Page 32 of The Huntress (The Blood of Legends #1)

Chapter Thirty-Two

A THEORY

G abriel and George arrived home carrying many packages. Some held food items, but most were things that had brought a bright smile to George’s face. Was he spoiling her? Yes, he was, and loving every minute of it. He did explain she received leniencies now because he and Callie had never had a daughter. That they would learn how to be a family together.

George was silent for the trip home.

He shot glances at her, trying to assess her mood from her stern expressions. After she clambered out of the parked car, she wrapped her arms around his legs. “Thank you, Gabriel.”

The little minx had wheedled her way into his hardened heart without trying. He chuckled, bending to press a kiss on her head.

The scene that greeted him arched his brow. Sprawled on the rug, along with Callie’s files, was Dimitri, Leo, and Mike. George darted around, bouncing with joy and laughter, blessing everyone with hugs.

“What did you get?” Callie asked as she walked through the kitchen door with a coffee in hand. It held cream and sugar, the way she liked it.

Their daughter burst across the room to throw her arms around Callie’s legs.

“Gabe is wonderful!” George squealed, her enthusiasm drawing a smile from Callie, who ruffled her hair, even as she dragged a lustful gaze over Gabe’s body.

“I know.” She flashed him a meaningful look.

He huffed, scanning their guests and George’s happy smile. It still wasn’t the time for declarations. He needed to reveal how he felt, but circumstances thwarted his every attempt.

“Why don’t you show me what you bought, George?” Callie leaned against his chest and brushed her lips across his. Then with a deep sigh, gathered the bags out of his hands and disappeared into the kitchen with a chattering George.

He rubbed the warm spot on his chest, gazing at the closed door with longing. Mike rose to speak with him, hovering at his side until he faced him. He gestured to outside. Gabriel led the way, curious as to why they needed privacy.

“It’s a yes, if the offer still stands.” Mike cleared his throat, awaiting Gabriel’s response.

He nodded, having anticipated his choice. “I’ll have Leo organize a suitable sire. You’d better not die on me. She’ll kill me if she finds out that I offered.”

“I’ll try.” Mike’s chuckle sounded forced, but Gabriel ignored it as they slipped back inside.

Whatever led Mike to choose a life of a vampire must have torn the detective apart. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but his conversion would be more enjoyable than Gabriel’s had been. They used civilized techniques, blurring the pain with lust. Not like the violence he’d endured for decades until he could stand on his own.

After dropping into a leather chair, he studied the strewn files with unseeing eyes. Mike took the chair alongside him, his stubby fingers plucking at the stitched leather.

“Anything new?” Gabriel gestured to the scribblings marring Callie’s case files.

“Yes.” Mike beamed with excitement. Gone was his earlier reticence. “We’ve linked Duhamel and Carter, but more than this—”

“Stavros is behind the cure.” Dimitri’s Russian accent sliced through Mike’s enthusiasm, and he quieted, leaning forward in the chair lest he miss a word.

“Stavros?” Gabriel frowned, once again wishing he’d killed the man. This and all the death staining his hands were on Gabriel’s shoulders. He thought he’d loved Abigail, that sparing Stavros’s life was what she would have wanted.

“Stavros owns Floges, a silent partner, but the CEO, Hawkins, is clean. We haven’t told Callie yet,” Mike whispered.

Gabriel chuckled, then whispered back, “She can hear you.”

Color mottled Mike’s cheeks, and he released a resigned sigh.

“Floges sponsored the mayor and Carter’s campaign through various shadow organizations. The link isn’t easy to find, not if you don’t know what to look for,” Leo said. “Floges has a department known as Delta, created to research vaccines.”

“This note,” Dimitri tapped Callie’s scribble of Stavros’s lapel pin, “was the key. Flames, a delta symbol, and a Phoenix. Such a blatant connection hidden in plain sight would appeal to his sense of humor. He’s on a mission to destroy you, Gabriel, and the de Winter Hold.” He sipped his materialized vodka.

“Including the shifters in his plan was genius.” Leo pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice strained. “From Syl’s memories, I have determined they played it from a human-hates-vampire perspective, claiming humans were about to destroy the chemical. The shifters pretended to save our species. Syl’s a better judge of character than this, which implies the shifters didn’t know they were part of the plan.”

“I wouldn’t put it past Carter or Stavros to play both sides,” Gabriel said. What amazed him was that the plan unraveled with such ease, and it had gone unnoticed by all. “If Stavros tampered with the cure and deceived the shifters, wouldn’t it kill on both sides if an all-out war erupted between us? We are on the cusp. A spark is all it would take.”

“ Der’mo !” Dimitri cursed. “Where’s the cure now?” He shifted on his backside as nervous energy coursed through him.

His heart pounded loud enough for Gabriel to discern without focusing his hearing.

They faced Leo, who had fallen silent, now deep in thought.

“In our labs, Syl says. He didn’t trust their altruism.” Leo flashed a smile. “I’m pleased to say our king isn’t as easy to dupe as they’d hoped.”

“We still need to deal with the shifters,” Dimitri said, raising his glass as if in salute.

“How?” Gabriel frowned at Dimitri’s simple statement. “That’s an ongoing battle for territory, resources, humans. Stavros has kept his side clean. Carter and Duhamel are human politicians, so untouchable.”

“We can’t kill them?” Dimitri flashed a look at Mike, who held up his hands in surrender.

Mike shrugged. “I wasn’t here.”

“That’s a strange attitude for law enforcement to have,” Dimitri teased.

“Dragging Callie into the middle of this made it personal.” Mike folded his arms across his chest, appearing uncomfortable with the topic. “She’s had files on these idiots for ages. That makes them dirty in my eyes, and if need be, I’ll shoot to kill.”

“Syl’s on his way,” Leo said. “Alone.”

Gabriel offered Mike a whisky, who blinked at the materialized glass but accepted it. After taking a tentative sip, he smacked his lips in appreciation.

“You have been busy,” Syl said to Gabriel as he appeared in his lounge. “Your taste in company has deteriorated.” He looked at Mike who nodded a greeting but didn’t get up to leave or appear offended by Syl’s statement. “I hear you scoured the slums to adopt a daughter. I’m not sure how I feel about this, Gabriel.” He raised his nose and sniffed, scrunching his face as if George’s scent was unbearable.

Gabriel growled, his nostrils flaring. He drew in a calming breath before facing his brother. “I love you, Syl, you know that, but mess with my family and you force me to challenge you for the throne.”

Syl jerked as if punched. “Is that a threat?” His posture stiffened as he squared his shoulders and curled his fingers into fists, but sorrow lingered in his eyes.

“No, of course not. It’s a plea, little brother. I will blood vow that I won’t contest your rule if you bless my daughter.”

“Bless her?” Syl grumbled under his breath, which was more for effect. “Let me meet her first. If I accept her place here in your home, she may never set foot in the Hold. For her safety, of course.”

Dimitri glared at Syl. “She’s welcome in mine.”

Gabriel placed a hand over his heart, grateful for his support.

“You have your pal’tsy to keep your members in line, Dimitri.” Ice chilled Syl’s voice, his full authority clipping each syllable. “I have long considered the need for our own enforcement, something I was hoping to discuss with Callista. Regardless, I cannot claim your daughter as my niece, Gabriel, no matter how much I might want to.”

“I’ll assess her and the danger she brings.” Leo closed his eyes and nodded as if he had a private word with Syl.

“Good. Now that we’ve dealt with this, let’s discuss the canister.” Syl huffed a resigned sigh.

The kitchen door opened, and George darted across the room to throw herself into Dimitri’s arms, startling him, but he recovered, tickling her until she squealed and giggled. Callie trailed, a strange, conflicted expression on her face. She must have overheard Syl’s words, or George’s unexpected affection for Dimitri alarmed her.

Gabriel gritted his teeth against his frustration and the need for their bond to be complete. How was he expected to know her needs without it?

“George, come meet Lord de Winter.” Callie held out her hand.

Dimitri rose, bringing George with him. He lowered her to her feet but remained standing behind her, his warning clear.

“Hello, Lord,” George said in a small voice as she cowered behind Callie’s leg.

“I hear you saved Callista,” Syl said in a gentle tone. “You have the heart of a mighty warrior.”

Gabriel hid his surprise by glancing away. He hadn’t known his brother remembered how to talk to children. Centuries had passed since they’d last encountered anything younger than teenagers, and no one, not even humans, could talk to teens.

George shook her head, tossing her curls. “It’s not nice being alone. When I felt that man coming, I ran…I’m sorry.” She faltered, her eyes growing wide before she buried her face in shame. “He scared me.”

“Which man?” Syl knelt to tuck a curl behind her ear.

“He gave us food, but he wasn’t a nice man. He’s not coming here, is he?” She raised a large fear-filled gaze to Syl, her body trembling.

Gabriel gripped the chair, the urge to gather her in his arms and protect her sweeping through him. He didn’t want to dwell on how much his solitary life had changed.

“Gabriel and Callie wouldn’t let any harm befall you, malen’kiy ,” Dimitri said.

She released Callie’s leg to leap into his arms. Snuggling against him, she settled with a contented sigh. Their bond was disturbing despite its beauty. Perhaps the trust had formed when Dimitri had rescued Callie?

Gabriel shot a look at Leo and arched a brow. Investigate this, will you? he asked, tossing the request in thought.

I plan to , Leo said.

Gabriel waved a hand, and a mahogany table appeared with Callie’s files now strewn across its polished surface.

“Start at the beginning,” he said to Syl.

Dimitri slid into a chair with George still clinging to him. Her eyes drooped, and after the day she had, Gabriel wasn’t surprised.

Callie chose the seat next to Gabriel, her warmth spreading to his palm when she laced her fingers with his. She left the farthest chair for Syl.

He sat, his brow furrowing with concern. “Alrik, the previous alpha of the Knights Ridge, approached me saying they’d discovered, through various sources, the cure to vampire infertility.”

Callie gasped before breaking into a relieved and delighted smile. Her shoulders relaxed, but she squeezed Gabriel’s hand with her excitement barely contained.

Syl materialized a snifter of brandy, staring at its amber liquid before swirling it. “Of course, I didn’t trust him. So, I played along and agreed to test a sample. The results were promising. The women smelled fertile, so I purchased the canister. It’s in our lab now. The chemical breakdown is different, though, as if they have added something since the sample. We have yet to test it on women for obvious reasons.”

“What if you say you tested it?” Mike asked. “Hear me out.” He raised his hands in supplication. “They’re watching, waiting. I know I would. React as if the cure is killing your women. Start gathering your forces as if you plan to attack the beasts…I mean, shifters.”

“Yes…that could work. I would chat first to the new alpha, Rhys. Find out if he’s in on Stavros’s plan.” Gabriel gestured with his head to Leo, suggesting Syl take him with to the meeting.

“If he is oblivious, we can deceive Stavros with a fake war.” Dimitri grinned, revealing how eager he was to best Stavros.

“No one likes to be played,” Callie said.

“Monique, Carter’s daughter, must reveal her existence to her father to end his vendetta, and if he cannot accept what she’s become, then we’ll destroy him.” Syl gave Leo a make-it-happen look.

“Carter won’t go down alone. He’ll take Duhamel with him,” Mike said.

“That leaves Stavros.” Dimitri grinned, his eyes sparkling.

“This ruse should flush him out,” Leo said, sipping his cognac.

“He’s after Gabriel. We’ll use him as bait.” Dimitri rubbed his palms together. The full details as to why he hated Stavros were still unknown.

“Keep my family safe.” Gabriel shot a glance at Callie’s pinched lips.

“No.” She slammed her fist on the armrest. “I’m with you.”

“I need you safe.” He tried to keep the pleading from his voice. After her abduction, he wouldn’t survive it if she was in danger again.

“As I need you to be. We do this together, Gabe.” She folded her arms across her chest.

He shook his head, his heart racing. The idea of Callie in danger… “You’re no match for Stavros. I have yet to train you.”

“I don’t care.” She raised her chin and glowered. “I’ve taken down suckbloods before.”

“We can escalate her training,” Dimitri said.

Gabriel clenched his fists and stared him down for his suggestion, his glare lethal and long, until Dimitri at last glanced away. “I planned to, but even if we had months to train her, Stavros has had centuries to hone his skills.” He threw a pointed look at Callie, conveying his decision was final.

Typical of her to ignore his command. “I’m a detective, Gabe. Danger I can deal with. Losing you or George? Not so much.”

Silence descended then Syl said, “I see the bond is not complete yet.”

“Everything with Callie’s conversion is unusual. It’s as if she’s still human.” Leo’s expression deepened in thought.

“Are you reading my mind?” Her body stiffened as she challenged him.

Gabriel hid a smirk.

“Parts of it.” Leo’s honest response drew forth a head shake from Mike. The man didn’t realize how much danger he was in. “As I understand, you’ve walled your inner sanctum. I can’t penetrate it, which means neither can the bond.”

“Leo, get out of my head or so help me,” she threatened, placing a white-knuckled fist on the table’s surface.

“But—” He flinched, his skin paling.

Pain marred his features, but Gabriel didn’t care what she had done to him. All that mattered was the sudden influx of emotions, thoughts, and memories that were not his own. Whatever she’d done had opened herself to the Adsumo .

He gasped, shuddering at the sweet, intense overload. Every one of his senses sparked to life. Goosebumps skittered across his skin, and his nipples responded in kind.

“Out,” he growled, unable to regulate his voice.

Dimitri rose, taking Mike and George with him, while Leo and Syl evaporated.

“George?” Callie squeaked. She twisted in her chair to stare at Gabriel, waiting for an answer.

“Dimitri will care for her.” His voice deepened as he relished their connection.

Closing his eyes, he drew her into his arms. Concern was her core emotion, at the unexpected exodus, nervous about George, worried about Gabriel’s strange behavior. With one bold and joyful decision, she placed her trust in him, as she’d done from the day they’d met.

“Do you feel it?” He kissed her temple.

Her gasp was her answer, along with the tightening of her arms around him. “What is that? Are those your memories?”

“And my emotions.” His voice was husky. “All that I feel for you, Callista.”

“You love me?” Her voice filled with hope and surprise.

“As you love me.” He wallowed in the core of her mind.

The glowing warm depths shone for him, saturating the dark recesses of his soul. He stopped breathing, not that it was a necessity, but it was indicative of how much her opinion of him mattered. Now she’d know how much she meant to him.

“You loved me from the start.” Her lips curled into a delicious smile. “You knew what you were doing when you spoke the Rite of Adsumo over me. You had every intention of keeping me forever, regardless of my permission.”

“But you did agree—your honor demanded you keep your word. That, and your hatred for Syl.” He laughed, unable to contain the blissful happiness inside him. I never thought I’d be grateful to Syl.

“Did you just…?” Speak to me telepathically? Awe graced her features, along with doubt and fear.

Yes, it’s what claiming can do. A bond forms that surpasses all boundaries. With this complete, we are married, Callie. You are mine, at last.

Have I told you I love you, Mr. de Winter? She trailed her fingertips along his collarbone.

His heartbeat pounded out a new rhythm. She loved him. He’d suspected, had wanted to ask her many times, but to have her tell him, of her own free will…it was precious to him.

No, you haven’t, Mrs. de Winter. “You have shown me though.”

She leaned closer to feather her lips along his neck. “There’s power in the spoken word.”

He agreed, then again, she had power over him, by word and deed.

“It changes hope to reality.” He plucked the words from her mind. “Tonight, I have other plans for your lips and for your tongue.”

She giggled, lifting her sparkling emerald gaze to meet his. Show me.