Their safe house was actually an apartment beneath a gourmet food and wine store owned by one of Dominique's a.s.sociates. Its size would have been luxurious for one person or perfectly comfortable for two, but it was a little cramped with the four of them-her, Zachary, Michael and Jay-living there. She was indescribably glad Dominique had decided to stay elsewhere.

"What can I do for you, Jay?" Adia asked.

"I fear I may be more of a hindrance than a help in this fight," Jay commented. Adia had a moment to think cynically, Just like a Marinitch, reliable as a sparrow Just like a Marinitch, reliable as a sparrow, before Jay frowned and said, "You are in charge of this hunt, and I will abide by your decisions. But I think my skills may be put to better use elsewhere."

Adia tried to force herself to think rationally. Jay wasn't the only one second-guessing himself lately, and he didn't have the advantage of rigorous Vida training to help him focus past such doubts. "Your input when we had Heather helped us discover the vampire I am in the process of identifying. I think he will prove to be a valuable lead. If your concern is that your fighting skills are not as keen as your other magic, then-"

"That is not my worry," he interrupted. "I can hold my own. However, I know Dominique and Zachary are better than I am. I feel my presence is weakening them them. Zachary spends far too much of his attention trying to keep his mind blocked from me, and Dominique has consciously avoided me since she realized my talents. I have been focusing my magic on healing my arm, and it should be fine in another few hours. After that, I would suggest that you a.s.sign me elsewhere, so I will not be a distraction to two of our best fighters."

Adia had tried to avoid the issue Jay had just bought to the forefront. She rolled her shoulders, trying to release some of the tension in her neck, before saying, "Maybe you do unsettle Zachary and Dominique. You unsettle me me. But none of us is going to let something like that get in the way when it comes to a fight.

"Dominique is trying to give us more independence while she does other work. She is still the matriarch of our line and has obligations beyond the Rights of Kin. If she thought she needed to be here, she would would be. And Zachary be. And Zachary is is here. No matter what he does to keep you out of his head, in a fight he'll be glad to have you at his back." here. No matter what he does to keep you out of his head, in a fight he'll be glad to have you at his back."

Jay nodded, though slowly. "You know them both better than I do, so you're probably right. But I thought I could avoid the problem and still be useful by accompanying Michael to New York. I might be able to pick up on information his contacts would not intentionally share."

Adia considered the suggestion. Jay's talents made him especially useful for information gathering, and given the kinds of contacts Michael had implied he would talk to, she wouldn't mind having another witch watching over his shoulder-especially one with the ability to tell a truth from a lie or glean information Michael's contacts might not intend to share. She would discuss it with Michael when he returned.

Apparently content that he had said all he needed to on the subject, Jay gestured toward the book Adia still had open. "Is that the vampire you found?"

"Yes," Adia answered. "His name is Jerome. The shop seemed to be serving as a kind of mingling place for a bunch of bloodbonds, but it says here he doesn't have any of his own, so I gather he's a bit of a spider. One of Nikolas's bonds, named Matt, came in to speak with him while I was there, so he is definitely linked to our targets." On the off chance Jay would know about something Adia only vaguely recognized, she asked, "Do you happen to know who Frederick Kallison is?"

Jay paused to think, his gaze going distant. "I don't know," he said before twisting to call to the next room, "Zachary?"

Zachary, who had stepped out of the bedroom an instant before, frowned at Jay before crossing the small living room and asking, "Yes?"

Adia posed the question. "Do you recognize the name Frederick Kallison? It sounds familiar, but I can't place it."

It was interesting to watch the play of emotions across Jay's face while Zachary's remained externally calm. Jay turned his head to look at Adia, keeping his face hidden from Zachary, but his expression was pained as Zachary said, "It should sound familiar." Zachary's voice was soft. Adia would not have been aware of how strong a reaction he had had to the name if not for Jay's expression. "Frederick Kallison was involved with a Vida before he died. With Dominique. He disappeared. I was only five, so I don't remember it very well, but she..." He shook his head. "Dominique and Jacqueline used to be very close, more like Dominique was an older sister instead of an aunt. After Frederick died, the two of them couldn't talk except to fight. Jacqueline would scream and yell and Dominique would just get quiet and tell her she was being reckless and needed to start settling down. Dominique stopped coming over eventually, and let her father set her up with a hunter he thought was acceptable-your father-like she didn't even care anymore who she was with once Frederick was gone. Jacqueline started going out and staying out for days or weeks until...well, until someone carried her body home."

He spoke calmly, almost as if the people he described were distant, unimportant figures to him. Adia watched with morbid fascination the contrast between Zachary's poise and Jay's struggle not to let Zachary see how useless that poise was. He might claim he barely remembered it, but if Jay's reaction was any indication, Zachary not only remembered it, but recalled it with the fear only a child was truly capable of.

It was as if in the past day, she had seen layers to Zachary that she hadn't even known existed. Somewhere inside, he was in fact as vulnerable as a real person.

No wonder having an empath in the house made him so nervous.

"How did that name come up, anyway?" Zachary asked, almost too casually.

Hoping the subject of a target to hunt would be more settling for him, Adia said, "I was looking up my contact from that bookstore, a vamp named Jerome."

Zachary nodded tightly. "I've heard of him," he said. "My impression is that everyone knows him but very few people like like him, and he pretends to have more influence than he does. I doubt he'll be helpful. And-" He hesitated, and his controlled expression cracked, showing for an instant the fear beneath. "And I'm not sure he's worth mentioning to Dominique," he said. "She's already dealing with losing Sarah. Do you really want to flash in front of her the creature who killed her first love?" him, and he pretends to have more influence than he does. I doubt he'll be helpful. And-" He hesitated, and his controlled expression cracked, showing for an instant the fear beneath. "And I'm not sure he's worth mentioning to Dominique," he said. "She's already dealing with losing Sarah. Do you really want to flash in front of her the creature who killed her first love?"

Zachary's reaction was so unnerving Adia didn't know how to respond. The fact was Jerome was the only only contact they still had, and Zachary and Dominique were just going to have to deal with it. On the other hand, the concept of contact they still had, and Zachary and Dominique were just going to have to deal with it. On the other hand, the concept of her her having to tell having to tell Zachary Zachary and and Dominique Dominique to suck it up was terrifying. These people were the ones Adia looked to for strength, especially now. They weren't allowed to be shaken by a page in a book. to suck it up was terrifying. These people were the ones Adia looked to for strength, especially now. They weren't allowed to be shaken by a page in a book.

Zachary jumped visibly when the door opened, admitting Michael, whose arms were laden with a bag full of groceries.

"I brought food," Michael said when neither Vida spoke for a moment. "There's one more bag in the car if someone can grab it. Zachary, good to see you up, even if I'm not sure you should be. You're still pale as a sheet."

Either Michael was oblivious to the emotion lingering in the room, or he chose to ignore it. Either way, Adia appreciated the interruption.

She decided she wouldn't mention Jerome to Dominique-or to Zachary again-if she could find a way around doing so, but she couldn't ignore the only useful contact she had.

Zachary was fraying; he kept lying down and getting up within minutes, as if he couldn't stop his body long enough to sleep. Michael hid behind a cavalier joviality that was driving her crazy, but when he had to be still, he seemed dazed and unfocused.

This hunt was going to destroy them all if it wasn't over soon. Adia just hoped that ending it the way they needed to wouldn't be as bad.

CHAPTER 14

SAt.u.r.dAY, 9:44 A.M. A.M.

ZACHARY TRIED TO help put away groceries, until Adia flat out ordered him to leave and get some sleep. As he retreated to bed, he could hear Adia and Michael arguing behind him about how Michael didn't need Jay to "babysit" him when he went to New York. For someone who admitted to working with moral-less mercenaries, the Arun put up a lot of fuss when he thought someone didn't trust him, but it sounded like he might win the argument this time. help put away groceries, until Adia flat out ordered him to leave and get some sleep. As he retreated to bed, he could hear Adia and Michael arguing behind him about how Michael didn't need Jay to "babysit" him when he went to New York. For someone who admitted to working with moral-less mercenaries, the Arun put up a lot of fuss when he thought someone didn't trust him, but it sounded like he might win the argument this time.

Zachary wasn't feeling dizzy anymore, but it was still a relief to stretch out in bed, alone and, for the moment, unguarded. Technically, he shared the room with Jay, but the Marinitch had commented that he had trouble sleeping inside, so Zachary hoped he could get a few hours of sleep without being bothered.

He lay on top of the sheets and closed his eyes in meditation, trying to relax his body and mind. Hearing Adia say Jerome's name, he had wanted to throw up.

He looked up, glaring before he could help it, as Jay stepped into the room in his usual birdlike manner. Jay ducked around the door and closed it behind him before sitting cross-legged on the floor, facing Zachary. So much for not having a roommate.

"Yes?" Zachary finally prompted him, when it seemed Jay was perfectly happy to stare at him with those hazel-green eyes, never speaking. Like a freaking raven, nevermore nevermore.

Jay would probably be flattered by the description. His line were the only ones who used familiars in their work, raising animals as more than pets. Zachary didn't know what Jay's particular companion was.

"Something's wrong," Jay observed, tilting his head and studying Zachary in a way that made him nervous enough to sit up and erase any lines of anger or concern or frustration from his face from the force of habit.

"What isn't wrong?" Zachary replied. "Sarah is gone, and we're stumbling around-"

"That is not what I mean, and I think you know it," Jay interrupted. "What is it you're ashamed of, that you think I will find out?"

The list was too long to begin, even if he had had any intention of sharing with the birdbrained witch.

"If I thought it was any of your business, I'd say something aloud," he said flatly.

"I'm pretty sure it is is my business when it starts making you wonder whether you my business when it starts making you wonder whether you want want to win, especially since you're likely to be watching my back," Jay replied. to win, especially since you're likely to be watching my back," Jay replied.

"How about you get out of my head and focus on the problem at hand?" Zachary snapped, grateful that no one who really mattered was around to hear the sharp response. He was exhausted, physically and mentally and emotionally. He desperately needed to sleep. More importantly, he needed a chance to relax relax, to drop all his guards and pretenses and rest.

He knew it wasn't acceptable to need that. The self-control that took up much of his energy should have been real, not feigned, not something so heavy to carry around.

"The problem at hand..." Jay shrugged. "I have replayed the event in my mind a thousand times since everything went bad, and I can come to no other conclusion. Sarah was going to turn herself in. She was as surprised as we were when the others appeared. She didn't come there with the intent to betray you."

"Maybe your abilities are not as sharp as you think they are," Zachary said, much more at ease now that the conversation had turned back to their current mission. Focusing on a hunt had often been what had gotten him through the worst times.

Jay smiled, an expression that was strangely sharp and warm and biting all at once. "My abilities are every bit as advanced as yours are, Zachary Vida. They would have to be before I could even begin to read one of your line. And Sarah had every intention of dying the day she approached us. She is desperate, she is scared, and I will say it if no one else will: I do not think she is, or ever will be, a monster. I think we are hunting innocent prey, and I do not like doing that."

Zachary tensed. "Does that mean you would defy the Rights of Kin?"

"Of course not." From most people, the instant words would have sounded insincere, but every word Jay said seemed to be measured and considered. "My first loyalty is to my kin. If Sarah was willing to sacrifice herself, then that shows she, too, is still loyal to that same idea. If we cannot survive without destroying that which shows us what we could be...well..." He shrugged. "It is an idea I find distasteful, but survival sometimes requires doing that which you would prefer not to."

Finally, Zachary let himself say the words that had been on the tip of his tongue almost since Jay first walked into Dominique's home and introduced himself.

"You creep me out, Jay."

The Marinitch witch laughed. "I think I'll take that as a compliment," he said. "Who's the woman?"

The question was so unexpected that Zachary exclaimed, "What?"

There was only one woman Jay could be asking about.

Jay tilted his head inquisitively. "I am not aware of any ancient Vida law that forbids her line from having relationships. So why do you hide it?"

"I don't-" He broke off, because denials were effectively useless. He didn't recall thinking about her, though he knew she came to mind intermittently, especially when he was this tired. "I don't hide hide it. But I don't discuss my personal life with people like Dominique or Adia, either. That just isn't the relationship we have," he said, settling for honesty, since he knew a lie wasn't likely to get him far. "And frankly, it isn't the relationship you and I have, either, so I would appreciate it if you dropped the subject." it. But I don't discuss my personal life with people like Dominique or Adia, either. That just isn't the relationship we have," he said, settling for honesty, since he knew a lie wasn't likely to get him far. "And frankly, it isn't the relationship you and I have, either, so I would appreciate it if you dropped the subject."

There was no law against a Vida having a relationship. It had in fact been hinted to him, strongly and frequently, that he was twenty-six years old and should get around to choosing a partner so he could pa.s.s on the Vida genes, like some kind of prize bull. But the only girl Zachary could possibly bring home-so to speak-was one who was capable of taking down a vampire using her bare hands. Anyone he might describe as comforting was no one Dominique would approve of or even want to know about.

He left before Jay had a chance to make any more comments. Adia had ordered him to sleep, and he would obey, but she hadn't said where where, and he didn't intend for it to be where the telepath could rake his dreams. He obviously didn't have as much control over his conscious mind as he had thought. The last thing he wanted was to give Jay unfettered access to his dreams and nightmares.

He grabbed his jacket, but paused when he realized that Adia wasn't around anymore.

"She went out to follow up on a lead," Jay said when Zachary hesitated.

"She didn't say anything to me."

Jay shrugged, not needing to respond out loud: Maybe she a.s.sumed you didn't want to know Maybe she a.s.sumed you didn't want to know.

She was going after Jerome. Had he really expected her to do anything else? The realization filled him with a kind of fatalistic resignation. It was out of his hands now.

"I'm going out," he said. He took his keys from their hook beside the doorway. He let his mind be blank, empty, with nothing for the Marinitch to hear. "I have my cell phone if Adia needs to reach me."

He didn't think he had a destination, until he found himself in front of a familiar apartment. He climbed the gray brick stairs and put out a hand like a man who had been hypnotized. He felt like he didn't knock but rather watched as his knuckles struck the turquoise door of their own volition.

The woman who opened the door greeted him with a soft smile.

"Zimmy," she said as she reached forward and ushered him inside. She pulled her hand back at the last moment with a rueful chuckle and held it up apologetically. "Let me just wash my hands and toss a towel over my project."

Her hands were coated in red-brown clay. Her shirt, arms and face had been spattered with it, as well, from the work she had been throwing on a potter's wheel in the corner of the fairly small kitchen.

She put a damp towel over the work in progress, washed her hands and arms, pulled the clip out of her strawberry blond hair to allow it to fall loose to her shoulders in a riot of waves, and put on a kettle full of water before she asked, "Tea?"

"Please," he replied, feeling his whole body relax in her presence. He no longer needed to focus and struggle to keep his breath from speeding and his heart from pounding.

"Hard day?" she asked.

He nodded.

"You look terrible," she said, "like you've been trying to run a marathon in the rain with the flu."

The words made him laugh, the kind of sound that could find its way from his throat only around her, because she was the only one with whom he could accept how utterly empty and absurd his life was.

"My cousin tried to kill me today," he said. He realized that his voice held an edge of hysteria. "She nearly succeeded. But I guess that's fair, since I was trying to kill her at the time."

"Do you need help with her?" she asked.

He shook his head. He didn't know what kind of help she might offer, and he was pretty sure he didn't want to. Michael wasn't the only one whose friends did not live entirely by Vida code. Zachary maintained his relationship with Olivia by never allowing himself to consider the people she was willing to work with.

The kettle whistled, and Olivia poured two cups of tea. She made his sweet, with just a little cream, the way she knew he liked it, and handed it to him in a mug she had made with her own hands and always kept aside for him. She had "given" it to him as a gift, but kept it in her cupboard because she knew he wouldn't be able to keep it anywhere he lived. A beautiful handmade piece of pottery sitting alongside the generic bargain-store white mugs would lead to too many awkward questions.

By the time he had taken the first sip, his anxiety was gone, leaving only bone-deep exhaustion behind. Olivia sat behind him, on the back of the couch, so she could ma.s.sage his shoulders.

"So," she said as he shut his eyes and leaned back against her. "Do you want to talk about this horrid hunt you're on?"

"I can't," he answered. Some of Olivia's contacts could probably connect him to his targets, which meant that according to the Rights of Kin, he should should be demanding answers from her. But he couldn't stand to do so. And since no one else knew about her, no one would tell him otherwise. be demanding answers from her. But he couldn't stand to do so. And since no one else knew about her, no one would tell him otherwise.

"You put all of SingleEarth in a flurry," she said. "I had three appointments cancel this morning." From someone else, the words might have sounded like an accusation, but from her they were as casual as a remark about the weather.

"Sorry," he said anyway.

"Never apologize to me for doing what you have to do, and being what you have to be," she replied, tilting his head up so he met her dark gaze squarely. She slid down from the back of the couch to lean against his side. "You should get some sleep, darling." She ran a hand up his chest, then hooked one finger under the chain barely visible at his throat, fishing the necklace out so she could see it. The pendant was also Olivia's work; she claimed that it was one of her first experiments with silver.

"I can't go home."

She didn't hesitate. "Stay here. I'll have homemade beef stew ready when you wake. You need to get your blood pressure back up. You're much too pale." Before he could comment on her ability to read him so well, she remarked, "I probably know you better than you know yourself."

"Do you know how I'm going to make it through this hunt?"

She paused and kissed his cheek before saying, "I don't care how. I just hope you do do."

As she returned to the kitchen, he stretched out on the couch. He tried to watch her start the stew she had promised, but his eyelids began to droop. He knew it was a lie, an illusion, but he felt felt safe, and his body responded accordingly, pulling him down into a deep, peaceful sleep. safe, and his body responded accordingly, pulling him down into a deep, peaceful sleep.

CHAPTER 15

SAt.u.r.dAY, 4:37 P.M. P.M.

AS DUSK FELL, Sarah opened her eyes.

She had been dreaming-or remembering....

There had been a girl, a beautiful lady, with honey blond hair and dove white skin. She stood beside a sable horse, one hand on the leather of the saddle, and one hand out like a queen giving a serf permission to rise.