Holy Smokes (21 page)

“It is not the duty of the L’au-delà to hold your hand,” he snapped, marching to the front door. Rene leaped ahead to open it for him. Nora stood in the doorway of the living room, my uncle directly behind her. “Miss Charles has volunteered to serve as a liaison between you and the Guardians’ Guild. It is unlikely that they will be able to provide you with assistance, but I will leave that to Caribbean. Good day, Aisling Grey.”

“But—”

Jim butted its head against my hand. I snapped off my protest, knowing full well it wouldn’t do any good.

A car was waiting out front for Dr. Kostich, the driver deferential as she held the car door open. The archimage paused at the car, his gaze piercing mine even across the distance of the sidewalk and entryway. “The answer to your question is no—you would not have been able to ‘take me,’ as you so quaintly put it.”

He got in the car before I could react to him reading my mind. I closed the door to the house slowly, glancing down at Jim as I did so. “You hear him?”

“Yup,” it answered, nodding. “He’s wrong. You could have beaten him.”

“I know. Scary, huh?”

“You have no idea, sister. You just have no idea.”

“
I
’m sorry about all that,” I told everyone when I returned to the living room. “Despite what Jim is about to say, I really don’t get my jollies from going all evil on people.”

Jim snorted. “I wasn’t going to say that.”

“Oh. My apologies for slurring your good name, then.”

“I was going to say that you’re a natural at it. Maybe Dr. Kostich was right and you should just dump the whole saving-the-world plan and go with global domination. It’d probably be a lot more fun. Ow! That’s demon abuse! I have witnesses!”

“Yeah, I’m really worried. OK, so what’s left on the big, big list of things I have to get done before I go insane, or the world comes to an end, whichever comes first?”

Nora smiled. “How I’ve missed your refreshing attitude. I suppose we should discuss the situation with regards to Abaddon before I leave.”

“Right, so that’s number one: find a way to get me kicked out of Abaddon. Two—”

The phone rang. I glanced at the ID—it wasn’t a familiar number. “I bet that’s two right there.”

The voice on the phone was abrupt and to the point. “It is arranged. Two o’clock, at the Wyvern’s Nest in Soho.”

“Huh? Who is this? What’s arranged—damn.”

The phone clicked off without the caller saying another word.

“What was that?” Uncle Damian asked, suspicion rife in his voice.

“A blue dragon, I think. It sounded like one of Fiat’s men…but they always deliver his messages in person. Maybe it was one of Bastian’s buddies.”

“Bastian?” Nora asked, sitting down next to Rene on the couch.

“Bastian is Fiat Blu’s uncle and the rightful wyvern of the sept, or he would have been if Fiat hadn’t had him declared insane and locked him up last century.”

“I see. And you’re helping him?”

I summarized the events of the last few days. “Bastian thought a direct challenge against Fiat was the way to go, but he wanted to meet with the few friends he had remaining before he acted. That didn’t sound like him on the phone, though.” I pinched my lower lip as I thought.

“And Bastian is the second thing on your list?” Nora asked.

“Yup. Number three is currently out of the house, although I hope he’ll be back soon, because I have about five million questions to ask him about his brother.”

“Oh, dear.” Nora’s hands folded together. “I feel so out of things. You are speaking of Drake? He has a brother? I’ve never heard of him having a brother.”

“You don’t want to go there,” Jim said, with an eye on me as I paced back and forth before the now-cold fireplace. “Aisling has her knickers in a twist because Drake has been keeping secrets from her.”

“Everyone has secrets,” Uncle Damian said unexpectedly.

I was about to tell Jim to pipe down, but looked at my uncle instead. He wore a cryptic look I could swear he stole from Drake.

To my surprise, Rene nodded. “It is the way of human nature,
hein
?”

“I’m not pissed at Drake because he kept some sept business to himself,” I told the two men. “I just don’t like it when something as personal as a brother is kept from me because Drake doesn’t trust me. It’s not like I would have rented a billboard with ‘Drake Vireo has a brother, and he’s alive and kicking’ on it!”

“Broken trust is hard to overcome,” Rene answered, his dark eyes sparkling with some inner amusement.

I opened my mouth to refute that statement, recognized my own words (although how on earth did Rene know I had spoken them?), and was about to snap back when a familiar voice in the hallway had me spinning around.

“You are all here? Good,” Drake said, entering the room, Pál, István, and Kostya in close formation. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Nora.”

She smiled at him as he kissed her hand in that dramatic—but oh, so sexy—way he had. “It’s a pleasure I share. You are no doubt wondering what I am doing here—I have been authorized by the Guardians’ Guild to assist Aisling with the problem of her proscription.”

“Excellent. I am sure she will welcome your help.”

My stomach trembled pleasurably as Drake eyed me.

“Stop that,” I said softly as he let me feel his fire.

His eyes flashed with wicked intent for a moment before he banked the fire, striding over to stand next to me. “You have not met my brother, I think.”

Nora murmured politely as Drake introduced Kostya to her and my uncle.

“You look much better,” I told Kostya, looking closely at him. Although he’d evidently been badly malnourished as well as suffering from a couple of broken ribs, he looked hale and hearty now. I noticed other similarities to Drake—he moved with the same liquid grace, and bore a familiar sinister air of danger that I knew from experience acted like a magnet for women.

He bowed, and I thought again that dragons sure knew how to make simple acts look graceful without being the least bit effeminate or silly. “I am well. Drake has informed me of your situation; you will, I hope, accept my congratulations, and will not be offended if I remove from your house as soon as possible.”

“Remove? You’re leaving?”

“I must. To stay here would endanger you. It would be unrealistic to expect that word of my presence not spread, and I would not bring trouble to my brother’s home.”

“Too late for that,” Jim muttered.

Kostya glared at the demon.

“Well, it is!” Jim pointed out.

“I agree, it is too late, therefore it doesn’t make any sense for you to leave,” I said, taking Drake’s hand. “This was your mother’s home before she gave it to Drake, and you will always be welcome here. As for danger…bah. Like we don’t have an entire sept trying to bring us down? If we can handle that, we can handle any reaction to your reemergence. Right, sweetie?”

Drake’s fingers tightened around mine. I was a bit surprised that he wasn’t protesting his brother’s decision to leave, but figured he must have a reason. That didn’t mean I had to agree with it, though.

“Kostya was never one to allow others to endanger themselves on his behalf,” Drake said slowly.

“That’s a non-answer if I ever heard one. Look, this is silly—you’re Drake’s brother, which means you’re my brother now, and you need protection, so you’re going to stay here. End of story. Now, why don’t you guys sit down and tell us what’s going on, because I’m just about bursting with questions.”

Drake resisted my tug on his hand. “We were going to have a conference about the future, Aisling. I just looked in to make sure you were all right.”

“Overprotection is not a virtue, you know,” I told him with a little pinch. “But that sounds like as good a topic as any. So, what are going to be the ramifications of Kostya’s reemergence?”

Drake was silent, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. Kostya frowned at the window. Pál and István shared a glance, then both turned to Drake.

“Oh,” I said, realizing I’d put my foot into it. “I’m sorry. This is probably sept stuff, huh? Nora, could we get together a little later today? I want to brainstorm proscription stuff with you, but this situation is a bit more important.”

“Of course,” she said, gathering up her things, beaming a smile to everyone in the room. “You have my number? Call me when you are free and we will discuss what the Guild can do to help you.”

“Will do.”

Rene and Uncle Damian stood up as well, obviously taking the hint. I had started to escort Nora to the door when Drake’s voice made me pause.

“Aisling…” He looked uncomfortable for a moment.

“What?”

The silence was almost overwhelming. Jim blew a low whistle, walking over to nudge me with its head. “Oh, man. This isn’t going to be pretty.”

“What isn’t going to be pretty? What’s wrong, Drake?”

“I’ll see you later,” Nora said quietly.

“Aisling has time to speak with you now,” Drake said, stopping her.

“What on earth has gotten into you?” I asked, giving him a curious glance that was tinged by a bit of anger at his high-handed manner. “You know better than to start ordering me around. The dragon business is more important than the proscription…”

A horrible thought struck me. A horrible, appalling, unbearable thought, one that made my stomach twist as I looked from one dragon to the other.

“Oh, my god—you don’t want to talk in front of me,” I finally said, unable to believe the words even as I spoke them.

I looked at Drake, willing him to deny it.

“It is sept business,
kincsem.
”

“Sept business your brother can hear, but I can’t?”

“This concerns how the sept will help Kostya.”

The words cut into me like little daggers, the unspoken sentiment quite clear. “And I’m no longer a member of the sept.”

He moved so fast he was just a blur until he was directly in front of me, my hands in his. “You are my life, Aisling. You are my mate, regardless of the legalities. Nothing will ever change that.”

I searched his face, but the truth was written there—reluctantly, true, but still plain to see. “But I’m not a green dragon anymore.”

He said nothing. He didn’t need to. The pain in his eyes said it all…but it was nothing to the pain I felt.

I’ll just whistle a little tune to myself, shall I?

Drake didn’t want me.

The sept didn’t want me.

The dragons to whom I had sworn my fealty no longer considered me to be a part of them.

And these are people to whom you feel undying loyalty? I do not understand your hesitancy, Aisling Grey. You could be so much, and yet you simply allow others to walk over you as though you did not matter.

Gently I withdrew my hands, my throat tight and aching. “I understand. Rules are rules. Will I see you later?”

“Of course.” His thumb brushed my lower lip. “I regret this,
kincsem
. I regret it more than you know.”

I nodded and turned away, my being filled with pain, regret, anger, and a whole slew of emotions too twisted together to separate. But I had some pride left, dammit. I wouldn’t let them see just how deeply their actions had cut me.

I see it.

“Aisling—”

I paused at the door, taking a moment to push down all the negative emotions threatening to overwhelm me before turning back to face Drake with what I prayed was a serene expression.

“I love you,” he said, right there in front of everyone, in a clear, loud voice with no hint of pity.

Any other time, I would have welcomed the declaration with joy, a flock of doves, and a fireworks display that would have lit up half of London. Instead, I just nodded and left the room, too devastated by his actions to speak.

“Oh, my dear, I am so…” Nora didn’t finish her sentence, just hugged me right there in the hallway. “We can do this another time, if you like.”

“I’m OK,” I said, giving her a quick hug before stepping out of the embrace. I felt like a cracked piece of glass—any touch would leave me shattered into a thousand little pieces all over the floor.

“You want sympathy or snarkiness?” Jim asked, showing a wisdom I hadn’t expected.

“Snarky, please,” I answered, my throat sore and tight with the effort to keep from screaming, or crying. Probably both.

“Then I say let’s go beat the crap out of Fiat, and you take his place. Then you can boss people around and attend any sept meeting you want.”

Pain twisted in my heart.

“That’ll be enough of that,” Uncle Damian snapped.

“I was just trying to cheer her up,” Jim muttered, rubbing its head on my leg.

“She doesn’t need cheering,” he answered, marching over to a seldom-used room that I was planning on redecorating as soon as the wedding was over. “Aisling, I want to speak to you.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “I know you’re upset about me warding you and Rene in the car, but could we possibly hold off that conversation for another time?” I rubbed my head, wishing I could just climb into bed and cry away all the pain.

“No,” he answered, holding open the door.

“I think perhaps we should come back later,” Nora said, glancing at Rene, who nodded.

“Stay where you are. This won’t take long,” Uncle Damian ordered.

I sighed and donned the mantle of martyrdom as I followed him into a small, dark room. Jim made like it was going to follow me, but Uncle Damian pointed at a spot on the floor and said, “Stay!”

“Hey! I may look like a fabulously handsome Newfie, but I’m no dog! Besides, only Aisling can give me or—”

Uncle Damian slammed the door in its face.

“Well?” I asked, lifting my chin as I braced myself for the onslaught.

“Let it go, Aisling,” was all he said.

I stood silent for a moment, the tears I’d fought against so long burning behind my eyes. “It’s so hard!” I wailed, wrapping my arms around myself. “Why does everything in my life have to be so damned hard?”

He put his arms around me in an awkward hug, the gentleness of his gesture making the tears well up and over my eyelashes. “I know it’s difficult. But you’re a fighter.”