Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
After opening the door to Rom and seeing his gaze light up at Ginger, Lucas turned to see her as Rom might be viewing her. And that’s when it hit him that he should have given her time to change. She hadn’t shifted a foot as she stood there in her nightgown, dagger held in an offensive gesture, ready for an attack.
Rom would see a beautiful woman in a skimpy negligee grabbing a dagger he would assume belonged to Lucas. But to him, she was a striking warrior, even with her rosy cheeks. She held her stance while studying Rom, who wore his mischievous grin, before glancing past him to Bella and Jacques, who had followed him in.
They only gave her a quick glance, noted her dagger, and Bella nodded with approval.
“Well, I guess now it’s a party.” Ginger lowered her weapon and turned to the duffel, picking up the clothes she’d been wearing earlier. “I’ll just change.” She gave Lucas an annoyed glance. “You might want to put some coffee on.” Then, dagger still in hand, she disappeared into the bathroom.
“Now, I know why you went silent for three days.” Rom’s brows wiggled before he turned serious. “All kidding aside, you look a bit pale.”
Lucas greeted Bella and Jacques with a nod then busied himself with the coffee. “I’m mostly back to full strength, but I could use a decent blood donor. It’s been nothing but sips since Ginger found me in the parking lot. But let’s wait for her. I can tell you what she shared while I was healing, but you might have questions.”
Rom took a seat at the table, Jacques relaxed in the nearby chair, and Bella leaned against a wall, always prepared to pace.
“I assume you weren’t followed. I’m not up to changing motels again.” Lucas scrounged in a shopping bag for the paper cups Ginger had purchased, unwilling to use the ones provided in the room. For someone who’d lived part of her life in the worst conditions, she’d become particular about certain things.
“Bella and Jacques are quite cautious.” Rom pulled the map to him, analyzing it in a few short minutes.
“I believe you used the word paranoid,” Bella replied in a droll tone.
Lucas chuckled. “It must have been a long drive from New Orleans. I assume that’s where you came from.”
“You have no idea.” Bella strolled to the coffee pot. “Go sit. We’ll need more coffee than this four-cup pot will provide.” She picked up the package of coffee and a filter. “At least you bought something decent.”
Ginger picked that time to exit the bathroom, nightgown and dagger in hand. “I can pop over and get breakfast and coffee once the diner opens.” She dropped the nightgown in the duffel but placed the dagger on the nightstand. “What time is it anyway?”
“Three a.m.,” Jacques said. “I suggested we wait for a better time before imposing.”
Ginger laid a hand on his shoulder. “At least some of you have manners.” Her annoyance was tempered by her cheery nature, though, by the glance she shot Lucas, she wasn’t going to be so easily mollified. She straightened the sheets and bedcover, then plopped down on the edge, close to Lucas but within reach of her dagger.
Rom’s smile grew wider, and he noted the placement of the dagger. He stood and walked to her. “I’m sorry for our rude timing, but I know how much Lucas enjoys surprises. My sincerest apologies.” He gave her a slight bow. “I’m Romero. Leader of House Rousseau and a dear friend of Lucas.” He held out his hand, and Ginger reached out to shake. Her eyes widened when Rom kissed it, and her head tilted to the side as she considered him.
“I’m Ginger Morrison of House Trelane.”
Lucas couldn’t hold back a satisfied smile, his chest filling with an unexpected emotion at how easily the words came for her. He caught Bella’s second nod of approval as she poured the first cup of coffee.
“It’s splendid to meet another member of Devon’s Family, and apparently, a fierce warrior.” He returned to his seat, taking the cup Bella offered. “I can tell from the way you held the dagger and your stance that you’ve learned from the best.” He gave a side glance to Lucas. “But I would expect nothing less from Sergi.”
Ginger crooked a smile, taking a cup from Bella. “Sergi is an exceptional instructor, but I try to model myself after Simone’s finesse with a dagger.”
“Touché.” He sat back as he sipped the coffee, holding her gaze for a bit longer before turning to Lucas. “So, tell me everything from the moment you arrived in Boston. Every detail will be important.”
Lucas began the tale, and Ginger took over from the point where she found him in the parking lot. Bella’s and Jacques’s interest was piqued when she walked through details of hiding the dead vampires, misdirection with the tracker, getting to safety, and feeding Lucas small amounts of her blood as often as she could. Lucas finished the story from when he woke, and their decision to track Fiona.
Rom listened intently, leaving Bella to ask most of the questions. Once everyone was up to speed, Lucas asked a question of his own.
“I understand why Bella and Jacques are here. But why you?”
Rom ran a hand through his hair and let his gaze wander for a minute. “I know something of the book, and Philipe contacts me on occasion to let me know he’s alive. I know he moved around, quite a lot in the early days, and spent time in Europe about thirty years ago. His list of personal contacts is quite small with the rare phone call. It’s been a couple of months since he last reached out.”
“You’ve never told anyone?” Lucas asked.
He shook his head. “You know how important it is to keep my contacts anonymous. Sometimes, and more recently, more times than not, it’s a matter of life or death. When Sergi asked me about Philipe when he was in New Orleans a few weeks ago, I was shocked.” He chuckled as he ran a hand through his hair again. “I knew at that moment everything would soon come to light if Devon was interested. That vampire is like a wolf on a hunt.”
“You did a good job hiding it. Sergi wasn’t convinced one way or another whether you knew more.”
“You would have, though.”
“Of course, but we’ve been through a lot together. Besides, I didn’t spend those years as a bodyguard without paying attention.”
Rom laughed. “Which is why you’re now cadre of a great House.”
Lucas didn’t respond, but his old mentor’s words pleased him. Ginger squeezed his shoulder and kissed his temple. He hadn’t sensed her draw close.
She turned to Rom, understanding the protocol when a House leader was in the room. “The diner should be open. Is there anything special you’d like for breakfast? I’m sorry there won’t be any beignets, though, even if there were, I doubt they’d live up to your expectations.” Then she grinned. “But their cinnamon rolls aren’t half bad.”
She listened to everyone’s orders, then stuck her dagger in her purse before striding to the door. Jacques followed, and when she glared at him, he shrugged. “You won’t be able to carry it all.”
It took a moment, and then she patted his arm. “I appreciate the assist.” She understood he was following security protocols, and after the lecture she’d given Lucas on the same topic, she couldn’t argue.
Once they were gone, Rom asked, “Can she take care of herself? I mean in a fight. It’s apparent she’s resourceful enough to keep you alive.”
Lucas nodded, but he glanced at Bella, somewhat curious. “We’ve been in some sticky situations. She has skill. What do you think?”
Bella gave the question its due diligence. “She’s a quick study and seems to have a second nature for reading a situation. In my opinion, she has more bravado than sense, but her only true weakness is being human.”
“There’s a way to solve for that.” Rom sat back and twirled the paper cup.
“No.” Lucas wasn’t prepared for the veracity behind the single word. “That is a personal decision. An irrevocable one. She must come to that consideration on her own, of her own free will—if she does at all.” He locked eyes with Rom. “I will not have it mentioned in her presence. I’ve never asked anything of you before, but I’m sincere in this request.”
All humor fled Rom’s gaze. “Of course, brother. It was said in jest and with poor judgment. It’s easy to see the depth of feeling you have for each other. And mutual respect. That’s difficult to find in any species.” He held out his hand. “You have my word.”
Lucas ignored it. “Your word has always been good enough for me.” Then he took the proffered hand. “Thank you for taking time away from the Family to help us.”
Rom’s shake was firm, and he held it for a moment before letting go. “This day has been coming for a long time. Though I’ve never met a dreamwalker, I felt their presence within the city. Like wraiths flowing with the early-morning fog. Draped through the city as thick as Spanish moss. They won’t wait much longer. There are times at the darkest hour, I can feel the tension building. No one else speaks of it, and sometimes I think I’m imagining it. But it’s real. I don’t know why I can sense it when no other can. Or perhaps they’re as mystified as myself and unwilling to look the fool.
“I’m here to help you find Philipe, if it’s possible, and Devon has my allegiance in his war. Don’t look at Bella, she didn’t say anything I wasn’t already aware of. I’ve known Devon longer than you. It was easy to see during his last trip to New Orleans that he was at a boiling point with the attacks on his House. He’s been more than patient, and now he’s within striking distance of the vampire’s holy grail. This will be earth-shattering news for most vampire Houses and could bring about a civil war. But most of its effects might be contained within a personal war between two powerful Houses. It would save many vampire lives.”
Lucas sat back, his head reeling. Devon had understood this from the start. Not when he first began his mission to remove his censure, but when he first suspected Cressa was a dreamwalker. And then he discovered what might be contained within the De f?rste dage . It all fit. Devon’s entire life since his father’s death.
Rom broke his musing. “It would have been easier to have met a dreamwalker before making such a commitment for my House, but I have to trust Devon knows what he’s doing. Venizi has become too bold.”
Lucas shook his head, still partially in his thoughts, which was why his next statement came out so matter-of-factly. “You have.”
His gaze dropped to the map, but the lines became unfocused. Talks of war hadn’t seemed real until now. Though he couldn’t envision Devon’s end game, he trusted his Father as he had Rom and Lafitte before him. Since Devon’s declaration of war, he hadn’t shared his inner thoughts with the cadre, and Lucas suspected he wanted to wait until he returned from Spain. House Aramburu was a wild card that could tip the scales or create further chaos.
He was so deep in his thoughts, he almost missed Rom’s startled look. “What?”
Rom stared at him as if he was leaking brain matter. “You said you have. I want to know what that meant.”
Lucas replayed the earlier conversation, unsure what he meant at the time. When he remembered, he grinned. “Dreamwalkers. You said you never met one, but you have.” It wasn’t often he knew something before Rom. In fact, it was damn rare, so he let his old House leader have a think on it.
Rom’s forehead furrowed, giving a glimpse of the wrinkles that might form in another five hundred years. He snapped his fingers. “Cressa?”
Lucas laughed. “You’re a bit slower than you used to be.”
“Aah.” He sat up, leaning his elbows on the table as a spark of the beast lit his gaze, his tone full of wonderment. “It all makes sense now. I found it difficult to believe Sergi would bring Devon’s supposed Blood Ward all the way to New Orleans to see a Renaud Library when there are several closer to him. But I did believe him when he said his business had nothing to do with the New Orleans Houses.” Rom paused as he continued to put it together. “Then why come to New Orleans?” He chuckled. “Don’t tell me. They met with another dreamwalker.”
When Lucas just grinned at him, he sighed. “I told you not to tell me. Sometimes, I think Lafitte rubbed off on you more than I first suspected.” Then he brightened. “I think a trip to Santiga Bay is in order, just to ensure I understand the details correctly.”
“You’re always welcome, you know that. But I think Cressa has it in mind to return to New Orleans with Devon. That would be an excellent time for Devon to speak with the House leaders.”
Rom nodded. “Including Renaud.”
The entire idea exploded in his head as he considered what could be accomplished with a meeting of the New Orleans Triad—three powerful Houses.
Before he could respond, the door burst open. They all jumped up, prepared to face the enemy when Ginger waltzed in carrying several bags. Jacques trailed behind with more bags and a broad smile.
Ginger plopped the bags on the table, forcing Rom and Lucas to step back as they stared at her. Bella hadn’t moved an inch, holding back a smile.
“I didn’t mean to startle y’all.” She gave everyone a saucy grin. “I know how you like surprises. Have you figured out our next steps?”