Animal Instincts (Entangled Ignite) (14 page)

Rising from the couch, she told Nuala, “You can call me any time,” before heading for the door.

Luc gave his sister a hug before following Skye.

They’d barely left Nuala’s quarters when Skye demanded, “How do I get my brother’s soul back to him?”

“Did you tell Nuala he’s still here?” he asked.

“Considering the circumstances, don’t you think she has a right to know?”

He supposed she did. And he supposed he should have figured out why Skye’s brother hadn’t moved on before this. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean he had an answer for her.

“I don’t know that you
can
get Shade’s soul back.”

“Why not?”

“Someone may already be using it.”

She blanched but didn’t hesitate. “You’ll have to explain that one.”

“It’s complicated.”

“I get complicated.”

“Later.”

“Now. How do I get his soul returned to him?”

If he could get it for her, he would. “Only Pop would know.”

Her fear sluiced through him before she quickly hid it from him.

Licking her lips, she asked, “What are we waiting for?”

The last thing Luc wanted was to take her to see his father. Though he was certain Skye was on Pop’s radar, at the moment, she was simply a speck. He feared that she would push until she became a big problem in Pop’s mind. Skye wouldn’t like that at all. Luc would like it less. He more than desired her. He more than liked her, as his mother had discerned.

He respected her.

Skye Cross was honest and focused and maybe the bravest woman he’d ever met. And he didn’t think that had to do with her being something else because that was still undefined and new to her. The night he’d met her, she’d been standing up for the animals she’d been helping to save, and now she was doing the same for her sibling. He could relate to that.

He realized Skye was drilling him with her gaze.

“Will you take me to your father or do I have to find him on my own?” she demanded.

Luc clenched his jaw, took her elbow, and said, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

That she didn’t have a comeback surprised him. Maybe the idea of meeting Cezar Lazare scared her a little. As it should.

They took the elevator up to the casino level, and Luc escorted her to the office corridor. Several Kindred passed them and gave Skye intent stares, but they blocked whatever they were thinking. Which Luc didn’t interpret as being positive. Could they tell she was something else or was it because she was with him?

The guard stationed outside Pop’s office nodded to him and stared at Skye. “Mr. Lazare doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

“I understand,” Luc said, even as he went to open the door.

The guard tried to stop him, but Luc’s immediate glare was so intense, the man froze. He shrugged and stepped aside.

“Let me go in first,” Luc told Skye, thinking she should wait until he’d properly primed Pop for her appearance.

“Sure.”

But being Skye, that meant following him inside directly on his heels.

Pop was using the computer embedded in his sea glass desk. That desk was certainly multifunctional. It not only acted a soul vault, but Pop could bring up information on every Kindred’s earning and on every soul it contained before doling one out.

“What the Hades?” Pop glowered. “I said not to disturb me.”

“Sorry. This is important.”

When he looked up, the old man smiled for a second. And then he noticed Skye. “Explain yourself, boy.”

Before Luc could open his mouth, Skye stepped forward. “I’m Skye Cross.”

“So you are. And you’re here why?”

“To get my brother’s soul back from you.”

Pop laughed, and Luc’s gut tightened into a knot. His father wasn’t taking Skye seriously.

“Her brother saved my mother’s life,” Luc reminded him.

“Just as a detective in the Chicago Police Department should have,” Pop said.

“We owe her—”

“Our thanks.” Pop nodded at Skye and went back to whatever he’d been doing.

She crossed the remaining few feet separating them and set her hands on his desk. And Luc awaited Pop’s explosion when he looked up at her, his expression displeased.

“Mr. Lazare, I want my brother’s soul.”

“All right.”

“All right?” she echoed him.

“You want his soul, you can earn it like anyone else around here does.”

“Earn it?”

“Luc, get her out of here.” Pop spoke in a low tone, but his voice reverberated with anger. “Tell her what she needs to know. I don’t have time for this.”

I thought you loved my mother and would want to do something to honor her.

I always honor her.

“Apparently you don’t know the right way to honor anyone.” A furious-sounding Skye whipped around and stormed out of the room.

“She heard us,” Pop said, his visage darkening. “What is she?”

But Luc was angry enough with his father and worried enough about Skye that he didn’t stay to hash it out. In a flash, he was after her, determined to catch up to the woman before she got herself into any more trouble.

Chapter Twenty-One

Sensing Luc right behind me by the time I got to the edge of the casino, I braced myself. An arm hooked through mine and steered me away from the exit. I thought to fight him, but I knew it wouldn’t do any good. Besides, it wasn’t like Luc had tried to stop me from seeing his father or demanding the return of my brother’s soul. It wasn’t
his
fault his father was who he was.

What now?

“You look like you could use a drink,” Luc said.

“I rarely drink.”

“All the more reason.”

He led me into a bar and to one of the intimate booths in back, where the sounds of the casino magically faded off. He signaled to a waitress, who instantly brought us stemmed glasses rimmed with salt and filled with pale green liquid.

“Margaritas?”

Luc slid one of the glasses in front of me. “Have a few sips and you’ll feel better.”

Knowing he was wrong, I downed a big gulp of the drink anyway. “Only one thing is going to make me feel better. If you can figure out a way to change your father’s mind.”

“I’ll work on it. No promises, though.”

Nuala had claimed Luc was a good man worth loving. That he wasn’t who he let me think he was. Knowing the emotional upheaval caused by
The Book of Powers
and the things I myself had experienced in the past few days, I wondered what a lifetime of uncertainty and of being pulled in such different moral directions had created in Luc.

“You must have questions,” he said. “Go ahead and ask.”

Of course I had questions. Myriad questions. Questions about everything having to do with this life. About his family. His father’s business. Being a shape-shifter. He was an expert at avoidance. Would he be truthful with me about anything?

I went straight to my most pressing concern. “Shade did save your mother, so why won’t your father return his soul?”

“Pop explain himself?” Luc shook his head.

“He said I could work for it. How?”

“You don’t want to know.”

I probably didn’t. But I might have to. I knew it was imperative that Shade have his soul before he could move on.

“What does someone like your father want with people’s souls anyway?”

Luc hesitated only a second. “First, you need to understand that we’re all born with souls.”

I looked around. “You’re talking about everyone here connected with The Ark?”

“Everyone. But after puberty, the Kindred go through sort of a confirmation.” He took a slug of his drink. “Most of them do, anyway. They choose to give up their souls.”

I must have gaped a little, because when I asked, “Why?” it came out sounding garbled.

“Interbreeding over the centuries has weakened the Kindred, so they have to choose to become like our ancestors. They give up their souls and pledge themselves to corrupt humanity. In return, their magic becomes stronger. And they become immortal.”

The conversation was evolving like something out of a fantasy movie. An entire supernatural world existed that few humans knew about. Lucky me. I took another sip of my drink, as if that would make me feel better.

So they have to choose.

Luc’s words suddenly hit me and I remembered another conversation we’d had about his father’s people.

They are what they are,
Luc had told me.
They chose their fates.

“But a soulless life is one without pleasure,” he went on. “Food, wine, sex—none hold a thrill for a soulless being. So for centuries, the Kindred have tricked humans into giving over their souls so they could temporarily use them and enjoy life.”

“Doesn’t that make them mortal again?” I asked somewhat distractedly as I pieced together those thoughts.

“Using a human soul ages the host and eventually leaves him or her vulnerable to death by disease or by accident unless the soul is culled off before it goes bad. They can be killed like Jez was. Yet most Kindred are so addicted to pleasure, they worry little about the consequences.”

It hit me then. “You haven’t chosen.”

He fell silent, and I knew I was correct.

“Why not?” I asked, although I assumed it must have something to do with his being torn between the two worlds he’d lived in all his life.

“A discussion for another day.”

More avoidance. “Is that it, then?”

“About me, yes.”

I suddenly realized that Nuala and Shade’s baby would be in the same situation as Luc. “What about my niece or nephew?”

“He or she will be able to choose.”

But raised here, in this atmosphere, what was the likelihood that Shade’s child would choose to turn against the Kindred? I felt as if my heart stalled out. I couldn’t let that happen. I’d hoped to shut down the shifter fights, but now it seemed the casino needed to close as well, which on the one hand seemed imperative. But on the other hand…

How could I be part of destroying the world into which my niece or nephew would be born?

I couldn’t think about it now, not while I was with Luc. I couldn’t think clearly around him. Not about this.

I calmed myself and forced my mind back to the purpose of this conversation. I wanted to know how to get Shade’s soul back.

Leading up to that, I asked, “What about the souls they’re borrowing? How do they get them?”

“The casino was Pop’s idea. A way to band the Kindred together with a common goal. So humans gamble their souls on getting what they want most. And most often, they lose. Pop’s the soul keeper. The Kindred earn human souls through hard work for him. They know when a soul is running out and get rid of it. Then work to earn a new one.”

“So they do what?” I asked. “Get people hooked on gambling?”

“And other pursuits.”

“Let me get this straight. That’s what your father expects me to do to get my brother’s soul returned to him? He wants me to help corrupt people?”

Luc simply shrugged and gave me an apologetic expression.

“What does your father get out of this?” Other than playing God?

“He gets a loyal Kindred following, who in turn help him get servants working at every level of the government and city services, among other places.”

Servants. A shiver slid straight through me. “Are you saying he runs this city?” It sounded as if he had more power than I had realized.

“Not yet.”

“But that’s his goal?”

Luc laughed. “Now that’s an oversimplification. The city is a start.”

“The country?”

“Maybe the world.”

Again, I was having trouble embracing the scope of his plan. But the tequila had kicked in, making me think it
might
be true. What if Cezar was able to succeed in getting everything he wanted?

If Shade had been trying to stop the demonic head of this place, no wonder he’d been killed. Cezar could have found out and decided to stop my brother. I couldn’t voice that. Luc loved his father, and I couldn’t share this particular thought unless I was certain it was true.

I turned the conversation back to my brother. “What was Shade trying to learn by getting into the high roller room?”

“I wasn’t privy to your brother’s investigation.”

“But you knew he was investigating.”

“Not exactly. More like I knew something was wrong.”

“How?”

“I started seeing him and Nuala together and got suspicious. I tried to read him—”

“And couldn’t.” Undoubtedly Shade had been more practiced at keeping his thoughts to himself than I had ever been.

“I knew he was something else, too. I tried talking my sister into staying away from him, but it didn’t take.”

“Is that
all
you did?”

Luc went silent. He didn’t even chide me in his thoughts. Now
he
was covering. I could feel it.

“I don’t think you shot him. That’s not what I meant.”

Still, he said not a word. His jaw was clenched, though, as if he wanted to say something that would wound me and was holding himself back.

I said, “I wondered if you talked to anyone else about Shade.”

He finally spoke. “Like who?”

“Like your brother.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Nik. You think I discussed Shade and what he might be up to with Nik?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. It would be natural for you to talk with your brother when you were concerned for your sister. But there’s something about him that worries me.”

“You wouldn’t be the only one.”

“When he stopped by Nuala’s quarters to chide her, he already knew she was pregnant. It was obvious he hated that she’d taken up with Shade. A human.”

“He undoubtedly thinks I’ve been a bad influence on her.”

“I don’t understand,” I said slowly.

“Why the frown?” he asked.

“I’m trying to decide if you’re using a new tactic so I’ll let down my guard and you can get inside my head.”

I felt the shift in his attitude even before he said, “I promise I’ll only get inside you with your permission.”

Knowing he didn’t mean my head, I narrowed my gaze. Making me think carnal thoughts was an annoying avoidance ploy he used. And he was sending out a sensual vibe that skittered along my nerves. I was suddenly aware. Every nerve in my body felt alive. And pulled toward him.

I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore the blistering thoughts running through my head. “We have a serious situation to discuss.”

“Then maybe Nuala should be here for it.”

“I don’t mean her pregnancy. I mean the shifter fights.”

He leaned forward, slid his fingertips over the top of my hand. “We stopped it tonight.”

At his touch, the physical pressure on me became almost unbearable. Why was he trying to stop me from pursuing this line of conversation? Gathering my will together, I pushed back.

Still, I was a little breathless when I said, “You know that’s a temporary victory. We need to find out who’s involved so we can shut down the whole operation before someone else gets killed.”

“Why do you care so much, when it’s not humans who are dying?”

He was stroking the back of my hand, and as much as I wanted to pull it away, I couldn’t. I was doing well enough to be able to speak.

“I care about animals as much as I do about people. And your Kindred are both. If you cared about Jez, then I believe she was someone worth caring about, too. I don’t believe she was evil.”

Surprise softening his expression, Luc removed his hand and sat back. The sensual hold he’d tried to get on me faded away.

I continued, “And I don’t think Hank was evil, either, or he wouldn’t have given us that address tonight.”

“I’m going to guess that Hank can’t get the kind of information we need to shut down the operation.”

I thought about my brother’s casebook. “If Shade knew anything of significance, he didn’t write it down in any form that I could discern. I checked out his casebook earlier. That’s how I found your mother.”

“What about his computer?”

“Already checked that. The only thing I found of significance was his calendar with what he thought were dogfights marked on various days.”

“What about his cell phone? He might have entered information there.”

“You’re right,” I said. “Too bad we can’t find it.”

“His cell is missing? You mean someone stole it?”

“I mean they didn’t find it on him, which is very odd.” And it had been bothering me since Ethan had told me. “Shade was never without his cell. It’s not in his apartment or car, either.”

“Are you sure he had it the night he died?”

“Ethan said Dad called him and got him around seven. So, yes, he had it then.”

Luc scowled. “Huh. I wonder if whoever shot your brother got hold of his cell somehow.”

“You’d have to ask your mother if she saw anything more. If she would tell you. She claims to know nothing, to have seen nothing.”

He aimed that scowl at me. “You promised to stay away from her.”

“She wouldn’t tell me anyway,” I admitted. “If she knows something,
you’re
the only one who can get it out of her.”

“I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Good.”

Thinking I ought to get away before he tried working his sensual magic on me again, I slid out of the booth.

“Stay. Have another margarita.”

“No, thanks. I never was fond of hangovers.”

“I’ll take you home.” He started to get up.

“I got myself here, I can get myself home. I need some time to think.”

“Have it your way.” Though he settled back in the booth, he didn’t sound happy about it.

I made my getaway before he could change his mind. Once out of the bar, I started for the exit, but seeing the habitat, I couldn’t resist its pull. I fought with myself but lost. A moment later, I ended up standing before the windows alongside a few casino guests.

The habitat seemed as quiet as it had been when I looked for Hank earlier, and obviously disappointed, the other onlookers left for the gambling tables. I remained, my gaze sweeping as much of the habitat as I could see. No sign of Hank. Still, I couldn’t leave without making an attempt to find him. He’d helped me before, and maybe he had more information he’d kept from me because Luc was there.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of entering the habitat alone, but I knew I had to do it. Blame the tequila that gave me an extra shot of courage.

I was about to go for the door when a shiver along my spine told me someone was watching me. Luc?

I flew around. Nope, no Luc. My stomach knotted as I skimmed the slot machine area and gaming tables. If anyone had particular interest in me, however, it wasn’t from the casino area. The tequila had probably made me a little paranoid, too.

I turned back to the habitat. The visible animals all seemed occupied. Or asleep.

With a last look to make sure no one was watching me, I moved to the door Luc and I had taken to find Hank. Despite the liquid courage, my limbs felt stiff, as if they didn’t want to move. As if they didn’t want to go where I knew I had to. I forced myself to open the door and slipped into the hallway. I walked along the glass and stopped where I’d entered before, unsure whether I could simply walk through the glass the way I had earlier. Fighting a panicky sensation that stiffened my limbs, I hesitated.