Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall Page A

network’s help. But he wouldn’t have hesitated to run if I had taken him hunting with me.”
    â€œI’m not suffering the paranoia that struck Joe.” Near the end, Joe had become convinced that the immortals had tricked him and were his enemy, that they were actually causing his madness instead of trying to cure it. “I just have . . . violent thoughts. Really ugly, violent thoughts.” His look turned pensive. “It’s getting harder and harder to not act upon them when I’m around Dr. Whetsman.”
    Bastien snorted. “Hell, I have violent thoughts when I’m around Dr. Whetsman.” The sniveling weasel was Bastien’s least favorite colleague of Melanie’s. “Even Chris has violent thoughts around Whetsman. He’s a total prick.” An incredibly intelligent prick, but a prick just the same. Chris had once admitted he would’ve fired Whetsman a long time ago if his input weren’t so crucial.
    Cliff’s brow cleared. A smile dawned. “I still laugh when I think about the time you got all up in his grill about talking down to Melanie and giving her a hard time. I thought for sure he was going to wet his pants.”
    Bastien grimaced. “I almost wish he would’ve. Whetsman doesn’t wet himself when he gets nervous. He farts.”
    Cliff laughed. “I know. Melanie has a hell of a time keeping a straight face when he’s around us vampires. You know we terrify him.”
    Bastien laughed.
    A cool breeze ruffled his hair.
    â€œWow, you smell that?” Cliff asked, tilting his head back and drawing in a deep breath. “The three B’s: bad breath, B.O., and blood. Ahhhhh. It’s like we’re back in your lair again.”
    Bastien shook his head. He might have succeeded in forcing his vampire followers to eat foods he had hoped would slow the progression of the madness, but he had never succeeded in improving their personal hygiene. “Let’s go check it out.”
    â€œWait.” Cliff stopped him with a hand on his arm. “What’s my role here? When you said I could hunt with you . . .”
    â€œI meant you could help me locate and kick some vampire ass.”
    Cliff offered him a huge grin. “Seriously? I get to join the fight and everything?”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    â€œAwesome! Let’s go!”
    Bastien had only hunted with two others as an Immortal Guardian. Richart, when Seth had insisted Bastien have a babysitter to keep him out of trouble. And Melanie, when Seth had ordered her to monitor Bastien after he had dosed himself with the experimental antidote. Richart had been a pain in the ass, yet tolerable. Melanie had been deliciously distracting.
    Cliff . . .
    Hunting with Cliff was like hunting with a brother. After Melanie, he was Bastien’s best friend. Being around him was comfortable and stress-free, with none of the constant need to prove himself or stay on guard to fend off the verbal blows other immortals slung.
    In short, it was fun.
    They found two vampires feeding on a couple of female students in the shadows between two buildings. Letting Cliff take the lead, Bastien held back and observed from several yards away, ready to intervene if necessary.
    â€œHey,” Cliff greeted them, stopping only a foot or two away from the vamps. “What’s up?”
    They raised their heads and looked around, eyes glowing, fangs crimson and dripping.
    Good. Had Cliff just yanked one of the vampires away from his victim, the vamp could have torn her carotid artery.
    The blond vampire hissed like a cat.
    Cliff burst into laughter. “Dude! Seriously?”
    Frowning, the blond released the woman.
    Eyes bleary and unfocused, she staggered a couple of steps backward, then slid down the wall to sit on the ground.
    The vampire’s brunet companion shoved his victim toward the other woman and faced Cliff. “Who the fuck are you?”
    â€œI’m