The Last of the Red Hot Vampires - By Katie MacAlister Page 0,88
life is often full of irony. Your story is very ironic, thus I am inclined to believe that you inadvertently summoned Hope just as you described, that she bequeathed her Gift to you without your knowing it, and that you subsequently not only accepted these facts, but determined to triumph over the adversities that have met you face-to-face."
I slumped into a chair, relief easing my jangled nerves. "Then you'll help us find Hope?"
"Oh no, that would be quite unacceptable." His lips quirked. "Giving aid to someone banned from the Court would be a serious matter involving repercussions I would prefer to avoid."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so selfish. Of course we don't want you to get into trouble on our behalf - "
"I am, however, willing to risk the censure that might follow should the blind eye I'm about to turn to your presence here be found out."
"Portia? I think you both had better get a move on. I just heard someone say that the mare were on their way over to investigate the odd fog." Sarah's voice was hushed and muffled as she opened the door a smidgen to speak to us.
"On our way." I stood and offered my hand to Terrin. He looked surprised for a moment, then rose and shook it. "Thank you for believing us."
"And thank you for not turning us in," Theo added, giving Terrin a wary look.
"It has been my pleasure. I do hope you find the answers that you seek."
We slipped out of the door, leaving Terrin standing in the middle of the room, a benign expression on his face. Outside the room, the fog was beginning to thin.
I concentrated a moment on bringing it back to full denseness, but it continued to disperse despite my efforts.
"Something wrong?" Theo asked as we hurried down the hallway, averting our faces whenever a foggy figure loomed up. "Are you not able to control this any longer?"
"No, I'm not. Let's get out of here before it's gone completely."
We made it to the side entrance of the Court without being seen, but rather than follow Sarah and me through the door to a dank, empty subbasement in the castle, Theo stopped and looked back through to the stone wall that represented the outer boundary of the Court.
"Theo? Shouldn't we get out of Dodge while the getting is good?"
"We're safe here for a minute or two. Have you ever felt as if you were being manipulated?" he asked, turning toward me.
"Frequently. I'm a woman in a traditionally male-dominated workplace. I'm always being manipulated into taking less-than-desirable projects, or taking on extra work, or covering for someone when I'd rather not - it's part of the job, unfortunately. Do you think someone is manipulating us now?"
"I'm not sure. It just seems to me..." He frowned at the door. "I am going back. You and Sarah take the car back to the pub."
"No!" I said, unhappy with the thought of separating. "You can't go back in there!"
"Sweetling, I haven't survived as long as I have by being reckless. I know a thing or two about getting around unseen." He gave me a quick kiss and turned back to the door.
I grabbed his arm to stop him. "My fog is gone. You can't stealth around the Court in full daylight!"
"It'll be no different than running from a building to the car. I have my hat - I'll be careful."
"Fine, if you insist on going, then we'll go with you. Let me yell for Sarah - "
"No, I will do this alone. You two go ahead without me."
"Why?" I asked, hurt by his exclusion.
He took my face in his hands, kissing the frown between my brows. "Because there is a slight, a very slight, chance I will be caught. The Court can do nothing to me, but you have too much to lose to risk visiting there again. I will speak with Terrin, then leave immediately."
"We just talked to him. Why do you want to see him again?"
His eyes were a light shale grey. "Because I dislike being made to act the puppet, and I think he knows who's behind that feeling. Portia, you must trust me - I am not going to put myself or you at risk. I simply want to ask a few more questions."
"But - "
"Go," he said, giving me a push toward the door that led out of the subbasement. "I will be with you shortly."