Page 35 of Betrayed in Blood
“Cressa,” Devon turned to her. “Have you been able to contact Colantha?”
She startled, not expecting a quick topic change, but she cleared her throat and grinned. Good news, then? “Yes, we dreamwalked, and I showed her a page from the book. It’s definitely a dreamwalker language. She said to expect her soon, probably in the next day or two.”
“That’s fantastic news.” Lucas couldn’t help his grin, and Devon agreed with his assessment.
But that was as far as they got before Sergi stood. “We have a problem.”
The desk phone rang, and Simone picked it up seconds before the alarms went off.
“Got it. We’re on our way.” She stood. “It’s Oasis. We’re under attack.”
“I think we have visitors at the safe houses as well,” Sergi added.
Devon was already up and heading for the door. “Level One emergency. Full defense mode. Lucas, I want you, Ginger, and Lyra to remain here to protect the manor. Who do we have at the safe houses?”
“Teams one and three are in place.” Sergi reviewed notes on his tablet. “Our final security measures aren’t in place yet, but they should be prepared.”
“Bella and Jacques, I want you to monitor the situation and assist where you can. The rest of us are going to Oasis.”
“The limo and motorcade are still out front. Emergency procedures are underway,” Sergi called out as he fell in line.
“Five minutes to gather your weapons and armored vests,” Devon called out. The message was more for Cressa than anyone. There were weapons in the limo, but he headed to the small armory next to the foyer and grabbed a sword, dagger, and a Sig Sauer 9mm.
He paced next to the limo as the team gathered. Bella and Jacques drove past on their way to the gate, a SUV following behind them. He pulled out his phone and called the gatehouse. “Do we have any visitors?”
“Not yet, sir. We called in more security.”
“Very good. The limo and motorcade will be leaving in two minutes.”
He turned around to find everyone jumping into the limo and the motorcade vehicles. When Simone nodded, he jumped into the limo where Cressa waited, her leg bouncing. Mateo was in one of the jump seats texting with the security teams. Simone and Sergi would be in the SUVs, complying with standard lockdown procedures. It was likely Venizi had a team on the way to the manor or could attempt an attack on their way to Oasis.
“We knew Venizi would eventually find out about Oasis.” Cressa might have been trying to calm him or simply stating a fact as she prepared for battle.
When the limo drove south of town rather than east toward the hills and rural area beyond, Cressa’s face scrunched. “Aren’t we going the wrong way?”
He grabbed her hand. “You’ll see.” Five minutes later, they entered a private airport with a single airstrip and a handful of hangars.
A helicopter with the rotors already turning waited for them.
“You have a helicopter?” Cressa stared through the front window as they closed in on it.
“For emergencies.”
When the limo came to a stop, they all piled out. Devon pulled Cressa with him, ducking low as Sergi, Simone, Mateo, and Roberta, raced for the copter and didn’t slow down until they climbed in. The drivers of the motorcade remained behind with the rest of the security detail and the four vampires stationed at the airport for security.
Cressa grabbed Devon’s hand as the copter lifted and banked sharply as it flew out of the city.
“You’ve prepared for this eventuality.” Cressa stared at him with a bit of awe.
“And much more. We’d hoped it would be years before Venizi discovered Oasis.” He squeezed her hand as he monitored the landscape below them. “We have a few other surprises his team won’t be expecting.”
I slidthe headset Devon gave me over my ears and stared out the window as the copter flew over the city. My stomach was in knots. Not for the battle that we might not be in time for but for the possible fatalities and the destruction of such a beautiful sanctuary.
It had been just a matter of time before someone discovered Oasis, no matter the safeguards that had been put in place to prevent that eventuality. Devon owned thousands of acres, and while some of it was fenced, it was a lot of land to secure. When things grew more heated with Venizi, Decker had suggested shifters, and after long consideration and a few interviews, Simone had agreed. The wolves had trained well with the vampires with only a few scuffles, but the two species working in defense of the same territory was breaking new ground.
Devon grasped my hand, and I squeezed back, giving him a half-hearted smile. His lips were firmly set, his jaw stiff, and his eyes shined with the glow of his beast. He was pissed. An attack barely an hour after Devon’s return from the Council. Would Venizi have attacked regardless of what Devon’s answer had been? Not that we knew this attack came from Lorenzo. But if not him, then who?
The headset crackled.
