by Amy Cissell
I pulled back. “I’m serious. I am not helpless. I may be young, but I am powerful. And I have something you don’t.”
“Eleanor, I know you’re powerful, but I’m a 250-year-old werewolf with limited control. I could easily kill you.”
I pulled out of his arms, stood up, and started taking off my clothes.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the show, but what are you doing?”
“I need you to understand that I am able to protect myself.” I closed my eyes and called to my dragon self. It was uncomfortable at first as my limbs changed shape and size. Sprouting a tail and wings took it beyond discomfort, and I gasped in pain. Seconds later, it was over, and I stood in the meadow looking down at Isaac. I vibrated my wings and rose up in the air. I didn’t want to go too high. Dragons appearing in the sky in late afternoon might be a bad idea, so I did a couple of low circles around Isaac, then landed—less than gracefully—and changed back. The change back was faster and easier, although it left me drenched in sweat.
“Now you see?” I asked. He was staring at me with something akin to awe.
The response came from behind me, “Very impressive, Your Highness.”
I whipped around and Isaac growled. A shape detached itself from the tree line and moved towards us, becoming more humanoid the closer it got.
“What are you doing here, Arduinna?” I asked. “I commanded you to stay away.”
“Your father’s commands are still stronger. I have a message for you. If it’s any consolation, being this close to you against your direct orders is causing me a fair amount of pain.”
“That is some consolation. But if you wanted to deliver a message and remain pain-free, why not send another of your stupid spies? Or did they all quit in protest when I killed your creepy murder tree?”
Arduinna froze. The only movement was a gentle swaying of her extremities when the breeze kicked up.
“I sent no spies, certainly not homicidal trees. Regardless of your opinion of me—and mine of you—my job is to ensure that you survive your quest. I would not send an assassin. Even if my orders changed and I could eliminate you as you so richly deserve, I would come for you myself. I am the executioner. I do not send others to do my job.”
“Maybe one of your spies got ambitious.”
“Describe these ‘spies.’”
“The one that Finn and I dispatched was a Hawthorn tree. I saw cherry trees and some hideous petunias. I don’t know if there were others, or if this was all the same guy. He was able to make himself appear to be Finn. Either way, he—or they—weren’t terribly clever. They appeared out of season and in places that large trees hadn’t been before. You may want to add an IQ test to your recruitment.”
“Your Highness, it was not me.”
I had to believe her. She could not lie.
“Who was it then?”
“Excellent question and one that I shall investigate. But first, can your release me from your order to stay away?”
I looked more closely at her and saw that she was sweating profusely and her teeth were clenched.
“Fine. Arduinna, you may approach.”
Her face relaxed almost immediately.
“The vampires are coming,” she said dramatically.
“I know. We were attacked last night and took one of their humans captive.
I’m sure it was my imagination, but Arduinna looked disappointed.
“Where is Finn?”
“I sent him away earlier so I could question my prisoner and haven’t seen him since.”
“He is supposed to be guarding you.”
“I don’t need much guarding any more, as you saw.”
“Yes. That was…interesting.”
“You cannot tell anyone—and I mean anyone—about that. Not even my father.”
“His commands will always overrule yours. He has more power.”
“Fine, but you can’t tell him unless he specifically asks a question for which there is no other answer.”
“Done.” Arduinna looked angry, and that made the immature part of me happy.
“Thank you for the message. Please leave. You may approach without pain to deliver messages that can’t be delivered any other way, but you may not spy on me or send others to spy on me, harm my companions in any way, or be an asshole.”
“I will follow your first three commands, but I fear the last one goes against my nature.”
I stared at her. “Did you make a joke?”
Her lips rose slightly, then she walked back into the forest and disappeared.
Chapter Nineteen
“THAT WENT WELL,” I said. Isaac was still staring at me, but looked more amused than awed now. “What?”
He pointed at the small pile of clothing at my feet. I was still naked.
“Watching you be queenly and commanding while nude is going in my highlight reel,” Isaac said as I dressed. “I’m impressed that Arduinna managed to keep her eyes off your assets.”
“You might have said something sooner.”
“It seemed better that you were embarrassed after Arduinna left than while she was still here. Plus, you were doing so well.”
“And you were enjoying the show?”
“That, too.”
I looked at the sky, trying to gauge how much time we had left before the vamps showed.
“It’s two hours until dusk. I don’t know Raj well, so I’ve no idea how soon he wakes. He was powerful enough to kill Michelle, so that suggests that he is strong. But he’s coming before an unknown enemy after losing a dozen of his Clan. He will probably bring backup and wait until the sun goes down. We can expect him around 7:30.”
“That doesn’t give much time for him to find us after sunset. Are you sure he’ll be here that fast?”
“No, but I’d rather be prepared. If I were him, I’d be searching for her as soon as I left my coffin so I could be here by sunset.”
“Do vamps sleep in coffins?” I couldn’t help it. I was fascinated by the supernatural tidbits I was picking up.
“Not unless they have no other choice. Most have reinforced rooms without windows. There are a lot of basement-dwelling vamps.”
“This is disappointing. I know garlic is a no go, but what about crosses and holy water? I need to know for self-defense purposes.”
Isaac laughed and pulled me in for a kiss. “Those are myths based on the belief that they’ve lost their souls. Vampires are ensouled—at least while they’re awake. They resemble corpses during the day, so I’ve no idea where their souls are while they sleep. My theory is that the older and more powerful they are, the easier it is for their bodies to retain a hold on their souls, which is why they can stand more sunlight and why they need less sleep.”
“And the threshold thing?” I crossed my fingers, because that would be handy.
“I’m not sure about that. I know that Michelle never crossed a threshold if she wasn’t invited, but I don’t know how much of that was courtesy and how much was actual biological imperative.”
“Anything else I should know?”
“Well, you know how to kill them. Stake through the heart works, but make sure they’re dead before wandering off. Unless the heart is completely destroyed, most vamps can recover. It’s best to decapitate and burn them to ensure they’re dead.”
“At least I won’t have trouble with the burning part.”
Isaac kissed me again, but before things could get serious, my stomach growled.
“We have time for food before the vamps, right?”
“Definitely.”
We walked back to the house and helped ourselves to the waiting steak sandwiches and thick-cut fries.
Halfway through the meal, Rebecca came into the kitchen. She was dressed in yoga pants and had a crossbow loaded with mini wooden stakes. I couldn’t help but stare with envy. “I need one of those.”
She grinned. “It is pretty awesome.” She looked at Isaac. “Did you tell her?” He nodded. “Eve
rything?”
“Yes, everything. Christ, Rebecca, you nag more than my mother.”
She laughed. “She was okay, wasn’t she?”
“Yes. What do you want from me?”
“A simple, ‘You were right, Rebecca, like you always are,’ would suffice.”
Isaac growled, and Rebecca laughed.
“Fine. You were right.”
“You forgot something.”
“Like always,” he finished.
She smiled. “What are we thinking we’ll do with the vamp when he shows up?”
“I guess that depends on what he has to say,” I said. “Have you seen Finn?”
“Yeah, he’s back down talking to the blood bag,” she gestured toward the bank of security monitors.
“Finn!” I called mentally. “I need you.”
A second later, he appeared. “What?”
“Can we talk about our plans for when Raj shows up this evening?”
“What makes you think he will?”
“Something Salem said earlier and Isaac’s knowledge of the inner workings of the vamp clans.”
Finn glared at Isaac and the look was so venomous that it took me by surprise. A few weeks ago, they were making jokes about my coffee addiction and now I was worried that Finn would slip a silver dagger into Isaac’s heart in the middle of the night.
Finn swung his gaze to me. “That’s what worries you? Not finding out what the dog’s secrets are and what his true agenda is?”
I was careful to not think of what Isaac had told me today. Rebecca looked a little tense, and I didn’t want a fight in her kitchen. “Dog? What is wrong with you?”
“Again, I have to ask why you’re more concerned about your mongrel lover?”
“Even Arduinna didn’t spew that level of shit.”
“You’ve seen her?”
“Yeah, if you weren’t so busy in here trying to do whatever it is you’re doing with Salem, you probably would’ve noticed.”
Finn rubbed his hand over his face and fell back into the Finn I knew and loved. He looked up at me sharply. As a friend.
“We’re expecting Raj in an hour,” Isaac said.
“Do we think he’ll attack or talk?” Rebecca asked.
“He’ll talk first,” Isaac said. “We dispatched a dozen of his minions.” I tried—unsuccessfully—to stifle a snort at the word minions and Isaac rolled his eyes at me. “As I was saying, we killed a bunch of his people last night during the new moon, so he knows we’re powerful. He’ll want Salem back alive. If he’s kept her this long, he cares for her.”
“How long?” Finn asked.
“Since the late seventies or early eighties,” Isaac replied.
“Do we attack or talk?” Rebecca asked.
“Talk,” I said. “He didn’t want to kill us, and although I don’t support his agenda of capturing me, I would like to know more about why the vamps are against me opening the gates. I might owe him a favor.”
“How do you know he wanted to capture us? What favor?” Finn demanded.
“Salem told me that there was no plan to kill me last night, and the favor is Isaac’s tale.”
Before Finn could start ranting again, Rebecca interrupted. “Let’s grab our guest and head out to the back yard.”
Finn, Isaac, and I assembled in the backyard. Rebecca stood off to one side holding onto Salem. I didn’t see anyone else, but Rebecca assured me there were another half dozen wolves hiding amongst the trees in case of emergency. The sun went down about a quarter after seven, and less than five minutes later, I saw Salem straighten and look up.
I followed her gaze. A moment later, I saw him. The vampire was coming in quickly and was flanked by two others. He landed on the lawn in front of us, but before he did anything else, he walked over to Salem and put his hands on her shoulders. He was speaking to her, but I couldn’t hear what he said. Isaac was watching the scene with an almost sad expression. I started to say something, but he shook his head. I shut up.
Raj strode over to the main group, the other two vamps falling into step a couple feet behind him. They stood far enough away that they’d be able to fight easily and clasped their hands behind their backs. They looked like bodyguards.
Then, I really looked at Raj for the first time. Holy shit was he beautiful. I’m not sure what I’d been expecting, but he was more Bollywood god than Nosferatu. He smiled at me, and I bit back a groan. Another fucking mind-reader.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I wouldn’t want you to stop thinking such complimentary things about me.” His voice snaked its way through my mind and I realized that he was projecting his thoughts to me. If Finn could do that, he’d certainly never bothered.
Raj bowed. “Your Highness. I would like to extend my apologies for the attack on you and your guards last night. My people, over-eager to please me, misinterpreted my gentle musings as a command and took it upon themselves to attack you without cause or permission. I am pleased you dispatched them so swiftly, for had you not, I would’ve been forced to chastise them repeatedly over the course of the next century to make them truly regret their rash decision.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “The Henry VIII defense is weak.”
Everyone around me started. Raj smiled. How could he look so freaking young? And hot? Were there no ugly supernatural men out there? Why couldn’t I keep my mind on the subject at hand? His smile grew wider.
“Are you fucking with me right now?” I asked. He bowed again.
“A little,” he admitted.
“Stop it! I am still calling bullshit on your claim that the attack happened without your knowledge or permission.”
“You caught me,” he said. “Now that I’ve seen you, I know that it was a mistake. I want us to be great friends.” My mind went willingly down the path it was led. I tried to tamp down my hormones before they got me in trouble. Raj continued, “I was afraid that admitting to attempted kidnapping would sour our chances at friendship. I wanted to start fresh and new. I would much rather have you in my home by choice than force.”
I rolled my eyes. Now that I was aware he’d been attempting to glamour me, it was easier to defend against it. He was still wicked hot, though. Hot enough that kidnapping attempt or not, he could play a starring role in a couple fantasies. He winked at me. Motherfucker.
“What do you want, Raj?”
“You, naked on my bed and screaming my name?”
Isaac growled softly beside me. I grabbed his hand. “Yeah, other than that.”
“I want Salem returned.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” he said.
“What are you going to give me in return?”
“We can’t sell her!” Finn sputtered. “She’s a human being!”
Everyone, including Salem, turned and stared at him. “I wasn’t selling her, Finn,” I said. “We’re negotiating the hostage release. I release the prisoner, and he agrees to let the UN inspectors look at his nuclear program.” Now everyone was staring at me. “You all know what I mean. Quid pro quo.”
“Exactly so, Your Highness,” Raj said. “May I call you Eleanor?”
“No.”
He laughed. “What would you like in exchange? I have no equivalent prisoners to offer, and you’ve already killed several of my people.”
“I want three things. First, I want your assurance that you will not plan, execute, muse about, or subtly encourage another such attack.”
“Done. You and your people are safe from me and mine.”
I nodded in acknowledgment. “Second, I want to know why you—and the vampires as a whole—don’t want the gate open.”
“I can share that information with you, but it is more than a minute’s worth of conversation, and I’d rather have that conversation over a candlelight dinner.”
I rolled my eyes again. “I am not having dinner with you. I’m pretty sure I know what you’d be eating.”
“Indeed, Your Highness.” He infu
sed so much suggestion into that one word that I blushed from my toes to the roots of my hair.
“Dammit, Raj—I meant blood.”
“I’m very disappointed. We could’ve had a lot of fun.” He continued aloud, “I agree to give you that information, and if you refuse to have dinner with me, perhaps we can sit down for our tête-à-tête after Salem is safely returned. Under the watchful eye of your Mr. Walker, of course.”
I didn’t need to glance at Isaac to know that he’d be uncomfortable but amenable. “Thank you. Third, I need your assurance that Michelle is well and truly dead.”
Isaac squeezed my hand so tightly that I was afraid for a minute that my bones would pop. I could feel the tension riding his body. Raj straightened up. He went from a boneless playboy to something scarier. I could see the vampire now—he was old, and he was powerful, and I was a little afraid that he was pissed.
“Not angry, my sweet,” his voice whispered in my head. “I’m not ready to have this conversation now. Is your wolf in control?”
“Shit,” I thought back at him. “She’s not dead, is she?”
He shook his head in an almost imperceptible gesture. Isaac was so tense now, he was visibly vibrating.
Raj took a step forward, and Rebecca growled in warning. He held out his hands placatingly. “She is not.”
Isaac tried to pull his hand out of mine, but this time, it was I who held with a bone-bruisingly hard grip. I turned my back on Raj, knowing my friends would keep an eye on him.
“Isaac, look at me.”
He stared straight ahead.
I let go of his hand but before he could get away, I put my hands on either side of his face and tugged on it until he looked down at me. “You’re okay. She can’t have you again; I won’t let her. We will find her when this is done, and together we will kill her for what she did to you and Emma. You’re not alone. I’ll see this to the end with you.”
Raj said, “She isn’t dead, and I don’t know where she is. Her escape was aided by one of the Fair Folk, and I fear she hides in their realm. I’ll lend my aid in the search and destruction of she who lately has called herself Michelle. She is an abomination, and no one escapes me.”
The yellow streaks in Isaac’s eyes started to fade and the shaking lessened. I stood on tiptop and brushed my lips against his. “We will find her and kill her.” I turned around and faced Raj. “We will accept your assistance when the time comes. Thank you for your honesty.