She seemed surprised that he’d thought of that. The vampire really did think he was just a pretty boy who sang, didn’t she? “I have secret accounts. Perhaps in the back of my mind, I always knew what William really was and suspected this day would come.”
He frowned, growing ever curiouser about how William had betrayed his daughter. But Elijah had a more important question to ask first. “If we arrive in London on time, it will be closing in on four in the morning.”
“That’s correct.”
“The sun rises at around five in London at this time of year.”
“I’m aware.”
“Well, my parents’ house is over an hour from the airport.” He leaned into her, ignoring her attractive scent. “Doesn’t that sound problematic to you?”
“Don’t condescend to me.” Her eyes flashed silver. “Believe me, I know without looking at a clock when the sun rises and sets.” They were so close now, their noses almost touched. “I’ll have to travel in the trunk of the car.”
“So I’ll need to steal another vehicle, then?”
“Got a problem with that?” Echo arched a perfect eyebrow. “Are you unable to sacrifice your morals to save your parents?”
Fury ripped through him, and he slammed back on his seat. “Of course bloody not.”
“There will be a vehicle waiting for us, anyway. Now, are we done with the twenty questions?”
Not by half. “Why do you want revenge on William?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“I think I do. What if you’ve fallen out with Dear Old Dad over a lover he doesn’t approve of or some such nonsense, andas soon as he says sorry, you’re happy to dagger me through the heart?”
Echo glanced angrily around the plane and then hissed at him, “Will you shut up?”
He raised a palm and made a fist. Just like that, the surrounding noise deadened. Sensing the hum of the bubble of energy he’d created around them, Echo reached out and touched the electrically charged air. Wonder softened her face, unfortunately reminding him how fucking beautiful she was. “What is this? What are you doing?”
“No one can listen in on us now. If they try, they’ll hear us yammering about a party we went to in Rome.”
Her eyes widened. “You can do that?”
He gave an abrupt nod. “Among other things.”
“How did … you taught yourself all these things?”
Deciding he liked her like this, awed and more human rather than cold and businesslike, Elijah nodded again. “Trial and error over the years.”
Something dawned on her. “Your parents know about you, don’t they?”
“Of course. My abilities started showing up before I could even speak. They taught me to control it, allowed me to practice what I needed to, and pleaded with me to keep it hidden from everyone else.”
“They knew you’d be taken otherwise.” That cool frown of hers had returned. “You know human governments are aware of the underworld, and they’re not above using supernaturals for their own means. They don’t push it too far because they don’t want a war … but someone like you … they would absolutely have taken you from your parents.”
Hearing the grim truth, Elijah was thankful he’d listened to his mum and dad. “That’s what they thought.”
“They were smart to hide it.” She tilted her head, studying him. “Your parents must be unusual people … to have accepted a child who was so different.”
Thinking of his parents, vulnerable to threats, emotion thickened his throat. “They’re the best parents in the world.” Determination hardened his voice. “I won’t let anything happen to them because of me.”
Echo’s features turned to granite. “Nothing will happen to your parents, Elijah. We made a deal, and whatever you might think of me, I honor my promises. I’ll protect your parents with my life.”
Sensing her sincerity, he found himself softening a little toward her. “And in return, I’ll help you protect your sister—who’s apparently in Canada?”
Understanding there was more to his question, Echo said, “Odette is human. Only twelve years old. She lives in an all-girls’ boarding school in New Brunswick. Once we have her out of there and hidden in a safe place, we go after The Garm.”
