Betrayed in Blood (Of Blood & Dreams #6)

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

I barely reached my bed before falling face-first into the soft covers—my limbs numb. I’m not sure if I passed out, but when I woke, I couldn’t remember climbing the stairs. I do remember my legs feeling nothing more than melting, waxy imitations. Training had been going well. Ginger had thirty minutes to kill, and she was showing off some impressive new skills. Then Sergi showed up, and she begged off, claiming Anna would be waiting for her. I couldn’t tell if she was lying or not, but I caught her grin before she shut the door behind her.

Sergi led me through several routines as if he had something to prove. Maybe he thought I’d spent too much time on the beach in Spain. Either way, he left me sweating on the floor, barely able to crawl to a water bottle. When my body cooled, and my legs showed signs of life, I finally dragged myself upstairs and didn’t remember much after that.

“Wake up, Cressa.”

The harsh command was like a gong going off in my head. I sat up, sputtering from the lint stuck to my lips. I brushed it off, realizing I must have drooled in my sleep. How embarrassing. I glanced up, searching for whoever woke me to find Colantha standing in front of the windows.

“Colantha. No one told me you were here.”

“That’s because I’m not.”

Good grief.

“Did you wake me up in a construct?” I glanced around as I scooted to the edge of the bed. It looked like my bedroom. My sneakers were still on the floor at the bottom of the bed.

“I thought it was only fair.”

I rubbed my head. Then her words hit me. “Really? This is revenge for calling you to my construct. You could have ignored me.”

She smiled, but there was mischief dancing in her sparkling gaze. “Tell Devon we’ve left the airport and should arrive by two. If he could advise the guards at the gate, I’d appreciate it.”

“Sure. How about calling next time?”

She winked and then disappeared. I felt a slight shift as I came out of the construct, which left me sitting on the bed as if nothing had happened. I really had to be more careful in dealing with that woman. Sometimes, she was just downright scary.

I sniffed my pits. Shower first. It was quick, and I was jogging down the stairs within fifteen minutes, my legs once again my own. It took me several more minutes before finding Devon in the library. I leaned against the doorframe. He sat in the chair I normally found him in. It was a well-cushioned, high-backed chair in a light floral print, and had been his mother’s favorite, or so he told me. He was reading a book, his fingers softly brushing the pages as he read. The lamp behind him cast a yellow glow, softening his harder surfaces.

I loved watching him in his own silent world, a book in hand. If it was late evening, there would be a snifter of cognac within reach. At this time of day, the teapot wasn’t a surprise.

“Are you just going to watch me or come in?”

His voice startled me, and I immediately straightened. Then, feeling foolish, I shuffled over. “Do you always know when I’m watching you?”

“Not always. But, as you know, we’re expecting visitors, so I keep an ear open.”

He took my hand and pulled me around to sit on his lap as he placed the book aside. I landed with a soft “oomph” and managed to catch a glimpse of the title before his mouth swooped down for a heartwarming kiss.

I waited for him, enjoying the moment, but the minute his head lifted, I blurted out, “Is that the translation?”

He chuckled. “I see I’m not going to get more than one kiss.” He shifted me and laid the book on my lap. “I’d let you read it, but this is the copy Lucas brought back, and, as you know, the first half is in vampiric. Lucas has a transcribed copy available, though I’m not sure if you’ll have time if Colantha arrives today.”

“I won’t. That’s why I was searching for you. Colantha made a surprise visit to my room. She woke me from my nap.”

“She didn’t call?”

I snorted. “I guess she’s still pissed that I pulled her into a construct when I needed to talk to her rather than just calling the number you gave me.”

He chuckled. “Revenge. A woman after my own heart.”

“I should have known I wouldn’t get any sympathy from you.” I flipped through the pages, stopping to review the tight script.

“What did Colantha say?”

After a minute, he nudged me. “What? Oh, she’s on her way from the airport. She’ll be here at two and would like the guards notified.”

He glanced at his watch. “I would think by now they’d know not to question her, but I’ll let them know. Did you tell Lyra?”

I popped up, and Devon winced when my elbow hit a sensitive spot. “Sorry. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.” Then I deflated.

“What?”

“I didn’t ask about Hamilton.”

“Aah. Well, I don’t think he’s coming, or Colantha would have said something.”

“You think?”

He shrugged. “Not for sure, but something tells me he’s not ready yet.”

I nodded. “That won’t be any easier for Lyra to hear.”

“Maybe so, but she should still be told what we know so she can prepare.”

I placed the book on the table and was getting up when he pulled me back down. The next kiss was more heated than the first, and his gaze glowed with the beast. Damn, if he didn’t know how to turn me on.

Then he stood and placed me on my feet. He picked up the book, finished his cup of tea, then slapped me on the ass before striding for the door.

“And tell Ginger to be ready. I want everyone in my office when she arrives.”

Then he was out the door. Relegated to messenger service, I considered where Ginger might be. Lyra was most likely in her room, but I preferred to have Ginger by my side. She had a knack for calming Lyra in difficult situations.

The problem was, I couldn’t find Ginger. Since I was already on the first floor, I checked the solarium and the pool room, then squared my shoulders to track down Anna. I didn’t want to have to face her so soon after our trip. I wasn’t ready to restart the history classes, but I had a task and refused to be cowed by her. At least she was predictable. Anna, as I suspected, was in her office. I hated going in there. For some reason, it reminded me of my trips to the principal’s office. I’d been an unruly student. Go figure.

“Hey, Anna. Do you have a minute? I thought you might know where Ginger is.”

Anna was writing something on a pad. She was as old school as Devon when it came to her work, preferring pen and paper to computers whenever possible. I cleared my throat when it was apparent Anna either didn’t hear me or was ignoring me. It was a fifty-fifty split most days.

On my second throat clearing, her head popped up. “Oh, hi, Cressa. I heard you were back, and then the Oasis attack happened.” She sat back and rubbed her eyes, leaning her head against the chair. Dark circles made her look haunted, and a tick of concern hit me.

“I know. I should have come to see you sooner, but it’s been one thing after another.” I stepped in and sat in the chair across from her. “Are you alright?”

Her eyes were closed, and a soft smile eased my concerns. “Just tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Was it because of the attack?”

Her eyes popped open, and she sat up. “Not at all.” She shook her head. “Well, I mean, of course, the attack concerned me.” She gave me a thoughtful stare. “I have to thank Ginger.” That surprised me. “She talked me into defense training. She thought it would make me feel better if I had skills if we were ever attacked.” She snorted a laugh. “She was right. When the alarms sounded yesterday, I was concerned, but the panic that usually comes with it didn’t appear. Besides, I was too annoyed by the interruption.”

I blinked. This was a different Anna. “Annoyed?”

She nodded, her eyes taking on a radical glaze. “When I was at Oasis, the library was a mess.” She must have caught something in my confused expression. “Oh, not like the books were all over the place, they just weren’t in any type of order. Fiction was mixed up with non-fiction. If you wanted to read something about the vampiric era during the human Victorian age, the books were spread all through the library.” Her voice rose as the horror of it all took over.

All I’d wanted was a quick yes or no answer on whether she knew where Ginger was. Now, I wanted to curl up and take a nap until she stopped.

“Anyway,” she blew out a breath. “It was Ginger again who said I’d be the best one to fix it, and she was right. I spoke with Simone. She sent me the inventory for the entire library, and now I’m going through the list to organize the books. It’s more daunting a task than I thought. I also have a schematic of the room and the layout of the bookcases so I can determine how and where the books should be shelved.”

“Sounds like you have a handle on it.”

“Yes, but there’s still so much to do.” She cocked her head to the side. “I’m glad you came. I had to handle other tasks while you and Ginger were away, so I haven’t been able to get to the Oasis library problem until now. I was up until two last night working on it, then tossed and turned for a couple of hours before coming back down here.” She chewed her lip. “I came to a decision this morning. I’ll need a couple of weeks to complete this task. I’m afraid I’ll need to push your and Ginger’s lessons out until this is done. I know you wanted to get back to class.”

Two weeks of no classes. I felt like the kid who left the principal’s office with a two-week suspension. The principal thought he was punishing me, but to me—it was a two-week vacation. I forced a sorrowful tone.

“Wow, that’s too bad. Ginger and I will do our best to keep ourselves occupied. I know how important it is to have a functioning library.”

If she caught any innocent deception in my tone, she didn’t show it.

“Oh, thank you, Cressa. Now, if you don’t mind, I really need to get back to this.” She picked up her pen and reviewed her notes.

Duly dismissed, I strode to the door and was shutting the door when I remembered why I’d come in the first place. “Have you seen Ginger recently?”

She didn’t even look up. “A bit earlier, when she came for class, and I told her the same thing I just told you. She could be anywhere.”

I shook my head and closed her door. That was fifteen minutes of my life I’d never get back and with nothing to show for it. I checked her room, then decided to go up and talk to Lyra without the benefit of Ginger.

Lyra wasn’t in her room. Damn.

I snapped my fingers and ran down the stairs. I don’t know why it hadn’t been my first thought. There was only one other gossip magnet in the house besides Ginger. Cook. Fortunately, Cook was right where he was supposed to be—in the kitchen in the middle of making something, although I had no idea what it was.

“Hi, Cook.”

He spun around, a teaspoon in one hand and a jar of herbs in the other. “Cressa, I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have you back. Come in.” He turned back to his task. “I’m making sauces. I always like to have a supply available. Sit, sit.”

I wandered over and plopped on a stool at the counter. “I don’t have time to talk. Colantha will be here soon, and I can’t seem to find Ginger or Lyra.”

“Ah, it will be good to see Colantha. But to be honest, it’s Frederick and Jamison I’m eager to see.”

“Really?” As Colantha’s bodyguards, the two vamps rarely spoke.

“Oh, yes. They’re amazing chefs, and we often share recipes.”

“Really?” I was repeating myself, but no other words came to me.

“Yes. While they haven’t been officially trained like me, they learned from their mother and grandmother, or so they tell me. They have Creole recipes handed down from several generations, and several Cajun and French dishes as well. And, of course, I have an array of my own specialties.”

I rubbed my stomach. “Don’t I know it?”

He lifted his head. “I should show them my recipes for these sauces. What excellent timing.”

I patted his shoulder. “I’ll tell them as soon as they arrive. Do you know where Ginger and Lyra are?”

“Try the sycamore tree. They left about thirty minutes ago with a basket.”

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

“Any time. Any time.” But he was back to his sauces with as much enthusiasm as Anna and her books.

I took the route through the solarium to reach the backyard, my mind wandering to Anna and Cook. They had been so consumed by their projects. The only thing I had to look forward to every day was time in the training room and when the next meal was. I needed a project.

Ginger and Lyra were sitting on a blanket under the sycamore. Ginger was peering into the open basket then glanced up at my approach.

She looked chagrined. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you to lunch.”

I shook my head. “I haven’t been up long. Sergi kicked my ass in training.” I plopped down and grinned at Lyra before stealing a pickle from Ginger’s plate. Cook canned his own, and I’d be hard pressed to find a better tasting one. I munched the end. “Colantha will be here at two.” I snapped my gaze to Lyra. After all that time searching for Ginger so she could help soften the news with Lyra, I just blurted it out.

Lyra nodded, and though her shoulders sagged, her smile was sweet. “Colantha told me. She said Hamilton is doing well but is working through a few issues, so he’ll remain behind.” Then she brightened. “He told her to tell me he was writing a letter. He’s still not ready for the change in technology.”

“Colantha called you?”

“She texted.”

Who was that woman? I shouldn’t be surprised. Everyone texted. But somehow, the image of Colantha using a cell phone or texting wouldn’t solidify in my head. Weren’t dreamwalkers supposed to be, I don’t know, more mysterious?

Ginger changed the subject to the more critical topic of setting up a home shopping day. We’d gather around a big screen and watch the various shopping networks while we drank and shopped. Cook would keep the food coming. Since we were on lockdown, this was the closest to a girl’s day out we could get.

Once we’d selected a date, we packed everything up, dropped the basket in the kitchen, and headed for Devon’s office with five minutes to spare.

Simone met us at the door after arriving from Oasis. She wore her don’t-mess-with-me face. It didn’t have anything to do with us. She got that look whenever Colantha showed up, having never grown comfortable with the dreamwalker. They were both control freaks.

We were a boisterous group as we stormed into Devon’s office. Lyra and Simone stopped, and Ginger and I plowed into them, not expecting the pause.

Colantha, Devon, Sergi, and Decker were sitting in chairs positioned into a tight square so they were all facing each other. Frederick and Jamison stood guard over them as the four stared into space.

They were dreamwalking.

What the fuck?