Dave dropped his head into his hands. “Yeah, please, remind me again how I totally lost it tonight.”
“Sorry, that wasn’t fair. I know the Trust was yanking your chain. You’re right about terminating her—we have no just cause. But if she comes after us, we need to know how to defend ourselves.” And that was enough to justify at least the study.
Dave took a second to ponder, then he looked up, propping his chin with his palms as he said, “There was one more thing. I was thinking maybe we should look into it. And, considering where your thoughts are headed, maybe you will to.”
“What’s that?”
“After all the bloodsucking was done and Disa had tucked her nasties back inside her skin, Tarasios asked her if she’d found the entrance to the Preserve yet, because he’d be happy to take their new friend to meet Octavia if she had. He said, ‘She’s got to be pretty hungry by now.’ From the look on Disa’s face, I got the feeling it was another one of his stupid, shouldn’t-have-asked questions.”
We both looked at Vayl, whose eyebrows shot up.
“The Preserve? It wasn’t on your map, was it?” I asked.
“No,” he confirmed.
“Have you ever heard of Octavia?”
He shook his head.
Dave said, “Well, Disa thought she was important. She waved her hands at the dingy room like it was a personal insult when she said, ‘Hamon should never have kept so many secrets. How am I supposed to keep this Trust from crumbling when I can’t even find his mate?’ And then the blood donor sort of woke up, so she stopped talking and Tarasios took the guy away.”
“I wondered what had happened to the villa since I left,” Vayl said. “It has been so long, I just assumed all this . . . decay . . . had come naturally. But it sounds as if the problem is related to Hamon’s unplanned passing and the mysterious Octavia.”
“Do you think she’s in the Preserve, whatever that is?” I asked, turning so I could see his face better.
He nodded thoughtfully. “And I believe I know how to find them both.”
Dave and I spoke at the same time. “You do?”
Vayl wandered over to the shelves, thought about picking up a book, changed his mind. He looked at me. “We should get rid of these objects. They keep giving me”—he cleared his throat— “ideas.”
“I’ll move them out as soon as possible,” I said.
“Good.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “We know both Blas and Disa have been trying to gain secret information that was privy only to Hamon. We also know, due to his untimely death, that Hamon’s quarters have become sealed from the other members of the Trust. I believe we may find the answers they are seeking, including the location of the Preserve and the identity of Octavia, in those rooms.”
“But how are we supposed to get in there?”
Vayl looked at the covered window. “I have an idea. But since it is nearly dawn, you will have to attempt the entry without me. Only after you get the dog. That”—he gave us both significant stares—“is the priority.”
Dave and I shared a shrug. I said, “Okay, fine. What’s your plan?”
Chapter Twenty
I murmured a swift apology to sun-drenched Patras. Someday I’ll come back when I have time to savor your spectacular scenery, your ancient landmarks, your charming restaurants. But right now—“Jesus, Dave, could you hit another bump, please? I’m sure Vayl won’t mind coming out of this trip with a double concussion.”
Why the hell didn’t I drive? I’m so much better at it than this dumbf—
Because your brother needs to feel useful! Granny May snapped. Now quit complaining and act your damn age!
Why are all the voices in my head so annoying? Couldn’t I, just once, channel someone nice?
Mr. Rogers is booked through the millennium, growled Granny May. Inward sigh.
“How’re you doing, Vayl?” I glanced into the back of the minibus we’d stolen from the Trust. Vayl’s light-impermeable tent took up the space where we’d lowered the backseat. “I am fine,” came his muffled voice.
My twin and I traded looks, still slightly dazed from our initial discovery. It takes a while to get used to the fact that your vampire boss has not gone down for the day and, as a result, must be watched like an escaped convict.
At just after eight in the morning we’d outfitted ourselves for the trip to town and decided a couple of small fires would be the ideal distraction for the Trust’s human occupants. Something to keep them occupied while we joined up with Trayton. I was working up a smoking rage when Vayl opened the bedroom door. Like a couple of executives whose lackey has just walked in late, Dave and I checked our watches.
“Well, stop staring at me as if I had just grown a tail,” Vayl said irritably. “I cannot seem to sleep.”
“But . . . dawn was over an hour ago,” I said.
“Do you think I am not aware of that?”
Dave walked up to Vayl and began studying him like he was a rare specimen just flown in from the Salk Institute. He said, “Bergman is going to be so pissed he wasn’t here for this.” He glanced at me and sobered instantly. “Of course it’s bad. Vampires have to sleep during the day. The ones I’ve heard about who were forced to stay awake have committed some of the worst atrocities known to the species.”
“All of them?” I demanded.
“Well, the ones who escaped.”
“Who has been experimenting on vampires?” Vayl demanded, the threat clear in his voice.
Dave shrugged. “Mostly other vamps. You people have some weird-science guys in your ranks, you know that? One of our units came across a mad tester called Frilam in the sixties who found a way to ‘deny the day-death,’ as he called it. But when he did, the vamps wigged out. Usually in a rip-the-skin-from-the-skeleton kind of way.”
I went to Vayl. Smiled up into his stormy blue eyes. “Hey, if you decide to tear up the town, you can always use the leftover bread from my breakfast in place of your cane. I’m pretty sure it’s hard enough to bust heads.”
To my relief his lips quirked. “You seem unconcerned, considering your own potential for danger. Given the situation, I mean.”
“What situation? So you’re awake. Big whoop. If you get grumpy we’ll sic the dog on you.”
Vayl lowered his voice. “I can feel the Trust’s power, Jasmine. Disa is squeezing it into and through me. That is why I walk when I should sleep. I am holding on to my control, but I can feel its edge now.”
I gulped. “Would it help, uh, if I gave you some of my blood?”
Vayl’s eyes changed to red so suddenly I felt dizzy. “Yes.” He licked his lips. “However, I fear I would not be able to stop myself in time.”
“Have you eaten today?”
“Yes.”
Whew. “Most vamps, I wouldn’t give them a chance in a hurricane to get through this,” I whispered. “But I believe in you.”
He pulled back. Straightened as his eyes bled to brown. “Then I will endeavor not to disappoint.”
Now, as Dave hit another bump, I decided Vayl’s brain damage may have started before the trip. Possibly around the time he ripped Disa. But my brother’s driving wasn’t improving his chances at recovery. “Seriously, are you trying to lobotomize the undead guy?” I demanded.
“I am fine,” Vayl called.
My neck was beginning to ache from craning to see. “Are you okay?” I asked Trayton, who lay on the seat behind me.
“I’ve been better,” he said.