Blood Love (God Wars Book 4) (12 page)

"Vampire, you are fortunate that you received what you have when you did," Kal observed. "Walking in daylight is a gift; I suggest you appreciate it. I can negate that if you annoy me."

"Larentii, I suggest you hold your judgments in reserve," smoke poured from Hank.

"As you wish," Kal nodded respectfully to Hank.

"Where will we put everybody?" Opal shook her head.

"That will not be a problem," Kal held out his hands and light formed around them.

* * *

Avendor—present

Breanne's Journal

"Yeah, I like this length," I fingered the platinum hair and nodded at my image in the mirror. Ashe knew Wynn best, so he'd done the honors, making me look like her, only with shorter hair.

"Wynn is beautiful, but I think I like Bree better," Ashe smiled over my head.

"Can't do anything about that now—too many bad guys know my name and number," I sighed.

"Bree, I don't want to be called again—for the same reason," Ashe said. "If you need help, call me first, all right?"

"Okay." I dropped my eyes. So many things went through my mind, and none of them were comforting. I felt better now, but there was no way I could stand against the General again. No way.

"We're packed and ready," Kooper announced as he, the reptanoids and Stellan walked into my bedroom. "Bree, is that really you?" He and Chazi came closer to inspect Ashe's work.

"Yeah. My voice hasn't changed," I blew out a sigh. "I don't even recognize myself anymore."

"At least you're taller and I won't have to lean down so far," he grinned and bent toward me for a kiss. "Taste the same, too. Like honey."

"I've altered your clothing—it'll all fit," Graegar stepped out of my closet with Barrigar close behind. "And it's packed in three trunks, with your shoes."

"Thanks. I didn't know what to take," I shrugged.

"It's all in there; there is no need to fret," Barrigar offered a sunny smile.

"You're amazing, you know that?"

"It never hurts to hear those words," Barrigar chuckled.

"I've yet to meet a modest Larentii," Ashe laughed.

* * *

Earth—past

Breanne's Journal

Graegar and Barrigar dropped Kooper, Stellan, our luggage, the reptanoids and me outside a huge house in New Mexico.

"This looks like a compound," I stared at the walled adobe behemoth in disbelief.

"It is, in a way," Graegar smiled.

"What am I going to tell them?" I hunched my shoulders. Was I uncomfortable? You bet. Hank would surely yell, and I wasn't strong enough emotionally to deal with that. I also didn't need him, Kooper and Stellan getting into an argument about it, and I had no idea what Chazi, Perzi and Bekzi might do, other than attempt to protect me against a High Demon who was impervious to poison.

"We will come with you," Barrigar sounded determined, suddenly.

"I hope it helps," I said and walked toward the gate leading into the almost-fortress.

* * *

"They have arrived and will be at the front door in seconds," Kalenegar announced. "I have received mindspeech from Graegar."

"You yell and I swear I'll smack you," Opal glared at Hank.

"I have no plans to yell," Hank's voice was stiff.

"I want to," Jayson muttered. "I was scared shitless."

"I will strike you dumb," Kalenegar warned.

* * *

Breanne's Journal

Why bother ringing the doorbell, when you have Larentii? The double front doors opened wide with barely any effort on Graegar's part as we approached, and people spilled out of the house. Bill. Hank. Jayson. Charles. Gavin.

Gavin?
What the hell?
He was standing in
daylight
.

"Dearest, it seems the benefits of receiving your blood may be transferable," Graegar whispered as I stared at my vampire sire.

"That's comforting," I mumbled, suddenly feeling shaky and short of breath. Did I think that shock the last one? I shouldn't have. Kalenegar stepped out of the house behind Gavin. Yes, he'd disguised himself as a humanoid, but there was no mistaking the long, red hair and cobalt-blue eyes.

"Sweetheart, you're hyperventilating," Bill quickened his steps and held out a hand. I went to my knees, my body struggling to draw in air, my arms pulled tight across my chest.

"I'll handle this," Hank shouldered his way through the crowd. His fingers touched my forehead and I was out.

* * *

"We upset her, that's why," Charles pointed out.

"Not upset Bree," Chazi snapped.

"Who the hell are you?" Jayson demanded. Chazi's eyes went strange. Jayson backed up a step.

"Everybody calm down." Hank was tight muscles and controlled anger as he led Barrigar to his bedroom—Barrigar carried Breanne, who was still unconscious.

"Trust me, you don't want to tangle with any of them," Hank growled at Jayson. "I think the warlock is considering turning you into a lizard."

"Or worse," Stellan grumped.

"Can he do that?" Jayson turned to Bill. Bill shrugged.

"Stellan Starr is a fifth-level Karathian Warlock. A lizard would be simple for him to achieve," Graegar informed Jayson.

"Good to know," Jayson breathed and backed away another step—from reptanoid and warlock.

* * *

Breanne's Journal

My shoulder was uncovered and cold while the rest of me felt deliciously warm. Barely conscious, I struggled to pull the cover over chilled skin.

"Avilepha, my wings don't work that way." A chuckle accompanied the statement. Cracking my eyes open cautiously, I stared at Hank—in smaller Thifilathi. One wing cradled me below; the second covered me above. Except for the exposed shoulder. Focusing on what lay beyond Hank's head, I realized I blinked at the stars in a New Mexico night.

"Hank, where are we?" I attempted to make myself smaller to fit all of me under the tip of his warm, buttery-soft leather wing.

"On top of a mesa," he smiled down at me.

"Where are your arms?"

"Behind my head." They were—he lowered them to show me. "I've been holding you for hours while you slept, and decided to let my wings carry the burden for a few minutes while I stretched muscles. Of course you chose this moment to wake."

"You're not going to yell?"

"Bree, I know that frightens you. I will reserve my yelling for when it might do the most good—and you are better able to handle it."

"Why are we on top of a mesa?"

"Because Graegar and Barrigar wanted to speak with Kalenegar, and I didn't want any of that to disturb your rest. So I pulled you out of the house."

"Do Larentii yell?"

"Not per se, no. I believe it may have been more in the line of advice—and warnings."

"Warnings?"

"I know how he treated you while under the influence of a mind cloud. That undue influence is the only thing saving his ass and his power, in my opinion. He is more than contrite now, and is going overboard in his desire to protect you. I believe Graegar and Barrigar told him the same thing—to pace himself and not be a nuisance."

"Hank, have you ever had energy sex?" That just popped out of my mouth—and out of the blue.

"No. Have you?" A slow smile curved his lips—he knew what it was.

"Yeah. You definitely need to get in on that."

"I'll be happy to volunteer. If I understand correctly, the Larentii may include anyone in what they term
the
backwash of pleasure
."

"Well, we'll have to discuss that with them, I guess."

"I suppose we will." Hank's smile widened.

"Hank?"

"What, love?"

"I missed you."

"Hala avilepha, you have no idea how much I missed you. We should go back now, before Kalenegar attempts to find us."

"Great. Nothing like a grumpy Larentii," I muttered.

* * *

They were all waiting for us to return when Hank landed us in a huge kitchen. It was barely ten at night and we hadn't kept them up past their bedtime. At least I didn't think so.

"We've been discussing Vernon Clark—without you," Trajan lifted an eyebrow at me. This was the original Trajan, who couldn't fold or move things with a thought. I couldn't tell him that awaited in the future, either. My life was complicated enough without adding the time factor to it, so I had to watch my steps—and my words—with Trajan, Bill and Gavin.

"Any new leads?" Hank asked, setting me gently on the tiled floor.

"We have rumors that he may have been in Silver City," Bill replied.

"That means he's getting closer to the border," Hank nodded. "If the information is correct."

"Rhett and Dalroy are sniffing out the lead right now—Gavin asked to have them assigned to the night shift," Bill said.

"Rhett and Dalroy are vampires who often work for the Council," Gavin informed us. "They will contact me should they find anything."

"Are we ready to go if we hear from them?" Opal pointed her gaze in my direction.

"Yeah. I got some unplanned sleep, so I'm awake now," I said. "Hank may be pooped, though."

"I am fine," Hank released a thin stream of smoke.

"No problem, then," I tossed up my hands and moved away from him. As if on cue, Gavin's cellphone rang.

"Gavin here," he answered curtly. I heard the conversation clearly, when the vampire on the other end said Vernon Clark might be in Tyrone, a small town south of Silver City.

* * *

"This must have been something in the day," Ross Gideon studied the interior of the abandoned mansion, built by Bertram Goodhue in the early 1900s. The town had been originally constructed with the intention of making it the most beautiful mining town in the world. The mines failed quickly, leaving abandoned Spanish-style mansions in its wake. The current town of Tyrone was located nearby.

"This part is a ghost town, now," Rafe Reynolds offered Ross a wolfish grin.

"You say your contact is meeting us here?" Ross asked.

"That's what he said. He told us he had a lead on our target, but wanted to see us—and the money—first," Braden Reynolds echoed his brother's grin.

"Did he indicate what kind of information he had?" Ross asked. "On Clark and Jayson Rome?"

"Nothing on the Rome case. Knows a lot about the Clark thing, though," Rafe replied. "He should be here soon—just relax and wait."

* * *

Breanne's Journal

"Gavin, we have him in our sights—he's heading to the old ghost town portion of Tyrone," the vampire reported over Gavin's cell. Kalenegar, who still hadn't spoken to me directly, transported all of us to a café in Tyrone to await further word from Gavin's contacts.

"How many with him?" Gavin barked.

"At least three others—that's all we can see through the van's windows."

"They are unaware that you are following?"

"Or they fail to care."

"Any idea why they're visiting the ghost town portion so late at night?" Charles asked.

"Charles, is that you?" the vampire asked.

"I requested a little field time," Charles almost smiled. "How are you, Dalroy?"

"The same. As is Rhett. We have no idea why our target is going to the old portion. Perhaps a meeting?"

"That doesn't sound good," Bill muttered.

"Can you meet us out here quickly? We have to stop our vehicle now and follow on foot. We're too close to the old mercantile building."

"We'll be there shortly," Charles said. Gavin ended the call.

"I will transport," Kalenegar said.

"I will turn everybody to mist, first," I said. "That way you can set us down in that old building and nobody will notice."

"I'll leave a replica of us here at the table, so nobody will know," Stellan offered. "Our likenesses will even engage in small talk and answer the waitress' questions appropriately," he added.

"You can do that?" Opal stared at Stellan with respect.

"Easily," Stellan nodded.

"Do it," Bill said. "Now."

* * *

"This'll be easy. Probably the easiest thing we've done in a while," Shafer Priest, Vernon Clark's acting second-in-command grinned at Vernon. Vernon sat in the van's passenger seat while Shafer drove toward the old mercantile building in Tyrone's ghost town.

Shafer's three sons—all half human, sat in the back, rifles loaded and lying across their laps. They couldn't turn but they were marksmen—their father, a werewolf—had taught them well.

"Pruitt would have come with us, but his wife just had a kid. Wouldn't look right," Shafer swerved to miss a pothole in the graveled road.