Blood Domination (Blood Destiny #4)

by Connie Suttle

  "Let us deal with the dark Queen first." Kifirin may have been reading my thoughts too. "Lissa, would you like to go in and bring her out or would you prefer that I do this for you? I will be pleased to do so."

  "If you wouldn't mind." I felt like I needed a bath to get clean after carrying her around.

  Kifirin reached inside the vault, his arm going right through the door, and pulled the Queen Vampire out by the throat. She stared up at him, scared witless, I think. "You will do as I say and will not escape or turn to mist or send mindspeech," Kifirin commanded. She could barely nod—Kifirin held her too tightly.

  "I don't think she's used to obeying anyone," Griffin chuckled.

  "We will transport her to your Blood King," Kifirin announced. "Do you all wish to go, or would some of you prefer to stay?"

  "I wish to see this," René declared. Tony was also nodding, his eyes wide with surprise. He was seeing things that he never suspected he might see—even as Director of the Joint NSA and Homeland Security Department. There really were more things in Heaven and Earth, just as Shakespeare claimed.

  "Very well." Kifirin must have been the one to take us; we all went, landing right inside Wlodek's study just as Charles was handing off papers. Wlodek was startled, I could tell, but he covered it very well. Charles, who is eternally curious, looked all of us over, gathering information, I'm sure.

  "Who is this that has captured Jovana?" Wlodek's voice held amazement.

  "Lissa captured her, I merely transported her here, after placing my own compulsion of course; she threatened my little Queen." Kifirin let Jovana go. Wlodek had known of her, obviously. I wondered how long he'd known about her.

  "Charles, will you bring in chairs for our guests?" Wlodek said smoothly. Honestly, the man never turned a hair and his usual, non-expression slid right into place.

  We were all seated after a bit; Griffin helped Charles bring in extra chairs. Jovana remained standing before Wlodek's desk while waves of hate and anger boiled off her. She was well and truly pissed. She got what she had coming, though, if she was in that hotel room waiting for me, Henri or Gervais.

  "Where did you find her, Lissa?" Wlodek asked, first thing.

  I barely held back a growl as I answered. "In a hotel room in Paris. Paul and Deryn told me the local authorities searched the room—Xenides and Rahim had been there before the bombing. I thought at the time that Tony was dead, and well, I was a little upset." Tony grinned at my words. I ignored him. "I was searching for information on Rahim and Xenides," I continued, "but I found bitch Queen there instead."

  "Jovana was mist, Wlodek," Merrill interrupted. "Lissa can see other misters, if she is mist herself."

  "A rare talent, but then my Lissa has many of them," Kifirin jumped into the conversation before Wlodek had time to deliver a lecture.

  "And you are?" Wlodek went back to playing with his gold pen, his eyes hooded and a slight frown tugging at his mouth.

  "I am Kifirin," he replied. "Often referred to as High Lord of the Dark Realm. I am also known by many other titles, but my true name none may speak."

  He was sitting in the chair to my right; Gavin made sure to get the chair on my left. I had no idea what to do with either of them at the moment. We were all sitting in a semi-circle around Wlodek's desk; Griffin was sitting beside Kifirin, with Merrill next to him. René and Tony came after that. Kifirin leaned over and said something to Griffin, but he must have muted his words; I didn't hear them. Griffin nodded, said "Excuse me," and disappeared, returning a few minutes later with Paul and Deryn. Wlodek's proceedings were halted for a few minutes as Deryn and Tony held a tearful reunion, with Deryn learning that René had saved Tony's life by turning him. Deryn wasn't completely opposed to the act, I could tell. His brother was alive and intact, thanks to René.

  "Now, may we get back to the business at hand?" Wlodek straightened his tie a little and lifted the gold pen, glaring imperiously at the rest of us. Jovana had remained where she was; Kifirin hadn't allowed her to move. Paul and Deryn slid to the floor beside Tony's chair so our discussion could resume.

  Wlodek questioned Jovana that night, making a thorough job of it. She'd killed Lucius, her vampire companion, at Saxom's urging—he'd recognized her Dark Elemaiyan roots, although she wasn't aware of them herself. Kifirin admonished her to tell the truth and that was what we got from her. She'd been oblivious of the reasons Saxom wanted her turned. Paul and Deryn were getting a lesson, too, on things the vamps had only recently discovered.

  "What is Xenides' ultimate purpose?" Wlodek asked Jovana finally. She laughed.

  "To kill you all," she replied. "Vampires and humans. Saxom's orders were very clear—if he died, then all of you must pay. Of course, I didn't hold with that; his ability to control me died with him. I like this world too much; it is amusing to me. Besides, if we kill the humans, who will feed us? Xenides has not thought past the destruction, I do not think."

  "He is under Saxom's compulsion, still. He did not have the ability you were born with, little dark Queen," Kifirin made the reply. "He will most likely be unable to link the destruction of the planet to his own death." Kifirin snorted, a curl of smoke floating from his nostrils. I wondered yet again how he did that. He turned a beautiful smile on me. Yeah, he's not connected to my head or anything. Too bad Flavio wasn't here; he could be the second most beautiful male in the room for a change. Kifirin's smile became wider at that point.

  Charles, in his usual efficient manner, set up a temporary workstation near the door and dutifully tapped away on his computer. He was recording notes from Wlodek's interrogation. Jovana wouldn't leave the room alive; she'd already admitted to killing Lucius and several others—names I didn't recognize, but several of them had Wlodek growling and that was truly out of character for him. Lucius' death had been first on that list. Jovana's status as a Queen would warrant the immediate execution, I knew; it would be too dangerous to attempt to keep her in a cell until the Council might be convened.

  "Very well," Wlodek sighed eventually. "Does anyone else have questions?"

  "Have you had dealings with Rahim Alif?" Tony was standing now, still acting in his former capacity. Jovana snorted.

  "That plaything?" Contempt was in her voice. "Xenides plucked him from the streets in Afghanistan after Rahim managed to bomb a few U.S. installations. Xenides has him under his thumb and they are two halves of a whole, I think. I do not speak with that drecksau," she muttered.

  "Do you have any idea where he might be?" Tony continued his questioning.

  "Find Xenides and find Rahim," she replied.

  Tony was disappointed, I could tell. "Where is Xenides, then?" I asked.

  "He was in France, the last I saw of him. He said you would come to investigate his hotel room after his target was killed. He promised me a large sum of money if I would go and wait for you." Jovana turned and gave me a nasty smile. Well, that smile, along with her head, was going to be removed shortly. Xenides had targeted Tony, because not only was Tony a major irritant to him, but also because he'd somehow learned that I wouldn't let Tony's murder go without an investigation. I schooled my face into the vampire non-expression.

  "Where in France?" Tony demanded.

  "He was leaving Paris when I spoke with him; he has plans to take Rahim back to the U.S." Jovana replied.

  "Flying or driving?" Tony asked.

  "Driving out of France and possibly other transportation past that. He does not make me privy to his many secrets and I do not wish to know them anyway."

  "When did you see him last?"

  "Two hours before I was captured." Jovana wasn't happy about that fact, let me tell you. She'd been led to believe she was the top of the dung heap, after all.

  "Plenty of time to get out of the country," Tony grumbled. We'd been at this for more than three hours, from capture to questioning. Xenides could be anywhere.

  Wlodek asked again if there were other questions. This time there were none. "Gavin," Wlodek nodded to his Assa
ssin.

  "No," René said, holding out a hand. "I ask that you allow me or my newest child to perform this service, in partial retribution for my Aubrey."

  "That is acceptable," Wlodek nodded. Gavin, who'd risen, seemed content to sit down again.

  "Child, release your claws," René was instructing Tony, who slid his claws out easily. They were quite large and long, as nearly all the males' were. "Do not make your target suffer, one quick swipe across the neck here," Rene indicated the best spot on Jovana's neck. She was hissing, now, although she still couldn't move. Tony nodded his understanding, so René stepped aside to allow him room. Tony was fast, exceptionally so. Jovana was decapitated swiftly, in mid-hiss. Her head and body dropped to the floor and began to flake away on Wlodek's priceless, antique Persian rug.

  Tony was now staring at his claws. This was his first kill—as a vampire, anyway. Wlodek was eyeing Tony speculatively and I could almost see the little wheels turning. Wlodek was down an Assassin. Tony might be a quick study. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

  "Get ready," Griffin stood up. I was bewildered at this sudden turn of events.

  "They are coming," Kifirin agreed, rising as well.

  "Who?" Merrill was used to Griffin and didn't question, really, he just wanted to know who they were.

  "Xenides has sent an army, little Queen," Kifirin turned to me. "They can only come so close, however. The Saa Thalarr and I have the home shielded. We will go out to them instead."

  "Prepare for a fight," Merrill announced and went to follow Griffin, who was already walking toward the door. Wlodek didn't ask questions either; he merely removed his suit coat and tie, preparing to go with Merrill, Griffin and Kifirin. Well, they weren't leaving me behind, and Gavin was right behind me, followed by René, Tony, Deryn, Paul, and then Charles.

  Rolfe was standing at the open door to Wlodek's mansion, looking out over the hundred vampires lined up outside, a hundred and fifty feet away from the walls of the manor. Kifirin and Griffin had used power to keep them at that distance and I could tell the rogue vampires were well and truly pissed about it. They'd planned to swarm over Wlodek's manor, killing everybody inside. The plan might have worked, too, if we hadn't had so much firepower at our disposal. Even so, we still had a fight brewing and one we could still lose. I had no idea how much assistance Griffin and Kifirin were prepared to give, once we engaged the enemy.

  Deryn and Paul were already shucking their clothes to turn to wolf. Charles, who'd tossed aside his own jacket and tie, was rolling up his sleeves. Kifirin took the lead and we all followed him toward the line of vampires when Dragon appeared, both blades in his hands, prepared to join us. Dragon was in full battle gear, dressed in leathers, head to foot. Only the tattoos on his arms were visible—his vest was sleeveless, his hair braided tightly and swinging at his back as he joined our ranks.

  "I owe Lissa," he said, when Griffin raised an eyebrow. Griffin nodded, not saying anything.

  "Hi, honey," I said to Dragon. He gave me a grin. There were now thirteen of us, to fight the horde.

  "We come at Xenides' bidding," one of the vampires spoke. "We are Saxom's children and follow his first child, now that our sire is no longer among us." He didn't need to tell me they were Saxom's get; I could smell them from where I stood. And a number of them—a good number of them, had Dark Elemaiyan blood.

  "You threaten me and you threaten my Queen and the ones she cares for," Kifirin spoke for us. I wondered if that irked Wlodek just a little. "If you choose to leave now, I will not pursue. Stay to fight and I will not leash my wrath."

  "Who the bloody hell are you?" One of the rogue vampires, Irish in origin I could tell, spoke now.

  "I am Kifirin, the one chosen to create the balance, maker of the Dark Worlds and High Lord therein. Once all vampires knew me and knew to bow before me. Now you know nothing, as your sire failed to train you properly. If you attack me, I will not allow you to live."

  The first one who'd spoken burst out in harsh laughter. "You expect us to believe your bluster?" he shouted. A bit of smoke curled from Kifirin's nostrils. I don't know if the vampire saw that or not. He didn't step back, I know that much.

  "What is he going to do?" Gavin leaned down and whispered in my ear.

  I blew out a breath. How could I describe what I'd seen Kifirin become on Refizan? "Gavin, have you ever seen a demon?" I asked.

  "My sire described them to me once; he said they were humans that had been bitten by the same kind of creatures, turning them to demon as well," Gavin spoke quietly.

  "Those aren't really demons," I whispered. "Those are Ra'Ak spawn. If Kifirin turns, you'll see what a demon looks like, I think. He told me once that the High Demons were made in his image. I understand they're slightly smaller, though. And if Dragon turns, just get the hell out of the way," I warned.

  "Does he become demon as well?"

  "No. He becomes a dragon," I replied with a shrug.

  "Enough of this!" Wlodek was now taking charge and shouting at Xenides' army. "Are you leaving or staying to fight?"

  "We were instructed to kill you, old man," the vampire sneered. "We will not leave until that has been accomplished."

  "Very well," Wlodek nodded. I don't think the lead vampire ever saw Wlodek attack, he was so swift. Wlodek kept his seat as Head of the Council, Blood King or whatever his title was, because he was able to keep it. Saxom's vampire child dropped to the ground, headless, as did the two that flanked him before Wlodek became anything other than a blur. I wasn't about to let him fight alone—I went to mist, and had six heads lopped off before that line of vampires ever knew I was among them. The battle was joined, then; I saw Dragon off to the side, fighting with both blades and shouting in his native language while he did it. Merrill was also in hurricane force; any vampire that came against him died. Gavin? Nobody wanted to mess with him. He had to chase some of his opponents; they were running away from him.

  Deryn and Paul teamed up with Charles, forming a triangle; the wolves were attacking and tossing vampires onto the ground and Charles, efficient as ever, relived them of their heads. Rolfe was wading into the knot of Saxom's get, René and Tony with him, and they were doing fierce battle. Kifirin was in his smaller Thifilathi form and if any of the vampires touched him, they burned. Screams went up around him—the screams of dying vampires. Kifirin was a great surprise but the biggest surprise, I think, was seeing Griffin fight. Now I knew what he'd been before. Dragon told me that he was once Warlord on Falchan. Griffin—I didn't know what his homeworld had been but he had been vampire before becoming Saa Thalarr. He had fangs and claws out and he was something to see. Eventually he was fighting alongside Wlodek; nothing lived if they attacked and nothing got past them, either. My job was easy, that night. If a rogue tried to get away, I misted after him. Finally, I went to help Charles and the werewolves. Deryn and Paul had taken a few hits and were bleeding sluggishly. They were glad of the help I think, as we did away with the very last of Xenides' army. I only wished that Xenides and Rahim Alif had been there; I would have taken a great deal of pleasure from removing their heads.

  * * *

  "A very productive evening," Wlodek examined the slice in one of his sleeves; the silk shirt was hanging in two tattered pieces off his right arm. Otherwise, he looked as if he hadn't been touched. Rolfe had a wide slash across his chest but he was holding Charles away from him with one hand.

  "It will heal with the sleep," he kept telling Wlodek's assistant. "I always said you were a Queen," Rolfe grinned at me as I came to pull Charles away from him.

  "And you were right," I gave him a hug. Rolfe put one large arm around my shoulders and squeezed before letting go.

  Charles put both arms around me and hugged me tightly, kissing my forehead before he released me. "I don't get to fight often," he said. Griffin and Dragon were tending to the two werewolves, Tony standing beside them, watching his brother get patched up. The Saa Thalarr have healing abilities of their own; I learned that. M
errill was talking with René while Gavin and Kifirin came to find me. Well, more fur might fly, I suppose.

  "You will feel no jealousy toward me," Kifirin informed Gavin. Gavin blinked for a second and then seemed all right with that. Well, la de da. Is that all it took? Kifirin had become his usual self the minute the battle ended, and now leaned down to give me a warm kiss. A bit of smoke escaped his nostrils as he pulled away and offered me an angel's smile. Piles of vampire ash lay all around us as I stood on tiptoe and gave Kifirin a second kiss before smiling back. Somebody had a mess to clean up on Wlodek's lawn and I wasn't about to volunteer.

  "Does vampire ash have good fertilizing properties?" I asked Kifirin. He burst out laughing and then hauled me into his arms, giving me another huge kiss. A cell phone rang somewhere nearby.

  I expected it to be Charles's phone. Or Merrill's, or one of the others. It wasn't. It was a phone lying amid a pile of ash. Wlodek went to pick it up. "Wlodek here," he answered the call himself.

  "I will kill you if I must do it myself," a voice growled on the other end. Xenides—I recognized that voice.

  "We've eliminated your army and did away with Jovana tonight," Wlodek said congenially. "We have met, you and I, only Saxom introduced you as Catulus. You truly are Saxom's whelp, aren't you?"

  "In every sense of the word," Xenides agreed. "I still intend to take your little princess and force her to my bidding. She must have caught Jovana unawares to escape her compulsion. Yes, I know her weakness, Sanguis Rex. You can't hide her from me forever." Xenides terminated the call.

  "Fucker," I grumbled. I was still in Kifirin's arms and he kissed me again.

  * * *

  Griffin took us home. It was nearly dawn, after all, and I barely had time to get a shower before sunup. Kifirin wasn't the one who ended up in my bed, however; it was Gavin. I frowned at him and pouted a little when he came in, scooted me over and climbed into bed beside me.

  "Wlodek will tell you later, but I am telling you now, cara mia, that he would never ask nor would I ever do what you said before." He nuzzled my neck a little, placing light kisses, here and there. "Kill my love while she slept?" He huffed against my skin, his breath cool and pleasant. "My little love, my perfect rose," he murmured in French. I wasn't sure whether it was a good thing or not that I could understand his words, now. I might have still been considering that dilemma when my eyes closed with the rising of the sun.