Pia Does Hollywood (Elder Races, #8.6)

Unexpected anger burned, hot and bright. He demanded, “Since when?”


“We evacuated for several blocks around 10 P.M. last evening,” Bailey replied, giving him a hassled glance. “We thought at the time we were just erring on the safe side, but as it turns out, it’s good we did.”

“This morning, you brought my wife, and my people into this mess,” he snarled. “You got me involved in this.”

“Look, in the last forty-eight hours, this outbreak has grown exponentially,” Bailey shot back, her eyes sparkling with quick anger. “As soon as my mother got the first hint that something might be wrong, she sent for me and tried to cancel Pia’s visit, but you guys insisted. This morning we tried to remove Pia to a safe location in Malibu. And you aren’t supposed to be anywhere near here, Lord Cuelebre, let alone wandering around and sticking your nose into things, so let’s try to stop with blame throwing and work on finding some solutions, all right?”

As she spoke, she opened a gate in a stuccoed wall and strode through.

Dragos met Pia’s burning gaze. Behind them, Aryal whispered, “If I start slapping people, I might not be able to stop.”

“Everybody’s stressed right now,” Quentin muttered. “Rein it in, harpy. Don’t add to it.”

“Much as it pains me to say this,” Dragos growled, “Bailey is right again. Arguing about what happened and who might be to blame is useless. In any case, this is no longer just a Light Fae problem, because it sure as hell has become a problem for the Wyr.” He looked at Pia and said more quietly, “Come on.”

At that, he reached out to put a hand at the small of her back, but then he caught himself up.

Reaction glittered overbright in Pia’s eyes. Tightening her mouth, she stepped through the open gate, and he followed.

* * *

Pia’s nerves were jumping all over her body. She felt as if she might leap out of her own skin like a scalded cat, if given the slightest provocation.

Avoid stress, the doctor had said. Eat lots of good food and enjoy this little mysterious bun cooking in the oven. Ha!

Dragos stalked by her side, a dark lowering shadow, his hard face cut with severe lines. Even in his human form, he moved with a lethal fluidity that spoke of the fact that he was an apex predator. He was faster and stronger than anybody she knew. It was no wonder the Light Fae were still terrified of him, despite the fact that he couldn’t shapeshift into the dragon.

From the short time he had disappeared to shower, his eyes had grown darker, and the dark lines shooting from the bite wound was one of the most terrifying things she had ever seen. He never got sick, never. It was as if germs vaporized whenever he became exposed to them. The fact that he wasn’t healing from the bite might force her to consider a terrible choice—her mate or her child.

No. Her mind went into a frenzy, and she tore that idea to shreds. There had to be other alternatives, ways to think outside of this box that they didn’t know about yet. If the Light Fae were writing off others who had been infected as a lost cause, it might be in part because they had turned so quickly. Dragos hadn’t, yet. They needed to gather as much information as fast as they possibly could.

“Fight it,” she said to him a low voice. “Fight as hard as you can.”

Just as low, he replied, “I am.”

Bailey had paused to lock the gate behind them, and as they rounded the rear corner of the house, she took the opportunity to send Dr. Medina a quick text. Urgent – How long can I safely go without taking the protocol?

When Pia had collapsed in D.C., they had put the doctor on retainer. The doctor would continue to see other patients only for minor things during the length of Pia’s pregnancy, so that meant she was able to answer almost immediately. Don’t tell me you lost your dose?

Not relevant, Pia replied. Too busy to explain. How long can I hold off taking the protocol without endangering the baby?

Dragos had moved close to read over her shoulder. As she glanced up at him, he gave her an approving nod.

“They’re waiting for us,” Bailey said.

Dragos gave her a sharp look from under lowered brows. “We’ll be there in a moment. This is urgent.”

Bailey’s baffled expression clearly indicated she couldn’t imagine what could be more urgent than their current situation, but she subsided, while Quentin and Aryal exchanged a frowning glance. Things were too complicated to give them a quick, telepathic explanation, so Pia took the short route.