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“There wasn’t. Not until now.”
“What was she doing?”
“I have no idea.” Peri lifted a silencing hand. “Can we just get out of here? I’m exhausted, filthy, and starving. And you’re leaking. A sure sign it’s time to go.”
“Leaking?”
Peri pointed toward the dust-packed ground where blood was pooling near his expensive leather shoes.
“You’ve been shot.”
Valen narrowed his gaze. Did he sense that she was hiding something from him? Probably, but with the rapidly approaching dawn and his injuries, he didn’t have the luxury of arguing.
With a muttered curse, he pulled his phone from the front pocket of his slacks and pressed in a number.
“We’re headed your way. Have the chopper ready to take off.”
Chapter 11
Peri hadn’t lied when she told Valen that she was exhausted. She hadn’t had a moment’s peace since discovering her mother’s coven had been slaughtered. Add in the magic she’d expended over the past few days and it was no wonder that she’d passed out as soon as the helicopter lifted off the ground.
It was more surprising that she’d barely stirred when Valen had scooped her into his arms to carry her into a massive stone mansion built in the foothills of the Rockies. And that it was noon before she finally managed to wrench open her eyes to discover she was alone in a bedroom that was four times the size of her own.
Sitting up, she stretched her arms over her head as she admired the heavy, handcrafted furniture that matched the glossy paneling and the overhead beams. It had a ski lodge vibe, she decided as she climbed out of the king-size bed that included a canopy.
She reluctantly ignored the lure of the glass sliding doors that opened onto a balcony that offered a stunning view of the nearby mountains. She wasn’t a tourist. She had things to do and people to see.
Grabbing her overnight bag, which someone had kindly left next to the door, Peri headed into the attached bathroom. It was obscenely large, with a shower surrounded by rock walls to give the impression of standing in a waterfall. It was beautiful, but Peri was more impressed with the pounding spray that washed away the layers of dust and sweat that coated her skin. The water pressure was shitty at the Witch’s Brew. This felt like paradise.
Eventually she forced herself to step out of the shower and pull on running shorts along with a Green Day T-shirt. Then, slipping her feet into her tennis shoes, she twisted her hair into a messy bun on top of her head. She wasn’t worried about how she looked. She wanted comfort and the ability to retreat at top speed if things went south. And since she was intending to confront one of the most powerful mages in the world, it was very likely things would go south in a hurry. Last, she grabbed the worn satchel she’d packed in her bag and looped the long strap over her head. It held several emergency potions along with more mundane items, like her driver’s license.
As ready as she was ever going to be, Peri left the privacy of her bedroom and made her way through the maze of hallways. She didn’t have to wonder where she was. The power that pulsed through the air felt like she was standing on top of a seething volcano. One that was on the verge of eruption.
This had to be Gabriel’s private lair. And somewhere beneath her feet two vampires were safely tucked away from the sunlight.
There were also demons in various locations around the house, but none of them appeared as she entered the attached garage. Strolling past the sports cars and motorcycles that were designed to bloat any man’s ego, she continued to the end of the long row, at last reaching an old red pickup that was loaded with bags of dirt, shovels and something that smelled unfortunately like fertilizer in the back. Obviously it belonged to the gardener. She didn’t care. It had keys dangling in the ignition.
Jackpot.
Climbing in, she started the motor, wincing as it backfired. The sound echoed through the cavernous garage, loud enough to wake the dead. Literally. Peri cursed, silently willing the dead to remain in their beds. Or coffins. Or whatever a leech slept in during the day.
Half expecting the staff to come running to stop her, Peri put the truck in gear and hit the button attached to the sun visor. Instantly the garage door was purring upward, allowing her to pull out of the garage. She followed the curving driveway past the sunken gardens and marble fountains that spurted water toward the cloudless sky. Beyond that was a vast yard framed by a neatly trimmed hedge that hid the ten-foot electric fence that protected the property from unwanted guests. Not that she could imagine anyone stupid enough to trespass on land owned by the Cabal. Even humans would instinctively avoid this place, although they wouldn’t understand why.
Reaching the edge of the lawn, Peri breathed a sigh of relief when the ponderous iron gate swung open. There had to be a sensor on the truck to trigger the lock. Or else there was a hidden servant who’d pressed a button to let her out. Either way, she jammed her foot on the gas and rattled her way down the gravel road toward the nearest highway.
* * *
Valen stood side by side with Gabriel in his office. The long room was lined with rare paintings that any museum would kill to get their hands on, along with a dozen statues that had once stood in Caesar’s palace. It was a glorious showroom, but Valen wasn’t there to admire the art. They were staring at the computer monitor arranged on a heavy desk next to the glass wall that was currently covered by heavy shutters.
“There.” He pointed toward the dark spot blinking on the map that filled the screen. “The tracker is activated.”
Valen nodded. Gabriel had interrupted his rest to inform him that Peri was up and entering the garage. His first instinct had been to follow her and keep her from leaving. As long as the sunburned in the sky, she would be beyond his reach once she left the house. The thought was strangely unnerving.
With an effort, he’d managed to control his rash impulse. Peri wasn’t one of his servants who was expected to obey his commands. And besides, he wanted to know where she was heading.
Thankfully, Gabriel had quickly assured him that all his vehicles were linked to his tracking system. He’d also promised to send along protection to keep Peri out of danger.
“And your guards?” he demanded.
