Page 144 of Taming His Vampire Mate

I understood. I wasn’t a fan of Godric, either.

“We need to talk,” Godric repeated, ignoring Jeremy.

I snorted. “Oh, do we?”

“I had a vision. Magnus is on the move. He has settled now. He intends to make a new home.”

“I thought you couldn’t see him?” I shot back, aiming for bravado. There was a quaver in my voice I hated.

I’ll break every bone in Magnus’s body,Jeremy whispered into my mind.Twice. Then I’ll end him for what he did to you.

I took a deep breath, feeling marginally reassured. Of course, I didn’t need my big strong wolf to protect me—that was just silly. But it didn’t hurt, either.

“His protections must be wearing thin,” Godric said. “That, or he wished for me to see his whereabouts.”

“Then it’s likely a trap,” I replied, flashing my iciest smile. “How lovely.”

“He is seeking new victims. He wishes to replace what he once had,” Godric said solemnly. “That means he will create more vampires.”

“What does he want?” Jeremy demanded.

At the same time, I asked, “What is he after?”

Godric snorted, shaking his head. “I imagine Rico and I will be just as bad, in the fullness of time.”

As if on cue, the side door opened. Bryan stepped out, holding Michael’s shotgun, which he immediately leveled at Godric’s midsection. “Huh. I thought I smelled trouble.”

Godric sighed. “I’m not here for him. Yet.”

“Over my dead body,” Bryan said, cocking the weapon. “That’s never going to happen.”

It wouldn’t kill Godric, but it would hurt like hell.

The ancient vampire shook his head. “I will treat him well. You yourself are mated, are you not? You must know that all I want is to make him happy. I do not understand the problem.”

Bryan narrowed his eyes. “The problem is, he’s barely old enough to vote—and you’re about a billion years old. Plus, you’re mean and evil.”

“He’s quite protective. You might want to listen to him,” I told Godric. “Besides, I assume you didn’t come here just to announce Magnus was moving. There’s more, isn’t there?”

Godric nodded. “He is in Los Angeles.”

I stared, confused. “He turned Rookwood, and now he’s headed for a big city? Why? He can’t possibly plan to turn everyone in LA into a vampire.”

“That was a message to me: he will do as he pleases, and there is little I can do to stop him. He is not going to Los Angeles to repeat his efforts in Rookwood,” Godric said grimly. Then he paused, as if weighing his words. “He is intent on seeking out a powerful ally. Someone who will help him without moral qualms.”

I stared, waiting for the other shoe to drop. When it didn’t, I asked, “Who?”

Godric drew a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. “He intends to make Nicolas his right hand. Just as I once was.”

Everyone froze, including me. There was absolute silence.

His words made no sense. How could he be after my brother? Nicolas was dead.

I couldn’t articulate the whole thought. Instead, I managed, “How?”

Godric’s gaze met mine dead-on. “Your brother is still alive, Thierry. And we need to get to him before Magnus does.”

“Holy shit,” Bryan breathed.