Flo studied her long red nails. “No, he's meeting us there. I'm mad at him. He's getting mysterious again.”
“I believed him last night, if that helps. I don't think he's staking other vamps.” I picked up my black satin cape lined with red and tied it around my shoulders. I still wasn't breathing much, which made serious inroads on the sexy feeling.
“Good to know. But, Flo, it sounds like you and I
both
need new boyfriends.” Lacy looked very sexy in Ryan's suit. The trousers were slung low on her hips and the jacket was held closed by just one button. There was plenty of bare skin above and below that button.
“Blade's here.”
Valdez stood and there was a knock on the door.
“Why?” I flipped the dead bolts. “We were just leaving.”
"Ask him yourself.”
Valdez gave me a look then sat down again.
I opened the door and Blade stood there, resplendent in Campbell plaid complete with broadsword. My heart jumped around in my chest. I'd always loved the way Blade looked in clan regalia. Tonight he had the whole “I'm ready to slay the world for you” look going on.
“Why are you here? We're on our way to Damian's party.”
“I know. Valdez told me.”
“Where's Mara? She told Damian she'd be coming with you.”
“She'll be along. I have a guard assigned to her.” He looked at Flo and nodded approvingly. “Good idea, Florence. Gloriana, where's your Kevlar?”
“I'm not wearing it tonight.” I threw back my cape and let my cleavage shine. And was Blade looking? You bet he was. Good news that I rated Blade's personal attention tonight while Mara got stuck with a bodyguard.
“Living dangerously, are you?” Blade moved closer, his fangs just showing beneath his smile. “Or perhaps you've been developing more of your powers. Any new tricks to show me?”
Hmm. He was obviously remembering the now-you're-dressed, now-you're-naked number I'd pulled on him. I wouldn't mind another round. I smiled back and let him read the possibility. Lacy cleared her throat and Flo shook her head.
“Gloriana is keeping secrets from us, Jeremiah. She's been working on her powers without me.” Flo smiled sadly. “I just hope you don't have to use them tonight, Glory.”
“I don't think Westwood will try anything at a party where he'd be surrounded by vamps.” I glanced at Flo. “And it doesn't hurt for a woman to have a few surprises up her sleeve, does it?”
“Not at all. I just hope you're right about Westwood. But we'll be well protected, Jeremiah.” Flo grabbed a black fur shrug and pulled it on. “Damian has a security force and his grounds are surrounded by a ten-foot fence. I can't see Westwood climbing a fence, can you?” Flo patted my arm on the way to the door.
“I have my own security there too.” Blade was definitely giving me the eye. I was a naughty girl and trailed a finger across the top of my lace bustier.
“Then we should be fine.” I picked up my black satin clutch. “Let's go.”
“Not yet.” Suddenly solemn, Blade blocked the door. “I have news. About the cross that staked Marguerite.”
Twenty-One
There went the party mood. “What about it, Jerry?” I had a feeling I didn't want to hear this. Lacy and Flo sat on the love seat.
“I've been in contact with vampires in Houston. The crosses used there were identical to the one that took out Trevor. And another vampire was staked in Dallas last week. Same kind of cross.”
Nothing like a vamp network. Blade had always maintained connections with other strong vamps.
“Who was killed in Dallas? When? What night?” Despite her blush, Flo was pale. Did she wonder at all if this was Richard's work?
“Thursday night. Sebastian de Ville. You knew him, Florence.”
“Of course.” She bit her lip. “In London. Many years ago. This is terrible.” She gave me a look. “Ricardo was with me last Thursday night, Glory. Does that make you believe in him?”
“I told you I believed him, Flo. But it's good to have proof.” I let Flo read my aggravation that she still read my mind whenever she felt like it, then shrugged. “If you know where he was every minute last Thursday, Flo, then we should
both
feel better.”
“But what about Margie?” Flo put her hand on Blade's arm. “Wasn't the cross that took her the same?”
“No, it wasn't. And that's what's bothering me.” Blade did look serious. “My expert traced it to a local store here, but they've sold dozens of them.”
“But surely not sharp enoughâ” Lacy looked at me.
“No. Someone sharpened one end.” Thank goodness Blade didn't whip out the cross for us to study.
“Poor Sebastian. He was a poet. Very gentle. So undeserving of such an end.” Flo stepped back and dabbed at her eyes with a lace hanky she'd had tucked between her breasts. The Kevlar was my size, not Flo's. She could be carrying a change of clothes in there. “But what does this mean, Jeremiah?”
“Obviously Marguerite wasn't killed by the same group staking other vampires in Texas.” Jerry stood with his feet firmly planted, hands behind his back, every inch the Highland warrior.
I'd like to see some religious fanatic try to take
him
out. Wait. No, I wouldn't. Blade seemed invincible but we were all vulnerable in some way. Blade's weakness, if you could call it that, was his protectiveness. He'd be taken out riding to some damsel's rescue. I prayed I wouldn't be that damsel. I eased closer until I could lay my hand on his arm. Solid. I wanted to believe he'd be here forever.
“Someone else killed Margie? A copycat?” I glanced at Lacy. “Pardon the expression.”
“No problem.” Lacy shrugged. “I didn't know Margie. Did she have enemies?”
“I'd only met her once myself.” I looked at Florence. “Flo, you knew Margie better than we did. What do you think?”
“If she wasn't killed because she was vampire,” Flo locked eyes with Blade, “then I would suspect a lover's quarrel.”
“Kenneth?” Blade was taking Flo's outrageous suggestion seriously.
“Or someone who wanted Kenneth for herself.” Flo tucked her hanky between her breasts again. “He or she will not get away with it. Glory, you thought all along it might be another vampire. I'm afraid you might be right.” She squared her shoulders. “Kenneth will be at Damian's party. I'll question him myself.”
“For God's sake, be careful, Flo. If he staked Margie then he's capable of anything.”
“I have on your Kevlar, Glory.” Flo had a hard look in her sea green eyes. “And I have powers Marguerite and Kenneth never bothered to develop. If he killed her so he could be with another woman . . .”
Lacy frowned. “There's nothing worse than a lover who betrays you.”
“Exactly, girlfriend. I took Kenneth as enough of a man to ask for his freedom.” Flo's eyes misted and she took a deep breath. “But Marguerite made him. She might not have wanted to release him.”
“Slow down, Flo.” I could practically see the lynch party forming. “Wait until you talk to Kenneth before you jump to any conclusions.”
“Florence and I will question him together. And we'll know the truth when we hear it.” Blade strode to the door. “Ladies, allow me to drive you to the party.” He opened the door, then bowed at the waist.
A party. I felt like I was on my way to another wake. I wasn't about to turn Blade down, though. I had a gut feeling that something bad was going down tonight. I
had
been working on my powers and if I could help make things right, I would.
Could Kenneth have killed his own life partner? We'd already figured out Margie wouldn't have been in the alley unless she'd known her attacker or been forced there. And with her vamp strength, only another vamp or half a dozen mortal men could have forced her to go anywhere.
“Jerry, how do you know it wasn't the same group that did the other vampires? Maybe they ran out of their stake of choice and had to improvise.”
Jerry stood up straight, his face grim. “The group was led by a religious fanatic. My friends in Dallas caught him and his followers. Before justice was served, the man admitted to his killings. Only one in Austin, a man who appeared drunk, obviously Trevor.”
Before justice was served. Ye Gods. I sure didn't want a blow by blow of
that
confrontation.
“Maybe he was lying.”
Blade put his arm around me and guided me out the door. “No, Gloriana, he wasn't lying. You know a mortal can't lie when a vampire orders him to talk.”
“Oh, yeah, the whammy.” I glanced at Lacy. We'd both seen the truth of that with Ryan. She looked good, if a little ragged around the edges with a bitter twist to her lips. She'd piled on the makeup tonight. Like she didn't want us to notice that she'd spent the last twenty-four hours crying and had probably skipped sleeping altogether.
I let Valdez out then locked the door. Despite the colorful costumes and the jaunty orange and black kerchief around Valdez's neck, we were a pretty somber bunch trooping downstairs and out to Blade's car.
But you can't keep an immortal down for long and the mood lightened as we reached the small Mercedes convertible. Blade had parked in front. He and Valdez were obviously alert and kept looking around as we stepped outside.
“You're kidding. You expect me to ride back there with that mangy mutt?” Lacy glanced meaningfully at the front passenger seat.
“Oh, no, you don't. I've got shotgun.” I held back the seat so she could climb in. Blade stood behind me, still obviously very watchful. “Valdez had a bath yesterday and I ran out of his usual flea soap soâ”
“So I smell like a damned fruit salad.”
Valdez had been sulking ever since.
“Talk about animal cruelty.”
He hopped into the backseat.
“You think I want to sit next to a kitty wannabe?”
“You âwannabe' singing soprano, fur face?” Lacy sniffed, her hands on her narrow hips.
“I'll sit next to you, doggy.” Flo got in next. “But put the top down, Jeremiah. I never should have given Valdez that onion dip.”
Lacy squeezed in the tiny backseat, still grumbling. Blade helped me into the front, slammed the door and strode around the car. He'd offered me the keys when we were coming down the stairs, but I didn't dare drive. Between lack of oxygen and the horrific idea that Kenneth might have . . . Impossible. Margie and Kenneth had been a couple for over a hundred years. Surely they could have just decided to go their separate ways, like Blade and I had. No one had to resort to murder to end a relationship. No one civilized anyway.
“Don't fash yourself, lass.” Blade took my hand and held it while he drove slowly down Sixth Street. The area was party central on Halloween night and people in every kind of costume imaginable thronged the sidewalks, sometimes moving the party into the street. Music changed by the blockâcountry, rock, heavy metal. Something for everyone on a street lined with clubs, restaurants and bars. I welcomed the cold air as I indeed “fashed” myself over a love affair gone wrong.
“We don't know anything yet, Gloriana.” Blade stopped at a red light and pulled my hand to his lips. “But some lovers are more possessive than others.”
Was that a slam? A not so subtle reminder that I'd cut Blade loose without fighting for our relationship? Maybe if we'd tried harder to make it work . . .
“Hindsight, Gloriana. All we can try to control is our present and, to some extent, our future.” The light changed and Blade dropped my hand to begin negotiating the climb up the narrow streets of Castle Hill.
Gee, wasn't he Mr. Philosophy all of a sudden? But he was too right.
When we finally pulled up to Damian's iron gates, a security guard checked our names on his guest list then waved us through. The castle was ablaze with lights. White tents were set up on the expansive lawn and the lights of the Austin skyline provided a spectacular back drop.
Control my future? I was living moment to moment, waiting for the next arrow to fly or cross to come at me. I'd been working on a little self-defense, but hadn't really tested it. I hoped I never had to. I glanced back at Flo, safely wrapped in my Kevlar vest. Maybe I'd been stupid to go for sexy over safe. But as we drove up to the house, I could hear lively music coming from the wraparound porch and laughter from a group clustered in front of a tent.
Party time. And vamps do know how to have a good time. I determinedly shoved all my worries to the back burner as Blade parked the car behind the house. There were already over a dozen other cars there.
Damian grinned when he saw me. I threw up a block, wincing when my head throbbed. Damn it, I wasn't going to be
controlled
by anyone.
“Gloriana.” Damian stepped behind me and removed my cloak. “Ravishing.” He dropped a kiss on my bare shoulder. Okay. I watched Blade's reaction and preened a little.
“You might be cold without your cape, Gloriana.” Blade wasn't smiling.
“Nonsense. The night is a bit chilly, but the tents are heated.” Damian handed my cape to a hovering servant and nodded to Lacy. “Welcome, Lacy. Another beauty.” He hooked arms with both of us and headed toward a large white tent. “I have a surprise. A new synthetic blood that I swear tastes like it's fresh from the source.” He patted Lacy's hand. “And would kitty enjoy a little milk punch?”
Lacy laughed and kissed his cheek. “If you weren't my landlord, I'd show you what I think of milk punch. I assume you have an open bar. I'll take a Scotch and make it a double.”