I shivered. Maybe the next time I went to sleep, I wouldn’t wake up. Killed by my own memories. What a shitty way to go.
“So Patra can cast one of these spells anytime, anywhere?”
Bones’s lips thinned into a grim line.
“Not if she’s dead, she can’t.”
Later that afternoon, I called five delivery places. No, the humans in my house weren’t that finicky, I was being practical. After all, we had several vampires to feed. The delivery people never knew that they were the real dinner, not the food they carried. They just left with a good tip and a lower iron count. Rodney made his own version of a square meal that he shared with Dave.
“…get ahold of one of Patra’s people before we plan any counterattack,” Ian said during a pause in the conversation. “Or, if we’re lucky, find a turncoat.”
“You of all people should have the most experience in turncoats.”
The spiteful remark came from Don, and I blinked. He’d hardly said a word since finding out who Patra was.
“Bollocks.” Ian sighed. “Look, Max got what he asked for. He wanted to leave his job and his humanity, and I changed him because I can always use another bright, ruthless lad. End of story.”
Don regarded Ian with disgust. “End of story? Do you know what Max did, when I tried to take him in after finding out he’d changed into a vampire? He murdered our parents and left their bodies on my doorstep! You enabled him to do that. You gave him the power.”
This was something I hadn’t heard before. After I found out Don was my uncle, I’d asked if I had any more relatives, but he’d curtly said no. Now I knew why the subject bothered him.
Ian gave Don a look. “Max was a killer before he met me, so the only power I gave him was to do it with fangs.”
“You can’t help your parents, but your niece is still alive, old chap,” Bones said. “We could use your wits to ensure she stays that way. Right then, to the issue of—”
He stopped, staring up at the wood paneling in our ceiling. I followed suit in confusion. What, did we have termites?
“Mencheres is here,” he stated.
Spade also picked his head up. “I don’t sense him yet.”
Bones stood. “I do. And he’s not alone.”
I rolled my eyes. Great. Guess we’d better call that new Italian place. Time to break in their driver’s neck…and Denise and I could sample the chicken parm.
“Who’s with him?” I asked.
Bones gave an irritated growl. “It’s the bloody show hound.”
That made Ian laugh. “Indeed? This should prove to be an interesting night, after all.”
Unlike Ian, Spade didn’t seem amused by the news. “Why would he bring him, Crispin? He knows the two of you don’t care for each other.”
“Not to mention I don’t like him knowing where I live.” Muttered as Bones began to pace. “But he loathes Patra even more than he hates me. My enemy’s enemy is my friend and all that rot.”
“Who?” I repeated. “Do I know him?”
Bones snorted. “You know who he is.”
The sound of a helicopter approaching staved off further conversation. Minutes later, the grind of metal on concrete announced the landing of our uninvited guests.
Mencheres and another vampire stepped out of the chopper. Bones welcomed his grandsire with a hug, but gave the other man only a cool nod.
Bones is wrong, I don’t know him, I thought as I looked at the unfamiliar vampire. He was about six feet, with an angular face framed by long brown hair and a tight beard. A wide, pale forehead set off deep-set eyes. He wasn’t handsome in the classic sense, but his looks were striking. I would have remembered him if we’d met before.
Scars crisscrossed the hand he extended to me. “You must be the Red Reaper.”
He had an odd accent and his greeting wasn’t “hello, how do you do?” typical, but I’d heard worse. “You have me at a disadvantage,” I replied, shaking his hand.
Power sizzled up my arm. Whoever he was, he was a Master. And several hundred years old, at my guess.
“I rather doubt that.” As he gave me the same evaluating stare I was giving him.
“Stop undressing her with your eyes,” Bones snapped. “Though you weren’t at the wedding, I’m certain you’re aware that she’s my wife.”
The stranger laughed. He had unusual eyes, I noticed. Copper-colored and ringed with emerald. “My invitation must have been lost in the international mail.”
Bones ignored that. “Mencheres, I hope there’s a reason you brought him?”
“He has information,” Mencheres said before turning to me. “Ah, Cat. Pleasure to see you again.”
After all this time, you’d think I’d have known better, but Can’t say the same was my first thought.
Bones gave me a look. I grimaced. It just flew out! Truth be told, I didn’t know why I always had a knee-jerk reaction of dislike with Mencheres. Maybe we’d been enemies in a former life. By now, I’d believe anything.
Mencheres didn’t comment on my uncouth version of “long time no see,” so I tried for something polite out loud.