“Stop,” Taylor said, holding up her hand.
“I get your point.”
“But I haven’t finished yet.
There’s still Brody and Veris to deal with.”
Taylor sucked in her breath in shock.
“But what could you…?”
“They’re my subjects,” Tira assure her.
“What I reserve for them will be the most creative punishment possible.
They will suffer before the end, I guarantee it.”
“End?” Taylor whispered.
“Do you think I cannot end the life of a vampire, little one?”
Taylor’s vision blurred as tears filled her eyes.
“No,” she whispered.
There was a rushing sound in her head, like a great wind.
Thudding, as if her heart couldn’t strike properly.
Taylor sank to the floorboards, her hand thrust out for balance, her vision fading as the tears multiplied.
“Stop them!” Tira screamed.
Taylor looked up, turning her head to glance down the ancient auditorium where the dusty leather seats sat in serried rows.
In the wide, elegant corridor between them, Tawny Eyes was struggling.
There was an arm around his neck, choking him from behind, and another arm holding his hand away from the gun at his belt.
The struggling pair revolved slowly and Taylor saw that it was Brody behind Tawny.
There were more people coming down the passageway, Tawny’s people.
Brody was outnumbered.
There was a whisper of sound above her and Taylor looked up in time to see Veris dropped from high up above the stage, onto the flooring with a heavy impact.
Tira immediately turned and began to run for the backstage area, but Veris was faster.
He leapt for the slender woman and grabbed her by the throat.
Tira was powerful and old, and would have defended herself more than once in her long lifetime. As soon as Veris touched her she turned and grabbed his wrist and kept turning, trying to throw him.
It would have worked, except that Veris lifted a stake to her chest and pressed it hard against her flesh.
If she continued the toss she would drive the stake into her own chest.
She drew instantly still, her chin lifted high over the top of his big hand.
“You know what I want,” he told her.
“Give me air to call out,” she croaked.
His fingers eased.
“Everyone…
halt
!” she called, her voice rolling across the auditorium.
Veris stepped behind her, keeping his hand on her throat and the stake against her chest, so that everyone could see the threat to their queen.
The struggling in the auditorium slowed, then ceased.
Brody stepped around Tawny, then punched him in the face.
“Slipped.
Sorry.”
He seemed cheerful as he climbed up onto the stage in two big steps, and helped Taylor to her feet.
“I love the metal look on you,” he told her and kissed her hard.
“I’m getting old here,” Veris complained.
“I’m done,” Brody told him, and tucked Taylor up against his side.
“Terms,” he told Tira.
“Go to hell,” she spat.
“You’ll never see Taylor again, without them,” Veris told her.
“Or either of us.
Think about that.”
Tira growled.
“Name your terms.”
Her neck was still artificially stretched and extended by Veris’ hand around it and she was forced to look up and over everyone as a result.
“Taylor is ours,” Veris growled.
“Yes, yes, terms beyond the obvious,” Tira hissed.
Taylor stiffened and tried to move away from Brody’s side, but Brody kept her clamped next to him by sheer force.
He glanced at her and shook his head and she understood that for now she needed to stay there.
She stopped struggling to move away.
“You want guarantees that Domhnall is gone?” Brody asked Tira.
Tira pursed her lips together.
After a moment, she said, “I’m listening.”
Taylor sighed.
“In a decade or two, there will be no human left who knows his name or that he even existed,” Veris said quietly.
“
Human
memory?” Tira repeat sharply.
“You guarantee it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She nodded. “Then the matter is settled.”
“Not quite,” Veris replied.
“No?” Tira tried to look at him, but his grip was too tight.
“The successful end of this negotiation ends this matter here tonight.
There will be no more recourse once we have left,” Brody told her.
“You don’t get a second dip at the well.”
“I’m not getting a first dip!” Tira railed.
“You are getting as much of a sip as we let you,” Veris growled, shaking her neck a little.
“We could always call in the Council if you like.
I’m sure you’d appreciate an oversight committee auditing your affairs.”
Tira hissed.
“I should kill you both for this.”
“The affair ends once we agree to terms,” Brody reminded her.
“Or we don’t agree and Veris shoves that stake into your heart.”
“Agreed,” Tira snapped.
“Get on with it.”
“There’s the matter of compensation. By insisting that Domhnall pass out of human memory, you’ve neutralized Taylor’s career and wiped out seven years of expertise. She’s struggled for the last seven years to make a career out of a field of interest that technically doesn’t exist, which we should compensate her for too.”
“That second one is a result of Brody’s mistake. You should be liable for that one,” Tira said, her eyes narrowed as she concentrated.
“In matters of keeping history straight, we report to you, yes?” Veris said smoothly. “We came directly to you as soon as we realized the breach.”
“Yes, you did,” Tira admitted.
“Therefore, as our superior, the liability clearly falls on your shoulders.”
Tira pouted. “Fine,” she snapped. “Seven years compensatory salary, plus what? Another seven years until she has another career?”
“That seems fair,” Veris said smoothly. “Plus punitive damages. Fourteen years out of a human’s short life is a big chunk, ma’am.”
Tira’s eyes widened, then she took a slow breath. “How much?”
“Fifty percent of the compensatory salary,” Veris responded instantly.
“Twenty-five.”
“Forty.”
“Thirty.”
“Thirty-five.”
“Northman,” she said, her voice thick with frustration.
“My queen.” Veris released her and bowed low. When he straightened, he was smiling. “I’ll be in touch with your finance minister when he rises.”
Taylor was bewildered at the fast exchange but she could feel Brody was laughing silently, beside her.
“Go now,” Tira said, dismissing them with a wave of her hand.
Brody bowed his head, picked up Taylor’s hand and pulled her across the stage.
Veris was crowding right up behind them.
Outside, it was deep, still night.
Taylor had no idea what the time was.
She had lost track of it and Tawny had taken her cellphone from her.
Her bare feet were too sensitive on the rough bitumen and she couldn’t keep up with Veris and Brody as they strode down the middle of the deserted road.
Brody turned back to her and saw her predicament.
“You should have said something,” he chided her and picked her up in his arms.
He turned and started striding down the street again, as if she weighed no more than a feather.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“My car.
Then…we’ll figure that out,” he told her.
There was an electronic warble and the flash of headlights that told her Veris had already reached the car.
It turned out to be a very ordinary black Mustang.
“I thought you’d go for something flashier,” Taylor confessed.
“This seems…pedestrian.”
“It’s his streetwear, for when he doesn’t want to be recognized,” Veris said, opening the passenger side door.
“I prefer the Maserati, when I don’t mind drawing attention,” Brody said.
He handed her over to Veris, who gave Brody the keys.
Veris sank into the low slung passenger seat with her in his arms, as if she weighed nothing and he had no burden in his arms at all.
He settled her on his thighs and shut the door as Brody slid behind the wheel and started the engine.
“Home,” Veris declared.
“That’s up to Taylor,” Brody replied, looking at her.
He eased the Mustang out of the row of parked cars and accelerated with a snarl of the powerful engine.
It might look like an ordinary Mustang, but whatever was under the hood had been souped up and supercharged.
“Didn’t you just tell the queen I’m basically yours?” Taylor asked.
“We implied it,” Brody replied.
“She heard what she wanted to hear.”
“Veris said ‘Taylor is ours,’” Taylor quoted.
“How is that just an implication?”
“You bloody great lummox,” Brody growled.
“You had to go all he-man, after you sent her running the last time.
Did nothing I say register with you?”
“That was for the queen’s benefit,” Veris said, his voice low.
“You were lying?” Taylor asked.
The silence lasted for five long heartbeats.
“No,” Veris said, his voice still low.
“You
are
ours, Taylor.”
“
Fuck
, Veris!” Brody groaned.
“You’re killing me.
Do I really have to stop this car to punch you in the mouth to shut you up?”
“It’s the truth.
You want me to lie?” Veris said flatly.
“Over something this critical?”
Brody stayed silent.
Instead, he wrenched the wheel, skidding the tires as the car veered onto Ventura Boulevard.
The car accelerated with a roar.
Taylor clutched at Veris and his arm came around her back, as solid and trustworthy as an iron band.
“You can fight it,” Veris told her, “but there is a bond between us and the queen gave in so easily because she knows this, too.
We have already marked you – that will never go away.
All you must do now is acknowledge this.”
Taylor shook her head.
“And where in any of this does free will come into it?”
“Fate doesn’t allow for free will,” Veris told her.
“Then fuck fate.”
She looked at Brody.
“I want out.
Stop the car, Brody.”
“I can’t stop on the freeway, but as soon as I can, I will,” he assured her.
“Taylor—” Veris began.
“No, you listen to
me
,” she shot back, overriding him.
“You spent…how many years, looking for a way to drop Domhnall into human history so humans could discover Brody’s people and Arthur after your people wiped them out?
Ten years?
Fifty?”
“A while,” Veris said flatly.
“Eight three,” Brody supplied.
Veris sighed.
“Brody’s slavery upsets you, doesn’t it?” Taylor asked, trying to make her tone softer, more gentle.
She could see the same deep pain in Veris’ eyes that had been there when he had exploded in the limousine after their first visit to see Tira.
Veris turned his head away from her. “It offends me.”
“He feels guilty,” Brody added.
Taylor caught Veris’ face in her hands and turned it back so he was looking at her.
“How is what you’re doing with me any different than what your people did with Brody?”
Shock slithered across his face.
His blue eyes widened and his lips parted.
“No,” he whispered.
The car slowed and the road beneath the tires grew bumpy and gritty.
Brody pulled the car to a halt and put it in neutral.
“Out,” he said shortly.
Veris looked through the window.
“You can’t dump her here.
It’s the middle of fucking nowhere.”
“I’m not,” Brody replied.
“Taylor, open the door and hop out for a second.”
She was more than eager to get out.
The car had become claustrophobic.
She looked around.
“I don’t suppose you could lend me a twenty for a taxi?” she asked, bending down to look back in the car.
Brody shook his head.
“No need.
I’ll see you safely home.
Veris, get out.”
Veris sat for a moment, his jaw working, looking straight ahead.
Then, still silent, he climbed out of the car.
“Taylor?” Brody called, putting the car back in gear and revving the engine.
She looked at Veris and bit her lip.
“Get in,” he told her.
“Brody will take you home.”
She sighed and turned back to the car.
Veris caught her hand in his.
“You’re wrong,” he said softly.
“I would spend the rest of my life proving that if only you would let me.”
He held the door open for her and shut it when she was in the car.
“Where will he go?” Taylor asked, watching his figure diminish as Brody pulled away.
“Unlike you, Veris has a wallet, ID, and about six centuries more experience at surviving on his feet.
I imagine he’ll walk to the nearest phone and call himself up a cab home.
Frankly, I don’t care.
He needs the exercise.”
Brody touched her thigh.
“Are you alright?”
Taylor shook her head.
“No,” she said truthfully.
She was shaking again and all at once, the events of the evening seemed to rise up and overwhelm her.
Veris was the last straw.
“Agh…
Mo
Taylor
álainn
chroí ...
.
” Brody pulled her up against his shoulder, his arm around hers.
“It’s been a few centuries, but I’m seem to remember that tears don’t make me melt.
You’ve had a hard few days, haven’t you?”
The rough, low bur of his voice and the soft sympathy unraveled the last of her restraint.
Taylor turned her face inward against his shoulder and wept, while Brody gently stroked her back and shoulder as he drove.
When the last of her tears had been shed, she tried to lift herself away from him and move back to her side of the car, but Brody held her there.
He pressed his lips against her forehead.
“You’re fine as you are,” he told her.
“I want to steal the last few moments while I can.”
He didn’t say it with any particular emphasis or tone, but his words made fresh tears slide down her cheeks.
“Oh, Brody,” she whispered.
“I—”
“Not now,” he said.
“We’ll talk in a minute, but I can’t drive, hold you, and give you my full attention as well, and I want to hold you above all else, so shh, hm?”
She settled back against his shoulder and let him drive as he had requested.
All too soon, he was slotting the Mustang through the streets of Brentwood, steering with no hesitation.
“You know where I live,” she said.
“Of course.
We’ve known since the morning after the concert.
You left your bag lying around and Veris was desperate to know everything he could about you.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t try an Internet search, then.”
“He did.”
“Oh.”
“He spent a lot of the night reading your published papers, the ones he hadn’t already read before going to see you the week before.”
He brought the Mustang to a halt in front of her apartment block.
“You were heading in the right direction, you know.
About my father.
You would have found him, if there had been anything left for you to find.”
He turned the engine off.
“You’re coming in?” she asked.
“I’m seeing you safely home.
I promised Veris.
And you.”
Taylor bit her lip.
“My next door neighbor is a Nocturnal Rain freak, and his roommates are all into death metal.
If they spot you…”
Brody grinned and reached over to the back seat.
“This is my street gear car, remember?”
His hair was already pulled back and tied in a neat ponytail at the back of his neck, which did an enormous amount to change his general appearance.
Now he slid on dark wraparound sunglasses,
and shook out a light weight, full length dark rain coat that would disguise his clothes.
“Come on.
You need your beauty sleep,” he told her, and got out.
* * * * *
Brody was a comforting presence next to her as she climbed the shabby stairs to the third floor.
The wraparound sunglasses and long coat did a lot to disguise him, as did the tied-back hair. The plain black jeans and muscle shirt did the rest. Any self-respecting death metal fan could walk right past him on the street and be no wiser.
When she got closer to her apartment, she slowed.
“I think that’s Andy,” she told Brody.
“Against my door.”
Brody took off the glasses and narrowed his eyes, looking along the corridor.
“He’s asleep.”
He glanced at her.
“He’s a fan?”
“Huge fan.
He took me to your concert.”
Brody shrugged.
“Ah, well.”
He strode forward.
Andy was curled up in a tight ball on the floor, leaning against her front door.
He was asleep, his mouth slightly open, his arms around his middle, one shoulder propped against the doorframe.
Taylor shook his shoulder.
“Andy.”
She shook harder.
He came out of his sleep slowly, blinking owlishly up at her.
Then his face crumpled for a second.
“I couldn’t sleep in my apartment.
Not after the police, after Graham…”
“It’s fine,” she told him.
“You can sleep in mine.”
“You’re okay,” he said.
“The big guy said you would be.”
“The big guy?” she asked.
“The one you said would come after you.
He came and talked to me.
Really big guy, lots of muscles.
Blue eyes.
Soft way of talking that was real scary.
I was so glad he wasn’t going after me…”
He blinked some more and focused on Brody standing patiently by her side.
“Oh holy mary motherfucker,” Andy said and scrambled to his feet.
He staggered, his legs stiff from being folded under him, and reached out unsteadily, grasping at Taylor’s shoulder.
“Oh, fuck,” he added in dismay.
He looked back at Brody.
“Holy jesus!” he added softly.