Merrick’s arrival wasn’t everything I had hoped it would be.

I’m sorry if I’m disappointing, he said, giving the two men in my room a fist bump.

You’re not—wait, did you just fist-bump your buddies?

I greeted them, yes.

“But you fist-bumped them,” I said, inadvertently interrupting Han when he was in the middle of asking Merrick about Carlo’s journey north. “Sorry, Han, didn’t mean to stop the conversation, but you fist-bumped. That’s modern! Even I know that.”

“So?” Ciaran asked, a frown wrinkling his brow.

“She believes what she reads in Christian’s books,” Merrick said in a mansplaining voice.

“Ah.” Both of the other vamps nodded.

I objected to that sort of thing immediately. “Look, I don’t like this boys’ club attitude where you guys are imagining that you’re superior to me, and you can talk down to me.”

“You’re the one who has problems with us fist-bumping,” Ciaran retorted. “You clearly expect us to act like we’re living a hundred or more years ago.”

“We wouldn’t last long if we were like the Dark Ones in Christian’s books,” Han said, agreeing with his friend.

I glared at Merrick, who just raised an eyebrow.

Well? I asked at last.

Well what?

Aren’t you going to jump on the Horseman bandwagon and tell me how wrong I am about you guys?

No.

I smiled at him, thinking to myself just how handsome he was. How any woman could look at him and not want to fling herself on him was beyond my understanding, but I hugged the knowledge that he was utterly pounce-worthy, and he was mine.

I don’t have to tell you, because they just did.

You rat! Just when I was thinking nice thoughts about you, too. I retract them all.

Even the part about other women wanting to fling themselves on me?

“OK, this eavesdropping thing is getting out of hand,” I told him, gathering my dignity to myself, and making a mental promise that I wasn’t going to think anything smutty about him without first making sure he couldn’t hear me.

What a shame that would be. “Have you heard anything from Carlo?”

“No.” I had been sitting on the edge of my bed while we waited for Merrick to arrive, but got to my feet and retrieved my phone from where I’d placed it next to my bag. “I texted him my new number, though, in case he wants to explain why he kidnapped me, and where he is now.”

Merrick, who had been about to ask something of his friends, shot me a startled look. “You did what?”

“Was there a reason I shouldn’t?” I pulled a small notebook from my suitcase. “I had his number written down, so I figured I’d just text him my new number, and tell him that my old phone was destroyed, and that we found the tracking thingie, and that I really didn’t appreciate it, but if he wanted to explain, I’d be willing to listen. It ended up taking about ten text messages to type it all out, but you said it was important to make sure I was available for contact, so I figured it was worth the effort.”

The two other Horsemen slid him unreadable looks.

Merrick’s lips tightened.

“And then I texted Ellis the same thing, only without the accusations of kidnapping, and asked him to call me when he could and tell me where he was, but I haven’t heard anything back from him, either.” I bit my lower lip, concern about Ellis ruining the joy at seeing Merrick again. “I hope he’s OK. Merrick, we have to find him. I can’t just let him be kidnapped by my cousin without making sure he’s alive and well and unharmed.”

“What’s this?” Han asked, his head snapping around to glare at me. “Cousin? Victor is your cousin?”

“Possibly my cousin—” I started to explain, but Merrick interrupted by storming over to me, and inexplicably shoving me behind him so that I was staring at the back of his head.

What the Heckle and Jeckle? I gave his shoulder a little shove. Why did you do that?

Self-preservation. I don’t want to have to feed from cows and die alone in my pretty house. Stop shoving me. I don’t like it.

And I don’t like being pushed behind you to stare at your big fat head, either!

My head is not fat, and stop poking my shoulder. I know you are unhappy, but right now, I have something more important to deal with.

I stopped my hand in midpunch to his shoulder, and asked, Like what?

Keep the other Horsemen from sacrificing you.

“Your Beloved is cousin to Victor?” Ciaran asked, his face furious. He stalked forward, which just made Merrick growl. “You knew and you didn’t tell us?”

“Do you have any idea how much time and trouble this would have saved us?” Han asked, his voice a near shout. I had been about to move next to Merrick to show them I wasn’t afraid, but I’ve always had a dislike of men shouting. It went back to when I was a small child, and my father had just joined the cult, and I was constantly being “corrected.”

“Stop shouting. You are upsetting Tempest,” Merrick said, his voice low, but with an edge of menace in it that caused me to glance at the back of his head with new respect.

I’m not actually that upset, but thank you for thinking of me. Just out of curiosity, if one of them tried to attack me, would you fight him?

Of course.

Even though they’re your besties?

I don’t have a friend, let alone a best friend. They are compatriots, nothing more.

But you’d still fight them?

Yes. I heard the exasperation even though he hadn’t spoken aloud.

Would that be because I’m your Beloved?

I don’t tolerate anyone attacking those who are weaker, he answered, sidestepping the question. It offends my sense of honor.

“But you knew!” Han said, jabbing a finger in Merrick’s chest.

“We aren’t certain that her cousin Carlo is Victor; we believe he might be one and the same, but until we know for a fact that he is, we’re treating him with extreme caution.”

I laid my hand on his shoulder blade, and beamed warm thoughts at him.

What are you doing? he asked, startled.

Being supportive. Showing you how much I appreciate your protective streak. Letting you know that I have your back.

Han snapped something in a language I didn’t recognize, and stormed over to the door, then back, running a hand through his hair. I peeked around Merrick to watch them, decided that although both men looked furious, they weren’t going to attack.

You have a very odd view of Dark Ones if you think we are steeped in chivalric manners and yet would attack an unarmed woman.

Han yelled. I could tell he wanted to yell at me.

I frequently find myself in just such a situation, he thought drily.

Yeah, but that’s because we’re a couple. I want to shake you sometimes, too, I said, pinching his back.

He reached back and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me against his side.

“The solution is easy,” Han said, still pacing. Ciaran was tapping on his phone, no doubt tattling to the fourth Horseman. He came to a stop in front of us.

“No,” Merrick said before Han could continue.

“Tempest lures Victor into a rendezvous.”

“No,” Merrick repeated, this time shaking his head.

“That’s not a bad idea, if it would work,” Ciaran said, at last looking up from his phone. “But will Victor be drawn out for her?”

“No!” Merrick said louder. “Christos, how many times do I need to say no? She is not bait. You are not using her to do anything, let alone risk her life.”

“She’s your Beloved,” Han said, nodding toward me. “He’d have to really try hard if he wanted to kill her.”

“That’s right,” Ciaran said, nodding. “He’d have to take off her head.”

“Drawing and quartering would work, too,” Han said helpfully. “Or cremating her alive.”

“And then there’s disemboweling—”

“Hey!” I said, my amusement at watching Merrick in full protective mode fading. “Do we have to get specific? I have a blood aversion.”

Both men burst into laughter. Merrick gave me an odd look. Is that true?

I don’t lie unless it’s a matter of life and death, and even then, I don’t know if I could pull it off very well.

“But you like Christian’s books,” he said with a little mental shake of his head.

I shrugged. “They aren’t gory, and when he mentions blood, he makes it sound like spiced wine.”

“It is like spiced wine. To us, at least,” Merrick said, then turned back to his friends. “I know what you’re going to suggest, and the answer is no. We will find some other way.”

“You know, maybe they have a point—” I stopped when Merrick’s phone sang a few bars of “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”

He glanced at it. “It’s the thief taker. He might have some news.”

“About Ellis? Oh, thank goodness. I have been so worried, and so frustrated that there’s nothing I can do to help find him. Where is he? I can take a train out to get him wherever he is.”

“This is the second thief taker, not Savian. I’ve heard nothing from him other than he’s rounding up more sprites.”

Disappointment caused my shoulders to sag.

“Who is Ellis?” Ciaran asked when Merrick moved off to take his call.

I explained about our connection, wanting to complain about Savian not doing a good job, but knowing that it wasn’t easy to find someone who was kidnapped. It wasn’t Savian’s fault if it took more than a few hours. “Our plan is definitely going to work,” Ciaran said, nodding to his buddy.

“What exactly is this sure-thing plan?” I asked.

“We just told you. You tell your cousin to pick you up, and we’ll grab him,” Han said, eyeing me as if I were a particularly choice pigeon, and he a hungry wolf. “It will be easy.”

“Not as easy as you think,” I said, mulling the idea over. “I don’t see why Carlo would fall for it. I mean, he knows I’m with Merrick, and he’s sure to suspect a trap. That’s assuming he’d go to any trouble to capture me again, which I don’t know that he would. I got away from him awful easily, after all.”

Merrick returned, his eyes lit from within. I could feel the excitement in him, the tensed muscles that reminded me of a lion about to spring. “The second thief taker has found Carlo. He’s at an airport booked to fly to Rome.”

“Rome?” I asked, surprised. “But he lives in the north of Italy. Was Ellis with him?”

“That’s where he’s flying to regardless. The thief taker says there are only two men, and that neither matches the description of your friend,” Merrick said, tapping on his phone. “The flight will leave in an hour. If we take a portal, we can be in Rome before him.”

Neither of the other two men said anything—they just turned and walked out of the room.

“Hey!” I said when Merrick started to follow them. “Wait a minute—aren’t we even going to talk about this?”

He frowned. “What is there to discuss?”

“Well, like what am I going to do? Am I going with you to Rome? If so, then I need to walk Kelso first. And what about poor Ellis? What if Savian doesn’t find him?”

“I’ve already instructed the other thief taker to join Savian in searching for Ellis.” He paused for a few seconds before adding, “The portal company will not allow animals through.”

I was relieved another person would be looking for Ellis, but was momentarily distracted by what Merrick said. “Really? Why not?”

He shrugged. “I am not privy to their rules other than they refuse to portal animals. If you wish to accompany me, you will need to leave the dog behind.”

“I can’t leave him,” I said, clasping the furry white head to my side. Kelso leaned into me, making my heart melt. “He was abandoned on the side of the road.”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“Well, someone let him go, or dumped him, or just didn’t care enough to make sure he was safe and secure, and I’m not going to abandon him now.”

“Fine.” He glanced at his watch. “You stay here. Carlo’s plane lands in less than three hours. I’ll be in contact.”

Then he, too, turned and walked out the open door.

I hurried over to it and called after him, “And what am I supposed to do while you’re off chasing Carlo?”

“Whatever you like,” he said, with a little dismissive wave at me before disappearing down the stairs.

“Gah!” I said loudly, so loud that the door opposite me opened a crack, and an eyeball stared out at me.

“Sorry. Pardon. It’s just that men ... gah!” I returned to my own room, and sat on the bed next to Kelso, and contemplated my immediate future.

It didn’t look particularly rosy.

“And to think I was looking forward to being a Beloved ... oh, maybe that’s him now, apologizing.” I dashed around the bed to where my phone was charging, my eyebrows lifting at the name of the caller. “ELLIS! Where are you? Are you OK? What’s happened to you? Did Carlo hurt you? Is Savian with you?”

“Darling, slow down! I can hardly make out what you’re saying because it’s all coming out one big noise.”

I relaxed against the headboard, so relieved to hear Ellis sounding hale and hearty that I was willing to forgive any amount of snark. “Thank the heavens you’re OK. I was so worried that Carlo would strike out at you because I escaped. He didn’t, did he?”

“Not in the least, although he certainly did swear up a blue streak, and made several cutting remarks about your life choices of late. Now, darling, I don’t have long to talk because the reception here in St. Gennevier is bollocks, simply bollocks—isn’t that a divine phrase? I got it from dear Armande—but I wanted to tell you that you were right.”

“Of course I’m right,” I said absently, my mind busy with thoughts of how to get wherever Ellis was. I’d simply have to drive the car to him. My phone’s GPS should help with that. And I’d have to let Savian know Ellis was safe so that he could stop searching, and cancel the other thief taker. “Who’s dear Armande?”

“A very delicious Englishman with one of the best accents you’ve ever heard. But don’t let’s talk about him or I won’t be able to stop, and I have to tell you something important.”

“That I’m right? You already said that. What exactly am I right about this time?”

“Vampires, lovely one, that’s what I’m trying to tell you, only you keep distracting me with smutty thoughts of Armande!” His voice rose a little when the sound of cheering broke out in the background. “I have to hurry, darling. The wet T-shirt contest is about to start, and I’m the judge because I’m the newest. Now listen closely—vampires are real.”

“I know that, you silly,” I said, somewhat exasperated. “I have Merrick, after all. Well, not have, but we’re connected. Who is holding a T-shirt contest? Just where are you?”

“In St. Gennevier. I told you that!” Now he sounded just as exasperated as me. “You have to listen to me, Tempest. I’m in the basement of the house your cousin Carlo was renting. But he’s gone now, and I wanted to call you before things got too crazy here, and tell you not to worry about me, and that you were right, and that I know now that vampires are real.”

“It sounds like you’re having a party.” I paused when something struck me. “Wait, why are you so insistent on telling me vamps are real when you didn’t believe me about Merrick? You said I was letting my lust see him through vampire-tinted glasses.”

“I know for a very good reason. Yes, yes, I’m almost done, Armande. Tell the boys to go ahead and line up. I’ll be there in two ticks of a leg shake, or whatever it is you adorable Englishmen say. You still there, Tempest?”

“Yes, although I’m confused about what you’re talking about.”

“Darling, if you would just listen! I’ll say it as plainly as I know how: I know vampires are real because I am one. Carlo demanded that dear Armande turn me, and he did, and it’s all really rather exciting. There goes the music cue—must dash, sweetie. Don’t want to miss the first contestants! Smooches to you and Kelso.”

I stared in stark, absolute disbelief at the wall across from me, unable to believe my ears.

What the Jolly Green Giant was going on?