by Tally Adams
"Right now we just need to concentrate on making it through the vampire nest without trouble," Paoli threw out, his eyes resting on Lyric, who did a double-take when she noticed it.
"What?" she asked.
"I know you don't want to hear it, but Sekhmet made some good points last night," he said carefully.
Lyric bristled, not liking where this was headed.
At all.
"If you think you're making a snack of me on the way, you can forget it," she said indignantly. "And quit looking at me like that."
Paoli smiled; a lazy, seductive smile that made heat pool in the bottom of her stomach. "Like what?" he asked.
Lyric narrowed her eyes at him. "Like you're debating the steak sauce or the catsup," she accused.
"Actually, my thoughts were nowhere near your blood," he said, lifting a single brow suggestively.
"You do know I'm still here, right?" Emily asked dryly.
Heat burned Lyric's cheeks and she looked away from Paoli and focused on Emily, instead. "If I'm a liability, am I waiting on the bus or something during the meeting?"
"I don't think that's a good idea," Paoli said.
"Why not?" Lyric wanted to know. It seemed like a good idea to her. In fact, the farther away from a nest of vampires the better, to her way of thinking.
"Because the last time you were without protection, you were nearly eaten," Paoli said. "And I rose with panic and fear in my chest. We don't know how Lycaon's people had your information or if they might be tracking you, somehow. I have no intention of leaving you alone in a metal box with only one exit when an army of wolves are out for your head. I happen to like your head right where it is."
Lyric had to agree with that. She liked her head right where it was, too. "Does that mean you're staying on the bus with me?" she asked hopefully.
"No," Paoli said flatly. "William needs the whole pack at his side for this meeting. That includes us."
Chapter Thirty
Lyric had even less desire to walk into a vampire nest than she'd had to meet with the werewolves. After Sekhmet's speech the night before, she was convinced vampires were even worse than werewolves, and didn't cherish the thought of being in a room full of them. What if she got a bloody nose and they all lost control of their blood lust and attacked in a horde of fangs and hissing?
"Stop scaring yourself," Paoli said, breaking into her panicked thoughts.
"I'm not," she insisted, her voice markedly higher than normal.
"We can smell your fear, and it's getting stronger," Sekhmet said. "You need to get control of it before we go in or they may feed on it."
"You're not helping," she said shortly.
The bus stopped moving and Sekhmet put it into park and made his way from the driver's seat to sit casually beside Emily; legs crossed at the ankles and one arm thrown across the back of the seat. "I'm not trying to help. I'm trying to be honest," he said, brushing his dark hair off his forehead.
The door opened with a slight squeak and William and Empusa climbed in and closed it behind them, both standing just above the steps, surveying the group. Empusa smiled at Lyric. "Glad to see you're feeling better," he said. "Good job today."
"Thanks," she murmured, staring at her own hands while she tried to master the fear that was quickly approaching panic.
"I'm sorry you had to see the battle," William offered. "I sometimes forget the violence in our lives isn't normal for everyone."
She looked up at him and didn't know what to say. The image of him standing behind the werewolf as it's body literally slid from his blade seemed forever etched in her mind. "Thank you for saving me," she said at last. "Sorry I fainted." She gave a slight grimace and found herself embarrassed about it. No one else on the bus would have fainted.
Just her.
The weak link.
"No need to be sorry you aren't comfortable with death yet," he said with the merest hint of a shrug.
The last word seemed to bounce around in Lyric's head. Yet. Meaning she would eventually get used to seeing people die. She didn't like the idea at all. Not that she was going to lose sleep over those two, considering they were trying to kill her. Still, the thought of being around death so much it would become commonplace was a little worrisome.
"We better get going," Sekhmet said, getting to his feet. "It won't do to keep upper management waiting."
Upper management? What were they, visiting a vampire corporation? "What," Lyric said as everyone starting moving toward the door. "What do I do here?" she asked urgently.
"Just stay close to me," Paoli said, standing and taking her hand to pull her to her feet. "Don't let anyone or anything separate you from my side."
She nodded quickly and stepped off the bus so close on his heels that she actually stepped on him. He didn't say anything, but put his hands on her waist to steady her. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I'll keep you safe, no matter what happens. Trust me," he breathed in her ear, then nuzzled her neck for the briefest instant before he stepped back.
"Hold on a second," Emily said and everyone stood and watched her dash to the gray sedan. She got something out of the glovebox and carried it back by the very corner of a cloth bag. "Here," she said, holding it out to Lyric with her nose crinkled. "Take this, just in case."
Lyric took the bag and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a large cross covered in rhinestones. She couldn't see the details by the light of the moon and the few streetlamps nearby, but the rhinestones looked dark; like they'd lost their sparkle and begun to tarnish. Still, it was a cross and might be her best defense where they were headed.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
"Keep it. I can't use it anymore," Emily said with a slightly rueful smile. "Just keep it out of sight and only use it if you really need to."
"And keep it away from me," Paoli added, having taken a good step back when she opened the bag to look in. "We have a history, that thing and I."
Emily laughed aloud and turned away to stand beside William, offering no explanations.
Lyric wanted to get some details, but the group started moving forward, toward the waiting building that looked like an abandoned bar or restaurant. Every step she took made her feet feel heavier, like she was dragging lead weights. Paoli reached out and took her hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles as they continued forward.
"Look at it like this," Empusa said from behind her. "You're as safe as I am here."
"How safe are you?" she asked in a low voice over her shoulder.
"Not very," he admitted.
"That's not exactly reassuring," she hissed.
"It's supposed to make you feel better, knowing we're in the same boat, you and I," he said.
"It doesn't," she informed him, and she could swear she felt Paoli chuckle. She spared him a dirty look before turning her attention to Emily, who was walking in front of her. By focusing on the back of Emily's head instead of the door looming in her vision, she was able to avoid panic.
"Under no circumstances are you to step away from my side," Paoli said when they neared the door. "It's imperative you listen to me on this."
Lyric was silent for another step, trying to understand the importance of his words. "Why?" she asked, not grasping the significance.
"Because Sekhmet was being honest last night. If they realize I haven't taken your blood, they may view you as sport. As long as you're standing right beside me, they won't be able to tell that. Vampire noses aren't as astute as werewolves."
The realization that her presence caused them all increased danger made a wave of guilt crash over her. What if something went wrong, just because she hadn't allowed Paoli to take her blood? It made her feel exceedingly selfish. "If I'm putting everyone at risk, I'd rather stay on the bus," she said, stopping in her tracks so quickly Empusa bumped into her.
"That's not an option," Paoli said impatiently, propelling her forward with a hand to the small of her back.
Her fear was climbing fast. "Th
en bite me now, before we go in," she blurted out.
Paoli sucked in an audible breath. "An offer like that is not to be made lightly, and certainly not here," he said, his voice rougher than usual. "Calm yourself, stay by my side, and try not to draw attention. We will keep you safe."
"It's not just me I'm worried about," she returned.
"Everything is going to be fine," he said soothingly. "Just relax."
Relax? Relax! How could she relax when she was heading into a whole building of the undead who feasted on human blood? They would look at her like she was a walking buffet. Her breathing sped up to the point she was almost panting.
Paoli looked at her with concern. "You have to calm down," he said. "If you go in like this, it'll be impossible to keep you from drawing attention. You don't want to look like an offering we're bringing."
She looked at him with wide, panicked eyes.
"I can help you calm down, if you let me," he offered.
They had reached the door but William made no move to open it. The whole group stood, waiting for her decision.
"Just do it, Paoli. We don't want to keep them waiting," Sekhmet said from his place behind Paoli.
Paoli ignored him, waiting for Lyric's decision as though they had all the time in the world. She swallowed, well aware she couldn't stay calm enough for what was coming on her own. "Will it hurt?" she asked in a small, nervous voice.
"Not at all," he assured her.
With a deep breath, she nodded decisively. "Okay. What do I need to do?"
"Just look into my eyes," Paoli whispered.
His eyes were beautiful. So pure a deep blue they reminded her of pictures she'd seen of the Texas sky. A slightly darker blue ringed them and his lashes were so long, he could have been a model for mascara commercials. A pulling sensation stole over her, and it almost felt as though she were falling through the pupils and into the depths beyond.
"You're calm and at ease," Paoli's voice said hypnotically. "Nothing can hurt you as long as you're at my side."
"All right," she heard herself say as though someone else was working her lips. Just as he'd instructed, a feeling of serenity stole over her, calming her breath and slowing her heart to normal range.
Chapter Thirty One
"Are we good now?" William asked.
Paoli nodded, gesturing flamboyantly toward the door. "Let's see what's behind door number two."
They entered a small room lit by an old-fashioned chandelier in the ceiling. It didn't look overly expensive to Lyric; rather like something a grandmother might have in an old farmhouse. The floors were wood and polished until they shone; the walls plain white and uninspired, and the whole area smelled faintly like bleach.
A small woman stood waiting for them against the far wall, giving them a smile that looked strange and unnatural, somehow. To Lyric, it looked like something out of a yearbook when an unknown photographer put a kid into an uncomfortable position and said 'smile'. The more she looked at it, the more wrong it seemed to be. The woman's eyes looked scared and yet blank at the same time, but her mouth was pulled up at the corners.
"Welcome," she said in a flat monotone. "Michael has been expecting you. Please follow me."
They followed her past two open doors. The first room was dimly lit, except for a strobe light casting colors across the many people who were dancing to the raucous music. The second room was more sedate; containing multiple pieces of furniture that people were lounging on. Eyes followed their progress as they walked by, and two women stepped out of the second room to follow them at a slight distance.
Lyric glanced at them as they stepped into the hallway, but Paoli gave her hand a squeeze and a subtle shake of his head. She picked up on the hint and forced her eyes to stay on the woman they were following, though she was painfully aware of their stalkers keeping pace with them. A quick look over her shoulder proved that while Sekhmet seemed unperturbed, Empusa was acutely aware of the women right behind him, as well. And he didn't like it any better than she did.
Lyric took solace from the feel of Paoli's body; hard and strong, right beside her. His hand covered hers, offering the comfort of his warm touch in such a dangerous situation. His thumb occasionally stroked over her hand in a gentle caress, reminding her there was nothing to fear with him at her side.
They continued on to a room at the end of the hall. The door stood slightly ajar, and their guide knocked softly to announce their arrival. A man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties greeted them, ushering them inside. He was well-dressed, though his fine attire looked more like a costume than actual clothes, somehow. His black shoes were polished so well, reflections from the overhead light shone in them. His slacks were black and pressed down the front in a perfect crease, and his stark white shirt had two buttons undone at the top. While he smiled when they entered, she couldn't help feeling something was wrong about him.
The room itself was such a classic office space, it could have been a painting. The colors were all muted browns and reds; from the chair in the corner that sat beside a small reading table, to the rug on the floor. Book shelves lines the walls; all stuffed full of tomes in various sizes and colors, and the desk that faced the door was large and made from some sort of dark wood.
The man they were meeting with paused at the door, looking at the women they had picked up along the way. He mumbled something that Lyric couldn't hear and shut the door quietly, leaving the women in the hall. He turned back to their group with a smile.
"Sorry about that," he said, striding over to his desk where he half-sat, half-stood against it. "I'm afraid your arrival here has sparked a good deal of nervousness among my vampires. My name is Michael, by the way."
"You can let them know we aren't here in our usual capacity," Paoli said.
Michael considered Paoli with a slight frown. "Then why are you here?"
Paoli threw Sekhmet a baleful look over his shoulder before returning his attention to the man in front of them. "When Sekhmet made arrangements for this meeting, did he discuss the situation at the Coven?" he asked in a subtle reprimand for the lack of communication.
Sekhmet scowled at Paoli, but said nothing in response.
"Of course," Michael said, his eyes skimming back and forth between Paoli and Sekhmet. "But I'm not sure what we can do about the situation. We're aware there are no governing heads at the Coven right now, thanks to Lycaon's attack on Lilith. I'm not sure what that has to do with this nest, however."
"Lycaon's creating new wolves at an alarming rate right now," William said. "We know for certain he's in this area. We're working with the committee to try to bring him back under control. Every immortal in his vicinity is at risk. He's trying to force local packs to join in his rebellion, which means we need support from every sector."
Michael shifted his weight uncomfortably. "So what is it you're asking us to do?"
"Take precautions to protect your people," Paoli said. "This is a large nest, which makes it an ideal target if Lycaon wants to make a statement."
"Safety measures are very important if we're going to avoid an all-out war. Someone has to be willing to set aside old differences. Without the Coven, we need to monitor and control the actions of our own people. We can't afford to draw human attention," William said. "So we're asking that every leader be diligent in overseeing their people and carrying out justice as needed."
"Are you saying we've been given a license to execute without an official order?" Michael asked, slightly incredulous.
"Yes," Empusa spoke up. "The Coven was responsible for issuing orders of execution. The Coven is no more. Ergo, it falls to the local leaders to uphold the laws."
Michael nodded thoughtfully. "Have any threats been made against the nest?"
"None that we're aware of," Paoli answered.
"All we know for sure is Lycaon is here and active. Whether he plans to cause problems with your people is anyone's guess," Empusa offered.
"Is there anyone I can contact if the w
erewolves become a threat?" Michael asked, standing from the desk and beginning to pace in front of it.
"As long as Lycaon remains here, so will we," William answered. "After that, all we can say is we've appealed to the local pack for assistance in controlling the werewolves. You discussing the situation with them might be beneficial for all involved."
Michael's lip curled up in disgust at the very idea, but he said nothing. The gesture wasn't missed by Paoli, however, who made a sound of aggravation.
"It's time we start putting our differences aside," he said, his voice impatient and clipped. "Times have changed and old prejudices need to be eradicated. The only way any of us are going to come through this situation is if we unite."
Michael stood from his desk and made his way casually toward Paoli. His eyes roved over Empusa and slowly moved to Lyric. He inhaled very pointedly through his nose. "An immortal human," he sneered, reaching for Lyric's hand. She stiffened.
Paoli shifted so that his body stood between Lyric and Michael. "How very like you, Paoli," Michael said with a condescending smile. "You never could embrace your reality."
Paoli deigned not to answer the charge.
The words ran through Lyric like an electric shock. Immortal human? What did that mean?
"And I scent you now travel with a token werewolf," Michael went on, his eyes seeking out Empusa, who stiffened visibly. "The impurity of your own blood was something most of us were willing to overlook," he said, his attention turning to William. "But your choice of companions has become questionable."
"If you want to keep your people safe, it's time to start finding common ground and making new allies. At least think about finding peace with the local pack," William said, undaunted, handing Michael a card.
"What's this?" Michael asked as he accepted the card and glanced at the information.
"It's the contact information for the local alpha," William said. "We had a meeting with them earlier today. He's expecting your call."
"I'll give it some consideration," Michael agreed, though his face looked disgusted by the very thought.
