Of Blood and Passion (28 page)

“We saw your brother—red hair, yes?”

Quinn’s breath caught. “Where did you see him? What—?”

“He set out to save his woman, traveling with one other, a human male. They were…or will be…set upon by vampires.”

Quinn’s eyes widened. She didn’t realize she’d swayed until Kassius grabbed her arm and righted her.

“They are seers, sorceress. What they have seen has not yet come to pass,” Kassius said quietly.

“But it may happen soon,” Dera warned them. “I’m sorry, Quinn, but our visions now are almost always immediate. Never more than an hour anymore.”

Quinn’s heart begun to race and she swung to Kassius. “Zack’s going to leave Neo’s. I have to stop him.” If only cell phones worked in this place! She grabbed her boots and pulled them on quickly. “I can’t wait for Arturo and Micah.”

“Quinn.” Kassius frowned. “You have no glamour. And Gonzaga troops could be anywhere.”

She rose, her desperation to reach Zack a tidal wave inside of her. “I can’t wait.” She headed for the door.

Dera joined her. “I’ll find a scarf for you to wear around your head to hide your hair. It won’t be much of a disguise, but it will be better than nothing.”

“Have the men ready to leave immediately!” Sakamoto called. “And prepare…” He turned to Lukas. “Two horses? Three?”

“Three,” Lukas said.

Within minutes, they were in the courtyard and Dera was pulling the scarf tight around Quinn’s hair. When she was done, Quinn surprised herself by giving the woman a hug. “Thank you.”

Dera smiled, but the smile was strained. “Good luck, sorceress. We’re counting on you.”

The reminder pierced her heart. If she failed to renew the magic in time, they would all die. “I’ll renew the magic as soon as I stop Zack from leaving. I won’t fail you.”

Quinn started toward the small door in the castle’s wall, Kassius by her side, Sakamoto, Lukas, and Davu close behind. When she reached the door, Quinn turned to Sakamoto and held out her hand.

“I never thought I’d say this to a vampire master, but it was a pleasure, Sakamoto. I hope to see you again.”

The vampire bowed over her hand, then straightened with a grin. “My guards will take their orders from you, sorceress. Use them as you see fit. And when you have saved our world we will hold a feast in your honor, Quinn Lennox. Then you will reveal your heart’s desire and it shall be yours.”

“Thank you. When Arturo and Micah return, send them after us, please.”

“Of course.”

They filed through the small door into the steel gray of day. The three horses were already saddled and waiting, the men lining up, vampire-fast, as she watched.

Quinn swung into her saddle, lifted her hand in farewell and took off, Kassius, Lukas, and twenty Sakamoto vampires close behind her.

Zack hadn’t been attacked, yet. It would happen in the future. But he might have already left Neo’s. For all she knew, her race to stop him, to save him, might already be too late.

Arturo would catch up to her soon, and Micah with his glamour, though the glamouring would have to wait until she reached Zack. She wasn’t stopping for anything.

We are in Vamp City
, cara mia,
making our way to Sakamoto’s. But there is going to be a delay.

He didn’t say more, but she felt it in the fluttering in her mind. Anger. Dismay. He and Micah were in danger, she was certain. Not only from the sunbeams that were breaking through more and more, but from something else. As far as she knew, that could only mean one of two things now that she’d aligned with both wolf packs. Either enemy soldiers.

Or Rippers.

Chapter 30

Q
uinn called to Kassius as their horses galloped over the muddy ground. “Arturo says they’re going to be delayed. They’ve run into trouble, though I don’t know of what kind.” Cell phones would be so much easier than one-way telepathic communication, but she was glad they at least had that.

She called to the head of the guards Sakamoto had sent with her. “I need you to send half your number to give aid to my companions, Arturo and Micah. They should be somewhere in a direct line between Sakamoto’s castle and the Boundary Circle. Hurry!”

The male hesitated only a moment before nodding and giving the order. Ten men peeled off and raced back the way they’d come.

Perspiration rolled down the back of her neck as Quinn turned her full concentration back to reaching Zack, driving her mount faster, frantic to reach Neo’s in time. If only she could communicate with Zack as Arturo did her. If only she had a way to tell him to stay put! But would he even listen to her?

He’d been more of a kid than a man when they’d first arrived in Vamp City just a month ago, but that wasn’t true anymore. If he chose to go after Lily, there would be no stopping him short of convincing one of the vampires to enthrall him, and even that wouldn’t happen without a heck of a fight. And Zack would never forgive her.

No, if he’d finally decided to go after Lily, her only hope was to reach him in time to go with him and, hopefully, keep him from getting killed. Except, she couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she renewed the magic and saved V.C. But she could certainly make sure a contingent of vampires accompanied him.

What in the hell was he thinking, taking off with only Jason?

But she knew. If he asked Neo or Rinaldo to go with him, they’d insist he wait for his sister. And he’d obviously decided he was through doing that.

She’d never forgive herself if something happened to him. It was bad enough that she’d gotten him stuck in this place to begin with, bad enough that it was her magic that had somehow triggered V.C.’s demise, tangling him in the magic sickness that was trying to kill him. But if Cristoff got a hold of him, death would be the least of his worries.

“We’ve reached the Crux, sorceress,” Kassius said.

“Savin!” Quinn called.

Before she could warn Sakamoto’s guards, nearly a dozen wolves appeared in the distance.

She heard the metallic swish of the guards drawing their swords and lifted her hand. “Put your weapons away. They’re allies.”

One of the wolves approached, shifting into a man who she recognized as one of Savin’s top lieutenants. He eyed Sakamoto’s soldiers with hostility. “Can we help you dispel them, sorceress?”

“They’re friends escorting us home.”

“If they enter the Crux, there will be war. I cannot prevent it.”

Dammit, dammit, dammit. She didn’t have time for this! And she sure as hell didn’t have time to broker a truce between the two factions. Not today. But she was crossing dangerous ground without glamour.

“If I send them away, can you and your pack escort me and my two companions home? It’s critically important.”

He looked at her, then the samurai, then her again. Finally, he nodded. “But they must leave. Immediately.”

“Fine.” She turned to the guards. “Send my thanks to Sakamoto, but I am no longer in need of your escort.”

“Quinn,” Kassius said. “I’m not sure that’s wise.”

“Sorceress…,” the head samurai said quietly. “They are
wolves.
”

“They won’t hurt me. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for what they’ll do to you. I’ll work on that, but not today.” She kicked her horse into gear and headed straight into the Crux with a farewell wave to the soldiers. She didn’t have time for more.

Within moments, Quinn, Kassius, and Lukas were surrounded by a wolf escort of two dozen running along on either side of them. It amazed her that the horses were as calm about the wolves as they were, but she supposed Vamp City horses were used to just about anything by now.

Arturo, where are you? Are you okay? I wish you’d speak to me!
He’d never been able to hear her thoughts, but maybe he’d feel the questions, feel her concern, and reply.

Up ahead, she caught sight of the colorful, sparkling lights of the Focus and was swept with a feeling of terrible urgency to run to it and save this world, and Zack, before it was all too late. To renew the magic before Kassius died, and Sakamoto and the werecat twins, and most of the people she’d come to know and care about in this place.

“Quinn?” Kassius asked, pulling up beside her.

Without realizing it, she’d slowed her mount to a walk. “I need to renew the magic.” She turned to him. “Kass, I want you to ride ahead and keep Zack from leaving.”

“No, sorceress. Neither Lukas nor I will leave your side until Ax and Micah catch up with us. Let us travel together to Neo’s, then we’ll accompany you back here.”

Never had she been so torn, so desperate to do two things at once. Finally, she nodded, kicked her horse into a full gallop, and continued her race across the Crux. When they reached the edge, the wolves began to pull back, but Kassius called to them.

“She is in need of your continued protection.”

The wolf leader howled, giving his own order and the pack raced to catch up with them.

“I’m not sure Neo’s going to be happy about us bringing a wolf pack home,” Quinn muttered.

“You will be protected,” Kassius stated. “That’s all that matters.”

Quinn nodded. As they continued at breakneck speed, her mind bounced between worry for Zack, and Arturo and Micah. If only Arturo would say
something
, just so that she knew he was all right. If only she’d feel another fluttering in her head, some clue to his emotions. Some reassurance that he was still alive. But she heard nothing, felt nothing, and his silence had a vibrating knot, the size of her fist, forming beneath her breastbone.

Finally the familiar lights of Neo’s house became visible ahead and Quinn pulled up, turning to the wolves. “We’ll say goodbye here. Thank you!”

As the wolves turned back, Quinn started forward again, riding up to the back door and dismounting. Leaving the horse for someone else to care for, she burst into the kitchen where Mukdalla was washing dishes, Amanda reading at the kitchen table.

“Where’s Zack?” Quinn demanded.

Mukdalla looked at her in surprise. “You should have ridden right past them. They were out by the barn watching the sky lighten with sunrise.”

“I think he’s left. I need to know.”

Kassius strode into the kitchen behind her. “There’s no sign of them in the yard. Two horses are missing.”

“Dammit!” Quinn cried. “Search the house, please?”

As Kassius disappeared, Neo strode in. “What’s happened?”

“I think Zack and Jason left to go after Lily.”

Neo stared at her, his eyes widening slightly. “I told him to wait for you. They may still be here.”

“Kassius checked outside. He’s looking downstairs, now.”

“I’ll look up here.”

“I hear Zack’s missing?” Rinaldo said, joining them.

Quinn nodded. “Sakamoto’s seers saw Zack and Jason going after Lily and being attacked by vampires.”

Amanda gasped.

Mukdalla paled. “Where’s Arturo? And Micah?”

“I’m not certain. It’s a long story. We got separated and they ran into trouble, but I don’t know of what kind. I can’t wait for them.” She whirled toward the back door, wishing she hadn’t let the wolves leave. They might have been able to track her brother.

Neo and Kassius returned at almost the same moment.

“I know where they’re headed,” Neo told her. “Lily escaped a Trader’s wagon in the Anacostia Forest three days ago. Word came just a short while ago. Zack overheard and demanded we head out immediately. I told him to wait for you.” His face fell. “I’m sorry, Quinn.”

“It’s not your fault, Neo. He should know better. He has no business out there! He knows what this world is like.”

“He is a man, Quinn,” Mukdalla said quietly.

“He’s my brother.”

“Yes, but he is a man, first.”

Quinn looked at her, understanding. “I keep trying to protect him. He’s been getting tired of it.”

“Yes. You love him. But he loves Lily.”

Quinn sighed. “I know.” She turned to Kassius. “I can’t let him die. I have to go after him.”

The tall vampire shook his head. “Wait for Arturo and Micah. Please? You have no glamour.”

“I can’t wait, Kass. I don’t know how long they’ll be.” If they were dead, they wouldn’t be coming at all.

The thought gut-punched her and her breath caught on a gasp. She started for the back door.

Lukas was walking in as she crossed the kitchen. “I’ve saddled three fresh mounts.”

Bless Lukas.

“We’ll need a fourth,” Rinaldo said. “I’m coming as well.”

Quinn stopped in her tracks and turned, shooting Mukdalla a worried look. But Mukdalla only slid her arm through her husband’s. “He is a fine warrior, my Rinaldo. He’s always made me proud. And I am most proud that he rides with the sorceress today, Quinn.”

In her head, Quinn heard the echo of Mukdalla’s words about Zack.
He is a man.
And men, it seemed, did not take well to being coddled and protected. Dammit, she knew that—logically, at least—even if her heart cried out for the need to protect those they loved, at all costs.

As she looked at Mukdalla and Rinaldo, she was filled with uneasiness. It was daytime, sunbeams breaking through right and left. And while Rinaldo might be a vampire, she’d gotten the impression that he wasn’t necessarily a warrior. But it moved her that he insisted on coming to protect her.