Betrayed in Blood (Of Blood & Dreams #6)

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Devon and I cleaned up quickly, and we were soon on our way. The limo cruised through low mountain ranges for another ten miles before reaching a plateau, green from spring rains and winter snow melt from the higher elevations.

Devon leaned forward. “What’s that?”

I scooted farther in my seat to look through the front windshield. I squinted, not sure what I was seeing. It appeared to be a fortress, but all I could see—if what I was looking at was more than a mirage—were tall walls that seemed to stretch forever.

“We have reached El Recinto,” Erik said. “The name of the compound is much longer, but over time it has become easier to just say El Recinto. Aramburu’s land is vast. As I said earlier, we were well onto his land when we reached the old monastery. What you see before you is the main entrance. It sits in the middle of Aramburu territory and is well protected from outsiders.”

I huddled next to Devon, our heads bent low to take in the scene as the limo approached the ten-foot-high walls. Two steel gates, browned with age, blocked the entrance.

“I can’t see where the wall ends.” I heard the awe in my voice, but no other emotion seemed appropriate. I’d never seen anything like it.

“This reminds me of the early fortresses in Asia.” Devon sat back, pulling me with him, holding me close.

Erik and Ulrik both grinned. “You’re in store for much more.”

The gates opened on their approach. Two guard stations, one on each side, were constructed as an extension of the wall. A video monitor had been built into its own stone encasement and stood just outside the guard station. With all the security before we reached El Recinto, I wasn’t sure when the video was ever used. Perhaps it was for when supplies were brought in.

The limo never slowed on its approach, and once we were past the wall, I turned to watch the gates close behind us. Devon squeezed my hand and the nerves that had been twitching settled. The landscape wasn’t any different on this side, and it was another mile before the first outbuildings could be seen.

Devon tapped my shoulder and pointed to our right. I was pretty sure my mouth dropped open. There was an enormous hangar and a runway long enough for a private jet to take off and land. Cows and sheep roamed around it, grazing on what appeared to be prairie grass similar to the land around Oasis.

Most of the outbuildings were maintenance sheds based on the utility trucks parked near them, and it was another half mile before the outbuildings turned into homes with children playing outside and women tending gardens. After another quarter of a mile, another wall could be seen. This one appeared to be shorter, perhaps eight feet tall, and I could see the end of the wall, though it ran the length of a football field on each side of another gate. There were towers at the corners with at least one guard in each one. Along the top of the wall, I glimpsed another guard. The entire wall must have a walkway between each tower.

This time the gates were wrought iron, though tall wooden doors were mounted on each side that could be closed over the iron gates for additional defense. It was impressive.

The gates stood open, providing a more welcoming feel than the first gates we’d passed through. Inside was a floral masterpiece accented by olive and oak trees. The manor was as large as Oasis but built in the Spanish hacienda style with a tiled veranda and curved arches.

The limo drove around the fountain that sat in the middle of the circular drive and pulled to a stop in front of a wide but short set of stairs. The driver opened the door, and Erik got out first, followed by Devon, with me right behind him.

I pressed my sweaty palms along the folds of my sky-blue sundress and glanced around. It took a moment before the wooden front doors, each with a large lion sconce on them, opened as two vampires strode out. I was getting better at recognizing vampires by the tiny inflections they made and how they held themselves, but in this case, there was no question these two ruled El Recinto.

It was also obvious the two were related.

The only thing that gave away which one might be Gregor Aramburu, the House leader, was the touch of gray along his temples that quickly disappeared into thick black hair that touched the top of his collar and framed an arresting face. He had a broad forehead, a bent nose, and dark eyes that were currently dancing with pleasure, but I sensed they could easily change to anger. He wasn’t tall, just under six feet, with a robust chest and a tan, weathered face. This was someone who spent a lot of time outdoors, not the typical ancient vamp partial to the dark.

The vampire next to him resembled Gregor, except he was a couple of inches taller. His midnight-colored hair was cut in a stylish manner with the top longer than the sides, and with his goatee, he gave off a roguish aura. He was handsome, but his eyes were similar to his father’s—easily turning to displeasure—though they currently matched the smile on his face.

“Devon Trelane.” The older man held out his hand. “This meeting is a long time coming. I’m Gregor Aramburu, and this is my oldest, Alejandro.”

“I appreciate the invitation to your home.”

The men shook hands then Gregor’s focused gaze turned on me. His smile was as warm as his hands. “So, this is the lovely Cressa that Erik and Ulrik talk so much about.”

I blushed. What else could I do? Everyone was staring at me. “It’s nice to meet you, but I’m sure they’ve exaggerated whatever tall tales they’ve shared.”

“If my own guards didn’t watch you eliminate the threat to my land upon your arrival…” He turned and spat, “Vermin.” Then his smile returned. “Perhaps I could believe your self-deprecation. But let’s not talk of that unpleasantness. I’m sure you would both like to get settled, though I prefer to give you a quick tour of El Recinto. By then your luggage will be taken to your suite. Your weapons will be stored down the hall from your room, though you won’t need them here.”

“I’m eager to hear more about your estate.” Devon turned to scan the yard. “I do all of my business at my coastal manor, but I have a second discreet location that isn’t nearly the size of yours. I’m working to make it as secure, though.”

We followed Gregor down the steps with Alejandro bringing up the rear. A golf cart that accommodated six pulled up in front of the steps. The driver got out, and Gregor climbed into the driver’s seat. Devon took the seat next to him while I climbed into the second row next to Alejandro.

Erik and Ulrik waved as the golf cart took off.

“I’m sorry my wife wasn’t here to meet you, but she’ll be back in time for an early dinner along with my other children. El Recinto is approximately nine hundred square miles—or five hundred thousand acres, give or take. The walls took four decades to complete.”

“It encompasses the entirety of El Recinto?” Devon asked.

“About half. We’ll discuss this more at dinner, but I’d seen firsthand the corruption building in the Council and decided the only way to protect my House was to build a fortress. Of course, this was many centuries ago, and no one questioned one more stronghold.”

“You own an incredible amount of land. Have you never had problems with the government?”

Gregor laughed. A deep belly laugh that made me smile. “Oh, sí. But even the most incorruptible government doesn’t say no to compensation. It’s a simple matter of negotiation. It doesn’t hurt to have a few vampires scattered within all levels of government to ensure we’re left alone.

“We’re fairly self-efficient here. This was a village several centuries ago. Then it grew to be the Family’s sanctuary. We have several businesses within the tech industry. The corporate office is in Madrid, mostly to keep up appearances, but all the work is done here. Most of the people within our walls work for the company and make good money.”

“Does no one leave here?” I asked.

“Most of the population are indigenous Spaniards who tend to stay close to home. For those who have the desire to leave, either for holiday or permanently, or those who travel for business, we have procedures in place to ensure the privacy of El Recinto.” He glanced over his shoulder and gave me a warm smile. “Everyone here is a value to the community, and we have rigorous induction training for new members, though it’s not often we welcome new vampires or humans.”

Gregor drove through the village that boasted several businesses—a general market, a hardware store, two small restaurants, two bars, a movie theater playing a current movie, and a laundromat. On the other side of the village, Gregor pointed out the modern medical center and attached two-story hospital.

He drove on through pastures with more cattle and sheep and fields planted with various crops—some I recognized, others I didn’t. Where there had been many houses surrounding the village, the farther we drove, the sparser the homes.

Gregor Aramburu and Devon fell into a discussion about business as my mind wandered. Alejandro contributed occasionally to the conversation while I focused my curiosity on what incident, or combination of them, had forced Gregor to isolate their family. They seemed a long way from the rulings of the Council, but I was never patient enough to listen to Anna’s deep history lessons to understand how the Council worked centuries earlier before they moved to the States. From the information I’d read regarding House Aramburu, it had been a warrior House like so many others of those times. Now it seemed the Family had embraced technology.

Out of the blue, a stabbing pain pierced my head. I clutched the seat in front of me as I doubled over. Multiple voices slammed into me, most speaking Spanish, a few in English, not that I could make sense of any of it.

I wasn’t in the golf cart anymore.

The table was in the middle of a quaint restaurant. My stomach grumbled at the scent of cooking fish and a savory dish, perhaps paella. I was wearing the same sundress and sandals. The other tables were filled with customers eating and those closest to me were speaking in Spanish. No one appeared to notice me.

I searched the room for the dreamwalker who’d brought me there. My first inclination was to force them into one of my own constructs, but my automatic defenses kicked in. This wasn’t the time to show my hand.

Was someone testing me?

If it had been Colantha, she wouldn’t be playing games. It was impossible to tell how strong the construct was without pushing back. I glanced around and realized the people looked similar to the locals in the village we’d just driven through.

Then it hit me.

Gregor had a dreamwalker.

They were somewhere close. I gave in to my curiosity and reached out to test the boundaries—but not too much. A Goldilocks approach to test how hot the porridge was.

Then I spotted him.

He was trying to ignore me. So was the woman he was sitting with. He was young—younger than me—with thin, straight dark hair that could use a comb, a flat nose, and a round face.

The woman was much older, based on the few wrinkles I could see from her profile. Her aquiline nose and sharp chin made me think the two weren’t related, but it was only a guess. A long braid of silver hair trailed down her back to her hips. Her dress was similar to those around her—colorful and plain at the same time.

“Who are you?” I asked.

They seemed surprised that I spoke but continued to ignore me. I stood and stormed to their table.

“Tell me who you are.”

They stared up at me, surprise flashing in their wide gazes. Then I realized my mistake. They had pulled me into their construct but hadn’t expected me to take partial control. I’d been so busy wondering who the hell these people were that I hadn’t paid attention to the momentary tug. The power in their attempt to control me was no stronger than a child grasping my arm to pull me back. I’d blown right through it without realizing they had been trying to hold me in place.

Then the voices came again. Dozens of them.

I pressed my hands to my head, trying to make them go away. I focused, remembering the candles Colantha used in her sessions. Within a blink, thin, tapered candles in tall, free-standing candelabras suddenly appeared in the middle of the restaurant. I held my attention on a single flame, closed my eyes, and—knowing this was going to hurt—ripped myself out of the construct.

The light was blinding before darkness descended.

I opened my eyes then slammed them shut against the harsh light. Muffled voices rose in anger and then quieted. I slowly opened one eye. I didn’t recognize the room, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was.

Aramburu.

Dreamwalkers.

Now it made sense. Well, it didn’t, but at least I understood what happened. A dull pain thumped from the back of my head.

The suite was richly decorated with all the standard features, yet the decor was minimalistic, with a single painting on each wall and a couple of knickknacks on the dressers.

I gingerly pulled myself into a sitting position and immediately noted the familiar colored vials on the nightstand. The bed was king-sized and comfortable. I was still in my sundress though the covers had been thrown over me.

I didn’t know if they’d given me any drugs while I’d been passed out. The liquid in the pink vial wouldn’t hurt me, so I drank half of it then leaned my head against the headboard, giving the liquid time to work its magic.

I took the opportunity to take a longer look around the room. The first thing I zeroed in on was our luggage, which had been unpacked. Clothes hung just beyond an arched doorway that must lead to a walk-in closet. Another door was opened to what I assumed was the bathroom.

I sat up and swung my legs to the floor, placing a hand on the bed as I waited for the dizziness to stop. The potion would need another five minutes to work, but I stood and made my way to a marble and glass bathroom.

Whatever voices I’d heard earlier were gone. I splashed cold water on my face and, keeping the water cold, wet a washcloth and placed it on the back of my neck. The headache was all but gone, but I was still unstable on my feet.

I was leaning against the doorjamb, holding the rag on my neck, when the door opened. Devon peeked his head in, his focus on the empty bed. When he spotted me, he rushed over and pulled me into his arms.

His hug was fierce as he laid his cheek on my head. “Are you alright?”

“A bit dizzy.” My voice was muffled with my face pressed against his chest.

He took the rag from me and walked me to a chair by the window. It wasn’t until then that I noticed the drapes had been closed, and the light that had bothered me earlier had been from a simple lamp.

“Is it alright if I open the drapes and let some fresh air in? You seem chilled, and the warmer air might feel better.”

It couldn’t hurt, and I nodded. “Gregor has dreamwalkers close by.”

“That had been my guess, but he won’t discuss it with me. I didn’t think we were within Colantha’s range.”

“What happened? I remember pulling myself out of the construct, but then it was light’s out.”

“I’m not sure how long you were in the construct before I noticed. We’d been deep in conversation, and when I looked back, I immediately noticed you were in a construct.”

I smiled. “I guess all those sessions with Colantha paid off.”

He stood and walked to a cart that held a bar. He poured a glass of water from a clay pitcher and handed it to me before sitting in the chair across from me, a round table between us.

I drank half of it before setting it down.

“I yelled for Gregor to stop, terrified you’d fall out, until I noticed Alejandro was holding your wrist. At first, I thought he might have been the one who took you to a construct, then realized he was merely holding you in place.”

“I don’t remember seeing him in the construct. There were two dreamwalkers—a young man, maybe a year or two younger than me, and an older woman. They were surprised when I strode up to them before I pulled myself out.” I reached across the table and grabbed his arm. “They must be close. I was in a restaurant that I swear had to be one of those in the village.”

He nodded. “When Gregor refused to respond to whether he had dreamwalkers, he seemed amused. When you came out of it, you collapsed, and he rushed us back to the manor. He immediately called for his healer, who lives close by.”

“I assumed a healer had been by when I saw the vials.”

“Did you take one?”

“Half the pink one.” I picked up the washrag Devon had placed on the table and folded it. “The headache is mostly gone. I don’t know for sure, but my guess is that the two of them had to combine their powers to bring me to the construct.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m not sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say they aren’t powerful enough to do it on their own. They were sitting at a table together, and I was a couple of tables away.” I brushed back my hair and glanced out the window to a colorful garden. Spring blooms dotted the flower beds, and another fountain took center stage. The tinkling water was augmented by the twitter of birds that flocked to it. “They were attempting to hold me in place, but I didn’t realize it until I felt the gentle tug when I stood.” I snorted. “They seemed rather shocked when I walked to their table. When they ignored me, I pulled myself out.”

“Why the headache? If they’re not that strong, why did you pass out?”

That was an excellent question. I winced when I shook my head, but it was more an expectation of pain from a returning headache that never materialized. “I don’t know.” I reached for my neck, but I wasn’t wearing my medallion. As far as I knew, it was still in my purse, locked in a tiny box Devon had made for it. “Maybe it was because I pulled on my powers without the medallion. How long was I out?”

“About two hours. But I think some of that might have been a combination of the heat, the fight with Lorenzo’s vampires, and then the construct.”

“Now what?”

“Gregor has some explaining to do, but we’re guests here. He’s quite aware of my dissatisfaction over the event. I don’t think he’s playing games, but?—”

“It was a test.”

Devon smiled. It wasn’t his charming smile. The one that could make my panties wet in anticipation of him putting his intimate thoughts into action. It was his shark smile. The one that said he was letting things play out before calling on the beast. To be honest, that smile could also make my panties wet—as long as it wasn’t in response to one of my stunts. There had certainly been more than a few times when it would have been justified.

“I agree.” He glanced at his watch. “We have an hour before dinner. Feel up to a shower?” His smile said it would be more than a shower.

To prove I was back to normal, I jumped up and raced him to the bathroom, almost tripping as I pulled my dress over my head. He caught me and swept me up in his arms before slamming the bathroom door behind us with his foot.