“Oh, honey. If I could find you and destroy Malvant, I’d hold you in my arms and tell you I love you right now. In fact, I wish I could.”
She giggled.“I can wait until dawn. I hope you can.”
Nathan had been staring at Sly. At last, he shook his head in wonder. “Weird stuff goes on in this building. My girlfriend liveswith and talks to a ghost. Her cousin has a vampire called a “beloved,” and they know this because he can hear her over some kind of invisible long-distance telephone line.”
Gwyneth leaned into him. “It’s telepathy, but that’s about the size of it.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “And people thinkI’mthe weird one. So, since I can’t hear anyone but the two people standing next to me, is anyone talking about a plan to get her out of there or what?”
“Well, so far, cousin,” Gwyneth faced the direction Sly had been facing when talking to her, “All I’ve done is refuse to tell Sly where Malvant’s lair is until daylight.”
“Good. Smart girl, Gwyneth.”
“She can’t hear you,” Chad said.
“I know, but Sly can. Sly, sweetheart, tell Gwyneth I said that was smart.”
He sighed. “Not until I have you in my arms again.”
Chapter eighteen
Morgaine sensed time passing. When she heard the click of a door opening and the creak of what she imagined might be a coffin, she figured daylight must be near. Malvant would be unconscious soon and she could attempt her escape. If she could get out before Sly got in, she’d turn on the lights and check for traps he may have set for anyone who tried to rescue her. Besides, she couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.
He still didn’t know about their secret weapon—the Vampire Vintage—so he wouldn’t be expecting Sly. He also didn’t realize the witches knew where his lair was all along. Maybe the place wouldn’t be booby trapped at all. But she had to know for sure.
When everything was quiet, she astral projected to the street and confirmed for herself that it was sunrise.Thank the Goddess.It was now or never, but first, she had to be sure Malvant was out cold.
She returned to her body. “Hey, jerk-face!”
No sound answered her. It looked as if the circumstances were right, but just to be sure she yelled, “Your mother was a werewolf!”
Still no response.Good.It was time for a lock opening spell. Since she didn’t have her moonwort powder with her, she’d have to hope the words alone would do the trick.
Feeling around the door, she formulated the words in her mind. When she located the door knob, she kneeled in front of it.
“Lord and Lady, hear my plea…out of this room, I shall be.”
She concentrated as hard as she could, visualizing the door open and herself stepping over the threshold. When she tried turning the door knob, it clicked. Surprised, but delighted her simple spell had worked, she rose and pushed open the door.
“Yeeeuck.” Something disgusting assaulted her nose. The odor smelled like rotting meat. Morgaine held her breath until she absolutely had to let it out and take another, meanwhile she felt her way around the door frame and along the wall. She hoped she’d run into a light switch eventually.Come on, Morgaine. You can do this. You’re Sly’s beloved. Don’t you want to hear him say it?
Then she remembered that she knew exactly where it was. When she and Gwyneth had projected into the space, there was a switch at the bottom of the stairs. Morgaine turned in that direction and felt along the opposite wall until she had it.Oh, thank Goddess!
She flipped the switch and bright light stabbed her light-deprived eyes, almost blinding her.Freakin’ vampires and their dark hidey holes!She blinked a few times until her vision adjusted to it. Thank goodness she could see again.
Casting her gaze around the room, she didn’t see any obvious signs of a trap. When it was time to open the front door, she’d better be prepared to run.
First, she threw open the heavy black curtains, which covered the light blocking shades. Once she opened those, daylight streamed into the room. Still no sound from Malvant.Now’s my chance.
Nathan and Gwyneth sat on Lily’s charred sofa while Sly stood to the side, sipping his second glass of wine—the special kind. He was feeling a little tipsy, but that might not hurt considering what he was about to do. He needed all the liquid courage he could get.
Lily scratched her head. “So, how do you kill a vampire again? And why are you telling me this?”
“Y’all need to burn, stake or behead him,” Gwyneth said. “All three just to be extra sure he never comes back.”
Sly shifted uncomfortably as Gwyneth outlined their plan. He had thought it was brilliant ten seconds ago.
“And what do you need me for?” she asked.
