Blood and Fire (Guardian Witch)

by Ally Shields

  He holstered his weapon. “Someone beat us here.”

  “I’ll say. I wonder what they wanted so badly.”

  “Or what they didn’t want us to see.”

  Ari checked the desk. A small stack of personal papers in one drawer, an empty printer on top, but everything else was gone. No computer, journals, or maps. Nothing that would indicate why Barron had been in Riverdale. There were pinholes in a corkboard above the desk where pictures or notes had been removed. The intruder had gone to a lot of trouble to keep a secret. She frowned in frustration, disgusted the lengthy human legal procedures had allowed someone to get there first and take away the evidence. But evidence of what?

  She checked in and around the wastebasket, then pulled the chair away from the desk and looked in the kneehole. Something lay on the floor at the back. Maybe a photo? Had the intruder missed something? She crouched to get a better look.

  Ryan slapped his hand on his weapon. “What’s that hissing sound?”

  She swiveled her head toward the closet. The distinctive odor of sulfur drifted toward her. “Get out of here!” Her voice boomed in the enclosed space.

  Ari dashed for the door, half-dragging Ryan with her. They cleared the stairs in two leaps, the deck in another two, and were airborne over the side when the cabin exploded.

  She hit the water with enough force to drive her deep. Paddling with her hands and feet to reverse the downward thrust, she came up sputtering. Chunks of debris splashed around her. Sparks sizzled. Ryan was a dozen feet farther out, face down in the water. She dove down, coming up under him and lifting him to the surface.

  “Ryan, Ryan!” She struck out for shore, pulling him along. A moment later he began thrashing his arms and legs. “Stop that. I’ve got you.”

  “Let me go.” He coughed, spitting water. “I’m OK. Just stunned me for a minute.” He tried to roll over, and she let him go. He came up coughing again and shook his head to clear the dripping water.

  “Your head’s bleeding,” she said, bobbing beside him. “Let’s get out of the water.”

  Looking surprised, he put up a hand to feel the injury. “Something hit me. You OK?” They started paddling toward the bank.

  “Just wet. You sure you can make it?”

  “I’m fine. Really. What caused the explosion?” He treaded water by her side. “A bomb?”

  “An erupter spell. As kids we used to call them volcanoes because of the way the fire spews out the top, but that’s the biggest one I’ve seen.”

  They touched the bank as Ari heard the first sirens. She looked over her shoulder. The Seeker would be a total loss, but at least no one died this time. It wasn’t because someone hadn’t tried. A murder and an arson within hours; her partner injured. She was pissed.

  * * *

  Dealing with the aftermath of the boat explosion took time—talking to the firemen and the marina authorities, explaining the situation to Carmody. Over Ryan’s objection she took him to the ER, but the doctors said he was fine. Superficial wound. Apparently he had a hard head. When they left the hospital, Ari returned Ryan’s car keys, and he dropped her off at home to shower and change.

  Hours wasted. She thought about the photo that the fire would have destroyed. Could it have been the lead they needed? They’d lost evidence, but even worse, they had no suspects.

  When she walked into Club Dintero at 4:00 p.m., she was still in a bad mood. The supper club owned by her vampire boyfriend, Andreas De Luca, was empty of customers at this time of day, and staff scurried around in preparation of opening in less than two hours. Since Ari was a familiar figure, no one questioned her right to be there. Given the scowl on her face, it wasn’t surprising only Marcus, the young vampire club host, took the initiative to wave a greeting. She gave a curt nod.

  Ari marched toward Andreas’s office. Last night’s fight was still fresh in her mind, and she wanted to stay mad for a while. He couldn’t get it through his head that she needed to maintain her independence and her privacy. This had been their thousandth argument over her refusal to move into his stylish Victorian home. She stayed there occasionally, but she had her own life, her own apartment, and her cat Bella to care for. And now the four kittens. She preferred it that way.

  With the unresolved issue hanging between them, she hated having to ask him for a favor.

  Ari sighed and tried to shake off her lousy mood. She’d never convince Andreas she was safe living alone. Not under present conditions. The last five months had been tense, waiting for the O-Seven vampire elders to retaliate against Andreas or Ari for the death of their ally Sebastian, the former vampire prince of Toronto. But there’d been no reaction, and Ari had grown tired of molding her life around the bad tempers of seven old men. She and Andreas had enough other problems.

  She paused outside his office, took a deep breath, and knocked once before entering.

  Andreas was seated at his desk. Dark, sexy, scrumptious. Black Armani slacks, silver shirt with the top two buttons unfastened, the sleeves pushed up over muscular forearms. He looked up, his black eyes capturing hers. Ari caught her breath, flushing with warmth, as her witch magic began to sing. Why, after all these months, did she still react to him this way?

  He unfolded his tall, athletic frame, one hand unconsciously brushing back the lock of black hair that always tumbled across his forehead. A couple of quick steps and he unexpectedly wrapped her in his arms, brushing her hair with his lips. The faint scent of his exotic cologne drifted around her.

  “Still angry with me? Don’t be,” he whispered, melting her irritation away. “I only want to keep you safe.”

  “Oh, Andreas, I know that.” She pulled back to look at him. “But I’m a trained cop. I can defend myself. I don’t need a babysitter.” Since he’d become the vampire prince of Riverdale four months ago, Andreas believed he was the only one with the resources to protect her. He ignored the fact that her safest move would be to sever her connections with the vampires—especially him. She was only on the O-Seven’s hit list because she’d gotten in the middle of a vampire feud. If she hadn’t sided with Andreas and Daron, the new Toronto prince, the council of elder vampires in Europe wouldn’t know she existed.

  “If you will not consider your safety,” he murmured, “then come because I want you with me.”

  “I am with you.” She placed a finger across his lips when he started to interrupt. She knew what she had to do, had to say. She’d known the moment she saw him. “I don’t need protection, but I don’t want you to worry either. It’s not permanent, but I’ll stay with you for a while until we decide what to do about…well, about everything.” She eyed his emerging smile. “Can I bring Bella and her kittens?”

  “Was there ever a doubt your brood was welcome?” He chuckled, a visible weight lifting from his shoulders. He wound a strand of her honey-blonde hair around his fingers. “I am delighted with your decision. I think you will like what I have done to the Chantilly Suite.”

  She stared at him in consternation. “Were you so sure I’d agree?”

  “Only hopeful.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Is this what you came to tell me or is something else on your mind?”

  He had an uncanny way of reading her moods. She’d have to get used to more of that now they were going to live under the same roof. “Isn’t it enough? But there is something else.” She told him about the murder and the scuffed prints she’d found at the cave entrance.

  He frowned. “Not again. I thought we had closed most of the accessible entrances. Perhaps what you found is only a dead end.”

  “Maybe, but I’d like to look around inside. If our victim was in there, I want to know what he was doing.”

  “You don’t need my permission.” He gave her a speculative look.

  “Not technically, no. But I think other vamps would be happier if I had it. Even better if you were with me. Otherwise, I’ll waste too much time wandering through miles of caves.”

  “So what you really want is a guide,
and you’re willing to compromise on moving in with me to get one?” The corners of his mouth twitched with amusement.

  “Whatever it takes.” She grinned and flipped a dismissive hand. “How’s your schedule the next couple of afternoons?” Andreas was one of the rare vampires who woke before sundown. He could even tolerate exposure to the late-afternoon sun. His resistance was an ability he had yet to explain, but she knew he’d be up shortly after 3:00 p.m. that afternoon. “I want to do some research on lost or buried treasure around here first. Whatever this treasure hunter was looking for, it must be important.” She described the scene when she and Ryan had arrived at Barron’s yacht to search his cabin. “Clothes were thrown around, bed torn apart, drawers hung open. Someone had gone over the place. His notes, maps, everything was taken. I’m sure it’s tied to his death, but we still don’t know what he was looking for. Unless you have an idea?”

  He shrugged, a familiar mannerism that could mean anything. “I have not heard of any lost treasures in this area. There are stories of smugglers and Indians in the caverns. We’ve found evidence of early inhabitants. Pottery shards, wooden boxes, tools, debris left by ancient workers when they widened the passages. Nothing important that could be carried away and sold.” He grinned down at her. “No pirate gold.”

  “There must be something, or Barron wouldn’t have been interested. If only we’d had more time at the boat,” she mused, instantly sorry she’d said that when his eyes narrowed. She hadn’t meant to bring up the explosion, not unless she absolutely had to.

  “Were you involved in the fire at the marina?” he asked softly.

  “Sort of. Ryan and I were searching the boat just before it blew up.”

  “How soon before?”

  “Um, we had to jump overboard. But I’m fine, and Ryan’s fine.”

  “Arianna, when were you going to mention this?”

  He was trying to remain calm, but she heard the tension in his voice.

  She stood on tiptoes and kissed his unyielding mouth. “I hoped I wouldn’t have to bring it up.”

  His eyes widened. “Did you think I would miss the sirens or that gossip would not eventually reach me?”

  “I didn’t want to start another fight. Not today.”

  He unbent then. “I am not angry, cara mia. I worry about you.”

  “Too much,” she said. “So can we drop it? I’d really like to talk about the caves.”

  Andreas sighed, his dark eyes brooding, unconvinced. “Very well. I will take you to the caves whenever you want, but the marks you saw at the cave opening might not be from your victim. They could have been left by children, who venture inside more often than I would like.”

  Diverted, Ari asked, “In spite of all the no trespassing signs? What do you do about them?”

  “Nothing. We have escorted a couple of the older ones out, but mostly they dart in and out without doing damage. Caves seem to hold a natural fascination for human children. More so when forbidden.”

  “I’d like to look anyway. First, I’ll do some checking on local legends. Maybe the historical society can tell me what would tempt a treasure hunter.” She nodded at the papers on his desk. “I’ll let you get back to work. The cats and I will meet you at the house later tonight.” She started to leave but turned back when he spoke again.

  “I visited someone today who would interest you. Have you heard of Zylla?”

  “No, who is she?”

  “An ancient wise woman, who is also an eight-hundred-year-old vampire. She lives inside the caverns and rarely sees outsiders. I told her about our problems with the O-Seven and that you had asked me about the 1329 witch-vampire war. She was part of those deadly battles and agreed to speak with you.”

  Ari’s interest sparked. “Really? That would be awesome. Eight hundred years old…is she scary?”

  Andreas threw back his head and laughed. “You can decide for yourself when you meet her, but Zylla was seventy-eight when she was transformed.”

  “That’s just creepy. Who bites old women?”

  “Not all biting is about sex,” he said dryly. “But we will never know her sire’s motivation. Zylla’s existing magical powers were greatly increased by her transformation, and her maker barely lived long enough to regret his actions.”

  “Sheesh. She definitely sounds scary.”

  “I doubt you will find her so. We will visit soon, but not tonight.” His look made her cheeks grow warm. “Tonight I look forward to settling you and your cats in my home.”

  * * *

  Ari went to her apartment to pack those things she would need for the next few weeks. Clothes, shoes, potions, her family Book of Shadows, diet coke, her laptop. Strapping her derringer in its ankle holster, she grabbed four boxes of silver bullets and checked that her silver dagger was in its waist sheath. She inspected her sterling silver bracelet to ensure that each protective trinket was there—the miniature cross, the vial of holy water, the amulets. Finally, after begging a sturdy box with a lid from her landlady, Mrs. Morgenstern, she punched air holes in the sides for the kittens. Bella would ride on her shoulder, but the lively young ones would need to be enclosed for safer transportation.

  While she waited for some of Andreas’s staff to arrive and help with the move, she took one last look around. Her apartment would be fine in her absence; the landlady had promised to watch for any sign of trouble. Still, the move felt way too permanent. Ari rubbed her neck muscles to relieve the growing tension. It wasn’t long ago that she’d resisted the idea of having any kind of relationship with Andreas. That was before fate, some mysterious magical stuff, and, yes, maybe her hormones got involved. So far she’d chosen not to think about whether her heart had also been lost in the process.

  Before she had time to get more anxious about the move, two weretigers arrived with Andreas’s Lexus. They had her, all her belongings, and the cats loaded within minutes.

  “Sorry it took us so long to get here.” One of the tigers pushed the final box into place. “Samuel kept us busy today. We’ve been rearranging and adding more security. You’ll see what I mean.”

  Ari couldn’t imagine what was causing the fuss, but the weretiger seemed reluctant to talk about it. She figured she’d find out soon enough, so she didn’t push. Her interest piqued again and her trouble antenna went up the moment they reached the gate to Andreas’s property and she spotted the armed guards. The underground garage looked like a military checkpoint, with a mixture of weretigers and wolves.

  “Is Andreas at home?” she asked as she exited the car.

  The driver swung the car door shut. “He should be. He wanted to be here when you arrived.”

  “Good.” She’d save her questions for him. It was obvious something had interrupted the well-oiled routine of his household staff.

  Before she got any further in her speculation, Andreas bounded down the stairs and grabbed the box of kittens. He leaned over and planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “Follow me. I think we have everything set up for you.” The smile on his face, like a kid at Christmas, proved she’d made the right decision.

  They entered the main Victorian house with its gleaming polished wood, brocaded window dressings, and genuine antiques. Andreas lead the way up the wide staircase, stopping on the second floor to balance the box of kittens under one arm before swinging open a bedroom door. Ari stepped inside, once again admiring the gorgeous stateroom she’d stayed in a time or two in the past year. The Chantilly Suite was decorated in blue and white, cool and frilly, with pillows you could get lost in and Queen Anne furniture; the elegant suite had its own spa area. She stopped at the sight of the adjoining sitting room. It had been kitten-proofed—the furniture removed and replaced by two cat trees, kitty snuggle bags, toys, dishes, and covered litter boxes. A temporary barrier, a latched door that looked like stacked baby gates, would keep feline claws from shredding the rest of the house. The “kitten yard” was larger than Ari’s entire apartment.

  “Ooh, perfect.�
�� She watched Andreas open the box of mewing kittens in the center of their playroom. When her children came tumbling out, Bella leaped gracefully from Ari’s shoulder and joined them in sniffing around. “I love it. Thank you.”

  Andreas backed out of the kitten yard and closed the gate. There was still plenty of room at the top for Bella to get out when she wanted. The kittens probably wouldn’t climb that high, but Ari decided she’d close the bedroom door whenever she left. Just in case. Better one disaster area than the entire house.

  While she unpacked the rest of her things, Andreas lounged against the door frame with a faint smile on his face. For an inscrutable vampire, he could be pretty transparent when he got his way. Which was far too often.

  “Are you just going to stand there?”

  “I like watching you.”

  She looked at him then. “Well, don’t get used to it. This is only temporary.”

  He ignored her comment. “Are you about ready to eat? I thought we could go to the club.”

  “Through the underground passage I assume.” She turned toward him with a blouse still in her hands. “I noted the added security. Has something happened?”

  His face clouded. “A precaution only. Daron called to tell us one of the elders’ enforcers has arrived in Toronto.”

  “Enforcer? That sounds bad, like an assassin. Has the O-Seven put a price on Daron’s head?”

  “They would not go that far. The enforcers assess compliance with the council’s laws, then take or recommend action to eliminate noncompliance.”

  She drew her brows into a scowl. “Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying he’ll try to kill Prince Daron?”

  “She. The enforcer is a vampiress named Ursula, one of the first daughters. And she will not move against him directly. Daron still has his sire’s protection.”

  “And his sire is one of the O-Seven, although you won’t tell me anything else about him. I guess this mysterious sire got outvoted on the enforcer’s visit. But you still think he can veto an execution order, right?”