Crimson Heat: 4 (Vampira) (10 page)

Lisbeth knew if she didn’t return immediately, the Queen would indeed go through with her threat. She had to leave and go back to the Queen.

Now.

* * * * *

“You’re not returning,” Luca growled.

“Over my dead body,” Tristan warned.

“So, we’re agreed. She’s not to return. No matter what,” Jaymes stated.

Lisbeth stared at her three males in utter disbelief. She’d just told them she had to return in order to save her friend and they in return were being pigheaded and putting Zeena’s life in even more danger than it already was.

“The Queen will kill her. You know that,” Lisbeth stated, desperation rushing through her. She could never sacrifice anyone for her well-being. Not Zeena, not Christina. No one.

“Take this damned collar off me. Now,” she demanded. “I’m going back.”

“You aren’t thinking,” Tristan growled. “The Queen will kill her right in front of you to teach you a lesson. You know I speak the truth.”

“Oh vampire gods,” Christina moaned, her gaze round with terror. “They would hurt Zeena? She’s done nothing, Lisbeth. She’s an innocent.”

Lisbeth threw the males a warning scoff to back off.

“You three are not helping the situation.” But Tristan was right. Zeena didn’t have a chance in hell. The Queen was going to kill her either way.

“There may be someone we can go to for help,” she whispered as an idea began to form in her mind.

“Who?”

“The vampire who helped me escape from the Crimson Clan.”

* * * * *

Tristan wasn’t sure if they could trust Satin, but having extracted a promise that she wouldn’t do something stupid like dematerialize back to the Crimson Clan, they removed the collar. He sighed in relief when she held strong and remained beside them.

“So? Exactly who is this male who helped you escape?” Tristan asked as he helped a wobbly Christina to her feet. To say he wasn’t jealous that another male had been on the scene possibly fucking Satin — and the three of them had been clueless about it — was an understatement. He wanted to kill the male for causing them so much grief in wondering what had happened to her when she’d mysteriously disappeared.

“Christina, are you all right?” Lisbeth asked her young friend as she ignored his question.

“I’m fine. Please just help Zeena. I need to go back and tell my sire and mother.”

Lisbeth nodded. “Explain to them not to do anything until they hear from me. They could ruin my plans.”

“Which are?” Tristan prodded.

Once again she ignored him by leading Christina over to a nearby writing desk, where she quickly made out a note with pen and paper.

“I’ve told your parents to please let me handle this. I will get Zeena free even if it kills me.”

The female nodded and seemed as if she was about to cry. She didn’t even bother to help them protest about putting Satin’s life in jeopardy. Rage made Tristan’s fangs unleash. This was not the time for him to lose it. This was not the time for Satin to ignore his questions either. He clenched his fists and held himself rigid.

“Take this note to your sire and mother,” Lisbeth said as she pressed the paper into Christina’s hand. “Now, go.”

“Be careful,” Christina whispered. She dematerialized.

Jaymes and Luca stared at Tristan. He read the question in their gazes. How the hell did they deal with this female that they loved so much when so much danger lurked around her?

“Follow me,” she whispered.

Tristan cursed her as she dematerialized. But he was cursing empty air because Jaymes and Luca had already vanished too.

* * * * *

“Where the hell are we?” Jaymes growled from behind Lisbeth as he and Luca materialized right after her at the base of a snow-covered mountain that towered over them.

“The Matterhorn. Switzerland,” she replied and shivered as the frigid mountain air whipped harshly against her.

“Why, exactly are we here?” Tristan prodded as he appeared out of nowhere, not a foot away.

“My question, exactly.” Luca cocked his head with curiosity as he stared at her.

“Give him a minute,” Lisbeth whispered as she peered through the swirling snowflakes.

“Who?” Tristan prodded.

“The Queen’s twin brother, The Elder,” she answered and winced as the three males cursed up a storm bigger than the one snowing upon them. She’d expected this reaction.

“I don’t wish the mind shield raised over me this time around, Tristan.”

“I will protect you as I see fit,” Tristan retorted. “I will allow him access to areas I deem safe.”

She frowned and said nothing. His answer had been more than she’d hoped for. The Queen’s brother was as good as the Queen was evil. But, she understood Tristan’s refusal as well as their anger. They feared that her brother would somehow be faithful to the Queen, even though she had exiled him many years ago. But they would understand once she explained everything.

She ignored their fury and their questions and stared into the swirling snow. She couldn’t see two feet in front of her, but she
knew
he was here. He had said if ever she was in trouble…

“There.” Tristan pointed at a white figure emerging in the snowflakes.

The males were about to go for their weapons, but she held up her hand, signaling for them to stop. Thankfully, they did. Huh, maybe she could semi-tame these males after all?

The Elder wore white-wolf-pelt clothing and carried a hand stick similar to the one the Queen carried. He walked slowly through the knee-deep snow, his boots barely making a sound. She waited impatiently as the Elder stomped through the snow and halted in front of them. His hair and beard were long and white, dangling past his chest. The length and color were an attest to his great age.

From behind her, her males growled with irritation and disapproval at the one who had saved her that night the Queen had decreed Satin was to become her lover.

“It’s been a long time.” the elder male smiled at Lisbeth and a welcome calm whispered over her despite her fear for Zeena’s fate. She knew the Elder was willing it into her and she welcomed the relief from the empath.

Although he was a pure-blood vampire, he held out his hand to her in the traditional human greeting. She accepted and they shook. Then he frowned.

“I sense a great alarm inside you, Satin. This friend of yours, Zeena. She is still alive. She is fearful, but thankfully the Queen has not physically harmed her.”

“Thank you, Elder, for reassuring me.” She turned to Tristan, Jaymes and Luca, who all glowered at the Elder.

“These three are my males. You may remember them?”

His bushy white brows creased and eyes narrowed as he stared through the swirling snowflakes past her and at them. He nodded. Disapproval shot over his face.

“They are hostile toward me. Their anger may very well be your downfall if they do not rein it in. They think too much with their emotions regarding you and not enough with their brains.”

The three males cursed at the Elder and Satin shook her head, signaling for them to be silent. Thankfully, they quieted.

“They will do my bidding. They can be trusted,” she reassured.

The Elder grunted, but distrust shone clearly in his gaze.

“You come to me to find a way to free your friend. She cannot be freed. The Queen will kill her no matter what you wish.”

“See? Just as I said,” Tristan snapped. He grabbed Lisbeth by the elbow, holding her so tight she figured he hoped he could prevent her from dematerializing. But she could do it and she would too in order to save Zeena.

He must have read her facial expression because he shook his head. “You cannot go back there.”

The other two males circled around her protectively. Luca grabbed her other arm and Jaymes slipped an arm around her waist.

Lisbeth shook her head as despair rocked her. “I am not leaving her there!”

“You cannot go back to Crimson Clan, Satin,” the Elder said softly. “The Queen will likely drain you of your lifeblood within hours of your return. It is a well-kept secret of her insatiable appetite of blood during sex. She has drained many of her blood slaves. I have been able to steal in and save but a few. But as I told you that night I came to your rescue, it is dangerous for me every time I slip beneath her mind shield.”

He shook his head. “The years in exile here have not been kind to me. I am not as strong as I was when I rescued you. I have been unable to pierce her shield since then. I am useless.”

Lisbeth nodded. “I understand, but you all need to comprehend I will not sacrifice Zeena. We must find a way to get her out of there alive.”

“There is but one way to free your friend,” the Elder murmured. She almost didn’t hear what he said beneath the howling of the wind.

“But you just said the Queen would kill her anyway,” Luca broke in.

“Not if the Queen is dead.”

“I have tried to kill her,” Tristan snapped. “She has a powerful mind shield around her that is impenetrable. My father and his followers tried to kill her with a stake through her heart. He ended up dead and she only became more powerful. Many have tried to slay her and they all died.”

The Elder gave an irritated grunt and Lisbeth waved at the three males to back off. She encircled the Elder’s elbow with her arm and led him away from the brooding males.

“What is it, Elder? How can we kill her?” she asked.

“That you have the ability to lay down your life for your young friend is commendable. That you do not easily give up is a good trait. And that you have a male who is shielding your innermost thoughts from me is quite a feat. He is strong protection. All three males are good choices. You are perfect Queen material.”

Satin smiled at his comment but she shook her head in denial. “Sorry, but the Queen wouldn’t see it that way.”

“She wouldn’t have to. Not if you killed her.”

Frustration wound its way through her. Perhaps the Elder was not quite right in his mind? Had she made a mistake in coming to him for help? So far, he was telling her of ideas that would just get everyone killed.

“What I am about to express to you I would not tell just anyone unless I was sure that you would be the perfect Queen to take over the Crimson Clan.”

“You’re being so sweet, but Elder, we must deal with reality. I am but a rogue. Only full-breeds can rule.”

“Whoever kills the Queen rules,” the Elder replied tenderly.

Lisbeth shook her head. Perhaps he did have some screws loose.

“It can’t be that simple. The Queen is indestructible.”

“It is that simple and as I said killing her is not simple. There is but one way she can be killed.”

“How?” Jaymes asked as he and the other two males crowded in around Lisbeth once again. It seemed she still had a bit more male training to do. She’d just warned them off moments earlier and yet here they were surrounding her again. But she would let their disobedience pass. This time.

“The Queen has a staff, similar to this one.” he held up his cane.

“Yes, hers is a bit different. She has a clear ball as her handle and you don’t have one,” Lisbeth said.

The Elder nodded. “Destroy that ball and the Crimson Clan will fall into your hands.”

“It cannot be that simple,” Luca said.

“It is not
that
simple, male.” The Elder was agitated. “The Queen’s mind veil guards the scepter. However, when her guard is lowered, the scepter is susceptible. The only problem is the ball in the handle is virtually indestructible. Simply dropping it or trying to crack it or shatter it doesn’t work. Believe me, I have tried. Hence, my banishment.”

“She’s always a careful female,” Tristan said. “Why would she leave you alive to give out her secret? Why did she not kill you? Perhaps it is time someone does kill you!”

Alarm made Lisbeth cry out as Tristan brandished one of his poison-tipped throwing stars in his hand. He stood poised to throw it at the Elder. Behind her, Jaymes unsheathed his daggers and Luca stepped in beside her with an arrow in his crossbow, aimed at the Elder.

What in the world was wrong with these males?

“Unless you’re sending us into a trap,” Jaymes growled. “Tristan could just nick you with the poison tip and you’d be dead and you wouldn’t be able to warn her.”

The Elder didn’t appear in the least bit fazed with the three males brandishing their weapons.

“Kill me, then. If you kill her, I’ll automatically die anyway. We share the life bond as we are twins.
That
is why I am still alive. If she had killed me, she would be dead also.”

A cold sneer crossed Tristan’s face. “Then I will kill you now and then she’ll die.”

Lisbeth jumped in front of Tristan before he could follow through on his threat and throw his star.

“Stop this! If you kill the Elder it makes you no better than the Queen. I forbid this!”

Muscles twitched angrily in Tristan’s cheeks as he gazed down at her.