They spent the rest of the twenty-minute trip in silence, until Evenfall loomed ahead of them like a hulking leviathan that had crawled out of the sea.
Soon, Diego turned off onto a narrow gravel road that brought them closer to the shoreline. They approached the castle from a wide, open area bare of trees or any other obstruction. All that was visible were tall grasses, a tumble of rocky ground and the ocean, and she felt sure none of that was by accident.
They pulled up to an anonymous-looking set of garage doors, set into the foot of the castle wall, and stopped. She had just enough time to notice the security cameras when the metal doors rose, opening like a giant mouth.
Diego drove inside, and Evenfall swallowed them whole.
FOURTEEN
Inside was an entirely normal underground parking garage. After passing a security gate, Diego drove down a ramp and into a parking space that said RESERVED.
When he cut the engine, Xavier told him, “Please take our bags to my rooms and wait there until you hear further instructions.”
Tess slipped her hand out of Xavier’s as Diego twisted in his seat to frown at both of them.
“You just want me to wait in your rooms?”
“You’re here as backup,” Xavier said. “If I need to act alone or take care of something unforeseen, you will guard Tess. We’re here to complete a task that is going to be—unpredictable. Also, if we’re here for longer than the night, I might require blood.”
Diego said, without expression, “So I’m here to act as a babysitter and a wet bar.”
Xavier’s own expression went still. With immense courtesy, he replied, “That is what I require from you at this point in time, yes.”
After a moment, Diego said, “Just checking, boss. Hey, at least it’s good to get out of the house now and then, right?”
He had lightened his tone, but his cheerfulness rang false to Tess. She put her head in her hands and rubbed aching temples. With the sure knowledge that she would be facing Malphas soon enough, she didn’t have any emotional room to spare for whatever might be bothering Diego.
Xavier touched her thigh. “Are you ready?”
No. No.
She lifted her head, straightened her shoulders and said, “Yes.”
“Come with me.”
She stepped out of the SUV as he did, and he came around to escort her through a metal reinforced security door to a concrete stairwell that soon gave way to stone walls and steps. Walking up the stairs felt like passing from the present day into a century in the far past.
“Why this?” she murmured. She had been talking to herself, but Xavier, who had taken the lead and was a step farther ahead, turned to look at her with one eyebrow raised in inquiry. She asked him, “Why a castle?”
“This demesne has a number of very old Vampyres who wield a great deal of financial and personal power. At the time, Julian and his sire, Carling, felt a structure that was so indicative of strength and age would strike the right note of authority with those Vampyres when they came to settle in California. Also, it’s highly defensible, and there are a number of interior rooms that have no windows at all. The place is riddled with halls and private passages, so it can be a bit confusing until you get used to it. I suggest you do not get lost or wander off on your own.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” she muttered, even though she knew he could hear her quite clearly.
They continued up the stairs, and along a series of hallways that grew wider and more trafficked. Vampyres turned to look at them as they passed, their gazes lingering curiously on Tess.
She found she didn’t have any emotional room to spare for them either. Walking by Xavier’s side, she felt as safe as if they strolled down the beach back at the estate.
Maybe that was a positive image, or maybe she just knew in the marrow of her bones that he was more dangerous than anyone they passed, and he was on her side.
You gave me blood, he had said. I’m supposed to protect you.
And she trusted him.
They came to a set of massive mahogany doors guarded by two Vampyres, a man and a woman, dressed in thoroughly modern, dark gray suits.
The man had average features and gingery hair, but the tall, athletic-looking woman was striking, with dark brown skin and a smooth, sleek cap of black hair. As Xavier approached, she said, “Go right in, sir. He’s expecting you.”
“Very good. Thank you, Yolanthe.” As they stepped aside, Xavier nodded to the man and ushered Tess into the Nightkind King’s personal quarters.
Julian stood in front of a blazing fire in a large granite fireplace. The Nightkind King’s arms were crossed, and he spoke into a Bluetooth headset. He wore faded jeans, old, scarred cowboy boots and a black T-shirt that stretched across a broad, muscled chest. While the expensive, elegant evening suit he had worn to the Vampyre’s Ball had emphasized his rough looks, this outfit looked as if it suited him.