Blood Revolution (God Wars, #3) (23 page)

"I won't hurt you." My words were shaky whispers.

"I know you won't," Charles reassured me. "Now, lean in and place a kiss over the site, then bite. Be gentle."

"I will," I promised. I wanted to shiver, but this was an impromptu bite lesson and if I flunked, I'd have to do it again. And again—until I passed.

"I won't hurt you," I repeated, breathing against Charles's neck before kissing the spot over his artery. I discovered he smelled really good. Like cinnamon and sugar. "You smell wonderful." I kissed him again before forcing my fangs to descend. I sank them into the artery as gently as I could. Blood filled my mouth.

Charles's arms squeezed me against him as I fought to swallow, and I knew he was having an intense orgasm. I licked the wound clean as required after swallowing my mouthful of blood, and gently massaged the back of Charles's neck.

"That was incredible," Charles said, his voice still breathy from the climax. "The best ever," he added, lifting me in his arms and carrying me to his desk chair. "I'll have this," he pulled the bag of blood toward him while balancing me on his lap, "and you can close your eyes and rest on my lap while I drink it."

* * *

As promised, as soon as the sun came up for the day, I misted out of my cubicle in Gavin's basement and folded space to Dallas. I had to
Look
to determine where the address was, and landed outside a very large home between Dallas and Denton.

There, it was still the middle of the night and I fidgeted about what to do. Was I supposed to ring the doorbell? Who lived here? I figured I'd find a hotel, not somebody's house, for Pete's sake.

"Bree? Thank God," Bill swung the door open. Hank, Jayson, William Winkler and
Trajan
were right behind him.

* * *

"Hello, little hellion," Acrimus attempted to smile at a cringing Janine. "I just visited Miss Wayde, and while she doesn't suit my purposes, you do."

"Who are you?" Janine trembled.

"You can call me lieutenant," Acrimus' ensuing grimace terrified Janine. "You like pain. I can give you all you want. And, if you want, you can hand it out to others after I'm done with you."

* * *

Breanne's Journal

"Look, I shouldn't be gone long," I said, staring at Jayson. I'd never seen him look so pitiful. We'd gathered inside Winkler's enormous kitchen after Bill pulled me inside the house.

"You think you can do something about him?" Hope shone in Bill's eyes. Jayson had saved Bill's life, and Bill wanted to hire him full-time. He couldn't, with everybody recognizing Jayson.

"So, you know what it feels like now, don't you?" I said.

"Yeah." Jayson ducked his head.

"At least you weren't naked when that video was recorded," I pointed out. Jayson had worn leather pants, at least. I'd had no choice when photographs had been taken of my mangled body in the past. Belinda was the one naked this time, and thankfully they'd blocked her face (and other parts) before splashing the images everywhere.

"What do you want to look like?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"Didn't Hank tell you? I can probably change the way you look."

"He said you might help, but I didn't know what that meant." Jayson's honey-brown eyes held a well of grief and guilt. I hoped some of that was for his mother, who was surely suffering through all this.

"Breanne, can you make it so he might disappear in a crowd?" Bill asked.

"Yeah," I shrugged. "He might not like it, though."

"Just do it," Jayson begged.

"All right. Bill, what will you do about his name?"

"Temporary change, which could become permanent if he wants."

"Okay. Let's see, here," I went to Jayson and put my hands on his face. Dim light shone around my hands as I performed cosmetic surgery just like the Larentii might. No pain was involved, and when I pulled my hands away, Jayson still looked at me expectantly.

"It's done," I said.

"That's amazing." Winkler, who'd sat beside Trajan at the island, rose now and came to examine my work. "Is that for real? It's not an illusion?"

"It's real until I change it back," I said. Jayson now had brown hair, hazel eyes and was two inches shorter than he'd been seconds earlier.

"Here," Hank handed a small mirror to Jayson, so he could look.

"What the hell?" Jayson muttered, staring at his new image. "That's just—weird."

"Nobody will recognize you, now. You even have new fingerprints," I said. "Have fun with that," I added before folding back to England.

* * *

"Here's your new profile," Bill pulled up information on his laptop and turned it so Jayson could see.

"Matthew Michaels?" Jayson stared at the name listed.

"Matt for short?" Bill grinned. "See, you're listed as being from Los Angeles. That's close enough to the real thing, don't you think, and you won't have to spout information about an area you're unfamiliar with."

"Matt Michaels, huh?" Jayson stared at the photograph displayed—Bill and his department could move quickly when motivated. This profile had taken less than an hour to create and Jayson's new ID would be delivered quickly.

"I wish Bree had stayed. I wanted to talk to her," Bill said.

"I don't think talking was all Hank wanted to do," Jayson grinned. It was the first time he'd smiled since the debacle had begun. "What can I tell my mother?"

"I'll handle that," Bill sighed. "I think she's having enough difficulty as it is. I'll find another job for Trina, too, if you'd like. I think Jayson Rome needs to disappear, at least for a while."

"Yeah. Ask Mom to close up the house. Can you do anything about my bank accounts?"

"For the most part," Bill nodded. "Just leave that to me."

* * *

"I'll get her up," Charles nodded to Gavin.

"How did it go—the rest of the bite lesson?"

"Very well. She did it perfectly," Charles said. "I don't believe she needs the food lesson."

"I doubt it. She keeps asking for watermelon, so there's no doubt she'd hold onto real food as long as possible."

"My thinking as well. Regardless, we have little time. Wlodek wants to send me to Dallas, and I believe Breanne can get me into difficult locations while I'm there."

"Please take care of her," Charles muttered.

"Do you think I won't?"

"I don't know," Charles turned away. "I realize how much of an asset she is, but I'm terrified for her."

"I understand that," Gavin sighed.

* * *

"Merrill," Wlodek nodded as Merrill walked into his study.

"I have your answer. You're not going to like it," Merrill sat on one of Wlodek's guest chairs with a sigh.

"I seldom like the answers gathered from the Saa Thalarr. Tell me anyway."

"Saxom died when they say he did," Merrill reported. "But," he held up a hand as Wlodek began to speak, "Many can bend time. There is no guarantee that this did not happen at the moment of Saxom's death. Similar events have occurred, when a soul—or a body—has been transferred the moment before death, with another being substituted. The death is real, but the victim is not the one intended."

"This is untenable," Wlodek hissed. "You mean to tell me that this bastard could be back to torment us again?"

"It is my sincere hope that this is not true. Nevertheless, it is possible. I spoke with Kiarra myself. She, understandably, is quite upset over the news I brought to her."

"I will send Gavin to Dallas immediately. This must be researched carefully, and Gavin can be trusted. If Saxom has returned, I will mobilize everything I have to bring him down."

"That may be what he's hoping for," Merrill observed. "Tread carefully, Father. We may all be in danger."

* * *

Breanne's Journal

"Hey," Charles's fingers brushed hair back from my forehead. "Still sleepy?"

"Yeah." I wanted to turn over, but I didn't. I'd given Charles a climax, after he'd given me one first. I probably would care more for him if those things hadn't happened.

"You're embarrassed," Charles smiled gently. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You gave me pleasure. I liked it. I didn't even feel the touch of your fangs."

"That's not what this is about," I closed my eyes to block the vision of him.

"What is it about then?"

"I don't know." I lifted a hand and let it fall onto the bed again.

"Me calling you darling? Is that it? You're uncomfortable? I scare you? You don't understand what's going on?"

"All those things," I opened my eyes again and stared at Charles.

"Some people say that love at first sight doesn't exist," Charles murmured, leaning in to kiss my forehead. "Others swear by it."

"What are you saying?" I frowned at him.

"When the time is right, you get to choose the ending to this story," Charles whispered. "Meanwhile, Gavin wants you up and dressed. You'll be flying to Dallas in two hours."

"You really know how to make a woman's day, don't you?" I leaned forward and rested on an elbow while blinking at Charles.

"Come on, get in the shower. I'll have blood for you when you get out, and I'll help you pack."

"We're going after that Saxom guy?" I dropped my legs over the side of the bed.

"Investigating, yes. If Saxom is still alive, Wlodek will send backup."

"Wow," I pushed hair behind an ear and studied Charles, who'd stood aside to let me up. "None of this sounds good at the moment," I added. "I don't feel comfortable with any of this."

"You can easily get Gavin into places he might find difficult to breach, and we need that kind of stealth with this," Charles said. "I know you're worried. I am, too, and not least because we could lose you and Gavin both."

"It's gonna be hot in Dallas this time of year," I muttered, shuffling toward the bathroom.

* * *

"There's something you should know about Breanne," Bill said. "And I just heard from Wlodek—he's sending Gavin and another vampire to assist with this investigation. I hope to hell he's sending Breanne."

"What should I know about her, other than she seems to have abilities I've never seen before?"

"She's Lissa's sister," Bill stated flatly. "Lissa's half-sister, actually."

"What?" Winkler, who'd taken a seat at the kitchen island for a cup of coffee with Bill, stood quickly. "Don't tell me that, Bill Jennings. What the fuck?" Winkler turned his back to Bill and raked fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Breanne says they share the same sperm donor," Bill said. "I think she found out about Lissa after the fact."

"Fuck," Winkler muttered.

"I love her," Bill added softly. "Breanne, I mean."

"I thought that Hank guy was going to drool when she showed up last night," Winkler turned back to Bill.

"She loves him. Says she loves me. Jayson—Matt—wants in, too."

"Multiple mates? It's not unheard of, but it's also not accepted as the norm," Winkler observed dryly.

"Polyamory happens. Damn, that sounds like a bumper sticker," Bill grinned.

* * *

Breanne's Journal

"We'll have some time when we arrive," Gavin said. "While safe houses are available in the area, Wlodek suggested they could be compromised. Therefore, we will be guests of William Winkler, the Dallas Packmaster, during our stay. I have stayed at his compound before, and his wolves will guard us during the day."

"Okay," I said with a shrug. I'd already seen part of Winkler's house. It was huge.

"Some werewolves still do not trust any vampire, so please be circumspect and do not react if one of them upsets or insults you. Werewolves can be rude or crass at times, and it is never wise to challenge them when there are many surrounding you."

"I understand," I said.

"If any of them attempts to harm you, I will consider it a challenge against me," Gavin added, sitting back in his seat. "They will not wish to see my wrath."

Yes, I stared at Gavin. Was he saying he'd protect me? Where had this Gavin gone in the future, leaving the one who'd spawned me in his place? I probably wasn't destined to get an answer to that unspoken question, so I settled back in my seat, too, determined to rest on the flight to Dallas.

* * *

"I'm not joking, Weldon, that's what Bill said."

"I'm coming down there," Weldon huffed. "If she's an impostor, well."

"Weldon, I don't know what to think, but it's guaranteed she can do shit even Lissa couldn't."

"Did you ask what her father's name is? We both know nobody can mention that asshole unless they know about him and are with somebody else who also knows about him."

"No, but Bill is hoping she's coming in with Gavin."

"Wlodek's sending Gavin? That ought to be fun," Weldon muttered. "Look, I'll get a flight out this afternoon."