Page 124 of Night Shift

"Antonio doesn't believe in doing things halfway," Tobi said with a grin. "Wait till you see the armory."

"We've got enough firepower stored down here to overthrow a small country," he continued, leading them down another corridor. "Though hopefully we'll never need it."

Beth's attention caught on a large garage-like space branching off from one of the main tunnels. A dozen rugged ATV's sat ready, their dark paint absorbing the overhead light.

"Emergency vehicles for our humans." Tyr indicated the rows of keys hanging on a board. "If we ever need to evacuate, they can take these through the old bootlegger tunnels. The routes come out miles from here, completely hidden in the woods."

"What about the vampires?" Beth asked, picturing the logistics of an evacuation.

Tyr smiled at her, taking her hand, his fingers threading through hers. "We've got it easier. If it's night, we can either ghost out - you'll learn that trick soon - or shift to our raptor forms and fly away. These are mainly for the humans who look after us."

Beth nodded, impressed by how thoroughly they'd planned for every contingency. The level of detail in their preparations spoke volumes about how seriously they took their responsibility to protect both vampires and humans.

Beth bit her lower lip, a thought occurring to her as she studied the emergency vehicles. "But what happens if it's daytime? The vampires can't escape."

Tyr's fingers squeezed hers gently as a knowing smile crossed his face. "Don't worry - we have that covered too." He guided her toward what appeared to be a blank section of wall. "There's a hidden room down here that even the Blood Sworn don't know about. It can't be discovered, nor broken into."

His blue eyes held a serious glint as he continued. "That's where we would wait for sunset. Being trapped in the daytime is something no vampire ever takes lightly." His thumb traced idle patterns on her palm. "We have layers of protection at all times in any Residence."

The weight of that reality settled over her. As a shifter, she'd always had to be careful about protecting her secret, but vampires faced an additional deadly threat every single day. No wonder they took such elaborate precautions.

Chapter 26

Today was moving day. After three days of staying in Tyr's chambers while the construction crew worked, Beth was finally getting her own belongings moved into the Residence. Well, temporary belongings anyway, until her and Tyr's connecting suite was finished.

Beth bounced on her toes as the elevator doors opened. Her sister emerged, along with several bobcat shifters carrying boxes of Beth's things.

"Someone's eager to get settled," Naomi teased, stepping out of the elevator.

"You have no idea." Beth said, practically vibrating with excitement. "Wait until you see what they've done."

She led the way past ornate wall sconces and richly detailed tapestries, noting textures and details she'd never noticed before her Turning. The men followed carefully with their burdens, their movements precise despite the awkward size of some of the boxes.

"Right here." Beth pushed open the door to a spacious guest chamber in soothing green and gold. "It's just temporary until the renovation is finished, but isn't it gorgeous?"

Beth gestured to the shifters as they brought in her boxes. "Just line those up along that wall, please."

Stronger than humans, the shifters made the heavy boxes look deceptively light as they carried them in. The scent of cardboard and packing tape made her want to sneeze—the intensity of ordinary smells still caught her off guard.

"Miss Kerrigan?" One of the men - Mike, she remembered from one of last summer's barbecues at Katerina's and Troy's house - straightened up after setting down his box. "Where would you like the desk positioned?"

Beth pointed toward the alcove in the corner. "That spot would be perfect. The recessed lighting makes it ideal for studying."

Mike nodded, exchanging glances with another shifter named Dave. "We'll head down and grab it next. Shouldn't take but a minute with the two of us."

The men headed out, their footsteps nearly silent on the thick carpeting despite their size. Their footsteps faded down the hallway toward the elevator, along with their quiet conversation about maneuvering the desk through the doorway.

Naomi turned in a slow circle, taking in the elegant guest chamber. "I can't believe how much progress they've made in just three days. They must be working around the clock to create your connecting suite."

"Oh, they're definitely not thrilled with us," Beth snickered. "You should hear them grumbling about having to redo work they just finished."

Her sister studied Beth's face with a knowing smile. "You look more at home here than I expected."

Beth sank onto a plush bench seat. "I feel more at home here than I ever have anywhere else. Which is strange, considering..." She gestured vaguely at herself, encompassing her recent transformation. "Everything."

"What about Whisper?" Naomi asked, settling beside her. "How's she handling all the changes?"

Beth laughed. "She's absolutely delighted with her new home. You should see her exploring the Residence, sniffing out every corner and climbing everything she can reach." Her smile widened. "Actually, Tyr's having them install floating shelves all along the tops of the walls - like a feline highway just for her. He says she should have her own territory to patrol."