Betrayed in Blood (Of Blood & Dreams #6)

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

“Wake up, sleepy head.”

I groaned. The words hit my subconscious but didn’t seem important. The bright light that hit me in the face did the trick. I opened an eye. Why did I always fall asleep facing the window? And why would the handsome vamp dressed in his charcoal-gray suit find it humorous to force me awake?

I threw an arm across my eyes. “Too bright.”

“You have an appointment with Sonja this morning. If you get up now and run through a quick shower, you might make it.”

I popped up. “What time is it?”

“Eight thirty.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I jumped up, and he caught me by the waist before I made it to the bathroom.

His kiss was warm and sweet. “You needed the sleep, and you’re the fastest woman I’ve ever met, other than Simone and Bella, who can be ready in less than thirty minutes. There’s coffee on the bar, Sonja is holding your breakfast, and I’m off to meet with Alejandro and Miguel for a deeper dive into their business operations.”

I pulled away after giving him another kiss to grab a cup of coffee. “Where’s Gregor?”

He paused before answering. “He asked to meet with you and Sonja.”

I gulped the coffee and stared at him. “Are you serious?”

He picked up his cell phone and stuck it in his inside jacket pocket. “I told him it was up to you, but I think you should consider allowing him to participate.” His blue eyes sparked with the beast for just an instant, reminding me of our passionate night. “He’s very protective of the dreamwalkers. I don’t know what they can do or what their power level is, but they could be instrumental in our mission. Though it will ultimately be up to Gregor on whether they participate. If he understands how powerful you are and that there are others with even more power, it could go a long way in gaining his support.”

I sipped the coffee and stared out at the garden. “Shouldn’t you be there too?”

He was behind me before I knew it, his strong hands rubbing my arms as he nuzzled my neck. “I don’t want him to think I control or manipulate your dreamwalking. You and I know that while I might command what happens on a mission, your power is your own. This is the best way I know of convincing him that we’re partners. You are not a Blood Ward.”

I blinked, forcing my blurred vision to clear. “Thank you.”

He released me. “Try to behave yourself. I’ll see you for lunch.”

I patted his ass as he turned. “You know me.”

He chuckled. “Why is why I asked.”

I was still grinning when I stepped into the shower. His trust meant the world to me. However, his words didn’t quell the nerves jumping around in my belly like popcorn kernels on high heat.

I selected linen pants, a silk shirt, and kitten heels, then finished the last touch by pushing the diamond hair clips in my hair, smiling at the memory of Devon giving them to me one morning while still in bed at the hotel in Madrid. After a last look in the mirror, I searched my duffel for the small, locked box. I entered the combination, and the lid popped open, revealing my medallion. I slipped it around my neck, then left the suite and wandered around the first floor.

A maid dressed in a simple gray dress smiled as I strode toward her.

“Mistress Aramburu is waiting for you on the terrace. Do you need me to guide you?”

I smiled in return. “I remember the way, but thank you.”

“Sí. Have a nice day.”

“You too.”

It was interesting she’d said Mistress Aramburu and not Master because they were both waiting for me at a table for four. Gregor stood when I entered and pulled out a chair for me.

“I’m sorry to be late.” I took my seat, and my mouth watered at the fruit, scrambled eggs, and black beans.

“Nonsense,” Sonja said. She picked up the bowl of eggs and passed them to me. “These just came out of the kitchen. Devon said this would be enough for you. Some days we eat light, other days it feels like a four-course meal.”

“It’s the boys.” Gregor took the bowl from me once I’d taken a couple of scoops. “I understand it’s the same in the human world. They reach a certain age, and their stomachs never seem to fill.”

“I’ll take your word for it. I only have a half-sister, and she always ate like a bird.”

“Mariah won’t admit it,” Gregor continued, “but she eats as hearty as the boys.”

Sonja nodded. “But she’s very active, so it simply disappears.” Once everyone had their food and they ate, she continued. “I thought it best if we had a neutral spot when meeting with the dreamwalkers. Only four will be joining us in addition to me, and I selected a windowless conference room. Would that meet your requirements?”

My requirements. I didn’t have any of those and wasn’t really sure what was expected of me. “I’ve been in a couple different environments when dreamwalking. My initial training took place in a dark room with just a single candle, but I’ve also been in a library, a study, and a rocky beach facing hostile vamps.”

When Gregor’s brows lifted, I said, “Sorry, vampires.”

He waved his hand. “The term doesn’t bother me. It was the hostile environment that surprised me.”

“It was a rescue operation, and plan A didn’t go as planned. Fortunately, we were prepared for that.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand.” Sonja pushed her plate away. “Are you saying you went to a construct while facing an enemy?”

I nodded but wasn’t sure how much to share. If this visit went well, Sonja and Gregor would need to be introduced to Colantha and maybe Hamilton. But I didn’t want to share Colantha’s name without her permission. It seemed I didn’t need to worry.

“This was your raid of Venizi’s island that Erik and Ulrik told us about.” Gregor kept his focus on me, probably measuring the truth of my words.

I nodded. “We took the enemy force to a construct and held them in place until Devon could—” I searched for the right term. “Dispatch them.”

Gregor grinned with delight, but Sonja paled. “You have that much power?”

I blushed. “No. There was another one helping. I’m sorry, but I’ll need to ask her permission before sharing her name.”

“We understand.” He patted Sonja’s hand. “This is a dangerous game we’re playing. There’s still a question as to whether this is the right time to show our hand. The best way to ensure victory in war is to plan your strategy closely. I knew Guildford Trelane before I walked away from that world, but everything the Oslo twins tell me, what I hear from other Houses, and what we know of Devon’s partnership with the shifters, tells me we have the right man leading this. But still, there is much to plan.”

“I agree, as does Devon. This was the reason we accepted your gracious invitation to visit your home. Devon is meeting with his allies and…” I gazed at the landscape of hills and grasses far beyond the gardens, not sure what I’d planned to say.

“You search for the De f?rste dage .”

That brought me around. “Who told you that?”

“If you remember, I was privy to the Council’s discussions regarding the dreamwalkers. I knew about the book that was written after the Battle at Omar. It’s the only document I’m aware of that can reveal the truth. But I’ll leave that discussion for Devon.” He checked his watch. “For now, let’s go to the conference room. They’ll be waiting for us.”

The conference room, painted a robin-egg blue, was large enough to fit a mahogany table that sat twelve with comfortable high-backed leather chairs and two side tables topped with vases of fresh-cut roses. Four people, who were already seated, had been conversing lightly and immediately stopped when the door opened, falling back in their seats.

I wasn’t sure if that had to do with me or whether that was their typical reaction to Gregor entering a room.

“Good morning,” Gregor said as he strode toward the head of the table. Instead of sitting, he pulled the chair out for Sonja, then took a seat in the corner where a few extra chairs lined the wall.

“Cressa, please take a seat at the other end of the table.” Sonja pulled herself closer to the table and nodded at me.

I did as she asked and smiled at the two pairs of men and women who sat across from each other. They were dressed for success, with the men in tailored suits and the women in slacks and blouses, similar to me.

I couldn’t see everyone’s medallions, but a couple were prominently revealed, where the others, like my own, dipped below the shirts.

“Let’s begin.” Sonja pointed to the man and woman on her left. “I believe you remember Joseph and Nancy from your dreamwalk yesterday.”

The two appeared embarrassed, but I smiled. “I do. I’m Cressa, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.” My tone seemed to relax them, and while Joseph nodded, Nancy managed a weak smile.

Sonja waved to her right. “This is Antonio and Genese. They have equal powers to Joseph and Nancy, and I thought it would be a good group to work with.”

I nodded and gave them my same smile, but their expressions remained reserved, if not slightly hostile. I wasn’t sure why. They must have heard about my encounter in the construct built by Joseph and Nancy. Were they concerned about my abilities, scared of them, or unbelieving?

My first thought was to coddle them and find a way to make them like me. But then Devon and Colantha invaded my head with how they would handle this type of situation. We were searching for allies, but it was more than that. We were building an army. An army of vamps, shifters, and dreamwalkers. This wasn’t the time to grovel for acceptance or for making friends.

I was a member of House Trelane. I wasn’t cadre. I was a thief. And I was sleeping with the House leader. Not sure that deserved a title, and I had to stifle a laugh that bubbled up. I wasn’t a pushover. I might not be cadre, but I needed to act like one.

I turned my attention to Sonja and ignored Gregor, who silently watched. I gave her my most winning smile. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Sonja nodded, her smile predatory. She closed her eyes, and the others followed her lead. I kept mine open, waiting to see if they could pull me into a construct.

It was an experience difficult to describe. It was like someone tapping at my consciousness, trying to get my attention. Then, without warning, I was snapped into a construct.

It reminded me of a time when April, my half-sister, and I were really close. It was the first year I’d been out on my own. She picked me up in her brand-new Audi that Christopher had given her. We’d taken a run down the coast, stopping at little stores and galleries. It was the best day I’d ever had with her, but on the way home, April wasn’t paying attention. It might have been my fault, or that she tended to focus on who was riding with her than watching the road. Either way, she didn’t notice the car in front of her slow to make a turn, and she smashed into them. The jerk of the hit gave me light whiplash and a headache that lasted a week.

That was what it felt like when I found myself in the same diner from the day before. I slowly rolled my neck from side to side, ensuring I was alright and satisfied there wasn’t a headache. At least not yet.

We were sitting at a round table, the other five all staring at me. A light film of perspiration covered Joseph’s brow, and Genese squinted as if she was using all her mental ability to remain in the construct.

I took slow breaths as I glanced around. The construct appeared complete. No half images of walls, the chair felt firm beneath me, and the people around us didn’t seem to notice the six newcomers in their midst.

Everyone wore the same clothes as in the conference room. Certainly not the flare of Colantha’s constructs.

“How do you feel?” Sonja asked.

“Like someone clubbed me in the head. It was a bit jarring.” I took another look around. “I’m not familiar with this place. Is it one of the restaurants in the village?”

She nodded. “Everything is the same.”

“Can you make modifications to it?”

She closed her eyes, and the colors on the wall changed from an off-white to a light coral color.

“Good. What about clothing?”

Her eyes opened, and the color on the wall faded back to white. Interesting.

“We haven’t tried that.”

“Are you somehow combining your powers to build this construct?”

“Yes.”

“How do you do that?”

Sonja considered the question, but it was Antonio who spoke.

“Our first step is to think about the Nexus, then we reach out to each other. Then we focus on the same room.”

“I noticed when Sonja refocused to answer my question the wall faded back to its original color. Did you do that on purpose?”

She shook her head. “I have to remain concentrated on that image in order to retain it.”

“Hmm. Can you bring Gregor into the construct?”

The group glanced at each other.

“We would need a couple more dreamwalkers to assist with that.” Sonja played with her medallion. “When we plan a construct, each of us brings a portion of it to make it complete.”

“Can you make a construct on your own without the others?”

She shrugged. “Some can, others need more assistance.”

“Maybe you could show us what you can do?” Antonio asked with a definite challenge.

I looked at Sonja. “With your permission?”

She nodded.

I considered the best approach without terrifying them. They had some power, but they were babies compared to what Colantha, Hamilton, and I could do on our own.

Without closing my eyes, Gregor appeared at the table. The others jumped, startled by his presence, and even Gregor’s eyes widened in surprise as he glanced around.

“Welcome, Gregor,” I said. “I thought it important for you to see what I can do with constructs. As my mentor likes to say, prepare yourselves.”

I changed the environment first, settling us at a round table with comfortable rattan chairs overlooking a beach of white sand and soft waves. The air stirred with a light ocean breeze scented with salt and suntan lotion.

Mojitos appeared before everyone with tiny hot pink and lime green umbrellas.

I nodded at Gregor. “Give it a taste. This is a small resort in California that I once visited when I was flush with cash after a successful heist. I always thought they put too much rum in them, but my friend Ginger thought they were perfect.”

Gregor tasted it and, after the shock faded, nodded. “I agree with Ginger.”

I laughed and glanced at the others. “Feel free to drink but keep in mind the alcohol is the real deal.”

They all took a sip. A few smiled and took another, but Nancy made a face and pushed it away. They were all still in their business attire, and giving it some thought, our clothing changed. The men wore faded pink linen shirts with board shorts and sandals. The women were in colorful sundresses.

Joseph stood and disappeared.

The others glanced around, and I shrugged. “I guess that last change was a bit too much for Joseph. He pulled himself out on his own. I’m not forcing anyone to stay.”

Sonja studied me with a new appreciation. “Could you prevent us from leaving?”

I shrugged. “I’ve only attempted it with one person, but let’s give it a go. This will test everyone’s strength.” I turned to Gregor. “If you don’t mind, I’d prefer you stayed for a bit longer.”

Either true to his nature or his role as House leader, he leaned back with his mojito, seeming to enjoy the show.

“Okay.” I glanced around the table. “See if you can leave.”

Sonja immediately disappeared. The others remained but appeared nervous until they glanced at Gregor, seeming to gain confidence from him. Then Antonio disappeared, leaving Nancy and Genese.

“That’s alright. I’ve stopped now.” The two women lowered their heads. “There’s no shame in this. It took me a few attempts before I could release myself from another dreamwalker’s hold. And it comes down to who has more power and how much power they’re using to hold you. It requires a great deal of energy to hold someone.” I didn’t want to mention that I’d pulled myself out of a construct built by Colantha, who seemed to have the power of a god. It was best they learned in baby steps.

I considered the dreamwalkers who’d pulled themselves out and decided to bring Sonja back.

She blinked when she returned, once again in the sundress I created. “Thank you for bringing me back. I didn’t want to miss anything.”

“Should I bring the others back?”

She shook her head and grinned. “I think they’ve seen enough for one day.”

I returned her grin and glanced at Gregor, who’d finished his mojito. “Is there anything else you’d like to see?”

“I’ve heard it told a dreamwalker can move between constructs in one dreamwalk.”

I nodded and glanced at the women. “Care to go for a ride? I promise to take it slow.”

Their interest piqued, and while I was certain some of it was their innate curiosity, it wasn’t lost on me that Gregor inspired their courage. “Remember, this is just a construct. You can either enjoy the ride or, if you put your mind to it, remove yourself at any time.”

When everyone nodded, I took them on a short trip. Our first stop was Coney Island, where Devon said Colantha had taken him, then to the icy mountaintop Colantha had first taken me, then to the coffee shop in San Francisco, and finally to the made-up construct where I’d brought Devon when we’d been at odds after his addiction to the Magic Poppy and where we’d made mad love. I kept us there as I studied the group’s faces.

The first stop had made them nervous, and the mountaintop frightened the women. I didn’t keep us there long because it was too cold, and with my energy waning, I wasn’t able to change their clothing. But then their faces turned to wonder as I made the last trips. They seemed to be enjoying themselves now, waiting for the next construct.

“This place doesn’t exist as far as I know. It’s made of bits of my favorite places.”

“These are places from your memories?” Genese’s tone was full of wonder.

“Yes. Have you ever tried this?”

The women shook their heads. I turned to Gregor. “If you’ve seen enough, I can take us back to the conference room.”

He took a long look around the construct, then nodded.

We were back in the conference room, where the men who’d left the construct remained, and everyone stared at me. Antonio was the first to speak.

“I think I’m jealous I wasn’t able to return. Tell us everything.”

I didn’t have to. Nancy and Genese explained it well, and it appeared those who had left the construct were disappointed in what they’d missed.

“Can we do it again?” Joseph asked.

I shook my head, a light headache was forming. “I need to rest and recharge. Maybe a short trip tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Gregor stood and rubbed his hands together. “There is much to discuss, and I think Cressa could use the healer.”

“I’m okay. I just need a nap.” But when I rose, my legs shook, and I tilted to the left. Antonio reached out to steady me, and I smiled at him. “Well, maybe a potion wouldn’t hurt.”

Gregor led me out as the others remained with the men shouting out questions as to where the women had gone and what they’d seen. My head hurt the more we walked. I’d expended too much energy. What I needed was some of Colantha’s special juice.

Gregor stopped in front of our suite. His brows furrowed. “The healer will be up shortly, but I have one question.”

“Alright.”

“In the construct, you mentioned a heist.”

I shook my head, then was sorry for it. “I’m not sure I should have mentioned it, but since we’re going to be allies.” I glanced up and down the hall and held back a grin when Gregor copied my actions. “It’s how I met Devon. Not during a heist, but he required a thief with special skills. Skills that I happen to possess.”

Gregor studied me for a moment, possibly gauging whether I was lying. Then his head fell back and emitted a deep belly laugh. “This is a story I need to hear more about. For now, get your rest. I’ll explain to Devon why you’re not at lunch.”

“Thank you.”

When he was gone, I closed the door to my room and slipped off my shoes. I glanced at the purple vial I hadn’t touched and took a small sip. It would put me to sleep, but I didn’t want to be out the rest of the day.

I was debating whether to change my clothes but decided I was too tired. A second later, a knock came. I opened the door to find a slight woman barely older than me.

“I’m Jessica, the healer.”

“Come in.” Devon’s healer was much older and, based on her age, I assumed wiser. It was hard to get my head wrapped around a healer who dressed like Ginger and was named Jessica. I expected something more exotic.

She did a quick exam, much like Madame Saldano, then brought out an orange-colored vial.

“I haven’t seen an orange potion before.” But it looked suspiciously the same color as Colantha’s juice.

Her lips quirked into a quick grin. “I use the standard ones but add a special one when warranted.” She brought out the standard pink vial. “You should finish the first one I gave you and this one as well. Gregor tells me you’re going to dreamwalk again tomorrow. I’ll ask that you keep it short. In order to mend the psychic strain from today, drink half of this vial.” She held up the orange one but pulled it back when I reached for it. “Only half now and then the other half in the morning. Do you understand?”

I rolled my eyes, and she grinned. “Fine.”

“Now, take a nap.” She closed her bag and strode to the door. Before leaving, she gave me a mischievous grin. “I hear you’re a strong one. I think you’ve breathed new life into Sonja and the others to continue their training.”

Then she was gone.

I grinned. I’d never been anyone’s inspiration before. I drank the remaining pink potion, then half the orange. Damn, if that didn’t taste similar to Colantha’s juice. I wanted to drink the whole vial but remembered Jessica’s admonishment. I set the half-empty vial down then fell into bed.