Page 48 of Lucas
Lucas nodded, but he glanced at Bella, somewhat curious. “We’ve been in some sticky situations. She has skill. What do you think?”
Bella gave the question its due diligence. “She’s a quick study and seems to have a second nature for reading a situation. In my opinion, she has more bravado than sense, but her only true weakness is being human.”
“There’s a way to solve for that.” Rom sat back and twirled the paper cup.
“No.” Lucas wasn’t prepared for the veracity behind the single word. “That is a personal decision. An irrevocable one.She must come to that consideration on her own, of her own free will—if she does at all.” He locked eyes with Rom. “I will not have it mentioned in her presence. I’ve never asked anything of you before, but I’m sincere in this request.”
All humor fled Rom’s gaze. “Of course, brother. It was said in jest and with poor judgment. It’s easy to see the depth of feeling you have for each other. And mutual respect. That’s difficult to find in any species.” He held out his hand. “You have my word.”
Lucas ignored it. “Your word has always been good enough for me.” Then he took the proffered hand. “Thank you for taking time away from the Family to help us.”
Rom’s shake was firm, and he held it for a moment before letting go. “This day has been coming for a long time. Though I’ve never met a dreamwalker, I felt their presence within the city. Like wraiths flowing with the early-morning fog. Draped through the city as thick as Spanish moss. They won’t wait much longer. There are times at the darkest hour, I can feel the tension building. No one else speaks of it, and sometimes I think I’m imagining it. But it’s real. I don’t know why I can sense it when no other can. Or perhaps they’re as mystified as myself and unwilling to look the fool.
“I’m here to help you find Philipe, if it’s possible, and Devon has my allegiance in his war. Don’t look at Bella, she didn’t say anything I wasn’t already aware of. I’ve known Devon longer than you. It was easy to see during his last trip to New Orleans that he was at a boiling point with the attacks on his House. He’s been more than patient, and now he’s within striking distance of the vampire’s holy grail. This will be earth-shattering news for most vampire Houses and could bring about a civil war. But most of its effects might be contained within a personal war between two powerful Houses. It would save many vampire lives.”
Lucas sat back, his head reeling. Devon had understood this from the start. Not when he first began his mission to remove his censure, but when he first suspected Cressa was a dreamwalker. And then he discovered what might be contained within theDe første dage. It all fit. Devon’s entire life since his father’s death.
Rom broke his musing. “It would have been easier to have met a dreamwalker before making such a commitment for my House, but I have to trust Devon knows what he’s doing. Venizi has become too bold.”
Lucas shook his head, still partially in his thoughts, which was why his next statement came out so matter-of-factly. “You have.”
His gaze dropped to the map, but the lines became unfocused. Talks of war hadn’t seemed real until now. Though he couldn’t envision Devon’s end game, he trusted his Father as he had Rom and Lafitte before him. Since Devon’s declaration of war, he hadn’t shared his inner thoughts with the cadre, and Lucas suspected he wanted to wait until he returned from Spain. House Aramburu was a wild card that could tip the scales or create further chaos.
He was so deep in his thoughts, he almost missed Rom’s startled look. “What?”
Rom stared at him as if he was leaking brain matter. “You said you have. I want to know what that meant.”
Lucas replayed the earlier conversation, unsure what he meant at the time. When he remembered, he grinned. “Dreamwalkers. You said you never met one, but you have.” It wasn’t often he knew something before Rom. In fact, it was damn rare, so he let his old House leader have a think on it.
Rom’s forehead furrowed, giving a glimpse of the wrinkles that might form in another five hundred years. He snapped his fingers. “Cressa?”
Lucas laughed. “You’re a bit slower than you used to be.”
“Aah.” He sat up, leaning his elbows on the table as a spark of the beast lit his gaze, his tone full of wonderment. “It all makes sense now. I found it difficult to believe Sergi would bring Devon’s supposed Blood Ward all the way to New Orleans to see a Renaud Library when there are several closer to him. But I did believe him when he said his business had nothing to do with the New Orleans Houses.” Rom paused as he continued to put it together. “Then why come to New Orleans?” He chuckled. “Don’t tell me. They met with another dreamwalker.”
When Lucas just grinned at him, he sighed. “I told you not to tell me. Sometimes, I think Lafitte rubbed off on you more than I first suspected.” Then he brightened. “I think a trip to Santiga Bay is in order, just to ensure I understand the details correctly.”
“You’re always welcome, you know that. But I think Cressa has it in mind to return to New Orleans with Devon. That would be an excellent time for Devon to speak with the House leaders.”
Rom nodded. “Including Renaud.”
The entire idea exploded in his head as he considered what could be accomplished with a meeting of the New Orleans Triad—three powerful Houses.
Before he could respond, the door burst open. They all jumped up, prepared to face the enemy when Ginger waltzed in carrying several bags. Jacques trailed behind with more bags and a broad smile.
Ginger plopped the bags on the table, forcing Rom and Lucas to step back as they stared at her. Bella hadn’t moved an inch, holding back a smile.
“I didn’t mean to startle y’all.” She gave everyone a saucy grin. “I know how you like surprises. Have you figured out our next steps?”
Chapter Nineteen
Empty food containers,coffee cups, and plastic utensils had been pushed aside to make room in the middle of the table. Four heads bent over a map and stared at the lines and circles Lucas had drawn around points of interest in the small town of Hazel Green.
I wasn’t sure what the three vamps were seeing that I wasn’t. They’d been staring at the map for fifteen minutes without a word while Bella had left to arrange for their rooms.
“This entire trip could be a fool’s errand, you know.” Rom scratched at the stubble on his jaw that gave him a rakish appearance.
“But you don’t believe that.” Lucas eyed his friend with an insight I didn’t have.
