“The . . . what?”
“I cannot just walk into the sun. Not after what she has done to me. I can’t leave my Trust under her heel.” The music had become harsh, dissonant even. Suddenly it softened. “Niall tells me you have come to vanquish our enemy, Edward Samos.”
“That’s our job.”
“You have witnessed what Disa is capable of.”
I nodded, realized she couldn’t see me, and said, “Yes, I have.”
“Surely it is enough to give you reason to kill her as well?”
I glanced up at Vayl. The wish in both our eyes was so strong I half expected it to leap into life between us, a wooden stake that would fly straight into the
We felt the door budge behind us and moved aside so Niall could come into the room.
“Rastus is wildly upset that the Weres have escaped. He is afraid Disa will take off his head if he doesn’t recover them before they can cause us terrible trouble. And this is the only reason he has not killed you outright.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “Apparently someone freed the bear, which allowed him to escape in your vehicle. Of course, Rastus thinks that someone was you, since he encountered you outside around that time.”
“No kidding?” I said blandly.
“I reminded him that you were under the protection of the
“Understood,” I said.
Niall crossed his arms. “Rastus also says he has detected a pack moving in the area. Knowing my affinity for them, he has asked me to help him track them. He is hoping if he can kill one or two, matters will go better for him when he finally tells Disa what happened. I have agreed to meet him beside the wagon house in ten minutes.”
I felt Trayton stiffen beside me. Putting my hand on his shoulder to keep him from blurting out something Niall didn’t need to hear, I said, “Be careful.”
Niall nodded sharply. “Lock up after yourselves,” he said. Moments later he was gone.
“My pack,” Trayton murmured.
“I’m worried about them too,” I said. “War between your people and the vampires would be more devastating than you can imagine right now.”
He nodded. “Especially with me forced to sit on the sidelines and watch.” He took my hand, held it up against his cheek. “You have to go to them. Tell them I’m fine. That you’re bringing me out in the morning and they shouldn’t make a move until then.”
“Will they listen to me?” He opened my hand and licked the inside of my wrist before grinning at me in that way that made me shake my head. “You do get how gross that is, don’t you?”
“It’s just like in kindergarten, Lucille. Or whatever you want to be called. We’re blood brothers. BFFs. I’ve made you an honorary wolf, so deal with it. I know my pack will.”
“I don’t like being friends with you.”
“You’ll change your mind after we go to a movie together.” He looked over my head at Vayl. “We always drink a six-pack of Heineken first and then have a competition to see who can hold their pee the longest.”
“Oh, you are a laugh a minute, I can see that already.”
“But you’re smiling!”
“That’s only because you’re too sick to punch. Now, it’s after four in the morning and you have to be up early. Go to bed.”
As Trayton moved back into the sleeping area, Vayl and I faced Aine. “We have to be leaving now,” Vayl said.
“Of course. You have your work to do,” the keys sang.
“I am sorry about Disa.”
But she’d risen from the piano and turned her back to both of us. We eased out of the room, locking the door behind us.
We lingered with Trayton just long enough to get the name of his alpha and his promise to catch a nap before locking him in as well.
“Have you noticed this place is like the poster child for dead bolts?” I asked as we followed Niall’s trail to the front entrance. Though our Monises confirmed nobody was even close, I still felt the need to whisper. “The masks. Do you feel it?”
“Only that the compulsion to walk in the Trust is stronger here.” Vayl’s jaw tightened. “Damn this place. I should not have brought you.”
“You’re worried about
His glance showed the blue of a stormy ocean. Yup, he was vexed. “Humans do not tend to die of natural causes here.” His eyes had gone almost black now.
“What are you saying?”
