Page 2 of Kiss the Dawn
“How? They know where I am now. Even if we get Padma and Edwin back from Shay and I tell the Bloodmeres to fuck off, they’ll keep sending more bounty hunters, right?”
“Probably,” Lorenzo said. “Which is why we need to speak to them to find an alternate solution.”
“What other solution could there be?” Merry said. “They want her to make babies with witch dudes.”
I pressed my fingers to my temples to quell the headache that was threatening to erupt.
Holly entered carrying a tray of mugs. “I made yours with an extra sugar,” she said to me.
“Thank you.” I took it and blew across the top a few times before sipping. It was still too hot, burning a path down my throat. But the sugar hit was just what I needed. “Being here is more important. It’s vital for me.”
Lorenzo arched a brow, waiting for me to elaborate, and it hit me that if he knew about the Bloodmeres and the Isle, then there could be no way he wasn’t privy to Ezekiel’s predicament.
Fuck it, I needed his help, and he couldn’t give it to me without all the facts. “I know about Loviator.”
His eyes narrowed. “Go on.”
Yep, he definitely knew too. “I’mher. Ezekiel’s curse breaker.”
He processed this for a beat, eyes flicking from side to side. His beautiful mouth tightened, and a slight furrow formed between his dark brows. “Curse breaker and seventh daughter of a seventh daughter who somehow makes it into the Order…that’s some trifecta…”
And didn’t I know it. “Yeah. So I need to be here.”
“Yes, you do. And this gives us serious leverage. The situation on the Isle is important, but none of that will matter if Loviator goes free.”
“My thoughts precisely.” I wanted to ask how much he knew, but now wasn’t the time. Once Padma and Edwin were safe and this mess was sorted, then we’d talk.
He studied me for several beats. “How long have you known?”
“Suspected for a few days, but for certain? Only a day. I’ll tell you all about it once you extricate me from this mess.”
He smiled wryly. “It’s a deal.”
His phone buzzed, and he answered quickly. “Hello…Yes. Patch us through.” He hit speaker and placed the phone on the table while he uncuffed his shirt and rolled up the sleeves.
There was a beep, then a woman spoke, her tone clipped and cultured. “Hello, this is Daphne Bloodmere, head of Bloodmere House. Who am I speaking with?”
“Lorenzo Crescent, Mageri Council. I’m here withMiss Lighthart, the woman who’s been identified as a Bloodmere. I have you on speaker.”
There was a beat of silence then… “Miss Lighthart, I apologize for the methods that have been employed to find you. I assure you that we do not condone kidnapping and mutilation, and the bounty hunter involved will be reprimanded.”
I didn’t care about her apologies. “I want my friends back.”
Another beat of silence. “Yes, of course. I understand. However, your friends are in the hunter’s hands, not ours. But what we can do is null his contract and bar him from reentry to the Isle. The appropriate paperwork will be forwarded to you within the hour. It was never our intention for anyone else to be harmed in our efforts to locate you.”
“Look, I know what you want from me, and I can’t give it to you. I have obligations here.” I also didn’t want to, but I refrained from telling her that.
“The Loviator problem,” Lorenzo said. “I’m sure as head of Bloodmere House you’ve been briefed on it.”
She was silent for several beats before replying. “Of course I have.”
“So you understand that the goddess’s release could exacerbate the virus…”
“I do…” Her tone had taken on a wary edge.
“Then you’ll also understand that as the key to keeping those gates locked, Miss Lighthart needs to remain here, close to the vampire king.”
“She’sthe curse breaker?”
