Bitten in Two

Enkyklios bal it stil held while Raoul tied up our loose thread. Cole fol owed me.

As I reached for the bal he whispered, “Are we doing what I think we’re doing?”

I looked over his shoulder. Kyphas was crouched at the edge of the hole, staring greedily down at Eishel, probably trying to figure a way to take credit for her eventual trip to the pit. That didn’t mean she wasn’t paying some sort of attention. So I said, “Yeah. We’re taking the bal with us.” When he saw where I was looking he didn’t argue. Just watched me reach for it, think again, and then cal for Astral.

Who appeared like she’d been waiting for the summons.

“See the bal ? I need you to carry that home for me, okay, girl?”

Astral leaped to the table, stretched out her neck, and delicately nipped the Enkyklios bal off its flowery stand.

Then she swal owed it.

“You are such a good girl!” I said.

She didn’t grace me with a reply. Maybe she’d figured out how I’d just risked her little hide, because her attitude seemed haughtier than usual as she walked out the front door, as if she assumed the rest of us were ready to fol ow her.

CHAPTER TWENTY

We made it al the way back to the square before anyone even took a second look at us. And even then their eyes barely hesitated before skipping on to a lone musician who was strol ing along singing quietly as he accompanied himself on a guembri similar to the one Eishel had shielded herself with. In the time we’d spent away most of the crowd had cleared out. The food carts had rol ed off to their garages or were shutting down. The Djemaa el Fna had final y decided it was time for bed.

As happened with me anytime I saw a city yawn and set the alarm, I felt the adrenaline surge. Now was when our real work usual y began, and tonight was no exception. I walked beside Vayl, every sense maxed out, most of them centered on him. Though I’d worked with him nearly every day for the past eleven months, I’d never been so aware of the confident set of his jaw. The impossible broadness of his shoulders. The predatory smoothness in his step. The temptation to claim him by walking inside the circle of his arm while his fingers brushed the curve of my hip locked my teeth together. I wanted to grab him by the front of his shirt, drag him to the center of the square, and scream, “MINE!” I knew it was a delayed reaction. Seeing him come back to himself had been too huge for my heart to handle al at once. It might be weeks before I came down from this fierce joy at having a part of my heart returned to me.

How is this different than what Kyphas wants with Cole? asked my Inner Librarian. You act as if Vayl is a part of you. Isn’t that a sort of possession?

I answered because she wasn’t judging. Just asking so she’d know where to file the records. Maybe the line is so thin in places you’d need a microscope to find it. But you and I both know it exists. All we have to do is take a peek at the Domytr we’ve got locked up in my head. The difference is love. Not the use-it-till-you-suck-the-life-out-of-it word you hear on soap operas and talk shows every day. Real love. Unending. Unconditional. Unselfish.

That’s why it’s not possession.

What would you call it, then?

I didn’t even have to think. I’d call it bliss.

I looked up at my vampire, breathed in his scent like it was fil ed with miracles. Smiled into his warm brown eyes.

And held back. His touch had reassured me. Now I could wait until we had real time. But I stil took advantage of walking close to him, brushing against his arm as everyone else pressed close too, so we could use his power of camouflage to hide our blood-stained, fist-bruised bodies from the people who would be most likely to cal the police if they saw us.

Sterling and Cole took the lead. My sverhamin and I walked behind them with Kyphas trailing at the back. I kept an eye on her, but there was real y no need. She stayed quiet and thoughtful, though she did keep an eye to our backs so nothing could sneak up on us. She was, in fact, an ideal rear guard. That alone told me something was up. For once, I was glad to know it.

I elbowed Vayl, tracked my eyes to her, and got his acknowledgment that he’d noticed too. But he didn’t say anything. Just explained what he expected to go down at the museum after we’d al spiffed up for the robbery.

“With two Sensitives and a warlock on our side, we should easily be able to locate and eliminate the pack guarding the map,” he said. “Eishel said it was in a storage room. Leave the lead Were alive so it can tel us which one.

After that, Bergman—”

Cole asked, “What about Bergman?”

Vayl looked at me. “I assumed he was waiting for us back at the riad?”

“No.” I felt that fist in my stomach again. “He’s hurt. It’s not life-threatening, but he’s at the hospital.” Now the guilt descended. What the hel had I been thinking letting some punch-loving stalker guard my little buddy until the cavalry came? It was worse than leaving him alone!

“I have to cal him.” I fished out my phone.

“Push the speaker button thingy!” Cole demanded.

“Oh, you’re so technical. Remind me not to let you touch any more of Bergman’s stuff,” I said. But I did activate the group-hear function.

Miles answered immediately. “Jaz! I’m going to have a scar! Actual y, three of them. Isn’t that great?”

“Uh. Yeah?”

“Monique’s with me. She hovers like a Jewish mother, only she’s pretty sensitive about her age, so don’t tel her I said that. She just left to find me something to eat because I’m starving! I could probably eat a whole pot of spaghetti right now! Did everything go okay?”