Blood Double (God Wars #1)(69)

"Yes. Here are the lists and cost estimates," Dee pointed out the proper figures. "Stop fretting, my chosen son. I feel safe."

*

"I wish privacy to speak with my client," the representative huffed when he was met in the Queen's dungeon by at least fifteen vampires, including palace guards and several of the Queen's mates. Radomir stood beside Drake and Drew, at the forefront of the fifteen. He and the Falchani twins knew before the others.

"Ra'Ak!" Radomir shouted before chaos erupted.





Chapter 14


Breanne's Journal

I'd heard the mindspeech, just as the others did, and what met my eyes when I arrived in the dungeon was nothing less than a terrifying battle.

"Bree, get back, get back," Drew pushed me toward a far wall as a giant Thiskilhin Black Tiger fought a huge, coppery serpent. I moaned—I recognized Radomir from a reading, even in his other shape.

"He challenged the Ra'Ak, and according to the rules, we can't interfere," Drake slumped against the wall beside me. I blinked at the vicious battle before us—the others had scattered to give them room, but Radomir had already been hit. I could tell, too, that Ra'Ak poison was coursing through the huge Tiger's veins as he growled, ears laid back, and fended off another blow from the Ra'Ak.

That's what the coppery serpent was—a rogue Ra'Ak. He was moments away from winning the battle, too. "Fuck the rules. Who made those rules, anyway?" I pulled away from Drew's grip and went to mist. I knew what Lissa could do—and had done—to Ra'Ak in the past. There was supposed to be peace between the Ra'Ak and the other races, now—I'd read it from Drew. Within seconds, the Ra'Ak's head exploded, and fortunately for the others in the dungeon, Drake and Drew shielded them from the Ra'Ak's dusting.

The dungeon was boiling with people afterward, and many of them, thankfully, were healers. Radomir would be fine, I knew, so I misted straight back to the Queen's study and sat down to work as if nothing had happened.

*

"What are we going to do about this?" Drew accepted a glass of wine from his father. Crane, his uncle, was already offering the same to Drake.

"I don't know," Dragon sighed and sat beside his second-born. Reaching out, Dragon rubbed his son's back. "This is such a mess and honestly, I really don't want to discuss it with Gavin. He'll mistreat Breanne further—I feel it."

"Yeah. We get that idea, too, and Drake and I are the only ones who saw what Breanne did. The others were too busy watching the fight."

"What about the prisoner?"

"Still there, but I think we ought to move him. Looks like the Ra'Ak was sent to Ribalo in an attempt to get him out of there."

"I agree," Dragon's dark eyes narrowed in thought. "Where can we take him, though?"

"Campiaa City?" Drew turned to his father.

"Son, I don't know whether that's a good idea or not. Gavril's already a target. We probably shouldn't add more worry that Q'And may be rescued. Look what came for him this time. What if there's something worse in Hordace Cayetes' arsenal?"

"What can be worse than that?" Drake flung out a hand in frustration. "I'm sorry I shielded the f*cker, now. If Breanne hadn't shown what she can do, some of the guards might have died."

"Radomir would certainly be dead, he said so," Crane muttered angrily. "Who knew a rogue would be brazen enough to show up in Lissa's dungeon? Have we looked into the legal representative? Who hired him?"

"Nobody. The real representative was found dead half an hour ago," Drew sighed. "At least Gavin thought to send a message to Trevor, who investigated this himself. He sent the report to Gavin, Tony, Drake and me."

"At least Trevor understands Gavin's instability right now," Dragon observed.

"Dad, have you heard anything from Lissa?" Drake asked.

"Not directly. Kiarra says they're still working their special project, whatever that is, but you have to keep this information to yourselves. Nobody else can know."

"Yeah. Sucks, too," Drake shook his head.

"We'll get her back, and this mess with Breanne will be sorted out. I have no idea what Lissa will do about Gavin, though." Crane sat next to Drake and poured a glass of wine for himself.

"I know what Kiarra may do," Dragon snorted.

"Has anybody ever been kicked out of the Spawn Hunters?" Drew asked.

"Not yet," Crane drained his glass and poured another.

"I want Teeg's ass kicked," Drew lowered his eyes.

"We'll let Lissa handle that," Dragon sighed.

*

"Did you fail to study the history?" Erithia quailed before this one. "Sending a Ra'Ak against the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis was a foolish gesture."

"Yes, of course," Erithia lowered her eyes. This one was difficult to look at anyway, even if he were shielded. One might be blinded if he allowed any of his light to escape. It wasn't a bright light, either—it vibrated with a deep-violet malevolence. She hadn't studied any history, thinking that one of her pets might accomplish the feat with little trouble. Erithia was learning differently, now.

"I will kill that bitch Queen if it's the last thing I do," Erithia muttered.