Afterimage by Jaye Roycraft

From the Publisher

Nothing is going well for Alek Dragovich, enforcer for the Undead. His position in the Directorate is in jeopardy, but he has little interest in the Directorate's schemes until someone tries to kill him. Dhampir Marya Jaks, the offspring of a vampire and his mortal wife, can detect vampires, thereby making her a perfect vampire killer. When Marya learns that Drago has deemed her a threat to the vampire community and has ordered her termination, she strikes back. Drago, the hunter, has become the hunted, but is it Marya who wants him dead or a mysterious power-hungry vampire?

Library Journal

Roycraft's (Rainscape) contemporary vampire romance combines Linda Lael Miller's romantic paranormals with Anne Rice's dark mythology. Jaded 500-year-old Aleck Dragovich (Drago), l'enforcier of the omniscient Paris-based Directorate, has prime responsibility for keeping order among the squabbling, ambitious vampire brotherhood. Now someone wants Drago's job, and beautiful Gypsy Marya Jaks, an aberrant (mortal, but with some vampire blood) whose life depends on Drago's whim and who foolishly falls in love with him, is a dangerous complication. Roycraft creates a unique world with original takes on clich d vampire lore. Her vampires, for example, stink of decay the younger the vampire the stronger its odor but only aberrants can detect it. Although not for everyone, vampire romance fiction has devoted fans, and this is a strong entrant into the field, with a good plot, sexy romantic hero, and high sensual quotient. Roycraft lives in Wisconsin. Jo Manning, Barry Univ. Lib., Miami Shores, FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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Drago returned to her side, but turned his back to the clerk as he spoke. "The woman prefers to hear from you that one room is satisfactory. So we will return to the desk together, you will tell her that one room is fine, and you will give me a kiss convincing enough that she does not call la police on me. C'est compris?"

Marya couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I will do no such thing!" she whispered.

"Have a care, mademoiselle. An incident serves neither of us."

She had no choice, damn him. "All right."

She took a moment to take a deep breath and compose her features. Arm in arm they walked back to the desk. This is never going to work.

"One room is fine, ma'am. We had a little argument earlier tonight, but I've decided to forgive him and save him the cost of the extra room."

If I think about it, I won't be able to do it. So she just did it. She turned toward him, tilting her face up. He did the rest, taking her mouth gently with his. His lips were surprisingly warm and soft, but it was a quick kiss. Before she knew it, he was pulling away from her. She could see the desk clerk smiling at her in a way that told Marya she would be crazy not to share a room with this man. Drago winked at the woman, but before Marya's anger could flare again, Drago had her turned toward the hallway.

He smiled as he followed her into the elevator. "An excellent performance, mademoiselle. You almost had me fooled."

Once the door closed, she let her anger loose. "Why didn't you just cloud her mind into believing one room was fine?"

"Ah, an excellent idea. Why didn't I think of that?"

"I hate you."

Hesmiled again, this time showing teeth. "I know you do, cherie, I know you do."