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Everyone laughed. Caitlin knew that’s exactly what he would say.
* * *
Stasio breathedin the fresh air, and he was glad that for even a short time they would be able to enjoy their homeland again. The majestic mountains were tall, the beaches vast and beautiful, the forests verdant, and the wildflowers were colorful and spectacular.
Taking in all the sights, Caitlin stared out the window as Levka drove. She still hadn’t gotten the hang of channeling psychic conversations, so for now, she spoke to them aloud, unless they were certain they weren’t within “earshot” of another vampire. If she spoke telepathically, she would be broadcasting to all vampires withing hearing distance.
As soon as they stopped at a drugstore and picked up some other items, Stasio was looking over a brochure of places to go and things to do. One of them mentioned the castle they were staying at.
“They’ve added more gardens and a pond.” Frowning, Stasio looked over the pictures of the gardens.
Ruric walked over and looked at the photos. “I swear if you could live forever in the past, you would be happy.”
“Iamhappy, and for your information, the past would have been the present and not the past.”
“Semantics,” Ruric said.
The castle sat atop a crop of rocks, overlooking the Irish Sea.
Stasio settled back in his seat and was dismayed to see all the changes—the growth, the traffic, the buildings. Still, it was beautiful, green, luscious, mountains in the distance, and home.
No one said anything and he knew his friends were absorbing their surroundings. Ruric, who liked everything high-tech and futuristic, probably was enjoying all the changes. Stasio preferred the simpler life.
When they reached Stasio’s castle, he stared in awe.
Battlements were in place on top of the walls and towers, firing galleries to defend the castle on the northern and southern walls. The griffin tower had three turrets and the royal family’s lodgings had been grand at the time. Four stories and basements, and one of the basements had a sea gate for visitors coming there by boat.
“It’s beautiful,” Caitlin said. “Just beautiful. Ohmigod, the walls surrounding the castle are huge. It overlooks the water as an added bonus. No one said anything about the castle overlooking the water. And it has a beautiful garden. I could lose myself in there.”
Stasio thought it was beautiful too. “It is.” The impressive great hall, chapel, turrets, and walls were all still there. He couldn’t have been gladder that his castle had been well taken care of. The garden had been expanded and flowers they’d never grown were now planted there. But they had a restaurant in the great hall that had a great menu too, which he approved of. “We fought many a battle from these battlements, but we always managed to keep the enemy at bay, until the last battle which was with our own kind.”
“Aye,” Arman said.
“We’ve had a tail while we’ve been driving to the castle,” Levka warned.
Stasio glanced back at the black car following them. “For how long?”
“Since we left the car rental place.” Levka cut the engine in the castle’s parking area, and they all remained in the van while they watched the black car pull into a parking spot.
Stasio eyed the car, waiting for the driver to exit the vehicle. That’s when he saw the pretty brunette he’d talked to before, leave the vehicle, open the trunk, and grab a large black bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder like it didn’t weigh anything, slammed the hatchback trunk closed, then walked to the castle entrance.
“I thought you said she wasn’t one of us,” Levka said as they watched her walk through the doors, not sparing him or his companions a glance.
“I didn’t say for certain that she wasn’t. It’s impossible to know for sure, unless she telepathically communicates with us or she shows off her wicked canines. She wouldn’t answer the telepathic question I put to her. But she did heave that heavy-looking bag over her shoulder as if it weighed nothing,” Stasio said.
“If she is an assassin or a hunter, she’ll probably call for reinforcements,” Levka said. “She couldn’t hope to take all of us down at once.”
“More money for her, if she doesn’t call for help.” Stasio hoped the league hadn’t learned of their arrival, and he really hoped they didn’t have to leave this soon. Most of all, he prayed they wouldn’t have to eliminate the girl, if she thought to do that to them. For whatever reason, he was really stuck on her.
“Or else others are already in place or on their way here. What do you think?” Levka was a born leader and often decided what they would do. They were all just used to it. But sometimes, if he was unsure about a situation, he asked for everyone’s opinion.
“I would love to stay,” Caitlin said, “but only if it means all of you are safe.”
Though if Stasio and the other princes were arrested, the league would take Caitlin in also, as one of their partners in crime.
“If she works for the league, we will know soon enough.” Stasio was disappointed. He thought they would have a chance to stay here a long time before anyone might catch on that they were here.
“I’m willing to take the risk.” Ruric climbed out of the van.
