“We can drive by and see how close to finished they are. Turn to the left up here.”
The road wound higher into the mountains. The highway, thickly lined with trees, allowed only a glimpse now and then of the half-moon. After another mile, she told him to turn to the left down a narrow, paved road.
The house was built of huge logs with a rock foundation. A wraparound porch with a tin roof encircled the first floor, while atop the second floor roof was a widow’s walk.
“That’s unusual.”
“You can see the lake from here. I love sitting up there and soaking in the moonlight. I miss sunlight, and moonlight is the closest thing I can get to it. Would you like to go up and enjoy the view for a while?”
“Yes.”
She keyed in the password to open the door and hit the switch inside to turn on the lights. The walls were sheet-rocked inside to cover the logs, giving the impression the interior of the house was infused with light. Some of the new furniture she ordered had arrived, and the men had unwrapped the items and set them in place. It was time to choose some lamps and pillows.
The new gray-green kitchen cabinets coordinated perfectly with the veins of gold and green in the black granite countertops, and the stainless steel appliances reflected the glow of the pot lights overhead.
The hardwood floors gleamed with the finish the brothers had applied since she was here last.
“What does a vampire need with a kitchen?” Hunter asked.
“I can cook for my Shifter, witch, and human friends. I even have a couple of pixie and fairy friends I can make mead for.”
Hunter’s grin jumpstarted her heart into a flurry of beats. He looked younger when he smiled, and sexy as hell. “You are very unusual, Phoebe.”
She thought about Vlad’s comment about her being “not just vampire.” Sooner or later Hunter would discover what she was, but not yet.
“The setup is very similar to Arthur’s house. My bedroom is in the basement, but I’m planning to have one of the upstairs rooms secured as well. One has a skylight.” She caught his hand and drew him to the stairs. Stainless steel banisters supported glass inserts so the light could pass through.
In the upstairs bedroom, Hunter studied the skylight over the bed.
“You could have a shield set on a timer just to be safe,” Hunter suggested.
“That’s a good idea.”
“Who’s doing the work for you?”
“Babe and his brothers. They can build anything, and they can repair anything too, including cars. And now for my favorite part…the stairs to the widow’s walk are at the end of this hall.”
The spiral stairway led up to a small, sheltered door leading out onto the roof. Adirondack chairs and small tables were set up to look out toward the lake. Moonlight touched the wings of a flock of large geese as they flew overhead, honking loudly.
“I love it here.”
“I can tell.” Hunter placed an arm around her waist and leaned an arm on the railing. “If this is where you’ve always wanted to be, why didn’t you tell Arthur Stewart and move up here?”
Phoebe remained silent for a moment. “When I first transitioned, I had some adjustment issues. It was very hard for me to maintain control, and I needed help accepting some of the changes. I still struggle with some of them. I couldn’t go back home and tell my parents what happened, and it was especially hard not being able to see them or let them know I was okay. They’re both gone now.” The grief was still there to tighten her throat and make her eyes sting.
“Arthur gave me a job managing some of his business ventures, which helped enormously, because it forced me to focus. He took me under his wing, became like a father to me. And Luke became a big brother.”
She turned to look up at him. “Vlad was right. I’m not completely vampire. There’s still a part of me that’s more human than vamp.” She couldn’t reveal her every secret, but she wanted to trust him. “It’s both a torment and a comfort still having these human feelings, hopes and dreams. I still miss feeling the sunlight on my skin. I still crave a good cheeseburger. Still want a home and family.”
“Being a vampire doesn’t mean you can’t have a home. But allowing someone to control you usually does.”
She noticed he didn’t say family. “Vlad doesn’t…control you?”
“No. I take the cases I’m interested in. I run my own life.”
She remained silent for a moment. “I went along with the marriage because I thought if I did this one last thing for Arthur, I would have fulfilled my last obligation, and I could walk away.”
“You’re a powerful female, Phoebe. Why allow him to dominate you?”
She shook her head. “It isn’t exactly like that. It’s more like having a parent who depends on you, and you don’t want to disappoint them. I owe him my life. One of his younger vamps attacked me and left me to die. Arthur turned me, then mentored me until I had some control.”
“Did he turn you to save your life, or because he sensed you had other powers?”
She grimaced. He saw more than she wanted him to. She felt almost embarrassed having her every secret exposed. “I’m not naïve, I know why he turned me. But he’s protected me, too. I care about him. Relationships can be so confusing and complicated.”
Hunter’s features hardened. “There’s a fine line between protection and manipulation. He didn’t do so well at the wedding, did he?”
“I didn’t either.”
“You still protected him, even though you almost died.”
“It wasn’t entirely altruistic, you know. Had he died, I’d have died, too. And others. That’s what Trevor planned.”
“But Luke wouldn’t have died. Arthur didn’t turn him. Could he be involved?”
“No. He wasn’t at the house. He was holding the hand of a very rich, nervous vampire whose especially large clan was threatening to leave our area.”
“What better alibi than to be gone? And it was a very important day for him to be gone.”
“I told him to go, because it wasn’t an important day to me. It was just something to get through.”
“An even better reason for him to be there to support you.”
She remembered the phone call she overheard in the library, but pushed the memory away. Luke was her brother in every way. He would never hurt her. “What are you trying to do, Hunter?”
“It pisses me off that you’re alone through all of this. The two most important people in your life aren’t doing a damn thing to support or protect you.”
It was true. But it was partly her fault. She began pushing them away long before the wedding. She’d become dissatisfied with her position in Arthur’s business. Dissatisfied with her life. What was the point of living forever if she couldn’t pursue her own passions?
What if it was too late?
Hunter cupped her face and kissed her softly, carefully, offering her comfort.
Phoebe’s body went weak with sensation, and it didn’t have a thing to do with the poison. She leaned into him and felt the response of his body to hers. Her lips parted and his tongue found hers. She moaned beneath the pressure of the kiss.
He raised his head and brushed his lips along her cheekbone. “You deserve better, Phoebe.”
“Better than that?”
His smile flashed white in the dark. “We can work on it.” He slid a warm hand down her back and pulled her in closer. “But you know what I’m saying.”
“I’m moving in here as soon as this is over. That will make it better.”
“Do you think so? You’ll be isolated up here.”
“But I’ll be following my own passions instead of someone else’s.”
“That sounds promising.” He gave her waist a squeeze. “And what kind of passions are we talking about?”
“I’m working on a series of low light photographs using a night vision photography system.”
His brows rose. “You were a professional photographer?”
&nbs
p; “Yes. I was at the wedding taking pictures when I was attacked and turned. It’s taken me a long time to get back to it. Since I can’t take photos in natural light…I’ve had to wait for technology to catch up to my needs.”
“That’s fantastic, Phoebe.” He rested his forehead against hers. “You’re going to do something special with your passion.”
She smiled. “Yeah, I am, and maybe with a few others, too.” She rose on tiptoe to capture his mouth in a long, thorough kiss.
“Damn shame we don’t have time to pursue a few of those passions right now,” he complained. With a sigh that was too heartfelt to be fake, he released her. “We’ll make up for it later.”
* * *
POWER CRACKLED IN the air like static electricity. Only Arthur Stewart’s master vampire influence kept the meeting from exploding.
Hunter scanned the group of black-clad Council members. The hunched, long-necked Adcock was exactly as Phoebe had described him—an old buzzard. And now Hunter had that apt image trapped in his head.
Arthur greeted yet another witness. His household had opened the ballroom at the house and, as usual, were treating the meeting like a social event. Because of the risk of poison, attendees were warned ahead of time that it was BYOB (bring your own blood). Snacks were optional in case someone wanted to bring a live donor.
As a species, vampires were nosy, and thrived on gossip. The marriage of Arthur Stewart’s daughter and Ricci’s son had been the main subject for weeks. Since the groom attempted murder only moments after the “I do’s,” it opened the entire event, plus its aftermath, up for endless speculation.
Specifically, Hunter had heard debates about what Phoebe might have done to deserve being attacked.
As if anyone deserved that.
Ricci arrived, and Hunter did a double-take when he saw him. He met the powerful, influential vampire nearly six months earlier, at a meeting of the National Council, but now his prosperously plump figure had shrunk, he had dark bladders beneath his eyes, as though he hadn’t slept in weeks. He crept along like an old man, as though every step required all his concentration.
Arthur Stewart approached the master vampire and beckoned to Hunter to join them.
“Armanno, this is Hunter Knox.”
Ricci nodded. “I have been made aware of your search for Trevor, Mr. Knox. My people and I are at your disposal to help in any way we can.”
Hunter studied the man’s paper white face. “You were not as cooperative a week ago, Master Ricci.”
“I know. But since the wedding, several things have occurred. One of our most trusted human servants has been murdered, and several other members of our household have been poisoned, including myself. Two have already died. If we don’t find Trevor soon, I will die, and take all the vampires in my line with me. And Trevor will take over the Ricci Clan.”
“I assume you have people out hunting for Trevor,” Hunter said.
“Yes. Of course.”
Phoebe entered the room, and the noise levels and gossip increased. Dressed in a soft green shift and leggings, she’d covered the puncture wounds in her neck and the bruise—which were worsening again—with a silk scarf. She appeared feminine and fragile.
Hunter beckoned for Phoebe to join them, and as soon as she saw Ricci her features went taut. “Master Ricci. You do not look as hearty as you did a week ago.”
“No, I am not, Phoebe. I fear I, too, have fallen victim to my son’s avarice. Our blood supply was contaminated, and several of my people have been poisoned.”
Phoebe remained silent a moment. “I’m very sorry, Signor Ricci.”
Ricci grimaced. “You and your father are more generous than I deserve, Phoebe. I have brought several doses of the antidote with me. It does not work completely, but it may hold the poison at bay long enough for the scientists you have employed to find a lasting cure.”
How the hell had Ricci heard about that? “It will be impossible to find a lasting antidote unless we have an undiluted sample of the poison, Signor Ricci,” Hunter explained.
Ricci shook his head with a sigh. “Only Trevor knows the person responsible for the poison. Only he has a full-strength sample of the compound.”
“We are hunting for him.” Phoebe said softly. “But in the meantime, I don’t intend to allow him to gain control of our clan. I expect you to stand with me on that before the Council.”
“Yes. Of course.”
She stepped very close to Ricci, her eyes glowing like green fire. “I do not intend to claim your clan, no matter what happens, Signor Ricci. But I will make you a promise. Should you die before me, I will make it my calling in life to end Trevor. There are those of us who understand loyalty, and a son who would turn on his father doesn’t deserve to benefit from his treachery.”
Phoebe’s deep sense of loyalty had kept her by Arthur Stewart’s side, even though she was restless and unhappy, and now she extended that loyalty to a competing clan. Hunter could only admire her more.
It must have impressed Ricci too, because his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Thank you.”
Arthur clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “If everyone will take a seat, we will begin the meeting.”
The six Council member vampires, their dark evening clothes increasing the solemnity of the gathering, sat at a table at the front of the room. The group of twenty-five witnesses wandered to the five round tables and sat down.
The sudden increase of power resonating in the room upped Hunter’s vigilance. Should violence erupt, it would be up to him and Luke Stewart to end it.
He watched Luke while he made one last sweep of the room, on alert to trouble. He’d wondered at Luke’s relationship with Phoebe until he caught them doing rock, paper, scissors to decide who got to control the video they meant to show the Council.
“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our illustrious Council members,” Arthur began. “You are all aware of the purpose of this meeting. There has been some speculation regarding what actually happened during the wedding of my daughter Phoebe to Ricci’s son Trevor last week.
“To that end, we have invited several guests who were present to testify as to what they saw, and we will show a video that will clarify those events—in particular, the behavior of my daughter’s fiancé’s right after the vows, as well as the behavior of a sitting Council member, who is sworn to protect and uphold the civilized behavior among clans.”
“Luke, if you will dim the lights for us, we will all view the video together.”
“Wait,” Councilman Adcock rose to his feet. “I don’t see what purpose viewing this will serve, since I believe it might have been edited to show a biased view of the events.”
Arthur rose. “You have my word the video has not been tampered with, Councilman Adcock. It will be shown exactly as it was recorded. Or are you calling me a liar?”
“Does it show your daughter Phoebe starting the fire?”
“Yes.” Luke said. “It shows her rolling a candle toward the Ricci clan while Trevor leapt off the platform and stalked toward my father with a stake. It also shows you standing behind him while he threatened my sister with said stake, and your hasty departure from the platform and disappearance into the woods when she needed help. Your cowardice could have cost my sister her life, and my father his as well.”
Luke hit the button and the large screen on the wall came to life.
Hunter, though he’d seen the footage earlier, could not take his eyes off Phoebe’s image while she sauntered across the platform, all graceful and sexy. He hardened just watching her. When she leaned forward and daintily struck Trevor’s neck, he wanted to leap at the screen.
Her lips were pink with Trevor’s blood when she straightened, then tilted back onto the tall heels of her boots while she clawed at her throat. Seconds later she staggered and fell heavily to the platform.
Hunter glanced in Phoebe’s direction to catch her looking away from the screen, her expression carefully bla
nk. He turned back to see Trevor rip loose a part of the trellis and stalk toward her.
Adcock beat a hasty retreat off the platform, his black robe flapping around him like buzzard wings.
Just when Trevor was poised to plunge the stake into Phoebe’s chest, a young male vampire leaped from the side and drove him back. Trevor twisted the vampire’s arm, breaking it as he slung him forward, and the male tumbled over Phoebe and into the nest of Ricci vampires. Trevor then stalked off the platform, the stake in his hand and his focus on Arthur Stewart.
A candle toppled off one of the tall candelabras on the platform while Phoebe’s weak struggles to roll onto her side were partially obscured because of the camera angle. Then a rolling ball of light tumbled across the floor toward one of the Ricci vampires. The male went up like fireworks, his screams silent and horrifying. The fire leaped from vampire to vampire, consuming them like they were paper dolls, while the swirling blaze spiraled into the sky, towering above the scattering crowd of vampires.
Ricci tumbled to the ground. Arthur caught something Ricci tossed to him and stalked to the platform to lift Phoebe into a sitting position. He tipped something between her parted lips.
The fire died suddenly, leaving a blackened trail of ash and burned grass across the lawn. The suddenness of Phoebe’s death never failed to grab Hunter’s heart.
And she’d been very close to permanent death for nearly twenty-four hours.
He turned to look at Phoebe, then Adcock and Ricci.
“Do we need to replay your part in this, Adcock?” Luke asked. “Or should we discuss the part you should have, but didn’t, play?”
The six Council members were looking everywhere but at the company of vampires surrounding them.
One of the Council members sitting next to Adcock rose. “What do you want from us?”
Arthur rose. “We want the marriage between my daughter and Trevor Ricci dissolved, and the contract Armanno Ricci and I signed declared null and void. Or would you rather take the chance of something happening to all of us”—Arthur gestured around him “—and ending up answering to Trevor?”
“No, we would not want that.”
Magic and Mayhem: Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Have Wand, Will Travel Book 2) Page 9
