"Lubimaya,” Raphael said sadly. “I'm sorry we're late."
Cyn blinked. Her arms fell to her sides, the weapons she'd wielded so effectively suddenly too heavy to hold. Her head drooped and she would have fallen, but Raphael caught her, cradling her in his arms as his vampires stared in disbelief at the damage one human woman had wrought.
Chapter Fifty-seven
Cyn heard the helicopter rotors winding down outside, as the doors closed and the elevator began to move. Raphael leaned against the wall, watching her silently. He hadn't said much since he'd found her amidst the piles of vampire dust in the desert. Not that there had been much opportunity. They'd driven back to Tucson, going directly to the airport. Raphael's personal physician was waiting for them there, and while he'd treated Liz, Cyn had time for a quick shower and a change of clothes. The clothes were Winona's and didn't fit her, but they were better than what she'd been wearing.
After a quick flight to Santa Monica and a helicopter ride out to Malibu, they'd arrived at the estate a little before dawn. Duncan and Juro had flown with them in the chopper, along with Dr. Saephan and Liz, but the rest of Raphael's team would be daylighting at the airport today. There wasn't time enough to see them all safely back to the Malibu estate. Some of Raphael's human guards were already on their way to secure the private hangar and watch over the sleeping vampires.
The elevator doors opened on Raphael's inner sanctum, and Cyn hurried out of the small box, shedding her borrowed jacket as she went. Candles scattered throughout the room flared to life as Raphael exerted his will, and she jumped, laughing at her own nervousness.
She couldn't seem to stand still and paced back and forth, her skin feeling too tight, her nerves jangling until she wanted to scream.
"Cyn,” Raphael said.
She stopped and stared at him. “He was waiting for us,” she said. “At the driving school. He knew we'd be there."
"Yes."
The single word was chock-full of information, but she was too tired to parse it all, and Raphael said nothing more.
She resumed her pacing and Raphael continued to watch silently. “Where's Liz?” she asked distractedly.
"Dr. Saephan is caring for her. His facilities here are quite modern and complete. She will wake and remember nothing."
Cyn paused to give him a hard look. “You'll wipe her memories?"
"Her memories will be wiped. Not by me personally, no. Cyn, it is important, vitally important, that no one know it was you who killed Jabril. The others don't matter, but Jabril..."
She crossed to stand in front of him. “Are you going to wipe my memories too?"
"No.” He seemed slightly affronted that she would ask.
"What about Lucia? She'll know something happened; she's not stupid."
"I'll leave that to you,” he said stiffly. “But Dr. Saephan has an excellent reputation in the local community, and she'll have no reason to doubt whatever he tells her. She's been informed that you and Elizabeth are both well and has been invited to visit later. If you wish, Duncan can ... speak to her."
"Speak to her,” Cyn repeated.
"Cyn.” It was a demand for understanding.
"Stop that,” she said.
"Stop what?"
"Stop looking at me as if you're waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"Is there another shoe?"
"No.” She drew a long, tired breath and walked into his arms, finally letting him pull her to rest against his chest, where she listened to the slow beat of his heart. “They tore him apart,” she whispered as her eyes filled with tears. “He was nothing but bloody pieces of meat. You couldn't even tell...” She swallowed hard. “They would have done the same to me.” His arms tightened around her, and she let her arms circle his waist. He was wearing a long, silken robe and nothing else. She didn't remember him changing.
"You're not wearing any clothes."
"It is nearly dawn, lubimaya.” The words were barely out of his mouth before she heard the solid sound of the vault closing around them. It was oddly comforting.
"I'm so tired,” she breathed.
Raphael kissed her forehead and helped her remove the rest of her clothing, all but carrying her to the big bed and tucking her beneath the covers. She turned into him when he slid in next to her. “Hold me."