57

He nodded. “I can have my men escort you from here.” He glanced around the interior of the bar, his gaze resting on Ben for a moment, like he was also sizing up the vampire presence I had with me.

He probably was. Because a good alpha should, and Conri seemed like a good alpha.

“This is about the human?”

I nodded, unsure how much to disclose now he’d agreed to the use of his safe house so readily.

He huffed an unexpected sigh. “They’re a fragile, stubborn breed.” Something suspiciously like pain flashed through his eyes, and I sensed a story I didn’t necessarily want to know.

“And can I rely on additional protection from your men?” This probably wasn’t something Jason had mentioned might form part of our negotiations, but I’d be a dumbfuck not to ask.

The shifters were superior trackers, equal to vampire speed in animal form, and they had at least twice our numbers. They also knew the woods and local bayous better than anyone else.

As I’d expected, Conri narrowed his eyes. Then he shifted his gaze toward the back, where the kitchen and office were. Something about Leia’s presence was affecting his behavior, and it likely had nothing to do with the fact she was covered in my scent. I racked my brains for what I knew about the shifter alpha, but usually I took precious little interest in him and his pack.

We stayed out of each other’s way by unspoken mutual agreement.

He remained quiet for a long time, and I matched him. To speak would be to show my hand.

“I heard about La Petite Mort.” His statement was unexpected, and I tried not to react. He jerked his head in the direction of the office. “Was the female there?”

I shook my head and almost laughed. “No.” Thank fuck I’d had enough sense to keep her away. The witch had only been a warning. “Last time she was there didn’t…end well.” I released some information as a gesture of goodwill, and Conri nodded, seeming almost like he was nodding in agreement to his thoughts rather than our conversation.

“They make it hard to protect them sometimes.”

I nodded as well, my fingertips against my healing cheek, my thoughts firmly on Leia and taking her somewhere safe while we worked out the next steps to find Jean.

18

Leia

“W

hat the hell?” I gripped the edges of my seat.

Nic was lucky he was driving for once and we weren’t hidden behind a privacy screen in the back of his limo. My hands might have found their way around his neck if that had been the case.

He glanced my way. “What?”

“What? What the fuck do you mean, what? You’ve just announced that I’m going to go live in some sort of log cabin surrounded by wolves. What about that idea seems reasonable to you?”

He shrugged, the gesture infuriatingly casual. “Everything. No one will know you’re there. Everyone will expect you to be at Vitam Immortalem. And Conri has volunteered his men as additional security. They’re somewhere nearby even now, keeping watch. There’s nowhere better for you to be.” But his fingers tightened around the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening.

“Besides, I quite like the idea of a romantic weekend away.” Sebastian popped his head between the seats and swung his attention between the two of us.

Nic grimaced. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion, brother.”

Like when he’d come to rescue me from Francois’s house, Nic had changed into black cargo pants and a black T-shirt. Where his usual button-down hinted at his muscular chest and narrow waist, his T-shirt flirted properly with both, clinging across his broad shoulders and wide chest and tapering into his pants.

It was tough to stay mad enough not to touch him. I wanted to run my hand up his thigh and over his abs, maybe tease his—

As I watched, his nostrils flared and he slid me a glance.

“Really, Leia?” he murmured.

Sebastian flung himself back in his seat. “I’m just going to open a window, if no one minds?” Suddenly, the car was filled the scent of green vegetation and Sebastian took a deep, dramatic breath.

“So, what’s the plan?” I wriggled in my seat, putting more distance between myself and Nic before I accidentally reached out and acted out my fantasy of running my hands over him.

“The current plan?” He sounded distracted.

“Yes.” I saw his distracted and raised him impatience. My next wager would be frustration. And his casual shrug was starting to annoy me.

Particularly when he did it again. “Putting you somewhere safe.”

I nodded. Wait. What? “Putting me?”

Sebastian laughed from the back. “Real smooth, Nic.”

Nic glared into the rearview mirror. Then he glanced at me. “Aimée will be there to keep you company.”

“Oh, good.” I couldn’t contain my sarcasm as the last of the sunlight faded to an orange strip on the horizon. “I get my babysitter back.” I shot him an assload of side-eye, way more irritated now than turned on by his presence. “And where are you going to be?”

He sighed. “I need to head back home to talk to Kyle and Jason, to get things moving on the rest of the plans.”

“What?” I twisted to face him. “So you are actually just shoving me away and keeping me out of things? What happened to letting me help?”

He opened his mouth to reply, but I didn’t even want to hear his whiny little voice if he was just going to make more excuses.

“And who the fuck is Conri? Another vampire prince from a different Louisiana city and we can all pretend to have a fucking royal good time? How do I know this one isn’t crazy as well?”