I relished Ethan. Every touch, every sensation, every incredible, mind-bending orgasm. And maybe part of the reason was that I knew we might not get another chance. The very next nightfall would bring us to our goalwell, my goal, not his. And I knew we could die in the effort if things went bad.
And yet there wasn't a cell in my body that truly believed that could happen. We would be successful, I knew we would. We would free them all. We would shut that horrible place down for good. I felt buoyant. And I knew part of that was because of him. Had I been facing this challenge alone, I thought I would have been much less optimistic about my chances. But I honestly felt as if there was nothing I couldn't accomplish with this man by my side.
I lay there then, in his arms, and he held me as if I were the most cherished thing in the universe.
"We're going to make this work," I told him. "We'll be successful, and we'll escape unscathed. I know we will."
"I hope you're right," he said. "And if we do then what?"
I felt my brows furrow in a tight little frown. "What do you mean?"
"I meanwhat's going to happen afterward?"
I lifted my head from his shoulder to better see his face, but there was no reading his expression. "We'll live freely. Without being hunted. We'll have others of our own kind to interact with."
He shook his head slowly. "Not of our own kind, Lilith. Not really. We're vampires. The captives at The Farm are the Chosennot the undead. They're not like us."
I lowered my eyes and nodded reluctantly.
"But that wasn't what I meant by my question," he said softly. "I meant, what will you do if we survive this?"
I blinked, my head coming up again, my eyes meeting his. "I don't know. I could stay with you, I suppose. If if that's what you're asking."
He smiled. "I guess it is. I feel like we have something together, Lilith. Something more than just this physical bliss we've been enjoying. And I'd like to take some time to find out just what it is."
"Oh, I already know what it is," I told him. And I ran a hand over his cheek. "It's trust."
His eyes shifted to the left, away from mine.
"I don't think I've ever trusted anyone before," I told him. "It's a new feeling for me. All those years at The FarmI've been remembering more and more, and I know I didn't trust anyone there. Or anything they told me."
"Does that include your fellow inmates?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. I cared about them, but I wasn't stupid. I don't think I've ever been stupid. So no, I didn't trust them." I lowered my head to his shoulder again, pressed small kisses to his neck. "But I trust you." It felt so good to be able to say that to another being, and to mean it.
His arms tightened around me, but he didn't say a word.
Ginger put her superior on speaker, so the others could hear the entire conversation. They both knew this was going to be a delicate negotiation. While the heads of the organization knew about the existence of The Farm, they didn't know that Ginger's branch of the Sisterhood had placed a woman inside. They didn't know that Serena was the mother of an escaped vampiress. They didn't know that Ginger, Serena, Terry and Callista, had been waging a four-woman campaign to uncover the DPI's secrets and rescue Lilith for her mother.
When Phaedra answered, Ginger said, "We have discovered the location of The Farm."
"How?" Phaedra asked.
"Anonymous tip."
"Anonymous?" Phaedra hesitated. "Do you realize that would suggest that someone not of the Sisterhood has learned of our existence?"
"Well, we already know there are a handful of vampires who know. It may have been one of them."
"But you don't know for sure?"
"No, Lady Phaedra, I don't know."
There was silence on the other end. Ginger glanced from Serena to Terry and back again, cleared her throat, and said, "There's more."
"Do tell."
"Well, we know of two vampires who escaped captivity. And we believe they're on their way back there to try to free the others. We suspect the DPI knows it, too, and are waiting in ambush."
"This anonymous source of yours seems to have a lot of information."
"Yes," Ginger said. And Serena knew the other woman had also heard the skepticism in Lady Phaedra's tone, the suspicion. "We'd like to intercept the vamps. To warn them."
Phaedra sighed into the phone. "And you believe this meets with our criteria for intervention?"
"I do. Humansthe DPI, in this caseare tampering with the supernatural order. It's our sworn mission to prevent that kind of tampering, to protect that order and allow it to evolve as it's meant to. Besides," she added, "they won't stand a chance if they walk into that trap."
Serena could almost see the older woman nodding slowly, eyes narrowing as she considered every option. She was thinking, and Serena, Ginger and Terry stayed silent, giving her time to strategize.
"I agree," Phaedra said at length. "Although I'm going to insist on a full accounting afterward, you realize." Her voice had a water-over-gravel quality, probably from years of sneaking cigarettes, despite the Sisterhood's ban on smoking. The Sisters of Athena had be healthy and strong, and Phaedra was both, in spades. But she still loved her Marlboros. "What is your plan?"
"I'd like to send several groups out today. Have them waiting along every route to The Farm, with orders to intercept the vampires if and when they try to pass."
Serena nearly held her breath as she awaited the reply. Terry was listening, too, but also constantly peering outside at the vampires standing sentry all around them.
They hadn't tried to come inside yet. They hadn't attacked. They were just watching, Waiting. Probably for Ethan and Lilith.
"Ginger, you'll have to keep your women far enough from The Farm to be safe. You'll have to make it look innocent. As if they've stopped along the road toI don't knowchange a tire. That sort of thing."
"Yes, naturally."
"And they'll need to be armed with tranquilizersevery single one of them. I will not risk my women being killed by vampires who may not realize they're only trying to help."
Ginger swallowed, her eyes shooting to Serena's. "All right."
"I want the intervention to be fast. Instantaneous. If the DPI forces catch you, God only knows the damage that could be done. We cannot risk the government getting a clue as to our existence. They would destroy us."
"They would try," Ginger agreed.
"So this is how it will unfold. The vampires begin to pass, our women stop them, tranquilize them and get them to hell out of there. Immediately. No conversation. No reasoning. You strike, and you get out."
Serena closed her eyes, not liking the plan at all. And yet it was probably the only thing that would work.
"Once you get them to safety, they are to be physically restrained until they wake and you can explain the situation, and determine that they are not a threat to you. And even then, I want most of the Sisters well beyond their reach. Understood?"
"Yes, Lady Phaedra."
"All right, then. It will take place tonight?"
"I'm almost certain of it," Ginger said.
"I'll expect a report as soon as it's done."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
"Be extremely cautious, Ginger. Your main objective is to protect the anonymity of the Sisterhood of Athena. That above all else."
"Yes, ma'am," Ginger said again. "I'll call you tonight, when it's done."
"Do that. And text me the location of The Farm as soon as you hang up."
The click of Phaedra disconnecting seemed to be the period at the end of a sentence. "In case we die tonight," Ginger whispered. She sighed and lowered her head. "It's the best we could have hoped for."
"You didn't mention that we were sitting here surrounded by DPI-trained vamps," Terry said. "You should have had her send help."
"We won't need help," Serena said softly. She nodded toward the grandfather clock, with its slowly swinging pendulum, in the corner of the room. "It'll be dawn in another hour. They can't very well stand there watching us while the sun comes up. They'd be toast."
"You really think they're alone?" Terry asked. Then she shook her head slowly, in answer to her own question. "Their mortal puppetmasters must be nearby. They'll take over watching us like vultures once the vamps take cover for the day."
"Maybe. Maybe not," Ginger said. "It's vampires they were sent to find, after all. Ethan and Lilith. And they have to rest by day, too. Maybe once they fall asleep we'll be able to slide right out of here unnoticed."
Serena nodded. "We'll have to make sure of that. I don't want to find Lilith, only to learn that I led the DPI right to her" She thinned her lips, and began picking up the empty plates. They'd made bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches for their pie-dawn dinner. "We need to get out a map and start planning this out in detail."
"We got maps at the store," Terry said, moving for the door, reaching for the knob. "They're in the caroh." Her hand fell away from the doorknob.
"Yeah, we don't want to be walking out to the car just yet," Serena said. "Let's try to rest, okay? I'll set my phone alarm to wake us in an hour."
"Yeah. Like I'm going to be able to sleep," Terry muttered.
I woke the next night in Ethan's arms and tugged myself free and sat up slightly, so I could look down at him. He was a beautiful man. Reluctant to help me in my mission, yes, but surely he would soon see that it was necessary.
He opened his eyes slowly, and his lips pulled into a soft smile as he saw me looking at him. Drinking him in.
"You look happy this evening," he said.
I let my smile grow. "I am. Tonight's the night we're going to find that place and free the captives."
He blinked, his smile fading a little. "Oh. I thoughtnevermind."
Realizing my mistake immediately, I hurried on. "Besides, what woman wouldn't wake up happy after the time we spent together and sleeping in your arms all day long?"
He nodded, but I didn't think he bought it. Not entirely, anyway. He knew I had a one track mind, and right now that track was leading me to The Farm.
Still, he pulled me to him for a deep kiss that grew deeper and hotter in a hurry. I enjoyed it thoroughly, until I began to suspect his intent. And then I pulled away and blinked at him.
"Are you trying to distract me?"
He sighed and let his hands fall away from my shoulders. I missed his touch immediately, but I knew it was necessary. "I was hoping to. But I didn't think it would work."
"You know me very well, then, Ethan."
He nodded. "I like to think so. Listen, once we locate the place, we should take enough time to do some careful surveillance. Map it out, note all the ways in and out. We should know how many guards there are, when they change shifts, what weapons they carry, things like that."
I sat on my heels. "You are trying to delay us."
He sat up, too, smoothing my hair as if soothing my temper. "I'm only trying to keep us alive. And we'd be more likely to stay that way with more help."
I rolled my eyes. "Not this again."
"Lilith, my brother"
"I don't trust him. I don't know him."
"He's one of us. What more is there to know?"
"How about whether or not he's working for them, Ethan? How about whether he's only in touch with you now because he's hunting you? Or me?"
"He's my brother."
I lowered my head, then lifted it again and got to my feet, then gathered up our few possessions, walked to the Bronco and tossed them inside. Then I moved to the barn doors to open them wide.
The night spread out before me, smelling of alfalfa and wildflowers. It was warm, and barely a breeze stirred the air.
I heard Ethan sigh, but he got up and pulled on his clothes. Then he joined me outside, looking around, but not listening to the nightbirds and crickets as I was, I thought. No, he was searching for signs of trouble.
His caution irritated me. I went back inside and got into the vehicle, and then, growing impatient when he took his time joining me, I turned the key, starting the noisy engine.
He took the hint and got in beside me, shoving me over to the passenger seat. "I've never seen anyone in such a hurry to face her own demise," he muttered. He said it as if he was joking, but I knew that deep down, he wasn't. Not really.
"I'm in a hurry to get my siblings out of that place."
He looked at me sharply. "You have family there?"
"So do you," I told him. "We're all family. It's in the blood, and it's a bond every bit as strong as the one you have with your brother, Ethan, whether you like to admit it or not."
"It's not the same."
I pressed my lips together and said nothing as he backed the vehicle out of the bam and, once clear, drove over the bumpy ground to the road beyond. I half expected him to turn in the opposite direction from the one I wanted him to take, but he didn't. He continued on the same course we'd chosen the night before.
We drove in silence for quite some time, and then my head rose, my senses perked. "I thinkyes, this is familiar. I came this way, I'm sure of it. I cut through those woods, to stay out of sight, but I followed the road all the same. This very road, Ethan!"
He nodded. "I think we must be close, then," he said.
"Yes, I think we" I broke off there and looked at him. He was slowing down. But I'd felt his thoughts as he'd spoken. He didn't think we were close. He knew it. "How do you know we're close?" I asked him.
He didn't look at me, not even a quick glance, and I could feel the shields going up in his mind, blocking mine from entry. I couldn't read his thoughts, which made me both suspicious and hurt.
"It's only a guess," he said.
"No, it's not."
He looked at me sharply. "I'm just going by how far I estimate you could have traveled in a single night and how far we've already come, and"
"Then why are you guarding your thoughts from me?"
"I'm not." And that was so obvious a lie, even a mortal would have detected it.
"You're lying to me, Ethan." I blinked, stunned at this revelation. "You know, don't you? You know where The Farm is. You've known all along!"
"Lilith, I"
"I trusted you," I whispered. And the pain in my chest was so intense that I almost couldn't bear it. I wondered at the enormity of it but brushed the questions aside as I rushed on. "I've never trusted anyone before. Not ever. But I trusted you."
He pulled the truck onto the shoulder, sending up a cloud of dust, and braked to a stop. Then he closed his eyes briefly. "You can still trust me, Lilith."
"How?" I asked.
"Look, you're right, okay? I have known the location of The Farm this entire time. But I thought if I just had some time with you, I could"
"Where?" I demanded.
He was silent, so I said it again. "Where is it, Ethan? You said I could trust you, so prove it. Tell me the truth, for once."
"Ten miles, straight ahead." The words seemed to be wrenched from his chest, as if he were speaking against his will. "Then there's a dirt track that veers off to the right, twisting into the woods. The compound is just beyond the end of the tree line."
I nodded just once, then wrenched the door open, got out and began walking.
He caught up to me in seconds. "Lilith, I wasn't trying to deceive you. I just wanted more time to try to change your mind."
"You lied to me."
"I want you to stay alive, dammit."
"By keeping me from doing what I have to do? What I'm willing to die, to do?"
"I can't bear to see you die. How can you hate me for that?"
"You left me behind in that place. And all the others, as well. You didn't come back for us. You wrote me off to embrace your own freedom. Where was all this concern for my well being then?"
"That was before. I was young and naive, and I felt powerless. But I never stopped thinking about you, Lilith. You know that's true. You saw the proof of it in that print I keep hanging above my mantel. I intended to return, to try to free youyou know that, as well. I only wanted to find my brother first, so I could"
I whirled on him. "Your brother, your brother, your brother. I'm so sick of hearing about your damned brother!"
"He can help us, Lilith." He gripped my shoulders, as if trying to force feed me the words.
"Go find him, then. Be with him. He's all you've thought about from the beginning. Just go. I'll do this alone." Pulling free of him, I turned and began walking again.
And that was when I felt the stabbing pain in my shoulder. I flinched, my hand flying to the spot as my eyes searched the night for its source. I felt a dart embedded in my arm and yanked it free, then hurled it away with all my might, even as I whirled and saw people crouching in the brush along the roadside. And then, just as I spotted them, they began to blur before my eyes.
"Lilith!" Ethan ran toward me, but even as I turned to look back at him another dart hit me, squarely in the hip this time. I felt myself weakening, falling.
"Run, Ethan," I whispered. "Save yourself."
He came toward me anyway, but I didn't see what happened next. My vision went dark as I hit the pavement.
Ethan was stunned by the attack. He'd been so focused on Lilith that he'd failed to detect anyone waiting in ambush. Darts flew from the brush along the roadsides, one grazing him even though he ducked.
Then, suddenly, he heard squealing tires, saw bright lights, and blinked, confused, as the Bronco sped up beside him.
He fought to keep his footing, his eyes ahead, on Lilith. But the door opened and someone yanked him into the truck.
"No," he managed, though his tongue felt thick. "Have to save Lilith." He fought to stay conscious, peered through blurry eyes as the Bronco lurched into motion.
Lilith was lying on the pavement ahead, a hooded figure bending over her. He sensed it was female and mortal, but no more. She was blocking, An ordinary mortal, blocking her thoughts from a vampire. It had to be one of the keepers or some other agent of the DPI.
And then the Bronco looped around in a semi-circle and began speeding in the opposite direction.
"No!" he shouted, finally turning his attention to the person driving his borrowed vehicle.
James. His brother shifted into a higher gear and stomped on the accelerator.
"James, no! We have to save her!"
As he spoke, he twisted around in his seat, looking back. He saw another vehicle skidding to a halt in the road, and Lilith being lifted and shoved into the back seat. Panicking, he reached for the wheel, tried to pull it from his brother's powerful hands, to turn the car around himself.
But he was weak, and his brother easily pried his hands off the steering wheel. "We'll get her back. But not here," James said. "We're outnumbered, out-armed. You try it here, they'll get you, too, little brother.
They'll have both of us. And then who'll be left to save your Lilith?"
"But"
"Ethan, trust me. This is the only way to save her. We get away, we find out where they're taking her, and then we attack. They'll never expect it."
Ethan's stomach lurched as they sped further away from Lilith. He gagged and lowered his head to the seat. "We know where they're taking her," he told his brother. "Back to The Farm."
James patted his shoulder. "I don't know who that was, Ethan, but I don't think they were DPI."
Ethan's head came up slowly. "What makes you say that?"
"They were women. Every last one of them."
