by A and E Kirk
Black stuttered at the edge of Kiara’s vision. They were no closer to finding Giselle. The little princess was still alone. Still in danger. She pulled in a deep breath and studied the room. Magic quivered strongly in the air and hummed against Kiara’s skin. She let her vision go blurry and unfocused, while psychically trying to pinpoint a source for that level of power. After several minutes, something shimmered on the wall. An energy coming from a painting. She moved closer and raised her hand over the canvas.
“It’s a witch’s safe,” she said with growing excitement. “The painting is of this room, but you can hide things in it.”
Kiara glanced back and forth between the painting and the room. She smiled and pointed to a plain metal box on the coffee table in the painting. Then she pointed to the coffee table in the room where they stood. “That’s it.”
Jaeger frowned. “I don’t get it.”
“The box is here in the artwork,” she said. “But it isn’t on the table in the room. It’s in the painting. Inside the witch’s safe.”
Jaeger touched the canvas. “But the painting is solid. If the box is in there, how do you get to it?”
Kiara edged Jaeger aside and hovered both hands over the painting. “Just like any safe, you need the combination. In this case, I need the right spell to crack it. Stand back.”
Leontes looked like he wanted to protest, but gritted his teeth and stepped back, pulling Jaeger with him.
Kiara concentrated on the painting. Magic burned, heating her palms. She absorbed the energy. Words of a long-forgotten language chanted in her head. Kiara repeated them aloud, not sure what they meant, but the surface began to shimmer with a pale iridescence.
The painting gained depth and dimension before their eyes. Kiara reached forward. Her fingers touched the painted surface, which was now the consistency of gelatin. It offered little resistance. As she pushed through, the membrane sizzled and spit sparks of bright angry crimson fire. Kiara jumped back, her fingertips stinging with pain.
Leontes and Jaeger leaped forward, but Kiara waved them off and squared her shoulders. “I can do this.”
The canvas undulated, the surface now turned to liquid plasma.
After a long moment of building tension, she threw her hands out in front of her. Hot bolts of spidery green lightning crackled from her palms and hit the painting. It exploded in a fiery blaze. Kiara turned her face away and thrust her arm shoulder-deep into the flames.
Leontes lunged forward, grabbed Kiara and yanked her back. Her arm came away smoking. She grinned with triumph at the box gripped in her hand. Leontes snatched it away and tossed it to a slack-jawed Jaeger, who took it aside and opened it.
“What were you thinking?!” Leontes fumed, inspecting her arm.
“I’m fine,” she said. “It would’ve taken too much time to crack the code so—”
“You just blew it up?” His expression contorted between concern and angry disbelief.
She pursed her lips. “Pretty much.”
“Hey, guys.” Jaeger held up a yellowed piece of parchment. “This was in the box. A list of all of Fauxleander’s victims. And the address of our safe house where Giselle was attacked. Only a few top shifters had that information.”
Leontes frowned. “That does not tell us much, other than Nicolette was involved. The paper looks ancient.”
Jaeger handed it over. “Yeah, but the writing is fresh. Looks like it’s written with a quill. In an old flowery script. Who still writes like this?”
Leontes held it in his fingers, but after a few moments he shook his head and flipped it over. “I am not getting anything. Maybe Frankie can extract some data. Anything else?”
He held up a small digital camera. “Just this. But the memory card’s missing.”
Shoulders heavy with disappointment and frustration high, Jaeger reeled back his arm, ready to chuck it across the room.
Leontes stopped him. “Calm down. Do not let ire override good sense. Hand it to me.”
Jaeger gave the camera a hateful look before tossing it to Leontes, who closed his eyes and seemed to relax into himself. After a few moments, he froze. Then his eyes snapped open, dark and furious. With a savage motion, he hurled the camera into the wall where it shattered and rained down in tiny pieces.
“Damn him!” Leontes seethed.
CHAPTER 72
Leontes stormed into his cluttered bedroom. “It is all a pile of rubbish. He is lying!”
Jaeger had been slumped and dozing in a deep cushioned chair, but jolted upright at Leontes’ entrance and furious outburst. Kiara, asleep on top of a bookshelf, peeled open groggy eyes.
She had showered and changed into a gossamer gown of pale peach. Jaeger still wore spa sweats. Mai had released them in the early morning hours in response to pressure from Rusila and Alpha. Upon their arrival at the mansion, Leontes had immediately gone to meet with the queen.
“Things didn’t go well with Rusila?” Jaeger said. “And let me guess, he denied everything.”
The touch on the camera had given Leontes visual snapshots of Bane and Nicolette together. Laughing, smiling, looking every bit a happy couple.
“Bane admits he was dating Nicolette, but says he knows nothing of any plot that involves Fauxleander or Giselle’s kidnapping.” Leontes scowled. “I wanted to continue interrogating him, but Rusila thought I should cool off while she talks with him privately. Kiara, she is far too interested in the feats of magic you performed on the island. You need to lay low.”
Kiara gave him a salute. “Twenty-forty.”
“Ten-four,” Leontes said.
Kiara propped her elbow and dropped her chin into her hand. “There’s no way Bane was just dating Nicolette for fun. He’s a supermodel-only kind of guy. And she is too old. Was too old. And too mousy looking. And she smelled. Bad.”
Leontes pushed a hand through his hair. “Exactly.”
“So what now?” Jaeger attempted to rub the exhaustion off his face. It didn’t work.
“I have an idea.” Leontes started running his hands over the spines of books. “Jaeger, help me look for Thieves and Beggars. It is a cookbook of sorts, which has a formula for verusuvenum. The potion has proved useful before, even with someone who has Bane’s level of training and ability to withstand interrogation. If I could get him alone…”
Jaeger paused. “Whoa, buddy. We might get some answers, but wouldn’t it, you know, kill him?”
“More than likely.” Leontes continued his search undaunted. “But we are talking about Bane.”
Jaeger shrugged and began scanning the books. “Fine by me.”
“The volume might be in Greek,” Leontes said. “Or Latin.”
“Because, of course, you speak Greek and Latin.”
Leontes raised a brow at the werewolf. “You do not?”
Jaeger laughed. “Yeah, yeah. If I were as old as you, gramps, I’m sure I would.”
Kiara sat up, her legs dangling over the edge. A chill ran up from her toes. “Leontes, it’s illegal for you to use verusuvenum without Rusila’s approval. If someone finds out, you could be imprisoned.” She swallowed. “Or executed.”
Leontes gave her a flat, dangerous look. “Then we had better make sure no one finds out.”
CHAPTER 73
Leontes and Jaeger had not noticed when Kiara slipped out. She considered that a good omen, because they certainly would not approve of the scheme she had set in motion.
Kiara entered the mansion’s gym to find Bane in the boxing ring with six other vampires who were even bigger than he was in height or girth, or both. The rest of them wore boxing gloves, but Bane had not even taped his hands. His knuckles were ravaged raw, and the scarred nub of his left ring finger had taken enough of a beating that it dripped blood.
His face showed signs of violent contact, cuts and bruises, but he was smiling despite his split lip. He ducked and dodged as his half-dozen opponents came after him from all directions. Wearing shorts but no shirt, every bulgi
ng muscle torqued hard as he fought.
He looked bigger and badder than ever.
Bane kept his eye on his attackers, landing several punches, and without pausing, spoke between hits. “There’s my girl. Did Leontes send you to seduce me into spilling my secrets?”
Kiara stepped close to the ring. “Would you spill if I asked nicely?”
He landed a blow that sent one opponent flying out of the ring and bouncing on the padded floor. He shot her a lecherous grin. “How nicely?”
She rolled her eyes. “Not that nicely.”
A guy attacked from behind. Bane elbowed him in the face. Bone crunched. Blood spurted. Bane caught the man’s wrist and wrenched until the shoulder popped out of its socket, and as the guy collapsed onto the mat, Bane used one kick to blow out his knee. The downed warrior writhed and moaned in pain. Bane slammed a foot into the back of his head. The moaning stopped.
Bane did not spare him a glance as he told Kiara, “Then no.”
The door opened and the copper-haired penny in pigtails entered, wearing a dark green sleeveless dress. She kept her eyes downcast and, with shaky hands, began cleaning the rows of barbells stacked neatly in their shelves. A fresh pine scent filled the room. Numerous red and crusted bite marks covered the pale skin of the girl’s neck and arms. After Bane had killed the other penny, this one had become his most frequent feed.
Kiara frowned at Bane. “Come on. It’s about helping a baby. I’m giving you a chance to do the right thing.”
He laughed. “In my book, the only right thing is what gives me pleasure. I don’t give a damn about the kid.”
Bane leapt and spun, swinging out a leg to connect a heel into the side of a vampire’s head, then he pinned another opponent on the ropes and rammed his fists in a blur of speed until blood vomited from the man’s lips. Bane caught him before he crumpled to the ground and tossed him out of the ring.
The one who had taken Bane’s head strike recovered and attacked. Bane nailed him in the gut with a kick hard enough to send him flying out, where he landed next to the other defeated foes.
Kiara stepped away from the growing pile of bodies and wiped flecks of blood from her cheek. “Maybe you don’t care about the werewolf baby, but what about the war this could start?”
Bane simultaneously pummeled on the final two opponents, tossed one of them out to land unconscious and bloody near the others, and spoke without sounding the least bit out of breath. “Could be fun. Alleviate the boredom.”
Kiara folded her arms and tapped her foot for a few moments.
Butch appeared at her side. “Don’t do it,” he warned.
Kiara flashed Butch an annoyed look, then told Bane, “We could spar for it.”
Butch groaned. “You never listen to me.”
At Kiara’s words, Bane paused. He dropped his arms and turned slowly, a suspicious look in his eyes. “Really?”
The final opponent took the opportunity to lay a brutal right hook on Bane’s chin. The big vampire’s head snapped sideways.
“Yeah!” the opponent shouted, pleased with himself, bouncing around on the balls of his feet. “That’s right! Yeah!”
Bane’s dark eyes flashed with angry disbelief. “Hey! Can’t you see I’m talking here? To a lady? What are you, some kind of barbarian?”
The guy’s euphoria quickly deflated. “Sorry, Bane. I thought—”
Bane caught the guy in a headlock and snapped his neck. Silent and limp, the body dropped with a heavy thud onto the blood-splattered floor of the arena.
“My apologies, little one. Some assholes have no manners.” Bane leapt over the ropes and landed in front of Kiara, smiling down at her. “So, you serious about this wager?”
Kiara glanced at the crumpled body, the neck at an unnatural angle, the eyes open and lifeless. “Yeah,” she said, curling her fists at her side and braving to meet Bane’s gaze. “But if I win, you have to answer my questions truthfully.”
He raised a brow. “And if I win?”
She chewed on her lip. “What do you want?”
He did not hesitate. “Rittenhause is out of the picture and I become your guardian.”
Kiara’s breath hitched. She swallowed.
Butch grabbed her shoulder. “Please. Look at the literal pile of bodies in his wake! You’ve never beaten him. What makes you think this will be different?”
“Giselle is in danger,” Kiara said.
Butch grumbled, “And now you’ll be in the same boat.”
“Sure, the kid is in danger.” Bane put his four-fingered left hand on his chest. “And since I’m such a giver, when I win—”
“If you win.”
“Right. When I win, I’ll even help you rescue her.”
“Really?” Now Kiara was suspicious.
“Of course. All I want is for you to be happy.”
Butch made a rude noise. “That’s a load of bullpucky. Since when is Bane worried about you being happy? He only worries about himself and causing pain. Don’t listen—”
Butch’s voice faded into the background as other sounds became clear. People talking and laughing. Music and...
CHAPTER 74
The majestic palace glowed from the inside out. Thousands of candles flickered throughout the great ballroom, giving the scene a romantic aura. Luxury abounded in the furnishings and architecture, as well as the people of the king’s court, resplendent in expensive, elegant clothes and priceless jewels. The orchestra resumed playing, the music inciting many of the guests to step onto the dance floor. A gentleman in his ultimate finery bowed before Kiara.
“Milady,” he said. “May I have the honor of this dance?”
Before Kiara could answer, a large presence stepped up beside her. “No,” Bane said in a heavy French accent. “She dances only with me. Now get the hell away.”
He shoved the man aside and led Kiara onto the dance floor, elbowing his way through the many lords and ladies. While he received more than a few irritated looks, any disgruntled comments died quickly at the sight of the big man’s steely glare.
As Bane took her into his arms, Kiara said, “Dear Bane, you really need to acquire the ability to share.”
He tightened his grip and expertly glided her across the dance floor. She followed easily, always impressed with his grace. Freshly bathed, beard trimmed, hair neatly pulled back. He had dressed with the utmost care, too, matching his perfectly tailored clothes to the deep blue silk of her flowing gown.
“I have never seen the appeal of sharing.” Bane looked down at her, his eyes glittering almost as brightly as the diamond-encrusted sapphires around her neck. “Why give up any part of something I desire?”
A light blush warmed her cheeks. “Is that why you killed your brothers and sisters?”
“Half brothers and sisters. And the unwillingness to share my father’s money was not the only reason I killed them.”
“No?” Kiara said with skepticism.
“No. They were also annoying pricks.”
“Even the thirteen-year-old?”
Bane grunted. “Him most of all.”
“You are incorrigible,” she chuckled, then looked around. “How long must we stay?”
“Let us leave now. I am enthusiastically inclined to retire to our room.”
“But the king has yet to arrive.”
Bane smiled and kissed the palm of her hand. “What concern is that of mine, mon petite tresor? My life’s wish is only for you to be happy.”
She took the palm he had kissed and laid it on his cheek. His smile broadened, but then he suddenly frowned and said with concern. “Kiara? Little one, what is wrong?” He stopped dancing and shook her shoulders. “Kiara!”
“Kiara!”
She blinked. The grandeur of the palace ballroom faded away and the mansion’s gym came into focus. Bane was gripping her shoulders, his face close. She had her palm on his cheek.
Bane shook her hard. “What’s wrong? Goddammit. Not another episode. Snap out of it
.”
Kiara teetered, out of sorts and dizzy from the strange memory. She spoke with hesitation, her breath halting. “I saw us. From before. We were dancing. Together. Friendly even. That can’t be right.”
She stared into his dark eyes, which had become intense and searching. When she moved her hand away from his cheek, he caught her wrist and pulled her close.
“No,” he said, insistent. “It’s right. It’s perfectly right. What else do you remember of us? Ask me anything. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
The smell of pine came on strong. Something flung through the air and hit Bane’s head with a loud metallic thwack.
Bane paused. With a look of irritation, he touched the back of his head. His fingers came away bloody. He turned.
The penny with the copper hair stumbled away, her thin arms struggling to hold the thirty-pound barbell she grasped in her two frail hands. She looked ready to topple over from the weight. “Leave her alone.”
Bane raised a brow. “What the f—”
“Or…or I’ll kill you!” the penny shouted, her tone defiant.
“Not if I kill you first, bitch,” Bane growled. “And, trust me, it will be a pleasure.”
The girl gave Kiara a woeful look. “I’m sorry.”
Then she dropped the weight with a loud clang and ran out of the gym.
Bane, hand still dripping with his own blood, stalked after her with a glare of murderous intent.
CHAPTER 75
Kiara’s day was not shaping up quite as planned. But that was not entirely her fault. And all things considered, it could have been worse. Exhausted and sore, and still shaky from the unsettling experience with Bane, she entered Frankie’s lab, hoping to find the doctor to confide in. Instead, Kiara found Leontes.
Good. She could tell him the news herself. If she could work up the nerve.
Kiara was about to call out his name when she noticed his stealth movements. Leontes hunched over a stone wall, slid a small key into what seemed to be just an imperfection in the stone, then popped out a hidden drawer Kiara had never known existed. Intrigued, she watched as he slipped out something from his coat pocket and held it up to the light.
