Our mission was to track the enemy as discreetly as possible, but with four shiny black vehicles traveling through Fresno together, we may as well have announced ourselves with the sounding of trumpets.
"At least the AC works," Opal sighed behind me. She liked the cooler environments, just as I did. That's one of the reasons I'd chosen to settle in San Francisco a few years earlier. I had no idea when I did that things would come to this.
"I feel like we're heading to the O.K. Corral," Jayson muttered beside me.
"Tombstone," Hank muttered. "Not Fresno."
"Please tell me you didn't fight in that battle, too," Jayson grumped.
"I didn’t. I'd have won it for our side," Hank teased.
"Are you suggesting you'd throw a third party into the mix?" Opal tapped Hank on the shoulder.
"Maybe."
"Stop teasing," I wrinkled my nose at him.
"Stop wrinkling your nose. You know how that makes me feel."
"Irritated?"
Horny as hell, he replied in mindspeech.
* * *
The building was an empty shell in Clovis, a city almost surrounded by Fresno. The large structure had once been home to a construction company, but the business had moved to a new location and the old building was now for sale. Plenty of space was available for the vehicles, as long as Ashe could make the rest of it livable for us.
He did. All of us watched in wonder as he formed interior walls and covered them with sheetrock and paint. Flooring, bathrooms and bedrooms followed. A kitchen came last, but it was almost a work of art. Kal showed up to help with that and to add air-conditioning, water heaters, linens and pipes throughout for clean water.
I felt almost worthless next to the skills required to build all that. Maybe someday, I'd try it for myself. When I was feeling stronger and more confident.
"Baby, he can't Change What Was, no matter how hard he tries," Hank whispered next to my ear. "Only you can do that."
"He called Lissa back from death," I said softly.
"He only pulled her mist back together before it scattered too far," Hank informed me. "We talked about that—he and I. It was her choice to return to her body, once it was reformed. He called to her spirit, it's true, but the choice was hers. He couldn't do what you do, baby, and Change What Was for her. That's why she was somewhat in between for many years and had to go to energy to replenish herself. Did you know that's no longer true after you Changed What Was and brought her back after Cheedas stabbed her?"
"How do you know that?" I stared at Hank in shock.
"I know Kifirin—perhaps better than he likes. He knows it, because he loves her. He used to catch up with her while she was energy, just so he could watch her. That no longer happens. I believe she is grateful for it, too."
"She doesn't hate him," I said, lowering my head to stare at my shoes. They were black canvas with white rubber soles and went well with the black jeans I wore. I might have to consider dressing much lighter in the Fresno heat. "She loves him. But he messed up a few times too many. She doesn't really know how to reconcile her love with his mistakes."
"He made promises he couldn't keep himself," Hank blew a thin stream of smoke. "So he placed the burden on other shoulders. That burden weighed too much and almost broke the life-giver."
"Would he have taken that burden away from her if he could?" I turned my face up to Hank's. "Or was he just taking the easy way out?"
"Avilepha, I don't have an answer for that," Hank shrugged.
"I think a lot might depend on that answer," I said. "If he could have taken the burden away and didn't, then punishment might be deserved, don't you think? If he couldn't take it away, then he should have supported her any way he could. Did he do that? It's my understanding that he made her suffering worse by alienating her mates."
"That's why I was sent to become his overseer," Hank replied. "I was approached by the Ear and instructed to take over the ruling of the Dark Realm, because Kifirin had obviously lost control of it. I must govern it until such a time as Kifirin is deemed capable of handling it again. I have already placed others there to help—as should have been done in the beginning. They cannot deny me if I outrank them, and only the Three outrank me." He smiled as he leaned in to kiss me after that statement.
"Does that mean you outrank Acrimus?"
"He and I are equal," Hank blew more smoke. I could see that irritated him greatly. "Had I been there when you found him, he and I," Hank didn't finish.
"That might have been a fight for the ages," I sighed. "I should have destroyed him. I had time. Instead, I dithered and gave the General time to show up."
"We all have hindsight, do we not?" Hank pulled me close. The new air-conditioning system hummed around us, and I found we were inside a bedroom.
"I should have jumped your bones the minute I saw you," I huffed. "Instead of buying you coffee." Hank's bellow of laughter could likely be heard throughout the building.
* * *
"So we don't know where she went after walking out of that store." Opal shook her head.
"These are the only camera images we have, and they don't extend past the parking lot in front of the business," Bill said. He and Dan Kelsey had gotten more images from other cameras in the same shopping center, as well as footage from inside the store, but all Janine purchased was a swimsuit and six large bath towels.
"That tells me we still have a Sirenali," I said.
"How?" Jayson asked.
"Sirenali are amphibious," I said. "Janine can't swim. I read her, remember? She doesn't do swimsuits generally, because it might show—well, you know." I hunched my shoulders.
"Tattoos?" Bill asked.
"Uh, no. Janine is into flogging and whipping," Hank said. "She usually has bruised flesh. Enjoys the ache of it."
I rubbed my forehead as Hank explained Janine's fetishes and habits. I knew from my reading that she didn't want her associates arrested for abuse, so she didn't dress in skimpy outfits unless she was walking into a club.
It's the differences in people, sweetheart, Ashe sent. Don't let it upset you. What one person loves might terrify another. You know that, don't you?
A part of me knows that. A part of me cringes and wants to curl into a ball whenever this stuff is mentioned.
I'll make sushi out of anybody who tries that shit with you, a new voice joined the conversation. It was Sali.
I can see the arguments between you and Jayson now, I sent to both of them.
Already been there, they both chorused. Jayson was angry that we'd even suggest he wasn't trustworthy enough to be with you. He knows where to draw the line, Ashe added.
I wasn't sure whether to be pleased or upset that they'd done this without my knowledge. After a few moments, I realized I appreciated the thought behind it. With multiple mates came a system of checks and balances. I hoped that continued to weigh in my favor.
Here's my question, I sent to both of them. Why would you argue with Jayson on my behalf?
Well, Sali began.
Sal has the hots for you, Ashe said. I sort of do, too. Kay wants you as part of the family, and frankly, so do I. Hank, Jayson, Bill, Trajan, Sali and I discussed this while you were sitting on top of the capitol building.
Seriously?
Don't be upset, Sali said. That's not what we want. We just needed to make sure everybody was cool with us making our bid to be included in the herd.
Were they?
If you are.
I wouldn't mind seeing where this might go, I replied.
Great. Want to go to a movie?
Yeah, but I want to share a large popcorn. I love popcorn.
I don't know whether we can afford a large popcorn, Sali teased.
"Breanne?" Bill said.
"Huh?" I was brought back from my private conversation with a bang. Going by the frown on Bill's face, I felt as if I'd been caught passing notes in class.
"We're splitting up tomorrow to scout the areas around the Gr
iffin household. You'll be with me, Opal and Jayson. Hank will be with Gavin, Director Kelsey and Trajan. Ashe will be with Salidar, Charles and Kalenegar. Two human agents will join each of our groups, leaving two agents behind to guard our headquarters. Any questions? Dan and I will be sorting through information and possible leads tonight, and assignments will be handed out in the morning."
"Those agents aren't gonna be wearing red shirts, are they?" I turned to Sali. His eyes widened before he covered a loud snicker.
* * *
"This is better than going out." Sali dipped his hand in the popcorn bowl, pulling out a cluster of popped kernels. We watched a cable movie on a wide-screen television in our new family room. I sat on a sofa between Bill and Sali, while Trajan lounged at my feet. We'd popped so much popcorn, there were huge bowls of it scattered throughout the room.
"I love this movie," I sighed. We watched Young Frankenstein—it was the choice everybody settled on. Kay had never seen it, poor thing.
* * *
Ashe's Journal
I had my arm around Kay, who seemed perfectly comfortable with that. Sali, I sent, I think I dreamed about this when I was sixteen.
Me, too, he said. I didn't want to point out that when we were, his parents were still alive. They'd survived another hundred years or so after he arrived on Avendor with me, but I'd informed him and Marco when they passed. We'd gone to separate funerals, three years apart. It was the way things were, more often than not.
I watched as he pulled Breanne's hand into his and kissed it. Sali was serious when he wanted or needed to be, in addition to being a deadly warrior. He fooled people often enough with his casual ways and goofy sense of humor, but he wasn't anyone to cross lightly. At least we were working to repair a friendship that had suffered through the years, and I was glad.
* * *
Hank's Journal
I'm taking Bree to bed tonight, Bill informed me.
Gonna fight DeLuca for her? I teased.
I don't think she's ready for that, yet, Bill said. I won't keep her awake all night, either.
The Saa Thalarr set up calendars, I said. Depending on how many mates they have, they get nights, weekends or weeks, sometimes.
How do they decide the order?
Draw names from a hat or cut cards, I offered a mental laugh. You cheat, you get sent to the back of the line.
Let's worry about that when things are more stable. I watched as Bill pulled Breanne against him and leaned in for a kiss.
* * *
Breanne's Journal
Bill asked me to go to bed with him. I wasn't going to turn him down. He had a lot on his plate and definitely needed a distraction. Did I mind being that distraction? Hell no. Bill always treated me like the most important thing in existence when I went to bed with him, and I was completely comfortable going to sleep and waking up in his arms. We had a long day scheduled for tomorrow, and Bill's bed might be the best place for both of us.
* * *
"This will be quite simple. We know where she'll be and when she'll be there. All we have to do is incapacitate her and bring her to Saxom and Moxas."
"Her child's school will be the perfect place for the abduction. V'ili, have you placed your obsessions?" Calhoun turned to the Sirenali.
"I have. If things go wrong, all you have to do is transport yourself away from the vehicle and leave the human driver and passenger to answer questions and take the blame."
"The Saa Thalarr all have an abnormally strong desire to save those who are weaker. V'ili, have the vehicle's driver aim for a child. You know she'll intervene, making this ridiculously simple for us," Acrimus said. "Our power is greater. Kiarra cannot resist when we pull her in."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
Two of Bill's extra agents brought in breakfast for us as we gathered around a huge kitchen island to eat. "Where are we going first?" I asked Bill. He and I rubbed elbows at the island as we ate a hurried meal and drank coffee from a local restaurant.
"There's a new school being built on the east side of Fresno," Bill said. "The only people there will be construction workers, and we've seen how they've been obsessed in the past. Easy enough to do and the enemy moves right in. The school swimming pool is already built, it just needs water."
I could see that Bill and Dan Kelsey had put a lot of thought into our search. A few old motels were also on the list, because they had swimming pools. Several very large homes with pools, which were empty and listed for sale were also targeted. Others were on the list, too—anything that might be big enough to hold part of Acrimus' army.
Somehow, I guessed that the General wasn't involved in this mission—he didn't care that Saxom or his brother might get what they wanted out of this. He only cared about having everything under his control. Acrimus realized that pacifying the Khos'Mirai and his brother might result in better information in the long term, and that was a frightening prospect.
* * *
Construction workers stood aside as we walked through the school an hour later. I put it to the sniff test, too. It was free of any scent of Sirenali or Janine. I shook my head at Bill as we stared at the empty swimming pool—the school moving into the new facility had a championship swim team, so the pool was regulation length to hold swim meets.
"Nothing here," Bill sighed. "Let's go."
* * *
"Slave," V'ili snapped, "test the water for me."
Janine stepped into the water at Shaver Lake and shuddered. "Cold," she said, closing her eyes and shivering.
"Then come in with me. You can keep me warm," V'ili said.
"Can't swim," Janine's voice was flat.
"Too bad. Perhaps I'll keep you alive if you endeavor to keep me warm."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
"We're coming up empty everywhere," Bill placed his cellphone on the table and shook his head at me. He was worried, that was plain enough to see. He'd gotten off the phone with Dan Kelsey after we'd stopped for lunch at a local restaurant.
"We're basing this on what we've seen in the past," Opal offered. She sat opposite me in the booth where we'd been seated by the restaurant hostess. Jayson sat beside her while I was seated next to Bill. The two extra agents had a table near the door so they could watch who came and went and guard Bill at the same time.
"What are you saying?" Bill turned to Opal.
"That we're assuming the Sirenali wants warm, clean saltwater to flex his gills. What if they want to throw us off? There are a couple of lakes near the mountains."
"What do you know about the Sirenali? Do they require saltwater?" Bill turned to me.
"I don't know," I shook my head. "But how hard would it be for a rogue god to add salt to a body of water? Especially if they wanted to mislead us?"
Bill lifted his phone and dialed Dan Kelsey. He answered right away. "Dan," Bill said, "How difficult would it be to get area lakes tested for salinity?"
"No problem," I heard Dan's reply. "I can get someone on it right away."
"Thanks, Dan," Bill said and ended the call. "I don't like this," he raked fingers through his hair in frustration.
* * *
Hank's Journal
"He asked Dan to get his people to check the salinity of area lakes," Trajan said. We'd watched as Dan answered a call from Bill. He'd walked away from us as he talked, but that didn't prevent Trajan from hearing the conversation. A werewolf could detect cellphone conversations from yards away.
"Then they're not finding anything either, and we're widening the search," I said.
"If they're camped at a local lake, that's an even bigger problem," Trajan said. "I wish we had more wolves—we could sniff around. Maybe pick up a trail."
"Would the Grand Master consider contacting the local Packs?" I turned to Trajan.
"Yeah. Let me get Winkler on the phone. I'll see what we can do."
In less than an hour, Weldon Harper had called for volunteers from the Fresno and Sacramento P
acks and werewolves living in the lake areas were already on their way. Dan Kelsey blinked at the efficiency of the Grand Master and offered his thanks as soon as Trajan gave him the information.
* * *
Fresno, California
Adam's Journal
I was supervising a local construction job, so I'd gone home for lunch. When Kiarra's cellphone rang, I looked up from the chicken tetrazzini she'd made to listen in. She seldom got calls and hated the phone. She only kept it because I asked.
"Hi, Martin, what's up?" she said when Martin Walters identified himself.
"Can you pick Mack up from school when you go for Justin?" Martin asked. "I have an emergency job up at Shaver Lake this afternoon."
Martin built custom cabinets for businesses and wealthy clients. He was good with his hands and his work was excellent. It didn't surprise me that someone might be calling from that area—there were plenty of nice cabins on Shaver Lake.
"Sure, Martin. Justin will love it if Mack comes home with us."
"I'll pick him up later, after this job is done," Martin said. "Thanks, Anna. I owe you."
Everybody in Fresno knew Kiarra as Anna. She'd used that name when we first met, and it was a good disguise while we lived in Fresno. I'd changed my last name to match that of my alter ego—Griffin. It was one of the disadvantages of being Saa Thalarr—you had to hide behind a mask most of the time.
"I'll pick up fried chicken for dinner—Mack loves fried chicken," Kiarra sighed as she placed the cell back in her purse.
"Have I told you lately how much I appreciate the fact that you'll cook or serve meat for the rest of us, when you don't eat it?" I asked.
"Adam, it's a choice. I'm not gonna lose it if you, Justin and Mack have fried chicken for dinner."
"What if other vegetarians picket our house?" I grinned at her.
"Don't even start," she held up a hand.
"Come here, sweetheart." I reached for her.
"After you finish your lunch," she said.
* * *
Breanne's Journal
The Grand Master was sending werewolves to the area lakes to sniff around and report anything unusual back to him. Dan had experts on the way to test the water for salt. We had an old motel to visit in the Fresno heat.
Blood Love (God Wars Book 4) Page 25
