Blood Trinity (Belador #1)(47)

“Not really.” Kardos locked gazes with her. “Just that he had to find you.”

What was this? Open season on Alterants?

Or just open season on her?

She was the only one walking around free that she knew about. “You’re sure he wanted me specifically?”

“Yeah. He said he knew we were friends of yours. Kell still wasn’t going to call, but the Birrn threatened to eat me if he didn’t.” He shifted his feet. “Even then, Kell hesitated for a minute. Kind of sucks for the twin brother, right? Anyway, then Kell thought between the three of us we could get away even if he did call you. That was before the demon tossed us up to the light pole, where you found us. Sorry about walking you into a trap.”

Evalle shrugged. “It’s what I live for. And I’d rather you do that than the two of you get eaten by a demon.” She didn’t want Kardos to hesitate to call her again. “Now I’ve got to get going.” She walked over to her bike.

“You going to let me ride bitch?”

That stopped her as quickly as getting backhanded. Her anger reignited so fast and furiously that she was surprised she hadn’t already blasted him. In fact, she would spare Deek the trouble of killing Kardos.

Evalle turned slowly, expecting to find a smug look of arrogance on his face. “What. Did. You. Call. Me?”

His mouth was open but no words came out. Shock, or fear, sucked the color from his face. He was doing a great imitation of a fish suffocating from lack of oxygen until he finally squeaked, “What? You thought … I would never … no, I didn’t call you that.” He pointed to the bike. “The seat, Evalle. I was asking if I could ride on the back.”

“Oh.” She’d heard it with a comma before the word bitch. He’d meant the slang term for riding two up with the one on the back riding bitch.

Yeah.

“Okay, I’ll let you live. This time only.”

His cheeks flushed heavily with color.

Good. Maybe he’d lose some of the cockiness around her. She’d let Kell slide for most any infraction, but this brother would be right back in trouble in an hour if she gave him any leeway. “Your mouth is going to be the death of you. You know?”

“God, I hope not. I want to go out in my sleep next to some hot babe after a great harrumph harrumph.” Kardos stared at the ground and shuffled his feet. “How’d you end up here anyhow?”

She shouldn’t let him change the subject just to distract her from reaming him, but the truth was even if she spent all night chewing on Kardos she’d only end up with a sore jaw. With him, it went in one ear and out the other. “I was looking for you and Kell. Grady told me you were here. I need you and Kell to do something for me.”

“You got it. Whatever you want.”

She sighed at how fast he’d agreed. Yes, they were friends, but there were many of the preternatural kind who would bind him into slavery with that.

“I don’t want you or Kell talking to anyone about being with that Birrn last night or about seeing me there either. Especially about seeing me with the Birrn. You got it?”

His gaze slid away, but not before worry jumped into his eyes.

She was too late. “Crap! Who’d you talk to?”

“Not me.” Kardos held up his hands in surrender. “Kell talked to someone he was playing chess with at the park.”

Everyone from office workers to street people hung out in Woodruff Park. A favorite loafing spot for elderly men. And chess games cropped up like weeds beneath the shade of sprawling oak trees on the south side. Kellman picked up games with the old guys because, unlike Kardos, he didn’t go around seeking activities that would shorten his life. He liked the challenge.

Evalle had only seen the chess games in passing during the rare times she’d come above ground during the daylight and never long enough to remember anyone. “Do you have a name or any way to identify the old guy Kell told about the demon?” “Old guy” wasn’t much of a hint, since to the twins it could have been anyone over twenty-five.

“Wasn’t an old guy, not one of the regulars. I walked up while they were talking and asked Kell what was he thinking talking to a human about the Birrn. Kell said the guy wasn’t human and it was weird when he started talking, like everything around them slowed down and Kell felt compelled to tell him, like it was a relief.” Kardos squinted, thinking. “The dude was thirty maybe. Beefed up. Long black hair. He was Native American I think.”

Her stomach clamped down tight enough to make a diamond. Double crap.

Storm had tracked the boys from where she’d killed the Birrn. She lifted her watch into view. A little more than ninety minutes until she had to meet Storm at Piedmont.

Had he found out about the body in the morgue yet?

If he had, there was about to be another body in the morgue.

The only question was would it be his?

Or hers?





THIRTEEN




Since Kardos couldn’t ride without a helmet and there was no way with her luck they wouldn’t be stopped and ticketed, Evalle sent him to the closest MARTA subway station and gave him money so that he could ride back downtown and meet up with his brother. He complained about public transportation, but in the end he went.

As soon as she was sure he was safely on the train, she took off for the morgue, hoping to circumvent yet another disaster.