Page 19 of Sea of Love

Without moving Elettra eyed the little Templar. “Shut up.”

The sound of galloping horses thundered across the sands. Everyone looked up to see their mounts stampeding toward them. As a group, they barely managed to scramble out of the way. The large woman and the small man who had taken RainLance from the temple rode behind the herd, driving them with whips. At the last moment the two cultists turned and headed for the road to Pompeii.

Although Shelton and the other men ran after the horses, Elettra stood and watched as RainLance disappeared in a cloud of road dust.

Chapter 10

SUMMER REINED IN her mount once they entered the city, and peered in all directions. She saw Michael and Troy do the same, and then Bowers drew up beside her.

“We should ride to their lodgings,” he told her. “It is the logical place for them to meet Wickerman before they jump to the next location.”

“You and Shelton go there,” Michael said. “We will search the market and the amphitheater.”

“My horse is nearly lame,” Elettra said after the Templars left. Since resuming her mortal guise she hadn’t said a word to anyone. “I will take it back to Otho, and meet you later at the Hermes.” Before anyone could reply she dismounted and led the horse away.

“We should go back to the inn,” Troy said, his voice low and rough. “Those bastards are probably in China now looking for the next treasure.”

“They only got to the city five minutes before we did,” she reminded him.

Before he could reply the sound of men shouting came from the street the Templars had taken, and Summer rode forward to see Roman soldiers marching Bowers and Shelton toward the forum. A cry from the other end of the street came from Elettra, who had also been surrounded by soldiers.

“They’ve finally caught the brigands who robbed those performers,” a man standing near Summer said to his friend. “Their woman, too. Imagine, thieves pretending to be Roman soldiers.” He shook his head and laughed. “They’ll be crow fodder before the week is out.”

“Go that way,” Michael said to Summer, nodding toward a narrow alley. When she didn’t move he added, “We cannot help them if we are imprisoned, too.”

By taking back streets and alleys they were able to make it to the Hermes, where Michael paid a cart seller to return their horses to the stables. Floronius passed them on the way to their rooms, but completely ignored them as he delivered a tray of food to some customers at the front counter. Once they were in their room, Michael closed the door, but it didn’t make Summer feel any safer.

“Wickerman must have known the Templars would search their lodgings,” she said. “But how could he have known we were coming back into the city just then?”

“He must have had someone watching the gate,” Michael said, and picked up the water jug. “I will go down to the fountain to make sure we were not followed.”

“Alone at last,” Troy said as soon as Michael went out. He embraced her from behind, but for once his body didn’t warm hers. His limbs felt like cold, heavy ropes. “Don’t you want to get out of these damp, sticky clothes?”

She did but there wasn’t time. “I need to try to send a message to Westbrook first.”

She went to her satchel and took out the spell-mirror the council head had given her. When she opened it there was already an image of the distinguished warlock in the glass. She touched it making it distort and fade. Westbrook’s voice stuttered.

“We…searched…haven’t found…evidence,” Westbrook said. “Banning…touch-seer to look…concealment spells. Please…how your search…when you can. Blessed be….”

The mirror went dark. So it worked, but not very well. Summer surmised that the head of the Magus Corps’ ruling council hadn’t yet discovered who had planted the bomb. She channeled a small surge of the Tablet’s power into the mirror.

“Council Member, we found RainLance, but the cultists were able to get there before us. They’ve also had the Templars and Elettra arrested. We’re going to free our friends, and then move on to China, where I hope we’ll recover both treasures. I’ll message you after we’ve made the next jump.”

As she closed it she wondered if the Magus Corps would also receive only a handful of interrupted words. She would have to keep her reports brief and to the point if they were to understand her meaning.

“If you want to jump on something,” Troy said, “come over here, baby.”

Summer swung around, and froze as she saw her mate stretched out naked on their bed, his penis fully erect.

“What are you doing?” she said. “We have to free the Templars and Elettra.”

Troy swatted the air with his hand. “They aren’t going anywhere.” Casually he stroked his hand up and down his turgid shaft. “But this cock definitely needs to go somewhere. Why don’t we start with your pussy?”

She started to tell him where he could put it when she saw how strangely his eyes were glittering.

“All right,” she said, her tone light and reasonable. “But let’s wait until Michael gets back with the water,” she suggested, hoping she could stall him. “Then you can both wash me.”

“We don’t need him, love,” Troy said and rose to his feet. He advanced on her. “Lock him out and I’ll show you.”