Page 37 of Blood Bearon
“Trust,” he said. “You told me partnerships were built on trust. On knowing that one has the other’s back. So now, I’m trusting you with something that very few have been trusted with.”
Rachel tapped the steering wheel. “Does this relate to our case?”
He shook his head. “Not really. Not directly at least, but it will help you to understand the tools you have at your disposal, and so that in the future you’re prepared for what we encounter. I can’t have you freezing up on me. Not if we’re going to handle this ourselves.”
Khove didn’t bother telling Rachel that he had his doubts about the two of them taking Korred down alone. The man was a horrifically powerful mage. They were going to need serious backup for that. But if they couldfindhim, then Khove could summon that backup.
Along the way though, he knew magic would come into play, and he couldn’t have Rachel going into further harm’s way without knowing the truth.
Something told him she could handle this. Her mind was strong. Analytical. She would accept the truth, because she would beshownit.
Hopefully.
“I see your smoking trees are out,” Rachel said wryly as they headed past the place of Korred’s attack.
“Yes, so it would seem,” he agreed, surprising himself with a little chuckle.
The pressure of what he was about to do was starting to eat away at him, and even his normally casual attitude toward everything was starting to waver. After all, this was a big deal to both sides.
If Rachel could handle what she was about to see, then their partnership could ascend to new levels, and they could ensure events like the night before never happened again.
But if she didn’t…
That wasn’t worth thinking about, he told himself. It simply wasn’t going to happen that way. He’d had long enough to evaluate her now, and everything he’d seen pointed toward her being able to handle this. Still, there was reason they were doing it here, where nobody else could see them, and where she could take time to assimilate this new knowledge.
“Well, this is fancy,” Rachel remarked as the gates swung open and she guided them down the driveway and into the forest. “How far does it go?”
“Far enough,” he teased with a smile.
Coming home was his favorite.
“Oh wow,” Rachel breathed minutes later as they finally cleared the edge of the forest and the snow-covered lawns of Ursidae Manor spread out before them. Here and there, clumps of trees dotted the property, but for the most part, smooth rolling hills stretched out into the distance. In the middle of them all…
“You livethere?” she yelped as the true scope of the Manor registered with her. “It’s…it’s huge.”
That was a bit of an understatement. Built originally in the late sixteenth century, and then expanded upon again every few decades, it was a hodgepodge of architectural styles and designs that nonetheless seemed to blend together smoothly, transitioning with ease from one to the next, so that there were no harsh lines.
Smooth-sided columns and arched windows, high spires and peaked roofs gave way to brick and mortar. It should have clashed with the senses, but it was all tied together so uniquely that it simply stole one’s breath. Even Khove was awed by the beauty each time he was greeted with this view.
“That’s a hell of a house.”
“It’s the company headquarters as well,” he explained.
“Ah. That makes a bit more sense. Sort of. Random spot to have such a place though. In the middle of nowhere, not even close to a major city?”
He shrugged.
“Okay, mister. Keep your secrets. But tell me, what’s out here that you couldn’t tell me in town?” Rachel asked, following his directions as the road forked, taking them down into the underground parking instead of to the roundabout that served as the grand entryway. “Holy shit.”
Row upon row of cars spread out before them. Exotic luxury vehicles, classic muscle and sports cars, and lean, sharp-angled hypercars many people only ever saw online, all spread out before them in a smorgasbord of vehicular delight.
“Privacy,” he said once she’d picked her jaw up.
“Privacy,” she repeated dully, lifting an eyebrow questioningly.
“Yes. What I’m about to show you—”
“Show?” she interjected. “I thought you were going to explain something to me.”
