Page 85 of Envious Of Fire
“Is Kyle saying in his note that he went to meet with these so-called ‘real’ vampires? Do you know where that is?”
“Somewhere we’re sure as fuck not following him to. The vampire Kyle met had left directions in the form of a riddle … away from the sun … in some dark mouth with teeth … I don’t know, didn’t make any damned sense.”
“Sounds like a cave,” she murmurs thoughtfully.
“But it doesn’t matter where Kyle is now. He won’t be back until tonight, apparently.” He sighs. “And if he returns without any answers, we’re just back to square one, he’ll act out again, and we’ll never be happy.” Elias takes the note into his hands again. “I think I’m gonna have to do something I’ll hate.”
“You mean you have a plan?”
“A bad one.” Even as he considers it, every cell in his body fights him to change his mind, to drop the idea, to leave well enough alone and just wait for Kyle to come back.
“What’s the plan? Tell me. Are we going after Kyle?”
“No.” He clenches his fist. “We’re going after my mom.”
“Huh? Your mom? Why?”
“Because she … might be able to help us. With both of our problems. I just need to go to Vegas, see her, and … and then convince her to …” At once, his anger spills over. He shakes his head. “No. Never mind. Stupid idea. The worst, actually.”
“Wait, wait, no.” Cade comes closer. “Not a bad idea. You said she could help us, too?”
“Forget I said anything. We’ll just wait for Kyle. He should be back by tonight.”
“Elias. Must I remind you that my daughter just summoned a legion of birds to our house? And sucked out her boyfriend’s voiceandgave him a magical erection that won’t go away? AskJeremy if he minds waiting until tonight. Or better yet … ask his police chief father.”
“I’m getting coffee.” Elias reaches for his mug.
Cade takes him by the arm, eyes swelling with desperation. “Elias. Please. Please, please, please. If there’s even aglimmerof hope that your mother could help us …”
Elias closes his eyes. “The last time I left Vegas, I swore I’d never go back … but …”
Cade draws even closer. “Please, Elias.”
His jaw tightens in response.
Before either of them can say another word, Layna’s voice is heard from behind. “Vegas?”
Cade and Elias turn. Layna is standing at the archway, and behind her, Jeremy seems fully attentive to their conversation, squeezing the pillow over his lap, eyes wide.
Layna takes a step into the kitchen. “Can we come?”
Cade frowns. “Like hell.”
“Mom, Jeremy’s been wanting to go, and I—”
“What do you think we’re doing here??” blurts Cade with a spread of her hands. “Taking a joyride to the casinos to pull on slot machine levers and stuff ourselves at the buffet?? This is a very serious matter, Layna! Besides, you’re not old enough!”
Elias sighs. “If we’re going … we may need them to come.” Cade spins, shooting him a look of shock. Elias shrugs. “Don’t worry about their age. Where we’d be going, I can get them in. And if thereissomething waking up inside your daughter, she might get more immediate help if she’s there with us. Not to mention when that ‘help’ is becoming more needed by the hour withhim,” he adds with a nod at Jeremy, who still sits on the couch with his lips hanging open, silent as a vacuum.
Cade glances at her daughter, then back at Jeremy on the couch. Doubts cloud her eyes as she crosses her arms, worried.
Until finally she says: “At least it’s Sunday. No school.”
Layna quirks an eyebrow. “You think Jeremy would still go to school withthatin his pants?”
Jeremy makes a face that needs no sound to understand. He rises in indignation—only for the pillow to drop, displaying his unfortunate situation for a second. He quickly turns away.
Elias swipes his mug off the counter. “For this, I’m gonna need coffee first, then we head out. Should be there by noon.”
