One Foot in the Grave

laughter accompanied his response.

“Perhaps if your snoring hadn’t been so bloody loud in the interims, I would have been able to concentrate better.”

Touche. I turned my back to him. “All right, Ian. Enough of this crap. I’m all decked out in my pretty dress and it’s clearly a party. What’s the occasion?”

Ian went right for the melodramatic. “Far and wide I’ve told everyone that the avenging human called the Red Reaper is actually a vampire disguised behind a pounding heart and warm flesh. There isn’t another known half- breed in the world. Put simply, I want you with me, Cat, as part of my people. Since I didn’t reckon on you being agreeable to the thought after our last meeting, I’ve taken four of your men to ensure that you’re more…open- minded when we discuss it now.”

Ian didn’t know I’d already gotten back three out of those four, and had six of his own men to boot. He probably just thought Francois and the others were running late.

“Uh huh,” I said cynically. “I’m guessing this whole being ‘part of your people’ means I’d have to spend a lot of time with you.”

Ian smiled with more than a hint of wickedness. “You would require supervising at first, after all.”

“And if I refuse, I suppose you’ll kill my men?”

He shrugged. “Really, poppet, would it require me killing all of them before you’d see what I’m offering isn’t so repugnant? I think it would only require killing one or two, at most.”

You cold bastard, I thought, eyeing Ian. The fact that he was being practical, not maniacal, told me a lot about him. Ian didn’t seem like he’d particularly enjoy killing a couple of my men, but he’d do it. Bones had some of that same coldness, I knew. And so did I, if I was honest.

“You told people about me,” I said abruptly, changing my tactics. “But I bet they had trouble believing you. Want me to give them a demonstration of what I can do? I mean, you’ve got all these guests, but so far, they haven’t seen anything exciting yet.”

An interested look came over Ian’s face. Bones had said Ian liked a flashy show. It didn’t appear that he was wrong.

“What are you offering for a demonstration, my lovely Red Reaper?”

“Bring out your strongest fighter. I’ll beat him or her, and I’ll do it with only what I’ve got on me now.”

I spread my hands and twirled to show that I didn’t have any weapons, but of course Ian would know that I’d been searched. It wasn’t my fault no one had taken a good look at my shoes.

“What do you want if you win?” Ian asked.

“One of my men back unharmed. And I get to pick who.”

Ian looked me over for a long moment. I gave him my most innocent expression. “Agreed,” he said at last.

“Good,” I said instantly. “I’ll take Noah.”

Shit, if I could win back Noah myself, that was a big load off my mind. Wouldn’t Ian be surprised later when he found out he’d bartered his only hostage back to me?

Bones chose that moment to stand up. “Ian, before this circus begins, I have an issue to settle with you. Frankly I would have skipped this event altogether if you hadn’t commanded me to appear. That is the rub, my sire. I wish to be under no one’s authority but my own, and it is time. Release me from your line.”

Ian looked like he’d been punched in the gut before he shielded his expression.

“We will speak on this later, Crispin, when there aren’t so many distractions,” he said, struggling to stall without appearing weak.

Bones encompassed the multitudes with a wave of his hand. “There is no better time than now, with all present to observe tradition. I want nothing more when I leave than what is mine by right-the vampires I’ve created, their possessions, and all my human property. I’ve waited long enough for this, Ian, and I’m not waiting any longer.”

There was an uncompromising edge to his last sentence, and everyone there heard it.

Ian’s tone changed from coaxing to curtness on the spot. “And if I refuse? Are you threatening to challenge me to win your freedom?”

“Yes,” Bones replied bluntly. “But why the need? Our paths go back to our humanity, and we shouldn’t part with one of us destroyed by stubbornness. Release me by your favor and not by a fight, for that is my wish.”

I couldn’t imagine having a centuries-old history with someone like Bones had with Ian, and one that had literally transcended death to boot. Ian didn’t seem like anything special to me, but for Bones to try so hard not to have to kill him, there must be more to him than met the eye. I knew loyalty over Ian changing Bones into a vampire would only go so far. Maybe Ian was a bit like Don. Ruthless and manipulating when it came to what he wanted, but at the core, not an evil person. Otherwise Bones wouldn’t bother asking for his freedom, when he could challenge Ian to a duel and kill him for it. Bones could beat Ian if it came to that, and he knew it. The question was, did Ian?

Ian weighed his decision silently for a minute. There was a hushed expectancy. I tensed when he took a knife from his pants and made his way through the guests to Bones.

He looked at the knife, at Bones, and then flipped it until the blade was facing inward instead of pointing out.

“Go then, and be Master of your own line, subject to none but yourself and the laws which govern all of Cain’s children. I release you.”

Then he handed the knife to Bones, who accepted it respectfully.

“You all bear witness,” Bones called out, to various audible acknowledgments.

Wow, that was short and sweet. I’d expected something more bloody or ceremonial.

Ian let out a resigned noise. “We’ve been together a long time, Crispin. It will feel odd not having you as one of my people. What are your plans?”

“The same as any new Master of a line, I suspect,” Bones said lightly, though his expression hardened. “I’ll protect those who belong to me at all costs.”

I knew what he meant by that, even if his deeper meaning flew by Ian.

“You’re under no more obligation to stay; will you be leaving, then? Or will you wait to see if your former protegee wins her challenge?”

Bones smiled, and his eyes flicked to me. “Wouldn’t miss this part, mate. I wager she wins, unless she’s forgotten everything I taught her.”

“I rather doubt that,” Ian responded dryly.

“What are the rules for this fight?” I questioned. “Are you judging the winner by who’s first to be pinned and helpless?”

Ian returned to his couch and settled comfortably on it. “No, poppet, this isn’t a wrestling match. You’ll only win back your man if you kill your opponent. Now, your opponent doesn’t have the option of killing you, however. But he can deliver you to me in any state, and once he does, then you’re mine.”

I absorbed that information. With that, I let my own light loose from my eyes. Their glow pierced the air like twin emerald lasers, causing a multitude of voices to speak at once. Ian had told them what I was, but seeing was believing.

“Bring on your best, Ian. I’m ready.”

He smiled. “Don’t you want to have your former lover wish you luck first?” And he pointed at the ceiling above me.

I looked up-and stared. Son of a bitch. Suspended in a cage at the top of the domed ceiling was Noah. Talk about a bird’s-eye view. He was even tilted at an angle for perfect scrutiny. What a shitty position to be in, watching your fate played out below you while you were helpless to do anything about it.

The green shine from my gaze fell on Noah’s face, who was looking down at me with horror. It was the expression I always knew he’d wear if he found out what I was. Sometimes it truly sucked to be right.

“Grendel,” Ian called out. “How would you like to deliver this half-breed to me?”

There was a laugh from the other side of the room. A bald man stood and gave a slow, appreciative whistle.

“I’ll bring her to you, Ian. It will be my pleasure to break her.”

I looked my challenger up and down. Uh oh. This might be a problem.