Dawn Caravan

by Elizabeth Hunter

  “Tatyana.” Tenzin held out the ruby goblet. “I believe this is yours.”

  Tatyana looked at Radu and Kezia. Then at Ben. “This was you.”

  “Sometimes the wrong things happen to good people,” Ben said. “And sometimes the right things happen to the right people.”

  Tatyana looked at Kezia and Radu. “I will never take this responsibility for granted. I will always look out for the most vulnerable.”

  Kezia looked at her brother and then back to Tatyana. “Then sister, take your goblet.”

  Tatyana took the ruby goblet from Tenzin’s hand and lifted it to the cheers of the Poshani. She turned to Ben. “I won’t forget this.”

  Ben and Tenzin stepped to the back of the stage as Kezia and Radu walked to either side of their new sister in the terrin. The Hazar surrounded them as the crowd cheered and music began to play.

  “I’m not sure if that was a threat or not,” Ben said quietly.

  “Not a threat.” Tenzin nodded at the new terrin. “She was looking for a home. She found one.”

  Ben looked around at the celebrating throngs of Poshani humans and vampires. “So, any idea where René got to?”

  “Nope. None at all.”

  39

  Ben woke at nightfall, Tenzin curled into his side. One hand was playing with the hairs on his chest and the other was tucked under his armpit.

  “Were you trying to tickle me?”

  “Yes. And now you’re awake. It worked perfectly.” She stroked her fingernails along his side, and Ben nearly doubled up in laughter.

  “Stop.” He’d always been ticklish, but he’d never slept with anyone who took advantage of it. “Don’t tickle me.”

  “You’re much harder to wake now. I have to discover new tactics.”

  He stretched up, throwing his arms over his head. “We’re leaving tonight, right?”

  “Don’t you like our comfortable cave?”

  “I want a proper bed, Tenzin. I’m taller than you and I actually sleep. I want to be comfortable and not cramped.” He slid his hand down her bare back. “And beds have other desirable features we both might enjoy.”

  “Hmm.” She propped her chin on his chest. “How about Venice?”

  He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you.”

  “We’ll fly to the camp for a couple of hours, just to take proper leave, then we’ll fly straight there. We can be there before daybreak.”

  “A few nights in Venice sounds perfect.”

  “I agree.”

  “Then we should probably go to Rome. I have a feeling Chloe and Gavin are about to send out the National Guard.”

  “I don’t think they have any authority to do that in Italy.”

  “No?” He tweaked her chin. “Bummer. Did you know you’re very cute?”

  “You keep telling me that. Often followed by telling me that I’m irritating.”

  “Two things can be true at the same time.”

  “Ben.”

  “Tiny.”

  The corner of her mouth turned up. “I used to hate when you called me that.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “I really did. I often thought about how I could injure you in nonpermanent ways when you called me that.” She laid her head over his heart. “I have become accustomed to it now.”

  “Good.” He stroked his hand through her hair and thought about all the nights they’d been apart. “Was it worth it?”

  “What?”

  “Whatever it was you had to give Zhang to make him turn me.”

  Tenzin looked up and straight into his eyes. “Yes.”

  No hesitation. No doubt. Not even a shadow of it.

  “If you want to tell me—”

  “I don’t.”

  He stared at her and saw nothing hidden except the answer she knew he wouldn’t give her. “Okay. I won’t ask.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m still going to get angry sometimes,” he said. “I’m still going to get mad that I’m not who I was, because I worked really hard to make that person.”

  “I understand.”

  “So don’t forget this moment. And remember that wherever I go when I’m angry, I want to get back here.”

  Tenzin nodded. “I will remember.”

  “I love you.” He gripped a hand in her hair. “And I will learn to love this life.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  She frowned. “For loving me.”

  “I didn’t have much choice about it.” He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You just kind of worked your way in there.”

  “No,” she said firmly. “Love—real love—is always a choice.” She kissed the center of his chest. “Baina min khar. Sha bol min yash.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She kissed him full on the lips, pressing her mouth to his over and over while she ran her fingers through his hair, trailed them along his jaw, and let them come to rest over his heart.

  “It means that when you are angry, I will remember.”

  Tatyana, Kezia, and Radu sat at a table in the center of the camp, just next to the bonfire, watching the musicians on the stage.

  “It will be the first time two women have been on the terrin,” Radu said. “The Poshani are becoming very progressive.”

  Kezia and Tatyana exchanged a look.

  “Oh yes,” Kezia said. “Very progressive.”

  “We’re still deciding what we will do with the Hazar and darigan who followed Vano,” Kezia said. “But they have all been identified.”

  Radu looked at Tenzin and Ben. “I hope this does not affect your trust in the kamvasa.”

  Ben glanced at the full circle of trailers. “It doesn’t look like you’ve lost any guests.”

  “Not so far,” Tatyana said. “But if rumors start…”

  “They won’t have come from us,” Tenzin said. “What happened to Vano?”

  Radu, Kezia, and Tatyana stared at Tenzin with matching blank expressions.

  “He has been dealt with,” Radu said. “We appreciate your trust on this matter.”

  Oh yeah. Vano was super dead.

  Ben nodded. “Of course. What will you do with all of Vano’s businesses?”

  “They remain part of his property,” Tatyana said. “And the profit from that property employs and goes into the fund for all the Eastern Poshani. Radu and Kezia will help me to administer it until I understand the workings of the organization.”

  Radu said, “With your background in financial accounting, I have no doubt that you’ll be an asset to all our people.”

  “There are needs,” Tatyana said, “especially among the darigan. I believe I can be of some service.”

  Kezia rose and held her hand out to Tatyana. “Come. Let’s visit some of the clan leaders while they are still gathered for Vashana. I will introduce you to everyone I know by name, and the old women will take care of the rest.”

  “So the same as every community.” Tatyana smiled. “I already feel at home.”

  As soon as they were away, Ben said, “You know she was hiding from Oleg.”

  “Oleg is powerful,” Radu said. “But now Tatyana is one of the Poshani. She learned our language before she ever joined us. Our people respect that. She acquainted herself with our history and has impressed our people with her humility. I will tell you that already, the Eastern Poshani will defend her to the death. She is their terrin.”

  “She won’t travel with the caravan?”

  “She is welcome anytime, but Vano’s businesses are extensive and cross into Oleg’s territory. There is no way they will be able to avoid each other, but he knows that she is ours now. He will have to respect that or suffer the consequences.”

  Ben sat back in his chair. “You’re a good man, Radu.”

  He shrugged. “I have my faults like any other. The two of you…” He nodded and looked between them. “This is good.”
>
  “We’ve really got to stop taking jobs that lead to regime changes though.” Tenzin sighed. “We’re going to stop being invited anywhere good.”

  “Agreed.”

  Radu said, “Currently, I do not have any more work for you, but I do have a bonus.” He withdrew a small lacquered chest and opened it. A row of gold bars lay nested in the bottom of the velvet-lined box. “The price Ben and I negotiated for the goblet has already been transferred to your account electronically, but this is for both of you, a thank-you for the inconvenience.”

  Tenzin’s eyes lit up.

  “I confess,” Radu said, “Vano’s gold stores were far less than I expected, based on his business empire and how much he had been withholding from the clan.” Radu snapped the chest shut. “But what is there is yours. With Tatyana’s skills, I have no doubt that the Eastern Poshani will be well provided for in the future.”

  Ben opened his mouth, but Tenzin grabbed his hand and squeezed hard. “We will be honored to accept this,” she said, “as an apology for the damage to my trailer and the… unfortunate incident that will never be spoken of again.”

  Radu looked relieved. “I do appreciate your discretion.”

  “Of course.” Tenzin rose. “We should leave now. We’re heading west tonight.”

  Radu and Ben both stood, and Ben held out his hand. “I would be happy to travel with you again.”

  “You are welcome anytime.” Radu turned to Tenzin. “It was good to see you, Tenzin.”

  “I would say the same.” She lifted the box and held it hugged to her chest. “We didn’t move the trailers, but we did loot them a little.”

  “Understood. The darigan will take care of them. Do not even think of it.” Radu reached under the table and lifted a backpack. “I nearly forgot this.”

  “Oh my God, my tablet.” Ben hugged the backpack to his chest. “I don’t even want to think about how many emails I’ve missed.”

  “Let’s not think about that at all.” Tenzin reached for the backpack and put the lacquered box inside. “Are you ready?”

  Ben nodded and slung the backpack over his shoulders. “Radu, give our best to your sisters.”

  “My sisters.” He smiled. “I do like the way that sounds. I will tell them. Safe journey, my friends.”

  Ben and Tenzin rose into the sky, waving at the Hazar, who flew alongside them until they had left Poshani territory. Then there was nothing in front of them except for scattered clouds and the nighttime sky.

  “You realize,” Tenzin said, “that if we hadn’t let René take all the gold, we would have been paid so much more.”

  “You realize,” Ben said, “that if René hadn’t helped us get the third goblet, none of this would have worked out the way it did.”

  Tenzin huffed. “I suppose so.”

  “Leave it.” Ben glanced over his shoulder. René was probably still in the camp, sewing Vano’s gold into the lining of all his brocade coats. “I have a feeling we’ll end up running into that annoying little bastard again.”

  They landed in the courtyard of Tenzin’s home in Venice on the island of San Marco. The old palazzo was steps from the Assassin’s Street, looking out over the rio di San Luca. The interior courtyard was filled with a trickling fountain and the orange tree was in bloom, filling the courtyard with a heavenly scent.

  The house was locked up—Tenzin’s caretaker Silvio was clearly not expecting guests—but Ben remembered where the keys for the utility room were stored. He turned on the power and the water.

  “I’m really looking forward to a bath.”

  Tenzin was already lounging in the long gallery that led to the interior dock. “I thought that waterfall was a very good find.”

  “It was better than nothing.” Ben flipped the breaker on, and the Moroccan lamps that lit the hallways flipped on. “But warm water cannot be beat.”

  In the corner, he spotted the old record player he’d found on his first trip to Tenzin’s house. He lifted it from the storage room and set it on the gallery table before he plugged it in. He knew the records lived in the library, so he walked up half a flight to the first floor and opened the door.

  The musty smell of books met his senses. Vanilla and leather. Mold, incense, and a hint of lemon oil. The familiarity of the smells allowed Ben to relax for the first time in weeks.

  He walked to the far wall and grabbed a record in a faded white sleeve.

  Perfect.

  Tenzin was opening a bottle of blood-wine from the kitchen when he returned. He put the record on the player, and the crackling sounds of Louis Armstrong’s trumpet filled the gallery. Ella Fitzgerald sang “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” and her golden voice echoed through the marble hallways.

  Tenzin set the bottle down and walked over to him. “Dance?”

  Ben held out his hand. “We always dance to Louis.”

  Without another word, she stepped into his arms and Ben brought her close, wrapping his arm around her waist as he held her hand in his and swayed in the smallest hours of the night.

  The city was silent as they moved in rhythm with the rising song. The music filled the air and floated over the water.

  “Heaven,” Ben whispered along with the music. “I’m in heaven.”

  “Heaven or Venice?” Tenzin pressed her cheek to his chest.

  “Right now they feel the same.”

  “Your old room isn’t light safe,” Tenzin said. “You’ll have to stay in mine.”

  Ben smiled. “You mean I have to stay with the woman I love and sleep in the grand entry hall that looks over the canal?”

  “With the drapes drawn, it’s light safe. There isn’t a bed in there though. We’ll have to bring a mattress up.”

  “I can handle that.” Ben dipped her and kissed her neck. “You own a palace.”

  “It was a bargain in the seventeenth century. I had to put a lot of gold into this place to make it livable.”

  “Glad you hung on to it.”

  “Tell the truth.” Her dimple peeked out. “Do you love me just for this house?”

  “I mean…” He looked around. “It’s not the only reason, but it helps to remember how loaded you are when you drive me crazy.”

  She laughed, and it echoed down the hallway, filling the house with music, laughter, and the quiet lapping of waves at the dock. The air was cool and dry, a perfect spring night in Venice, and the orange tree perfumed the air.

  Here. Ben danced with Tenzin in the darkness. Here right now.

  This moment.

  He wanted to live in it forever. And now he could.

  40

  “You better have just escaped certain death,” Chloe said. “Five days, Benjamin. Five. Days.”

  He frowned. “Wait, so you want us to have faced certain death?”

  “I’m saying if anything less than facing certain death kept you from answering the nine thousand calls and messages I sent you… Plus I had to try to reassure your uncle and put up with Fabia freaking out. You really need to get to Rome because I swear that woman is paranoid about you after Shanghai.”

  Ben winced. “Well, if anyone has a right to be paranoid, it’s probably Fabi. I’m fine. We’re fine.”

  “We?”

  Ben didn’t know what to say.

  Tenzin and I made up.

  We still have issues. We’ll probably always have issues.

  But…

  I can’t live without her. I don’t even want to try.

  “We figured things out,” he said quietly. “We’re good, Chloe.”

  She was quiet on the other end of the phone.

  “Chloe?”

  She sniffed. “Really?”

  Ben rolled his eyes. “Yeah. We’re good. We’re more than good.”

  “Are you happy?”

  Was he happy? He looked over at Tenzin, who was lying on her belly on one of the Persian rugs, her legs kicked up as she scowled at the screen of her portable gaming device.

  “Thieving raccoons,”
she muttered. “Tiny, devious demons, both of you.”

  Ben smiled. “Yeah. I’m happy.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Tenzin threw her gaming device across the room. “Usurers end up in the seventh circle of hell, raccoons!”

  “Yep.” Ben watched the console bounce off the carpet. “Everything seems pretty much back to normal.”

  They spent four nights in Venice, sending texts to everyone who’d been panicking about them and catching up on emails while they enjoyed the solitary quiet of the city at night.

  They didn’t video call anyone. They didn’t go out other than to fly over the lagoon at night and enjoy the evening air. They rested and enjoyed the quiet.

  Unlike the bustle of daytime Venice, the nighttime city was calm and quiet, a perfect retreat from the intrigue and immortal machinations they’d been juggling for weeks. For the first time in two years, Ben felt refreshed.

  He woke most evenings to Tenzin teasing him awake, kissing his neck or running her fingers across his chest.

  She was far more tactile than he’d imagined she’d be. Maybe she was making up for lost time. She told him she hadn’t taken a lover in the time they’d been apart, but even before then, it was rare for Tenzin to trust anyone enough to let them touch her, even in a nonsexual way. She was jealous of her personal space and didn’t allow many others to intrude.

  They were lying on the mattress Ben had dragged up from the first floor, and Tenzin was intent on tracing the muscles of his abdomen.

  “Tenzin?”

  She looked up, and her hair brushed the sensitive skin along his hip. Ben shuddered and grew hard again.

  Tenzin looked down. “Your appetite is remarkable.”

  “I feel like I’m about sixteen again.” It was true. He felt like he was going through puberty for a second time.

  “Trust me” —she trailed a finger up his erection— “nothing about you reminds me of a boy.”

  “No, if anything, people are going to think I’m the cradle robber.” It was true. To human eyes, Tenzin looked far younger than Ben did. Luckily, most vampires knew that looks were deceiving.