Page 44 of Destined for Dreams
The woman would never cease to amaze him. “Since when have you ever thought of anyone else’s feelings aside from your own?”
“Let’s just say my daughter’s visit left an impression on me.”
He could almost buy that, almost. “And why should I believe anything you’ve said?”
“I don’t have the best track record, I admit.” She glanced away. “But more than anything I do want this world to survive as it is and not under some lunatic demon’s control. There is no advantage in that for me.”
“You always find an advantage,” he pointed out.
She shook her head. “Not this time. As much as it galls me, the man who cannot stand to be touched is our greatest hope.”
Of course, Zoe could not resist one final dig at him. “I wouldn’t put too much stock in me as your savior.”
“Get over your past, Bartol, and grow a pair—or else we’re all doomed, including your mate.”
He itched to slap her, but he wouldn’t lower himself or lose control that way. She wasn’t worth it. “Go to Hell, Zoe of Chalcis.”
Picturing in his mind his next destination, he flashed away.
***
He found Tormod and Caius waiting for him at the front of the hotel they’d reserved for the evening. Since Bartol’s contact in town was a vampire, they wouldn’t be able to meet with him for two more hours—just before five in the evening since the sun set relatively early in this area. In the meantime, they’d check into their rooms and go for a late lunch.
The hotel stood two stories tall with a yellow façade, numerous windows, and a red roof. It was one of those quaint places one would expect to be comfortable. At least, that was what Caius and Tormod had claimed based on the reviews they read online. Bartol had left them in charge of that while he took care of other arrangements.
A set of steps led up to the entrance. They climbed them and went inside where warmth pushed away the winter chill. He was relieved to find the interior as inviting as the exterior. A host greeted them, took care of the paperwork and payment, and showed them to their rooms. Each of them got their own private quarters. Bartol’s had a full-size bed outfitted with flowery sheets and a maroon comforter. Not his top choice, but the color scheme didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be here long enough to care. The rest of the room appeared clean and well maintained. He checked the shower, relieved to find hot water. At the nerou compound in Russia, it had been sporadic at best. Bartol might have spent most of his life without modern conveniences, but he’d begun to appreciate them since his return to Earth.
After dropping off his bag, he met the other men at the front of the hotel. Tormod’s stomach was already growling.
“Sorry,” he said, rubbing his belly. “I seriously need a decent meal.”
Caius grinned. “I think we all do.”
They walked to a nearby restaurant their proprietor had recommended. Along the way, Bartol marveled at how much had changed since his last visit to the country. Centuries had passed. Nothing looked quite the same, and he didn’t only mean the buildings and streets. There was a time when the clothing people wore varied considerably from one country to the next, but he saw far less of that these days. In the winter, it appeared most people wore jeans or slacks and thick jackets. On a favorable note, it meant he and his comrades had no trouble blending in as they traveled from one destination to the next.
Tormod gazed at their surroundings. “At least it hasn’t snowed here recently.”
“For now,” Bartol replied.
They’d caught the town on a relatively good weather day. Bartol still found it cold—just above freezing—but nowhere near as bad as it had felt at the nerou compound. Or Alaska, for that matter, where it was the coldest of all.
They found the restaurant easily enough and got a table. With it being late afternoon, it wasn’t too crowded, but there were a few other customers. They ordered borscht, cabbage rolls filled with beef, and pelmeni as the main meals to share.
“I could eat this again,” Tormod said, sitting back in his chair with a satisfied expression. “No one makes these kinds of meals in Alaska.”
From what Bartol had heard, the nerou compound typically prepared American fare, though they sometimes had Italian or Mexican dishes. He set money on the table for the food, having thankfully brought a variety of currencies with him for the trip. “I’m glad you enjoyed it, though there are many more foods around the world you should try once you’re free to do so.”
Tormod frowned. “We’re supposed to be getting our first assignments soon, so we can begin studying the area where we’ll be stationed. Most of us will get the U.S. or Canada, but I heard there will be two slots for Australia as well.”
“Where are you hoping to go?” Caius asked.
“I’m not sure.” The nerou was quiet for a moment. “New York, Florida, Texas…all those places would be awesome, or even Australia, but none of them are going to be near my mom. She says she’ll be going back to Scotland and meeting up with my dad in the spring. I’m supposed to visit her there whenever I can.”
And since Tormod didn’t train at the European compound, he wouldn’t be stationed over there. “At least you’ve had some time with your parents, and as your mother pointed out, you’ll be able to visit.”
The nerou ran his hand through his shaggy brown hair. “Yeah, but it’s not like I can flash that far to see them whenever I want. I’ll have to take vacation time, which Remiel says we won’t get for our first year.”
“You’ll be fine,” Bartol reassured him. “You need to get out on your own and find yourself away from everyone else. This will be your chance.”
