A Meet of Tribes (A Shade of Vampire #45)(6)

My attention alternated between the succubus and the Daughter. I feared that the new Daughter would be as cruel as her sisters. Yet she seemed nothing like the goddesses we’d met the other day, with masks made of gold and no words of comfort for those in need of help.

This Daughter was fragile and confused, nestled in Phoenix’s arms, and wrapped up in an old tablecloth. I couldn’t imagine seeing her under one of those masks, killing a man with a simple touch, or robbing him of his eyesight.

“What do we do now?” I asked.

The wolf in me picked up Anjani’s spicy scent. Heat spread through my chest. I held on to her aroma as an anchor, keeping me on my feet. I only partially focused on our next steps. My mind preoccupied itself with getting closer to the inherently seductive creature next to me.

“The Oracles need to eat and rest for the day,” Draven replied. “They must recover and prepare for tomorrow.”

“What’s happening tomorrow?” Aida looked pale, leaning against Field.

“You need to tap into your visions. It’s our best chance to defeat Azazel. Kristos’s father has joined his ranks, and we’ve lost any potential support from the incubi at this point in time,” Draven explained.

My sister didn’t seem happy with the prospect of more visions, though I couldn’t blame her—she didn’t ask for this. She’d spent her whole life learning and training to join GASP to become a guardian of Earth and a maintainer of peace, not to become a pawn in a bloody war in the In-Between.

Vita looked equally drained.

Phoenix focused on the Daughter. I wasn’t sure if he was even listening to Draven.

“The Red Tribe will fight with us. We’ve managed to secure that alliance,” the Druid continued. “They’re going to reach out to the Dearghs, the Lamias, and the Sluaghs, though I’m not crossing my fingers for the latter.”

“Why do you say that?” Serena asked him.

“The Sluaghs have been thriving with Azazel’s war. They’re generally wretched creatures, parasites who inhabit the bodies of the recently deceased. And there have been so many of them lately that the Sluagh population is increasing every day. On one hand, their numbers are useful, but I’m not sure they’d be interested in biting the hand that inadvertently feeds them.”

“What’s our end game here, though?” Field replied.

I noticed his arm wrapping around my sister’s shoulders. I wasn’t sure what to think of it, but knowing my sister, there probably was a little wolf-girl inside of her dancing around with glee. I decided I’d worry about them later. I had trouble focusing with the succubus just inches away from me.

“We can’t rely on the incubi to fight Azazel, which is a major problem since they represent the highest percentage of Eritopia’s population,” Draven explained. “But there are many other species that call this world home, and they all stand to lose everything if Azazel wins. We have to gather as many of them as we can and forge an alliance. Along with the Oracles and the Daughter. Despite her current condition, it’s our best shot to destroy him.”

“Speaking of which, I’d like to get her inside to rest, if you don’t mind,” Phoenix replied, while the Daughter stood motionless in his arms.

Draven nodded his approval, and Phoenix took her inside the mansion. It was so good to see him walking and talking again. I couldn’t help but smile. I caught a glimpse of Anjani out the corner of my eye; she’d been watching me but instantly looked away when my gaze met hers.

My sister wasn’t too steady on her feet, but Field held her up with concern etched into his sharp features.

“Field, can you take Aida inside, please?” I asked him. “She needs food and rest.”

He nodded and helped her into the house. My heart twisted at the sight of her being so soft and weak, but I took comfort in the fact that she was in good hands with the Hawk. Aida would be up and running circles around us by morning, for sure.

I figured it was a good time to take my leave as well, but I wasn’t interested in being on my own. I brushed Anjani’s arm with the back of my hand, and she looked at me with wide golden-green eyes.

“Let me show you around. You can wash up, eat, and rest a little. You’ve dealt with enough for one morning,” I told her.

I’d expected her to contradict me and put on her warrior chick bravado, but she didn’t. Instead, she nodded and followed me inside.

There was a spare bedroom next to mine upstairs, so I decided to take her there. It seemed like a girl’s room with soft pinks and yellows on the wallpaper and delicate floral patterns on the bed covers. The windows were tall, and there was a set of narrow French doors opening out to a small terrace facing south.

I showed Anjani to the ensuite bathroom and sat down in one of the two armchairs facing the bed. I heard the lock turn on the door and the water run into the tub. I wasn’t ready to leave yet. I wanted to make sure that she had everything she needed when she came out.

I let my feet rest for about five minutes, then started rummaging through the dresser for some clothes. I picked out a white gown, which, judging by its era of manufacture, was most likely intended as an undergarment for those fancy summer dresses that women wore on southern cotton plantations. I figured she could do with a change of clothes, at least for a day. I also wanted to see how that fine white organza would look on her body, hugging her breasts and round hips.