Bound by the Vampire Queen (58 page)

She also had to force herself not to rush it, because Kane was waking up. Moving to Daegan at last, Jacob took the baby from him. As Kane recognized his father, his cries became the textbook baby response to an unexpected surprise. He started wailing his lungs out.

It was all show, however. He settled after Jacob gave him a gentle bob in his arms, wagged a finger at the tip of his nose. “What’s all this about? A vampire doesn’t cry. Your mother’s told you that.” As she finished drinking, Gideon was so heavily aroused that standing was somewhat awkward.

Leaving him in that state was her gift to Anwyn and a volley back to

Daegan, as effective an admonishment as the head slap. Daegan’s gaze coursed over Gideon as he turned, heat flickering in his eye. He nodded to Lyssa, tacit appreciation.

Gideon sent her a wry look, well aware of the manipulation. “Still one scary, irresistible bitch.” Though she saw Anwyn’s alarmed glance snap from him to Daegan, Lyssa gave the vampire hunter a feral smile. In Gideon’s way, he’d just paid her a supreme compliment and reassured her at once.

Her momentary weakness due to a need for blood did not diminish her strength in his eyes in any way.

And he had very clear-seeing, unsentimental eyes.

Then that was all past. Kane saw her.

He went up several decibels, an ear splitting cry that had his uncle wincing good-naturedly. Leaning down, Jacob put the child in her lap. Kane’s little fists immediately closed on her hair, and he leaned back against that hold. His arms spread wide as he swayed, his scream turning to a giggle of delight.

“I suppose you have been a great deal of trouble?” she asked, suffering the yanking with great delight.

Mr. Ingram had returned, having left John occupied in the house. “Not as much as you’d expect, ma’am.

All you really need is his uncle. The little man comes to him in a heartbeat and does whatever he tell's him to do.”

“Big softy,” Jacob told his brother.

Anwyn shook her head then. “I suspect part of it is Gideon reminds him of you, Jacob. But Gideon is a very good parent. Very no-nonsense.”

“Zero tolerance for bullshit,” Ingram added with a faint smile. “Begging the ladies’ pardon.” Gideon rolled his eyes. “These vampires are wishy-washy as hell, bro. They spoil the kid rotten if you don’t watch them every minute.” He jerked his head toward Daegan. “He’s the absolute worst.

Would probably let the kid get away with actual murder.”

“It depends on whether or not the target deserves it,” Daegan responded, unruffled.

Gideon scoffed at that. “Before Mason and Jess left for their Council meeting, I told both Mason and Daegan they shouldn’t reproduce. They’d have the kind of obnoxious, spoiled kids no one wants to be around.”

Jacob’s smile turned instantly to a frown. “Mason took Jess to Council? She has no business being there. Has he lost his fucking mind?” Gideon held up a quelling hand. “Don’t jump my ass about it. She made a deal with the devil or something. She gave him those girly doe eyes and said in that sweet-as-a-sugarcoated-knife voice: ‘My lord, who is more qualified than you to protect me?

And you can’t leave Lady Lyssa undefended at Council.’ He couldn’t argue with either point. The girl has guts
and
brains.”

“I would be very upset if championing my cause endangered her—” Lyssa began, but Gideon immediately shook his head.

“Not like that. She’s right, if you think about it. The Council’s done wanting to harm her, and Mason is the most qualified to protect her, with the possible exception of you and Daegan. The main reason he didn’t want her going was because of her past baggage, her fear of dealing with group vampire situations. But he’s helped her heal, helped her be stronger, and now she wants the chance to meet those fears head on. Since he loves her, he can’t really disagree with that.”

“Jesus, my brother has become Dr. Phil,” Jacob snorted.

Anwyn chuckled. “He’s just repeating what he’s heard me say. Like a trained monkey. No real comprehension, just regurgitation. Of course, monkeys actually do comprehend…” Lyssa let the inevitable banter that followed wash over her as she gazed down into Kane’s blue eyes.

Her heart turned over when he offered a small smile, laughing at all of them. It seemed to her he’d grown exponentially. He’d been doing a little walking before they left, in fits and spurts. Now his legs looked much stronger, sturdier.

She resented having to deal with Council. She wanted to tell them all to go to hell ; if they wanted her, they could come find her, and pay the consequences.

She’d thought a lot about that Council missive.

She’d also thought about her father, dying in a rose bush in the desert. She wished he could have met his grandchild. She thought about Rhoswen, the way she commanded her world, her strengths and weaknesses. A thousand years had taught her that every challenging situation held a lesson to be learned. Having that confidence required taking huge risks, but sometimes, to secure the future, risk was necessary.

“Kane is going to go with us to Council,” she said out loud. “But not because of Council’s demands.” Jacob turned toward her. As her servant, he might not always be privy to her mind. But this was not one of those times. In this, he was Kane’s father, and she let him fully into her head, let him see what she was thinking. A shadow closed over his face as he considered it, but she also saw him go through the same quick analysis she did. There weren’t too many variables to consider. She’d said it in the Fae world. She was done running, and that meant they had to confront the Council as a unit.

He reached into the pack they’d brought, took out Keldwyn’s pendant. The stone glowed amber and chocolate brown in the dim light from the garage.

Bringing it to her, he knelt at her feet, gave Kane a smile and pressed foreheads to him in playful affection as he let the baby touch the pendant. Then he placed it around Kane’s neck. As he did, the cord glowed, a warmth that shone over Kane’s fair cheeks a moment before the necklace became an imprint in the child’s skin, like a permanent tattoo.

Jacob looked up at Lyssa. “Okay,” he said.

Despite his initial surprise, he didn’t look as if her plan was too unexpected. And then she realized that was the other reason he’d summoned Gideon. Her servant had anticipated her, as he often did, and brought her potential reinforcements.

She glanced at Daegan Rei. Like the others, he was watching them curiously. While she didn’t know exactly where his loyalties lay, she knew he’d been at odds with Council directives over the recent year, right before Mason stepped into his position on it.

She couldn’t imagine Gideon bonding with someone who was dedicated to the current Council’s objectives, so she took a chance there as well.

“Lord Daegan, I plan to go into the Council meeting directly opposed to their plans. But I have a proposal for them that I think will be better for us all.

Though I do not command your loyalties, would you be willing to attend the Council meeting with us and stand at my back, against them as necessary?” The powerful vampire studied her. “I don’t play politics, Lady Lyssa.”

She inclined her head. “I believe you support the vision of Council that I have always had. But I can’t stand against you, nor would I. However, if I speak of my plan tonight and you oppose it, enough to inform the Council, then—”

Daegan lifted a hand. “With respect, please let me finish, Lady Lyssa. We are not a democracy, nor even a republic. Council is an oligarchy. However, any governing body making critical, frequent mistakes, the way this Council is, is creating an environment for change. Out of all the vampires I have met through the centuries, I trust your motives as a leader in that regard more than any other.” He gave her a bow. “You have my services and guidance, however you may need them.”

“Does this mean I get to use explosives again?” Gideon asked.

“Only if we shove them up your ass first,” Jacob noted.

“Nice. That’s brotherly love for you.” Kane put his mouth to Lyssa’s breast, trying to gnaw through the fabric. Holding him close, she nodded to the others.

“I’m going to retire for a while, but later tonight we'll meet and discuss my proposal.”

As she received polite acknowledgments from the others, Jacob caressed her shoulder, putting a kiss on Kane’s waving fist as he met her green eyes. “I'll be right down.”

You are going to tell Gideon about your parents.

Yes. And the other thing.

Her eyes warmed on him, though her hand tightened on his an extra moment as if a concern lay behind it. But whatever the concern was, she didn’t voice it. “Take your time,” she murmured. “But don’t be long.”

Jacob smiled at the conflicting commands, typical of his lady. “Count on it.”

“Lady Lyssa.” Daegan stepped forward. “However you choose to approach the Council, I would appreciate it if Anwyn and Gideon could stay here while we’re gone.”

“Of course, my lord. They are always welcome here, as are you.”

“As kind as that is”—Anwyn directed that polite tone toward Lyssa, though something else entirely entered her voice as she shifted her attention to Daegan—“we’re going with you.”

“No, you’re not,” he responded. “Do you remember your last visit to Council? We agreed on a low profile after that. Indefinitely.” Gideon shifted to that aggressive stance Jacob knew all too well. “This Council meeting isn’t going to be about us, so it’s a different situation. And I’m not letting my brother and my nephew go into it without my help.”

“So you are fine with Anwyn deciding to go into a dangerous situation if it suits your own purposes?”

“Don’t do that,” Anwyn snapped. She moved shoulder to shoulder with Gideon. “You know how it pisses me off when either one of you uses me as a pawn to get your way. Why don’t we hear Lady Lyssa’s plan tonight and then decide?”

“Fine.” Daegan inclined his head. “We will hear it, and then I will decide. I’m going to check the perimeter.”

As he strode away, the vampire called over his shoulder without turning. “Gideon, I can see it in your mind when you make a gesture like that.”

“Good. I’d hate for you to miss it.” Gideon glanced at Jacob. “What the hell are you grinning at?” Lyssa was moving toward the house, Ingram accompanying her. While Jacob couldn’t think of anything more appealing than curling around his lady and Kane while they slept, and catching a few hours himself, he wanted to take a moment with Gideon.

He needed to do that.

Gideon sobered, picking up on the change in Jacob’s demeanor. “Everything okay, bro?” His throat suddenly thick, Jacob nodded. He gripped his brother’s shoulder, tightening his grasp there in a sudden surge of emotion. “Yeah. Let’s go see if Ingram has beer in the fridge. I have to tell you some things about where we’ve been. Who we saw.” Clearing his throat, Jacob added, “Kelpies are real, Gid. And that’s not all. You’re not going to
believe
where I went the day before we left.” Soon after Jacob and Cayden’s sparring session, Catriona had arrived at the castle alone, indicating she wanted to show Jacob something, if he could be spared for a couple hours.

Lyssa was busy with Rhoswen, but regardless, Catriona said this was for Jacob’s eyes alone. While he rode one of the white chargers the Queen’s Guard favored, the dryad chose to fly in low formation next to him. However, after a time, she squatted on the horse’s rump, her bare toes and a light hand on Jacob’s shoulder balancing her. When they moved out of forest area, right toward a thick swirl of pink and golden mist collecting across their intended path, her grip tightened. “Just keep riding,” she said in that soft, breathy voice, a voice like musical chimes. “It’s alright.”

Since the pitch blackness of the desert world had been his last experience with obscured visibility, he was somewhat wary. However, this was Catriona, and the horse didn’t seem concerned. He moved straight into the fog. It was cool, damp on the skin, making it glisten with that same pink and gold shimmer. Catriona’s breath was warm on Jacob’s neck as she went to her knees behind him, leaning against his back, both hands on his shoulders now.

In several strides, the mist started to clear. He saw they were on the bank of a slow-moving river, the water deep midnight blue, with touches of green and the sparkle of the sun. On the other side of the river, within hailing distance, was an island. Lush green grass, fruit trees with wide canopies, white stone buildings. The setting reminded Jacob of the Spanish monastery where Thomas had trained him to be Lyssa’s servant, only even more peaceful and untouched. Women in pale robes picked fruit in the orchards, dropping them into slings on their hips.

“Apples,” Catriona said. “So sweet. The priestesses send baskets of them over as an offering to Queen Rhoswen every season and she shares them with us all. Because of those trees, this is called the Isle of Apples.”

Jacob swallowed. Something shifted beneath his very foundation. The world tilted. It couldn’t be…

“Avalon.” The word came out hoarse. Catriona’s hand tightened on him.

“Yes, Sir Knight. For that is also what your lady calls you, does she not? She has favored Sir Vagabond, but Sir Knight is always what she means, no matter what she calls you. Throughout the ages, no matter the century, there are men who represent the ideals of a knight. Nobility, loyalty, faithfulness, bravery, integrity… you cannot turn them from their path. And there is one spirit, one man they honor as the best of all of them, though some believe in his reality, and others only believe in what he symbolizes.”

Jacob got off the horse. Catriona used her wings to land next to him, her lyrical voice continuing.

“When he died, it is said his half sister, the sorceress, brought him to Avalon to live, until the day he returns again.”

Her hand slipped into his. Jacob gripped the slim fingers as two figures appeared, walking down the island beach. One was a tall, statuesque woman with glittering gold hair almost to her knees, her emerald green robes making her look like a jewel in a gold setting. The man who walked next to her wore a plain unlaced tunic and leggings, his feet bare. He swung a naked sword in relaxed fashion as he walked, as if he’d been doing a morning practice before he joined her for the stroll.