“That’s what I was afraid of. It’s not going to get better either.” She looked at the cookie in Donna’s hand. “Did you feed? Or have you just eaten human food?”
“No blood yet. Charlie thought it might not be a good idea.”
Jerabeth’s brows rose as she looked at the admin. “Good instincts. The fae were probably counting on you feeding. If you do, you’ll only increase the potency of what’s in your system. It has to run its course naturally.”
“How long is that going to take? If I don’t feed, I’m going to weaken. That’s going to make me a liability on the raid. More than I already will be with this garbage in my system.”
Jerabeth sighed. “Pretty sure that was the point of drugging you. I need a sample of your blood so I can run some tests.”
“Fine.” Donna stood and took off her cardigan. “I had Charlie call Dr. Fox too. Not that I don’t think you’re capable of solving this, but it can’t hurt to have help. And I’m sure he’ll come at it from a different angle.”
“I’m good with that. In fact, feel free to call in whoever you like. I’m not about to turn down help.” Jerabeth put the leather roll on the counter, untied it, and opened it up to reveal a variety of syringes and vials.
Donna grimaced. Just because she was a vampire didn’t mean she loved needles.
Thankfully, Jerabeth worked quickly taking blood. “Okay, that should do it.”
Donna glanced down. The needle mark was already gone. “That reminds me. How’s it coming with the fae blood?”
“I’m sorry, Governor. I’ve had to put that aside to work on this.”
“No,” Donna snapped. The single word reverberated like an explosion.
Rixaline jumped in the other room, and Lucky took off running.
Donna inhaled. “I’m sorry. That came out a lot louder and meaner than I intended. I didn’t even know I could be that loud.”
Pierce came running out of his room. “What was that?”
“Me,” she said. Pierce knew a lot about vampires. Maybe he’d have some insight into her situation. “Sorry about waking you, but now that you’re up, you might as well know what’s going on. Sit down, and I’ll bring you up to speed.”
Chapter Ten
Charlie held her hand up. “Wait. Let’s get Temo up here and fill them both in at the same time.”
“Already here.” Temo walked in. “What was that shout? Sounded like something one of my cousins might have done.”
“About that…” Donna, with a little assist from Charlie and Jerabeth, told the two men the whole story.
Temo looked ready to kill. So did Pierce, actually. But Temo spoke first. “Boss, there has to be something we can do to help you.”
“I agree,” Pierce said. “If nothing else, we have to find a way to get you safely fed. I’m concerned that as you weaken it’ll be harder for you to fight off the drugs’ effects.”
Jerabeth leaned against the kitchen counter. “That’s a very real possibility. If she feeds, the drugs’ power increases. If she doesn’t feed, her ability to resist the drugs’ effects decreases. It’s a lose-lose. The fae knew what they were doing with this. But then again, they’ve had many years and many vampire victims to perfect such things on.”
Donna growled, barely containing the anger she felt. “I may not kill them all, but Dredward is done.”
Pierce looked at Temo. “Do you think your contact had anything to do with this? He knows about the raid.”
“No. He gave the boss four vials of his blood. If his fae brothers were to find that out?” Temo grimaced. “Ish doesn’t want any more trouble than he’s already got.”
Charlie crossed her arms. “You’re sure about that?”
“As sure as I can be.” Temo shrugged. “I’ve known the man awhile. He’s too hurt and bitter about what happened to him to give the fae any help. Especially against someone willing to confront them.” He shifted in his seat. “Ishalan probably wants Dredward overthrown more than you do, boss.”
Donna gave that some thought. “If that’s true, and I believe you, Temo, then I’m glad I gave him the okay to join us on the raid.” She paced to the other side of the kitchen, then turned and came back. “In fact, if he really wants to see Dredward go down, maybe he can give us the antidote for these drugs.”
Temo pulled out his phone. “You willing to pay for that information? I know he’s going to ask.”
“Yes,” Donna answered. Temo started typing as she spoke. “Offer him ten thousand and tell him I’ll let him live when I’m erasing the rest of the fae from the face of the earth.”
To Temo’s credit, he didn’t blink. “You got it.”
A wave of heat washed over her with a burning intensity. Exhaling, she fanned the back of her neck. “I thought the hot flashes ended when I was turned.”
Jerabeth straightened. “Could be the drugs intensifying.”
Sweat began to drip down Donna’s spine. “Well, that sucks. We have to find a solution to this and fast.”
Pierce stood. “Jerabeth, why don’t you take a sample of everyone’s blood and see how it interacts with Donna’s? Maybe there’s one of us she could feed from that wouldn’t strengthen the drugs.”
Jerabeth nodded. “It’s worth a shot.”
The door chimes sounded. Charlie headed in that direction. “Probably Dr. Fox.”
Donna was on fire, but worse than that, she felt like she was about to snap. She was going to yell or cry or hit something, and what little control she had was quickly slipping from her grasp. She did not want to lose it in front of her team.
She loved these people. Cared what they thought about her. She didn’t want them to see her like this. Or to take the brunt of her emotions. Or worse, accidentally hurt one of them if she lost control.
Pierce came over to her. “Come with me.”
She glared at him, unable to do anything else with lava flowing through her veins. “I know you mean well, but this isn’t the time.”
“Shut up and come with me.”
She frowned but followed him. He led her into her bedroom, opened the door to the balcony, and gestured for her to go outside. Tiny flakes drifted on the breeze.
She stepped out into the cold. The relief was almost instant. She grabbed hold of the railing and took deep gulps of the icy air. In less than a minute, she felt almost normal. She looked over her shoulder. He was standing just inside, still wearing his pajamas. He had to be cold. “Thank you. I’m sorry for my reaction. I didn’t mean it.”
He smiled. “I know. And you’re forgiven.” He folded his arms over his chest. Definitely cold. “I have to confess something.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “I can’t take any more bad news.”
“It’s not bad.”
“Then what is it?”
He glanced down for a second. “I overheard your conversation with Charlie. About me. I just want you to know that you’re right. A relationship between us could make things very awkward. If you want to date someone, you should do it.”
“Pierce—”
“No, I mean it. Look, I don’t want to stand in the way of your happiness.”
She had no doubt that was true, but the smug look on his face said he thought it was very unlikely another man was going to make her as happy as he could. He was probably right. “That’s kind of you.”
He shrugged. “What we have is already amazing and intensely special. Nothing’s going to change that, outside of death or marriage. And I don’t see any vows in my future. You?”
“No way. Never again.” Truer words had never been spoken.
“Then go have fun, Donna. I’m not going to love you or care for you any less. You spent most of your adult life married to a man who never put you first. It would be strange if you didn’t want to sow some wild oats.”
Was he just saying this to give her an out? They’d never played those kinds of games before, so why would they start now? He’d always been extremely honest with her. She c
ould feel herself getting weepy again. “Do you really mean that? Or are you putting my happiness ahead of your own?”
His smile perked up a little. “As you know, I can leave whenever I want. The only thing that keeps me with you is my desire to be here. I gain nothing by lying to you.”
It was frightening to think of life without him. Her mood turned blue, and she fought it with humor. “You’d lose that fat salary if you left.”
He laughed. “True, but I wasn’t exactly destitute when you met me.”
“No, you weren’t.” She came back inside, cupped his face, and kissed him on the mouth. There was nothing much romantic about it, more like a kiss between friends. Who maybe, possibly, might someday be more. “I’d be lost without you.”
His grin beamed bright. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re the most capable woman I know. But I appreciate the thought. And I’m not going anywhere.”
A knock on her door turned both their heads. “Governor?” Charlie called. “Dr. Fox is here. I didn’t know if you wanted to see him before he goes to work with Jerabeth.”
“Coming,” Donna answered. She gave Pierce’s hand a squeeze, then shut the balcony door. “Let’s hope he can help.”
In about twenty minutes, blood samples had been taken from everyone, including Jerabeth and Dr. Fox, who’d volunteered immediately when he’d been given the details about what was going on.
He tucked the last vial safely into his medical bag. “Normally, I’d want to do this work in my lab, but I have a good bit of equipment in my car. I packed everything I thought I might need when you called, Charlene. I’ll just need to bring those things up, then Jerabeth and I can get to work. Do you mind if we set up in the salon?”
“It’s all yours,” Donna said. “And I’m sure Temo and Pierce can help you bring up your equipment.”
Both men stood, nodding.
Jerabeth hooked her thumb toward the stairs. “I’ll go get my supplies as well and meet you in the salon, Doctor. We can start testing immediately.”
“Wonderful,” Donna said.
Charlie picked up her cup of tea. “Governor, if you don’t need me, I should go check email.”
“Sure.” That left Donna and Rixaline. She put her arm around the girl. “You okay?”
She nodded. “I might go read. Or maybe take Lucky to my room and see if he wants to play. Actually, I should probably brush him. He never seems to get enough of that.”
“Nope. That cat could be brushed all day, I think.”
Rixaline grabbed Lucky and headed to her room, leaving Donna alone in the kitchen. She had a burning desire to do something, but what? Maybe she should call Dr. Ursula Goldberg. She was the psychologist who ran the First Fangs Club, the support group for women who’d recently been turned.
She’d also been Donna’s therapist when Donna had been human, giving the doctor a special insight into Donna’s life.
But had La ever dealt with anything fae-related like this? Somehow, Donna didn’t think so.
That left the women from the group. But which of them would be most likely able to help? Francine, the older and utterly unstoppable matriarch who’d just thrown Donna the most amazing party? Neo, the younger, streetwise computer programmer who, thanks to her help as security backup recently, was quickly capturing Temo’s heart? Bunni, the slightly ditzy bottle blonde who seemed to mostly want revenge on the boyfriend who’d abandoned her to a nest of vampires? Or one of the other women Donna had met only recently—LaToya, the vivacious single mom, or Meghan, the supermodel?
The problem was that reaching out to Francine, Neo, or Bunni would most likely mean they’d want to help. They were those kinds of people. Well, maybe not Bunni, but then again, she didn’t seem like someone who’d back down from a brawl.
That was a problem because Donna didn’t really want her new friends involved in the fight with the fae. It was too dangerous. And it wasn’t their battle. She’d be devastated if something happened to them.
She wasn’t sure about LaToya or Meghan, but a single mother didn’t need to be putting her life on the line for Donna. And an injury, no matter how fast she healed, might sideline Meghan at a perilous time in her career. The poor girl was already being called a diva for agreeing to shoot only at night.
None of that stopped Donna from wanting those women around her. They were good people. And they understood the trials and hardships of being a newly turned vampire.
What they might know about the fae remained to be seen. She went to the windows to stare out at the river. She hated everything about this situation. She wanted Rico safe. And the fae to stop being such enormous pains in the—
“We’re back,” Temo announced as he, Dr. Fox, and Pierce stormed into the penthouse, arms loaded.
Dr. Fox hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d brought some equipment. “You need any help with that stuff?”
“No,” Pierce said. “But you could shut the door. I didn’t have a free hand.”
“Sure.” She closed the penthouse door, then followed them back to the salon room to see if anything needed moving out of the way. It didn’t.
She stood by the wall and watched the flurry of activity as equipment was unpacked and set up according to Dr. Fox’s orders. Jerabeth showed up, too, with her own supplies.
Donna inched out of the room, feeling very much like she was in the way. She was almost out when Temo caught her eye.
“Boss, I meant to tell you Neo said anything you need, just call. I didn’t go into details.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
“She said she’d get the girls together in a heartbeat. I think she was making a vampire joke. Not sure. But anyway, she’s ready to help.”
“I knew she would be.”
He smiled. “She’s all right.”
“Yes, she is.” Maybe Donna would call her after all. Couldn’t hurt to let her know what was going on.
A new thought came to her. It absolutely could hurt. How was she going to tell them about the daytime raid on the fae stronghold without exposing her immunity to UV light? She needed a plausible explanation for that.
It seemed like a new problem awaited her around every corner.
Charlie poked her head in. “Governor?”
“Yes?”
Charlie’s brow furrowed. “Queen Artemis is on line one in the office for you.”
“Let me guess, she’s not calling to wish me good luck on the raid either.”
“I don’t know. But that wouldn’t be my guess, no.” She frowned. “Sorry.”
Donna took a deep breath. Maybe she’d broken some unknown rule and would be relieved of her duties as governor. That would solve a few problems. And create more. No, she needed this job. At least until Rico was safe and Rixaline was no longer in danger.
Then she could quit. Or resign. Or step down. Whatever governors were supposed to do.
She went straight to the office, shut the door behind her, and picked up the phone. “This is Governor Barrone.”
“Hello, Belladonna. I got your email. I understand things have escalated between you and the fae.”
A new and interesting wave of emotion overcame Donna. One that suddenly left her feeling fearless and unable to give a flying fig what the queen thought. “I wouldn’t say that exactly. ‘Escalated’ implies there was already something going on, and I really had no beef with them. Taking the FBI agent hostage, however, was an act of aggression, plain and simple.”
“Because you gave the dhamfir sanctuary.”
Donna rolled her eyes, but that did nothing to change her mood or keep the edge from her voice. “Are you suggesting I shouldn’t have done that?”
For a moment, Artemis didn’t respond. Perhaps she was surprised by Donna’s tone. Or that Donna wasn’t backing down. Or maybe she was more on Donna’s side than Donna realized. Although Donna wasn’t so sure about that. Artemis wasn’t the enemy, but Donna wasn’t about to call her a close friend either.
Regardless, she didn’
t wait for the answer. “I’m a mother, as you know. I wasn’t about to turn a child back out onto the streets, where she was being hunted by our deadliest enemy with plans to use her to track down more of us. Taking her in was the kindest and best decision for all involved.”
Artemis cleared her throat softly. “You are certainly not Claudette.”
“And for that you should be grateful.”
Chapter Eleven
Donna realized instantly that her response had come off a little flippant. Her words were absolutely true, though. The previous governor, who was also Donna’s sire, hadn’t apparently been all that interested in doing her best. As a sire, she’d been pretty lackluster too.
Despite all of that being true, Donna did a little damage control. “I just mean to say that I care about this position. I’m not taking this job lightly. I want to help the people I serve in whatever way they need.”
“No reason to be defensive, Governor.” Artemis sounded amused. She was nearly impossible to read at times. “Claudette was…Claudette, and there’s no denying that. I simply wanted your take on the current situation. I assume you have a plan?”
“I do. But it might be better if you don’t know what that plan is. That way, you have plausible deniability if things go wrong.”
“I can’t do that. I’m responsible one way or the other. So I need to know what you’re going to do and when you’re going to do it. I would venture a guess you will not be returning the girl to the fae.”
“That’s correct. I’m just going to rescue the agent and do my best to make Dredward understand the mistake he made in targeting someone I care about.”
“Just rescue the agent? You make it sound as though it’s going to be a walk in the park. You understand it won’t be, correct?”
Did Artemis know the stronghold was in Central Park, or was she just using that expression? “Not only do I understand it, I expect it’ll be one of the hardest, most dangerous things I’ve ever done. And I’m saying that as a woman who spent twenty-seven years married to a high-ranking mobster. I have no illusions about what we’re going to face.”
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