Blood Song

real Mexican, Thai, and good-old-fashioned Italian, heavy on the garlic. Oh, crap— garlic. Was it going

to be a problem? I hoped not. But even if it was, I could cope. I mean, garlic or no, I might be able to eat

real food. Solid stuff. Like a normal person. I could start with scrambled eggs. And maybe a nibble of

bacon. Yum.

Bruno was shaking his head in amused disbelief.

“What? I’m not supposed to worry about eating?”

That earned me a look. “Solid food should be the last thing you’re thinking about. You need to

concentrate on finding your sire, before he—”

I waved that away. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But honestly, I’m more worried about the guys who set up the

ambush than about the specific bat that bit me. And I don’t think that Kevin bugged out with Mom just to

keep the peace.”

“You think he’s hiding something?” Bruno sounded tired enough that I took a closer look at him

—without the glow of nostalgia and sexual attraction.

H e was tired. There were worry lines and wrinkles I hadn’t noticed before. And while I could feel a

steady stream of energy emanating from him—deep, strong, and more powerful even than what I’d

sensed from the M&C boys, he looked strained. His body practical y sang with tension, even sitting stil .

“Are you okay?”

“It’s been a rough few months,” he admitted. “I’l be fine.”

A little white lie. And just like that I knew. It wasn’t mind reading, wel , not of the psychic sort. More the

sort of connection you have with someone when you’ve been close to them for a very long time. I

started swearing. “Damn it, DeLuca. You know better.”

He glared at me, dark eyes flashing dangerously. He answered the accusation I hadn’t bothered to

voice. “It’s not like I’ve had a lot of choice. You don’t know what’s been going on.”

“Maybe not,” I snarled. “But I know that draining your power without rest is going to cause it to get out

of control, maybe even fail. I know that it’l cut more years off your life than a two-pack-a-day cigarette

habit.” My knee spasms had final y gotten to me, so I had risen to my feet and was leaning on my arms

on the desk. I’d invaded his personal space, but unlike Ron, Bruno wasn’t backing away.

“Yeah, wel , right now I know that there’s a lesser demon wandering around loose in the metro area

and my brother’s hunting it even though he’s injured, one of my best friends just died by magic, and

another one barely survived a vampire attack. Things are a little tense. So, bitch at me al you want, I

think maybe my resting wil just have to wait.”

I rocked back on my heels as if he’d slapped me. It would’ve been better if he had. I wasn’t the only

person who counted a certain clairvoyant as my best friend. “You’re sure about Vicki?”

“I’m sure.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his left hand. It was a familiar gesture from nights

when he’d stayed up too late studying and was tired. “They cal ed our company to perform the

independent investigation. I had enough pul to insist on coming along.”

“Tel me.”

“I can’t. It’s confidential, and I’ve taken oaths.” He rol ed up his right sleeve, showing me a mark like a

brand on the inside of his forearm. It was bright red and probably hadn’t been there a minute earlier. He

shook his head. “If I wasn’t so damned tired, I wouldn’t have let even that much slip.”

I backed off, because I knew he was right. Binding oaths were … wel , binding. Breaking them isn’t

supposed to be fatal, but there are worse things than dying. I didn’t like that he’d al owed himself to be

bound, but he was a grown-up. And since the deed was definitely done, wel , the best thing I could do

for him was back off. “It’s al right. The mark is just a warning that you’re on thin ice, not that you’ve

fal en through.” I lowered myself back into the chair. I wasn’t about to do anything that would harm

Bruno. But I could ask other people questions: people like Dr. Scott at Birchwoods, who would get a ful

copy of the report.

“Can you tel me about the demon?”

“That’s not a secret, as far as I know. I’l tel you about it on the way to the hotel. Get your weapons.”

He nodded in the direction of the safe. “I need to check them before we go anywhere.”

“They’re fine.” I didn’t want him checking them. Because I knew Bruno. If the knives were at even a

hair less than ful power, he’d refil them. And he needed rest, not more work.

He gave me a sad smile, as if he’d read my mind. Maybe he had. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had a

smidgen of a psychic gift along with the mage talent, and it really wouldn’t surprise me if he hadn’t told

anyone.

“Fine. But don’t push yourself.” I went to the safe.

“Yes, Mother. ” Even though they were the same words, he said them entirely differently than Kevin

had.

“Oh, shut up,” I muttered, but I was smiling. I’d missed Bruno. I love Kevin Landingham dearly. He’s

big, he’s brooding, he’s oh so sexy. But he’s serious. And secretive. Bruno has always been a breath

of fresh air. He’s got … pizzazz. If you get him in a tux, he’l quote James Bond movies al night. He not

only sings in the shower, it’s a medley of Barry Manilow songs and show tunes. No situation has ever

been so serious that Bruno DeLuca wouldn’t crack wise about it.

A lot of people find him annoying. They assume there’s no substance under the flash. They’re wrong.

Bruno has his fun, but underneath that camouflage is a fine mind and the kind of ruthless determination

that got him to the top and keeps him there.

Having him sitting in my office, serious and worried, got to me. A lot. I could feel him behind me, a

close, warm presence at my back. My pulse sped, my body intensely aware of his. It distracted me

enough that I fumbled the controls and had to start over. That earned me a low, wicked chuckle. Which

I ignored … mostly.

Eventual y I managed to lower the wards and enter the combination to the safe. Pul ing it open, I drew

out the duffel containing the box with the knives. I set the box on the desk in front of him. Bruno waved

his hand over it in a casual gesture. Wherever his hand passed, traces of sparkling rainbow colors

moved over the lid.

“That is so cool.” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud. It just popped out.

He laughed, and for a minute a little of the “old” Bruno shone in his face. “Yeah, it is.” He grinned over

at me. “I wil have you know, young lady, that not every mage can do that.”

“Of course not.” I agreed. “You ‘da man. ’”

He laughed again, a sound of real delight. “Damned right. And don’t you forget it.”

“Why can I see that? And why can I feel magic? I couldn’t before.” I knew he’d know the answer. Of

al of our crowd, he’d been the best student. He wasn’t the smartest. But he’d had talent to burn and he

always worked the hardest. He read every assignment, took detailed notes, listened and participated in

class. His research papers had always been top-notch. Even in col ege he’d subscribed to al the trade

magazines. If anybody could tel me what was going on, it’d be him.