“She won’t let me go without her,” he informed hislieterra. And the thought of her out there while those traitorous vampires still walked the streets did not sit well with him.
“I’ll come with you,” Miklós offered.
“Where?”
“About a forty-five-minute drive from here. I dug up some information on an apartment her father had leased. He abandoned the place and they’ve yet to clean it out. Word is there had been a young female staying there with him. Description matches Amber.”
“Have you told Orianna?”
“Not yet.”
Eclipse considered it. If he didn’t relay this information to hisamsouelot, he feared she would hate him for it. And since he had no reason not to, aside from the fact he feared for her safety, Eclipse knew he couldn’t hold back.
“Fine. I’ll let her know, but I want Magnar along for the ride.”
Miklós nodded. “I’ll gas up the Range Rover, meet you in the garage. Say half an hour.”
He offered hislieterraa quick nod, then vanished, reforming just outside the third-floor conference room, where he knew Orianna was still working on finding her sister. When he strolled in, her eyes lifted, and a smile formed.
“Hey. I thought you’d be out tonight.”
“I was going to, but something came up.”
Orianna leaned back in her chair and regarded him. “Something that involves me?”
The heat he saw in her eyes was tempting, but Eclipse managed to refrain. Sexing her up right now was the best idea he’d ever had, but as was always the case, they were battling daylight, which meant they had to get out there and back before they risked being trapped by the sun’s deadly rays.
“Miklós found a lead on one of Amber’s last known addresses. Thought we’d head up there, check it out.”
She shot to her feet. “We?”
“You, me, Miklós, and Magnar.”
As she approached, Eclipse realized there were tears in her eyes. Instinct had him reaching for her, cupping her cheek.
“What’s wrong,sezari?”
“Nothing. It’s just … it’s been a long time since I’ve had a legitimate lead.”
“Don’t get your hopes up just yet. We’re just going to check it out.”
She nodded. “When do we leave?”
“Now.”
As he led her to their private quarters so he could weapon up and get her into something warmer, Eclipse relayed the information as he’d heard it from Miklós.
“What about Barin?” she asked, referring to the guardian angel.
“He didn’t give me a time frame, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave until you’ve had a chance to talk to him.”
She smiled. “You’re gonna hold a guardian angel hostage?”
“If that’s what it takes, yeah.”
Twenty minutes later, they were pulling out of the garage, Miklós behind the wheel, Magnar riding shotgun, and Eclipse and Orianna in the back seat. The conversation shifted from the mission to the weather, with Miklós easily carrying on with Orianna as though they were best friends.
Eclipse watched hislieterra, noticing the way Miklós continuously peered back at her in the rearview as he spoke. For some reason, that made him smile. Knowing the most important male in Eclipse’s life had become close to Orianna made him relax a bit. He knew Miklós would ensure she was protected in the event something happened. He knew the same was the case with Magnar, but theladearewas tasked with watching Eclipse’s back at all times, which meant Orianna wouldn’t be his main priority, no matter what Eclipse instructed.
