A Kiss of Blood (Vamp City #2)(52)

“Discuss this later,” Arturo snapped, startling her. “We need to go.”

Suddenly, there was a flurry of movement between the vamps and she heard Micah’s low curse. She hated not being able to see!

“Back to Neo’s, Ax. You’re in no condition to go anywhere like this. There’s too much at stake to risk screwing this up.”

“What happened?” she demanded, as the horses started forward again.

“He nearly fell off his horse,” Micah told her. “I thought you said he fed.”

“He did. I thought he did. It certainly sounded like it.”

“I fed,” Arturo grumbled, but he sounded completely exhausted.

“What’s at Fabian’s?” Neo asked.

When Arturo didn’t answer, Quinn did, suspecting he was using all his concentration to stay on the horse.

“Tarellia said that Fabian’s sage, Vintry, is the only one who might be able to help me free my magic, but he’s aging. There’s not much time. And that was yesterday morning.”

They continued in silence until, finally, the faint lights of Neo’s house appeared between the trees. They rode into Neo’s courtyard, and Quinn dismounted easily, handing her reins to one of Neo’s men—vampire or human, she wasn’t sure. Neo led the way in through the back door, and Quinn followed, Arturo and Micah close behind.

“Your eyes have turned white, Ax,” Micah murmured as they closed the door behind them. “He needs blood, Neo. And fear. A lot of it.”

Neo frowned. “I’ll send someone, but you must ensure he doesn’t accidentally hurt her.”

“I’ll stay with them.”

Neo called to one of his people. “Bring Marissa to 3A. At once.” To them he said, “She just arrived last night and is still utterly terrified.”

“I’ll clear her mind when he’s through,” Micah assured Neo. “She won’t be harmed.”

Though Quinn followed them downstairs, she remained in the hallway as Micah led Arturo into one of the bedrooms, and a young woman was escorted there soon after. The door shut behind her, and a moment later, her bloodcurdling scream tore through the underground.

Quinn went rigid.

Neo squeezed her shoulder. “He’s not hurting her, you know that. He’s scaring her because he has to. Because he has to feed.”

“I know.” She looked at him. “I swear he just fed from a wolf.”

“Who probably had little fear in him.”

She wasn’t so sure about that, considering what Arturo almost certainly did to him. With a shake of her head, she moved away. “Do you know where Zack is? I can’t listen to this.” The poor girl was terrified.

“It’s the middle of the night. He’s probably in bed.”

“Right.” It was so hard to remember night and day in a land without a rising and setting sun.

But when she checked his bedroom, she found it empty. As she headed back into the main room, she caught sight of Mukdalla’s vampire husband.

“Rinaldo.”

He turned to her with a smile. “Sorceress.”

“Do you know where my brother is?”

“With Jason, I believe. Last I saw them, they were in the study.” He pointed down yet another hallway. “Third doorway on your left.”

Quinn thanked him, the muscles of her neck and shoulders easing as the screaming finally quieted. She found Zack sitting at a long table in a room lined with bookshelves. He was shoulder to shoulder with Jason as they peered at something in Zack’s hand. A Gameboy.

“Damn, you’re good,” Jason muttered. “It’s my turn.”

Zack grinned. “Give me a computer or game player, and I can kick anyone’s ass.”

Jason grunted, accepting the Gameboy. “You’ll be kicking vampire ass by the time I’m through with you. One more game, then we get some sleep.”

“I’m not tired.”

“I am.”

Quinn watched them, glad that Zack and Jason seemed to be getting along. Happier still that Jason had, wisely and amazingly, found a way to remind Zack of the things he was good at.

She walked fully into the room, joining them at the table. “Hey.”

Zack looked up, relief in his eyes. “You were gone a long time. Everything go okay?”

“Yes and no. We found the fae, but she can’t help me. There’s someone else we have to find. We may be gone a couple of days.”

“Days?”

“It’s hard to tell. Nothing happens quickly in this place.”

“And you’re still not going to let me go?”

She shook her head apologetically. “We’ll be going in undercover.” At his frown, she added, “I’ll be fine, Zack. Arturo and Micah are going with me.”

“Any word on Lily?”

Quinn shook her head, hating the disappointment that tightened her brother’s jaw. “Arturo’s sent someone to find her. As soon as Arturo hears anything, I’m certain he’ll let you know.”

She slid her hand against the side of Zack’s neck and grimaced. He was hotter than before.

“If Arturo’s not going after her, I am.”

Jason set the Gameboy down, meeting Zack’s gaze calmly. “Then come morning, let’s get back to work. If you attempt a rescue untrained, you could hurt her more than you help her. Training is key.”