Bitten to Death

attached. I thought sure he’d figure out the score then. Disa and Tarasios rolled their eyes up to watch his face, not even pausing in their snacking to take a decent look. But he sighed and moaned, like somebody had just given him a great back rub, and then he slipped his hand down Disa’s top.”

“So what did you do?”

“What do you think? I took a picture.”

“Show me.”

“Jaz, that’s just gross. Now, if you weren’t my sister—”

“Show me, dammit.” He fished out his Monise and displayed the photo. Yup, there was a pretty good shot of Disa with all her extra specials hanging out. Gross.

I glanced up at Vayl. “Have you seen anything like this before?”

He shook his head. “Never.” His lips tightened. “We need to send this to Pete. Perhaps he or someone else in the department will recognize it.”

I told Dave how to send the shot, along with a research request, back to Ohio. Then I mentioned meeting Aine. He shook his head. “I agree it would be nice to know if there was a way to fight Disa up close and personal without risking your entire identity. But isn’t this where I’m supposed to remind you that you guys didn’t come here to overthrow the leadership of this Trust?”

I glanced at Vayl. “That’s true. But what about the Weres they might drag back to the cage? Not to mention . . . Okay, I’ve got nothing else. But the Weres. That was enough to make you go ballistic!”

Dave dropped his head into his hands. “Yeah, please, remind me again how I totally lost it tonight.”

“Sorry, that wasn’t fair. I know the Trust was yanking your chain. You’re right about terminating her—we have no just cause. But if she comes after us, we need to know how to defend ourselves.” And that was enough to justify at least the study.

Dave took a second to ponder, then he looked up, propping his chin with his palms as he said, “There was one more thing. I was thinking maybe we should look into it. And, considering where your thoughts are headed, maybe you will to.”

“What’s that?”

“After all the bloodsucking was done and Disa had tucked her nasties back inside her skin, Tarasios asked her if she’d found the entrance to the Preserve yet, because he’d be happy to take their new friend to meet Octavia if she had. He said, ‘She’s got to be pretty hungry by now.’ From the look on Disa’s face, I got the feeling it was another one of his stupid, shouldn’t-have-asked questions.”

We both looked at Vayl, whose eyebrows shot up.

“The Preserve? It wasn’t on your map, was it?” I asked.

“No,” he confirmed.

“Have you ever heard of Octavia?”

He shook his head.

Dave said, “Well, Disa thought she was important. She waved her hands at the dingy room like it was a personal insult when she said, ‘Hamon should never have kept so many secrets. How am I supposed to keep this Trust from crumbling when I can’t even find his mate?’ And then the blood donor sort of woke up, so she stopped talking and Tarasios took the guy away.”

“I wondered what had happened to the villa since I left,” Vayl said. “It has been so long, I just assumed all this . . . decay . . . had come naturally. But it sounds as if the problem is related to Hamon’s unplanned passing and the mysterious Octavia.”

“Do you think she’s in the Preserve, whatever that is?” I asked, turning so I could see his face better.

He nodded thoughtfully. “And I believe I know how to find them both.”

Dave and I spoke at the same time. “You do?”

Vayl wandered over to the shelves, thought about picking up a book, changed his mind. He looked at me. “We should get rid of these objects. They keep giving me”—he cleared his throat— “ideas.”

“I’ll move them out as soon as possible,” I said.

“Good.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “We know both Blas and Disa have been trying to gain secret information that was privy only to Hamon. We also know, due to his untimely death, that Hamon’s quarters have become sealed from the other members of the Trust. I believe we may find the answers they are seeking, including the location of the Preserve and the identity of Octavia, in those rooms.”

“But how are we supposed to get in there?”

Vayl looked at the covered window. “I have an idea. But since it is nearly dawn, you will have to attempt the entry without me. Only after you get the dog. That”—he gave us both significant stares —“is the priority.”

Dave and I shared a shrug. I said, “Okay, fine. What’s your plan?”

Chapter Twenty

I murmured a swift apology to sun-drenched Patras. Someday I’ll come back when I have time to savor your spectacular scenery, your ancient landmarks, your charming restaurants. But right now—“Jesus, Dave, could you hit another bump, please? I’m sure Vayl won’t mind coming out of this trip with a double concussion.”

Why the hell didn’t I drive? I’m so much better at it than this dumbf—

Because your brother needs to feel useful! Granny May snapped. Now