Page 22 of Kiss Across the Universe
“So do I.” Taylor laughed and held out her arms. “Come here. This will have to do until we get back. Then you and I will head somewhere—oh, I know! Tuscany in the 1920s, for a plate of pasta each, and a big jug of the local wine. And we’ll talk.”
Tuscany in the 1920s meant that Taylor would be human and could eat, and both of them, with their dark hair, could pass for natives in a pinch.
“Sounds good, mom,” Alannah told her, stepping out of the hug. “I can hearFar’svoice getting louder. He wants to go.”
They moved out of the pantry, through the kitchen and into the front room, where everyone was assembling.
Veris and Brody were also dressed more or less like contemporary fifth century men. Alannah suspected that one or more local theatre groups might be short a costume or two. The swords on their hips, though, were the real things. Alannah didn’t know if both men had carried them through history from the fifth century, but she did know they had been in Brody’s and Veris’ possession for at least a few centuries, from a time when a man wore a sword every day, if he wanted to live to sunset, and his family with him. The swords would declare them as men capable of defending themselves.
They also wore knives on their belts, but those, Alannah knew, were considered to be little more than eating implements by contemporaries, whilesheknew both men could kill or maim just as easily with the knives as they could the swords. And if pushed to it, they could do without either.
Alannah drew in a long, long breath, reaching for calm. Her mother was right. Veris and Brody were survivors. And her mother had a will made of titanium. The three of them would be fine. Theywouldbe. And Alannah would tell herself that over and over, as often as needed, for the next two weeks.
“If you find Shore, bring him back to this time,” Kieren said.
“‘When’, you mean,” Brody said flatly, with his chin turned to examine the fold he was making in his mantle, as he arranged it over his shoulder.
“Fine, ‘when’,” Kieren replied. “I won’t argue about the chance that he’s anywhere else but Arthurian Britain, as you’re determined he’s there. When and if you find him, bring him here. A delayed letter drop to us will bring me here as soon as you arrive. I’ll bring a few capable people to help me take him back to our time.”
Veris looked at Cáel. “Interesting that you’re not trying to talk us out of this.”
Cáel smiled. “Talkyouout of something?” He gave a little shrug. “Youarethe best people to do this. I’m actually kicking myself that we didn’t think of this sooner.”
Alannah studied Nyara, who stood still and silent, watching the preparation. She wondered if Nyarahadthought of this sooner. But if she had, why not just ask? Why the drunken slip of the tongue act?
Because Veris would have objected to the idea on principal…because it hadn’t beenhisidea. The thought whispered in Alannah’s mind and she held her teeth together to stop her jaw from dropping as she studiedFar. Would he have objected to the request? Maybe twenty years ago, he might have. She recalled him as a tall, blustery, loud-voiced man who treated everyone else with scathing disdain, but for her had only gentle hands and warm eyes, and could settle her to sleep with a few soft words.
Nyara might not understand how much her fathers had changed in such a short time in their very long lives. She might even believe that change wasn’t possible. For vampires who could live for multiple centuries, it would be easy to assume that change, if it came at all, came slowly.
Only, Veris and Brody had been living among humans, intimately involved in their lives and passing as human in the most complete way possible. While Nyara and her people lived openly as vampires, without compromise or the need to take on human guises.
Taylor joined Brody and Veris, making a tight grouping. She held out her arms and both men stepped into them without hesitation.
Alannah held her breath.
“Two weeks,” Taylor promised, looking at her.
Alannah nodded.
“Bring chains and handcuffs,” Veris told Kieren.
“Good luck!” Alexander called.
“Be careful!” Sydney added.
“No, just be smarter than everyone else,” Neven growled.
“And…” Taylor said, bending her knees. “Now.”
The three of them disappeared.
Chapter Ten
A week later.
Even as he was crossingthe metal bridge, which rattled now the snow had melted, Kit knew that something was wrong.
Taylor’s bright red Jeep with the big tires sat where it usually did. Brody’s Mazda MX-5 was beside it, under a waterproof tarpaulin to protect it from the worst of the winter. It wouldn’t move from that spot until the snow melted in the spring.
