Shiloh deflated and sat on the floor, landing hard, her head bowed. The soft click of her fangsschnickingback into the roof of her mouth sounded loud in the quiet room. “Well, hell.”
The queen’s mouth twitched before she turned her focus from Shiloh to Walter. “You did well, also, Walter.Wethank you for keeping them all together and alive, alone in their skins. The helo will bring Nyoka back here, to be treated by our people and the Everharts. They are hopeful, as are we, they can use the recipe for the elixir to reverse engineer the working Konstantin the Rus used, and free your friend from the demon.”
Walter fluttered his fingers from the floor. Aunt Jane smiled.
“You haven’t mentioned your brand. May we…MayIinquire about your face? And aboutouroffer?”
She was mixing the personal with the royal, and Walter touched his face. The flesh had begun to draw together, buthadn’t healed as it should. It was puckered and rough. He was too low on blood for anything more. “It seemed…” He frowned. “It seemed the right time to remove it. Perhaps your Amy Lynn Brown can heal it fully.
“As to the Master of the City position.” He drooped and dropped his hand from his face. “Perhaps tomorrow night when I wake and am fed I will be more clearheaded. I am…unsettled just now, and do not feel that I can provide a thoughtful and articulate response.”
EJ frowned, his sluggish brain putting it together. Karson was dead. Terenzio was dead. Willim, who would have been next in line for Master of the City, was dead. That left Walter. If he wanted it.
The queen gave a slight incline of her head. “We will expect to hear from you tonight.”
George waddled over and put his forepaws on EJ’s knees. He lifted the heavy slobber machine to his lap, and the Basset Hound dropped into an ungainly pile of flesh. Drool smeared onto the afghan. EJ scratched the floppy ears.
Walter asked, “How are Grizz and Boots?”
Grizz had been transported to the closest triage and trauma hospital for care.
Boots received a transfusion and CPR at the scene and more lifesaving measures in the medic helo. She was on life support, hanging between life and death. Shiloh and Walter had both fed her, but sometimes that wasn’t enough.
“Both are still alive,” the queen said, “and well guarded. If they are still among the living at dusk, Amy will feed them to healing.”
“Cost?” Walter asked, his tone mild.
“Usury and extortion.” Aunt Jane said it with affection, grinning, unconcerned. “My expense, not yours.”
“You have always had a soft spot for women who use their gifts to soar through glass ceilings,” Walter said.
“You’ll discuss with the children what we offered?” the queen asked.
EJ sat up straighter at those words and that royal “we.”
“I will, my queen,” Walter said, his head still down. “Tonight. For now, I hear the helo. Shiloh and I have only a few minutes to drink from Amy Lynn before the sun stops us. We will all be in my quarters. Until sunset, my queen.”
“Until sunset,” the queen echoed. Her face vanished from the screen.
Shiloh said, “Don’t think you can gets handsy, fanghead,” she said to Walter.
“I’m sure I would rue the day.”
The two vamps managed to get off the floor and made their way out of Angie’s apartment. The others of the unit followed. Villetti kissed Angie and said, “I’ll bring supper.”
He didn’t ask, he informed. Angie didn’t blast him about it. She smiled and kissed him. On the mouth. In front of EJ.
EJ chuckled evilly.
Villetti flipped an index finger at EJ on the way out.
Angie looked soft all over. Happy.
All except for the glowing, singing skin of her hands.
Angie
I shoved Aurora off me and sat upright. Slowly. I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. When I was sitting, feet on the low coffee table and a fluffy afghan pulled over me, the cats climbed into place and demanded petting. One at each hand.
