Alec hauled him to his feet, brushing him off, since the seneschal appeared to be somewhat disoriented by the portal. “You’re here. Where to, Kris?”
“The lichmaster said she’d be waiting for us at the Chauvet caves.”
“Caves? I love caves!” Cora said, her eyes bright with excitement as she took his hand. The fact that she did so automatically warmed him like nothing else had in . . . well, since his beloved mother had died. She had been the only person who touched him with genuine love . . . until Cora. He wondered if she loved him. He wondered if she knew he was quickly falling into that state.
“Caves? That ought to be interesting,” Eleanor said.
“Do we have to meet there?” Alec asked Kristoff.
The latter gave him a sympathetic look. “She wouldn’t budge from there. Evidently that is where her headquarters are.”
“I’ve heard of that cave,” Pia said as they exited the portalling company’s building, and emerged into the soft darkness of the evening. “Isn’t it where they found those pretty cave paintings?”
“I believe so,” Kristoff answered, shooting him another look before he hurried off with Pia to rent a car.
“Caves,” he muttered, disgusted with the turn of events.
“What’s wrong with caves? They’re awesome fun. I love the ones with the stalactites dripping limewater, making all sorts of creepy shapes. Kinda reminds me of ectoplasm, really, not that I’ve ever seen it, because I don’t believe in ghosts.... Oh.” She blinked at him, a wry smile making him want to kiss her senseless. “I guess I need to change that, huh?”
“There are many types of spirits,” the seneschal said, consulting his watch. “But none, I believe, take on the form of wet stalactites. We have slightly over two hours left.”
Avignon at night was enchanting, and Alec was possessed with the urge to watch Cora’s face as she explored all the delights contained within it, but that would have to wait until after she was safe.
He became aware that Cora was watching him closely. He kissed her just to take that speculative look off her face, then kissed her again because once again he couldn’t get enough of her sweetness, ignoring a rude comment by Eleanor as he did so.
You don’t like caves?
No.
Claustrophobic?
He didn’t answer.
I’m sorry. That’s got to be the pits. You don’t have to go into the cave if you don’t want to.
“You’re being silly,” he said, releasing her lower lip when Terrin made a polite little cough. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am a Dark One. I fear nothing.”
“Big talk,” she said, but, with a glance toward Terrin, did nothing more than smile and take his hand, sending him wave after wave of reassurance and comfort. It’ll be all right. You’ll see.
“Well, as long as I’m here, I might as well windowshop,” Eleanor said, moving across the street to browse in a store window.
“The mare you mentioned—she is anxious to have her grandchild out,” he told Terrin, amused by Cora’s attempt to soothe him, but not willing to hurt her feelings.
Terrin looked faintly surprised. “Of course. Wouldn’t you?”
“It seems to me that she is in a very difficult spot. In a matter of two hours, she will lose her descendant forever to the Akasha.”
“Yees,” Terrin drawled, his gaze sharpening upon Alec.
What are you doing?
Trying to solve two problems at once.
“It also seems to me that without Cora’s help Diamond cannot be saved in time.”
“What do you want?” Terrin asked baldly.
Yes, what do you want? Do you think he can help you with the vampire council thing?
No. Alec smiled. “And the Sovereign . . . surely the Sovereign must be aware of the situation? I assume the mares keep it informed of all that goes on?”
Terrin’s suspicious expression tightened. “I am told they do. What reward is it that you expect? I can reassure you that the mare Disin will be most grateful—”
“It’s not the mare’s help I seek,” he interrupted smoothly.
Terrin’s eyes opened wide at the same moment that Cora probed his mind, gasping into his head. Jesus wept, Alec! You can’t blackmail God!
The Sovereign is not God, and I’m not blackmailing it. I’m simply ensuring we receive its help.
“The Sovereign does not take kindly to being used,” Terrin said, scorn dripping from his voice. “If that is your intention, and I see by the expression on your Beloved’s face that it is. I don’t know what it is that you want the Sovereign to do, but it won’t do it, I can assure you that.”
“Then Diamond will remain in the Akasha,” he said blithely, brushing off a bit of nothing from Cora’s arm. “Love, I believe we have time to do some sightseeing after all.”
Cora gaped at him, her mouth open just enough that he gently pressed his fingers under her chin to close it. “Alec, you’re nuts.”
“So I’ve frequently been told.”
“You can’t blackmail God!” she repeated.
“The Sovereign is not God per se,” Terrin said tiredly. “Why do I have to keep telling you that? It’s an easy concept to understand, after all. It’s not like trying to plumb the unfathomable depths of a woman’s mind.”
“That sort of a crack isn’t going to do you any good,” Cora said with a sharp look at the little seneschal.
He apologized, glancing at Alec. “Just out of curiosity, not that it will happen in even the most bizarre imaginings, but let us say the Sovereign was feeling gracious. What is it you wish for it to do?”
Yeah, what? Cora asked, evidently not having probed far enough to see his plans.
“My Beloved is a Tool of Bael,” Alec said, gesturing toward her.
“She is,” Terrin agreed.
“There is nothing I can do that will relieve her from that burden.”
Terrin eyed first Cora, then him. “No,” he said at last. “Such a thing is beyond your power. Or indeed mine, for what that’s worth.”
“Every low sort of being in the Otherworld and mortal world will desire to use her for their own gain,” Alec continued.
“Where exactly are you going with this?” Cora asked, looking a bit disgruntled. “Because so far, all it’s doing is depressing me.”
“Patience, mi querida.”
“I imagine that is so, yes,” Terrin agreed. “If you expect the Sovereign to strip the Tool from Cora, however, I’m afraid you’re doomed to disappointment. Such a thing is not within the bounds of even the Sovereign. For all intents and purposes, the Occio di Lucifer and Corazon are now perfectly joined, and will never be able to be separated again.”
“Exactly,” Alec said, smiling.
“What am I missing?” Cora asked him.
He turned to her, taking her hands in his, kissing each one of her fingers before answering. “We must eliminate the biggest threat to you.”
“The Tool? But Terrin just said—”
“That is the cause, but not the threat itself.” He kissed her wrist, the hunger within him roaring to immediate life, twisting his gut with a need so great it almost made him dizzy.
She thought. “You mean the people who would use me to access Bael’s power?” She shook her head. “You can’t possibly eliminate all of them, Alec. That must be hundreds of people.”
“Thousands, and they are just interested in the effect of you being the Tool. We must go after the source, the true danger that threatens you.”
“But . . .” Her face twisted as she tried to reason it out. “The Tool gets its power from Bael. So . . . oh!” Her eyes grew round as Terrin sucked in his breath.