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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cross set me on my feet the bathroom and helped me remove my shirt. His gaze raked over me, taking in every light bruise before settling on the mark on my shoulder.

“Shepard’s already feeling guilty. Please don’t make it worse.”

I saw the moment Cross relented in his anger. With a defeated exhale, he kissed my red, injured skin gently before sucking. The sensation almost made my knees buckle. Cross held me upright as he took one more sip and closed the wounds. The pain subsided nearly instantly.

He kissed the skin again and pulled back to look into my eyes. The black had receded, only leaving his beautiful amber eyes.

“Thank you,” I murmured. “You know that bite would have happened eventually, right?”

“I know. But I wanted to be there so I could make the pain go away. I never want you to suffer.”

“I was too out of it to feel much pain,” I said. “Are you still mad?”

“No. I love you and only want what’s best for you. Shepard and I know we both have a piece of your heart.”

He reached over and started the shower.

“Did you get the portal relic?” he asked as he helped me remove the rest of my clothes.

“No. Every word out of that woman’s mouth was a lie. Shepard wants to kill her, and I don’t think I would stop him.”

“Did she hurt you?” Cross asked, black slowly consuming his eyes.

“Physically? No. Mentally. I’m not sure yet.” I made a miserable sound. “Vena’s right about me avoiding what I don’t want to face. And I don’t want to face Effora’s part in what happened in that room, but I think I need to so you understand why Shepard was out of it.

“Do you remember how it felt when that fae controlled the relic? Well, with Effora controlling it, I had no hesitation. None. I didn’t care that she was there, talking to us, giving us suggestions. Or touching me.”

My face flushed scarlet, and Cross made a soothing sound.

“I’m sorry you went through that. I will not rest until I’ve dealt with her. Until then, I think after what you’ve been through, you’ll feel a fraction better after a hot shower.”

It sounded exactly like what I needed. I’d scrub off the sweat and Effora’s touch.

Cross took off his clothes as well and followed me inside. He gently washed me, giving me soft kisses whenever he saw a bruise from Shepard’s grip on me.

“I promise I felt nothing but pleasure. Honestly, I think I completely lost the sense of who I was. I only wanted…sex. And Shepard was the same. He growled at her when she touched him at first, but once he was inside of me, he didn’t notice her at all.”

Cross kissed my forehead and shut off the water.

“I can smell how nervous you are, Everly. As long as you liked what he did, I promise Shepard is safe from me.”

When he was done, he wrapped me in a fluffy towel and cuddled me on the bed. Shepard came in a moment later, looking at us. I patted the space beside me.

Once he lay on my other side, Cross said, “Tell me what happened.”

“It was a setup. She used the sex relic to distract me and take my ring.”

I could see Shepard’s fury and touched his cheek.

“It’s not your fault.”

He closed his eyes.

“Rather than blame yourself, you should ask yourself why Effora would risk your anger,” Cross said. “Do you think she’s working with Orphia?”

Shepard shook his head. “Effora might be speaking to Vivian, but I think that’s as far as her connection with Orphia goes. And I think the only reason she’s still dealing with Vivian is because of his hate for Orphia. But then again, she said she had a relic that would help us, which was obviously a lie. As far as I know, it wasn’t in the room she took us to. I’m not sure what to believe anymore.”

“I can’t see Effora working with Orphia,” Cross said. “We were there in the room to smell Effora’s distaste when Orphia came onto the video call. I don’t believe that was faked.”

“Why would Effora want the ring then?” I asked. “When you told her about the portal relic the Hunters were looking for, she sounded pretty mad about Orphia wanting to open the portal. The safest place for the rings is with the bearers so they’re not all together.”

“They aren’t all together. Not yet. Orphia has Curran’s stone,” Cross said. “That’s it. If Effora is working with her, that would mean she also has Effora’s stone and Shepard’s. Effora isn’t foolish enough to put that much power into Orphia’s hands. But, even if she were, I still have my ring and won’t surrender it easily.”

Shepard scoffed. “If Everly were taken, you would give it in a heartbeat.”

Cross’ hand smoothed over my arm. “Perhaps it would be wise if you didn’t attend tonight's meeting.”

“I disagree. We can hope Effora isn’t working with Orphia, but she might be. Which means we need to find Orphia fast to stop whatever magic trick she thinks she’s going to pull.

“And before you say that’s exactly why I should stay locked in this room, I want to ask both of you how much more danger I would be in if Orphia opened the portals.”

Shepard sighed and wrapped his arms around my middle, pulling me flush against him and out of Cross’ arms. Cross inched closer until we were touching again. It was nice getting a group hug.

“How much time until we need to leave?” I asked.

“You should start getting ready,” Shepard said.

“But you probably need to shower again,” Cross added. “It would be best if you didn’t smell like us.”

“All right.” I quickly climbed over Shepard and regretted it immediately. Everything between my legs ached. “While I’m doing that, Shepard can tell Vena to shower, and Cross can get me pain relievers and some electrolytes.”

I held up my hand to forestall their worry. “I’m not in real pain, but I think it would be better if I weren’t walking with a hitch.”

Their slow smiles of understanding had me shaking my head and retreating to the bathroom for a second time. I’d just wrapped a clean towel around me when Vena knocked on the bathroom door.

“Oh, sister from another mister, I’m here to raid your closet. Can I come in?”

“Come in,” I said.

Vena rushed into the room and hugged me enthusiastically.

“Welcome to pound town, Everly! I heard you’re walking with a hitch and need some pain relievers. So tell me, what’s he working with? Are we talking a rolling pin or more like that juicer I picked up?”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“I’ll take that eye roll as a rolling pin. Lucky ducky.”

I grabbed a red shirt decorated with white macarons from a shelf and tossed it at her.

She easily caught it and stripped off the shirt she was wearing.

“You showered first, right?” I asked.

“Of course. I washed all the delicacies Anchor was nibbling on. Let me tell you, the Vena buffet was open for business today, and he ate well.”

The only reason I didn’t scold Vena was because I needed her distraction. I didn’t know what we were heading into. Even though I put on a brave face for Cross and Shepard, I knew this had the potential to backfire on us.

After we both wore red shirts, I hugged her. “Love you.”

“Love you, too. Let’s go kick some vampire ass.”

“No, no ass-kicking. We’re just the bait.”

“I know, but let me just pretend a little, okay?”

Shepard was getting off the phone when we left the bedroom.

“Hugh is downstairs,” he said. “He’ll set Vena up with a body cam so the DOS can get the footage they need.”

Both Shepard and Cross looked like they wanted to hug me—either that or lock me in a tower so I wouldn’t get hurt. But I blew them each a kiss and followed Vena downstairs. They trailed behind us, keeping their distance so we wouldn’t smell like them.

Hugh and one of his security were ready for Vena. They hid the camera in a pair of red-framed glasses that matched her shirt color.

They tested it over their high-tech system before giving us the go-ahead.

“Always go for the safe route,” Hugh said. “You know the danger this meetup poses. My team and I might not be able to get to you in time. If you need to bail, do it without hesitation.”

We nodded our understanding.

“You won’t be able to take your own car there,” Hugh said. “The seat fabrics hold scents. Instead, we have a driver with a ride-share logo on his window. He’s right outside and ready for you.”

After a quick breath to steel my nerves, which didn’t really help, Vena and I walked out to the car.

Once we were both seated and buckled, the driver took off.

“Are you ready?” I asked Vena softly.

“Yep. And I got my lucky knife ready, too.”

Thankfully, I didn’t have to focus on what problems lay ahead of us since Vena began chirping in my ear about everything and nothing, and that’s when I realized she was just as nervous as I was. She was just showing it differently.

I glanced over at her and smiled.

She smiled back at me. “I always called your girls Thelma and Louise, but now we’re really being them.”

“Yeah, but we get a better ending.”

The driver pulled over. “I’m letting you off here. The spot is just down the road. Less than a block. You’ll see it.”

We thanked him and got out.

Vena glanced at her phone and flashed me the picture included with the instructions. “We’re looking for a ‘No Loitering’ sign that’s been graffitied on.”

Heading down the road, we found the sign easily.

“Now what?” I asked.

“We wait.”

I glanced at the time and saw it wasn’t yet seven. We’d made it with five minutes to spare.

Vena and I stood under the sign, trying to blend into our surroundings. I was positive we were going to get a ticket for loitering literally under the no-loitering sign, but a party bus pulled up at the appointed time.

The door swung open, and music and the swirl of disco lights spilled out. The man driving wore a powder blue leisure suit and a blonde, curly wig.

“Aneva and guest?” he asked.

We nodded.

“Your chariot awaits.” He gestured to the bus. “Before you board, I’ve been asked to hold your phones for you. Don’t worry. They will be in a box on the dashboard the whole time. It blocks the signal so our location stays between us. This minor inconvenience keeps our vampire friends safe from their persecutors. We take their safety seriously.”

Vena handed her phone over first and got onto the bus. I was a little more hesitant but knew I couldn’t turn back if I wanted my normal life back. The one where my parents and grandma were safe. Getting on the bus was a necessary step in that direction.

Handing over the phone, I got onto the bus and blinked at the lights as they flashed in my eyes.

Vena patted the seat next to her. It was a silver glitter pleather that reflected the bouncing lights.

“Feel free to partake in the libations,” the man said, pointing to the complimentary champagne, soda, and water. “I have a couple more stops, then we’ll be on our way.”

He closed the door and sat behind the wheel.

“Do you mind turning down the music just a little?” Vena called up to him. “I’ve got a brewing headache.”

“Roger that.” The seventies disco music turned down slightly.

Vena and I didn’t talk as he headed into the suburbs and picked up a man from a random corner who was wearing a red ball cap. When he got on and saw us, he smiled and complimented Vena’s shirt.

“First meeting?” he asked, sitting next to us.

“Yep,” Vena said. “And you?”

“Same. I’m nervous and excited. I’m really hoping I’ll find a vampire sponsor who wants to convert me.”

Vena nodded. “We’re nervous and excited, too.” She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. I watched the driver’s gaze flick to her. “It was a little creepy being the first ones on the bus. We’re glad you’re here.”

The ball cap guy’s smile turned reassuring. “Yeah, I bet.”

The suspicion in the driver’s eyes faded.

“We have seven stops today,” the driver said. “Twelve people in total. Enough to fill the bus. Feel free to help yourself to the drinks.”

The ball cap guy had no problem doing so and opened a cola as Vena chatted with him.

He wanted to be converted because he just found out he had advanced-stage pancreatic cancer.

“I’m so sorry,” Vena said. “If either of us ends up getting a sponsor, we’ll try to talk them into taking you on, too.”

“I appreciate it.”

The sorrow on my face was no lie. I’d never considered how many people attended these meetings because they saw it as a way to live.

When we pulled alongside the next stop, no one was waiting, and the driver quickly got on the phone.

“I think we have a no-show,” he said into the phone. He listened for a moment. “Yeah, I know. Sorry, bro. If you can fill the spot, I’m game.” Another pause, where he looked up at us. “You guys good back there?”

We all nodded.

“Yeah, we have plenty of drinks yet,” he said to the person on the phone. “And I can always break out the snacks. It’s up to you. All right. Later.”

He hung up and started driving again.

“They’re going to try to find a replacement. These meetings are hard to get into, as I’m sure you know, so it’s not fair to the people waiting when we have no-shows. If you ever can’t make a future meeting, call ahead.”

“Will do,” Vena said at the same time the ball cap guy said, “Got it.” When the driver looked at me, I smiled and nodded.

“You’re a quiet one,” the driver said.

Vena laughed. “She’s dying to ask questions but is too shy.”

“Ask away. It’ll make the time go faster.”

I subtly reached over and pinched Vena even as I asked, “How hard is it to get a sponsor?”

“Yeah,” the ball cap guy said. “I want to know too.”

“Not hard at all. I promise. We tend to have more sponsors present than attendees to ensure you find someone you vibe with, you know?”

“How many meetings do people usually need to attend before they connect with a sponsor?” the ball cap asked.

Vena and the guy chatted with the driver while he drove back into the city to pick up another person. When the newcomer boarded, the mood on the bus changed. She was snippy to the point she sounded angry. When asked why she was going, she told Vena to mind her own business. The ball cap guy defused the situation slightly by complimenting her red scarf.

Vena and I shared a look as the driver headed out to the suburbs again. It didn’t make sense to do all the weaving around he was doing. I desperately wanted to look back to see if Cross and Shepard were following us, but I knew better.

The next stop was empty, too, and I began to suspect these weren’t no-shows but a way to waste time as the sun sank lower in the sky.

Vena and I eventually took a bottle of water from the cooler. So did the angry woman. As the driver continued his so-called “route,” he made a call each time there was a “no-show” and added another pickup.

By the time the person on the other line agreed it was too late to add more, we had thirty minutes until sunset and seven passengers in the twelve-person party bus.

Vena and I chatted with them casually, asking generic questions about why they wanted to attend the meeting. The mood of the bus was generally upbeat except for the one woman.

“How much longer is this going to take?” the woman demanded. “If you’d just given the location, I could have been there already instead of putting up with this bonding bullshit.”

The conversation halted as we all stared at her.

The driver laughed nervously. “We’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Don’t worry. How about I turn the music up?”

He blared it, so conversation wasn’t possible. While the woman seemed content, the rest of us weren’t.

Twenty-four minutes later, we pulled through the gates of an abandoned hospital outside the city limits. Two men waited by the weedy, overgrown front entrance as the driver parked the bus.

The sky was more grey twilight than blue.

Dusk was upon us, and Vena and I were headed into a vampire meeting.

Nothing good was going to come from this.