Cronin's Key (16 page)

Cronin didn’t answer for a long second. “I am sorry I cannot give you more information than that. I wish I knew, because then I would know how to stop it.”

“But you have a theory, right?” Alec asked quietly. “You have some kind of idea what Keket actually needs me for? Like what the key truly is?”

Cronin frowned. “I have a theory,” he said softly, reluctantly. “Keket wants to resurrect Osiris, we know that. Now, I am not familiar with her abilities, but I am well-versed in Ancient Egyptians. We know Anubis embalmed him and we know in order to do that, he removed the heart of Osiris. There is much speculation about why he removed and weighed the hearts of those he embalmed. I know not why he did it, only that he did.”

“You think she needs my heart?” Alec asked. “Is that why I’m the Key? She needs my heart to bring back Osiris?”

“Anubis removed Osiris’s heart,” Cronin said. “It is one of the only facts that historians got right. It is the one critical component that’s missing, so it makes sense that the key is that component.”

Alec swallowed thickly. “My heart…?”

“It is only a theory,” Cronin said.

Alec looked up at him. “It makes sense.” Then Alec remembered something. “And Eleanor said that I’d need my heart to beat her. She presumed it meant courage or something…”

Cronin frowned. “I don’t like it, no matter how it’s referred to.”

Alec took a deep breath. “Well, at least now it makes sense. At least we know what she wants. I guess that’s something.” He looked up at Cronin. “Why me, though?”

“We don’t know,” Cronin answered. “As far as memory serves, there’s never been a living key. The key has always been an inanimate object: a stone, a scroll, a chalice. Never a person. This is new to us all.”

Alec nodded slowly. “My dad said something about my ancestors saying it was in my blood. My name was chosen for me, and those vampires that killed my mother knew I was special, even when I was just a few weeks old.”

Cronin sighed. “I would guess they were Seekers in their own right. Eiji killing them both then and there saved them telling of what they’d found and where you were.”

“Telling who?”

“Anyone. Seekers usually come with another skill,” Cronin explained. “It’s what makes them so good at what they do. Some are seers, so they would have seen your future. Some are cloakers.”

“What’s a cloaker?”

“Someone who can vanish, or disappear.”

“Like you?”

Cronin smiled. “No. They don’t leap to another place. They become invisible.”

“For real?”

Cronin chuckled at Alec. “Yes. For real. Though that kind of talent normally has to be registered within their coven. Such skills can be useful, but they can also be used against the coven, so we keep tabs on them.”

“Are there any cloakers in your coven?”

“No. I know of two in the world. One is in China, the other in South America. It is not a common talent.”

Alec leaned back in the chair and sighed. He needed to know everything he could, to at least try and understand what he was up against. “Talents or skills from human lives develop into vampire talents, yes?”

“Sometimes, yes.”

Alec spoke his theories out loud. “And Jodis’s ability to turn objects into ice, I can assume is from her Nordic heritage. She was a Viking; they came from icy lands. I get that. And if Tahani Shafiq was some expert in stem cell development when she was human, that made her talent as a vampire to regenerate the dead.”

“It would seem so, yes.”

“But sometimes talents are random, like Eiji, right? He sees DNA coding? Well, I can assure you, when he was human there was no such knowledge of any of that. So sometimes it’s just random.”

“Yes. And not all vampires have a talent or gift. Though all vampires have speed and agility, very quick thought processes, and we can concentrate on many things at the one time.”

“And your ability to leap? That was random, yeah?”

“I’ve given this a lot of thought,” Cronin said. He leaned against the desk, such a human thing to do. “Many of my friends, my brothers, were all married with families by the time they turned eighteen years, some were sixteen. I was twenty-six when I died, and I was not married. That is many years past what was the norm for my time.

“I did not fancy any girl in my village or that of any neighboring village. I didn’t fancy any girl at all. A boy or two had caught my eye, but I was not free to act on such urges. So I busied myself with the war,” Cronin said softly. “I spent a lot of time wishing I was someplace else, Alec. That’s the only reason I can think of that my talent in this life would be leaping. I wanted to be anywhere else.” He shrugged. “Now with just a thought, I can be.”

Alec got to his feet and stood in front of Cronin. The sadness in his story, in his voice, hurt Alec in a way he couldn’t vocalize. He slid his hand along Cronin’s face and pulled him against his chest. The intimacy of it surprised Alec and he expected Cronin to pull away, but he didn’t.

Then a soft rumble vibrated in Cronin’s chest, and Alec gasped when he realized Cronin was purring. He pulled back and lifted Cronin’s chin upward. They were so close, their faces just inches apart, and Alec wanted so badly to kiss him. He licked his lips and leaned down. Cronin’s lips parted, his eyes closed slowly, and his fanged teeth glinted behind soft-looking lips. Alec could taste the sweetness of Cronin’s breath, their lips just about to touch…

And there was a knock at the door.

Cronin growled and Alec took a step back, shaking his head of the lust-infused haze, just as Jodis opened the door.

“Apologies,” she said, looking between the two men, a small smile playing at her lips as though she knew damn well what she was interrupting. Alec was pretty sure she wasn’t sorry at all. “Cronin, a word?”

Cronin snarled. “Whatever is so important, just say it.”

Jodis looked from Alec back to Cronin, her back straight and her smile gone. “You need to feed. It’s been too long, and I don’t suggest getting that close to Alec without being well-fed. His safety is my only concern.”

“I would never hurt him,” Cronin whispered. It was eerily quiet, yet somehow threatening.

“Cronin,” she said calmly with an almost-smile. “I am not saying you would. I’m saying it’s not worth the risk. May I suggest you take the time to feed before we have to deal with whatever comes our way? Your strength will depend on it, as does Alec’s life.”

Cronin grumbled something Alec couldn’t quite make out.

Jodis gave a nod. “Until this is over, I think it would be safer if we fed separately, leaving two of us with Alec at all times, and it would probably be best if you went first, Cronin. I can’t imagine you wanting to leave Alec the closer we get to any possible confrontation.”

They were talking like Alec wasn’t even there—again—and it really pissed him off. “I don’t need a babysitter,” Alec said.

Both Jodis and Cronin stared at him for a heartbeat, then back to each other like he hadn’t spoken a word.

“What?” Alec said. “I can look after myself for a freakin’ hour. Or did you forget that you locked me away in your ivory tower?”

“Alec, you are the key,” Cronin said.

“So what?” Alec replied. “I can be here for an hour by myself, surely.”

“You are also wanted by not one ancient coven, Alec,” Jodis said, “but two. The Egyptians
and
the Illyrians want you. You will not be left alone.”

Alec hated being spoken to like a child. “I beg your pardon?”

“I don’t like it either,” Cronin said. “But Alec, have you not understood any of what’s gone on? Do you not know how important you are?”

Alec spoke through clenched teeth. “I’m not made of glass.”

Cronin picked up the glass paperweight off the desk and crushed it in one hand. “You may as well be.”

“Ugh,” Alec groaned in frustration. He’d gone from compassionate to aroused to angry in the space of five minutes. “I know how important I am. Important enough to be held fucking hostage!” Alec stalked out of the room, pulling the door behind him, glad that it slammed shut.

He could hear a muffled argument between Jodis and Cronin as he stormed out to the living room. Eiji was standing near the sofa and gave him a sad smile. “Alec,” he started to say.

Alec ignored him and pushed the door handle that lead out onto the patio. “He’s the most infuriating fucking man I’ve ever met,” Alec said, not caring if Cronin heard it. He kind of hoped he did.

The sun was almost set behind the city, though a few strands of sunlight still shone over the patio. Alec realized the height of the penthouse, bathed in the most sunlight, had its advantages.

No vampire could get him there.

He smiled as he felt the warmth on his face and the satisfaction that the three vampires inside were helpless to come out after him. Then a creeping feeling of apprehension crawled over him because… because Cronin was helpless to come out after him.

After a minute or two, he turned to face the glass wall. He could see nothing inside, only himself and the city mirrored back at him. He knew they were watching, though. He could feel Cronin’s eyes on him and as much as it annoyed him, as much as it infuriated him that Cronin was watching him, it was oddly reassuring.

Nevertheless, he turned around to allow the sun to wash over him. The warmth of it on his skin after days of hiding felt heavenly, and he stayed that way until the sun had almost disappeared.

Alec knew the moment Cronin left, because he was barreled by a sudden wave of unease; restlessness and agitation sat heavy in his chest. He spun to face the wall, and the door opened.

No one came out, but Eiji spoke. “He’s gone to feed. Your dinner is here also,” he said.

With a sigh, Alec crossed the patio and stepped inside. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Eiji smiled at him. “Please don’t be mad at him. The conflict you feel, how your mind and heart push and pull, is the same for him. He has been alone a very long time, and he only wants you to be happy. You will have to adjust together.”

“I know.” Alec winced. “Has he gone for long?”

Eiji shook his head. “No. Even if you weren’t being hunted by Seekers right now, that unease and fear you feel will keep him from being gone long.”

“He feels it too?” Alec asked, pushing the heel of his hand against his heart.

“Yes.”

Alec frowned and pulled the takeout container and chopsticks out of the bag, not sure he could eat, despite how hungry he was.

“Alec,” Eiji said softly. “Don’t disregard his concern for you. I don’t think you grasp the severity of what could happen. His concern is not only for you because of what you mean to him, but for what you mean to all vampires, and humans for that matter.”

Alec swallowed hard. He was embarrassed that he’d acted so childishly. “It’s just all been talk so far. I get told I’m the key, I’m important, but it doesn’t mean anything because it’s just fables and stories, you know what I mean?”

Eiji blinked. “Not really, no.”

“And Cronin,” Alec continued. “God help me, that man does my head in.”

Jodis walked into the kitchen and smiled. “Cronin is…” She seemed to search for the right word.

“Stubborn,” Alec prompted. “Sexy as hell, frustrating, he smells so damn good, he’s funny and so serious, and he completely does. My. Head. In.”

Eiji laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s funny,” he said. “Cronin said something similar about you.”

“He did?” Alec asked, probably a little too quickly. “I mean, not that I care.”

“Mmmhmm,” Eiji hummed. “Of course not.”

Jodis put her hand on Alec’s arm. “Cronin is very smitten with you. He falls deeper every day. It’s confusing for him, but it’s equally wonderful. Be patient with him. He’s worth it.”

Alec’s head lolled back and he let out a deep breath. He didn’t dare admit that he’d passed smitten like it was standing still. Instead, he collected his takeout and chopsticks and walked back to the door. “I might eat out here. The sun is almost gone.”

Alec was distracted: his mind in a dozen different places, he was so hungry but had no appetite, and Cronin’s absence twisted in his gut. He’d barely crossed half the patio and wondered briefly how much sunlight, or lack thereof, was required for vampires to walk around in the day when two vampires suddenly appeared in front of him.

Dark, hulking, and menacing, their sneers did little to conceal their fangs, and they both took another step toward Alec. “There will be no war if there is no Key,” one of them said, his Russian English jagged and sharp.

Everything happened so quickly yet in slow motion at the same time. Eiji and Jodis were in front of him in an instant, defending him, protecting him. Like it was happening at half speed, Eiji snatched the chopsticks Alec had on top of his takeout and spun around at the vampires in front of him. Jodis turned too, her long white hair twirling around her like ribbons. Her hand went out and both vampires were still, frozen. Eiji used the chopstick like a stake, spearing one vampire in the chest, then the second vampire turned to dust as well. Alec was picked up and removed back into the safety of Cronin’s apartment, all before his takeout dinner could hit the patio floor.

Alec was pressed up against the living room wall, his heart beating so damn hard it felt as though it would stop. He was safe, he knew he was, because it was Cronin who pressed against him. His scent was like a balm, soothing and warm. Cronin’s hands pressed to Alec’s face. “
Rug mi ort
,
rug mi ort
,” he whispered over and over. It was Gaelic, though Alec had no clue what it meant. Cronin pressed his cheek to Alec’s. His eyes were closed. “
Sàbhailtcachd
,
m’cridhe
.”

All Alec could do was breathe, and even that wasn’t easy. “What the… what the hell was that?”

Jodis and Eiji were back inside now in a flurry of checking doors, and some kind of metal walls were slowly rising to the ceiling where the glass wall used to be. “They were Russian,” Eiji said.

Cronin pulled back, still cupping Alec’s face. “Are you hurt?”

Alec shook his head. “No. Scared the crap outta me, though.” He held up his hand and it was shaking.