"Of course, Honored One," I nodded to Wlodek and went to mist again, before flying toward Cecil and lifting him up. We hovered briefly over the others before I set him down again—as gently as I could. He was a dangerous asshole, and I had no desire to draw his interest. I was enough of a target as it was.
"That was—enlightening," Cecil squared his shoulders. The others stared at him while I reappeared at Gavin's side. "What about the mindspeech?"
"Breanne, send mindspeech to Cecil. Send the same message to me and the others," Wlodek barked.
I am at your service, Honored One, I sent to the entire Council. Cecil blinked in astonishment, but there was no way he could deny he'd received the message.
"Astounding," Flavio breathed. "None of the others can send to anyone except another mindspeaker."
"What is your name now, my dear?" Marcellus was the first to speak directly to me.
"Breanne Arden," I replied.
"Very good," Marcellus nodded. "A suitable name, I think. Will she be trained to assist our Enforcers and Assassins?" He turned to Wlodek.
"That is our goal," Wlodek said. "Talent such as hers will augment our existing staff admirably."
"Have you taken over her teaching?" Marcellus asked.
"No. Gavin and Charles are working in tandem to provide instruction. Breanne will be with one or the other for the remainder of her training period."
"Did you make that assignment?" Susila asked.
"No, both volunteered," Wlodek replied. "Charles will see to the bulk of her lessons, while Gavin will train her in combat techniques. She is already quite fierce, with only a minimum of instruction."
"Charles, you have never taught a vampire before," Nestor pointed out.
"I have reviewed every record of every vampire trained in the last three hundred years," Charles didn't even look up from taking notes. "I know all the rules, and have been notified of every breaking of those rules, filed the complaints and witnessed every punishment meted out. Do you think I cannot impress upon a new turn the seriousness of the laws?" Charles lifted his head and turned to Nestor, then.
"I was only concerned for the well-being of the turn," Nestor bluffed.
"Then your concern is noted," Wlodek said. "There are other, more serious matters to attend to, if there are no further questions regarding our newest female?"
"This sounds rather ominous," Cecil said.
"It is. I have communicated with Director Jennings for the past two days. It seems that William Winkler has been spied upon recently. The vehicle involved, which appeared suspicious, has been tracked and the plates identified. The car was registered to Saxom Meletius, and we can uncover no other information, except that name."
Chapter 11
Breanne's Journal
"That was interesting," Charles placed his laptop bag in a corner of his office and blinked at me with a sigh.
I'd followed Gavin to the side of the cave again while the Vampire Council erupted in heated discussion. After reading them, I realized that they never did that—their emotions were generally tightly controlled. Saxom's name was the hottest of hot buttons for the vampires present, and I learned, both through readings and listening to the chaos, that Saxom was a very bad vampire.
"That almost gave me a headache," I muttered, dropping onto Charles's single guest chair.
"Don't let it upset you, they're just a bunch of old, fusty vampires," Charles said. "How about some blood?"
"No," I moaned and dropped my face in my hands.
"If I let you get by without drinking extra tonight, you have to make up for it tomorrow evening," Charles informed me. "It would be better to drink a little tonight."
"Fine." I lifted my head and worked to calm my gag reflex.
"Good. Go to the kitchen and pull a bag from the refrigerator. I'll drink what you don't."
"Okay." I rose from the chair and shuffled out of Charles's office.
* * *
Baby? Hank's voice came to me as I opened the door on a refrigerator the size of Rhode Island.
What? Did I miss him? Horribly. Was I still mad? Yeah. Some. A little.
What are you doing?
Getting a disgusting bag of blood out of a fridge so I can drink some of it, I replied.
You don't like that, do you?
What part of disgusting eludes you?
Hank's mental chuckle sounded heavenly. What are you doing? I sent back.
In Dallas with Bill. I wanted to tell you that Jayson lost his job with Rome Enterprises. Have you seen the video?
What video?
Thought so. Janine managed to record Jayson and Belinda having fun. It's all over the news stations and the Internet, now.
Oh, no, I said. I swear I want to punch that bitch.
You'll have to stand in line. Bill hired Jayson as a full-time temp, but everybody recognizes him, now. That's not a good thing for a special agent.
I get that. Look, maybe I can do something about that in a couple of hours. Where are you in Dallas?
Hank rattled off an address.
I'll be there as soon as the vamps go to sleep, okay?
Baby, if you can help with this, I'll give you the biggest kiss ever.
Is that what it takes? Damn. I thought you just didn't want to get your mouth dirty.
Bree, I'd like to swat you for that. You know I won't. You taste like heaven to me. If you were here right now, my mouth would be all over you.
Look, I have to get back with this blood or they'll think I've gone rogue. Around here, that's not a good thing.
I'll see you in a couple of hours, then, he said.
* * *
"Ready?" Charles grinned, the tips of shortened claws poised above the tube on our bag of blood.
"No." I hugged myself.
"Hey, come here," Charles said, setting the blood on the edge of his desk and motioning me forward.
"Why?" I stayed where I was and hugged my ribs tighter.
"You think I'm going to hurt you. Or scare you. I won't, I promise." He took a step toward me. I took a step back. The fact that he'd lured me in with soft words and then bitten me still stung. That didn't take into account how much it had frightened me. The climax? It wasn't worth the fear.
"I didn't want to scare you any more than I had to," Charles spoke softly. "I know I did anyway. Come here, love. Let me take care of you."
I blinked. Charles was right in front of me, taking my hands and pulling them away from my waist. "Shhh, there's no need to be afraid. I won't bite again unless you ask me to. Why don't you bite me, instead? Right here," he tapped the side of his neck. "You can smell it, can't you? The blood, right beneath the surface of my skin? You won't hurt me, I promise."
"But," I whimpered.
"No, darling. Put your hand here, at the back of my neck, to hold me still. If I move during the bite, the skin will tear." He placed my left hand on the back of his neck. "Grip firmly, so I can't move," he instructed, leaning in to kiss my forehead. "Don't let go," he added.
I gripped the back of his neck firmly with my hand. "Now, look me in the eye and tell me you won't hurt me," Charles breathed against my temple. Keeping my grip on his neck, I leaned back far enough to look into his eyes.
"I won't hurt you." My words were shaky whispers.
"I know you won't," Charles reassured me. "Now, lean in and place a kiss over the site, then bite. Be gentle."
"I will," I promised. I wanted to shiver, but this was an impromptu bite lesson and if I flunked, I'd have to do it again. And again—until I passed.
"I won't hurt you," I repeated, breathing against Charles's neck before kissing the spot over his artery. I discovered he smelled really good. Like cinnamon and sugar. "You smell wonderful." I kissed him again before forcing my fangs to descend. I sank them into the artery as gently as I could. Blood filled my mouth.
Charles's arms squeezed me against him as I fought to swallow, and I knew he was having an intense orgasm. I licked the wound clean as requir
ed after swallowing my mouthful of blood, and gently massaged the back of Charles's neck.
"That was incredible," Charles said, his voice still breathy from the climax. "The best ever," he added, lifting me in his arms and carrying me to his desk chair. "I'll have this," he pulled the bag of blood toward him while balancing me on his lap, "and you can close your eyes and rest on my lap while I drink it."
* * *
As promised, as soon as the sun came up for the day, I misted out of my cubicle in Gavin's basement and folded space to Dallas. I had to Look to determine where the address was, and landed outside a very large home between Dallas and Denton.
There, it was still the middle of the night and I fidgeted about what to do. Was I supposed to ring the doorbell? Who lived here? I figured I'd find a hotel, not somebody's house, for Pete's sake.
"Bree? Thank God," Bill swung the door open. Hank, Jayson, William Winkler and Trajan were right behind him.
* * *
"Hello, little hellion," Acrimus attempted to smile at a cringing Janine. "I just visited Miss Wayde, and while she doesn't suit my purposes, you do."
"Who are you?" Janine trembled.
"You can call me lieutenant," Acrimus' ensuing grimace terrified Janine. "You like pain. I can give you all you want. And, if you want, you can hand it out to others after I'm done with you."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
"Look, I shouldn't be gone long," I said, staring at Jayson. I'd never seen him look so pitiful. We'd gathered inside Winkler's enormous kitchen after Bill pulled me inside the house.
"You think you can do something about him?" Hope shone in Bill's eyes. Jayson had saved Bill's life, and Bill wanted to hire him full-time. He couldn't, with everybody recognizing Jayson.
"So, you know what it feels like now, don't you?" I said.
"Yeah." Jayson ducked his head.
"At least you weren't naked when that video was recorded," I pointed out. Jayson had worn leather pants, at least. I'd had no choice when photographs had been taken of my mangled body in the past. Belinda was the one naked this time, and thankfully they'd blocked her face (and other parts) before splashing the images everywhere.
"What do you want to look like?" I asked.
"Huh?"
"Didn't Hank tell you? I can probably change the way you look."
"He said you might help, but I didn't know what that meant." Jayson's honey-brown eyes held a well of grief and guilt. I hoped some of that was for his mother, who was surely suffering through all this.
"Breanne, can you make it so he might disappear in a crowd?" Bill asked.
"Yeah," I shrugged. "He might not like it, though."
"Just do it," Jayson begged.
"All right. Bill, what will you do about his name?"
"Temporary change, which could become permanent if he wants."
"Okay. Let's see, here," I went to Jayson and put my hands on his face. Dim light shone around my hands as I performed cosmetic surgery just like the Larentii might. No pain was involved, and when I pulled my hands away, Jayson still looked at me expectantly.
"It's done," I said.
"That's amazing." Winkler, who'd sat beside Trajan at the island, rose now and came to examine my work. "Is that for real? It's not an illusion?"
"It's real until I change it back," I said. Jayson now had brown hair, hazel eyes and was two inches shorter than he'd been seconds earlier.
"Here," Hank handed a small mirror to Jayson, so he could look.
"What the hell?" Jayson muttered, staring at his new image. "That's just—weird."
"Nobody will recognize you, now. You even have new fingerprints," I said. "Have fun with that," I added before folding back to England.
* * *
"Here's your new profile," Bill pulled up information on his laptop and turned it so Jayson could see.
"Matthew Michaels?" Jayson stared at the name listed.
"Matt for short?" Bill grinned. "See, you're listed as being from Los Angeles. That's close enough to the real thing, don't you think, and you won't have to spout information about an area you're unfamiliar with."
"Matt Michaels, huh?" Jayson stared at the photograph displayed—Bill and his department could move quickly when motivated. This profile had taken less than an hour to create and Jayson's new ID would be delivered quickly.
"I wish Bree had stayed. I wanted to talk to her," Bill said.
"I don't think talking was all Hank wanted to do," Jayson grinned. It was the first time he'd smiled since the debacle had begun. "What can I tell my mother?"
"I'll handle that," Bill sighed. "I think she's having enough difficulty as it is. I'll find another job for Trina, too, if you'd like. I think Jayson Rome needs to disappear, at least for a while."
"Yeah. Ask Mom to close up the house. Can you do anything about my bank accounts?"
"For the most part," Bill nodded. "Just leave that to me."
* * *
"I'll get her up," Charles nodded to Gavin.
"How did it go—the rest of the bite lesson?"
"Very well. She did it perfectly," Charles said. "I don't believe she needs the food lesson."
"I doubt it. She keeps asking for watermelon, so there's no doubt she'd hold onto real food as long as possible."
"My thinking as well. Regardless, we have little time. Wlodek wants to send me to Dallas, and I believe Breanne can get me into difficult locations while I'm there."
"Please take care of her," Charles muttered.
"Do you think I won't?"
"I don't know," Charles turned away. "I realize how much of an asset she is, but I'm terrified for her."
"I understand that," Gavin sighed.
* * *
"Merrill," Wlodek nodded as Merrill walked into his study.
"I have your answer. You're not going to like it," Merrill sat on one of Wlodek's guest chairs with a sigh.
"I seldom like the answers gathered from the Saa Thalarr. Tell me anyway."
"Saxom died when they say he did," Merrill reported. "But," he held up a hand as Wlodek began to speak, "Many can bend time. There is no guarantee that this did not happen at the moment of Saxom's death. Similar events have occurred, when a soul—or a body—has been transferred the moment before death, with another being substituted. The death is real, but the victim is not the one intended."
"This is untenable," Wlodek hissed. "You mean to tell me that this bastard could be back to torment us again?"
"It is my sincere hope that this is not true. Nevertheless, it is possible. I spoke with Kiarra myself. She, understandably, is quite upset over the news I brought to her."
"I will send Gavin to Dallas immediately. This must be researched carefully, and Gavin can be trusted. If Saxom has returned, I will mobilize everything I have to bring him down."
"That may be what he's hoping for," Merrill observed. "Tread carefully, Father. We may all be in danger."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
"Hey," Charles's fingers brushed hair back from my forehead. "Still sleepy?"
"Yeah." I wanted to turn over, but I didn't. I'd given Charles a climax, after he'd given me one first. I probably would care more for him if those things hadn't happened.
"You're embarrassed," Charles smiled gently. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You gave me pleasure. I liked it. I didn't even feel the touch of your fangs."
"That's not what this is about," I closed my eyes to block the vision of him.
"What is it about then?"
"I don't know." I lifted a hand and let it fall onto the bed again.
"Me calling you darling? Is that it? You're uncomfortable? I scare you? You don't understand what's going on?"
"All those things," I opened my eyes again and stared at Charles.
"Some people say that love at first sight doesn't exist," Charles murmured, leaning in to kiss my forehead. "Others swear by it."
"What are you saying?" I frowned at him.
"When the time is right, you get to choose the ending to this story," Charles whispered. "Meanwhile, Gavin wants you up and dressed. You'll be flying to Dallas in two hours."
"You really know how to make a woman's day, don't you?" I leaned forward and rested on an elbow while blinking at Charles.
"Come on, get in the shower. I'll have blood for you when you get out, and I'll help you pack."
"We're going after that Saxom guy?" I dropped my legs over the side of the bed.
"Investigating, yes. If Saxom is still alive, Wlodek will send backup."
"Wow," I pushed hair behind an ear and studied Charles, who'd stood aside to let me up. "None of this sounds good at the moment," I added. "I don't feel comfortable with any of this."
"You can easily get Gavin into places he might find difficult to breach, and we need that kind of stealth with this," Charles said. "I know you're worried. I am, too, and not least because we could lose you and Gavin both."
"It's gonna be hot in Dallas this time of year," I muttered, shuffling toward the bathroom.
* * *
"There's something you should know about Breanne," Bill said. "And I just heard from Wlodek—he's sending Gavin and another vampire to assist with this investigation. I hope to hell he's sending Breanne."
"What should I know about her, other than she seems to have abilities I've never seen before?"
"She's Lissa's sister," Bill stated flatly. "Lissa's half-sister, actually."
"What?" Winkler, who'd taken a seat at the kitchen island for a cup of coffee with Bill, stood quickly. "Don't tell me that, Bill Jennings. What the fuck?" Winkler turned his back to Bill and raked fingers through his hair in frustration.
"Breanne says they share the same sperm donor," Bill said. "I think she found out about Lissa after the fact."
"Fuck," Winkler muttered.
"I love her," Bill added softly. "Breanne, I mean."
"I thought that Hank guy was going to drool when she showed up last night," Winkler turned back to Bill.
"She loves him. Says she loves me. Jayson—Matt—wants in, too."
"Multiple mates? It's not unheard of, but it's also not accepted as the norm," Winkler observed dryly.
"Polyamory happens. Damn, that sounds like a bumper sticker," Bill grinned.
Blood Revolution (God Wars, #3) Page 16