opened. "Yes?"

"Ask the kitchen to send up some tuna fish or chicken, plus a bowl of cream. Right away."

Alten blinked but didn’t question the directive. It wasn’t five minutes before he was back, reeking tuna on a plate and a saucer filled to the brim with cream. This time, though, Cat and Crispin came with him. They filed in the room silently, shutting the door behind them.

Spade set the containers of tuna and cream on the floor and then opened the door of the carrier.

A blur of fur burst free with a yowl, running around the perimeter of the room in a mad dash before darting under the bed. Spade felt his heart sink at the distinctly feline response. Was there nothing of Denise left in the animal hiding beneath the bed?

"Just wait," Nathanial said.

After a tense couple of minutes, a mahogany-colored head slid out from under the bed. Hissing at the room in general, the cat came out all the way and went straight to the tuna dish, devouring the smelly banquet. Then the kitty lapped at the bowl of cream until its dark sides began to swell.

"Get her now," Nathanial instructed.

Spade snatched up the cat before it could dart back under the bed. Immediately tiny claws scored his hands, but he ignored that, looking at the bundle of fur with a mix of hope and despair. Could Denise really come back from this? She said she’d seen Raum transform into a dog and back without any ill effects, but he was a demon, and she was still – mostly – human.

At least, she used to be.

"Don’t let her loose. Get her as comfortable as possible, and start petting her."

Crispin muttered something Spade didn’t want to decipher. With a clenched jaw, he settled himself on the bed with the now-growling kitty, holding it in place with one hand and stroking its fur with the other.

Four sets of rapt eyes watched his every move. After a minute, Spade was tense enough to growl along with the cat.

"Give me the room," he said.

Crispin took Nathanial’s arm. "Come with me, mate. I’ll show you to your accommodations," he said before drawing him away.

Spade almost smiled at that, imagining where Crispin would put him. The rest of them filed out, Cat shutting the door with a pensive last look at them.

The kitty continued to growl in that low, extended manner, punctuated every so often by a hiss and a twist to get free. Spade loosened his grip to where the cat could wiggle, but not escape, still stroking those dark brown ears.

"Denise," he said low. "If you can hear me, I very much need to you come back. Don’t resign me to the fate of being one of those crusty old vampires who only live with their pets."

I’m talking to a bloomin’ kitty, it occurred to him. He might as well dig a hole and cover himself up with his grave dirt now.

But he didn’t stop, because he needed to believe Denise understood what he was saying, even if that wasn’t true.

"Come now, darling, I can think of far better ways to spend time in bed with you than this," he continued in a low voice. "You make a right fetching feline, but really, there are limits to the things I’m willing to try."

The cat stopped growling, though its tail kept up its restless twitching. Spade didn’t know if that was a positive sign, but he kept talking.

"We have everything we need to move forward, darling, except you. Come back, Denise. We’ll return Nathanial to Raum, get those brands off your arms, and continue on with our lives. Do you know the first thing I want to do, when you have your brands off?"

A softer noise began to emanate from the cat. After a second, Spade realized it was purring.

"I’ll take you somewhere very posh," he went on. "I can picture the dress you’ll wear: black silk, thin straps, deep neckline – and no gloves. You’ll have a wonderful dinner, and then we’ll dance until you’re knackered…but not too knackered, because when we get home, I’m going to make love to you. I’ll go slow, taking my time over every inch of your flesh, until your voice turns into that delicious, throaty sound that inflames me. And then, afterward, I’ll hold you until you fall asleep…"

A strong current rippled over the kitty’s body. Spade quit talking, watching in amazement as the bundle beneath his hands grew. Another rippling shudder, then another, and another. Skin seemed to erupt from the cat’s form, stretching, growing, and widening in a cataclysm of limbs, flesh, and bone that happened almost faster than his eyes could track. In the space of a few incredible seconds, a woman’s naked body replaced the cat curled across his lap, her hair a dark veil across her face.

Spade didn’t move, afraid his slightest gesture would cause her to magically disappear again.

"Denise."

A shaking hand brushed her hair back, and then Denise’s lovely hazel gaze met his.

"Spade," she said, her voice scratchy and rough.

Then she jumped off the bed, staggered, and ran into the bathroom.

Chapter Twenty-nine

"Denise, honey, are you okay? Please let me in," Cat urged.

Denise stayed on the floor, pressed as far into the corner as she could manage, and only answered because she knew if she didn’t, Cat would break in.

"I’m fine," she gritted out. "I just want to be alone for a while."

She’d repeated the same phrase to Spade twenty minutes ago, after she’d finished shaking and running her hands all over her body to verify that, yes, she was indeed completely back to herself. Words couldn’t explain the horrible panic she’d felt while turned into something else, not able to communicate in any manner aside from growls and hisses.