Betrayed in Blood (Of Blood & Dreams #6)

Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

Devon left Cook with his last-minute instructions then met Letty in the solarium, where she was preparing a dining table for five. His mother’s favorite china and crystal set had been placed on the red table linen and sparkled in the light of the setting sun. His mother had served special meals in this room for her friends, usually after one of her successful garden parties. It was a way to thank everyone for their efforts.

“Oh, sir.” Letty scurried over. “I didn’t see you there. Everything has been arranged and the invitations delivered.”

“Thank you, Letty.” He walked to the table and noted the flower arrangement. The flowers were fresh, and while he typically didn’t take note of the embellishments Letty and Greta spread through the manor, this particular arrangement of hydrangea and cosmos brought back strong memories. Memories cut short by a ruthless House leader.

“I hope you don’t mind.” Letty stood next to him. “I think your mother would have approved.”

“They were her favorite flowers. I think that’s why she loved summer more than any other season. I remember when she had dozens of them trucked in from a greenhouse in San Diego. Father thought her eccentric, but I think that was what made her so endearing.”

“Your mother was a strong-willed female. If you don’t mind me saying, your sister is just like her. Kind yet with a backbone not to be trifled with.” She dabbed at the corner of her eyes with the edge of her apron. “It’s so good to have her back to her old self.”

He squeezed Letty’s shoulder. “It is indeed. You’ve outdone yourself. Our Family and guests will be touched by your efforts.”

“Oh, thank you, sir.” She ran a hand down her apron, setting it back in place. “Now, I must find those dessert dishes.”

He laughed. “You mean those little plates with fairies painted on them?”

“Of course. Your mother always used those for these occasions. And Cook will serve his famous custard in those special demitasse cups. They’ll look wonderful on the plates.”

“If you say so. I trust you and Cook have this well in hand.” He turned to leave as Letty called out.

“Please be safe on your travel.”

He stopped to smile over his shoulder. “All precautions will be in place. And if you need anything, Sergi and Lucas will be here.”

He left Letty to her work and climbed the steps to the third floor. Lyra typically served daily tea in her room, even on days when they had happy hour. He suspected today was no different with Colantha in residence. The dreamwalker had been quiet since her arrival, locking herself in her room with a computer, only allowing Lucas and Ginger to enter. He shook his head, understanding Cressa’s disbelief that Colantha would have a cell phone. It surprised him how tech-savvy she was when he’d seen the workstation she’d arranged in her room.

She’d given Lucas specific requirements for a computer, which he’d delivered the day after her arrival. When she wasn’t in Lucas’s office, reviewing and modifying minor points in the De f?rste dage translations, she was in her room, apparently on her computer. She said little to Devon, but she did make a point to tell him she was assisting Philipe and Fiona on the codex over an encrypted link. The plan was to complete the codex so Philipe and Fiona could attempt a translation of a secondary text written in a similar language. It would take several more days to finalize that work.

But one thing Colantha observed was her daily schedule of meals and that included late-afternoon tea in Lyra’s room.

He heard the voices through the door before he entered. He gave a light tap in deference to Lyra but didn’t wait for a response. Even with her vampiric hearing, he’d probably have to pound on the door to be heard above the women’s chatter.

When he entered, Lyra must have heard because she had turned in her seat, her gaze locked with his the moment he moved beyond the screened wall.

“Hello, brother.” Her tone was cheery, and she held one of the invitations, tapping it on her chin.

The room grew quiet as the women turned to look at him. He nodded at Frederick and Jamison, who nodded in return. Over their time at the manor, they’d grown more relaxed, now sitting in chairs by the window rather than standing, their faces expressionless, ever the diligent guards.

His eyes flicked to Cressa, who tilted her head, a question in her now-sober gaze, a light smile on her face. He couldn’t fathom what she was thinking. His actions over the last two days must have her head spinning. He gave her a warm smile then took in the rest of the group.

Colantha was on the couch with Lyra, and Ginger and Cressa sat on chairs across from them. They usually sat at the seating area near the hearth, but today they were close to the window that overlooked the ocean. The windows were open, and the fresh sea air ruffled the drapes.

When he drew closer, he noted the round silver tray with opened invitations spread across it.

“Thank you for the invitation.” Lyra nodded to another chair, but he shook his head.

“I have a car waiting, but I wanted to ensure you had everything you need for this evening.”

“Mother would be pleased by this. I told everyone about her planning parties and the special dinner she held for them afterward. And before you ask, Anna received hers. She’s still working on the library inventory for Oasis.”

He chuckled. “She is single-minded when she has a project.”

“Where are you going?” Cressa’s tone wasn’t quite accusatory, but there was a touch of worry.

He strode to her and, placing a hand on her shoulder, bent to give her a light kiss on her cheek. Her hand covered his as she glanced up at him. “I need to make a quick trip to Oasis.” He straightened and squeezed her hand before letting it go. “I need to review the security with Simone and go over some business matters that have been delayed with our other activities.”

“You’re not going alone, are you?” Cressa’s worry for him spread a delicious warmth through him.

“Standard lockdown protocols, and while I don’t like using the copter any more than necessary, I’m taking advantage this time. I don’t know if I’ll return tonight or tomorrow morning. I’ll call you once I know my plans. Until then—” He glanced at the others. “Sergi and Lucas are in residence should you need anything. Dinner should keep you busy the rest of the night.”

He turned back to Cressa. “I assume there’s been no response to your text.”

She shook her head. “Do you want me to call if I get one?”

He considered it. “Show it to Sergi first, then call me. Until then, let’s not worry. This evening is a break from your hard work and to replenish your energy.”

Before leaving, he stopped next to Colantha. “I feel as if I’ve not been the best host.”

“Nonsense, vampire. I’ve been too busy to give you a thought.” Her smile was the same predatory one she’d given him the first time he’d met her in New Orleans, waiting in his hotel room with her magic red powder.

He chuckled, seeing the humor dancing in her bright gaze. “Then I’ll take my leave. Have a good evening.”

He was halfway to the stairs when Cressa caught up to him.

“Don’t you want me to go with you?”

Her question tugged at his heart. He turned, and when she got close enough, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Of course. But you need to be here until we know more about the text. I won’t take a chance of you leaving the manor unless it’s for a mission or in response to a raid. Even then, I worry.”

“Then why are you going?”

“I can’t monitor the security updates from here. Besides, I need to speak with Simone.”

Cressa bit her lip as she considered that. Then she nodded. “There’s something up with her.”

“You noticed it, too?”

“I assumed it was just being too close to Colantha, but now I’m not so sure.”

“That’s what I hope to find out, but it will be difficult enough to get her to talk to me. As close as the two of you have become, I don’t think she’ll open up to anyone but me.”

“Better you than me. But I want you to be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I have a six-vampire security detail going with me, and once we’re in the air, it will be fine.”

She put a hand on his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. It was tender, and he matched it until a fire built that he couldn’t control. When he finally pulled away, her lips were swollen from his passion. She gave him a quick hug, then walked away, glancing over her shoulder once before entering Lyra’s room and shutting the door.

Devon considered the last glance Cressa had given him during the entire ride to the private airport. They hadn’t spoken about her debt or his release of it. And as much as he wanted to ask, he’d left it to her. He’d always been known as a patient, if easy to anger, vampire who considered his options thoroughly before taking action. That notion seldom applied to his interactions with Cressa.

Once he was in the copter and flying to Oasis, he relaxed against the seat and closed his eyes, the sound of the propellers muffled by the headset. Familiar with the light vibration of the engines and occasional chatter from the pilot, he let his mind wander, not stopping for any length of time on any one subject. He’d tried meditation, and while he had enough control to close out all his thoughts, it never provided the relaxation or mental clarity it gave Simone and Lyra.

For him, freeing his mind and allowing his thoughts to wander provided a clear image of all the current missions, tasks, and Family concerns on House Trelane’s agenda. From that vantage point, he mentally organized and prioritized them, determining a clear path on how the items fit together and what steps were needed to complete each one. There was only one area that remained murky because the necessary steps continually changed. When one piece was placed in the puzzle, the entire image shifted, leaving openings for new pieces.

Was the text Cressa received about Rasmussen part of Venizi’s campaign against House Trelane? Or was there some new threat? If Rasmussen was alive and in trouble, why all the subterfuge? The only explanation would be that another dreamwalker was seeking help and wasn’t sure how much Cressa knew about dreamwalking. If that was the case, how did they get Cressa’s number? He’d meant to speak to Colantha about it, but the time got away from him.

If he knew Cressa, she would speak to her. Maybe that was enough.

“We’re five minutes out, sir.”

The pilot’s announcement shifted his thoughts. He straightened and stared down at the landscape.

“Can you take a low run around the perimeter before landing?” Devon asked.

“Yes, sir.”

Devon oriented himself to where they were in relation to Oasis and soon the landscape became familiar. The copter flew over the main gate and followed an approximate line around the estate’s boundary. A fence stretched north and south from the main gate for a quarter mile on each side, which was why Venizi’s vampires broached the perimeter at those points as well as the main gate. Two wolves stepped out from under scrub oak and glanced up at them.

His sharp eyes found a security monitor, but most of them weren’t visible from this angle. When they reached the back entrances to the property he was pleased to see the fencing was farther along than he thought. The longest gully ran along the north side of the property but there were more gullies on the east end and three different roads available as emergency exits. With the additional fencing and difficult terrain, intruders would be forced onto the roads, leaving them vulnerable to ambush.

If Venizi attacked from the west, and Family members required an exit, Venizi could block the east side exits. With security monitors and drones, the opposing force would easily be spotted. In a worst-case scenario, a fleet of off-road vehicles could transfer the humans off the property on the south perimeter. Nothing was foolproof, but it was a lot of territory for an invading army to cover.

He grinned. That’s why they’d added C-4. Decker’s suggestion to include wolves had been an excellent idea, and Devon wasn’t sure why he hadn’t thought of it himself. Soon, having received Remus’s and the local pack Alpha’s approval, they would gain another dozen wolves to rotate through security.

“Is that good, sir?”

The copter was approaching the main gate.

“Yes, you can take us down.”

Simone waited on the far side of the copter pad. Her midnight-blue caftan fluttered in the wind from the chopper’s blades. She smiled as he ran over to her, but her gaze was hard. There was no question something troubled her.

“Simone.” Devon kissed both her cheeks and put an arm around her as they moved away from the noise of the copter’s slowing blades.

On the short walk to the manor, he noticed the increased security patrols loitering at the security building. If he’d driven by car, there was a small road that veered off to the right of the main drive. It led to a grouping of outer cabins and housing units, but not before passing by the security building.

The building was two thousand square feet. There were two spacious rooms with bunks similar to a fire station, a full kitchen and dining area, the command center, and a lounge with an entertainment center for breaks between assignments.

The fact there were so many outside the building could be explained by a shift change or, as he suspected, a build-up of their defenses. The Trelane Family was small compared to Venizi’s but had the advantage of being full-blooded vampires—all trained in various martial arts and military-style combat. They’d also been through black ops and navy SEAL-type training. Every one of them was deadly with a variety of weapons.

Several hundred yards from the security building was the medical facility. Each safe house had small medical facilities, but with Oasis located so far away from the city, the building also included a surgical unit. With vampires, most injuries could be healed with donor blood, but surgery could reduce the amount of blood required for healing.

From what Cressa told him of Shadow Island, Venizi kept his humans in their own apartment building, separate from the manor. Devon didn’t believe in species separation. The blood donors that serviced the Trelane House weren’t there just for their blood. They each had jobs to perform and were paid for their service. They lived among the vampires, which built a seamless structure within the Family. One recent change, similar to what Ginger encouraged at the coastal manor, was that the humans were undergoing defensive training. Those with the right skills and desire were also provided with offensive training.

And it didn’t go without notice that with the addition of the shifters, his dream for Oasis was coming together. A place where all species could co-exist. And to think it required a coming war to make it happen.

“I’m glad you told me you were coming by copter.” Simone stepped into the manor first then led Devon to her office.

For a long time, she’d used his office since he rarely found time to visit Oasis. But when he’d been recovering from his addiction to the Poppy, she’d stopped using his and had hers remodeled to fit her style.

“I had someone drive the perimeter and inform the shifters.” She dropped into her seat behind the desk. Now that they were out of the sun, Devon could see the shadows under her eyes. Another cadre member not getting enough blood.

“That explains their calmness when we flew over.” Devon took a seat across the desk from her. “Thank you for taking the time on such short notice. I see the fencing on the back property is moving faster than planned.”

She chuckled. “Apparently, shifters get bored easily when not on assignment. They asked for more work. I gave them several options, and most wanted to work on the defenses. They offered a few ideas that made their job easier, and the security chief agreed.”

Devon’s focus shifted to the window. Simone’s office faced the front of the property, preferring to see who drove up rather than have a view of the garden in the back. “Can you imagine how our society could have evolved had shifters and vampires worked together through the centuries?”

“Perhaps House Trelane will lead others in the preservation of both our species.”

“Assuming we prevail in our war.”

“Are you having doubts?”

It was Devon’s turn to chuckle. “No. But sometimes, it feels as if the battlefield is a blanket of sand. With each step, the landscape shifts beneath our feet.”

“Everything is connected. We simply have to wait for the pieces to align.”

“I was thinking along the same lines on the flight over. It’s not the pieces I’m worried about but the final image. Did Sergi tell you about our latest wrinkle?”

“About?”

“Cressa received a text after our raid on Venizi’s vampires plaguing the city safe house. The message said Rasmussen was in trouble and needed help.”

Simone’s brows lifted. “Isn’t that Cressa’s father?”

He nodded. “We believe it to be a ruse, possibly created by her sister April, who might or might not be working for Venizi.”

Devon explained the situation with Cressa’s mother and the assignment Sergi and Bella were running to gather more information on April and the estate.

“What can I do?”

“Nothing at this point. Perhaps something once we hear back from the mystery person and I decide on a plan.” He rubbed his hands together. “Shall we take a drive?”

“I have a jeep waiting.” She checked her watch. “We just had a shift change; the shifters should be in place by the time we arrive. We’ll start with the back of the property.”

They drove the perimeter, stopping occasionally for Simone to point out security cameras and perimeter sensors. Devon had to give her and their security chief credit for their creativity in the camouflage. Unless you knew they were there, physically ran into them, or had equipment to identify their energy output, most would walk past them.

When they arrived on a knoll overlooking the north side of the property, Simone stopped the jeep.

“We don’t expect an invasion from this side because of the gully. It’s not impossible, but it’s a hard run to the manor. We’ve increased the number of monitors and have two shifters that patrol this area at any given time. We’ll increase to three or four once the new pack joins us.

“You’ve done a marvelous job. Credit to both you and Decker on integrating the shifters, and the security chief as well for the additional tech.”

“The teams deserve most of the credit.”

“Of course, but I assume you’ve already cared for bonuses.”

“Yes.”

Devon scanned the landscape and breathed in the air, the scent thick with sage. It was a peaceful setting. The only sounds came from birds and Simone grinding her teeth.

He sucked in a sigh and kept an eye on a slow-circling hawk, searching for its next meal. “When are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

She jerked at the question but didn’t look at him. “As you said, everything is coming along well.”

“And you know I’m not asking about Oasis.”

When she turned to him, the tips of her fangs showed. She began to say something, then closed her mouth and gazed into the distance.

He waited. It was important to take things slow with Simone when the topic became personal. It was a fifty-fifty chance she’d speak now. Otherwise, he’d have to try again after dinner.

They sat together for almost thirty minutes before Simone relaxed.

“I’ve been trying to reach a friend, but I haven’t heard back.”

“How long has it been?”

“Since I returned to Oasis.”

“Not very long. Not all vampires monitor their emails or texts often.”

She shook her head. “Not this vampire. He might be an ancient, but he stays on top of world news. An old habit.”

“So, a close friend.” If he was an ancient, it was most likely she’d known him for a long time.

“No. When I walked away centuries ago, it wasn’t on good terms. But I had a reason to contact him recently.”

She turned to him. “He’s the one that gave us Gheata.” When Devon nodded, she returned to gazing at the landscape. “He’d changed from the last time I’d seen him. This time we separated on good terms, or at least better than how it had been before.”

“Is there anyone you could contact that would know where he is?”

She gripped the steering wheel, her gaze unfocused. “No.”

“Give it some more time.”

“There’s not much else I can do with the lockdown.”

“Keep me posted if you don’t hear from him after a few more days.” He laid a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s go back, have a nice dinner, and watch the sunset.”

She growled. “You’re spending too much time with humans.”