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"Your open confirmation of it is more surprising than the news itself," Fane admitted.
"I am honor bound to see this through," Rand told Fane. "But I would enjoy spending time with your family again, when time allows it."
"He's not honor bound," Cai said. "He can go run off with you anytime. I can handle the situation with the Trads. Just point me in the right direction."
Fane cut a glance at him that suggested his contribution to the conversation--hell, the reminder he was still here--wasn't enormously welcome. Rand spoke before Cai said something nasty, however.
"You can't release me from a bond of honor I've imposed upon myself," Rand said.
"But he has a point," Fane said. "What is a female vampire to you? Most of the vampires don't believe we exist, and that's preferable. They're savage, codeless." His gaze passed over Cai as if he were a particularly repugnant mold on the forest floor. "Not pack oriented at all."
No, vampires weren't. And Cai still didn't care much for his own kind, either. But the shifter's blanket judgment rubbed him the wrong way. He hadn't known Lodell. Or seen Georg sitting with Leona; the trace of compassion in Lyssa's eyes when she touched Georg's arm. The coldness she'd inflicted upon his underlings, trying to take advantage of him. Vampires weren't overly sentimental and they built their society on power--who had it, who didn't--and crafted the rules accordingly in the favor of those with power, but that wasn't the whole story. Those with power weren't necessarily amoral.
He was here to rescue a vampire girl he didn't know shit about and whose father had tortured him, right? By vampire standards, he should be nominated for sainthood.
"This male saved my life," Rand said.
You wanted to die. I was just being contrary.
Shut up if you want his help.
"The female vampire is a fledgling," Rand explained to Fane. "What humans would deem a teenager, or us as a young hunter, still in need of guidance and maturity before being out on her own. I've seen good in their kind. And even if I hadn't, the code is clear."
He nodded toward Cai. "I owe him an act of equal weight. If he has no backup, his chances of surviving this are slim. They are slim even with help."
Fane seemed as if he might argue further, but after another glance at Cai, he merely said, "Very well. There's a group of vampires like you describe. Four males. We give them a wide berth. We haven't been within scent distance in the past several weeks, because they set up what appears to be a permanent base camp. Which is unusual, because before that, they moved every several weeks, rotating in and out of our territory."
Fane spread out his hands. "We didn't detect a female vampire with them back then, but at the distance we maintain, the males' stench is strong enough to mask it. I forbid any of our pack to come close enough to determine more specifics. Even my first beta and oldest son, Stalker. I am the only one who has seen them with my own eyes."
Cai stepped forward. "If I described a member of the group to you, would you be able to recognize him?"
For a minute, Cai wasn't sure if he'd address him directly or not, but then Fane did, his deep brown eyes unblinking. "Yes. Do you intend to kill them?"
"If they have her, we intend to rescue the girl. If we're able to knock out one or two in the process, I won't be losing any tears over it, but we're an extraction team, not a staking squad. With four vampires, I'm outgunned in the killing department. And no, before you get uptight about it, that wasn't a request for reinforcements. Fast as they'd kill me, you and yours would barely be an afterthought."
Fane bristled, but Rand put out a calming hand. "He's not insulting your bravery or strength, brother. Merely commenting on their lack of regard for life."
And saying he's not you. I expect you're more kick-ass than the average shifter.
You'd be surprised, vampire. Rand sent him an even look and Cai shrugged, not conceding the point, but not arguing it, either.
Fane settled back, mollified. "Describe your target."
"The leader of this group would be tall and rangy, like a stripped oak tree," Cai said. "He likes to wear camouflage because he has delusions that he's some great military leader. His hair is dirt brown, kept really short. Sometimes completely shaved. Cold eyes, a mix of gray and green, some brown. That hazel color people talk about."
Fane nodded. "He always smells of old blood and decaying earth. He is the oldest and strongest among them."
"Yeah, that would be him." Cai shifted his glance to Rand. "That's Goddard." He ignored the cold ball in his stomach that had suddenly twisted his intestines.
Not that he'd had much doubt who it was. Goddard never had played well with others, and he liked this section of the Appalachians. Which was why Cai had always kept a wide berth around it when he was in a mountain-man frame of mind. Good thing West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee offered plenty of deep wood elbow room for the reclusive, psychotic and furry.
Fane spoke to Rand again. "If you confirm she is with them, will you attempt your extraction tonight?"
Half the night was already gone. Cai knew Rand hated the idea as much as he did, leaving Dovia at their mercy yet another full day, but rushing it wasn't going to increase their miniscule chances of success. Hell, he just wanted to get it over and done with, but the plan would likely work best if he thought through all angles of it. And one extra night meant Rand could spend some time with his own kind. With old friends.
Cai ignored the sour feeling that gave him. Yeah, his baggage was practically written on his forehead. No reason to be an ass and deny Rand a good night before they walked into a den of psychos.
"Rand, have him get you close enough to verify if she's there. Then go home with him, relax, eat, hang with his family. We'll head out at twilight tomorrow."
"Come with us," Rand said. Fane made a noise that drew Rand's attention.
"He's not welcome, Rand," he said, low. "I don't wish to be inhospitable, but I won't bring him to my family."
"Vampires have enhanced hearing," Cai noted. "No reason to whisper."
Fane had the grace to look discomfited, but his countenance set. "I'm sorry," he told Cai. "But I can't risk them."
"They'll come to no harm from him, I swear it on my life," Ran
d said. "I'm third marked, Fane. He can follow me anywhere, hear my thoughts. If your reason for excluding him is to keep your home base protected, then you can't trust either of us there. Now or in the future."
Rand spoke the words in a firm and courteous way, but Cai felt his reaction. A noticeable part of him hungered to go join that pack, be with them tonight, have that deep-in-his-soul need for family connection met. While another part of him warred against it, knowing it wouldn't be what he truly wanted.
What he wanted was Dylef's warm body against him, Sheba's laughter in the kitchen, her mock threats against the pups as they swarmed around the table for dinner. Cai saw them, the young faces, the teenagers competing for an audience as they told their parents about their day at school. A small boy leaned against Rand's hip, and an even smaller girl, one with Rand's smile, was cradled in the crook of his elbow.
"Your mother says if I keep carrying you everywhere, I'll have to carry you on my back when we hunt."
As he spoke to the child, there was an easy laughter in Rand's voice that Cai had yet to experience. Would never experience, because what could he offer Rand even close to that?
Not that he'd want to. That wasn't him. Family man and joiner would not be on his tombstone if he had one. Bastard prick, however; that would probably be hammered out in nice bold letters, by whoever felt any kind of affection for him.
Cai stepped forward. "I have no interest in being under your roof," he told Fane. "Rand is free to go with you, free to stay with you, and I won't use whatever comes to his mind in your company against you. You don't have to trust me when I tell you that, if you trust his word. If he believes me, then it's so. Give him the night with your family. He deserves it."
Rand opened his mouth to speak, but Cai cut across him. "While no, I can't release him from his honor bond, I'm the last person who'd hold him to it. I'd rather him live. Maybe you can talk him out of being so damn noble and he'll stay with you as he should." He ignored Fane's look of surprise and moved his attention back to Rand. "I'll be traveling swift and far tonight to hunt, so I'll touch base with you at dusk tomorrow on where to meet."
