You would need to be sure before you meet your uncle.
Yes. But we have ten minutes. More than enough time to step onto the astral plane.
More than enough time to take a life.
Ignoring the horror that spun through me at the thought, I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes. Several seconds later, I stepped onto the astral plane.
It wasn't Markel who watched me.
This vampire was short and thickset, with steel gray hair, swarthy features, and dead black eyes. His gaze, when it met mine, showed neither interest nor surprise, but rather the natural wariness of a warrior who has seen many battles.
My stomach began to churn. I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to take this vampire's life and make him a ghost, with no future to look forward to. But I had no choice. I had to protect my friends and family – and Rhoan and Riley were the only family I had left. Hunter wasn't going to take them from me. I wouldn't let her.
Amaya, I said, imagining her shadowed in my hand. Get ready. And for god's sake keep quiet.
Her weight appeared in my hand, but her blade was hidden, at one with the shadows that surrounded us.
If the vampire sensed the surge of energy that had briefly accompanied her shift in position, he showed no sign of it.
He raised his eyebrows. Why do you travel the fields?
I need to question a ghost.
What ghost? Jak? Is that what Rhoan Jenson asked you to do?
So he'd been close enough to hear at least some of our conversation – and it was enough to place Rhoan's life on the line if it was passed on to Hunter. The churning in my gut got stronger, and I briefly wondered if it were possible to be physically ill on the astral plane.
What other ghost would he be interested in? I said, striding forward. Not directly toward him, but off to one side.