Page 19 of Kiss Across the Universe
“Nyara, no,” Cáel Stelios said from Veris’ table.
Alannah couldn’t see Nyara from where she was sitting, not without leaning far to one side. But she imagined Nyara looking at her mate, perhaps only now realizing how loose her tongue had become, and maybe looking a touch uncomfortable.
“What do you mean, it’s not old history?” Taylor said, her tone sharp. “Didn’t you deal with Rufus Shore? Isn’t he…out of commission?”
Alannah remembered the way Taylor and Veris had sat immobile fordaysafter Brody had left them. Her mother had been less than an automaton. And Christmas that year had been…
Alannah shivered, remembering how Veris had become almost catatonic with stress and emotions. Alexander had rendered him unconscious with his vampire sedative, so that he could recover.
Yes, her mother would leap upon any hint that Rufus Shore might still be able to ruin their lives.
“He was penalized,” Cáel Stelios said, his tone grave. “His actions were made public. His academic career was destroyed, and his credentials stripped from him, which meant he could not teach or coach or use his expertise in any way that might earn him money.”
“He should have been put into prison!” London said, from a seat where Alannah could not see her. But the plummy English accent was unmistakable. These days, it was threaded with the slightest of French accents, as she and Neven and Remi lived in Brittany. “He was directly responsible for hurting people and causing the death of others by his negligence.”
Cáel gave her a small smile. “There is no prison that can contain a vampire who has learned how to jump through time using teleportation. We had to rely upon the condemnation of his peers and colleagues to punish Shore.”
Alannahcouldsee Neven shaking his head. “Hell of a system,” he muttered.
“Shore was a typical academic,” Kieren said in his deep, rumbling voice. “His ego was flayed by the loss of his reputation and social standing. His family left him. His colleagues would have nothing to do with him. He couldn’t find work for weeks and was forced to take on menial work, which he did badly and was frequently fired. He lost his house, and sold most of his possessions to make rent. Trust me, hewaspunished.”
And Kieren would know. He was a natural psychic. He’d probably dipped into Shore’s mind to read the effectiveness of the penalties Nyara’s organization had doled out.
Veris sat back and crossed his arms, which allowed Alannah to see him in between Rafe on one table and Cáel on the other. “But if a prison can’t hold him, then there was nothing stopping him from jumping back into history. Maybe to find a better life back there?”
His tone was silky smooth. His expression was as flat and unexpressive as Brody’s. He was holding in all his feelings, too.
Alannah shivered.
Cáel sighed. “Yes,” he admitted. “He jumped back somewhere in history. Unfortunately, he knows a great many bookmarks, as he was a historian with a wide range of eras in which he was an expert.”
Alannah sighed. She wasn’t the only one who made that sound, either.
“What are you doing to find him?” Veris asked sharply.
“Everything we can,” Cáel said just as firmly.
“We shouldn’t be, though,” Nyara added.
Everyone turned to look at her.
“He’s a vampire,” Nyara said. “His symbiont won’t last in stasis back there. If he doesn’t jump back to his own time, he’ll die of stasis poisoning.” She made a soft sound and added, “We should let him.”
“Nyara…” Cáel’s tone was chiding.
“Why not?” she demanded. “My people are turning history upside down, poking into every cranny that we even suspect he might know, looking for him. They’re risking stasis poisoning of their own. Why should they risk their necks for him?”
Alannah realized that despite her clear words and even tone, Nyara wasverydrunk.
“Whereareyou looking?” Veris demanded. His tone was still flat and emotionless. He hadn’t forgiven Nyara yet.
Cáel waved his hand. “Every bookmark he’s ever been jumped to, and would now know for himself.”
“Including fifth century Britain?” Taylor asked. Her tone was still sharp. Alannah guessed what was driving that sharpness. Taylor was indignant and angry, ready to fight to spare her husbands further pain.
“First place we looked,” Nyara said.
“We didn’t expect to find him there, because itwasthe first place we thought to look,” Cáel added. “But we looked anyway.”
