“After everything gets settled, Julian will be able to handle this for the most part. We can spend most of our time in Canada still,” Cassie insisted.
Devon appeared torn for a minute before his shoulders slumped and he turned back to the couple. Throughout the discussion, they had remained mute with blank expressions on their faces.
Devon stared at them before speaking again. “You will recall nothing of what you just heard us discuss, you will only remember what I am saying to you now. You will remember what occurred in the hotel, but you have no recollection of what she is capable of.” He pointed to Cassie and the couple followed his finger. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” they both murmured.
“You will remember what Julian revealed to you with Earl in the garage, but you have no idea where that garage is. After you saw Earl, you woke up in San Francisco. You believe us to be located somewhere in California, but you’re not sure where exactly.
“You will tell the vampires about what occurred at the hotel, why it happened, and what was done with Earl to every vampire you come across. You will ask them to also spread the word through the vampire population. You will tell all of the vampires you encounter that they are guaranteed safe passage to the meeting that will occur exactly one month from today. Tell them they will be offered protection at this meeting, and they will be given the chance to follow a new leadership under the two remaining Elders. Make sure they know we have the vampire of the prophecy and she is on our side.”
“Also tell them that I can wield Quinn’s ability when it becomes necessary,” Julian said to Devon. Quinn frowned up at him. He nudged her a couple of steps away from the couple to speak with her. “They don’t need to know that I can only do it through you, but it will encourage the vampires to back off if they believe we can both kill them at any time with a simple touch.”
“I see,” she whispered.
“It will be okay,” he assured her, and she nodded.
The couple remained slack-jawed with their eyes glazed as Devon finished speaking with them. Turning away, Devon strode over to snatch his keys off the bar. “I’ll take them out and drop them off somewhere. When I let them go, I’ll order them to go to San Francisco. Once they arrive there, they’ll start their mission.”
“I’m coming with you,” Cassie said.
“Fine,” he said to her and took hold of her hand. “Go ahead of us,” Devon commanded the couple, “and neither of you is to do anything other than walk out to the parking lot.”
Cassie and Devon fell in behind the couple as they marched out the front door.
Julian bent, swept Quinn into his arms, and turned to speak with the others. “I think you’re better off getting rooms at the motel again.”
Quinn shook her head at him as he carried her out of the bar. The first rays of the sun were touching the horizon when he ran with her down the street and into the shadows of her apartment building.
CHAPTER 5
Quinn’s hand trailed down the etched center path of Julian’s abs in a lazy caress. Leaning over him, she nipped at his skin before licking a pathway up toward his mouth. He growled, his hand tightening on her shoulder.
Exhaustion clung to her, but she hadn’t been able to stop herself from tasting and touching him all day. She had no intention of getting out of this bed or going to sleep anytime soon. His hooded gaze met hers as she lifted her head to look at him. The wildness of his ice-blue eyes made her deadened heart leap.
He was stunning, but beneath his beauty lived the soul of one of the most brutal men she’d ever encountered. For her, or any of his friends, he would carve a path of destruction across the earth to keep them protected. His contrasting ruthlessness and devotion only made her love him more.
Just last night she’d been thinking she wanted nothing to do with the vampire race again; now she would do anything to help him succeed with his plan for the vampires. If anyone could bring the three different species together and keep them united, it was Julian. She had no doubt of that.
Passion simmered in his eyes while he watched her as she traced her fingers over his chin and across his lips. “I want you to do me a favor,” she said.
“Anything for you, Dewdrop.”
“I want you to kill Earl.”