When they entered the apartment, more pronounced side effects from moving in the vampire’s way from one place to another
—the disorientation, nausea, headache—assaulted her. For a moment, she tried to get her stomach under control and clung to the wal .
Daemon turned on the light for her benefit. She gasped. Eyes wide and barely breathing, she took in the destruction—her furniture in ruins, glass tables smashed, couches torn, the stuffing shredded, books ripped apart. Tezra leaned against the wal and closed her eyes, trying to get her physical discomfort under control while her emotions ran wild.
Daemon didn’t say a word but moved so swiftly into her kitchen his appearance blurred.
“No one here,”
he announced, sounding relieved.
Her stomach settled some and concerned whoever had trashed her apartment might have found her hidden investigative files, she practical y flew into her bedroom, feeling Daemon’s presence behind her.
Feathers were strewn about from her down pil ows and comforter, her curtains were in shreds, mirrors were smashed, and drawers were scattered in splintered remnants al over the carpet.
Who would have destroyed her place? The SCU? Krustalus? She didn’t think either would have done such a thing.
Enraged, she reminded herself al that mattered was finding Katie unharmed. She stalked into her closet and poked at a cedar panel, which opened and a secret compartment containing her work appeared. She reached inside and pul ed out her files.
“Pays to be careful,” she grumbled under her breath.
She cleared a space on the floor and started sifting through the contents. When she found the photo she was looking for, she handed it to Daemon. “I need to keep these papers somewhere safe. It’s the only evidence I have for the investigations I’ve worked the last four years.”
“We’l return to my house first and put them in a secure place.”
Before she could brace herself, Daemon returned her to his greatroom where Maison and Atreides were having a heated discussion.
“He’s headed down the same path of destruction as before,” Atreides said, then grew silent when he saw Daemon.
Again, Tezra felt horribly unsettled. She fought a new bout of nausea but hid it from Daemon, not about to be left at home while he questioned Patrico’s mother. Yet her head swam, and speckled lights danced in front of her eyes. She didn’t think she could take much more of Daemon’s way of travel. But Atreides’s words bothered her too. Was she the reason for Atreides’s comments about his brother? She was certain that’s who he was talking about, especial y when she saw the heated look on Daemon’s face.
“Safeguard these.” Daemon handed the files to Atreides.
“I’m going with you.” Atreides passed the documents to Maison, looking a bit contrite. “Voltan gave us the word.”
Tezra clenched her teeth and braced herself for vampiric travel again.
Daemon didn’t know what to think of the situation, with someone from the SCU being involved in Katie’s abduction and the deceit concerning Patrico’s death…but for now, he worried even more about Tezra’s state of mind.
“You can come with us later, Atreides.” Daemon wrapped his arm around Tezra’s waist and returned her to the hospital’s administrative office.
Mrs. Wither was no longer in her office.
Daemon rubbed Tezra’s back, but his action didn’t al eviate the tension straining her muscles, and she looked awful y pale.
“We’l find Katie, if it takes—”
The woman walked back into the office and cried out, dropping her cup of coffee. The mug shattered on the linoleum floor, and the black liquid splattered al over her white pumps and nylons. “I…I didn’t expect you’d return so quickly.”
Daemon shoved the photo at the woman. “Is this the man?”
“I think so. He appeared older, but then—” she pointed to the year of the photo and said, “—this was taken ten years ago.”
Tezra looked at Daemon, her green eyes narrowed and dark, but she clung to him as if she needed his support.
“We have to
see his mother. She’s a retired SCU huntress, so we have to take precautions.”
“Thank you,” Daemon said to Mrs. Wither. He escorted Tezra from the room, appreciating the logical way in which she tackled the investigation despite how upset she appeared. “I can guess what you’re thinking, but we don’t know that he has anything to do with your parents’ murder.”
“Why fake his own death? Why take my sister when we’re so close to revealing who the kil er was?”
“Al valid points, Tezra, but we don’t know al the facts, and jumping to conclusions—”
“Isn’t an investigator’s way. Yet I don’t feel like much of one right now.”
“I’d say you’re doing a remarkable job under the circumstances. We go home first, let my brother and Maison know of the situation, then we’l take it from there.” He hoped he could convince her to stay there while he and his brother spoke with Patrico’s mother. He definitely wanted his brother’s backing and Voltan’s support for additional muscle in the event the SCU
had
solicited Patrico to abduct Katie.
As soon as they returned to the house, Tezra freed herself from Daemon’s grasp, though she stumbled and appeared not at al wel . Again, he felt she should remain behind.
“Where are my swords?” she asked, her voice harsh as she looked from Daemon to Maison, Voltan and Atreides.
“It wouldn’t be wise to arm her,” Atreides said. “Remember, she threatened our guards the last time she had a sword.” He motioned to Voltan. “And she made mincemeat of his leather jacket. If she gets hold of this Patrico, no tel ing what she’d do to him in her present state of mind, particularly if he’s unarmed.”
Tezra took a swing at Atreides, and he moved so quickly, Daemon didn’t have time to react. Trapping her shoulders against the wal , Atreides held her firm. “You know,” Atreides said in a low, husky voice, “your actions are tantamount to a vampire’s sexual foreplay. If you were a vampiress, I’d have pinned you to the couch and shown you how powerful an ancient male vampire can be.” His eyes sparkled with devilish delight. “If Daemon hadn’t already laid claim to you, I’d assume you were trying to entice me. However, be forewarned, huntress, do not try this with other ancients. Many would not be as control ed as I am.”
“Daemon hasn’t laid claim to me,” Tezra growled.
“Release her,” Daemon said, not wil ing to disagree with his brother over the enchantress. He had not claimed her for his own, but he didn’t figure anything he had to say would convince his brother otherwise. However, he ful y intended to have a word in private with him once they’d cleared up this other matter.
Maison stroked his chin, considering the situation with reserved thoughtfulness. Voltan stood with his arms crossed, waiting for the end result.
Atreides released Tezra, but she swung at him again. Daemon caught her wrist this time and pul ed her away from his brother.
“Save your energy, Tezra.”
Atreides’s smal smile faded, and this time he addressed Daemon. “Three hunters came here looking for Tezra while you were gone. They said Lichorus has made a formal complaint to the SCU and accused us of trying to turn her against her wil . The SCU Council members don’t believe she’s here of her own free choice.”
“Did you tel them where I was?” Tezra asked, rubbing her temple, and Daemon assumed a headache was brewing in that pretty head of hers from al the anxiety she felt.
He could tel she wanted to strike out at anyone who was involved in taking her sister from the hospital, or anyone who would try to stop her in locating Katie. Something else seemed to be troubling her, yet as usual she kept her thoughts shielded from him.
Atreides tilted his head to the side in a condescending manner. “No. The SCU has no jurisdiction here without a warrant.”
“I want my other weapons.” Tezra took a menacing step toward him.
Daemon shook his head. Then she poked her finger into his chest. “
You
have my favorite swords. Where have you hidden them?”
Her dark curls tangled over her shoulders; her cheeks flushed in anger. Every inch of the inferno-tempered woman tantalized him. Atreides was right—Tezra truly didn’t realize how she taunted him.
Atreides channeled his communication solely to Daemon,
“Lock her in the cellar before she causes the situation to become
even graver. Maybe we can discover some clues without putting her life and yours in danger. She’s too hot-tempered over
her sister’s abduction.”
Daemon considered the wild look in her eyes. His word should be law. Not so with Tezra. Was that what appealed so much?
She was like the river—shifting, dangerous, out-of-control. He agreed with Atreides about Tezra’s temper and wanted to leave her behind with protection. Stil , she might be able to reach Patrico where Daemon and his kind couldn’t.
“Give her swords back to her, Atreides. She needs her weapons for the trouble I’m sure we’re bound to get into. We’l go to Patrico’s mother’s home and hope the SCU hasn’t already gotten wind of our plans.”
When they arrived at Patrico’s mother’s blue and white colonial, Voltan and Atreides watched for Patrico in the event he tried to leave or enter around the side or back of the house while Tezra pushed the doorbel . Maison sat in the form of a raven on a nearby rooftop, watching for vehicles approaching the house—mainly concerned SCU hunters might arrive any minute.
Tezra’s face was so pale Daemon worried traveling with her in their way was making her sick, but he knew he couldn’t have talked her into staying at his home. In any event, he figured she would get farther with Patrico’s mother than he and his vampire companions could.
When she reached up to push the ringer for the fifth time, Daemon took her hand and kissed it.
A fiery blaze burned in her expression like she wanted to devour him in one bite.
A white-haired woman with a benevolent, Mrs. Santa Claus kind of face, opened the door with a squeak.
He assumed the woman, wearing a floral housecoat and fluffy pink slippers, was Patrico’s mother. A strong fragrance of perfume surrounded her like an invisible cloud of flowers. Mrs. Sargento gave Tezra a tentative smile, then glanced at Daemon.
The look of recognition in her eyes told him a lot about her. What was a vampire doing visiting a retired huntress? And why was Tezra here? He felt the woman knew a hel of a lot about Katie’s disappearance. Using his vampiric abilities, he attempted to read the woman’s mind. For an instant, he gathered a thought—Tezra was one of them. A huntress turned vampire. And then a brick wal like the one surrounding Mrs. Sargento’s backyard rose to shield Daemon from reading any further thoughts. Fine.
He’d get the information out of her one way or another.
The way Tezra was studying her so intensely, Daemon assumed she was trying to read her mind also. “Mrs. Sargento,” Tezra said, “I learned your son is alive and wel .”
The woman’s face turned into a mask of white marble.
“Patrico has my sister.” Tezra’s voice was even, not accusatory. “Why did Patrico take her, and why was his death faked?”
“You’re mistaken. He’s dead. How could he have taken your sister from the hospital?” Mrs. Sargento vehemently shook her head, loosening a curl from her bun. “That’s absurd.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“At his funeral.” Mrs. Sargento avoided Tezra’s hard look.
“Closed casket. Did he fake his death or was the SCU in on the charade?” Tezra asked, and Daemon was proud of her for being so control ed in her questioning. Not even a hint of emotion coated her words.
“I don’t know anything about this.” Yet Mrs. Sargento’s voice quaked.
Again, he tried to read her thoughts, but she blanked them. Daemon rubbed Tezra’s arm but wil ed Mrs. Sargento to reveal the truth.
“Tell us where Katie is, and we’ll be on our way.”
But the woman was a huntress, and he couldn’t force her to reveal anything she didn’t want to.
Tezra’s back grew rigid and she said through clenched teeth, “Tel me where Katie is, Mrs. Sargento. The vampire who’s after me could very wel be targeting her now.”
Tears dribbled down the older woman’s cheeks. “I…oh, Patrico. If he got involved… I-I told him not to do this. I warned him the vampire… Oh, what has he done?”
“He apparently wanted to protect my sister,” Tezra said, but from the way she was scowling and the tone of her words, Daemon didn’t believe she truly felt Patrico stole Katie away from the facility for her own safety.
Tezra folded her arms and looked even more cross. “But I fear Patrico has only made it worse for Katie. Please, tel me where he is.”
Mrs. Sargento reached out and touched her hand. “You’re not one of them?”
“No. I just need to make sure my sister remains safe from the likes of the vampire who murdered our parents.”
The woman chewed on the inside of her cheek, then let out her breath. “He’l be here in about an hour. He didn’t mean any harm.”
“I only want my sister back.” Tezra’s voice attempted to appease but had a sharp edginess.
Daemon relayed the word to his vampire companions, proud Tezra could move the woman to tel the truth without violence when he couldn’t entice her with his vampiric abilities. Now to confront Patrico.
Having a hard time believing Patrico was truly alive after al these years, Tezra stared at Mrs. Sargento.
“Is he coming here with Katie?” Hope instantly renewed. A chil y breeze played with her hair, but as angry as she was, she didn’t imagine even sitting in the middle of a frozen iceberg would cool her down. On top of that, she felt like her stomach was stil back at Daemon’s house, or maybe at the hospital before that. The constant transporting was making her discombobulated.
“I don’t know.” The woman looked at the porch.
“Does anyone else realize your son is alive?”
The elderly woman shook her head. “They think he’s dead.”
Tezra took a breath of relief, glad the SCU wasn’t in on some cover-up.
“Are we finished here, Tezra?” Daemon asked. He seemed anxious to leave.
She nodded.
“We need to return before the hour is up though.”