Cronin's Key (27 page)

Alec nodded and looked at the young Elder. “I don’t know what precautions you’ve taken, and I don’t presume to tell you how to defend your coven. What I offer is merely a suggestion,” Alec said. He needed to be diplomatic, and he’d spent enough years in the police department kissing political asses to know how to phrase recommendations. “We believe the Illyrians could be armed with a type of wooden bullet. I have seen a vampire die from such wounds. If you are able, Kennard, have as many of your coven wearing any type of armor to protect their hearts.”

Kennard frowned at first, then he appeared distracted by something off-screen. When he looked again at Alec, he nodded. “To be forewarned is to be forearmed, I guess.”

Alec nodded. “Thank you, for doing this. I am sure when this is all over, I will meet with you and get to shake your hand in person.”

Kennard bowed his head. “I would be honored to meet not only the key to save our kind, but also to meet the one who collared the lone wolf that is Cronin.”

Cronin rolled his eyes, making Alec laugh. But he looked back at Kennard, his smile fading quickly. “Good luck tonight.”

Kennard nodded once, a silent thanks. “I know not of what your future holds, Ailig. Though we wish you success in whatever it is you need to do tonight.”

Cronin interrupted and directed the conversation away from Alec’s fate. “You have all plans in place, Kennard?” he asked, with a no-nonsense set to his jaw.

“Of course.”

“You will take the second pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre.”

“Yes. We have leapers to take us. There are twenty of us ready to go.” Alec knew twenty was a strong front; after all, it took only nine vampires to take out the Ancient Illyrians.

“I will not leave Alec’s side,” Cronin said. “Eiji and Jodis will be with us also. The three of us will guard him and get him in and out as neatly as possible. I will notify the Eastern and Western American covens that the time of attack has moved to tonight.”

“I will notify the Italians,” Kennard said.

“Thank you.” Cronin sighed.

Kennard took a deep breath. “
Tha am blàr teann
,
seana-charaid
. Battle is at hand, my old friend.”

Cronin finally smiled. “
Cuir cath cruaidh
,
Na Saighdearan Dearga
. Fight bravely, Redcoat soldier.
”

Kennard laughed. “Oh, Cronin. You bloody Scots are all the same.” He was still smiling. “We shall talk again before we leave.” The screen went black.

Alec sighed deeply. “They’re really doing this, aren’t they?”

“Doing what?” Cronin asked quietly. He squeezed Alec’s hand again and put his other hand over the top of Alec’s.

“Going to fight.”

“Of course.”

Alec frowned. “What if I don’t know what to do?” He swallowed hard and looked into Cronin’s dark eyes. “What if I get there and have no clue what to do? How many of us will die if I fail?”

“Alec, you won’t fail,” Cronin answered softly. “You’ll know what to do. You will feel it. And we’ll be there to protect you.”

Alec nodded, but said nothing more.

“Uh, Alec?” Eiji said. He’d upturned the backpack on the sofa and was grinning again with wide, excited eyes. “What is all this?”

Alec smiled, despite his sullen mood. “Cronin and I went shopping in the NYPD stores division.” He walked over and picked up a quiver. “I got you and Jodis both back and thigh quivers.”

Eiji grinned so damn big. He gave Alec a quick, somewhat-careful hug, then got busy strapping the arrow holsters onto his body.

Alec collected all his shopping efforts into a pile and put them in Cronin’s bedroom. When he came back out, Eiji had on one back quiver filled with arrows, a thigh holster, and he was holding his crossbow, and of course, he was grinning.

His long black hair was out, hanging long and silky past his shoulders, his dark clothes giving him a ninja look. Alec laughed. “I don’t know if you look more like Katniss or Legolas.”

Eiji’s grin impossibly widened. “I don’t know what that means.”

Alec snorted out a laugh. “I swear, starting tomorrow after this is all over, I’m making you all watch some freakin’ movies.”

Eiji laughed, but he looked at Cronin, then back to Alec. “I’m pretty sure you won’t be watching movies, my friend.”

Before Alec could blush at what Eiji was implying, Cronin was at Alec’s side. He took Alec’s hand once more and kissed his shoulder.

Eiji ignored them. He picked up one of the bulletproof vests. “And these?”

“For each of you,” Alec said.

Eiji was still amused. “Have you ever heard of vampires needing armor?”

Alec’s response was short. “Ever seen a vampire die from being shot in the heart with a wooden bullet?” Eiji’s eyes shot to his and Alec sighed. “Eiji, humor me. Wear it, please. All of you,” Alec said, looking around the room. “Please. We don’t know what weapons they’ll have, if any at all. But it’s not worth the risk.”

Eleanor spoke up. “Cronin? I don’t advise that.”

Cronin turned to look at the seer. “It was an errant thought.”

“What was?” Alec asked.

Cronin looked at him, with troubled eyes. “I was just thinking that maybe I could leap there. Before we all go.”

“What?” Alec whispered.

“I could leap there. I’d be in and out in less than a second, but I could see into these chambers,” Cronin said, walking over to Johan’s map and pointing at the different rooms in the pyramids. “You said yourself, Alec, you hate going in blind. You hate not knowing all the variables. It’s dangerous. For you, and for all of us.”

Alec shook his head. “No.”

“They wouldn’t even know I was there, and even if they did, I’d be gone so quick they wouldn’t be able to catch me.” Cronin looked back at the pyramid. “We would know then how many numbers we’re talking. If she has dozens or thousands.”

“No.” Alec’s solitary word cut the air. He walked up to Cronin and took his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Do you think, for one second, I would let you do that?”

Cronin went to say something, but Alec wasn’t done. “Do you not understand? It’s not just you anymore. It’s you and me. You tell me that I cannot offer my life for others because it would mean your death as well.” Alec let go of Cronin’s chin and pointed him in the chest. “Well, the same goes for you.”

“My only thought was that it would be safer for you in the long run,” Cronin said.

“Then send someone else,” Alec said. “But not you. It can’t be.” His voice died to a whisper. “It would kill me to even think you went in by yourself.”

Cronin’s eyes softened. “It was just a thought.”

Jodis turned to Eleanor. “If another leaper was to go?”

“Multiple leapers,” Johan suggested. “To confuse, maybe?”

Eleanor tilted her head. “It could work.”

“How many leapers are there?” Alec asked.

“There are nine in America,” Cronin said. “Myself included.”

“There are two in the UK,” Eiji said. “And as many as fourteen across Europe and Russia.”

Jodis put a cell phone to her ear and singlehandedly organized a group of four leapers from around the world to simultaneously leap into different parts of the pyramids. It was scheduled to happen at one p.m. New York time, and they would report their findings. While she was talking on the phone, Eiji undid the strap of his back quiver and pulled it off, then he picked up a bulletproof vest, and without a word of protest, he simply put it on and refastened the straps, making it fit snugly. Then he put the quiver back on.

Alec smiled at him. “Thank you. And for what it’s worth, you look more like Hawkeye from the now.”

Cronin put his arm around Alec’s waist. “Are you hungry? Tired?”

Alec had to think about it. “Um, yeah, I guess I am. Both.” Then Alec asked him, “How about you?”

Cronin sighed. “I should feed, but I don’t want to leave you.” Then he looked at Eiji and Jodis. “And you should feed as well.”

“It’s not safe for you to be out right now,” Bes said. The scared look on his face told Alec the threat was real. “Too dangerous.”

Alec gave Cronin a smile. “Take Eiji and Jodis out for dinner.”

Cronin shook his head. “I won’t leave you.”

Alec picked up a handgun magazine and loaded wooden bullets into it before clipping it into place. “I will get myself something to eat in the kitchen and have this with me at all times. Bes and Johan will be here. Eleanor, do you foresee any trouble?”

She scanned her mind’s eye. “No, no trouble.”

Alec slid the pistol into the waistband of his jeans and kissed Cronin on the lips before walking into the kitchen. “Just don’t take too long.”

Alec heard Jodis say, “Get rid of the arrows, Eiji,” then Eiji replied, “But I like them,” and when Alec turned around, he saw Cronin smile before they were gone.

Bes stood next to Alec like a bodyguard, his back turned as though on protection detail and a wooden stake in his hand, while Alec made himself something to eat.

“You okay, Bes?” Alec asked him.

He looked at Alec only briefly. “I wish this trouble to be over. I would like to go home.”

“Me too,” Alec said. “I wish it was over too.” Alec took a deep breath and exhaled slowly through the uncomfortable twinge in his chest at Cronin’s absence.

“Alec, are you okay?” Bes asked, wide-eyed.

Johan was suddenly in the kitchen beside him, obviously alarmed by Bes’s tone. “What is it?”

“Yeah,” Alec said, grimacing through the heavy ache that was spreading under his ribs. “It’s just when Cronin and I are apart…”

“Ah,” Johan said with a nod. “It causes physical discomfort.”

Alec nodded quickly and breathed through it. He looked at Johan, knowing he was once or possibly still was infatuated with Cronin. He pressed the heel of his hand against his chest to ease the ache. “How long have you known him?”

Johan smiled a little and bowed his head again. “I met Cronin in Luxemburg, where I am from, in 1932.”

“Oh.” Jesus. Did everyone know Cronin for centuries longer than Alec had? Alec barked out a sharp breath. “I have to admit, I’m kind of jealous that everyone knows him better than me.”

Johan shook his head. “Oh, Alec. To the contrary. You are the closest he’s been to anyone.”

“Apart from Eiji and Jodis,” Alec amended.

Johan conceded a nod. “They are his closest friends and confidants. They’ve been a trio of immeasurable force for many years. But Alec, it is you who he looks upon like—” Johan seemed to search for the right words. “—as I would imagine the warmth of spring sun after a long winter feels upon your skin.”

“Oh.” Alec blushed, but he smiled at that.

Johan lifted his face a little and closed his eyes. “I remember the feel of it, from my human years. Bitter winters followed by warm and spreading sun on my face.”

Alec found himself smiling at Johan. “It feels nice.”

Johan opened his eyes and smiled at Alec. “How that feels, that remarkable affirmation of life, is how Cronin looks at you.” Alec felt his cheeks heat, and Johan laughed. “Don’t be embarrassed, Alec. You look at him the same.”

“Do I?” Alec asked, though he was sure he already knew the answer.

Johan smiled, more sadly this time. It was clear he was still disappointed that Cronin would never be his. “You are well-suited for each other. Fate is an undeniable thing, is it not?”

“It is,” Alec agreed. He really wasn’t sure if this was a conversation he should be having. He liked Johan though, he seemed to be a man of integrity, and Alec respected that. The truth was, Alec could see now that Johan’s agreeable, submissive nature would never have suited Cronin. Cronin needed someone to challenge him, a physical, mental, and emotional equal. Maybe Johan could see that too.

Alec smiled at him. “I didn’t understand it in the beginning, but I’m getting used to it now. It is… um, like the warmth of the sun on your skin.”

Johan chuckled, and Bes, still holding the stake dutifully, joined in the conversation. “I do not remember the sun.”

“Do you miss it?” Alec asked, glad for the distraction.

Bes shook his head. “Not for me, no. And I do not fancy being reacquainted.”

Alec laughed, and before Eleanor could finish saying, “They’re on their way back,” Cronin, Eiji, and Jodis appeared in the living room.

Then, in the next nanosecond, Cronin was in front of Alec, his hands to his face, Cronin’s lips just a hair’s breadth from his. “I missed you and you are unaffected?”

Alec chuckled at the confused sting in Cronin’s eyes. “No. Not unaffected. Trying to distract myself from the ache in my chest.”

Cronin seemed to finally breathe, and he pressed his lips to Alec’s, despite Johan and Bes being right there. Cronin’s hands skimmed Alec’s face, his jaw, and his hair as though he thought he’d never touch him again. “Absence from you does not sit well with me.”

Alec’s sandwich was long forgotten, a new kind of hunger in its place. It was a yearning and a realization they were out of time that made something like eating food a nonessential. He whispered against Cronin’s lips, “Take me to bed.”

Alec’s plate made a gentle clinking sound as it landed softly on the counter in an otherwise empty kitchen.

* * * *

Cronin leapt himself and Alec onto his bed, Alec beneath him while Cronin fit snugly between his thighs. He loved watching Alec’s face when he realized they were in bed, that Cronin had him pinned down; his pupils blown out, his heart rate spiked, and a slow and sexy smirk played at his lips.

But it was different this time. Alec was needier, more emotional than he had been before. There was no frantic pulling at clothes or scraping fingers on skin. Alec was slower, more desperate for simple touches and holding him close. This wasn’t about desire or the need for release.

This was something else. Something new.

Alec held him tighter and kissed him deeper, slower. He pulled Cronin in, wrapped his arms around his back, and held him as tight as he humanly could. Alec writhed against him, slowly, passionately, but didn’t move to undress or go any further. There was no mad rush for sexual release. None at all.

But the way Alec looked at Cronin was better than unraveling in sexual pleasure.