Page 118 of Hoofin’ It

“Ah. I see. Yes, he had a few bad minutes, but he was perfectly safe. It was a controlled shift, supervised by those well equipped to handle all of his problems. You’ll get him back as good as new. Please keep calm. Someone is going to come get you and bring you to us. If you can get to Michietti’s, stay there with someone from my family. Until we learn who was behind the attack, you might still be a target. Yes, I understand you’re worried. Of course you are. He’s your beloved, and you’re his. That’s how it should be. Can you shift? It might be wise for you to travel with more discretion.”

The vampire’s emphasis on his final word made me think Marian’s hospital gown was the paper kind and hadn’t survived her slinking through alleys in Lower Chicago trying to make her way across the city without being seen. I sighed.

Abil Ili released me, and I had to concentrate to remain upright.

“Very well. The fastest way to reach us is through the canal. Slip through where the grate is damaged. The way down is safe. When you hit the bottom, tread water. Someone will retrieve you. It’s very dark, but don’t worry. It won’t take long for someone to reach you.” Heaving a sigh, Quinton hung up and pointed my phone at me. “I’m certain this is your fault.”

“How is it my fault?”

“Only you would pick the most stubborn female alive outside my family for a mate.”

I couldn’t help it; I laughed until I cried, which earned me the disgust of the ancient vampire.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Within ten minutes, the numbness faded, and Abil Ili left with another Babylonian to handle preparations. He planned to take me closer to the entry to Lower Chicago, because he felt I’d be the best person to keep Marian calm so he wouldn’t have to use his claws.

I appreciated that, since I doubted I’d be able to contain my rage if I saw them pierce her skin with their talons. I owed the Babylonians my thanks, which would make my harming them in a fit of fury even worse. Some things would never change, and I was my father’s son.

Curling up and passing out wasn’t an option, so I got to my feet with Quinton’s help, needing his grip on my arm to stay there. “This is obviously not going to work well.”

“It’s the blood loss. You’ll be hungry in an hour or two, but that stuff on their claws does a number on humans, and you’ve had a lot of it.”

“What is that stuff?”

“Hell if I know. It’s a secretion, and its effects change depending on their mood. Abil Ili is rather versatile. He can adapt his secretions within minutes. His favorite is a sedative to slow his prey—or aid in healing. You’re feeling fuzzyheaded, right?”

“Understatement.”

“That’s what I thought. That’s part of why you were down for so long. It takes a bit of time to work out of your system, and you got a huge dose of it. All my biting did was give them time to dose you so they could fix the real damage.”

“Do I want to know how they did that?”

“No. And I trust you understand you can’t tell anyone they helped you.”

I understood. “Considering I thought the Babylonians were human, I’m pretty sure they don’t want humanity knowing they’re still around, or they wouldn’t have disappeared in the first place.”

“Good.”

“Could you explain the whole story in exchange for not dying thing? Aren’t I walking away the winner on that one? Not that I’m not grateful—I am. It just doesn’t seem like an equivalent exchange.”

“To those like Abil Ili, stories are worth more than gold, especially interesting stories. When they retreated from the surface, they left behind myth and legend, a puzzle and challenge to those who might seek them out. So here they are, waiting.”

“In Chicago.”

“They’re not the only denizens of the so-called abyss. They’re just the friendlier ones—well, friendlier if you happen to be interesting.” Quinton smirked at me. “I, of course, am very interesting.”

“Is that what they call it nowadays?” I muttered.

Quinton sighed. “Just stay near me. I’d rather you not fall and give yourself another concussion, and you’ll be unstable on your feet for a while yet. Once we fetch your lady, you’ll pay your part of the bargain. Then the true fun begins.”

“Dare I ask?”

“The Babylonians are a polyamorous colony with a very limited genetic pool; it’s so limited they’re essentially identical beyond certain markers, including gender and specific magical talents. They don’t reproduce anymore, either. Think of their community as a hive mind. If you hurt one, you hurt them all. They have no tolerance for in-fighting and disloyalty. Acts of sexual violence are exceptionally offensive to them for this reason. The instant they find out what happened to your woman, they’ll be ready to hunt. They aren’t the only Babylonians, either. Most cities have a crystal hive. They gather where there are people.”

“I don’t understand. Why would they do that? Don’t they want to hide?”

“I’m certain you’ve heard the legend of the Tower of Babel.” Quinton pointed at the gap in the blue crystal spears jutting from the walls. “Watch your step. The floors are a bit slick, and you’re going to be a wobbly for a while.”