Blood Double (God Wars #1)(68)

"We'll have to wait this out—we saw how effective we were against it last time," Merrill shook his head.

"Has Kiarra heard from Belen?" I was almost afraid to hear the answer. Of all those who could call upon him, he answered more readily to Kiarra's mindspeech.

"No." Merrill's answer was clipped. I hugged myself tighter and wished for the warmth and reassurance of my mates.

*

"This waiting is interminable." Kifirin snarled at Li'Neruh Rath.

"Then you have never known patience," Li'Neruh responded. "Let this be. Find something else to occupy your time. Go teach your High Demons manners."

"They have manners."

"Not nearly enough for my liking, and I cannot spend every moment with you, listening to you whine. I have things to accomplish, just as you must. Rebuild some of those worlds that have been destroyed. That will be a useful purpose and will serve to fill your time."

"You demand this?"

"Demand? No. Prefer? Yes."

"I would be foolish not to realize I am being watched," smoke curled from Kifirin's nostrils.

"Then perhaps that should influence your decisions."

"Perhaps." Kifirin disappeared. Li'Neruh sighed and disappeared as well.

*

"Gavin already approved a visit from Ribalo's representative," Tony handed a comp-vid to Drake. Drake and Drew were in the kitchen, getting a late breakfast after a lengthy sparring session with their father and their uncle Crane. "He wants us to be discreetly present while the representative visits," Tony added.

"Sure. He wants us to take care of his business," Drew muttered. "We're army, remember? Not palace guard."

"Look, he's my boss, any way I look at it," Tony pointed out. "He's in charge, and unless I want the chain of command to collapse, I do what I'm told."

"When?" Drew took the comp-vid from his brother with a sigh.

"This afternoon. Five bells."

"Fine."

*

Breanne's Journal

The pile of comesuli requests had been reduced to merely overwhelming, as opposed to the impossible, which it had been two days before. At least I hadn't been interrupted by Gavin the Terrible or his ungrateful, overbearing, insufferable son, Teeg San Gerxon. I also hadn't seen Kalenegar the Awful during that time, but I wasn't about to believe I was safe or immune to any one of my tormentors. I'd used my time away from them to the best of my ability, working through the requests during day hours and wandering through Casino City at night, hoping to catch another glimpse of Erithia Cordan. At least I knew she and others of her kind could die—I'd killed her brother, after all.

I still felt a few qualms about handing him his death, but what else could I do? He threatened too many people, and that frightened me. Had Gavin been a reasonable sire, I might have gone to him and explained what I'd seen and done, but Gavin and being reasonable had never been properly introduced—at least where I was concerned.

"I just sent another batch of requests," Heathe poked his head inside the Queen's study. He had the grace to appear ashamed that he was piling on more work, but I had absolutely no authority and less recourse, had I wanted to argue with him about it.

"Thank you," I said instead and kept my eyes lowered. No need to read him further—I knew everything I needed to know already.

"Off-day tomorrow," he called out as he walked away. He was finished for the day—my work wasn't even half done. Sighing, I hunched my shoulders and scrolled to the next request on my comp-vid.

*

I care not whether you kill the others, just ensure that Q'And is rescued and delivered to Hordace Cayetes, mindspeech filtered from Erithia to her pet Ra'Ak, who now posed as a legitimate legal representative on Le-Ath Veronis. Much rides on this, Erithia added. Hordace and I have many things to accomplish, and this will smooth the way.

It will be as you say, the Ra'Ak returned as he presented his credentials at the side door to the Queen's palace.



If the Queen happens to appear, kill her first, Erithia smiled as she relayed her instructions.

Of course, Lady.

*

"Come with me," Rigo nodded to Q'And Ribalo's legal representative as the old vampire swiftly sent mindspeech to Drake and Drew.

I get no scent from this one, and that should not be, Rigo's voice held worry, and he seldom displayed that emotion.

That's not good. I'll call in some of the others, Drake replied. He and Drew asked for backup from anyone with mindspeech currently in the Queen's palace.

*

"I don't remember much, child. Only that lunch was set before me, and then I woke later in the basement, with Breanne standing over me. I'm grateful she found me, actually, as I might have lain there longer than I did." Dee set a comp-vid on Teeg's desk—the monthly expenditures had to be reviewed and approved.

"You don't seem overly concerned about it," Teeg watched his foster-father's expression closely.

"Somehow, I feel that I was made safe. I can't explain that," Dee held up a hand to stave off Teeg's next question. "I woke, Breanne was there and I felt safe."

"Highly unusual, and I won't disagree with you, although I want to," Teeg muttered, scrolling through figures on the comp-vid. "Have you contacted Farzi about the vegetable shipments?"