14

We waited in silence for the next twenty minutes before Sebastian pushed himself away from the door. “Someone’s coming. Get Nic out of view.”

He waited until I was standing around the corner then threw the door open, reached out, and dragged an elderly woman inside before slamming the door behind her again.

“Temple?” The witch looked around, obviously familiar with the New Orleans vampire. “You didn’t mention your friends would have no manners.”

Temple opened his eyes but didn’t make any sort of move to straighten his position. “Relax, Lettie. Let me introduce you to the King of Baton Rouge.” He pointed at me. “The rest of these guys are his entourage. Not my friends.”

“My guards and my brother,” I ground out. “I don’t have an entourage.”

The woman in front of me, her hair a frizzy gray mess, lifted her chin. “Word is you don’t have a virgin anymore, either.”

I bent down, pushing my face into hers. “And what do you know about it, witch?”

She held her ground. “I know I did a lot more to help her than you did the night she was attacked. If it hadn’t been for my amethyst, the outcome would have been a lot worse.”

Ah. Pieces fell into place. “Then I owe you a debt, witch.”

“That’s right. And you’re about to owe me a great deal more.”

“You can help us rescue Leia?”

She nodded. “But only because your heart is pure.”

I barked out a laugh, and Temple tilted his head, his gaze turning to one of curiosity. “Not what I was expecting to hear.”

Nothing I’d ever expected anyone to say about me, either, and I drew back from the witch, unwilling to let her look any further inside me.

She laughed. “Temple might know our prince’s routine and movements, but I know the way in. The only way in, so don’t even think about double-crossing me.”

“Of course not.” I had no plans to. She’d already proven herself when she gave Leia the amethyst pendant. I switched my focus to Temple. “What’s the plan?”

“Well.” He sat forward now, his posture not unlike that of Kyle on the jet on the way up here. He’d probably have made a great strategist if hadn’t been turned in the wrong city. “Lettie said she can open a portal from the king’s mausoleum, where he lies in stasis. A direct portal to the Ricard land exists from there because no one is supposed to know how the king has declined—and he will be weak when he wakes, so appearing in public would be too great of a risk. It’s the route the family uses.”

Lettie cackled, the sound grating. “The old mad king is nearly dead.”

“Yes, and what will you have then? A new mad prince?” I spat my questions.

“Or a king, if he takes what’s yours.” She narrowed her eyes knowingly.

“Shut up, witch, and let Temple speak, or I’ll never get my may—” I shook my head. I’d nearly said too much. “My virgin back, and you’ll never be free of the New Orleans dark prince.”

She inclined her head in acknowledgment and gestured for Temple to continue, and I pinched the bridge of my nose at her high-handed attitude, but I didn’t speak. For now, I needed to listen. I could force myself to do that much, even though tension and anger coiled so tightly inside me, it took an iron will to control it.

Luckily, I had that iron will.

Sebastian didn’t feel the same, however. “If it’s just a trip to the mausoleum, we can go there now. Into the Ricard house, grab Leia, home. Simple.”

“No.” Temple sighed, a sound of long-suffering and tested patience. “Not simple. We can go to the mausoleum now, under cover of darkness, but we need to wait until daylight to pass through the portal. Francois has changed his hours. He leaves the house in the morning and returns in the evening to spend time with his bride.”

Temple emphasized the five words, and his gaze met mine in another challenge.

I pressed my lips together.

He nodded, seeming pleased with my silence. “The house should be quieter in the day.”

“Surely at night they’re all asleep?” Jason stepped forward. “Wouldn’t that be easier still?”

“No.” Temple shook his head, his word a frustrated sound like we weren’t getting it. “Once Francois is at The Neutral Zone—”

I coughed out a bitter laugh as I heard the name of his restaurant again.

“I can keep him occupied. I can keep him from his house so you can take back control of what’s yours.” Temple nodded. “He’s an unknown when he’s inside the house.” Then his mouth twisted down. “He’s more unstable of late in general. Started to worsen when you brought your virgin to his territory, vampire.” He leveled a glare at me.

I pushed back my flush of anger, unable to defend my part in this mess, unwilling to lose control. “Okay. We do it your way.” I waited a moment. “But this had better not fail, or I’ll be coming back for your beating heart. I’ll hold it in my hand.”

“We all understand the urgency,” Kyle spoke in a low voice. “We travel to the mausoleum now and wait until sunrise. Then we can make our move through the tunnels.”

“I’ll signal you from The Neutral Zone when Francois has arrived,” Temple added.

“Signal?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “We’re not bats.”

“But I doubt you’re modern enough to own a phone, old man.” Temple raised his eyebrow. “Kyle will receive a text.”

“The time for talking is over,” Kyle said, and he checked his gun before patting the thigh pocket on his cargo pants where he kept his extra ammo. “We need to get ourselves into position.”

We all stepped toward the door, but Temple remained in place.

“I’ll text you, Kyle,” he said as he closed his eyes again, effectively dismissing us from his home.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” I murmured before I passed through the door, and he smirked.