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“Sweet Goddess, help us. Another boy.”
“’fraid so.” Willem held Quinlan’s gaze. “But thank you for saving my life. I was out of my mind and I could never have made it back in time.”
“Well, if Davido was involved, he probably provoked the hell out of you. He’s good at that.”
Willem held Quinlan’s gaze. “Yeah, but I think this time, he was right.”
“That’s the rub; Davido is always right. Comes from having been born well before time began.” No one knew Davido’s age.
For some reason, everything suddenly made sense to Willem, in a way it never had before. Maybe he’d needed a good shout across the ocean to release what he’d kept locked up inside, but right now he knew what he wanted and despite Vojalie’s insistence that once broken, the bond with Charlotte was ended forever, he had to try.
Because, dammit, he loved Charlotte. And he needed her.
He grabbed Quinlan’s arm. “So where’s Davido now?”
Quinlan whipped his thumb up over his shoulder. “In the other room.”
“He’s here?”
Quinlan smiled. “Apparently, he never left. Charlotte’s still here as well. Go fix this thing, because I’m pretty sure it’s in your power to do it. As for me, I’ve got to head out. We’ve got Invictus sign tonight all the way to the east in the Ashur Mountains. The Troll Brigade has been taking a beating.”
Willem stood up and clapped Quinlan on the shoulder. “Thanks for being a good friend.”
“Back atcha.” He didn’t head into the main living area, but left by way of the French door next to the fireplace. He waved once then took off into the air. The bond to Quinlan’s blood rose, Batya, had increased his mastyr power and he flew like a rocket. That was another thing about having a blood rose, the rise in power, probably more than enough to catch the Infinity Killer.
Willem took a moment to settle into his determination, then, lowering his shoulders, he headed back to the foyer.
Charlotte stood in the living room, near the front windows, but Davido sat grinning at him from the chair near the fireplace. He met Davido’s gaze and nodded several times.
Davido responded in exactly the same way. “So you’re all set?” Davido asked.
“I am.”
Davido’s smile settled into that look of his that spoke of the wisdom of the ages. He slid his hand in Charlotte’s direction. “Then I’d start with an apology.”
Charlotte stared at him now, over her shoulder, pivoting slowly toward him. Her eyes were haunted as she searched his.
Willem went to Charlotte and took her hands. “I was out of my mind back there, but I’m all right now. I’m so sorry for putting you through so much distress. But I need you to know that I want to be with you, Charlotte, in whatever way we can be together now. I wish it could be as a blood rose to a mastyr, but if not, we’ll make it work somehow.”
“Willem. Oh, God, and I can feel how badly your starvation returned once the bond was broken.” She turned scathing eyes on Davido. “How could you do this to us?”
But Willem caught her chin and turned her gently toward him. “Don’t blame him. This was my fault, sweetheart. I couldn’t get past the hurdle when I needed to. Davido tried to get through to me times past counting, it’s just a little too late. But I don’t care about any of that. Just, be with me. Are you willing to do that, Charlotte?”
“Of course I’m willing.” She placed both hands on his chest. “I believe in you with all my heart and I can still feed you. At least that won’t change.” Again she glanced at Davido. “And if he feeds from me, he won’t suffer, right?”
The troll nodded. “Your blood will ease his pain. No question.”
Charlotte slid her hands up Willem’s chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re back and you’re safe, that’s all that matters.” Her chest shuddered. “Oh, but Willem, now we won’t be able to help that boy.”
A woman’s voice suddenly intruded. “Davido, you fix this right now. You’re torturing them both. And stop grinning. You’re having way too much fun at their expense.”
Willem turned and found Vojalie standing near her husband. Davido rose to his feet and though he came just to the top of his wife’s shoulder, his presence filled the room. He took Vojalie’s hand and lifted her fingers to his lips, as he’d done earlier, kissing them. “My pet, I will do anything for you. Anything, my dearest love.”
He then snapped his fat troll fingers and Willem gasped. Charlotte’s entire body jerked. And there it was, the temporary bond, back in place. Willem couldn’t believe the level of the Troll’s power.
To Willem, he said, “I’ve only restored the temporary bond. The two of you will still have to do the rest.”
Vojalie put a hand to her chest. “Oh, thank the Goddess! I’ve been worried sick lest his little trick backfire and become permanent. But my dears,” she glanced from one to the other, “complete the bond now, or I won’t have a minute’s peace. I fear that something will go wrong and you’ll lose the chance forever.”
