Much Ado About Vampires

Chapter Thirteen

Cora was uncharacteristically calm about the idea of taking a portal to Avignon, surprising Alec when, as she landed on the foam padding set up on the receiving end, she whooped and said she wanted to do it again.

“You are the strangest woman I have ever met,” he said as he helped her to her feet, guiding her out of the way as the air sparked a few times, indicating another body was about to emerge through the permanent tear in the fabric of space that the portalling company maintained for the use of its customers.

“You told me that already,” she answered, applauding when Pia appeared out of nothing and hit the padding with a whomp. “And the judges go wild!”

“Thank you. I think,” Pia said, accepting the hand he held out to her. “I did try for a reverse gainer, but I’m not sure if I pulled it off or not.”

“Seriously, tens across the judges,” Cora assured her before turning to him. “Screw private jets—I want to portal everywhere from now on.”

“Most people only use portals when they have no other choice,” he warned her.

Eleanor appeared, screaming as she hit the padding. “Goddess above, I never want to do that again. Urgh.”

He helped her to her feet, as well.

“Why don’t they use portals?” Cora asked him.

He gave a little shrug. “Some beings don’t like it. Dragons and elemental beings will do just about anything to avoid using a portal. Some of the Fae are opposed to it on the grounds that it desecrates their beyond. Others, like some spirits, cannot use it unless they are in corporeal form.”

“I completely understand their feelings,” Eleanor muttered, brushing off her pants.

Cora stared at him for a moment before turning to Pia just as Kristoff materialized and hit the padding. “One in ten words, maybe.”

Pia laughed. “Believe it or not, I understood all of it. Give it time, and you will, as well.”

“Uh-huh.” Cora’s mysteriously dark eyes considered him. “You’re not any of those things that you mentioned, though. Are you?”

“No, I’m not, and I don’t have an issue with using a portal per se, but it is also expensive.”

“Really?” She moved aside as Terrin appeared about ten feet off the ground, arms and legs flailing as he dropped to the pad. “How expensive?”

He told her the price for all six of them to be transported from Florence to Avignon.

“Jesus wept! I could buy a house for that! A nice house!” she gasped.

“Am I here? All of me?” Terrin asked.

Alec hauled him to his feet, brushing him off, since the seneschal appeared to be somewhat disoriented by the portal. “You’re here. Where to, Kris?”

“The lichmaster said she’d be waiting for us at the Chauvet caves.”

“Caves? I love caves!” Cora said, her eyes bright with excitement as she took his hand. The fact that she did so automatically warmed him like nothing else had in . . . well, since his beloved mother had died. She had been the only person who touched him with genuine love . . . until Cora. He wondered if she loved him. He wondered if she knew he was quickly falling into that state.

“Caves? That ought to be interesting,” Eleanor said.

“Do we have to meet there?” Alec asked Kristoff.

The latter gave him a sympathetic look. “She wouldn’t budge from there. Evidently that is where her headquarters are.”

“I’ve heard of that cave,” Pia said as they exited the portalling company’s building, and emerged into the soft darkness of the evening. “Isn’t it where they found those pretty cave paintings?”

“I believe so,” Kristoff answered, shooting him another look before he hurried off with Pia to rent a car.

“Caves,” he muttered, disgusted with the turn of events.

“What’s wrong with caves? They’re awesome fun. I love the ones with the stalactites dripping limewater, making all sorts of creepy shapes. Kinda reminds me of ectoplasm, really, not that I’ve ever seen it, because I don’t believe in ghosts.... Oh.” She blinked at him, a wry smile making him want to kiss her senseless. “I guess I need to change that, huh?”

“There are many types of spirits,” the seneschal said, consulting his watch. “But none, I believe, take on the form of wet stalactites. We have slightly over two hours left.”

Avignon at night was enchanting, and Alec was possessed with the urge to watch Cora’s face as she explored all the delights contained within it, but that would have to wait until after she was safe.

He became aware that Cora was watching him closely. He kissed her just to take that speculative look off her face, then kissed her again because once again he couldn’t get enough of her sweetness, ignoring a rude comment by Eleanor as he did so.

You don’t like caves?

No.

Claustrophobic?

He didn’t answer.

I’m sorry. That’s got to be the pits. You don’t have to go into the cave if you don’t want to.

“You’re being silly,” he said, releasing her lower lip when Terrin made a polite little cough. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am a Dark One. I fear nothing.”

“Big talk,” she said, but, with a glance toward Terrin, did nothing more than smile and take his hand, sending him wave after wave of reassurance and comfort. It’ll be all right. You’ll see.

“Well, as long as I’m here, I might as well windowshop,” Eleanor said, moving across the street to browse in a store window.

“The mare you mentioned—she is anxious to have her grandchild out,” he told Terrin, amused by Cora’s attempt to soothe him, but not willing to hurt her feelings.

Terrin looked faintly surprised. “Of course. Wouldn’t you?”

“It seems to me that she is in a very difficult spot. In a matter of two hours, she will lose her descendant forever to the Akasha.”

“Yees,” Terrin drawled, his gaze sharpening upon Alec.

What are you doing?

Trying to solve two problems at once.

“It also seems to me that without Cora’s help Diamond cannot be saved in time.”

“What do you want?” Terrin asked baldly.

Yes, what do you want? Do you think he can help you with the vampire council thing?

No. Alec smiled. “And the Sovereign . . . surely the Sovereign must be aware of the situation? I assume the mares keep it informed of all that goes on?”

Terrin’s suspicious expression tightened. “I am told they do. What reward is it that you expect? I can reassure you that the mare Disin will be most grateful—”

“It’s not the mare’s help I seek,” he interrupted smoothly.

Terrin’s eyes opened wide at the same moment that Cora probed his mind, gasping into his head. Jesus wept, Alec! You can’t blackmail God!

The Sovereign is not God, and I’m not blackmailing it. I’m simply ensuring we receive its help.

“The Sovereign does not take kindly to being used,” Terrin said, scorn dripping from his voice. “If that is your intention, and I see by the expression on your Beloved’s face that it is. I don’t know what it is that you want the Sovereign to do, but it won’t do it, I can assure you that.”

“Then Diamond will remain in the Akasha,” he said blithely, brushing off a bit of nothing from Cora’s arm. “Love, I believe we have time to do some sightseeing after all.”