Chapter 23

 

 

Brent paced a conference room at Ward Tower security. Zoe watched him like she was ready to put talons through him to stop the constant motion. He didn’t even blame her.

Amelia’s voice broke into his head. Brent, you there?

You all right? He fucking hoped so. Letting her go on her own damn near killed him. Eamon could have taken the news either well, or very badly. And he was leaning toward very fucking badly.

But she was communicating with him. He wasn’t totally sure that would be easy for them.

Yeah. Went better than I expected. I’m here. Have Robert do what he needs to find me. And Eamon trusts me right now. I have another concern, though. He sent Drummond away. I’m not sure where, or how far, but I don’t know if I trust him not to try to save Inuala.

Have you seen the captives yet?

No, but I’m in the Old House. They’re in the basement. This place is weird as hell. Her laugh was light, but he heard the stress. Eamon is sending the vampires he trusts out of the way. I think he plans to have Nolan and Niall stay to help stop Inuala or anyone who gets in your way.

We’ll be there soon. Keep our link open. And you really are impressive, you know that? She truly was.

Thanks. Get here. I have a bad feeling about whatever Inuala is planning.

Brent looked up and found Robert sitting with Mike and Gwen. He walked over. “I’ll need you and Preston to tap into my head to follow the connection to Amelia. She’s in the Old House, but not with the captives yet. Don’t ask me how they’re doing. I don’t know. They are warning some of the vampires to stay away from Inuala. Anyone helping her needs to die. The rest can live.”

“Preston?” Robert called. “You ready?”

“Sure am.”

Brent touched Robert. “I can open a portal to the Old House if you guide me. I’ll need to understand exactly where they are and ten minutes to create a portal somewhere everyone can travel to and from in the Silver Council Headquarters. I already have all the supplies I need.”

“Of course, and that will be easier than taking all twenty of us,” Robert answered. “We can use the cafeteria.

He still feared losing Amelia once more, but some of the versions of her death were things he’d seen in past lives. Hope had finally bloomed that they would make it through this ordeal.

 

* * * *

 

Inuala felt the danger coming. Drummond was so far away she couldn’t sense him, and he hadn’t contacted her. Had Drummond warned Eamon? She had seen the fear in his eyes the last time they were together, but he claimed to choose his Inuala.

Could his friendship mean more to him than his love for her? Even after searching for her latest incarnation? Would he come to her after Eamon was dead? Without Eamon, and Crom finally in their world, she would be free. If Drummond died, she could always find him again and make sure he never remembered her betrayal to their king.

Then again, Eamon had never been her king. No, Crom Cruach had been her everything. She had worshiped him since before her queen, Oriana’s mother, gave her to men who tormented her. She did nothing to stop the queen’s and king’s deaths of the Blackmire clan. She didn’t prevent the death of the Ossery king and queen, allowing Eamon to become the new king. His goals were never ruling, though. He managed well enough, but when the opportunity presented itself, he let someone else take the lead and moved on from Ireland, still hurting over losing his beloved wife who’d fallen for another man, which he never learned.

Drummond was a useful tool, a companion at night, and a protector. They were blood bound, but centuries of being together and his refusal to see Eamon as the obstacle he was, she had begun to resent the blood bond.

Everywhere in the expansive cavern, Eamon’s followers watched her. She needed to make her move soon, before they figured out her plan.

There were still too many vampires loyal to Eamon in the area. And without Drummond, she would never convince them to leave. Very few trusted her.

She had only one reliable person there to help. Yolanda would have to move Gina to the farthest room, while she found a way to slip away from the other vampires. Unfortunately, enough of them had had the ability to track her through shadows without her knowledge. And she hadn’t kept her Fae abilities with the second incarnation. Drummond’s blood had been too diluted by then, as he often gave his blood to his brethren in an attempt to keep Eamon’s war group together.

They were a powerful force, but in this day and age, they had no real use. Warfare had changed with technology. They preferred brute force to guns and bombs.

Inuala closed the distance to Yolanda, who smiled with those big brown eyes. “Come with me,” she whispered.

She made her way down the hall and into the room she intended to perform the ritual. Yolanda shut the door behind them. “You know the others are watching you,” she whispered.

“Yes, which is why I need your help. Eamon no longer plans to summon our god. The blond werewolf woman. I need her here, in this room. I have a short window to perform the ritual. Have her here in twenty minutes and keep everyone from entering this room any way you can.” Yolanda was an illusionist, one of the first vampires Eamon brought over because the twins had lusted after her for years.

“Of course.” Yolanda exited the room, heading back to the cavern. Inuala made her way outside, making sure to be seen. Outside, she circled back, keeping to shadows, sensing for others. She was back in the room in record time and preparing to summon her god.

 

* * * *

 

Only three vampires were left in the cavern. They were busy trying to figure out what was going on with Tyrone, once again. As much as he felt for the guy, Christian was getting really tired of the bawling. Ten minutes after they were safe, he would ensure Amelia fixed him.

He just hoped Delilah forgave him for letting the vampires take him. He’d been bitten a dozen times in the last two days. And she was going to be pissed.

There was no way to avoid his capture, or Tyrone’s. While the vampires focused on Tyrone, Christian slipped farther down the wall, then across the cavern to where Leanan lay on her side. She was still out cold. She hadn’t woken. No one had healed her, though she was given a tiny bit of vampire blood.

There was only one thing he knew for sure would fix a succubus, but he wasn’t about to sex her awake. He’d been with exactly one woman, his mate, and he had every intention of keeping it that way.

So, he would do the next best thing and heal her the way his mother taught him. With magic. He hoped he could do something for her. He could feel her life force slipping away. Christian dropped down beside Leanan and touched her head and had to pull his hand away. She was burning up.

If only he knew what was wrong, besides the bruises, and how to help. He didn’t have the same strange vision his mother had developed to diagnose problems that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. So, he placed his hand on her head once again and channeled healing energy into her.

The fever cooled. The bruises faded. Her eyes flashed open and she caught his wrist with a hiss as her skin turned crimson, and scales formed along portions of her exposed flesh.

“Sorry, I was only trying to heal with magic. Not your magic. I wouldn’t betray my mate, even to save you.”

A slow smile formed on her lips as her grip loosened. “I’m sorry. The last person I remember touching me hurt me.”

“I wasn’t here for that. I’m sorry.” He sat back against the wall.

“I’m Leanan,” she said.

“Christian. We’ll be out of here soon. I understand you have a man back in Seattle.”

She sighed and joined him against the wall. “Our relationship is complicated. I wish it could be more than two people giving each other pleasure, but I’ve been promised to someone I do not love.”

“Any way to get out of that?” Christian asked.

She shook her head. “Unfortunately, the only thing I can do is keep running or die. Eventually, the demon will catch up with me, once again. He always does until I escape.”

“Doesn’t treat you well?” Christian asked. “If you give me some information, maybe I can find the right people to help you out of this situation.”

“You’re sweet. Just a boy, too innocent, but sweet.”

“I’ve heard all that before. I may not understand the full extent of what you’re going through, but there is always a way out of a situation.”

“Not for me. Look, it’s a long story, Christian. We hopefully won’t have time for it.”

“Probably not.” He looked over. “Know why we’re here?”

“Feed those trying to summon Crom Cruach. An evil being worse than your devil. These fools seek to bring him across the veil to inhabit our world. Bad enough his essence taints the first vampire.” She snorted. “Eamon could be so much better than what he is, if it wasn’t for that pesky thing in his soul.”

“You’ve met him before?” Christian asked.

Leanan glanced around. “Yup, long ago. Hadn’t met the other vampires, but let’s just say my betrothed knows Eamon’s master well.”

“How were you captured this time?”

“That brute brought me here because he saw a pretty piece of ass he thought would be a sure thing.” She laid her head back. “I may have been born for sex, but I have standards.”

“As you should.”

A vampire approached Tyrone, malice in his step.

Christian whispered, “Excuse me.” He shot to his feet to rush over. “Leave him alone. He’s already enough of a mess.”

Beady, red-tinged eyes locked on Christian. “I plan to shut him up for all of us.”

“He’s a friend.”

The vampire laughed. “And what exactly are you going to do about it?”

Hope like hell Robert taught him well enough to fight with magic, because he sure as hell didn’t have strength or speed to counter a vampire. Christian managed a smirk as he lifted a hand where glowing energy formed. “Stop you.”

He let out a short laugh. “You know a vampire broke your friend.”

“And she can fix him,” Christian stated. He already did the research on how and hoped to help Amelia do the right thing.

The vampire lunged across the ten yards dividing them. Christian threw both hands out and a wave of force leapt from his hands. The vampire flipped through the air and smacked into a wall.

Beady eyes let out a shrill whistle and a dozen more vampires popped out of shadows. Tricky pricks, all of them. Christian touched the first vampire’s shoulder, putting enough energy through him that he would stay out until the next evening.

Another vampire closed in on him, but Leanan shot forward and shoved him back. He opened his mouth and sank his teeth into Leanan’s throat. She grabbed a handful of cock and balls and wrenched them around so hard he tore her away from his fangs, ripping her artery open and flinging her across the room with a shattering thud.

Christian held up his hands and light flooded through the cavern, blinding everyone. The vampires screamed, and he blinked past the dark splotches in his eyes, which quickly corrected themselves.

The vampires huddled in on themselves, cowering with their arms over their heads. At least that stopped them for the moment.