He wasn’t talking about the master. My aide was referring to the one being I answered to. Whateverhecommanded must be obeyed by all.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt her.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could think.
I waited for Timothy to tell me it was impossible, unreasonable, and dangerous. But losing Vivien had thrown me off the rails, and I was hanging on by a single strand. If it snapped, the nearest being to me would feel my wrath before I tore this world apart to find her.
There was a crash out in the main room. Timothy and I ran out in a flash to find Ms. West stalking toward us. The whites of her eyes nearly swallowed up her dark irises. “Jamal is missing.”
Timothy and I exchanged a glance. My aide voiced my thoughts. “The master tried to use Ms. West against Vivien, so we can infer that…”
Miranda pointed a finger at us. “That you are going to help me find my son or I’ll bury both of you.” Rage rolled off her in waves. She was a guided missile, seeking her son, and she’d destroy anything in her way. Despite being a mere mortal, I believed her when she threatened there would be hell to pay if we didn’t find Jamal.
Then Miranda seemed to finally register my bloody, unkempt state. “Where’s Vivien?”
I wasted no time heading for the elevator. Miranda and Timothy followed. “She’s been taken.”
Bianca’s words returned to me.Don’t let her out of your sight.My gut clenched.
“What are these vampires planning?” Miranda asked me, as we stepped out into the hotel. Her eyes were stamped with fear and fury.
“I don’t know, but I don’t plan to wait around and find out. I know someone who can help,” I said as Timothy and Miranda kept pace with me across the black marble floor.
The reapers were out searching for a trail of bodies, but it was taking too long. I had to find Vivien and I refused to wait.
“That’s unadvisable, sire,” Timothy said, his voice tight.
“Who?” Miranda asked.
“Someone who has the ability to find the vampires,” I said.
Miranda’s jaw set. “Then do it.”
Timothy put an arm in front of me to halt my steps. I wanted to throw him across the room for getting in my way, but I controlled myself.
That’s all I’d been doing, I realized. Controlling myself. Around Vivien, stopping myself for reaching out though I wanted her. She’d sparked something inside of me and now that she was missing, the fire I’d felt had gone missing with her.
Unlike with Qwynn, I wasn’t Vivien’s plaything to manipulate and contort. Vivien was bold, irreverent, while also playful, intentional, and relentless in the pursuit of what she wanted. And I didn’t intend on losing her and adding to my long list of regrets.
Timothy spoke to Miranda. “Give us a moment.”
Recovering her child was all that mattered, but Ms. West saw the look in Timothy’s eye and dutifully walked out the front doors of the hotel and paced out front.
Timothy was also a god, and though his power and talents were vastly different from mine, I could tell he needed to have his say on this matter. “If you go to Bast, she will likely kill Vivien.”
“And you care if she lives?” I asked. “Admit it, man, you are worried I won’t kill her when the time comes. You say I should worry about the others, but you are the one concerned.”
“Viven poses a threat. That is undeniable, even if she doesn’t know it. But I have transcribed enough of time and life to know that nothing is certain, especially not a person’s nature.” Timothy shook his head. “But you are the one who has grown attached. I’m beginning to think you don’t care about the rules anymore.”
“So what if I don’t?” I said, my tone freezing him out.
“Consarn you, you are losing yourself and you can’t see it.” Timothy reverted to older curses when he was deeply stressed. Though I didn’t need his words to tell me that, a line of worry had gathered around his eyes. “Regardless of what you and I believe about Vivien, there will be consequences if she lives.”
“I will deal with her when the time comes.” I said the words, but they came out hollow, empty of promise.
“Anubis.” Timothy’s voice gained a hard edge he rarely used. “Are you willing to throw the world into chaos for this sekhor?”
“This is about finding the master,” I snapped. “I know my duty. Don’t think I’ve forgotten it for a single second.” I was done with this conversation. I needed to act. I needed to find Vivien and Jamal. I would worry about the details later. Or better, never. That was why I had Timothy, so he could see to those. “Now you and I know there is only one who has a way to find the sekhors.” I paused expectantly.
My aide dipped his head. “You’ll find her at The Kitty Claw Café.”
