Aeromancist (SECOND EDITION): Art of Air (7 Forbidden Arts Book 3)

by Charmaine Pauls

  He turned his head away from the skimpily dressed female and male donors waiting to be picked, most of them wearing nothing but a thong, and turned his attention back to the room. He noted the iron walls. One way in. No other exits. The bouncer motioned for him to enter. The minute he’d stepped over the threshold, the door shut behind him. The slide of a deadbolt sounded on the outside, but he didn’t focus on being locked in. He fixed all his attention on the dark-haired man who jumped from a couch in the corner.

  Daniel.

  Lann stalked toward him. “Where’s David?”

  Daniel grinned. “I’m David.”

  His voice was high-pitched. Skittish eyes danced around in his head. They may look alike, but Daniel definitely got shortchanged when brain cells were divided between the twins.

  Lann tsked with disapproval. He shook his hand to loosen his fingers.

  Daniel took a step back, his pupils bouncing left and right in his sockets. “No!” He lifted his hands. “Don’t zap me.”

  “Tell me where David is.”

  The sick sound of his laughter assaulted Lann’s eardrums. “David’s out.”

  Not good. The set-up wasn’t going as he’d thought it would. He hoped Clelia was getting it all on the comm system.

  Joss’s voice sounded in the link in his ear. “Clelia, get the fuck out of there. It’s not what we expected.”

  “Too late,” she said. “I’m going to have to burn some vamps.”

  “Lann,” Joss said tightly, “get out.”

  Daniel was lurking in the corner, his attention trained on Lann and his laugh persistent.

  “I’ll ask you one last time,” Lann said, “where is David?”

  Daniel fixed his gaze on the ceiling.

  Lann cursed. “Clelia, run! They—”

  The roof collapsed before he could finish his warning. Sons of bitches. He dodged a wooden beam. Debris, plaster, and bricks exploded around him. The dust momentarily blinded him, but he already had his pistols trained in the air. Vamps descended from the sky through the open hole in the roof. Lann did what he was trained to do. He aimed and shot, taking down two, four, five vamps. The bullets wouldn’t kill them, but they caused enough injuries to create the delay Lann needed. Daniel had left through the gap. It was going to take Lann a few seconds to pull up ball lightning or a straight blast.

  When the vamps fell back, seeing the others fall like flies, Lann used the time he’d gained to shoot ball lightning out toward the night. It rolled up into the sky and set off powerful bolts of electricity as it exploded to light the scene below. Vamps—those who were still alive after the electric explosion—scattered away, crawling into dark corners or hiding where they could. For precious seconds, Lann wasn’t under attack. Standing alone in the center of the collapsed room, he quickly took stock of the situation.

  “Clelia?” he said.

  “I’m fine. You?”

  “I’m coming out.”

  “I see your coordinates on the wrist sat. I’ll meet you.”

  The metal door of the room had dented with the blast, but it was still bolted. The fuckers had used low-impact explosives. They didn’t mean to kill, or they would’ve used something more powerful.

  Clelia’s voice filtered back into his earpiece. “Your path’s clear.”

  Lann used the fallen wall and rubble to climb to the non-existent ceiling. He pulled himself through the hole, made his way to the lower part of the roof, and jumped to the pavement, landing on his feet. Clelia was waiting in the street, scanning their surroundings.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “I rocked the aeromancist’s world,” a voice said from the side.

  Lann and Clelia turned in unison toward the sound. David leaned with his shoulder on the side of the half-destroyed building, his arms crossed. His face shone silver in the dark. Puffy cheeks balled out as his thick lips pulled into a grin. The stench of rotten meat filled the air.

  “What are you up to, Piranha?” Lann cracked his fingers. “You better start talking because I’m only getting warmed up.”

  To prove his point, he hit a thin line of blue lightning across the ground, the sound like the crack of a whip. It landed short of David’s boots.

  David narrowed his eyes. “Only because of the lady,” he nodded at Clelia, “will I let that insult pass.” He straightened. “If it slips from your pretty boy lips again, I call back my boys. They’ll make a fine meal of Pussy in Boots here.” He licked his lips as he looked at Clelia.

  “You’ve got our attention,” Lann said, “so spit it out.”

  “Thanks for accepting my invitation,” David drawled. “I wasn’t sure if your boss was going to take Daniel seriously.”

  “Cut the introductions,” Lann hissed, “the politeness doesn’t suit you.”

  David made a face. “And here I was just starting to enjoy our visit. Fine. Suit yourself.”

  Lann was out of patience. “Why are we here?”

  “You’re here because I wanted a meeting.”

  “Bullshit,” Lann said. “We’ve just taken out fifty or more vamps. You wouldn’t sacrifice that many for a simple meeting.”

  David spat on the ground. “I rule this valley. If I say jump, these vamps jump. If I say die, they die.” He sniffed. “Anyway, they’re getting overpopulated. Call it culling if you wish. It’s about time someone took a firm hand in ruling them. These ones aren’t exactly the cream of the crop.”

  Vamp Valley was a thorn in the side of the vampire rulers. It was drug infested and crime ridden, and David had only recently taken over the rotten apple for a hefty price paid to the ruler of France, and a promise to stamp down its population boom. Authorities still turned a blind eye, bending to the bribes of the French leader, but the vampire elders wanted the fire stomped out.

  “Plus,” David continued, “I’ve heard about the firestarter. I wanted to see her in action.”

  “What do you want?” Lann said. “I won’t ask again.”

  He held back his need to kill the man who’d dared to threaten his wife and child. Not yet. He first needed to get whatever information they could on Godfrey.

  “My sponsor wants what’s rightfully his.”

  Lann took a wide stance. “What might that be?”

  “The bairn in your woman’s womb.”

  Lann clenched his fists. “You’re sadly mistaken.” His voice turned hard. “That’s rightfully mine.”

  “Now, that’s debatable.”

  “I’m getting tired of your games.” He’d had enough. “I’ll just kill you now.”

  “Not so fast, Weatherman. If I give you the flour to bake the bread, who does the bread belong to, the miller or the baker?”

  David was notoriously fond of riddles.

  “You had your chance,” Lann said, lifting his hand.

  “The last time the two of us met in Paris, you were quite keen on getting rid of what you now claim to be rightfully yours.”

  Lann winced at the thought. The memory still filled him with guilt, but he’d done what had been necessary to keep Katherine alive.

  “You were going for her at the clinic, weren’t you?” Lann asked.

  “Not for her. For the babe. If not, you would’ve killed the child.”

  “Don’t act like a savior. You were going to abduct her and sell the baby.” Anger wrapped around Lann like coils of electricity. It threatened to break free. He’d happily unleash it on the gift hunter, but as long as David was talking, Lann reined in his fury.

  “How did you know?” Lann asked, measuring his opponent. “How did you track us to the clinic?”

  “Tsk-tsk.” David gave a toothy grin. “You know I can’t tell you.”

  “This is getting boring,” Clelia said. “I’ve had enough of Paris. I’m going home.” She smiled. “I wonder if you’ll smell like fried fish when you burn.”

  David slammed a palm on his heart. “The little woman hurt my feelings.” He pointed at her, not looking away from La
nn. “I didn’t expect her to be so cruel.”

  He seemed so honestly insulted Lann almost broke out in sadistic laughter. When Clelia lowered her lashes like she did right before calling up flames, Lann knew no one would be laughing.

  “I want to cut a deal,” David said quickly.

  “Your kind don’t cut deals with my kind,” Lann said. Hunters were their eternal enemies. That would never change. “Worse, you’re a reptile. You can’t be trusted any more than a snake.”

  “You forget that money rocks my world,” David said. “My sponsor was going to pay me for the babe, and I don’t kindly give up that much money.”

  “What do you have to sell?” Clelia asked.

  David addressed Lann. “I know you don’t believe me, but I wasn’t there to abduct your woman. I was there to save your child from you.”

  “You son of a—”

  “I bet you’d just love to know who sponsors me.”

  “I already know,” Lann bit out. He added with sarcasm, “Didn’t you mention the name Godfrey?”

  “Ouch. Yes, I’ve paid dearly for that Freudian slip of the tongue.” David touched his crotch. “So much for fantasies. I’ve always wanted to be fucked by Godfrey, only literally of course.”

  Clelia turned her head away as David stroked himself. Her disgust evoked his laughter.

  “Enough.” Lann had listened to as much as he could. “Let’s burn him and get out of here.”

  Clelia sighed. “With pleasure.”

  “I dance to the tune of the highest bidder.” David licked his lips. “You can be my Pied Piper. If you reimburse my losses, plus interest, I’ll lead you to Godfrey and all his handy little mice.”

  “Tell us where he is now,” Lann said, “or there’s no deal.”

  David’s pearly eyes gleamed. “Do I look stupid to you?”

  “Actually…” Lann looked him up and down.

  “You two hurt my feelings,” David said with a pouty lip. “This is not a nice evening for me.”

  Lann crossed his arms. “Name your conditions.”

  “This is how it’s going to work. I—”

  Gurgling sounds drowned the rest of David’s words. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He stared at Lann with something like surprise before his knees buckled and he hit the tarmac.

  “Fuck.” For Joss’s benefit, Lann said, “David’s eliminated.”

  “Both of you, out,” Joss said.

  “We should look for the assassin,” Clelia said.

  Joss used a firmer tone. “Out, now.”

  “The assassin’s not here,” Lann said to Clelia. “I’ll explain later.” He grabbed her arm and ran for their vehicle. “It’ll take the vamps ten seconds to smell his blood. When they realize their leader is dead, we’re midnight snacks.” They jumped into the SUV, Lann taking the wheel. “I’d love to stay and play, but we’re outnumbered.”

  Joss told Lann to ignore the GPS and follow his instructions instead. He was checking the roads on the satellite system.

  “Clelia?” Joss said.

  “I’m fine.”

  Lann pulled from the parking with screeching tires, maneuvering the vehicle down the narrow road. “Get Bono. Tell him to be on standby.”

  Clelia nodded. After she had executed the command, she turned in her seat. “I didn’t see a weapon. If it was chemical, it would have affected us too.”

  “Internal.” He turned sharply to the left.

  “Someone planted something in him?”

  “His sponsor, I’m guessing.” At last, they hit a double carriageway. He glanced in the rearview mirror. “Are we clear, Joss?”

  “Open road,” Joss confirmed.

  A different voice came tentatively through the system. “Lann?”

  Hers. Inside, he stilled. “Katherine?”

  “Are you all right?”

  She wasn’t supposed to witness any of this. He never wanted her to experience this side of him, the part that destroyed and killed.

  “What is she doing on the system, Joss?” he said in a flat tone.

  There was a warning in Joss’s voice. “Tell your woman you’re fine.”

  “I’m fine,” he bit out, and then made a conscious effort to soften his voice. “We’ll be home soon, sweetheart.”

  “I love you,” she whispered, for everyone to hear.

  Lann’s heart swelled. The fighting adrenalin in his body evaporated like mist in the sun.

  “Ya tebya lyublyu,” he said, closing his eyes fleetingly. He waited two seconds. “Joss?”

  “She’s off,” Joss said.

  “Bono’s ready,” Clelia said.

  He clenched the wheel. “We’ll be home in an hour.”

  It took all of Lann’s self-control not to confront Joss, who waited outside, when they landed at the castle. It would be futile to talk to his commander until Joss had assured himself Clelia was unharmed. The minute Clelia climbed from the helicopter, Joss grabbed her to him. Now was definitely not a good time to give Joss a piece of his mind. Besides, he needed Katherine.

  He went in search of his woman, and found her in the entrance. She stood on the steps, one hand resting on the balustrade and the other over her belly. The sight of her stopped him in his tracks. With a red dress that stretched over her breasts and stomach, she was a vision to behold. Her hair fell around her shoulders, the ruby shine catching the light, and her eyes were a vivid blue. Molecules vibrated around him, a humming of air. It brushed past his face like the caress of warm fingers.

  He closed the distance in a few long strides and pulled her against him. An awareness of her growing delicate state flared inside him. Cupping her cheeks, he tilted her face so he could peer into those mesmerizing eyes. Everything he wanted, he saw right there—love, acceptance, and trust. No other lover had ever accepted him for what he was. No one had truly loved him, except maybe his mother, but Katherine’s love was the only love that mattered to him.

  Going on tiptoe, she kissed him. He rubbed a thumb over her cheek.

  Behind them, Bono cleared his throat. “I guess I’ll just go upstairs.”

  Maya and Eve appeared at the top of the stairs.

  “Don’t sound so sorry for yourself,” Maya said as she descended. “Come on. Let’s grab a bite to eat. You must be starving.”

  Bono grinned. “Now that you mention it.”

  Joss and Clelia entered as Maya and Bono disappeared into the direction of the kitchen.

  “Anyone need stitches?” Eve asked, making her way downstairs.

  “We’re good.” Lann turned to Clelia. “You did well.”

  The firestarter smiled. “You weren’t so bad yourself.” She took Joss’s hand. “I need a shower.”

  “You need food,” Joss said. “Dinner’s ready.” His tone turned apologetic. “We need to debrief first. Cain’s waiting.”

  “A shower and dinner can wait a few minutes,” Clelia said. “I’ll get Maya.”

  When Katherine followed him down the hall, Lann stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

  “I’m your partner,” she said, “and I need to know what’s going on.”

  Joss stepped up. “Kat, will you please ask Bono and Maya to bring some drinks from the kitchen?”

  “Sure.” Before walking off, Kat shot Lann a look that said she wasn’t giving in.

  Joss led Lann to the library. When he closed the door, the two men faced each other with crossed arms.

  “She’s right,” Joss said. “You can’t shut her out.”

  “How could you put her on the system?”

  “I didn’t do anything I wouldn’t expect you to do for Clelia if the roles were reversed. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be on the other end, to sit here, and not know what’s happening? She needed to know you were fine.”

  “It could’ve distracted me during battle.”

  “Get over it. She’s a strong woman. If she can handle it, so can you. You can’t allow her to become your weakness. She
has to be your strength.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Do you think it was easy for me when Cain offered Clelia a position in the team? Do you think I don’t die every time I send her into a fight?”

  “Clelia’s strong. She did great out there.”

  “Exactly.” He fixed Lann with a stare. “Just because Kat doesn’t fight with weapons doesn’t mean she’s not a warrior. She’s strong too.”

  Lann pressed his thumbs into his tired eyes.

  “I know what it’s like to be protective,” Joss said, “but you have to give her credit. Do you trust her?”

  Lann dropped his hands and glared at his commander. “What kind of a question is that?”

  “Just answer it. Do you trust her?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good. Start showing it.”

  Lann regarded Joss with narrowed eyes. He had more to say, but the others filtered into the room. From the way Joss nodded, the subject was closed. It wasn’t a suggestion, but an order. Joss had no say in his personal life, but he was right. Lann loved Katherine. She was a woman, feminine and delicate, awakening his need to protect, but she was his equal in strength and spirit. It was time to stop withholding from her.

  Cain walked into the room, a smile on his face. “Good job, Clelia, Lann. Unfortunately, this doesn’t bring us closer to Godfrey.”

  “David confirmed that Godfrey was his sponsor,” Lann said.

  “David’s sponsor eliminated him before he could compromise his sponsor,” Cain said.

  “How?” Clelia asked.

  “Chemical capsule,” Cain said. “It detonated in his stomach.”

  Joss stepped up. “David wasn’t wired or tracked by satellite. I made sure of it. That means Godfrey planted something inside David that gave him a live feed.”

  “You mean he heard our conversation?” Clelia asked.

  “Yes.” Cain crossed his hands over the diamond head of his cane. “David was unaware or he wouldn’t have spoken so freely. My guess is the sponsor did the implant while he experimented on David’s body.”

  “Experiments?” Maya said. “We know about grafting him with werewolf, but that only required drinking blood and eating flesh.”