The vamps are not going to protect us, he argued. We’ll be walking straight into enemy territory. I’ve told you all along this is not a good idea.
I don’t agree and neither does Rourke. The Queen wants my life force too—let’s not kid ourselves. If stealing my power is on everyone’s list, there’s nowhere I can go. As long as I’m still tantalizing to Eudoxia, we have something to bargain with. The goal will be to stay in control at all times. If she denies us, we get Naomi and Ray and fight our way out. But taking refuge in the vamp stronghold is the best we’ve got.
Tires squealed down the street.
I turned to Rourke. “Tyler has five carloads of sorcerers on his tail. We have to move now.”
The Suburban, with Nick at the wheel, rounded the corner, going up on two wheels. There was a loud explosion and an Orb flew over the trees, coming at us like a heat-seeking missile.
Rourke leaned over and threw open my door, yelling, “Go! I’m right behind you.”
I sprang from the car and took off at a dead run. The Orb exploded behind me, taking out the Porsche.
Car doors slammed and Tyler, Danny, and Nick joined us as we ran for the huge stone wall surrounding the mansion.
“Let me go first. If I get through, follow me,” I called over my shoulder, clearing the massive height in one leap. Nothing kicked me back, but a strange pulse of energy whipped through my body as I crossed the boundary line. Thank goodness it wasn’t warded.
I landed easily and kept running. I was up the steps to the front door, happy that nothing exploded behind me, before I took my next breath. I slid to a stop just short of kicking in the door, which would be considered bad manners for a visiting guest. I turned and glanced back for the first time and realized no one was behind me.
I watched as each of them tried to clear the wall again and was repelled backward.
Damn.
It was warded. I just hadn’t been affected by it.
I ran back to help and Rourke called, “Jessica, stay inside the boundary. We’ll find another way in.” Another explosion rocked the wall from the outside, but none of the Orbs were breaching the ward.
Before I could decide what to do, huge French doors directly above the portico of the mansion shot open and the Vamp Queen strode out into the morning light, a single finger pointed directly at an Orb hovering in the sky.
The thing froze in place.
Half a beat later, with one flick of her wrist, it evaporated into nothingness.
“You dare declare war on me?” her chilly voice rang out.
It seemed the Queen had no problem with sunlight and she was wide-awake.
That was a bonus.
I stayed inside the yard and moved to the top of the stairs so I could get a better vantage point. The sorcerers who had jumped out of their vans were now tumbling all over themselves trying to get back in them. So much for badass.
“Yes, scurry away like rats in a sewer,” the Queen’s voice raged. She shook an extremely pale fist toward the errant sorcerers. “Tell your High Priest he owes me restitution for this attack or he will pay the price in blood.” To punctuate her statement, the tires on one of the vehicles blew and the thing did a triple spin in the air. Her magic had manifested physically in a shock of white. The same shock of white that had hit me in the chest just a short time ago. I knew how powerful she was and now so did they.
The vans carrying the sorcerers peeled out, tires screeching as they went. I turned discreetly, trying to stay out of the Queen’s line of vision, and edged my way back toward the wall. I needed my team in here with me.
“You,” the Queen called. “Little Wolf Girl. You play with fire coming to my door unannounced, trailing trouble right behind you.”
I turned to face her, moving into her sight line. No use pretending I wasn’t here. “I apologize,” I replied. I had to play this right. Even if the sorcerers had temporarily left, the demons would be here soon and I still needed to bargain for shelter for the night. “Our Pack became separated on the road and it was either come here or risk death. I figured you were interested in keeping me alive, at least for a while. My duties to you don’t start for a few weeks, but as you can see, I’m ready and willing to meet with you now.”
She cocked her head at me, calculating. “You may enter, but know that I am not bound by our oath until three weeks from this date. You come into my Coterie at your own risk.”
“Hmm, as tempting as that sounds,” I responded, “how about we make a deal instead? I’m not entering without my companions, and we enter as your guests for the duration of twenty-four hours and are free to leave alive and unharmed at this same time tomorrow.”
“And what would interest me enough to welcome you into my home and keep all your lives intact?” she asked.
“If I die, you don’t get what you want. It’s pretty simple.” She moved to the edge of the railing that ran around the portico. I had chosen to call her bluff right from the get-go and I had her attention. “The sorcerers want my power and so do you. You want it through my blood and they want to somehow pull it out of me, but it’s the same thing. So if you keep me alive, you keep the power alive. Next, if you don’t offer us shelter, you risk war with the wolves. By denying us, you act against us.” That wasn’t technically true since we weren’t formal allies, but if she denied us and I was harmed as a result, it would be a valid enough reason for my father to declare war. “You already know my father is itching for a fight after the last time we met.” I tried my final tactic. “He would do almost anything to keep me away from you, including fight you before I’m due to honor my deal. But I’m here right now. This might be your last chance, Eudoxia. I wouldn’t let it slip through your fingers.”
She didn’t try to deny any of it, which earned her a few points. “What are your terms?” she asked coolly.