Page 7 of Obsessed in Blood
He stopped, remembering the moment as if he was still on his knees in the middle of the street with Sergi’s hand on his shoulder. Simone didn’t say anything, and the silence was comforting.
“It’s difficult to explain. I’m not positive about what happened. But when I didn’t think I could take any more, and the edges of my sight became shadowed, I thought I’d pass out, and then there was a pop. Like someone or something burst the balloon, and just like that—” He snapped his fingers and swiveled around to Simone. “Instant clarity. Like the world was reborn again, and all my senses increased at once—smell, sight, hearing.”
He almost laughed at her dumbfounded expression. “I know what that sounds like, but it’s what happened.”
“I don’t believe we know nearly enough about Cressa’s powers or what her blood can do.” Simone leaned back in the chair and rubbed her face with both hands. “I haven’t been a very good friend to her lately.”
“You were focused on caring for the House.”
“It was more than that. I was relieved when Sergi took her to New Orleans. But she was the one who questioned why Lyra wasn’t considered to be the next leader of the House.”
That surprised him. No one had mentioned it, and he’d never thought to ask after his ordeal, assuming Anna or Lucas had reviewed the succession laws. He chuckled. “After all her complaining about Anna’s lessons.”
Simone grinned. “She learns fast, even when she’s distracted.”
Silence descended, and Devon gave her time. But as time passed, and she didn’t say anything more, he gave her a gentle prod. “It’s just me, Simone. No judgment here. From everything Lyra and the cadre have shared with me, you’ve been an exceptional leader the last couple of weeks.”
She shook her head. “I disregarded one of our most valuable assets. I tried to tuck her away so I wouldn’t have to deal with her outrageous ideas.”
“And you learned firsthand that she couldn’t be controlled.”
She nodded. “I knew she was scared and worried for you. Sergi was concerned about her interest in the beast.”
“As was I.”
She growled, and the tips of her fangs dropped. “That day she went to the mill to offer the beast her blood, she sneaked out of her room the evening before and escaped past all the guards.”
He wouldn’t have expected any less from his talented little thief. “We should have her added to our security reviews.”
“I want her to do more than that. I want to run drills as she discovers ways around our security.” She bent her head. “I want her to feel more welcome.”
Devon rose and took the chair next to Simone, grasping her hands. She tried to pull away, but he held firm. “I know she tests you. But I also know she considers you a friend. I’m aware how difficult that is for you, and this next part will be even harder.” He waited until she looked him in the eyes. “She felt abandoned by the cadre.” He squeezed her hands when she tensed. “There’s nothing to do about that now.”
Her tawny eyes glowed with the bright yellow of her beast. “But there is. We will get her back. We’ll prove to her that she’s one of us. That she belongs to the Family of House Trelane.”
His smile was one of his more wicked ones. “And we’ll use all our resources, whatever it takes, to do just that.”
ChapterThree
Devon’s eyes snapped open.Long shadows crossed the room. It was late afternoon, and he’d been dreaming, but it had been an old dream. He’d been with Cressa in his private garden at Oasis. It was one of their first dreams. He’d hoped she might reach out to him from wherever she was, but she hadn’t.
He popped up.
Had she been wearing her medallion when she was taken? If so, Lorenzo would have certainly discovered it. With everything that had happened while the beast consumed him, he’d forgotten about Lorenzo’s search for the necklace. Devon told the cadre Lorenzo had no idea Cressa could be a dreamwalker. But what if Cressa had been wearing the medallion that morning?
He jumped from the bed and dressed quickly. Lucas should be back by now with Ginger. He raced down the stairs. Cressa’s backpack had been left at the accident site. An oversight in the kidnappers’ rush to leave? It was hard to say.
He found Sergi in his security office, and the stench of burnt material permeated the room.
Sergi glanced up. “I thought you were resting.”
“I was.” He looked around the office. “Where’s Cressa’s backpack?”
Sergi nodded toward the far corner where the pack sat on the wood floor, most likely so it wouldn’t damage the oriental rug. It was stained with soot and foam from the extinguisher. Devon would buy her a new one.
“Have you searched through it yet?”
“I was waiting for you.” Sergi stood and moved to a bookcase. The top half held shelves filled with various books on historic battles, technical manuals, and the complete set of House security protocols. The bottom half was cabinets and drawers. In the middle, there was a thin drawer that ran the length of the bookcase. When Sergi pulled it open, legs automatically dropped to form a table. He opened another drawer and pulled out a laminated board that he placed on top of the table, then waved for Devon to bring the backpack.
