* * *
Breanne's Journal
"We'll have some time when we arrive," Gavin said. "While safe houses are available in the area, Wlodek suggested they could be compromised. Therefore, we will be guests of William Winkler, the Dallas Packmaster, during our stay. I have stayed at his compound before, and his wolves will guard us during the day."
"Okay," I said with a shrug. I'd already seen part of Winkler's house. It was huge.
"Some werewolves still do not trust any vampire, so please be circumspect and do not react if one of them upsets or insults you. Werewolves can be rude or crass at times, and it is never wise to challenge them when there are many surrounding you."
"I understand," I said.
"If any of them attempts to harm you, I will consider it a challenge against me," Gavin added, sitting back in his seat. "They will not wish to see my wrath."
Yes, I stared at Gavin. Was he saying he'd protect me? Where had this Gavin gone in the future, leaving the one who'd spawned me in his place? I probably wasn't destined to get an answer to that unspoken question, so I settled back in my seat, too, determined to rest on the flight to Dallas.
* * *
"I'm not joking, Weldon, that's what Bill said."
"I'm coming down there," Weldon huffed. "If she's an impostor, well."
"Weldon, I don't know what to think, but it's guaranteed she can do shit even Lissa couldn't."
"Did you ask what her father's name is? We both know nobody can mention that asshole unless they know about him and are with somebody else who also knows about him."
"No, but Bill is hoping she's coming in with Gavin."
"Wlodek's sending Gavin? That ought to be fun," Weldon muttered. "Look, I'll get a flight out this afternoon."
"I have the jet on standby," Winkler offered.
"Send it. I'll be packed and ready."
* * *
"Bad news, Jayson," Bill sat on the sofa inside Jayson's borrowed suite. "Colbi Wayde's body was found an hour ago in her home. Looked like she'd been ripped apart. San Francisco police are looking for you, now."
"Why? I wasn't even there," Jayson sputtered.
"You and I know that, but, well, let's just say things are getting complicated. We're getting death threats against you from those idiots online. When the reporter mentioned that you and Breanne may have been engaged, those people hunting Breanne are now focused on you as well. Trust me; you don't want to see what they're saying, especially since the Wayde woman was killed. Janine has also disappeared, and I have no idea where she is."
"What about Mom and Trina?" Jayson asked.
"I'm moving them to your mother's house in Tahoe, and setting up guards. Dan, your mother's driver, is on vacation so he's been instructed to stay with his family. I told your mother you were safe, but things are blowing up on the Internet."
"Like they weren't blowing up already?" Jayson asked. "Can this mess get any worse?"
"I hope not, but it's not anywhere near good at the moment."
"At least nobody recognizes me now. This is a nightmare."
"It's that, all right," Bill agreed.
* * *
Breanne's Journal
It's easier to come back to the U.S. than flying to the UK. We still had plenty of night left, and Bill was waiting when our plane landed.
"I know Bill—I worked as an interpreter for him before," I told Gavin, doing my best not to cringe as I did so. I was still waiting for his temper to explode, but so far, that hadn't happened.
"Did you? That may make this easier, then," Gavin's dark eyes studied me. The lights blinked on inside the jet, making me blink, too, at the sudden brightness. "We realize that you may meet people you know. If there is a problem, I will lay compulsion. Director Jennings has vampires employed in his Department, so he is a trusted associate. Many of his human agents are also aware of the vampires and werewolves working for the department, so if Bill allows them to know, then they are trustworthy."
"Thank you," I sighed.
"I will protect your identity just as fiercely as I protect my own," Gavin unbuckled his lap belt. I followed suit and rose when he did, preparing to walk down the steps and pretend (under Gavin's scrutiny) that I didn't recognize Hank, Jayson and the others standing on the tarmac with Bill.
* * *
"Gavin," Bill nodded to Gavin but didn't extend his hand. You don't shake with a vampire unless he offers first. Gavin didn't offer. "This is Hank Bell and Matt Michaels, two of my agents. They've been advised," Bill said.
"This is Breanne," Gavin introduced me. "I understand you two are already acquainted."
Interpreter, I sent hasty mindspeech to Bill.
"Yes. Breanne worked as an interpreter for me on a few special projects. Her Arabic is exceptional." Bill smiled at me.
"Hi, Bill," I gave him a bittersweet smile. We can talk after sunrise, I sent. "It's good to see you again," I added aloud and held out my hand. Bill took it and shook warmly.
"Shall we?" Bill indicated the van behind him. Thank goodness it held all of us, plus Gavin's and my luggage.
* * *
"What's the name of this church?" Gavin examined photographs of a new church building not far from Winkler's mansion. "You say the car was parked there?"
"We saw it there one day. It could have been a worker, a parishioner or someone stopping for directions," Winkler said. "It hasn't been back there since. We've kept careful surveillance, and Bill's agents have been watching the parking lot as well."
"No sightings by local law enforcement?" Gavin asked.
"None reported," Bill shook his head. "Not surprising, given the size of the area. They're calling it The Church of the True God, by the way," he added. "No idea why they felt the word true was necessary, but I've seen odder names."
* * *
"Opal, why is this happening?" Kathleen Rome’s hand shook as they watched Jayson’s home in San Rafael burn.
"I don’t know," Opal soothed. "I’m just glad we got you out of there when we did."
"This is fucked up," Trina agreed. They’d moved into Kathleen’s Tahoe home the day before, after leaving San Rafael behind. "Are they going to save any of it?" The television camera, mounted on a helicopter, was poised overhead as firefighters struggled to extinguish the fire.
"Probably used some sort of accelerant. What I want to know is how they got past the agents at the bottom of the hill," Opal sighed.
"People can be so evil," Kathleen wiped tears away.
"They can definitely be that," Opal agreed.
* * *
Breanne’s Journal
Gavin had gone to bed with the sun’s rising, and as soon as I knew he wouldn’t find me wandering about, I misted out of my bedroom inside Winkler’s mansion and went looking for Bill, Jayson and Hank. I’d found them in the kitchen, having breakfast with Winkler, Trajan and Trace.
"Please tell me you have fruit," I begged the moment I appeared at Bill’s elbow.
"Bananas, cantaloupe and watermelon," Winkler grinned. "In the fridge."
"Hey, I get a hug, first," Bill pulled me against him.
"Hi, Bill." I leaned in to kiss him.
"Vamps treating you okay?" Winkler asked.
"Surprisingly, yes," I nodded after Bill let me go. "I keep waiting for Gavin to go animalistic, but so far he hasn’t." I shrugged over my puzzlement on that quarter.
"Animalistic is a good word to define Gavin," Winkler agreed. "Who turned you, anyway?"
"I can’t tell you that," I said.
"You’re susceptible to compulsion?" Winkler asked in disbelief.
"Nope. None of that works on me, including obsessions from Sirenali. If I told you who turned me, you’d freak. Trust me; you’re better off not knowing."
"The Grand Master," Ace announced as he walked in with Weldon Harper.
"This is the one claiming to be Lissa’s sister?" Weldon Harper growled. He was ready to defend Lissa to anyone claiming to be related. He was ready to k
ill, too, if I were lying.
"We have the same sperm donor," I said, working to keep the shakiness from my voice.
"Name him," Weldon barked.
"You mean Griffin, the asshole? Or Brenten Arden, which is his birth name?" I asked as steadily as I could. "What else would you like to know? That he’s the first member of the race known as Saa Thalarr? That he’s retired, now? That his father is a Karathian warlock and used to be King of Karathia? That his mate’s name is Amara? Anything else you’d like to know? His eating habits, maybe?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Weldon turned dark eyes on Winkler.
"I told you," Winkler shrugged.
"Breanne is who she says she is." Hank’s fingers settled on my shoulders. "You are frightening her. Stop it now."
"Who the fuck are you?" Weldon’s gaze fell on Hank, who stood behind me.
"Grand Master, that one had Trajan down and howling on the floor last night," Winkler sighed. "He’s not human."
"Huh?" I turned around in time to see a slight curl of smoke drift from Hank’s nostrils. Fainting is usually my last choice of things to do. Regardless, I did it anyway.
* * *
"High Demon." Weldon tossed up a hand in resignation.
"He says so. I believe him, after I got a good whiff," Winkler said. "He says he can pass for human most of the time, until you get him riled up enough to make the change. Trajan attacked last night, and you don’t want to know what we saw after that."
"Yes I do," Weldon crossed arms over his chest. "Explain."
"Taller than Trajan," Winkler shook his head. "With black scales, wings and curved horns. Bill says that Hank had already shown him what he was, and Jayson long before that. The only one who didn’t know—until now—is Breanne."
"And she didn’t take it well. I saw that for myself. I’m convinced that she’s Lissa’s half-sister, now, but she’s in the same position Lissa was in—under Gavin’s thumb."
"You think I haven’t considered that?" Winkler’s words were a growl. "We have no claim on this one, Weldon. The vamps have full control, although Bill says they have no idea she can walk in daylight."
"I heard her asking for fruit, so that’s not the only similarity," Weldon huffed. "Lissa got used by the vampires and killed by her father’s interference."
"Let’s hope Griffin stays the hell away from this one, then."
* * *
Breanne’s Journal
"Wake up, baby." Hank’s voice. Hank’s mouth, kissing my ear and my neck. My eyes didn’t want to open. My brain didn’t want to consider what I’d seen earlier. What the hell was a High Demon doing on Earth? I realized I’d spoken that thought aloud when Hank chuckled against my throat.
"Someone told me recently that I’ve gone native."
"You know, I’m afraid to ask who that was," my eyes opened to narrow slits, testing the brightness of the light. Wherever I was, it was nicely dim. I opened my eyes wider.
"Does it bother you that I might be High Demon?" Hank asked, nuzzling my chest. When had I gotten naked?
"Does it bother you that I might be vampire?" I said. Hank nipped the skin above my breast, making me draw in a breath.
"Not at all. I recognize my baby when I see her. That’s all I care about."
"You schmuck," I hissed as his mouth settled on a nipple.
"Uh-hmmmm."
"You could have moved that stupid safe by yourself. Instead, you whined about it."
"I had an audience," he lifted his head and grinned (yeah, I almost had a climax on the spot). "Just like you had an audience."
"Just because you’re High Demon doesn’t mean you’re indestructible," I pointed out.
"And you’re not indestructible, either." Hank’s eyes became serious. "Now, we can use the next hour to fuck, or we can use it to argue. I know which one will make me feel better."
"I thought High Demons put their claiming marks on their mates." The memory of that trait hit me, then. "That means we’re not," Hank’s fingers covered my mouth to keep me from finishing.
"First off, that’s a barbaric practice," he said. "Second off, they’re already there." He pulled his fingers away.
"What?" I tried to sit up in bed. Hank pushed me back down.
"New rule," Hank grinned before kissing me. "When a High Demon claims his mate now, there is a natural anesthetic and healing agent in the initial kiss. It knocks his mate out, he places the bite and then heals it up again. Something like the vamps can do with their bite marks, only the marks are left behind, as they should be. Cool, huh?"
"Are you kidding me? That’s not the way I understood it."
"It’s the way it is, now. My marks are right here," his fingers massaged the back of my neck gently. "You think I’d terrify my baby like that, or deliberately make her sick? No fucking way."
"Does Jayson know? About the High Demon thing?"
"I went nuts when you disappeared more than two years ago. He saw the smaller Thifilathi then. Took me a week to calm him down. Bill saw it after he and Opal came to San Francisco. The others saw it last night, after Trajan thought he’d wipe the floor with me. I showed him what it was like to dust and mop."
"You did not hurt Trajan," I struggled to rise again.
"Baby, I didn’t hurt Trajan. He says he enjoyed the competition. Lie back. You need some sleep. I’ll make sure you get it, about forty-five minutes from now. Put your arms around my neck, Bree, and hang on. I’m gonna fuck hard the first time."
* * *
I’d just gotten out of the shower when Gavin showed up in my bedroom, a bag of blood in his hands. I’d gotten decent sleep after Hank was done with me.
"Thank you," I sighed at Gavin, while toweling my hair dry. If Gavin knew that Hank and I had fooled around after he went to sleep for the day, he’d be pitching a fit. I sure didn’t want to see what a fight between Gavin and a High Demon might look like, either. At least I smelled like soap and shampoo, now, instead of Hank and sex.
"Eat and dress quickly, Director Jennings wishes to follow a lead. The car may have been sighted in Denton, and two bodies were recovered not far away."
* * *
"These were murdered just like those in San Francisco." Bill said the moment we gathered in Winkler’s kitchen. He handed me photographs of two men.
Criminals, I sent to Bill. Andy Schaeffer and Kevin Branch. I handed the photographs back.
"Throats cut?" Gavin asked.
"Just the same. I was hoping you could tell me if a vampire may have been at the murder scene."
"If it hasn’t been disturbed too much," Gavin nodded.
"Let’s go, then," Bill said. "The scene is guarded, and the bodies are still there."
* * *
Obediah Tanner studied the two werewolves before him. "Jennings is in Dallas, according to my source. With Winkler, or so I hear. Take Jennings out. If you happen to get Winkler, too, I’ll hand you a bonus."
Chapter 12
Breanne’s Journal
"Jayson, I’m sorry about your house," Bill said.
On the drive to the crime scene, Jayson, whose name was officially Matt, now, studied photographs on Bill’s tablet. Opal was coordinating the arson investigation with Bill’s agents on the West Coast while doing her best to guard Kathleen and Trina in Tahoe.
"We figure some type of accelerant was used, but it hasn’t been determined, yet."
"Fuck." Jayson wiped his face with a hand as he stared at the images of smoking rubble that used to be his house.
How much of this is my fault? I sent to Bill.
Sweetheart, we don’t know that any of it is your fault. We did find Colbi Wayde’s body, though. We figure she was killed for information. The authorities are telling the news outlets that they’re searching for Jayson, but I’ve already talked to them, and they know he’s not involved. Since Jayson has disappeared, we’ll let the public believe what they want for a while, so the locals can track the real killer.
"This is so messed up
," I sighed. "I am so sorry about your house," I shook my head helplessly at Jayson. "And sorry about your cars, too."
"I may have to borrow your TinyCar," Jayson attempted a joke.
"You have a TinyCar?" Winkler lifted an eyebrow at me. Well, I didn't figure you'd ever find a werewolf in a TinyCar.
"Bree, a high wind could knock that thing off the Golden Gate Bridge and all the clowns would drop out," Bill smiled at me.
"Stop dissing my car," I sputtered. "Jayson, you can have my car if you want it, but I figure you'd just be too ashamed to be seen in it."
Yeah, somebody had explained to Gavin that Jayson was incognito, now, and that we knew one another. Jayson was still working on getting used to the new name, though. It didn't matter with us—everybody who was with him now would protect his identity. Still, I felt responsible for the fire at Jayson's house.
"Breanne, you must learn that things such as this are not your responsibility," Gavin broke in. I jerked my head around to stare at him. "There will always be those whose minds are warped, and at times they exert power over the weak. The truth, however, is the truth, and none can change that, no matter how much they’d prefer it otherwise."
"The truth is we need those pricks in jail," Winkler pointed out. "Along with whoever has moved into this area to make us sweat."
"Yeah," Trajan growled. He hadn’t said much up to now, and I was surprised to see him sitting next to Hank in the back of the van. How did knocking each other around form a bond of friendship with men? I failed to understand any of it.
I sat between Bill and Gavin in the second row of seats, with Jayson at the end. Trace drove, with Winkler in the passenger seat. Hank, Weldon and Trajan took up the back. Jayson handed Bill’s tablet back. "The house is insured," he mumbled. I knew he was upset more than he let on, though.
"We’re here," Trace announced as he maneuvered the van as close as possible to the crime scene. We were just outside an alley between brick buildings, and the air smelled strange the moment I exited the van.
"This smells weird," I whispered as Bill pulled out ID to show to the officer in charge of the crime scene. The officer nodded to Winkler, who stood beside Bill, so they knew one another.
Blood Revolution (God Wars, #3) Page 17