Blood Finale (God Wars #5) (25 page)

"All you have to do is ask."

"Honey, don't worry. We'll get along fine," she said, patting his cheek as he smiled down at her.

"What is going on—ah." Gavin entered the kitchen and took in the scene before him.

"I would like for you to visit often. I want to introduce you to my sire. Please, let me know if there is anything I might do for you," Cheedas pleaded. He wasn't ready to let Breanne go.

"I'll let you know, I promise," Breanne said, attempting to move away.

"Ah, forgive me. I forgot that I was preparing a meal." Cheedas stepped back before barking at the staring comesuli all around us.

"He's fine, now. Back to normal," Charles said. "Your Papa Cheedas is back."

"Thank goodness."

"Thank Breanne."

"I owe her too much already."

"As do I."

* * *

Breanne's Journal

I rested in the crook of Charles's arm while sipping a glass of wine. My lion snakes were draped over both of us. Yes, I was already half asleep after eating with Lissa and her crew. Cheedas sat near Lissa for the first time in a long time and ate with the rest of us. Lissa was overjoyed. Roff and Cheedas seemed to have plenty to talk about, and the rest joined in from time to time.

I was content to watch the others, and Charles was content to watch me. We lounged in a sitting area of Lissa's library, in comfortable seats. Drake, Drew and Gavin clustered about Lissa, while Charles, my snakes and I sat opposite them, drinking companionably.

"Here, honey," I held my glass out for Chazi to sip. It was funny to watch the lion snakes dip their tongues in my wine.

"I think Cheedas will sleep soundly tonight for the first time in a long time," Lissa said. "Bree, I don't know what to do to thank you. For so many things."

"Don't worry about it," I said. "Just the thought is enough."

I love you. More than anything
, Charles sent.
Don't ever forget that.

I won't
, I promised.

* * *

"How?" I asked when I woke the following morning. Yes, I was in my own bed—Charles had seen to that. I just didn't remember being in bed with anyone else when I went to sleep.

"What's wrong?" Salidar DeLuca blinked dark eyes at me.

"Did you ninja your way into my bed?" I asked.

Sali muffled his snicker against my shoulder. "No," he chuckled moments later. "I didn't ninja my way into your bed. Although it's a good idea. I'll try that next time."

"Uh-huh," I said. "You're full of surprises."

"I could take that so many ways," he grinned. "But I won't. What's the best way to get you so hot you're all over me?"

"I'm not the idea woman. Hank is the idea man. He always comes up with something."

"Did you say up?" He scooted closer and slid his "up" against my leg as he nuzzled my neck before placing a kiss or two.

"You're taking everything with a grain of sexual salt, aren't you?" I said.

"Sexual salt?" He moved closer.

"What happened to our clothes?"

"We were naked all night. I just waited—like a gentleman, I might add—for you to wake up."

"Are you serious? Where is Charles?" I demanded.

"Come on, let's do this, then you can be mad at Charles."

"Honey, what's," I moved. "Oh, lord. Is that you?" I'd put my hand on a very rigid, very strategic spot.

"That's me. Is this you?" He thumbed my right nipple. "Oh yeah. That's nice. Really nice. I want some of that."

"Looks like you're getting it," I mumbled.

"Mmm-hmmm." He didn't say anything else—he was polite enough not to talk with his mouth full.

I took the opportunity to run my fingers through his dark hair—it was like thick, black silk. Sali wasn't hard to look at, by any stretch. I had another werewolf, looked like, and wondered briefly if he'd howl like Trajan did afterward.

There was one way to find out. I shifted so my body was beneath his. He took full advantage of my invitation. The truth was, after it was over, I wanted to howl, too. That's how good it was.

* * *

Ashe's Journal

"Good morning, sweetheart." I reached out to pull Kay to me for a kiss when she shuffled into the kitchen at SouthStar. I'd taken her there the night before and we'd fallen into bed and slept soundly. I'd left her asleep earlier while I went to the kitchen for coffee and to check in with Trace.

"Want more coffee?" Belinda asked.

"No, thanks." She was dressed, thank goodness. I'd already gotten a mental earful from Trace, who sat across from me, going over reports.

"I'd like coffee," Kay said.

"You got it," Belinda smiled and went to find a cup.

* * *

Lissa's Journal

"One more day. I hate waiting like this."

"We know."

I'd spent the night with my Falchani. Drake stood behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist and his head on my shoulder while I considered what to wear for my return trip to Fresno's past. I'd already gotten a mental message from Merrill, Kiarra and Adam—we'd go back together after we had breakfast.

"The Larentii say the nexus net is in place."

"Good. Is everybody prepared on your end?" I turned in Drake's embrace and touched his face gently. He smiled and kissed my fingers.

"We're ready," he agreed.

"Then be careful. Tell the others to do the same."

"We will. Dad wants Travis and Trent to work at the command center on Falchan. He wanted us to ask if that's all right with you."

"Not in harm's way?" I frowned at Drake.

"As far out of it as we can keep them. Dad says it's good experience—for them to see things from that angle."

"I suppose it's all right," I sighed. "As long as you and Drew are okay with it."

"Dad put us in every position before we were ready for battle," Drake said. "We acted as assistants, runners and messengers before we were ever stuck in the back of a unit. We worked our way up honestly, and we know what it's like to see a battle from all stations."

"Then it's fine. Just make sure they stay out of trouble."

"We will." Drew walked in, freshly showered and wearing a grin. I should have known they were connected while Drake and I spoke. They usually were.

* * *

"I have received no new visions," Moxas said.

"So we proceed as planned?" Calhoun asked.

"Of course."

"Excellent."

* * *

Breanne's Journal

Bree, can you come?
Mindspeech came from Lissa, along with information that she'd just arrived in Fresno with Merrill and the others. Sali was already gone, after having breakfast with Fes and me.

On my way
, I replied. Opal, Jayson, Bill, Trajan and my reptanoids insisted on going with me, so we arrived in a group.

"What's the problem?" Bill asked the moment we landed in the compound's kitchen.

"Spawn attacks. On sixteen worlds. Too many spawn to count, actually, and they're biting everything humanoid they can reach."

"Oh, no," I muttered.

"Too many for Kay to deal with—if she can even change them back after they've been bitten by spawn," Kiarra said. "Part of their plan, no doubt. If they add this to whatever they're plotting, things are definitely not looking good."

"Too many for me to deal with, too, right now," I sighed. If I were at full strength, I might make a difference as far as
Changing What Was
for those bitten by spawn, but I had to conserve what I had in case it was needed for a larger encounter.

Regardless, I wanted to weep for lives lost—spawn virus took over in a matter of seconds, and the human soul fled, leaving the body at the command of its attacker. There were only a handful of instances where that didn't hold true, and those exceptions were extremely rare.

"The strange thing is this—most of those worlds we'd term not worth saving, because they're already headed in a dangerous direction," Pheligar said. He lounged comfortably in the kitchen, using the island as a stool to accommodate his height.

"That is a little weird, but that's beside the point," Kiarra said. "People are dying, no matter how you look at this."

"And with our High Demon army held back for what looks to be a battle, we don't have anyone to send. Even ours are scattered about, working on other problems. All we can do is sit back and watch the destruction," Merrill said.

"Let's worry about that later—that's all we can do at this point," Hank appeared, breathing smoke. "Now isn't the time to be distracted. We need focus."

"You think that's the ploy—to distract or scatter us?"

"It's possible."

"Fuck." Kiarra shook her head. "Sixteen worlds destroyed—as a distraction."

"Prepare yourselves—this may only be the beginning," Pheligar warned.

I was the one to say
fuck
this time.

* * *

"Where are we going?" I asked Hank.

"Down the coast. We never got our day, remember?"

"I remember you pissed me off," I said.

"I know. I didn't mean to."

"Is this to take my mind off things?"

"Mine, too."

"Where are we going?"

"For a walk on the beach."

"This isn't Earth." Hank had folded space, landing us on a beach. Tiny shells littered the sand, and none were the familiar ones from the California coast. The sand was a pale pink, as if coral had been ground into the mix. There were no trees near us—only the strip of sand we walked between pools of blue water and white surf.

"I know. I wanted it to be just us."

"I think you achieved your goal. Unless you count birds, fish, mollusks and gastropods."

"Leave it to you to toss gastropods into this. They're quite gossipy, you know."

"Gossipy gastropods?"

"Galloping gossipy gastropods."

"You know, if I live over this," I stopped walking and tapped his chest, "I may make Pluto bigger. It'll be a regular planet again."

"Are you sure you want to add fuel to that hotbed of controversy?"

"I didn't realize it was such a contentious hotbed. Wow."

"You didn't realize that scientists are arguing the topic in every coffee shop on Earth?"

"I had no idea."

"Because they're not." Hank grinned. "Look behind you."

I turned. Yes, any woman's breath might catch. It was a dream. A big, canopy bed stood on the sand, with lengths of white, gauzy fabric blowing about it in the ocean breeze. "What?" I began.

"I'm gonna fuck you, baby. Right here and now. I'll make sure you like it. A lot."

"You get away with those presumptions because you know you're sex on a stick, don't you?" I pointed a finger at him.

"I do. But I'm
your
sex on a stick."

"Even better."

* * *

"Lord Kifirin?" Zendeval Riin rose from his seat and dipped his head respectfully to Kifirin. "Welcome to my study. What may I do for you?"

"Your army is still well-trained and battle ready?" Kifirin took a seat before Zendeval's desk and nodded for Zen to do the same.

"Of course."

"Good. I wish to borrow your troops. You may come, if you are so minded."

"I'll come. Might I see Reah? I haven't seen her since before the baby's birth."

"If you wish. I have one other request."

"What is that?"

"Arm the dwarf and bring him with you."

* * *

"What in the name of Baetrah?" Jaydevik Rath stared as Greater Demon troops began to appear in his courtyard.

"You realized I have been reborn?" Kifirin appeared beside Jayd. "Call your brother. I wish to speak with both of you."

"I did not know," Jayd bowed to Kifirin. "Will you bring Baetrah back?"

"I will consider it, if we are victorious."

"Victorious?"

"If the General finds himself under attack by High Demons, he may turn his attention in this direction. I have brought Greater Demons to defend you in the absence of much of your army."

"We need Greater Demons to defend us?"

"They have been battle ready for centuries. Zendeval Riin has seen to that. He had foresight, even when I did not."

"I'd like to argue with you, but that has never gotten me anywhere," Jayd conceded. "I will make preparations for their stay."

"Good."

* * *

"Zen, I have no idea why I'm here," Perdil muttered.

"You're not staying here," Kifirin appeared.

"Where am I going?" Perdil studied Kifirin suspiciously.