Her Warrior for Eternity (16 page)

The wound wasn’t deep and he was able to stem it with magic, but it infuriated him that the bastard had even been able to try. At least the bloke hadn’t shot him. No one had resorted to firearms yet, for the fear that they would hit one of their own in the melee, but since the renegades didn’t seem too worried about killing their own, it was only a matter of time.

Then they were down to ten enemies. Gabe was only getting warmed up and Jeremy kept a worried eye on him, just in case they would have to put a stop to the slaughter. He wasn’t the only one. The renegades were starting to realise that the fight wasn’t going their way after all, and began to desert.

They couldn’t have that.

Jeremy was about to dash after the closest escapee when half a dozen warriors leaped over the wrought iron fence and joined in the fight. “Don’t kill everyone,” he shouted – a fair warning, as the fresh guys were eager to do their share.

When everything was over, they had three captives, the best haul they had ever had. If they could keep them alive for long enough to interrogate them, they would have a good chance to find who was killing the women. But the bastards had a nasty tendency to self-destruct when caught. They couldn’t release the
compulsion
binding them for a moment.

The immobile renegades were carried into cars and driven away to be interrogated later. Some warriors stayed behind to clear up the fight scene and check the CCTV cameras in the surrounding buildings in case they had caught the fight. A few guys were dealing with the bodies of the women and contacting the police.

But Jeremy, he couldn’t wait to get back to the manor. Cora was there and he had left her alone for far too long. Anything could have happened to her in this amount of time.

He was too wound up to let anyone else drive, so he took the wheel despite Jas’s grumbling. It was less than two hours to sunrise and he wanted to be home before it.

At the manor, he drove straight to the front door, ignoring Zach’s protests that the cars should be parked by the garages. Zach could deal with the car if it was so important. Jeremy dashed in and took the stairs two at the time to the third floor, ran to his room, and burst in.

It was empty.

Instantly worried, he swivelled around, ready to search for her. But he caught his image in the mirror by the door and changed his mind. It was best he cleaned up first. She would have a fit if she saw him looking – and smelling – like a victim of a tar pit accident. And he would have to have the wound checked too.

Smiling at the thought of how angry she would be with him for getting injured, he headed to the shower. He would find her later.

Power unlike anything she had experienced washed over Corynn. It forced her to her knees and made her eyes water. She couldn’t breathe, she could barely keep from passing out. But it also forced the Rider to back down.

The pressure on her disappeared and she collapsed in relief. She knew she should be frightened, but she felt grateful. “Thank you,” she said the moment she was able to speak again. “I wasn’t paying attention and it slipped free.”

The man in front of her wasn’t the pleasant, relaxed guy she had chatted with earlier. Even without the power, sitting down with his leg propped up, he was Authority. She couldn’t fathom how she hadn’t seen it before.

“Because I didn’t let you,” he answered, as if having read her mind. “I made you. I can get into your head whenever I want,” he continued, proving it was true. Then he relented a little. “Don’t worry about losing the Rider. It’ll happen again. Many times. Don’t take it personally.”

She frowned. “I’ve always been in control of my body. I can’t help but take it personally.”

“It’s not enough to control just your body. You have to control your mind too.” He regarded her for a moment and then reached a decision. “Follow me.” He got smoothly up, his leg not bothering him at all. Now that she knew he was the best magical healer in the world, the injury was even more inexplicable.

She followed him out of the theatre and down the hall. He limped a little, but didn’t lean against the cane that seemed to be more for show. He led her to the east wing where the gym was, and she anticipated a rigid workout session where she could punish her body into submission, but they went past it and down a smaller staircase to the second floor. They ended up in a large room full of computers and surveillance monitors.

“This is our intelligence centre. Maybe your body will be easier to control if your mind is properly occupied.”

Like the other rooms, this one was empty too, but not abandoned. “Where is everyone?”

“They work mostly during the day. We’ve got the place to ourselves.”

The idea of spending more time in his company both unnerved and reassured her. She was afraid of him, but he would be able to keep her Rider in check. Her Rider and the rest of the world.

“So, I guess I should thank you for saving my life.”

He gave her a scrutinising look. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for one of my best warriors.” It warmed her to hear Jeremy was a valued warrior, so she didn’t mind the slight. “I hope you don’t make me regret the decision.”

“Yeah, me too,” she said, sounding much braver than she was. She had a vivid notion he would end her life himself if she didn’t live up to his expectations.

He clapped his hands together, startling her. “Now, let’s see what we can get out of these computers.”

“What are we searching for?”

“Renegades.” The ‘duh’ that was implied seemed so out of character that she smiled.

“Well, that should narrow down the search. Give me a few key words and I’ll whip up a search parameter.”

They settled down to work together. The familiar routines she was good at were exactly as calming as Foley had suggested. She even forgot to be afraid of him. He didn’t flex his power again and her Rider didn’t show up. It was as if her life had returned to how it had been.

“Why the hell aren’t you in bed yet?”

Corynn jumped when Jeremy shouted at the door, but Foley didn’t even stir. He had most likely sensed his approach. He could have warned her too.

She glanced at the clock on the wall, surprised by the hour. “I guess I lost the track of time.” Then she gave him a critical once over. He seemed uninjured. He had showered and shaved, and was dressed in clean clothes, but his face was harassed. “Have you been looking for me for long?”

“Yes I have.” His worried anger disappeared. “Come, let’s get you to bed before the sun rises.”

She sighed. “I wish I could see a sunrise again. I didn’t value it enough the last time I saw it.”

“I know, and you will. Worry not.”

“Is there still time? I need to finish this search parameter.” But even as she spoke, she felt her bones grow heavy. “This feels most curious.” The last thing she saw before everything went dark was two pairs of hands reaching out to support her.

Chapter Seventeen

“So how about that meeting with Toby?”

Jeremy put down his utensils and considered how to answer Cora’s question. She had been more balanced the past couple of nights, ever since Alexander put her to work. It would never have occurred to him that she was strong enough for it already, but Alexander had known better.

But there were other complications. “I’m sorry, but now isn’t the best time to bring anyone here.”

“Why?”

Other warriors at the table paused their eating to find out how he would handle this. Bastards. “We’re on high alert and outsiders aren’t allowed in.”

He more sensed her worry than saw it on her face, her control over her body better than her emotions. “Is it something I should be concerned about?”

“Not anymore.”

“You’re still not going to tell me what it was that got you so hysterical in the first place, are you?” She didn’t sound angry; she sounded resigned. Her upset made him feel wretched. She deserved to know the truth.

“Have you heard of the so called Ripper 21?” He couldn’t keep the scorn out of his voice at the name the media had come up with for the serial killer, the twenty-first century Jack the Ripper.

She lifted her brows. “Of course. Is this what it’s all about? A serial killer? But what’s that to do with me?”

“There’s more than one killer and they’re not targeting random women. Renegades are behind it and they’re targeting women with
promise
. We don’t know why, maybe for an experiment to create women like them, and they all end up dead.”

She paled. “Why couldn’t you tell me this before?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t want to shock you with telling you about your
promise
.” She looked sheepish, acknowledging that she hadn’t exactly taken the news well. “And you got the
promise
fulfilled
pretty much immediately after I told you about it, thus taking you off the target list. And you’ve been here ever since. Renegades can’t get in here.”

“And neither can anyone else?”

“No.”

She sighed. “Well, can I go to him?”

“Absolutely not.” His harsh denial dismayed her, so he hastened to explain. “We’re not allies with his clan. And also being around that many leopard-shifters so soon after your
fulfilment
would be straining for you.”

She looked mulish. “Can’t we arrange a meeting on a neutral ground, then?”

“What’s with your need to see him all of a sudden?” He knew Toby wasn’t a threat to him, but he felt annoyed nonetheless that she would prefer the shifter’s company to his.

“He’s my friend. I haven’t seen him in weeks. And I’m going stir crazy cooped up in here!”

“What, are you saying we’re not fun to be around?” Nick quipped from the other side of the table.

She smiled at him. “Well, maybe once the big bad calms down a little when other men are around.” Everyone laughed, Jeremy included, although his
hunger
wasn’t showing any signs of going away.

Gabe cleared his throat at the end of the table. “If I may suggest a solution…”

Jeremy turned to him eagerly, glad for the intervention. He was beginning to learn that all his womanising hadn’t taught him anything about women. “Absolutely.”

Gabe smiled. “She could invite her friend to a café or restaurant in Epsom. It’s neutral territory, small enough so as not to put a strain on her, and easy to defend. The only other two-natureds she’s likely to run into there are the Greenwood clan wolves and they’ll keep to themselves.”

Jeremy glanced at Cora. “Would that be good enough?”

She smiled, slowly. “For now.” Then she jumped excitedly in her chair. “I can’t wait to contact him.”

“Just give me enough time to arrange a safe location.”

Jeremy began scouting for the suitable location immediately after dinner. He wanted to delight her, and jealousy shouldn’t matter. They would be meeting in Epsom, far from the renegade grounds, but he put security before all other concerns, like the menu or atmosphere of the place.

The pub he found was ideally situated by a main road, close to the Ewell Station should Toby come by train. It was more of a chain affair, but it was open late and served roasted meat he knew would appeal to Cora and her friend both. It had a garden terrace where they could eat, good for a fast escape, although indoors would be safer.

He considered reserving the entire pub for them, but Cora put a stop to that. “You’re making such a fuss. I’m meeting an old friend. There’s nothing to worry about. And he’s a leopard-shifter. He can defend me.”

“Like I’d let you go without me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Come, if you must. But stay far enough for the two of us to gossip in peace.”

The notion of listening to gossip about people he didn’t know or care about made him shudder, but then he reconsidered. It might be interesting to listen to the pair of them talk about their mutual friends and lives. She hadn’t brought up his life before becoming a vampire once, not in good or bad. He didn’t know who or what she missed about it. Toby was the only person she had mentioned. She hadn’t even called her parents, saying it would be too difficult for them at this point.

Was she ashamed of what she had become? She hadn’t wanted to be a vampire, he had done this to her against her will. She knew it couldn’t be changed, so perhaps she was trying to embrace her new life by discarding the old completely. It wasn’t healthy. This meeting with Toby was a step in the right direction, so he shouldn’t oppose it.

The sun set around half past eight at this time of the year. Cora woke up soon thereafter and they left for her meeting as soon as she had prepared herself. “I haven’t put makeup on in days and my hair is a mess. Do you know if there’s a hairdresser I could visit while we’re out and about?”

“You look absolutely beautiful.” He didn’t think she needed any makeup, but it did bring out the sparkle in her eyes and disguised the last remains of her paleness.

She blushed, adding natural colour on her face. “Thanks. But the hair still needs some work.”

They arrived early so he could check the place one more time. He had reserved a table on the terrace, at the corner, so he could keep an eye on everyone approaching, and inside too, in case the weather turned sour. But the early May evening was beautiful and warm enough for even humans to sit on the terrace after the sunset. For Cora and Toby, it would be perfect.

He had dressed for the occasion too, his large wardrobe put to good use for once. He thought he looked as a boyfriend should, but to his amazement the staff and other customers were wary and even afraid of him.

“You’re stalking,” Cora noted, amused, when he brought it up. “And staring at everyone like you expect them to pull out a gun at any moment.”

“Huh. And here I thought I was blending in.”

She burst out laughing. “You’ll never blend in.” She patted his arm. “But you’re perfect as you are.” And damn, if that didn’t make him walk a little taller.

Toby arrived soon after. He was the shifter Jeremy had seen with Cora before, tall and lean, bordering on lanky, but moving with the sinuous grace of the feline predator that he was. Jeremy could see why she liked running with him; he had the perfect physique for it. And the chap was smart too, keeping his aura hidden. The last thing Jeremy needed was her to freak out at the sight of it.