TAMARA IS WALKING AHEAD OF ME, INTO THE house. My own feet are rooted to the spot. It never occurred to me that the vineyard my parents "inherited" was Avery's. I didn't even remember before this moment that he owned one. How the hell was it possible that his winery ended up with my parents? Who could have made such a thing happen?
As soon as I ask myself that, the answer is there.
Williams.
It has to be. He'd been Avery's friend for hundreds of years. He knew everything about him. He was overseeing the estate because I wanted no part of it.
He wanted me free of human influence. He must have set this in motion months ago, before he knew about Sandra. It would take time to come up with a phony family tree and lay the foundation for the "inheritance."
Tamara stops when she realizes I'm not behind her and turns around. She studies me for a moment. "You didn't know? For real?"
I'm too dazed to do more than shake my head.
"Then who?" She pauses and a sharp flash of surprise widens her eyes. "Williams."
My turn to reflect surprise. "You know Williams?"
"Yes."
It's all she says. Then, "We should go to Sandra."
She moves off and I rouse myself to follow. My brain is still trying to process the implications of Williams' treachery. No wonder he came to see me at Glory's. He said nothing that prepared me for this, but he knew Sandra was about to discover what he'd done. Did he find out that Avery had come back in her body? I doubt it. Otherwise, he would not have been so calm. He'd know once Avery took care of me, he was likely to be next.
He almost got away with it, didn't he? My family may be packing right now for a future that can never happen. A future that's a lie. And I played right into it. I was suspicious, but I never connected the legacy to Avery.
Sandra coming here must have really upset Williams' plans. Did he decide to cut his losses? Feed me to the wolves and hope his part in the deception would go undiscovered?
Tamara has moved through the foyer and, instead of going to the living room, starts upstairs. I realize I have to pay attention to what's happening now or risk the consequences of being caught off guard by a werewolf who suspects me of deceit. Sandra (or Avery) knew all along what I've just found out. I doubt they'll believe it, though. I wouldn't.
Another shock wave hits when I realize where Tamara is taking me. Avery's bedroom. Shit. It was bad enough being in his living room. A tumble of emotions, all negative and too strong to deal with rationally, causes a predictable reaction.
The vampire surfaces.
Tamara is still walking ahead of me. Her own animal instinct causes her to falter, turn around. She senses the change. "We appreciate that this is hard for you. Being here. We wish you no harm. We need your help."
She stands at the door to the bedroom. His bedroom. My body trembles. If I enter that room, if I face Sandra knowing she is a vessel for Avery, I can't be sure how I will react.
Tamara watches. She sees the trembling, reads the conflict in my eyes. "Avery is asleep," she says. "You will be speaking only to Sandra."
How can she know this? The only sound I'm capable of making at this moment is a growl. It comes from a dark place, the pit of my soul. It is meant as a question and a warning.
Once again, she seems to understand. "When you called," Tamara says, "Sandra took a sedative. She knew Avery was sensitive to certain drugs. Since he has inhabited her body, we use the knowledge to allow Sandra respite from his control. It doesn't last long, and when it wears off, he exacts terrible retribution. It is Sandra who awaits you now. Not Avery."
She pushes open the door and waits.
I wait, too. For the blood to cool, for the fight reflex to dissipate, for reason to take back control.
I close my eyes, and when I reopen them, I'm ready.
