Blood and Bargains
Chapter 10: Blood and Bargains
The tension between Harry and Eric crackled like a live wire. The vampires in the club had stilled, their unnatural senses picking up on the shift in the air. Even the music seemed quieter, as if Fangtasia itself was holding its breath.
Eric leaned back in his chair, his smirk never faltering. “Relax, wizard. If I wanted a fight, you’d already know.”
Harry didn’t move. “You called me here for a reason. So talk.”
Eric’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Very well. You intrigue me, Harry Potter. Not many could kill a werewolf mid-transformation and walk away unscathed. Fewer still could wield magic with such… efficiency.”
Pam crossed her legs, looking Harry up and down like a particularly interesting puzzle. “You’re not like the witches we’ve encountered before. Most of them rely on potions, rituals, or borrowed power. But you? You’re something else entirely.”
Harry kept his expression neutral. He had spent years avoiding the supernatural world beyond his own. Vampires, shifters, fae—he knew they existed, but he had no interest in getting involved. Clearly, that wasn’t an option anymore.
“I told you, I’m not here to play politics,” Harry said firmly.
Eric’s smile sharpened. “And yet, politics will play you.”
Harry exhaled, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. “Let me guess. There’s a problem, and you think I can solve it?”
Eric inclined his head. “There’s a rogue vampire causing trouble. One who doesn’t adhere to our laws. Normally, I’d handle it myself, but this one has… protection.”
Harry frowned. “What kind of protection?”
Pam’s smirk deepened. “The kind that smells like magic.”
That caught Harry’s interest. Vampires rarely dealt with magic users outside of fae encounters. If one of their own was shielded by magic, that meant someone very powerful was pulling the strings.
“And why should I help you?” Harry asked.
Eric chuckled. “Because if you don’t, others will come knocking. And they won’t be nearly as polite as I am.”
Harry studied him. There was no immediate threat in Eric’s stance, but there was something far more dangerous—*interest.* Eric Northman wasn’t the type to let something intriguing slip through his fingers.
Harry sighed. “Fine. Tell me everything.”
Eric’s grin was all teeth. “Excellent. Let’s begin.”