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Divinity.
Gavin sucked harder, and felt the purity of an elysian frequency filling him as he swallowed the most divine-tasting bloodever. He drank and drank, and kept drinking, but he never heard the heartbeat slow or act as if he was taking too much, so he drank until he was sated, and then he gently pulled his fangs from the arm.
“Fuck, that hurt. Thank you for the sustenance.”
“It’ll take some time for you to heal, even with my blood. It seems Morella expected us, and left us a message.”
Gavin would’ve preferred to sit up for this conversation, but the world swam while he was prone, so he didn’t try to move. “I need you to tell me what we’ve stepped into.”
“I wish I knew. I’m keeping the information to a small circle, and the general consensus thinks the ringleader, or perhaps just one of the top people, if it’s being run by committee, is a Lugat vampire, though it’s possible we are wrong. For whatever reason, this person is perceived by those lower than him or her as not having their own magic, and yet being high up in the supernatural community.”
“I have time to hear the details, while my body makes use of the sustenance you so kindly provided.” Burn damage is as hard for a vampire to heal as wounds wrought by silver.
“We believe they were taking human skins in an effort to spell them as the selkie skins are, but so they can put the skin on an animal and have it take human form. The assumption is that a wolf in human form would likely follow an alpha wolf’s orders and would be the perfect assassin, once taught how to use appropriate weapons.”
“Lots of assumptions.”
“My personal opinion is that it’s possible one of the Lugat vampires either serving on the Concilio board now, or in recent centuries, is involved, so I’m keeping the investigation as closed as possible. Unfortunately, this means there are people I would normally tap for information whom I’ve deemed out-of-bounds.”
Gavin’s mind immediately took the next leap, and he said, “Medved was both vampire and shapeshifter. Any vampire looking for the ability to shapeshift would be most interested in having a vampire who comes preloaded with the ability on their staff.”
“It took me longer to come to the same conclusion, but yes, I believe you are correct. A Lugat vampire, especially, might enjoy having a bit of actual magic available, but that’s another assumption.”
“I considered keeping Medved alive, but perhaps it’s best he was destroyed.”
“Evil vampires don’t last long around the woman now known as The Harlequin. Many of us have wondered, over the years, why she’s let you live so many times, when she had an opportunity and valid reason to wipe you out of existence. Perhaps you aren’t so evil, after all?”
Did Apollonius know the truth of Medved’s last moments? No one had mentioned the fact Kirsten had killed him, rather than Gavin, and he’d hoped word of the details hadn’t spread. Before Gavin could respond, the ancient god continued. “I should be able to flash us to Morella, but I can’t. She’s doing something to keep me from doing so.” He shrugged. “Or someone else is. You seem to have your pain levels under control. I can provide more energy, if you can handle it.”
Fast healing wasn’t without cost — ten hours of healing in ten minutes meant you had the entire ten hours of pain in those same ten minutes, though it felt as if it was doubled or tripled, or possible even squared.
He probably had another four hours of healing, without extra energy. He wanted to get back to Lauren, so he’d take the pain.
“I appreciate and will accept your offer. The sooner I’m healed, the better.”
“We are safe in this place.”
“Thank you for keeping me in my realm.”
“Of course. Your people depend upon you to provide and direct energy.” He placed his hand ten inches away from Gavin’s face. “Touch it with both of your hands at the same time.”
Much as one has to be careful of which poles one touches, and how, on a powerful battery, one had to be conscious of repelling versus attracting magics within a powerful supernatural. Gavin grasped Apollonius’s fist in both his hands, and his body went stiff as magic flowed in. Gavin did his best to direct the energy, but divine, living energy doesn’t work well in conjunction with undead, vampire energy, and the pain was even more intense than Gavin had prepared for, but he ignored the excruciating, overwhelming agony and directed the energy.
When he was ready to let go, he found he could not, but Apollonius must’ve known, because he broke the connection.
“You look okay, but I still scent damage. Are you up for returning, or do you need more time?”
“I can return. I need to talk to Lauren, so if you can take me home, that would be great.”
Apollonius paused and then grimaced. “I don’t believe you want to do that. She and the lion are engaged in pursuits of a carnal nature.”
Gavin was simultaneously pleased and displeased. Lauren had needed to repair the relationship with her lion, so he was more relieved than not, though it meant the coming days might have some challenges. The timing sucked, but one doesn’t often get to schedule matters of the heart. Or so he’d been told.
“Well, it’s about damned time. I suppose I should conference with Queenie before deciding on my next course of action, but if you have somewhere or someone who can help us, I’d like to tag along while you meet with them.”
“I shall send you to your wolf, and then I will meet with someone who can act as intermediary with the Prince of Hell. I know Kirsten is watching for people acting on Alfheim, and I have someone else watching two other realms, so it’s possible our prey is hiding in Hell.”
Gavin had no intention of going to the Hell realm. He’d help fight in any battle in his own realm, but he couldn’t leave his people. They depended on his energy.
