A Kiss of Blood (Vamp City #2)(74)

If Cristoff learned of Grant’s involvement, there was no telling what he’d do to him.

Kassius smiled grimly. “When I get back, Grant and I will have a discussion about what I know and what he’s going to do to secure my silence.”

Arturo leaned back. “There’s a good chance that Sheridan and Grant will be followed when they leave the castle for the Focus. We’re going to need a diversion.”

“I’ll handle that.” Micah smiled. “Cristoff will be certain the sorceress is right under his nose.” He’d probably use glamour to make himself look like her. “We need to set a timetable. It’s damned inconvenient that cell phones don’t work in this place.”

“What time shall I tell Grant to meet us at the Focus?” Kassius asked.

Arturo frowned. “Make it 5:00 P.M. That should give you plenty of time to get Grant and Sheridan in place.”

“Cristoff will be frantic,” Micah murmured. “The equinox dawns, and he has no sorceress.”

“If word reaches Gonzaga Castle that the sorceress was spotted at Fabian’s?” Kassius asked.

“Remind Cristoff that I will not stop hunting her until I’ve captured her. That will be enough.”

“The moment this is over, any of us who’ve been spotted by Sheridan or Grant Blackstone had better disappear. Especially you, Kas.” Micah’s brows drew down. “Even if he doesn’t have them followed, Cristoff will know the Blackstones were involved. The moment Cristoff threatens either of them, they’ll give you up.” He glanced at Arturo. “Even if Cristoff regains his soul through this, he’ll never forgive a traitor. Ever.”

Silence sat thick in the room for several moments before Arturo spoke.

“Quinn and I will remain here and work on her magic until time to go to the Focus. The better control she has, the better for all involved.”

The discussion turned to logistics and diversions, and while Quinn listened, many of the names and places went right past her. Finally, the meeting was over.

Neo rose. “Rinaldo will stay and keep watch for you. Mukdalla’s promised to send food back for Quinn.”

As the others exited through the front door, Micah turned to Quinn, his eyes warm with concern. “Have you recovered?”

“For the most part. I think I’m just tired, now.”

“Good.” He flashed her a friendly grin and followed the others out the door.

When they were alone, Arturo turned to her, his eyes dark and fathomless. “Time for bed, cara mia. You are asleep on your feet.”

But Quinn shook her head. “Not yet. I want to try to practice first.” The sooner she learned how to control her gift, the safer they’d all be.

“If you’re sure.”

She smiled at him. “This moment, I’m sure. Five seconds from now, I might decide I’m too tired and go to bed.” She looked around the ancient house warily. “We’d better go outside. If I try throwing power in here, I could bring this whole place down on top of us.”

“If you bring the house down, so be it. It will have served its purpose. I’ll make certain you get out safely.”

She peered at him curiously, but then her tired brain caught up. “You’re afraid my eyes will glow.”

“Yes.” He looked around the room, then pointed to one of the folding chairs. “Try to push that.”

Quinn eyed it, clenching and unclenching her fists. The power still flowed beneath her skin, as it had ever since Vintry released it, but calmly now. Just a gentle current of energy. Narrowing her eyes, she wondered if she’d need an adrenaline spike to get it going. There was only one way to find out.

Lifting a single hand, palm out, she focused on the chair and willed it to move if only a couple of feet.

Nothing happened. Dammit. She’d thought she was past this phase.

With a twist of her lips, she tried again, imagining the chair slamming into the back of the hearth. Still nothing happened. When that first Ripper had attacked her, she’d had no trouble pushing him back. Then again, her life had been on the line.

“I have an idea,” the vampire said behind her.

Quinn glanced at him over her shoulder. “Are you going to try to terrify me? My power seems to work best when I feel threatened.”

He smiled as he joined her. “Would you believe me if I promised to tear out your throat?”

“Fortunately, no.”

Coming up behind her, he slipped one well-muscled arm around her waist, and dipped his head to her neck.

“Are you going to bite me?” she asked, surprised. But she felt no prick of fangs, only the cool brush of his lips. And felt an answering shiver of pleasure.

“I am going to do what I’ve been wanting to do for hours,” he said huskily. He turned her in his arms and kissed her thoroughly, his hand sliding into her hair, the other pulling her hips tight against his. When she slid her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to his, he slid his tongue inside with a groan, pulling her closer still. Passion erupted between them, a heady, wonderful pleasure that stole all thoughts, all worries, drenching her body in pleasure.

“This isn’t helping me reach my magic,” she said breathlessly, as his lips trailed kisses along her cheek and jaw.

“This is magic,” he replied, his hands roaming restlessly across her back. “I need to be inside you, bella.”