Page 14 of Bound in Blood

Five

AXL

Ipace the perimeter of the courtyard, my eyes scanning every nook, every stone, and every turret, looking for a weakness in Giorgios’s fortress. The house itself is built into the bedrock of the mountain, using the former monastery structure as its base. It has been fortified and extended since it was first built, but there is one way in and one way out.

A gray stone wall, twenty feet high and three feet deep, runs around the entire perimeter of the half-acre courtyard, which was once the temple gardens. Six turrets loom over the area, vast and imposing. Two on either side of the gate, two on the east wall, and two on the west, each manned by at least six guards armed with swords. There are more guards patrolling the perimeter wall and at the gate. There is nowhere in this entire courtyard where we cannot be seen.

Xavier falls into step beside me.Any luck finding a way out of this place yet?

Nope. Giorgios has this place locked down tighter than Shawshank. You?

No.He nudges my arm.But Andy did get out of Shawshank, remember.

Why does a vampire who claims to spend all his time reading books need this many guards? Is he expecting an invasion?

Xavier raises an eyebrow at me.I asked one of the guards, an old Ruby Dragon member I recognized, and he said one can never be too careful.

Yeah, well, there’s careful and there’s planning for a full-on military invasion. This is the latter. Isn’t keeping Lucian out a new development?

Xavier looks around, his deep-blue eyes narrowed.Apparently so. And I can’t help thinking that these guards are designed to keep us in as much as they’re supposed to keep anyone out. Something is very off in this place.

I spoke to one of the guards too, asked about using a cell phone, and he said there’s no chance we can get a signal this deep into the mountains. So we’re basically cut off from all civilization.

“Everything okay, gentlemen?” The voice comes out of nowhere, and we spin around to find Giorgios standing behind us.

I immediately bring down the shutters in my mind like Alexandros taught us all to do in the presence of powerful vampires. I’m not as good at it as Xavier and Ophelia, but I’ll do whatever the hell I can to keep Giorgios out until I know for sure whether we can trust him. “Yup. Just taking a walk and checking the place out.”

“These mountains are amazing.” Xavier looks up at the one looming over us. “I’d love to climb one.”

“The Himalayas are treacherous mountains to climb. Especially this far inland. Very few try to climb the cliff faces here.”

“Yeah, well, being a vampire and all, I’m not too worried about falling to my death.” He flashes Giorgios a grin that seemsfriendly, but those of us who know him well know better. “Can I get out there and give it a try?”

“You do not have the appropriate equipment, Xavier, and vampire or not, climbing mountains in these conditions even with the appropriate gear is dangerous. Do we not have plenty to worry about without having to launch a search and rescue party to find you?” His tone is pleasant enough, but there’s an underlying hint of annoyance.

“How about a walk, then?” Xavier rolls his neck. “I really could use a little exercise.”

“There is a well-equipped gym in the house and all the space you need here in the courtyard.” Giorgios scowls, no longer bothering to mask his irritation. “There is no need for you to leave these grounds. Any of you.”

My hackles rise, and I roll back my shoulders, but Xavier speaks before I do. “But what if we want to anyway? You wouldn’t stop us, would you? I mean, we’re guests here, not prisoners.”

Giorgios’s blue eyes flash with anger. “Not prisoners, no, but you are here under my protection, and the best way to protect you until we learn of Lucian’s whereabouts and his intentions toward Ophelia is for all of you to remain here. I swore an oath to my brother that I do not intend to break, Xavier, no matter how insolently you ask me to.”

Back off, Xavier. You’re pissing him off, and we need to keep him on our side while we figure shit out.

Xavier nods, conveying his acceptance of the rules. “I understand. I was just asking. I hate being cooped up, is all. But I guess we can handle it for a few weeks while we figure shit out.”

Giorgios stares at me, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as though he’s waiting for my objection, but I give him no cause to doubt my compliance. I learned to mask my feelings from the best, and no matter how powerful Giorgios is, he’s noAlexandros Drakos. He doesn’t even come close. “That is good to know. Ophelia’s protection is our most important priority.”

I nod my agreement.

Xavier voices his. “Damn straight.”

Giorgios glances at his watch. “To that end, I have a meeting I must get to. A lead on Lucian’s whereabouts.”

That sparks my curiosity. “Let us come with you.”

He shakes his head. “Alas, I must transport there, and without Enora’s spell combined with Ophelia’s power, I can only do so alone. I will update you upon my return if I learn anything of use.”

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