Page 49 of Redeemed
“I think it’s tied up with the missing elven princess.”I think, nothing. I’m pretty damned sure that’s the connection.
“We think we know where Jacques is staying,” David says, “but if you hear anything that might be helpful…”
“I’ve heard something.” Sheena’s expression turns somber. “Betancourt’s calling in all his favors. From what I hear, anyone who’s even thought about asking him for something is expected to be ready.”
“Dang, that’s not good.” David smacks the tabletop. “What the hell is he up to?”
“He’s going to build a giant fire.” Ananda Pendragon, the Morrigan, spins one of the empty chairs at our table and drops into it. “And he’s going to burn what’s left of Princess Tatiana.” She scowls around the table. “And then he’s going to trap her spirit in a magic web, so he can drain her life force and use it to extend his own.”
“His own life?” Accalia’s the only one who doesn’t seem intimidated by my great-whatever grandmother.
“Yes.” The Morrigan gives her a speculative look. “Jacques Betancourt is dying.”
“How do you know?” David’s tone is genial but his expression radiates suspicion.
Ananda Pendragon’s smile is pure evil. “I made a friend. Come here, friend.”
A man stumbles over. A man, or a phouka. His features are familiar, and not just because all phoukas look alike.
“We’ve met before.” I wrack my brain for the answer.
“Yeah. You snuck into Mr. Betancourt’s house and I caught you. I’m Dash Dolivo and if you don’t stop Mr. Betancourt, we’re all gonna die.”
Chapter Eighteen
Trajan
CLIFFE’S EYES GET wide when I stalk into the motel office. “That was awful fast to have you looking so disturbed.”
I come to a stop in front of her desk. “I didn’t have to go far.”
“Why?”
“I stopped at the hospital to see a man about some blood and ran into a trio of baby vampires. They thought they could take me and I came close to tearing the heart out of some kid who looked like an extra fromThe Lost Boys.”
I don’t waste time watching many vampire films, but Kiefer Sutherland’s a classic.
“Probably Trevor.” She caught her lower lip in her teeth. “I can see where he’d make you want to damage him. He’s annoying a-f.”
“He and his friends gave me the distinct impression they’d never met a vampire who was more than twenty years old.”
Her eyes widened further. “How old are you?”
I raise one eyebrow. “If you have to ask…”
“Hoo-kay.”
Still not sure why I came back, I try for an angle that’ll make sense to myself as well as a relative stranger. “An hour ago when I asked if you’d come with me, you said yes, but before we do this, you need to know a little bit more about what you’ll be walking into. My maker commanded me to kill my lover. I said no. Now my maker has a direct line inside my head and he’s threatening to kill me. Putting distance between us helped shut him up but tangling with your annoying vampire friend proves that assholes are everywhere and what I really need to do is go back to LA and face Jacques myself.”
She blinks once. Twice. “You should have had me take notes.”
“I’m betting you remember enough.” I snort a laugh. “Anyway, the taxi’s leaving. You don’t have to come with me now. We can exchange contact information and if you get a sudden urge to meet up with an unusual pack—assuming we survive—we’d be happy to host you for dinner or something. I don’t mean to discourage you, but it’s quite likely I’m walking into a fight of supernatural proportions.”
She glances around the office as if taking a snapshot for posterity. “Let me make a call.”
While I wait, I turn my cell phone on. I’m done hiding. I’m also crazy for bringing a stranger into the midst of this. David’s going to freak out. I squash that thought and swipe the screen.
My first call is to Delia Packard. She doesn’t answer—I don’t expect her to—so I leave a polite voicemail letting her know I’m ready. Next, I text David and Connor.
