Page 22 of A Vampire in a Pear Tree
“Christian, I think I have potentially some more good news for you vampires,” I said, tucking away my phone as the men simultaneously looked up from their respective phones and over to him.
“Dark Ones,” he corrected automatically, looking curious.“What news is it you have?”
“May says Savian Bartholomew’s cousin—he’s a thief taker, now married to a dragon—is on her way here with your missing thane.”
“What?”The word shot out of him with the velocity of a bullet.“How is this possible?”
“Holy cow,” Allie said, tucking her hand into Christian’s.“Is he OK?Is the cousin OK?How did she find him?”
“According to Gabriel, the thane’s mother hired her.”Drake read out the pertinent points from Gabriel’s text as Becket returned from domestic duties.
“Is the room with the blue flowers still available?”Yrian asked her.
“The small one?Yes, although I didn’t finish decorating in there, so it’s just the basic furniture.Why?”she asked, her expression turning to one of suspicion.“Don’t tell me someone else is staying?”
We briefly explained the situation while Christian sent what I assumed were texts to his people.
“Sure, another demigod will be fun to have around the house,” Becket said when we finished taking turns filling her in.Her voice was rich with irony, although I thought she was secretly amused by the situation.
“I don’t know that he’s all that.I mean, if he was a demigod, he probably could have gotten himself out of the Seventh Hour—” I started to say, but Jim snorted at the same time Yrian shook his head.
“Thanes are not demigods, but they are similar in nature.They simply draw their abilities from mortal beings rather than the elements, as we do,” he said, his expression thoughtful.“I believe I met one of them in battle, although I have little memory of our interaction.Regardless, we have sworn to aid you with your thane, Christian, so it is good he is coming here, where we may subdue him if he is not as the silver wyvern claims.”
“Good lord, is that them already?”Ysolde asked, shielding her eyes against the frosty sunlight, watching as an SUV appeared at the top of a hill to the north, dipping down as the road headed into the small valley in which the farm was located.She asked Baltic, “Should we do something to meet the thane?You have the light sword with you, yes?”
“Gabriel may be many things, but he has yet to prove himself a bad judge of character,” Baltic answered somewhat cryptically, and also, I noticed, ignoring Ysolde’s question about whether he had a magic sword concealed somewhere about his person.“If he says the thane is not a threat, then I don’t see we need to protect ourselves beyond normal measures.”
“I think that’s Finch and Tat,” Allie said, leaning into Christian to read his phone.“Yes, they texted that they see the farm.”
We moved into the warmth of the big house once Finch had arrived, and introductions were made all around.
“I don’t know about all this,” I said from in front of a massive stone fireplace.Ysolde and Allie were with me as we warmed our butts while watching the interaction of the others.Becket had taken Tatiana upstairs with their luggage while Finch remained in close consultation with his uncle and the wyverns.“Something seems ...”
“Off?”Allie asked, shooting a glance at her husband.“Christian basically just said the same thing.Our Horsemen—the vamps’ version of the Watch—are insisting they portal out here immediately so they can help Christian, but I don’t think he’s really worried about that.”
“I’m with him, there,” I said, rubbing my arms, feeling chilled even though the house was warm and comfy.“It feels like something that looks one way is really another.”
“Something?”Ysolde asked, shifting to the side when Becket and Tatiana returned.Becket stayed with us while Tatiana peeled off to join Finch.“A person, place, or thing?”
“I don’t know.”I studied Jim for a few seconds.It was flaked out on the dog bed I brought with us when we went visiting, but it was clearly listening to the men as they spoke.“I wish I could pin it down, but I can’t.”
“I can’t help but think that every time we seem to come to an easy resolution of a problem, things get worse,” Ysolde commented.“It all started with Xavier and the bad dragons, then Bael and his crazy mom, and now Jim’s dad is insisting we locate and give him a majorly powerful relic.”
“I share that feeling,” I said, and would have tried to pinpoint the origin of the worry that seemed to prickle along my skin, but at that moment, the sound of a car arriving could be heard, and everyone turned to look out the large windows at the parking area.
“Thane incoming,” I said, and gestured Jim over to my side.If this Owain person thought he could fool us, I’d be ready.
