Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire (Love at Stake) (22 page)

“Those two are inseparable,” Howard said. “Ian’s little girl and Robby’s little boy. They’ll both turn two in the fall. Oh, they have company.” Howard laughed as two more young children crowded behind the pole. “Those are the Panterra twins, Eric and Adriana. They’ve just turned two. They all know each other from being at Dragon Nest Academy.”

“And those?” Russell pointed to the chapel, where an older girl was hiding with two younger ones.

“The Echarpe kids. Bethany’s about ten now, and the twins are four. And over there, Phineas and Brynley are chasing after their twins. Ben and Gwen have graduated from walking to running at full speed.”

“You keep up with all of this?” Russell gave the were-bear a wry look. “You must like kids.”

Howard nodded and aimed a happy look at his wife. Elsa was sitting at one of the tables, deep in conversation with Neona. “Elsa’s helping Neona design a big nursery here in the castle. Zoltan wants me continue to work here as head of security, so it looks like we’ll have our twins here.”

“That’s good.” Russell spotted Connor at the entrance to the castle, helping a little redheaded toddler scramble up the stairs. “I guess that’s Connor’s son.”

“Yeah.” Howard chuckled when the boy grabbed at his father’s kilt. “I heard the Scottish guys complaining that they have to wear underwear under their kilts now. The little ones keep tossing their kilts up. That one is Gabriel. He’s a year and a half.”

At the mention of the name Gabriel, Russell tensed. He was sick of waiting for news from the angels. He wanted Jia back now. “I brought some antique pistols with me. I . . . I’d like to sell them if any of the guys would be interested.”

Howard tilted his head, considering. “Zoltan has a collection in the armory. I think Jean-Luc has a collection, too, though he’s more into swords.”

Just then, Tino shouted, “One hundred. Ready or not, here I come!” He looked about and grinned at the four toddlers lined up behind the flagpole.

Meanwhile, Norjee and Xiao Fang touched home and laughed when Tino scowled at them. Sofia crept away from the ice chest and inched along the tables.

When Tino’s back was turned, she made a mad dash for the fountain. He spotted her and gave chase, finally tapping her on the shoulder.

“You’re it!” Tino announced, then winced when his sister stomped on his foot.

Howard chuckled. “Where are the pistols?”

“In the armory.”

Howard nodded. “I’ll get the keys and the guys and meet you there.”

Russell teleported inside the armory, turned on the light, and finished his bottle of Bleer while he waited for the others to arrive. Soon he heard the door unlock and footsteps coming down the stairs.

Zoltan patted him on the back. “It’s good to see you.”

“
Bonsoir, mon ami
.” Jean-Luc shook his hand. “I hear you have some antique pistols?”

“Yes.” Russell removed the pistols and set them on the table. “Colt Single Action Army Pinch Frame revolvers. My great-grandfather received them in 1873. They have consecutive serial numbers, double digit.”

“
Formidable
.” Jean-Luc picked one up to examine it.

Zoltan looked at the other. “Why would you part with these?”

Russell shrugged. “They’re from the past. Right now, I’m more interested in having a future. With Jia, I hope.”

Howard nodded. “We’ll get her back.”

“I’ll give you two hundred thousand,” Jean-Luc said.

“Two-hundred fifty,” Zoltan countered and smiled when Jean-Luc gave him an annoyed look.

“Sold,” Russell said quickly. He liked the thought of the pistols being here in Zoltan’s castle, where he could look at them whenever he liked. “I have an account at your bank in the village, if you would transfer the money there.”

“Sure. Not a problem,” Zoltan replied.

“I’d like to spend some of it right away.” Russell took Jia’s bracelet from his pocket. “I want to have a necklace made that matches this.”

“Impressive.” Jean-Luc took out his cell phone and started taking photos. “I know a jewelry designer in Paris who could do it. I’ll send him the photos.”

“Thank you.” Russell smiled to himself. Now he would have a wedding present for Jia that was as good as any from the were-tiger prince. “I also need some wedding rings.”

Howard chuckled. “You’re in a hurry.”

“You’re in luck.” Zoltan grinned. “I’ll take you to the jewelry store in the village.”

Two hours later, Russell returned to the bat cave. He set Jia’s bracelet on the table next to its twin, then placed the box of wedding rings next to them. Now he needed to buy some land from Rajiv. It was near dawn, so he would wait till sunset before returning to Tiger Town.

W
hen Russell awoke, he realized this was the sixth night since Jia’s kidnapping. Maybe Briathos and the God Warriors would return tonight with news. He quickly dressed, guzzled down some blood, and teleported to Tiger Town.

Although the courtyard was crowded with tents, it was eerily quiet. The treatment to turn the supersoldiers’ DNA back to normal worked best when they were unconscious.

Down by the river, the were-tigers were in groups, talking in hushed voices as they pointed at and admired a row of four black SUVs. Standing next to each SUV was a guard dressed in a black suit.

“Hey, Russell.” J.L. walked up to him, a bottle of synthetic blood in his hand. “You got here fast. You must have heard the news.”

“What news? Did Briathos return?”

J.L. shook his head and motioned to the SUVs. “The were-tiger prince and his entourage arrived about an hour ago.”

Russell groaned. And Jia wasn’t here to tell the precious prince to get lost. He doubted Rajiv would do it. As far as he knew, Rajiv might want the wedding to go through. “Where are they?”

“In the palace.” J.L. finished his bottle of blood. “Rajiv is hosting a banquet in their honor.”

Russell tamped down a surge of anger. It seemed that the prince was still the preferred choice for Jia’s husband. “Then we should go.” He marched toward the stairs.

“Wait.” J.L. followed him. “It’s an official were-tiger affair. I don’t think we’re invited.”

Russell snorted. “Think again.” He needed to meet this prince.

Chapter Twenty-three

“
Y
ou’ll need to make a formal greeting,” J.L. warned him when they reached the double doors to the palace. “If you don’t show your respect, it’ll be taken as an insult.”

Russell snorted as he heaved open one of the doors. He didn’t mind being polite to Rajiv, but the prince was another matter.

“Don’t speak until you’ve been spoken to. Follow my lead,” J.L. whispered before stepping quietly into the throne room.

Russell followed, trying not to recall the awful events that had happened here. Right over there, he’d killed his brother. And there was the spot where he’d realized Jia was gone.

The room looked different now, bright and sparkling with candlelight. Tall brass candelabras were positioned between each of the red painted columns, and two more flanked the throne that sat on the dais at the far end of the room. Candlelight gleamed off the golden tigers that decorated the ornately carved wooden throne.

Along the perimeter of the room, red silk banners hung from the ceiling, each ending with a golden tassel. On the banners, embroidered tigers were either crouching or leaping. On the floor, a series of low tables had been lined up to make one long banquet table. A red silk table runner with gold tassels extended down the length of the table, although it was barely visible for all the food. There were enough platters of meat and bowls containing vegetables and sauces to feed twice the number of guests present.

Rajiv, dressed in a purple silk robe, sat on a floor cushion at the head of the table. His long black hair had been pulled up into a topknot, encircled with a gold ring and pierced with a long hairpin in the shape of a golden tiger. Twelve guests were at the table, six on each side, all sitting cross-legged on red silk cushions.

To Rajiv’s right sat a young man with a gold crown on his head and an entitled smirk on his face. That had to be the prince. Russell fought an urge to wipe the smugness off his face, and not with a silk napkin. The rest of the people on the right were probably his entourage. The last in line was a woman. Russell assumed that the further down the line a person sat, the lower his rank. Behind the seated guests, six men in black silk robes were standing and eyeing him and J.L. with suspicion.

Russell smirked. How many bodyguards did the prince need? He had to be a wimp.

To Rajiv’s left sat his uncles, Rinzen and Tenzen, plus four more elderly gentlemen. All the guests had stopped eating to look at the intruders.

Russell felt a tug on his trouser leg and noticed that J.L. had knelt. So this was the formal greeting? With an inward groan, he knelt. Then, to his surprise, J.L. planted his hands on the stone floor and bowed forward till his forehead touched the ground.

Damn. No way was he prostrating himself before Jia’s fiancé. He glanced at Rajiv, who looked tense but was keeping his face expressionless. There was no help for it, Russell realized. Rajiv was a future in-law, so Russell couldn’t embarrass him in front of his own kind. Gritting his teeth, Russell bowed low.

“I bid you welcome,” Rajiv said.

“Your kindness is beyond measure, Your Eminence,” J.L. said. “Please forgive our ill-mannered intrusion. We merely wish to pay our respect.”

Russell rolled his eyes. Enough with the groveling. He started to stand but noticed that J.L. was still sitting on his knees, so he followed suit.

“Allow me to introduce you to my esteemed guest.” Rajiv motioned to the right. “This is Prince Kim Mi-nam of South Korea. Your Highness, these gentlemen are Wang Jin Long and Russell. They are both Americans.”

The prince sniffed. Russell was tempted to cure the prince’s sniffles, and not with a tissue.

Rajiv gestured toward the Vamps. “Would you care to join us?”

The prince stiffened and set his chopsticks down with a loud clunk. “You intend to share this table with vampires?”

Rajiv gave him a conciliatory smile. “Don’t worry. They won’t be eating any of the food.”

“That is not the point,” the prince growled. “They’re loathsome, filthy creatures.”

Russell gritted his teeth. He was tempted to wash out the prince’s mouth, and not with soap.

Rajiv’s hand gripped his chopsticks so hard that his knuckles turned white. “These are my dear friends and trusted allies. Perhaps you have heard of our troubles? For over forty years, my people have been plagued by Master Han and his three vampire lords. Many of my people were hunted and slaughtered, including my parents and the parents of your betrothed.”

The prince shrugged. “We have heard the horror stories of Master Han and his three lords, but that sort of loathsome behavior is hardly surprising for vampires.”

Rajiv’s smile looked forced. “Then you may be surprised to learn that there are good vampires. Jin Long helped me kill one of the vampire lords, Lord Qing. Russell killed Lord Ming, and just recently, he killed Master Han. With that one brave act, he succeeded in doing what my people have been unable to do for forty years. And by killing Han, he stopped an army from attacking my village. To me and my people, these men are heroes.”

The prince grunted and regarded Russell and J.L. with disdain. Russell met his gaze, giving him a look of challenge.
Which would you like first, Prince? A black eye or a broken nose?

Rajiv lifted a hand, and a servant approached. “Please bring two cups and a bottle of Blissky for our new guests.”

As the maidservant rushed off, Rajiv gestured to the food. “Please enjoy the meal. Let me pour you a drink.” He lifted a teapot and filled the prince’s cup.

The were-tigers started eating again. Russell and J.L. scooted to the end of the table, where they sat cross-legged. Russell watched everyone carefully and noticed that Rajiv’s gaze was drifting often to the pretty young lady in the prince’s entourage. She was quietly focusing on her plate in front of her.

The maidservant placed two cups in front of Russell and J.L., then filled them with Blissky, a mixture of synthetic blood and whisky.

“I must say, I am terribly disappointed that Lady Jia is not here,” the prince grumbled. “Surely she knew we would be arriving soon.”

“I apologize,” Rajiv murmured. “It couldn’t be helped.”

“Why will you not tell me where she is?” the prince demanded. “I could have my men fetch her.”

Rajiv smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but that will not be necessary. We hope to have her back soon.” He exchanged a look with his uncles. The other men on his side of the table shifted uncomfortably and fiddled with their food. Obviously, none of them wanted the prince to know where Jia was.

“A toast to Lady Jia.” Russell lifted his glass, and everyone drank. “So, Rajiv, can you tell me who everybody is?”

Rajiv looked relieved to have the subject changed. “You know my uncles.” He motioned to the four older gentlemen. “These are esteemed members of my Council of Elders.”

“I have already introduced my entourage, but I will do so again.” With an annoyed look, the prince nodded to the people on his side of the table. “My father’s secretary of state, the leader of our Council of Elders, my personal secretary, my head of security, and Lady Yi-soo.”

“If I might be so bold as to inquire, why is there a noblewoman traveling with you?” Rajiv’s gaze lingered once more on the young lady.

Prince Mi-nam waved a dismissive hand. “Her title is merely honorary. In truth, she is little more than a servant.”

Lady Yi-soo kept her head bowed, but her cheeks turned pink.

Rajiv’s jaw shifted. “Then I am even more curious as to why she is here.”

The prince glanced down at her with a scornful look. “My father insisted on it. She is to serve as Lady Jia’s personal bodyguard and tutor. Lady Yi-soo is skilled in martial arts and fencing. And she will be teaching Lady Jia our language and glorious traditions. Surely Lady Jia will not wish to be an embarrassment to our royal court?”

Rajiv gritted his teeth. “Of course not.”

Russell wondered what the prince would look like with his golden crown wrapped around his throat.

J.L. cleared his throat. “Then Lady Yi-soo can understand us? She speaks Chinese?”

“Of course,” Prince Mi-nam answered for her. “She is fluent in several languages. She was allowed to attend school with the other royal children.”

“
Other
royal children?” Rajiv asked.

The prince shrugged. “My father has sired over fifty children, but they need not concern you. I am the eldest legitimate son and therefore heir to the throne. The illegitimate children inherit nothing, so you needn’t fear that Lady Yi-soo will be a threat of any kind to your cousin. As my wife, Lady Jia will become the Grand Tigress and receive all the honor and wealth due to her station.”

Rajiv’s eyes narrowed.

Russell amended his vision. Instead of wrapping the prince’s golden crown around his neck, he imagined cramming it down the bastard’s throat.

“Are you saying Lady Yi-soo is illegitimate?” Rajiv asked quietly, glancing at her.

She set her chopsticks down as her cheeks bloomed a brighter pink.

The prince snorted. “Is this really worth discussing? Do you wish to cause her further embarrassment? Believe me, she already knows her place.”

Rajiv hissed in a breath.

Russell slammed his cup down on the table. “Is it one of your glorious traditions for the Grand Tiger to be unfaithful to his wife?”

The prince huffed. “My father’s private life is hardly any of your concern.”

Anger simmered in Rajiv’s golden eyes. “It is our concern if you intend to follow in his footsteps.”

The prince gave him an incredulous look. “Your Eminence, surely you understand the true nature of an arranged marriage. My betrothal with Lady Jia has been enacted for the sole purpose of creating an alliance between our two kingdoms. It is a political union, nothing more. Like my father, I will look elsewhere—”

With a growl, Russell jumped to his feet. “You bas—”

“Stop,” J.L. hissed in English as he grabbed Russell’s arm. “Let Rajiv handle this.”

Russell pulled away. “I need to clobber him.”

The prince cleared his throat. “I understand English, too.”

“Then understand this,” Rajiv announced. “I will not allow my cousin to enter into a faithless marriage. She deserves better than that.”

Prince Mi-nam snorted. “Come now. You’re a Grand Tiger just like I’ll be someday. We’re not allowed to marry for love. It is only natural for us to—”

“I realize I will have to marry according to my position,” Rajiv interrupted, “but I will make every effort to ensure my marriage becomes a union based on love. I will treat my wife with respect and honor, remaining faithful to her each day, so that in time I might earn her love.”

The prince rolled his eyes. “We can live for hundreds of years. How could you remain faithful for centuries?”

“How could I not be faithful when there is love?” Rajiv asked. “My grandfather was faithful to his wife. My parents were faithful to each other. That is
our
tradition. My cousin will not accept less.”

Prince Mi-nam huffed with indignation. Russell was ready to punch the prince’s lights out, but he felt a surge of pride over how well Rajiv had handled the matter. Obviously, he and Rajiv felt the same way about marriage. And it looked like Lady Yi-soo did, too. She was gazing at Rajiv with tears in her eyes.

A sudden flash of light filled the room, and Russell turned to see Briathos materializing by the door.

“What the hell?” Prince Mi-nam scrambled to his feet and rushed to stand behind his bodyguards.

Russell snorted. He was a wimp, all right. “Not hell. More like heaven.” He turned to the God Warrior. “Any news? How is Jia?”

Briathos bowed his head. “Greetings, dear souls. An hour has passed since—”

“You mean six days!” Russell yelled.

“Yes.” Briathos gave him a wry look. “We are aware of how much time has passed on Earth.”

“What has happened?” Russell demanded. “Did Lucifer let her go?”

“Lucifer?” Prince Mi-nam asked.

“It’s a long story,” Russell growled, then asked Briathos, “well?”

The God Warrior shook his head. “Lucifer has refused to release her. The archangel Gabriel is gathering an army of five hundred God Warriors. We have permission to invade hell.”

Russell nodded. “I’m coming with you.”

“
Hell
?” Prince Mi-nam asked, his voice rising.

Russell shot him an impatient look. “Yes, hell. When I killed Master Han, the God Warriors came to banish the demon Darafer back to hell. Unfortunately, he took Jia with him.”

“Lady Jia is in hell?” the prince asked, an incredulous look on his face. “That’s impossible! People aren’t taken to hell.”

“Oh, really?” Russell gritted his teeth. “I’ll take you. You can help us rescue her.”

The prince scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not sure I even believe this ludicrous story.”

“It is true,” Rajiv told him. “Lady Jia was kidnapped by a demon and taken to hell.”

“We will assist with her rescue,” Tenzen said, motioning to his twin, Rinzen.

“Me, too,” J.L. added.

Briathos regarded them sadly. “Your courage is to be commended, but I must warn you once again of the grave danger. If you are killed in hell, you run the risk of your soul being trapped there forever.”

Russell nodded. “I understand. I’m still going.”

Rajiv walked down the length of the table to join Russell. “I will go with you.”

“But Your Eminence,” one of Rajiv’s elders protested. “You mustn’t go. It is too dangerous.”

Rajiv rested a hand on the elder’s shoulder. “Before we leave, Jin Long will teleport my brother here. If something happens to me, Raghu will be the new Grand Tiger. He and his wife just had twins, so the line will be secure.”

The elder nodded sadly. “Please be careful, Your Eminence.”

Russell glanced back at the prince, who had turned pale. “Well, Your Highness?”

Mi-nam gulped. “I—I could send some of my bodyguards.”

His bodyguards stiffened with horrified looks on their faces. One fell to his knees. “Your Highness, please—”

“I will go,” Lady Yi-soo interrupted.