Page 5 of Kiss the Dawn
“A seventh daughter of a seventh daughter is rare,” Lorenzo said. “An occurrence that happens a handful of times every century. It sounds archaic, but it’s how they’ve survived the virus and staved it off all these years.” He sighed. “But wewillfind another way. We have to.”
A prickle of unease skated over my skin, but I had faith in Lorenzo. “Well, I’m not going anywhere until Edwin and Padma are safely back with us and Shay has a broken face.”
“I can help with that,” Crush said from the doorway.
It was easy to forget how large the troll blood fae was when he wasn’t in the room with you. Which made me wonder how we’d missed the tinkle of the bell when he’d entered the building.
He scanned the room, and when his gaze fell on Merry, it softened. “You called, and I’m here.”
Her cheeks pinkened. “Thank you for coming.”
Lorenzo’s phone beeped, and he checked it. “Documents canceling the bounty just came through. You have a printer?”
“Yeah,” Holly said.
I turned to Crush. “Your friend Shay has my friends.”
“Not for long,” Crush said. “Let me get them backfor you. It’s the least I can do after I allowed him to infiltrate your group by making introductions.”
“This wasn’t your fault,” Merry said to him, shooting me a pointed glare.
“No, it wasn’t,” I agreed. “And I can get them back myself. We have a document that confirms his bounty is canceled.”
“Shay has always been a dark horse,” Crush said. “I knew he was a bounty hunter, but I didn’t expect him to hurt innocent people in his pursuit of a bounty.” He tipped his head to one side, his penetrating gaze on me. “Merry didn’t tell me why he’s after you, and frankly I don’t care. What he’s done is unacceptable. I’m not sure if he’d try and take you anyway and force the contract to be honored. Best if you don’t go tonight. Give it to me and let me deal with it. Please.”
A week ago, I’d have rejected his offer and insisted on dealing with this myself, but my life no longer belonged just to me. I was essential to keeping a big evil locked away, and now also to furthering the immunity of a bunch of witches against a dark virus.
Staying put was the smart choice. “Okay. Thank you. But you should know he probably won’t be alone.”
Crush grinned, but it was a mirthless smile. “Neither will I.”
“And one more thing.”
He arched an inquiring brow, waiting.
“When you get your hands on him, introduce him to the true meaning of the word pain.”
His grin returned, wider and almost feral. “With pleasure.”
The only wayon or off the Isle was via doorways opened from the Isle itself. Entrances and exits were closely monitored. For Shay to get me onto the Isle, he’d have had to petition for a door to be opened. That option was now closed to him, but there would be a door opening for us in two days’ time as long as Lorenzo presented the documents that had been emailed over to us. Apparently, there was already a door scheduled for some other travelers, and we’d been added to that one.
The journey from Dracul territory to the location that housed the doorways was a day and a half, so the two days we’d been given was hardly anything at all. We’d have to leave by midday tomorrow.
I had tonight to get my ducks in a row here. To make sure that Padma and Edwin were returned safely and let the important men in my life know where I was going.
I chose the apartment gifted to me by Ezekiel as the location to do it from.
Kaster arrived first, his expression saturated with concern, and I quickly established a mental link withhim so I could fill him in on what had happened while we waited for the others to arrive.
Lorenzo had commandeered the small table on the balcony and was on the phone, espresso to hand, as he sorted out our travel details.
You should have messaged me earlier, Kaster said. I could have put a recon team on the warehouse.
He’d have been looking out for a move like that. I couldn’t risk it.
Couldn’t risk it or you didn’t think of me.
Dammit.I’m sorry.
