any of this, you know. If there’s something decent in you, you have to see how wrong all of it is.”
“No, it’s fate.” Yvonne turned around and lifted her sweater to reveal a baroque symbol centered on her spine. The design spread out like the wings of a butterfly with a symmetrical pattern of symbols in each wing. Beautiful and complex.
“Wow.” Grace tried to memorize the marking. “You were born with that?”
“Indeed.” Yvonne turned back around, facing her. “You’re right that I’m not the only one. Each generation or so, another is born, just like with the Keys. If you die, another will take your place. Same with me, but it’s my time, and Ulric is coming back for me. I dream of him. He dreams of me.” She clasped her hands together as if posing for a picture. “Fate talks to us all, if we just listen.”
That would sound nut-job crazy if Grace wasn’t sitting in a jail cell with a demon-vampire hybrid who’d had part of his face burned off. “I think fate gives us options, and we choose from there.” Grace flattened her hands on the glass. “If you believe in destiny, you believe in the afterlife. Shouldn’t you give that some consideration? Let us go. Give yourself a chance in the next life.”
Yvonne chuckled. “I’m not leaving this life. When Ulric mates me, when he finally comes home, I’ll live forever.”
Huh. All right. “What about Rose? Where is the toddler?”
Yvonne shrugged. “We sensed she was enhanced and took her as part of my little family charade for you. You have to admit that seeing Brian and me with a baby kept you off guard. It was a good move. Plus, it was fun.”
Fun? They’d kidnapped a toddler and thought it was fun? Grace’s stomach rolled over. “Where is the little girl now?”
“Who cares? She’s around here somewhere. I think we should either leave her in the snow or at a church,” Yvonne muttered. “But since she’s enhanced, I’m sure the Kurjans will want to keep her. Somebody will want to mate her when she’s an adult.”
Grace swallowed. “Forget what I said. You’re definitely going to see hell someday.”
Yvonne sighed. “You’re as much fun as that old hag, Karma.”
Grace’s chin dropped. “Old hag? She looks around twenty, maybe twenty-five at the oldest.”
“No. She’s ancient. At least a couple hundred years old and a total wallflower. No fun whatsoever.” Yvonne scratched her wrist. “We’re going to try the virus on her first, before using it on others. At least she’ll be good for something. Plus, Terre needs a mate. The guy needs heirs.”
Benny coughed and stirred.
Grace whirled around. “Ben?” She dropped to her knees to lift his head. “You with me?”
His skull had already stitched itself together, and the skin on his forehead was mending quickly. He opened his metallic eyes, and blood dripped out of one. “Ouch.” He mended his eyeball and sat up, groaning like an old man. “Shitballs,” he muttered, seeing the cell.
Grace patted his shoulder. Relief ticked through her. Thank goodness she wasn’t alone any longer.
Benny leaned around her. “Who’s the hot blonde?”
Grace stood and tried to help him to his feet. “Long story, but she’s not on our side.”
Benny wavered but remained upright. “Did I get blown up?” He shook out his right leg and winced. His growl was both pained and pissed off. “Did you blow me up, Blondie?”
Yvonne smiled. “I’ll go let Dayne and Terre know you’re ready to chat, Benjamin Reese. We can talk more later, Grace. I’m sure we’ll end up becoming great friends through the years.” She turned and strode gracefully away.
“What a wench,” Benny complained, leaning back against the rear wall. “Everything hurts. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
An explosion rent the night, and she jumped, adrenaline pumping fast though her veins.
Benny smiled. “My brothers have arrived. Good.” He opened his eyes and looked around the cell. “Any idea how to get out of here?”
She gulped down panic as more explosions and then gunfire erupted outside. “An electrical current runs through the floor if they push a button outside the cell. I figure that we could maybe short the circuit?”
Benny glanced toward her. “Do you know how to short a circuit?”
“No. You?”
“Not really.” He wiped blood off his neck. “I could try to run through the glass, but it’s probably fortified, and I ain’t at a hundred percent yet.”
A swish sounded down the hallway, and Karma ran up with Rose in her arms. She reached way up, ticked some