Heir?Jane thought.Melker’s heir? Shaun’s heir? Or some unknown heir to someone else I had killed? It is a long freaking list.
Leo continued, “With the makers of my kind gone, there is no one to drink from who is stronger than he. With them gone, there is nothing to keep him at bay.”
Except that there was a lump of flesh still hanging around to give someone power. The heart of one of the vamp creators’ immortal bodies was still in NOLA in the hands of the witches. So far as I knew, Leo didn’t know that the heart of one of the Sons of Darkness was being kept by witches in a safe place.
Beast’s ears perked at the thought.Good strong vampire flesh.
Leo’s eyes rested on Beast, painful. Heavy. “Except you, my Jane, my wild card.”
I thought back through the silence and Leo’s last words. Something about no one to keep the Big Bad Ugly at bay.Right.
“You are the Dark Queen, a thing I did not see in any of the visions. You hold the crown and a weapon of power. You will need the last of the artifacts to fight my master, to defeat him, for his blood is stronger than mine, and he is not blinded by hubris and a belief in immortality as the Sons of Darkness were.”
His eyes returned to the sky. Leo said, “You must behead the Onorio you hold prisoner.End her.You must find all the artifacts, especially the last one. It is hidden in my rooms. Find it. Find it, my Jane. You will know what to do with it.” Leo stood faster than Beast could follow. Air popped, hurting Beast ears. Leo was gone.
We will go to Council Chambers,Beast thought. Beast looked out over levee and saw trucks that smelled of much food. Raw meat. Raw fish. Beast had not eaten after shift.Was hungry. Beast looked back at homeless man. Wondered if he would be stringy to eat.
Council chambers. Make it snappy,Jane thought.And no eating the humans.
Trucks smell of food. Can get inside belly of truck?
The farm-to-restaurant delivery trucks? No. Move it, you dang cat.
Will not run. Will ride truck.Jane was angry at wait, but Beast had done this before. Would be faster. Was like riding bison or cow to kill and eat. Beast sauntered through shadows at top of levee to wall looking down at street. When truck smelling of blood and much meat rolled past, Beast leaped from wall to top of truck. Claws out, skidded across metal, ribbed like chest of big cow. Claws caught on metal and Beast lay down, tail out, tip tapping on metal truck. Truck smelled of much meat. Beast hungered.
Two streets over, Beast leaped from top of truck to another. Soon wall and gate of HQ came into view. Beast gathered self, watching tall wall made of brick. Leaped high, over wall. Landed in front area, in grass near flat concrete. Caught self and sat on haunches, front legs straight and close together, ears high. Bright light came on. Looked away from light. When human spoke, ear tabs swiveled and folded, finding voices in night.
“Is that the queen?” a voice asked.
“You think there’s another of those cats in town?” a second voice asked.
Beast chuffed. Stood and walked slowly to steps to front door. Light followed Beast.
Beast is beautifulPuma concolor.Has golden pelt and sharp claws. Beast is best hunter. Beast is not prey.
Show-off,Jane thought.
At top of stairs, Beast stood, waiting. Derek appeared and entered airlock, but Derek did not open door. Derek stared at Beast. Was challenge look, eyes narrow, shoulders tight. If Derek had killing claws, would be showing them to Beast. Beast chuffed with amusement. Opened lips and showed killing teeth in snarl. Derek still did not open door. Beast turned around and prepared to show human that this was Beast space.
Door opened. “Don’t youdarespray on the windows.”
Beast chuffed. Turned and went through open door into airlock. Outer door closed. Inner door was still closed. Beast whirled and raised up on hind legs, front paws over Derek shoulder, claws out, holding Derek in place. Derek hand went for gun. Derek stopped breathing. Smelled of shock, uncertainty, some fear. Licked Derek neck and face with rough tongue.
Derek jerked away, Beast claws tearing Derek shirt.
Beast dropped and chuffed. Derek started to breathe again. Inner door opened. Beast strolled into big room to stairs. Vampires were everywhere. Security teams. One team was watching Beast. Silent. Hands on guns. Beast walked slowly upstairs. Paused halfway up and looked back at Derek. Derek was glaring. Beast chuffed, twitched long tail in amusement, and trotted up long stairs.
Far below, Derek cursed.
You really are a dang cat.Jane was not laughing.
At top of stairs, Wrassler stood, waiting. “Were you kissing Derek or tasting him?”
Beast did not answer and led way to Leo old bedroom. Could smell Bruiser inside. Put paw on door and looked at Wrassler. Big human with one skin leg and one not-skin leg sighed and knocked on door. Bruiser called, “Come.”
Was way Leo answered knocks sometimes. Wrassler opened door and Beast walked in. Bruiser was sitting at desk with computer and tapping with fingers. Was dressed in black. Looked like what Jane called “sex on a stick.”
“Jane?” Bruiser was surprised.
