Afterlife

by Dannika Dark

  Lenore swung her gaze up to the unlit chandelier. “I find closed rooms so drab and stuffy. This room has just the right amount of light.”

  “I insisted on the library, but Miss Parrish is very persuasive.”

  Viktor looked nervous. A perceptive Vampire could pick up a racing heartbeat or pupil fluctuations. He didn’t ever behave this way around Lenore, so I knew it had to do with all the children. That was probably where Shepherd had run off to—to make sure they stayed far away from the house until Lenore left.

  “I bet you raced down the stairs again,” I said, providing an explanation for the beads of sweat on his brow. “You should let one of us answer when Wyatt buzzes someone in. I don’t mind.”

  He nodded and gave me an appreciative look.

  Lenore moved to the chair on my right and waited until Viktor pulled it out for her. Funny—she had given me every reason to believe that she wasn’t a woman who relied on men for anything.

  When Viktor moved to sit across from her, I stood. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

  “Do let her stay,” Lenore said sweetly. “After everything you told me about Raven rescuing those Shifters and shutting down the cage fights, nothing would please me more.”

  Viktor gestured for me to sit, so I flipped the chair around and sat. I wasn’t feeling particularly social, but I had to be on my best behavior around Viktor.

  Lenore folded her hands, her nail color matching her dress precisely. “I hope you’re giving Raven the vacation she deserves.”

  Viktor chuckled. “Raven is not one to sit idly.”

  “He speaks highly of you,” Lenore informed me. “Viktor sings praises of all his people, but I think he has favorites.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Viktor gave me a diplomatic look. “All of my people are talented in different ways. What kind of leader would I be if I favored one over the other?”

  But Lenore’s cryptic grin led me to believe that maybe Viktor boasted about me in private after all. He always pulled Christian in on more jobs than anyone else. He spent private time with Gem with her translations, so I always felt out of the loop. I’d always imagined myself as a thorn in his side—a necessary evil he needed to keep around for the good of the team but a ticking time bomb he would eventually want to dispose of. He definitely didn’t play favorites, but knowing he bragged about me in private conversations was strangely reassuring.

  “What brings you here this time of day so unexpectedly?” Viktor asked, not mincing words. I could tell he was annoyed with her unannounced visit this time, perhaps having second thoughts about encouraging personal drop-ins.

  She tilted her head slightly as if searching for the right words. “Several packs are under the impression that I will be providing them with monetary compensation for the loss of an alpha. Do you know where they could have come up with such an outlandish idea?”

  Viktor began to shake his head but then searched my eyes.

  I gave him a guilty look. Viktor didn’t always want to know every tiny detail about our cases while under investigation, but maybe we should have run this one by him first. I steadied my gaze on Lenore, careful not to suggest that Viktor wasn’t in the know. “I needed a cover. To be honest, it was Christian’s idea. He thought with you being new, it would be a good way to make an impression with the local Shifters. It’s not easy to win people over, but money talks. We should have given you a heads-up, but I didn’t think anyone would be calling you this soon.”

  It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since Blue and I had made those calls. Fucking hell, these guys were quick to check us out and make sure we weren’t lying to them.

  Viktor glanced at his vodka bottle across the room, but he probably knew getting a drink would only invite her to stay longer. “I will, of course, be handling all the payments. We would never impose in such a way.”

  Lenore slid her gaze from Viktor back to me and finally said, “Now that I know someone’s not pulling a fast one on me, it’s no trouble at all. I’m the one who volunteered the idea of using the higher authority as a cover. In fact, I think it’s a splendid idea. Not only can we make amends with the locals, but it’s also an opportunity for me to make personal connections.” She looked across the table at Viktor and canted her head to one side. “I do think it would be best to include me on your plans the next time so I’m not taken by surprise. When three messages mentioned your people by name, I knew you could solve the mystery.”

  “Apologies,” he said. “It was a very late night.”

  Viktor was clever not to lie to Lenore. Would she be able to see it as easily as a Chitah could smell it? He could have told her that we planned to call, and that might have smoothed things over, but he danced around the apology like a professional ballerina. Or were men called ballerinos?

  “So this was Christian’s idea.” Lenore was impossible to read, but she remained amiable, leading me to believe she wasn’t as opposed to the idea as I’d thought. “It’ll win over some of the powerful Packmasters in the region to know that the higher authority has their best interests at heart. I’ll have to make financial arrangements, but I need you to confirm each person who called. I’m assuming this is an exclusive list? Do tell me more.”

  “I’m afraid we cannot divulge explicit details of all our cases,” Viktor said, leaning back. “It would bore someone of your high intelligence. We work so many jobs. Many are small and keep us busy. Very, very busy.” He glanced at his watch.

  “Of course.” Lenore rose from the table. “I know enough. Since I don’t want to take up your valuable time, would you mind if I stole Raven for an hour or two? I know you have plenty of work to do, but I’m judging by her appearance that she has a little free time this afternoon. Did you tell her I was your primary contact for the last assignment?”

  My eyebrows popped up. “Is that why Christian was guarding you?” Now it made sense. If Lenore had helped, that would have inadvertently made her a target, especially since some of her peers were involved in the fights. “I thought maybe you’d made a bunch of enemies.”

  She laughed melodically. “I do enjoy your sense of humor.”

  I shivered, having a weird sense of déjà vu.

  “Perhaps you should shower and put on something decent,” Lenore suggested.

  I caught Viktor’s look, and he knew how precious every second was. They needed to keep the kids away from the house and quiet. Viktor was smitten with Lenore but not enough to trust her with his livelihood. That was telling.

  I stood and pushed in the chair. “Since it’s your invitation, you’ll have to take me as I am. If I go upstairs to shower, I’ll wind up taking a nap. That’s my routine, and I’ve been working out all day. Just give me a couple of seconds to wash my armpits in the kitchen sink.”

  The sheer look of horror on her face made every bit of my uncouth behavior worth it.

  Lenore owned a white Rolls-Royce. She also had a black car, but this one definitely fit her style. The back doors opened the opposite way, and I’d never seen anything so classy.

  “It’s a 1948,” she said, running her hand across the interior wood paneling like one of those game show models. “Mint condition. I had to restore the leather bench, but isn’t it a dream?”

  I pointed at a cabinet door in the center. “Is that where you keep the booze?”

  Her black eyes sparkled as she studied me. “How did you know?”

  “I’ve seen a lot of old movies, I guess.”

  My dad would have loved this old car even though he would have called it a prissy waste of money. Deep down, he admired vehicles kept in their original condition.

  “Have a drink with me,” she insisted, opening the cabinet and placing two glasses on a tray that lowered from the back of the front seat. “Is bourbon all right?”

  “It’s fine.”

  She handed me one and clinked her glass against mine. “To unexpected friendships.”

  I wouldn’t have gone that far, but I kept quiet and gulpe
d down my drink. Christian was right about keeping enemies close. Though, truth be told, I wasn’t sure if Lenore was friend or foe. I hated the bitch, but that was when she was after Christian. Now that she had her sights on Viktor, I didn’t feel threatened by her. She helped sell my necklace at auction and lent me money. That didn’t mean I trusted her either, but I was in her debt for that damn loan. It was wiser to have a good rapport with someone I owed a favor to, so I had to play it smart.

  When I set my empty glass down, her eyes settled on my necklace. “Do you wear that all the time, even when you’re sweaty?”

  I gave her a sly grin. “Especially when I’m sweaty.”

  “Dear, oh dear. You should take better care of precious things.”

  “The chain is unbreakable.”

  “But your neck is not.”

  I stiffened at that remark.

  Lenore chuckled softly. “I’m only saying if that necklace were to ever get hung up on something, what would happen to your neck?”

  “It’s long enough that I can slip it off if that were to happen, but thanks for thinking of ways to avoid my decapitation. That’s not always the first thing that comes to mind when I’m admiring someone’s necklace.”

  She savored her drink. “One has to be practical. You can’t always keep something you love close if it might be the death of you.”

  I set down my empty glass and glanced out the window. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  As the car turned, grassy fields came into view. A tree here and there, sometimes a bench. Eventually we came to a stop.

  “Oh goody. We’re here.” Lenore waited for the driver to open her door.

  I shoved my door open and climbed out. Small waves lapped against the shore, and though the water was blue, there was a murky smell to it.

  Lenore hooked her arm in mine and led me toward the shore. “I prefer the ocean and salty air on my tongue, but this will have to do.”

  “Isn’t this a little blinding for you?”

  The sun shimmered on the water like a million mirrors.

  “Nonsense. I’m an old Vampire. When you’re my age, you simply build up a tolerance for the intolerable.”

  The driver waited by the car as we walked down a gentle slope of grass until we reached the muddy banks. Lenore left her high heels in the grass, lifted the hem of her dress with one hand, and walked close enough for the waves to splash over her feet.

  I stayed closer to dry land, not wanting stinky lake mud to cake all over my black sneakers. Strong wind plastered my hair to one side, but damn, it felt good.

  “Viktor didn’t know about your little financial arrangement, did he?” she asked.

  “He’s the boss. He knows everything.”

  Lenore smiled at me. “You’re a better liar than he is. Why do you think I prefer meeting people face-to-face instead of using these confounded telephones? I can pick up tiny fluctuations in their breathing and heart rate, but to be honest, most people who lie give the same exact signals.”

  I stepped onto a flat rock and faced her. “Does it really matter? We work cases nonstop, and Viktor’s too busy to know every detail. He trusts us.”

  A few tendrils freed themselves from the braided work of art on Lenore’s head. “Maybe I find it curious that he protects his people… even from me. What does a woman have to do to gain that man’s trust?”

  “Seduce him?” I said facetiously.

  “Is that what you do?”

  I stepped off the rock and strolled away. “I don’t use my sexuality to get what I want.”

  “Yes you do. We all do. Their weakness is our power.” She matched my stride, her toes filthy with mud and tiny pebbles stuck to them.

  “Maybe that’s true for some men, but that’s not how it works with Viktor. I earned his trust by doing the job.”

  “Perhaps I’ve been going about this the wrong way. I thought he wanted a woman of equal power, but maybe he’s old-fashioned and desires a little dominance.”

  “I’m not interested in your love life, and to be honest, I think there are other men who are more your speed. I know he comes across as polished, but Viktor’s a down-to-earth kind of guy. His version of fun is having a drink and telling boring stories about his boyhood. He likes sweater vests, hates electricity, tells bad jokes, and loves to jog.”

  “And exactly what kind of man do you think is my match?”

  “Some rich asshole who throws big parties and travels the world in a private jet.”

  “A dime a dozen.”

  “Viktor’s a workaholic.”

  “I’m realizing that. So, woman to woman, how can I impress Viktor and show him my true intentions? You know him better than most, and I don’t know the others in the group well enough to solicit their opinion.”

  “You’ve got a good start with the vintage wine. Liquor him up and turn on the charm. Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

  Lenore stopped me. “Why do I get the impression you don’t approve of this match? I can’t say I approved of yours, but one has to move on. Perhaps you have feelings for Viktor you’re bottling up.”

  I erupted with laughter and turned back the way we came. Just the idea that I could be attracted to a man who wore silk pajama pants and a robe to bed was too much.

  “You shouldn’t allow Christian to shape your opinions,” she said in the way a friend might when giving advice. “He doesn’t want me to find happiness because of our history. But you and I have no history.”

  “Christian doesn’t tell me what to feel.”

  “I’m relieved. I know how much you admire Viktor, and a man like him deserves happiness. If Christian secretly plans to sabotage our coupling, I hope that you’ll have enough common sense to stop him. It would be a selfish cause, and it might destroy Viktor. He’s more fragile than you think. And you should consider how one person’s influence could affect your future. Always think for yourself. Contrary to what some believe, it’s not a betrayal of love to have opposing beliefs or opinions.”

  “I’m not trying to keep you two apart. I just think it’s an odd match. I like Viktor, and I don’t want to see him get hurt. Don’t get your hopes up for anything long-term. Keystone means a lot to him, and I don’t know how well a serious relationship would work out.”

  “I’ve wondered the same about you and Christian. A woman like yourself would be better matched with a man in power.”

  The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I had that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach again. This didn’t feel right. I shouldn’t be out here talking to Lenore about Viktor. I didn’t want to influence his personal life—that could drastically backfire on me. What if Lenore told Viktor that I tried talking her out of their relationship? Fuck. Was she doing this to hold something over me?

  “I should get back,” I said, climbing the hill.

  “Can I trust you won’t drive a wedge between Viktor and me? You have to put aside your personal feelings and let people make their own choices. Viktor’s a catch. There aren’t many other men in this city I’m better matched with in terms of power and money.”

  “What about love?”

  “Love is irrelevant. It’s the other qualities you share with a partner that matter more. Trust, loyalty, affection, and companionship. I’m sure if you think about it, those are the things you value most with Christian.”

  “Actually, I’m fond of the hot sex.”

  Lenore stopped. “You’re beginning to sound like him. Viktor sees a lot of potential in you, as do I. Just be careful. Bad influences rub off on people like mud.”

  I swiveled around, my gaze settling on her dirty feet. “I’ll see myself home. I’ve got a few errands to run, and I like walking. Thanks for the scenic ride.”

  “Raven, it behooves me to pay those Shifters, especially after the egregious mistakes the higher authority made over the past few months. I’m a classy lady, and I’ll stay true to my word. But don’t pull a stunt like that again
without consulting me first. You can’t play with a person’s money and reputation that way.”

  “You got it.”

  She strolled to the back of the car and rested her arm on the open door. “It was a pleasant surprise running into you, Raven. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”

  Perish the thought.

  Chapter 25

  After my conversation with Lenore, I walked to a nearby bar and sat down to think. I didn’t have my purse or wallet, so it was just like the old days. Only now I wasn’t hopping from table to table, suckering men out of a meal. In retrospect, my desperation must have been an undesirable perfume. Immortals must prefer the scent of aloofness, because one after another kept approaching my table or sending me drinks. I didn’t accept their advances. I just sipped on my complimentary water and pondered our case.

  If we could confirm this was a virus, who would we report it to? There were multiple Shifter Councils for each territory, and the higher authority was set up similarly except in different cities. We didn’t have a Breed CDC or health department. We could set off a widespread panic. Even if it didn’t wipe out all Shifters, taking out the alphas would do irreparable damage to the structured world surrounding them. Alphas ran packs. Period. Without them, Shifters would murder each other for that position in a constant battle for power. Some of the animal groups would break apart, and the Council only sold large plots of land to reputable alphas who formed a family unit. Would the Council revoke land from the dissolved groups? Would a war be imminent in a battle for land? What responsibility did Keystone have in all this? I wondered if Viktor would decide that nothing good would come out of revealing something we didn’t have the science to stop.

  When I felt time slipping away, I left the bar and strolled down the busy street. A man was playing a Pink Floyd song on a guitar, the setting sun encasing him in golden light. I passed a fortune-teller shop that, come to find out, was mostly run by Sensors. Deciding to take a shortcut, I jumped on the back of a moving truck to hitch a ride home. The idiot behind me was recording me on his cell phone, and I wished we didn’t have all this technology. It made it difficult for me to flash. If something like that was caught on video, we had insiders who could shut down accounts and make videos disappear, but we still had to be careful about using our powers in public.