A Kiss of Blood (Vamp City #2)(88)



Quinn finished her sandwich in silence as Amanda wandered away. She was just rising when Arturo and Micah strode into the room.

“Join us, cara.” Arturo held out his hand to her.

Quinn grabbed her plate, intending to run it back to the kitchen. But Mukdalla was walking through the room and intercepted her.

“I’ll take it for you, Quinn. Go.”

With a nod of thanks, Quinn joined the two vampires. “What’s up?” They stood in a small circle to one side of the room.

“We’re moving up the timetable,” Arturo told her.

“Good. When are we going?”

“Now.”

Her eyes widened. “Let me get the book. I have to give Grant a little time to get online with Sheridan.” She hurried back to her bedroom and retrieved the worn hardback from beneath the mattress. Closing her door, she sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the plain and ancient cover. A History of Witchcraft in America.

Opening to the page where she’d first discovered Grant’s mystical handwriting, she pressed her fingertip to the paper and wrote, “Grant?”

A soft rap on her door had her rising. She opened it to find Arturo, and let him in. He joined her, sinking onto the mattress beside her.

“Sorcerer’s text, hmm?” He watched her curiously. “Is this how you and Grant planned your first escape?”

“Not exactly. But he did communicate with me this way.” She watched the page impatiently. “Grant has more power than he likes to let on, I think.”

“Perhaps. But not enough to renew the magic of Vamp City. There is no doubt of that.”

“And you think I do.”

“I pray you do, cara. For if you do not, I will lose many friends.”

Writing appeared suddenly on the page, a tight, handwritten scrawl overwriting the actual print of the book.

I am with Sheridan, now. How soon will you be in the Focus?

Quinn looked to Arturo in surprise.

He cocked his head. “What?”

She stared at him, then smiled with understanding. “You can’t see it.”

“See what?”

“The writing.”

His brows drew down, and he looked at the page, studying it hard. “I see only a page in a book.”

Grant had told her only a sorcerer could read the magical writing. “How soon will we be in the Focus?”

“He’s ready?”

“Yes.”

He rose. “We’ll leave at once. A half an hour. Less, if all goes well.”

She wrote the reply, then closed the book and joined him at the door. “I need to say good-bye to Zack.”

He followed her to the gym, where Jason was showing her brother how to block an attack and . . . holy cow . . . Zack was doing it, and doing it well. He was changing before her eyes, just as Jason said. He was still skinny, but with his shirt off, she could see the slight play of muscles on a chest that had, just days ago, been devoid of any but the most basic.

“Zack?”

“Yeah?” He didn’t even turn around. When she didn’t immediately answer, he turned to look at her, then strode to her, his expression sobering. “Are you leaving?”

“Yes. It’s time.”

To her surprise, Zack grasped her shoulders. “What about Cristoff?”

“He doesn’t know. We’re doing this under the radar.”

His hands tightened. “Are you sure?”

No, of course not. Anything could go wrong in this place. But she nodded. “We’ve got it under control.”

Zack frowned, frustration tightening his features, and she wondered, once more, where her easygoing brother had gone. “One day soon, I’m going to be the one protecting you. Not them.”

She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight, feeling his surprisingly strong arms go around her in return. “Deal.” Pulling away, she kissed his cheek. “Love you.”

He kissed her cheek in return. “Love you, too, sis. Be careful.”

She turned and found Arturo watching them.

“Ready?” the vampire asked.

“Ready.” Taking a deep breath, she strode down the hall ahead of Arturo, prepared to meet her destiny.

Quinn accompanied Arturo and Micah outside, where Kassius and Neo waited, along with five saddled horses. “What’s the plan?”

Arturo explained. “Kassius will escort you to the Focus and wait until you are finished. Neo, Micah, and I will circle the area, keeping watch and staying close enough to rush in if you need us but not close enough to be spotted with you.”

Neo grabbed the reins of one of the horses and mounted. “I’ve scouted as far as the Crux. The coast is clear except for a pair of wolves on the hillside just inside. Friends of yours, I hope, Quinn.”

Arturo pulled her against him. “Neo, Micah, and I will leave first. I want Savin’s wolves to know what we’re doing and, hopefully, to help us stand watch.” He took her face in his cool hands. Even in the twilight darkness, he was a beautiful male, his eyes haunting in their intensity. “Be careful, tesoro mio.”

“You, too.”

He kissed her thoroughly, if quickly, then turned to Kassius. “Protect her well.”

“You know I will.”

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