Two older women entered the kitchen. One of them had the reddest hair Tavis had ever seen, and her clothes looked like an artist had splattered her with paint. “Look, Nina, he looks just like Faelan,” the redhead said, moving right up to him and inspecting him like he was a wax model. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she pinched him. And she did, right on one of his healing cuts. “Almost like twins. Triplets if you count Duncan. All three of you look alike.”
“I’m Nina, Cody and Shay’s aunt. I’m so glad to meet you. It’s just amazing that you’re here.”
“And I’m Matilda, their aunt. Or practically their aunt.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” He tried not to stare at Matilda, but he’d never seen anything quite like her.
“Let’s hope you can still say that in a week,” Nina said, frowning at Matilda.
“I’m sorry we missed your funeral,” Matilda said. “But we’re pleased as punch that you’re alive. Maybe I could interview you. I’m writing a book, and I’m interested in learning more about time vaults.”
Tavis was almost certain the Council wouldn’t allow any books to be written about time vaults or any other thing connected to the clan. But she was probably just barmy. He’d been warned about her on the airplane.
“Matilda, leave Tavis alone,” Nina said.
“We’ll talk later. Will you be here for the wedding?” Matilda asked.
“Wedding?”
“Cody and Shay’s?”
“Well I reckon I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.” Matilda came closer and gave him a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, looking wise in spite of her strange hair. “Faelan needs someone from his family.” She looked misty-eyed and then cleared her throat. “I’m going to find the cat. I think he’s upset with me.”
Coira rolled her eyes. “I need to take a look at Tavis’s injuries.”
“Better go with her,” Sean said. “We’ll meet you in the library and get acquainted.”
Coira took Tavis to the infirmary and checked his injuries, tsking as she bandaged. “If I could get my hands on that demon, I don’t know what I’d do to him.”
Tavis didn’t know what he’d do to Tristol. He wasn’t his demon. But he knew exactly what he’d do to Voltar when he got his chance. He regretted leaving him in the penthouse, but it would be foolishness to take on him and Tristol at the same time. They would have to die separately.
As she worked, Coira asked about his past, pulling information out of him that he didn’t know he even remembered. Things from his childhood. When he had been bandaged to Coira’s satisfaction, they went to the library. Tavis was introduced to other warriors he hadn’t yet met, so many he couldn’t recall all their names. They gave him a warm welcome and asked too many questions, but he understood that everyone was curious about him. It wasn’t all pleasant. They discussed Voltar and Tristol, and a pall settled over the group when they learned that Tristol wasn’t bound by some of the rules as the other demons.
After a while Tavis started missing parts of the conversation because he was trying to watch Anna. She and Ronan had their heads close together talking. He felt the sting of jealousy. Was there something between her and Ronan? They were both attractive, and he hadn’t seen Ronan with anyone except Bree. Anna glanced across the room at Tavis and slipped out of the library.
Tavis followed her outside, wondering if she was meeting someone. A woman as beautiful as Anna would have many suitors.
Anna turned around, hands on her hips. “Are you following me?”
“What if I am?”
“I don’t like being followed.”
“I don’t like being ignored.”
“I’m not ignoring you.”
“Yes you are. You won’t even look at me.”
She looked at him then, and he felt the impact of her gaze like a fist to his stomach. What was this effect she had on him? It was almost painful. He’d never felt anything like it. He’d felt attracted to women, bedded a few, and with Marna he’d felt a fondness, but this tearing, gnawing desperation was hell.
“You only did that to prove me wrong,” he said.
She rolled her eyes and stepped closer to him. He could feel the heat rising off her body. How was that possible? “I just want some time alone,” she said. But she didn’t move away. She stared at his mouth and swallowed. The pulse at her throat ticked like a pocket watch, mesmerizing him. He wanted to put his lips against it and taste it.
“You’re standing very close to me for someone who wants to be alone,” he said.
She shook her head and turned to walk off. He didn’t follow her this time. He needed to go somewhere and think. Sort out his head. He had to figure out what to do about Tristol and Voltar.
The feeling in Tristol’s arms returned first, and it slowly worked down his body until he could take a few faltering steps. His eyes burned with anger, the heat so hot it felt like lasers. Voltar would die for this. As Tristol’s muscles returned to normal, he vowed he would kill every demon attached to him. First he would find out what Voltar had used on him. It looked like a stun gun, but it must be powered by sorcery. Nothing had stopped Tristol before. He didn’t think it had been but a few minutes, but this was unacceptable. He, the most powerful being on this earth, frozen like a petrified tree. Several of his vampires had been destroyed, his fortress stolen from under his nose, and his enemy was the one to tell him that he had not one, but two spies in his home.
When Tristol was able to move at normal speed, he zoomed through Voltar’s penthouse searching for the demon. He wasn’t there. He’d probably gone after Anna and the warriors. Tristol let the power and rage build into a ball of fury. It flew from his fingers, igniting the room. There were people downstairs in the club. They might have nothing to do with Voltar. Tristol streaked out into the hallway and hit the fire alarm, giving them opportunity to escape before he destroyed the entire building. That made him even angrier. He was growing a damned conscience. He’d spent too much time watching those do-good warriors. They were rubbing off on him. But even with his powers, he couldn’t undo a fire alarm.
He streaked out of the burning building, past people running to escape. He stopped a few blocks over and watched Voltar’s building go up in a blaze.
“Master.”
Tristol turned. It was his lieutenant. “It’s about time. Do you have the book?”
“I did, but they took it back,” Joquard said.
“Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?” Was it possible that Joquard was involved in the breech? Tristol was finding it hard to trust anyone now.
“I haven’t been avoiding you. But I have some troubling news about your prisoner.”
“I already know. I got the wrong one.”
Joquard looked nervous. “Shall I bring Faelan to you?”
“Not now. I have more pressing problems. Voltar and his daughter.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
WHAT HAVE YOU got there?” Faelan asked.
Bree held up a little box. “One of Layla’s puzzle boxes.”
“That’s the one that you hid under the floorboard when you were a girl.”
She nodded. “Something’s inside. I was thinking about Layla, and I remembered it.”
“Did you get it opened?”
“No. I can’t figure it out. I tried several times over the years.”
“Want me to have a look at it?”
“Sure.” Bree handed him the box. It was small, made of wood. “There isn’t a lid.”
Faelan rattled it. “There’s something inside.”
“I want to know what it is.” She frowned. “Smash it.”