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Rand knew he needed to do what Cai had said, but every protective instinct in him raged against leaving her. The worst part was he couldn't tell Dovia what he was doing. Or why.
Cai had become progressively quieter, not responding to Rand's last couple of thoughts. The approaching sun added to Rand's uneasiness and sense of urgency. Though Cai had asked for no aid, Rand knew in a few moments he would need his help even more than Dovia did. The vampires would be coming for her soon to take her downstairs, and Rand couldn't risk them locking him in with her.
Rand nudged her face. Her gaze rose and held his. He gave her a long, long look, and then he moved away from her clutching fingers. His heart cracked at her stifled sound of panic, but with feigned indifference, he began to amble through the cabin, sniffing at this or that. When he was sure Hector had noticed him, he started to lift his leg.
"Hey, no, don't do that. Fucking hell."
He jumped just like a dog would at the snapped curse. However, like a wolf--and letting some of his true self through--he laid back his ears and growled menacingly, a rumble that vibrated through the boards of the cabin. Malvin laughed.
"He'll rip your face off, Hector. Open the door and let him out. Hell, with that bond Cai talked about, he might go lay next to the bastard. He'll keep him warm if he's feeling cold, right?"
There was some ugly laughter about that, but when they looked toward Goddard for confirmation, the Trad shrugged. "Cai's right. This place is filthy, but I don't want it smelling like wolf piss and shit."
Regardless, Rand felt the head vampire's eyes on him, assessing, so he made damn sure that when the door was open he slunk warily along the edges of the cabin, taking his time about it, rather than charging straight for it.
"Though..."
Rand almost paused, as he would if someone had spoken to him, but thank all the gods, he caught himself. He kept moving toward the door without hesitation, the vampire's words nothing to a wolf but nonsense, though his ear stayed swept toward him to gauge threat.
"If you are more sentient than your Master claims, wolf, or your human side has more care for him than you act like you do, I will tell you this. You leave him here, I will do so many unspeakable things to him, you won't recognize him if you meet again. His soul itself will be in shreds."
"Fuck, who cares, Goddard?" Brutus asked. "Cai's the one with the ability to care for the girl."
"If he has a servant, we don't have to find blood for him," Goddard said shortly. "And the wolf hunts for himself. A win-win."
There was more to it than that. Even if he hadn't received it loud and clear from Cai, Rand understood that Goddard was the broken one of this group. The others were probably mostly interested in their autonomy from Council vampires and adding to the Trad idea of a pure vampire race. They exercised brutality toward anyone as a matter of pecking order. But Goddard was addicted to the cruelty. He liked how the wolf seemed slave-bound to Cai and would enjoy the benefits that could provide.
Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. Rand had cleared the door, and received a follow-up from Cai.
Go. Soon as you can get to the edge of the clearing. Go.
Rand ignored him. He found a place at the edge of the clearing, screened by foliage, but he didn't leave. He waited. They were minutes from sunrise. Alert and tense, he stayed on the periphery of the camp, an agitated whine caught in his throat. It turned into a growl when his sharp ears and nose detected Dovia's movements. As they took her down to the cellar, she was struggling and crying. She was terrified again, thought she was abandoned, wasn't sure if Cai and Rand would bolt on her.
Would Goddard torment her in ways he felt wouldn't endanger what she was carrying? Rand hated hearing and feeling her desolation. For a brief few precious seconds, he'd been an ally. It tore his heart out of his chest to hear her cry. Putting his nose down on his paws, he closed his eyes tight, and counted the minutes.
He was relieved to see Goddard and Hector leave the cabin, and go to the outbuildings. The vampires didn't apparently prefer to share sleeping quarters. Goddard was carrying the bottle of wine, and it was half-empty. Hector had a canteen cup in hand, probably his share.
That left Malvin and Brutus guarding Dovia in the cellar. While Rand wished she could be completely left alone, Goddard was the one Rand had been most concerned would stay with her. Evil had a smell, and the Trad stunk of it. But maybe Goddard understood his own weaknesses, and that was why he left his other men in charge of her.
Things got quiet. The sun crested the horizon. Vampire safe zone. Somewhat. Rand was willing to bet the cellar of the main cabin connected to underground bunkers in the other outbuildings, so all the vampires could respond to a threat. Unless they were unconscious from the wine, they still had the advantage, because she was too fragile for Cai and Rand to risk a fight in close quarters. If the Trads thought they were at risk of losing their prize, they would kill her. Scorched earth policy.
Why are you still here?
For you.
Now that there was no risk of vampire interference, Rand left the bushes. He had no way of knowing if they were studying any underground surveillance, so he stayed in character, circling the cabins, sniffing, marking, but made his way steadily to where he knew they had left Cai. Based on how Cai had described his protective instincts, it wouldn't be out of character for the wolf to seek out his Master.
He was starting to form a list of things he wished he could un-see, and Cai's appearance made the top of the list. They had him practically mummified in chains. They'd forced one length into his mouth like a horse's bit, tightening it enough it cut into the corners. They'd also stripped him naked, his clothes folded in a neat pile a few feet away.
All Trads horrible? Rand asked in wolf speak.
No. You won't find any of them at a PTA meeting, but Goddard and his clan are the serious crazy end of the spectrum in the Trad world.
Cai didn't open his eyes. He was coated with a sickly-smelling sweat, and Rand could feel his pain, already a dull roar, increasing to a full-fledged cacophony with the strength of the sun. He would have shade here, but as Goddard had said, at the sun's height, it would narrow precipitously. They'd laid Cai up against the side of the shed like a log.
You need to fucking go, Cai insisted.
Stay short while. You said I'd stay close. Because of bond.
That part is actually kind of true. Though I can't make any fucking sense of it. Dumbass dog loyalty. Cai's eyes stayed closed. He was shaking harder than Dovia, but Rand didn't want to point that out.
Dig hole. I can do that.
Cai shook his head, a sharp jerk. They're likely still watching. Best you just seem distressed and take off. Best for both of us. This is going to get real ugly, real fast. Vampires Lyssa's age can be above ground as long as they're in a nice brick mansion, or a dirt coffin hidden in a van, but their strength is sapped by it. For those like me, made vampire, and two hundred years old, I'm going to be a fried egg for the next few hours. And extra crispy on the edges.
His brow creased, lines deepening on his face. There may be some screaming, a lullaby to put Goddard to sleep. As distractions go for you to get away, couldn't have come up with any better. That Goddard. What an idiot genius.
Rand moved his head so it rested on Cai's chest. He knew the vampire was on fire, but that shaking was more than physical. It went down to Cai's soul, and he knew the vampire needed the contact. Cai's eyes briefly opened, rested on him.
Goofy dog. His mind voice was an intimate murmur, despite the pain stressing it. Didn't like her drinking from you, you know. How stupid is that?
Can't leave you. As his emotions swelled, the wolf's mind took over even more of his speech patterns. Her. Dovia. Tearing guts out. Crying. Thinks abandoned.
She'll forgive you in a New York minute if you come back here with some kickass cavalry. Your other choice is playing Nana during her pregnancy until Goddard has his hell spawn. Then he'll let his cronies rape her to death to put her and
all other Council vampires symbolically in their place. Your choice, but I'm leaning real strongly toward the cavalry.
Never take anything...serious.
