Dead After Dark (Companion #6.5)(93)

That was the wrong thing to say. She jabbed him with a hard elbow, banging his ribs.

Trey lifted her off the floor until she quit kicking. “I’m sorry for tapping your phones, but I saw you leave the cemetery alone at night a couple days ago. I was worried about you.”

“Why would it matter to you after nine years?” she snarled.

Trey lost his smile. He didn’t want to tell her about all the other times, but he owed her more than a lame reason.

He dropped his lips close to her ear. “Because I care.”

She stilled. Her heart pounded under his fingers.

The porch light blinked on and the front door opened. Rowan stood before them in a flowing bloodred house gown and robe.



Trey spoke on his cell phone and paced across Sasha’s living room while keeping an eye on her and Rowan, both curled up on the sofa. Rowan looked more exhausted than possessed, but Trey kept close watch of her in case she changed.

“Give me Findley,” Trey said, asking for his VIPER field contact in Virginia. If the rest of that bunch escaped, every supernatural asset at VIPER, be it Belador or not, would have to fight the Kujoo army. Until then, one warrior did not warrant a team assignment from VIPER. The coalition of unusual beings functioned as a paranormal intelligence and defense force. Agents were deployed whenever a supernatural threat against the United States and other countries committed to peace arose, but Trey could handle Vyan with backup.

What a mess this close to November second.

When Findley came on the line, Trey explained the problem in general terms.

“Why can’t you get a Belador, McCree?” Findley said.

“Nobody available,” Trey lied. He could call in an army of Beladors, but felt certain that would play into the Hindu warrior’s hand to put his whole tribe at risk. Trey’s agreement with VIPER did not supersede his oath as a Belador. He wouldn’t trust a covert agency full of supernatural beings with the fact that his tribe could be destroyed by this Hindu race.

“I’ll have to check around and get back to you.”

“I need an agent now.” Finding Brina might have spared Trey this call, but she’d ignored his first telepathic message—prickly leader that she was—and he was fighting the clock. If he had to battle this warrior, he wanted to do so before tomorrow at midnight. On November second, All Souls’ Day, Belador warriors suffered a loss of powers between midnight and dawn. The Hindu had to know this, which was why Trey needed backup to protect the women while he went hunting for Vyan.

“You can’t just call in for an agent without getting this approved as a VIPER mission,” Findley countered.

“Don’t play red tape games with me. If we don’t contain this and other warriors escape, authorization to send an agent into the field will be the least of your problems.”

“I don’t have anyone in your area,” Findley hedged.

“I just want some damn backup.”

“Fine. I’ll send you Lucien.”

“Lucien?” Trey started in a low voice full of menace. “I tell you we could be talking Armageddon if this gets out of control and you give me a new guy with an attitude?” He could all but see Findley bow up. Trey didn’t give a rat’s ass. He’d heard the scuttle on Lucien.

“You’re just a contractor.”

Trey stopped pacing. “One trying to save your ass along with the rest of this world so don’t take that tone with me,” he warned. Most agents around VIPER had the survival skills to back off when Trey was pissed, like now.

After a slight hesitation, Findley said, “He’s all I can get to you quick and he can only stay three days.”

Seventy-two hours? No problem. Trey intended to deal with this Hindu in the next twenty-four hours. “Send him. I’ll call if I need anything else.” He hung up and dropped the phone into his pocket then turned to Sasha and her sister.

“Can you keep Sasha safe?” Rowan asked without preamble.

“Yes,” Trey answered swiftly, though he hadn’t figured out how to protect her and keep his tribe out of a war. The thought of letting either down kinked his insides.

“I can protect myself.” Sasha jumped up from the sofa.

“In that case, I’ll stay here and out of the way unless you need me,” Rowan told Trey.

“That would make it easier for me to keep an eye on both of you,” Trey said. What triggered Rowan’s madness, and was she getting worse as Sasha suspected? That must be why the warrior wanted Sasha rather than Rowan, the stronger witch.

“Hey, I am in the room,” Sasha snapped at both of them.

Rowan stood, her cardinal-red silk gown and robe swirling around her body. “I know you’re here, sweetie. You’re getting better at handling your powers all the time and will be powerful one day, but you’re no match for this Hindu warrior right now.” She hugged Sasha, wished them good night, and swept from the room with a soft, “Nice to see you back, Trey.”

“You still haven’t explained everything,” Sasha said to Trey and crossed the room to face him. “I’ve told you everything, including my deal with Ekkbar. Your turn.”

He’d dodged Findley, but Sasha was another story. He didn’t like lying to her, but was limited in what he could disclose. “I can’t tell you everything about me.”