AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rachel sat in a chair near Luken, but steadfastly avoided meeting Duncan’s gaze. Now that the initial heat of the breh-hedden had passed, no doubt she was thinking about all the fights they’d had; she’d needed a different life away from the war, and he needed to do battle alongside his brothers-in-arms.
Despite that there was a strong connection between their paths because of Yolanthe and Third Earth, he couldn’t see how it would ever be possible for the two of them to be bonded. Surely, this time the breh-hedden had made a big mistake.
He repressed a sigh. He still wasn’t feeling like himself, which made total sense. It was only a couple of hours ago he’d pulled a bunch of tubes out of his body and he hadn’t eaten a real meal in two weeks. But thank God for IVs because his blood needs had been met, the most critical aspect of his ascended vampire life.
His nerves twitched. He needed to get back to the battlefield, slay some death vampires, do some good, do what he was born to do.
As his mind cleared a little more, he realized the entire room had fallen silent and everyone was staring at him. Well, he was the issue du jour, no question about that.
He frowned and glanced around once more. “I could sure use another beer.”
Luken called out, “On it.”
The brother didn’t mess around but folded to the kitchen, and as promised, he had an icy bottle of beer in his hand when he returned a few seconds later. “And I’ve fired up the grill. Just folded in a dozen thick rib-eyes from that joint outside of Tucson One.”
A cheer went up. Beer and steaks. Nothing better for warrior blood.
Duncan took the beer that Luken handed him and nodded. Tilting his head back, he guzzled, once more letting the cold liquid slide down his throat.
Despite the fact that everyone waited on him, he took a moment to draw in what rational part of his brain hadn’t been destroyed by the combined efforts of Sharav and that quiet bitch, Yolanthe. He let the beer have a much-needed calming effect.
Setting the empty bottle on a nearby side table, he started talking, telling the group all that had happened, and how he’d spent hours and days in the company of a woman he described as ambitious and somewhat delusional.
“But she’s motivated for reasons that are still obscure to me. What I got from my time with her is that her father, Chustaffus, is the real power, the one that threatens Second Earth. But what Yolanthe thinks I can do about it, I have no idea. I get the impression she wants a close relationship, maybe even a bond. I’m really not sure.”
Here his gaze shifted to Rachel who this time didn’t look away. “The most immediate concern, however, is that for whatever reason, she believes my relationship with Rachel hinders her plans. She’s after Rachel.” He paused, then said more quietly, “She wants her dead.”
“I know why,” Endelle said. “I saw exactly what the woman’s motivations were when the two of you were trying to copulate outside the med-bay.”
Endelle had lost her subtlety about the time the Mortal Earth Greeks had started writing their poetry and that was a damn long time ago.
He also knew she referred to how Rachel could make him disappear from most ascenders, just not her own sweet self. “You’re referring to Rachel’s new power?”
Endelle nodded. “I am.”
“So, what do you think it is?”
“She’s your goddam shield.”
Every eye turned toward Endelle.
“That has to be it,” Merl said, “because even I couldn’t see them. Just Endelle.”
Endelle shifted to look down at Rachel. “Looks like the bitch wants you singing songs with the Creator. Goody for you.”
Rachel returned her stare, scowling. “Do you ever take anything seriously?”
“Do I look like I’m not serious?” She glared at Rachel in response, which put Duncan in motion.
He crossed the room in a flash and positioned himself between the women. “Ease down, Madame Endelle. Now.” He wouldn’t have anyone threatening Rachel, not even the ruler of Second Earth.
He’d fight her if he had to, though he didn’t relish the idea. He’d heard rumors of what she’d done to Thorne when the latter had battled Endelle to get rid of the mind-link they’d once shared. More than one report had mentioned a lot of smoke and that the central rotunda ceiling had turned black because of it.
Her eyes went wide. “You’re challenging me?”
“Leave my woman alone.” Oh, shit, had he actually said those words out loud? He regret
ted them instantly, but he wouldn’t back down for anyone, not even Endelle.
