Blood Finale (God Wars #5) (19 page)

"We're not strong enough to take on the General, but we're good enough now to cause havoc elsewhere," Charles said. "We just have to leave here in disguise."

"And make sure nobody can reveal us," I agreed.

"You can do that," Charles grinned.

"Yeah. I probably can. Where are we going first?"

"How about San Francisco for Breanne, Fresno for me and Le-Ath Veronis for you? Hank and the High Demons will be watching for the Gates of Hell to open."

"Have the Larentii perfected their nexus echo variation?"

"I had Hank send mindspeech. They're almost done implementing his suggestions. It'll be ready soon."

"You mean you told him what to say," I pointed out.

"Maybe." Charles shrugged modestly. "We had a discussion. He drew the proper conclusions."

"If we do this right, we can disguise ourselves to everyone except those we trust," I said.

"True. I'll vote for that. I'm not going as the old Charles, though. This is better. I like being myself."

"Why the disguise, then?"

"Less threatening. Harmless enough—in appearance, anyway. I'm thankful Flavio took the bait, though, and pulled me out of the Thames after I attempted a stunt dive."

"Flavio was a good choice."

"The best—as far as a vampire parent who was high in the vampire hierarchy went," Charles said. "I had to position myself close to Wlodek, so when the time came, I could nudge him toward the peace agreement with the werewolves."

"It wouldn't have happened, would it?" I blinked at him—only now realizing how much of a role he'd played.

"No, it wouldn't have happened. Wlodek is more than stubborn, as you already know."

"I know you sent me the complete file on the Elemaiya," I acknowledged.

"I kept Lissa alive—twice. Wlodek would have voted for her death without my intervention, and then, when she attempted suicide on Merrill's rooftop, I asked Wlodek for permission to go see her. When I arrived, she was floating in a bathtub. It took just a moment of time and bit of power, but she came out of it."

"And then you made the vamps forget her after Griffin pulled her away."

"It was prudent to do so."

"Yeah. I'm not sure she appreciated it so much at first, but I believe she sees the sense in it now."

"That was hard for her," Charles observed. "It's a testament to her strength that she made it through."

"What about Breanne?" I asked.

"Unforeseen—most of it," he shook his head. "I hope things smooth out eventually. Breanne's memories are horrible. Her inner strength is astounding."

"You got that—her memories?" I asked.

"I went looking for them while we were together. None of that was pleasant." Charles seemed troubled by what he'd seen, and I understood—what little I'd gotten from Breanne had frightened me horribly.

"What did you and Hank have to discuss?" I changed the subject. "Other than nexus echo?"

"This, among other things," Charles smiled and touched my arm. I blinked as the vision hit me.

A car drove along a street in a small Texas town. My breath stopped. The woman inside shrieked at what appeared in the street before her—an enormous High Demon stood there, his wings outspread, breathing clouds of smoke while stars fell through his eyes. Without a doubt, I knew she believed that the devil had arrived to collect her soul in exchange for her sins. Hank's presence caused the driver to skid to a stop, then back up and turn around quickly, her car tires screeching loudly as she sped in the opposite direction.

She didn't bother stopping for the traffic light, running right through it and into another vehicle. Joyce Christian died quickly. I knew the driver of the other car, who was drunk, would take the blame for her death—the local sheriff would see to that. Hank's Thifilathi had already disappeared when the sirens sounded.

Chapter 11
 

Breanne's Journal

"Ready to go see Bill, Trajan, Jayson and Fes?" I watched as a corner of Hank's mouth curled lazily when I opened my eyes.

"I'm hungry," I complained.

"You think Fes will let you starve?"

"No."

"Good. I think a quick bath is in order, then we'll go. Feel better?"

"I feel great." I surprised myself with the truth of my statement—I hadn't felt this good since before Charles, Ashe and I separated.

"It's amazing what a little sex will do." Hank gave me a mischievous grin before sliding off the bed and offering me a hand.

"Is sex the answer for everything?" I asked innocently.

"It doesn't hurt." He pulled me up and settled my body against his.

"You're so warm," I mumbled, my cheek pressed against his chest.

"To keep you warm." His arms tightened around me.

"You're doing a mighty fine job, then."

"Anytime."  He grinned and pointed me toward the bathroom. "Shower. Now."

"Going. Will Bill be mad?"

"Bill will do handstands. Trajan will likely start howling."

"What about?" I couldn't finish because his hand went over my mouth.

"They'll be so happy to see you that anger won't be a consideration. Get clean and we'll go."

* * *

Trajan's Journal

"We'll have a visitor," I said. I'd just gotten word from Hank, and I almost couldn't contain my excitement. He was bringing Breanne to us first. I didn't bother asking questions. I knew Ashe and Charles were back as well, but Breanne was my first priority.

"Who?" Fes had risen late after a long night working at the restaurant. He was having difficulty getting days off—the owner wanted him there constantly to oversee the food preparations and to cook specialty dishes.

"It's a surprise. A really good one." My wolf wanted to howl, and it wasn't anywhere near the full moon.

"When?"

"Soon." I couldn't stop myself from grinning.

"What are you hiding?" Bill's eyes narrowed in speculation.

"The best secret ever. I'd tell you, but then Hank would kill me."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jayson stalked toward me, wearing a heavy frown.

"This." Hank appeared, grinning foolishly. Jayson whooped when Breanne stepped from behind him, an uncertain smile making her lower lip tremble.

As a werewolf, I wouldn't have thought it possible, but Bill beat me to Breanne. He held her in a tight embrace and whispered tender words while the rest of us stood there, waiting for our turn.

* * *

Breanne's Journal

Tears came—I couldn't help it. Bill whispered how much he loved me while holding me and rocking my body. That felt so good. I understood, too, that he'd imagined he might not see me again.

"I'm sorry, honey," I apologized when I was able to pull away. "I wasn't in control to let you know otherwise."

"I know." Bill leaned in to kiss me. "That's in the past. I'm just glad you're here now."

"Bree?" Trajan's deep brown eyes seemed concerned as Bill moved away to allow my werewolf to step in.

"Trajan?" I sniffled when his hands cupped my face.

"I missed you so much." I was lifted, carried and settled on the kitchen island, where Trajan accepted a tissue from Fes and tended to the tears tracking my cheeks.

"She's hungry," Hank said.

"We can fix that," Fes declared.

* * *

Ashe's Journal

"Baby?"

"Huh?" Kay was sleeping and I'd woke her.

"Sweetheart, I'm back."

"Ashe?" One eye opened, revealing the startling blue that I'd loved the moment I'd seen it as a thirteen-year-old. I grinned at her. What I wasn't expecting happened next—she was in my arms and pressing kisses to every part of my face and neck she could reach.

"Slow down," I teased as she pulled away to touch me with trembling fingers—as if she were making sure I was real and not a dream.

"Bree?" She whispered a plea.

"Fine. Visiting with her other mates at the moment. We'll catch up to her soon. I just wanted a little time with you—alone."

"I want that, too," Kay nodded. "Things are different for me now. Do I thank you for that?"

"Thank Breanne. She changed things for you. I hope you don't mind."

"I love her for it," Kay nodded emphatically. "Everything is so much better—easier for me to deal with."

"I know you got hurt," I pulled her into a tight embrace.

"But Karzac fixed us. I'm fine. The others are, too."

"Charles said so." I kissed her. Then kissed her again. She didn't protest when I gently lowered her body and followed it down.

* * *

Lissa's Journal

"I heard you wanted to yell." Charles appeared inside the kitchen at the Fresno compound. Adam and Kiarra were there with me and both stared as he'd made his appearance.

"I don't want to yell—not exactly," I said. "This is you, right? And not the One?"

"It's me," he nodded. "Go ahead, say what's on your mind."

"Charles," I shook my head, not sure where to start. "Look, let's table this for now. You knew so much all along, and there I was, fumbling my way through everything. Thinking that you were merely Wlodek's mild-mannered assistant and the vampire who was so organized he could do sixteen things at once."

"Think of this from my point of view," Charles said, sliding onto a barstool and accepting a glass of orange juice from Kiarra. "How hard it was for me to bite my tongue and keep that information to myself—to save both of us." He drank half the glass before sighing and going silent for a few moments.

"Moxas was connected to Xenides, did you know? Saxom made sure of that," Charles said.

"What the hell?" Adam, his brow furrowed in consternation, spoke for the first time.

"They always had mindspeech—the special kind between twins. The Ra'Ak couldn't shut that down, even when they held Moxas captive for so long."

"Are you saying that Moxas may have been pulling some of Xenides' strings—after Saxom's death?" I almost held my breath, waiting for the answer.

"I believe so," Charles said. "Nearly every move the vampires made was marked by Xenides and transferred to Moxas. The only thing that he had difficulty tracking was anything to do with you, Lissa." He nodded dark eyes at me. Yes, this Charles hadn't bothered to disguise himself. This Charles was taller. Stronger. Held a presence that would cause most to back away. The other Charles? He'd seemed so approachable and nonthreatening. If I'd met this Charles the first time, I'd have backed away. Instead, I'd been comfortable with him before. Found it easy to talk with him. I'd been so afraid in the past of sharing secrets with him—afraid they'd go straight to Wlodek. Charles would have only shared what he deemed necessary for Wlodek to know. My most personal concerns he would have kept to himself.

"I missed you," I stepped forward and surprised him with a hug.

"And I missed you." He offered a lopsided grin when I pulled away. "Sorry about all the subterfuge. I had to do what I felt was right to protect everybody involved."

"I sort of understand. I think," I replied. "What worries me is what we're supposed to do now. The General can wipe all of us out. I'm not sure we have enough in our arsenal to defeat him."

"That's why we have to be creative," Charles shrugged.

* * *

Breanne's Journal

"I'm stuffed," I waved away a third helping of mushroom soup. Fes had taken care of me—and then some. The mushroom soup he'd made the day before was exceptional, and it had taken no time at all for him to heat it with power so I could eat.

"How do you like being you now?" I smiled at him.

"I love it. It came as a huge surprise, but I'll admit that I got used to it quickly."

"I love that you love it," I shrugged. "And I love your soup. I just can't eat anything else right now or I'll explode. Really."

"Then I'll cook something else later. I have to go to work in an hour."

I don't suppose you'd consider coming to bed with me before that
? he sent mindspeech.

Uh, okay
, I responded.
Sorry, that hesitation is nervousness, and not because I don't want to
, I added.

I know. Come on. We'll do this together. Don't feel uncomfortable, love. We'll find our way
.

Finding our way was exactly what we did. Fes was a considerate (and extremely passionate) lover. He let me know what he wanted. Asked me what I wanted. I fumbled my way through that, eventually losing the embarrassment and telling him what made me feel good and what brought me to climax. Fes made sure I got those things. And then some.

Later, I watched him dress for work. We talked as he moved comfortably through the bedroom, slipping into a shirt and choosing a pair of shoes to wear in a busy restaurant kitchen.

"We're attempting to lure Saxom in," he explained as he sat on the side of the bed to put on socks and shoes. "Griffin said the bastard loves seafood. I'm cooking the best seafood in San Francisco. Reah is waiting for Song and Serenade to show up at Desh's in Targis," he added. "For years, they've made regular reservations. Those bitches have been right under our noses and we never knew."

I watched Fes' hands clench—I knew that disturbed him. I knew that Reah's abuse at Edan Desh's hands troubled him, too. He'd been unaware of it, as he'd worked the restaurant in Targis while she was sent to Edan in Shirves.

"Edan isn't the same man you knew as your brother." I rubbed his back gently.

"I know. I like this one. Edan now would never consider a jealous contest of wills or a foolish competition for our father's approval."

"I realize Reah was uncomfortable at first with this, but Kifirin actually did a good thing when he exchanged this Edan for the other."

"Kifirin's dead."

"I heard. I have to talk to my sister about that." I swung my feet off the side of the bed and stood to stretch.

"You're beautiful." Fes pulled me to him and planted a kiss on my lower back.

"And so are you." I leaned down to kiss him. "Plus, you make awesome mushroom soup."

"I have to go to work." He patted my bottom gently. "Although I'd like to stay home and keep loving you."

"Go to work. I'll go talk to Lissa."

* * *

Jayson followed me around after Fes went to work and I showered and dressed. "Jayson, I'll get to you, I promise," I said after he lifted my top to play with my nipples.

"We uh, have something to tell you," Bill walked in with Trajan.

"What's that?"

"When Terry was brought over, well, we taught him how to separate particles. It was a good thing, too—a Sirenali and a lawyer showed up at his office with Laurel Rome."

"So, which one got separated? The lawyer or the Sirenali?"

"The Sirenali, silly," Bill grinned. "But that's not what we have to own up to."

"Then what have you done?" Yeah, I was waiting for the big reveal.

"Your TinyCar is toast crumbs. Terry separated its particles."

"You did not separate my TinyCar. I liked my TinyCar."

"Sweetheart, I'll buy you something else," Bill soothed. "That wasn't really a car anyway. If it'll fit in a pocket, it's not a car."

"Seriously?" My hands were on my hips and I was feeling more than a little miffed. "You destroy my stuff the minute I'm gone?"

"Baby, I'll take you out and buy whatever you want," Jayson broke in. "As long as it's big enough for a normal person to fit inside."

"So I'm not normal?"

"Jayson, shut the hell up," Hank walked in. "Stop digging a deeper hole. If she wants her TinyCar back, you can reform one. And make it strong enough to withstand almost anything."

"I'll do that," Jayson stalked out of the room.

"Look who I brought." Hank grinned when Chazi, Bekzi and Perzi walked in behind him.

"Hey, you!" I held my arms out. I was covered by lion snake shapeshifters in no time.

"We go with you. Wherever." Chazi grinned after I'd kissed all three of them.

"That will be awesome," I said. "Want to take me to Fresno? I have to see Lissa."

"We go." Bekzi agreed.

"I'll come, just in case," Trajan said.

"Thanks, honey."

* * *

Lissa's Journal

Charles tapped me on the shoulder—he was having a late lunch that Kiarra and I had thrown together for him, and I'd sat beside him, a glass of tea in my hand while he ate. "She's coming," he said.

"Who?" The question was automatic.