"Think about it," he said evenly. "I may not be able to bring Vlad back, but if you treat me with some modicum of dignity I could bring back Dorka, your sorceress. Or even all of Vlad's army to avenge his death."
The Countess turned slowly and stared at Sebastian with much less venom in her eyes.
"Do you want to know my secret, what is at the base of my spell?"
She neared him, but didn't commit, since he'd posed the question inDananu .
"There is an ancient forest in ourHungary . . . in Bukkabrany, in the northeast-where sixty meters beneath a brown coal mine areeight-million-year-old swamp cypress trees." He circled her as he spoke in a low, desirous murmur, drawing her in. "The trees, sixteen of them in all, form the number of goodfortune, seven . . . are three meters around in size."
Sebastian's voice dropped to a husky rasp, making her lean in even closer. "They are rare and fragile. They literally crumble to dust when you touch them because they've lost their cellulose. Therefore, I had to work quickly to acquire some of this essence before the paleontologists at the University of Budapest seal them away in cement sarcophagi, like they did in Japan-the only other forest of this kind." He stared into her eyes, watching them begin to glow.
"As fellow practitioners of the dark arts, at the very least we should share in the collaboration of such a find. The soil there represents the basal essence of life force preservation. It kept the trees intact for eight million years,Elizabeth -thinkof it. With my dexterity in spell-casting,which is why Lilith extended an invitation to me to be a councilman . . . and your strategic military mind and wanton lust for torture . . . think of what we could do. "
She neared him and stroked his pocked cheek, tilting her head as though considering his offer. "You have this soil, still?"
"I used it to bring you back to life, my love."
"And you would be willing to raise Vlad's army to avenge his death, even though you compete for his wife's affections?"
"I wouldraise whatever you asked, just to be yours . . . even if just occasionally."
"Eight million years and the trees remained preserved, yes?" she murmured against his throat, making him shudder hard.
"Yes," he breathed. "To the touch, the trees still feel like wood . . . eight-million-year-old preserved life." With trembling fingers, he caressed her cheek."Just as it brought back your soft, ever so soft, skin."
She took his mouth harshly, causing him to moan as her hand slid across the length of his groin. "This feels like wood, as well, Sebastian," she murmured.
"No," he said on a thick swallow. "For you, I am stone."
She licked his jugular, making it strain against the surface of his skin in an angry pulse until he hissed. "Guardians slew my husband. He must be avenged."
"We can raise your army tonight, at sunset, and give them the demon powers. Nuit told me how to locate the Neterus."
She captured his hand and placed it on her breast with a gasp. "There is more than one?"
"Yes . . . two, a mated pair, with an entire team.They are on the East Coast of America."
"It is an hour until sunset there, darlink. What do you propose we do for that hour to stem the anticipation?"
Tears of need stung his eyes and made her image blurry. "If, for just an hour, to have the fullness of your unrestrained affection . . . even if you believe I do not deserve it, I-"
Her tightening grip stopped his words with a shuddering gasp. Her strike to his jugular was so ruthless that it chipped bone. Pleasure-dazed, he staggered aimlessly with her in his arms, too aroused to immediately sort out where he might bed her.
"Raise the army for me, tonight, to attack, tonight, and this hour you'll never forget."
CHAPTER EIGHT
Yo, Carlos, man . . . there's some chick at the door talkin' about she know you-like in a real up close and personal kinda way," Phat G said in a low tone.
Big Mike leaned forward with Inez.
"You bestbe glad D's in the bathroom with Momma," Inez said under her breath.
Phat G gave them a sidelong, glance. "Damn, you did say you have audios on your team. But here's the thing, man. This chick seems real outta this world . . . she knew to ask forthe Neterus, and said she's fromNod ."
Carlos was out of his seat, gaining curious looks from the rest of the team that couldn't hear."About five-seven, five-eight, gorgeous dark skin with platinum locks?"
"That would be the one," Phat G said, ushering Carlos to where the woman was. "And did I mention had the body of life?"