Phin laughs. “It’s been flat-out boring as hell at home without you.”
Luc kisses my cheek once more. “That is for Gilles and Elise. They miss you terribly.”
I stare into his gaze. “We’ll all be home soon.”
Noah and Seth exchange manly bro shakes and side hugs with Eli’s brothers, and then introductions are made between the Duprés and Rhine, and we make our way through the semicrowd of people filing out of baggage claim.
As we leave the building, I’m sandwiched between Eli’s brothers, each with an arm draped over my shoulders. We cross the parking lot, and at the Rovers, Phin doesn’t let me go. He inclines his head to the backseat, and we climb in. Luc shoots him a glare and then jumps in the front with Rhine. We head back to the Crachan, and by the time we arrive, I’ve updated Luc and Phin on all the events to date in Inverness. They are not surprised when I tell them Valerian Arcos is behind it all, and that he resurrected Carrine to control Eli, making me believe my only choice was to kill him. Fury makes their eyes turn dark, and I know that if Valerian makes the mistake of showing back up, he won’t survive.
And that, of course, will start an epic war between the vampire families.
They needed to stand in line, though. I’ve already had fanciful visions of shoving silver into Valerian’s heart myself.
Luc and Phin are completely impressed with Rhine and the Ness boys’ work in the city, and by the time Rhine pulls into the drive, they’re pretty much up to speed.
Noah and Seth join us, and we all walk in. Pete is squating down in front of the hearth, stoking a roaring fire. Two other Ness boys are plopped onto chairs, eating bowls of cereal. I’m pretty sure, by the furtive glances Pete and the others pass Luc and Phin when they’re introduced, they’re freaked out by their houseful of vampires.
We sit on the sofa, Luc and Phin on either side of me. Noah and Seth fall into chairs. Rhine throws himself down in front of the hearth, onto the floor.
We discuss our next move.
“If Carrine is everything you say she is,” Phin says, rubbing his buzz-cut head, “she’ll know when you try to get to St. Bueno’s to fill those cartridges.”
“That’s why me and a few of the other lads should go alone,” Rhine offers. “She’ll focus on you, Riley.” He inclines his head to Luc and Phin. “And on you.”
“He’s right,” Noah agrees. He looks at Rhine. “You’ve got to do this now.” He inclines his head to me. “The longer she waits, the stronger Carrine becomes.”
“Why do you have to go in alone, Ri?” Seth asks. His green eyes are hazy with worry. “I don’t get it.”
“Well,” I answer my baby brother, “our theory is, since Carrine was a powerful witch before she became a vampire, she can manipulate inside the realm. I saw a piece of it before.” I smile at him wryly. “What if she, I don’t know”—I incline my head to Luc—“manipulated him to act against me?” I shake my head, the thought making me sick inside. “I couldn’t face having to fight one of you.”
“Well, I for one am dying to see this scatha of yours,” Phin says. He looks at Rhine. “When will you leave?”
“The sooner the better,” Rhine says in his brogue. He glances at me. “An’ from the looks o’ it, lads, Riley here is about tae crash.”
I focus on the handsome young Scotsman, and realize my vision has in fact gone blurry.
“Yeah, look at that goofy look on her face,” Phin says, leaning back and staring at me. He lifts his hand in front of me. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
I stare. “One. And your mother would beat you if she saw that,” I say.
I am feeling weary, though. “I’d feel better if Seth went with Rhine and the others,” I mumble, and lay my head over onto Luc’s shoulder. “Make sure at least . . . eight of you go, huh?” I try to focus on Rhine, but his face has become distorted. My eyelids grow heavier and heavier.
“Och, there she goes,” Rhine says, his voice fainter now. His voice sounds like he’s talking from a concrete tunnel.
“I’ll take her up,” Noah says, his voice even fainter. “You boys will find some V8 in the fridge.”
I feel my body go weightless as Noah leans down and slides his arms under my knees and shoulders, lifting me into the air. The room is spinning as he’s taking me upstairs, and I concentrate on his features to keep from becoming dizzy. “There’s gotta be a way to fix this narcolepsy,” I mumble. “Don’t like it.”
My head rests against Noah’s chest, and his deep rumble vibrates against my ear as he chuckles. “None of us like it, Ri. It’s dangerous.” He stares down at me. “We’ll get Preach to figure something out once we get home.”
We’re moving down the corridor now, and I feel like I’m floating, Noah’s movements are so fluid and graceful.
“Why, thank you, ma’am,” he says, grinning. His white teeth flash in the shadowy hallway as he makes his way to my room.
“Key’s in my pocket,” I mumble.
The slight pressure of his fingers slipping into my back pocket keeps me focused. He unlocks my door, and we ease inside. When he lowers me to my bed, he pulls off my boots, unfastens my leather holster, and pushes the straps over my shoulders and sets it aside. His hands search for blades, find them, and set them on the bedside table. Silver free, he pushes me back and pulls the woolen plaid blanket up to my chin. He tucks me in.
Through my fading consciousness, I grin and ease my hand out from beneath the wool. I graze his cheek. “Thanks, Noah. What would I do without you?”
The room is gray and shadowy, but I can still see his face. With his hands, he grasps both sides of my face, lowers his mouth to mine, and kisses me gently. I’m conscious enough to know it’s not a sexual gesture—surprising, since it’s coming from Noah. When he lifts his head, the mercury silver of his eyes soften. “You won’t ever have to find out, darlin’.”
I turn my head into my pillow and the weightiness of sleep lulls me in. “I’m going to tell Eli you kissed me like that,” I manage to mutter. “He’s gonna kick your ass.”
Noah’s soft chuckle is the last thing I hear. “He’ll understand completely.”
Then I’m swallowed up in shadows. In my sleep, unavoidable memories assault me as I lie here helpless. Memories of Eli. The first time he touched me. The first time I had him inside me . . . and the first time he told me he loved me.
“Tell me.”
My eyes flutter open, and I’m no longer in my bedroom at the Crachan. I’m . . . nowhere. In darkness. Suspended in weightless pitch. But the voice I know. I should be fearful, but I’m not. It’s Eli.
“I saw you through my storefront window, back home,” I say.
“Where’s that?” he asks.
“Savannah. You’re one of the city’s guardians, Eli. You and your brothers, Luc and Phin. Your little sister, Josie. And your parents. Gilles and Elise.” I sigh, and it hurts my chest.
“Guardians for what?” he asks.
“Against rogue vampires. You keep the humans safe, Eli.”
At first, he’s silent. Several moments pass. “I want to know more about . . . you.”
I blink back tears, but I’m in sheer darkness and can’t even tell if they fall onto a surface. I’m suspended, like floating on a cloud. “I’m your fiancée, Eli. We’ve . . . been through a lot together. You’ve saved my life more than once.”
“What about . . . us?” Eli inquires. I can tell he’s treading on treacherous ground. He’s curious. Not trusting. Unsure of himself. Of me.