Page 46 of Transfiguration
“Need to talk to you when Sam gets home,” Luca said.
“Okay. Sleep until then.” He waited for Luca’s breathing to even out to sleep before looking at his phone again. It was after two in the morning and there was no sign of Sam.
Con thought it was Sam responding to the NSFW videos Con had sent, but when he looked at his phone he saw,Where did you see that symbol?
Con frowned and hit back a reply,The bunker where I found Bella.
Sam’s response came back with a mash of curses and random characters.
What is it?Con asked. He’d never encountered it before.
Kresnik.
What is Kresnik?
Vampire hunters,Sam sent back.Vampire hunting witches. Fuck. Are you awake… Obviously you’re awake since you’re texting me… can you meet me somewhere? I need to show you something.
Con sighed, wishing for a nap, but sent back,Sure, where?
A ping came back with a location. Out in the woods? Con sent back a?
Where we found all those vampire and witch corpses recently.Sam replied.Bodies have been removed and still being sorted, but symbols… You know more runes than anyone I know.
Con peeled himself away from Luca’s snuggling embrace and tugged on clothes.Probably don’t watch those videos if you’re looking at a crime scene.
The freeze frames tell me a lot…
We missed you.Con sent back as he stepped into his shoes and pulled out a coat.Luca said we need to talk? Is it about Bella?
No, later.
“Where are you going?” Luca whined, not moving.
Con leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Gotta meet Sam for a work thing. Come down and check the wards, okay? Keep Bella safe?”
Luca groaned. “Monster. Fucking me into the floor and running away.”
“I promise to do it again later,” Con said. “Sounds like this is important.” Con wrapped his arms around Luca, hugging him for a minute. Something in his chest felt heavy, like he was afraid of leaving. Which was stupid because Luca could more than take care of himself. He was a championship cage fighter, as fast and strong as any vampire, even Sam. Maybe it was Bella’s presence that really worried him? How did people with dangerous jobs handle kids? He really was going to have to talk to Rou, wasn’t he? He sighed and let go, slapping Luca’s bare ass before he headed for the stairs. “Wards?”
“Coming… Or at least I wish I was,” Luca muttered.
“’Cause you didn’t come enough earlier?” Con teased.
“I recover fast,” Luca said. He pulled on a pair of jeans and no underwear before following Con downstairs. His movements were stiff and slow. Maybe Con had been a little too rough? “You need sleep.”
“I’m fine. Used to long days. You okay?”
Luca gave him a tight smile. “Yes, just missing you every second you are gone.”
“I’ll be home in a few hours.” Con cupped Luca’s cheek. “With the hot vampire in tow.”
“That’s always a perk.”
Con grabbed up his stuff, ordered a driver from Hart’s massive pool of them, and stepped out. He waited until he heard the door lock click before heading to the elevator. Since they were in the middle of downtown, the driver arrived before he got down to the garage level, his phone letting him know. It wasn’t Blake. Con didn’t recognize him. Maybe Blake had the night off.
The protestors still flooded the streets, making it hard to get out of the city. Con kept his fists clenched and tried not to memorize the faces in the crowd. He didn’t want to know people he spoke to at the gym or where he brought groceries thought he was better off dead. “Is it like this everywhere?” Con asked the driver when they finally hit the highway to exit the city.
“Around Dominion buildings or known vampire establishments,” the driver said. “Hart has everyone on alert. Everyone is to travel in groups, and all cars have the cameras on.” The driver tapped the camera on the dash.