The Blood Bride (Blood Secrets) (30 page)

“Excellent. Show me what you’re looking at now.” Xavier kept his words gentle, but she shook her head.

“No. Not right now. You keep going with your things. I have a few ideas I want to try.” She kept her face averted, and he detected the huskiness in her words, but let it be. There was nothing to be gained by making her feel worse.

Xavier settled in, checking messages and emails. The government had finally contacted him about the attack. He read the incident report. The constant tap of the keyboard as she worked kept him company.

“Ohhh…” The sound had him lifting his head.

“What?” He looked closely at her face, seeing the surprise and dismay.

“I think I know.”

Xavier rose, moving quickly around the desk to crouch down beside her. “Show me.”

Hope pulled up the image of the old blood hospital across town. Of course, what else could possibly be the target? Yet, he was sure the nest had sold that property.

“See this? That building, the lines. It all seems so clear now. It’s one of the old clinics set up not long after I was abducted. It’s in an industrial zone, which explains why there weren’t lots of cars and other people in my dreams.” Hope looked up at Xavier and his chest tightened. “That’s the location. I’m sure of it.”

He moved quickly, the adrenaline rushing through his system. Time to move. They had to hurry and make arrangements. Xavier lifted the phone to his ear, while she slumped into the chair. He closed his eyes, turning away from the sight of her. But the pinched white look on her face haunted him as he began to speak.

* * * *

Hope could feel the daylight pressing down on her. But she had to know. “Does he know, do you think?” She gripped the goblet tightly.

“I don’t believe so. I have mobilised people to begin the preparations, though. If he is aware, it’s too late for him to do anything tonight. When we wake, I will contact the rogues. Have them pass along the message to meet.”

The knowledge sat like a lump in her stomach, but she fought off the sensation of fear that choked her, the first time since dealing with the situation since her change.

Hope sipped at the blood, but she couldn’t finish. It settled at the base of her stomach, which wanted to churn, a sensation she had felt more than enough of. She walked to the small dresser and placed the goblet down, watching, as the liquid moved within the fine-cut crystal.

“What about…?” Hope couldn’t continue the thought, but knew he understood as Xavier pulled her against him.

“No. We don’t believe he knows about you. Otherwise, I’m sure you would know now. That is one of the strongest positives on our side. Add in the fact he doesn’t know your change has removed the siren strain from your blood, and we are streets ahead.”

The words were as she expected, but it didn’t lift the heavy weight she felt pressing her down. With the coming dawn, exhaustion pulled at her body and mind.

Hope climbed into the bed, pulling the light coverlet over her lace-clad body. Xavier settled in behind her. His warm breath brushed over her neck in an intimate lover’s touch. She wanted to turn in his arms and seek the reassurance of his most urgent caresses. But that was the coward’s way, she reminded herself. Tonight, she was ready. Prepared for whatever her dreams threw at her.

He encircled her body softly and she wanted to cry at the tender emotions that rose in response to his touch. The feeling that settled inside her heart at the care he showed for her was affirmed in his actions. Her eyes burned and she waited, listening for the sound of his breath to settle into the steady cadence of sleep. Hope controlled her own breathing, keeping a steady in and out rhythm while she settled her emotions.

“I know you’re awake.” His voice rumbled at her ear. Hope closed her eyes. She’d forgotten about the bond between them.

“I can still hear your thoughts,”
his voice intruded in her mind. “
I’m happy to make you feel better, but only if you want to
.” How in heaven’s name was she supposed to keep herself apart, when his thoughts called to her, like the most enticing promises ever known?

“Not tonight. I would feel like I was using you. I’ll never do that, Xavier.” She sniffled loudly.

“Hope, I…”

“Not tonight, Xavier. We need to sleep, to be ready.” But sleep was the one thing Hope feared, almost as much as the battle to come. The dreams, the smells and sounds kept filling her with dread. His death. She was sure it would come again in her dreams.

“Okay, we’ll do it your way, tonight.” She could hear the dissatisfaction in his voice at her comments and she smiled, just a little, before snuggling against him. Hope closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep.

It took a long time.

Chapter Eleven

The layers of sleep lifted from her consciousness as Hope woke. The feel of Xavier wrapped around her, filling her with pleasure and warmth, while she stayed as still as possible, not wanting to wake him and lose the feeling of well-being that bloomed inside her.

“Good morning.” His voice flowed over her like silk, making her shiver with sensual anticipation followed by the rippling sensation of laughter. “Much as I’d like to make love with you, we need to move.”

His words stripped the happy feelings of contentment. It was the day she feared. Hope nodded unsteadily then rose, reaching for the clothes she had laid out the night before. The black pants and close-fitting corset top. The thigh-high boots with carefully reinforced toes and heels. The black leather belt with the whip hook teamed with a matching leather jacket, all in a glossy leather shine. She smiled at the thought of just how much her clothing tastes had changed. Or had they? Had she just lost some of her inhibitions?

Hope stopped abruptly as another thought occurred to her. Maybe it was more than that… Perhaps it was a physical manifestation of just how much she had found her own way. The concept fascinated her, but there was no time to consider it.

He laid his hand softly on her shoulder. “It’s time. But before we go… Carry this with you. I don’t know if it will help, but I would feel a little better knowing you have it.”

He held a small silver stiletto, elegantly engraved. He pressed it into her hands, folding her fingers around the handle. He looked at Hope and she could see concern shining. Intrigued she looked, seeing a small clip, which she pressed, watching as a copper spike shot out. She grinned, knowing what this was. He took it without a sound and showed her with a deft twist how to retract the spike.

She nodded, and slipped it into the pocket of her coat, zipping it up. She knew there was a story to this knife, one she was determined to ask him later, once the threat had passed and they were able to breathe easily. She clung to the notion and took a last, long look around.

“I’m ready.” They left the bedroom, and Hope refused to look back once they had left the room that had been a haven during a time of upheaval. Hope knew, whatever happened now, there was only one way to deal with the aftermath of whatever took place. Looking to the future and accepting what happened, no matter how personally devastating it would be.

Once downstairs, Hope noticed the men and women milling around, many dressed as she was, in uniform black, and the majority were decked out in leather. So many more than she could ever remember seeing. New faces filled the crowded foyer, but she looked harder for those she knew. There was Catriona and her partner Emily, holding hands. Near the door stood Javed, a grim half-smile covering his handsome face as Cressida waited by the stairs.

There also had to be at least a hundred vampires watching and waiting in the silence, as she and Xavier stepped off the last tread.

“Ready?” Cressida’s voice was husky and Hope nodded uncertainly, while her stomach pitched and roiled. Cressida clapped once, and several members of the household appeared in the doorways, carrying trays with goblets of the blood wine that most of them had come to prefer. Cressida had chosen to wear leather as well, but with her usual style, it was red. Actually crimson, and stark against her pale skin and blonde hair. Hope smiled. That was Cressida all over, making a statement.

The human staff moved silently among the warriors who waited, the quiet only filled with the sound of steps and crystal moving on trays, and the barely discernible throb of a heartbeat here and there.

Cressida stepped forward, taking the first step up the staircase before stopping. Hope felt the ripple of tension that wove through the room as Cressida slowly turned.

The Mistress’ eyes glinted in the reflected light of the chandeliers. “For hundreds of years, we have lived and died, keeping to the single basic understanding that humans are more than just food. For hundreds of years, we have acted as their guardians. Now, it is time for us to be their avengers.”

The company assembled within the room stood still, mesmerised by Cressida’s words. “Tonight, we take the first step in ensuring the safety of the innocents, and reclaim our place within humanity. Some will fall. We will mourn them together, but it is in our victory that we shall celebrate their life!”

A hand crept around Hope’s waist. Warm and welcome, she felt Xavier move closer and she leaned into him. Drawing strength, even as she watched the others grinning with growing excitement.

“Tonight we will work together to vanquish those who would destroy our way of life. The Brethren would use humans as a food source, to be rounded up like cattle to the slaughter with no thoughts to their place and ours in this brave new world.” Hope watched as Cressida paused, waited a beat and scanned the room. Felt the energy flowing around and buffeting her.

“We will protect the innocents and rid the world of this unworthy scourge. To the battle for the innocents. To victory!” Her voice rose, urgent, while the room erupted in cheers. The atmosphere was now electric, as the chamber rang with ‘hurrahs’, before the assembly drank deeply of the blooded wine.

Cressida looked at Hope and winked conspiratorially, shocking Hope for just an instant. “
She wants you to know that she is pleased to have you among us. That she sees you as an asset.”
The words from Xavier’s mind had her goggling.

“I can’t see how she could possibly think I’m an asset. It’s not like I can fight hand to hand in any useful fashion or fly through the air.” Hope muttered the words, yet she felt his movements, the shaking of his head behind her.

“No, you’re not ready for that yet. But you will do what you must to protect all of the innocents. That is what counts tonight.”

Perhaps it was, but then she still might lose Xavier. For the first time, she knew she would move heaven and earth to make sure that wouldn’t happen. Hope squared her shoulders.

“Everyone here has strengths. Emily was a police officer, so she already knows how to fight. Catriona can’t fight worth a damn, but she has the most amazing ability to disseminate information, so she’ll be doing that tonight. Everyone has a role to fulfil.”

He would protect her. The instinctual knowledge was there, in the glint of his eye and the way he held her tight against his body. But she too, would protect her mate from a possible death, and the agony of a never-ending grief she suspected would engulf her if he was lost.

Without a word the warriors turned to the door, placing empty glasses on sideboards and any available surface, before making their way outside to the vehicles.

“Where did the others come from?” she asked, as they crunched along the gravel to the car that waited for them.

“Other nests affiliated to Cressida. The word went out this morning. There are more to join us at the rendezvous point. We might just manage to outweigh the Brethren yet.” He indicated the door of the vehicle.
“It’s time for us to leave.”

Hope nodded, understanding the time for pondering and planning ended now. He took her hand, grazing his lips over the knuckles.

“
Stay by me. You are the one he wants.”

Together they stood quietly while she took one last deep breath, inhaling the scents of jasmine and rose, before climbing into the beast they had arrived in. The glass between them and the driver was carefully tinted and the body of the car was empty. “I wanted us to be alone and quiet before it began.” She smiled. Even in the depths of planning for battle he had taken a moment to arrange time for them.

Xavier watched her face, pale in the dim light of the vehicle, yet her eyes were clear. The car accelerated up the long drive and he sat, taking in her subtle fragrance, the one that drugged his mind. Something felt different, though. It gnawed at the edges of his consciousness, chipping away at the concern that had settled in his chest over the long weeks. The constant pressure he had felt since they had arrived here dissipated slightly, but that puzzled him more than reassured.

“Do you have a sense of…?” Xavier stopped. He wasn’t given to seeking reassurance, and the feeling was so alien, leaving him off balance.

“A sense of what? That something has changed? Perhaps… Last night…” She stopped. Her cherry red mouth opened wide as she realised the change had occurred without them even noticing. “I didn’t dream. I didn’t dream at all.” She breathed the words and smiled.

Xavier reached for the phone, pressed a button then waited. She hadn’t dreamed. The dream had been plaguing her for weeks and it was suddenly gone?