Dark Flame (16 page)

This isn’t simple, is it, Brann? I mean, even if we’re shielded, something could wrong.

Yes, it could.
But I have an idea.

She looked up at him.
What? Tell me.

Let’s go back the way we came, back to where Roche kept Mary in the cell. The clients don’t come in through the Fae Cathedral lobby, so where do they enter? If we can locate it, we can leave. Roche won’t even think to go that direction and Keelen and his force can keep Roche busy.

That sounds perfect.

Brannick addressed Fergus,
What do you think, wolf?

Let’s get the hell out of here.

Juliet didn’t hesitate a second, but swept back down the avenue, heading south and moving faster and faster. The route was as familiar now as her own face in a mirror. While she flew, she contacted Keelen and told him what they were up to. Keelen said he’d do everything he could to keep Roche busy while they got away.

Juliet didn’t slow until she approached the back entrance to Roche’s sex club. The smell of the dark flame drug once more hit her full in the face.

She rose high, avoiding the guards. She began flying through what proved to be a series of large entertainment rooms. Scantily clad attendants worked the hallways, providing drinks or more syringes of the powerful dark flame drug, sometimes food.

She had to shut down the sound of the occasional painful groan or cry. She knew women were being hurt here, but she couldn’t do anything for them. Not yet.

Brannick was right. As she worked her way steadily forward, she discovered a spiral path similar to the one at the Cathedral entrance. She immediately levitated up and up, with Brannick and Fergus on her heels.

At the top of the path, however, two fae warriors guarded a door. Fortunately, they gave no evidence of seeing her.

She drew to a stop.
Hold up,
she called to the group.

Brannick and Fergus moved in behind her, each silent. She could feel them both grow very still.

Let’s wait for a minute and see what happens,
she said.

Smart move,
Brannick responded.

A moment later, she heard a buzzer, the door opened and two human men in business suits were allowed through.

The slow movement of the door prompted Juliet to rush forward. She used her acquired vampire strength to hold it open for the team. Brannick flew through followed swiftly by Fergus and a still comatose Mary.

Juliet slipped through right after them and the door continued its progress as though nothing had happened.

There was only one guard in the lobby of the sex club. A receptionist sat on a tall stool behind a desk, waiting for the next client. They both looked bored.

When Brannick opened the door to the street, she saw the guard turn in their direction. So, she put on some speed and whisked through behind the rest of her group.

The guard stepped onto the front pathway, sidearm drawn. He looked around carefully, but seeing nothing, he went back inside.

The moment Juliet looked around at the street, she knew exactly where she was in relationship to the Fae Cathedral. The entrance to Roche’s sex club was near a fairly new gated community, though partitioned off by yet another set of gates to the south.

It was to Roche’s credit that he’d been able to keep the location secret all this time.

She contacted Keelen and told him where they were, and how they’d succeeded in getting Mary out the back way. She could feel the tension leave the officer.

Thank God you’re all right. Roche came out shouting about a minute ago that his lawyers were on the way and how we were illegally blocking the street and interfering with business traffic to the Fae Cathedral. So, what would you like us to do? Should we keep Roche rattled a little longer?

Juliet thought for a moment, then smiled.
Tell him the call that sent you there turned out to be a prank. But if you want to see his pale skin fire up, just tell him I said hello.

She heard Keelen chuckle.
It’ll be my pleasure. Take care of yourself, Juliet. And I’m glad Brannick made it.

Me, too, and thanks.

A moment later, she was airborne and heading north with Brannick. Fergus stuck close to remain hidden within Brannick’s vampire cloak, clearly not taking any chances. Mary would probably remain unconscious for several more hours.

A few minutes later, Juliet descended toward the canal side of her home. She’d long since released her shield and knew Brannick had already contacted the guards, letting them know four of them would be arriving shortly.

Fergus flew in first and by the time Juliet walked into her living room, he’d already settled Mary on the couch. She was still out cold.

He backed out swiftly, however, returning to the patio. Brannick went with him.

Juliet would call for medical support shortly, but first she wanted to thank Fergus for helping out before he took off.

Fergus had his arms crossed tight over his chest as he stared back into the house. He seemed distressed.

Juliet glanced at Brannick, lifting her brows in question.

He shook his head, not as though he didn’t know what was going on but rather that he understood exactly.

She decided to go ahead and express her thanks. “Fergus, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that you were with us tonight.”

He angled his body more in her direction. “You shouldn’t thank me. I almost got us all killed.” He then stared at her for a hard moment. “You were unbelievable by the way. Roche would have started firing if you hadn’t acted as fast as you did. How did you know to fly at him like that?”

She thought for a moment, then glanced at Brannick. “I’ve gained some vampire skills lately.” She chuckled as she slid her gaze back to Fergus. “I also hate that man more than anything else on this earth. It seemed like such a natural thing to head straight for him and kick him in the face.”

Fergus frowned harder. “You’re sharing Brannick’s gifts, the way Emma shared Vaughn’s. Maybe you’ve got some of Brannick’s drive as well. But I apologize for putting us all in jeopardy.” He glanced past her to the living room once more, to Mary lying on the sofa. “I don’t know what the hell happened. Once I had her in my arms, my throat opened up.”

He looked away, his gaze moving sharply to Brannick’s. “I’m a danger to this mission so long as I’m near the woman. I’m heading back to Savage. Do you want me to send a replacement?”

Brannick shook his head. “I think we’re good. I’ll let you know if we need more troop support.”

Fergus’s lips turned down. “Listen. If you need me, I’m right back here. Okay? Don’t hesitate.”

Brannick lowered his chin. “Trust me. If Roche comes at us again, you’re my first call.”

Fergus glanced toward the open patio door. “Keep close watch, Juliet. I have a bad feeling about Mary right now.”

“Hey, I’ve got this. Go home. We’ll take good care of her.”

Fergus, though clearly reluctant to go, said his good-byes, levitated high in the air, turned south and was gone.

CHAPTER SEVEN

As Brannick watched the wolf leave, a dozen thoughts ran through his head. Why had Fergus reacted to Mary like he did? He’d never heard of an alpha losing that much control. Was it Mary? Or the wolf’s cycle?

But these questions spurred other ones as he turned toward Juliet.

She frowned. “What? You look really distressed.”

He gestured for her to enter the house and spoke quietly. “Have you noticed these bizarre things that keep happening? First Connor and Iris and the way their powers moved back and forth. The same with Vaughn and Emma. And now you and me? None of this makes a lot of sense.”

Juliet shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you except I think it rocks. I might not have said that before bringing Mary home, but I’ll say it now. I could never have battled Roche before, not on any level, yet tonight was a different story. I took his ass to the floor.” She shadow boxed, kicking her feet out a few times as well.

He couldn’t help but smile at the woman with her curly hair in a wild mass, her dark blue eyes glittering.

The pleasure she took in her part of the rescue eased something inside Brannick. He recalled the moment with stunning clarity. She’d moved so fast in Roche’s direction, her vampire disguise holding steady, that Roche couldn’t have stopped her if he’d wanted to.

Brannick had immediately spoken with Fergus telepathically because he saw what she intended. They’d moved in behind her and gotten quickly past the guards, also flying horizontal to make sure they didn’t clip any of the security detail as they flew out.

Now he was here, staring at an amazing woman. He was taken back as well to the moment he’d come out of the dreamglide and back to his real-time self. Though he could recall his time with Juliet, nothing else had come forward.

He’d hoped that all the memories of being her lover would coalesce in his conscious mind, but they hadn’t. Yet he could feel now the level of intimacy they’d shared and why she’d so easily called him ‘Brann’ two nights ago in Carl’s garage.

Juliet caught his arm in her hand. “Hey, what’s going on right now?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He didn’t know what to say. What he did know was how much he was drawn to her, more than ever since rescuing Mary.

He might not have the words, but he knew what to do.

He took her in his arms and kissed her.

As she’d done so many times before she relaxed against him, a sensation that felt so familiar. As she parted her lips, he deepened the kiss. He wanted to take her to bed. Hell, he needed to make love to her right now.

But she drew back and slid her hands up his chest. “Just to be clear, I really want to be with you again. But we need to get Mary to a safe place. I’m thinking I should call Agnes. She’ll know what to do.”

He felt like a bastard being all over her when Mary was still in danger. “Of course. Where are you thinking she should go?”

“I’m not sure.” Her cellphone still sat on the kitchen counter. She picked it up and scrolled for a number.

He watched her talk to Agnes in her soft yet animated way, the warm cadence of her voice pouring over him, making him hungry for her.

When she’d told Agnes everything, she turned to Brannick. “Agnes wants all three of us to join her in her compound. She says we’ll be safe there and she’ll be able to take care of Mary. I’m in agreement. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course.” It sounded like a good plan, but he had no idea how secure Agnes’s place was.

Juliet’s eyes widened as she turned suddenly in Mary’s direction. Brannick could feel Juliet’s sudden tension though he didn’t know the reason for it.

He took a step toward her. “What is it? What’s happening?”

“I don’t know. I thought I felt something from Mary.” She gave herself a shake. “Okay, not sure what that was all about, but Agnes said Mary will need drug rehab immediately. She keeps a nurse on staff in her compound and they’re getting set up for her.”

Brannick needed to know more. “And you’re sure Mary will be safe there. What if Roche comes for her?”

“Agnes has a fortress. She often takes in refugees and right now that’s exactly what Mary is. Roche won’t bother her there.”

“Not even in the dreamglide?”

“Not with Agnes around.”

But once again, Juliet turned almost startled, toward Mary.

“Okay, what the hell is going on?”

Juliet took Brann’s arm. “I think she’s trying to tell me something. Not sure. I need to meet her in the dreamglide. Support me?”

“You got it.” He held his arm out for her and she repeated the sequence in the Village courtyard. He felt her first fall into a meditative state, then she went limp. He caught her up in his arms and held her.

For a long moment, he looked down at her, at the faint freckles on her cheeks, at the curved and quite kissable bridge of her nose, the arch of her brows. Her lips were way too inviting. He was tempted to kiss her, but that’s when he felt her calling to him from the dreamglide. She needed him to join her right now.

He alerted the guard on the patio to tell the entire team to be extra vigilant right now.

He took Juliet into the master bedroom and stretched out on the bed with her, holding her tight. He closed his eyes and relaxed, focusing on Juliet.

With a swift falling sensation, he landed in her dreamglide. The moment he arrived in what was a duplicate version of Juliet’s living room, near her sofa, he could feel exactly why she’d called for him.

Roche.

Only he wasn’t after Juliet. He was trying to take possession of Mary.

Within the dreamy fae environment, Mary was sitting up on the couch, looking dazed and scared. Both hands gripped the front of the sofa cushion.

That’s when Brannick realized he wasn’t in Juliet’s dreamglide at all, but in Mary’s, and Roche was working hard to break through.

He glanced at Juliet. “What do you need me to do?”

She headed to the perimeter of the space. He could feel her building up a protective field for Mary.

“I have to reinforce Mary’s block. It’s not nearly strong enough to withstand Roche and he probably got to her the first time because of it. But Roche is very close, can you feel him?”

Brannick took a moment and turned in a complete circle. “I can.”

“Good, but if he busts in here even in a dreamglide, you’ll need to battle him. Okay?”

“Hell, yeah.” He drew his Glock and held it with his left hand supporting his right from beneath. “Just one question: If someone dies in a dreamglide, do they really die?”

She stared at him for a hard moment then dipped her chin. “Yes. We bleed, we get bruised, cut and hurt and those things stay with us. That’s one reason you heard so many screams in Roche’s club.”

He nodded, feeling angry all over again. “He needs to leave this earth.”

“Yes. He does.”

Brannick once more pivoted in a slow circle. He stayed focused on Roche, while Juliet continued to strengthen the protective block all around Mary’s dreamglide.

She’d gotten three-quarters finished with her task when a sudden flow of air alerted Brannick to the patio edge of the dreamglide.