Page 112 of Obsessed in Blood
“But it didn’t happen right away. You’ll feel better after a quick shower and clean clothes. You need a good night’s rest. For some reason, while vampire blood heals you, your body requires more rest after healing than a normal human. You’ll be buzzing around the manor before you know it.”
“That won’t be helpful in a fight. I wonder if Colantha has any thoughts on that.”
“I have no doubt she does.”
With Devon’s help, and after another five minutes of sleep while Devon showered, I was washed, dried, and dressed in a loose turquoise caftan. If I read Devon’s heated expression correctly, he would be more than willing to make the Family wait another hour. I didn’t know if it was the shower or his expression, but I was feeling much better.
For this evening, the Family meant all the team members who had participated in the evening’s mission, including the shifters but minus Harlow, Trudy, and Roxie. Remus had joined the group and was speaking quietly with Sergi, Mateo, and Decker in a far corner, drinks in hand.
Colantha, along with her bodyguards, sat near Lyra and Hamilton. Hamilton leaned against Lyra while she stroked his arm. I was sorry to have missed the reunion, but it wasn’t difficult to imagine.
Lyra would have been waiting on the front steps, probably from the time she’d heard he was safe and on his way to Oasis. She would have raced down them the minute the sedan pulled up, yanking others out of the way until she could reach him. There would have been tears, and the two of them holding each other. Even though Hamilton was unwashed and bearded, the kiss would have been long and endearing. It was all there in her shiny gaze when she looked at me.
I hurried and knelt in front of them, holding my hand out to hers. Lyra grasped it tightly. I glanced up at Hamilton. His beard and mustache were gone, his hair combed back and put into a ponytail. He was horribly thin, leaving stark cheekbones, but his smile was weary and bright.
He took my other hand. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.” Tears gathered, and a couple leaked out. “I didn’t think I’d ever see my Lyra again.”
Lyra stroked his cheek. “Of course, you did. Remember the last time you brought me to your dream? You said there would be dark times ahead, but that in the end, we’d be together.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “I remember. I suppose in the back of my mind I always remembered. But I couldn’t see the path. If I’d been able to build a construct, I would have been able to draw you to me.”
“My guess is that Venizi has been feeding you something that doesn’t allow you to focus.” Colantha turned her gaze to me. “You’ve taken vampire blood to heal your injury.”
“News travels fast.”
“Perhaps. But it’s nothing I’ve been told. I can sense it in you.”
That surprised me. “What do you mean?”
“I feel it, too.” Hamilton shifted to sit straighter. “Many things are becoming clearer. I forgot how good the nectar tasted.”
“The nectar?” I pinned Colantha with a steely gaze. “He’s talking about the juice, isn’t he?”
“A discussion for another time.” She got up and moved to the sideboards where platters of food were being placed.
“I hate it when she says that.”
Lyra laughed. “There’s much to discuss, but considering the evening, I’m sure Devon has another agenda.”
“We’ll talk more in the morning.” I stood to offer thanks to the others, but hadn’t missed the relief in Hamilton’s gaze, and how tired he truly was. He was putting on a brave face for the crowd, but he would need rest and Madame Saldano’s special potions to fully recover. That, and Lyra’s special care. I had a feeling the voices Lyra had been hearing would be gone. I’d have to ask Colantha, but I believe the voices she’d been hearing had been Hamilton’s, possibly mixed with other dreamwalkers. But Hamilton had been the conduit. He’d been connected to Lyra more than he knew.
Once everyone had food, I made the rounds, thanking each person individually. Then I found a seat between Remus and Decker, my eyes locked on Devon as the others slowly turned their attention to him.
He stood in front of the hearth and his gaze swept the room, touching on each person. He looked relaxed, but I could feel the energy coming from him. The Family had pulled off the impossible, but we were far from done. Everyone knew Lorenzo would retaliate.
He lifted a glass of scotch and waved it slowly around the room. “Tonight’s success wouldn’t have been possible without everyone in this room. And while Harlow and his team aren’t here, I want to remind you that this was a joint mission between vampires, shifters, and humans. A combination of forces that will be required as we chip away at Venizi until he’s done for good.”
Everyone lifted their glasses, and cheers of agreement flowed through the room.
“We must remain vigilant against what is to come. Lorenzo won’t take the infiltration of his island lightly. I’ll be issuing orders in the morning for the entire Family that no one leaves Oasis, the coast manor, or any of our properties without a partner. Every member of the cadre will have bodyguards in the car in addition to a second security vehicle. This order includes Cressa, Ginger, and Colantha for as long as she stays with us.
“Oasis and the manor will be on lockdown until this is over, however long it takes. I would also caution our partners—” his gaze locked with Remus and then with Decker, “—to take the same precautions. I don’t know if Lorenzo knows of our arrangement, but after he reviews the outcome of tonight’s events, he’ll know the shifters helped. He can’t take obvious measures against you without repercussions from the Council, but we know he has the means to retaliate under the radar.”
He paced along the hearth as he considered his next words. “For the next two days, the Family will remain within our guarded facilities to gather, rest, and enjoy time off. While security will remain on high alert, I want shortened duty hours, so everyone has time to restore and recover.”
He glanced at Remus again, and it appeared The Wolf knew what was coming because he glanced at Elijah and Braden, who nodded at him before he gave the final nod to Devon.
Devon gave Remus a long head bow, then turned to the audience. “On the third day, we’ll meet again. An official notification will be sent to the Council to inform them I have reclaimed my leadership of the House Trelane. At that time, we’ll plan the final stages in our preparation for war.”
