Stepping outside, she was glad to see that the storm had passed. She hated driving in the rain, but she loved storms, loved the thunder and the lightning and the way the rain washed away the dirt and grime of the city, leaving everything looking and smelling clean and fresh.
Sardino's wasn't yet crowded when she arrived. At this time of night, most of the humans had already left the park, while most of the vamps preferred to arrive later. She parked at the curb and took a deep, calming breath before getting out of the car.
Santiago was waiting for her. Dressed in ubiquitous black, he looked dashing and handsome and deadly. She could tell, by the heightened color of his skin, that he had fed not long ago.
He smiled when he saw her, displaying even white teeth. "Good evening." His smile was devastating, without a hint of fang.
"Hello."
He held out his hand. "Our table is ready."
Regan looked at him, hesitant to let him touch her.
Santiago raised one brow in a silent challenge.
Pursing her lips, Regan placed her hand in his and let him lead her to a table in a secluded corner of the room.
A waitress clad in a long black dress and a crisp white apron came to take their order.
Santiago asked the waitress to have Sardino fix Regan something to eat, then ordered a glass of A negative for himself.
Regan's heart skipped a beat. Was it merely coincidence that Santiago had ordered A negative, which happened to be her blood type, as well? But of course it was, she thought. How could he possibly know?
With a nod and a smile that showed only a hint of fang, the waitress moved away from the table. The fact that she couldn't completely hide her true nature proved that she was still a young vampire.
"Does all blood taste the same?" Regan asked what was uppermost in her mind without thinking.
"No." His gaze moved briefly to her throat. "Each type has its own… shall we say, bouquet."
Regan grimaced. It was more information than she needed. "So," she said, changing the subject, "tell me about the other killings."
"There is little to tell. They were almost identical to the one you saw last night. And the one today."
Regan wasn't surprised that he knew about the latest victim. She had a feeling that he knew everything that went on, not only inside the park but outside, as well.
"You told me that on the phone," Regan said. Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her arms under her br**sts. "I thought you had some new information."
"There have been other killings."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone is also killing vampires."
That piqued her interest. "I hadn't heard about that," she said, leaning forward.
"Of course not. But I have."
"How many?"
"Four, so far."
"Do you think the same person is killing both vampires and humans?"
Santiago shrugged. "Perhaps."
"Perhaps?"
"The one responsible for the deaths inside the park is not a vampire. And not a mortal."
"Not a vamp and not a human? What else could it be?"
"It is a werewolf. A very old werewolf."
Regan stared at him. A werewolf? She sat back, stunned. That possibility had never occurred to her, but then, why would it? Werewolves were supposed to be extinct. She had never seen a werewolf, had been skeptical that they had ever existed except in fairy tales. The idea of a human turning into an animal just seemed so bizarre. And yet, it shouldn't be so hard to believe in werewolves, she mused, not when there was another, equally fantastic creature sitting across from her. Still, vampires remained humanoid if not entirely human. But werewolves… she shrugged inwardly. She supposed the two species really weren't so very different. Both werewolves and vampires were brutal killers that stalked the night in search of human prey. And if there could be werewolves and vampires, then why not fairies and goblins and trolls and elves?
She shook her head. She was being ridiculous now. Vampires and werewolves had once been human. Elves and goblins and trolls were just… make-believe. Weren't they?
"What makes you think it's a werewolf?" she asked, although the longer she thought about it, the more sense it made. She had never known any vampire to do more than take the blood of its victims. Sure, they usually took the life, too, but they left the victim's body intact; they didn't rip out the internal organs.
"I recognized his scent."
"You know him then?" she asked, startled.
Santiago nodded. "Our paths have crossed before."
From the tone of his voice, she didn't think they were friends. "The other night, you told me you didn't know who had killed the victim."
"I lied," he said with a shrug.
"So how do I know you're not lying to me tonight?"
"Because I know you better now."
Disconcerted by his words, Regan lifted her water glass and took a drink. What was she doing, sitting here with this… this creature? He was one of them, a killer of innocents, a drinker of blood. Looking at him, it was hard to believe he was one of the monsters. He looked like any other man, save that his teeth seemed a little whiter, his eyes a little brighter… who was she kidding? No ordinary man had ever looked this roguishly handsome, or made her heart do handsprings in her chest. No ordinary man had ever made her skin tingle just by looking at her.
She shook her head to clear it. It was hard to think straight when he was looking at her. "Are you the only vampire that can cross through the barrier?"
He hesitated a moment before replying, "As far as I know."
"Why don't I believe you?"
He shrugged.
She frowned thoughtfully. "What about the werewolf?"
The vampire's gaze moved over her, probing, curious, and yet she had the feeling that he knew her better than she knew herself. "It would have no effect on him."
If only Joaquin Santiago had no effect on her! It was hard to think coherently when he was looking at her as if nothing else in all the world mattered. His dark eyes smoldered with unspoken desire. Her body warmed under his regard, aching for his touch. She told herself it was nothing. Vampires were notoriously charming and seductive. It was part of their appeal, part of their preternatural glamour, the very thing that made it so hard for humans to resist them.
Regan was glad when her meal arrived as it gave her something else to focus on. She had never eaten with a vampire before and she soon discovered that doing so made her extremely nervous.
"Is the food not to your liking?" he asked.