Blue-Blooded Vamp (24 page)

That certainly explained the tingle of awareness I felt the minute I stepped onto the property. I hoped the existence of a burial ground wouldn’t cause problems. I tended to have mishaps around graves. But maybe the fact that this particular one was pretty ancient would mean there’d be no accidental zombie summoning, like that time in New Orleans.

“… farmland until the church purchased it,” Nyx was saying.

We’d already passed the outbuildings I’d seen when we arrived and continued past a small garden. Hearty rosemary plants still thrived despite the chill. The piney scent perfumed the air.

“The villa was originally a convent and was used as a hospital for the aged and infirm. That’s why, in addition to the crypt in the basement, there’s also a cemetery through there.” She pointed toward a field on the right. She turned into the olive grove and waved us along. “Eventually a noble family bought the land and turned it into a country estate. But after a couple of centuries, the family fell on hard times and had to sell. Tristan got the place for next to nothing.”

She looked at me, as if waiting for me to confirm that Tristan was clever. I sent a lukewarm smile and nodded. “I’m surprised it’s so well maintained. When Tristan mentioned coming here, I had the impression it was deserted.”

“When you called Tristan a few days ago, he sent me ahead to get everything ready. I went back to join them after Tristan found out you weren’t…” She drifted off.

“Maisie,” I said.

She nodded, her expression apologetic.

Adam cleared his throat. “Forgive me, but how did you all survive when Cain woke?”

I paused, realizing I hadn’t had a chance to explain what few details Tristan had shared about that the night we met.

Nyx’s face fell. “We didn’t all survive. We lost six in the battle.”

We all fell silent as that sank in. Given the strength I’d seen in Tristan’s surviving team members, the fight must have been pretty fierce.

Nyx continued. “The only reason Tristan and the rest of us are alive is that we were out on a mission that night—luckily. If we’d been there, we’d be dead too. No doubt about it.”

“I’m sorry for your losses.” The words felt so inadequate even as they spilled out of my mouth. Having lost so many friends at Cain’s hands myself, I knew the rage they all must have felt.

Nyx nodded to accept my feeble consolation. “He wouldn’t have gotten so many of us if we’d seen it coming.” Her eyes darkened. “When we returned later that night, we found all the bodies. Luckily the cameras captured the entire thing. Or unluckily, I guess,” she laughed uncomfortably. “One second he was unconscious and the next he leapt off the table. He managed to take the guard by surprise and unarm him. Between the shock and knowing the consequences if he was mortally wounded, the team didn’t stand a chance. He cut through them like a hot knife through butter.” She shook her head. “The worst part is we have no idea how he managed to break Tristan’s spell. Only his blood should have been able to unlock it.”

I grimaced as my stomach clenched. “I do. I know how he did it.”

Nyx’s eyebrows rose in question.

I swallowed and quickly filled her in. “Just before he killed Maisie, he compelled her to do the ritual to break the spell using her blood.”

Her mouth fell open. “Oh my gods. Since she was his daughter…” She trailed off.

We reached a small bungalow on the edge of the olive grove. Nyx shook herself as if dispelling a shiver. “Tristan will be interested to know the specifics. It will aid him in crafting a new spell when we try to trap Cain again.”

I bit my tongue at this. I’d already told Tristan that Maisie broke the spell, but I’m sure he’d want every last detail I could remember. But if I had my way, I’d be changing Tristan’s mind about his plans to capture Cain on his own the next evening.

Nyx used an old-fashioned key to unlock the door. Throwing it open, she flipped the light switch. “Here we are.”

The walls of the living area were light blue and painted with faded murals of nymphs and fauns. A low wood-beamed ceiling hung over the space, giving it a cozy feel. Off this area was a small kitchen with a wooden table and a tiny fridge.

We all spent a few minutes wandering through the space, checking for security measures. As it turned out, there were shockingly few in place. The doors had only simple locks—easily broken in by a well-placed boot. Adam said he’d set up some wards before we turned in.

“I guess I’ll leave you to it, then,” Nyx said.

“Thanks.” Adam smiled at the vamp.

She paused, looking restless, like she had more to say. She bit her lip and then finally spoke. “Listen, Sabina, I know it’s not my place, but we’re all really glad you’re here.”

I laughed. “I’m not sure your leader agrees.”

She waved a hand. “Oh, Tristan’s all bluster. You’ll get used to it once you get to know him.”

I forced a smile. No use telling her I wasn’t there to get to know anyone. The fact that Tristan was my father didn’t matter. He was just someone I had to work with to get the job done.

After Nyx left, Adam, Giguhl, and I gathered in the comfy living room for a postmortem.

A fire crackled in the hearth, but I was having trouble relaxing despite the surroundings. Giguhl stood next to the hearth, looking unfazed by the crazy turn of events. Had it really just been a few hours earlier that we’d set out to trap Cain?

“Where to start,” I said with a sigh.

“We can start with Nyx.” Adam nodded toward the door the vampire had just walked through.

“Yeah,” Giguhl said. “When are you gonna kill her?”

“Giguhl, don’t be ridiculous,” Adam said. “She can’t kill Nyx now.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “Not yet anyway.”

“Sabina,” Adam said, his tone full of censor.

“What?” I shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I mean, obviously I can’t just take her out in the middle of everyone. But maybe if I staged an accident?”

A frank male stare greeted that statement.

“Hey, I’m not saying I want to kill her. I mean, she seems nice and all. But weren’t you the one who said I shouldn’t screw around with a god?”

The mage sighed and fell back against the couch cushions. “Normally, no, you shouldn’t. But I’m thinking that
assassinating one of your father’s team won’t end well for any of us. Especially when we need him to stop Cain.”

I scrubbed my hands through my hair. “Look, I don’t have to make a decision right now. I’ll just see how things go.”

“Fine,” Adam said. “Just promise me that you’ll discuss it with us before you act.”

“Of course,” I said.

“Okay, now that that’s settled,” Giguhl said, “what the hell went down with Cain? I heard you try to summon me, but nothing happened.”

I grimaced at the remembered pain. “He had his goons stab me in the back with a brass stake.”

He curled his claw into a fist. “I’d like to shove a stake up that bastard’s ass.”

Adam’s lip curled. “Remind me not to piss you off.”

The demon raised his brow. “Trust that shit, mancy.”

“Anyway,” I said. “I want to know how you found Tristan and convinced him to help rescue me.”

“After you disappeared with Cain,” Adam began, “I flashed back to the apartment, grabbed Giguhl, and we went straight to Dicky’s bar.”

I frowned. “Why Dicky?”

“I didn’t trust him when he said he hadn’t had any contact with Tristan.”

“Dude, you should have seen Adam,” Giguhl jumped in. “He threw the mage up against the wall in front of everyone and threatened to burn the bar down if Dicky didn’t get Tristan on the phone.”

“Holy crap! What did Dicky’s pals do?”

Adam waved a hand. “Not much. They were too busy trying not to piss themselves in the presence of a huge, angry demon.”

I grinned at them. “I wish I could have seen that.”

“Hells yeah,” Giguhl said. He held up a claw for Adam to high-five. The mancy halfheartedly tapped it back.

“Anyway, once I convinced Dicky I was serious, he had no problem getting Tristan on speakerphone.”

“And boy was he pissed,” Giguhl said. “When he found out you were still in Rome, he almost crawled through the phone.”

I glanced at Adam. “How’d you convince him?”

The mancy smiled. “After he stopped yelling, I simply reminded him that even though he didn’t believe you were the Chosen, you were still his daughter. I also might have mentioned that if he didn’t help and you died, I would hunt him down and kill him myself.”

“Holy shit!”

Adam didn’t crack a smile. Obviously, he’d been dead serious when he threatened my father. “He demanded my name. When I told him, he said he remembered my father. And of course he knew Aunt Rhea pretty well.”

“Wait, you threatened him and all he did was ask your name?”

Adam nodded. “I get the impression your father isn’t a stranger to threats. Anyway, I guess something I said changed his mind because next thing we knew, he appeared in Dicky’s office with his posse.”

I blew out a breath and leaned back. As grateful as I was that Tristan relented and helped Adam and Giguhl, it irked me that their acquaintance was what changed his mind. My life being in danger didn’t sway him, but the fact that Adam’s aunt was a bigwig mage did? Nice. But none of that was Adam’s and Giguhl’s fault. “Thanks, guys.”

Adam’s jaw clenched. “I’m not letting you more than arm’s length away from me for a good long time.”

I realized then just how hard it must have been for him to watch Cain disappear with me. I squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.”

He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“Bael’s balls, it suddenly smells like Cupid farted up in here.” Giguhl yawned and stretched. “I’m gonna turn in before you two scar me permanently with your sexings. Try to keep the grunting down.”

I raised a brow. “You too,” I shot back.

“Seriously, G,” Adam said. “One of these days you’re going to sprain your claw.”

“Don’t talk about Darlene that way.” He flexed the digits of his claw. “She’s a gentle lover.”

Adam looked at the demon like he’d just spoken in tongues. “You named your claw after a woman?”

Giguhl rolled his eyes. “Don’t judge.” With that, he turned and headed toward his room. On the way, he grabbed a bottle of olive oil from the countertop. When he shut the door behind him, I turned to Adam.

“Are you as disturbed as I am by what we just witnessed?”

“Are you referring to the fact that your demon is about to seduce himself less than twenty feet from where we’re sitting?”

I nodded.

The mancy took my hand and helped me rise. “I say we drink an entire bottle of wine and never speak of this again.”

T
hat night I had the most delicious dream. Adam and I were on a moonlit beach. The waves licked the sand languidly. The waters were calm, peaceful.

Adam held my hand and stared out at the moon. The bright white orb was heavy, fecund. It rose high above, blessing us with its light.

“Is this the future?” Adam asked in a hushed tone.

I turned to look at him. “Maybe it’s the present. The calm before the storm.”

In the distance, a bolt of lightning cracked through the sky. There was no sound, but it flashed ominously, like a warning.

“The storm’s far away,” he said. “We have right now. Just you and me and the moon.”

He kissed me then. A sweet, slow kiss. I closed my eyes. Flashes of light from the far-off lightning made the veins in my lids glow red. But I ignored them and surrendered to the moment. Adam’s sandalwood scent mixed with the air’s salty tang, leaving me thirsty for him.

He lowered me to the sugary sand. Ran his hands over
my skin. I sighed happily and wound my fingers through his hair, pulling him to me for a kiss. This one hotter, deeper. I flipped him over and went to work on his zipper. Soon, but never soon enough, he sprung free, hard and ready.

I slicked my tongue over the salty skin of his neck. His pulse beat fast and hot. He swallowed and bucked his hips. “Take it.”

He thrust into me at the same moment my fangs pierced his throat. His blood filled my mouth, his sex my core.

“Yes,” he hissed.

I was so lost in the taste, the feel of him, I didn’t notice the pulling sensation at first. But then it grew in intensity, tugging at me.

I grabbed Adam’s shoulders tighter. Grasped his hips with my knees. But the irresistible force ripped me away.

“Sabina?” Adam shouted, sounding far away.

He lay far below me on the sand, his arms outstretched and his mouth wide as he screamed my name. My body launched through the air, away from the safety of his arms, like I’d been shot from a catapult.

My landing was not gentle or graceful. I hit something hard and tumbled ass over ankles. Pushing my hair from my eyes, I realized I’d fallen at someone’s feet. Feet encased in familiar sandals.

“Shit.” I scrambled back, my eyes rising up the white robes to meet the fierce scowl of Asclepius. “Did anyone ever tell you your timing really sucks?”

He crossed his arms and said nothing. Uh-oh.

I rose awkwardly, surveying my new surroundings. He’d brought me to the Crossroads in the Liminal. Eight roads created the spokes of the wagon-wheel pattern. In the center, where we were, a tall pole was topped by a red flag.