“Perhaps.” Olivia looked from Doug to Shane. “I find it difficult to believe King Heinrich would support this kind of crap. He even offered to have his oldest son, Killian, come to town to babysit his little brother, and I may just take him up on it.”
“The king wants peace, Liv. He’s not going to reignite the freaking war because of this little incident.” Doug rubbed her back reassuringly. “You’ve told me over and over that he’s totally on board with the truce. Wasn’t it his ancestor who signed the treaty?”
“Yes.” Shane rose from the couch and stood at attention. “And I have risked that peace, due to rash and impulsive actions that are not fitting of a sentry. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit.”
“Give it a rest, Shane.” Olivia waved him off. She sat in the oversized chair, and Doug took a protective stance beside her. She smiled warmly at her mate. “If anyone understands how upside down the world gets during the bloodmate bonding process, it’s us.”
“Thank you.” Shane bowed his head, but he could not shake the horrible feeling of having failed the Presidium and, even worse, Doug and Olivia. Over the past few months, the two czars had become more like friends than his superiors, and it galled him to think he had let them down. “But that is still no excuse for my behavior…or hers.”
“Maya is your bloodmate. I still can’t believe it,” Doug said with genuine wonder. “Damn, brother. You are gonna have your hands full with that one.”
“Hey,” Olivia protested. “I know she can kind of be a pain in the ass but—”
“Kind of?” Doug asked incredulously. “Kind of? That girl has done nothing but cause trouble from the minute I met her. It’s like she’s trying to get herself killed. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she has a serious death wish.” Doug’s brows knit together and he ran a hand over his short blond hair. “And I don’t get it. I know that the werewolves are strong, stronger than humans certainly, but Maya should have been able to get away from him. Right?”
“Fear,” Shane bit out before Olivia could answer Doug. “Maya is still tormented by the attack she suffered on the last night of her human life. She was reliving it every time she slept until I was pulled into her dreamscape and could intervene. Each time she hunts, every human man she feeds on, is a way for Maya to try to reclaim her sense of power. When Horace went after her, Maya was paralyzed by her deep-seated belief that she is powerless—a victim. I suspect that until she faces that fear and stops allowing her past to haunt her, she will keep fighting the ghosts.”
“You mean fighting herself,” Olivia said quietly with tears in her eyes. “That girl has been fighting since the night I found her in that alley—fighting for her life and her sanity. Something tells me, Shane, that you are going to be the key to Maya finding some peace.”
“No.” Shane shook his head and removed his jacket before placing it over the arm of the couch. “Maya will have to do that for herself, but I will be there to guide her. She tells me that you killed the human who attacked her that night.”
“Yes.” A dark cloud flickered over Olivia’s face, recalling what she’d done, and she nodded. “I’m not proud of it, but I did.”
“Since Maya can no longer confront him in the physical plane, the dreamscape is her only option.” He unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves as he spoke. “I will continue to go to her in the dreamscape until she is the one to save herself. Not me. When we are finished and she has an opportunity to sleep, I plan to go to her again.”
“Interesting,” Olivia murmured. “Let her save herself in the dream so that she regains her power and feels safe again.”
“I’m impressed, Quesada.” Doug made a face of approval and nodded. “That’s smart, a little new-agey for a guy from the sixteenth century, but smart.”
“With nothing but time on our hands, evolution is inevitable.” Shane flicked a glance to Olivia’s swollen belly. “A concept you’re both familiar with.”
“You really feel something for her, don’t you?” Olivia asked. “It’s not just the bloodmate bond, is it?”
“I have felt several things for Maya.” Shane smirked. “If and when I’m able to decipher exactly what those emotions are, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
“I’m not the one you should tell.” Olivia smiled.
Silence hung between them momentarily before being interrupted by the shrill chirp of a text message on Doug’s cell phone. He snagged it from the pocket of his leather coat and frowned when he read the message scrolled across the screen.
“What is it?” Olivia took his hand in hers. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Suzie.” Doug turned his serious gaze to Shane. “Horace just called the office. It looks like he and his pack are looking for a meeting.”
“How diplomatic of him,” Olivia said with a roll of her eyes. “I don’t want them in the underground offices. Have them meet us in the gardens of The Cloisters, tonight after dark when it’s closed to the public. You and I can withstand the sunlight, but we’re still stronger at night.”
“I will be there as well,” Shane added.
“No.” Olivia rose to her feet, shook her head, and held up one hand when Shane opened his mouth to protest. “Doug and I can handle it, with a little help from Xavier and some of his weapons. In addition to Sadie and Trixie, we’ll have Damien. He is the club’s bouncer, after all. I’ll even ask Pete to make an appearance. We’ll have plenty of backup, loads of firepower, and the home-field advantage. Your presence would only crank up the tension. In fact, given everything you’ve told us, we think it would be best if you left town for a while.”
Shane flinched. It was like a kick in the gut, and he stared at Olivia and Doug with shock.
“Hang on.” Doug held up one hand and wrapped his other arm around his mate. “It’s not what you’re thinking. We’re not banishing you or anything.”
“Funny, that’s exactly how it feels.”
“Shane,” Olivia began, “you and Maya are now the second vamp couple to discover that you are bloodmates. In a couple of days, every leader in the supernatural community is meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.” The lines in her face deepened and her hands rested protectively on her stomach. “There’s already nervousness, uneasiness about what being bloodmates will mean for our race and for the rest of the world. What do you think will happen when they hear about yet another pairing? For all we know, Maya could get pregnant too.”
Shane must have made a face because Doug laughed out loud before quickly recovering. “Shit, I didn’t think you could get any paler, but you looked like you were going to faint for a second.”
“I thought it was Doug’s angel bloodline that allowed you to get pregnant.” Shane folded his arms over his chest and tried to act like he wasn’t terrified at the idea of Maya getting pregnant. “As you know, I am not descended from that lineage.”
“That’s what we suspect.” Olivia shrugged. “The truth is that we just don’t know. I don’t even know when the baby will arrive. I feel like my stomach grew visibly bigger over the past few days, and I can’t stop craving human food. We’re all flying blind on this. The entire bloodmate thing comes with a giant question mark. One pairing was weird enough, but now with you two…”
“Add that to what happened with Horace,” Doug chimed in, “and that uneasiness can get ugly real quick. People, regardless of whatever supernatural whammy they possess, can be panicky assholes. When I was a cop, I saw it all the time. Nobody knows what the long-term ramifications are of being bloodmates, and that unknown element is making people uncomfortable.”
“I will leave immediately.” Shane nodded grimly because they were absolutely right. “But I’m taking Maya with me.”
“Agreed. We’ll tell everyone that you and Maya ran off, and as far as we’re concerned, you simply vanished.” Olivia elbowed Doug who quickly pulled out his phone and
began to type something on the keypad with the ease of a human familiar with technology. Shane had a phone so he could communicate when needed, but he hated it. “Doug is going to send you an address for a safe house in Louisiana. Lottie Fogg is an old friend of mine. She’s a gypsy woman who lives in the bayou. She’s helped me out in the past, and she’s good at being discreet.”
“A gypsy?”
Shane was more than a little surprised. The gypsies existed off the grid of both the human and supernatural worlds and were known for their unwillingness to get involved in any society other than their own. Shane had tangled with a gypsy or two in his time, and he knew they were not individuals to mess with. Their magic was ancient and powerful and capable of bone-chilling darkness.
The bottom line: Don’t fuck with a gypsy.
“The gypsies are unreliable nomads who care for nothing other than themselves and their own kind. I find it difficult to believe there is one who would be willing to help us.”
“Well, believe it, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your opinion about gypsies to yourself. Lottie isn’t exactly a fan of the vamps—or any other supernaturals, for that matter—but she is my friend.”
“Of course.” Shane bowed his head in an apologetic gesture. “I apologize if I seemed ungrateful, but this is surprising.”
“Yeah,” Olivia said with a laugh. “I’m full of those. Keep in mind it also means it’s unlikely that anyone, wolf or vampire, would go looking for you at a gypsy’s house. You and Maya can hide out there for a bit while we smooth things over with the wolves. This will also give the two of you time to…work things out.”
“There.” Doug stuck the phone back in his pocket, and a second later, the one in Shane’s pocket buzzed. “I sent Lottie’s address to you. While you have Maya’s undivided attention down there in the bayou, might I suggest some fight training? Something tells me she’s going to need it.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Shane nodded. “If it’s alright with you, Olivia, I’d like to pay Xavier a visit before we leave and get Maya fitted for some weapons.”
“Done.” Olivia took Doug’s hand and headed toward the door. “You should head out before nightfall. Take the tunnels to the outskirts of the city until sundown, and then if you fly all night, you can make it there before sunrise. Let me know when you get there.”
“I will.” Shane watched the czars and marveled at their comfort level with one another. They acted like they’d been together for centuries, as opposed to months. “Olivia?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful. I suspect that Rat is more involved with the wolves than he is letting on. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think this visit wasn’t a surprise to him at all. He can’t be trusted.”
Olivia smiled and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Shane asked, feeling a tad annoyed at the czar’s reaction.
“You know that his real name is Fred and that Rat is his nickname, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well”—she grinned, showing her bright, white fangs—“I’m the one who gave him the nickname.”
Chapter 7
When Maya woke up, still not quite sure that the incident with Horace had been real, her sisters told her she was being sent away. Maya could barely look them in the eyes and wondered if she’d ever be able to again. Trixie and Sadie were helping her pack a duffel bag in silence. Though neither of them had said more than a few words to her, Maya was relatively certain they were telepathing to one another.
Standing in only her bra and panties, she picked up the sentry uniform that Olivia sent over and tears pricked the back of her eyes. The tears fell silently as she rubbed the smooth, protective fabric between her fingers. This was the clothing of a vampire warrior, a sentry, the elite of all vampires. Maya knew she had no business wearing it, so she wasn’t sure why Olivia sent it over. Olivia must have been furious with her because she didn’t even come to say good-bye.
Not that Maya could blame her.
Maya knew her actions had been stupid, selfish, thoughtless, and childish, and she wouldn’t blame Olivia—let alone Shane—if they never spoke to her again. Maya swiped at the tears and turned her back on her sisters, who had averted their eyes. They must hate me too, she thought.
They don’t hate you, youngling. Shane’s voice, gentle but firm, entered her mind like a caress. Quite the contrary, but please hurry up.
You’re still speaking to me? Maya asked with a sideways glance at her sisters.
It would seem so. Silence lingered for a moment before Shane continued. We must leave right away. I am waiting for you in the living room…the very pink living room. I do hope that when we acquire a home of our own, after this nonsense has passed, you will not insist on bathing the entire space in shades of bubble gum.
Maya stilled and nibbled her lower lip. Their own apartment? Together? A home with him? The idea wasn’t unpleasant but it was…unexpected. I’ll be out in just a minute, she responded quietly.
She pulled on the leather-Lycra catsuit and slipped on the knee-high black boots that went with it. She made quick work of slicking her blond hair back into a tight ponytail, and when she turned around to face her sisters, they gaped at her in stunned silence. She adjusted her necklace with the gesture that never failed to reassure her and nestled the stone against her chest.
“What is it?” Maya asked in a barely audible voice. “It looks ridiculous on me, doesn’t it? I probably look like Dominatrix Barbie, and I know I don’t deserve to wear this but—”
“That’s not it,” Trixie said with a wide grin. “It actually looks so right on you, it’s scary.”
“The only one who thinks you’re unworthy of this, or anything else, is you.” Sadie grabbed the black duffel bag and closed the distance between them. “You’re not the first one to fuck up, and you won’t be the last.”
“I don’t know what happened.” Maya looked down at her hands clasped tightly in front of her, and shame washed over her. “Horace made that comment about Shane keeping me on a leash, and then the next thing I knew, I was in the limo with him. But that wasn’t the worst part.”
“Go on.” Sadie tossed the bag on the bed and Trixie moved in next to her, eager to hear the rest. “Keep talking.”
“I’m glad Olivia is sending me away.” Maya looked at her sisters through wide, frightened eyes. “My body or my gut—something deep inside me—was pulling me to Horace and the rest of the wolves,” she whispered. “It scares the hell out of me. My head and my heart were screaming to get away, but…it was like a magnetic pull that I could feel right here.” Maya made a fist and held it over her stomach. “When I was in that suite with them, my senses went on overload or something and I passed out.”
“Did you tell Shane this yet?” Trixie asked. “Or Olivia?”
Maya shook her head. “She hates me and I don’t blame her. That’s why she’s sending me away. She can’t stand the sight of me.”
“I never thought you were a dumb blond,” Trixie said.
“Trixie,” Sadie warned.
“No, seriously. She thinks Olivia hates her?” Trixie swatted Maya playfully on the side of the head. “Hello? Anybody home? Shit, Maya. Olivia is sending you away for your own safety, not just because of the fight with Horace, but also because of the whole bloodmate thing.”
“You know?” It was like a punch in the gut. “He told you?”
“Well, we figured it out once we realized you couldn’t telepath with us anymore, but then Shane told Olivia and Doug.”
“How do you feel about it?” Sadie asked. She picked the bag up off the bed and handed it to Maya. “I know Olivia’s a little worried about how the supernaturals will react to another bloodmate couple. I don’t think anyone’s bothered to ask you or Shane how you guys feel about it.”
Before Maya could answer he
r, an impatient knock at the door interrupted them. It was just as well because Maya had no idea how she felt about it, other than confused.
“We have to go, Maya.” Shane’s voice boomed from the other side. “The sun has been up for over an hour, and we still need to go see Xavier.”
“She’s coming, Quesada,” Trixie barked. “Keep your fangs on.”
Maya slung the bag over her shoulder just as her sisters gathered her up in a big, weepy hug. Even Trixie shed a tear, but Maya didn’t point it out because her sister would only deny it. They each gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and when she opened the bedroom door, Shane was there, impatiently waiting. Once again dressed in the black, leather sentry gear, he looked like the fiercest warrior she’d ever seen and some of her fear ebbed. If nothing else, Maya knew she was safe with Shane.
He gestured toward the open front door, and staring into those dark, hypnotic eyes, Maya realized her world had changed forever. Walking side by side with Shane, she wondered if she’d be able to change with it.
They flew through the tunnels beneath the city streets as quickly as possible, and even though the dank, smelly conditions in the sewer tunnels grossed her out, she refrained from complaining. How could she possibly complain after everything that had happened? Maya flicked a glance at Shane whisking along beside her, and guilt swamped her. He was being forced to leave the job he loved because of her. He wouldn’t even have been in the situation with Horace if she hadn’t been such a stubborn ass and gone with the werewolves.
This entire stupid mess was her fault.
His jaw was set and his fiercely intense gaze remained focused on the path ahead of them. Maya fought the urge to cry and turned her attention on the tunnels ahead, vowing to make it better. Somehow, some way she was going to make things right and straighten this mess out. No one had to tell Maya how fucked up she was, and nobody wanted her to get her shit together more than she herself. She was tired of being afraid.
They skidded to a halt at the entrance of the Presidium, and she silently followed Shane through the secret doorway and into the brightly lit hallway. He pressed his thumb to the flat panel by the enormous wooden door and it swung open, immediately allowing them access to the stone hallways of the Presidium’s underground facility.
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