Talk of my dad brought me back quickly. “Let’s get moving. Instead of roaming through the cemetery, there’s a trapdoor in the Reliquary that leads into the tunnel system below the graveyard. You may have an easier time locating Ray’s scent down there. The ghosts said something about a bad man. I don’t think they were talking about Ray, but it wouldn’t hurt to investigate.”
“Ghosts?” Danny balked. “Don’t tell me you’ve been communicating with the undead now? You can’t be serious.”
Tyler appeared uneasy as well. “You want us to go down in a tunnel and try to talk to ghosts?”
Their faces were comical. “You’re both badass werewolves. I had no idea you were scared of ghosts.”
“I’m not scared of spirits.” Tyler cleared his throat. “‘Wary’ is a better term. I’ve never actually seen one, but it seems like it would be impossible to defeat something without substance. Badass werewolf or not.”
Danny added, “Exactly. It gives them a bloody unfair advantage.”
“You tough guys don’t have to worry, because once I broke the ward, they all left. Plus, they can’t really fight,” I said. “They just sort of poke and prod you with their ghostly fingers.” I couldn’t help smiling. “They’re completely insubstantial with no magic, but if the Screamer had come to life, that would’ve been a different story.”
“Screamer?” Tyler asked incredulously. “You left a Screamer down there?”
“I’ve only heard of those as legend.” Danny whistled as he turned to Naomi. “Do they really exist, then? Ghost vampires who dine on your blood?”
She nodded. “I have only seen one in my lifetime. It was very long ago, but yes, it was horrible. They don’t just eat you—they devour your soul from the inside out. They do not become corporeal often, because our blood purity has been diluted. They need incredible power to regenerate. But we pacify them with … offerings. If we do not do this, they get disruptive, like angry poltergeists.”
“Unfortunately,” I added, “this thing got a taste of my blood from Naomi. If I hadn’t put a stop to it, it may have had enough to come to life.”
Danny glanced from Naomi to me and then back. “The vampires who took you prisoner drained your blood to feed this thing?” He half snarled, which was a lot of emotion for Danny. “And if you had been drained completely, this creature could’ve risen? And you would’ve died?”
His anger jumped in my blood, surprising me.
My eyebrows went up. He made a move to touch Naomi but drew his hand away as she stepped back out of his reach. I glanced at my brother, who, in turn, shrugged.
“What happened to me is of no consequence. The crisis was averted,” Naomi murmured, turning her gaze toward me. “Jessica was able to drain the altar before it could arise.”
Hearing her call me Jessica was odd, but nice. “But keep your eyes and ears open when you’re in the tunnels,” I said. “If you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, get out of there as fast as you can. Once you find Ray, let me know here.” I pointed to my head. “I’m hoping one of us can find Ray before the fighting begins.” I still had no idea why Ray was key to saving my father, but I wasn’t going to begin to doubt Maggie now. We needed to find him.
“We can leave out the window,” Tyler said. “It’s the easiest way to get to the Reliquary.” He started walking and glanced over his shoulder. “Stay safe, Jess.”
“I will,” I said. “You too. I’ll see you in twenty.”
He nodded once and leapt, followed by Danny. Naomi turned right before she flew out. “Ma Reine, remember no matter what happens tonight there is a reason, even if it is difficult. I am certain we will be victorious.”
“Thank you, Naomi,” I said. “I hope you’re right and we get a chance to take down some demons.”
“Oui,” she agreed, smiling like a shrew, her eyes narrowing. “I am looking forward to it.”
Then she was gone.
Flying was so damn handy. And who said vamps couldn’t fight? Naomi had a definite lethal side.
Before I could move an inch, Rourke had me around the waist. He twisted me to him while guiding me steadily backward toward the broken door. Once my back hit the wall next to it, he growled as he pressed himself against me. Every inch of us sealed tightly together. “You’re a handful, you know that?” Before I could protest, his lips were on mine.
I opened them immediately, drinking him in. The scent of cloves ran up my nose and currents of sensations wound up my spine in a delicious tingle. My fingers flexed against his taut shoulders, itching to explore his beautiful body. After a long kiss, I pulled back. “But I’m so very worth it.”
He licked his lips. “Yes, I’m well aware.”
His eyes were so heated it was hard to gather my thoughts. We have to go, I told him internally. I eyed the Queen’s bed. I couldn’t help it. My mate was incredible and all the built-up adrenaline was pounding for a release. My wolf gave a long howl.
But it so wasn’t happening right now.
Instead, my hands slid down his chest, my nails digging in with just enough pressure to convey exactly how I felt about breaking things up. “Rourke, we have to find Ray—”