Bittersweet Blood (28 page)

“He did.”

“I’m impressed.”

Christian smiled. “Piers appealed to his better nature.”

“He has one?” Jonas sounded impressed.

“Perhaps,” Christian said. “So are you ready?”

“I’m ready. All I need is for your friend here to agree my terms.”

“I haven’t mentioned them yet.”

Jonas raised an eyebrow. “Well, perhaps now would be a good time.”

Christian turned to Piers. “Jonas has agreed to do the spell on Tara, but he requires something in return.”

“I’m guessing that something affects me. As long as he’s not after my blood, I’ll consider it.”

“No, your friend here has agreed to contribute that part of the bargain. What I require from you is a job with the Order. I believe you have a vacancy.”

“A job doing what?”

Jonas shrugged. “Whatever the Order requires.”

“I don’t want to appear suspicious here, but why would you want a job with us?”

“You have access to resources I could never get alone. There are certain things I am working on that could benefit us both.”

Piers turned to Christian. “Can you vouch for him?”

“I wouldn’t have considered the deal otherwise. You need a witch or warlock on the staff to replace Ella. It’s unrealistic to think you’d get one without their own agenda, but I don’t believe any agenda of Jonas’ will harm the Order.”

“Unlike Ella,” Piers added caustically. “Okay, I have no objections. How do we do this?”

“You do it tonight,” Christian said.

“Are you going to tell her?”

“I won’t be there, but I have a letter for her. She won’t be a problem. She’ll do what she has to.”

“And where will you be while all this is going on?” Piers asked.

“I’m going to meet with Asmodai.”

“Why?”

“Tara’s friend was killed on his orders because of me. They were trying to get to me like they did with Gabe and Stefan. Tara won’t be safe until whatever is between us is resolved.”

“He won’t meet with you.”

“He’ll have no choice. I’m going after him. I’m going to the Abyss.”

Piers stared at him. “You’re out of your mind.”

“Perhaps.” Christian swallowed the rest of his drink and poured another. “But it finishes tonight. I’m going to offer him combat. I defeat him, or I die. Either way Tara will be safe.”

“You really are in love, aren’t you?” Piers shook his head in disgust. “You’ll die for this. You can’t fight a demon in the Abyss. Certainly not one of the seven.”

“I can try.”

“You know I can’t come with you,” Piers said. “It would be a declaration of war.”

“I don’t want you to come with me.” Christian finished the drink and put down the glass. “I want you to wait until you hear from me, but if I don’t get back by an hour before dawn, take Jonas and go to my place. Do the spell.” He took an envelope from his pocket. “Give this to Tara. It explains everything.”

Piers nodded.

Christian rose to his feet. He clasped hands with Piers briefly, then vanished.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Christian loved her.

She should be radiantly happy. Instead, Tara couldn’t rid her mind of the fear that something was terribly wrong.

Finally, she got up, pulled on her clothes, clipped the gun holster onto her belt, and went up to reception.

It was quiet, just Graham sitting behind the counter, and next to him, Smokey. They both watched her as she crossed the floor.

“I’m going crazy,” she said.

“He’ll be back soon,” Graham replied.

“Don’t try and sooth me. I don’t want to be soothed, and I have a gun.”

“Yeah, but you can’t hit anything, so I think we’re safe.”

“Ha, ha.”

She looked at her watch again. Another ten minutes had passed.

“Why don’t you go through the back and make us all a coffee?” Graham said.

“You’re trying to sooth me again.”

“Yes, but I would like a coffee.”

Tara shrugged. “Okay.” She turned to Smokey. “Do you want one?”

“Your cat drinks coffee?”

Tara glanced between the two of them. “I thought you two were getting pretty matey.” She came round the back of the counter and stroked her hand along Smokey’s back. “Why don’t you think about telling him your secret, while I’m making the coffee?”

Smokey jumped off the counter and followed her through into the small kitchen behind the reception area, weaving between her legs. Tara put the coffee on and leaned down to stroke him. “You can tell him, you know. He likes you.”

“Meow.”

“Yes, well. I suppose that’s up to you, but I want to talk to you anyway, so you can’t stay like that forever.”

She puttered around putting milk in the cups. She was pouring the coffee when something snapped in her head and she cried out. The coffee jug fell to the floor and smashed, hot liquid splashing up over her legs. Tara collapsed to her knees as Graham burst in through the door.

“Tara!” He came down beside her. “What is it?”

“He’s gone.”

“What do you mean, he’s gone?”

“I can’t feel him. He was there in my head, and now he’s gone.”

Graham reached out to help her up, but stopped abruptly as Jamie appeared out of nowhere.

“What the fuck!”

“Shapeshifter,” Jamie said and went down on his knees beside Tara.

“You’re the cat?”

Jamie nodded. He pulled Tara against him. “Come on, Tara. It’s probably nothing.”

“No.” Panic clawed at her insides. “Christian’s not there, it’s like he’s vanished. He’s dead, I know he is.”

“Tara, he can’t be dead,” Graham said.

“How can you be sure?”

“Because I’m still alive. I know Christian’s explained about the vampire marks. Christian dies and I die. And do I look dead?”

She shook her head, trying to drag herself back from the edge of despair. Glancing around her, she realized she was sitting in a puddle of cooling coffee and broken glass.

Graham reached out a hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. “Come on, sit down. I’ll make more coffee, and we’ll try and work out what’s happened.”

Tara didn’t argue as he pushed her down into the chair. She remembered what Christian had told her about the marks. She bit her lip to stop the trembling. “Okay.”

Jamie cleaned up the floor while Graham made the coffee.

“We can try his cell phone,” Graham said, handing her a mug.

Tara watched as he phoned. Jamie stood behind her his hands on her shoulders. She knew there would be no answer.

“I’ll try Piers. Christian left with him. Maybe they’re still together.” Graham punched another number. “Piers? It’s Graham. Is Christian still with you?”

Tara strained to hear the reply, but couldn’t.

“Okay, well thanks.”

As Graham started to put the phone down, Tara ran forward and snatched the receiver from him. “Piers, it’s Tara.”

“Tara, how lovely to hear from you, but I don’t know where Christian is.”

“When did you last see him?”

“Tara, I’m not his keeper. I’m sure he’ll be back to see you when he’s ready.” He hung up on her.

She stared at the receiver for a moment then threw it down and glared at it through narrowed eyes. “He knows where Christian is.”

“He says he doesn’t.”

“He’s lying.”

Graham raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything further.

“I’m going over there,” she said.

“Over where?”

“To the Order.”

“You can’t. Christian said not to leave the building without him.”

“Christian’s not here, is he?”

“There might be demons out there.”

“Well we’ll just have to stay away from them. We can drive over there, and it should be safe enough. It will have to be, because I’m not waiting here, doing nothing when Christian might be in trouble.”

Graham sighed, but nodded. “I’ll see if Carl’s still around. He can drive us over, but they might not let us in.”

“I’m going as well,” Jamie said from behind her.

Graham frowned. “You’re a cat?”

“Get over it.”

Carl was leaning against the side of a big black SUV when she came out of the elevator. “I hear we’re going visiting.”

“Do you know where the Order is?”

He seemed surprised at the question. “I worked there when Christian was in charge.”

“Good.”

“Got your gun?”

She pulled her jacket aside to show the holstered pistol, and he smiled. “Let’s go.”

Jamie and Graham were already sitting in the back when Tara climbed into the front seat next to Carl.

“I phoned Piers,” Graham said. “I told him we were on our way. He didn’t sound too pleased.”

“Is that supposed to bother me?” she asked.

Carl laughed softly from beside her, and she glanced at him. “What’s funny?”

“Well, most people I know would be a bothered if Piers Lamont wasn’t too pleased with them.”

“People with any sense, that is,” Jamie muttered from the back.

“Well, he should have told me what I wanted to know on the phone then.”

“Oh, this is going to be fun,” Carl murmured and started the car.

Tara tried to decide how to get Piers to talk to her. There was still the blank space in her mind where Christian should be. What did it mean? Was he unconscious somewhere? She held onto the thought that he couldn’t be dead, which made her peek behind her at Graham.

“Still alive,” he said, and waggled his fingers as if he knew what she was thinking.

The entrance into the Order’s underground garage opened as Carl drove up. They were expected and at least allowed into the building. Carl parked the car.

“Looks like we have a welcoming committee,” he said.

Two men walked toward them across the concrete floor. Both dressed in the uniform of security guards. Both big and dangerous. “Are they vampires?” she asked.

Carl nodded. “Come on, let’s go.”

They all got out and stood as the two guards approached.

Carl shook hands with the two men and held a quiet conversation. “Piers will see you,” he said to Tara.

A wave of relief washed over her. She’d overcome the first obstacle. She followed Carl and the two vampires to the elevator, Jamie and Graham at her back. Tara’s nerves tightened as they sank lower and lower beneath the building. When the doors slid open, Piers was waiting for them.

He did not look happy. But when did he?

In fact, he radiated menace, his arms crossed over his broad, black-clad chest, his mouth a thin, tight line, his eyes narrowed. He must have just returned to the building because he still wore the long, black leather coat.

Tara refused to be intimidated and lifted her chin.

Piers’s gaze shifted from one member of their group to the next, settling on Carl. “Carl.” He nodded at the werewolf. “You shouldn’t have brought them here.”

Carl shrugged. “They would have come without me anyway.”

“That might have been better for you.” Piers turned to glare at Tara. “Well, if it isn’t the little abomination.” His eyes ran over her small figure. “All the way back here, I’ve wondered how something so small could cause so much trouble.”

Tara ignored the comment. “Where’s Christian?”

“Not here.” He sighed. “I planned on paying you a visit later. You could have waited.”

“How was I to know that? Besides, I need to know now.”

“No, you don’t
need
to know. You
want
to know. I told Christian I would take care of you, which is the only reason you’re here.”

Why should Christian have asked Piers to take care of her?

“I do not need anyone to take care of me,” she ground out. She didn’t want to be taken care of, but if anyone was going to do it, she wanted it to be Christian.

Piers raised an eyebrow. “Baby, you’re right at the number one spot on the fae’s most wanted dead list. On top of that, there’s a whole shitload of demons ready to make your life a living hell just to get at Christian. Personally, I’d let them have you.” He paused, his eyes wandering over her, lingering on her throat. “Or maybe I’d just finish you off myself—because I’ve got a feeling you’re a whole load of trouble.”

Tara shivered, recalling the moment Piers had killed Ella. Saw again that sensual mouth ripping out her throat. That same mouth smiling at her now as if he noted her reaction and it pleased him. It wasn’t a nice smile.

“But as I said, I promised Christian I would look after you, otherwise you wouldn’t have gotten through the doors. So come with me, keep your mouth shut, and I might tell you what’s going to happen.” His eyes took in the rest of the group. “But you can leave your bodyguards here.” He headed off down the corridor.

“No.” Carl spoke from behind her. Tara glanced at him thankfully; she didn’t want to go anywhere alone with the vampire.

“No?” Piers asked softly.

“We stay together,” Jamie said.

Piers whirled to face him. “Ah, the shifter. I’ve never met a shifter yet who would stand his ground when the going got tough.” He took a step toward Jamie. “Can you?”

Jamie looked a little green, but he stood his ground and nodded. Tara slipped her hand into his and squeezed gently.

Piers regarded them for long minutes. Finally, he lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug. “Whatever. Let’s get this over with.”

They followed him down the corridor. He stopped at a door, opened it, and beckoned for them to enter. He was still watching her as she stepped past, his eyes puzzled as though she hadn’t acted as he expected.

They were in some sort of unused office. Blank white walls, a bare desk, and a few chairs. Tara’s legs trembled, and she sank into one of the chairs.

Piers took off his coat and dropped it onto the desk. Underneath, he wore black leather pants and a black shirt, over which was strapped a double shoulder holster with a pistol at each side.

“So,” he said, “what do you want to know?”

Tara thought for a moment. “I’ve been able to feel Christian in my head since we—”

“Fucked?” Piers supplied. “Shared bodily fluids?”

Tara scowled at him. “Anyway, I can feel him, and then all of a sudden he was gone.” She waved a hand at Graham. “We know he can’t be dead, but I need to know where he’s gone. Is he hurt? Unconscious.”