“Aaron, go back inside,” Timothy said in a stern, commanding tone. But I could hear the fear underlining his words.
Aaron only squared off his stance.
Idiot.
No wonder I liked him.
Galina strode forward, gliding as if on a supernatural conveyor belt until she stood on the opposite end of the drop-off lanes for the hotel. Sekhmet blurred to Galina’s side so fast that I missed the movement altogether.
I’d seen Sekhmet when she’d been in her deep sleep at the long-term care facility. In that bed, the goddess seemed so frail and young. Even now she appeared far younger than Galina, but I felt the thrum of her ancient power all around me.
Something was off in her blood-red eyes. As if she were closer to a primal animal than the sophisticated, cultured gods that stood at the ready on either side of the road. The glint in her eye reminded me of the occasional psychopath I’d had to track down as a bounty hunter. Not evil, but disassociated with any and all humanity in themselves. I’d learned those were the most dangerous people to capture.
Galina reached over to stroke her sister’s hair. Something about Galina had relaxed. She’d been waiting for eons to be reunited with her sister, and now that she’d done so, some layer of protection had fallen away. I felt like I was seeing the goddess for the first time. The mystery gave way to deep, tender love. But it didn’t make her weak. No, it made her far more dangerous than ever before.
Another joined them, though he stayed back. A tall, lanky god with bleach blond hair. Tattoos peeked out from under his white clothes, on the backs of his hands and up his throat.
Idris.
He looked every bit the sexy front man of a band that could melt the panties right off their fans. I’d learned his power was music based, and his fanbase might even rival Grim’s.
The demigod had once disarmed me with his mischievous grin and charm before trying to trick me into breaking my blood bond with Grim so he could control me.
“What’s your skin in this game?” I asked.
A wry smile tugged at one side of his lips that didn’t reach his eyes. “My mother is immortal but not a god. I don’t give a flying fuck if the rest view me as trash for being a demigod.” His expression darkened. “But I won’t allow those in power to treat my mother like a second-class citizen. Osiris and all the others couldn’t care less what my father does to her, but I do. I haven’t had the influence to stop him, but you bet your fucking ass I do now.” He smiled down at Sekhmet’s far shorter stature, as if she was the key to all his problems.
Though he stood on the opposite side, I finally understood why he wanted power. It surprised me that his motivation was so sentimental. To protect his mom. My first instinct had been that he had a good heart, and then he double-crossed me. Now I couldn’t say I disagreed with his motivations, but his tactics sucked.
If Idris had asked Grim for help, he would have done it in a heartbeat. But Grim was gone, and the gleam in his icy blue eyes told me there was no changing his mind now.
“I’m going to need you two to come with me,” Galina said in a lazy tone, referring to Timothy and Fallon. Despite her cavalier appearance, I knew she was ready to throw down any second.
“You know he must be allowed to judge the souls, or chaos will rock this world,” Timothy said.
“Chaos is not my concern,” Galina answered. “But making sure no one interferes with this…transition is vital.”
“Cripes, you really are just like a spoiled little kitty,” I said, unable to keep my mouth shut.
I wanted to lunge at Galina. Claw her eyes, pummel her into a bloody pulp, make her pay for what she took from me. If Grim were here, he’d sweep the floor with her ass. His absence stabbed through my heart.
Even though Galina could swat me like a fly, it was Sekhmet’s burning red eyes that kept me rooted to the spot.
I’d never been the smartest person or vampire, but this time I knew to my bones if I tangled with Sekhmet I would not win. I could feel her beckon me, and I had to push her from my mind. Once, I’d joked to Grim, asking if I should call her Mommy. But now, I felt the blood tie between us. Stronger than that between even Grim and me.
Galina’s eyes narrowed at me, her pupils turning to slits.
They were lucky Miranda was nowhere near with the Blade of Bane right now. But they’d suffer the barbs of my tongue. “All the drama, all the subterfuge. You want to push a glass off a countertop just to see it smash into the floor. Poor, bored little kitty.”
Fallon took advantage of my distraction and launched at Galina, fist pulled back, ready to slam into her sour-cat face.
In a second, Fallon skidded across the pavement as if hit by a cannonball. Sekhmet hovering over him, her tiny hand wrapped around his throat. An animalistic growl emanated from her chest. Then a vampire blurred to her side, then another, and another, three more, then suddenly twenty vampires were upon Fallon. Their expressions bore the blank look I’d just seen on the showgirls. Sekhmet had complete control over their minds. They appeared to be a mixture of tourists, card dealers, and even an Elvis impersonator.
I would have laughed if Fallon weren’t getting his ass completely kicked. They swarmed him.
“I almost forgot to thank you, Vivien,” Galina said casually. “If it weren’t for you, I never would have known to call upon Idris for help, but he’s been quite useful.”
Dick pickles.I had been the one to tell her Idris took a shot at me to try to get some power. Why he wanted a leg up so badly, I didn’t know.
